2020 Summer/Fall Grad News

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The Prep Community Faces New Realities Brought About By COVID-19 • Our wonderful teachers and students successfully navigate uncharted waters

• Prep’s iPad Program is key to the effectiveness of Distance Learning • The #TerrierSTAR Program Helps Students & Families • Julie Chen Moonves ‘87 Makes Extraordinary Pledge • Prep’s Science Department Donates PPE • Class of 2020: “You will not be forgotten. Stay Strong!”

Grad News • Summer/Fall 2020 1

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE __________________ Bro. Leonard Conway, O.S.F.

Dear Alumni and Friends of St. Francis Prep,

The past six months have been unlike any other in our memory. The COVID-19 pandemic altered the landscape and shifted our priorities for the foreseeable future. We mourn our friends, colleagues and loved ones who succumbed to this terrible virus and we thank our first responders who put their own lives on the line to help so many others during this difficult time.

The lens through which we viewed our academic programming and teaching methods needed to be adjusted as well, and I applaud our dedicated and talented faculty and our wonderful students who managed to make the transition to distance learning so seamlessly and successfully. This bodes well for the upcoming school year when our “new educational realities” really come into focus.

Despite the many hurdles they had to overcome this spring, all 605 of our seniors graduated (we held special ceremonies on August 1 that are highlighted on page 8) and as I write this letter they have been offered more than $150 million in merit scholarship awards for their college education!

Once again, their success can be attributed in large measure to YOUR generous support which 2 Grad News • Summer/Fall 2020

allows us to offer all our students a truly outstanding academic and extracurricular program in the Franciscan tradition. This has never been more evident than what has been experienced recently with #TerrierSTAR (Student Tuition Assistance and Relief) which has helped me fulfill my pledge that NO student will be denied a St. Francis Prep education due to financial hardship caused by the Coronavirus.

And a very special “thank you” to Julie Chen Moonves ‘87 who made the extraordinary commitment to match

“...NO student will be denied a St. Francis Prep education due to financial hardship caused by the Coronavirus.”

-Bro. Leonard Cownay, O.S.F. all contributions to #TerrierSTAR. (Your gifts and pledges now total more than $700,000 and Julie’s matching funds will bring this to nearly $1.5 million.)

You have so much to be proud of— and your ongoing involvement in our work continues to result in the success of nearly 2500 students who come from all walks of life, as well as beautiful new and updated facilities designed to accommodate the

highest-quality programming that our students and their families are seeking in a high school education.

While the pandemic caused a threemonth shutdown of construction activities, work has now resumed and great progress is being made. The west side of the building dedicated to the music department’s orchestra, band and chorus rooms is just about complete together with the brand-new student/athletic locker facility and offices on the west side of the gym.

Work will soon shift to the east side of the complex where additional music rooms and another new locker facility will take shape beginning this fall and thru next summer.

And as you know, The Campaign for St. Francis Prep, now in its second and final stage, has helped fund all of this important work. Thankfully, we now have $9.6 million pledged toward the second stage campaign goal of $10 million—while we also close-in on our original, overall goal of $15 million. We will be looking to you and to all our alumni, parents and friends during the upcoming 2020-21 year to help us cross the finish line.

Within these GradNews pages you will see the highlights from our events and activities through early March. (If you recall, we were forced to postpone

GRAD NEWS 2020 __________________________________ CONTENTS EVENT CALENDAR Alumni Events • 4-5

or cancel all events after March 13th.)

Needless to say, the alumni event schedule for 2020-21 is still a work in progress and will be dictated by COVID-19 mandates and protocols, so please watch for updates in the days and weeks ahead.

Enjoy the rest of the summer and know that you and your family members remain in my thoughts and prayers and the prayers of all the Franciscan Brothers. Thank you again for everything you do in support of St. Francis Prep. Stay safe, stay healthy, and please remember: High School is four years but the Prep is forever!

Yours in St. Francis,

Brother Leonard Conway, O.S.F. President

SPECIAL EVENTS Walk-a-thon • 10-11 Annual Mass of Remembrance • 18 Annual Homecoming Weekend • 12-15 Veterans Day • 19 Christmas Party for Our Friends with Special Needs • 20 Alumni Career Day • 21 Dedication of the New Anatomy/Biology Lab • 24-25 ALUMNI CLASS REUNIONS Class of 2010 10th Anniversary Reunion • 22-23 Class of 2005 15th Anniversary Reunion • 22-23 Class of 2000 20th Anniversary Reunion • 22-23 REGIONAL ALUMNI CHAPTER EVENTS Las Vegas/West Coast Reunion • 16-17 Florida Area Alumni Chapter • 21 PROFESSION-BASED ALUMNI CHAPTERS Education Alumni Chapter • 11 COVER STORY The Prep Faces the New Realities of COVID-19 • 6-9 WHAT’S HAPPENING @6100 Alumni Director’s Column • 26-27 Alumni News and Notes • 28-35 Athletic Season Recap • 27 In Memoriam • 36-39

Grad News • Summer/Fall 2020 3

St. Francis Prep’s

Annual Alumni Events & Activities The health and well-being of the St. Francis Prep community, including all our alumni, their family members and friends are of paramount importance as our nation, region and the world confront the COVID-19 virus. As of press time, our 2020-21 alumni event calendar has not been set. Therefore, instead of definitive dates, we offer you a “review & preview” of the events we have held each year. Please check the alumni website, alumni.sfponline.org and be sure your email address is up-to-date. This will help ensure that you receive notification of events and activities when it is deemed safe to gather in large groups. Given all of the time we have spent in quarantine, it’s anticipated that we will have greater and more festive celebrations when we come together again! In the meantime, stay close to your friends and classmates through the SFP Alumni Website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. (See the column on the right hand side of the following page.) You can also establish new professional connections through our LinkedIn presence. Needless to say, the alumni event schedule for 2020-21 is still a work in progress and will be dictated by COVID-19 mandates and protocols, so please watch for updates in the days and weeks ahead. In the meantime, Be safe, stay healthy, and remain hopeful! years ago, the 3-Point Shot Contest was named in memory of Brian O’Connor, a member of the class of 1986 and a devoted Prep parent who participated in the tournament and also succumbed to cancer.

Rescheduled for Spring 2021

Fall: Sunday in Mid-October

The Annual Walk-a-thon

This annual display of Prep Pride and Terrier Spirit features two-mile loop course through Cunningham Park and has raised over $2.5 million in support of the Capital Improvement and Modernization Program.

Homecoming: 5K Fun Run

Fall: Friday in Mid-October Homecoming: Friends of SFP Football “Night of Champions”

Fall: October

The bricks (and other memorials) on the Pathway to St. Francis are blessed prior to the start of the Mass and the “Banners of Honor” are blessed in the gym following Mass.

This annual tradition is dedicated to the FDNY, NYPD, PAPD and Military and is held in remembrance of all those we lost connected to the terror attacks on September 11th. There is a “Pee Wee” race prior to the start of the event and awards for top male/female finishers in several age categories.

Breakfast is served.

An evening of Terrier Pride & Tradition, this event celebrates and honors all of the players, coaches, moderators and supporters who raised the SFP Football prominence over the course of nearly 100 years.

Education Alumni Chapter Reception

Network with alumni who are employed in all capacities of the education profession-- from teaching to administration and from school districts around the NYC area.

Fall: Mid-October

Winter: Late December

Christmas Party for Our Friends with Special Needs

This tradition was started by the late Sr. Joseph Agnes, DCH to bring joy to the lives of those who might otherwise might not have the opportunity to get out and celebrate in a lively and festive atmosphere. Student, Parents, Faculty, Staff and Alumni in the Prep community come together to deliver donated gifts and serve meals to approximately 200 guests. The Step Team, the Dance Team and the Jazz Band/Chamber Ensemble each provide a little entertainment.

Homecoming Football Game

This time-honored tradition brings back alumni and former players from all eras as they cheer on the current generation of Terrier Football Athletes.

Fall: Saturday in Mid-October Homecoming: “A Day at the Races”

Fall: Thurs. in Mid-October

Homecoming 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament

Held in memory of Jimmy ‘79 Prendergast and his father, James H2011 who passed away from cancer, this event brings together players of all skill levels and ages. Two

An incredible afternoon of fun that celebrates the tradition and excitement of thoroughbred racing in America. Prep alumni and guests dine and view the races from the exclusive Turf and Field Club room.

There’s also a guided tour through the Paddock and a private betting window just for our group.

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Winter: Early January Fall: Early November

Annual Memorial Mass of Remembrance

We honor all the alumni, family and friends of St. Francis Prep who have passed during the prior 12 months.

Reunion: 10th, 15th and 20th Anniversary Classes Celebrate

Alumni return to the Prep to celebrate their milestone anniversaries of graduation.

Our SFP “alumni” Facebook page www.facebook.com/ st.francispreparatoryschool

March 17th

NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Winter: Early January Alumni Career Day

The Guidance Office invites alumni from all walks of life to return and be part of a panel discussion and share their experiences with current students. Participants range from alumni who are currently in college to those who have been in the workforce for many years.

This is a family-friendly parade and Prep’s participation in it is a tradition that dates back to our days in Brooklyn. The SFP Cheerleaders provide spirit and enthusiasm as scores of alumni, family and friends march up 5th Avenue!

Spring: April/May

Annual Spring Reunion & Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

8,300 Followers

Each year a select group of alumni are inducted into the SFP Hall of Fame.

Afterwards, there is a celebration of the 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 50th, 55th, 60th, 65th, & 70th Reunion anniversary classes.

Our “official” SFP LinkedIn page St. Francis Preparatory School

April 17, 2021 RESCHEDULED

Spring: Early March

Florida Alumni Reunion and Spring Training Game (East Coast)

Alternating each year between the east coast and west coast, this wonderful event draws alumni from all parts of the Sunshine State and from many different graduation years!

It consists of a pre-season baseball game and reception.

Red & Blue Terrier Ring of Honor Gala

This event recognizes the outstanding achievements of our prominent past athletes, coaches and athletic administrators who have enhanced the reputation of the Prep’s athletic program. This event was originally scheduled to be held in 2020 with over 900 tickets sold. All paid reservations will be honored on the 2021 date.

Spring: Mid-May

Financial Services Alumni Chapter Reception

A wonderful gathering that is both professional and social for graduates employed in the financial services sector. Participants range from recent grads to alumni with decades of experience and expertise.

SFP Alumni Website:

June 21, 2021

27 Annual Golf Classic

alumni.sfponline.org

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Spring: Date Varies

Arts & Marketing Reception

This is a great opportunity to make new friends and contacts who work in the visual and performing arts, television, film, and entertainment.

This group provides a wonderful way to grow your professional network, find potential new collaborators and share career advice with other alumni working/interested the arts and marketing.

Spring: April/May

Annual President’s Dinner

By invitation. A gathering for all our generous and loyal benefactors and administrators.

Our “official” Twitter account St. Francis Preparatory School

Our annual Golf Classic continues to sell out as a wonderful day of golf, great food, great friends and prizes on one of the finest golf courses in the area--Cherry Valley Club in Garden City, NY. This year’s honorees are The Prendergast Family and Athletic Director, Sal Fischetti ‘83.

Contact us by phone: (718) 423-8810 ext. 230/268 Send an Email: alumni@sfponline.org or development@sfponline.org

Grad News • Summer/Fall 2020 5

COVER STORY The St. Francis Prep Community

When we rang in the new year on January 1, 2020, few of us could imagine that a virus would alter the lives of everyone in world in the first quarter. Seemingly overnight the phrases such as “flattening the curve” and “social distancing” became part of our everyday vocabulary.

The way we teach and interact with our students and the speed at which we’ve had to adapt has been extraordinary. “The size of the challenge we face is indeed monumental, but the speed at which it has unfolded has truly been exponential” said SFP Principal, Patrick McLaughlin ‘73.

He added, “We were well-prepared.”

On Thursday, March12th, Mr. McLaughlin convened an emergency meeting of all faculty and staff in the Prep’s auditorium. He explained that the Faculty/Staff Professional Development Day “retreat” that was planned for the following morning was going to be postponed due to the growing threat of the Coronavirus/Covid-19. He outlined a broad based strategy of contingency plans or “what ifs” in the event that schools needed to remain closed for an extended period of time in order to “flatten the curve.”

At this point in time the number of reported cases in New York City had numbered 300. Some local news media outlets were reporting that parents were taking precautions by pulling their children out of the city’s public schools. At the same time, rumors were circulating on social media that a contingent of worried NYC public school teachers were planning a “sickout” in response to the concerns over Cornavirus. On Sunday, March15th New York City’s Mayor, Bill de Blasio announced that city’s public school system would shut down due to public health concerns. St. Francis Prep shut down as well. And for the first time in the school’s history, distance learning became the primary means of instruction.

The Home Becomes the Classroom In a matter of 72 hours, the entire city experienced seismic shift as many non-essential businesses were shuttered and workers were ordered to stay home or work from home. School instructional time went from being divided up into orderly time periods to online videos or what is known in the profession as “asynchronous” learning. (The

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term asynchronous is most commonly applied to various forms of digital and online learning in which students learn from instruction—such as prerecorded video lessons or game-based learning tasks that students complete on their own—that is not being delivered in person or in real time.)

For both teachers and students, kitchen tables, living rooms and bedrooms were transformed into classrooms. Face time with students now required using a smartphone, tablet or computer with a built-in camera. And while many NYC and some Long Island based school districts struggled to launch their distance learning/remote instruction platforms, St. Francis Prep was “up and ready” to continue instruction within 72 hours. How was this possible?

Nearly six years ago, St. Francis Prep had the foresight to establish an iPad program. Every teacher and student was issued one on the first day of the school year. But ultimately, it was the dedication of the faculty and the IT support staff that kept everything running smoothly. In a email to the faculty on Week #3 of the crisis, SFP Principal Patrick McLauglin wrote, “I knew that we were well prepared for distance learning because of the years of work with the student iPad program, the technology platforms like Google Classroom that we have been using on a daily basis, and the technology support team that we have available to us.”

Overall, the transition to remote teaching/learning was relatively smooth from the technology standpoint. Worksheets, study guides and tests were emailed and/or downloaded from the SFP

Pictured (top): Students had to adapt their homes into “classrooms” using their Prep issued iPads and (bottom) SFP faculty members have re-purposed their kitchen tables into teacher’s desks. website instead of being produced on a copy machine and handed out in class. Despite that, there were still some challenges that needed to be addressed: • Prep Faculty/Staff members with school-age children took on additional roles of “substitute teachers” for their own kids while also working to keep Prep students up to speed and ontrack.

• In some instances, a number of students were hampered by slow or unreliable connections to the Internet at home or lacked adequate space to work productively and without distractions.

• Sustaining motivation became a challenge for some students. There are many students who really do fine working on their own, while others really need the structure that the classroom offers. But it is the personal attention given to each student and family from our teachers, guidance counselors and administrators that truly distinguishes a St. Francis Prep education.

Cura Personalis

The Latin phrase “Cura Personalis” translates to “care for the entire person” and in Catholic education it is used to emphasize the importance placed on the attention given to the unique needs of students. The Four Golden Links of Franciscan Education emphasize: 1) Intellectual 2) Spiritual, 3) Physical, and 4) Social aspects of education. Each part of the Prep community did what they could to keep students feeling connected. School was always in session. “The administration, faculty, staff, guidance counselors, nurse, experience group teachers, and campus ministers are here and available for you” Pat McLaughlin said to the students in a video message he posted on YouTube.

An “Office Hours” program was a supplement to the distance learning protocol. Teachers designated a particular time they would be available to meet “face-to-face” online with their students to answer questions and provide extended instructional time.

Campus Ministry held “virtual” Mass celebrated by Fr. Ralph Edel by live-streaming it from the school Chapel. Prep also listed email contact information for all Administrators and Guidance Counselors on the website.

“From the early stages of the lock-down and right through the summer, Prep’s administrators, guidance counselors and faculty remained in constant contact with students and parents,” said Brother Leonard about the Prep’s unwavering commitment to the students and their parents/ guardians. He went on to say, “When you have a community of people who embrace the mission with dedication, compassion and a high level of professional experience as our administration, faulty/staff does, it makes a crisis like this much more manageable.” He would know. Brother Leonard has served at Prep for more than four decades as a Teacher, Principal and currently as President.

Acting Swiftly and Decisively For Prep Families When the lock-down became a state-wide mandate, Bro. Leonard suspended the tuition payment system that automatically debited payments from parent bank accounts. “I tried to ease the burden somewhat by allowing for deferral of tuition payments, pledging that NO student will be denied his or her St. Francis Prep education

due to financial difficulties brought on by the Coronavirus,” Brother Leonard said in a letter to the Prep alumni community.

It was a welcome relief for many Prep families who have been beset by the loss of a job, a business closure, disappearing income, illness and even the passing of loved ones. But at the same time it also impacted the school’s finances. “Over $2 million in payments were deferred and, needless to say, this was going to require some intervention and/ or underwriting,” said SFP Development Director, Robert T. Angeletti.

A S.T.A.R. is Born

#TerrierSTAR—Student Tuition Assistance & Relief (for those in need because of the Coronavirus pandemic) was created to help ensure that no student falls between the cracks. And before this special fund was even announced in early May, several alumni, parents and friends offered financial assistance totally unsolicited. For example: • Bill Maroney ‘55, had donated $25,000 in January to commemorate the 65th Anniversary of his class graduation. Then, when he heard about the tremendous hardships being incurred by our students and their families, he “matched” that $25,000 in April to help those in need.

• Lisa and Bob Adams ‘80, traditionally sponsor the Cocktail Hour at our Annual June Golf Classic (which was canceled this year). They wrote to Bro. Leonard saying, “Brother, Use that sponsorship money this year to help the students with their tuition….and count on us for $30,000 to assist in that effort.”

• Leslie & John Tuffy ‘56, received their $1,200 stimulus checks. Leslie had already selected a charity she would support with this money. Then she asked John, “What will you do with your check?” John thought briefly and then said, in his words, “I pledge my $1,200 stimulus payment to St. Francis Prep specifically targeted to providing financial assistance to families economically stressed by the current crisis. It would seem to me that there may be many more St. Francis Prep alumni who, like Leslie and I, are fortunate enough to not ‘need’ the stimulus payment.”

Soon after that, the St. Francis Prep community was blessed with a remarkably generous offer.

“I will match every single donation made to the #TerrierSTAR Fund”

The Julie Chen Moonves ‘87 “Challenge-Match” Brother Leonard said earlier that having a community of people who embrace the mission with dedication and compassion makes a crisis so much more manageable. Within hours of Brother Leonard’s email message announcing plans to raise funds to aid students at Prep through the #TerrierSTAR Fund, SFP Hall of Famer and Class of 1987 graduate, Julie Chen Moonves made an extraordinarily generous offer. She pledged to match every donation made to the #TerrierSTAR program. She later recorded a video message that was broadcast to all alumni, parents, faculty and staff.

“Julie’s spirit of generosity not only impacts the lives of the Prep families affected by the pandemic, but it has also touched the hearts of more than a thousand alumni, parents and faculty/staff and motivated them to support the Prep,” said Bob Angeletti.

Amid one of the most severe economic contractions that the USA has ever experienced, the Prep Alumni and Parent community contributed more than $700,000 since the #TerrierSTAR program began in early May. Each and every dollar will be matched by Julie. And, at the time of this publication that will result in nearly $1.5 million being raised to aid Prep families who have been impacted by Covid-19.

Social Media Reaction Lorraine Kutz Smith: “What an amazing pledge to make! May God Bless You in all that you do Julie Chen Moonves !!!”

Cliff Trotter, Class of 1962: “God Bless Julie Chen Moonves. She is a kind, caring, classy young lady.”

Jackie Garifo Casola (Past Parent): “Ten years has passed for my son. SFP was the best choice he made. He has many memories from his teachers, friends, clubs. Thank you Julie!”

Paul Saldana, Class of 1987: “Excellent Julie. Go Terriers!”

Jody Kaiser Brannon, Class of 1982: “Glad to pay a bit forward for your assistance long ago.”

Christine Del Favero, Class of 1992: Thank you, Julie Chen Moonves, for your generous match. It’s 100% what motivated me to give today.”

Grad News • Summer/Fall 2020 7

On the Front Lines: Alumni Respond

St. Francis Prep Alumni are represented in all fields that have been designated as “essential workers” including, first-responders. We are thankful to all of them for their display of courage in the face of fear, and the hope they gave us in these unprecedented times.

As an occupational therapist managing a longterm care and rehab facility in Nassau County, Lauren Scibilia ‘98 reached out to Prep to see if we could donate protective goggles from our science department to the Nursing and Rehabilitation facility where she is employed.

You may recall that public health officials advised front-line health care workers to use eye shield during patients treatment as protection against the spread of Covid-19. It was deemed important for both patients and healthcare practitioners. She wrote “Our PPE is limited and this would greatly help our Department in protecting staff and to be able to treat these patients safely.” Within hours of the message, Prep staff gathered up a large bundle of protective goggles, face masks and gloves to distribute to other health care facilities in the area and they were all grateful for our support.

Where There Is Despair, Let Me Bring Hope

SFP Hall of Famer Danny Ryan ‘86 (and his family) were unable to be at his mother’s bedside during the 18 days that she hospitalized and treated for COVID-19. During those long, agonizing days and nights that he and his family kept vigil, they witnessed the dedication and sacrifice made by front-line health care workers. They received phone and text updates several times per day from the medical staff who worked increasingly longer days and weeks with little or no respite. Danny and his sister, Kimberly Ryan-Levin took action to help provide some sustenance to these heroes around the city. They raised funds through their family’s “Unsung Siblings Foundation” in order to provide catered meals to the staff of 25 area hospitals. During the peak of the pandemic, they made more than 40 deliveries of approximately 3,000 individual meals. “We wanted to thank first responders for leaving their loved ones at home to take care of ours,” said Danny’ sister, Kimberly.

Sadly, their mother, Thea, lost her battle to COVID-19. They took a short time off to mourn the loss of their dear mother, but the work did not stop. And their efforts helped more than just the hospital workers carry on. As we all know, many restaurant dining rooms were closed during the

early stages of the pandemic and thousands of workers were sidelined. In addition to the notes of gratitude from hospital workers, an employee of “Il Posto of Brooklyn” wrote a note of gratitude saying, “All of your donations are not only helping our healthcare heroes who are fighting on the front lines, but it also is helping restaurants and their loyal employees.” The Ryan family also took on a new project: The Dorothea Ryan and Caterina Cassandro Children’s Playground at The St. Mel’s (Whitestone) Early Childhood Center.

Class of 2020: “You Will Not Be Forgotten”

St. Francis Prep is steeped in many rich, timehonored Senior Class traditions: Senior Prom, Ring Night, the senior class yearbook photo, International Night, various honor society ceremonies and the Senior Assembly, just to name a few.

The unprecedented effects of the pandemic lockdown resulted in many of these activities being radically altered (live-streamed or prerecorded) while others were postponed. However, Prep’s administration vowed that it would do everything within its power to ensure that the Class of 2020 and their families would not be denied one of the most cherished traditions— The Commencement Ceremony.

Our Re-opening Plan for September

We know this upcoming school year will be different from usual school years. St. Francis Prep is committed to ensuring that all members of the school community can return to the building safely. Our goal is to safeguard the health and well-being of all members of the school community while making sure that the education of our students continues to move forward. (We follow all NYS, NYC, Department of Health, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.) Our School Nurse, Mary Pappas ‘78, is continually reviewing this guidance, consulting with the Department of Health and updating the Prep community via email and website postings. A comprehensive re-opening plan outline (in PDF) can be found on the Prep’s website: sfponline. org. The document reflects the governmental and health guidance as of the day of its posting; we will continue to update this guidance as we receive more information and as situations change. The following are a few, very broad “highlights” contained in the re-opening action plan.

• Prep has upgraded the air filters to MERV 13 filters. (MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value.) Filters are generally rated from six to 13 on the MERV scale. MERV 13 is the highest.

On Saturday, August 1st, after weeks of intense planning and preparation, four individual commencement ceremonies took place. (9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM.) This is the first time that a graduation ceremony was actually held on the Prep’s Fresh Meadows campus. (The ceremony is usually held at St. John’s University.)

• Hand sanitizer is available for all faculty, staff, and students at various points around the building, including but not limited to entrances, classrooms, hallways, the cafeteria, and bathrooms.

Cleaners will be available in shared spaces such as bathrooms, classrooms, and teacher’s spaces to ensure proper and frequent cleaning.

A massive tent was erected in the east parking lot with chairs spaced six feet apart. Every senior was issued a red and blue face mask and assigned to a numbered seats that were sanitized after each ceremony. Each ceremony consisted of approximately 150 students and they were all livestreamed “broadcasts” by SFP-TV.

• Following the DOH guidelines, assemblies and liturgies will be modified to allow for smaller numbers of students to gather in the auditorium.

Class of 1979 alumnus, Anthony Lamonaca ‘79, cousin of senior, Ralph Barbieri ‘20, posted on Prep’s Facebook page, “Great job, Prep! Happy for all the graduates who deserved the acknowledgment for their achievement.”

• All students, faculty, and staff members will have their temperatures taken at school. Anyone with a temperature over 100.0°F will be sent home and directed to contact their health care provider.

We ask all members of the Prep community to continue to remain informed about public policy and school procedures. We trust in God to guide us through this challenging time. We thank everyone for their support, prayers and cooperation. May God bless us all. On for Ol’ St. Francis!

St. Francis Prep’s First Responders Facebook Group The alumni association of St. Francis Prep is looking to enhance the membership of its First Responder Alumni Chapter. This group is expanded to include those graduates of The Prep who are current and retired members of Law Enforcement, Fire Department, Emergency Services and all branches of the military. If you are in any of the above categories, we invite you to join the newly created St. Francis Prep First Responders Alumni Chapter Facebook group. It can be found on our Facebook page: St. Francis Preparatory School. As a member of this group, you will connect with graduates and former classmates in your field. You will also learn of news and events for this group. We would love to see you at the Annual Fun Run event held during Homecoming Weekend honoring those alumni who perished on 9/11. This invitation is open to all SFP alumni who are First Responders. We look forward to hearing from you!

St. Francis Preparatory School “alumni” on Facebook: www.facebook.com/st.francispreparatoryschool

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A Parent’s Perspective

A Freshman’s Perspective

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1) One of Bro. Leonard’s many video message updates.

2) Lauren Scibilia ‘98, an occupational therapist at a long-term care and rehab facility in Nassau County, loading up her car with PPE donated by the SFP Science Department. 3) Representatives from Danny Ryan’s (Class of 1986) Unsung Siblings Foundation making food deliveries to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 4) Staff at Brandywine Living and Rehab Center in Little Neck show their gratitude for PPE donated by Prep. 5) A graduate poses during one of four 2020 Commencement Ceremonies on August 1st.

Dear Mr. McLaughlin,

Mr. McLaughlin,

My name is [STUDENT]. I was a freshman this year in at St. Francis Prep. Last year I had a very tough decision to make. I had to choose what high school I would be attending for the next four years of my life.

I didn’t know what path I wanted to take or what kind of person I wanted to become. Finally I made my decision and went with my gut feeling, I chose St. Francis Prep.

Hope this finds you well. Our son, [STUDENT] is a rising junior at SFP.

Choosing Prep was probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my 14 years of living.

Attending this school and becoming a Franciscan has really changed my life. Prep makes me feel loved and welcomed, and that’s the reason why I love school so much. I’ve already made the best of friends and met the most amazing staff members and professors, they make me feel so supported.

A lot of people disagree with me for loving school, I mean yes I get it, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but that doesn’t stop me from loving it.

I always looked forward to fall softball at Prep and seeing my best friends and going to my favorite classes. I love making lifelong memories. When school ended because of the Coronavirus, I didn’t really know how to feel. I was excited to get a break, but nervous that this would last forever and that I wouldn’t be able to go back to the school I love.

Unfortunately we did not return, however throughout this experience of distance learning.

I’ve learned many things. I learned that I really do need school, it’s plays a part in my everyday schedule throughout the year, without it I don’t know what I would do. Even through distance learning Prep never failed to support me and help me through these rough times, all my teachers pushed me to do my best and it motivated me to do well.

Now that school is over I am very proud of all my hard work this year and I cannot believe how much I’ve grown. In eight grade I was a nervous wreck about high school, and getting used to a whole new environment scared me. All thanks to Prep, everyone made me feel welcomed and assured me that everything would be okay! Now that I’ve finished my first year of high school, I know I could do anything if I put my mind to it. In the end what I’m really trying to say is that choosing Prep was a life changing experience and I can’t wait to go back to school in September to learn and make many more memories there!

Thank you to you, all the staff, and all my 9th grade teachers for a wonderful ninth grade experience.

May God Bless us all!

Sincerely, [STUDENT]

Over the past few months, our family has appreciated the efforts made by the administration and staff to stay positive, connected, and focused. In particular, we felt compelled to single out a few teachers for their dedication.

Mrs. Rafferty provided amazingly consistent and organized instruction. Daily video lessons, homework assignments, regular quizzes and assessments went a long way to provide much needed structure and stability. Office hours were very helpful for questions and updates. Mrs. Rafferty was always available via email for questions. The week’s lessons and expectations were very clearly laid out for the students.

Though Mr. Gonzalez was [STUDENT] Earth Science teacher, through distance learning he had the benefit of two teachers with the tag team of Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalez. Without fail, [STUDENT] could rely upon live (pre-recorded at times) lessons on a daily basis, always posted very early in the day, which helped to organize his day’s work. Frequent quizzes and exams helped to keep the material fresh and also contributed to an atmosphere of continued learning and commitment.

[Student] shared with us some videos made to explain lab assignments and an interactive project, and it was very obvious Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalez were trying very hard to keep their students engaged, and trying to make the best of what was a less than ideal learning situation for all. Office hours were available, and any time he reached out with a question through email he received a rapid response. He is the type of student who can ask enough questions for the entire class- so he likely kept teachers busy with return emails and responses and he always felt his commentary and questions were welcome.

The aforementioned teachers are also raising young families, and we imagine balancing their roles as teachers and parents during this uncertain, and at times, stressful time must have taken a toll. We are grateful for their efforts, and feel it was important to share this with you.

Thank you for your time.

Be well.

[PARENTS]

Grad News • Summer/Fall 2020 9

9th Annual Walk-athon - September 29, 2019 The Annual Walk-a-thon is a special activity that has become a great tradition for students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends. The approximately 1.5 mile loop-course winds through the leafy green paths of Cunningham Park and culminates at St. Francis Prep and the Annual Senior BBQ, which is a recent addition to this wonderful day!

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All told, more than $275,000 was raised in conjunction with the 9th Annual Walk-a-thon! Be assured that your generous contributions and pledges are being put to very good use each and every day for the benefit of our students! The proceeds of this event continue to benefit our Capital Improvement and Modernization Program. As a result of this program, we have already seen brand new Physical Education and Art Education Centers and completely renovated Science Classrooms and Labs. Another phase of this modernization program has been underway for the past year and will continue through 2021 with the construction of new Music Education facilities and Student/Athletic locker areas.

Education Alumni Reception - October 10, 2019 The Education Alumni Network held their annual reception in the newly renovated Prep cafeteria. Chapter coordinators Kathy Mackin-Sciortino ‘76 and Dominick Vulpis ‘74 welcomed the group and facilitated discussions among the participants. Several current Prep students spoke about their wonderful experiences at Prep!

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Homecoming: Three on Three Hoops-Thursday, October 17, 2019 Held in memory of Jimmy Prendergast ‘79 and his father, James H2011 who lost their lives to cancer, the Annual Homecoming Three-on-Three Tournament brings together many generations of alumni. Two years ago, the “Three Point Shooting Contest” was started in memory of Brian K. O’Connor ‘86, who was a regular participant in the tournament and a proud Prep parent. He also succumbed to cancer. Following the tournament, everyone gathered in the cafeteria where there was an abundance of food, raffle prizes and refreshments.

(Special thanks to John Keane ‘80, proprietor of The Blarney Stone, for providing the refreshments.) All participants and guests went home with raffle prizes and the winner of the 50/50 raffle won nearly $1,000!

Many thanks to all of our participants, sponsors and volunteers who continue to make this event a success year after year! Pictured: (1) Competitive and spirited players from all age categories participate. (2) Alumni Board VP, Gerry Scales ‘76, Joan Prendergast H2011, and Alumni Board President, Wally Bishop ‘80. (3) Family and friends of Brian O’ Connor ‘86 demonstrate their enduring support of the tournament by showing up in great numbers and with great spirit! (4) Alumni Board member, Marlon Morris ‘84 and Alumni Director, Bro. Robert Kent. (5) Friends enjoying the post-tournament reception. (6) 50/50 Raffle Winner Jodi Passarella-Madden ‘77 and Alumni Board Member, Nancy Donato ‘77.

SFP Homecoming 3-on-3

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Homecoming Friends of SFP Football “Night of Champions”- Friday, October 18, 2019 On Friday, October19th, The Friends of St. Francis Football hosted another well-attended gathering at Bourbon Street in Bayside for the Annual Night of Champions. The group’s motto is “making opportunities happen” and they present this opportunity for all former players, coaches, moderators and parents to relive great memories and make new ones.

Although he could not be present, John Pomarico ‘77 was honored for his commitment to the St. Francis Prep Football program and for helping make opportunities for the young men in our football program through his loyal and generous support of the “Friends of SFP Football” group. “We are so grateful to all of those who contributed prizes, volunteered their time and supported the event by purchasing raffle tickets and being with us every year,” said Terrier Football Coach Rich Carroll ‘86.

Admissions Open House- Saturday, October 19. 2019

Open House is an annual event where our doors are open to the public to tour the school, meet the faculty/staff, students and learn more about the great things going on a SFP! Please direct any admissions questions to admissions@sfponline.org Office of Admissions Ms. Lisa Schaefer-Heuer Director of Admissions St. Francis Preparatory School 6100 Francis Lewis Blvd.

Fresh Meadows. NY 11365 (718) 423-8810 ext. 229 Fax: 718-423-1097 “High School is Four Years; St.Francis Prep is forever”

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Homecoming 5K Fun Run and “Meet Up”- Sunday, October 20, 2020

OUR 2019 HONOREES John Sudnik ‘80

Chief of Department, FDNY

Brian McCarthy ‘80 Assistant Chief, NYPD Commanding Officer, Criminal Enterprise Division

On Sunday, October 20, 2019, the Alumni Board held its annual Homecoming 5K Fun Run dedicated to the FDNY, NYPD, PAPD and Military Men & Women and in remembrance all in the Prep community who passed away on September 11th. It was truly a team effort. The Terrier Cheerleaders, under the leadership of Rosie Tombolo ‘11 were present to cheer on the more than 150 runners and walkers. Prep’s Athletic Director, Sal Fischetti ‘83, Coach Jim May ‘76 and the Girl’s Track Team organized the race course. Leo Nicolas H2013 coordinated the race results. Alumni Board President, Wally Bishop ‘80 and Denise Niedermeyer-Tracey ‘80 and Gerry Scales ‘76 organized the event program. Following the race, an awards ceremony and breakfast was in the cafeteria. We are grateful to each participant and all of our Alumni Board volunteers for making the day special.

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Post-Race “Meet Up” -Sunday, October 21, 2020 Alumni from the late 1970s and early 1980s gathered at One Station Plaza (formerly Sullivan’s) following the Annual 5K Fun Run for a reception that we hope to make an annual tradition. It hosted by John Ryan ‘81. The afternoon included a three-hour open bar and hors d’oeuvres. It was a fun time for all.

Homecoming Football Game -Sunday, October 21st Wearing their special edition “Homecoming” uniforms, our SFP Varsity Terriers took on Fordham Prep at Van Buren High School on Sunday. The inclement weather was no match for the Terrier spirit!

There was a very large crowd of attendees and the SFP Cheerleaders brought out the spirit! And even though we did not prevail on the field, Pride & Tradition was abundant!

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Las Vegas Reunion- Friday, October 25th thru Sunday, October 27th It was a fantastic weekend of reunion events thanks to Bob Caccamo ‘59 and his leadership in recruiting a committee of loyal and spirited alumni and coordinating all of the events. Special thanks to Richie Waitkus ‘80 for his active involvement and most generous hosting of the reunion weekend breakfast/ brunch departure banquet on Sunday. “It was a weekend that we will always remember,” said SFP Alumni Director, Brother Robert Kent, O.S.F. Prep’s Principal, Brother Leonard Conway, O.S.F., Development Director, Robert T. Angeletti and several members of the alumni board were also present including Alumni Board President, Wally Bishop ‘80.

The Weekend Events Saturday Oct. 26, 9:00 PM Friday Oct.25, 4:00 PM High Roller Party Happy Hour at the Vdara Saturday Oct. 26, 5:00 PM Dinner/Dance at the Brooklyn Bowl

Sunday Oct. 27, 10:00 PM Brunch at Silver Sevens hosted by Richie Waitkus ‘80

Las Vegas Reunion Committee Anthony Ruggierio ’82 NV Richie Waitkus ’80 NV Bob Caccamo’59 AZ Joyce (Horn) Averna ’80 CA Christie (Von Roten) Ellis ’91 AZ Rich Donaghy’60 CA

Friday Evening: “Meet & Greet” Happy Hour/Cocktail Hour at The Vdara

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Mia (Tomcick) Severson ’83 CA Pat Cashin ’59 CA Peter Corritori ’59 FL Joanne Virella ’85 NV John Chojnowski ’62 NV Dennis Esposito ’60 AZ

Saturday: A Banquet at The Brooklyn Bowl’s Blue Ribbon Restaurant followed by a “The High Roller” Party The 2019 SFP “West Coast” Reunion Banquet was held exclusively in the Brooklyn Bowl’s Blue Ribbon Restaurant. Afterwards alumni went to “The High Roller” (pictured below) which is Las Vegas’ version of the London Eye! Guests enjoyed a heart stopping ride with spectacular views, while reuniting with friends and classmates with an open bar, DJ, and dancing!

Sunday Morning: Brunch at the Silver Sevens Hotel and Casino

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The Annual Mass of Remembrance • November 3, 2019 The Prep community gathers together in prayer to remember the deceased alumni, family members, friends, faculty and loved ones each year on the first Sunday of the month of November. The newly added bricks and other memorials on the “Pathway to Saint Francis” are blessed prior to the start of Mass and the “Banners of Honor” are raised in the gym following Mass. Family and/or friends are invited to bring forth a candle in their loved one’s memory as names of the deceased are read. A brunch follows all of the ceremonies. In addition, the student recipients of “memorial scholarships” are afforded an opportunity to meet with the families and generous benefactors behind these funds. It’s a wonderful tradition and reaffirms our Terrier alumni motto, “High school is four years, St. Francis Prep is forever!”

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The following presentations were made prior to the Mass of Remembrance. Pictured left to right from top left: HUGH AND MARGARET KELLY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Anthony Lygeris ‘20 THE MICHAEL F. LYNCH ‘86 MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Angelina Carracciolo ‘20 Tiara Luke ‘20 Riana Simo ‘20 Sophia Zephyr ‘20 THE BERNICE & JAMES E. MCHUGH H’92 SCHOLARSHIP Arianna Goolcharan ‘20 Mikayla Barnave ‘20 Jada Jackson ‘20 Joanna Salazer ‘20 Pierce Elliott ‘20 Diego Llanos ‘20 THE ALFONSE J. NIEDERMEYER ‘79 MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Tony Petion ‘21 Morris Hubbard ‘23 THE PAULETTE & VINCENT A. TOSCANO ‘53 SCHOLARSHIP Vasili Koutouratsas ‘20 Angelo Koutouratsas ‘20

Veterans Day • November 8, 2019 St. Francis Prep recognized and engaged with alumni who have served their country—including current members of our service branches. Veterans and active duty military joined us at Prep on November 8th for a special program designed to enlighten our students about the vital role our servicemen and women have played in defense of our freedom and our uniquely American way of life. Participants had the chance to interact with our students today, explaining to them how the Prep helped prepare them for a life of service to our nation. The following is a list of attendees and honorees: • Daniel F. Lynch, Class of 1947 – U.S. Army 25th Division in the Korean War (Father of the late 9/11 firefighter Michael Lynch, Class of 1986) • Edward M. Kelly, Class of 1959 – U.S. Army Intelligence Officer in the Vietnam War • John S. Pereira, Class of 1962 – U.S. Army Specialist, Company F, 40th Armor in Berlin • Robert J. Engel, Class of 1964 – U.S. Army Sergeant, 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division in the Vietnam War

• Jophiel Philips, Class of 1999 – U.S. Air Force JAG Major • Leonard Legagneur, Class of 2016 – U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal • Jonathan Ally, Class of 2016 – U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal

• Michael M. Lee, Class of 1965 – U.S. Army Decorated Specialist in the Vietnam War

• Michael Melendez, Religion Department- U.S. Navy 1st Lieutenant

• Jon Fredas, Class of 1983 – U.S. Navy Commander for 22 years

• Anthony Grimm, Religion Department- U.S. Army 1st Lieutenant

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Christmas Party for Our Friends with Special Needs • Saturday, December 14, 2019 Each December, the Prep community comes together to bring a little Christmas cheer to those adults with developmental disabilities who might otherwise have limited social engagement. There are still many who remember when the late Sr. Joseph Agnes Hohmann created this wonderful event with the support of alumni, parents, students, and faculty/staff more than 30 years ago. “Little did those people realize that she was teaching the true meaning of Christmas: service to others,” said Suzanne Camus, SFP social studies teacher and organizer of the party. This year, the day is made festive through the talents and contributions of the SFP Step Team, the Dance Team, Chamber Orchestra and alumni board member, DJ Donna Roger ‘79. Prep’s athletic teams, coaches, club members and their moderators engage guests in conversation, sing-alongs and dance. Each guest received a Christmas gift and a favor as they left the party thanks to the generous donations of gifts and cash from alumni and friends.

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Alumni Career Day- Wednesday, January 8, 2020 Each year Ms. Becky Barrell of the SFP Guidance Department coordinates the Annual Career Day for Prepsters. Alumni from all stages of life and career paths provide candid thoughts and practical advice on a host of topics. Recent grads are able to offer practical advice and keen insights on everything from choosing a college or major and whether to commute or live on campus. Alumni in the workforce for a number of years address the practicality of career choices and speak to how ongoing learning and staying connected to fellow alumni have enabled them to keep growing in their career. Session participants included: Valentina Marzulli ‘18, Angela Castronova ‘18, Carmella Mae Mendoza ‘18, Luigi Pedalino ‘96, Fred Zupicich ‘81, Sabrina Piazza ‘10, Jenna Alma ‘17, Cynthia Camera ‘95, Chad Bonitto ‘19, Daphne Marvis ‘05, Ricardo “Rich” Gonzalez ‘84 and Thea Reid ‘10.

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(1) Luigi Pedalino ‘96 provides his insights on building a successful career. (2) Jenna Alma ‘17 provides advice on the college experience. (3) Entrepreneur Fred Zupicich ‘81 speaks about his persistence and success. (4) Seated: Carmella Mae Mendoza ‘18, Angela Castronova ‘18 & Valentina Marzulli ‘18, with program organizer and SFP guidance counselor, Ms. Becky Barell (4) Pictured left (l-r): Fellow panelists Ricardo “Rich” Gonzalez ‘84, Daphne Marvis ‘05, Chad Bonitto ‘19, Cynthia Camera ‘95, Jenna Alma ‘17 listen as Sabrina Piazza ‘10 shares her professional experience and aspirations in the medical field.

Florida Area Alumni Chapter Game and Reception- February 29, 2020 In addition to being one of the most enjoyable and spirited alumni gatherings at the start of the new year, the Annual Florida Alumni Chapter earned the distinction of being the last official SFP alumni event before the Covid-19 quarantine went into effect. Paige and Marc Hamlin ‘84 warmly welcomed 26 alumni in their home and provided a delicious, professionally catered meal. Bro. Leonard gave an update on all of the recent developments at the Prep. Prior to the reception, a group of 25 alumni gathered at George M. Steinbrenner Field for a Yankees Spring Training Game.

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Reunion of the Classes of 2000, 2005 and 2010-January 25, 2020

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The Blessing & Dedication of SFP’s

Anatomy/Biology Lab and

3-D Interactive Anatomage Table Friday, December 13, 2019

The Campaign for St. Francis Prep

The Next 150

SFP Principal, Patrick J. McLaughlin ‘73 standing at the “entrance” to the lab portion of the classroom, welcomes NYPQ officials and SFP faculty members prior to the ribbon cutting. SFP President, Bro. Leonard Conway, O.S.F. can be seen standing in the lab through the glass partitioned “walls”. Commenting on the great deal of thought and planning that went into its creation, Bro. Leonard said, “The lab not only contains cutting-edge technology, but it is also very intelligently and attractively designed for current and future generations of students.”

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Pictured above: City Council Representative, Barry Grodenchik (left) and Assemblywoman, Nily Rozic (second from left) and the dedicated members of the SFP Science Department proudly gather around the Anatomage table. Our faculty members have been very creative in their instructional plans for Prep students to achieve understanding and develop their abilities in all categories of science. The new lab opens up a world of new and exciting possibilities.

Representatives from NewYork-Presbyterian/Queens (NYPQ) came to Prep for the official ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for the new Anatomy and Biology Lab in room W-211. This science classroom and lab was completely overhauled and modernized in 2015. But now the newly dedicated Lab includes one of the most cutting edge pieces of anatomy education equipment available today: a 3-D, interactive virtual anatomy table that is now in place thanks to a generous grant of $100,000 from NYPQ. Prep’s relationship with NYPQ began in 2018 when Robert Blenderman ‘97, NYPQ’s Chief Operating Officer, approached SFP about a program that would enable students to “shadow” health care professionals at the Hospital in order to gain experience about the many different career paths in the field. After that program began, the idea of adding an Anamotage table came up and NYPQ responded enthusiastically.

“In order to really create a spark in a student’s mind, what they’re going to do in heath care or science, they need something like this to kind of pull them in,” Blenderman said. “This allows students in our anatomy and biology courses to see the interior of the human body and perform “operations” on more than one-thousand virtual cadavers. It provides the most realistic view of the human anatomy,” said Kim Istrico, Chair of the SFP Science Department.

Mindful of the high-caliber faculty and students at Prep, Pat McLaughlin said, “This is great technology, but what happens in the classroom is the most important thing.” He continued, “What every one of these science teachers does in the classroom is the thing that matters...the teachers we have foster the outstanding students that we have here today and the many successful alumni that we have.”

Pictured (l-r): Robert Blenderman ‘97, Chief Operating Officer, and Jaclyn Mucaria, MPA, FACHE, President, NewYorkPresbyterian Queens (partially obscured from view); Patrick McLaughlin ‘73, SFP Principal; Bro. Leonard Conway, SFP President; Jessica Doherty ‘21.

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A Message from

Brother Robert Kent, O.S.F., Alumni Director Dear Alumni and Friends, The year 2020 has been an exceptionally challenging year, forcing all of us to face the tsunami of the Corona Virus pandemic and its economic, social and psychological impact on all our lives. I think of you, our alumni and all other members of our Prep Community who have been deeply affected by this pandemic. Covid-19 has left an indelible mark on all our lives. Our world is different now, and perhaps we will never be quite the same in years to come. Our condolences and prayers will continue for all the families and friends who have lost loved ones during these difficult and unprecedented times.

The Corona Virus prevented the class of 2020 from having the full experience of a Senior Prom, Senior Day Activities, and a typical June graduation ceremony. It also ushered in the use of online distance learning which became the norm for their final three months of learning at St. Francis Prep. The pandemic also jeopardized the continued education for a number of students who faced the prospect of not being able to return to the Prep, or not even being able to enroll in the first place because of the financial hardships brought about by the virus. But fortunately these students did not have to discontinue their education, thanks to the generosity of so many alumni, parents and friends who supported a special program known as #TerrierStar (Student Tuition Assistance and Relief). Julie Chen, a 1987 Alumna made an extraordinarily generous offer to match every gift that funds the “Save the Day Program,” insuring that: “No student would be denied a St. Francis Prep education due to any financial difficulties caused by the Corona Virus.” (Brother Leonard Conway, O.S.F., President.)

With the help of present and future students, faculty, staff, administration, alumni, parents and friends, we will continue on the path of providing the highest and best Catholic secondary education possible. We need to remind ourselves that we are all equal stakeholders in the Prep Community, a

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community firmly rooted in the Franciscan tradition. Together, we can make the Prep even better for our present and future students by our conjoined efforts.

On Thursday, October 3rd, we celebrated the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi with a liturgy offered by Bishop Neil Tiedemann, C.P., Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn. At this time, The Canticle Citation was presented to Suzanne Camus, Brother James McVeigh, O.S.F. and Jill Verdi for their 15 years of service. All these dedicated individuals have given so much to our students, and over the years have deeply impacted the lives they have intersected.

years of service. We thank them for the profound impact that they have made on the lives of those in their care. We are grateful that they have been our partners in our Franciscan Mission. Now it is time to smell the proverbial roses.

At this juncture, we would like to acknowledge: • Mary Pappas ‘78 received the Faculty/Staff Franciscan Spirit Award.

• Jazmin Jedrzejczyk ‘20 received the Student Franciscan Spirit Award.

• The Al Power Student Athlete award was presented to Diego Llanos ‘20.

• The Shelia Barrett Knudson Student Athlete award was presented to Elena Duffy ‘20.

Susan D’Andrea

John Madri

• The General Excellence Award and this year’s Valedictorian was Christopher Bhola ‘20.

• Victoria Reshetnikov ’20 was the Salutatorian.

• This year’s recipient of the faculty recognition for Educational Excellence was Susan Sparagna ‘78 of the Religion Department.

Sr. Philip Kiley

Jean Truzzolino

I would like to take the time to recognize some special individuals who made considerable contributions to our Prep Community and who are now retiring this summer. Let us bid a fond farewell to Susan D’Andrea for her 23 years of service in the Finance Office; and from the English Department John Madri for his 48 years of service. We also wish to salute Sister Philip Kiley, C.S.J., for her 45 years of service in the Business Department and Jean Truzzolino for her 25 years in the Computer Lab. All together, this represents a combined 141 years of loyal service to the Prep. We salute all of them for their commitment and many

These individuals truly exemplify the Franciscan ideals in all aspects of their lives.

Two days at the Prep that are special and a joy to behold are the first day of school and the last day of school for all our students.

What an amazing transformation occurs during this span of time. Once timid and unsure of themselves as freshman entering in September, at the time of graduation, four years later, they have matured into confident young men and women. Now they will be prepared to meet the multifarious challenges they will encounter on the diverse roads they will travel.

2019-2020 ATHLETIC SEASON ROUND-UP Although the day is not detailed exactly as it might have been originally imagined, nothing can ultimately detract from the extraordinary achievement that Graduation represents. The unusual circumstances simply enhance the importance and the finality of the event itself.

Adversity often has a way of summoning the best from each of us. Let us celebrate the relationships that have been forged with each other, for they will last in a meaningful way into the future. We congratulate each and every member of the graduating class of 2020 and wish them nothing but success and happiness in their future endeavors!

Balancing the global health crisis with the new reality of at home learning created an unprecedented and harrowing challenge for students, parents, faculty and administration.

This alternate educational experience was born of necessity, but was ultimately designed with the same expertise and consummate care that are unmistakable trademarks of the Prep educational system as a whole. Everyone involved made a firm resolve to maintain the highest standards in imparting knowledge to the Prep student body, keeping the online learning experience as rich and impactful as the regular classroom experience. Of course there is no substitute for in-class instruction, but it can be affirmed with confidence that the on-line experience did not compromise the quality of education, it only changed the dynamics.

Let us all officially welcome our new freshman, the Class of 2024 this fall. We would like to take this opportunity to invite our alumni, benefactors and friends to attend one or more of the many alumni events held throughout the year.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all first responders, medical professionals and essential workers who answered the call of duty with selfless devotion, and who continue serving others even today. Their hard work, bravery, dedication and professionalism during these uncertain and different times serve to edify all

of us. God Bless our frontline heroes for their valiant service.

In closing, let us openly proclaim our heartfelt gratitude to all our loyal alumni, benefactors and friends. It is obvious that we can achieve nothing without them. After all these years, I still continue to be proud of the Prep community for its firm dedication to the pursuit of excellence, for its tireless concern for all those entrusted to its care, and for its anticipated unwavering commitment to the next 162 years.

Let us pray for healing, reconciliation, an increase in compassion and understanding, an end to racism and all injustices, and a new awareness of what it means to affirm that all men and women are created equal.

As fall and winter approach, may the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi provide us with a confidence that these current tragic events will inevitably unite us and that our nation and way of life will ultimately prevail.

As always, I am grateful to the members of the Alumni Board for all they have done and will continue to do for St. Francis Prep. Thank you for your unfailing support.

May the Blessing of St. Francis of Assisi be with you and your family, now and all the days of your life.

“High School is Four Years; St. Francis Prep is Forever” In Gratitude,

Brother Robert Kent, O.S.F. Alumni Director

BOYS BASKETBALL B/Q Division 1 • 1st Place Diocesan Champions GIRLS BASKETBALL B/Q Division 1 • 1st Place City Champions BOWLING Varsity 5th Place JV – 2nd Place FOOTBALL AA Division Semi-Finalist HOCKEY B Division -5th Place BOYS SOCCER B/Q Division 1 • 1st Place 2019 City Semi-Finalist GIRLS SOCCER Division 2 – 1st Place 2019 A Division Champions BOYS SWIMMING Division 1 - 4th Place GIRLS SWIMMING Division 1 - 4th Place GIRLS TENNIS 3rd Place – Play-off Semifinalist BOYS TENNIS Boys Track & Field B/Q - 2nd Place GIRLS TRACK & FIELD B/Q - 2nd Place

Grad News • Summer/Fall 2020 27

“The Prep Alumni Publishing Club” Alfred E. Fazio ‘66 grew up in Bensonhurst and college in Philadelphia before serving in the U.S. Navy for three years.

He has worked in New York on the railroad for the duration of his 40+ career, and has published several books on public transit, planning, and rail. His most recent book, The Development and Operation of New York’s IRT and BMT, was published last year and is dedicated to St. Francis Prep. Congratulations Alfred!

Michael O’Keefe ‘81, a retired NYPD 1st Grade Detective, is now a novelist, blogger and commentator. For 24 years, he was on the same streets he describes in his first novel Shot to Pieces, introducing his alter ego, Padraig “Paddy” Durr, a brilliant yet troubled detective attempting to investigate a murder no one else wants solved. It’s an exciting roller coaster ride, a crime-thriller that rings true. O’Keefe borrowed from over 20 years of experience to shape this well-written and detailed story. Great work, Michael!

Barb Mergner Dunn ‘83 learned that she could potentially be diagnosed with breast cancer. Instead of doubting her future or giving up hope, Barb put her faith and trust in the only comfort she knew, God Almighty. Her new book, Whispers of Wisdom, comprises a collection of journal entries, emails and personal reflections that create a chronological “flashback” to her life-changing health ordeal. Barb hopes her story positively inspires other people who are undergoing difficult circumstances in their lives, health-related or not. In 2017, she was invited by SFP Football coach Rich Carroll ‘86 to speak to the team at their season kick off. Thank you for sharing your story, inspiration and faith, Barb!

Anthony Sciarratta ‘13 released his second novel, The Letter, which will be his first fully published novel release to date.

Shortly after, he published his debut book of Poetry, “Faith in the Unknown.” In a captivating story of forbidden love, The Letter reminds us how two soulmates can always find their way back to each other. When famous writer Victor Esposito falls into a coma, the memories of a ten-year-old love affair come roaring back to Eva Abram’s mind, uprooting her quiet Long Island life.

Preventing Further Terrorist Attacks

by Jack Cahill ‘ 57

attacks. During that time they also refined their plan to respond. As it turned out theirs was the only plan there was.

On September 15, 2001, Cofer Black briefed President Bush and his War Cabinet on his strategy to force Al Qaeda out of their safe-haven in Afghanistan so they could not execute their planned follow-up attacks.

The president gave Cofer the green light to handpick several hundred Special Forces and to Captain them himself. Within three months, Cofer and his warriors had removed Al Qaeda and the Taliban from power and expelled them from their stronghold in Afghanistan. Here’s how they did it:

Cofer Black in the center, Jack Cahill ‘57 and his wife, Dianne, on the right.

When General MacArthur reflected on his experience as a student-athlete at West Point, he said: “On the fields of friendly strife, are sown the seeds which on other fields, in other years, will bear the fruits of victory.” One student-athlete, whom I had the honor of teaching and coaching at Canterbury, personifies the truth and wisdom of MacArthur’s words. His name is Cofer Black and I remember him hitting the seven-man blocking sled on the Canterbury gridiron with an effort and drive that I have rarely seen. Cofer gave every ounce of effort.

On the morning of 9/11 Director George Tenet ordered the evacuation of CIA headquarters at Langley. When his Chief of Counterterrorism, Cofer Black, refused to leave, Tenet said Langley could be the next target and Cofer and his team could all be killed. Cofer replied: “Then we’ll just have to die. Our job is here, our duty to the American people is here – especially in a crisis like this!” He and his team spent the next 36 hours at Langley proving that Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda had planned and executed the

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First: They differentiated the Chiefs whose loyalty to bin Laden could not be broken, from those who could be convinced that Al Qaeda had hijacked their country. Second: Cofer used the intelligence showing that, in addition to land and money, the Chiefs could be motivated by things that increased their esteem in the eyes of their people. Within 72 hours after a chief decided to make an alliance with the United States, the US airdropped food and clothes for his people, toys for their children and weapons for his warriors.

This helped to solidify the commitment of the tribal chiefs to the United States. Third: Cofer used highly selective, tightly-targeted kinetic force to prove that the United States could win. Cofer Black and his warriors succeeded in preventing Al Qaeda’s planned follow-up attacks on the United States in a fraction of the time, at a fraction of the cost in blood and treasure that the Soviet Union had expended in a catastrophic failure – a failure that broke up the 16 Soviet republics.

Considering the obstacles faced, Cofer Black led the most successful American military operation since MacArthur landed at Inchon nearly three quarters of a century ago. Cofer told me, however, that the credit for successfully ousting Al Qaeda and the Taliban belongs to his brave warriors, not him.

In 2002 President Bush promoted Cofer Black to be Ambassador at Large with the mission of creating and implementing the Worldwide Counterterrorism Matrix, the strategic instrument that has helped to prevent another 9/11 type terrorist attack for nearly two decades.

Ambassador Cofer Black has very kindly credited my teaching and coaching at Canterbury with motivating him to dedicate himself to a life of service. He said it taught him to hit hard and never give up and he brought those strengths forward “to Afghanistan during one of our country’s darkest hours.”

I think it is the dream of many teachers and coaches to help plant a seed that “on other fields, in other years will bear the fruits of victory.” The Franciscan Brothers at St. Francis Prep, the Jesuits at Marquette and my colleagues at Canterbury taught me to work at developing my mind in knowing and my will in choosing. Those were the lessons that I passed on to Ambassador Cofer Black, in addition to hitting hard and never giving up, that he said helped him to prevent Al Qaeda from executing their planned follow-up attacks on United States.

This essay was submitted by Jack Cahill, a member of the Class of ’57, a class which has consistently acted in the spirit of St. Francis and enthusiastically supported the Prep for more than sixty years. Jack was the shortstop on the Prep baseball team which included Joe Torre. His experience includes coaching baseball, football and track and teaching American history at the high school and college levels. He was also the co-founder and CEO of a successful high tech company. Jack is a member of the Organization of American Historians and a past member of the Business Council for the United Nations. He was a presidential candidate in the 1992 New Hampshire Primary and the author of Tragedy of an American President.

Alumni News and Notes Prep Celebrates Class of 1958 MLB Legend Joe Torre’s 80th Birthday with a special gift.

Peter Callahan, Prep Class of 1959 won his 100th race as a thoroughbred owner as three year-old filly, Swiss Skydiver won the Santa Anita Oaks on June 6th in California. Hall of Fame Jockey, Mike Smith, was wearing Red & Blue! And as we were going to press, Swiss Skydiver did it again at Saratoga’s Alabama Stakes Race on August 15th. The Alabama was the final qualifying race leading up to the Kentucky Oaks on September 4th at Churchill Downs. Congratulations, Peter!

Swiss Skydiver at Santa Anita Oaks on June 6th in California.

Peter Callahan (blue blazer) in the Saratoga Winners Circle on August 15th.

Bill Maroney, Class of 1955 holds a Brunch for his Classmates and Family on January 3rd

Top: Alumni Director and SFP Varsity Baseball Coach, Bro. Robert Kent, O.S.F. prepared a custom, framed SFP Baseball uniform for Joe Torre ‘58.

Bottom left: An SFP yearbook photo from Torre’s days at St. Francis Prep. Bottom right: Torre as NY Yankees Manager.

From the 1955 San Fran Yearbook: Bill’s graduation photo and (pictured 2nd from left darts off in the classic one-mile.

Judge Hugh F. Mundy ‘58, (pictured above right) senior judge of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, received the Wilkes-Barre Law & Library Association’s President’s Award. This is the highest award conferred by the county bar association on a member in recognition of their life and career in law. He is a graduate of King’s College (B.A. cum laude 1962), and Notre Dame School of Law (J.D. 1969), where he was executive director of the Legal Aid Clinic. Upon graduation, he was awarded a Reginald Heber Smith Fellowship, an award sponsored by the Legal Services Program within the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity, for outstanding law school graduates interested in the field of poverty law. Prior to law school, Mundy attended The U.S. Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island (1963). He served two tours of duty in Vietnam and was awarded three Air Medals and a Navy Commendation Medal for missions in support of combat operations in Southeast Asia.

Bill Maroney ‘55 pictured above on the far right, held a brunch on January 3rd at The River Café (the landmark eatery under the Brooklyn Bridge) with his family and friends. It was a dual celebration: the eve of the 65th Anniversary of the Class of 1955 and a “send-off ” for his sister, Janet who was embarking on a world cruise aboard the Queen Mary 2 (Both events were subsequently impacted by COVID-19.)

Grad News • Summer/Fall 2020 29

Patrick Diamond, Class of 1968 Pens Memoir on Art Collecting Patrick Diamond ‘68 and his wife, Judy have spent the last 46 years amassing a collection of African American art. This spring, Diamond released a self-published memoir, The Incredible Joy of Collecting African American Art: My Journey from Frogtown, S.C., to the National Gallery, describing his experience of how a 5-year old child, born into abject poverty and the South’s suffocating racial segregation of the 1950’s is introduced to the deep beauty and cultural richness of African American Art. It’s the fulfillment of a promise he made to his grandmother to write a book about how she inspired his interest in art. She passed away in 2003. “I have shot past that deadline by a long time,” says Diamond. Its completion has garnered the attention of the Charlotte area media.

Patrick, the youngest of three children in Columbia, S.C., moved to Brooklyn when he was 8 years old. At St. Francis Prep Pat was a multi-sport athlete participating in J.V. and Varsity Football, Rugby, and Track. In 1968, he received All-League and All-City recognition for football. In 1967, he was the co-winner of the New York Posts All-CHSAA Most Valuable Player Award. He went on to Boston University where he was part of the team that competed against San Diego State in the 24th Annual Pasadena Bowl in 1969. He was a three-year starting running back, setting the all-time rushing record in 1971. He earned his undergraduate degree in American History and a graduate degree in Health Education, both from BU. Patrick was inducted into the St. Francis Prep Red & Blue Terrier Ring of Honor on March 17, 2017. The Ring of Honor Gala celebrates outstanding former athletes, coaches and athletic directors.

Congratulations, Patrick!

Patrick and his wonderful wife, Judy at home with some of their art collection on display.

Dr. Gerard J. Hevern, Class of 1968 Retires After Four Decades in Medicine It’s the end of an era and also the start of a new one for Dr. Gerry Hevern ’68. In 1979, this young primary-care physician with an undergraduate degree from Harvard and a medical degree from SUNY School of Medicine at Stony Brook University established a practice in a small, medically under-served New England town of Allenstown. Located in Merrimack County, N.H. with a population of 4,322 (as of the 2010 census), it was a far cry from the populous Brooklyn neighborhood when Gerry was a student at St. Francis Prep. His presence changed the area’s access to medical care, improved the lives of his patients and gave him a wonderful place to live and work. After four decades of caring for others he has eased into a well-deserved retirement as of June 24th. Over the past 41 years, Gerry has been active in many healthcare leadership roles and has been recognized for his outstanding contributions. In 2017 Jerry was named New Hampshire Family Physician of the Year. Upon accepting that honor, he attributed the attainment of this recognition to the Franciscan Brothers, saying “...their lessons of peace, gratitude and mercy have allowed me to serve my patients with respect and kindness.” In, 2018, he was also named the National Family Physician of the Year by the American Academy of Family Physicians. And it all began with making choices based upon his core values.

A Prep Scholar-Athlete and Leader At St. Francis Prep, Gerry was awarded two championships during his four years playing football. He was also an outstanding member of the Indoor and Outdoor Track team and a Rugby player, earning multiple varsity letters. And at the same time, Gerry ranked in the top 10% of his class.

In his senior year, Gerry was the co-winner of the Brother Fabian Football Scholar Athlete Award and the Sam Huff Foundation Catholic High School Scholar-Athlete Scholarship, which is awarded to the high school player in the state who best combined scholastics and athletics. He was also active in Student Government and served as Class President for three years and Senior Student Council President. After St. Francis Prep, Gerry went to study at Harvard where he continued to excel in athletics and academics. Scouts from professional teams showed interest in him, but by his junior year he ultimately chose to focus on and pursue medicine. He went on to SUNY School of Medicine at Stony Brook University before specializing in Family Medicine and is certified by both the Canadian and American Board of Family Medicine.

Red & Blue Through and Through Gerry was inducted into the St. Francis Prep Hall of Fame in 2011 and is also a member of the Inaugural Class (2014) of the Terrier Red & Blue Ring of Honor. The Ring of Honor recognizes the

30 Grad News • Summer/Fall 2020

outstanding athletes, coaches, and moderators whose achievements on and off the field have enhanced the reputation of the Prep’s Athletic Program. For many years, Gerry also helped coordinate the Boston Area Alumni Chapter gatherings.

post about his retirement, “Gerry, you have left a legacy of helping people. I’m sure your resolve will not let you stop, but for now, take a bow Dr. Hevern.

You are a magnificent, skilled and caring physician and soul and you will be missed, especially by this patient.”

Putting Care in “Primary Care Physician” “He made appointments for stubborn, nervous patients once they hit 50, making sure a colonoscopy would be incorporated into their routine to maintain good health, whether they liked it or not. He knew when it was time to use his other skills, like his bedside manner, when a diagnosis created stress in his patients,” wrote Ray Duckler, a columnist for the Concord Monitor.

“His compassion and care of his patients has been legendary,” said his brother, Vincent Hevern, S.J.

His brother, Vincent posted a note on Facebook which read, “He will continue for another half-year in his work at the chronic pain clinic in Manchester at the Elliott Hospital. And, then, I think there may be a new venture in medical education for him since he has been lecturing to health care professionals for a long time. As my niece said in her FB posting, a bittersweet day. But, one which comes with a great deal of love and affection.”

One patient said, “There are so many examples of Dr. Hevern being the complete physician... attending not only to our illnesses and injuries, but also to our emotional and psychological issues as well.” Another noted, “He would always take time to talk with you to see how you were doing. Never rushed. Always professional and left you with a feeling that he truly cared about your welfare.”

Fellow classmate and New England transplant, Eddie Jenkins ‘68 said of Gerry on the Facebook

In his own social media tribute, Gerry said, “To All the staff and clinicians and patients who gave me “A wonderful life “ I go forward with a sense of “Heaven” on earth with a heart of grateful thanks!

He’ll have more time to do the things he loves: traveling, enjoying time at his home on the lake, and spending time with his lovely wife Donna, their children and grandchildren.

Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement, Gerry!

CAMPAIGN UPDATES #TerrierSTAR Program

The Campaign for St. Francis Prep STAGE ONE

STAGE TWO The Next 150

The Sesquicentennial Campaign Goal: $5 million (Surpassed)

Goal: $10 million

Pledged: $5,066,600

Pledged: $9,573,202 (Campaign continues thru August 31, 2021)

Overall Goal: $15,000,000

Pledged to Date: $14,639,802

During his 23-year career in the U.S. Navy, William “Billy” Ashton ‘76 (right) advanced from Seaman Recruit to Lieutenant Commander, retiring in 1999. He has held a number of positions as a civilian employee. Currently, he serves as Program Manager, Military Veterans Agriculture Liaison at the USDA. He and his son, Chris were at a Virginia Tech football game last fall and they met up with the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Robert Wilkie.

(Student Tuition Assistance & Relief)

+

$ 775,392 Alumni, Faculty/Staff, Parents & Foundations

$ 775,392 dollar-for-dollar match by Julie Chen Moonves ‘87 $1,550,784 (as of August 31, 2020) These figures have been updated and finalized since the GRAD NEWS went to press last week. (The GRAD NEWS will reflect totals through August 26th.)

Terrier Tough & #PrepStrong

The Kosinski family is pictured showing their love for the latest Terrier graduate in their house, Gianna Kosinki ‘20, by proudly wearing their #PrepStrong and Terrier Tough apparel.

Joe Sciame ‘78 is Chair of the Business Department at St. Francis Prep. Joe has been instrumental in developing a course of study that offers students the preparation needed for living, working, and succeeding in the business world.

The Cryptography Club (pictured above) arose out of modern internet use (encoding all sorts of things) and as a practice for the code busters section of the Science Olympiad. Front row: Heejin Jang, Lisa Yoo, Heejin Jang, Brittany Bustos, Caitlin Yau, Grace Lee. Back row: Mr. Sciame, Michael Mastrangelo, Ayanna Hanff, Steven Schreiber.

Pictured front row (l-r): John ‘84, Angelica ‘13, Marissa ‘17, Gianna ‘20. Back row: Justine (SFP Staff), Nastassja ‘11.

A portion of the sales of the #PrepStrong apparel program raised nearly $4,000 for the #TerrierSTAR fund to assist St. Francis Prep families impacted by the Coronavirus Pandemic. The #PrepStrong apparel online sales program will reopen again in the Fall as part of the Athletic Department’s online store.

Grad News • Summer/Fall 2020 31

Class of 1979 Honors the Memory of Departed Classmates For their 40th Anniversary Reunion Celebration in 2019, representatives from the class of 1979, Mary Beth Colucci and Alice Dunkak Quinn organized a memorial gift appeal to honor the memory of all departed classmates. “We thought it would be nice to have a remembrance of our friends and classmates on the Pathway to St. Francis,” Alice said. They posted the news of their intentions to the SFP Class of 1979 Facebook page with a donation link and there was an enthusiastic response. Going into the Spring Reunion, the class had raised a sufficient amount to have a black granite bench installed on the Pathway in their honor. A group of classmates gathered on a rainy day in late October to remember their friends and see the newly installed bench. Alice recalled on her Facebook post, “The rain lightened up right as we got there. It almost seemed like our friends were smiling down on us.” There are many reasons to love Prep. But its the enduring spirit, life-long friendships and loyalty to the school are the reasons why we say, “High school is four years, St. Francis Prep is forever.” said Alumni Director, Brother Robert Kent.

Pictured (left): Class of 1979 alumni in the “Pathway to St. Francis” near the memorial granite bench. Top: Alumni gather at One Station Plaza (formerly Sullivan’s) after the informal “dedication” of the bench. Bottom: A close-up of the bench inscription.

Steven R. DiSalvo ‘80 Named President of Endicott College Congratulations to Steven R. DiSalvo, Ph.D., a higher education leader with a track record of transformative success at multiple U.S. colleges and universities.

Steven was named the seventh president of Endicott College.

Endicott is a “seaside campus” located 20 miles out of Boston with an enrollment of 5,000 graduate and undergraduate students. Endicott was founded in 1939 and named for John Endicott, the first colonial Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Upon accepting the position, DiSalvo said, “Every institution has a beautiful footprint, but what makes it unique is the culture and the people. To really understand it, you have to understand the folks that are part of the fabric of the place and I am absolutely thrilled to be part of this community.”

In his inaugural address, Steven noted how parents often speak of the sacrifices that they make for their family. He acknowledged the incredible sacrifices made by his sons and his wife, Eileen, to help him realize his dream undergoing many relocations from

32 Grad News • Summer/Fall 2020

New York to Chicago to Connecticut to Wisconsin to New Hampshire and now to Boston.

Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Boston Globe, among others.

DiSalvo concluded his tenure at Saint Anselm on June 30, 2019 and began at Endicott on July 1st of last summer. While at Saint Anselm, DiSalvo advanced the college’s national reputation through scholarship, athletics and via the prestigious New Hampshire Institute of Politics operated by the College. His tenure was marked by enrollment and endowment growth, a successful capital campaign, increased retention and graduation rates, and significant capital improvement projects.

He also led the Committee on Student Aid as a member of the Board of Directors for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). DiSalvo is also a board member of the New England Council, the nation’s oldest regional business association.

He spent 18 years in higher education at Fordham, Loyola Chicago and Fairfield Universities. He founded and ran SFP Class of 1958 Joe Torre’s “Safe at Home Foundation” for four years. (Undoubtedly, Steven had it tough being a Mets fan in the Yankees dugout.) He also founded The Hopewell Group, Inc., a philanthropic advisement for high wealth individuals, athletes and celebrities.

Prep Alumni have distinguished themselves in all levels in the field of education. We are also proud to note that SFP also counts among its alumni, the President of Drexel University in Philadelphia, John A. Fry ‘78, who is a Prep Hall of Famer. John served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of UPenn from 1995-2002 and then went on to lead Franklin & Marshall University before joining Drexel as President in 2010.

On the national stage, DiSalvo has been a leading voice in the ongoing conversation about college affordability and student debt, with op-eds and interviews in media outlets such as The New York

We wish him much success in his new endeavor!

University of Chicago’s Outstanding Educators Award: Elizabeth Prohaska ‘80 A teacher’s impact on student learning can last well beyond school and into adult life. So many of us have interests and hobbies that started back in class because of the encouragement of that one teacher. The University of Chicago created the Outstanding Educator Award to honor teachers who challenge and inspire their students to develop their learning skills inside and outside the classroom.

Ms. Elizabeth Prohaska ‘80, SFP English Department Faculty Member, was recognized with the University of Chicago’s Outstanding Educators Award. The prestigious award has been given for over three decades, with new students being asked to nominate teachers from their high schools. Along with the nomination, students provide a short written submission explaining how the teacher has helped them in their journey of intellectual growth. Congratulations, Liz!

Comments from Alumni: John Pagano e was ‘00 The best Marco Winkler ‘89 Congratulations to not is awesome! Sh English teache She’s the reas Lipcon ‘96 This a ni s ta wa r I’ve ever had.

An It na on I became an ol. only an outstanding educator, but to the gh ho sc Me h hig in d ha I English teache s out of Prep an er ch tea st the be ch tea r. After 20 year d 15 years of e person who knew how to make a student sh one of the did ly on t being an Engl s fondly remem nior year. No ish teacher, I ber my junior transferring into the Prep in sophomore transformative Ju e, but she related still rtis pe En ex th gl m wi ish or el e cla lev de in. hss re se hig .

I we a rv co in at we ul g nt nt dn teacher to win year feel at ease! What a wonderful and ’t think of a conte velopme that award. e and stage of de is in deserved honor Ms. Prohaska! with us at the ag Quotidien and it the of on ati rm affi t I will never forge ay! sophy I live by tod fact the life philo Jen Lando ‘93 Congratulations Ms. Prohaska! Very well deserved. One of my favorite English teachers at Prep - junior year, 1991-92.

Fred Salvo ‘66 Congratulations Liz, what a wonderful and well deserved recognition.

Joanne Persico ‘84 Prep Trustee, Hall of Famer, Red & Blue Ring of Honor Inductee and SFP Golf Classic honoree, secured her 500th Win as Head

Coach of the St. John’s University Volleyball Team with a straight-set win over Seton Hall on November 15, 2019. The team also stunned the nation by defeating Marquette University en route to its second-ever BIG EAST Tournament Championship, becoming the first fourth-seeded team to win the tournament since the conference’s reconfiguration in 2013. Joanne said, “First of all, we thank God for allowing us to do what we love and for allowing the players on our team to stay healthy all year for the most part.” The team received an automatic bid to the 2019 NCAA Tournament where they faced a very tough Texas A&M squad in their home arena. The team ended its 2019 campaign with a 22–12 record and the Johnnies third-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament. Congratulations Coach Persico on achieving this milestone in your career!

Rev. James K. Cunningham ‘86 Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Ordination Father Jim Cunningham was born in Elmhurst and attended St. Sebastian School in Woodside. After graduating from Prep, he went to study at St. John’s University where he earned a Bachelor’s in business management. Thereafter he studied theology at The Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, where he received his Master of Divinity Degree.

He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn on May 20, 1995 by Bishop Thomas V. Daily. He served as Associate Pastor at Good Shepherd Church, Brooklyn and St. Bartholomew, Elmhurst, before being appointed the Pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea in Far Rockaway in January of 2002. In 2008 he was appointed as the first Pastor of the new parish of St. Mary Star of the Sea and St. Gertrude in Far Rockaway. In 2010, Father Cunningham was appointed to serve as the new Administrator of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in the Windsor Terrace section of Brooklyn. In 2015, he was assigned to St. Francis de Sales in Belle Harbor where he currently serves as Associate Pastor. He celebrated his 25th Anniversary of Ordination on May 20, 2020. Fr. Jim is also a member of the SFP Alumni Board.

Congratulations, Father Jim! Grad News • Summer/Fall 2020 33

Keith Powers ‘01, a first-term lawmaker from Manhattan, He chairs the Criminal Justice Committee of the New York City Council. Keith is currently Council Member for Manhattan’s District 4. He was recently named “The Best New York City Council member of 2019. Keep up the good work, Keith!

Bro. Leonard Conway, O.S.F. shared Christmas dinner with Honorary Prep grad, Clare Walker H2017 and her family in Sarasota, FL. Clare’s late husband, Joe (Joseph T. Walker ‘57) was a very loyal and dedicated Prep grad. The Walkers have been extremely generous benefactors to SFP. In years past, they shared many winters on Siesta Key, (FL) where Bro. Leonard has traditionally enjoyed the Christmas holiday with family and friends.

Sr. Mary Kenneth Lane, C.S.J. celebrated 75 years as a Sister of St. Joseph. Before retiring she served Prep for many years as the AV coordinator.

Pitcured (l-r): Bro. Leonard Conway and Bro. Bill Boslet celebrate with Sr. Mary Kenneth.

Connor Kennedy ‘10, a second generation Prep alum (son of Carol Schneider Kennedy ‘79) and former Terrier Football Athlete has joined his alma mater, the United States Merchant Marine Academy to coach wide receivers.

Joseph Staszweski ‘02 , a sports copy editor/ web producer at the New York Post, designed the newspaper’s front cover on June 30, 2019. Pictured is the actual cover. Congratulations to Joe!

Congratulations, Connor!

President and Principal At the St. Francis Prep Board of Trustees meeting on January 28, 2020, Brother Leonard was reappointed the President of St. Francis Prep and Patrick McLaughlin was reaffirmed as Principal. The Board makes these appointments a year in advance, therefore, the new four-year term will begin in September 2021 and end on August 31, 2025. In an internal announcement to the faculty and staff, Bro. Leonard said, “We appreciate your ongoing support and all you do for our students at Francis Prep. We ask for your continued prayers as we continue to lead the school in living out our Franciscan mission and goals and providing the best quality Catholic Education in the metropolitan area.”

The Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn

Left: The Franciscan Brothers made their stand against hateful behavior. Thousands of people marched over the Brooklyn Bridge in January 2020 to protest against hate following a shocking series of anti-Semetic attacks in the Big Apple and beyond.

Braving cold temperatures, they started at Foley Square in downtown Manhattan, then trekked across the iconic bridge to convene in Cadman Plaza Park.

NYPD estimates placed the crowd at 20,000. Right: Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn take a stand against racism in one of many marches, vigils and rallies that were held in NYC during the month of June 2020.

34 Grad News • Summer/Fall 2020

Connor is part of an extensive St. Francis Prep and Bishop Reilly H.S. (its predecessor), family including his aunts: Diane (Bishop Reilly ‘72) Donna (Bishop Reilly ‘73), Susan (Bishop Reilly ’74), Jeanne Schneider-McCullagh ‘76, Joanne Schneider ‘78 and uncle, William Schneider ‘81; his sister, Courtney Kennedy-Yepez ‘07, and cousins, Colleen McCullagh ‘05 & Kelsey McCullagh ‘12.

Michael Gitto ‘03 was headed to a friend’s house to celebrate his upcoming move to Tampa, FL, but had to put his plans on hold to rescue a family of four from an overturned van. While driving west on the Southern State Parkway in August 2019, he saw the vehicle on its side. He immediately pulled over, followed by two or three other drivers. As a former volunteer firefighter, he carries a seatbelt cutter and window punch tool in his car. Grabbing both, he ran to the vehicle and saw four people stuck inside, with the driver closest to the ground. He tried breaking a window with his window-punch tool, to no avail.

Someone else pried open the passenger-side door, and then Gitto climbed on top of the vehicle to start pulling its passengers out. But the woman closest to him was being choked by her seatbelt and couldn’t move. He used his seatbelt cutter to free the strap from her neck, and locked arms with her before wrenching her out. Then he pulled out the driver and two younger passengers who were in the backseats. “The whole left side of my body hurts,” he said with a laugh a couple days after the incident. State Police soon arrived, and transported the family to a nearby hospital, where one was treated for minor injuries, officials said.

Gitto also served in the Air Force, and was an F-16 crew chief from 2004 to 2006. He enlisted in the military when he turned 18, motivated by the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. His service was short-lived because his mother fell ill with a liver disorder, and he became a reservist in order to care for her. (She died about 10 years ago.) “The takeaway that I got from this, and that I hope others are receiving, is that there are good people out there,” Gitto said.

“If we focus on helping each other whenever we get the chance, then our future looks bright.”

Adam Viscovich ‘15 studied Maritime Logistics and Security at United States Merchant Marine Academy and is currently in the naval flight officer program at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, FL. He’s pictured here in front of a Beechcraft T-6 Texan II. Keep aiming high, Adam!

Saudia Baksh ‘16 will be attending Columbia University Teachers College Masters Program in the Fall. Saudia has a distinguished record of achievement in academics and extra-curricular activities.

While St. Francis Prep, she was involved in Music (Concert Band), served as the Editor-in-Chief of The Seraph and was a member of the National Honor Society. She went on to study at Macaulay Honors College at CUNY where she was a peer tutor, student ambassador and treasurer of the City Honors Illustrious Mentor Program. Saudia was named Salutatorian for the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership. Congratulations, Saudia!

A Wild Buzzer-Beater Emily Engstler ‘18 has grown into a star for Syracuse University women’s basketball. In January, Emily caught a lob pass and sunk the shot in one motion with less than a second on the clock in an overtime game-winner against the Florida State Seminoles. Well done, Emily! We wish you continued success!

Philip Murtha ‘16 graduated from Cornell University this past month. He was recognized as a Merrill Presidential Scholar, one of their most outstanding graduating seniors.

Each scholar is given the opportunity to recognize the high school teacher who most inspired his or her scholastic development. Philip chose Joe Masselli, retired SFP English faculty member and Honorary Alumnus !

Ojani Walthrust ‘16 is currently studying abroad in Peru for his final semester at The George Washington University. Recently, he received the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship. (It is very prestigious; out of 800+ applicants, 30 Fellows are selected.) The Pickering Fellowship is funded by the U.S. Department of State (DoS), administered by Howard University, and aims to diversify the State Department Foreign Service. He will start a Master’s degree program in Fall 2020, receive mentoring from a U.S. Foreign Service Officer (FSO), intern at an embassy abroad and at DoS, and have the opportunity to live the lifestyle of a FSO in accordance with applicable law and State Department policy. In a message to St. Francis Prep, Ojani said, “Thank you for giving me the fundamentals to succeed. I am grateful to soon be embarking on a new way of life as a public servant.” Congratulations Ojani! Great work!

Rebecca Zhang ‘16, a Macaulay Honors College graduate has been named a Fulbright Program Scholar!

She will travel to Germany to conduct Neuroscience research. While at Prep, Rebecca was a participant in the Science Research Program. Congratulations Rebeccca, you make us all proud!

Brandon Tatis ‘18 returned “home” to SFP during the Annual Homecoming Three on Three Hoops Tournament. As a student athlete on the Varsity Basketball team Brandon volunteered to “ref ” each year. He played basketball all four years, three of which were on the Varsity team under the late head coach, Tim Leary ‘63, and then assistant coach, Jimmy Lynch ‘99. This year the Boys Basketball team won the B/Q Championship for the first time in 23 years. Jimmy was honored as Coach of the Year in the 2019 season. On for Ol’ St. Francis!

Kaleb Artis ‘22 - defensive lineman for the SFP Varsity Football team earned offers from Boston College, Nebraska, Massachusetts, Notre Dame and West Virginia. In total, the 6-5, 260-pounder holds 11 scholarship offers. He accepted an offer from Notre Dame. Notre Dame football has a bit of history with St. Francis Prep including Gerry DiNardo ‘70, Larry DiNardo ‘67 and Frank Pomarico ‘70.

Athletic achievement runs in Kaleb’s family. His mother’s second cousin, Anthony Mason, played in the NBA for 13 years – including with the Knicks – while his father played football and boxed and his uncle was a powerlifter. Congratulations, Kaleb!

Grad News • Summer/Fall 2020 35

In Memoriam Alumni

Joseph W. Halliwell 1943 John P. Guilfoyle 1948 Jack Capper 1949 Walter D. Gaitings 1950 John Prenderville 1951 Ronald J. Beattie 1952 Joseph F. Ferris 1952 James F. Altonji 1953 Francis E. Radwick 1954 Alan S. MacKenzie 1955 George Dunn 1956

John P. Devlin 1958 William Lynch 1958 James J. Manning 1958 Charles H. Harris 1959 Rev. Msgr. J. Edward McCullough 1959 Francis McCabe 1959 Martin J. Neville 1959 Louis Offitto 1959 Francis J. Weber 1959 Frank A. DeCaro 1960 Vincent L. Bilello, Jr. 1962

Joseph E. Connor 1962 James F. O’Brien 1964 Thomas Pascal 1965 Peter Smergut 1965 John W. Bruno 1966 Gary Stutz 1968 Kevin King 1973 Anthony J. DeFillippo 1974 Charles Esposito 1974 William P. Ahern 1975 John Halayko 1977

Brenda J. Mazzara 1979 Mary A. Retmansi-Thomas 1979 Anne Russnak-Puca 1979 Angela Tripodi-Flori 1979 Chuck Walker 1980 Kevin Stout 1981 Archie Getsios 1982 John H. Ford 1983 Stacey Gamble-Rubio 1989 Kristin Kababik-Carey 1990 Philip Brady H2014

Family and Friends Raymond Abear - husband of Catherine LucatortoAbear ‘00

Yen-Chun Chen – father of Julie Chen-Moonves ‘87

Martin Fink – husband of Susan McCook-Fink ‘80

Salvatore Cinque – father of Jen Cardillo (Attendance Office)

Fred Gallo – Varsity Baseball Coach at Iona Prep Ann Gardenfeld – mother of Jill Gardenfeld-Logan ‘87

Robert J. Alter, brother of Jeff ‘80

Ray Coccia – brother of Gerilyn (Assistant Principal)

Marion Gavin – grandmother of Greg Modica, (Varsity Pitching Coach)

Evelyn J. Aquila - mother of Francis ‘75

Barney Cohen – father of Paul (Science Dept.)

Brother Robert Andrews, F.M.S.- Track & Field Coach, Archbishop Molloy H.S.

Anna Costantino – mother of Joan Dolan-Dobranski, mother-in-law of Bill Dobranski ’77, grandmother of John Dolan ’04 and Kristen Dolan ‘01

Josephine Gengaro – grandmother of Michelle Kokmen ’88 and Dr. Christine Lee Gengaro ‘92

Catherine Ahlstrom - mother of Ann AhlstromSaxer ‘76

Angela Barricelli – sister of Louis ‘79 Dr. Louis Barricelli – father of Louis ‘79 Joseph L. Barricelli – brother of Anthony (former chairperson of Science Dept.)

Mary Theresa Bishop- mother of Wally Bishop ‘80, Bridget Bishop-Pomposelli ‘82 and Mary Bishop Proietta.

Bridget J. Cronin – mother of Gerard (former History teacher)

Vilma Gorozdi – grandmother of Stephen Tatay ‘90 Margaret Greene – mother of Timothy ‘74

Margaret Danylchuk – wife of Peter ‘60

Pete Hamill- Uncle of Liam ‘17

Donald DeFino – father in law of Kevin Colucci (Physical Education Department)

Sylvia Hayduk –aunt of Richard ‘05 and Christina Eichele ‘04 and retired Math teacher

Marie DeMaria – mother of Thomas ‘72

Joseph C. Hennessy – father of Karen HennessyBernsley ‘89 and Shelia ‘91

Gloria Bonanno – mother of Mitchell ‘86

Pierriette Derevlany – mother of John ’82 and Louise ‘77

James P. Boyle – father of Catherine ‘82

Thomas DeVane – brother of Donald ‘61

Maureen Bray – mother of Marykay-Bray Diehl ’96 & Thomas Bray ‘88

Carmella Ditta – mother of Christopher ‘83

Mary Burke – grandmother of Christian ’95 and Peter Carbonara ‘97

Flora Giaccio – mother of Evelyn ‘78

Constantine Doumazios – father of Katerina ‘15

Rosemary Hibbert – mother of Donna ‘79 Richard Hill – father of Jennifer Hill-Meier ‘89, father-in-law of Daniel Meier ‘86 and uncle of Mary Pappas (School Nurse)

James Drew – father-in-law of Thomas Dobranski ‘76

Patrick Hogan, Sr. – father of Patrick ‘76, father-inlaw of Anne Kobel-Hogan ‘79 and Jeff Boehme ‘74

Loretta Rosaria Canzoneri – mother of Joseph ’86, grandmother of Anthony and Joseph ‘06

Peter Edel – father of Rev. Ralph Edel (SFP Chaplain)

Anthony Jackson – brother of the late Eric Jackson (SFP Security and former Prep parent )

Arlene Capalong – wife of Matthew Kelly ‘79

Dave Edwards – Assistant Basketball Coach at The Mary Louis Academy

Eric Jackson – brother of the late Anthony Jackson

Carmelo Vincent Casale – father of Valerie CasaleRowe ’78 and Andrea Casale- Cipriani ‘83 Roslinda Cervantes – aunt of Vicki Ealdama ‘08 Umberto Ballotta Cesaro – Grandfather of Fiorella Asencio ’08, Andrea ’13, Bianca ’18, & Fabio ‘24

36 Grad News • Summer/Fall 2020

Gloria Edwards – mother of Richard ‘88 Shirley Entrades – wife of German Vargas, mother of Jayson Vargas ‘22 Kathleen Fallon – mother-in-law of Kathleen Brix-Fallon ‘76

Ofelia Jaramillo – grandmother of Claudia Jaramillo-Lee ‘88 Jack Joyce – father of Stephen and Nancy JoyceMooney, cousin of Don ‘62, Bro. Robert Kent, O.S.F. and Bro. Ed Kent, O.S.F.)

William Kawka – husband of Jean (former Social Studies chairperson), father of Michelle ‘95 and father-in-law of Robert Johnston H2014 Philip Kelly – father of Christine ‘87, Elizabeth ‘96 and father-in-law of Dawn Lambertsen-Kelly ‘89 Francis Kiley – brother of Sister Philip Kiley, C.S.J. (Business Dept.)

William J. Kissane- grandfather of Lynnie ‘17 and Lawrence Chong ‘22 Maria LaRocca, mother of James LaRocca (Faculty) Joseph Lewinger – Assistant Principal of The Mary Louis Academy & former Varsity Basketball Coach Josephine Licata – mother of Joseph (Fmr. Language Dept. Chairperson) grandmother of Giusepina ‘04, Carmelo ’05, Angelina ‘06, Graziella ‘08, Salvatore ‘10, Gabriella ‘13 & Pierangelo ‘14 Grace Lorento – mother of Deborah Ann Isberto Forsyth ’75, mother-in-law of Anthony ‘75 Sean Maher – brother of Erin ‘03 Nance Mahoney – wife of Bernie (Athletic Director at Iona Prep) Catherine Maloney – sister of Brother Owen Justinian, O.S.F. ‘62

Sister Frances Miritello, O.S.F. – sister of Brother Louis Miritello, O.S.F. ’57 (Fmr. Chair, Computer Science) Michael F. Mongelli – father of Michael II ‘79, Lawrence ‘81, father-in-law of Mark Jarmek ‘78, grandfather of Danielle ‘05, Lawrence ‘08 and Michelle ‘10 Marica Mustac – mother of Thomas ‘14 and Tajana ‘16 Guillermina Lucia Naranjo – grandmother of Peter Spanopoulos ‘18 Elizabeth Olwell – mother of Elizabeth OlwellMcNulty ‘80, mother-in-law of Robert McNulty ‘80, grandmother of Steven Olwell ‘03, Timmy Olwell ‘05, Shannon McNulty ‘07, Chris Olwell ‘07, Ryan McNulty ‘08, Jessica Olwell ‘10 and Brandon McNulty ‘13

Florence McArdle – mother of Eugene ‘75 and Patrick ‘89; mother-in-law of Colette McCannMcArdle ‘88; grandmother of John McArdle ‘03, Ciara McArdle ‘05, Kelly McArdle ‘09, Brendan Cole ‘15, Francis Cole ‘15, Patrick McArdle ‘18, Siobhain Cole ‘20, Owen Cole ‘21 & Gavin McArdle ‘23 Raymond J. McCleary, Jr. – father of Raymond ‘80 and Timothy ‘82 Kathleen R. McGovern – mother of Michael ‘78 and grandmother of Francis ‘15 Rita McNally – mother of Rita McNally-O’Rourke ‘81 Peter McNamara – father of Peter (Science Dept.)

Catherine McVetty – mother of Sister Peggy McVetty, O.P. (fmr. Campus Ministry staff) Charlotte Meringolo – mother of William ’74, Kenneth ‘75, Doreen ‘77 and Robert ‘84 Lillian Miller – mother of Wendy Miller-Lomuscio ‘76

Francine Senko – wife of Joseph (Past parent) James Skellington – father of Kim (SFP Security)

Franklyn Springfield – step-father of Peter McNamara (Science Dept.)

Rosa Pantaleo – grandmother of Luke ‘05, Nick ‘01 and Joseph ‘03 Rosanne Pereira – sister of John S. Pereira ’62, aunt of Casey ’94 and Jonathan ‘99 Joseph Picerno – father of Elizabeth ‘84

Michael Porto-father of Jennifer Porto-Yaeger’ 90, Gina Porto-Spiro ‘92 and Katie Porto-Staphos ‘95

Sandru Mathura – mother of Sarah Choudhry ‘19

Balwant Seepersaud - grandfather of Ramesh ‘15 and Naresh ‘17

Joseph Pahl – father of Joseph ‘93

Nicholas Mangialardi – father of Nicholas ‘90

Lucian Marino – father of Catherine MarinoCarrozzo ’80 Andrew Marino ‘84

Michael P. Sclafani – father of Michael J. ‘77

Marie Sluka – mother of Peter ‘78 and mother-inlaw of Suzanne Martin-Sluka ‘78

Ginette Pongnon – mother of Stephan ‘87

Anthony Marino – father of Doreen MarinoPelkonen ’82, grandfather of Cara ‘09, Krista ‘11 & Shana ‘14

Lynn Sciacca – grandmother of Anthony DeRose ‘22

Joseph O’Neill – brother of Claudine (Natale Tedesco) O’Neill ‘86

Barbara Mangialardi – mother of Nicholas ‘90

Harriet U. Marchildon- mother of Greg (Science Department)

John D. Schneider – father of Diane (Bishop Reilly ‘72), Donna (Bishop Reilly ‘73), Susan Bishop Reilly ’74), Jeanne Schneider-McCullagh ‘76, Joanne Schneider ‘78, Carol Schneider-Kennedy ‘79, William Schneider ‘81, grandfather of Courtney Kennedy-Yepez ‘07, Connor Kennedy ‘10, Colleen McCullagh ‘05 and Kelsey McCullagh ‘12

Andre Python, Sr. – father of Andre Jr. ’73 and John ‘74 Sheila Python – mother of Andre Jr. ’73, John ’74 and cousin of John Monaghan ‘54 Frank Randazzo – father of Donald ‘74 Brian Rufle – brother of Stephen ‘75 Antonino Russo – father of Maria VasilyadisClabeaux ’96 and Russell Russo ‘06 Ciro Russo “Mr. Gigi” – father of Karen RussoFrieri ‘86 and Donna Russo ‘81 Dorothea Santo Ryan – mother of Daniel Ryan ‘86 Konrad Zdanowicz - step-dad of Simon Sanchez ‘23 Adaleisa Duarte Santiago – mother of Rita Espinal-Santiago, mother-in-law of Jeorge Espinal (Language Dept.); grandmother of Gabriela ’18 and Emilio ‘22 Julia Santiago – mother of Jeffrey ’80 and motherin-law of Monica Rios-Santiago ‘80 Rosa Scagliola-Bruni – sister of John Scagliola (SFP Staff)

Rev. George Stack – brother of Midge Stack-Lennon (Fmr. Phys Ed Dept.)

Edward Stackpole – father of the late Timothy ‘77, Michael ’81, father-in-law of Tara, grandfather of Brian ‘09, Brendan ‘11 & Terrence ‘13 Mary T. Stimus - mother of Laura Ann (Nancy) Stimus-Cheek ‘83; aunt of David E. Stimus ‘83, Delores Martin-Ryan ‘86, Aileen Stimus-Leibman ‘87 and Jeanine Sapienza ‘91 Josephine Stella – grandmother of Barbara Pokorny-Duarte ‘90 Raymond G. Strype – father of Martin ‘75 Kevin Sweeney – brother of Rev. William “Father Bill” Sweeney (Fmr. SFP Chaplain) Mary Frances Sweeney – mother of Rev. William “Father Bill” Sweeney (Fmr. SFP Chaplain) Christina Tavares – aunt of Joe Corona ‘95 Pamela Ulmer – mother of Cara ‘91, Kelly ‘ 96 and Kristy ‘99 Michael Vetere – father of Lauren ‘21 William J. Walsh – father of Noreen Walsh-LaCour ‘85, Brian ‘86, Eddie ’92 and grandfather of Kevin ‘20 Chuck Walker- husband of Rosemary Nuccio Walker ‘80 Paul Wicelinski – father of Juliana ‘22 Raphael Wilkins – father of Ralph ‘76 John Woods – former baseball coach of Xaverian High School Timothy Wysocki – father of Christine ‘99 and Theresa ‘02

Grad News • Summer/Fall 2020 37

Philip Brady H2014

John Prenderville ‘51

Sylvia Hayduk

Sr. Anne O’Brien, R.S.M.

Former SFP Tennis Coach, father of JoAnn Wagner (SFP Faculty and Girls Basketball Coach) and grandfather of Brian ‘94, Maureen ‘96, Tim ‘99, Kevin ‘01, Patrick ‘06 & Dan ‘10 passed away in October 2019. “He was an amazing man who had a profound impact on the lives of everyone he met. He was a Bayside legend, a fierce supporter of the Irish cause, and above all else he was the cornerstone of our family,” his grandson, Patrick ‘06 said of him.

Phil and his wife, Joan were bestowed the recognition of Honorary Alumni by the SFP Alumni Board in 2014 for their many years of loyalty, dedication and service to the Prep community.

In addition to coaching, they were ardent supporters of the Girls Tennis Team and continued to support the team with their regular presence at matches long after retirement.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of former SFP Men’s Basketball Coach, Jack Prenderville, Class of 1951.

Sylvia Hayduk’s life experience can be compared to a rose. The rose can first be seen as a bud and through time, sun and care it opens to a beautiful fragrant flower. As we pause to remember Sylvia, let’s begin when she first joined the Prep Family.

Back thirty one years previous to her retiring, Sylvia volunteered her time to many and varied after school activities. She attended both home and away games of the various sports teams and took on the role of Moderator of various activities. As an educator Sylvia taught all levels of the Mathematics Curriculum. She offered to mentor new members of the Mathematics Department. Sylvia had the gift of assisting you and making you feel at ease. For her students she always tried to be kind and very understanding.

Sister Anne O’Brien was born and raised in Brooklyn. She professed herself as a Sister of Mercy on September 8, 1955 choosing as her motto : “All for the glory and honor of God” -- a maxim that guided her entire religious and professional life. In the year of her death, she was celebrating her 65th anniversary as a nun.

John J. Capper ‘49 John J. “Jack” Capper 89, died Monday, April 13, 2020 at the Saratoga Nursing Center. Jack was born in Brooklyn, NY. He attended St. Francis Prep when it was located in Brooklyn, St. Francis College, and St. Mary’s of the Plains. He was a member of the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, where he was known as Brother Owen. He was a teacher, coach and administrator at St. Francis Prep. Subsequently, he was a lay teacher who taught and coached at Xavier High School in Manhattan and later, in the same capacity, at Bishop Kelly High School in Boise, ID. After retiring, he volunteered as a coach at Bishop Gibbon’s High School in Schenectady and Christian Brothers Academy in Colonie. Jack was very proud of all his students.

He was predeceased by his wife of 24 years, Joan Elizabeth Kelty Capper who died in 1998 and his brother Robert J. Capper.

Jack received a basketball scholarship to the Prep where he also played football, volleyball, and swam novice meets. He had deep admiration for the Franciscan Brothers as well as many of his classmates, many of whom he remained close to throughout his life.

After graduating from Prep, Jack went on to St. Francis College on a basketball scholarship. He left for the Army after his sophomore year and played for the Aberdeen Proving Ground basketball team. They won the second All-Army tournament against and among many All-Americans.

Jack returned to St. Francis College in 1956 and played in the NIT, along with Dayton, Louisville and Niagara.

(SFC was the only metropolitan school invited to two NIT tournaments from 1950 through 1960 when the NIT was “the” tournament.)

In 1958 he married Mary Byrne, who Jack described as “the most beautiful girl I ever met.” They had three children: John, Paul, and Maribeth and six grandchildren. In 1963, Jack went on to coach the St. Francis Xavier Parish team to an undefeated season and CYO championship. In 1964, while attending a basketball game at the 69th Regiment Armory, he met his former classmate, Brother Malachy Travers who was the Prep’s Athletic Director. Brother Malachy asked if Jack was interested in the coaching position at the Prep.Jack accepted the offer and coached at the Prep for a decade that he always referred to as “the best ten years of my life.” The late Tim Leary ‘63 joined him as JV coach and assistant Varsity Coach. (Coach Leary succeeded him in 1974 and was the longest tenured coach in basketball history at SFP.) Jack went on to coach at St. Francis College for two years starting in 1974 before leaving for the political world to serve as an assistant to then Congressman Hugh L. Carey.

In 2017, he was inducted into the SFP Red & Blue Terrier Ring of Honor.

38 Grad News • Summer/Fall 2020

In her personal life, a radical change occurred, Sylvia took on the role of Mother to Christine Eichele ‘04 and Richard ‘05, her niece and nephew.

Christine and Richard were in first grade and kindergarten when she assumed the new role as Mother.

Sylvia grew and adapted to her new life experience of raising the children.

Sylvia loved and guided them to grow into successful adults. The legacy of Ms. Sylvia Haydock can be entitled, “A life well lived.”

Written by friend and colleague, Sr. Mary Ann Napier, C.S.J. SFP Math Dept. Chairperson

She earned a BA in English from St. Francis College and an MA from St. John’s University. After teaching in grammar and high schools in the Brooklyn Diocese, Sister Anne joined the English Department at St. Francis Prep in the fall of 1977, a position she held until her retirement in 2009.

During her tenure at the Prep, Sister Anne taught American Literature to juniors and many elective courses to seniors, who benefitted from her keen interest in twentieth century American fiction. Sister also developed a skill for teaching students for whom English is a second language, and she consequently was appointed as the English Department’s first ESL/ ELL teacher. Sister had a reputation as a demanding teacher, but as SFP alum Lynn Riofrio posted on the SFP Facebook page on hearing of Sister’s passing: “I dreaded English class with Sr. Anne! Then I quickly learned that she so tough b/c she wanted nothing but the best for you and from you! She had an incredible sense of humor and a caring heart.”

Sister Anne also participated in the Prep’s extra-curricular program. She distinguished herself as moderator of the school newspaper, The Seraph, and she oversaw the modernization of its format and inclusion of contemporary topics of interest to the Prep’s students.

She particularly enjoyed many faculty social events. Her colleagues will remember her unique laugh and a quick wit that she attributed to her Irish and Canadian roots.

Written by friend, colleague and SFP alumnus, Dr. Stephen Marino ‘71 Former English Dept. Chair (Retired)

Charles Harris ‘59

Charlie’s life was distinguished by great achievements and resolutely encouraging others with an unwavering sense of possibility and optimism. He was eight-time National Water Polo Champion and 1996 inductee into the U.S. Water Polo Hall of Fame, he passed away on June 26th. He was 78 and is survived by his wife of 56 years, Dorianne Cosentine Harris, and their sons Christian, Grant, and Brian. Born in Brooklyn, Charlie attended Prep where he swam for legendary Coach Tom Booras and was a member of the 1959 National Catholic High School Championship team. He attended St. Francis College and served as Class President from 1959-1963.

It was at St. Francis that he found his sport, and he captained the Terriers to the NCAA Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Water Polo Championship in 1961, ‘62, and ‘63. Following college, as Charlie began his career as a math teacher, he was invited to join the celebrated water polo team at the New York Athletic Club, where he flourished. He quickly moved into the starting lineup, and in 1967 he was named the prestigious AAU’s Metropolitan Association’s Outstanding Athlete, the same year he was named the recipient of the Ameno Award for the top NYAC Water Polo Player. Charlie’s honors were numerous: Olympic Trials in 1964 and 1968, representing the NYAC in eight National Championships, Curran Award recipient as MVP at the 1965 and 1975 National Championships. The list continues with the MVP award at the North American Cup in 1968, along with eight North American Cup Championships, competing against international teams. Charlie Harris’ success in the pool was matched by his sense of professional purpose and achievement throughout several years of teaching and then as a Systems Engineer at IBM. He was every bit as focused and successful as an executive over the course of his 23 years at IBM, where he established a distinguished record of achievement. Charlie Harris was a member of the One Hundred Percent Club a dozen times and a member of the Golden Circle five times, IBM’s highest sales award. He retired from IBM and moved to Denver, where he became a principal with a GIS consulting firm. After 10 years out West, his business career ended at Auto Desk as a Vice President of its GIS Group in Palo Alto. He and his wife, Dorianne, retired to Pawley’s Island, South Carolina. Charlie’s kindness, his engaging smile, and personal warmth left an impression on all those who had the privilege and pleasure of knowing him. He was inducted into the Prep’s Red & Blue Terrier Ring of Honor in 2014.

In Memory of Eric Jackson, a beloved member of the SFP Security Team Eric truly was one of New York’s Finest. He was a charismatic person who treated everyone gently and respectfully. Whether he was on hallway supervision or stationed at the front lobby desk, Prep students could count on him to respond with patience and kindness to any situation—whether they were acting up, had a jammed locker or misplaced their SFP iPad or other personal items. “He never had a bad day and was always smiling,” said Mike Fischetti, his former supervisor. As a retired NYPD Detective, Eric also provided security at Apple’s flagship store in NYC. His calm demeanor influenced his peers in the NYPD. A former colleague wrote, “He always kept his composure, even in difficult situations.” Eric was a coach and a mentor to the young people in the community. He was also a loving father of three and beamed with delight whenever he shared stories about them with friends and colleagues. Eric will be remembered forever as a loyal friend, a true family man, a brother, father and an esteemed colleague. Upon his passing condolences and tributes to him poured in on social media. One Prep student captured the essence of Eric’s daily presence in our lives, “I will forever miss his greetings and goodbyes at the entrance at the doors of SFP!!” He passed away on April 2nd while being treated in the hospital for COVID-19. Everyone who knew Eric will never forget the last time they spoke to him. He will not be forgotten and will be missed by all those who knew and loved him. Rest in Peace Eric and continue to keep a watchful eye upon us all from heaven.

Remembering Sonya, loving wife of Jack Cahill, Class of 1967 Sonya and Jack Cahill ‘67 have been great friends and generous benefactors to the Prep. Over the years they participated in a wide variety of special events. Sonya Marie Cahill passed away peacefully on Friday, May 3, 2019 after bravely fighting a brief battle with multiple myeloma, a cancerous blood disorder. She devoted her life to being a loving wife and mother, cherished time with her children, grandchildren, family and friends. She also enjoyed traveling, dining out, going to Broadway shows and museums. “Do one positive thing each day.” That’s what Jack’s family asked him to do in memory of his lovely wife of 47 years after her passing. Jack has remained active and connected with SFP. He and other family members always participate in the Annual Golf Classic.

On the one-year anniversary of Sonya’s passing this past May, Jack and his family made a special trip to Prep and the “Pathway to Saint Francis” memorial garden where a granite bench stands in Sonya’s memory and honor. Pictured (l-r): The Cahill family: Meghan, Jack ‘67, John and Michael.

Inset: Sonya and Jack at the 2016 Annual President’s Dinner at St. Francis Prep.

Kristin Kababik Carey ‘90: An Active and Full Life Remembered

Kristin Kababik Carey ‘90 was “an incredible woman, mother and friend, who remembered and recounted her time at SFP fondly” her husband, Nick wrote in a letter to Prep. Kristen (who passed away in February of 2019) met Nick while working for Ford Credit Europe in Dublin in the late 1990s. Nick, an English citizen and Kristin loved being active. Kristen cycled to Paris and swam ten miles for charity.

Together they were also part of a group of parents taking on challenges such as mud runs, canoe trips and walking up Snowdon— the highest mountain in England and Wales. Kristin was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer after the birth of her third child. They knew that time was precious, and that being together and creating memories was paramount. They went on cruises and took on rigorous hikes. Nick wrote, “It [cancer] was never allowed to get in the way of life. Never.” After seven years, Kristen “died peacefully and in no pain or distress, in the outstanding care of a local hospice” Nick wrote. Two days earlier, a priest administered the Sacrament of the Sick (Last Rites). So impressed with her great spirit and the mandate she left her family: “Remain strong and forward-looking”, the Severn Hospice asked his permission to tell her story in a local magazine. Kristin is survived by three children: John (15), Oliva (13) and Alice (10). “She is of course missed, and will never ever be forgotten,” her husband, Nick said. Pictured: Two pages of the four page story which appeared in the February 2020 edition of SHROPSHIRE Magazine. Center: Kristin’s SFP 1990 San Fran Yearbook photo.

Grad News • Summer/Fall 2020 39

St. Francis Preparatory School Office of Development 6100 Francis Lewis Boulevard Fresh Meadows NY 11365 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PA I D Permit No.658 Hicksville, NY

SAVE THE DATE Saturday, April 17, 2021

The Red & Blue Terrier Ring of Honor Gala Crest Hollow Country Club, Woodbury, NY

The Red and Blue Terrier Ring of Honor recognizes the outstanding achievements of its prominent past athletes, coaches and athletic administrators who have enhanced the spirit and reputation of the Prep.

Online registration: https://alumni.sfponline.org/events