Boundless Devotion

from St. Sebastian's Magazine, Fall 2021/Winter 2022

Our Year of Harmony

Celebrating the Retirement of Jack Doherty ’62, P’86,’87, GP’17,’25

“Jack is just simply the best in everything that he does.”

This sentiment, shared by Jack Doherty’s wife, Kathy, captures his immeasurable contributions to St. Sebastian’s. For the past 42 years, he has served our school as Business Manager with wisdom, integrity and heart. An alumnus, hockey captain, coach, father and grandfather, and loyal Arrows fan, his love for St. Sebastian’s is boundless. Retiring at the end of the fiscal year in June 2021, Jack leaves behind an unsurpassed legacy that has helped to shape our school, its mission and its spirit.

**Jack (far right) with his teammates Kevin Burke ’61 and Tim Ladd ’63**

**Coach Lane at the end of the undefeated 1961 season with captain Ed Downes ’61 (left) and Jack, captain-elect (right)**

**Jack and Kathy on their wedding day in 1966**

A STANDOUT ON THE ICE

Jack formed a connection to St. Sebastian’s before he was ever a student. Growing up in Newton, he spent his winter days on Crystal Lake, where long-time hockey coach and athletic director Henry Lane ’49 also used to skate. In the warmer months, Jack served as the unofficial bat boy for Henry and his buddies who played baseball on the field adjacent to his backyard. Jack’s uncle, who was a priest, knew many of the faculty at St. Sebastian’s and thought it would be a good place for him and his older brother, Neil ’59. The two boys lost their dad when Jack was just six months old and with so many father figures at the School, his mother agreed.

In the fall of 1956, Jack began his days as an Arrow on Nonantum Hill. By 10th grade, he was playing varsity hockey under the expert guidance of Coach Lane. Jack starred on backto-back undefeated hockey teams in 1961 and 1962—a remarkable run of 36-straight victories over two seasons. He captained the 1962 team

before going on to Providence College, where he served as hockey captain in his senior year and studied business administration. During his years on Nonantum Hill, Jack established friendships with his teammates and classmates that continue to this day. In fact, two of his fellow Arrows became brothers-in-law when Jack married his high school sweetheart, Kathy—sister of Joe Tomasello ’63—and Kathy’s sister, Ann, expanded the Arrows dynasty further by marrying John O’Hearn ’57.

A FINANCIAL WIZARD WITH A BIG HEART

When Jack heard that St. Sebastian’s was looking for a Business Manager in the spring of 1979, he seized the opportunity to work for a place that meant so much to him. After coming on board that April, he quickly became an instrumental member of the administration amidst changes in leadership and financial challenges. Every day since, Jack has given 100% effort to make St. Sebastian’s operate as efficiently and successfully as possible, and always with the School’s best interest in mind. “Working at St. Sebastian’s was never a job for my dad, it was a way of life,” observed his son, Tim ’87.

A few years after Jack assumed the Business Manager role, St. Sebastian’s moved its campus from Newton to Needham—a massive event that served as a pivotal point in our school’s history. “There aren’t many places where you can find two different organizations and have a school building owned by one of them and a gym and field space owned by the other one when you’re trying to move and put a school together,” noted Jack. “The stars were aligned.” Renovations were made to both the St. Bartholomew school building and the YMCA property in only three months and the move took place in the course of just one week over the 1982-83 Christmas break! Every detail of the entire operation was coordinated by Jack. Behind the scenes, the move was no small feat, but thanks to a great deal of planning and effort, it appeared seamless to the students.

**Jack at his desk on Greendale Avenue in the 1980s**

**Eric Ludwig, Rich Arms, Jack and Headmaster Bill Burke don hardhats to check out the construction of the West Campus Center**

Jack applied that same attention to detail to every aspect of his job, from overseeing the school’s cash flow and budget, to building strong relationships with all of our vendors. “Jack knew where every dollar was coming from and where every dime was being spent,” shared former Board President David Gately ’73. “Every board member had complete confidence in the financial reports because of his detailed knowledge of the numbers.” Rob Wadsworth P’10,’15, former Chair of the Board’s Finance & Endowment Committee shared this same trust, calling Jack “the most reliable, buttoned-up, forward thinking financial officer and operating officer I have ever had the pleasure of working with... In short, Jack has been a ‘pillar of financial stability’ that enabled St. Sebastian’s to grow and thrive during his entire tenure.”

Jack’s competence and skill were integral to the success of three major capital campaigns, while continuing to manage an increasingly complex budget and the day-to-day operations of the School. He took charge of the bidding of each project and the oversight of the construction, ensuring the projects were completed on time and under budget. Over the course of three decades, the campus was truly transformed, from the renovation of the Birmingham Academic Building and Henry T. Lane Rink to the construction of the Art Building, new athletic fields, Math, Science & Library Center and West Campus Center. “When I look at an aerial photo of the campus today, I’m amazed,” shared Jack. “I don’t think anybody visualized what we have now back in 1982.”

Jack also played a critical role in the magnificent growth of St. Sebastian’s endowment from $30,000 in 1990 to $60 million today, working closely with the Finance & Endowment Committee and managing relationships with banks and investment firms. Building the endowment is not only a strategic priority for the administration and Board of Trustees, but has given Jack greater flexibility to take care of what matters most: the people. From financial aid for families to salaries and benefits for the employees, he lives the St. Sebastian’s motto, “Love God, work hard and take good care of one another.” As his son, Jed ’86 noted, “St. Sebastian’s is family. You couldn’t possibly care more for a community than my dad does.”

St. Sebastian’s is family. You couldn't possibly care more for a community than my dad does.

—Jed Doherty ’86, P’25

Over the years, countless families facing unexpected financial challenges have been touched by Jack’s kind gestures, from sending an oil truck to fill up an empty tank to working out a longterm tuition payment plan. “Being in charge of the finances, Jack has always understood that those finances are only important in so far as they support the mission and the culture of the school,” shared Assistant Headmaster Mike Nerbonne. “As steward of the school’s money, he was always careful, but would find money when seemingly there was none in the budget in order to do the right thing.” Fittingly, the Business Office was dedicated in Jack’s name through a gift to the Spirit & People Campaign by Jay and Carol LaMarche P’91,’93. The plaque that hangs outside the Doherty Business Office reads, “His intelligence, energy, integrity, diligence, dedication, discretion and love will be the gold standard for St. Sebastian’s Business Managers of the future.”

**Jack and Kathy, along with Jed, Laura, Makayla and Matty '25 (on the left), and Jack '17, Tim, Rose, and Sally (on the right) at the dedication of the Doherty Business Office in 2019**

A TALENTED & COMPASSIONATE COACH

Outside of his duties as Business Manager, Jack somehow found time to coach the game he loves, guiding Arrows on the ice for many years alongside varsity head coach Dan Williams ’64. During this era, the Arrows won their first two consecutive ISL Championships in 1991 and 1992 and several players went on to play professional hockey. “My dad’s greatest strength as a coach beyond his hockey intelligence was that his players knew he cared about them while they played for him, as well as beyond their years at St. Seb’s,” noted Jed, assistant coach of the team for the past 26 years. In addition to countless college and NHL games to watch former Arrows compete, Jack tried to never miss a St. Sebastian’s game, including when his grandson, Jack ’17, became a third-generation captain of the team, following in the footsteps of his father, Tim, and grandfather.

**Jack (far right) with Coach Dan Williams, Coach Henry Lane and his son, Tim, captain of the 1987 hockey team**

**The ISL Championship 1992 hockey team with Coaches Williams, Mutch and Doherty**

Jack combined his love of hockey and sense of compassion to make a difference for worthy non-profits over the past several decades. As Tim noted, “My dad had this unique ability to find opportunities to honor special people and causes that were close to him.” For several years, Jack sacrificed countless hours of his time to hosting youth hockey tournaments to raise money for the Jimmy Fund. In 1994, he created the Kevin T. Mutch Cup, an annual match-up against Catholic Memorial, in memory of Kevin Mutch ’80, a talented hockey player who had returned to St. Sebastian’s to coach in 1991 and was killed in a tragic car accident the following year. A couple years later, the Arrows hosted Tabor Academy for the first Travis Roy Cup, an annual event Jack created to honor Travis Roy, a promising Boston University freshman hockey player who suffered a paralyzing injury eleven seconds into the first game of his college career. In 2015, the Jack Doherty Award was fittingly established to honor a St. Sebastian’s varsity hockey player who possesses the qualities of commitment, teamwork and outstanding attitude.

**Jack (far right) with his son, Coach Jed Doherty, Travis Roy, and his grandson, Jack at the Travis Roy Cup**

**he Doherty family gathers around Jack's grandson, Jack '17, at the varsity hockey Senior Night**

A FAMILY MAN & SUPERFAN

For Jack, St. Sebastian's is family in more ways than one. Along with his brother, two sons, two grandsons, and two brothers-in-law, several nephews and grandnephews have become Arrows as well. His sons continue the tradition of serving St. Sebastian's— Jed is a history teacher, along with coaching varsity hockey, and Tim is a trustee. “St. Sebastian’s is in our blood. It’s been a great way to spend my life. I wouldn’t have had it any other way,” said Jack. As someone who lost his own dad as a baby, Jack has been an amazing father, grandfather and uncle. His niece, Ann Rourke P’15,’20, captures her uncle’s essence, calling him a superfan: “He celebrates your accomplishments, but more importantly, he comforts and cares for you during hard times. He has a humble presence, but he is an incredibly strong anchor of support; never needing or expecting recognition. Jackie’s generosity and thoughtfulness to others is his unique talent.”

“Jackie celebrates your accomplishments, but more importantly, he comforts and cares for you during hard times.”

—Ann Rourke P'15,'20

**Headmaster Burke gives Jack a warm handshake at the end-of-year faculty dinner in June 2021**

A ST. SEBASTIAN’S LEGEND

On October 16, 2021, Jack’s family, friends and colleagues gathered for a special retirement celebration to recognize his 42 years of devoted service to St. Sebastian’s. The evening was filled with heartfelt expressions of gratitude, awe and love, including live tributes and a fabulous video featuring Jack’s classmates, his teammates, his former players, current and past trustees, current and past colleagues, and family members. “Serving our great School with Jack Doherty has been one of the truly great joys and honors of my life,” praised Headmaster Bill Burke during his speech. “I love him and respect him and admire him beyond all telling.”

A highlight of the night—a complete surprise to Jack—was the presentation of a #11 jersey by the current varsity hockey coaches and captains. Headmaster Burke announced that for the first time in our School’s history we are retiring an athletic uniform number. No St. Sebastian’s varsity hockey player will ever again wear #11, paying tribute to Jack’s contributions to Arrows hockey, and more importantly, his invaluable impact on St. Sebastian’s as Business Manager. “It was a beautiful night,” remarked Kathy. “I’ve never felt so much joy in a room before.”

We will never be able to thank Jack enough for all he has done for the school he loves with all his heart. As David Gately shared in his tribute to Jack at the dinner: “Your efforts have made an enormous contribution to the quality of the education and the daily experience of every student and to the pride that every alumnus has when we come back and see what St. Sebastian's has become. We will be forever in your debt, no pun intended.”