Xavier Annual Report: 2021-22

ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22

Shawna Gallagher Vega, APR Director of Communications Editor, Xavier Annual Report

Contributors

Jeanette Alvarez Nick Barone ’16

Dan Bassini

Michael Benigno ’00 Ralph Dinielli Rebecca Drobis Kaitlyn Flanagan Tom Kampa ’72 Eric Krebs ’17 Zane Massey ’96 P’22 Brian McCabe P’23 Maggie Murphy Stockson Thomas Nugent ’09 Claudia Tierney P’20

Photography Michael Marmora

Xavier High School 30 West 16th Street New York, NY 10011 news@xavierhs.org

Xavier’s Mission

Founded in 1847, Xavier High School is an academically rigorous, Catholic, Jesuit, college preparatory school in New York City that educates intelligent, motivated young men of diverse backgrounds and means. Xavier teaches students to take responsibility for their lives, to lead with integrity, to act justly in service of others, to pursue excellence in every endeavor and to deepen their relationship with God. Ultimately, Xavier forms young men who will go forth to transform the world for God’s greater glory.

On the Cover

A banner marking Xavier’s 175th anniversary hangs on 16th Street. The photo showcased on the banner, sourced from Xavier’s archives, is a view of 16th Street in the 1920s.

Jack Raslowsky P’16 President

Kim Smith Headmaster Shane Lavin ’03 Vice President for Advancement

16. PROFILES OF GENEROSITY 28. FINANCIALS 32. WHY I GIVE

The Power of Yes

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is God’s name.

Dear Parents, Friends and Sons of Xavier:

The power of yes. A word that makes all things possible.

I am writing this Annual Report letter on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a day we are reminded of Mary’s great yes. I write with deep gratitude for your yes to Xavier.

The Gospel for the Immaculate Conception is the story of the Annunciation, the story of Mary’s yes. It is followed by Mary’s visit to Elizabeth (the Visitation) and then the Magnificat. It is a beautiful part of Luke’s Gospel, rich in imagery and symbolism. It is all made possible by Mary’s yes: “You see before you the Lord’s servant, let it happen to me as you said.”

While few yeses can match the significance of Mary’s, she once again is a model for us. Mary opens herself up to God, to life and to love in God’s fullness. She knew that all things are possible with God, and she affirmed this with her yes.

Mary has a lot to say to us at Xavier. Our work through the years has only been possible by God’s grace; our success possible by countless yeses like Mary’s. Yeses that involve risk, sacrifice and moving into an unknown future assured at times of only one thing: God is with us. It is an assurance made possible by Mary’s yes.

Yes is the foundation upon which Xavier is built. The yes of parents entrusting their sons to us; the yes of those sons to the

challenges of Jesuit education; the yes of alumni, parents and friends to supporting this work for 175 years.

There is a risk of annual reports being seen as lists of names. To do so is a mistake. This Annual Report, like all those that have come before, is a collection of stories. Stories embedded in names representing all who have been touched and shaped by Xavier, representing all who in one way or another made and make this work possible, representing all who have said yes to Xavier.

All those listed in this report have their story, their strand of the Xavier story. By their yes, they are enabling the story of Xavier to continue in the lives of nearly 1,000 students, their families and their faculty. This Annual Report celebrates gifts large and small, donors young and old, alumni, parents, grandparents, faculty, administrators, staff, organizations and friends near and far, living and now deceased.

It takes thousands of yeses for Xavier to be a resounding yes in our world: yes to integrity; yes to truth; yes to community; yes to high expectations, a rigorous academic program and a faith that does justice. Yes to a God who loves us beyond measure. Thank you for your yes.

As we celebrate the fiscal year 2022 giving, we highlight the 175th Anniversary Challenge, parent giving, and Jack Gillen of the Brooklyn Prep Class of ’53. The 175th Anniversary Challenge brought us gifts from $5 to $43,750. I am grateful to Roger Kirwan ’60 and Anthony Scotto ’64 for the gifts that made the challenge possible and grateful to all who stepped up to the challenge. It was an invitation to work together and an invitation to say yes to supporting Xavier. Working together into the future to support Xavier is the only guarantee of our success.

Parent giving has always been an essential part of our support going back to the days of Fathers Club Bingo in Larkin Hall. While Fathers Club Bingo hasn’t been for many a day, parent giving to the Annual Fund, the Celebrate Xavier Scholarship Gala and through major gifts is an essential component of our success.

Jack Gillen’s bequest to Xavier is a transformative gift and a testament to the importance and value of Jesuit education. I have written before about my deep affection for Brooklyn Prep, the Brooklyn Prep Alumni Association and the powerful example of generosity and solidarity that they provide for all students and alumni of Xavier and all Jesuit schools. It is a great honor to count myself among the BP alumni as an honorary alumnus of 2018. (For those unfamiliar with the story, Brooklyn Prep was a wonderful Jesuit school in Crown Heights that closed in 1972. Since her closing, Brooklyn Prep alumni continue to gather for reunions and generously support the work of Jesuit education throughout the New York area.)

Thank you to Nicholas C., Nick and Jeannine Cagliuso P’20, Francis Creighton ’90, Paul Gannon ’75, John Frank ’71, Roger Kirwan ’60, Anthony Scotto ’64, John Wood ’81, Marli and Todd Craig P’21 ’24, LaNette Hodge and Troy House P’25, Sabrina and Matthew McCauley P’22, Myriam and Pierre Nicolas P’22 ’25, Anthony and Jennifer Pasquin P’21 ’24, Asha Sharma and Shailesh Punwani P’25, Veronica Corbett P’85, Nicholas Tucker ’17, and Tom Kampa ’72 for their resounding yeses and for sharing their stories with us.

As we celebrate with gratitude the wonderful support of Xavier, I am delighted we can celebrate as well the graduates of the Class of 2022, our Bene Merenti honorees, our retirees and our 175th anniversary celebrations in this report. Your support makes it all possible.

While our 175th anniversary has given us the opportunity to celebrate Xavier’s stories, it also draws our attention to what lies beyond 175. Your ongoing support is essential to keeping Xavier strong. The anniversary was a powerful reminder of the deep affection our alumni, parents and friends have for Xavier. It was also a reminder of the challenges Xavier has faced for almost two centuries and how we have responded to those challenges.

We hope to build on the anniversary celebrations to increase participation in the Annual Fund, to raise funds to ensure our facilities are of the highest quality and to grow the endowment so Xavier remains accessible and affordable. While the participation of 20% of our alumni in our Annual Fund would be the envy of many, I dream of doubling that. The same is true of membership in the Larkin Legacy Society. There is work to do and together we can do that work well.

All gifts, large and small, are made possible by individual yeses. Your yes is a yes to Xavier: a yes to our future, a yes to our mission, a yes confident that God walks with us boldly into that future.

For those who have given this past year, I am deeply grateful. For those who will join us anew this year, thank you. I hope we will all say yes: Yes to Xavier. Yes to her mission. Yes to living in the light of the God who loves us.

I look forward to seeing you on 16th Street at reunion, Beefsteak, or whenever you find yourself close to us.

Be assured of my best wishes and prayers.

Jack Raslowsky President

Our Deepest Gratitude

Dear Parents, Friends and Sons of Xavier:

On behalf of the Xavier Board of Trustees, I would like to share our deepest gratitude with each of you for your support of Xavier High School throughout the 2021-22 fiscal year.

Your many contributions this past year, and over the years, have allowed the Board of Trustees and President Raslowsky to focus on major strategic imperatives. In particular, Xavier has adopted a multi-year master plan that will result in the physical renovation of multiple classrooms and student-facing locations such as the College Guidance, Admissions, and Campus Ministry offices. The first phase of this master plan was the renovation of the art and computer science and technology spaces on the fifth floor of the Lynch building. The master plan will continue to be implemented in phases over the coming years. The Board is also actively engaged in supporting the President and administration in launching a new marketing campaign, the 175th anniversary celebration, and fundraising to meet the needs of our strategic priorities.

Some financial milestones achieved this past year thanks to your continued generosity include Xavier exceeding its Annual Fund goals, the highest-fundraising Celebrate Xavier Scholarship Gala to date, and the return of the Hall of Fame Dinner. Because of your financial gifts, Xavier was able to award a record amount of scholarships and financial aid. Continuing to balance the need to invest in Xavier while keeping tuition as affordable as possible remains a major strategic priority for Xavier and the Board of Trustees.

Because of your financial gifts, Xavier was able to award a record amount of scholarships and financial aid.

Xavier received several major gifts this past year, including a large estate gift from a Brooklyn Prep alumnus, the late Jack Gillen. Xavier has maintained a close relationship with the Brooklyn Prep Alumni Association since the school’s closure in 1972, with President Raslowsky strengthening that relationship over the past several years. The generosity of this gift from a Jesuit-educated non-alum speaks not only to Jack Gillen’s amazing generosity, but also to the larger impact the Jesuits have had in building a global network committed to the service of others.

Finally, I want to express my gratitude to Ken Ng ’80, Paul Scariano ’90 P’19 ’21 ’23 ’25, Stephen Winter ’04, and Edward O’Callaghan ’87 P’17 ’20, who concluded their terms on the Board in June. On July 1, Thomas Evans ’81, Peter Maniscalco ’72 P’00, Thomas McGinty, and the late Rodolfo “Rudy” Casals, S.J. began their terms as new trustees. Tragically, Fr. Casals passed away just weeks into his term. Fr. Casals graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1997, served in the U.S. Navy until 2006 and then joined the Jesuits. He served as a scholastic at Xavier from 2011 to 2013. Most recently, he completed a master’s in social work and was planning to work with veterans suffering from PTSD. Fr. Casals was truly a man for others and we will miss his spirit and his presence on the Xavier Board.

Paul Enright ’91

Chair, Xavier Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2021-22

James Brennan ’92

Founder, Enlightened Brand Ventures

Paul Enright ’91, Chair

Managing Partner, Krainos Capital Rev. Thomas Feely, S.J. Rector, Xavier Jesuit Community Nelson Fernandez ’81

Founder and Principal, Crosby Street Consultants

Matthew J. Fitzgerald

Chief CompIiance Officer, PGIM Fixed Income, Prudential Insurance Company of America

Rev. Sean Hagerty, S.J. ’02 Society of Jesus Elliot Han ’94

Head of Technology Equity Capital Markets, Cantor Fitzgerald

John C. Meditz ’66

Managing Director and Co-Founder, Horizon Kinetics, LLC

John Muller, M.D. ’75

Attending Anesthesiologist, Hospital for Special Surgery; East River Medical Associates

Kenneth Ng ’80

Richard T. Nolan, Jr. ’83 Partner, McCarter & English, LLP

Armando Nuñez ’78

Advisor/Former Chairman, ViacomCBS Global Distribution, ViacomCBS

Edward O’Callaghan ’87 P’17 ’20

Partner, WilmerHale

Rev. Mario Powell, S.J., Vice Chair

President, Brooklyn Jesuit Prep James Power, Ed.D.

Headmaster, St. Anselm’s Abbey School

Jack Raslowsky P’16

President, Xavier High School

Bob Robotti ’71

President, Robotti & Company Sandy Sabean P’14

CEO, Merity

Paul Scariano ’90 P’19 ’21 ’23 ’25

Chief Executive Officer, PJS Group

Peter Seccia ’85

Global Head of Equity Derivatives, Jefferies John Shuhda ’83

Managing Director, Merrill Lynch

Linda Smith

President, Linda A. Smith & Associates

Stephen Winter ’04

Senior Vice President, Related Companies

News from 16th Street

More than two years after the COVID-19 pandemic descended on New York, leaving an indelible impact on their high school careers, 260 resilient Sons of Xavier graduated at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on June 9.

“Over the past two and a half years, we have all dealt with the presence of COVID-19 in our lives, and many of us have suffered great losses. The faith we put in God in moments like these, to guide us along

the path to peace, will define more than just our immediate recoveries; it will shape who we become as people thereafter,” Vanderbilt-bound valedictorian Diego Lopez ’22 remarked at Xavier’s 180th Commencement. “Xavier didn’t just raise us and welcome us throughout our stay, it propelled us forward with good minds, good hearts, and the best friends and community we could have asked for.”

News and Notes

In addition to honoring the Class of 2022 at Commencement, Xavier recognized two veteran members of the faculty and staff—English teacher Mary-Grace Gannon P’03 ’07 and Director of Admissions and Financial Aid Steve Noga—with the Bene Merenti Medal for 20 years of service to Xavier. As the medals were awarded, Headmaster Kim Smith read moving tributes to the honorees. Of Mary-Grace Gannon, her fellow English teacher Matthew Thomas said: “Her rigorous approach to the teaching of writing, with its unflagging and exhaustive attention to all aspects of prose and argument, sets her lucky students up to be not only exceptionally high performers on such empirical indices as AP exams and standardized tests, but also intellectual leaders in college, and paragons of personal excellence and self-knowledge for all of life beyond it. We are all better for being in Mary-Grace’s midst.” Fordham Prep principal Joe Petriello, who once taught

religion on 16th Street alongside Steve Noga, said of his friend: “Mr. Noga’s classroom was always a place where students could wrestle with the deepest questions of what it means to be human, what it means to be a man of service to others, and what it means to live a life of faith in a complex world. Steve is an Ignatian educator who expects much of his students, but never fails to care for who they are as young men on a journey with Christ.”

That same night, Xavier awarded the Robert Bellarmine Medal, an honor given to members of the faculty and staff upon their retirement, to campus minister Ralph Dinielli, religion teacher Jonathan Dwyer, religion and history teacher Louis Garaventa, S.J., Vice President for Finance Paul Kelleher, and Director of Music Jerry Neuhoff. Bellarmine was a teacher and doctor of the church.

Science teacher Jasmine Tan earned her

master’s in education from Teachers College, Columbia University in May.

On May 21, the track and field team won the New York Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) and New York City Intersectional Championship.

On June 5, the varsity rugby team ended its season as the New York State champions with a 21-17 win over Rye Rugby.

On June 7, the varsity tennis team defeated St. Francis Prep, 3-2, to take home the city championship. This year served as the program’s first at the CHSAA AA level.

Over the summer, history teacher Dr. Steve Haller ’05 began the Certificate in School Management and Leadership program at Harvard Business School. He hopes to complete the one-year intensive program by summer 2023.

1. Mary-Grace Gannon P’03 ’07 and Steve Noga, recipients of the Bene Merenti Medal for 20 years of service to Xavier. 2. Bellarmine Medal recipients and retirees Jonathan Dwyer, Jerry Neuhoff, Louis Garaventa, S.J., Paul Kelleher, and Ralph Dinielli.

Art teacher Denise Iacovone and her husband, retired music teacher Rocco Iacovone ’62, won a Chamber Music America grant for a sixconcert residency. Completed in conjunction with New York City’s Educational Alliance, the October workshop series held on the Lower East Side included weekly master classes in jazz composition, question-andanswer sessions, and a concert performance led by Rocco. Denise ran simultaneous improvisational live-painting seminars open to all participants.

English teacher Jennifer Kennedy-Orlando P’21, a roller derby veteran, was recently named to the New Jersey All-Star Roller Derby team.

In October, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education awarded Xavier Best of District II Awards for best institutional

website and best Annual Report (for the 201920 report). Xavier is the only high school to have been honored in either category.

At the TCS New York City Marathon on November 6, Athletic Director Andrew Gheraldi and President Jack Raslowsky numbered among 50,000 runners. It was Gheraldi’s first marathon and Raslowsky’s fourth.

On November 6, the junior varsity soccer team defeated Regis, 3-1, taking home the CHSAA championship.

On November 7, Xavier celebrated 175+ Years of Eloquentia Perfecta, a literary-themed anniversary event that welcomed 30 teachers of writing from Jesuit and Catholic institutions as far north as Boston and as far south as Washington, D.C. Students enjoyed a panel conversation moderated by English teacher

Matthew Thomas, author of the New York Times bestseller We Are Not Ourselves, that featured several distinguished writers: Emmyand Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Joe Sexton ’77, America Media senior editor Jim Keane, author and filmmaker Don Hooper ’97, CNN law enforcement reporter Mark Morales ’01, and poet Andrés Cerpa ’08.

Xavier honored its veterans at a special 175th anniversary veterans Mass and gathering on November 10. Sean Hagerty, S.J. ’02, an Army veteran, celebrated the Mass. A reception in Cook Library attended by alumni, faculty, staff, and members of the Regiment followed.

On November 19, the varsity football team defeated Mount Saint Michael’s, 29-22, to take home the Catholic High School Football League (CHSFL) AA2 championship.

1. Denise Iacovone leads an improvisational live-painting seminar. 2. Headmaster Kim Smith, who spearheaded Xavier’s 175+ Years of Eloquentia Perfecta event, with panelists Joe Sexton ’77, Jim Keane, Mark Morales ’01, Don Hooper ’97, Andrés Cerpa ’08, and moderator Matthew Thomas. 3. Jack Raslowsky and Andrew Gheraldi after finishing the TCS New York City Marathon. 4. Army veterans Rick Calero ’83 and John O’Farrell ’83 at the 175th anniversary veterans reception. 5. Head football coach Chris Stevens ’83 hoists the CHSFL AA2 championship trophy.

Nicholas C., Nick and Jeannine Cagliuso P’20

By MAGGIE MURPHY STOCKSON

On September 11, 2001, Dr. Nick Cagliuso P’20 was working for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey at the World Trade Center. His wife, Jeannine P’20, was pregnant with their second child.

Cagliuso survived the tragic events of that day, and his job soon moved to West 18th Street. He and his grieving colleagues gathered for Mass each week at the Church of St. Francis Xavier a few blocks away.

Little did Nick and Jeannine know that the beautiful baby boy, Christopher ’20, who was born in April 2002 would walk the halls of the school next door 14 years later. In fact, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in the spring of 2020 and Nick was working on the city’s emergency response, Nick, Chris, and Jeannine traveled from their Long Island home to attend Mass together at the Church of St. Francis Xavier.

Faith is a guiding force for the Cagliuso family. When they began looking at high schools, they knew that they wanted to further their sons’ Catholic education. And when they visited Xavier, they witnessed what they describe as “the differentiators of Jesuit education.”

“The concept of being people for others immediately resonated with us, as well as helping the boys develop the fundamentals that would help get them through all of life’s ups and downs,” Nick remarked.

Although attending Xavier would involve a long daily commute, Chris felt called to try something different and get out of his comfort zone, just as his brother Nick, who attended Regis High School, did before him. Chris played baseball throughout his time at Xavier and participated in numerous Companions of St. Francis Xavier (CFX) service trips, including the challenging trip to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria devastated the island. He was also active in the Student Leadership Council and the Sports Management Club.

Jeannine fondly recalled meeting science teacher Greg Norris during their first Back to School Night at Xavier. “We walked into the classroom and felt this incredible warmth as Mr. Norris was speaking about faith, God, and biology,” she recalled.

The Cagliusos were also impressed with the strength and generosity of the Xavier alumni community. When Chris won the Boston College Book Award his senior year, he reached out to Kevin McLaughlin ’74, a proud Boston College alumnus then serving as president of the BC Alumni Association. McLaughlin invited Chris to his office and helped him when he expressed an interest in BC, where he is currently a junior. They stay in touch, and the Cagliuso family has attended BC football games with McLaughlin and his wife, Jean.

The Cagliusos have generously supported the Xavier Annual Fund since Chris arrived at Xavier in 2016 and most recently made a generous major gift to the fund. As Jeannine said, “Nick and I are both educators, and education is very important to us. Fortunately, we had the ability to send Chris to Xavier, but we know it is not possible for everyone.”

Generosity is a thread that runs through generations of the Cagliuso family, and Nick’s parents were also instrumental in making their recent gift. Nick’s father, Nicholas C. Cagliuso, explained, “I firmly believe that giving to Xavier is worthwhile because we see the results in Chris every day. My late wife Anna always said of Chris, ‘You will flourish in whatever you do and succeed.’ Supporting Xavier honors her and helps others benefit from the remarkable value of a Xavier education.”

Nick further explained that the impetus for their gift was to “continue our parents’ legacy of generosity, hard work, and sacrifice. Xavier is a great place that has done great things for our family.”

A Night for the Ages

7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

Marking a Milestone

Earlier this year, more than 700 alumni celebrated their alma mater’s landmark anniversary through their own generosity during Xavier’s 175th Anniversary Challenge.

By MICHAEL BENIGNO ’00

As individuals, Xavier students find opportunities for growth not only in the classroom, but also in retreat houses, on athletic fields, and within the cultural offerings of New York City. Since Xavier’s founding, the school itself has also served as a multifaceted crossroads for young men in New York City. The daily experience of being with students and faculty from all five boroughs—and sometimes far beyond—has shaped the mindsets and broadened the horizons of generations of graduates.

500 individual donors needed to unlock a $175,000 challenge gift sponsored by Roger Kirwan ’60 and Anthony Scotto ’64.”

By design, the timing of the 175th Anniversary Challenge—May 10-17, 2022—overlapped with the anniversary of St. Ignatius Loyola’s conversion, a pivotal event that forever changed the trajectory of the life of the founder of the Jesuits.

When the results were in, more than 700 donors made gifts to successfully meet the challenge in just seven days. A separate matching gift of $25,000 also sponsored by Kirwan and Scotto doubled the impact of new and returning donors, making for a total of $600,670 raised.

“It’s very satisfying knowing that we’re helping kids out who might not otherwise have the resources needed to get a Xavier education,” said Scotto, whose own foundation at Xavier helped launch a successful career in public accounting and private equity.

“Xavier’s 175th Anniversary Challenge was created to unite Xavier graduates and celebrate the essence of Xavier—the sense of community that has left an indelible impression on so many of us,” said Vice President for Advancement Shane Lavin ’03. “Instead of focusing just on a financial goal to reach, the school set a participation goal of

“We’re helping students have the opportunity to get a life-changing education and encouraging donors to make gifts of any amount to help today’s students find the personal, academic, and spiritual growth that’s the essence of a Xavier education,” said Kirwan, who has also funded several giving challenges for his reunion class in the past.

“Xavier’s 175th Anniversary Challenge was created to unite Xavier graduates and celebrate the essence of Xavier—the sense of community that has left an indelible impression on so many of us.”

Francis Creighton ’90

Roger Kirwan ’60

John Frank ’71, a donor to the 175th Anniversary Challenge, said he gave—and continues to give—in honor of what he received on 16th Street.

For Frank, the morning commute from Brooklyn to Xavier was like a daily escape. In fact, as a standout student at his Catholic grade school, Frank spent a considerable amount of time seeking more structure and trying to avoid local gangs. He walked into Xavier knowing it was a place that could give him a pathway to West Point. What he also found was an environment that expanded his world beyond the streets of 1960s Park Slope.

When the results were in, more than 700 donors made gifts to successfully meet the challenge in just seven days, making for a total of $600,670 raised.

“I got to Xavier and realized it’s okay to be smart,” Frank said. “There are people like me here.”

On 16th Street, he joined the Regiment and wrote for the Review, becoming co-editor-in-chief. The experience gained him management skills that would guide him for years as a first-generation college graduate and throughout his first few jobs. It also gave him a passion for writing that’s lasted ever since.

With his degrees from Marquette and Northwestern, Frank began a lengthy career as a print journalist, first covering the financial services industry, and later shifting toward food, marketing, healthcare, and medicine as a news editor.

He taught journalism for 20 years along the way, remaining in the Midwest but connecting with Xavier any time he could. He staged a reading of The Institute, a play he wrote about his experiences on 16th Street, with New York City actors at Xavier in 2019.

“Xavier let me be me. It let me dream,” said Frank. “It makes you realize that you can do what you want to do.”

Midway through the challenge, John Wood ’81 said he was compelled to make a major contribution to recognize Xavier’s Jesuit mission and the ways the school gives back to New York City and the world.

In 1990, Wood joined Telos Corporation, a global leader in cybersecurity since he took over as CEO in 1994. A Georgetown graduate, he also served on the board of the former Woodstock Theological Center, which was a focal point of Catholic social thinking for decades. Noted theologian Walter Burghardt, S.J. ’31 was among the renowned scholars who once served as senior research fellows at the center. (The center inherited its name and library from Woodstock College, the first Jesuit seminary in the United States, whose most notable faculty member was theologian John Courtney Murray, S.J. 1920. His papers are now housed at the Woodstock Theological Library at Georgetown.)

John Wood ’81

John Frank ’71

“I’ve always felt that the Jesuits were both very practical in general, and a bit of a renegade group, which frankly I think is very important,” Wood said. “Jesuits have this very focused respect for diversity and differences between people, which helps educate the whole person and instill in people characteristics like courage. Xavier is a forward-looking organization that taught me very important life lessons and the core values that helped shape me as an adult.”

who helped students experience the city not only as commuters, but as active cultural participants. For Creighton, chief among those influential faculty members was Brian Moroney. Creighton recalls the legendary teacher taking him and small groups of his classmates to see a dress rehearsal of La Bohème featuring renowned tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

“Mr. Moroney really did a great job helping students connect with what the city had to offer. That has stayed with me my whole life,” Creighton said. “Xavier hired and keeps hiring people who care about their students, about the community, and about the mission of the school.”

Creighton sees the 175th anniversary as an important opportunity for fellow graduates to revisit the school, engage (or re-engage), and look forward to what’s still to come.

Francis Creighton ’90, who made a multi-year pledge, was similarly inspired by his own Xavier experience. “Continuing to bring boys from across the city’s many neighborhoods and backgrounds together into one place to focus on academic excellence and service is an important mission,” Creighton said.

Creighton’s time on 16th Street wasn’t just shaped by the classmates and fellow graduates with whom he is still connected, even in Washington, D.C. It was equally shaped by impactful faculty members

“The school has a great history, but what’s really great isn’t its history but its future,” he said. “We have the chance to expand the kind of good that we can do for tomorrow’s students. I think they need a solid background on what it means to be a human being in the world today. Jesuit values and ideals still matter and they’re critical for the formation of men for others.”

Another one of the 175th Anniversary Challenge’s generous donors, Paul Gannon ’75 added: “Supporting the challenge was an easy way to benefit a fabulous organization that has had such a meaningful impact on my life. I also believe in celebrating success stories, and 175 years of impact on some 30,000 young men over that time is clearly a success story.”

“Supporting the challenge was an easy way to benefit a fabulous organization that has had such a meaningful impact on my life. I also believe in celebrating success stories, and 175 years of impact on some 30,000 young men over that time is clearly a success story.”

Paul Gannon ’75

Paying it Forward

TROY HOUSE AND LANETTE HODGE P’25

In the early aughts, before they became parents, and long before the thought of where their child might attend high school had crossed either of their minds, LaNette Hodge and Troy House P’25 liked to walk down 16th Street. “We lived just across town on the east side, and we would cut across Union Square going to meet friends for dinner,” Hodge recalled. On those journeys, the couple would pass directly in front of Xavier.

It was neither the 19th century masonry of the Old Stone Building nor the mid-century white-brick facade of the Kane Building that drew their attention to the school. Rather, it was the sounds that echoed from beyond the open windows of the gymnasium. “You couldn’t see into the gym, but I would hear the boys and hear the playing,” said Hodge. “Without even thinking we were going to have children, without even knowing it, I coveted the school and that sound: the sound of camaraderie.”

Hodge and House eventually moved to Brooklyn, putting an end to their regular crosstown walks. In 2007, their son, Rogan, was born.

Thirteen years later, when it came time for him to choose a high school, the family found themselves on 16th Street once again. “We all walked out of the tour realizing that this was his school,” said Hodge.

Today, Rogan House ’25 is a sophomore at Xavier. And though he’s the only one technically enrolled, the school has become a full-family affair. “We were joining the year right after COVID,” said Hodge. “We were really thrilled to be in person. So we were volunteering to come to anything, just because it had been a year without being in person.”

House and Hodge have made it their mission to support Xavier in every way they can. “We donate, but in lots of different ways,” said House. “There are so many ways to give.” Beyond their generous financial support, they also lend their time—and talents—through volunteering. Hodge, who serves as Head of Upper School at BASIS Independent Manhattan, is a regular presence at Xavier, as is House—a professional photographer who has been commissioned by brands like Disney, Nikon, and Bon Appetit. He pitches in by volunteering at Open Houses and photographing Xavier sporting events.

It’s that support from the parents, family, and friends on the

Filled with gratitude for their sons’ experiences at Xavier, six sets of parents share why they give back. By ERIC KREBS ’17

sidelines that makes the action on the field, in the classroom, and beyond possible at Xavier. “Here we are at Xavier and my son’s on the basketball team. And those are his squeaky shoes that you hear when you walk by,” said Hodge. “That’s pretty cool.”

ANTHONY AND JENNIFER PASQUIN P’21 ’24

Long before the Brooklyn-based Pasquin family traveled to Xavier, the school traveled—or rather skated—to them. When Aidan Pasquin ’21 was in middle school, his hockey team practiced at the Aviator Sports & Events Center in Marine Park.

“He would see the hockey kids wearing Xavier shirts and Xavier hoodies,” recalled Aidan’s mother, Jennifer Pasquin P’21 ’24, a speechlanguage pathologist. “He told us—without even looking at the school or knowing about it—that he wanted to go to Xavier.”

When he attended Xavier’s Open House with his father, Anthony Pasquin P’21 ’24, a fire captain for the FDNY, it confirmed Aidan’s hunch that Xavier was the school for him. “What I saw at Xavier, I was like, ‘Man, I wish I had gone to a school like this,’” said Anthony.

And soon after freshman year on 16th Street began, Jennifer was

convinced, too. “We were afraid for him because he was on the quiet side, and we were worried about how we would fit in and if it would work out,” she recalled. “But it didn’t take long to see that he was in such an amazing, safe place surrounded by people who were supporting him.”

Aidan went on to make the varsity hockey team by his sophomore year. Though playing with mostly juniors and seniors wasn’t always easy, the support and camaraderie that first drew him to Xavier didn’t stop at the rink’s edge, and one older player in particular, Julian Reiss ’19, took Aidan under his wing. “There was a finals game, and Aidan missed a play. He was in tears,” Jennifer recalled. “Julian just talked to him and told him that it was okay, and just showed him this sense of brotherhood that I was so thankful for.”

Now that Aidan is a sophomore at Quinnipiac University, the Pasquins remain connected to Xavier through their younger son, Cameron Pasquin ’24 (who followed in his older brother’s skate-steps to the Xavier hockey team) as well as through annual contributions. “Our boys are independent; they’re good; they’re kind. Xavier allowed them to make mistakes and grow from them,” said Jennifer. “We’ve had others be extremely generous to our family, and Anthony and I said that every opportunity to pay it forward, we would.”

Anthony and Jennifer Pasquin P’21 ’24

SHAILESH PUNWANI AND ASHA SHARMA P’25

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit New York in 2020, Asha Sharma and Shailesh Punwani P’25 saw their youngest son, Ishaan, suddenly lose the structure—and fun—of everyday life as a middle schooler. “Children were affected extremely badly,” said Punwani. “It was complete social isolation, and kids really didn’t go to school for two years. You woke up, and the teacher was there online, and you went to sleep.”

Last year, when it came time to choose a high school for Ishaan, his parents knew they wanted a school that would provide the stability, community, and structure critical to a teenager’s growth. Growing up, Punwani had attended Catholic school in Mumbai; Sharma also attended private school. For both, the sight of pupils in uniform was a familiar one. But it was also readily apparent to the family that the value of a Catholic, Jesuit, Xavier education would go far beyond the suit-andtie surface.

“We are Hindus. We go to our temple; we pray every morning,”

Punwani said. “Xavier has a rigorous religious background and curriculum, and religion is such an important part of any culture. I’ll go to the temple; I’ll go to the church. I go to St. Patrick’s every Christmas. It’s one God to me.” For Sharma and Punwani, a religious education is not only about Scripture, but the values and principles one applies— and depends on—daily. And in their son’s first year at Xavier, one steadfast principle, cura personalis, would prove especially important.

Freshman year was hard for Ishaan, who was adjusting both to the transition from his public middle school and from remote school to life on 16th Street. “The school really helped him,” said Sharma. She described the special relationship Ishaan formed with his guidance counselor, Jordan Temkin, as well as the proactive communication from school administration with regard to Ishaan’s progress. “We were really impressed,” Sharma said.

As their son was getting his bearings, Sharma and Punwani chose to invest in Xavier financially. They decided to attend the Celebrate Xavier Scholarship Gala and found themselves enchanted not only by Xavier’s past, but its future as well. “It was extremely surprising that

Shailesh Punwani and Asha Sharma P’25

so many people are still involved. We met people from the Class of ’56, the Class of ’58, the Class of ’62. It was unbelievable,” Punwani said. “Not everyone can pay. Scholarships, grants, that’s how a lot of students attend…We saw the investment working towards the betterment of children. Paying it forward is very, very important.”

The investment, it turned out, was mutual. Ishaan entered sophomore year in full stride. “He’s really comfortable in school now,” Sharma said. Comfortable and adventurous, in fact. “He went from being extremely shy to playing Julius Caesar in the school play,” Punwani added. “The school helped him along.”

PIERRE AND MYRIAM NICOLAS P’22 ’25

For Pierre and Myriam Nicolas P’22 ’25, a focus on education runs in the family.

Myriam’s father, Carlo, taught for more than 25 years in an all-boys Catholic elementary school in Haiti, where both Pierre and Myriam were born. The Nicolases both moved to New York City as children, and both would go on to train as engineers. Later in their careers, Pierre would make the switch into financial services, and Myriam would venture into entrepreneurship, opening

bakeries and cafés in Brooklyn, where they have lived for the last 20 years. “Education is a door-opener for a lot of things, whether or not you pursue a career in what you studied in college,” Myriam said. “It’s a big thing for immigrants. A lot of people come to this country for the opportunity. When you come here, education is at the top of your list. That was instilled in us, and we instill that in our kids.”

Pierre and Myriam are the parents to three boys: Christian, Chase, and Cameron. Before Xavier, both Chase ’22 and Cameron ’25 ran track with the Prospect Park Youth Running Club, where Sean Rice P’15 ’20—father of John “J.C.” Rice ’15 and Ethan Rice ’20—was the coach. “He had a strong rapport with Xavier and believed in what the school was teaching. He highly recommended it,” Pierre said.

Chase, who enrolled at Xavier in 2018, would join the track team on 16th Street. Three years later, Cameron—who had spent many Saturdays in middle school at Xavier track meets—would follow in his older brother’s footsteps. “If there’s an event where we need to show our sons our support, we’ll be there,” said Pierre. Through their presence at events—from track meets to the Celebrate Xavier Scholarship Gala—the Nicolases have joined the ranks of the generous Xavier parents who make the school possible. “We really believe in

Pierre and Myriam Nicolas P’22 ’25

the mission of service to others,” said Myriam. “From the beginning, we’ve told our sons: ‘We’re building you for the world, for a global community,’” Pierre added. “And that’s where Xavier comes into play.”

TODD AND MARLI CRAIG P’21 ’24

From the train to the classroom and beyond, Todd and Marli Craig P’21 ’24 have seen the power of a Xavier education first-hand.

The Craigs, who live in Maplewood, New Jersey, have sent two of their children—Gunner ’21 and Tyler ’24—to Xavier. Today, Gunner studies engineering at Santa Clara University, and Tyler is a Xavier junior. Though a local Catholic school might have spared their sons an interstate commute, the Craigs saw a value in a Xavier education that begins far from 16th Street, at their front door.

As self-described “outsiders” to New York City (Todd hails from Fort Thomas, Kentucky; Marli from Columbia, Maryland), their unique worldview impacted their high school decision for their sons. “Putting the kids in an environment with great diversity, motivated peers, and the opportunity to have a purposeful education is what Xavier is all about,” Todd said. “Having lived in the city and commuting back into it for work, we realized the discipline, organization, and interactions they would experience on the commute would shape their self-confidence.”

“It’s been a huge change from how the boys were when they were in

grade school, when they were in their shells,” he added. “It was Xavier that said, ‘Go, pursue other things, challenge yourself.’ It’s this same drive that keeps us involved and contributing to Xavier.”

For the Craigs, their philanthropy is an extension of the generosity they first displayed through tireless volunteerism at their sons’ elementary school, Our Lady of Sorrows in South Orange, New Jersey— and it has brought them a deeper connection not only to Xavier but to the Jesuit mission of service and education. “I don’t think money should ever limit someone from pursuing their dreams,” Todd said, “so if we can help in removing finance as a limiting factor, then in my mind there is no better donation than helping Xavier succeed in its mission.”

SABRINA AND MATTHEW MCCAULEY P’22

Whether in the halls of a hospital or the halls of Congress, Sabrina and Matthew McCauley P’22 have dedicated their careers to serving others.

Sabrina has worked in neonatal nursing at Lenox Hill Hospital for more than three decades, serving newborn patients and teaching the next generation of nurses as a Doctor of Nursing Practice, associate professor of nursing, and director of the pediatric nurse practitioner program at Columbia University.

In 1990, when he was 20, Matthew became a New York City police officer. Eight years after joining the NYPD, he decided to continue his

Todd and Marli Craig P’21 ’24

education, enrolling in law school at night. Upon graduating in 2001, he began a clerkship at the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, working under Sonia Sotomayor.

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals is housed in the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse in Lower Manhattan, just half a mile northeast of the World Trade Center. And on the morning of September 11, 2001, Matthew’s old and new careers would collide.

In the immediate wake of the attacks, Matthew used his training as a paramedic and police officer as a volunteer first responder at the World Trade Center. In the two decades since, he’s devoted his legal career to fighting for other first responders and 9/11 survivors who were wounded, injured, or made sick as a result of the attacks. “If you remember the video of Jon Stewart yelling at Congress, I’m the big Irish guy sitting behind him,” Matthew said.

From a young age, Matthew and Sabrina’s oldest son, Finn ’22, joined his father on advocacy trips to Washington. “He saw how advocacy worked as an innocent teenager and really became interested in that sort of public service,” said Matthew, who also noted the inspiration Finn has drawn from his mother’s work as a healthcare practitioner and educator.

A love of service drew the Larchmont-based Finn, Matthew, and Sabrina alike to Xavier. “We wanted to find a school that not only had

academic rigor, but also a place where Finn could use his desire to serve others in the community,” said Sabrina.

Xavier also gave Matthew and Sabrina an opportunity to extend their dedication to service as well. While Finn, who is now a freshman at Boston College, was at Xavier, the McCauleys began supporting the Celebrate Xavier Scholarship Gala as sponsors in addition to volunteering their time and effort—whether it was at Open Houses or through the Xavier Internship Program. “We’ve always wanted to support the school, whatever needed to be done,” Matthew said.

While at Xavier, Finn excelled in academics and athletics, studying Arabic and playing on the football and rugby teams—and, at the suggestion of coach Patrick Dormer P’17, stepping out of his comfort zone and joining the track team. “He had these relationships with the coaches that really pulled him in,” Matthew said. That openness to growth has followed Finn to college, where he is majoring in political science. “There was some ‘click’ with him. The environment of Xavier just really pushed him to excel,” Matthew added.

“Part of Finn’s success is from who he is, but a lot of it is due to what was instilled in him at Xavier,” said Sabrina. “We thought if we could help another young man have this incredibly special experience that our son was privileged to have, we wanted to do that—and we are happy to.”

Sabrina and Matthew McCauley P’22

A Transformative Gift

By BRIAN MCCABE P’23

The life of John Michael Gillen, better known as Jack, had a missionary quality. Like so many other graduates of Jesuit high schools in the New York City area, he was taught that God’s unshakable love revealed in Jesus Christ gave meaning to everything he did. His faith, generosity, gratitude, and belief that what a person does speaks louder than what they say were all cultivated by his Jesuit education—and they ultimately defined the man he was to become.

Gillen was called home to the Lord peacefully in the spring of 2021. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Barbara “Bobbi” Eyre Gillen, after 42 happy years of marriage. In a final act of love, he made a transformational bequest to Xavier High School that ranks as one of the largest gifts ever received by the institution. The fact that Gillen graduated from Brooklyn Prep in 1953, not Xavier, makes the story even more phenomenal.

The impact of Gillen’s nearly $5 million unrestricted estate gift is game-changing for Xavier. It provides the school with the flexibility to upgrade and modernize its facilities in a quick and comprehensive fashion. The result is direct improvements that will enhance the student experience and support the work of the faculty. Most importantly, Gillen’s gift will ensure that the values of Jesuit education endure and expand to new generations of young men from New York City and beyond.

Jack Gillen was raised in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, surrounded by working-class and middle-income families. From 1949 to 1953 he attended Brooklyn Preparatory School, where he learned the skills he would need to succeed and formed the relationships that would shape his purpose in life. After his graduation from the Prep, Gillen attended Georgetown University, where he received a degree in economics with honors, and Harvard Business School, where he learned the ins and outs of finance. He later enjoyed a long, distinguished career in banking. Widely regarded as an expert and pioneer in his field, his resume showcases considerable professional achievement and numerous leadership positions. He served as a director of the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, Continuum Health Partners, and the Brooklyn Prep Alumni Association (BPAA). Later in life, he devoted himself to sharing his expertise with others by hosting free financial literacy classes for seniors in Greenwich Village.

For those who knew him, it was Gillen’s ability to embrace people that set him apart. Louis Garaventa, S.J., a fellow Brooklyn Prep alumnus, noted this deeply Ignatian characteristic at a memorial Mass for Gillen. “The list of his accomplishments is awesome to behold, but if you let yourself scratch the surface, you will meet a man who was

A testament to the lasting power of a Jesuit education, Brooklyn Prep alum Jack Gillen’s nearly $5 million estate gift will transform the lives of generations of students.

Jack Gillen

interested in people, who helped people in need,” Garaventa said.

Matthew Trachtenberg, president of the National Orchestral Association and executor of Gillen’s estate, remembered his close friend with deep admiration and affection. “Over the years, I witnessed Jack’s incredible generosity to others. He was always willing to give both his time and money to a worthy cause, or to help individuals in need. Jack was an extremely modest person, a true believer who felt blessed by the Lord in having a good education and the opportunity to build an interesting career. He was brilliant, kind-hearted, a great friend, and an inspiration to all who knew him.”

Gillen believed the seeds of success that flourished and grew throughout his life were planted at Brooklyn Prep, and he is not alone. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1908, the school educated generations of young men from throughout New York City and Long Island until its closure in 1972. Noted for its emphasis on religious values, classical education, and character formation, few institutions have inspired such loyal devotion from its alumni or formed as impressive a roster of leaders in all walks of life as Brooklyn Prep.

The connection between Gillen’s love for his alma mater and his affection for Xavier is natural. Since its founding in 1847, Xavier has taken pride in providing a rigorous Jesuit education to generations of young men from throughout New York City, Long Island, and beyond. When Brooklyn Prep closed, many of its students enrolled at Xavier. Today, Xavier claims approximately 28% of its total enrollment from the borough of Brooklyn.

However, the explanation for the close relationship between Brooklyn Prep alumni and Xavier has much deeper roots than mere demographics. It is best found in the work and friendships of inspirational Brooklyn Prep grads who became indelible influences at Xavier. This group includes late New York Provincial and Xavier Jesuit Community rector Gerald “Jeff” Chojnacki, S.J., Brooklyn Prep ’61 and long-serving Xavier athletic director Gerard “Rod” Walker, Brooklyn Prep ’71. It also includes Francis X. Murphy, Brooklyn Prep ’58, father of Vice President for Planning and Principal Giving Maggie Murphy Stockson and founding Board chair of Brooklyn Jesuit Prep, the Nativity-model middle school in East Flatbush that sends numerous students to Xavier each year. Finally, Dan Fitzpatrick, S.J., Brooklyn Prep ’53 serves as moderator of the BPAA and has a special connection with Xavier graduates from his days as a scholastic on 16th Street. His family also set up a scholarship at Xavier. The connection can be seen through Xavier’s support for the annual BPAA golf outing and reunion dinner, in the BPAA office that now resides on the sixth floor of Xavier, and in a plaque dedicated to Brooklyn Prep alumni mounted at the entrance to the school’s gym. From Xavier’s cross country team honoring Brooklyn Prep at the Jesuit Championships to the steady stream of Xavier alumni and administrators who have received honorary alumni awards from the BPAA (among them President

Jack Raslowsky, former Presidents Daniel J. Gatti, S.J. ’59 and Jim Keenan, S.J., former Dean of Students Frank Gregory P’80 ’86 ’87, and former Xavier trustee Frank Comerford ’73), the close ties to Brooklyn Prep are more than evident.

Former Vice President for Advancement Mark Mongelluzzo P’25, who now serves as president of Holy Cross High School in Queens, was instrumental in strengthening the bonds between Xavier and the BPAA. He has been forever touched by the relationship of the schools. “I thought it was extraordinary. Over time, BPAA board members became staples in my world: Fr. Dan Fitzpatrick, S.J. and Jack Barry, Andy Lukas and Mike Comerford, Ralph Mascia, Frank Torres, Ray Vance and Brian Duffy, to name a few. These Brooklyn Prep connections became as valuable as those of Xavier alums and every year I looked forward to welcoming them ‘home to 16th Street’ for their annual Mass and reunion gala. When Jack Gillen sat down and had a conversation with former BPAA president Jack Barry about how he could have an impact upon Jesuit education in his estate plans, they zeroed in on not only Gillen’s support of the BPAA, but of Xavier as well,” said Mongelluzzo. “For so many Brooklyn Prep alumni, Xavier has a deep connection with their alma mater. There is the practical aspect that so many Xavier students hail from Brooklyn to this day, but there is also the ineffable: the dedication to excellence and care for others. Brooklyn Prep might have stopped awarding diplomas 50 years ago, but the alumni have never stopped living their mission. While both schools were different, they shared the core values of a Jesuit education as well as faculty who served at both schools, such as Brian Moroney, Frank Gregory, and Dan Fitzpatrick, S.J. That Brooklyn Prep has fanned the flame of the Jesuit charism across the world, there can be no doubt. Jack Gillen’s estate gift is a remarkable testament to the ways in which Brooklyn Prep continues to impact Jesuit education. God bless him.”

The ongoing relationship between Xavier and the BPAA breathes life into the meaningful friendships, deep faith, and intellectual competence that shaped Jack Gillen’s mission in life. His story is a reminder of what can happen when a talented, open-minded young man and the excellence of a Jesuit education meet. Both grow in the Lord’s hands to become forces that “transform the world for God’s greater glory.” His legacy will allow others to have the same powerful encounter long into the future.

Jack and Bobbi Gillen

Last year, 4,074 alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students, and friends strengthened Xavier with their financial gifts. Every dollar is critical to Xavier’s continued ability to educate intelligent, motivated young men of diverse backgrounds and means.

Thank you.

1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s

CLASS OF ’48

CLASS OF ’58

CLASS OF ’62

CLASS OF ’72

CLASS OF ’82

CLASS OF ’90 CLASS OF ’02 CLASS OF ’16

FEWER THAN 150 MEMBERS 1968 $1,460,206 1972 $919,069 1960 $189,450 1991 $187,586 1971 $116,803 1977 $109,586 1961 $108,291 1966 $104,333 1952 $75,977 1963 $75,025

150 MEMBERS OR MORE 1980 $419,512 1965 $311,247 1983 $235,262 1969 $209,457 1964 $170,194 1975 $112,921 1978 $108,565 1970 $99,882 1981 $79,975 1967 $71,016

FEWER THAN 150 MEMBERS 1972 49.3% 1958 43% 1962 42.3% 1971 39.9% 1959 38.8% 1963 38.4% 1952 37.7% 1954 36.9% 1955 36.2% 1961 34.5%

150 MEMBERS OR MORE 1970 38.9% 1964 34.8% 1982 31.5% 1967 30% 2020 28.8% 1973 27.8% 1965 27.2% 1978 27.1% 1974 26.6% 1975 25.8%

Why I Give

By VERONICA CORBETT P’85

When my son, Kevin Corbett ’85 P’21, was a freshman at Xavier in 1982, my husband died suddenly. Needless to say, it was a tough time in my life—both spiritually and financially. When I got a call from Xavier saying that Kevin’s tuition would be paid over the next three years, I was forever grateful. I did not have to take him out of a school that he was beginning to love. He had lots of friends and loved his teachers, especially Vincent Biagi, S.J. ’67, who became his mentor and a lifelong friend. Xavier kept him occupied during a very hard time in his life. Among other things, he was on the rugby team that won the national championship in 1985, and he still keeps in touch with his teammates.

When my grandson, Robert Jack Corbett ’21, came along, there was no doubt about where he would go to high school since he had heard so many great things about Xavier from his father. I always knew that Robert was special. He was outgoing and

compassionate. When he didn’t make the track team, Chris Pagnotta ’07, Xavier’s assistant dean of students at the time, steered him towards boxing and wrestling—which he loved and excelled in. He even became a leader on a Kairos retreat. The best part of it all was that Xavier recognized how special he was as a young man. In his senior year, he was awarded the Lance Corporal Michael D. Glover ’97 Memorial Award—an award earned by a student who possesses the character to transform weakness into strength.

I believe if the least I can do is contribute something to Xavier, the school that helped my son and me through such a hard time, and that recognizes the young men who go there for their character and achievement, then I will continue to do that as long as I can. Who knows? Maybe I’ll live long enough to have a great-grandson attending Xavier someday.

By NICHOLAS TUCKER ’17

Since graduating from Xavier, I still find myself called to the work of being a man for others daily. The Xavier faculty and staff were extremely intentional about how they chose to educate the men who have been graced with the opportunity to walk Xavier’s halls on 16th Street. Xavier provided me with a strong foundation in faith, service, and a dedication to the well-being of my fellow peers; therefore, because of this, I feel compelled to continue to give to Xavier annually. Similarly, I hope that one day, I’ll be able to donate more than the current amount that I give, and to be able to sponsor a child from the South Bronx, just like Rev. James Keenan, S.J. did for me from September 2013 to June 2017.

Equally important, there is true beauty in seeing a person of color like myself being provided the opportunity to receive a Jesuit education. What motivated me to persevere was the fact that I was raised in an

environment where I was consistently told that I have what it takes to compete with my counterparts who do not look like me; therefore, through my continued giving to Xavier, I like to think that I am furthering many more years of education for other Black and brown gentlemen who would have never thought to expand their horizons outside of the town, city, neighborhood, or borough in which they were raised and educated.

Additionally, the world needs to see that Black and brown students deserve opportunities like Xavier, where they can show their abilities to strive or excel at what they put their minds to; thus, through my continued giving, I am laying the foundation for future generations to also give back to a community that is dedicated to doing the good, honest work that each member of the Xavier community is called to do.

Why I Give

Why I Give

By TOM KAMPA ’72

I am a member of the Class of 1972 Xavier’s 125th anniversary class. I traveled from Rosedale in southeast Queens to attend Xavier, a trek of one hour and 45 minutes each way, wearing a military uniform that no one appreciated at the time, because of the Vietnam War. Playing on the football team meant another 40 minutes of public transportation to East River Park for practice and then back to Xavier before going home. It was never easy, but I learned many life lessons along the way during my four years on 16th Street. The Jesuits taught us discipline, organization, respect, and how to interact in a crazy world. I still count on their counseling and friendship today.

My father, a baker, told me I was going to Xavier when I was in the sixth grade. I never thought I would make it, but I am so happy I did. My mom raised six children but was at every game, home or away, in which I participated. The friends I made my first year on 16th Street are my brothers today, and I can always count on their support—even after 50+ years. Wherever I have lived, being a Xavier alum has opened doors for me and made me proud to be a part of the Xavier tradition.

Many thanks to all the faculty I encountered along the way, especially Fathers Tom Trainor, Ed Heavey, Jim Keenan, Ken Boller, and Joe Lux, who helped me scholastically, spiritually, and were simply great men. Coaches Leo Paquin and Jack Galbraith taught me on the football field to be part of a team and never give up. It was tough love and guidance from these men that helped make me

become the person I am today. They gave me the chance to learn from my mistakes, help me achieve my goals, and point me in the right direction for success in my future.

I have gone to most of my class reunions and still enjoy going to the Beefsteak. It is a fantastic way to catch up with my brothers. We all become knuckleheads again for a few hours, with lots of laughs and a few drinks, too!

When I have had a family crisis, Fathers Jim Keenan and Ken Boller were always available to listen and to help get me through very tough times; I know they have done the same for many Xavier men. My classmates also rallied to be available to me, to listen, support, and have my back when I needed it the most. I cherish their friendship so much; it is something that comes naturally at Xavier.

Xavier, you see, is much more than a school. It is a lifetime commitment of friendship and love that I will protect and cherish forever. It is men for others! I am so proud to support Xavier.

Tom Kampa ’72 is a graduate of Fordham University and St. John’s University. After spending most of his career in the bar and restaurant industry and later in sales, Kampa earned his U.S. Coast Guard master’s license and opened a charter fishing business in Port Washington, New York. He and his wife, Regina (the daughter of Greg Coleman ’42), live in Manhasset. They have six children and nine grandchildren.

From the Archives 1851

Xavier’s move from a rented house on Third Avenue to its permanent home on 16th Street in November 1850 was transformational—and costly.

The College of St. Francis Xavier: A Memorial and a Retrospect, 1847-1897, published on Xavier’s 50th anniversary, tells the story of a pivotal 1851 fundraising trip to Mexico that enabled the young school to emerge from the considerable debt incurred by the move.

“The removal from the scant accommodation of a small hired house to a commodious, if plain, college building and spacious grounds had not been accomplished without cost,” the book records. While $7,000 was raised locally, “the principal aid for our Alma Mater at this time came from Mexico through the influence of two of the most distinguished Jesuits in this part of

Charles Hippolyte de Luynes, S.J, the French-born son of an Irish revolutionary father, traveled from New York to Mexico in 1851 alongside a Spanish Jesuit named Fr. Maldonado “for the purpose of asking the pious and wealthy Catholics of that country to help the young colony of the Society of Jesus in New York.”

Fr. de Luynes returned to New York later that year with an unspecified “large sum of money” that Mexican Catholics had donated to Xavier, as well as many valuable works of art. Because of his fundraising success, Fr. de Luynes embarked on another fundraising trip to Chile and Peru from 1855-6.

“The generous contributions of our Mexican and South American Catholics, and Father de Luynes’ exceptional ability,” the anniversary book notes, “enabled the College authorities to