Lasting Legacies

The 2023 Hall of Fame Class

Jim Haybyrne ’62 CHAIRMAN, STRATEGIC THINKING GROUP

Xavier boasts many extraordinary alumni. Jim Haybyrne has embodied the principle of being a man for others throughout his entire life. He has led a remarkable life as a Peace Corps volunteer in India, a decorated Air Force captain, an educator, a partner in a global management consulting firm, and the founder of his own global business strategy consultancy. Throughout each phase of his busy career, he consistently dedicated his time, talent, and resources towards improving the lives of others. Jim and his wife Penny’s philanthropic endeavors include the establishment of the Sons of Xavier Center on 16th Street and significant contributions to St. Mary’s Basilica in Alexandria, Virginia. Jim’s life epitomizes Xavier’s “man for others” ideology.

—Thomas Ryan ’62

As Xavier commemorated its 125th anniversary in 1972, school leaders established the Hall of Fame to acknowledge individuals who have made indelible marks in the service of God, their fellow men, their country, and their local community.

The Xavier Hall of Fame encompasses a distinguished group of professionals, including educators, physicians, attorneys, bishops, Congressmen, a Supreme Court Justice, Pulitzer Prize winners, and a recipient of the Medal of Honor. The 12 newest members will be inducted this October, with the Hall of Fame Dinner scheduled for October 27 at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers.

Below and on the pages that follow, those who nominated this year’s inductees to the Hall of Fame pay homage to their extraordinary accomplishments and their impact on Xavier’s legacy.

Ken Ng ’80

RETIRED CEO, ASIA/PACIFIC

“The voyage of the best ship is a zigzag line of a hundred tacks” is how one would describe Ken’s peripatetic life. Ken grew up in humble circumstances in the Lower East Side, overcame them, and became a highly successful and sought-after global businessman. This was achieved because Ken was never complacent, choosing to deviate from any kind of set career path to pursue new challenges in multiple industries—from computers to consumer products, and even electronics—in multiple countries.

What has been steady, however, is his devotion to his faith and family; this course has been unfailingly true. The bedrock of his devotion was inculcated during his four years at Xavier, where Ken was influenced by Fr. Mike Flynn, S.J., and later cemented by his wife, Lucy, and their children, Chris, Samantha, and Jonathan. Together, they have tried to make the world a better place—whether that was through setting up Bible study classes to spread the word of God, trekking 100 kilometers (several times) to raise money for charitable organizations, and mentoring new business startups to be upstanding corporate citizens.

—Paul Ching ’80

Armando Núñez ’78 GLOBAL MEDIA EXECUTIVE

I first met Armando nine years ago when we were both on Fordham University’s Board of Trustees. Once he heard about Cristo Rey New York, he became the school’s biggest fan. He arranged for seven of the students to work at CBS in New York and then did the same for Verbum Dei, the Cristo Rey school in Los Angeles. Armando’s selflessness and unwavering commitment to social justice make him a class act and a true man for others who Jesuit high schools dream of producing. He is someone who is dedicated to helping those in need and making a positive impact on the world around them. As a Son of Xavier, Armando’s legacy is one of generosity and dedication to the greater good.

—Joseph Parkes, S.J.

Rocco Iacovone ’62 FORMER DIRECTOR OF BAND, XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL

Rocco dedicated himself wholeheartedly to nurturing nascent talent in hundreds of students, many of whom had never played an instrument. Anyone who ever attended a band concert or a Christmas concert came away impressed by the expertise and professionalism of the students. Under Rocco’s loving guidance, his students had achieved such a level of competence that he was able to take his charges to such far-flung places as Mexico, New Orleans, and Alaska. I have a CD recording of one of those concerts. One could be forgiven for thinking he was listening to a group of professional musicians. I am sure I’m speaking for the faculty and the students in saying that Rocco created an institution that we could be very proud of.

—Brian Moroney

Dr. Thomas McGinn ’78

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, COMMONSPIRIT HEALTH; PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE, BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

Tom has been a mentor for many people, including me. The first time I ever met him was when I was in college, and he was volunteering with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in a very poor neighborhood in Chicago. I’d heard about this Xavier grad from my brother Steve, who was also a big fan of Tom. It was the first, though not last, time that I was able to witness Tom’s capacity to combine excellence with real compassion.

Such capacity is impressive and he does this by maintaining a kind spirit and working really hard. For example, during the pandemic he hosted virtual conferences with colleagues. He invited any who wanted to attend. At the time I was in a small practice, and like many of us felt untethered as we were dealing with this new COVID menace. Those conferences helped me not just with great information but with real collegiality and kinship.

—Dr. James Morgan ’82 P’12

Paul Gannon ’75 PARTNER EMERITUS, THE BAUPOST GROUP, LLC

I’ve known Paul for more than 50 years. His success in business and life has not changed him from the person he was on the playgrounds of Stuyvesant Town or in Xavier’s classrooms. He lives his life in the Jesuit tradition of service to others. He is a dedicated husband and devoted father. His generosity has benefited Xavier with the creation of the Gannon STEAM Room and he supports many good causes—including the promotion of civil discourse as board chair of WBUR (Boston’s NPR news station). Paul is generous with his time, mentoring young entrepreneurs to help them pursue the American Dream and achieve the success he has. His humility, generosity, and integrity are an inspiration to all who know him and are why we’re proud to call him a fellow Son of Xavier.

—Bill McKiernan ’74

Anthony Aracich, S.J.†

MODERN AND CLASSICAL LANGUAGES TEACHER, PASTOR

Fr. Aracich was a true man for others, not only teaching a wide range of languages at Xavier and other Jesuit schools over his long career, but also molding and leading young men to realize their full potential and believe in themselves. All the while, he trained them to constantly discern their vocation and hear God’s call—not just in their choice of a career, but in the daily need for them to apply their talents to the service of others. He challenged his students and we remained his beloved students forever. He tempered his toughness with humor. He was a tough, but compassionate teacher who brought out the best in people and was quick to chastise those who did not live up to their potential. He was also kind and understanding, and an active, consoling force when family or personal challenges occurred.

—John Frank ’71

Dr. Thomas Draper ’44† PEDIATRICIAN

Throughout his long, extraordinary medical career, Tom Draper was a true man for others, committing himself to pediatric care and community health, particularly in his adopted home of Newtown, Connecticut. He believed deeply in each person’s right to access quality healthcare and continued to serve others well into his 90s, helping to coordinate Newtown’s COVID-19 vaccine clinics in 2021. A loyal Son of Xavier, Tom also gave generously to his alma mater for decades. He was a regular presence at Xavier alumni events, particularly the Golden Knights Luncheon. He was so proud to represent the 75th reunion class during Commencement at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in 2019. So many of us at Xavier were proud to know him.

—Shawna Gallagher Vega

John Maloney ’42† SOCIAL WORKER

I believe my father exemplified the highest ideals of a Jesuit education. In his chosen profession as a social worker, he offered guidance and support to members of street gangs, orphans, children from broken homes, juvenile delinquents, those who are developmentally disabled, the handicapped and the elderly. He once had the honor to sit next to Pope Francis at St. Patrick’s Cathedral during Vesper services. As I watched him with the Pope, I realized that his entire life had led to that moment. John Maloney is a true man for all seasons; seasons of love, faith, and service to others.

—Patty Maloney-Titland

Bill McGarry, S.J. ’45† MISSIONARY

Someone once described Bill McGarry to me “as one of the great men of the Society of Jesus,” and I agreed completely as soon as we began corresponding in 2015. Bill transformed countless lives during his 73 years as a Jesuit, spending 20 of those years in Micronesia and eventually serving as president of the Jesuit Conference of East Asia (work that took him to Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, and Australia). At the end of his life, Bill’s health issues prevented him from speaking much, but I so appreciated the words of wisdom that would often arrive in my inbox. He was funny, kind, incisive, and forward-thinking. Since he won’t be able to give his own Hall of Fame speech, I thought I would share the essence of Bill straight from one of those missives, in which he wrote of urging students “to never stop learning, to learn to have a strong desire to be a servant, one who sees all human beings as dignified children of God—with a determination to work for the underdog.”

—Shawna Gallagher Vega

Thomas O’Gorman, S.J. ’50† MISSIONARY

Tom O’Gorman had a true missionary spirit. As a novice, he was eager to be sent to the Philippines, where he was originally assigned for philosophy studies. He ended up teaching several generations of young Filipino and other Asian Jesuits at the Loyola House of Studies on the Ateneo de Manila campus. The contributions of Xavier Jesuits to the Philippines helped grow and sustain a vibrant church and build a nation. The work of Tom O’Gorman and his 33 Xavier brothers—who numbered among the 411 New York Jesuits who labored in the Philippines—will long be remembered.

—Jack Raslowsky

Hubert Treacy ’32† SPECIAL AGENT, FBI

Hubert Treacy was the epitome of a true New Yorker and exemplified the highest ideals of Xavier High School. The Rockaway native attended Xavier, Fordham University, and Georgetown University. He became an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve and an attorney. Treacy was a member of the Knights of Columbus as well as the Ancient Order of Hibernians. In 1941, he became a special agent of the FBI. On March 13, 1942, in Abingdon, Virginia, he was killed while attempting to arrest two U.S. Army deserters. He was not quite 30 years old and had recently married. In his brief 29 years on Earth, he accomplished a great deal serving all that matters—God and country.

—Thomas Pickard ’68