Dedicated Service to Loughlin — Our Retirees

DEDICATED SERVICE TO LOUGHLIN

RECOGNIZING OUR RETIREES

This past year was especially painful for the school and its retirees because we lost one too early and we were unable to celebrate and publicly recognize these admired Loughlin faculty and staff members. These four inspired, shaped, and supported many thousands of young lives throughout their remarkable careers, leaving an indelible print in the hearts and minds of SO many! They will all be sorely missed. Thank you for your dedication, compassion, integrity, love, and support! Live Jesus in our hearts. Forever.

MR. BASIL BLISS came to Loughlin in 2004 and taught Global History. Two years later he was appointed Chair of the Theology Department and in 2011 he became the National Honor Society Moderator — a placement he was very proud of. As a master orator he prepared his students for their speeches concentrating on pronunciation, diction, projection, and delivery.

A non-Catholic until his second year at Fordham University, he was “led down a diff erent path” and converted to Catholicism. Later, he was ordained as a Deacon within the Diocese of Rockville Center. A calling that was simple for him as his nature to serve is so evident. Deacon Bliss was a devout Catholic and understood the value of service and instilled that in his students — he preached it, lived it, and exemplifi ed it every day. Everything he did came down to service. “Students recognize and are moved, they’re touched by listening to someone preach, they know and feel that you are a religious person, and that can make all the diff erence!”

For 29 years, he loved Bishop Loughlin — you literally couldn’t get him out of the building! He enjoyed working with Beverly Madar in the Theology Department and all the department chairs. He loved watching his students grow and develop — learning to be who they are, who they want to be, and who they were meant to be. He once said, “It’s a magnifi cent thing!”

Deacon Bliss was the designated cook at all the Loughlin retreats he attended. Campus Ministry Director Mr. Foley says, “he took over the entire operation so everyone could get back to retreating and get the most from their time together.” He did all the shopping (clipping coupons and fi nding the best bargains), planning, and meal prep. He cooked, set and cleared the table, washed the dishes, and would even scrub the fl oors! He enjoyed and took pride in nourishing people — it was like “serving the bread of life.” Mr. Bliss was known for his hearty laugh; his students referred to him as their very own “James Earl Jones”! He enjoyed crossword puzzles, cigars, and golfi ng. He was usually the fi rst on campus, opening the gates with Mrs. Van Velson (his morning buddy), even tending to snow removal if necessary. He loved snipping and collecting anything that said “Bliss” and would hang his fi ndings behind his desk.

Unfortunately, these words are more poignant now than when they were penned. Basil was diagnosed with cancer in July, and sadly were penned. Basil was diagnosed with cancer in July, and sadly passed away on November 27. Our heartfelt sympathies go to his wife passed away on November 27. Our heartfelt sympathies go to his wife Kathy and their two sons P.J. and Jeff . We will miss you Mr. Bliss! Kathy and their two sons P.J. and Jeff . We will miss you Mr. Bliss!

JOHN KLEMM ‘65 was wisely hired in 1996 as the perfect person to lead a newly formed Development Offi ce at Loughlin by Br. James Bonilla, FSC. Brother James was delighted that an alum would be heading the development team.

Mr. Klemm worked tirelessly to procure funds, with the assistance of amazing alumni contributions and donations for major/capital upgrades. He and his teams throughout the years are credited with accomplishing (just to mention a few) the renovations of our athletic facilities, the fi tness center, the Lion Lancer Golf Outing, the restoration of our outdoor track, the dance studio, the Lancer Music Studio, the Cozzi-Murray Performing Arts Center, and refurbishing the auditorium.

At the start of his tenure, Loughlin raised about $125,000 in annual contributions. Today, the Advancement Offi ce raises nearly two million dollars each year, in addition to previously established endowed scholarship funds. A signifi cant part of our overall success is participation from St. Augustine alumni and Bishop McDonnell alumnae. John established both the St. Augustine and Bishop McDonnell alumni associations. - con’t on next page

He’s going to miss his colleagues, everyone he’s “had the pleasure of working with them,” the day-to-day excitement of the position, and watching a project grow to fruition — from concept, blueprint, breaking ground, progress, and fi nally — its completion. And through it all, he can literally recall someone he spoke to a few times, years before, and tell you their nickname, where they hail from, who they’re married to, their profession, the names of their children and sometimes, even where they like to vacation… now that’s talent.

Mr. Klemm is a kind, sweet man with a heart of gold, a true son of Old St. James, and a Loughlin advocate with only its best interest at heart.

He’s most proud of the students, who through the assistance of the alumni from St. Augustine, Bishop McDonnell, and Loughlin, have been able to attend or stay at Loughlin. He is in awe of the number of students that have been helped and is especially proud when a student stops him, or a recent graduate returns, to thank him because they recognize and appreciate that it may not have come to pass without his support. He knows it’s the job, that the scholarship or assistance didn’t directly come from him, but he played an enormous part. Mr. Klemm says, “Those words of gratitude, the gleam in their eye, the smiles on their faces, their accomplishments and grace — well there’s just no better feeling than that! The affi rmation that I helped make it happen, priceless!”

Lovingly known as “Jed”, he looks forward to rooting on his beloved Giants, golfi ng, gardening, traveling, and more importantly, relaxing with his wife Kathleen, children Kristyn, Todd, and Steven, and their grandchildren Sean, Nora, and Sadie.

He will stay on as consultant in the Advancement Offi ce to allow for a smooth transition for the newly appointed Associate Directors of Institutional Advancement. After 24 years of service “it’s time to turn over the reins and enjoy the fruits of [his] labor.”

Well…now both “Chaco” and “The Nail” have left the building!

LOUIS MAFFEI has touched the lives of countless students during his 42 years of service. His impact is immeasurable, yet at the heart of it all is “his heart”. His unfaltering genuine love of music and teaching are evident in everything he does. He’s proud of everything that takes place within these walls. “Walking into school every day and feeling that what I’m doing is important is fulfi lling and extremely rewarding,” he recently said.

He’s incredibly proud of all the students he’s taught along the way and appreciates how, even years after graduation, it’s the same relationship, like no time has passed. He can recall how every time they walked into class, he wanted his students to succeed because they had SO much in them.

No one knows how he did it all — a long commute, early mornings, late nights, weekend performances and shows, and the NYC Marathons. And then after teaching all day, he taught private music lessons!

Mr. Maff ei says he would experience nightmares contemplating retirement, but feels “there are only so many years on this Earth.” He is confi dent that the “group” he left in charge of the Arts Department will carry on because they all know so much about “what we’re trying to do here.” He believes Loughlin isn’t “just academics, it’s a way of life and teaching is not a job, it’s a vocation; a vehicle to sainthood.”

He plans on visiting Loughlin from time to time. He loves his family deeply and they love Loughlin just as much as he does! He’s looking forward to putting together a big Loughlin Band once the pandemic is over and congregating is permissible and can’t wait to spend time with his wife Jeaneane, daughters Diana and Christina, and sons-in-law Peter and Anthony — and being the best granddad to little Robbie!

Loughlin is forever grateful to Mr. Maff ei’s family for their patience, love, support, and understanding and for ‘loaning’ us Mr. Maff ei for so long.

In my life, “I’ll love you more” — you’ll forever be the wind beneath our wings.

JEANNE VAN VELSON fi rst JEANNE VAN VELSON fi rst came to Loughlin in 1979 and left in 1992 to earn her second Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (the fi rst was in Mathematics). After a few years of counseling couples, she missed working with teenagers. In 1995 she returned to Loughlin.

Every day she looked forward to seeing her students; “watching them experience success and grow with confi dence…it was nice to challenge them and look in to their