Jack Coffey
Jack Coffey
For his Freshman Project, Jack Coffey told the life story on film of his late grandfather, famed NYC police detective Joseph Coffey Jr. Coffey was a renowned NYPD crusader against organized crime who investigated the infamous Lufthansa Heist (organized by Jimmy Burke, the Robert De Niro character in Goodfellas), led the case against the NYC Five Family mafia leaders, witnessed the confession of the Son of Sam killer, and tracked an international criminal conspiracy from New York to Vatican City. Jack traced Joseph Coffey, far left, being sworn in with police department colleagues Joseph Coffey’s life by collecting fort one of the many mob trials at which he was called upon to testify. photos and information, and interviewing, recording and filming family members, friends, and colleagues. His documentary can be viewed on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnljCTkhK40
Joe Kearns
Joe Kearns
Even before arriving at Delbarton, Joe Kearns heard all about the monastery and monks from his mother Paula, a nurse in the abbey infirmary. For his project, Joe honored the Benedictine tradition by creating something tangible: a hand-crafted Benedictine Cross. With a lot of patience and some power tools, Joe went to work drawing, measuring, cutting, sanding and wood burning. The actual hands-on carpentry was Joe’s favorite part and he would have changed only one thing: he wished he had made his cross even bigger. Joe’s cross is currently on display outside the Valentine Library.
A close-up of the cross inscription. 16
DELBARTON TODAY
Joe Kearns ’19 displays his handmade Benedictine cross.