La Salle News alumni
a publication of the la salle academy office of institutional advancement
z
(401) 351-7750
z
www.lasalle-academy.org
summer 2019
A Tribute to Br. Thomas president
y
la salle academy
A visionary, dedicated leader, who gave unselfishly of his time, boundless energy, and many talents, to promote the educational mission of La Salle by educating young men and women in the charism of St. John Baptist de La Salle, to prepare them to be future leaders of their faith and their communities. A tireless, experienced administrator, who has assured that La Salle will maintain and advance its well-deserved reputation for academic excellence, an inclusive, welcoming culture, and outstanding athletic and extracurricular achievements. A careful, analytical decision maker, who took the time to listen to the different points of view of trustees, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and students, and to evaluate the best ways forward for La Salle, spiritually, academically, and financially. An energetic builder and prodigious fundraiser, who, with the long-term needs of La Salle always in mind, opened the De La Salle Middle School and raised the funds, guided the design, and monitored the timely and on-budget construction of many new facilities on campus.
y
2012–2019
A determined, insightful, long-term planner, and able negotiator, who understood the critical importance of restructuring La Salle’s employee pension plan to place it on a fiscally sound and reliable basis for both La Salle and the plan’s current and future beneficiaries, and of the necessity to purchase the land where La Salle is located, so the school’s future location and continued operations at 612 Academy Avenue would be secure and assured. A persuasive, effective advocate, and careful steward, who engaged with alumni throughout Rhode Island, and across the nation, to promote and preserve the essential mission of La Salle, by ensuring that necessary scholarship assistance be available, through benefactor gifts and endowments, for qualified but financially challenged students. With profound appreciation for the deep and lasting impact that you have had upon La Salle Academy. Your record of selfless Christian Brothers’ service and personal achievement has earned the respect and admiration of all — trustees, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and students.
reprinted from a plaque presented to brother thomas upon his retirement | see more on brother thomas on page 2
inside A school & faculty news pages 1–12 y alumni news pages 13–19 y athletics news pages 20–23