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THE MCCAULEY YEARS
John McCauley’s Portsmouth Abbey legacy was evident when Ryan Silva spoke of how important the people at the School have been to him and the values – the same ones cherished and taught by Coach McCauley during his tenure at Portsmouth – that have been instilled in him that have equipped him well for his future.
Below: Coach McCauley and his wife, Gerry, display the ball given to them by their former players and students along with Headmaster Jim DeVecchi and his wife, Deb. Coach and Mrs. McCauley were joined for the evening by their six children and their spouses, and their grandchildren.
“When I first came to Portsmouth Abbey, there was a lot to take in because it was a great school and such a beautiful campus,” said Ryan, “but what stood out to me were the great people who surround this school. I know Coach McCauley is one of those people. “Coach McCauley, it’s been an honor and a privilege to play on a team and for a program that you have contributed so much to. On behalf of our entire team, we hope to commemorate you in the best possible way — by playing with the same level of heart and determination that you would expect from us.” Ryan finished with,“I am grateful to Abbey families like the McCauleys, and to everyone who has supported this scholarship fund, because you all have made it possible for me to have this tremendous opportunity to be at Portsmouth Abbey. Thank you.” While the School auditorium was filled with admirers, numerous others were unable to get back to campus. One such person was Tim Seeley ‘77, now headmaster and football coach at North Cross School in Virginia. On Tim’s behalf, classmate and teammate Brendan Kinnane‘77 read a thoughtful letter Tim had written to his former Coach.“From Coach McCauley,” Seeley said,“I learned the importance of preparation,hard work,technique and the competitive spirit, all qualities I try to instill in my players. I have used in my own life his example of sitting in front of your locker at the end of each day to ask yourself whether you did your best, and I use that with my players. From John I learned that it is OK to really want to win, as long as that goal is pursued with dignity, class and honor (and a Hail Mary to Our Lady Queen of Victory before the kickoff!). Thank you, Coach, for all you taught me as a player, as a coach, and as a teacher of young men. One can see the reflection of what you imparted to me in every team and, in fact, in every game and practice I have ever coached. I so wish I could be there this evening.” Cornelius Arnow ‘86 also sent along his well wishes and regrets from Germany, saying, “I deeply regret that I cannot attend. John McCauley richly deserves this honor and was certainly a marvelous coach and personal example to me and a generation of Abbey athletes.” Peter Persutti, a former faculty member and assistant Ravens football coach in the late 1970s, learned of the dinner honoring Coach McCauley and sent his best wishes from Illinois, adding, “I learned so much from John and greatly value my relationship with John and Gerry.” In taking to the podium to close the evening, the man being honored transported many in the room back to the locker room, sidelines, and practice field of years past as he shared his wit, wisdom and thanks, all in his inimitable “Coach McCauley” style. Portsmouth Abbey School is honored that the John L. McCauley Scholarship Fund now exists within the endowment. We are grateful for the legacy honored by the Fund and thankful for the opportunities created for today’s students. Please contact Senior Development Officer Anna Jones or Patrick Burke ‘86 at 401-643-1269 to discuss supporting the McCauley Scholarship Fund.
The John L. McCauley Scholarship Fund is now a permanent component of the Portsmouth Abbey School endowment and serves as a growing tribute to the coach, advisor, mentor and friend. A healthy endowment is the School’s financial lifeblood. It ensures the ability to plan, to pursue opportunity, and to ride out the ups and downs of the economy. Invested for the long term, gifts of endowment generate income that reduces the School’s reliance on tuition, ensuring a secure financial position. By strengthening the endowment, the School’s ability to fully support the people, programs, places and other opportunities that define the Portsmouth Abbey experience is enhanced.
To see the full gallery of photos from the weekend, visit our Wxebsite: http://www.portsmouthabbey.org/page/school_life/photo_galleries
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL