Magnificat - Winter 2023

Volume 14 | No. 1 WINTER 2023

A Publication for the Schools of Saint Mary Alumni, Parents & Friends

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

TA B L E O F C O N T E N TS ADMINISTRATION Pastor | Rev. Fr. Robert A. Romeo President | Very Rev. Dom Elias Carr, Can.Reg., Dr. theol.

Elementary School Principal | Theresa Kemp High School Principal | Gerard J. Buckley Chaplain | Rev. Fr. Dominik Wegiel Vice President of Development | Edward Short Director of Admissions | Norma Stafford Director of Alumni and Parent Relations | Kiera Gmelich Walsh Director of Communications | Eileen Symmons ’82, ’86 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BOARD Amanda Alsheimer Courtney Pierce Megan Canty Terence Scheurer Robert Dunphy ’89, ’93 Nicole Sharpe Lisa Montana HIGH SCHOOL BOARD President | Larry Siedlick ’68 Tim Ahern Daniel Amoruso ’76

Robert Fabio Maureen O’Reilly Shannon Pompy

THE SCHOOLS OF SAINT MARY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFICERS President | Patty Hennelly Anglin ’69 Vice President | Thomas Smyth ’86 BOARD Robert Anastasia ’71 Vincent de Venoge ’14 TJ Hoban ’11 Brian McCabe ’03 Cara Midwinter ’12, ’16

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Robert Pennachio ’86 Christopher Santarelli ’06 Jannki Shah ’15 Patty Yantz ’69

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Letter From the Pastor Letter From the President Omnia Ad Jesum Per Mariam Partners in Stewardship St. Mary’s Scholarships Convivium CEDE Faculty and Staff Updates Focus on the Annual Fund Performing Arts Program Senior Shepherds Rev. Fr. Dominik Wegiel Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of Eucharist Bishop Barres’ Visit to St. Mary’s Parish Social Ministry Moot Court Competition Alumni Career Panel Brian Maher & the Life of Service School Trip to Italy Gaels and PTO News Athletic Program Summer Sports Camp Class of 2022 Commencements College Acceptances School Counseling in the Spirit of St. Mary’s Visit to St. Thomas Aquinas College Alumni Notes Alumni Reunions In Memoriam & Tribute to Br. Kenneth Ways to Give The Return of Sports Night

ON THE COVER: St. Mary’s students on their school trip to Italy. More on page 40.

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From the Pastor Dear Parents, Alumni, and Friends, Launched as we are on another school year, I wish to thank each and every one of you for the generous support you have shown our sacred mission, which continues to bless our young students with so many intellectual, moral and spiritual benefits. Your support is proof that our partnership in stewardship continues to grow and it is glorious to behold.

Scripture has a lot to say of the vitality of good stewardship. In Matthew 25:14-30, Our Lord relays the Parable of the Talents about the three stewards. Two stewards make good use of their talent but the third hides his away and does nothing with it. While Our Lord rebukes the third, he says to the other two: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things.

I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.”

So let me tell all of you: Well done, good and faithful partners in stewardship. No day passes that you do not help us to do what St. Paul told the Colossians to do and that is “to work with all your heart, as working for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). This is the work we do together at Saint Mary’s and this is why we share in our Master’s happiness.

Now, in closing, let us pray together that our beloved school, with your vital help, continues to bring good fruits to our promising young students, fruits that will last them a lifetime.

In Jesus and Mary,

Rev. Fr. Robert A. Romeo

At Saint Mary’s, we increase the talents God gave us in many ways. We increase them with our President, Fr. Elias Carr, Can. Reg., Dr. theol., who just earned his doctorate from the University of Kraków – an admirable increase of his talents. We increase them with Theresa Kemp, who is leading us to new heights of achievement as Principal of our Elementary School. We increase them with our brilliant faculty, teeming with pedagogical talent, faith and zeal. We increase them with a student body full of scholastic excellence -- our college placement has never been more impressive. We increase them with our superb sports, music and dramatic programs. We especially increase them with our commitment to our core Catholic mission.

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From the President Dear Parents, Alumni, and Friends, On behalf of the faculty and staff of The Schools of Saint Mary, I would like to thank all our alumni, parents and friends for all of the generous support that you continue to give our school. True partners in stewardship, you help to make our school the faithful, creative and transformative place of learning it needs to be in order to give our students the true Catholic education they require.

Last year, we advanced our Catholic mission by mounting an exciting year-long Convivium program trained on the dignity of the whole person, the first part of which was set out in a nine-day Novena, touching on such pressing themes as respect for life, social justice, religious liberty, the Eucharist, forgiveness, and love of neighbor.

In the Convivium’s second part, negotiators of the Holy See’s Mission to the United Nations, from the US, Austria and Italy, shared with both the lower and upper school how they work to encourage the UN to implement their commitment to human dignity. In the case of the protection of the unborn or the often-unmet needs of the poor, the negotiators were eloquent in sharing with our students how it is pre-eminently our Catholic faith’s commitment to human dignity that informs the UN’s founding charter. Catholic disciples, in other words, whether at the UN or The Schools of Mary, have a role to play in seeing to it that our Catholic love of neighbor is not simply a profession but a joyous lived reality.

Here, demonstrating the continuity of the St. Mary’s educational mission, is Father Elias meeting with Mary Salat Pampalk SMHS ’60 outside his Augustinian monastery in Vienna.

In all of our liberal arts curricula, we show our students that the Catholic Faith has answers to all of the fears, injustices and wounds of our times. As Catholics, we realize that human dignity is for everyone. We seek a good and just society that reflects the full perfection of the New Creation. We educate our graduates to become confident partners in the deliberations about the future of our great nation, acknowledging its failings but also honoring its triumphs and recognizing its noble possibilities. We Catholics have the awesome task of reconciling what sin and ideology tear apart.

This is how we are renewing our Catholic school, a renewal we accomplish with the perpetual help of our patroness, Mary. As everyone knows who knows Saint Mary’s commitment to our Catholic character, we take our motto very seriously: Omnia Ad Jesum Per Mariam, Everything to Jesus through Mary.

Many thanks again for your continuing, generous support of our vital mission.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

The Very Rev. Dom Elias Carr, Can. Reg., Dr. theol.

Father Elias and Mrs. Pampalk look over the 1960 edition of our Magnificat.

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Why Our Motto Means So Much to Us

Partners in Stewardship

“The Virgin of Nazareth became the first ‘witness’ of the saving love of the Father, and she also wishes to remain its humble handmaid always and everywhere. For every Christian, for every human being, Mary is the one who first ‘believed,’ and precisely with her faith as Spouse and Mother she wishes to act upon all those who entrust themselves to her as her children.

And it is well known that the more her children persevere and progress in this attitude, the nearer Mary leads them to the ‘unsearchable riches of Christ’ (Eph. 3:8). And to the same degree they recognize more and more clearly the dignity of man in all its fullness and the definitive meaning of his vocation, for “Christ...fully reveals man to man himself.”

When we speak at The Schools of Saint Mary of our Partners in Stewardship, we refer to those stalwart, generous donors who help us month after month, year after year to advance our vital mission.

Omnia Ad Jesum Per Mariam, Everything to Jesus through Mary

--Pope John Paul the Great, Redemptoris Mater

Keeping the Tradition of Giving at Saint Mary’s Alive and Well

For any advancement of mission, clarity of mission is all-important, and at Saint Mary’s our mission is crystal clear.

St. Mary’s is dedicated to providing a rich liberal arts education in the Catholic intellectual tradition. We strive to form the hearts and minds of each young person we instruct by preparing them to know, love and serve God in this life so they will be happy with Him forever in the next. And we do this at every step of the way with the help of our beloved patroness, Mary.

Ad Jesum per Mariam… Everything to Jesus through Mary.

Our success in achieving this vital mission is reliant on the generosity of donors like you – a splendid community of alumni, parents, faculty, parishioners and friends -- who share and wish to see our mission thrive.

By giving so generously to our Annual Fund, our Scholarships, our Giving Day, and our various facility enhancement projects, large and small, you are helping us to form our country’s next generation of citizens, professionals, friends, and future families.

In the pages that follow, we highlight the many ways in which our Partners in Stewardship help us to accomplish our splendid mission for the benefit of our students, our country, and our Church.

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St. Mary’s Scholarships

ZACHARY J. ZABATTA The Zachary J. Zabatta Memorial Scholarship enables deserving students the opportunity to attend the high school that Zachary so loved. The recipients of this named scholarship will be reserved for students who practice the Catholic Faith in service, humility and love of God as well as achievement of high academic standards.

Our Scholarship Funds at Saint Mary’s are a moving testament to the continuity and vitality of our mission. In setting up and endowing scholarships, generous donors contribute for present and future students in order that they, like all students since the school’s founding, can turn the academic and Catholic formation they receive here to account for the benefit of themselves, their families, their neighbors, and their country.

Several scholarships were emphasized this year by donors in memory of loved ones. The Jean M. Gallagher, Zachary J. Zabatta, Frank Lipani, and Timothy Midwinter Memorial Scholarships were established to help deserving students who emulate the Catholic faith and have outstanding academic achievement.

SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED AT ST. MARY’S • Brother Kenneth Robert, FMS Scholarship

• Martinez-Fonts Family Memorial Scholarship

• Chapdelaine Scholarship

• Mary Jane Surgala Scholarship

• Christopher Valentine Tuition Assistance Fund

• Matteo Diaz Memorial Scholarship Fund

• Confort Foundation Scholarship

• Msgr. McCann Scholarship

• Costarino Family Memorial Scholarship

• Our Lady of Fatima HS Scholarship

• Don Monti Memorial Scholarship

• Our Lady of the Rosary ES Scholarship

• Frank Lipani Memorial Scholarship

• Patricia Perrotta Gioia Scholarship Fund

• Gorman-Schatz Family Scholarship

• Principal’s Scholarship

• Irene S. Denihan Family Scholarship

• Ruggiero Memorial Scholarship

• Janet Barth McHale Memorial Scholarship

• Sister Jean Drummond, IHM Memorial Scholarship

• Jean M. Gallagher Memorial Scholarship

• Smollen Family Scholarship

• John A. Keepnews Scholarship Fund

• Timothy J. Coughlin Memorial Fund

• Joseph A. and Dorothy A. Salat Scholarship

• Timothy Midwinter Memorial Scholarship

• Kathleen Fabio Scholarship

• William A. Daly Columbiettes

• Kevin J. Dillon Memorial Scholarship

• Zachary J. Zabatta Memorial Scholarship

• Kit Kade Charbonneau Memorial Scholarship

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JEAN M. GALLAGHER The Jean M. Gallagher Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of the beloved mother of Saint Mary’s alumni Brendan ’09, ’13 and Brian ’12, ’16, Jean was a champion for Catholic education and our schools. As an active parishioner of the Church of Saint Mary and Gaels Parents’ Association team leader, Jean consistently rose to the occasion and volunteered for tasks great and small – all for love of her boys and the Gaels. All donations to this scholarship are used for tuition assistance awarded to qualifying students of Saint Mary’s High School, who emulate the Catholic faith, service, and love that Jean so wonderfully demonstrated.

KEVIN J. DILLON The Kevin J. Dillon Scholarship was founded in memory of our beloved educator Kevin J. Dillon. For 40 years, he was an inspired and inspiring educator – teaching for 30 years at St. Mary’s. His legacy of Christian dedication and Christian gentleness lives on in the many students he instructed and guided over the years and in the colleagues whose lives he enriched. Always ready to assist at athletic events and school dances – he ran the water station! – Kevin was always ready to volunteer to serve the common good. He was also an admirable man of prayer whose personal influence touched and transformed the lives of generations of students. By offering tuition assistance, the scholarship commemorates not only Kevin’s commitment to learning but his great spirit of generosity and love.

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Answering the Call to Renew Catholic Education In the wake of COVID-19, many are urging Catholic schools to take advantage of the admirable adaptiveness, dedication and resourcefulness they demonstrated during the crisis to enhance the appeal of Catholic education by finding ways to bring all of the unique offerings of their Catholic character center stage. “Catholic schools cannot stand still,” David Bonagura, Professor of Classics at Saint Joseph’s Seminary in New York recently wrote in The Catholic Thing: “they have to up their game. Stronger academics and deeper religious formation are the two keys.”

At the Schools of Saint Mary, Dom Elias Carr, Can. Reg. has been doing just that since joining the K-12 preparatory school as their President. “God’s ways are strange and wonderful,” Father Elias tells me. “I came to St Mary as a pregnancy leave replacement as the school opened in Fall 2021 with all the Covid restrictions and ended up becoming the new President. If the whole world felt upside down the last few years, it’s good to know that Someone wants to put things right. We just need to embrace the task He puts before us wholeheartedly with joy and grit.”

For the advancement of the mission he has made his own – to enhance the scholarly and the religious character of The Schools of Saint Mary – Father Elias is uniquely qualified.

“I grew up 13 miles away from Manhasset in Syosset, but in order for me to come here, I have had to go on a journey of 25 years,” he says. “It began with a BA in History and a concentration in East Asian Studies at SUNY-Binghamton; then, on scholarship, an MA in Politics at Catholic University of America, where, unexpectedly, God began to call me to the priesthood. After a sojourn in Germany, I was sent to Philadelphia for pre-theology and to Rome for theology studies.

On May 15, 1999, one of the happiest days of my life, I was ordained priest.”

And for Father Elias, everything in his life has followed from his joyous embrace of his priesthood, from his own priestly love of God and love of neighbor. “First I served at Holy Spirit in Annandale, VA., but God still had more in store for me. In 2002, I was clothed as one of the first American novices in the nearly 900-year history of Stift Klosterneuburg -- the abbey of the Augustinian canons next to Vienna. It is hard to find a proper analogy to explain the abbey but imagine a large corporation that not only meets the pastoral needs of over 24 parishes and its community of canons but manages the patrimony of Saint Leopold’s endowment consisting of real estate and vineyards. Each year in Austria and beyond, my community undertakes numerous charitable, cultural and artistic initiatives. For example, we have provided disaster relief, built housing, founded an insurance company, and continue to pursue environmental sustainability for the abbey and its enterprises. Multi12

tasking is an unceasing requirement in my presidential role at Saint Mary’s, and I have been well prepared for it.”

The inspiring thing about Father Elias is that he is at once highly qualified and yet completely down to earth. With him, profession and practice go hand-in-hand. “During my nine years in Europe, I worked in parishes in Austria, Bergen, and Norway, while earning an M.Phil. in Religious Education from NLA University College. After a solemn profession in 2006, I completed my Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, summa cum laude. While fulfilling my priestly duties in Austria, I began my doctoral studies, the dissertation for which I will defend soon at the Saint John Paul II Pontifical University in Kraków, Poland. In 2011, I was among the three Canons who established the abbey’s new foundation in Glen Cove. I have also served as pastor at the Church of Saint Rocco for six years (2011-2017) as well as headmaster of All Saints Regional Catholic School for seven years (2012-2019).

God has richly blessed me with a wealth of experience, and it benefits The Schools of Saint Mary daily.”

These benefits are manifold. Working with the pastor of the Church of Saint Mary, Father Robert Romeo, he has been instrumental in bringing on board the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, highly sought-after educators based in Ann Arbor, MI, famed for their academic rigor and Christ-centered pedagogy. He has refined the school’s already strong theology department, which offers courses in Scripture, Church History, Moral Theology, and Apologetics. He has continued to strengthen the school’s vibrant Sodality program, which equips students to practice the faith they learn in their theology classes in a way that is at once intentional and conscientious. And, perhaps most crucially, he has instituted his year-long Convivium program, which included a touching on such pressing themes as respect for life, social justice, religious liberty, the Eucharist, forgiveness, and love of neighbor.

The first meditation of the Novena on Human Dignity is redolent of the Novena as a whole. Theologically rich, grounded in Scripture, and eminently practical, it constitutes a truly replicable model for all schools that wish to strengthen their overall appeal by deepening their Catholic character. Here is a sample: Meditation: The God who created humanity in His image and likeness sent His Son to reveal not only Himself, but also what it means for a human being to live as the Image of God. Practice: Think of a specific way in which we see God’s love for us, and offer a prayer of Thanksgiving.

If we count our blessings -- try finding ten blessings from today -- we immediately notice that God’s goodness surrounds us. It is only the matter of our blindness or unwillingness that prevents us from recognizing that every good thing comes from God. To undertake such a convivium alone is powerful enough. It is a call to renewed faith, a call to renewed charity and love, a call to discipleship. But to undertake it in a high school where all of the students and faculty, all of the administrators and parents are praying it as well is to witness the blossoming of a true Catholic ethos, and Father Elias has been tireless in seeing to it that the ethos of The Schools of Saint Mary is not only Catholic but vibrantly Catholic.

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CEDE To prepare our high school students for their careers beyond our doors, The Schools of Saint Mary is adopting an exciting new program named CEDE. Born out of the popular Catholic University of America course, “The Vocation of Business,” the Catholic Entrepreneurship and Design Experience (CEDE) program is a life changing course for all high school students with the courage to dream. Here is a business course like no other, rooted in Catholic anthropology and the conviction that the best way to prepare students to choose and begin to prepare for a profession is to work with them to learn who they are and what most fires their hearts and minds. CEDE is a truly innovative program and it highly differentiates the dynamically Catholic education we deliver at Saint Mary’s, ours being the only high school in New York State that has adopted the cuttingedge program.

On this crucial aspect of any successful sustainability for the Catholic school, Father Elias is eloquent: Catholics in the 21st Century have to be really good anthropologists. We need to ground ourselves in the amazing intellectual inheritance of the Church and then fearlessly engage the questions that weigh on us about the meaning and purpose of life. Our Catholic faith has the satisfying and life-giving answers that every human heart craves. Our education seeks to open our student’s eyes to the marvels and terrors that surround us, while at the same time, giving them the ballast and confidence to embrace life fully in preparation for the abundant life that Christ has promised to those who follow Him. Here is the true human dignity that Father Elias extols daily at The Schools of Saint Mary and blessed is its fruit.

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School News Faculty and Staff Updates

In January, Father Bob was delighted to appoint Mrs. Kemp the new principal of Saint Mary’s Elementary School. “I am so happy that our new principal – formerly our assistant principal – so entirely fulfills my desire to have someone at the helm of the Elementary School who can steer us to new realms of success.” Father Bob remarked. “I know Mrs. Kemp will not only build on our solid academic and spiritual foundation but strengthen our position as one of Long Island’s premier Catholic elementary schools.”

President Father Elias Carr echoed Fr. Bob’s words: “Mrs. Kemp will not only bring pedagogical and administrative expertise to bear to advance our students’ academic and spiritual development but also strengthen their moral development as well. Since joining our school in 2017, she has won universal respect and affection from parents and students alike – not to mention her faculty -- and we are blessed to have her leading our elementary school.”

Mrs. Kemp has an extensive background in education, which includes ten years of teaching experience at a Catholic elementary school in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. In addition to teaching, Mrs. Kemp has six years experience as a technology administrator in a Catholic School. Before working for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, she was the Director of Information Technology at St. Paul Insurance Company, which is now Travelers Insurance Company. As Director, her responsibilities included leadership of regional managers and field support staff in more than 50 offices across the United States. She managed installations, upgrades, and reimaging of over 1,000 PCs nationwide and developed a comprehensive training program for these updated tools and applications.

LEAH BROWN Leah Brown is excited to join the Saint Mary’s community this year. She has been a Catholic school educator for the past nine years, working at St. William the Abbot School in Seaford, St. Agnes Cathedral School in Rockville Centre, and Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville. Leah has a bachelor’s degree in English Adolescent Education, a master’s degree in Literacy and Cognition, and an additional master’s degree in Educational Leadership with Critical Consciousness from St. Joseph’s University. In her spare time, Leah is a licensed cosmetologist and enjoys watching NHL hockey games.

Leah feels very blessed to be welcomed to Saint Mary’s College Preparatory High School and looks forward to the journey ahead.

Mrs. Kemp brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new position. In addition to her excellent skills, Mrs. Kemp’s academic and faith formation are firmly grounded in Catholic education. She attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help Elementary School and St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School. In 2018, she completed her School Leadership and Administration Degree at Fordham University and holds a Basic Certification in Theology. Mrs. Kemp has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s of Science Degree in Education Technology. She has been a parishioner of St. Dominic’s Church in Oyster Bay for over 25 years and has also served as a catechist for their Religious Education Program.

Since joining the school, Mrs. Kemp has been instrumental in instituting our STREAM program for grades N-3, which she and her faculty will pilot before extending it to all of the elementary school grades. STREAM is the acronym used to describe the integrated approach curriculum, which stands for Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, and Math. With the STREAM approach, students are exposed to multiple content areas within a single lesson, which adds at once coherence and richness to their learning.

Auguring as it does great things for our future success, Mrs. Kemp’s new appointment is a true blessing.

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MAURA CALLAHAN Maura Callahan is the part time STREAM (Science Technology Religion Engineering Art & Math) educator for the early elementary grades. She is so

excited to bring her passion for science and her faith coupled with hands-on activities to St. Mary’s. She earned a BS in chemistry from SUNY Stony Brook and was a Sea Grant scholar earning a MS at the Marine Science Research Center at Stony Brook. She worked as a QC chemist before her love of teaching drew her into the classroom. Her background includes teaching high school chemistry, which she still does part time for students that require an alternative educational setting.

BARBARA DISCLAFANI Barbara DiSclafani has joined the faculty this year as the dance teacher for St. Mary’s High School. Currently, she is in her junior year at St. John’s University, where she is studying for her Bachelor of Science in accounting.

She graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 2020 and is excited to be back to teach the dance class. She has been dancing for 17 years and has performed and choreographed in several shows throughout high school and college. Most recently, she choreographed for St. John’s at their annual dance showcase, and she resides on the eboard for the most significant dance club on campus Motion Dance Co., which requires her to teach classes throughout the semester. As an alumna, she is grateful that she can come back to teach dance and share what she is passionate about with others.

SR. LUCY FIDELIS, O.P. Sr. Lucy Fidelis is a Dominican Sister of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. She professed her final vows this summer, July 26th, 2022. She was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas the sixth of ten children. She began studying piano performance at the Catholic University of America, where she met the sisters.

She entered the convent in Ann Arbor.

After first vows, she finished her degree in Middle School Mathematics.

She has joined the Middle School team teaching seventh and eighth grade mathematics and eighth grade religion.

MARITZA FRANTIN Maritza Frantin was born and raised in Colombia and immigrated to the United States in search of more fulfilling career opportunities. As a dedicated and professional Spanish and ESL teacher for the past 13 years, she has taught hundreds of students how to effectively use these languages in their 17

everyday lives. Maritza is motivated by her mission to develop students’ language skills so that they can land their dream job and find success. In Colombia, she earned her associates degree in Administration and Tourism.

She also obtained her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justices at St. John’s University prior to discovering her passion for teaching.

Maritza is inspired daily by her husband and her son and loves spending time with her family and friends. She is also an avid cook and enjoys nature walks, wildlife, and the great outdoors. In her free time, Maritza uses her experience to help teach English and Spanish as a volunteer. Being a friendly, generous, and compassionate person through teaching fills her life with joy and has proven to be the fulfilling career move she had always desired.

MARIA GAGLIARDO My name is Maria Gagliardo. I am new to St. Mary’s School this year. I have the joy of teaching the youngest children at our school, the Nursery class. I have been teaching for seventeen years as a Nursery, Pre-K, First and Second grade teacher. I love what I do! In my personnel life I have been married to my wonderful husband for twentyeight years and we have three children I am very proud of whom are now adults.

Each day in Nursery is a new adventure 18

filled with many learning experiences, laughter and occasionally tears but at the end of the day everyone leaves with a smile! I am very honored to be part of the St. Mary’s family.

I graduated summa cum laude. At Our Lady of Victory, I moderated the Book Club, Mock Trial Team, Student Council and served as the school’s Remote Learning Coordinator during the COVID-19 pandemic. I also coached Girls Volleyball at Kellenberg, where the team went undefeated in regular season play and won the NSCHSAA Championship and came in third in the New York State Tournament.

BRENDAN GILROY I grew up in North Bellmore, NY and attended Kellenberg Memorial High School, where I grew to love and appreciate the values and education that Catholic schools offer to their students. I then earned my Bachelor’s degree from SUNY Old Westbury, where I graduated magna cum laude in History. As an undergraduate, my senior thesis titled Irish Diaspora: A Study of the History of Irish Immigration was published in The Historian, a national historical journal. After graduating college, I decided to travel as a missionary to the Solomon Islands to teach English and Computer Skills under Archbishop Christopher Cardone at Holy Name of Mary Seminary. I spent six months in the Solomon Islands helping students improve their English so they could move on to the next phase of their journey to the priesthood: Rome, Italy.

After returning to the United States, I accepted a position teaching 7th and 8th grade History and Religion at Our Lady of Victory School in Floral Park where I taught for the first four years of my career. At the same time, I also finished my Master’s Degree in Adolescent Education from Molloy College, where

KIMBERLY HAGGERTY Kimberly is excited to join the St. Mary’s Elementary School family.

She has been teaching for 25 years primarily for Herricks Public Schools.

She taught 1st grade for 10 years and was a substitute teacher for the last 12 years. Prior to teaching at Herricks she was a 1st grade leave replacement in the East Williston School District.

She earned two Bachelor’s Degrees at Bucknell University in Elementary Education and in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s Degree in Reading at Boston College. In addition to teaching Kimberly is the Executive President of the Manhasset Schools Parent Association (SCA). She lives in Manhasset with her husband and three children. Brendan is a graduate of Villanova University, Erin is a junior at Texas Christian University and Aidan is a senior at Manhasset High School. The Haggertys are St. Mary’s Parishioners.

St. Mary’s is where he discovered his love for Science, Engineering and Music.

MICHAEL JANOVER Michael Janover is a music educator joining our faculty at St. Mary’s High School. He has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology as well as extensive coursework in music education. Having spent much of his professional life in theatre, he has been involved in over 100 different shows since 2015. Michael taught himself how to play Guitar, Bass, Piano and Drums and knew his path would be one of heavy musical influence from a young age. Even since High School, his professional goals have not wavered, “What I want to do with my life is bring people together by creating music.” This creed has been something he has found himself circling back to every day and he could not be happier to be doing just that here at St. Mary’s.

MICHAEL LIPANI

Michael Lipani is from Queens, NY. Recently married, he now lives on Long Island. An alumnus of the Class of 2009,

While at St. Mary’s, Music teacher, Mr. Elliot, helped him develop an interest in the piano, which he eventually taught himself to play. A highlight was when Mike played piano in the pit band for the school play. During his years at St. Mary’s, Mike was part of the Computer Club, the Music Club, and even worked part time during the summer in the IT department.

Upon graduating from St. Mary’s, he attended Hofstra University and graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After successfully passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam to become a certified engineer, Mike began his career as a Mechanical Engineer. He worked for 9 years, exploring and gaining experience in different areas of Mechanical Engineering in the process. His most recent position was Senior Electro-Mechanical Design Engineer in a company that manufactures commercial vehicle safety systems.

During his time there, Mike played a key role designing several products which were eventually patented.

Recently, Mike realized that he wanted to do more than sit at a desk and wasn’t fulfilling his true passion. So he returned to St. Mary’s to teach STEM and be a key figure assisting in the technology department. Mike is thrilled to be back at a school that was instrumental in his life, where he learned so much about science, music, and his faith. He is excited to give back to the students, hoping his real world experience will inspire kids to pursue careers in Science and Engineering.

And what is especially wonderful about

Mike’s return is that now we have two Lipanis on staff — Mike and his mother, Linda, who teaches Spanish at the school and is the World Languages Chairperson.

If continuity is a vital component of what makes the education we provide our students at St. Mary’s so special, — continuity in our commitment to the liberal arts, Catholic formation, our theatre and athletic programs — having Mike and Linda together at the school epitomizes this feature of our Catholic, academic and cheerful ethos.

KACEY MAHER I currently live on the North Shore of Long Island with my cuddly dog, Grunt.

I love taking him to the beach and on the boat during the summer time!

I am coming into St. Mary’s with a few years of Math Academic Interventionist experience from a Long Island Public School. Prior to this experience, I was working on my Bachelor’s Degree at SUNY Old Westbury in Childhood Education; followed by a Master’s Degree at SUNY Old Westbury in Literacy Education. During my undergraduate time at Old Westbury, I was president of Kappa Delta Pi, as well as being involved in the New York State Teacher’s Opportunity Corps program.

Both of these organizations provided me with many opportunities to make 19

FACTS, FIGURES AND HIGHLIGHTS

On the Development Front: Focus on the Annual Fund

by the Sisters of St. Joseph. She also NEW THIS YEAR: Our latest Convivium worked as a youth director at St. Ignatiuson Retreat Houseand in Manhasset, Faith Reason,in collaboration where she ministered to youth in with the Science Department, various parishes in Nassau County. She For our development efforts at The Schools of Saint Mary, nothing is more important than our Annual Fund Campaign, which continues working as youththe minister explores lively relationship enables our beloved school to address operational costs, tuition assistance and capital improvements. Accordingly, throughout at St. Martha’s Church in Uniondale the year, we send out videos making appeals for the fund; we hold special events like our Marathon and Walkathon; we send between and Our Lady Queen of the Mostfaith Holy and science out e-blasts giving our constituency the option of becoming GEMs -- Giver Every Month; and we encourage our alumni donors Rosary Church in Roosevelt. to consider planned giving and matching gifts, which are naturally essential for our future sustainability.

myself into a better educator.

Just like the students I work with, I myself still plan to learn. I am taking on new roles this year; such as coaching, and I am eager to see what the future holds for me at St. Mary’s!

JESSICA STASIO

SR. AGNES MARIA, O.P. Sr. Agnes Maria was born and raised in San Diego, California, and is the second of five children. She entered the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in 2006 after graduating from UCLA with a degree in Psychology.

She professed her final vows in 2014.

She received her Post-Bac Degree in Education from Eastern Michigan University and earned a master’s in theology from Sacred Heart Major Seminary. Since 2011, she has taught in Arizona, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and Texas and has experience teaching 4th through 10th grade. She deeply enjoys accompanying students to the March for Life in Washington, D.C. and has made 7 trips. The patrons of her religious name are St. Agnes of Rome, virgin and martyr, and the Blessed Virgin Mary. She enjoys playing sports, hiking, reading, cooking, knitting, and spending time with her sisters.

My name is Jesse Stasio and I live in Merrick, NY. I attended college at SUNY Oneonta gaining both my bachelors degree and masters degree through a five year program. I graduated in May of 2021 with my bachelors degree in Early Childhood/Childhood Education, and then again in May of 2022 with my masters degree in Literacy. I am a first year teacher and beyond excited to begin this chapter at St. Mary’s teaching 3rd grade ELA and science.

VERONICA TICAS Veronica Ticas is so excited to be teaching Religion to the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders at Saint Mary’s Elementary School. It truly is such an honor for her to see how children grow closer in their relationship with God and grow in God’s love.

She has been involved in ministerial work with youth on Long Island for over 20 years. Previously, she worked as Campus Minister at Sacred Heart Academy, an all girls Catholic high school in Hempstead, which is run

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We are She is a native Newproud Yorker to and the proud daughter of Salvadoran announce that immigrants. She lives with her husband the DOMINICAN and two young daughters.

SISTERS OF MARY,

❤

Remember: if only 5,000 of our 13,000 alumni were to give $200 dollars a year, we would reach our Annual Fund Goal of $1m a year.

MOTHER OF THE EUCHARIST

continue to grace the Faculty of our High School and Elementary School Recent High School Graduates Offered Admission to Leading Universities Including: • BROWN • CORNELL • DUKE • GEORGETOWN • HARVARD • MIT • PRINCETON • UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA • YALE

ST. MARY’S VIDEOS - We are pleased to have showcased the best that Saint Mary has to offer via our glorious videos:

Our students, at every grade level, learn the authentic meaning of ‘serving thy neighbor’ in prayer and service with our Parish Social Ministry

- Partners in Stewardship - Omnia Ad Jesum Per Mariam - Girls Basketball NY State “AA” League Championship - Student Profiles - Educating the Whole Person at Saint Mary’s Elementary School

PERFORMING ARTS DRAMA, MUSIC, GIVING DAY - This year, for the first time, we created a JAZZ, TAP DANCE, Giving Day campaign that stretched over four weeks. This effort, to support our schools and to help us increase our SET DESIGN, Annual Fund, touted areas such as our STEM, Performing CHOIR Arts, Athletics, and Campus Ministry programs as well as our alumni and parental support groups.

This campaign was a huge success thanks to our generous SPORTS, HEALTH AND FITNESS constituents.

A N I M P O R TA N T R O L E I N A L L G R A D E S N - 1 2

OUR GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM WON THE STATE AA CHAMPIONSHIP!

Physical Education emphasizes overall fitness, skill,

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Horizons Horizons is our new annual literary and art journal, featuring the poems, stories and essays, as well as paintings, watercolors, and drawings of our bright and talented high school students.

Since we educate the whole person at Saint Mary’s, it is a pleasure to share with parents, students, alumni and well-wishers the fruits of our students’ impressive literary and artistic work, which shows how admirably imaginative and creative they are.

Deus Fortitudo Mea Poem by | JAMES KASTNER SMHS’22 In the mirror, I looked to see, a reflection that should be of me.

Yet, a stranger’s face now appears, changed by life and worn by tears; tested by loss, but sustained by hope, that God would enable me to cope.

As I lifted him up and I sat by her bed, clinging to every word that was said; refusing to even hint at goodbye, for fear that the utterance would make me cry; praying that God would change His plan, and I could put off becoming a man.

I asked for mercy, so they could cease suffering in pain and rest in peace.

And the crosses I bore grew heavier still as I stood by their graves to do God’s will; bowing my head with each shovel of dirt; hiding my face from disclosing the hurt.

Then slowly I turned and walked away to quietly sit alone and pray; thinking of the words I wrote long ago, Deus fortitude mea; my motto.

God is my strength, upon whom I lean, now, it all made sense; the reflection I’d seen!

The boy I was had been challenged and tried, yet, God had been there; my light and my guide.

He knew that the crosses were ones I could bear, I’d answered His call and He’d answered my prayer.

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Painting by | SHAELYN LENKO SMHS’20 | Forest

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Performing Arts Program The Performing Arts program seeks to unlock the artistic potential in our students. Our programs are designed to bring out the talents of each individual. Classes in theater, chorus and dance are offered each year.

Our middle school students begin their performing arts journey in theater. Each year, students in grades five through eight are able to perform in a musical. They learn the fundamentals of annunciation, voice projection and stage presence. As they progress they increase their confidence in performing in front of an audience.

At the high school level, students are eligible to take theater, chorus and dance classes beginning in their freshman year.

Performance opportunities in theater include fall plays, winter intensives and spring musicals. This year, the students will have the chance to perform with the middle school students in a musical production. Additionally, students can choose to take chorus during the school day as an elective. Students are also afforded the opportunity to participate in Chamber Choir which is featured during Masses and concerts. For those interested in dance, an after-school class is offered, which gives students access to instruction in the various styles.

The Performing Arts Department looks forward to continued success developing our student’s unique talents.

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Senior Shepherds: Faith in Action The Senior Shepherd program consists of a select group of seniors who have demonstrated dedication in furthering the Catholic values taught at Saint Mary’s. Every year, seniors submit applications to be a part of the program, consisting of an essay and interview. The Shepherds are an integral part of the school community, assisting in a number of areas. Members of the Senior Shepherd program dedicate their time to a number of different service projects throughout the year. The Shepherds work closely with the parish to ensure school-wide participation in these events and promote involvement to the underclassmen. This past October, a number of the students spent the day being trained as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist to further their role in school-wide masses. The Shepherds also aid in running the freshman retreats and events, providing guidance and creating a comfortable community among the students. Among these events is Freshman Camp, a three day activity run by senior leaders, that serves as an orientation and welcome to the school. Shepherds lead the groups of students on tours, facilitate bonding, and instill school values from the very beginning.

S A V E

T H E

D A T E

Parish GALA

CHURCH OF SAINT MARY

HONORING MRS. CATHY MORRISSEY LIFELONG CATECHIST, ACTIVE PARISHIONER, DEVOTED VOLUNTEER, LEADER, AND FRIEND

In addition to their spiritual involvement, students are eager to reach out and connect with all members of the Saint Mary’s community. The Shepherds act as role models for the rest of the student body and recognize their responsibility to promote positivity in everything they do. The program has become one of the most popular extracurriculars among students, and the role of the shepherds continues to expand and grow. The Shepherds set a standard of behavior and establish a sense of unity throughout the school, encouraging those around them to do the same. The Senior Shepherd program has a crucial role throughout the Saint Mary’s community, providing students with an outlet to serve those around them and give back to their school in a number of ways.

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J U N E

COCKTAILS, DINNER & DANCING 6:30 PM MANHASSET BAY YACHT CLUB PORT WASHINGTON, NY

MORE DETAILS TO COME! FOLLOW @SAINTMARYS11030 ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR VISIT SAINTMARYSMANHASSET.ORG

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Father Dominik Wegiel School Chaplain Par Excellence

Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist There are many reasons why our Catholic character at the Schools of Saint Mary is so vibrant. We instruct our students in both the elementary and the high school in the rich Catholic tradition. We have a fruitful Sodality and Student Shepherds program, both of which enable our students to put their Catholic faith into joyous practice. Eighteen of our students have been baptized and set on course for confirmation. We have a music department that reflects the beauty of Catholic liturgical music. But most of all, we have the truly inspirational Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist showing our students how our Catholic faith animates all that we do. In addition to the various academic subjects that they teach, the Sisters also work with Father Dominik, our School Chaplain, to prepare students for Baptism, First Holy Communion, and/ or Confirmation. At Saint Mary’s, our motto – Omnia Ad Jesum Per Mariam (Everything to Jesus through Mary) – is the very lifeblood of our identity, and the Dominican Sisters of Mary help us to embrace this identity as a lived reality. As the Sisters’ website says so eloquently, “At the heart of Catholic education is the Person of Jesus Christ. He is the Master Teacher.” As Dominican Sisters, they continue this noble tradition by bringing young students into deeper relationship with Christ. We are deeply blessed to have the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist on our faculty at The Schools of Saint Mary.

Laus Deo!

Since our motto at Saint Mary’s – “Catholic, Academic and Cheerful” – captures the very essence of who we are as a school and faith community, it is only fitting that we should have a chaplain in Father Dominik Wegiel who personifies all three of these attributes.

Father Dominik grew up in the Parish of the Holy Cross in Maspeth, Queens. His parents are immigrants from Poland. He graduated from the High School of Applied Communication in Long Island City, and then Stony Brook University with a degree in Applied Mathematics and Economics. After earning his degree from Stony Brook, Father Dominik entered St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers. He served his pastoral year at Infant Jesus Parish in Port Jefferson. Father Dominik rejoices in the fact that “the priesthood is pure gift” and what he most desires is for the students of Saint Mary’s is that “they know the love of God and the peace of the Resurrection.” He is humbled by knowing that “Jesus has called me to share my experience, knowledge and zeal for the faith with the students at The Schools of Saint Mary.”

Whether it is by celebrating Mass at the school, offering the sacraments to our students, helping with our Shepherds program, joining classes with our faculty and students, helping with our sports program, especially with our Soccer and Track & Field teams, or accompanying students and faculty on school trips abroad and at home, Father Dominik is front and center, reminding all of us of the great blessing of our shared Catholic faith.

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Bishop Barres Makes Pastoral Visit to St. Mary’s The Schools of Saint Mary welcomed the Most Reverend John O. Barres, Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, to campus on May 13, 2022, for a panoramic visit with students, faculty, and administrators. Upon arrival at St. Mary’s, a welcoming committee greeted Bishop Barres, which kicked off the tone for how great the day would be with each passing minute. The first stop on his tour was the elementary school, where he met with administrators and toured the building for an overview of classroom activities and lessons in progress. Even the youngest learners were excited to see our good shepherd as he made his way through the halls. Students presented the Bishop with Spiritual Bouquets and had a chance to interact with him in the classrooms. The spirit-filled tour continued to Immaculata Hall, where the Bishop joined the primary grade students to preview a scene from the middle school’s production of Aladdin Jr., scheduled to open that evening. The cast and crew delighted their audience with their talent.

The walking tour continued across campus to Marist Hall, where the Bishop learned first-hand about the successful college placement of soon-to-be graduates of the Class of 2022, who served as Senior Shepherds at the school. They shared insights about living the faith and serving their community through Campus Ministry. He sat down with student government members to discuss their efforts for the past year and future projects in preliminary stages. The NY State Championship Girls Basketball Team enjoyed a discussion about their season and learned of the Bishop’s love for the sport he once played for his alma mater, Princeton University. After engaging in spiritual dialogue with students in their Catholic Convivium Encounter Groups, Bishop Barres sat down for a round-table discussion with faculty members of both the elementary and high school. They each had the opportunity to speak as witnesses to sharing the Gospel and highlighted their innovations for presenting the Catholic faith to students.

Fr. Bob noted, “with Bishop Barres on campus, our school community could not have felt more joyful to welcome him for the pastoral visit. I was incredibly proud of our students, who engaged in conversation and spoke of their faith with such love and devotion while representing our schools – our St. Mary’s family. We are grateful to Bishop Barres for his time, wisdom, and prayerful presence.”

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Parish Social Ministry Gratitude is the Attitude On Campus

Recently, just in time for our Holiday Food Drive, the Joseph and Dorothy Salat Charitable Foundation generously gave Saint Mary’s Church a grant to renovate our Parish Social Ministry, for which we are profoundly grateful. The Food Drive, thanks to Director Kathleen Kosciusko, her talented team and all of our student volunteers, was a tremendous success. Thank you to all who helped make Thanksgiving and Christmas so special this year by donating food or serving with smiles at St. Mary’s and beyond! God bless you!

A day off for these St. Mary’s girls meant a day of service! The Veterans and the VFW Post 1790 expressed their dear appreciation for the continued service that the St. Mary’s High School Girls Basketball team gave for the 2nd Annual Turkey Drive held on Saturday, November 19.

They helped give out necessary Thanksgiving items to senior veterans and the Nassau County community. We are proud of our girls and their commitment to service off the court!

Thank you to our whole SMES community for donating non-perishable food for Thanksgiving to the Little Sisters of the Poor for distribution to those in need. Sister Judy and Sister Elizabeth Ann came to pick up the donations and were very grateful!

Our second grade Religious Education catechists brought their students to the Office of Parish Social Ministry. Each child brought a bag of non perishable items and help stock the shelves. Mrs. Kosciusko gave the group a tour and explained how the generous donations from our parishioners are helping countless families in our neighborhood. Nice job, guys!

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Moot Court Competition

Alumni Career Panel

On November 30, 2022, St. Mary’s High School competed in the 2022 Moot Court Competition sponsored by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York and Fordham University Law School. Appearing in person at the federal courthouse in Islip after a three-year hiatus in the competition due to COVID-19 with a compliment of two full teams, St. Mary’s garnered praise and encouragement for their efforts and earned a victory in one of the early rounds. The St. Mary’s team, led

by Senior Co-Captain Kimmy Jeon and returning Sophomore Mock Trial veterans Alex Li, Gary Wong, Abby Guiheem, Claire Yoon, Tessa Carrano, and Kendall Pompy, represented our school proudly and were warmly received by the competition’s Coorganizer and St. Mary’s alumnus United States Circuit Judge Joseph F. Bianco. Freshmen team members Emma Alameda, Giovanna Bruno, and Hailey Cohen, also provided strong support towards the team’s successful efforts.

On March 24, 2022, St. Mary’s welcomed five alumni back to campus for an Alumni Career Panel. Juniors and Seniors had the opportunity to learn about each panelist beforehand from their bios, and came prepared with questions to ask at the end of the presentation. The panelists shared their experiences in life since graduating from St. Mary’s High School and the impact their high school experience had on them in their careers. By sharing their diverse range of perspectives, experiences and career paths, they provide the students with helpful information as they begin their own career exploration.

The competition “judges,” who included actual federal court District and Magistrate Judges, as well as Assistant United States Attorneys, all complimented the St. Mary’s teams on their poise, advocacy, and determination. St. Mary’s prosecuted its various Petitioner and Appellant arguments involving the free speech and Sixth Amendment rights of the high school and high school student litigants in the fact pattern with tenacity and decorum. Although the team did not advance to later regional rounds, it proved a terrific proving ground for the young team members and has helped prepare them for the upcoming Mock Trial competition in February.

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Brian Maher SMHS ’64 and the Life of Service

SERVICE I have an early memory of my father wearing a white Civil Defense helmet and leaving our house to be a warden during an air raid drill when I was four years old or so. Outside of hurrying under the dining room table when the siren blared, I remember only my father and how important he looked in his impressive warden helmet.

Years later, I played CYO basketball for my parish of St. Boniface, barely well enough to make the team. When I reached St. Mary’s High School, it only took two rounds of layup drills at tryouts before Coach Jim Volkland determined my playing days were officially over. Wanting to stay connected in any way I could, I asked Mr. Volkand how I could be part of the team; he said he needed a manager, and I agreed to be one. Under the watchful eye of Brother Kenneth Robert, I was able to hang out with the players, take the bus rides, and feel the competitive excitement that went along with operating the time clock, keeping the scorebook, and handing towels to team members. When I arrived at Providence College…in the midst of solidifying itself on the collegiate basketball map…I wondered how I could be a part of that team. The next thing I knew I was manager of the freshman team coached by Dave Gavitt. Of course, there was much more required of me, but the perks were well worth the time I spent at practice and at games.

In these instances, I would later realize, “service” always had a self-interest at the end. In failing to recognize my father’s generosity for the safety of our community, I saw instead a shiny helmet. Likewise, the time I spent as manager of basketball teams boosted my own ego more than helped the coach and players. I was on the fast track toward self-absorption with such thinking when suddenly I hit a crossroads: The Friars Club.

When asked to join the Club late in my sophomore year, I had to weigh the merits of sitting on the bench next to Joe Mullaney at every game with donning that white jacket and enjoying all the prestige which went along with it. I chose the latter, again for the wrong reasons, but during my two years in the Club the scales were removed from my eyes. The surgeon was the Club’s moderator, Father Walter J. Heath, O.P., a uniquely dynamic preacher who needed neither pulpit nor dais to make his points, as he was as effective in returning calm in an all too festive dorm room as he was illuminating a parable in the Aquinas Hall Chapel. To me, however, he was most revealing when he spoke to us at the monthly Friars Club meetings. While his descriptors differed each time, the message was always succinctly the same: we are all called to serve. Initially, I took that to mean working for the Club at basketball games, alumni weekends, or prospective student tours, but, as his soliloquies continued, I realized his words had less to do with those assignments and all to do with Gospel values.

Over the Christmas break, Brian Maher, SMHS ’64 shared an essay he wrote for The Providence College Magazine, entitled “Service,” which epitomizes the love of neighbor and giving of oneself to which all of our students, friends, and supporters are committed. It nicely captures Mr. Maher’s wise appreciation of the force of personal caritas.

After graduating from Saint Mary’s, Mr. Maher attended Providence College where he earned his B.S. in Business Administration, eventually finding himself in the field of education as a teacher and as an administrator. He and his wife Barbara are the parents of three children and the grandparents of five and resides in West Islip, NY. He retired in 2016 after 37 years at Farmingdale State College.

During his professional career, Mr. Maher came to realize how essential it is to help others. Some of the charities with which he has been involved over the years include St Joseph Parish, Good Samaritan Hospital, Dominican Sisters of Amityville, Eastern Amputee Golf Association, Ancient Order of Hibernians, St. John the Baptist DHS, and Melville Rotary.

In recognition of his wide-ranging and successful charitable endeavors, Providence College awarded Mr. Maher an Honorary Doctorate in Education in 2018.

No longer looking at what glittered, I found myself instead gravitating towards more temporal needs and began to understand my not-so-spectacular skills and abilities could still be used to benefit those around me. While some situations did include aspects of my life which I long enjoyed, there were others which attracted me to causes I would not have selected on my own.

More often than not, these have helped individuals in greatest need.

The most important aspect I gleaned from Fr. Heath? Being called to serve is not an option…it is a mandate. His words helped me understand whatever talents we have are gifts from God, and, like any gift, they should be shared. “I could give you the nicest blue shirt ever made,” he said more than once, “but if you never wear it, what good is it? And what is that saying to the giver?”

St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us, “I would rather feel compassion than know the meaning of it. I would hope to act with compassion without thinking of personal gain.” We have only to look around us to see an ever growing list of perils which confront our youth, our communities, our Church. I suggest there is a place where each of us can help in these circles.

Perhaps there is a blue shirt somewhere in a closet or a drawer which still fits. Why not take it out and try it on!

Since uniting the profession with the practice of our Catholic faith is so paramount a part of our commitment to the rich Catholic tradition at Saint Mary’s, it is only fitting that we highlight Mr. Maher’s thoughts on the vital topic of giving back.

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School Trip to Italy “Everyone had a magnificent time as we visited cities such as Venice, Florence and Rome! We were inspired by the Italian culture as well as the Christian history that we encountered. It was a tremendous experience for all!”

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Gaels and PTO Each and every member of the Elementary and High Schools are blessed by being part of a very special family – the family of Saint Mary’s – under the spiritual guidance of Fr. Robert Romeo, our pastor. There are many school events each year that celebrate our community.

The year got off to an exciting start with the Elementary School’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) hosting the Parent Social at Denihan Field. It was an evening of music, food trucks, and cheer. The PTO also hosted several other events: Halloween parties, Turkey Trot, Christmas Festival, Mother/Son Bowling, Paint Night, Father/Daughter Dance, Family Fun Night and the Spring Social. The High School’s Gaels Parents’ Association kicked off the year with its Annual Fall Parents Reception in Immaculata Hall and hosted the Harvest Hoedown and ended the year with the Final(s) Countdown for students. The Gaels were finally able to bring back the annual Ladies’ Night Out featuring dinner, music and dancing, raffles, and silent auction items. This year’s theme was Bella Notte!

With numerous smaller events throughout the year, parent leaders and volunteers of the Elementary School and High School, enthusiastically support the mission of the schools, with a singular focus – the education of our students. Thank you to all those who supported these events in so many ways!

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D•I•S•C•O•V•E•R

SAINT MARY’S for the Education of a Lifetime

We look forward to welcoming you for a tour to learn more about our Catholic faith community, academic, athletic, and extracurricular offerings!

Saint Mary’s Elementary School Providing excellence in Catholic education since 1926.

1340 NORTHERN BOULEVARD, MANHASSET, NEW YORK 11030 SAINTMARYSES.ORG | 516 627 0184 | #STMARYSES FOR MORE INFO, PLEASE CONTACT MRS. NORMA STAFFORD, DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS AT EXT. 1084 OR NSTAFFORD@SAINTMARYSMANHASSET.ORG

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Athletic Program

St. Mary’s Gaels Sign National Letters of Intent

We celebrate the glorious NY State AA League Championship of our Saint Mary’s High School Girls’ Basketball Team.

Throughout our school community, our team’s great achievement was cause for elation. Our athletes played with passion and precision.

Congratulations to our Class of 2023 student-athletes who officially signed their National Letters of Intent this Fall during a celebration in the Immaculata Hall gymnasium. With administrators, staff, coaches, family, friends and teammates present, they announced their decisions on where they would pursue their undergraduate studies and play Division 1 collegiate sports next year. We’re so proud of their accomplishments and look forward to seeing what their bright futures have in store. May God bless and guide them each step of the way! Way to go, Gaels!

Congratulations to the Girls’ Basketball Team!

Our coaches instilled the virtues of teamwork and perseverance. Together they posted a season for the record books. More highlights than we can count set off this season but one of the best was the team bringing their trophies to the stands at Hofstra so that fans could share in celebrating their joyous victory.

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Tara Murray ’23 has officially committed to attend Merrimack College to pursue her undergraduate studies and play women’s basketball next season.

Taryn Barbot ’23 has officially committed to attend the College of Charleston to pursue her undergraduate studies and play women’s basketball next season.

Taylor Barbot ’23 has officially committed to attend the College of Charleston to pursue her undergraduate studies and play women’s basketball next season.

Jesiah Carpenter ’23 has officially committed to attend University of Maryland, Baltimore County to pursue his undergraduate studies and play baseball next season.

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Athletic Program (cont.)

Spotlight on Baseball

St. Mary’s is home to the Gaels, and offers a tradition of excellence with an impressive array of athletic teams for competitive students looking to supplement their academic experience. St. Mary’s has had tremendous success over the years with numerous championships and awards for sportsmanship. St. Mary’s Men’s Varsity Ice Hockey is the all-time leader in State Championships.

Our spotlight for this year’s Magnificat is on the Varsity Baseball Team. Due to Covid-19, this year was the first year back with all underclassmen after a long absence from the St. Mary’s campus. The Athletic Office, Head Coach Christopher Estrada and his coaching staff, Juan Torres and Victor Bautista are doing a wonderful job attracting student athletes to St. Mary’s and they are doing an exceptionally good job enlisting top talent to the Baseball Team. Go Gaels!

Congratulations to Mark Ferrara ’22 who was named to Newsday’s Top 25 Male Bowlers for the 2021-2022 season.

As Newsday indicated, “Mark Ferrara owns a CHSAA-best 219 average. The senior won the CHSAA individual tournament in his sophomore season and is the anchor for St. Mary’s.” Way to go Mark!

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Alumnus Receives the Prestigious Tewaaraton Legend Award

Founded at the University Club of Washington, DC, the Tewaaraton Award is recognized as the preeminent lacrosse award, annually honoring the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States.

It’s not every day that an individual is honored as a legend and, much rarer, a Tewaaraton Legend. Since its inception, the recognition, compared to that of the elite Heisman Trophy in football, has been awarded to recipients who played college lacrosse before 2001, the first year in which the honor was presented to an athlete.

The St. Mary’s High School community was pleased to join in the 2022 celebration as Class of 1985 alumnus David Pietramala who began his career in lacrosse with the Gaels, was one of the awardees.

In the eighties, Pietramala came to St. Mary’s from Hicksville as a young man, unaware of the full talents bestowed upon him as a student-athlete. Before he tried lacrosse, there was a love of basketball and baseball. The plot of the success story thickened as he honed his skills in lacrosse while attending school in Manhasset. As a Gael, he played among many great athletes he called friends, excelled in the sport, and helped lead the Varsity team to a CHSAA lacrosse title in 1985.

After graduating, Dave went on to play defense for Johns Hopkins University. He was a leading team member that clinched the 1987 National Championship. A member of the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame (2002), Dave is considered one of the greatest defensemen in the game’s history. According to the Johns Hopkins website, Pietramala is the only person to win a men’s lacrosse NCAA national championship as both a player and coach. In addition, he is the only person named both player and coach of the year. He achieved first-team All-American status three times while at Hopkins. He played at the club level, followed by the professional, national, and international levels earning multiple recognitions with each team, including All-World titles twice.

His coaching career flourished after several positions, including the University of Pennsylvania, Loyola College, and Johns Hopkins, before landing at Cornell as head coach in 1998. In 2001 he returned to his Alma mater as head coach, where he remained for 20 years. He left the Blue Jays as the program’s all-time winningest coach (207-93). In 2021, Pietramala became the defensive coordinator for Syracuse University.

The Tewaaraton Award Ceremony took place in June at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC. Pietramala and co-legend awardee for 2022, Kelly Amonte Hiller (Maryland), joined over ten other legends awarded this honor in the game, including Manhasset’s Jim Brown. “Kelly is one of the greatest women’s players of all-time, and Dave 50

photo courtesy of the Tewaaraton Foundation

is widely regarded as the best defensive player of all-time, so we’re incredibly proud to be able to honor these legends on the same night,” said Andy Phillips, president of the Tewaaraton Foundation. “Both have had an incredible impact on the game and were revolutionary players on the field.”

In a recent interview with fellow alum, and our Director of Communications, Eileen Symmons (Class of 1986), Coach Pietramala shared some insight from his early days.

St. Mary’s: What did it mean for you to discover and succeed in lacrosse as a Gael?

Coach Pietramala: My time at St. Mary’s was transformative. There I developed strong relationships with coaches that taught me how to succeed on and off the field and helped me understand the value of hard work.

St. Mary’s: Do you recall how you and your teammates at St. Mary’s felt about winning a CHSAA league championship?

Coach Pietramala: My first championship in lacrosse came during my senior year at St. Mary’s. The knowledge that a championship title was the result of all our hard work, preparation, and dedication was a lesson that sensed me well later in life. It was a moment I still remember like it was yesterday.

St. Mary’s: Who was your mentor at the school or in the world of sports?

Coach Pietramala: My mentor in high school was and still is my father. However, my coaches in basketball and lacrosse at St. Mary’s were instrumental in my development. Additionally, the teachers and administration helped me better understand that success is derived from strong and healthy relationships.

St. Mary’s: Any words of wisdom for our current young men and women athletes, particularly Lax players?

Coach Pietramala: Be great at the things that take no talent.

We encourage you to view the Tewaaraton event ceremony online at: tewaaraton.com/2022ceremony and see highlights of Dave’s career and the introduction made by his former Johns Hopkins Coach, Don Zimmerman who delivered a moving tribute of Dave’s “magical journey.” Dave’s acceptance speech was nothing short of humble and gracious for a man of his stature, noting that “the award was not an individual award, but rather one of collective effort.”

Thank you for taking the time to connect with us, Dave, and once again, congratulations on your outstanding achievements. All of us at St. Mary’s, including the Office of Athletics, Varsity Lacrosse Head Coach (and your Blue Jays teammate) Matt Panetta, the coaching staff, and the team, wish you continued success. We look forward to welcoming you back to campus for a visit soon! To donate to the St. Mary’s Gaels Athletic Program in Dave’s honor, please visit the “Giving” tab at saintmaryshs.org or call the Office of Development at 516-627-4605.

Endorsed by the Mohawk Nation Council of Elders and U.S. Lacrosse, the Tewaaraton Award symbolizes lacrosse’s centuries-old roots in Native American heritage. The Tewaaraton Foundation ensures the integrity of and advances the mission of this award. Each year, the Tewaaraton Award celebrates one of the six nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy – the Mohawk, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca, and Tuscarora – and presents two scholarships to students of Native American descent.

To learn more about The Tewaaraton Foundation, please visit www.tewaaraton.com.

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St. Mary’s Summer Sports Camp 2022 Summer Sports Camps Achieve Success Beyond the Classroom

Saint Mary’s High School Summer Sports Camps welcomed hundreds of children to this year’s program, which consisted of five consecutive weeks kicking off at the end of June, offering a variety of weeklong camps for rising 1st through 12thgrade students from the local community and beyond. The program included Boys Lacrosse, Basketball, Dance/Cheer, and All Sports Camps.

With three regulation-sized indoor basketball courts and a turf field, the campers could enjoy time outdoors and indoors to cool off while having a terrific experience. Campers learned team-building skills, ran drills, and honed their athletic abilities, while others discovered their capabilities for the first time. Whether synchronizing dance steps, scoring a goal, or making a layup in their sessions, campers were met with enthusiasm each day by the outgoing coaches in the safe, nurturing environment St. Mary’s provides to their families. The high energy on campus this summer was evident as the smiling faces of parents and children alike told the story of the program’s success. “Last year, our program reached new heights in registration numbers, and this year was no different,” noted Gerard Buckley. “As principal, I am delighted to witness the summer camps continue to grow as more families choose to take advantage of our terrific camp offerings close to home.”

Camp Director Colleen Curran said, “The one thing that stood out about the kids at camp was how passionate they were about their sport. Their faces really showed how much they loved playing!” New to leading the Summer Sports Camps this year, she enjoyed meeting campers not only from St. Mary’s but from surrounding schools and neighborhoods, which was an excellent indication of the school’s commitment to serving students beyond the classrooms during the regular academic year. Ms. Curran is also a member of the St. Mary’s High School faculty and loves teaching mathematics. We’re excited to learn more about her vision and additional offerings for next year’s program. Stay tuned for details forthcoming this winter.

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St. Mary’s Elementary School Class of 2022 Commencement

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St. Mary’s High School Class of 2022 Commencement

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College Acceptances for the Class of 2022 Adelphi University The University of Alabama Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences American University Amherst College CUNY Bernard M Baruch College Binghamton University CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College Boston College Boston University Brandeis University University of Bridgeport CUNY Brooklyn College Brown University Caldwell University California Institute of the Arts University of California - Davis University of California - Irvine University of California - Los Angeles Canisius College Case Western Reserve University The Catholic University of America University of Central Florida College of Charleston Clemson University Cleveland Institute of Music Colgate University The College of Saint Rose Columbia University in the City of New York University of Connecticut Cornell University CUNY Macaulay Honors Curtis Institute of Music Delaware State University University of Delaware DePaul University Drew University Drexel University Duke University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach Fairfield University Fairleigh Dickinson Farmingdale State College Florida Atlantic University Florida Southern College Florida State University University of Florida Fordham University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus University of Georgia Hamilton College Hampton University University of Hartford Harvard University Hawaii Pacific University High Point University Hobart William Smith Colleges Hofstra University CUNY Hunter College University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign Iona University Ithaca College

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James Madison University CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice Johns Hopkins University Johnson & Wales University - Providence The Juilliard School Juniata College Kent State University Le Moyne College Lehigh University Liberty University Long Island University Louisiana State University Loyola University Maryland Lynn University Manhattan College Manhattanville College Marist College University of Mary Washington University of Maryland Eastern Shore University of Maryland - College Park Marymount Manhattan College Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Massachusetts Institute of Technology University of Massachusetts - Amherst University of Massachusetts - Boston McGill University Mercy College Miami Dade College - University of Miami Michigan State University University of Michigan - Ann Arbor University of Minnesota Molloy College Morgan State University Mount Saint Mary College Muhlenberg College Nassau Community College New College of Florida The New England Conservatory of Music University of New Hampshire University of New Haven The College of New Jersey New York University The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of North Carolina North Carolina State Northeastern University Ohio University Pace University, New York Pace University Penn State University of Pennsylvania Pepperdine University University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pratt Institute - Main Princeton University Providence College SUNY at Purchase College Purdue University - Main Campus CUNY Queens College Quinnipiac University RPI RIT University of Rochester

Rollins College Rutgers University Sacred Heart University Saint Joseph’s University Salve Regina University University of San Diego Santa Clara University School of Visual Arts University of Scranton Seton Hall University Siena College The Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education University of South Carolina University of South Florida USC Spelman College St Bonaventure University St. John Fisher College St. John’s University St. Thomas Aquinas College SUNY New Paltz Stevens Institute of Technology Stony Brook University SUNY Buffalo State SUNY College at Brockport SUNY Cortland SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry SUNY College at Geneseo SUNY Oneonta SUNY Delhi SUNY Maritime College SUNY College at Oswego SUNY College at Plattsburgh SUNY Polytechnic Institute Syracuse University The University of Tampa Temple University The University of Tennessee - Knoxville The University of Texas Culinary Institute of America Ohio State University University of Toronto Tufts University United States Air Force Academy University at Albany, SUNY University at Buffalo Vanderbilt University Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology University of Vermont Villanova University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University University of Virginia - Main Campus Washington State University Washington University University of Washington Wentworth Institute of Technology Wesleyan University Williams College University of Wisconsin - Madison Worcester Polytechnic Institute Xavier University Yale University

School Counseling in the Spirit of St. Mary The care of our students can be summed up in four pillars: Accompaniment, Refreshment, Revelation, and Preparation.

Our brilliant guidance counselors, Chris McDermott - Guidance Counselor/Director of College Guidance and Jessica Kemp Guidance Counselor/AP Coordinator make sure that every one of our high school students benefit from a customized college prep plan. If one of the returns on investment for parents considering enrolling their children in our school is superlative college acceptance, no college prep program has a better track record than ours at St. Mary’s.

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Visit to St. Thomas Aquinas College At St. Mary’s Mrs. Kemp, Mr. McDermott, and Mrs. LaSorsa have developed a well-researched and fine-tuned college program that is constantly evolving to generate fantastic college placements that reflect the intelligence and hard work of our students.

In addition, we strive to equip our students with the insight and self-awareness necessary to make informed decisions about their future.

Not only do we evaluate our college program by the list of impressive college results, but, more importantly, we assess the effectiveness of our department and program through the preparedness and self-efficacy of our students, or their confidence to act in a way necessary to achieve their desired results. We are not just producing results, but preparing our students to be leaders in the college they attend through their self-confidence and decision making abilities.

St. Thomas Aquinas has long been impressed with the caliber of students at St. Mary’s and in October invited St. Mary’s students to visit the campus with the cost fully covered by the college. The visit included a very comprehensive information session that included presentations from multiple college deans, alumni from St. Mary’s, and even a brief introduction from the college president, Mr. Dan Daly. Mrs. Kemp and Mr. McDermott have been on innumerable college visits and never has the president of the college taken the time to speak with the visiting students. Clearly, St. Thomas Aquinas College made a considerable effort to welcome the students of St. Mary’s.

From the president, to the deans, to the tour guides, everyone praised St. Mary’s students for their attentiveness and inquisitiveness during the college visit. This experience has fueled the idea of making St. Mary’s college trips a welcomed addition to the St. Mary’s college program.

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Alumni Notes 1953

JIM FITZPATRICK graduated from grammar school in 1949 and high school in 1953. Manhattan College engineering led to a wonderful career in the design and manufacturing of aircraft instruments. At 87, he is doing well in Florida. Jim lost his wife Lucie after 54 years and is now married to Ginny since 2019. He is still in touch with several members of our basketball team. Jim carried towels and kept score.

FRED VON BURG writes, “Some of the Class of ’53 are getting too old to partake in all the St. Mary’s alumni activities (not Jim, Lois, John, Pat, Maureen, Warren, and a few others) so we wish you all a Happy May 14.”

1954

GENEVIEVE (COLLEEN) WICHROWSKI SCHULTZ is still living in Stuart, Florida.

This year has been a sad and difficult one. John, her husband of 63 years, passed away. It was not an easy life adjustment to come to terms with. In addition, she fell and fractured her arm. The road to recovery has been beset with pain and physical therapy.

However, Genevieve is most grateful for the help and care she received from her children and friends who tended to her. She states that “getting older is not for the weak of heart.” She thanks God every day for His love and care and for letting her achieve 86 years of age.

1956

PATRICIA REGAN BALER survived COVID by creating a “Merry Widows Saturday Nights” group for dinner and conversation with six ladies. She enjoys membership in St. Patrick’s Book Club and the Prayer Shawl Ministry.

Patricia hopes to revisit Ireland this summer with her children. She misses her husband but is grateful for many blessings. She hopes many other alumnae are happy and healthy.

GLORIA HICKS GARVIN, JULIE SCHOFIELD, ARLENE MONTELINO MCCARTHY, and CAROL PREWEIN BUTLER met in Owl’s Head, Maine, where Carol lives, for a mini-reunion and vacation this past July. They are alumnae of the elementary school Class of 1952 and high school Class of 1956 of the Schools of St. Mary! You 62

can only imagine what they continue to know about each other. They have all lived through good and bad times, but friends like these make life rich beyond gold!

EDWARD MORAN reports, “I am now semi-retired, living half the year near Ocean City, Maryland, and the other half in Charleston, South Carolina.

I met my wife while working as a Christmas assistant at Bloomingdale’s after graduating from St. John’s and waiting for the dreaded draft. She worked there for several years as an assistant buyer. As of December, we will celebrate our 59th anniversary, God and Sonja willing. We have two daughters who, in turn, have two daughters and three sons. After about 20 years at Chase Manhattan Bank, I went out on my own as a bankruptcy trustee of several international commodity companies, and a failed movie studio, among other interesting assignments. I am presently a custodial trustee of a federal superfund site in New Hampshire. Along the way, I served five years in the active Air Force and 27 years in the Air National Guard.

Much of that time included flying as a navigator on refueling and rescue aircraft with the unit in Westhampton. I retired as a colonel in 1985.”

My first three high school years were spent at Regis in New York City. That required an hour and a half commute each way, and woe to him that was late for class. Then, on to St. Mary’s, where there were girls and life was much more relaxed! I had to walk FOUR WHOLE BLOCKS to a school bus that dropped us off at school…generally on time. Jablonski’s old school bus gave us all fits…and fits of laughter.

I hated leaving Regis but St. Mary’s made the transition a breeze. My new friends didn’t take long to snap me out of the failure funk I was in when I arrived. At Regis, there were all sorts of Senior privileges. Seniors could use the front entrance and the front staircase and have a Senior Lounge with pool tables. I regretted missing that opportunity. “Brother Ronald, what are the Senior privileges here?”

“You get to go to school here, mister.”

Nicely put…and true. I still remember him, Nicholas, Hugh, and Augustine with a chuckle. Brother Augustine with the famous, “Better to remain silent and appear ignorant than open your mouth and remove all doubt.” I

remember walking by the brothers’ house late one Saturday afternoon, hearing Augustine’s unmistakable roar, and watching a can (probably/possibly soda) flying out an upstairs window.

The brothers and sisters who taught us in those days were wonderful, dedicated people. Even the nun who attempted to teach me – the only boy in the typing class. “Back straight; back straight.” Still can’t do that, Sister.

In many ways, St. John’s was a continuation of St. Mary’s in that many of my classmates also attended, and I reunited with some of my Regis friends as well. We immediately formed a coalition and took over the student government, which continued throughout the four years.

Many of my friends from those days remain friends to this day. Good times; good people.”

1958

ROBERT MURPHY writes, “After working for almost 40 years (USAF/ Shell Oil Co.), I retired about 20 years ago. Last September, I took on a new job. Our 10th grandchild was born in February 2021, and daycare plans were discussed. Not being a fan of commercial daycare for such a young one, I volunteered to care for Miss Delaney 10 hours a day, five days a

through Venerable Fulton Sheen.”

JOHN (JACK) O’HANDLEY published his memoirs “From Trappist Monk to Street Doctor” at Archway publishing.

MARY NICHOLS reports, “I have written a book with co-author Paul Kengor, which will be officially released this year. The title is The Devil and Bella Dodd, about a woman quite high up in the Communist Party who has a change of heart and is converted

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1960

FRANK HARRIS was not a top academic student at St. Mary’s High School, but after a four-year break for the Army, he went on to achieve a BA, an MA, a JD, and a Ph.D. in English Law at an English University in England. “If I can do it, you certainly can do it!”

WILLIAM JOYCE is living and working in Massachusetts. He has been happily married for 43 years. He has ten-plus years in writing personal memoirs and organizational histories.

1962

JOSEPH MANNO is happily retired with five horses, two dogs, and a 200-acre horse farm in western North Carolina.

MARY GRACE O’BRIEN is grateful for the education and lifetime friends from St. Mary’s. She has two grown sons and two grandchildren. She returned to school for her NP license.

Her older sister, Barbara (1958), lives in Connecticut, and Pat (1961) is in a nursing home in Naples, Florida. Mary Grace also has a condo in Naples and spends winters there.

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week, for as long as possible. It’s been a year now, and we’re still going strong.

It’s physically difficult at times for someone my age, but the rewards far outweigh the cost. I thank God every day for the opportunity He has given me to be a positive influence on the development of this amazing child.”

Susan and Bill have four children and 11 grandchildren; their fifth greatgrandchild was on the way at the start of 2022.

SALLY WINTERTON reports, “In celebration of our 150th anniversary, I would like to direct your attention to the President’s Commission on the Status of Women’s list of the 150 Most Influential Women of West Chester University. Over the last few months, the Commission has taken on the monumental task of curating a snapshot in time of the women who have helped shape WCU’s legacy. After putting out a call for submissions, the Commission’s Visibility Project Team received more than 350 nominations from the Golden Rams community. The overwhelming response demonstrates how important women are to West Chester University and always have been. The women included represent University firsts, pioneers in their fields, and graduates who have impressed upon the world with how far a WCU degree can take you.

I hope you review this incredible list.

Look for women you recognize, learn about the ones you don’t, and, most important of all, let them inspire you to follow their examples.”

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PATRICK FREMONT reports he is “glad to see Investor.com awarded our Registered Investment Advisory firm, Fremont Wealth Management, located in Southport, Ct. four stars. I also just celebrated my 75th birthday, feel 55 and have a sense of humor sometimes like a 15-year-old, which I consider a good thing. Also celebrated 52 years of marriage with Sheila Mahoney Fremont, Class 1967. We have 3 children (same sense of humor) and four grandchildren.”

WILLIAM (BILL) HICKMAN lives in Springfield, Missouri. He graduated from Evangel University with a BS in Psychology. Shortly after high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps from 1966 to 1972. In 1968, Bill married his high school sweetheart, Susan Rudd, who attended the Mary Louis Academy in Jamaica, Queens.

They married in the Philippines, where Bill was stationed at the Marine Barracks, Subic Bay. Stateside, they lived in Mastic, Long Island. They moved to Springfield in 1983, so Bill could attend Central Bible College with the Assemblies of God. He re-entered the military in 1987 with the Missouri Army National Guard. He retired with 24 years of service in 2006. Bill served with the National Guard in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Baghdad from 2003 to 2004. He still loves to ride motorcycles.

JOHN WALSH has been living in Hawaii for the last 32 years. He served 22 years in the Air Force. John retired in 1993 as a Lt. Col. and became a stayat-home Dad until his son reached Kindergarten. He spent nearly three years as a Defense Contractor/Civilian and returned to being a stay-athome Dad with the addition of two daughters. He has made lots of trips to and from schools. All of his children are college graduates and beyond.

One with a JD, one has a DVM, and the other holds a MA in Clinical Counseling.

Two live in Nebraska and Arizona. John married in 1986. He is still teaches American Government, at least for now. He hopes to make a trip this summer to the mainland if COVID gets under control.

1968

J. DIXON BYRNE is currently acting and producing. The latest project is the film Resentment, a true story of a teenage boy coming of age in 1987 Ukraine, to be shot in Lithuania in late 2022. Grateful dad of Margaret Bice Byrne Taylor and Maureen Bice Byrne Ferguson and Bryan James DiFebo Byrne and the late Patrick Dixon Bice Byrne. Proud to still be close with Dan Cappio, George Shaughness, Larry Siedlick, and Jim Sweeney. Missing Steve Tully and Peggy Hoban. All of the class of ‘68.

1969

DENISE TUTTLE GIAMBASTIANI writes, “After twenty-some years at Smith Mountain Lake, we sold Camp Tuttle and bought a condo in Lynchburg, Virginia. I am an alumna of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College undergrad and Lynchburg College for my graduate degree, so no stranger to the city. We both love it here! I staff the Lynchburg Democratic Committee office two days a week and volunteer at Randolph reunions and other events. Greg created a hobby shop downstairs in our condo storage unit, so he’s happy. We joined the local Oakwood Country Club and spend many afternoons by the pool or having 63

a bite of dinner in their Grill Room. So much fun! I’ve made many new friends and am happy to say our lake friends keep in touch and visit. Our daughter Emily is in Bozeman, Montana, and loves Big Sky Country life! My sibs are all well and happy, and they take good care to spend time with my Mom, aka “The Queen Mum,” who turned 100 in April. Life is good.”

1971

MARIE-ILENE STUART (WHITEHURST) has lived in Coral Gables, Florida, for 45 years. She is married to Tom and has two wonderful children. She always says that Manhasset was the place to grow up. It had the best of both worlds with the small-town feel but only thirty minutes from the city. She has wonderful memories of St. Mary’s and looks forward to our 50th Reunion, a year late!

JOHN TOWNLEY moved after his junior year, so he never graduated from St. Mary’s. He lived down the street behind the boy’s school building on Ridge Drive. During freshman year, he ran cross country, and the team ran around the neighborhood for practice.

He remembers three or four of them goofing off, drinking soda at his kitchen table while everyone else kept running around the block. John also recalled that even though he lived right down the street, he was usually late for school. He now lives in Galloway, New Jersey, in the same house his wife,

Donna, grew up. Her father built the house, and the family moved in the year she was born, 1961. John is retired and spends much time raking leaves and reading books.

1972

ELLEN MESSERSCHMIDT LASURDO is living the retired life on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia, with her husband of 43 years, John. They have three grandchildren: a six-year-old girl and two boys, ages 6 and 2. They have two married adult children living in greater Atlanta, so we see the grands frequently. They also enjoy a good bit of international travel.

HENRY SEDUSKI currently splits his time between Mt. Kisco, New York, and Scottsdale, Arizona. He went to the University of Notre Dame. Henry is married with three sons and two grandsons. He worked in New York at Price Waterhouse, JP Morgan, and Modern Capital Management.

1973

ROBERT ORLANDO is a Graduate Gemologist and has worked in the jewelry industry for almost 40 years.

He currently lives in Park City, Utah, managing a fine jewelry boutique in a hotel located at Deer Valley Resort. He also spends time at his home in New Hampshire.

1974

JEANINE DUNN (VARRONEY) is

2nd Grade Class 1953-1954 Mike Gately, Dan Denihan, Tom McGrath, Bob Bickel, Tom Meade, Jim Belter, and Jack Moran.

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married to Dan and has three great kids, Colleen (married in 2007 to Chad, and now grandsons JJ, Christopher, and Landry), Shannon, and Daniel (married to Diana, grandgirls Juliet and Rosemary). All of them are Catholic school “lifers.” Colleen went to Marymount University and has a Master’s in Counseling and Forensic Psychology, Shannon has a degree in Media Studies from Catholic University, and Daniel graduated with a politics major from Catholic University. They actually have friends who attended SMHS! Jeanine is retired from school nursing but really misses it. She finally moved from Illinois permanently in 2010 and is busy delivering many, many babies in northern Virginia!

Jeanine enjoys catching up with her friends from St. Mary’s Elementary and High School. It is so nice that they can connect as if no time has passed!

1975

DOUG MCINTYRE’s debut novel, “Frank’s Shadow,” will be published by Greenleaf Press in July of 2023.

1978

MARY-JEAN HUNT writes, “In June 2018, I opened my retail shop “Over The Bridge” in Bayville, New York. The shop, located at 20 Ludlam Avenue, is a highly curated collection of items for your home, yourself, and to give as gifts.”

1979

STEPHEN D’URSO was promoted to the General Manager of Bloomingdale’s flagship in New York City!

1981

JANE LEEK is currently working in the insurance industry. She enjoys gardening, reading, cooking, and hiking the Long Island nature trails.

She is interested in local history and enjoys visiting museums and historic sites.

1985

CHRISTINA MONACO resides in Briarcliff Manor, New York, and after a career working in corporate organizations, she founded her communications consulting business in 2021. Christina is still in contact with many of her former St. Mary’s classmates and considers them some of her closest friends she sees often.

1987

CHRISTINE HEDBERG has three daughters and lives in Westchester, New York. She works in the biotech industry and promotes a rare disease product covering Delaware to Maine.

She decided to send her little one, Bridget, to The School of Holy Child in Rye due to her own experience at St. Mary’s. Her oldest daughter, Lindsey, lives and works in New York City. Her middle daughter, Carrie, recently graduated cum laude from Elon and is starting a new job and moving to New York City in July.

EILEEN RIVERA (FORDE) reports, “DANIEL RIVERA, Class of 2009, was married on May 14, 2022, to Kelli Packman of Garden City!”

1986

LIZ GILGES (RUSSO) is happily married 31 years to her college sweetheart and living in the Finger Lakes, Canandaigua, New York. She is a proud Navy/Army mom of six. Liz regularly keeps in touch with CATHERINE BRENNAN, KIM ROEDER, and BILLY BERGIN. Her parents still live in the same house in Port Washington. She loves going back to visit!

MARY ANN ZANKL WINGERT writes, “after moving out of New York in 1993, my husband, Jim, and I have experienced life in five states (NC, CO, SD, FL, and now TN), enjoying the benefits of each. We recently moved to Nashville, where I took a position as VP, assistant controller at Fleetcor.

Our children are starting their careers: Doug is a junior in college studying mechanical engineering and is in the ROTC Army. Kevin joined the Air Force stationed in Okinawa, while Kelly is working for Hilton here in TN. We enjoy hiking and traveling. I was sad to learn my undergraduate college, the College of New Rochelle, closed, but I am fortunate to call Baruch College and UNC-Chapel Hill my Alma maters from two Master’s degrees. I wish I had stayed in contact with more of my high school friends. If you are ever in Nashville, please look me up.”

1995

TARA TRAINA MINSON writes, “My family and I (including my St. Mary’s alumni husband, STEVE MINSON ’94) still live in our hometown of Port Washington, where our children now attend the awesome Schools of St. Mary. Their beloved school family has allowed us to have the life we love and feel loved in return. I just returned from

our nation’s capitol from a week of meetings with members of Congress and senators of Nassau and Suffolk Counties, advocating for legislation surrounding the travel and tourism industry, employer tax benefits, and more. Highlighting the need to reinstate bills that greatly affect my hometown, my family’s 30-year international travel business, and my kids’ future legacy. It reminded me of how proud I am of where I came from and the values instilled in me so young, to have the courage of conviction and the confidence to stand for what I believe in, no matter the opposition.”

2000

MELISSA YOUNG was recently announced as the new director of Resource Conservation Initiatives for the Syracuse University Center for Sustainable Community Solutions / Environmental Finance Center.

Melissa previously served as an assistant director at CSCS-EFC, where she has worked since 2008. In that role, she led public engagement, outreach, educational programs, resource development, and technical assistance related to sustainable materials management, including waste reduction, reuse, and recycling.

In 2010, Melissa spearheaded the development and launch of the center’s Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Stewardship program, which to date has engaged hundreds of college students and thousands of K-12 students and teachers across New York, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. The program educates them about waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting, empowering them to conduct local outreach projects. In 2015, she helped develop the first NYS Organics Summit and helped NYSAR3 receive an Environmental Champion Award from the USEPA for her work co-leading the Re-Clothe NY Campaign. “We are at a critical turning point right now in EPA Region 2,” says Melissa. “Local leaders and communities are realizing the need and value of transitioning their materials management operations into a system that’s based on waste prevention, resource conservation, the highest and best use of materials, and circular economics, all of which help to benefit the social, environmental, and economic well-being of their local communities. I’m proud of our team’s work leading sustainable materials management initiatives. I look forward

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to what we can accomplish as we continue expanding our services in Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, New Jersey, and here in New York State.”

2002

CHRISTOPHER MULRAIN graduated from St. Mary’s in 2002 and attended the University of Delaware from 2002-2006. He went on to American University Law School from 2006-2009.

He worked on Capitol Hill from 20082011 and has been a police officer in Arlington County, Virginia, since early 2011. He is currently a detective assigned to the Special Victims Unit.

Christopher is married and has two daughters.

2003

MATT JORDAN was inducted into the Adelphi Athletic Hall of Fame for swimming.

2004

DEVON BROWN worked at Molloy College as an associate network administrator. Devon is currently a network engineer for St. Joseph’s College Patchogue & Brooklyn and owner of NuVision Tech Solutions, LLC. www.nuvisiontechsolutions.com Devon loves to travel and recalls great times at St. Mary’s ’04!

JESSICA RIOS RIVERA and her husband welcomed their second child, Luke, in April 2022.

2005

TIMOTHY ONDREY married Catherine Kiley on June 18, 2022, in Boston, Massachusetts.

2006

A graduate of the Class of 2006, JOHN DI LEONARDO is an anthrozoologist and wildlife rehabilitator. He is also the founder and executive director of Humane Long Island – Long Island’s leading animal advocacy organization – and its Duck Defenders project – the leading resource for domestic waterfowl rescue and advocacy in North America.

His work has been featured in more than 500 publications, including The New York Times and Inside Edition, and received awards and recognitions from the New York State Humane Association, the Humane Society of the United States, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, In Defense of 66

Animals, and the Suffolk County SPCA, as well as the distinction of being named Mr. February in Rescue Men USA’s 2016 Calendar. He became the inaugural recipient of The Compassion Awards’ Gandhi Award, and before that, he received The National Goose Protection Coalition’s inaugural Golden Goose Award.

Through Humane Long Island, John has had the pleasure of shutting down Cole Bros. Circus, retiring all the animals at a local petting zoo to reputable sanctuaries, stopping slaughterhouses and sordid aquarium chains from expanding onto Long Island, stopping massacres of thousands of deer and waterfowl (including 600 in North Hempstead), and running the premier domestic fowl rescue from Manhattan to Montauk.

John has also had the satisfaction of rescuing two piglets from one of the largest factory farms in Iowa and hundreds of ducks, chickens, and turkeys from New York City’s live slaughter markets and animal sacrifices while donating thousands of pounds of plant-based food to impoverished communities.

Before turning his full attention to Humane Long Island last year, he also served as the Senior Manager of Grassroots Campaigns and Animals in Entertainment Campaigns for PETA, the largest animal rights organization in the world. During his tenure, he led their Animals in Entertainment Campaign through the closure of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus after 146 years, the Iditarod

dogsled race slashing its purse by a half million dollars, and SeaWorld announcing the end of its sordid orca breeding program and its circus-style dolphin shows. John also restructured PETA’s International Grassroots Outreach and Action Teams into a new division called Grassroots Campaigns, supervising a team arming activists throughout North America with tools for effective campaigns and overseeing the Grassroots Protests, Action Team, and Vegan Mentor Program within this new department. Through the launch of PETA’s Action Leader program, John helped introduce the concept of strategic campaigns to activists around the globe. Outside his normal job description, he even became known as PETA’s Bird Guy due to crafting their positions on key bird issues and rescuing thousands of birds in his spare time. John remains very friendly with them and just led a demonstration for them on Manhattan’s upper east side.

Since graduating from St. Mary’s, John earned a BA in Psychology from Siena College with a Minor in Religious Studies, an MS in Anthrozoology, and a graduate certificate from the International School of Jain Studies in India, making receiving the Gandhi Award all the more special to him.

John is very friendly with the Jain/ South Asian communities, speaking this year at Mahavir Jayanti and Diwali celebrations and managing a weekly column about Anuvrat for The South Asian Times on behalf of the Shanti Fund.

KELLY MACCHESNEY (PILLING) lives in Connecticut and works in real estate sales, staging and design. She is raising her three growing children, chickens, and a labradoodle alongside her husband. Kelly is working towards

completing her Master’s Degree with Purdue in corporate training and communications.

2013

CAROLINE DOYLE received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Arizona this year.

2016

ALEXANDER O’LEARY writes, “It’s hard to believe my time at St. Mary’s ended six6 years ago! During my time there, I was given all the tools I needed to start my career. After finishing college and starting my graduate degree, I moved a measly 1,000 miles south of New York to Huntsville, Alabama, to begin my career. I currently work in the US Department of Defense (DoD), supporting US foreign policy through the sale of major defense equipment.

In recent months, I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to a few Central/ Southeast European countries. As of this writing, I’m getting ready to move to the Washington, DC, area to start a new position within the DoD. But no matter how far I may travel, I’ll always think of St. Mary’s as my home!”

TYLER PHILIPS reports, “This year has been quite eventful for me; at the start of the year, I got a new job as a research and development engineer. I now work in SARSAT, which is Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking, and help to design the software systems to support the satellites and the operators executing the rescues.

Additionally, I got into Johns Hopkins’ Master’s Engineering program, where I will study Space Systems Engineering!

To top things off, I recently got engaged to my high school sweetheart (and fellow Mary’s alum)!”

AMANDA XELAS was on a recent trip to

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Florida with her then-boyfriend (and fellow ’16 alum), TYLER PHILLIPS, KATHERINE DENNEAN spent her for a quick weekend vacation when it summer volunteering on an organic turned into something very special: farm in Tuscany after graduating from a proposal! After more than six years La Salle University. Upon her return, she of dating since their senior year at began a position as a Registered Nurse Mary’s, Tyler took her completely by at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center on surprise and proposed to her on the a cardiothoracic unit. beach. Amanda also got a new kitten last summer. She states it’s been a very rewarding experience to raise another kitten with two other cats.

3 Tuscan Cooking Classes Maddine Insalaco SMHS ’75 offers “Tuscan Gastronomic Tour” to Saint Mary Alumni – Bon Appetite!

Mike Lamaina ’90, Joe McCartan ’90, Mike Rutigliano ’89, Paul Fox ’90, Pete Harlick ’90, Chris Flynn ’90, Steve Makos ’90, Joe Donovan ’90, and JP Carroll ’90.

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St. Mary’s High School Class of ’62 Celebrates 60th Reunion

Class of 1970 Reunion

The St. Mary’s High School class of 1962 held their 60th reunion at Manhasset Bay Yacht Club, Saturday, September 17th as part of a weekend long celebration. Bill Yorio, who organized the reunion, along with fellow classmates Janis Smith McGee, Sue Mikkelsen Solano, Evie Martin Maier, Bob Brooks, and Ed Solano, noted that classmates traveled from 12 states and that there was a total of 62 in attendance. He proudly noted that, “We have a very close class with many of us friends since St. Mary’s Grade School. What I marveled at is the collective longevity of our marriages which I think is a reflection of our upbringing, schooling, and core values. Specifically, 18 couples in attendance were married over 50 years, and many others classmates were approaching their 50th anniversary.”

Yearbooks were given to each classmate which provided a pictorial contrast (high school graduation photo alongside a current photo), personal glimpse of families and bio sketches of careers. The yearbook also provided photos of the 1962 Administration and Faculty which consisted of Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM), Marist Brothers, and other instructors; and an In Memoriam section with photos of deceased classmates.

It was a wonderful evening where classmates were able to reminisce and reacquaint in a picturesque venue overlooking Manhasset Bay with a background of 1960’s music; and on Sunday, many attended an Alumni Mass at St. Mary’s Church followed by brunch in Marian Hall, which was a fitting conclusion to a memorable weekend.

Yorio said, “God willing, we hope to have another reunion or reunions!”

Class of 1997 Reunion

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Class of 1971-1972 Reunion

In Memoriam The St. Mary’s community expresses its deepest sympathy to the families, friends, and classmates of the following deceased alumni and staff whose deaths were reported to the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.

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Richard Miller ’53

Margaret Bice Magel ’66

Richard Donnelly ’54

Brian Boehm ’68

John Driscoll ’50, ’54

Eileen Drummond Cadigan ’68

Joan Larrere Flanagan ’54

Helene Russo ’69

Patricia Lynch ’55

Stephen Lane ’70

Catherine Maickel ’55

Peter Bernatovich ’71

Patricia Donnelly ’52, ’56

Michael Erickson ’71

Dorothea O’Brien Casale ’58

William Geoghan ’71

John McAnally ’58

Kevin Hayes ’71

Diane Fetzer Papa ’58

William Hussey ’71

Hildegard Becker ’59

Keith Poster ’74

Judith Annibale Betts ’55, ’59

Tony Trombino ’74

Mary Tardino ’59

Virginia McCabe Fallon ’75

Gerard Endres ’61

Robert Findaro SMES ’76

Kathleen Doran Kelly ’61

Mark Hannan ’77

Robert A. O’Sullivan ’61

Rosemary Moore ’79

Ronald DeCaro ’62

Edward Gaus ’83

Kathleen Hayes Hyer ’62

James Devins ’01

James C. Woods ’62

Valerie O’Hara ’06

Lawrence P. McMahon ’64

Joseph Hirsch ’14

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In Memoriam – Brother Kenneth Robert, FMS Saint Mary’s held a Memorial Mass on January 28, 2023, for Brother Kenneth, the architect of the Gaels’ hockey powerhouse dating back to the 1960’s.

Brother Kenneth Robert, FMS, born Harold Ouellette on April 16, 1933 in Fort Kent, Maine exemplified what it meant to be a member of the order of Fratres Maristae a Scholis (FMS) or Marist Brothers of the Schools. Marist Brothers are a “Catholic congregation whose mission is making Jesus known and loved through the Christian education of youth, especially the most neglected. Marist Brothers are educators, mentors and friends. They come together to live simple lives in communities that serve others. They are real people, with real stories, who make a real difference.”

Brother Kenneth was real people – kind, encouraging, and lived a life of humility and grace. He entered the Juniorate at age 14, the Novitiate at age 18, and was a teacher, coach, and mentor at St. Mary’s High School since 1958. In 2005, Brother Kenneth was inducted into the St. Mary’s High School Hall of Fame. He initially declined the nomination because he felt that other religious teachers, both Marist Brothers and Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who came before did not receive recognition for their work. He accepted only to dedicate his award to his fellow religious.

In 2011, Matt Gilroy, the New York Rangers star, who had been a protégé of Brother Kenneth, came back to St. Mary’s to visit his roots at his alma mater. He met with students, former teachers, and his mentor, Br. Kenneth Robert, FMS, who served as athletic director during Gilroy’s high school career. Brother Kenneth was able to furnish several pieces of hockey history, including photos to Gilroy that day. Gilroy’s no. 97 jersey from Boston University hangs proudly in the Brother Kenneth Gymnasium in Marist Hall at Saint Mary’s.

As a young boy, Br. Kenneth, attended class in a tiny school house with a total of 30 students. Summers and winters were spent outdoors – swimming or skating on the nearby lake. When he first arrived at St. Mary’s he taught French and history, moderated basketball and baseball, and, over his 30 years as Athletic Director, he introduced the hockey program as well as lacrosse and soccer. Under his leadership, numerous athletic teams were established and many championships were won – including several New York State titles.

As time went on, he took a step back to serve as the Assistant Athletic Director and continued to spend summers at Camp Marist on Ossipee Lake, in Effingham, New Hampshire. His presence at Camp Marist began in 1963 and concluded in 2018.

When asked if the School could name a scholarship after him, Br. Kenneth was reluctant to receive the attention but accepted saying that, “the recognition of this award should be a tribute to all religious men and women, Brothers and Sisters, who have taught at St. Mary’s High School over its sixty-year history.”

Brother Kenneth’s response was and remains exemplary of the Marist spirituality which embodies prayer, humility and simplicity.

In 2018, Br. Kenneth retired to the Marist Brothers’ community at Champagnat Hall in the Bronx, New York. He remained there until shortly before his death at Calvary Hospital on September 10, 2022.

He is survived by his sister, Maureen, his nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, as well as his fellow Marist Brothers and many dear friends including those he cherished from St. Mary’s.

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Ways to Give to The Schools of Saint Mary ANNUAL FUND

Annual giving supports our current Elementary School and High School students. The annual fund goes directly to our operating budget and provides funds for current academic and extra-curricular programs including academics, athletics, performing arts, service programs, and technology. You may direct your gift to either the Elementary School, High School, or split it between the two. Every gift, of every amount, is valued and appreciated.

Establishing a scholarship to support a student of our High School or Elementary School is a wonderful way to honor your own legacy as a St. Mary’s alum. It is also a great way to honor a beloved teacher or coach. You may establish a named, endowed scholarship from which an award is made to a student each year while the principal of your gift remains intact. To establish a named scholarship fund, please call the Office of Development.

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PLANNED GIVING

Ask any alumna of St. Mary’s about her fondest high school memories and she will surely bring up Sports Night. For nearly half a century, the spirited and fierce-but-friendly competition between Junior and Senior girls enlivened the entire campus for months every school year ending with the two-night extravaganza each March. At the end of the competition on Saturday night night, the winning team took home the ultimate bragging rights plus incredible friendships and long-lasting memories. From dance, aerobics, relay races, sportsmanship, artwork, and costumes, and props, the young ladies of St. Mary never failed to impress their classmates, teachers, friends and family with their creativity, teamwork, and leadership. Sports Night weekend was easily a highlight of the academic school year right next to Freshman Camp and Graduation. While ultimately only the Blue team or the White team could win, the whole school was victorious in its annual display of school spirit, creativity, and talent.

Sports Night defined the St. Mary’s High School experience for so many, many alumnae. And so, after a hiatus of many years, Principal Gerard Buckley, with the enthusiastic encouragement of Fr. Bob Romeo, Pastor, and Fr. Elias Carr, President, very happily announces the return of Sports Night! Along with prioritizing academic achievement and athletic advancement, Mr. Buckley has had a particular focus on raising St. Mary’s spirit through various new traditions such as Gael Force Spirit Week, Sodality, the Harvest Hoedown, the Sunrise Breakfast, the Legend of Marist Hall haunted house, and so much more; however, bringing back Sports Night is sure to infuse school spirit in a grand way. In addition to its long history, of course, Sports Night will happily once again continue to be an unquestionably positive experience for St. Mary’s students, particularly challenging the young ladies to exercise their God-given talents and come together in camaraderie and competition.

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SCHOLARSHIPS

The Return of Sports Night

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MATCHING GIFTS

Many companies match their employees’ contributions to independent schools. You must initiate the process to double or triple your gift through your place of employment. You may need to contact the Office of Development and Alumni Relations for required tax ID information.

Sports Night will officially return in the 2023-2024 school year with the two-night competition occurring on Friday, March 1, and Saturday, March 2, 2024. Stay tuned for more information regarding alumni events and involvement as plans for the brilliant return of Sports Night get underway. Should you have a particular interest in getting involved in Sports Night ’24, please contact Director of Alumni Relations Kiera Walsh at kwalsh@stmary.ws or Liaison for School Relations Sarah de Venoge Griffin ’02 ’06 at sgriffin@saintmarysmanhasset.org.

Go Blue! Go White!

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RECURRING GIFTS Giving thanks for the blessings we have received and A recurring gift is a simple and efficient way to ensure sharing those gifts with others are two cornerstones of your ongoing support for The Schools of Saint Mary. our faith. A meaningful way to give back to our schools By setting up a recurring gift, you will join our is by making a gift in your estate plan to St. Mary’s.

For further information about giving, please contact: wonderful community of monthly donors and make a There are many ways to easily make a planned Thegift.

Schools of Saint Mary lasting contribution to our Annual Fund.

Please check with your financial advisor.

Office of Development & Alumni Relations 1300 Northern Blvd. | Manhasset, NY 11030

For further information about giving, please contact:

The Schools of Saint Mary Office of Development & Alumni Relations 1300 Northern Boulevard | Manhasset, NY 11030 Tel: 516.627.4605

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Administrators, faculty, staff, and clergy were on hand to welcome the Class of 2020 and their families back for our first-ever car parade in May! This was the first time students were back to the school since March 12, when the decision was made to discontinue classes on campus due to the global health crisis.

StaySocial Social With With St. Stay St.Mary’s Mary's @stmaryhs @stmaryelem @smhsparents @smhsalumnimanhasset @stmaryes Church—@stmarys11030

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Saint Mary’s High School Alumni Association, Manhasset (Official)