Remembering “Our JFK”
It was in early fall 1987 that Fr. Jim Keenan and I first crossed paths—and it still seems like yesterday. On the afternoon of that academic year’s initial meeting of the Board of Trustees, he entered my Mulry Hall office, introduced himself as a new trustee, and asked if I had a few minutes to acquaint him with our communications and marketing program. I was thrilled that he was impressed with Prep Magazine, which was then in its sixth year, and he mentioned that he was particularly interested in our student recruitment initiatives. Our conversation only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes, but I will never forget how wonderfully relaxed it was—how his gentle and warm manner was coupled with a good sense of humor. He listened attentively, with unflinching eye contact, and had intriguing follow-up questions. Sure, there was a power dynamic at play here: he was a most formidable Jesuit priest—the president of McQuaid High School in Rochester and the truly legendary former president of Xavier High School in Manhattan, who was now becoming a Prep trustee—and I was a mid-level Prep administrator (director of public information at the time). But his manner and body language conveyed the strong message that somehow, on that particular afternoon, we were just colleagues in the broader service of Jesuit secondary education. For me, that was a very early but potent example of “the Keenan magic.”
Thirty-six years later, beginning on the afternoon of August 13, 2023, I joined literally thousands of other folks from across the northeast to mourn the death of one of the giants in our personal and/or professional lives—a signature member of our own personal Mount Rushmores. Starting almost immediately following the news of his passing, a flurry of phone calls, texts and emails arrived hourly, and the outreaches continued for weeks, with most people just wanting to share their own stories of how this most special Jesuit priest had impacted their lives. The conversations, whether verbal or written, were cathartic and the narratives were similar, but certainly not identical, underscoring the myriad and unique ways “Fr. Jim” achieved the status
by Jim Horan, ’70
of cherished friend—and perhaps honorary family member—to so many people in so many places.
Especially for the broader Saint Peter’s Prep community—which had endured the passing of another truly beloved Jesuit (Fr. Tony Azzarto, S.J.) just four months prior, as well as that of Fr. Keenan’s immediate predecessor as Prep president (Fr. Jim Joyce, S.J.) three months after that—Fr. Keenan’s passing was a psychological and emotional gut punch. However, it mercifully also provided the consolation that he did not suffer much following his fatal heart attack.
With absolutely no surprise, it seemed as if every individual with even a tangential connection to the former New York Province of the Society of Jesus was in deep mourning. Yes, we had known that, as the saying goes, Fr. Keenan was not getting any younger, evidenced mostly by his increasingly forward lean when walking (a gradual result of a childhood accident that caused chronic back problems). But walk he did, never missing a beat in making himself available to the innumerable folks who metaphorically (and sometimes literally) tugged at his sleeve. Could he be available to perform a wedding ceremony or a baptism? Could he “put in a good word” for a son or daughter applying to a Jesuit college? Or, with understandable short notice, could he officiate at a family funeral?
Throughout his career as a priest, his scorecard regarding accepting these requests was astonishing…and in the world of Saint Peter’s Prep during the last months of his life, this coincided with his volunteering to perform a number of other baptisms and weddings that previously were on Fr. Azzarto’s schedule. It was a final and poignant connection between these two monumental Prep Jesuits, who entered the Society of Jesus just a month apart in summer 1956, and who together were ordained on June 12,1969, solidifying their lifelong friendship. In that context, that date itself may deserve a special place in Prep lore.
During his induction into Xavier’s Hall of Fame in 1995, the presenter’s remarks noted that Fr, Keenan had officiated at his wedding, baptized his children, and buried his parents, adding with smile, “I told him that
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I wouldn’t be surprised if he officiated at my own funeral…at which point I could swear that he started flipping through the pages of his datebook.” Everyone in the room appreciated the reference.
On the west side of the Hudson River, during his tenure as Board chair (1999-2004), Charlie Lizza, ’74, P’11,’12 created a special bond with Fr. Keenan, and as in virtually all similar cases it became a lifelong friendship. “Following the years that we partnered as president and Board chair, I would get together with Jim for dinner, usually in New York City,” Charlie recalled. “Walking on the streets of New York or sitting in a restaurant with Jim was like being with a celebrity. Invariably, and on just about every occasion, someone would recognize him, come up to the table or stop us on the street and engage him in a reminiscent conversation, or talk about how he had helped them during their lives at Xavier, or Prep, or from wherever they knew him. He would grin ear to ear, laugh and relish the occasion.”
Physically, beginning with middle age, Fr. Keenan’s countenance and demeanor always seemed to convey both wisdom and experience, and he easily could have portrayed a bank president or a corporate CEO in a Broadway play or a Hollywood film. And then there was “the voice,” so often lovingly imitated by students, faculty and friends, both on campus as well as at any gathering of the Prep community. His dulcet baritone often has been referred to as “the voice of God”—with comparisons to that of actor James Earl Jones and NFL Films’ narrator John Facenda. And on one memorable Halloween afternoon during Fr. Keenan’s presidency at Grand & Warren (1994-2006), a few intrepid students surreptitiously positioned a Darth Vader helmet on a small table outside his office door. The vocal implication was clear, and when he saw it he immediately responded with hearty laughter and appreciation.
And likely due to his voice’s gravity, he rarely needed to speak in more than normal conversational tone, even when addressing a fairly large audience. Not only did his voice resonate, but like the representative in the old E.F. Hutton television commercials, when Fr. Keenan spoke, people listened. As one member of the Prep Alumni Board put it, “Absolutely no one else would talk during Fr. Keenan’s address to a group. We just had so much respect for him and knew that if he was sharing some information with us, it was for our benefit to listen carefully.”
Similarly, most people in Fr. Keenan’s orbit mention his engaging interpersonal skills as his greatest asset, often adding that “it seemed to come naturally to him,” However, in his first-person “View from Above” essay in the school’s 150th anniversary book, Fr. Keenan provided an insight into the methodical m.o. he employed most days on campus: “On class mornings you would usually find me in the student cafeteria,
where conversations were in ‘high gear,’ It didn’t take long to pick up on different vibes: students were most open and outgoing, with their smiles, hello waves, and high fives! What a great and rewarding way to begin a school day! I usually reserved recess for a visit to the faculty room. Quick hellos and greetings are important for morale: how are you today, is so and so feeling better, etc. A smile, a wave, goes a long way.” Again, the Keenan magic.
He also could administer tough love when necessary. His assistant at Prep, Maryphyllis Locricchio, P’95,’96, recalled when he had a cafeteria table placed in the hallway outside his office, at which designated students who were experiencing academic difficulty would study or do extra schoolwork during their free periods. “It was his way of showing them that he cared and that he was aware of how students were doing,” she explained, in addition to stressing the importance of “putting in the work” to improve their grades. She added, “The students didn’t necessarily enjoy having to spend their free periods there, but they got the message, and Fr. Keenan was always quick to acknowledge any improvement in their grades.”
Father Keenan’s office desk on the second floor of Shalloe Hall regularly resembled a work of abstract art, with disheveled mounds of papers completely obscuring the wood beneath them, accompanied by numerous documents lying on the floor around (or even under) his chair. But it was an extremely rare occasion when he couldn’t, on cue, reach into a pile and instantly extract the exact document being discussed at that moment. (In fact, Maryphyllis dreaded receiving the occasional long-distance phone call from Fr. Keenan, during which he
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The piles of paper in Fr. Keenan’s office were nearly as legendary as the man himself, along with his booming voice and his timely phone calls to the legions of friends and colleagues he amassed over the years. This 2005 Petrean photo captures it all.
Long after his tenure as Prep’s president, Fr. Keenan was a regular at Prep events, relishing the opportunity to reconnect with old friends. These are scenes from the 2017 Grand Gala, which included a toast to his 80th birthday. LEFT: Fr. Keenan shared a hearty laugh with Jim Horan, ’70 and Prep Trustee
Vito Germinaro, ’70. RIGHT: Fr. Keenan and his former assistant, Maryphyllis Locricchio, P’95,’96
would ask her to go into his office and search for a particular document that was lying amidst the tsunami of paperwork. “With a laugh I would always reply, ‘Please—anything but that!’” she said, “but then he’d patiently direct me to the specific part of the desk—or floor—where it was buried, and I’d always find it.”)
This organized chaos in his office belied the very organized and methodical way in which he performed both his pastoral and executive duties. He regularly returned to his office after dinner, often working until 11:00pm and making his famous calls to friends and colleagues to commemorate an important day in their lives.
Marianne Sweeney, P’04,’06,’09 forged her own close connection with Fr. Keenan as a Prep mom. “I was active with the Parents’ Association,” she said, “helping out with events run by the Advancement Office, and Fr. Jim was always part of these gatherings. His way with people was legendary, and I witnessed it in a personal way. His kindness and warmth were his trademark, and he remembered names and places better than anyone. We sat with him at many Prep Galas and watched him work the room. Everyone wanted to speak to him. He was masterful.”
It is likely that no layman was closer to Fr. Keenan, and for more years, than was former Prep principal (1992-2003) Jack Raslowsky, ’79, who is the current president of Xavier. Their Prep administrative tenures overlapped for nine years, highlighted by their very effective and memorable shepherding of the school through the events of 9/11. Appropriately, Jack gave one of the eulogies at the vigil service prior to Fr. Keenan’s funeral.
“With Jim there were the many seen and well-known gifts,” Jack said, “including hospital visits, visits to Murray-Weigel, baptisms, weddings, ordinations, province days, funerals, notes, birthday and anniversary calls, lunches and dinners. At the same time, I counted it as a great privilege to have witnessed the less well-known gifts: Jim always answering the phone for friends struggling with mental illness no matter how often they called. Jim not forgetting an alumnus or friend who was down on his luck. Jim standing with those in trouble with the law. There were so many on the margins for whom Jim was the presence of God. What a blessing.”
One of Fr. Keenan’s fellow Jesuits, current Prep counselor Fr. John Mullin, S.J., got to know him in two disparate contexts—first as a colleague on campus, and then during his own tenure as Superior of Prep’s Jesuit Community. He said, “I often wondered where Jim got the time to do all that he did. When he was not on the road with fundraising, he would attend home sports events and sit with the team on the bench. He rejoiced with the students when they won and he consoled them when they lost. I know that each member of those teams knew they were loved and respected by Jim Keenan because he was there for them. Actually, his cura personalis extended to everyone in the Prep Community: fellow Jesuits, students, faculty, families, Board members. I think this was the hallmark of Jim’s time as president of Prep. He loved our students, he worked hard for them and their families, and he shared his warm personality with the entire community.”
Another fellow Jesuit, Fr. Ricardo da Silva, S.J., an associate editor at
America Media, noted, “Jim remembered everyone—even my mother, whom he had never met or spoken with. A special occasion would not go by without a phone call or handwritten note. I have lived with Jim in the same community since August 2019. Short as that time has been—even if life lived with someone during the years of the pandemic counts for more—I could not have asked for a better role model of Jesuit life and a more supportive brother in the Lord.”
Former trustee Paul Schaetzle, ’71 had the distinction of becoming one of Fr. Keenan’s regular “chauffeurs” (along with Steve Hudik, ’85), often driving him to and from Prep events throughout the metropolitan area and becoming a close friend and confidant. Paul recalled a conversation with Fr. Keenan regarding a close friend who was scheduled for open heart surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital, near the Province Office on 83rd St. “I mentioned my friend’s imminent surgery to him [Fr. Keenan], and he asked for her full name so he could pray for her,” Paul said. “Two days later I went to the hospital to check on her, and she said, ‘Your friend was here!’ ‘My friend?’ I asked, and she replied, ‘Yes, Fr. Keenan was here this morning, and he prayed and blessed me!’”
Each of the four northeast Jesuit high schools where Fr. Keenan served as president share “ownership” of his legacy, and each has honored him in a significant way—Canisius (Buffalo) with its highest institutional award for service, and three others with campus facilities that bear his name (Keenan Commons at Xavier, Keenan Hall at McQuaid, and, of course, Keenan Field here at Grand & Warren).
Prep’s deep connection with Fr. Keenan was forged during his 12-year tenure at the helm, which is the longest presidency in school history. However, truth be told, Xavier High School has its own very potent claim, based on his long tenure on their campus that began when this 26-year-old Jesuit scholastic—Mr. Jim Keenan, S.J.—first stepped behind a podium in 1963 to teach English and history. This was followed by a quick rise through the administrative ranks—assistant headmaster for administration, headmaster (principal), and then president—that extended 18 years, interrupted only when he left teaching to continue his Jesuit training.
At each of the four institutions he created a culture that was equal parts collegial and pragmatic, and as a complement
Fr. Keenan blessing Class of 2004 graduates during their Baccalaureate Mass in Saint Peter’s Church. His personal and professional contributions to the communities he served might have been matched only by his pastoral ones, as evidenced by the weddings, baptisms, and funerals that filled his calendar.
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to his engaging personality he also possessed a well-earned reputation as a “fiscal watchdog,” especially when reviewing a proposed new budget for the following school year. After all, he was a child of the Great Depression, and on the micro level this fact was reflected in his consistent admonitions to his colleagues regarding not wasting paper, and to turn off the lights when leaving a room. I recall discussing a few potential new budget items with Prep’s then-principal Jack Raslowsky in the spring of 1994, and Jack provided me with succinct advice: “You better get these items into this budget now [before Fr. Keenan arrives as the new president], because you’ll have to battle mightily for them from next year forward.”
In particular, the Board of Trustees was aware of, and appreciated, Fr. Keenan’s fiscal conservatism, and at the spring 2006 Board meeting, during which the trustees shared anecdotes about Fr. Keenan’s legacy, Finance Committee member Jim Sweeney, ’71 famously quipped that “Fr. Keenan threw nickels around like manhole covers,” which drew laughs and knowing nods from his fellow trustees.
Current Prep president Michael Gomez, Ed.D., ’91 first returned to Prep as a faculty member in 1997 when Fr, Keenan was president. “I was teaching sophomore literature in the English Building on September 11, 2001,” he said. “After seeing the horrific events unfold in Prep’s backyard, I decided that I wanted to go back to graduate school and earn a degree in educational leadership. I remember going into Fr. Keenan’s office that spring to inform him that this would be my last year teaching at Prep. I don’t remember exactly what he said, but I know he made a point of letting me know that he was proud of me, that he was in my corner, and that I should trust my instinct to leave. When I walked out of his office, I knew I was making the right decision.
“Fast forward about 17 years later to July 2019. I was sitting in the same office where I told Fr. Keenan I would be leaving…but this time I was on the other side of the desk. I thought it would be appropriate for my first phone call from my new office to be to him. He answered immediately, and I asked him if I could borrow his office for the next 15 years or so. After he laughed and said, ‘That would be fine,’ we chatted for a few more minutes. Once again, I don’t remember exactly what he said, but I knew he was proud of me, that he was in my corner, and that I should trust my instinct to come home. It is such an honor to follow in his footsteps.”
For current principal Chris Caulfield, ’03, Fr. Keenan set the standard regarding Prep’s unique position as a Jesuit institution. “As I sit at my desk today, I often think of the mission of Prep, and my responsibility to uphold that mission with my colleagues,” he said. “I often tell parents that they are part of our family here at Prep, and if I really take some
time to reflect on that, I know that I learned that lesson as a student here more than 20 years ago, observing Jim Keenan doing the big things and the little things to ensure this was a place of love for so many.”
For athletic director Rich Hansen, P’03,’09, Fr. Keenan embodied the qualities of a great coach, and an even better leader. “Jim Keenan meant so much to so many,” he said. “In a myriad of ways, his great gift was to meet people at their individually unique level. He brushed elbows with brilliantly successful people, and he would reach those in great need in the same way, often on the same day. What a gift to this world! Personally, he was a powerful influence in my life— giving me confidence when I was down, a shot of cold reality when it was called for…and he was the very first to hug me when it was needed. His thoughtful calls, presence at family emergencies and in times of need, or heartfelt cards were all his way of being ‘Jim.’ In true greatness he left me with so many memories and so much to hold on to—a life’s worth of love, care and friendship. I miss him.”
It is well known that at Prep and elsewhere, Fr. Keenan was affectionately referred to as “JFK.” In addition to using his initials as shorthand, it also was a reverential allusion to another beloved leader— the country’s charismatic and widely admired 35th president. The nickname just seemed to fit Fr. Keenan well—informal but respectful. However, in hindsight, maybe “FDR” would be an even more appropriate comparison: a president whose record-setting length of tenure in office was matched by a profoundly game-changing impact.
In any case, the Keenan legacy at Prep is firmly beyond reproach, serving as a proud manifestation of what Jesuit school leadership aspires to be. It includes dramatic improvements to the campus over two capital campaigns (highlighted by upgraded facilities in the English Building, and the creation of both the Warren Street Plaza and Keenan Field) and a notable increase in donations supporting scholarships and financial aid—the latter being one of Fr. Keenan’s priorities. In both word and action, he emphatically defined an era…the way that Fr. Theodore Hesburgh did during his long tenure as president at Notre Dame, and as Vince Lombardi did as coach of the Green Bay Packers.
Yes, at Grand & Warren, he was—and always will be—our JFK. And as the saying goes, “There were few as good…and no one better.”
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ABOVE: Fr. Keenan is third from left at the 1995 rededication of the renovated Prep library. This work was funded by the Keys to the Future campaign, one of two capital campaigns at Prep during Fr. Keenan’s tenure. RIGHT: Fr. Keenan presented the Bene Merenti award to Coach Rich Hansen, P’03,’09 at graduation in 2003, with then-board chair Charlie Lizza, ’74, P’11,’12 looking on.
Network Effects: Beyond Grand & Warren
In December, keynote speaker Bill Price, ’87 and more than 40 fellow alumni gave presentations to Prep students during Career Day—an annual tradition organized by the Offices of Alumni Relations, Student Life, and Guidance & College Counseling. During the day, we caught up with 27 of the alumni presenters, representing a broad range of fields and professions, to talk about how Prep has shaped their professional lives. Unsurprisingly, some themes emerged: a reliable network of fellow alumni, outstanding mentors, academic rigor, an opportunity to discover and deepen interests, and life lessons about hard work, resilience, adaptability, and service. These excerpts from their remarks give a gilmpse of the true meaning of “Prep for Life.”
1 Gerry Iorio, ’98 Senior VP - Investment Strategies, CAZ investments: I think it’s the culture of success and the culture of togetherness at Prep. Everyone wants you to succeed and helps you win. Whatever career you choose, you always have resources here that you can turn to. 2 Cameron Vasfailo, ’16 Product Manager–Alexa Smart Home,Amazon HQ: I was surrounded by…individuals who pushed me to be my best. And Prep taught me good habits…showing up on time, putting in the work every day, getting work in on time, being in dress code, just doing things the right way. 3 Bill Price, ’87 VP, Corporate Communications, Zoetis: Building a career is about building relationships, not just a résumé. A lot of the relationships I’ve had at Prep have helped me build my career in communications over the years. Those friendships, those networks, have been important connections, important counselors, important advisers to me... They have really helped to keep me on the right path. 4 Joshua Barry, ’10 Senior Site Reliability Engineer, Google NYC: By going to Prep I gained the ability to think critically and to apply my leadership skills in my career. It’s so important to be a strong leader when you go into the tech world.
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5 Capt. Robert Ryan, ’93 Captain, Bayonne Police Dept.: Maybe it’s cliché, but I was really instilled with the idea of being a Man for Others here at Prep. I was guided by one of the greatest teachers I ever had, one of the greatest men I ever knew, Fr. Tony Azzarto. He instilled in me that it was more important to be there for other people than for your own self-interest. That’s certainly how he led his life. 6 Clark Burnett, ’15 (Associate Producer, Florentine Films): Coming to Prep gave me a sense of independence. Thinking even about going on the train and how it opened up my world...that sort of agency was central to opening my mind to the possibilities. And of course my first short film was shot right here at Prep, with my Prep brothers…there really is an energy here of brotherhood and camaraderie here that’s palpable...There was a lot of possibility and fun and depth in the culture here. 7 Lt. Col. Danny Stupinski, ’96 Commander, US Air Force Defense Contract ManagementAgencyTwin Cities: Prep gave me an opporuntiy to learn empathy. Something that really comes from Jesuit education is empathy for others. I think that gave me the tools to lead in the military. 8 John Anderson, ’69 Owner, Black Watch Productions: As I told the students today, the things they are learning here—Critical thinking, thinking on your feet, being resourceful, teamwork, creativity, problem solving—are the things that you need to do on an hour-by-hour basis if you’re working on a video or film production of any kind. 9 Joe Liccardo, ’04 VP of Data Center Operations, CoreSite: Service to the community, service to others, being a Man for Others, helping people out along the way, and giving back your knowledge and yourself to others to help them succeed. You can’t put a price on that. 10 Piero Iberti, ’07 Screenwriter, member WGA: Cura personalis for me was pretty central. I didn’t grow up with religious education at the forefront until I got to high school…As I was able to interact more with the education here I realized...compassion and empathy...were becoming a greater part of me, and now they are a part of the writing skills that I employ today. Then there were the foundational skillsets of writing through my English courses, and the relationships with my teachers here that I still carry on to this day...I had teachers who encouraged me to see a writing life was possible. 11 John Johnson, ’78 U.S. Secret Service (retired): It was amazing. I grew up in the Greenville section of Jersey City, and didn’t know much outside of Greenville. I was in school with kids from North Jersey, from South Jersey—it might not sound like much but for a kid from Myrtle Avenue, it was a big deal! That helped me when I started traveling overseas, living overseas. Learning how to communicate, express yourself, and find commonality among others really helped me. 12 Riley Horton, ’17 Quality Engineer, Deka: Everything I learned at Prep added to the foundation of who I was and helped shape who I am…As an engineer working at a medical device company, our main focus is on trying to develop devices that are helping other people and having a positive impact on their lives…I think Saint Ignatius said it best: where your passion and where your calling intersect, that’s what sets your soul on fire. 13 Geno Keohane, ’18 Senior Analyst, Spencer Stuart: My experience at Prep really unveiled and helped develop certain values that I’ve held closely...determination, hard work, trying to be a man for others, having some empathy, and a ton of other values that I try to cling to every day. 14 Capt. Sean Boyle,’92 Chief of Staff, Bayonne Fire Dept.: I’ve been a fire captain for the past five years, out of 25 years working for the City of Bayonne. If Prep instilled anything in me, it was “Men for Others.” In civil service, and particularly a public safety career, it’s something has always motivated me to provide as much assistance as possible. 15 Daniel Maher, ’74 Executive Director and COO, Excess Line Association of New York (ELANY): When the author of The Exorcist, William Peter Blatty, dedicated the book to the Jesuits, he wrote, “Thank you for teaching me how to think.” I think that sums up my experience here at Prep. My years at Prep were very formative, maybe even more than I realized when I was here. 16 Deputy Chief Loren Hart, ’91 Deputy Chief of Operations, Jersey City Fire Dept.: We are a very team oriented career. We do nothing in a vacuum...The one thing that always strikes me from back when I was at Prep is that same concept of team, of giving to others, of being a man for others. Within the fire service I’m still able to employ a lot of those things I learned at Prep. 17 Joseph Danatzko, ’03 Civil Engineer,Affiliated Engineering Laboratories: It’s just this drive to serve, both in your professional capacity as well as in your community. 18 Dr. Pat Lamparello, ’69 Vascular Surgeon, NYU Langone Health/Vice Chair of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine: Saint Peter’s was critical in forming my life…I received an education and a system of values that has followed me throughout my career. I enjoy mentoring students, and I have to say they mentor me as well. 19 Rohan Singh, ’17 Investment Analyst, Silver Point Capital: One of the best parts about my Prep experience was teaching me how to be an independent individual. You’re given a lot of freedom and latitude—even just starting with the commute—so you learn how to carry yourself...in the professional world, in an interview, or a networking call, or meeting people at a conference. 20 Gabe Kitamura, ’10 Senior Manager, Global Trade Advisory, Deloitte: Prep started some of the interests I pursued in college and in my career, but beyond that it really made me who I am as a person. 21 Greg Morrissey, ’08 Founder, Mountain Goat Movement; Former Prep English Teacher: The decade of experiences and relationships with students and colleagues [while leading Prep’s outdoor education programs] basically inspired what I do now with Mountain Goat Movement. 22 Alex Diaz, ’10 Rhodes Scholar; Head ofAI for Social Good, Google.org: My time at Prep helped me in three ways. There was the academic side…which created a desire and curiosity to learn that has fed me in my years beyond. Spiritually, the reflective practices I learned…have been helpful in some of the toughest and some of the best moments in my life...And then third is the network. The best asset that Saint Peter’s Prep has is its people. 23 Blake Shapskinsky, ’11 Vice President,Vantage Insurance Partners: One thing Prep has done is really build a moral background in how I operate. Contrary to what you might see in the movies, it’s really important to treat people with respect in the business world. Everything I’ve learned about being a good person...has been applicable to my career. 24 Francis Kenny, ’05 Attorney, Littler Mendelson, P.C.: I’ve dedicated my life to working in Hudson County in public service. I’m born and raised here, and always wanted to stay here and be involved with the people in my community. Prep has helped me to develop empathy and sympathy, and get to know and appreciate other people. 25 Justin Barry, ’10 COO, Epicured: Prep taught me the importance of being intellectually competent, thinking critically, and being a good leader, while also giving back to your community and looking out for others, which is why I choose to work for mission-driven organizations.
26 Det. Gabriel Galella, ’08 Detective, Secaucus Police Dept.: Branching out from Secaucus, learning from people I probably never would have met, definitely helped me grow up quicker…and gain more confidence interacting with people, which I need in my line of work.” 27 Hon. William McGovern, ’70 Judge, New Jersey Superior Court: My teachers stayed with me. I can still name them off the top of my head after 50 years. I think that’s a credit to their sacrifice and investment in us as Prep students. The rigors of the academic program prepared me very well for the intensity of the college experience…it really gave me an advantage in college and law school.
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A Foundation for Success
Since its opening in 2007, the Browning Learning Center has become a true Prep success story. With a team of learning specialists providing a structured program of academic support, the program has empowered hundreds of students to write their own Prep success stories.
Join us for a closer look at how the program helps students with documented learning differences develop the tools to thrive in Prep’s rigorous academic environment.
by Matthew Holowienka, ’11
The bell signaling the start of the day at Grand & Warren has not yet rung. It will not ring for another 40 minutes. Yet, on the third floor of Mulry Hall, in a well-equipped space overlooking the iconic crossroads of Prep’s campus, students are already diligently at work in a review session hosted by the Browning Learning Center.
For many young members of the Prep community, this room and this unique program have become something of a second home, “a community within the community,” the staff said—a place to study, to connect with one another, and to begin forging the life skills that will guide them toward success in university and beyond.
“The Browning Learning Center is a full-service learning center that provides academic support for neurodiverse learners, as well as students with specific learning disabilities, mental health diagnoses, and various medical conditions that can impact learning,” Browning Center Director Christine Davis, now in her eighth year at Prep, explained. A certified Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant, she is the SSD Test Coordinator for both the College Board and ACT, a member of the Admissions Committee, and a member of the Principal’s Leadership Team.
“We have students who take AP courses and honors courses. We have students go on to really rigorous colleges, and so we’re really proud of the diversity of the program and the various learning profiles that we’re able to service,” she said. Building on the foundation established in the Browning Center, the program’s alumni have continued their education at schools including Johns Hopkins, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NJIT, and Villanova, just to name a few.
Overall, ninety-nine percent of Prep graduates enter a four-year college or university following their senior year. But in the years leading up to commencement, Davis and her staff in The Browning Center welcome students who have Individualized Education Plans (IEP or ISP), 504 plans, psycho-educational reports recommending intervention, or documentation from a neurologist indicating ADHD.
“We are a unique program because there are not many private or religious-affiliated schools that support diverse learning profiles the way that we do,” Davis said. “Our students are full participants in the curriculum. We do not change, modify or alter the curriculum. Instead, we provide appropriate support in the learning center environment.”
“This room is never empty, from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, and if we were here longer, they’d stay longer,” said Learning Specialist Dominick Della Fave, ’91, who returned to Prep this year to build upon a 25-year career in special education. “And I think it shows the level of comfort and the level of desire to be here.”
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The services offered by the Browning Center for students who qualify extend beyond the room in which it makes its headquarters—from testing accommodations like providing extra time, readers, and scribes, to providing guidance on accessing accommodations in college and beyond.
“I think our ultimate goal is for the kids to be as independent as possible and to fill their tool belts with things that they can take with them,” Della Fave said.
The building blocks that allow Prep students to grow into active, self-advocating learners, in keeping with the Browning Center’s goals to “foster independence and self-awareness,” begin when they are freshmen. In their first year in The Browning Center, Prep students attend structured 50-minute periods when they do not have classes. The first 10 minutes of each of these sessions are devoted to executive functioning organization and goal setting. The remainder of the period then allows for one-on-one time with a Learning Specialist, independent study, or small group work.
“They are required to fill out a planner, which is definitely niche in that it’s unique to what a Prep student needs. It’s not a generic planner,” Davis said, explaining that by developing strong study habits as freshmen, students can strive to maintain those habits going forward.
“I think that what we’ve fostered in this room is enabling students to understand that their ability to be ‘Open to Growth’ and learning in different ways is okay,” Della Fave said, referencing the Jesuit Schools Network’s Profile of the Graduate at Graduation. “We have a lot of students who make friends at the Browning Center, and then we also develop relationships ourselves with the students, which make them feel comfortable to come to us for help….That’s kind of the ‘Loving’ part of the ‘Grad at Grad.’”
“Some of my proudest moments are when an upperclassman will help a freshman or a sophomore,” Davis added. “They’ll jump right in, and they’ll model the behavior. That, I think, is what we’ve seen happen more and more, organic mentorship.”
“I think the Browning Center is meeting a need of students that is becoming an increasing need everywhere, and that’s something we’re really proud of,” Browning Center Academic Support Specialist and Head Lacrosse Coach Andrew Watts agreed. “At Saint Peter’s Prep, we’ve met this head on, just by our staffing level, by our space, and by the kind of people who are involved.”
And those same roots, what former principal Jim DeAngelo, ‘85 called “time, place, and people,” foundations for Browning’s success, trace themselves back to the very founding of the Center under his tenure, which began in 2007. With the encouragement of then-Prep President Rev. Robert E. Reiser, S.J., DeAngelo first began looking to other institutions with similar programs, including fellow Jesuit school St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco, to help guide Prep’s path forward.
“We dedicated a space for it. We hired a part-time Learning Specialist to be on-campus,” he said. “ It evolved from one day a week, to two days a week, to three days a week, and then, within a year or two, it became a full-time position because the need was there.”
The program flourished over the following years, and so have its students. The Browning Center grew steadily under the leadership of its first
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FEATURE
The Browning Center staff, left to right: Andrew Watts, Christine Davis, Renato Rodrigues, ’10, and Dominick Della Fave, ’91
learning specialist, Elizbeth Benedict, and then under the current staff as they began to step into their roles.
“When I first started we had about 30 students,” Academic Support Assistant Renato Rodrigues, ’10 said. Now in his ninth year in the Browning Center, he provides Math and Science support.
“Now we have 120 students, four full-time specialists, and two math teachers who come in and provide assistance as well. We’ve quadrupled [the number of students] in eight years,” Davis added.
Looking back to the Center’s beginnings, DeAngelo noted that input from the students and families being served was crucial in positioning Browning as a “hallmark program” of Saint Peter’s Prep, “as much a part of our school’s program as our athletic program or co-curricular program or science and math curriculum.”
“I think it is another expression of cura personalis, of care of the individual,” he explained. “And I think, with a school being able to say to a family, being able to say to students coming out of eighth grade, we accept you as someone who has the potential to succeed here, if you need some accommodation and…some extra help, this is what we can offer. And that will open up the pathway to a Jesuit education.”
He recalled a meeting with some of those students and families in the summer of 2007. “One of the conversations was: what should we call it? What should we call this room? I remember one of the rising seniors at the time said, ‘Well, we can just call it a learning center because that’s what we do. We’re going to learn there.’”
And with part of the name now settled, Prep then looked to a towering Jesuit whom the Center could honor.
Rev. John E. Browning, S.J., ’46 served Saint Peter’s as a teacher, a principal, a counselor, and long-time director of the Higher Achievement Program (HAP), which welcomes seventh graders to Grand & Warren each summer.
“I think one of Fr. Browning’s specialties, and especially through HAP, was always looking for the guys who…just needed extra help or were reluctant to get involved in an activity or sport,” said Director of Admissions John Irvine, ’83, P’11, who has overseen HAP since taking it over from from Browning in 1994. “And he was always the one to kind of push them in that direction.”
Share a memory of Fr. Azzarto, or view memories shared by others, at spprep.org/AzzartoMemories
“I think it’s really his time as a counselor which made him the obvious choice for the naming of the Browning Center, because he was just just such a caring person,” Irvine added.
Appropriately, DeAngelo also credits Prep’s guidance counselors for their stellar work supporting students, faculty, and staff prior to the founding of the Browning Center’s more specialized offerings.
“Browning was really someone who was open to helping anyone who needed help and especially those who needed it the most,” Della Fave agreed. “So I think it’s great that we have something that is in his name that is so apropos of what he stood for. And I’m just proud to be here and proud to be in the place that’s named after him.”
Notably, Father Browning also codified Prep’s Spirit Awards, “one of our most cherished traditions,” according to Irvine. They remind us that heroes come in many different forms and that we should recognize them among us. That distinctive Prep spirit is alive and on full display in the Center that bears Browning’s name.
“Because the staff is so fully involved with different facets of Prep, we love celebrating our students and what they do outside of the classroom,”
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Davis explained. “Two years ago, we had a Spirit Award winner in every marking period, so we were really proud of that.”
“We have a niche for every single kid who’s in here. I think that makes it special,” Watts agreed. “I think that’s rare to find, and I think that speaks to the type of kid we have here at Prep as well: super proud and super resilient.”
That sense of Prep pride continues even beyond graduation. “The Browning Center is unique because it helps students develop a personal relationship with learning,” Gus Nations IV, ’19, a Browning Center alumnus reflected. Nations, a three-time Big East All-Academic selection with Xavier University Track, called it “a space that celebrates individuality and enriches Prep.”
The Browning Center left such a strong impression with him that he even reached out for advice on securing testing accommondations for the LSAT last year.
“I was so proud to know all these years later, Gus still knows that we can help him,” Davis said. “What impressed me most was not just the fact that he was taking the LSAT, and he’s going to go on and become a lawyer and really change our world, but that he picked up the phone and called us first.”
That ongoing commitment to each and every student extends throughout Prep’s halls, from Browning, to faculty, to administration, and beyond.“The administration has been fully supportive of everything we’ve wanted,” Davis said. “Right down from the furniture, to the space, to the staffing. There hasn’t been a single thing that we’ve asked for that the administration has not supported, and that is what sets us apart from other schools.”
DeAngelo also noted the importance of getting “as many people on board as possible” in the creation of the Browning Center.
“Any professional development I’ve done around learning differences has actually helped me to become a better teacher for all of the students in the classroom,” he said. “And I think that’s been one of the advantages of having a learning center at Prep and really committing to it as an institution. I think it made us better teachers.”
“There are very, very few schools that are ‘all in’ the way that Saint Peter’s Prep is ‘all in,’” Davis added. “It’s an all or nothing thing….It has to be all or nothing. Students need consistency. They need to know that they can rely on us. They need to know that we’re here. Even four years later, we’re here.”
From Browning to Buffalo: Charlie Ehlers, ’12
As with many aspects of a Prep education, the Browning Center’s impact can be felt far beyond Grand & Warren because of the academic and life lessons alumni carry with them. At Canisius High School, the Jesuit high school in Buffalo, New York, Browning Center alumnus Charlie Ehlers continues to carry the program’s mission forward as Director of the Magis Academic Program. The program offers “academic support in core subjects, including cohortbased coaching…to meet unique learning needs including the essentials of organization, time management, and study skills,” according to the school’s website.
“I truly give credit to the Browning Center,” Ehlers said. “When I was there, it was Mrs. Benedict. She was exceptional. She really helped me a ton in terms of developing some of the things I can help these kids develop—which is organizational skills, teaching them the way to study for a test, understanding the ‘why’ and not just the ‘what.’”
Canisius’ commitment has granted the Magis program growing success in its second year. “The way that we do it is that students are assigned into cohorts, so they’re grouped with other students at their grade level,” Ehlers explained. “And each of those cohorts has a coach that they work with.” The students meet together once a week for skill-building seminars in areas like note-taking and test-taking. “When they get together in a group and they find out their classmates are struggling with the material and can help each other figure it out, it builds confidence,” he added.
By considering each student as an individual, both the Magis Academic Program and the Browning Center thus find their foundations in Jesuit teaching. “It’s really that whole cura personalis, that Jesuit philosophy of developing the whole student,” Ehlers said. “And that’s kind of what the goal has been since we started.”
And like Prep’s program, the Magis Academic Program involves ongoing “relationship-building, helping students understand what it is to be a student at a Jesuit high school,” according to Ehlers.
“The fact that Saint Peter’s had resources there to help me…I know that for my parents, that was a huge piece of the decision-making for them because they knew I would get that support,” he added. “I hope that what we’ve developed at Canisius is the same tool for parents as they’re making that decision, that they’re going to have that extra layer of support that they might not necessarily get at other private schools.”
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WOMAN FOR OTHERS: Kitty McNally
by Trish Fitzpatrick, P’07,’16
Despite a family tree that includes two Jersey City mayors—the legendary Frank Hague and his successor and nephew Frank Hague Eggers—Alice “Kitty” McNally never spent much time in Hudson County until she was an adult. Instead her early days were spent in a town that has its own place in Prep history: Sea Bright, host to the first 25 years of Emmaus retreats. Following graduation from Rumson-Fair Haven High School, she headed north to the College of Saint Elizabeth, where both her mother and grandmother were alumnae.
Kitty’s first career aspiration was journalism, and she majored in English and history. After college, her father’s illness prompted a return to the shore, and stints as an ocean lifeguard, then as a bartender at Tim McLoone’s Rum Runner, and, after taking the LSATs, as a paralegal. But while she loved the law, she found didn’t love an office setting. A serendipitous meeting with a college friend, who handed her an application to Columbia University, set her on a path to Teachers College—after a memorable cross-country road trip in a VW Fox to visit her beloved brother on the West Coast.
In grad school, she met her best friend, Margaret Gonzalez. “Everything I have in my life now is because of Margaret,” Kitty reflects. Following a trying student-teaching assignment, at a “dangerous New York school, where most of the teachers hated the kids,” she worked at the LAB school and then at Brookdale Community College, back in New Jersey. By now it was clear: she definitely wanted to teach high school students.
Margaret, meanwhile, had been placed at Xavier High School. Kitty would join her there in 1994, a decision she says, “set the course of my life.”
It was during this time that Kitty first landed in Jersey City, living here with her daughter Maeve and her mother Alice while commuting to Xavier. Kitty says she “could not overstate” the impact of the time Maeve spent with Alice in those formative years. Her mother “was my hero, and the kindest person I have ever known, and she had a beautiful relationship with God,” she said.
The first assignment at Xavier was to teach five sections of freshmen; she and Margaret were two of only six women on staff. Xavier was a familiar place in ways—family members had married in the parish there. Kitty recalls the first Mass she attended with her students: “I cried…I saw this as the true beginning of my faith life.” As she matured into her teaching style, she cited a few rules she established: run a tight ship, be approachable, focus on relationships, and be especially attentive to the student athletes, who face an extra set of challenges and responsibilities.
Toughness and humor, both built upon a deep love for the students, are the hallmark of this wonderful educator. She has been known to tell a dozing student, “Go to your local public school and take a nap!”
Kitty arrived at Saint Peter’s Prep in the fall of 2007, and has been a staple of the English Department ever since. An early mentor was Prep Legend Dr. Rich Kennedy. Not only did he help her find an apartment right on Kennedy Boulevard, but he provided her with both inspiration and true friendship. Today, she teaches juniors and seniors, and has created many interesting electives, including Literature of New York and, new for this year, Horror and Supernatural. A highlight of the latter was a recent assignment to rewrite The Silence of the Lambs as a folk tale. She extols the importance of “viewing the material through the lens of a young man, and trying to be as engaging as possible.”
Sam Mompoint, ‘13, cites Kitty as a person who helped him immeasurably both at Prep and beyond. “She was a mother figure to me and I will appreciate that forever,” he says. “I’m proud to call her my friend today.”
As much as Kitty has influenced legions of students, she prefers to talk about the Jesuits who’ve meant a great deal to her. She mentions Vincent Taylor, S.J., at Xavier, Ken Boller, S.J., at both Xavier and Prep, and the ever-gentle Jim Dineen, S.J., whose faculty/staff Christian Life Community was legendary (“a Christ-like figure with a profound love affair with his faith”),and Tony Azzarto, S.J., “who touched so many, but always remembered to ask about Maeve or my brother.” She has also found much joy in her years-long friendship with Bob O’Hare, S.J.—a former Xavier colleague who joined her at Prep in 2009.
She’s now lived in New York for more time than she lived in New Jersey, but she remains a passionate Jersey Shore devotee, lover of Bruce Springsteen, and one of the most impactful women at Prep. You can always count on Kitty for honesty, grit, humor, and deep dedication to her students. “The Jesuit mission has to be the central nervous system of a Jesuit school—it is not optional! If you don’t have cura personalis as the school mission, the heart of the school cannot beat.”
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Kitty McNally and with seniors from her Horror and Supernatural Literature class
soccer//Prep Soccer put together another outstanding season, finishing with a 17-4 record and the #9 state ranking. Highlights included a 1-0 OT win over Kearny, a 3-0 win over state-ranked Robbinsville and a 1-0 County semi-final victory over Harrison. In the Hudson County Final— played at Red Bull Arena—4,000 fans were treated to an exciting, well-played match. Prep prevailed 2-1 over Kearny, adding the Tournament Championship to its HCIAL Regular Season title.
Eight Marauders received All State recognition—the most in program history. Junior Matt Sobreiro (15G, 12A) was the Hudson County Player of the Year as well as an Eastern Region All-American. Senior goalkeeper Simon Yanez (10 shutouts) was selected as one of the top two goalies in New Jersey. Freshman sensation Philip Sayouwoh (13G, 5A) made first-team All State.
cross country//Consistent success brings high expectations and increased pressure. Prep’s distance runners obviously know how to handle both, as they added a number of championships to the collection of trophies and medals amassed over the past several years. Prep brought home both the Jersey City (8th in a row) and Hudson County (7th in a row) Championships while also qualifying for the Meet of Champions for the sixth time in school history. After starting the season unranked, the Marauders finished as the #8 team in New Jersey.
Tommy O’Brien earned Hudson County Athlete of the Year honors, while Head Coach Russell Jenkins (inset, flanked by Asssitant Coaches Remi Pastorek and Will Springer, ’15) was Hudson County Coach of the Year.
Goalkeeeper Simon Yanez finished his Prep career with a 0.98 goals against average and 25 shutouts.
Andy Mayorga (14), John Carey (6), and Philip Sayouwoh (10) celebrated Sayouwoh’s first of two goals in the county final vs. Kearny.
SPORTS
PHOTO: Ignacio Marro, ’25
Josh Jantas, ’95 Becomes Soccer’s Winningest Coach
On a beautiful September afternoon at Caven Point, the Marauders lined up for their game against Hudson Catholic. With Athletic Director Rich Hansen, former Head Coach John Irvine, ‘83 and a local reporter on the sideline, there was a feeling that this match had more relevance than an early season game normally would.
Prep fell behind 2-0, but rallied in the second half for a 3-2 victory. The hugs, handshakes and celebrating were further proof that this was not just any regular-season victory. With that win—the 218th in his Prep career—Coach Josh Jantas surpassed his coach and predecessor, John Irvine, for most wins in the program’s history.
Jantas, who has now completed his fifteenth season at the program’s helm, spent five seasons on Irvine’s staff before taking the head coaching position at Secaucus HS. He returned after five seasons to replace Irvine as Head Coach. He commented, “I have always said this is my last head coaching job. Prep soccer has been so special to me and, actually, my entire family.” Jantas’s win total is now 229 and includes five league titles and four county championships.
Rich Hansen reflected, “I am so proud of Josh. He’s adjusted his coaching style over the years to fit today’s athlete. His accomplishment doesn’t just speak to longevity. He’s adapted and has had success throughout. He cares about his players and has a true passion for our program. “
When asked about his former captain passing his win total, Irvine said, “I could not be prouder. It is like seeing a younger brother do it and it keeps the record in our Prep family.” Jantas added, “I am proud to say that between John and me, there are 34 years of Prep coaching and close to 450 wins. That’s amazing!”
SPORTS
Coach Jantas celebrated his record-breaking win with the team, his staff, and his predecessor, John Irvine.
Coach Jantas addressed the team before the HCIAL semifinal vs. Harrison. A 1-0 win would put Prep back in the county final for the first time since 2018.
football//Competing in arguably the nation’s toughest conference took its toll on the Marauders as they battled through a 1-9 season. The team opened the year with consecutive games out-ofstate. Prep took on Creekside HS (GA) in a game played at Morehouse College and then faced St. Joe’s Prep (PA) at a site in Delaware. In a rare scheduling occurrence, the team had only two home games.
Senior linemen Cooper LaFond and Joseph Asiain were named to the Super Football Conference All Division First Team and were also recognized by the New Jersey Football Coaches Association in its Super 100 selections.
water polo//With the graduation of several major players, Coach Pat McCoy knew that his younger players would need to contribute right away while working alongside the players who had experience. Coach McCoy turned the focus to developing a tight defense, forcing opponents to work hard for goals. Goalie Evan Merkov, ’24 anchored that stingy defense, making 183 saves over the twelvegame season.
Highlights of the season included wins over Riverdale Country Day (197, 18-8) and an 8-5 result against Blair Academy.
crew//Prep’s rowers are coming off another successful fall season. At the Head of the Passaic in Lyndhurst, the Marauders earned a bronze in the Men’s JV 8+ and Freshman 8+ categories. At the Overpeck Fall Invitational in Leonia, the JV4+ also earned a bronze. To close off the season the Freshman 8+ had an impressive gold medal finish at the NYRA Junior Invitation in Ridgefield, NJ. At the season’s most prestigious event, Head of the Charles in Boston, the Marauder Varsity 8+ (pictured) faced competition from all over the world in a field of 90 boats. The result was 19th out of all high schools and 6th among Jesuit schools.
SPORTS
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Senior captain Nick Valente totaled 40 goals, nine of which came in a single game.
PHOTO: Anson Hart, ’24
Cooper LaFond (#71) and Joseph Asiain (#99) will continue their football careers at Fordham and Stanford respectively.
Michael Noriega, ’95 Joins New Jersey’s Highest Court
Last May, Governor Phil Murphy nominated Michael Noriega, ’95 to serve as an associate justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court. Following his unanimous (37-0) confirmation by the State Senate on June 30, Justice Noriega was sworn in on July 6, 2023. Born in Weehawken and raised in Union City, Justice Noriega served as an Emmaus Team member and co-captain of the Forensics team while at Prep. He graduated from Rutgers University in 1999 and from Seton Hall Law School in 2002.
Justice Noriega was most recently a partner at the firm of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold, and Magnan, specializing in immigration and criminal law. He previously operated a solo practice (Noriega & Associates) for six years, and began his legal career as an assistant public defender in Essex County. Notably, he is the first ever former public defender to serve on the New Jersey Supreme Court. He has also taught at Seton Hall Law as an adjunct professor, chaired the immigration law section of the New Jersey State Bar Association. The New Jersey State Bar association named him Professional Lawyer of the Year in 2019. In introducing him as a nominee last year, Gov. Murphy also noted his extensive pro bono work—including advocating for victims of human trafficking who face deportation, and serving as board president of Sanar Wellness Institute, a Newark nonprofit helping victims of trafficking and domestic abuse.
A fellow Prep alumnus in the legal profession, Greg Riley, ’67, shared the photo at right. Greg attended a Union County Bar Association event in November, honoring Justice Noriega on his appointment, and the pair found a few moments to share Prep memories from their respective eras.
Loyola School Names Jim DeAngelo, ’85 as Next Principal
In December, Loyola School announced that Jim DeAngelo, ’85 would become the next principal of the co-educational Jesuit high school on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Jim served as Prep’s principal from 2007-2022, following more than a decade as a member of Prep’s faculty. In an introductory message, Loyola president Tony Oroszlany noted, “In considering who the next Principal of Loyola School should be, we recognized the importance of selecting a candidate well-grounded in the Ignatian tradition and possesses a deep understanding of Jesuit secondary education. Mr. DeAngelo clearly demonstrated those characteristics and many wonderful professional traits.” Jim will begin his service at Loyola on July 1.
Jim Hannan, ’56: From Prep to the Big Leagues and Beyond
Jim Hannan, ’56, a member of the inaugural class of Prep Athletic Hall of Fame honorees in 2005, died in February at age 84. An impressive pitching career at Prep, including multiple 13-strikeout starts, propelled him to Notre Dame—where the Irish would reach the College World Series in his freshman year, and the regional finals in his next three—and ultimately into professional baseball. The Jersey City native signed a bonus contract with the Red Sox for the 1961 season, posting a 17-7 record for the Class D Olean Red Sox. His 254 strikeouts in 196 innings pitched led the New York-Penn League, and he was named the league’s rookie of the year. After the Washington Senators selected him in the first-year-player draft, Hannan made his major league debut with Washington in 1962, and would go on to spend all or part of the next ten seasons in the majors, in a mix of starting and relieving roles. His rookie year included a 23 1/3-inning scoreless streak as a reliever. Other memorable moments included a 1968 start in which he surrendered 3 runs in the first inning before retiring 26 Cleveland batters in a row for a 9-3 complete game victory. He would pitch a one-hitter against the Kansas City Royals in August of 1970, a fifth-inning triple by Paul Schaal the only thing keeping him from joining the ranks of pitchers with a no-hitter to their credit.
Hannan would make his mark in baseball away from the mound as well. In the midst of his career, he supplemented his economics degree from Notre Dame with a graduate degree in finance and investments from NYU. His master’s thesis, exploring the challengess of MLB’s pension system (at the time, only three in ten MLB players logged enough service to collect a pension), would influence the strategy of the MLB Players’ Association and its executive director, Marvin Miller, in negotiating reforms to the system.
In 1982, Hannan became a co-founder of the Major League Baseball Players’ Alumni Association. He served as the organization’s first president from 1982-86, and as chair of its board from 1996 until his death. His advocacy for former players, and for the potential of baseball to positively impact its communities, ensured the continued growth of the MLBPAA for more than 40 years. In his honor, the association established an annual Jim Hannen Scholarship Award, which has supported students at Notre Dame as well as at Prep.
ALUMNI
A Marauder Behind the Scenes
Jersey City Honors Gen. Edward Daly, ’83
As one of just 243 U.S. Army officers to attain the rank of four-star general since 1775, General Edward Daly, ’83 has received his share of honors.
During a 37-year career prior to his retirement last year, he earned two Bronze Stars, a Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Combat Action Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. Then, of course, there is his 2021 Prep Hall of Fame induction. But this winter, his hometown of Jersey City added one more. In a ceremony on February 22, the block of Terhune Avenue where Daly grew up was rededicated as Gen. Edward Daly Way.
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, Ward A Councilwoman Denise Ridley, and numerous family and friends were on hand as the new street sign was unveiled. Jersey City’s—and Prep’s—first four-star general reflected on the moment with typical humility. “I am unbelievably honored,” Daly said during the ceremony. He explained that the people who surrounded him in his Jersey City youth, “really molded me and really developed my character, my values, and my work ethic.” Although life has taken him from Terhune Avenue, to Prep, to West Point—and onward to places like South Korea, Germany, Afghanistan, and Iraq—he added, “I have been, I am, and I always will be Jersey City in my heart and spirit.”
Mike Brown, ’05 resides in Venice Beach, California, and works in Hollywood as an assistant director with Disney. He has worked on a range of projects including Blackish,Grownish, NASCAR on ESPN, and the Emmy award winning I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson. Mike explains the AD role involves planning and executing all technical preparations, “so that the set is under budget and performing.” This work includes scheduling the day, getting the actors ready to work, hiring and controlling the background actors, and making sure the crew on set is functioning to maximum capacity, “all so that the director can have creative freedom.”
Mike notes his fast-paced career in the entertainment world is “A long way from growing up in Newark and attending Saint Peter’s Prep,” but lessons learned at Grand & Warren are an invaluable asset to him. “Attending Prep has given me an advantage in learning to deal with different types of people and to meet them where they are to make the process of production seamless.” He added, “The combination of community, sports, and education from Prep makes it possible to thrive in any scenario.”
Mike invites classmates and West Coast alumni to get in touch: mab4vu@virginia.edu
Educational Affinity Group Leads the Way
Prep’s Alumni Board has embarked on an effort to bring together alumni (and others in the Prep community) who work in similar professions for learning and networking opportunities. The first of these professional affinity groups debuted in 2023, and the Educational Affinity Group is off to a successful start. Last summer, online sign-ups and word-of-mouth-contacts led to the creation of an email list, a shared document where participants can leave their contact information and a description of their role in education, and a virtual planning meeting in August. In September, keynote speaker Billy Cunningham, '97 anchored an in-person kickoff event. About 30 alumni and family members attended the gathering, which included a welcome address by Prep President Michael Gomez, Ed.D., ’91
In February, the group hosted a webinar highlighting professionals working “Beyond the Classroom Walls” in various positions and non-traditional education roles. Panelists included Robyn Ince, P’19, Executive Director for Newark City of Learning Collaborative at Rutgers University; Greg Morrisey, ‘08, Founder and Head of Programming for Mountain Goat Movement; Matt Whitford, ‘07, School Business Administrator, Weehawken Public Schools; Dr. Robert Zywicki, ‘96, Senior Director for Strategic Learning Solutions Engineering for Renaissance Learning, and Dr. Courtney Pepe, Director of Educational and Operational Technology for Perth Amboy Public Schools (and wife of Joseph Pepe, ‘79).
For more information about the Educational Affinity Group—or if you are interested in helping us build more professional affinity groups—please contact Mike Murcia, ’08 at MurciaM@spprep.org
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ALUMNI
PHOTO: Reena Rose Sibayan / Copyright © The Jersey Journal
The ’40s
Rev. Earle Markey, S.J., ’49 retired from his role as Associate Director of Admissions, Jesuit Relations, at the College of the Holy Cross, which he had held since 1996. He had previously served as Associate Dean of Students, Dean of Students, and then Vice President of Student Affairs, starting in 1976. Fr. Markey is a former Prep principal (1971-76), a former Prep trustee, and an inaugural (1993) Legends of Prep inductee. He continues to be a member of the Holy Cross Jesuit Community.
The ’50s
Dave Schreck, ’53 sends his regrets for missing the 70th reunion for the Class of ‘53, due to a scheduling conflict. After law school at UC Berkeley, Dave served as a state’s attorney in the counties along the California coast—”Nice work if you can get it!”—He later served as an administrative law judge in the state’s San Francisco office of appeals. Dave also served 32 years of active and active-reserve duty in the U.S. Army, in the infantry and JAG branches, retiring with the rank of colonel. He and his wife of 58 years, Daly, live in Marin County, California.
Bob Esti, ’55 reports that, having been a “Snow Bird” for the last 25 years, “Valerie, my ‘Mussels Marinara’ and I have decided to be full time Floridians. Traveling back and forth [between Virginia and Florida] each spring fall was becoming more challenging as my 86 year old body was screaming at me to stop!”
Bob concedes, “The pizza is not the same as NJ and the history is not as interesting as Virginia, but the weather and climate are fantastic for my poor old bones and bad back!” He sends “Many cheers and prayers to all my fellow alumni,” adding “If you are in the Naples-Fort Myers area, give us a shout and we will welcome you with a drink and sunshine along side our saltwater pool and hole #14 on our golf course... God bless you all & amore a tutti!”
James McKeever, ’56 completed his 43rd year as a New Jersey Law Enforcement Torch Run volunteer. He co-founded the torch run,
supporting the Special Olympics, in 1983, and was elected to the International Hall of Fame for the Special Olympics in 2010. “NJ Special Olympics is my passion!” he writes.
The ’60s
Jim Donohue, ’61 retired as professor and division chief in pulmonary critical care at the University of North Carolina, and moved to Wrightsville Beach. Jim is still active as chairman of ten data safety monitoring committees for new pharmaceuticals.
Bill Keller, ’63 has published a second book of colorful stories and essays about his hometown, with a larger-than-life title to suit the larger-than-life characters they contain: A Hoboken Gallimaufry: Five Novellas, Four Essays,Three Poems,Two Short Stories, and One Fable. Both Hoboken Gallimaufry and Bill’s previous book, A Place Like Hoboken, are available on Amazon.
Jack Russell, ’66 was featured on the cover of the alumni magazine of Saint Michael’s College, where he is a member of the class of 1970.The accompanying profile notes his success in business (with nine real estate offices and a pet supplement manufacturing company, among other ventures) combined with a commitment to service—including as honorary wing commander for the Vermont National Guard Honorary Commanders.
Greg Riley, ’67, now retired following a 47-year legal career, spends his newfound spare time pursuing his hobby in photography, and making frequent trips to Portland, Maine, to visit his daughter and two granddaughters.
Rev. Bill Watters, S.J., ’52 will step down as president of the Loyola School in Baltimore this year. Fr. Watters, who founded the school in 2017, will become President Emeritus. The tuition-free Loyola School offers a preschool program for children as young as 2, and an elementary school that currently covers grades K-2, with planned expansion to grades 3 and 4.
TLS is the third school Fr. Watters, a 2021 Prep Hall of Fame honoree, has established to serve low-income students and families in Baltimore. He is also the founder of Baltimore’s Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (2007) and a tuition-free middle school, St. Ignatius Loyla Academy (1993)—a 30-year legacy of redefining Catholic education in the city!
24 WINTER 2023-24 n PREP MAGAZINE
Share your photos, class notes and other news with us...Email info@spprep.org! CLASS NOTES ALUMNI
The ’70s
Tom Chiccone, ’70 retired from the emergency department in 2019. He continues to work for EMS at the local and state levels in Maryland. He reports he has a new hobby: pyrogaphy (wood burning), and that he’s “loving life and wife.”
Rev. Alex Santora, ’70 recently marked 25 years of writing his weekly “Faith Matters” column for the Jersey Journal and nj.com.
Steve Smith, ’73 writes:
Sig Grudzinski, ’73 has been taking his 1985 Corvette to car shows after completing a thorough restoration. He bought the car new in 1985, and last summer saw the restoration professionally judged for the first time. Sig says he was “pleasantly surprised” to take 2nd place in the C1-C4 Corvette category in that first competition.
The 50th class reunion reminded me that Prep is a living symbol of my parents’ love and sacrifice for me. Each time I return to Prep, I feel the love my parents gave me to attend this living institution.
Paul Florio, ’74 is enjoying every moment of retired life. He offers this “word to the wise”for those close to retirement: “Hope you have hobbies other than a 401(k)!”
Mike Gadaleta, ’75 and his wife Lynne have been “blessed with six grandsons in a row, and counting!”
Tim Konopka, ’76 and his wife Annette celebrated the birth of their second grandchild, Victoria Alexandra Munda, on September 2. Tim is currently serving as a senior federal investigator with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), enforcing the Fair Housing Act against housing discrimination.
Gregory McLain, ’77 and wife Carolyn welcomed their second grandchild. Kit Micha joins 3-year-old brother Guy Maverick.
Anthony Petrosino, ’79 completes his fifth year as associate dean at Southern Methodist University’s College of Education.
The ’80s
John Hester, ’88 welcomed grandson August Anthony. August is the son of John’s daughter Katie.
The ’90s
Mike Egan, ’91 is celebrating the 2-year anniversary of his restaurant and bar, Baker Street Irregulars (irregularsny.com • @irregularsnyc). He invites you to stop in for a pint and a burger next time you’re on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. You’ll find BSI at 63rd Street and First Avenue.
Rafael Ferrales, ’91 was named Managing Director and national leader of Weaver’s Fixed Asset Advisory tax practice in September 2023.
Loren Hart, ’91 was promoted in November 2022 to Deputy Chief in the Jersey City Fire Department.
David Baker, ’93 lives in the Bay Area of California with his wife, Emily, and daughter, Sophia. They enjoy hiking, biking, and exploring the California coast. After 10 years designing analog semiconductors and 14 years teaching high school math, he has started an online tutoring business called High School Math Engine.
Michael Sugrue, ’94 joined Alvarez & Marsal as a partner in their Disputes & Investigations practice group. A&M is a 8,500 person consultancy with 77 offices around the globe. His practice focuses on digital forensic investigations (e.g., trade secret theft), complex eDiscovery and cyber breach response.
Ed Mullins, ’98 recently joined the New Jersey Economic Development Authority as Assistant Director of Legal Affairs.
The ’00s
John Laracy, ’03 is an Assistant Professor at the Seton Hall University School of Theology.
The ’10s
Griffin Gudaitis, ’18, a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, is now a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) student in English (650-1550) at Linacre College, Oxford University. He specializes in medieval English literature, and hopes to write a dissertation that focuses on the nature of trick and craft in the Exeter Book Riddles.
“I want specifically to give a shoutout to my Latin teacher, Mr. Dave Burokas, ’85, for vitalizing my interest in languagelearning,” Griffin writes. “He challenged every notion I held about language, literature, and religion.” Griffin added, “Without Latin, I would never have become prepared enough for the kind of rigor that Oxford demands.”
Griffin is pictured here at his matriculation ceremony, wearing the traditional sub-fusc worn by Oxford students on formal occasions.
The ’20s
Rodolfo Sanchez, ’21 set a school record in the 3,000 meters as a sophomore at Fordham University.
PREP MAGAZINE n SPPREP.ORG n WINTER 2023-24 25 SECTION
ALUMNI
CLASS NOTES ALUMNI
ABOVE: Prep alumni are always “In Good Company,” even on challenging occasions. A funeral repast for Jim Muller, ’53 brought this group together. Left to right: Owen Freeman, ’17, Brian Muller, ’16 (Jim’s grandson), Jack Cassedy, ’48, Ian Maxwell, ’14, Alec Maxwell, ’16, Tucker Freeman, ’14, Finn Freeman, ’24, and Gavin Freeman, ’18.
Bret Jablonski, ’14, Mark Napier, ’11, Eric Jablonski, ’11, Bob Zeller, ’76, and Frank Romano, ’86 posed together at the October wedding of Eric Jablonski and Stephanie Rescigno.
ABOVE: A holiday gathering of the Class of ’92 at Court Street in Hoboken. Standing, left to right, are Sean Boyle, Jeff McCollough, Chris Bontigao, Mike Cardino, Frank LoScrudato, Pat Healey, Dave Weir, Rob Valente, Mike Benoit, and John Aslainian. Sitting, left to right, are Gene Manlongat, Terence McHale, and Mark DeCastro.
26 WINTER 2023-24 n PREP MAGAZINE
RIGHT: Representing Prep at the July 2023 wedding of Caitlin McGarrity and Craig Styles, ’09 were: Tom Cianci, ’09, Brendan Canale, ’09, Pat Egan, ’09, Craig Styles, ’09, Bobby McFarland, ’09, and Kevin Styles, ’05.
During a visit to Seattle in February, Prep VP for Planning and Principal Giving Jim Horan, ’70 (right) caught up with Mark Ippolito,’79.
LEFT: A few phone calls, a few texts, and an ad hoc Prep mini-reunion came together in Santa Monica, California. Left to right: Prep Director of Engagement Kate LillisMagnus, Mike Brown, ’05, Sean Hanley, ’94, Nick Warnock, ’94, Ian Fraser, ’94, Prep President Michael Gomez, Ed.D., ’91, Rashawn Jackson, ’05, Dennis Granelli, ’91, Liam O’Brien, ’94, Tom Fitzpatrick, ’07, An Le, ’94, and Alex Drummond, ’94.
RIGHT: Members of the class of ’92 gathered to celebrate the 50th birthday of classmate Mike Benoit. Left to right: Mike Cardino, Matt Fleming, Mike Benoit, Mark DeCastro, John Aslainian, Trevor Philips, and Christian Bontigao. LEFT: During a trip to the West Coast this winter, Prep President Michael Gomez, Ed.D., ’91 met Keith Webster, ’82.
RIGHT: On the same trip, Prep Director of Engagement Kate Lillis-Magnus shared a meal with Tom Murphy, ’69.
Welcome to In Focus, a new feature highlighting alumni you might not know by name—but probably should!—as introduced by Prep alumni director Mike Murcia.
IN FOCUS:
Liam O’Brien, ’94
by Mike Murcia, ’08
Before Weehawken native Liam O’Brien was a renowned voice actor, web series creator, Twitch streamer, and philanthropist, he left his mark at Grand & Warren. Open the 1994 yearbook and you’ll notice he was destined for his work: Dramatics MVP, Forensics, Emmaus Team, and Paper & Pen, just to name a few highlights. Thirty years later, that work has evolved in remarkable ways to contributions in Hollywood and beyond.
As a voice actor, Liam is often celebrated for his incredible versatility and talent in bringing characters to life. With a career spanning over two decades, Liam has lent his voice to the world of animation, video games, streaming, and beyond. His portfolio boasts an impressive array of characters in the worlds of Star Wars, Transformers, World of Warcraft, Naruto, and the Marvel Universe across multiple media.
He is also one of the founding members of Critical Role, a popular web and podcast series where a talented cast of voice actors play Dungeons & Dragons. In each episode, the cast embarks on epic adventures, weaving
narratives filled with humor, plot twists, excitement, and emotion. Liam’s storytelling prowess is on full display.
Critical Role has been hailed for the genuine camaraderie and chemistry among its cast members, who use their characterization and improvisation skills to bring their characters to life. As listeners follow their journey, they become fully immersed in a rich and vibrant universe. What makes the podcast even more special is its community—fans from all walks of life who come together to celebrate their shared love of storytelling, breaking all boundaries of geography and language.
Beyond his contributions to the entertainment industry, Liam lives out the Jesuit tradition of being a man for others through the charity work done by Critical Role. The podcast has not only become synonymous with epic storytelling but with acts of kindness and generosity through its philanthropy. One of the clearest examples of this is the development of the Critical Role Foundation, which has raised over $2 million since its launch in 2020. These funds support various causes and organizations dedicated to mental health awareness, environmental conservation, disaster relief, and LGBTQ+ rights. Their support of organizations like Hope for Haiti, Women for Afghan Women, First Nations Development Institute, and World Central Kitchen demonstrates a passion for serving communities across the globe.
Liam and the Critical Role cast members often
participate in charity live-streamed events, auctions, and special merchandise releases to raise funds for the causes they support. In times of crisis, Liam and his team have stepped up to provide aid. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Critical Role offered charity streams to raise funds for frontline workers, medical supplies, and resources to combat the pandemic’s spread.
Through their philanthropy and service to others, Liam and his team inspire fans to make a difference in the world. By combining their love for storytelling and service, Critical Role demonstrates the impact a community can make when united for a common cause. The foundation’s mission statement explains their work perfectly: “Our mission is simple: To leave the world better than we found it.”
Although he has settled from far his roots in Weehawken and 144 Grand Street, Liam’s success and service are key examples of seeking the Magis and remaining committed to doing justice no matter where life takes you. Reflecting on his thirty-year-long path, Liam said, “Looking back over the decades, it is fairly easy to see the effect Prep had on the trajectory of my life. I found my passion for arts and literature performing within its halls, and with the encouragement and guidance of some truly excellent teachers, a life in those fields seemed possible. Additionally, the principles Saint Peter’s works so hard to instill, as well as the focus on community, are torches I still carry with me today.”
ALUMNI
The cast of Critical Role
PREP MAGAZINE n SPPREP.ORG n WINTER 2023-24 27
Photos courtesy Liam O’Brien
Alumni
James J. O’Connor, ’40
Edward P. Kozmor, ’51
Brother of James Kozmor, ’58.
Lawrence P. King, ’52
Joseph G. Weiss, ’52
Franz P. Scheuermann, ’53
Brother of Gregory Scheuermann, ’50
Thomas M. Gaggin, Sr., ’53
Cousin of Raymond V. Downes, ’50† , Patrcik J. Downes, ’57, and Robert E. Downes, ’59
John J. Marano, ’53 2010 Athletic Hall of Fame honoree
James H. Muller, ’53
Grandfather of Brian T. Muller, ’16
Thomas J. Sullivan, ’53
Father of T.J. Sullivan, ’53†, brother of Rev. James Sullivan, ’50†; grandfather of John King, ’14; Prep Trustee, 1989-1999; Chairman of the Board of Trustees, 1992-1999; 1999 Legends of Prep honoree
James J. Connolly, Jr., ’54
Son of James J. Connolly, Sr., 1927† ; brother Robert Connolly, ’55†, Walter Connolly, ’56†, and David Connolly, ’58; uncle of Christopher Connolly, ’91
Arthur J. Hedge, Jr., ’54
Robert J. Orzack ’54
Anthony J. Acinapura, ’55
James P. Cashman, ’55
Thomas R. Keating, ’55
John R. Sullivan, ’55
James J. Hannan, ’56
Cousin of John Clune, ’50 and Edward Clune, ’54; 2005 Athletic Hall of Fame honoree
Thomas A. Hogan, ’56
Brother of John Hogan, ’57; uncle of Michael Hogan, ’92
Philip A. Cole, ’57
Cousin of William A. Wiemer, ’61
Martin P. Daly, ’57
Francis P. Piscal, ’57 brother-in-law of Robert O’Brien, ’44† and William O’Brien, ’48†; cousin-in-law of John O’Brien, ’48† 2007 Athletic Hall of Fame honoree
William J. Spataro, ’57
Father of Matthew Spataro, ’96 and Thomas Spataro, ’97
John J. Verdon, Jr., ’57
Son of John J. Verdon, Sr., 1922†
Arthur A. Trott, Jr., ’58
Anthony S. Neusch, ’58
John C. Heidelberger, ’59
Brother of William Heidelberger, ’50†
Perry Iannaconi, ’60
John A. Kirkowski, ’61
Richard J. Diehl, ’63
Brother of Robert Diehl, ’67
Richard Dunne, ’63
Son of James J. Dunne, 1926† ; brother of James M. Dunne, ’60 and John D. Dunne, ’70; nephew of Mary Dunne†(former Prep staff member)
Edward Powers, ’66
Thomas J. Viggiano, ’66
Brother of Frederick A. Viggiano, ’63 and John F. Viggiano, ’70
Walter P. Ryglicki, ’67
Brother of Joseph Ryglicki, ’64†; uncle of Jonathan Ryglicki, ’99 and Jason Ryglicki, ’04
Robert A. Martelli, ’68
Patrick J. Ryan, ’68
Nicholas Fusco, ’69
Joseph F. “Jay” Brower III, ’69
Anthony P. Costantino, Jr., ’69
Jacek M. Herchold, ’69
Brother of Christopher Herchold, ’66† , Kazimierz Herchold, ’64, and Adam Herchold, ’71
Stephen E. Siwek, ’69
Peter W. Bolan, ’72
Mark E. Morchel, ’72
John P. Riepe, ’72
Robert J. Simko, ’72
Brother of John Simko, ’74; uncle of Lucas Simko-Bednarski, ’06.
Kenneth R. Dunbar, ’75
James E. Addas ’78
Brother of Raymond Addas, Jr., ’76† ; uncle of Raymond L. Addas, III, ’00 and Anthony Addas, ’07
James O. Cox, ’87
Samuel J. Mason, Jr., ’88
Gregory D. McLellan, ’92
Daniel P. Bleach, ’95
Michael Heredia, ’09
Brother of Joseph Heredia, ’04
Family of Alumni
Antonia B. Bello
Sister of Vincent Bello, ’21
Andre Braugher
Father of Michael Braugher, ’10
James “Jamie” Carbone
Father of Dominick Carbone, ’03
Merlita “Toni” Cano
Mother of Dalton Walker, ’17 and Robbie Walker, ’20
James V. Cerullo, Jr.
Father of Brian Cerullo, ’93
Ann DeMaria
Mother of John DeMaria, ’77; mother-in-law of John J. Hughes, ’63† ; grandmother of John C. Hughes, ’88 and Matthew Moran, ’99
Rosemarie Dobronsky
Mother of Richard Dobronski, ’83; grandmother of Matthew Dobronski, ’21
Rufino Q. Faller
Father of Michael Faller, ’93
Kathleen Anne Filak
Sister of Andrew Filak, Jr., ’70, Michael Filak, ’72, Douglas Filak, ’79, and Ronald Filak, ’84; cousin of Gary Filak, ’71, Thomas Calvanico, ’73, Robert Calvanico, ’74, and George Filak, ’76
George Groesbeck
Brother of Robert Groesbeck, ’57
Marilyn Hannon
Wife of Edward Hannon, ’58
Rev. William Holt, O.P.
Brother of Michael Holt, ’74, P’04,’09; brother-in-law of Francis McGurk, ’61; uncle of Jason McGurk, ’96, Michael Holt, ’99, David Holt, ’00, Scott Holt, ’04 and Eric Holt, ’09; cousin of John Lillis, ’77, Bill Lillis, ’80 (former faculty member), Kate Lillis-Magnus (Prep Director of Engagement), Charles Iorio, ’90, Nicholas Degnan, ’97, Gerry Iorio, ’98, Alexander Degnan, ’00, Ryan Lillis ’14, and Nicholas DeMarco, ’19
Marie Hudik
Mother of Christopher S. Hudik, ’81 and Stephen J. Hudik, ’85
Nancy Klarmann
Mother of Matthew Klarmann, ’95 (former faculty member)
Carole A. Lau
Wife of Jack Lau, ’61
Patrick G. Lally
Father of Patrick J. Lally, ’80 and Christopher Lally, ’81
Marie LePage
Grandmother of Joseph Casazza, ’95 and Christopher Casazza, ’97 (former chief advancement officer); mother of Diane Casazza (former admissions staff member)
Margaret E. Magaldi
Mother-in-law of John T.M. Chester, ’74; grandmother of Timothy Chester, ’03 and Kevin Chester, ’05
Barbara Martin-Hart
Mother of Loren Hart, ’91; grandmother of Ian Garner, ’11 and Anson Hart, ’24
Mary Materek
Mother of Anthony Materek, ’70
Maureen T. McKenna
Mother of Brian McKenna, ’98
Patricia Morris
Mother of James Morris, ’80 and Kevin Morris, ’86†
Nora Nasif
Wife of Louis Nasif, ’62†; sister-in-law of Alfred Nasif, ’56
Margaret M. Nisbet
Mother of Richard J. Nisbet, ’86 and Rick M. Nisbet, ’87.
Francis Pawlowski
Father of Richard Pawlowski, ’03
Steven H. Trombecky
Father of Joseph Trombecky, ’18
Faculty & Staff
Julio Aguilar
Member of the operations staff
Former Faculty & Staff
Gregory F. Boyle Science teacher, 1984-2006
Rev. James F. Keenan, S.J. President, 1994-2006
Rev. Blaise Jaschkó, S.J. Latin, French, and religion teacher, 1956-1970
Robert P. Zawistowski Science teacher and bowling coach, 1987-2008
Family of Faculty & Staff
J. Brian McLean
Father of Michael McLean (English teacher)
Elizabeth Petrillo
Mother of Scott Petrillo (School Counselor)
Carmelo Romamo
Father of Rosalie Romano (World Languages Department Chair)
ALUMNI VITA MUTATUR NON TOLLITUR (LIFE IS CHANGED, NOT ENDED) Through February 20, 2024 Vita mutatur, non tollitur. Life is changed, not ended.
28 WINTER 2023-24 n PREP MAGAZINE
Weddings
Nathan Leo, ’12 and Madison Cooper
May 25, 2023
Dermot Sullivan, ’12 and Kimberly Iervoline
May 27, 2023
Craig Styles, ’09 and Caitlin McGarrity
July 22, 2023
Will Delaney, ’16 and Lucy Sauter
August 4, 2023
Nicholas Santa Maria, ’13 and Jessica Weissman
August 17, 2023
Eric Jablonski, ’11 and Stephanie Rescigno
October 7, 2023
Births
Amy Paeth and Jonathan Fedors, ’03 daughter Isla Helena, born March 23, 2023
Emily and John DuVal, ’08 daughter Gwen Rose, born May 15, 2023
Tara and John Murphy, ’08 daughter Mary Catherine, born June 13, 2023
Alison and Chris Caulfield, ’03 (Principal) son Shane Anthony, born July 24, 2023
Jaime and Rich Hansen, ’03 (Faculty Member) daughter Chloe Lee, born September 8, 2023
Rachel and Brendan Roche (Faculty Member) son Jude Ignatius, born November 22, 2023
Jenna and Francis LaMonica, ’03 daughter Emery Laine, born January 22, 2024
Christina and Christopher Zolli, ’06 daughter Emma Jean, born January 27, 2024
Michelle Ferrer and Matt Fleming, ’92 daughter Amelia Louise, born January 4, 2024
Grant and Caroline Hutchinson (Faculty Member) son Theodore Winston, born January 30, 2024
SPPREP.ORG n WINTER 2023-24 29
ALUMNI
Shane Caulfield, born July 24, 2023
Gwen DuVal, born May 15 and seen here with proud big brother Billy. She the granddaughter of William Petrick, ’79
WEDDINGS | BIRTHS
Nathan Leo, ’12 and Madison Cooper, married May 25, 2023
Mary Catherine Murphy, born June 13, 2023.
Eric Jablonski, ’11 and Stephanie Rescigno, married October 7, 2023
Caitlin McGarrity and Craig Styles, ’09, married July 22, 2023
Kimberly Iervoline and Dermot Sullivan ’12, married May 27, 2023
Lucy Sauter and Will Delaney, ’16, married August 4, 2023
THIS IS YOUR PREP REUNION! 1944 1949 1954 1959 1964 1969 1974 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 2019 COME HOME TO GRAND & WARREN APRIL 12-14, 2024! SPPREP.ORG/JUBILEE 144 Grand Street | Jersey City, NJ 07302
Mike Jiran, ’03 Director of Communications
