Vol. 34. No. 1 Fall 2013
AR RPUBLICATIOaNa FOR THmmE ALUMNI, PARviEviNTS AND FRIeEeNDS OF ww FORDHAM PREP Welcome Father Devron
Rev. Christopher Devron, SJ is a Jesuit priest of the New York Province of the Society of Jesus. The middle of three children, he grew up in Palatine, a northwest suburb of Chicago, where he attended public schools until his undergraduate education at the University of Notre Dame. At Notre Dame, he earned a bachelor’s in arts, with a double major in philosophy and government, and a concentration in PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics). After being graduated in 1989, he came to New York City to work as a volunteer teacher at Cardinal Spellman High School in the Bronx through a program of the Archdiocese of New York. He returned to Notre Dame to pursue graduate studies in theology, and then entered the New York Province as a Jesuit novice in 1991. In 1993, he took first vows, and began graduate studies in philosophy and theology at Loyola Father Christopher Devron, S.J. received the Fordham Mace as he was officially University Chicago, where he earned a master’s in the history of philosophy. installed as the 35th President of Fordham Prep at this morning’s Mass of the Holy Between 1995-96, he served as executive director of the Inner-City Teaching Corps Spirit. Father Devron is pictured with Chair of the Board John Neary ’87 and Assistant (ICTC) in Chicago. Founded by Mr. Pat Ryan, Jr. in 1993, the ICTC recruits and places to the Provincial for Secondary and Pre-Secondary Education Edward Young. recent college graduates as teachers in inner-city schools throughout Chicago. Fr. Devron Mr. Young represented Provincial Rev. David Ciancimino, S.J. solidified the ICTC’s early success as a pilot program so that it could improve and sustain its mission. He helped create its first advisory board and a partnership with the Loyola University School of Education so that volunteers could receive graduate credit for their professional development as ICTC volunteers. Fr. Devron worked closely with the historically black Catholic churches in Manhattan. He has served as a part-time chaplain Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago, principals at more than a at The Marymount School and the Notre Dame Alumni Club of New York City. dozen inner-city parochial schools on Chicago’s west and south sides, and the Big In 2008, Fr. Devron was appointed the founding president of Christ the King Jesuit Shoulders Fund. He then led a search to identify a long-term ICTC director. College Preparatory School, on Chicago’s West side—the 20th Cristo Rey model school Returning to the New York City for two years (1996-98), he taught at the Gonzaga opened since the first one (Cristo Rey Jesuit High School) was founded in 1996. Christ Middle School Program for Boys in Harlem—a Nativity Miguel Model School—and the King is a Catholic Jesuit, independent, coeducational, college preparatory school for created a scholarship program to assist Gonzaga students attending private high schools. students from families on Chicago’s west side who would otherwise not have access to a The following year, he was assigned as director of the Loyola Youth Center in Crown private secondary school education. Sponsored by the Chicago-Detroit Province Jesuits, Heights, Brooklyn. Christ the King offers students a strong academic and spiritual foundation integrated with In 1998, he returned to graduate studies in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he a Corporate Work-Study Program in a safe, disciplined, faith-based and caring environ - earned a Masters in Divinity at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology. He also earned a ment. The school's program is designed to foster each student's intellectual and spiritual Masters in Theology in African American spirituality, through course work at the growth built on a deepening relationship with Jesus Christ. Christ the King seeks to inspire Harvard Divinity School and the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University and prepare its students to become creative leaders: “men and women for others” who are in New Orleans. committed to work for justice in the Church, in the civic community, and in their chosen In 2001, he was ordained a Roman Catholic priest at the Fordham University Church. profession. During his tenure at Christ the King, Fr. Devron presided over the construction For the next five years he worked as the founding director of REACH (Recruiting of its new campus—a $30MM facility—and steady growth in enrollment, board of trustees, Excellence for Academics in Catholic High Schools). REACH, an initiative of Regis High and faculty and staff. School, identifies, recruits and prepares academically On March 4, 2011, Fr. Devron professed solemn gifted middle school boys who could not otherwise vows as a Jesuit in the Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola afford a Catholic, private secondary education, and at Christ the King Jesuit College Prep (Chicago, IL). assists their families with scholarship opportunities at Fr. Devron serves on the following boards: Regis, Fordham Preparatory School, Xavier High Loyola Academy (Wilmette, IL); Loyola University School, The Loyola School and other top high schools Chicago (on which he chairs the Student in New York City. Development Committee and has been appointed Fr. Devron interacted with the strategic planning to the Executive Committee). He served as a board and education committees of the Regis Board of member for the UNO Charter School Network and Trustees, regularly presenting to them the progress was a member of Rahm Emanuel's Commission on and impact of REACH. Working with the Regis Child Safety Zones. development office, Fr. Devron created a development He has led workshops and retreats on school strategy for REACH, wrote foundation proposals, and diversity for the Jesuit Secondary Education frequently met with foundation officers and individual Association, the New York Association of donors to the program. REACH—which includes a Independent Schools, the Canisius High School summer residential component at the University of Board of Trustees (Buffalo, NY), and The Loyola Scranton (Scranton, PA)—currently enrolls over 100 School (New York, NY). He was appointed a special students from every borough. Now ten years old, adjunct professor of sociology at St. Joseph’s REACH has helped dozens of young people from University (Philadelphia, PA), where in the summer New York City gain access to more than several of 1998 he was part of a team of instructors who million dollars in academic scholarships and financial taught a traveling course on the history and aid at Catholic high schools throughout the city. The spirituality of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. first REACH graduates are now attending colleges and Articles authored by Father Devron have been universities throughout the country. published in America magazine, the Tablet and the During his tenure at REACH, Father Devron Journal of Popular Culture and BustedHalo.com . also taught theology and worked as a campus minister and chair of the committee on diversity at Fr. Devron celebrates the 2013 Mass of the Holy Spirit Regis; developed a mentoring program for REACH Fr. Devron welcomes the Class of 2017 students; and served as a weekend associate at the Church of St. Joseph in Harlem, one of a handful of Ministry
Chaplain’s Corner Being True to Oneself Fr. Don Devine, S.J., Chaplain
In our Scripture studies in the seminary, we learned the finding a good husband, arguments with Martha, troubling importance of hospitality in the Israelite community. Abram, spiritual questions. Meanwhile, Jesus can hear Martha in the way back in Genesis 18 .1-15 , ran out from his tent to welcome kitchen, quietly organizing a simple, healthy meal, singing three strangers, entreated them to rest and accept a little softly, obviously enjoying preparing food for people she loves. water, hastened to find his wife Sarah and told her to make He turns to Mary and says, “Mary, Mary, you are anxious and some bread, ran to his flock to find a tender calf and gave it upset about so many things. How often do I have to say over to his servant who hurried to prepare it. They must all have and over again: “Don’t worry, do not be anxious?” been out of breath when Abram finally took cream, nuts and If we combine both stories, Jesus isn’t telling Martha to the calf he had prepared and laid all of this humbly before get out of the kitchen and Mary to stop sitting as His feet. the strangers. Talk about service and hospitality! Rather, it seems to me, He is encouraging each of them not The strangers, who were angels in disguise, promised to fuss too much over trivial matters. Both Martha and Mary Abram that a year later his wife would have a son in spite of should relax with their guest and listen to Him, both in the his old age and the fact that Sarah’s child-bearing years were living room and at the dinner table. This happens in the one behind her. What a wonderful gift for showing kindness to other Martha incident in the gospels in John 11.1-44 , well strangers. Martha did the same thing for Jesus in Luke 10. worth rereading. 38-42. And what was her reward? She did what was This miraculous scene occurs only in the gospel normally expected when an unannounced visitor arrived. according to John. When informed that Lazarus “the man She welcomed and fed him. Why the rebuke, gentle as it must you love is ill”, Jesus delays two days before leaving for have been, rather than the anticipated praise and gratitude? Bethany. When told that Jesus has arrived, Martha leaves the What did she do to deserve this? mourners with Mary at the burial site and goes to Jesus to I personally believe Martha would have received sincere remonstrate with Him for being late. Then Martha told Mary gratitude and thanks from Our Lord if she hadn’t criticized Jesus was there, Mary got up quickly and made the same her sister Mary for not helping her serve the meal. I don’t assertion as her sister; “Lord, if you had been here, my think Jesus’ visit was to find a free gourmet meal. He simply brother would not had died.” One can see why Jesus loved wanted to relax with special friends, which the two sisters them so – different but trusting, instinctive and direct, and their brother Lazarus were. Mary apparently sensed His loving friends in the deepest and fullest sense of the word. mood and sat at His feet to be nourished and consoled by If Lazarus was like them, and he most likely was, we can see His wisdom and conversation. She had made the better why Jesus was in tears at the tomb. We each love and serve choice on this occasion. in our unique way – thanks be to God! Jesus never asks to A mother of ten suggests another scenario for our try to be someone else – He could have made us that way. reflection on this scene. Picture Mary spilling out her worries Rather, He wants us to follow our heart, to whisper our love, to Jesus: concerns about Lazarus’ health, the difficulty of to sing our song and to be ourselves .
10,000 PB & J’s My Summer Learning How to Make a Difference Michael Viele ’01
In March of 2013, while anxiously planning After much discussion with Collins and the upcoming Cardboard City Night, my mentor Hemsley, we are very excited to bring 10,000 group and I encountered a dilemma. We were in PB&J’s to Fordham Prep. We will be doing four need of a guest speaker who would help bring separate runs right out of the Commons. Our home awareness of the homeless and share with freshman classes will be required to participate us the opportunities out there for us to start in one element of the process. That may include something that matters. A week or so later, I met fundraising, sandwich making or delivery. As P.J. Collins, an entrepreneur, whose father Patrick many are aware, Fordham Prep has a rich history graduated from the Prep in 1967, my life and the of service and outreach. Bringing 10,000 PB&J’s lives of my students was forever changed. Mr. to the Bronx and having Fordham Prep as our Collins told myself, 45 students and six faculty home base will only strengthen and further grow members about a non-profit he created known that commitment. We are currently scouting out as 10,000 PB&J’s. areas around our Fordham Prep campus to The mission of 10,000 PB&J’s is to provide the meals to those in need. Many faculty provide not only meals, but also compassion members and alumni alike have already expressed and conversation to those in need. Each Sunday interest in helping. If you or someone you know evening, people from all walks of life meet at would like to help please feel free to email me at Patrick’s Pub in White Plains. After a brief [email protected] for more information. discussion, an assembly line is formed, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are made. At the end of the assembly line, two volunteers bag the meals and also add in a bottle of water and three Hershey kisses. Each night the teams make around 500 sandwiches. Once the bags are complete, teams are formed and we all travel to various pre-determined routes in NYC. This summer colleagues Chris Hemsley, Matt Bobo and new Prep President Father Chris Devron all joined me on this incredible outreach opportunity.
Patrick Collins ’67, father of P.J. Collins the creator of 10,000 PB & Js
2 Ramview / Winter/Spring 2012 From the President’s Office
The President’s Report
It is indeed a privilege to write my first Ramview report as the 35th President of solution to this problem. It will guarantee Fordham Preparatory School. that any bright young man who qualifies Though I’ve been at the Prep for only two months, it feels much longer—largely for a Fordham Prep education will be able because of the warm welcome extended to me by so many of you, which makes me feel to afford one, regardless of family income. already at home in the Fordham Prep community. Whether you are a parent, faculty or Endowment growth will preserve our staff member, student, an alumnus or a friend, I want to engage your energy and vision as historic mission and enhance our we build our mission of faith, scholarship and service (see “Engagement,” below). So far, educational outcomes for all students. I have had nearly 50 one-on-one meetings to enlist your ideas as I form a learning agenda Growing our enrollment and to establish my leadership. I work with an “open door,” and I invite you to call, write or endowment will require that we come make an appointment to meet with me so I can continue to learn and grow on the job. together like never before, and become Many have asked me to describe where I intend to focus my energy and attention more deeply engaged in the work of our as I move into my new role as president. I want to share with you the “E’s” that form common mission. Therefore, the third “E” the basis of my focus: on which I will focus is Engagement . We First and foremost, a school is only vibrant if it continues to recruit and attract cannot afford to sit idly by in an educational students who reflect its historic mission. Enrollment will be a major focus of my environment that is undergoing rapid leadership. Part of enrollment success is a “numbers game,” but, as the saying goes, we changes and tectonic shifts. I want to help Rev. Christopher J. Devron, SJ want “quality, not just quantity.” Enrollment quality at Fordham Prep means something you feel passionate—part of the process—so President very specific: our school is blessed to occupy a unique market niche because it brings that together, we may pursue continuous together a genuinely diverse group of young men representing many different improvement in all aspects of school and communities, backgrounds, races, cultures, ethnicities and socioeconomic classes. institutional life, whether they involve classroom technology and student learning; college In fact, as I meet with our alumni, they inevitably tell me one of the aspects of their counseling; cocurricular activities and sports; alumni relations; fundraising; our physical Prep education that they most cherish was learning from—and becoming friends and plant or communicating our value proposition to our stakeholders. St. Ignatius Loyola teammates with—peers who came from backgrounds different than their own. These called this “passion for improvement” striving for the “magis”—the “greater” good. The experiences form a critical value proposition underlying a Fordham Prep education: “magis” at Fordham Prep always invites us to deepen our commitment and innovate our The Fordham Prep alumnus enters an increasingly diverse and even globalized workforce methods to help our students achieve academic with an awareness and a cultural competency which give him a competitive advantage. excellence, and become “men for others,” dedicated to God’s greater glory. However, our diverse enrollment isn’t a result of a simplistic “check-the-box” Finally, as a Jesuit priest, my vocation is one of Encouragement . Ignatian spirituality approach in our admissions process. Rather, it happens because, for generations, the is founded on the conviction that we can “find God in all things.” This is an extraordinary, sons of newly arrived immigrants and families who could not otherwise afford a private transformational insight. It has the potential to revolutionize our minds and hearts. education have aspired to become Fordham Prep students. Reflecting this history, I’m Yet, as I told each class of students during our morning assemblies recently, we can thrilled that this year fully one-third of our freshman class—the Class of 2017—comes easily lose sight of God’s love for us. I want to do whatever I can to help our students, our from the borough of the Bronx. This percentage of Bronx students has been a strategic alumni, faculty and staff see God alive and active in their everyday lives; dealing with each goal for Fordham Prep for the past several years. of us directly and gently—“as a school master deals with his pupil” (St. Ignatius Loyola)— In order to sustain this unique diversity, Fordham Prep must build its Endowment , calling us to follow Jesus; giving us the humility to show mercy and the courage to work which is the second “E” on which I will focus. When St. Ignatius Loyola agreed to found for justice; and uniting us through the Spirit in our common mission of Catholic Jesuit Jesuit high schools in 16th Century Europe, he prohibited them from charging tuition, education. so that they could serve the rich and poor alike. Enrollment…Endowment…Engagement…Encouragement: All in the service of Today, the complex demands of our economy require our families to pay tuition. an overarching “E”: Education in the Jesuit tradition. I hope these “Five E’s” excite you as Even as tuition increases, it still cannot cover our costs. Our Annual Fund provides much as they excite me! an important source of revenue that bridges the gap, and I urge you to support it. As I continue to get to know many of the Fordham Prep community on a more However, we cannot simply rely on escalating tuition and ever-increasing personal level, please know that I pray for you daily. Please pray for me as well. development goals to fund operations. A significantly larger endowment is the only
The Principal’s Report
As the new school year gets underway, there is much for more tool in the learning process. It is worth noting that by which we are grateful. Some 230 eager freshmen grace our our kick-off date of September 2014, the Prep will join at least corridors, bringing enthusiasm, intellectual and athletic abilities, 36 of the some 50 American Jesuit high schools which will and lots of energy. Seniors return as young men, displaying already have some form of a one-to-one program. new-found maturity and assuming leadership roles throughout We believe that the computer will create something of a the bu ilding. Physical plant improvements continue, perhaps paradigm shift in the classroom. Assignments can be more most notably in the Higgins Competitive Gym and the Leonard open-ended, learning can be more self-directed and sustained, Theatre. The entire gymnasium has been painted, the stands students will have more opportunities to use preferred learning repaired and motorized, the scoreboards replaced, and a styles, and feedback can be more frequent and timely. Learning beautiful wooden floor complete with colorful graphic designs will become more personalized and engaging. The emphasis has replaced the old rubber one. In the Theatre, the lights and will be on higher-order content, complex skills such as synthesis, the sound system have been upgraded, some seats replaced, problem solving, and the integration of the two. Teachers’ roles and the stage itself has been refinished. will, more than ever, include acting as guides and mentors. It may be, however, that the work which may well result In the traditional classroom, students often come to class to in the greatest change and improvement is going on behind receive information from the teacher. In a 1-1 classroom, the the scenes. We have decided that during the next academic student obtains information in a myriad of ways, and students year, we will institute a 1-1 program in which every student and teachers work collaboratively to created shared knowledge Robert J. Gomprecht ’65 and faculty member will have an electronic device for use at and hone higher order analytical skills. Principal home and in the classroom. Last year, we formed our To be clear, however, our Jesuit approach to education Vanguard group, consisting of two tech savvy teachers from which has cura personalis (care of the individual) at its core each department, the principal, two assistant principals, and will not change. More explicitly, the relationships between the Technology Director. We spent many hours evaluating faculty and students, based on care and trust, will continue what kind of device our program would utilize and chose the to be the driving dynamic of the Prep. It is through these tablet computer. relational dynamics in the classroom, on teams and clubs, and The Vanguard group then worked together for several on retreats and in liturgies, that each student will discover who weeks this summer. We began a review of programs and he is. He will develop the strength and tools he needs to grow approaches to curriculum that will enable students with com - more fully into his humanity, will come to recognize that puters to improve their learning, to work more collaboratively, God is present in all things making life both meaningful and and to perform more evaluation and problem solving activi - purposeful, and will commit himself to using his talents to ties. We also traveled to Philadelphia for a day to visit a school transform the world. which works in partnership with Microsoft and in which every There is much to be done and the details will evolve as student has a computer. We learned a lot. The Vanguard group technology evolves, but we believe the quiet work of our will now lead a year-long preparation of the entire faculty for faculty this year, led by the Vanguard group, will result in one this transition to what is known as 1-1 computing, where each of the most impactful changes at the Prep. student and each teacher uses his or her own computer as one
Ramview / Winter/Spring 2012 3 From the Development Office
Fordham Preparatory School FACTS AT A GLANCE 2013-2014 ACADEMIC YEAR
Fordham Prep Founded in 1841, Fordham Preparatory School is a four-year, Jesuit, all-male, Catholic, college preparatory school located on the 85-acre Rose Hill Campus of Fordham University. The Prep was the fifth Jesuit high school founded in the United States and is part of a net work of 55 Jesuit high schools in the country. Today there are more than 2,000 Jesuit educational institutions in 56 countries around the world.
Enrollment 930 students – the majority of the students are from Westchester, the Bronx and Manhattan. The Prep also has students from Brooklyn and Queens; Long Island; Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess counties; and New Jersey and Connecticut; and a network of over 11,600 graduates.
Student Diversity 28% of the students have diverse backgrounds: 12% are Hispanic, 7% are multiracial, 6% are African American, and 3% are Asian.
Accreditation New York State Board of Regents Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools
Membership New York State Association of Independent Schools Jesuit Secondary Education Association
Ministry and Service The Fordham Prep community seeks to foster knowledge and love of God and neighbor and welcomes the gifts that all members of the community contribute to the school’s mission. The Prep’s Campus Ministry Program includes a number of events, activities and retreats to nurture and strengthen the spiritual growth of Prep students and faculty. The Prep’s Christian Service Program provides the opportunity for students to put their faith into action through a four-year requirement and a number of activities and projects.
Academic Our curriculum provides a full college preparatory education. The Prep also has 17 Advanced Placement courses. Qualified students can attend college classes at Fordham University and do research at the University’s library.
McNamara Library The McNamara library has a collection of approximately 10,000 holdings, subscribes to 52 different online reference and research databases, and has access to circulating and reference electronic books.
Class of 2013 Typically, 99% of the Prep’s graduates attend college. Fifty-five percent of the Class of 2013 are enrolled in colleges listed as “Most” or “Highly” competitive by Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges. Among the 2013 graduates, the Prep had one National Merit Scholarship winner, two National Merit Scholarship finalists, seven National Merit Scholarship Commended Students (top 5% nationally of all students who took the PSAT in their junior year), one National Achievement finalist, one National Achievement Scholarship semi-finalist, and one National Achievement Outstanding Participant, one National AP Scholar, twenty-eight AP Scholars With Distinction, sixteen AP Scholars With Honor, and thirty-five AP Scholars.
Employees 116 employees, including 81 faculty members. The faculty members have an average of 19 years of teaching experience. 90% of the faculty have advanced degrees, including 5 with doctoral degrees. There are 8 Jesuits on the faculty and staff.
Student-Faculty Ratio The overall student-faculty ratio is 11:1.
Cocurricular Activities Fordham Prep sponsors more than 60 student clubs and activities, which are organized and run by faculty and students, and provide opportunities for the students to explore areas of particular interest to them. Sixty-eight percent of the students participate in at least one cocurricular activity. For aspiring artists, musicians, singers, and actors, the Prep has a large art studio, a band room, and the 1,000 seat Leonard Theater for plays and musicals. The Prep also organizes art shows for students, faculty and the Prep community to exhibit their work.
Athletics The Prep has 38 interscholastic teams participating in 17 sports including: baseball, basketball, bowling, crew, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor), volleyball and wrestling. Sixty-eight percent of the students participate in at least one interscholastic sport.
Financial Aid/Scholarship For the 2013-2014 fiscal year, more than $3.1 million has been committed for financial aid and scholarships for 420 students (45% of our student body).
Tuition $17,560
Operating Budget $17.2 million
Endowment $21 million, as of June 30, 2013
Annual Fund/ Contributions to the 2012-2013 Annual Fund totaled $1,888,625. In addition Annual Scholarship $344,931 was contributed for annual scholarships.
The Campaign for Fordham Prep recently completed a five-year $23 million capital campaign, Ensuring the Legacy. The campaign helped to create state-of-the-art Fordham Prep science, music, art and fitness facilities, and increased the Prep’s endowment by over 25%.
FORDHAM PREP BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2012 - 2013
CHAIR OF THE BOARD Rev. Claudio M. Burgaleta, S.J. Rev. Charles A. Frederico, S.J. Mr. Donn J. McNamee ’87 Mrs. Ellen Fahey-Smith Mr. John F. Neary ’87 Associate Professor Vocation Director Senior Vice President Assistant Vice President and Founder Fordham University Maryland/New England/New York LPS Futures, LLC Chief of Staff 3000Kings LLC Provinces of the Society of Jesus Office of the Provost Mr. Mario A. Ciampi ’78 Mr. Roderick J. Murray ’78 Fordham University VICE-CHAIR OF THE BOARD Prentice Capital Management, LLP Dr. Cassandra H. Hyacinthe P ’99, ’08 Managing Director Mr. Joseph A. Schenk P ’09 Principal – Head of Private Assistant Principal Mortgage/ABS Trading Mr. William J. Whelan III ’76 Operating Executive Investments Mount Vernon High School Jeffries & Company Partner Carlyle Group Cravath, Swaine & Moore Dr. Joseph J. Ciancaglini Mr. Gerald A. Karr ’68 Mr. James S. Rowen ’82 BOARD MEMBERS Headmaster Karr North America Real Estate, LLC Chief Operating Officer Mr. Edward Young Rev. Kenneth J. Boller, S.J. Convent of the Sacred Heart Renaissance Technologies Assistant to Second and Pre- President Mr. Dwight W. McGuirk ’74 Secondary Education Fordham Preparatory School Mr. Ronald T. deCastro ’83 General Manager Mr. Steven A. Ruggiero `77 New York Province of the Society General Sales Manager Smith-Cairns Ford Managing Director of Jesus WXRK-FM/CBS Radio Head of Research Mr. Thomas A. McKeever ’61 R.W. Pressprich & Company Executive Chairman 4 Ramview / Fall 2013 Abacus Mining & Exploration From the Development Office
Fordham Prep Annual Fund Campaign Foster Pride at Fordham Prep
Since its founding in 1841, Fordham Preparatory School has continued to grow. We are proud of our school, and its strength is a tribute to all who have supported the Prep over the years. Because our Annual Fund is the lifeblood of the school, we would like to answer some questions you may have about our annual appeal:
Q. What is the Annual Fund and why do we need it? A. The Annual Fund sustains Fordham Preparatory School’s commitment to quality education. The Fund is designed to help cover the current year’s anticipated operational expenses. Because the Fund covers immediate operating expenses, it is critical that the Annual Fund remains strong and growing. This helps to ensure that the school’s operating budget is not compromised.
Q. Why doesn’t Fordham Prep raise tuition to pay for all of the operating needs? A. Although Fordham Prep must raise tuition annually to guarantee growth in faculty salaries and school programs, the school could not charge the full cost of tuition without seriously limiting the number of qualified students who could afford to attend. Revenue derived through the Annual Fund allows the school to keep tuition at a competitive rate with independent schools in the surrounding community.
Q. How are the Annual Fund dollars spent? A. The funds raised through the Annual Fund campaign are spent on budgeted items throughout the school year. In general, the Fund provides support for the professional development of our faculty and staff, classroom materials, student activities and clubs, arts and athletic Giving Participation Rates programs, financial aid and the maintenance of the buildings and grounds.
on the Rise at Fordham Prep Q. Who determines the Annual Fund’s goal? If we don’t meet the goal, will the Prep be affected? Loyal Supportes and Volunteers A. Fordham Prep President Father Christopher J. Devron S.J. recommends Enable Fordham to Continue to Grow an Annual Fund goal to the Development and Finance committees of the Prep’s Board of Trustees. The process balances tuition revenue forecasting and maximizing Annual Fund potential. If the goal isn’t met, Over the past four years Fordham Prep’s giving participation rates, among alum - the deficit would result in the deferral of capital improvement projects, eliminating staff development, and delaying technology upgrades. ni, parents and other constituent groups, have shown steady increases and, in some cases, have set school records: alumni – from 16% to 19%; Class Q. Who should give to the Annual Fund? Representatives from 70% to 85%; current parents – from 40% to 45%; faculty A. Everyone who is part of the Fordham Prep community, including and staff – from 13% to 37%; Senior Class – from 24% to 82%. alumni, parents, senior class students, and friends, should support, if possible, the Annual Fund. Contributions to the Annual Fund range from the $10 or $20 a student or young alumnus in college might We also receive wonderful support from relatives of alumni, friends, corporation contribute to many thousands of dollars. and foundations. This trend is very encouraging. Corporations and foundations frequently inquire about the giving participation rates of constituent groups Q. I can’t make a large gift. Does my gift still matter? A. The Prep needs and values everyone’s support. A gift, regardless of the prior to making gifts to educational institutions. amount, will provide additional resources and will often serve to encourage others to make gifts. An appropriate gift is one in proportion The Prep continues to move forward and this point of pride, in no small part, is to a person’s ability to give. Corporate matching gifts enable donors to due to the generosity of our constituent groups and friends and the efforts of our increase the value of their gifts and provide valuable sources of revenue to the school. dedicated volunteers who rally the troops in support of Fordham Prep. Q. Why is the percent of participation important? Our Class Representatives keep their classmates connected to each other and the A. A high percent of participation in the Annual Fund is an important way Prep; alumni and parents participate in phonothons, reaching out to constituent to demonstrate the commitment of the Prep’s constituents. Corporations and foundations frequently inquire about the participation rates of key groups and prospective donors; Fathers’ Club and Mothers’ Club members are constituent groups prior to making gifts to educational institutions. busy year round running social activities and events that support the school; the Golf Outing Committee is growing the Prep’s Annual Outing at a rapid pace; Q. Does it matter when I pledge or make a gift? A. To help plan the school’s spending, donors are asked to make gifts or and Ye Olde Prep Shoppe volunteers are selling Prep apparel and merchandise pledges as early in the school year as possible. Payments can be made which help to promote the Prep’s name. through the end of the fiscal year on June 30.
Our constituent groups’ efforts reflect their dedication to our school, and they Q. How do I contribute to the Annual Fund? A. You can make your tax-deductible donation in any of these ways: serve the Prep for the same reasons: in appreciation of Jesuit Education; because • Pledge now and pay in full or in installments by June 30 they value the relationships they forged at the Prep; desire for future Rams to • A check made payable to Fordham Preparatory School have the same formative experiences; and, quite simply, because they love • Credit Card: American Express, Discover, Master Card, Visa Fordham Prep. • Appreciated securities: call or email the Development Office for transfer instructions. • Online: by visiting the school’s website at www.fordhamprep.org Your support means so much to our school. Enclosed with this Ramview is a response envelope for your convenience. Please contact Joan Wollman if further Gifts of all amounts are deeply appreciated. information is required (telephone 718-367-7500, extension 209; email: woll - For more information please contact Joan Wollman, Director of Annual Giving, [email protected]). at 718-367-7500 - extension 209, or [email protected]
Ramview / Fall 2013 5 From the Development Office
TWENTY Consecutive Years of Giving
Below are the names of the members of the Prep community who have made contributions for twenty or more consecutive years through June 30, 2013. We thank them for their loyal and generous support. If you have any questions about this list, please contact Director of Annual Giving Joan Wollman by e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at 718-367-7500 ext. 209.
Alfred M. Abate, Esq. AL 1969 Mr. Ralph D. DeNunzio AL 1949 Col. Joseph J. Kelly, USMC(Ret) AL 1935 John J. O'Leary, Esq. AL 1944 Mrs. Margaret I. Adlerman PP 1989 Mr. Joseph E. Dertinger, Jr. AL 1957 Mr. William E. Kennedy AL 1951 Mr. Thomas M. O'Malley AL 1965 Paul J. Ambrosini, MD AL 1968 Mr. Paul O. DeSimone AL 1956 Mr. William G. Klein AL 1943 Mr. Brendan T. O'Neill AL 1975 Mr. Charles A. Andruss AL 1991 Hon. Joseph J. DioGuardi AL 1958 Mr. Werner A. Kloepfer AL 1957 Mrs. John V. O'Toole PP 1989 Mr. Richard L. Arvedlund AL 1959 Mr. Domenick R. DiPasquale AL 1971 Mr. Francis J. Komornik AL 1955 Mr. Daniel M. Ottaviano AL 1969 Mrs. Patricia K. Bader PP 1979 Mr. Joseph S. Dirr AL 1964 Mr. Edward J. Krol, Jr. AL 1964 Mr. & Mrs. Alec A. Pandaleon PP 1980 Mr. Peter F. Barry AL 1945 Jorge I. Dominguez, Ph.D. AL 1963 Mr. Edward A. Lang, III AL 1973 Mr. Charles J. Pelisson AL 1953 Mr. John A. Bertrand AL 1956 Mr. John F. Donahue, Jr. AL 1954 Mr. Christopher D. Lauber AL 1979 Mr. William M. Perry AL 1964 Mr. Robert W. Bertrand AL 1958 Mr. Patrick J. Dooley AL 1980 Mr. & Mrs. Frank R. Lener PP 1981 Mr. William B. Pollard, III PP 1989 Edward W. Beuchert, Esq. AL 1954 Mr. Raymond J. Dorado AL 1975 Samson Liao, Ph.D. AL 1971 Mr. Alfonse J. Preisser AL 1957 Mr. Owen J. Black, Jr. AL 1943 Mr. William R. Doyle AL 1960 Mr. & Mrs. Carl D. Liggio AL 1961 Harold W. Pskowski, Esq. AL 1967 Mr. John P. Blessington AL 1951 Mrs. Maureen E. Driskill PP 1989 Mr. Stephen R. LoBello AL 1975 Mr. Jon L. Rapillo AL 1982 Mr. Richard F. Blessington AL 1945 Mr. James F. Duhig AL 1952 Guido M. Lometti, D.D.S AL 1936 Paul P. Rega, MD AL 1966 Mr. & Mrs. Patrick J. Boland PP 1996 Mr. Francis R. Einterz AL 1946 Mr. William E. Lucey AL 1966 Robert J. Reid, Esq. AL 1964 Guy C. Bosetti, Esq. AL 1944 Cary R. Ell, Esq. AL 1977 Mr. Carmine Lucia AL 1968 Dr. & Mrs. Paul J. Reiss PP Mr. Thomas A. Brennan, Jr. AL 1956 Martin B. Engelhardt, Esq. AL 1957 James P. Lundy, Esq. AL 1948 Mr. Robert F. Reninger AL 1954 Mr. William R. Brick, Jr. AL 1957 Mr. Robert B. Fane AL 1962 William B. MacGuire, Jr., MD AL 1934 Mrs. Eileen Reynolds PP 1982 Mr. Donald P. Brisson AL 1962 Charles J. Farrow, MD AL 1969 Mr. Paul P. Maffei AL 1959 Mr. Joseph T. Ricci AL 1964 Brooklyn Prep Alumni Assoc. Dr. & Mrs. Robert B. Fath, Jr. AL 1969 Mr. Robert A. Maffei AL 1943 Mr. & Mrs. Charles J. Rinaldi PP 1984 Mr. & Mrs. Donald F. Brophy PP 1989 Mr. Richard T. Felago AL 1965 Mr. Thomas F. Maher AL 1965 Thomas D. Rizzo, MD AL 1977 Mr. & Mrs. William J. Brown AL 1962 Thomas J. Ferro, MD AL 1972 Mr. John J. Maloney AL 1947 Mr. John P. Robben AL 1948 Mr. James R. Brugger, Jr. AL 1967 Hon. Anthony J. Fiorella, Jr. AL 1956 Mr. Robert J. Maloney AL 1945 William P. Roberts, Ph.D. AL 1949 Mr. Edmund M. Burke AL 1944 Mr. John J. Foley AL 1963 Mr. Thomas D. Mauriello AL 1980 Mr. Richard J. Russo AL 1967 Mr. & Mrs. Richard F. Burke PP 1986 Mr. Michael S. Foltin AL 1974 Mr. Gerard F. McCabe AL 1952 Mr. Thomas J. Ryan AL 1988 Mr. Robert P. Butta AL 1949 Fordham Prep Mothers’ Club Michael T. McCarthy, Esq. AL 1967 Richard C. San George, Ph.D. AL 1969 Robert M. Byrn, Esq. AL 1949 Mr. & Mrs. Paul M. Frank AL 1956 John J. McDermott, Esq. AL 1946 Mr. Michael J. Scarpelli AL 1957 Mr. John C. Calhoun AL 1956 Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth C. Fuller PP 1987 Mr. & Mrs. Gerald J. McGee PP 1988 Mr. Richard G. Scarpelli AL 1959 Mr. Michael J. Campbell AL 1955 Mr. Mario J. Gabelli AL 1961 Mr. John T. McGirl AL 1959 Mr. & Mrs. Ernst R. Schaaf PP 1990 Mr. John R. Carsky AL 1979 Mr. Charles A. Garvin AL 1953 Terence J. McGrath, D.D.S AL 1951 Mr. Walter E. Schluter AL 1960 John T. Carty, Esq. AL 1970 Mr. Kenneth E. Gazzola AL 1957 Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. McKenna AL 1977 Mr. John C. Schneider AL 1962 Joseph P. Castellano, MD AL 1967 Robert A. Gazzola, Esq. AL 1955 Mr. Paul B. McLaughlin AL 1973 Mr. Frank A. Scolaro AL 1941 Mr. Daniel C. Cavaluzzi AL 1973 Mr. John M. Geraghty AL 1960 Mr. Robert K. McLaughlin AL 1950 Mr. Robert P. Serafin AL 1970 Arthur L. Centonze, Ph.D. AL 1964 Robert E. Gilbert, Ph.D. AL 1957 Mr. Walter J. McLaughlin AL 1949 Denis R. Shea, Esq. AL 1971 Michael P. Cesa, MD AL 1964 Mr. Richard J. Gillingham AL 1949 Mr. & Mrs. Edward J. McLoughlin PP 1983 Mr. John J. Sheehan AL 1951 Mr. Paul Coghlan AL 1962 Mr. Michael O. Glynn AL 1958 Mr. Thomas A. McQuillan AL 1946 Mr. John T. Shields AL 1944 Mr. Thomas M. Collins AL 1964 Mr. Alexander M. Goasdoue AL 1990 Mr. & Mrs. George F. Miller FR Mr. & Mrs. Gerald S. Smith PP 1995 Mr. Louis A. Comarato AL 1968 Mr. Charles L. Goasdoue AL 1990 Mr. James A. Mitchell AL 1942 Christopher A. South, Esq. AL 1972 Thomas M. Comerford, Esq. AL 1955" Mr. & Mrs. Marcel F. Goasdoue PP 1990 Mr. Joseph H. Moglia AL 1967 Mr. & Mrs. Joseph M. Spillane PP 1995 Lawrence M. Condon, MD AL 1962 Mr. Frederick H. Grein, Jr. AL 1964 Mr. & Mrs. Christopher J. Moroney PP 2000 Mr. & Mrs. John W. Spollen PP 1995 Mr. Edward N. Conroy AL 1953 Mr. Thomas W. Grein AL 1969 Mr. Joseph E. Mottola AL 1958 Stephen E. Mr. Edward C. Squire AL 1950 Mr. James J. Considine AL 1983 Mr. & Mrs. Carl M. Groepler PP 1987 Mulligan, Esq. AL 1969 Mr. August A. Stellwag AL 1949 Mr. Thomas A. Conway, Jr. AL 1960 Mrs. George L. Haag PP 1986 Mr. Kevin F. Mulvey AL 1962 Mrs. Margaret F. Sullivan WI Mr. John A. Corbett AL 1988 Mr. Kevin R. Hackett AL 1967 Mr. Lawrence A. Murphy AL 1979 Mr. Ronald S. Tamoschat AL 1955 Mr. Donald T. Coupe AL 1936 Mr. Joseph V. Hamilton, Jr. AL 1947 Mr. & Mrs. James F. Murray AL 1963 Vincent J. Torna, Esq. AL 1969 Mr. Stephen J. Courtney AL 1968 Mr. Stephen R. Hammond AL 1958 Mr. Peter E. Murray AL 1963 Mr. Timothy R. Tostanoski AL 1974 Mr. Francis F. Crawford AL 1966 Mr. William P. Hayes DA 1949 Mr. & Mrs. John F. Neary AL 1987 Mr. David C. Trahan AL 1983 Mr. & Mrs. Robert R. Crimmins AL 1965 Mr. & Mrs. William F. Heitmann AL 1966 New York Province of the Society of Jesus Mr. Daniel J. Tynan AL 1962 Mr. & Mrs. Daniel P. Cronin PP 1998 Drs. David & Lois Hinman PP 1997 Mr. Kevin P. Norton AL 1971 Mr. Quince V. Venturino AL 1981 Mrs. John Cronin PP 1989 Mr. Howard W. Hopkins AL 1972 Mr. Stephen J. Norton AL 1969 Mr. Martin J. Waters, Jr. AL 1957 Mr. Douglas E. Cummings AL 1959 Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Horgan AL 1948 Mr. Anthony F. O'Boyle, Jr. AL 1946 Thomas G. Webber, MD AL 1962 Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence W. Curran AL 1977 Mr. William F. Huber AL 1961 Mr. Joseph D. O'Brien, Jr. AL 1957 Wayne M. Weisner, MD AL 1942 Mr. John F. Curtis AL 1968 Mr. & Mrs. Paul R. Hundt PP 1998 Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth J. O'Brien PP 1986 Mr. Robert F. Wetjen AL 1955 Mr. Kevin R. Daley AL 1948 Mr. John C. Hurley, Sr. AL 1965" Mr. Donald J. O'Connell AL 1949 Henry F. White, Esq. AL 1963 Mr. Vincent D. Daly AL 1949 Mr. Louis V. Isganitis AL 1972 Dr. & Mrs. Ralph A. O'Connell AL 1955 Mr. Jeffrey M. Williams AL 1968 Vincent C. DeBaun, Ph.D. AL2 1943 Mrs. Dara M. Kane PP 1998 0 Mr. Edward J. O'Connor AL 1970 Mr. Paul D. Williams AL 1956 Mr. John A. Del Negro AL 1959 Mr. James G. Kane AL 1944 Mr. Kevin J. B. O'Connor AL 1964 Mr. George J. Wino AL 1945 Mr. Joseph J. DeLosa, Jr. AL 1977 Mrs. Howard J. Kaplow PP 1979 Mr. Neil R. O'Hanlon AL 1968 Mr. William J. Wollman AL 1985 Mr. William F. DeMucci, Jr. AL 1962 Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Keating PP 1992 Mr. George M. O'Har AL 1966 John P. Denneen, Esq. AL 1958 Mr. Thomas L. Keily, Jr. AL 1947 Richard L. O'Hara, Esq. AL 1947
SHEA-M CDONOUGH SOCIETY Below is a list of alumni, parents and friends, living and deceased, who are members of the Shea-McDonough Society, individuals who have made provisions in their estate plans for Fordham Prep, thereby honoring the lives and examples of Reverend Arthur Shea, S.J. and Mr. Harry McDonough. To enroll in the Shea – McDonough Society or for more information about ways and means of giving to Fordham Prep, please contact Joan Wollman, Director of Annual Giving at 718-367-7500 ext. 209 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Rev. Arthur V. Shea, S.J. Mr. Harry L. McDonough
Stephen J. Amoretty, Ph.D. ’58 Mr. John M. Fitzpatrick ’58 Mr. Thomas F. McEvily, Jr. ’43 Mr. John T. Shields ’44 Mr. James M. Callahan ’59 Mr. Richard Flood ’51 Mr. John S. McEvoy ’46 Mr. William M. Skehan ’57 Joseph P. Callahan, Esq. ’62 Mr. John M. Geraghty ’60 Mr. Walter J. McLaughlin ’49 Mr. Michael J. Sniffen ’67 Mr. Frank J. Colarusso ’74 Mr. Stephen R. Hammond ’58 Thomas J. Mitchell, Esq. ’62 Mr. August A. Stellwag ’49 George X. Connor, Esq. ’39 Mr. Edward F. Hickey, Jr. ’46 Mr. Joseph H. Moglia ’67 Mrs. Marianna Tostanoski PP ’72, ’74 Mr. Joseph J. Connor ’62 Mr. Kenneth A. Hoffman ’61 Mr. John W. Murphy ’53 Mr. Gerard B. Tracy ’35 Mr. Edward J. Costello, Jr. ’57 Mrs. Hector M. Hyacinthe PP ’77, ’79, ’80 Mr. Thomas J. O'Neill ’52 Mr. William E. Tuite ’66 Francis R. Coughlin, MD ’44 Mr. James G. Kane ’44 Mr. Joseph G. Opp ’64 Mr. Martin J. Waters, Jr. ’57 Mr. Joseph S. Coyle ’53 Mr. Edward A. Lang, III ’73 Mr. William M. Perry ’64 Mr. Frank C. Webster ’44 Richard A. DeLorenzo, Esq. ’55 Mrs. Madelyn R. Larsen PP ’89 Mr. Harold F. X. Plate ’46 Mr. Paul D. Williams ’56 Mr. Robert D. DiDiego ’45 Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Lavin ’97, ’02 William F. Quirk, Esq. ’51 Mr. James W. DiMarzo ’64 James P. Lundy, Esq. ’48 Mr. Gregory F. Rinn, AAI ’57 Hon. Joseph J. DioGuardi ’58 Mr. Richard D. Mallery, Jr. ’58 Mr. Joseph G. Rowan ’58
6 Ramview / Fall 2013 From the Development Office
18th ANNUAL FORDHAM PREP GOLF OUTING Another Success by all Accounts
Fordham Preparatory School’s 18th Annual Golf Outing was held on June 18, 2013 We are most grateful to the members of our Golf Committee for their assistance in at Quaker Ridge Golf Club, Scarsdale, NY and Wykagyl Country Club, New Rochelle, planning and executing our outing and helping us to take this event to a new level, and NY. also to the outing’s sponsors for their generosity and interest in our school. Despite the challenge of a rainy day, the outing was a great success. With 181 golf The golf committee is already making plans for next year’s outing which will be participants, and more than $72,000 net raised for the school’s Annual Fund, the outing held on June 17, 2014. We are considering including a tennis component in this event, set records for participation and net revenue raised for the second consecutive year. and we would appreciate your letting us know if this component would be of interest to And, this growth is expected to continue. you. Golf Committee volunteers are welcome. The outing included lunch, shotgun start for the golfers, a cocktail reception, fol - If you would like to participate in next year’s outing, or assist us as a Golf lowed by an open-seating dinner buffet. Silent and live auctions featured noteworthy Committee volunteer, please contact John Kahl, Vice President for Development and trips, highly regarded golf clubs, college and professional athletic events, and top restau - Alumni Relations, at telephone 718-367-7500, extension 210; email: kahlj@fordham - rants and hotels, among other fine offerings - and there were 41 wonderful raffle prizes. prep.org. We hope that you will join us at this event. Prizes were also awarded for closest to the pin, longest drive and straightest drive, and for low gross and net scores in foursome competitions.
COMMITTEE CHAIR LEADERSHIP SPONSORS DC Capital Partners Michael Carly New York Rangers Steven Ruggiero’77 Thomas Campbell ’76 Ken DeLasho ’76 Michael Casella P’11 New York Yankees DC Capital Partners Entertainment & Sounds Unlimited CBS Radio Kevin O’Connor ’81 COMMITTEE MEMBERS Ernest Harris Architects CORE: Club Craig Overlander ’78 Thomas Bacon P’15 JESUIT, FACULTY/STAFF, Mark FitzPatrick ’88 Robert Corwen P’10 ’15 Armand Paganelli P’15 Joseph Carballeira ’71 VOLUNTEER SPONSOR Fordham University – John Crabtree ’74 Party City Steve Courtney ’68 Margaret Adlerman Executive MBA Program Crabtree’s Kittle House Pasquale Rigoletto Restaurant Sean Davey ’80 Thomas Curtin Jack Geraghty ’60 Michael Crinieri P’17 Chris Pia Julio Diaz ’73 John Freeman ’80 Hudson Valley Bank Daily Show with Jon Stewart Prudential Center Brian Duffy ’95 Chris Hanlon ’78 Dave Hunt ’67 P. J. Denning ’90 Quaker Ridge Golf Club Michael Franchi ’96 Thomas Houlihan ’80 Industrial Acoustics Company Diageo Guinness Michael Quinlan ’71 James Harrison ’69 Douglas Killip P’12 JP McHale Pest Management Doral Arrowwood Rao’s Restaurant Christopher Healy ’85, P’17 Tradition Energy Philip Lo Scalzo ’89 Brian Duffy ’95 Ridgewood Country Club Niall Henry ’98 William Whelan ’76 Maestro’s Caterers Elizabeth Arden Nelson Ritter ’96 Adrian Mansylla ’09 Meridien Risk Management Emilia’s Restaurant The Ritz-Carlton Lodge William McNamara ’96 HOLE-IN-ONE-SPONSOR Joe Moglia ’67 ESPN Sports RiverMarket Bar and Kitchen Gerry Moss ’68 Stephen Courtney ’68 Moglia Family Foundation Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club Jean Rooney P’88 John Murphy ’77 Courtney Honda Robert Moschetta ’90 Mark FitzPatrick Kevin Rooney ’88, P’17 Peter Murray ’63 Dwight McGuirk ’74 Mt. Carmel Pharmacy Fordham Prep Men’s Club Kristine Rooney Connor Nugent ’06 Smith-Cairns Ford John Murphy ’77 Golf Digest Steven Ruggiero ’77 Michael Quinlan ’71 Richard Naclerio ’88 Group Sales Box Office Saint Regis Hotel Steven Riccio P’14 GOLF OUTING DONATIONS National Mechanical Services, Inc John Hamilton ’68 Doug Schoen Nelson Ritter ’96 Anonymous (2) Paganelli Family Robert Hannigan ’78 Setai Fifth Avenue Kevin Rooney ’88, P’17 Richard Cohen Party City James Harrison ’69 Seton Hall University Thomas Ryan ’88 The Daniels Group, Inc. Eugene Rooney ’88 Christopher Healy ’85, P’17 The Sherry-Netherland Quint Spitzer P’12, ’15 Douglas Schoen Kevin Rooney ’88 Hilton New York Quint Spitzer P’12 ’15 John Trimble P’13, ’16 Waldorf Risk Solutions Smith-Cairns Ford Hotel Plaza Athenee Station House George Zambetti, Jr. ’68 Henry White ’63 Waldorf Risk Solutions, Inc. Tom Hurley ’73 Ron Straci John Yoon ’88 George Zambetti, Jr. ’68 Maurice Hyacinthe Michele Tognozzi FORDHAM PREP STAFF Incognito Italian Bistro Stephen Traendly Larry Curran ’77 PRIZE DONORS John Joyce ’88 John Trimble P’16 John Kahl TEE SPONSORS Amscan Gene Lanza TRYP Times Square South Hotel John Mercorella ’07 Anonymous Thomas Bacon P’15 Maestro’s Caterers Valerie Wilson Travel, Inc. Joan Wollman P’85 Adeptus Partners, LLC Bar Pitti Mario’s Verizon Amscan Beacon Restaurant & Bar Stephen McGuinness P’12 Paul Victor ’50 Biltmore Tuxedos Beechmont Tavern Keith McNamara Nancy and Thomas Walsh P’16 Thomas Campbell ’76 Box Office Group Sales John Mercorella ’07 WARD III Cater To You Broadridge Michaelangelo’s James Welsh P’12 Colleran, O’Hara & Mills L.L.P. Broadway.com/Groups Mike’s Deli Kevin Willard Coogan’s Restaurant Bronx Brewery John Murphy ’77 WNOW Rob Coughlin P’15 Collette & Terrence Burd ’15 Rod Murray ’78 Wykagyl Country Club Courtney Honda Burke Distributing Company Richard Naclerio ’88 Z100 The Daniels Group, Inc. Joseph Carballeira ’71 New York Palace
Ramview / Fall 2013 7 Around the Prep
Class of 1988 Sets a New Record for Reunion Attendance
On April 20, 2013, the Fordham the result of a college fraternity hazing but not limited to: Mark Goldschmidt and Kevin Rooney, included: Thomas Prep Class of 1988 celebrated its 25th accident in 1988. The Class was honored Brian McCooey (Army), Dan Demaso Andruss, Marc Burton, Michael Curtin, Reunion in the Imperial Ballroom of the to welcome Joel’s mother, Mrs. Adrienne (Navy), Anthony Ajello and Christopher Patrick Deane, Louis DiGiorno, Mark Riverside Church in Manhattan and set a Harris, and Joel’s cousin at the reunion. Brennan (Air Force), Ruben Alvarez, Ed DiPaolo, William Fenwick, Mark new Prep record with 89 classmates in Tom Ryan made a toast in honor of Coffey and Nick Visconti (Marines), and FitzPatrick, Anthony Fletcher, Mark attendance. The former record of 88 class - George Coleman, who died after a long Dennis Miller (Coast Guard). Goldschmidt, Jonathan Horgan, John mates was set last year by the Class of 1987. battle with cancer. While Mrs. Coleman Other pictures from the evening may Joyce, Peter Maddocks, James Mangan, The Class of 1988 celebrated the was unable to attend the reunion, she did be found on the Fordham Prep Online Matthew McGowan, Manuel Mercader, evening by toasting several of their fellow make a contribution to the Class community. Ruben Rivera, Thomas Ryan, Paul classmates. John Joyce made a toast in Endowment in honor of George. Last, but Overall, the night was a tremendous Saunders, Stephen Savva, James Smith, honor of his cousin, Patrick Joyce, a definitely not least, Ruben Rivera made a success due to the hard work of the 25- Valentino Vasi, John Yoon, and Marlo Yonkers firefighter who gave his life in the toast in honor of those classmates who member Reunion Committee, which did Young. line of duty in 2009. Marc Burton made a have served, or are still serving, in the an outstanding job bringing everyone toast in honor of Joel Harris who died as United States Armed Forces including, together. The Committee, chaired by
CLASS OF 2013 COLLEGE DESTINATIONS
American University Fairfield University - 6 Pennsylvania State University - 5 Trinity College Auburn University Fordham University - 16 Providence College - 4 Tufts University - 2 Bard College Georgetown University - 4 Quinnipiac University Union College Bates College Harvard College - 3 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute United States Military Academy Boston College - 7 Howard University Roanoke College University of California at Los Angeles Boston University - 4 Ithaca College - 2 Rochester Institute of Technology University of Connecticut Brown University Lehigh University Rutgers University University of Delaware Bucknell University - 3 Lehman College Sacred Heart University University of Denver Carnegie Mellon Louisiana State University Saint John’s University - 2 University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Catholic University of America - 3 Loyola University Chicago Saint Joseph’s University - 3 University of Massachusetts, Amherst Clarkson University Loyola University Maryland - 16 Saint Lawrence University University of Miami - 2 Clemson University Loyola Marymount University Santa Clara University - 2 University of Michigan Coastal Carolina University - 2 James Madison University - 2 Saint Olaf College University of Notre Dame Colby College Manhattan College - 12 Seton Hall University University of Oxford College of Charleston Manhattanville College SUNY Albany - 5 University of Rochester College of the Holy Cross - 3 Marquette University - 3 SUNY Binghamton - 13 University of Scranton - 5 College of Mount Saint Vincent Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts SUNY Buffalo - 3 University of Southern California - 2 College of William and Mary - 2 McGill University SUNY College at Geneseo - 4 University of Tennessee Columbia University Harvey Mudd College SUNY College of Environmental Science University of Virginia - 2 Cornell University - 2 New York Institute of Technology – Old and Forestry University of Wisconsin, Madison CUNY – Sophie Davis School of Westbury SUNY Maritime - 2 Villanova University - 6 Biomedical Education New York University - 4 SUNY New Paltz Wake Forest University - 2 Duke University Northeastern University - 4 SUNY Purchase George Washington University - 2 Elon University Northwestern University Stony Brook University Washington University in St. Louis Embry-Riddle Aeronuatical University - FL Oberlin College Susquehanna University Westchester Community College - 2 Emory University Pace University - 2 Syracuse University - 4 Williams College
8 Ramview / Winter/Spring 2013 Around the Prep
Endowment Campaigns for the Classes of 1987 and 1988 Raise Over $1,000,000 in Support of the Patrick S. Joyce Jr. ’88 Scholarships
As you may know, the fundraising model I want to make sure that future generations have the established by the Class of 1987 was different same opportunity that I had back in 1984 — a greater from any attempted in prior years. Members of chance of succeeding in life.” the Class of 1987 worked together to ask their Kevin Rooney, a member of the Class of 1988, is classmates to mark their 25th Reunion Year by also a Prep Parent now that his son, John, is a Freshman pledging significant gifts that could be spread out at the Prep. Kevin, who grew up in the Parkchester over three (3) years. Alumni who had never section of the Bronx, explained his reasons for giving. given, as well as alumni who were long-time con - “My parents were divorced so money was extremely tributors, were asked to consider making pledges tight in my family. There was no way that they could greater than any amount that they had con - afford to send me to the Prep. I was an altar boy at St. tributed in the past. The success of that campaign Helena’s Parish in the Bronx and, by complete chance, was outstanding and remarkable with a current met Rev. James Griffin, S.J. (a former Fordham Prep total of over $800,000 committed and a 57% class faculty member) during the summer before my 8th participation rate. The Class of 1987 used these grade year. Fr. Griffin was assigned to our parish to monies to establish the Patrick S. Joyce Jr. ’88 cover for the parish priests who were on vacation. When Scholarships and funded these scholarships with Fr. Griffin found out that I wanted to attend the Prep, 100% of its Endowment. but that my parents could not afford the tuition, he set out to find a way to make it Even more remarkable is the fact that the Prep has already started to award Patrick happen. Eventually, he succeeded – he learned that a secretarial position was available S. Joyce Jr. ’88 Scholarships to students. To date, two students from the Classes of 2016 at the Prep and that as part of the compensation, my mother would receive a 50% and 2017, both academically qualified and able to demonstrate a financial need, have reduction in tuition. My mother gave up a job, which she really enjoyed with the NYC received scholarships totaling approximately $20,000. In fact, one of the recipients is Transit Authority’s Patrolmen’s Benefit Association, and took the job at the Prep. If not in his second year of receiving one of these scholarships. We expect to highlight the for Fr. Griffin and my mother, I never would have been able to go to the Prep. My con - successes of these students as they progress through the Prep. tribution to the Endowment is my way of honoring them and thanking them for giving Following the success of the Class of 1987, the Class of 1988 has been quietly me the chance to attend the Prep. I hope we’re able to help a lot of kids who appreciate raising its own Endowment – all of which will also be used to support the Patrick S. the opportunity to attend the Prep as much as I did, and still do.” Joyce Jr. ’88 Scholarships. To date, the Class of 1988 has raised $230,000. This brings Patrick Deane, another member of the Class of 1988 and the current Assistant the aggregate total raised in support of the Patrick S. Joyce Jr. ’88 Scholarships to more Dean of Students, AP History Teacher, and Head Varsity Baseball Coach for the than $1,000,000. Prep, had these thoughts – “my father worked for Con Edison and served as the The Class of 1988 has already set a new record for the amount raised from its Superintendent of our building in the Pelham Bay section of the Bronx. My parents did members. Next on the horizon is the record for the number of classmates participating everything that they could to give me the opportunity to go to the Prep. They gave me in the campaign. Toward this end, the entire Fundraising Committee has contributed to the opportunity to attend a school where I met guys from the Bronx, Manhattan, the Class of 1988 Endowment – Tom Ryan, Kevin Rooney, John Joyce, James Mangan, Queens, Westchester, New Jersey, and Connecticut. I learned a lot from guys who came Mark FitzPatrick, Marlo Young, Marc Burton, Patrick Deane, Peter Maddocks, Manuel from different economic, racial and ethnic backgrounds. More importantly, I know that Mercader, Mike Tognino, Richard Naclerio, Ruben Rivera, Stephen Savva, Valentino no other school would have brought together such a diverse group of kids, in such a Vasi, and John Yoon. This diverse group of alumni grew up in the Bronx, Manhattan, competitive but nurturing environment, and have them collectively succeed both at the and Westchester, and come from an assortment of economic, racial, and ethnic back - Prep and beyond. I’m sure a lot of Prep alumni feel the same way, but I think of our grounds. Another noteworthy fact is that these gentlemen include first-time donors, class as a large group of brothers – we may not always get along, but we’ll always be sporadic contributors, and long-term donors. friends and always look forward to getting together as a class.” In speaking with these donors, we also learned that there are numerous and varied Members of the Class of 1988 interested in making a contribution to the reasons why members of this class are contributing to the Endowment and the Patrick Endowment are encouraged to contact one of the Fundraising Committee members S. Joyce Jr. ’88 Scholarships. Marlo Young, who grew up on Murdock Avenue in the (Kevin Rooney, Marc Burton, Patrick Deane, Mark FitzPatrick, John Joyce, Peter Wakefield section of the Bronx, contributed an amount that was much larger than any Maddocks, James Mangan, Manuel Mercader, Mike Tognino, Richard Naclerio, Ruben he had given in the past. According to Marlo, “I was the recipient of financial aid when Rivera, Thomas Ryan, Stephen Savva, Valentino Vasi, John Yoon, and Marlo Young) to I was a student at the Prep. Without the financial aid, I would not have attended the discuss the importance of this campaign and how they may be able to participate. Prep - one of the most invaluable and rewarding academic experiences of my life. The The Class of 1988 fundraising campaign will conclude on, Thursday, November opportunity to contribute to the Patrick Joyce ’88 Scholarships was the perfect way for 28th, Thanksgiving Day, when the torch is passed to the Class of 1989, as the class me to give back in almost the same way the Prep helped me 25+ years ago. I want to begins its 25th Reunion Year. help parents who do not have the financial resources to send their kids to the Prep.
CLCAhSSa lOleF n19g6e4 Grant
On April 14, 2013, an anonymous donor proposed a challenge to the Class of 1964: He would match, in the name of his deceased brother, on a dollar for dollar basis, all contributions and pledges made, by members of the class to the John Vrionis ’64 Endowed Scholarship Fund by June 14, 2013, up to an aggregate of $100,000. This individual would fund the scholarship endowment, as and when contributions by the class were received. This was a way for the donor to honor his brother, and John Vrionis (who was selected for induction into the Hall of Honor in November 2013), and also provide scholarship support for worthy young men at his beloved school. The challenge period was limited to 60 days. Classmates Jim DiMarzo, Brian Heller, Lee Higdon, John Malone, Jerry O’Gorman, Andy Paterno, and Bill Perry – collectively, the Friends of John – spearheaded the fundraising effort. The challenge grant was a success – 96 alumni, friends and foundations, made gifts and pledges totaling a $131,724. It was a tremendous team effort. We invite other classes to follow the success of the Class of 1964. Please contact John Kahl, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations if you would like to discuss a similar challenge for your class. (telephone: 718-367-7500, extension 210; email: [email protected]).
Ramview / Winter/Spring 2013 9 Around the Prep Rugby at Fordham Prep: The Successful Revival of a High School Program
By Carlo DiNota ’85
Sporting events were underway everywhere on Fordham’s Rose Hill campus on a Fordham Prep’s Rugby Revival bright Thursday afternoon early this May - baseball, track, lacrosse, tennis. But nothing Fast forward twenty-four years to 2013, and Fordham Prep Rugby is back with a was as big as the rugby match at Murphy Field between two long-time high school rivals, well-organized and competitive program that is built for longevity. The initiative, cooper - Fordham Prep and Xavier, which brimmed with energy and excitement. ation, and planning among various constituencies that accomplished this comeback can Parents and supporters of Fordham Prep’s 110-player rugby team were serve as a “how-to” for U.S. high schools that might be considering rugby. seemingly everywhere, with cameras, lawn chairs, and picnic It started with a business proposal by two enterprising baskets. Fordham’s Varsity XV had entered the game Fordham Prep athletes: football captain and 2010 a clear underdog to their Jesuit archrival and Bronx/Manhattan Player of the Year perennial national powerhouse, Xavier Anthony Bronzo ’11 and his football High School. Down 14 points at the teammate Mike Mahon ’12. half, Fordham stormed back to According to Bronzo, now a tie the game with five min - junior at Tulane, where he utes remaining, only to lose plays both football and on a penalty kick before rugby, the two were the final whistle. wondering what to do It was a proud and next after defeating gutsy Fordham per - Xavier in the annual formance. And judging Fall Turkey Bowl foot - by the caliber of play, ball game, and capping Fordham’s huge squad, a 10-win football the professionalism of its season. coaches, and impressive fan Skeptical that he turnout, Fordham Prep Rugby would be recruited to play was on very solid footing. college football, Bronzo was on the lookout for a new sport, and Tough Early Years rugby’s physical demands and cama - Yet twenty-eight years earlier, an article in raderie held great appeal. Rugby Magazine’s September 1985 issue reported that the For Mahon, who grew up in the heavily Irish, Fordham program – then coach-less, broke, and orphaned – was on Woodlawn section of the Bronx, rugby was not unfamiliar. “I had the verge of extinction. I know because I was the author of that piece. seen a few Six Nations games and rugby seemed like fun,” said Mahon. Now a sophomore As a graduating high school senior, I was upset at the neglect of Fordham Prep at the University of South Carolina, he is the starting #8 on the school’s rugby club. Rugby. Neglect not only by the school administration, but also by the community of The intense Fordham-Xavier sporting rivalry played a significant part in Fordham’s New York-area men’s clubs that had chosen “to turn their backs on high school rugby.” rugby revival. Says Bronzo, “After the 2010 Turkey Bowl football game, we decided that The recent renaissance of rugby at Fordham Prep is remarkable, considering that there was no reason Fordham shouldn’t have as successful a rugby program as Xavier has.” the sport had been completely erased from the school’s extracurricular catalog by 1989. According to Mike Mahon, Fordham Prep principal Robert Gomprecht ’65 asked the Exploring the program’s pedigree, however, may offer clues as to its resurgence. boys for a proposal after they approached him about reinstituting rugby. Early in 2011, Bronzo and Mahon presented Gomprecht and Fr. Kenneth Boller, president of Fordham Fordham Prep RFC: Founded 1976 Prep, with a detailed business plan that covered everything from prospective coaches and Fordham Prep Rugby is steeped in insurance policies to field usage time and New York City rugby tradition. Its family funding. “They were shocked at how much tree can be traced to the Old Maroon RFC research we had done,” says Bronzo, who is (which would later become OMEX), In 2012, McMillan’s first year, the team won the now majoring in finance and marketing at founded by Fordham Prep graduates and Tulane. “There was no way the administra - Fordham University players. Jersey Cup and placed third in the Jesuit Cup. tion thought two high school kids would Fran Cunningham ’67, a Prep assis - get this done.” tant football coach, had been playing for Their impressive 75-man 2012 roster then But get it done, they did. Old Maroon in the mid-1970s when he expanded to a jaw-dropping 110 players in 2013. Despite Spring 2011 being a startup sea - invited Fran Perdisatt, head coach of the son with borrowed equipment and jerseys, Prep’s the Fordham Prep RFC - then led by head football program, to some Old Maroon coach Ed Tweedy - managed early success. games. Perdisatt saw rugby as a perfect With a respectable 40-man roster, they spring conditioning sport for his football players. And in 1976, Cunningham and earned a runner-up finish in the Long Island Cup and a semifinal appearance in the Perdisatt founded the Fordham Prep RFC with a miniscule budget. Jersey Cup. “We always had enough players for two sides,” recalls Cunningham. “At the time, In 2012, Christian Mayo of Play Rugby, who helped coach, connected Fordham with Tom O’Hara was trying to form Xavier’s program and St. Francis Prep was the only NYAC flanker Neil McMillan. A former standout for Ulster (Ireland), McMillan was established team in the area. We designed our jerseys, practiced on a field on Southern excited about the opportunity to coach a high school team. The impact of having a high Boulevard, and played at Randall’s Island. We were like a family.” level Irish player at the coaching helm, along with active parent and alumni support, Says Sean Davey ’80: “Playing rugby in the late 70s was amazing. There were very became palpable in the success of the program. US Eagle flyhalf Toby L’Estrange is also few local high school teams (Fordham, Xavier, and St. Francis Prep), so in addition to part of McMillan’s coaching staff. playing each of the other teams three times a year, we had to travel outside of New York In 2012, McMillan’s first year, the team won the Jersey Cup and placed third in the City to face new competition. Back then, the only nearby rugby pitches were on Randall’s Jesuit Cup. Their impressive 75-man 2012 roster then expanded to a jaw-dropping 110 Island, which were glass-strewn, with sewer caps scattered throughout. The fields were players in 2013. In fact, there are not enough matches to accommodate each and every not level and wind from the East River frequently caused erratic kicking.” player from Fordham’s two varsity sides, down to their JV and freshman teams. Last Within two years, Fordham Prep’s fledging program had toured England (winning spring, Fordham finished third in the Met NY league and won the Jersey Cup for the three matches) and twice visited Toronto. These tours led to return visits from Canadian second consecutive year. and English teams, supplementing Fordham’s spring schedule. Alumni Support Rugby’s Decline Sean Davey and another player from the 70s, John McCaffrey ’78, have been After 1983, however, rugby at Fordham Prep went into decline. The 1985 Rugby instrumental in corralling alumni players to support Fordham Prep Rugby, while educating Magazine article that I authored chronicled the program’s gradual demise and by the current players about the pride and sense of family among past Fordham ruggers. end of 1989, rugby at Fordham Prep was gone. McCaffrey coached Fordham Rugby in the early 80s, and his 1983 team, moderated
10 Ramview / Winter/Spring 2013 Around the Prep
by teacher Ferd Beck, fielded one of the best A-sides in team history. McCaffrey and Mike Tolkin (Xavier ’85), then Xavier and NYAC head coach and now US Eagle Beck’s players would go on to play for such collegiate rugby clubs as Yale, Boston College, head coach; Bruce McLane (Xavier ’85), then Tolkin’s top assistant at NYAC and now Navy, Fairfield, Fordham, Villanova, Rhode Island, and Hartford. Up until now, the 1983 NYAC’s head coach; and Joe Sweeney (Xavier ’85), Xavier’s director of rugby, all helped squad was the last great Fordham Prep rugby team. Fordham organize an experienced coaching staff. Tolkin, Sweeney, and Tony Paolozzi, then Xavier rugby moderator and assistant AD Administrative Support (now AD), all provided invaluable advice to Fordham on the operational, financial, and The importance of support from Fordham Prep’s administration, in allowing the logistical aspects of organizing and running a rugby program. program to exist and grow, can’t be understated. In the past, administration support Says Jerry Wolf, a Fordham coach and parent, who along with Christian Mayo visited seemed reluctant, non-committal, or non-existent. Xavier in 2011 to meet with Tolkin and his coaching staff: “Xavier opened their hearts to Clearly, Fordham Rugby is succeeding today because of a more complete faculty us. They were extremely supportive and helpful in giving us as much info as possible.” and community buy-in. Says former coach Fran Perdisatt: “It’s great to see the Prep prosper in its rugby development. Having the support of the Fordham Prep community – Cooperative Spirit parents, teachers, administrators and alumni - is a winning combination for the school The cooperative spirit between the two Jesuit rugby programs goes all the way back and should be a model for other private schools.” to 1976. As Tom O’Hara recalls, “We got along great. Fordham Prep and Xavier worked together in those days. In fact, the first time either team toured - to Toronto in 1977 – it Current Program was a joint tour. The two teams traveled together by bus and played the same schools * Fordham Prep currently fields four rugby teams: Varsity A, Varsity B, Junior separately, in rotation.” Varsity and Freshman. Despite their intense sports rivalry, the collaboration between the two rugby clubs is * There’s a no-cut policy and students receive Varsity and JV letters. both fraternal and mutually beneficial. One Jesuit rugby team helping the other – but each program also understanding that good local competition among well-coached teams * The team is comprised of crossover athletes from all of Fordham’s fall sports, will raise each program’s level of play. as well as those whose only high school sport is rugby. Says Fordham rugby and football alumnus Simon Walsh: “What Xavier has done is * Coaches receive a small stipend for their services, and the school assists by admirable. It’s a great testament to the way they look at life and the way they put the Jesuit arranging buses for their matches. mission into practice. It would be easy to just build on their success and turn their backs on a long-time rival. Parent Support But they haven’t done that. They’ve Indispensable to the resur - reached out and helped build a strong gence of Fordham Prep Rugby is its foundation.” Fordham and Xavier’s very active Parent’s Club, headed by cooperation should serve Linda Costelloe, wife of assistant as a model for high school teams and coach Joe Costelloe. leagues around the nation. The Parent’s Club has raised an impressive $20k and holds an Keys to Success annual rugby fundraising dinner Solid parent involvement, that taps into alumni and parent quality coaching, quality generosity (uniforms and administration, alumni support, equipment are acquired, in part, and mutual cooperation between with these funds). The dinner rivals have been instrumental in has honored pioneers of Fordham Fordham’s resurgence. And the more Rugby, such as Cunningham kids play the game, the more they get and Perdisatt, in order to bond hooked and spread the word among current players with the program’s their friends to join them. This is evi - proud past. Last February’s denced by Fordham’s robust roster dinner featured Eagle lock Brian expansion (from 40-110 players) over Doyle and the year prior, Eagle the past three years. scrumhalf Mike Petri. “The momentum has really Says Simon Walsh ’83, come from the boys,” says coach Jerry who went on to play for the Yale, Wolf. “There is huge interest. At the Old Blue, and Washington RFCs: end of the day, they really want to “The students are doing a great job participate.” but the moms are off the charts. The mothers are a juggernaut. Rugby Tradition in They’ve arranged fundraising Jesuit Schools dinners and raffles, planned trips Fordham Prep Rugby is now on and tournaments, and basically terra firma, and that continues the kept everything on track. That unique and proud rugby tradition in takes a lot of pressure off the kids.” America’s Jesuit high schools. This “My inbox is inundated,” says tradition will continue to play a sig - Linda Costelloe, as she describes nificant role in USA Rugby’s ability to the rapid-fire parental support she compete on the international stage. receives when asking for help on “Rugby is a sport that currently differentiates Jesuit schools,” says Xavier’s O’Hara. game day. Costelloe’s long-term plan is to expand and refine her parent’s group into a “Rugby is a game built for Jesuit kids; if the sport wasn’t around we would have invented it.” Gonzaga High School-like booster club. O’Hara speculates that the tight bonding, so apparent in Jesuit prep schools, Up and down the line - from players, coaches and alumni - all acknowledge that combined with rugby’s strong sense of fraternity, is a major reason for rugby’s appeal at Fordham Prep Rugby would not have the bright future it has today if it weren’t for the these institutions. The Jesuit academic tradition, that promotes sound body and mind, tireless efforts of Costelloe and the parents. adds O’Hara, may also be a factor with rugby’s popularity: “Rugby is a thinking man’s game.” Browse through a starting A-side on a college rugby team and the chances of Xavier: Providing Help and Inspiration seeing a rugger from one of North America’s 25+ Jesuit high school rugby programs are Like Linda Costelloe, head coach McMillan looks to another Jesuit school, Xavier, very good. Players from Jesuit schools, O’Hara opines, are also likely to lead rugby clubs for inspiration. And he is very clear on where he would like to see Fordham Prep Rugby in college and beyond. And if there isn’t a club, they employ their missionary ethos of in the not-too-distant future: “In three to four years’ time, I would like Fordham to be spreading the word and starting one from scratch. on par with Xavier.” Administrators on the fence about starting a rugby program would be wise to reach Xavier, one of the premier high school rugby programs in the nation with four out to Xavier, Gonzaga, Jesuit-Sacramento or Fordham for blueprints and counsel. Given National HS Championships, has played a vital role in Fordham’s regeneration. Fordham the lack of bureaucracy in a Jesuit school, a program could be up and running in fairly coaches and alumni credit Tom O’Hara, Xavier ’69 and a founder of Xavier Rugby, with short order and support could be drawn from the large Jesuit support system nationwide. drumming up early support for rugby’s return to Rose Hill. A workshop, sponsored by the Jesuit Secondary Education Association, on bringing According to O’Hara, Fordham Prep’s head football coach Pete Gorynski (Xavier ’73) rugby to member schools, would also be a great idea. had called him in January 2011 to ask if he could assist Bronzo and Mahon with the Due to the bold initiative of two Fordham athletes, the subsequent school community rugby program. buy-in (parents, players, administrators, and alumni), and Xavier’s crucial early “They were impressive kids,” says O’Hara. “I was very happy to help.” support, rugby is back at Fordham Prep – where it should be. Ed Tweedy (Xavier ’70), a close friend of O’Hara’s from the US Merchant Marine And this time, Fordham Prep Rugby is here to stay. Academy and New York RFC, was named Fordham Prep’s head coach in 2011 – the program’s first year back. Fr. Boller, formerly of Xavier, had also been close with the Tweedy family. Tweedy then recruited O’Hara’s son Ciaran (Xavier ’06) as Fordham’s first assistant coach.
Ramview / Winter/Spring 2013 11 Prep History
by Lou DiGiorno ’88, School Historian
When the Chairman of the Board, John Neary, Class of The lineage of Prep principals seemingly starts off sim - 1987, formally announced the selection of Rev. Christopher ply enough. In 1854, thirteen years after Fordham’s founding Devron, SJ as Fr. Boller’s successor to the Office of the as St. John’s College, the position that would become the Prep President, he did so in a letter that read “Fr. Devron will be principalship was created in the establishment of the Office the 35th President of Fordham Prep dating from its 1841 of the Prefect of Studies (not to be confused with the Office founding with Fordham University, and the 5th president of the Prefect of Discipline, the original name for the Office since the school emerged as a standalone entity in 1970.” of the Dean of Discipline). These early prefects of studies Tabulating Fr. Devron’s number in succession was a fairly were responsible for the overseeing the academic program straightforward process: tally up the presidents from 1841 and the day-to-day operations of the school, very much the through 1970 – the year of legal separation from the way Principal Gomprecht is today. Fordham’s first prefect of University – and continue the count when the distinct Prep studies: Rev. Remigius Tellier, SJ, who was also president at presidency kicks in. the time. Within a few years, however, it became the custom As to whether or not those pre-separation presidents for the vice presidents (as opposed to the presidents of St. (or rectors as they were called in the 19th century) thought John’s College) to serve in the position of prefect, and so it of themselves as “Prep” presidents, there can be no doubt. Fr. Remigius I. Tellier, SJ remained for the rest of the century. The closeness of the link From the very beginning, the men who held that office Prefect of Studies, St. John’s College between the Prep and the Office of the Prefect of Studies was would have considered themselves as much the president of 1854-1859 underscored in 1890, the year Hughes Hall first opened. St. John’s Second Division (the Prep) as St. John’s First Since the Vice President’s Office was moved into the newly Division (the College) – after all, the original plan was for a constructed Hughes Hall, the prefects of studies were able to single, seamless course of study. In fact, the 19th-century keep a very close eye on Prep affairs in particular – very deans’ diaries are peppered with examples of the early presi - much the way our in-building principals do today. dents’ genuine presidentiality over the early Prepsters. In 1907, St. John’s College was granted an amendment When Rev. Thomas Gannon, SJ, for instance, declared the to its original charter officially changing its name to Fordham Feast of St. Lucy 1893 a skating holiday, he declared it for University and reaffirming its status as a full-fledged univer - the entire student body, Prep boys included, and classes sity. St. John’s College Second Division (already colloquially were cancelled campuswide to the delight of all. A few known as Fordham Prep) would persist as St. John's College months later, on a cold and snowy February 16th in 1894, High School [and later Fordham College High School – the when George Rooney, Prep Class of 1895, “nearly broke his Prep’s official name down through the ’30s]. This is where the neck and back, and crushed his skull” on the toboggan succession starts to get a bit complicated. slide, it was once again “Father Rector” (as the boys would While the Office of the Prefect of Studies (held by the have called Fr. Gannon) who proclaimed that “tobogganing vice presidents) continued to carry out the duties we would was forbidden hereafter under every and all circumstances.” associate with the Office of the Principal, starting in 1907, the Interestingly enough, that proclamation has never been president of the University also began to be listed as revoked, and so technically the prohibition still stands. “Principal of St. John's College High School” on all legal [Point to ponder: Since the presidency has since been split Fr. William S. Dolan, SJ documents and in the school catalogues, likely as an attempt into two offices, University and Prep — and since the whole Principal, St. John’s College High School to be in keeping with the emerging concept of the modern toboggan incident was a Prep affair — who holds the power (Fordham Prep) American high school. Though not specifically functioning of revocation? Is there a Snowball Summit in the future for 1921-1930 as such, these “principals,” were technically the first men Fr. Devron and Fr. McShane, president of the University?] actually known as Prep principals, if only on paper. And so, Nor is there any reason to suppose that the relationship at this point, we encounter a second possible starting point between the presidents of yesteryear and the Prep was one- for succession of the principalship: we can continue to count sided. From the point of view of the early Prepsters, the the prefects of studies from Fr. Tellier in 1854, making Bob men who held Rose Hill’s highest office were as much their Gomprecht 42nd in line, or we can begin the enumeration presidents as they were the presidents of the College or the with the establishment of the name-only principals of the Graduate School or the (short-lived) Medical School, or any early 20th century, starting with Rev. Daniel Quinn, SJ. of the other schools of Fordham University — right down Choosing the latter would make the current principal only through the 1960s. Simply thumbing through the first few number 17. pages of old Prep yearbooks, one finds that the University Moving along, the next calculatory complication arises presidents are included in the very same way that the post- only a few years later in 1920, the year that the College was separation Prep presidents are today. And yearbooks aside, broken for the first time into academic departments. For not more than one alum from the mid-20th century, like the last time in its history, the Prep was almost lost in the Patrick Swift, Class of 1962, has recounted caroling in the shuffle, nearly forced to close its doors forever. But against University president’s office with the German Choir. Would the odds, the Prep survived, temporarily existing as the “High a troupe of high schoolers treat [or should I say subject ] a School Department” of the College. In the reorganization, the man with no sense of presidential affection and responsibil - dated title prefect of studies was dropped, and instead, the ity for them to an adolescent rendition of Rudolph das Mr. Robert J. Gomprecht ’65 prefecture became known as the Office of the Dean of the kleine Rentier annually? [ Igitt !] Headmaster/Principal, College . In his governance of the special “High School This past December, as folks read the Board’s Fordham Preparatory School Department,” however, the dean was to hold the legal title announcement and began to digest the bit about the 1994-present principal , or at least acting principal , since it was quickly Devronic trigesimoquintity [not every day you need a word becoming clear that a single dean would not be able to con - for thirtyfifthness , huh?], it seems that a bit of communal tinue to run both the College and the Prep indefinitely if the curiosity was awakened, for in the weeks that followed, a Prep were to keep its doors open. And so, in 1920, Rev. single question was asked over and over again from nearly Michael Jessup, SJ, formerly Prefect of Studies, redubbed every corner of Prep community: “So what number in line Dean of the College, would also serve as Acting Principal of is Mr. Gomprecht?” [First to ask: Mrs. Darlene Milone, Fordham Prep while the move was made to create a distinct Secretary to the Office of the President. First student to Prep principalship. ask: Eric D’Armetta, Class of 2013] Here, of course, we face an even further convoluted If tabulating presidents was straightforward, tracing question of succession. Is Fr. Jessup simply the 30th in line the succession of the principalship was somewhat more from 1854? Or, since his official title did include the word convoluted. About the best we can do is state with absolute principal, do we consider him the next in line after the name- certainty that Mr. Robert Gomprecht, Class of 1965, is only principals of the early 1900s and therefore, the 5th to either the 42nd, 17th, or 13th (or 12th) principal of hold the title? Or is the creation of his acting principalship Fordham Preparatory School. something else? Is he the real 1st distinct Prep principal or is he the “0th” principal, his brief tenure only a preface to the
12 Ramview / Fall 2013 Prep History
true establishment of a Prep principalship? pal (at first, headmaster) longer than any of his predecessors. He is the fourth principal However we number Fr. Jessup’s stint as Prep administrator, he certainly is an since the legal separation of the Prep and University and only the third layman to hold interesting character in school history. He had taught Prep algebra in 1899, and would the office, even since the 1854 establishment of the prefecture – Drs. Bernard Bouilette become something of a hero of Fordham history when he was burned saving irreplace - (1975-82) and Cornelius “Neil” McCarthy (1982-94) preceded him. He is also the third able school records from a fire in the Administration Building on New Year’s Eve, 1924. alum to serve as principal (Fr. Joseph O’Connell [1941-6] was Class of 1918 and Dr. To this day, any of the early records we have are called the Fire Files in remembrance of McCarthy was Class of 1953). He is the son of an alum: the late Dr. Robert Gomprecht, the event. Class of 1941; and the father of two alums: Robert and Christopher, Classes of ’89 and After Fr. Jessup, would come Rev. William Dolan, SJ, who, though perhaps the ’94. Unlike Fr. Dolan – who actually kept and used a huqqa pipe in his office [no joke!], 31st, 6th or 2nd in line, was also undisputedly the 1st principal or Fordham Prep dis - Principal Gomprecht is the first administrator — since 1841, mind you — to completely tinct in all ways from the University Administration. It was in the creation of the office ban smoking for all persons on the premises, though it is true that administrative opin - that Fr. Dolan would fill that the first step towards the Prep’s eventual emergence as, in ions on tobacco use have swung back and forth over the last 173 years [Note to self: Neary’s words, “a standalone entity” was taken. Fr. Dolan would hold the position from Idea for future column: “Thank You for {Not} Smoking ”] 1921-1929, and enjoyed the reputation as a strict but fair administrator. Finally, from yearbook evidence [and from personal memory {J.J. Gilmartin ’88 sat From Fr. Dolan’s time down through today, the succession of principals is a across from me at the lab table; Stephen Decker ‘88 to the right}], it is safe to say that straight count, right through the legal separation of 1970 and on into the 21st century. Bob Gomprecht is the only individual to ascend to the principalship having sported The title of the office may have changed – from Office of the Principal to Office of the plaid pants back in the ’80s during his days as a bio teacher. [Don’t worry: I have Headmaster and then back again, but the line has continued unbroken, making Mr. tenure.] Gomprecht the 42nd holder of the office from 1854, or the 17th from 1907, or the 13th from Fr. Jessup, or the 12th from Fr. Dolan. Robert Gomprecht, Class of 1965, whose term began in 1994, has served as princi -
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INFORMATION CAN BE SUBMITTED IN THREE WAYS: 1. Update your information in the online alumni community through the Prep’s website. The online alumni community link can be found under the Alumni tab at www.fordhamprep.org. Contact Director of Alumni Relations, Larry Curran ’77, at [email protected] to obtain your login information. 2. Send your news via email to Larry Curran at [email protected] 3. Mail your news to the Alumni Office, Fordham Preparatory School, 441 East Fordham Road, Bronx, NY 10458.
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Ramview / Fall 2013 13 Class Notes
B E C •O •N •N •E •C •T •E •D Class notes is the most popular and well-read section of Ramview. It provides a forum for classmates to share news of their personal and professional lives, including accolades, personal accomplishments, announcements and anything else fellow alumni might find interesting. We thank you, the alumni community, for sharing your news and photos with your classmates. Throughout the year, our Class Representatives, whose names and emails are listed under each class, play leadership roles in helping classmates to maintain lifelong affiliation with the Prep. So when you receive an email calling for class notes, please send your notes to your Class Representative(s) and/or to Larry Curran, Director of Alumni Relations, [email protected]. If your class does not have a Class Representative, please email your notes to Larry. An Alumni Update form is in this issue of Ramview . Please complete the form and return it to us in the enclosed envelop, and perhaps you may want to make your Annual Fund gift at this time, if you have not done so already.
BE A CONNECTOR Don’t be the class without notes! If your class does not have a Class Representative, and you would like to fill that role, please contact John Kahl, Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations at (718) 367-7500, extension 210.
Joseph Kelly ’35 Class of 1963 helps a Classmate who is Military Veterans Col. Joe Kelly of the Prep class of 1935 has a Maryknoll Priest. been designated the honorary president of the Fordham Prep Veterans Association. As part of their May 2013, the He started as a private in the USMC and Class of 1963 collected money and attained the rank of full colonel. He served signed a card that sent their greet - in the Pacific during WWII and with the ings to their classmate Father Ninth Marines in Vietnam. We are working Thomas O’Brien, MM in Hanoi, on establishing a web page at the Prep. If you Vietnam. Here is the letter that are interested in joining the organization Father O’Brien wrote to his class: please contact Michael Corcoran at the Hello from Hanoi! I felt really school. His email is corcoram@fordham - happy when I opened that greeting prep.org. Those who have already signed card with the messages from my up will be contacted again, shortly. Fordham Prep Class of 1963 class - mates who were gathered for our 50th anniversary class reunion. I wish I could have been there with all of you 1943 1949 that weekend. Thanks to all for their contributions for my mission efforts Vin DeBaun reports that he is continuing CLASS REP here. I felt really proud to be a member of the Class of 1963! to teach short courses at his retirement Gus Stellwag - [email protected] Maryknoll recently celebrated 20 years of mission presence in Vietnam community near Boston. Thus far he's given and I’ve been here for 18 of those years. Back in the 60’s, while war was courses on Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, 1950 raging in Vietnam, I never thought that one day I might find myself in Huckleberry Finn, The Good Earth, and The CLASS REP northern Vietnam as a missioner, but it has been a blessing to be able to Bridge of San Luis Rey. In the pipeline: a series Ed Squire - [email protected] contribute in some small ways to reconciliation between two countries that on Hamlet . Vin says his students (in the 65-90 once were in conflict. range) “have been around the block a few 1951 times” and have sharp questions and wise Ironically, Vietnam today is one of the most peaceful countries in the CLASS REP observations. Adolph Ehbrecht - [email protected] world. Life was very different in northern Vietnam during the war and for the first ten years after the war but since the mid 1980’s when the govern - 1944 John Blessington , executive producer of CBS ment allowed a market economy to flourish, progress has been steady. The Congratulations to Vin Scully on being Religion and Culture series, received a Special country is still a one-party state with little political democracy, but I think named Grand Marshall for the 2014 Rose Marvin C. Wilbur for his work in producing most Vietnamese feel free to live their lives as they wish. It’s a very young interfaith documentaries for over 30 years. Parade. population, with the majority born after the war ended in 1975, and so for The Wilbur Awards are presented by the many Vietnamese the war is “history,” somewhat, I think, the way World War 1947 Religion Communicators Council and “honor excellence by individuals in secular media in II felt like history for our generation. I’ve found that the older Vietnamese Robert Daley sent in this update: “ The Red communicating religious issues, values and who did experience the war years are somewhat hesitant to share with Squad, my 18th novel and 30th book overall, themes. someone like me what they went through, but I’ve never encountered has now been published as an e-book. It is just animosity toward me as an American. out and is available on Kindle and the Nook, and on other devices that work in those formats. 1952 Vietnam does not grant visas to persons to do mission work, and so The story: New York, 1950-51. War raging in CLASS REPS Maryknoll has been present here as a humanitarian NGO. We implement Korea 10,000 miles away. Inside the NYPD, the Gerry McCabe - [email protected] humanitarian or development projects in partnership with local organiza - Bureau of Special Services and Investigations, Ed O’Brien - [email protected] tions, in many cases with local governments at the district or province level. BOSSI, also known as The Red Squad, wields Many of our projects have been in the area of vocational skills training for immense power. Some of the scenes in this 1953 poor youth in rural areas, and in recent years much of our work has been in novel were suggested by real cases. Author’s CLASS REPS treatment programs for children with disabilities as well as vocational skills note: The Red Squad, did exist in New York John Murphy - [email protected] training for young persons who have disabilities. It’s not traditional mission Max Pelisson - [email protected] during World War II and through much of the work, but it’s satisfying to see our projects help people in very direct ways. Cold War, as did similar Red Squads in other I joined Maryknoll after graduating from Fordham College in 1967. Part of cities. Nearly all worked largely in secret, and 1954 my seminary training was to spend two years working with Maryknoll in were largely unsupervised. Strict legality was CLASS REP not always observed. Suspects’ rights were Jack Donahue - [email protected] Chile during the turbulent period of the socialist government of Salvador sometimes trampled, careers and lives destroyed. Allende. After ordination in 1974, I was assigned to the Philippines where Jerome Tuccille signed a contract for his 31st In New York BOSSI lasted until 1970 when, I spent the next 15 years, most during the martial law government of book, a history of African-American because of the sinister reputation it had by then Ferdinand Marcos. From 1990 –1995, I worked in Maryknoll’s Office of soldiers during the Spanish-American War of acquired, its cases and most of its personnel Social Concerns in Washington, D.C. trying to bring the voices of the people 1898. He is the author of best-selling, award- were quietly folded into the newly created winning books, including Hemingway and with whom Maryknoll works to policy-makers in the U.S. government. In Intelligence Division where, for some time Gellhorn , Gallo Be Thy Name, Trump, 1995, I came to Vietnam. longer, under its new name, it operated much Rupert Murdoch, and many others. Check All the above is what I would have tried to share with my 1963 class - as it had in the past.” out his website at www.jerometuccille.com. mates had I been able to join the class reunion, and I would have loved to John A. Bray has published four novels, hear all of their stories. Thanks for thinking of me while you were all togeth - available on Amazon Kindle and Endeavour er. I think our years at the Prep were great preparation for all of us, wherever Press, and in print. Flags Of Our Sons, we wound up and whatever we experienced. I pray that God will continue to Blue Heat, Code Name: Caleb (E-book now bless the families of all of my classmates. entitled Home Front ) and Broken Force .
14 Ramview / Winter/Spring 2013 Class Notes
1971 Management Practice (IMSMP.ORG) just received FDA approval for a clinical trial using Christopher Lauber ’79 CLASS REPS Michael Letterese - [email protected] stem cells! The proposed trial extracts stem After moving from New Jersey, Jim Parker - [email protected] cells from the participant' s body, reconditions Christopher was living in Yonkers at them and reintroduces them into their body. It is projected to not only stop the disease's the end of grade school when he heard 1972 from his teachers that Fordham Prep progression but to reverse some/all? of the damage caused by the disease. I was diagnosed was a very good high school. No one CLASS REP Howie Hopkins - [email protected] with the disease in 12/98. My neurologist, seemed to know how to get there from Dr. Saud Sadiq and I are both members of north Yonkers, but as Christopher 1973 IMSMP and subjects of this trial! Most remembers it, the traveling was part of CLASS REPS chosen patients are now in the progressive the attraction. The “new” building was Julio Diaz - [email protected] stage of the disease. I have been a private still just that in 1975, and he fell in love Mike Hannigan - [email protected] person my whole life and not prone to public with everything about the Prep: the Jim Mustich - [email protected] displays of anything, but I do ask for my FP teachers, the students, the location, the family's prayers!” William W. Kirk has been moveable walls, even the hard work. 1974 named Vice President for Student Affairs and After his parent’s divorce, 40 YEAR REUNION General Counsel at Ave Maria University. Bill Fordham Prep quickly became a home Saturday, April 5, 2014 moves to Ave Maria from Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, a national interdisciplinary firm away from home for Christopher. He found the classes challenging, especially CLASS REP Tim Tostanoski - [email protected] of architects, engineers and materials scientists Math. A zero average in Trig at the end of first trimester mercifully convinced where he was Director of Administration and the administration to remove Christopher from the class. History and languages John Crabtree has opened RiverMarket Bar Corporate Counsel. Previously, he was were his favorite classes. By graduation in 1979, he had taken 3 years of Spanish, & Kitchen in Tarrytown, NY. The restaurant Associate Vice President for Residence Life at 3 years of Greek and 2 years of Latin. has a focus on local food and drink from the University of Notre Dame and a member The years after graduation saw a false start in college; Christopher was an farmers and winemakers practicing sustainable of the student affairs senior leadership team. operating room orderly at Montefiore Hospital, a cab driver, a handyman in the agriculture. A market up front offers farm-fresh reptile house at the Bronx Zoo, a postulant and novice with the Capuchin produce and the wine shop will sell local wines 1981 and artisanal spirits. Franciscans, and a clerk in the Larchmont Library before finishing college. CLASS REP Christopher met Nell during this period, falling in love on a pilgrimage to Israel. Ed Lenci - [email protected] They have two wonderful sons, and recently celebrated 25 years of marriage. 1975 Both Paul and Owen attended Fordham Prep. CLASS REPS 1982 Ray Dorado - [email protected] Christopher wears several hats at the Prep after 21 years on the faculty. John Renzulli - [email protected] CLASS REPS He teaches Latin and Greek, serves as Director of Admissions, moderates the Paul Brusco - [email protected] Vince DonVito - [email protected] yearbook, oversees textbooks and shares responsibility for the website. For ten 1976 years, he took students to Rome or Greece over the Easter vacation. CLASS REPS 1983 Nell and Christopher have a charming little home in Mamaroneck, NY, Ed Bonnano - [email protected] and enjoy gardening and reading. When students ask Christopher the secret of Guy Lester - [email protected] CLASS REPS Tony DiNota - [email protected] life, he has one word for them: gratitude. Timothy Brosnan was one of the honorees Mike Soh [email protected] at the 77th Annual Catholic Youth Simon Walsh - [email protected] Organization (CYO) Club of Champions tribute on June 26th. Tim received the CYO 1984 Club of Champions Gold Medal in recognition 30 Year Reunion 1955 1965 for his inspiration and leadership for the youth April 5, 2014 of New York City. Tim has worked for Major CLASS REPS CLASS REP Tom Huvane has been named to Irish America [email protected] John Secco - [email protected] League Baseball (MLB) since 1991. Among magazine’s 2013 Wall Street 50. Irish America other duties, he oversees the organization’s magazine’s Annual Wall Street 50 recognizes Br. Jerry Menkhaus, SJ has concluded 12 Greg Martin, Tom Figurelli, Tom Lucia and philanthropic entity, MLB Charities. yrs of teaching at Nativity Mission Center in John Damiano met to play golf in Mid July at the outstanding accomplishments and success of the best and the brightest Irish-American Manhattan and is now managing the Jesuit the Knob Hill Golf course in New Jersey. Each 1977 Residence on E 83rd St. He also is tutoring is hoping to quallify for the Masters next leaders of the financial industry. The 2013 at-risk students at Cristo Rey HS on E 106th Spring! Rich Black is enjoying retirement and CLASS REPS Wall Street 50 will be featured in the October/ Steve Flynn - [email protected] St. in Manhattan. his grandchildren in River Vale, NJ November issue of Irish America magazine. Maurice Hyacinthe - [email protected] Ralph A. Dengler retired from the Marine John Murphy - [email protected] 1966 Corps Reserves as a Colonel and is a Director 1962 Steve Ruggiero - [email protected] at Gibbons P.C., where he is in the Intellectual CLASS REPS CLASS REPS Property Law Group. Nicholas Katsoris’ book, Bill Heitmann - [email protected] Jim Buckman - [email protected] 1978 Loukoumi and The Schoolyard Bully , will be Peter Leider - [email protected] Gerry Byrne - [email protected] available for purchase in November 2013. It Bill Mulligan - [email protected] CLASS REP Peter Maher - [email protected] John McCaffrey - [email protected] is the sixth book in the Loukoumi series. Gerard Byrne, once the publisher of Variety John Hahn was inducted into the New York Proceeds from the sale of this book will go to magazine (1989 – 2000) is now vice chairman Blues Hall of Fame at a dinner on September 1979 benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. of Penske Media which bought Variety in 18th. He was inducted for his contributions as 35 YEAR REUNION October 2012. In 2012, he founded and a songwriter. Saturday, April 5, 2014 1985 launched Veterans Week NYC with GE, CLASS REPS CLASS REPS Google and Citi as lead sponsors. Veterans 1967 Marty Avallone - marty.avollone@working - Marc Flamino - [email protected] Week NYC 2013 will be from November 6-19. CLASS REPS mediagroup.com Michael Trovini - [email protected] It will commence with the Bob Woodruff Al Naclerio - [email protected] Nick Brusco - [email protected] Foundations Stand Up for Heroes led by Bill Porcaro - [email protected] Michael Cleary - [email protected] 1987 performances by Bruce Springsteen and James Sheehan’s fourth book, The Alligator CLASS REPS Roger Waters. Edward S. White , currently serving as Deputy Man, will be available in October 2013. His Kevin Fitzpatrick - [email protected] Chief Prosecutor of Military Commissions Eric Groepler - [email protected] three other books, The Lawyer's Lawyer, The (Motions & Appeals) received the Chief 1963 Mayor of Lexington Avenue, and The Law Dario Martinez - [email protected] Prosecutor’s Award for Excellence on August Tim McGrath - [email protected] CLASS REPS of Second Chances will all be available in 15, 2013. The Office of the Chief Prosecutor Jenik Radon - [email protected] Pat O’Brien - [email protected] October I will have all four books in the stores prosecutes unprivileged enemy belligerents, Hank White - [email protected] at the same time. including those detained at Guantanamo Bay, 1988 Cuba, for violations of the law of war. Mchael 1964 1968 Stanton is now the managing partner of the CLASS REPS 50 YEAR REUNION – EVENTS TBD Tom Andruss - [email protected] CLASS REPS Stamford office of the law firm of Feerick, Thursday, May, 29, 2014 Pat Deane - [email protected] Mike Alvino - [email protected] Lynch & McCarthey. Friday, May 30, 2014 Rich Ferrara - [email protected] Tony Fletcher - [email protected] Saturday, May 31, 2014 Carmine Lucia - [email protected] Nick Leshi - [email protected] Sunday, June 1, 2014 Gerry Moss - [email protected] 1980 Kevin Rooney - [email protected] Bill Reilly - [email protected] CLASS REPS Mark FitzPatrick has been promoted to the CLASS REPS George Zambetti - [email protected] Sean Davey - [email protected] Robert O’Donnell - [email protected] Bob Fink - [email protected] role of Senior Vice President and Chief Jerry O’Gorman - [email protected] Financial Officer of Residential Services at 1969 Lew Hyacinthe - [email protected] Bernhard Preisser - [email protected] Gerry Parker - [email protected] Time Warner Cable. In his new role, Mark will John Roy - [email protected] 45 YEAR REUNION oversee all areas of finance for the Company’s Saturday, April 5, 2014 John McBride sent in the following: “Hey FP Residential, Media and Video operations. John Roy is the Chair of the Ave Maria family! I just received some exciting news – University’s Department of Literature for the CLASS REP the International Multiple Sclerosis 2013-2014 academic year. Jim Harrison - [email protected]
Ramview / Winter/Spring 2013 15 Class Notes
Erik P. Goldschmidt, Rev. Luke M. Sweeney ’92 Ph.D. ’92 Father Luke Sweeney was born in Yonkers, and raised in Irvington, NY. He Erik Godschmidt came to the Prep attended Immaculate Conception School after graduating from the before enrolling at the Prep as a Jesuit Transfiguration School in Tarrytown, Presidential Scholar. Luke distinguished NY. He commuted daily from himself academically and received General Scarborough, NY in Westchester Excellence each of his four years as well as County. While at the Prep, Erik distin - the Four Year Distinguished Scholar Award. guished himself academically and As a senior, he was inducted into the earned a Four Year Distinguished National Honor Society. Luke participated in Scholar Award. He was a member of Campus Ministry Retreats and actively in the the National Honor Society and was a Travel Club. He received certification to be a member of the Prep’s 1992 Catholic CCD teacher when he completed a course High School Athletic Association taught by Brother Sebastian Boccabella, S.J. After graduation, he entered a sem - Champion Swimming Team. After inary residence program and attended Fordham University where he double graduating from the Prep, he enrolled at University of Notre Dame. He received majored in History and Philosophy in 1996. He again distinguished himself his B.A. degree in Liberal Studies in 1996. His studies at Notre Dame included a academically as he was invited to join Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year and semester studying abroad in Madras, India. His academic pursuits continued after graduated Summa Cum Laude. He continued his training for the priesthood college as he completed three Masters degrees and a Ph.D. The Masters Degrees after his college graduation by attending the Jesuit Pontifical Gregorian were in Secondary Education from the University of Portland’s Alliance for University in Rome while living at the Pontifical North American College. He Catholic Education and University of Notre Dame, Masters of Divinity from the received his Bachelors in Sacred Theology (STB) in 2000. He received his University of Notre Dame and Mental Health Counseling from Boston College. License in Sacred Theology in 2002 from the John Paul II Institute for Marriage His Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology is from Boston College. and Family in Rome. In 2012, Erik was named the Director of Boston College’s The Church in the Luke is the Vice Rector of the Cathedral House of Formation in Queens, 21st Century Center. The Center is Boston College’s effort to be a catalyst and NY, which is the tri-diocesan college/philosophy seminary in the New York resource for the renewal of the Catholic Church. Erik was invited to apply for the area. Previously, he served as the Vocations Director for the Archdiocese of position because of the research that he did that helped create models to fund and New York. Among his accomplishments was to launch the online vocations sustain Catholic education. There are a number of factors that interested Erik in website, www.NYPriest.com: The World Needs Heroes. You may recognize him Catholic education. His father, Robert, served as the first lay Chief Financial from some of television work that he did for WCBS TV during events such as Officer of the Archdiocese of New York. A course with Religious Studies Archbishop Dolan’s Installation Mass, Archbishop Dolan’s ascension to Department member and Director of the Service Program Paul Homer piqued Cardinal in February 2011 and the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and Erik’s curiosity about the formation and function of the Church. During his grad - Installation of Pope Francis. He joined the faculty of the Saint John Neumann uate work, he worked with many organizations that studied and assisted Catholic Seminary in Yonkers after serving as the Parochial Vicar at Sacred Heart schools to find programs and organizations that could help them advance their Church in Newburgh, NY. He was a Summer Parochial Vicar at Saint Theresa missions. Erik credits the critical thinking that was required in Mr. Homer’s and Church in the Bronx. Mrs. Reynolds’ Religion classes in coordination with the retreats and his service It was during his time in grammar school that Luke became interested in experience that laid the foundation for his interest in furthering Catholic educa - becoming a priest while volunteering as an altar server, receptionist and sac - tion. ristan at Immaculate Conception. (One of the priests at the parish when Luke Erik’s favorite Prep memory is being a member of the CHSAA Champion was growing up was Prep alumnus Father Tim Scannell ’61.) As a teenager, his Swimming Team. He mentioned how well the team worked together to achieve career choices were the priesthood or medicine. Because of his love of science, the championship. Erik spoke highly of current swim team coach and his team - Luke took four years of science classes including taking two science courses his mate Dominick Galimi. junior and senior year. One of his science memories is Bio teacher Peter Erik is a newlywed having married Tiffany on May 25, 2013. He proudly McNamara dissecting a shark in freshman biology. reports that Tiffany’s three children, Elise, Zachary and Madeline, have welcomed Looking back on his high school days, Father Luke said that American him to their family with open arms. History with Arthur McCormack and Global II with Dan Nolan were classes that he enjoyed. He will always remember his first time on a plane when the Travel Club went to the Soviet Union in 1991! Having Charles Tarallo explain 1989 1994 Russian History as we walked across an icy plaza in Leningrad brought history 25 YEAR REUNION 20 YEAR REUNION to life. Saturday, March 29, 2014 Saturday, April 5, 2014 Luke is still involved at the Prep. He is a Class Representative, annual table host at the Alumni – Senior Breakfast and past golf outing attendee. CLASS REPS CLASS REPS Jim Andruss - [email protected] Sean Bowden - [email protected] Vince Buccieri - [email protected] Ben Caiola - [email protected] Brendan Neary - brendan.neary@morgan Charon Darris - [email protected] stanley.com Sean Gregory - [email protected] Colm McCarthy graduated from McGill Al Sackey - [email protected] 1999 University in May completing his MD, and 1990 15 Year Reunion Vincent Iaropoli is the new Director of Saturday, April 5, 2014 was accepted to a residency in Orthopaedic CLASS REP Marketing for the Florida Theatre in Surgery at McMaster University. RJ Linehan - [email protected] CLASS REPS Jacksonville. Jon Bagwell - [email protected] Robert Moschetta and Entertainment and Anthony Chiodi - [email protected] 2002 Sounds Unlimited are in production again 1995 Daryn Johnson - [email protected] CLASS REPS filming and producing the Hall of Honor CLASS REPS Peter Kilpatrick - peter.kilpatrick1@ Chris Cavanagh - [email protected] Video. James Clancy has announced his Brian Duffy - [email protected] gmail.com Joe Donat - [email protected] engagement to Magen Hunt. Brad Serton - [email protected] Colin Reilly - [email protected] Joe FitzSimons - [email protected] Deric Zaphire - [email protected] Jared Kildare - [email protected] 1991 1996 CLASS REPS CLASS REPS 2000 2003 Charlie Andruss - [email protected] Chris Celentano - christophercelentano@ CLASS REPS CLASS REPS Jake Dolce - [email protected] hotmail.com Frank Lively - [email protected] Charles Beale - [email protected] Paul DiSenso - [email protected] Joe Neckles - [email protected] Rich Berretta - [email protected] 1992 Conan Dolce - [email protected] Sean O’Keefe - [email protected] Jay Feighery - [email protected] Bill McNamara - wmcnamara@oppen CLASS REPS John Schwartz - [email protected] Rich DioGuardi - [email protected] heimerfunds.com Doug Serton - [email protected] Nelson Urena is an international college Dom Galimi - [email protected] Nelson Ritter - [email protected] counselor at Shanghai Gezhi High School in Eric Goldschmidt - Rob Weitzman - [email protected] 2001 Shanghai, China. He will be working with [email protected] students enrolled in an all AP program and CLASS REPS Art O’Reilly - [email protected] 1997 Blaise Goswami - [email protected] helping them navigate the US college Luke Sweeney [email protected] application process. Gregory Moran sent in CLASS REP Mark Hannigan - [email protected] Anton Dengler - [email protected] Bob Lynch - [email protected] this update; “At present, I'm living in 1993 Michael Murray - michael.g.murray@ Bangalore, India running my own startup, Zoom. I’m the CEO and Co-Founder. I CLASS REPS 1998 morganstanley.com Tim Fitzpatrick - [email protected] Kevin Phipps - [email protected] actually dropped out of business school at Mickey Merrigan - [email protected] CLASS REPS Matt Rinklin - [email protected] USC to take this on full-time. I graduated John Alli - [email protected] UPenn back in 2007. I’ve been living in Niall Henry - [email protected] Dan Sherman - [email protected] Mike Viele - [email protected] Bangalore now for about one year. Zoom is 16 Ramview / Winter/Spring 2013 Class Notes
Hockey Alumni
For the last few years, the Fordham Prep Hockey Hall of Fame has celebrated the induction of new members and hosted its Alumni Game on the same day as the Varsity Homecoming game at Rye Playland. When Superstorm Sandy hit in October of 2012, Rye Playland was forced to close because of damage sustained to the Ice Casino, which will remain closed through the end of 2013, if not beyond. Because of difficulty re-scheduling all of the events together, the Varsity team was forced to go without a Homecoming game during the 2012-2013 season and the Alumni Game was cancelled for the year. However, the newest inductees into the Hall of Fame deserved a formal induction, albeit delayed for several months. On Thursday 27 June, Joseph J. DeLasho ’81, Philip R. Fusco ’08, Kenneth A. LaBarca ’81 and Charles R. MacKenzie ’08 (the newest inductees) and their families joined Alan Pilla (former head coach and current Program Director) and Nelson Ritter ’96 (Program Moderator and assistant coach) at Zuppa Restaurant and Lounge in Yonkers for an official induction dinner. Despite the delay, these four very New Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees Phil Fusco ’08, Chuck MacKenzie ’08, Ken deserving alumni players all expressed their dedication to Fordham Prep Hockey and LaBarca ’81 and Joe DeLasho ’81. their gratitude to their families, who have consistently fostered their love of the game. Congratulations, gentlemen! Plans are already underway for all three events to once again be held simultaneously in November of 2013 at the Brewster Ice Arena. This will give all FP Hockey fans an opportunity to properly congratulate Joe, Phil, Kenny and Chuck, as well as the upcoming class of inductees. Fordham Prep Hockey alumni and fans - mark your calendars for Friday 29 November! More details are available on the Hockey page of the FP website.
the first car-sharing company to launch in 2006 2009 University in May 2013. Carol A. Purcell , India (loosely similar to ZipCar in the US). Fordham Preparatory School’s Chief Financial CLASS REPS 5 YEAR REUNION We formally kicked off our service back in Eric Collazo - [email protected] Friday, May 16, 2014 Officer, has been named to the Montclair State February of this year and we've rapidly Sean Connolly - [email protected] University School of Business Advisory Board. CLASS REPS expanded since our initial launch. We've Ramon DeLaCruz - [email protected] Connor Brown - [email protected] The University is located in Upper Montclair, grown our vehicle fleet over 6 fold since Geoff DeSoye - [email protected] Adrian Mansylla - [email protected] NJ, with 18,000 undergraduate and graduate launch and we now have nearly 3,500 member John Dingee - [email protected] John O’Shea - [email protected] students. Ms. Purcell, who joined Fordham in our service. We’re targeting 150+ vehicles Travis Long - [email protected] Mike Troiano - [email protected] Prep in 2008 as the Prep’s first CFO, is a across 15+ locations in Bangalore by the end Hal Mackenzie - [email protected] graduate of Montclair State University’s of this year. We were recently featured in the Connor Nugent - [email protected] 2010 School of Business with a B.S. in Business Wall Street Journal and the Times of India Patrick Schramm - [email protected] Administration and is a Certified Public (India's largest newspaper and the 3rd largest CLASS REPS Accountant (inactive) licensed in New Jersey. Eric Lynch - [email protected] English paper in the world!). We’re actually in Eric Collazo started his 4th year teaching at a Ms. Purcell will chair the Advisory Board’s Gavin Reidy - [email protected] the midst of raising a very large investment new school called Tech Prep Academy which Program Committee. Ms. Purcell was also Brendan Siebecker - [email protected] round to help us expand our service across is in the Friendship Public Charter School named to the Board of Trustees of St. Peter’s India.” Greg is looking to contact any alumni network in DC. He teaches 10th Grade 2011 University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. living in Bangalore. English Language Arts. Colum J. Weiden CLASS REPS The 478 bed acute care facility is a regional received his J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown Max Kinder - [email protected] medical campus for Drexel University’s 2004 University Law Center this spring and has Kyle O’Keefe - [email protected] College of Medicine. The hospital is sponsored joined Cahill, Gordon & Reindel as an Mike Santeramo - [email protected] 10 YEAR REUNION by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. Associate lawyer in the firm’s Corporate Saturday, April 5, 2014 The Diocese of Metuchen was formed in 1980 practice. Faculty & Staff and the first Bishop of the Diocese was CLASS REPS Rosanne English of the Prep’s English Theodore Cardinal McCarrick , Fordham Joe Altenau - [email protected] 2007 Department received her second Masters Vijay DaCosta - [email protected] Prep Class of 1949. CLASS REPS Degree in English Literature from Fordham Will Ferguson - [email protected] 2005 Mo Kanu - [email protected] CLASS REPS Jim Lipscomb - [email protected] Joe Hallinan - [email protected] Jim Moore - [email protected] Applicants for Admission to the Class of 2018 Sean LaGamma - [email protected] Jim Lundy - [email protected] 2008 Do you know an 8th grader interested Joe Migliaccio - [email protected] CLASS REPS in applying to Fordham Prep? John Murtagh - [email protected] Dan Altenau - [email protected] Please let us know! Steve Tesoro - [email protected] Kenny Hyacinthe - [email protected] Chris Luboja - [email protected] Contact Christopher Lauber ’79, Chuck Mackenzie - [email protected] Director of Admissions, Calvin McCoy - [email protected] at [email protected] Mike Wrotniak - [email protected] to recommend an applicant to the Class of 2018.
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What to do about it? Contact Larry Curran `77 at [email protected] Call 718-367-7500 ext. 208 Don’t stay out of the loop! Contact Fordham Prep today
Ramview / Winter/Spring 2013 17 Milestones
Fr. Sullivan’s Alumni “Posse”
At reunions, one of the Prep experiences alums often Jack Feighery added the following: traveling to Tennessee each summer ever since. Since speak fondly of is their week of service with the poor in I keep going back because it’s consistently the best college they have all moved on to careers in the financial the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, Kentucky, week of my year. The other chaperones, the people I world, but still find time each summer to accompany and Tennessee and in South America. One special group meet down there, they are absolutely incredible and Prep students. In addition they have taken on the arduous of alumni not only remembers their own trips fondly, they they open their lives to us. I don't know what kind of but important end of the summer road trip to return the also have made that experience possible for Prep students work other people do, but with bartending, it’s hard to school busses safely to the Prep. Reflecting on his for the past 9 years. Along with Fr. Charlie Sullivan, this see real value in the work. You provide a service, and experience Stephen Donat ’06 wrote: “In all, the experi - alumni crew has led one of the Prep’s trips to work with hopefully a good one, that fills a social need, but it is ences I remember from each summer’s trips are not only Habitat for Humanity in Tennessee. Michael Franchi ’96, an endless tide and you don't even see the ripples you of ‘a hammer and a nail’ but, rather, a sense of community, Steve Sheil ’76, and Jack Feighery ’03 have each led 8 trips make too often. Working with Habitat, you’re still in friendship, and generosity.” as alumns. When asked why he goes back each year Steve the ocean – there are a lot of people who need hous - The Prep is grateful for the generosity of these Sheil said the following: ing, but you’re in the boat, you’re heading for the alumni and proud of the example they set for current I continue to go for several reasons; A long term horizon, and you can see your wake folding behind Prep students of what it truly means to be a “Man for friendship with Fr. Charles Sullivan, SJ that began in you. We go down and do these dedication ceremonies Others”. They remind us all that the lessons of faith and 1972 as a Prep freshman, the bond formed with the at the end of the week, and it’s the culmination of what service learned at the Prep can truly stay with us for a other 5 Prep alumni chaperones “Habitat Brothers”, we tell the students - we’re building a house so some - lifetime. an opportunity to give back to the Prep which has one can make it their home. positively influenced my life, the gratifying feeling Five years ago, then college students, Dennis Robinson, of helping others that I bring home with me after Geoffrey DeSoye, and Stephen Donat, members of the class every trip, and we have a good time too. of 2006, joined Fr. Sullivan’s alumni crew and have been
Marriages Births/Adoptions 2001 Colm McCarthy and Kaitlin Carr 1992 Finn Hyde, to Kevin and Angie Leahy 2001 Robert T. III, to Robert and Coleen Lynch 1997 Salvatore Augustine, to Salvatore and Jacquelyn Farenga Charlotte Sky, to Kevin Phipps and Angelica Bernier 1993 Patrick James, to Paul and Alison Favale Faculty Gabriel James, to Christopher and Trish Saltarelli 2000 Benjamin Mark, to Pip and Megan Decker William Henry, to William and Victoria Donoghue Angelo James, to James and Angelina Lewis We apologize for misspelling Allison Finneran’s name in the Cecilia Marie, to George and Colleen Lyons Births section of the Summer 2013 Ramview.
IN MEMORIAM
Joseph A. O’Neill ’44 James C. Lynch ’70 Rev. James DiGiacomo, S.J., former member of the Prep's Religious Robert B. Wolf ’47 Jose M. Caride ’82 Studies Department Daniel A. Dispenza ’48 William “Chris” Ryff ’94 Raymond Gonzalez, Sr., father of Prep Science teacher Raymond Stephen P. Barton ’49 John J. Breslin ’55, father of John ’86 Gonzalez James W. Callahan ’53 Stephanie Clemente, daughter of Constantine Clemente ’54 Douglas Tobin, former faculty member John M. “Jake” Phelan ’53 Vincent J. Cahill ’61, brother of Lawrence ’63, Fulton ’77, Joseph ’79 John A. Conti ’54 Adele Corcoran, mother of Michael ’61, John ’63, ’Kevin ’73, In the In Memoriam section of the last issue of Ramview , Kenneth Gary E. Mazza ’55 Brian ’76, Richard ’78 W. McGovern was mistakenly listed as a member of the Class of Robert A. Oswald ’57 Rosemary Andretta, mother of Gaeton ’75 1957. He was a member of the Class of 1956 Joseph J. O’Keane ’58 Ann Mangan, mother of James ’88, grandmother of John Murtagh ’05, William M. Callaghan ’61 James Murtagh ’10, Andrew Van Hoek ’14, Ian Van Hoek ’16 Peter R. Hickey ’62 Joseph Wordally, father of Kevin ’90
18 Ramview / Fall 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT • 19