‘The Greatest’
The Time When Muhammad Ali Visited 790 Bergen
Dateline: May 3rd, 1985. A visit by, arguably, the most famous person in the world at the time, to a school on the corner of Mercer Street and Bergen Avenue in Jersey City.
 
The genesis for this visit has faded from memory after all these years, but it almost seems like Apollo Creed hand-selecting Rocky Balboa, from a book, for his next ring date. The reason for the visit: also murky, from the vantage point of 36 years later.
 
But what is clear, and is also documented, is that ‘The Greatest’ was accompanied by then-former and future Mayor Gerald McCann ’68, as Ali indeed stepped into the ring at 790 Bergen and took a few circles around the floor.
 
Mr. Phil Gazzale recalls Ali “floating like a butterfly” -- touring the building, speaking to students, and, most memorably, making Librarian and Hall of Famer Catherine Greene laugh. But it was more than a laugh. An account of that interaction, as reported in the 1986 Hawk Yearbook by two Tonys - seniors Maimone & Chiusolo, has it that Ms. Greene spent the rest of the day repeating “He kissed me. He kissed me.” Ali is pictured, below, with Catherine Greene and then-assistant librarian Gertrude Schneider.
 
Brother Tim Ahern, Vice Principal at the time, recalls that Ali spent over an hour and a half in the school. Photos from the yearbook capturing the visit show Brother Tim, along with Brother Kevin Stanton, Principal, flanking Ali outside the Main Office, along with a Cafeteria shot of junior Frank Verga brave enough to step up and challenge the Champ in a shadow box! No word from Frank whether Ali “stung like a bee!” But, Bill Waddleton ’86 remembers Verga instigating the face-off and, despite the Champ having retired from boxing four years earlier, and in a suit, Bill said the reflex of Ali’s jab was “fast enough to swat a fly off Verga’s nose.”
While there were many highlights of the day and personal thrills left behind, perhaps the most poignant artifact of the day came from a request by Brother Tim for an autograph. He got it, but what he got with it was more personal and precious than the autograph alone could ever be.
 
The note reads: “Service to others is the rent we pay for our room in the hereafter.”
 
Just a little reminder why Muhammed Ali is remembered fondly as ‘the Greatest’.
 
Epilogue: Tony Chiusolo was brought back into the company of Muhammad Ali numerous times, ironically by Ali's contemporary nemesis, Smokin Joe Frazier, another World Champion to whom Tony was assigned in his days as a Hudson County Police Officer in November 1992. That assignment turned into a 20+ year friendship with Smokin’ Joe.
Be at Belmar
Look Who’s Coming to
Hawks at the Shore!


We noted that some of you, before plunking down your 85 shekels for our Belmar Blast, wanted to know who else was coming.

Well, now you no longer have an excuse to delay your reservation and payment at hudsoncatholic.org/shore.

Here are just some of the luminaries!
Stephan Liptak ‘69
Mark Mai ‘69
John Ryan ‘69
Bob Stroebel ‘69
Larry Basinski ‘70
Dennis Danilewicz ‘71
Mike Pecklers '71
Gary Ferrari ‘73
Mike Finley ‘73
Lou Manzo ‘73
Bob Quirk ‘73
Casey Zachowski ‘73
Matt McGrath ‘74
Peter Morales ‘74
Mike Skea ‘74
Glenn Taylor ‘74
Bruce Bock ‘75
Mike Kahrer ‘75
Joe Ward ‘76
John Nagel ‘77
Mark Kahrer ‘79
George Bailey ‘80
Ed Hickey ‘80
Frank Lemkan ‘80
John McLellan '85
Brian Daly '92
Brian Slattery ‘94
Terry Matthews, President-Principal
Blast From the Past!
Tommy Shine Foundation Event
September 19th
The late Tommy Shine '79 was a man for all seasons and spent his career in the front offices of the New Jersey Nets and New Jersey Devils. His many friends continue to honor his memory and dear friendship by raising money that benefits a Hudson Catholic student annually, with tuition assistance. We are grateful for the efforts of Bobby England '83, Doug Gordon '78, Frank Grom, and Stanley Tyminski, and happy to promote their efforts in memory of one great Hawk. To the memory of Tommy Shine!
529 Plans Aren’t Just for College

Did you know that funds from that 529 Plan you have been saving into for…ever, can be used to pay tuition at the private secondary education level, meaning Hudson Catholic? Up to $10,000 per year for qualified expenses, but only for tuition, not school supplies, books or field trips.
 
For those able to save more for education, tax advantages make the 529 an extra helpful tool. Investment gains within the account are tax-free upon withdrawal. It all comes down to what makes sense for your family’s financial situation.
 
While these plans are meant to be a relatively long-term investment, it could make financial sense in cases where the family income has been impacted, if it means avoiding the withdrawal of a student presently enrolled at Hudson Catholic.
 
Conversely, perhaps more than enough money for college has been accumulated in the 529, or maybe your child receives an academic or athletic scholarship for college, or chooses a less expensive college than you had anticipated. In such cases, excess funds can be transferred over to another college-bound sibling’s account.
 
Also worth knowing: contributions to 529 Plans are considered gifts, and under IRS laws, gifts up to $15,000 per person qualify for the annual gift tax exclusion. You can also front load your 529 for up to five years, or $75,000, at once without gift taxes. That goes for each spouse filing jointly so, together, spouses can contribute up to $150,000 every five years.
 
While the federal government might not tax that money used for private school tuition…. your state might. For instance, New York does not conform to federal 529 plan laws for high school use. Always check with your state plan.
 
529s could be just another tool in the kit for funding Hudson Catholic tuition. Mr. Fernando Colon in Tuition Collections will be glad you did!

Editor’s Note: The information presented in this article is not meant as tax or investment advice. Check with your accountant or financial advisor.

Help Us Write an Article
We’re looking for Published Hawks
We know of quite a few Hawks who have authored published books, but are not so sure we know of them all. For a future article on literary Hawks, if you have written a book, or know of a grad who has, please share that information with us -- author name and book title. We’ll do the rest. Send to advancement@hudsoncatholic.org.
Sea-Hawks!
The Return to Normalcy
Caribbean Cruise for the HC Crowd
Announcing our first Hudson Catholic Group Cruise!

Join your fellow Hawk alumni and sail aboard the luxurious Oceania Riviera on this ‘Enticing Caribbean’ 10-Day Cruise departing Miami on January 14, 2023. 

Some very special amenities will be offered for Hawk Alumni, through Mike Dramis ’73. And because Mike is a loyal Hawk, he will make a contribution to Hudson Catholic for each booking.

If interested in receiving more details for this cruise, or working with Mike to collaborate on future sailings, contact Mike at Bookingyourtriptravel@gmail.com
Update on the Class of 2021

The value of a Hudson Catholic education is manifested in the Class of 2021’s collective receipt of $3.6M in scholarship awards from the universities and colleges to which they applied. That is an average of $27,884 per graduate.
 
Some highlighted acceptances: Cornell, Wisconsin - Madison, Stevens Institute of Technology, Loyola Maryland, Villanova, Rutgers, Scranton, Syracuse, San Francisco, George Washington, Arizona, Quinnipiac, NJIT, Pratt Institute, The Recording Conservatory of Austin, The School of Visual Arts, and Berklee College of Music.
Correction Corner

Dennis Danilewicz ’71 is an avid reader, sleuth, and would-be editor of BTL, and wins the inaugural Corrections Corner Kewpie Doll after spotting the red herring planted in the plug for Hawks at the Shore. We will, of course, be pulling the winning 50/50 ticket out of a pail, not its homonymous ‘pale’.
FYI

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