President Matthews, 4 Honorees
Deliver Poignant Messages on Catholic Education at the
8th Annual Black & Gold Golf Classic
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Our four honorees, Gerard McGraw '72, Rick Roscitt '69, Amy DeGise, and Jerry Walker provided the highlight of the day, echoing a theme in support of Catholic education. All are products of Catholic schools, most from grade school through college. And all stressed the importance of Catholic education for our youth, generally, and the importance of Hudson Catholic on the urban educational landscape, specifically.
Kevin Cummings, CEO of Investors Bank, our event sponsor for the second year running, provided the prelude to this theme and continued to tout the importance of charitable giving to Catholic schools and Hudson Catholic, saying that donating is meaningful to an individual “only when it hurts a little. It should hurt a little.”
President-Principal Terry Matthews’ remarks were a reminder of where we have all come from, and a call to action about where we all need to be, in supporting Catholic education and Hudson Catholic. He said: “The circle remains unbroken because of the men and women who see the need for a Catholic, values-based LaSallian education in Hudson County and, through their generosity, are enabling our young men and women to experience it.”
Amy DeGise, who has spent her career in public education as a teacher and an administrator structuring educational programs, stressed that educators raised in the Catholic school system stand to make a difference for children everywhere with the gifts received from Catholic education.
Jerry Walker delivered the quote of the evening when he said “I have played on some great teams at St. Anthony and Seton Hall. But Hudson Catholic is my team now!”
The event was profitable, raising $50,000 for general operations. Golf was played that day too. Pictured above: 1975's John DiNardo, Steve Cuccinelli, and Ed DiBianco.
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Special Thanks
To event organizers Jill Cypher and Jenine D’Addetta
And to our team of Hawk students for their help on game day.
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Our Scholarship Benefactors come through for our young Hawks, again, and in a big way!
The Student/Partner Alliance & Scholarship Fund for Inner City Children
Commit $303,900 in 2021-22 Tuition Assistance!
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Call for Mentors
for the new school year
The Student/Partner Alliance (Ann Kemp) is inquiring about the prospect for us to produce as many as 12 Mentors for students in the new school year. Ann writes that the S/PA accepted 14 new students at Hudson Catholic this fall and have matched two of them so far. They have scheduled a lunch at Hudson Catholic on October 26th at 1pm to have mentors and mentees meet face-to-face in the Courtyard Tent. They will be requiring proof of vaccination or a negative Covid PCR test within 48 hours. Interested mentors should drop a note to Advancement.org for further details.
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The Hudson Catholic Scholarship Program is proud to announce the establishment of six new scholarships and awards valued at $34,500 that will benefit at least six students on an annual basis.
Sean Wilkins has provided $5,000 for the establishment of an award offered in the name of his twin brother, an alumnus who died in an accident just one year following graduation. The Dennis Wilkins ’90 Memorial Award is a standing commitment of four years for an annual award of $1,250 to be given to a freshman of high potential from a low-income family.
The Frank & Mary Pecklers Memorial Scholarship is donated by Michael Pecklers ’71 in memory of his mother and father. This is a $10,000 scholarship payable over a four-year commitment, to a student coming from a single-parent household.
Two Team Walker Scholarship Awards of $2,500 each are offered in tandem by Team Walker of Jersey City and Hudson Catholic to enable disadvantaged Jersey City youths to attend Hudson Catholic.
Gerard McGraw '72 has pledged $12,000 to create a scholarship to honor the man whose name graces the award Gerry received at the recent Black & Gold Golf Classic -- John P. Higgins. Details are being developed and will be announced shortly.
The Kathleen V. Ferris Award is offered by Gary Ferrari ’73, as a $2,500 commitment awarded annually to a child raised by a single mother.
The Hudson Catholic Scholarship Program presently comprises 21 awards at a value of $58,000. We are seeking additional donors to hit our targets of 50 awards and $100,000 by the end of the 2021-22 school year.
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Alumni Authors
could fill 'The' Library
Hudson Catholic has its share of literary luminaries, graduates who have published their works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, biography, political expose, motivation, and education.
The first alumnus to publish was Jim O’Donnell ‘ 69, noted historian of rock and roll personalities. Among his collection is The Day John Met Paul, which researched and chronicled events and dialogue around the meeting of the two young men who ultimately formed the Beatles and stormed the music world. John Lennon Did Not Die a Slow Death, is a researched account of the legend’s last moments, yielding a short story to dispel an urban legend that Lennon was lucid and speaking before he succumbed to the gun shot. The title story is accompanied by nine others about rock stars of consequential impact on the world.
Brain Altano ’74 is perhaps the most published author, having written 18 books, primarily about the use of the and ability to use the English language.
A most compelling work is Closure: The Untold Story of the Ground Zero Recovery Mission by Bill Keegan ’73, which developed out of the daily journal Bill wrote during his 250+ day residence at Ground Zero as the Night Commander for the Rescue & Recovery Operation following the 9/11 destruction of the World Trade Center. This is an incredibly gripping story about the human condition in the midst of the most unique, risky, challenging, and emotional conditions.
Jim Waddleton ‘89 published two poetry collections based on his life experience in Jersey City, under the nom de plume of James Francis: A Heart in Hell: Poetry from a Jersey City Boy, and Pushing Purgatory: Poetry from a Jersey City Boy.
Joe Colicchio ’70 is a novelist, having published three (all set in Jersey City): High Gate Health and Beauty; The Trouble with Mental Wellness; and As Told by Monk. Joe has just completed #4, titled True Tales form a Single Summer.
As Told by Monk is a love letter to a place and its people. You’ll recognize it immediately, when you turn the page to the first chapter, titled ‘Punchball’. The non-fiction takes you through what it’s like to be a 9-year old in Jersey City in 1960, what it’s like to wear a hooded red sweatshirt and be known to adults and kids alike as ‘Monk’, what its like when your sort-of girlfriend dies, and what it’s like to encounter death, and to then encounter a truth informing you that someone you know may have killed the girl. Monk himself will tell you.
Lou Manzo ’73 may be our most versatile author, having published God’s Earth Also Cried, an educational text about the ecology; Ruthless Ambition: The Rise and Fall of Chris Christie, a political critique of the former New Jersey Governor, borne from his personal experience in fighting prosecutorial excess; and, An Irish Lullaby, a fictional work fashioned after life around St. Aloysius Parish.
YES Network celebrity and New York Yankees’ game analyst Jack Curry '82 has co-written books with Derek Jeter entitled The Life You Imagine and David Cone entitled Full Count. Jeter’s chosen topic was designed to speak to the possibilities for young people to build a happy and successful life. The book with Cone is great baseball reading.
And former Head Football Coach Ed Agresta is an award winning educator, lecturer, and coach who has been published five times. His latest is a children’s book titled Roger the Bravest Bird in the World, an encouraging tale that shares positivity in trying new things for a change, as it may turn out to be rewarding, and teaches respect and kindness to make friends despite differences in appearance. Ed’s other works are Don’t Count the Days…Make the Days Count; Power Statements; 101 Radical and Tremendous Teaching Tools. Tips, and Techniques; and, WOW Watch Out World.
All these works can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, eBay, or the Office of Advancement bookshelf. The latter is the only place where they can be borrowed. Send a request to Advancement@hudsoncatholic.org. All we ask is that you be kind to the appeal for '1964': The Fund for Hudson Catholic.
No word yet on which of these works may have found their way, or will, into the curriculum at 790 Bergen!
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Belmar Blowout to Fete Former Faculty Jim Gannon on Nov. 6th
Why? He's a great guy who has stayed in touch with many students from his days at Hudson Catholic as a pioneering lay teacher.
Where? Where else? The Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh Club on 16th St. in Belmar. You could hit Bar A with rock from there.
When? 6-9pm
How much? $65 ducats
For what? Hot buffet, open bar, and all the exaggerated tales and laughs you can handle.
How do I get in on it? Send a check to Sigmund Zachowski at 31 Kendall Blvd Oaklyn, NJ 07777. Note 'Gannon Toast' (or is that 'Roast'?) on bottom.
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Story Teller. Joe Colicchio ’70 (with wife Patty), whose achievements as a published story teller are detailed in a separate article in this issue, has completed two residences at Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, received two Geraldine R. Dodge Grants, and two New Jersey State Council on the Arts Grants, including Distinguished Artist Award, the highest the state bestows. Joe is an Associate Professor of English at Hudson County Community College.
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Michigan Man. Jim O'Neill '83 is a long way from home, but right back at home. Visiting from Livonia, Michigan, Jim took the time between visits with family and friends to take a tour of the Hawks Nest. While doing so, he ran into his favorite teacher, between periods, Hall of Famer Phil Gazzale
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Juke Box Heroes. From back in the day, the late Fernando Lines, the late John Patello, and John Strzalkowski, being all that, as members of the Class of '72.
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Sky Pilot. Ken DePasquale '87 of the vaunted DePasquale Family (Joe ’81, Mike ’84, Dean ’90, Patrick ’97, mother Mary Lou and their late patriarch Daniel), the family who owned Pastore Liquors on Montgomery and Summit for many years, has been flying since 1990. Ken piloted a corporate jet for Hess Corporation for years, and is presently a Captain in the American Airlines fleet, based out of New York. If you board a flight at Newark, LaGuardia or Kennedy, look or ask for Ken.
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Congratulations on your Retirement, but STAY CONNECTED
Many of our grads have furnished us with their business email addresses for preferred means of communication. Now that we have a number of classes in the retirement zone (you know who you are!), when that milestone day comes, please remember to provide a personal email to enable us to ‘stay connected’ with you. We’ve had to chase a good number of you down in the past year when our communications to your work email addresses bounced back. Congratulations to those who have reached this email bounce back status!
We are taking the Black & Gold green -- by communicating with you online. If we have your email address, you are helping us save on printing and mailing costs.
Updates for your email, phone and mailing address can be shared with us at hudsoncatholic.org/stay connected.
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FYI
hudsoncatholic.org/hawknews to:
Find past issues of Building The Legacy
hudsoncatholic.org/stayconnected to:
Update email address, mobile phone number, or mailing address
Share employer name, job title, professional field
Personal updates: degrees, marriage, births, job change/promotion, awards
Advancement@hudsoncatholic.org to:
Advertise your business card here for $25 per issue
Plan a visit back to the Hawks' Nest.
Obtain or donate a yearbook through The Yearbook Exchange
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Korrections Korner
We reported in the last issue that Robert Coughlan '68 was the earliest known Legacy father among Hawks everywhere. We goofed -- there is no 'u' in Robert's last name -- it is Coghlan.
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The Office of Advancement ~ Gary, Jill & Jenine
201-332-5970 x118
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Special thanks to our sponsors: |
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