Annual Beefsteak Preparations Underway; Last Hurrah for Tom Robins

It's hard to believe, but our annual signature event is just around the corner on February 3rd. After last year's success, the Fathers' Guild is excited to welcome back Brian Kirk & the Jirks, one of the most popular bands in New Jersey.

Most of the larger pieces have fallen into place: Kirk, the beefsteak vendor, the party rentals, and more. One other big piece to the puzzle -- whose name has become synonymous with this event -- will be in attendance as well: Tom Robins. With son Sean graduating in May, it's the last of 14 beefsteak events Robins has devoted so much time and energy to. Tom's impact on the Fathers' Guild and the Annual Beefsteak has been profound. "Tom is the best and is always willing to step up and help when needed," says former Fathers Guild President Eric Gross. "Whether it's his strategic vision/planning, handling the electrical work for all events and projects, decorating for the Beefsteak, or simply being available to join a golf foursome anytime and any day on 5 minutes notice, Tom always steps up to the plate" Gross adds.

The Herald had a chance to sit with Robins to get his take on the importance of the Annual Beefsteak and his perspective on the AoOL experience over the last 15 years. Take a quick walk with us down memory lane. Fifteen years ago, Tom and wife Allison were living in Elmwood Park, surveying the different academic options for their children. "Our goal was simple," he says. "We wanted to find a school that aligned with our Catholic values that would provide a solid primary education our children could build on." A visit to the school closed the deal. "Our minds were made up after walking the halls during Catholic Schools Week and interacting with the faculty and students -- this was where our kids were going."

That decision led to almost 15 years of involvement and friendships. "Fast forward 15 years and I am gobsmacked at not only the value my kids acquired as is evident by their strong moral character and life-long friendships they developed at the school, but also the sense of community and connection that was omnipresent throughout their time at AoOL."

As for the Beefsteak event itself, Tom is very direct. "At AoOL, all roads lead to the Beefsteak" he says. "It is our biggest fundraiser of the year and is the catalyst behind the Fathers Guild mission and many of the great improvements and enhancements afforded the school over the past many years."

Based on The Herald's interview with Doug Coughlin in December, and the meeting with Tom Robins this month, a theme seems to be emerging among the species known as the long-term Fathers Guild man: gratitude. "There was more than we ever bargained for" says Robins. "As I reflect back on our time here at Academy of Our Lady, I am so extremely grateful for all the rich memories that both Allison and I have had and great friendships that we developed as a result of our time here at AoOL; and that I know will last a lifetime."

A silver lining here: Tom is not quite finished yet. For the next several years, Tom has graciously agreed to accept the main role in running our annual golf event. We went from 20 golfers in 2022, to 24 in 2023, and this coming year under Tom's leadership it will be turned into a true outing with approximately 60 spots available. Sign up for this at the Beefsteak!

Thank you Tom and Allison.

Faculty Corner: Mrs. Doris Treuer Places Faith Over Fear

Faculty Corner profiles a member of the AoOL faculty or staff each month.

It was the phone call every parent dreads. On May 13, 2023, a clear and warm spring day, AoOL religion and science teacher Mrs. Doris Treuer was out for a walk when the cell phone rang. It was a detective from Boonton Township, calling about a serious accident involving Mrs. Treuer's daughter Mary.

Understanding the path of Mrs. Treuer, Mary and her family since that phone call -- a journey that continues today and will go on for the foreseeable future -- first requires an understanding of Mrs. Treuer herself. Born the youngest of 4 children, Doris Treuer grew up in what is now known as Woodland Park ("I will always call it West Paterson," she insists). Doris attended St. Philip the Apostle School from 1st through 8th grade, a community that helped form the faith that sustains her still today. Doris ultimately became a paralegal and worked in the legal industry for over a dozen years before fighting and winning a battle with cancer. That life experience set Doris on a new path. "Teaching became my passion and my second career after I finished chemotherapy" she explains. This June she will celebrate 24 years of teaching, 21 of which have been in Catholic education including 9 here at AoOL. Teaching is most definitely a vocation for Mrs. Treuer and not merely a job. "Jesus is the master teacher and I am blessed and honored to be working under His inspiration" she says. 

On that spring day, Mrs. Treuer and her husband rushed to Morristown Medical Center. Mary, an accomplished marathoner and triathlete, had collided on her bike with an SUV. The injuries were extensive, including a traumatic brain injury, broken ribs, internal bleeding and vertebrae fractures, among others. The family was in the ICU around the clock with Mary. "The first couple of days were the scariest" says Mrs. Treuer.

Mary and her husband Juan have a young son, Lorenzo (2 and a half years old). How did the family navigate this time, especially the first few weeks? Mrs. Treuer doesn't hesitate in pointing to several things: first and foremost, she says, "prayer and our faith in our Savior and Lord Jesus got us through." She also credits the ICU nurses as "simply amazing" and the support from parishioners of her church and Mary's church. Mrs. Treuer also stresses the positive impact felt from the AoOL community. "My Academy of Our Lady family moved quickly into action as soon as I notified Ms. Clemente" she says. "My colleagues flooded me with prayers and support." But it was even more than that. Lesson plans needed to be developed, papers graded, children taught. "I had planned my annual grass frog and dogfish shark dissections for the 7th and 8th grade science classes and didn't want the students to miss out" she explains. "Ms. Clemente, Mrs. Deely, and many other teachers filled in for me as I did my very best to type up lesson plans while at the foot of Mary's bed." Mrs. Treuer was determined that classes did not skip a beat. "Ms. Clemente would even drive to my house with papers to grade so we could keep classes going," she adds. 

That experience was not forgotten. "I can honestly say that Academy is the best place I have ever worked" says Mrs. Treuer. "It is a second family to me."

Mary has made enormous progress since the accident. She has returned to speaking fluent Spanish and English. On the cognitive side, "I would say she is about 95% back to her intelligent self" says Mrs. Treuer. Still, major challenges remain. Mrs. Treuer says that Mary eventually wants to return to running marathons. "Mary wants to climb every mountain and reach all her goals" explains Mrs. Treuer. The specific goal for 2024 is to walk again. "Mary is working extremely hard in PT and OT three times a week" says Mrs. Treuer. "I am still trusting the Lord each day and I truly believe that He has great plans for Mary."

As you know, the medical expenses even with insurance are very substantial for an incident like this. We are posting the GoFundMe below if you would like to help Mary through the days ahead.

Thank you Mrs. Treuer.