"Enter To Learn, Leave to Serve"

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A Night of Stars!

Athletic Greats added to The Wall of Honor

On the evening of Friday, April 24th at McGinley Square, six banners containing names, uniform numbers and/or symbols of the sports they played or coached, were readied for hoisting on to the Courtyard-side wall of the Rocky Pope Gym for four individual Hawk athletes, one team, and the legendary coach himself for whom the building housing the Wall of Honor is named, signifying their entrance into Hudson Catholic Athletics Hall of Fame.

Jillian Ward '18 became the third female to receive the honors at alma mater, following Katria Stewart '15 and Kristin Cunning '15; Paul Sanatasieri '74 and Dennis Cronin '81 are the third and fourth track stars to be so honored; and, Tom Bender III '04 is the first three-sport athlete.

Our honorees treated a full house with many alumni among them to some reminiscing about the glory days, highlighted by Mike O'Koren '76 and Jim Spanarkel '75 speaking for the late Coach Pope. Spanarkel then honored Coach Pope's widow, Noreen Miller Pope who, in her own day, was a top athlete and legendary basketball coach in Hudson County, by saying that, had Hudson Catholic admitted girls back in the day, that Noreen would certainly be up on our Wall of Honor.

A few final words about Rocky Pope, whose plaque greets all as they enter the Gym. He was hired as Varsity Basketball Coach for the 1971-72 season, and as Varsity Baseball Coach, by then-Athletic Director, Brother Patrick King, FSC. At that time, Hudson Athletics were led by a King and a Pope. In 1973, on the day he was to marry Noreen, he coached a Hawk baseball game in the morning! He is the only coach in the county who won County Championships in Basketball AND Baseball. And in the months immediately preceding his passing, Rocky went out a winner, capturing the 1990 South Hudson Baseball title.

We wish to acknowledge Larry Basinski '70 and Frank Martineau '75 for providing the technical production services that filled the Gym with beautiful lighting and sound, as they so often do for event after event.

Enjoy the photos of the evening.

The Hawks Nest Glittered

Attending Wall of Honor members in support of inductees: Michael O'Koren '76, Alexander Long '73, Kristin Cunning '15, Cory Robertson, Jim Spanarkel '75

Representing the 1976 State Championship Basketball Team, gathered in front of the Lobby Trophy Case: Ed Chmielewski '76, Steve O'Brien '76, Michael O'Koren '76, John Spanarkel '78, and Tom Clark '76

Track Royalty

Inductee Dennis Cronin '81, Hall of Famer Bill Cullen '72, Wall of Honor member Alexander Long '73, and Inductee Paul Santasieri '74.

1976 State Champion Basketball Team

President Terry Matthews with Tom Clark '76, Ed Chmielewski '76, Steve O'Brien '76. John Spanarkel '78, and Michael O'Koren '76

Shattered!

Our Day of Giving Record, that is!

Spurred on by a late-in-the-day challenge gift offered by a great friend to Catholic education and to Hudson Catholic, Kevin Cummings, Hawks responded quickly and generously. With $21,300 of our $33,333 Hudson Catholic Day of Giving goal secured at 6pm of our day, Kevin called to say he would pledge $6,000 if we could raise the other $6,000 needed to hit the goal.

Not only did that achieve its aim, but Hawks were not taking any chances that we would not attain our goal for the day. Gifts came piling in and we plowed through the goal, going all the way to $40,670 and, in the process, shattering our Day of Giving record for funds raised outside of a pre-event Challenge Gift appeal -- for the fourth year in a row.

For the day, 95 gifts from alumni, friends, and religious, averaging $428, combined to make a profound statement about the love we have for Catholic education in general and for our school in particular. We did this in the name of St. John Baptist de La Salle, the patron saint of teachers and the founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, who are our founders, and who gave us their Lasallian Mission, charism, and traditions, and taught us to be of service to others.

We truly appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity.

The Holy Trinity at Work? Everything Coming Up 3's

You Knocked Our Socks Off!

So, our goal for this year's Day of Giving was well publicized, at $33,333. When pressed by President-Principal Terry Matthews as to why $33,333?, the CAO responded that it was modestly higher than last year's record and it just seemed like a 'catchy' number.

It flowed from there that, in sticking with the theme, $333 (or higher) seemed like a good total at which we could share a token of our appreciation, in the form of a pair of HAWK SOCKS.

Well, the response to that was heartening and, we might add, somewhat eerie. Last week, Hawk Socks went out in the mail to 33 Day of Giving donors of $333 or more!

Hawk Pride!

Go Hawks!

Let the Sunshine In

President and Chief Advancement Officer

barnstorm the east coast of Florida

to visit with Hawk Alumni

President-Principal Terry Matthews and Chief Advancement Officer Gary Ferrari '73 touched down in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday afternoon April 19th to begin the better part of a week of visits with Florida-based Hawks to bring the good word of Hudson Catholic to them. The genesis for the trip was the two-day Institutional Advancement Leadership Assembly attended by the CAO in Boca Raton, hosted by the La Salle District of Eastern North America (DENA) -- proving that reaffiliation is happening. Finding ourselves in proximity to so many communities on the east coast of Florida where Hawk alumni reside, we decided to take advantage of our locale and reached out to seven Hawks who were each very happy to hear of our availability to travel to meet them in their communities.

We started on the afternoon of our arrival and drove from Ft. Lauderdale airport north to Jupiter to meet with Joe Lemanowicz '77. The following day, we caught up with another highly supportive alum who wishes to remain private, in Miami over breakfast. The following day brought us to Retired US Navy Lt. Commander Steve Bulwicz '70 in Lantana for lunch. And our final day of visits was an all-day sprint up the coast, starting in Boca Raton with stops in Delray Beach for breakfast with Jim Lannon '70; Vero Beach for lunch with Tom Cantillon '74; Orlando, for happy hour with Phil Brady '77; and, another Orlando stop for dinner with John Zazzera '83. We learned something new from Steve Bulwicz, who told us that when he was arranging to spend his high school years at McGinley Square and was asked by neighbors where he was going, he responded: "I'm going to Regional." Who else remembers that reference in the early days of Hudson Catholic?

With a flight to catch the next morning from Orlando back to Newark, The Prez and CAO were glad to rely on someone else's wings to carry us home, so we could pause and reflect on the great visits we had with each alum, the shared experiences and laughs, the reminiscing, the meaningful conversations we had about today's Hudson Catholic, and the immeasurable gratitude for being received and hosted by each of these fine men. They remind us of how proud we are to be Hawks!

President Terry Matthews and Chief Advancement Officer Gary Ferrari '73 flanking our host,

Joe Lemanowicz '77 in Jupiter

With Steve Bulwicz '70 in Lantana

With Jim Lannon '70 in Delray Beach

With Tom Cantillon '74 in Vero Beach

With Phil Brady '77 in Orlando

With John Zazzera '83 in Orlando

An Update from Thomas F.X. Bender, Jr. '69,

Brother Patrick King, FSC Tribute Chair

We have successfully raised the funds to complete a sculpture of Brother Pat for the Courtyard. We've engaged an artist and a stone mason for the engraving of the granite base and anticipate an unveiling in the fall, which would mark 60 years since Brother Pat's arrival at Hudson Catholic. As the work continues, we will keep you informed of progress. Thank you all for your support!

Class Gift Presentation

Representing the Class of '75, Mike Kahrer, left, and Vic Pianese, right, present President-Principal Terry Matthews with the 1975 Class Gift in honor of their 50-Year Reunion held in October of last year at The Hawks Nest. Along with Steve Cuccinelli, not present, they worked to encourage their classmates to contribute gifts voluntarily to the Class Gift, as a heartfelt thank you to the school they love that gave them four of the best years of their lives. With a late-breaking gift, the gift total was brought to $36,141.

Along with holding 50-Year Reunions at The Nest, Class Gifts have become a tradition of classes reuniting for their 50th anniversary.

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Hudson Catholic receives, and you take a tax deduction for, 100% of the value of the donation

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May 14th - 16th



On The Jack Campion Stage at Hudson Catholic

May 27th

Don't Cage The Hawk

-- We Are Rooftop Bound!

August 15th

2-6pm

The Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh Club

16th Avenue in Belmar

SAVE THE DATE

October 19th

Hawk Happenings

9th Grader Stepping Out into the Footlights

Abigail Degnan ‘29 is no stranger to Hudson Catholic. Her father is Fred Barbi ‘86, making them the latest Hawk Legacy Family, and Abigail has been participating in our school’s theater program since she was 10 years old. Abigail has achieved a great deal of recognition for a 9th grader. An Honors student, Abigail was selected as the lead Student Ambassador for the 9th grade and is a founding member of the new Hawk Harmony Vocal Ensemble. Legendary Biology teacher Phil Gazzale encouraged her to apply for the new Pocono Environmental Education Center program sponsored by the Scholarship Fund for inner City Children, she was accepted, and will spend July 2-6 in the Poconos. When audition information came from the Jersey City Public Library for the Sounds & Visions of Jersey City Festival, to be held at historic White Eagle Hall, Abby auditioned - performing Dead Mom from the musical Beetlejuice, which she starred in on The Jack Campion Stage at Hudson Catholic in November. Abigail was given a “golden ticket”, bypassing all callbacks, and selected for the July 2nd performance!  

In April, Abigail was cast in a sold-out two woman show that played for two nights at The Mile Square Theater in Hoboken and Speranza Theater of Jersey City entitled Crazy Bird Lady, a tragicomic tale of an elderly birdwatcher and the troubled suicidal teen she befriends. Also in April, along with six other young ladies from Hudson Catholic, she appeared at the Speranza, in the Apple Tree House on Academy Street, to perform a staged reading of Steel Magnolias. This month, Abigail will play Rosie in the Hawk Drama Society’s production of Bye, Bye, Birdie and, this summer, after completing the PEEC program, Abigail will head into NYC for a week of Broadway Unlimited, a theater showcase intensive culminating in a performance in front of casting agents. Abigail was also selected for admission to the Paper Mill Playhouse Summer Conservatory Junior Plus Troupe, but deferred her spot to attend both PEEC and Broadway Unlimited.  

Pictured in costume, l. to r.: Jadyara Amaya Garcia (Sr), Abigail Degnan (Fr), Adienne Palanca (So), Aniyah Soto (So), Julia Lee Ortiz (Sr), Genesis Amaya Garcia (Fr), and Elizabeth Canela (So).

More 9th Grade Standouts

Emani Capers '29 and Astra Belmonte '29 will also be performing at Sounds & Visions. Emani has been accepted into Poets House NYC on a full scholarship for a week in July. Poets House is a national poetry library and literacy center in Battery Park City, home to readings, talks, performances, classes, and an 80,000 volume collection. Emani was valedictorian of her 8th grade class, and writes and performs her own poetry. She is our first student acceptance into this program.

Talented Freshmen:

Astra Belmonte '29, Abigail Degnan '29, Emani Capers '29

Achievements & Accolades Keep Piling Up at The Nest

Junior Jenaiya Acosta attended and competed in a STEM project titled "A Comparative Study of DNA Recovery on Non Porous Surfaces" at the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. 78th Eastern Region Youth Conference hosted by Delta Phi Chapter in Trumbull, CT, March 20-22. Not only did she compete and attend, but she claimed First Place and earned the $300 award!

The Best, and Among the Best

in County and Country

In a first - or should we say firsts – for Girls Track, our Hawks captured First Place in HCIAL Hudson County Relay championships, which is Hudson Catholic’s first such team title.

Hudson County Track Girls Relay Championship Team

Next up, the Girls 4x400 Relay Team of Lia Barker, Zy'ara Davis, Kimora Sims, and Breanna Miller ran the third fastest time in New Jersey enroute to running down Manchester High School of Jamaica and winning their race at the Penn Relays in late April, setting a new school record of 3:51:31 in the process. The Girls 4x400 performance earned them just the second "Wheel" in school history, the first being the 2015 Boys 4x400 Relay Team. The Girls' time is noteworthy and, by a review of the results, was in the top 12 out of 340 teams from across the country. The Boys and the Girls 4x100 Teams also won their heats, both significant accomplishments. In short, our Hawks flew high!

Penn Relay Glory

for Breanna Miller, Kimora Sims, Zy'ara Davis, Lia Barker

Kevin Grimes

Selected to Lead Hawk Boys Basketball Forward

Hudson Catholic Regional High School is pleased to announce Kevin Grimes as the Head Coach of the Boys Varsity Basketball Team. Coach Grimes brings over 15 years of high school coaching experience and is a former Big North Coach of the Year. He has a strong track record of building competitive, disciplined programs and developing student-athletes on and off the court. Coach Grimes stated "I'm incredibly grateful for this opportunity to lead a program as prestigious as Hudson Catholic. It's time to get to work." Welcome to the Hudson Catholic family, Coach Grimes!

There's Something Brewing in Softball

Yet another standout Frosh in a class filled with them, Alexa Lane has led the Girls Softball Team to a record of 9-7 at this writing. She is an absolute standout on the mound, striking out 158 opponents, averaging 9.88 per game. At this pace, she is going to receive heavy consideration for post-season honors.

Coding for Girls

Junior Jenaiya Acosta attended and competed in a STEM Project titled "A Comparative Study of DNA Recovery on Non-Porous Surfaces" at the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. 78th Eastern Region Conference, hosted by Delta Phi Chapter in Trumbull, CT on March 20-22. Not only did she attend and compete, and not only did she make herself and her school proud, but she did all of that and won First Place and received a $300 award!

Faculty Focus

Chemistry teacher, Ms. Maria Maderal, recently received her Catechist Certification from the Archdiocese of Newark. 



The Hudson Catholic Podcasting Studio

Is Looking Good!

Thanks to

Larry Basinski '73, Frank Martineau '75, and

The Hudson Catholic Alumni Association!

Getcha Hawk Merch!

Many have inquired about how best to obtain Hawk merch.

It is now available through our school website.

Here are a few samples of what you will find there.

Hudson Hawks

Gold-trimmed Tee

HC Zip-up

Alumni Spotlight

Leadership, Service, Achievements

(and occasional whimsy)

Nesting. Karen Ramiu '18, former Hawk (County Champion) and St. Peter's Peacock (All MAAC) standout on the volleyball court, is one of several Hawks to return to the Nest to coach a team. Hers is Girls Volleyball; she also serves on Faculty as a Spanish teacher. Other Hawk alumni coaching at The Nest: Jillian Ward '18 for Softball; Alexander Long '73 for Cross Country and Track: and Tony Monte' 78 for Freshman Basketball.

A Big Deal. Nassir Barrino '15, former Hawk basketball standout on the 2015 County Championship team who earned a D1 scholarship to the University of San Diego, has been named Boys Basketball Coach of the Year by NJ.com for his work at Shabazz High School of Newark this year. In his fourth year as head coach, he not only turned around a floundering program, his Bulldogs reeled off 22 consecutive wins to start the season and rolled to this year's Group 1 State Championship.

A Brother's Love. Richard Farrell '99 is CEO at Malachy Parts & Service of Bayonne, a locally owned, 30-year, small business that specializes in commercial kitchen equipment repair, maintenance and installation. If you stop by their facility at 586 Avenue A you'll see a plaque at the building entrance that honors the memory of Rich's classmate, friend and former colleague at Malachy, the late Shaun Higgins '99, pictured below.

Swoosh! Peter Koytroulis '99 has been elevated to the role of Vice President - Chief Design Officer, Jordan Brand, in his tenth year at Nike in Portland, Oregon.

Healthcare is his work. Nicholas Rentas '96 is Founder, Director & CEO of 3K Walk Cancer Away, in its 19th year in Bayonne / CEO and Managing Member at Pleasantdale Ambulatory Care providing outpatient surgical care in West Orange, NJ / Founder of The Wellness Center of New Jersey, providing addiction treatment in Cliffside Park.

Offering Hope. Jim Greene '85 appeared on Times Square Today to share a message of hope and healing. He spoke candidly about mental health, resilience, and how vulnerability can help individuals, families, and communities. Jim is a 30-year veteran in crisis intervention and counseling, supporting people facing depression, addiction, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Standing in Times Square with host Bob Guiney, "The Hope Guy' explained "Hope isn't just a word, it stands for Hold On, Possibilities Exist."

Thoughts for Food. Richie Furino '83 is presently the Food & Beverage Director for Apicii Hospitality Group, which operates a portfolio of acclaimed hospitality experiences throughout the United States, comprising restaurants, membership clubs, bars, cafes, and event spaces. A graduate of the Restaurant School of Philadelphia, he served a lengthy stint as Regional Director of Operations with the Del Frisco Restaurant Group / Landry's.

Sign of the Times. Hawk Author Joe Slota '72 will be appearing at a Barnes & Noble Author Event in Paramus on May 21st at 6:30pm for his book From The Streets to Global Seats. Tell 'im The Hawk sent ya!



A Graduate Shouts Out His Gratefulness

In the foreword of his book, From the Streets to Global Seats, Author Joe Slota '72 had this to say about his education: "And finally, to the educators who saw potential in me before I recognized it in myself, thank you. Special thanks to the faculty and administration at Hudson Catholic High School................. When I reflect on my humble beginnings, I am reminded not of limitations, but of the people who took the time to help me grow. Your belief helped shape this journey."

Tell Us

Just one of many things that unites us as Hawks is that Hudson Catholic alumni spread around the nation and the world are making incredible contributions to their communities, professions, and to Hudson Catholic.

If you know of an exceptional Hawk deserving recognition, we invite you to share why, by writing to advancement@hudsoncatholic.org with examples of Hawk alumni and alumnae leadership, service, and achievement...........and occasional whimsy.

Did You Know?

...... that John Cunning '79 was the Jersey City Diving Champion?

.......that Coach Ed Agresta's '84 Hawks won the very first football game played at Caven Point Field, with the extra added pleasure of beating Prep, 13-9, featuring key roles played by QB Paul Chowanec '85 and halfback Jim Greene '85?

Hawk Gatherings

From the Hallowed Halls. The Brothers Hall, that is. Recently gathered, are Wayne Hall '78, center, Warren Hall '81, right, and big brother Billy Hall, left.



Return to Glory. Former Track teammates Cleveland Eatman '82, left, and Dennis Cronin '81, right, were reunited at the recent Hawk Track Luncheon honoring this year's seniors, including Cleveland's daughter, Faith Eatman, who has excelled on the track this year with school records and first place finishes.



Eye Out for Hawks. It’s getting so that you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a Hawk anywhere you go. While morning coffee with Rich Buchicchio '83 on Daniel Island in Charleston, SC was pre-arranged, a very casual out-of-the-way night out with close friends at The Belmont Tavern in Belleville was occasion to run into 1985 Hawk Bill Pencek, fresh from a round of golf at Forest Hill, along with Bill’s lovely wife, Linda. Bill looks like he could be Class of ’05.

Robert Peake and Earl Graves, classmates from '86, had not seen each other in 40 years. They recently caught up at Da Benito's Restaurant in Union, NJ. Earl said that they actually did not plan to meet; they were both dining at Da Benito's and he recognized Bob as soon as he walked in, proving the old adage, "Once a Hawk, Always a Hawk!"



Blasts From the Past

The 2015 Penn Relays Boys 4x400 Winners

The 21-4, #9 State-ranked,

1995 Hudson County Championship Baseball Team

The 1983 Hawk Rutgers Bowl Quiz Team

Do You Have a 'Blast From The Past' to Share?

Whether from the 60s, or all the way up to the Aughts and beyond

(at least ten years old), or in between,

if you have a great rare memory, artifact, or whimsical item,

send it to advancement@hudsoncatholic.org

and we will try to share it with the HC community

Gallery

Professing Our Faith. Pitcher Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates, while pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, made a public display of his Catholic faith that the TV cameras picked up on, even if we cannot see it clearly in this photo. Take our word for it, the inscription on his pitching glove in this photo presents as '2 Timothy 1:7', a reference to a Gospel passage, citing "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mine."

To one of our most cherished benefactors who has done so much for so many Hawks over the years (even if they do not know it), we wish a very happy upcoming 92nd birthday to Mr. Jack Weisberg of New York City. He is the sponsor of the Jack Weisberg Scholarship Awards that are given annually to a top rising Senior and Junior in the St. Peter's University Dual Degree Program

If You Know, You Know!

Readers Respond

In reaction to our retro Hawk button in the last issue of 'BTL', one alum wrote that it was sold at pep rallies and in the Caf during lunch in 1980. Another said he purchased that button circa '71 - '75 in order to not have to adhere to the dress code for 'Hawk Day'.

If you can't take it with you,

why not leave it to Hudson Catholic?

(or, at least part of it?)

Where it can provide perhaps the greatest gift of all

THE GIFT OF EDUCATION

For more information on ways to arrange a meaningful planned gift

Contact the Chief Advancement Officer, Gary Ferrari '73 at gary.ferrari@hudsoncatholic.org or 201-888-6276.

You can help Hudson Catholic

with 'likes' & 'shares' of our posts to your networks, from

No Hawk Left Behind

We lose touch with some of our graduates who move around, go off to college, start careers, get married, etc. In some cases, they retire, having used their work email to receive ' BTL', and forget to notify us of a personal email address. Help us find them again and make it harder for us to lose touch. Many on this list have siblings who are Hawk alumni, so turn them in at advancement@hudsoncatholic.org or send them to hudsoncatholic.org/stay-connected to update their contact info.

Reminders

Drop a note to

advancement@hudsoncatholic.org

To advertise your business or service

and support this newsletter for $30 per month or $350 annually

Plan a visit back to The Hawks Nest,

Obtain or donate a Hawk Yearbook

through the Yearbook Exchange,

If you receive our email at your workplace

We may not be getting through to you if our email is being intercepted by your spam filter. Only you can correct that by placing us on your safe list, which would allow communications from our Constant Contact email platform to reach you.

For Hawks at or nearing retirement age

and receive this newsletter at your workplace email address

Please send us your personal email address at hudsoncatholic.org/stay-connected, or we will lose touch with you! This happens often.

Death Notifications

may be sent to

info@hawkalumni.org

Catch up on back issues of

Building The Legacy 

Do you have a newsworthy item or something from the present or past to share with the Hawk community?

·    Landed your first job? Taken a new one?

·    Received a promotion or honor?

·    Gotten engaged or married?

·    Celebrated a milestone anniversary?

·    Welcomed a child or grandchild?

·    Reminisced with fellow Hawks recently?

·    Relocated?

·    Retired from your last job?

Hudson Catholic welcomes any and all news about your career, education, family life, and reconnecting with other alumni.

Submit a note and share photos with the Hudson Catholic community at

advancement@hudsoncatholic.org

Words of Wisdom

"If what you did yesterday still seems big today, then you haven't done anything today."

-- Aaron Judge, Right Fielder for the New York Yankees

"We were not saved to be silent."

-- Anonymous

"The longer you wait to act on an idea, the less likely you are to ever act on it."

-- The Law of Diminishing Intent, from Jim Rohn, American entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker

Requiescant in Pace

Vita Mutatur Non Tollitur

(Life is changed, not ended)

___________________________

Matthew Guerra '70,

father of Patrick Guerra '93 and Matthew Guerra '96,

cousin of Vincent Guerra '75

Vincent Grauso '73

William Rowlands '80

Bryan MacKay,

father of Brianna MacKay '19

Michael Parzel,

brother of Joseph Parzel '73

___________________________

Will be remembered in the annual

Alumni Mass of Remembrance

on November 1st, 2026

The Office of Advancement ~ Gary, Jill & Jenine

201-332-5970 x118

Advancement@hudsoncatholic.org ~ OR ~ gary.ferrari@hudsoncatholic.org

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