Keeping you up to date on all things Hudson Catholic, past and present

Hawks Answer The Call

(Hawks Always Answer the Call!)

Response to Year-End Match Challenge

Is Fast Out of the Gate

On the day following our last issue, and in direct response to our lead article explaining why we have to ask so much, one alum decided to create a match challenge which will turn out to be worth $35,000! Half that will match the other half, if indeed we are all able to contribute $17,500, cumulatively, in the month of June.

And we are well on our way to making our target, which would take us over the goal line of $300,000 for this year’s Fund for Hudson Catholic.

The Hawk response to the announcement of the Year End Challenge at mid-day on June 1st was swift and immediate. Before the day ended, we had received $7,500 in gifts and pledges. As it stands today, we are beyond the halfway point at $11,530. We continue to seek $6,000 further in gifts by June 30th, in order to secure the match.

One way to look at it is that would take just 60 Hawks at $100 apiece. When defined in those terms, that looks like an easy do. We'll report back to you again on our status in two weeks in this space, at which time we hope to give you the news that we have met the Year End Challenge and, consequently, our annual fundraising requirement, without which would need to be absorbed by a tuition increase.

Who Wants To Put Us Over The Top?

Will it be a Hawk making their first gift to The Fund?

Will it be a Young Alum making an affordable small gift as a 'thank you'?

Will it be a previous donor topping up their gift?

Will it be a demonstration of leadership from our Board or Administration?

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three;

but the greatest of these is charity.

-- 1 Corinthians 13:13

BE THE HAWK!

Hudson Catholic Graduates 56^th Class;

129 added to the Ranks of Alumni

On Saturday, June 3^rd, the tradition of Hudson Catholic graduation at St. Aedan's church repeated itself, when 129 young Hawks, 71 boys and 58 girls, received their diplomas and entered the ranks of Alumni. With that, the total graduate count since 1968 numbers 7,931.

The Hudson Catholic Administration Team is deserving of taking a bow here. This class entered The Home of The Hawks in September 2019 and took the full brunt of the pandemic beginning in March of their freshman year. Learning, and teaching, was pushed to the limits of practicality and viability. With support from The Alumni Association, Mr. Jack Weisberg, and government funding, Hudson Catholic remained open, albeit on a hybrid in-person/home schooling schedule.

And while the evidence is now in about the damage done to public high school students from school closures, our students and faculty toughed their way through the dark days for two years, until March 2022, and have now come out the other end with a truly outstanding set of achievements, as if the pandemic never occurred. This class is memorable. And should be celebrated for time to come, as they helped to hold the fabric of Hudson Catholic together when a less prepared or supported school would have collapsed.

Here's to the Class of 2023!

In a scene repeated for 56 years now, the long line of Hawk seniors, led by Faculty and administration, snakes across Mercer Street on their way into their Hudson Catholic Commencement in the Church of St. Aedan's.

Signum Fidei Award to Bill Venezia ‘70

The Signum Fidei award signifies the exemplification of the LaSallian spirit of faith and zeal in the service of church and society. As such, it is awarded by the Head of School as and when it is seen fit to do so, not on a planned cycle. Most recently, it has been awarded at Commencement and at the Hall of Fame Gala.

At Commencement, President-Principal Terry Matthews bestowed the Signum Fidei Award upon a pillar of the Hudson Catholic Administration who has made enormous contributions and taken the school to the next level academically -- Mr. William Venezia ’70, retiring today from his role as Director of Special Instruction. Bill returned to alma mater three years ago, following completion of an illustrious career in public education, including as Principal, and has taken our academic program to a new level entirely. He is the co-creator of the SPU Dual Enrollment Program that has been well chronicled in the past, in the last issue, and in this issue. Fifty one now-alumni have the DEP to thank for receiving their Associate degree while completing high school. Bill has also created pathways to university for media arts students via the NJCU Media Arts Program, which has just completed its first year. And the ACES Program partnership with Stevens Institute of Technology is in the process of building more pathways for our STEM students into Stevens and other technology schools.

Bill has built a fine legacy at Hudson Catholic. He joins the ranks of past award recipients Mr. Thomas Stanton Jr., Sister Jacqueline Carey, SC, Mr. Benigno Crespo, Mr. Frank Becht, Rev. Daniel Degman, SJ, Mr. John Carroll, Br. David Baginski, FSC, Gary Ferrari ’73, Br. Colman Coogan, FSC, Mr. Antonio Fernandez, Rabbi Kenneth Brickman, Curt Zegler ’89, Robert Gironda ’68, Matthew Donohue ’68, Brian Neary ’69, Mr. Phil Gazzalle, Carl Gargiulo ’73, Mr. Sean Callagy, Mr. Jack Weisberg, and Mr. Lou Tatti.

A Great Reason to Support Hudson Catholic

A Hudson Catholic Education

Stands to Save 51 Hawk Families

$5,500,000!

A Hawk who spends three years in intensive studies at the college level as part of a Cohort in the SPU Dual Enrollment Program is anything but typical. But once there, a typical such student earns 63 credits to be awarded an Associate degree while simultaneously earning their Hudson Catholic diploma.

The average cost of an Associate degree over these three years of study for these students’ families is $5,775, which is in addition to the annual tuition of $12,000+ for high school. However, this is a premium investment, and a huge savings on perhaps the greatest expense these families will ever incur, because the pain of laying out that money simultaneous with high school tuition means that they obtain two years of college credits valued at $114,000! Each of our Hawks earned themselves and their families a savings of $108,225!

Hawks of Cohort #1 - Class of 2021 are attending SPU, Villanova, NJIT, Seton Hall, Stony Brook, Kean, Montclair St., Barry U., and the University of Sciences.

Hawks of Cohort #2 - Class of 2022 are attending SPU, Stevens Tech, Rutgers, NJIT, Seton Hall, Fordham, Peen St., Syracuse, and Emory Riddle Aeronautical U.

With a total of 51 DEP cohorts to date, realized and projected savings on tuition at their chosen colleges and universities approximates $5,500,000+!

A Message From the Prez

I write this as our underclassmen prepare for their last day of Final Exams tomorrow. However, I do so while basking in the achievements of our graduated Class of 2023. Our Student Services Department (the Guidance Department to us older folks!) did a fantastic job of accepting the challenge to improve the level of colleges and universities that our students will attend, while expanding the geographic footprint at the same time. True to our Lasallian Mission, the college decisions of our students reflect the diversity that was one of their magical powers. The choices range from an additional year at prep school, to community college, to trade school, or directly to college or university. The future is bright for our newest alumni and alumnae, but it exists in large part because you cared enough to help provide the time, talent and treasure that opened doors to these opportunities.  Thank you!!!

Hawk Happenings

(Accomplishments, cont'd)

a/k/a Hawk Fires Continue to Illuminate the Sky!

Mariano Padilla selected to address the SFIC Gala

Senior, and now alumnus, Mariano Padilla '23, was chosen as the guest speaker to address 400 attendees at the Scholarship For Inner-City Children's annual gala that raised $450,000 for the SFIC's tuition assistance program that benefits, among many students at private and parochial schools, 100+ Hawks. A recipient, himself, Mariano made for the perfect ambassador for the SFIC program and our hundred Hawks.

An excerpt from his address to the gathering of philanthropists: "The SFIC has been one of the greatest assets to fund my education and has set me forth on my path. I will never forget what it has done for me. I can't wait to do the same in the future and give back to young aspiring dreamers and help make their dreams come true, just as you have for me. I know that the Catholic education I've been given by my parents and SFIC has allowed me to discover myself, discover my talents, and become closer to God."

In Mariano's four years, he has served as a Student Ambassador, Peer Minister, a lector at school liturgies, played varsity soccer, and starred on The Jack Campion Stage at Hudson Catholic in the recent production of Chicago, The Musical. And the awards just keep on coming -- All County Soccer, the De La Salle Service Award for outstanding service to the community, and a scholarship to Pace University School of Performing Arts.

In an interview with JerseyCatholic.org, Mariano tells of the importance of Catholic education to his family -- educated in the Catholic tradition in Peru. The family emigrated to the U.S. ten years ago. His humble, hardworking family taught him the value of the relentless pursuit of excellence. For him, the best thing about attending Hudson Catholic was learning to grow closer to God.

We have all played a part in enabling Mariano to build his story and, as this is but one such story representative of hundreds, we all deserve to bask in true Hawk Pride.

Grace-Marie Bamba is the 2023 Valedictorian

Medical Arts Field Trip

In late may, 11 Medical Arts 2 Hawks took a field trip to Six Flags Great Adventure for emergency management planning.

Faces of the Hudson Catholic Scholarship Program

HCSP scholarship donors were invited to meet with the students they sponsor on May 18th -- after all, this program is about Hawks helping Hawks. Here, we see a cheerful time had by Sophomore Destiny Arroyo and her 'sponsors', Angelica Santamauro and Mike Pecklers '71 who gift the Frank & Mary Pecklers Scholarship. Huge thanks to Mike, Angelica, and all our scholarship sponsors!

Taking a Lead from

‘Hawks at the Shore’,

Florida Hawks Plan Statewide Event

in St. Petersburg

Floridian Hawks have Darren Scarpa '79 of Parrish and Rocco Filerino '80 of Clearwater to thank for pulling together the plans for an All Years Hawk Reunion, family-friendly and open to all, but certainly targeted at any and all Hawks residing in the Sunshine State.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 11th, when our Hawks will be gathering on the west coast in St.Petersburg at the Hollander Hotel. Our leaders have reserved five cabanas to date, each holding seven and a front table for four. That is capacity for 55 altogether, and cabanas can be added as attendance mounts. Festivities will get underway at 12:30pm, poolside (that's how they roll in F-L-A!). There is no upfront cost, pay only what you order from the restaurant or bar. Rocco has committed to do the lifeguarding; Darren to provide the singing entertainment. The rest is up to you! More details to come as this event develops further, including the names of attendees as they commit, because nothing attracts a crowd, like a crowd!

Event Schedule

June 19th

July 22nd

At our Usual Place

Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh Club - 16th Ave, Belmar

3-6pm / buffet and open bar / $85

Open to all Hawks and friends

Register at hudsoncatholic.org/HATS

What will this year's swag be?

October 14th

Class of '73 -- 50 Year Reunion

at The Hawks Nest,

Where all of our triumphs and misdeeds occurred

Get there by #16 Public Service or Bergen Ave Bus,

but GET THERE!

Registration details to follow

As Brother Pat King Is Laid to Rest

Hawks of all feathers travelled to Washington DC to pay their final respects and represent the Hudson Catholic community at the funeral services for Brother Pat on May 18^th. While it was not possible to ensure a full accounting of all who may the trip from New Jersey, or elsewhere, we are deeply thankful to all who did and carried with them our prayers and fond memories of Brother Pat. 

Among those we thank for representing all of Hudson Catholic are Mr. Terry Matthews, our school leader; alumni John Deschaur '68, Thomas FX Bender '69, Steven Honsinger '69, Larry Basinski '70, John Monroe '70, Len Mackesy '71, Keith Cerutti '72, Romualdo Tayam ’86, Brian Slattery '94, and Rob Astudillo '06; friend, Sharon Ziemian; and, among the Christian Brothers having ties to Hudson Catholic, Brothers Richard Kestler, Martin Zewe, Kevin Stanton, and Tim Froehlich. Apologies to anyone we may have missed among those in attendance.

L. to R., Brian Slattery '94 - Alumni President; Rob Astudillo '06, and Larry Basinski '70, were the first Hawks to visit Brother Patrick King's final resting place in De La Salle Cemetery, Beltsville, MD on his 80th birthday.

Ideas for an appropriate Hudson Catholic tribute to the man who meant so much to so many began coming in fast and furiously within hours of the news announcing Brother Pat’s unexpected passing. Suffice to say there will be a Memorial Mass planned to celebrate Brother Pat’s life and times. Look for a future announcement for a date in the fall.

Other ideas for honoring the man who honored us with his lifelong dedicated service to us include the obvious scholarship fund and putting his name on something meaningful at Hudson Catholic. These are great ideas, but nothing has been decided so soon, so keep those thoughts coming in to advancement@hudsoncatholic.org. While we won’t rush with this, anything that will ultimately be decided will surely be fitting, and coordinated between the school and the Alumni Association.

We leave you with these words of remembrance spoken by Brother Martin Zewe at services for Brother Patrick King.

Words of Remembrance

for

Brother Patrick King, FSC

Given by Brother Martin Zewe, FSC

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL

Saint John’s College High School

Washington, D. C.

May 17, 2023

On behalf of the Christian Brothers, I would like to express our condolences to Brother Patrick’s sister, Martha, and family members who are with us today and to all who have known and loved Brother Patrick.

Brother Pat was born Edward Warren King on May 17, 1943, in Washington D.C. Today would have been his 80^th birthday, and it is also the day we celebrate his entrance to eternal life. Pat graduated from St. John’s Collegiate High School in 1961. There he was the Cadet Lieutenant Colonel which showed the respect and leadership qualities he had even then. He entered the Christian Brother’s novitiate in Ammendale, Maryland a few weeks later.

I knew Edward King for three months but knew Brother Patrick King for the next sixty-two years. We both entered the novitiate on the same day in June 1961. We have been friends and have lived together in several communities over these past sixty-two years.

Pat was a quiet and somewhat private man all his life. My first interaction with him, and when I began to get an insight into his character occurred several weeks into the novitiate. One day at morning prayer, he quietly left his pew and proceeded to the front of the chapel, knelt and extended his arms for the entire morning prayer. I was confused. I was not sure if he was having some kind of vision, needed some arm exercises, or just wanted attention. As soon as I could, later in the day, I asked him what that was all about. He said that while he was on dish crew after dinner the previous evening, several pieces of pie were returned to be put away. Since he was still hungry, he ate one of them. The Director somehow found out and made him serve as an example to the rest of us that there was no eating between meals in the novitiate. However, Pat never complained or was upset. He simply said he was wrong, took his punishment, and life went on. That was Pat.

As I looked back over Pat’s life, I began to wonder how to describe him. I found probably the best definition of Pat in the 2015 Hudson Catholic yearbook that was dedicated to him – three years after he left Hudson Catholic. The dedication reads: “Merriam-Webster defines king as: a male ruler of a country who usually inherits his position and rules for life. We at Hudson Catholic define King differently. King is humble, king is honest, king is kind, selfless, quiet, and has unwavering faith in all he does. Of course, we are talking about Brother Patrick King. He has been a teacher, a confidant, a chaperone, a leader, a coach, a bus driver, a tutor, a mentor, a moderator, a friend, and much more. No task is too large or too small for Brother Patrick. He is always willing to give his all. We are eternally grateful for all he has done and all he continues to do for us.” They did not mention that he was also the Grand Marshall for the Jersey City St. Patrick’s Day parade several times. We, who lived with him would not have known if we had not gone to the parade. As I said, it was never about him!

That sums up the Pat I have known for sixty-two years. Everything he did was never about him; it was always for others. He also never dwelled on the past, he never mentioned the many administrative positions he held during those years, Vice Principal, Dean of Students, Principal – he held those positions at several different schools. 

Pat also had a strong faith and lived out his faith every day of his life. I also never remember his missing a single community prayer service or liturgy. He had a strong Catholic faith and actively practiced that faith. He also had a quiet and not too subtle way of letting you know where he stood on matters of faith and the church.

If you knew or lived with Pat in community, you also know that if there was a sports game of any kind on television, you would find him in his favorite chair watching it. If Duke, Notre Dame, or the Washington Nationals were playing, you knew better than to disturb him. I am sure the ESPN station numbers are worn out on the community remote.

Pat was truly dedicated to his students. St. La Salle asks us to “Touch the hearts of our students”. Pat did that. He not only taught, and tutored, students but truly touched their hearts. Pat rarely if ever missed a day. True to his nature, Pat was tutoring students up to the day he died. He was truly a son of St. La Salle.

In one of his meditations, St. La Salle tells us “Oh! What joy a Brother will have when he sees a great number of his students in possession of eternal happiness, for which they are indebted to him by the grace of Jesus Christ. What a sharing of joy there will be between the teacher and his students! What a special union with one another in the presence of God!”

I am sure that when Pat entered heaven last Wednesday, and after being welcomed to eternal life by God, St. La Salle welcomed him as one of his faithful sons who had touched the hearts of his students and assured him that he would shine like the stars for all eternity.

In closing, I would like to quote one of his former students: “Brother Pat was one of those rare teachers and leaders that literally changed the lives of students....not by what he said but by the way he lived every day with humility, kindness, and determination. I would list the many roles and jobs he held, but I would run out of space. Quite simply, he did it all. I like to think that God ran out of things for him to do and called him home. He needed Brother Pat with Him.”

Pat, may your soul rest in peace along with the souls of all our departed Brothers.

St. John Baptist de la Salle --- Pray for us. Live Jesus in our hearts. – Forever.

Alumni Spotlight

To the oft-asked question, "How do I get in Alumni Spotlight?", the direct, Jersey City response is: 'you send me your stuff'. To: gferrari@hudsoncatholic.org

Thank You for Your Service, Michael McKnight '86. Mike delivered 37 years of Federal Service, 15 of which were in the U.S. Army. He served in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait) in 1990-91, and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. He later served in Operation Joint Endeavor (Bosnia) in 1996-97, retiring from the Army in 1997 as a Platoon Sergeant and receiving the Meritorious Service Medal. He then joined the Dept. of Defense as a Civilian Employee for the next 22 years, retiring in December 2022.

Mike’s first assignment was to the Republic of Korea in 1981 as a Canon Crew-member. From there, he transferred to Italy in 1983. He changed stations in 1985, to Ft. Carson, Colorado, then on to Wertheim, Germany in 1987, to 1990, then 59 miles down the road in 1990, to serve as a Howitzer Section Chief. From there he deployed to the Gulf War, after which he was reassigned to Italy, then back to Germany in 1994, remaining there until he retired from the Army in June 1997. As a contractor, then civilian employee at DOD, Mike worked as a military trainer in Bosnia-Herzegovina, later as a Planner for Emergency Response Exercises, retiring as an Emergency Manager from Defense in 2020.

Mike now lives in beautiful Orgiano in the Province of Vicenza, in northern Italy! I miei migliori auguri, Mike!!

Cool Hawk. Tyler Pistilli ’21, guitarist, formerly of the Hudson Catholic band, competed in and won the Big Man On Campus Competition among all fraternities on campus at Purdue University, as a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. The competition to become the 'big man' consists of fundraising money and support for Breast Cancer Awareness. The concluding act is a talent show in front of thousands of people, which Tyler won, in a skit filled mash-up of Take 5, Whole Lotta Love, The Final Countdown, and the ending solo of Hotel California. “Look backing, considering I started in a small room at McGinley Square, it’s been pretty cool.”

We are in the process of connecting our young Boilermaker with Greg Knipp ’84, who is on faculty at this Big Ten University. And looking forward to that photo opp!

Eye for Talent. Matt Bruining '12 has started a new position as Admissions Recruiter and Outreach Coordinator for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Knoxville, TN. Matt is a former four-year basketball manager at St. Peter's University for the Men's Basketball Team (2013-2017), where he completed his undergraduate degree in Sports Management. Thereafter, he became a Graduate Assistant Coach for the Lincoln Memorial University Men's Basketball Team in Harrogate, TN while earning a Masters degree in Business Management in 2019.

Duck Walk. Bryant Truong '19 becomes the latest in a long list of Hawk-Duck alumni, having recently received his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Stevens Institute of Technology. Bryant earned this shoutout because while attending Stevens and juggling his challenging curriculum, he found time to work at and for The Home of the Hawks, assisting Mr. Chris Johnston, Director of Technology in administering to the Help Desk function that serves to keep our faculty and students plugged in and functional throughout the challenges of infrastructure and service. Bryant has also been an eager contributor to Advancement, pitching in to work on database management issues and website page design and content management. We love it when our Hawks can help in service to all Hawks. Thank you, Bryant, and best wishes as you move into the real world beyond academia! We think you are ready for it!

Law Man. Giuseppe Fazari '92 led a cohort of his Seton Hall University students on a study abroad trip to Colombia that was structured around Professor Fazari's Comparative Justice Systems course this semester. Their immersion program took them into the Columbian Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, Paloquemao Courts, Special Investigation Chambers of the Supreme Court, Los Andes University School of Law, Soacha Prosecutors Office, Usaqen Special Reaction Unit, and the Good Pastor Jail, just for good measure.

Shining a Light. You can find the latest film from Producer PJ Leonard '80, Mysterious Circumstance: The Death of Meriwether Lewis, on Amazon Prime. In 1809, the leader of the Lewis & Clark expedition died of gunshot wounds at a remote inn on the Natchez Trace, an isolated frontier trail in Tennessee. Did the national hero commit suicide as history reports or was his end far more sinister? In the film, Meriwether Lewis' death is investigated by his friend Alexander Wilson in a tense encounter with the only witness to the American explorer's final night alive. An early review by classmate Rocco Filerino: "I've watched it twice. I'm a fan!"

Seeking 'Official' Class Leaders

This digital magazine does not get published without them. Reunions do not happen without them. And locating class members and securing current contact information does not happen without them.

The Office of Advancement has, in a number of classes, 'key' contacts - 'go-to people' who take interest in and genuinely enjoy staying in touch with classmates and gluing us back together after we have fallen out of touch. They simply lend another pair of hands or eyes to matters related to their class and classmates.

A request has gone out to those who we often seek out for assistance, inviting them to become 'official' in the capacity of a Class Leader. Other classes do not yet have that type of person identified. We would welcome having one or more such Class Leaders from each and every one of our now-56 graduating classes. If you would like to be that person, please contact advancement@hudsoncatholic.org and let us know.

Hudson Catholic Has Lost a Friend

Jim Hague, 62,

Longtime Hudson Reporter Sports Journalist

Word came from Kevin Canessa, Jr. of The Observer that a friend to the high school athletes, giant Hudson County literary sports figure, and the larger than life NJ media legend had died on June 11^th. Jim leaves his wife, Mary, to whom we offer our sincere condolences.

The Observer’s Lisa Feorenzo who hired Hague at The Observer, quickly paid tribute to Jim by saying: “He helped kids build their future, whether it was in the simple, yet amazing stories he wrote, or with the Athletes of the Week and Athletes of the Year, he did so much for these teenagers.”

None other than Mike Vaccaro, the gold standard for New York professional sports writers, at the NY Post, said: “I’ve been a sportswriter for 35 years and I have never met another person who felt as deeply about a place — Jersey City, and Hudson County — and a vocation — lending a powerful voice to its athletics and athletes —as Jim. Not an exaggeration. Not hyperbole. Jim cared meticulously about his beloved home’s history and was every bit as vigilant in recording its contemporary triumphs and tragedies. And he did so with a voice that was powerful and absolutely unique. Jim’s imprint and impact will be felt forever. And anyone who ever spent even five minutes in his company was instantly impacted by that larger-than-life personality.”

And our own Jack Curry ’82, HC Hall of Famer and YES Network Analyst, recalled his friend’s death. “Jim Hague was a giant, literally and figuratively, as a NJ sportswriter. If you wanted to know anything about Hudson County sports, especially in Jersey City, @ogsmar (Jim’s Twitter handle) was the source. Hope he & Ed (Faa) Ford are arguing sports right now. RIP, my friend.”

There might not have been a harder working sports writer in the area than Jim Hague. Jim grew up on the streets of Greenville and went to St. Paul’s, then on to Prep, following which he ventured out to Milwaukee to Marquette. Upon returning to JC, he began his career as a sports journalist and made his name as a scribe at the now-defunct Hudson Dispatch. Among a series of other notable news agencies at which Jim worked, he ultimately carved out his legacy when he joined and made a home for decades at the Hudson Reporter.

Hawk Get-Togethers

At this year's customary Alumni Association representation of Hudson Catholic in the Bayonne Memorial Day Parade were Bill McGrath '79, Mr. Frank McGady (Faculty), Paul Balint '81, Austin Spiegel '16, and Sean Moore '78 at the terminus of the parade route.

Lallo Legacy. Chris '84 and Justin '22 seem to be en route somewhere.

The Brothers Moore. The Jersey City Prospect Street Brothers Moore, that is. L. to R., Gerard '81, Tom '68, Patrick '75, Sean '78, and "the black sheep of the family," Rory -- a St. Mary's grad.

Readers Respond

We admit, it certainly is highly unusual for a Track record to stand as long as 50 years. John Nagel ’77, who knows a thing or two about Hudson County Track Records, the Hudson County Sports Hall of Fame, and Al Long and every other great runner our school has produced, was quick to pick up on the oddity of Long’s record standing for so, so many years. It is that, simply, events measured in Yards have rarely been run at meets over the past 30 years. Putting a positive spin on that, Al Long’s record may never be broken, assuring Hudson Catholic of always having a record holder in the County books!

Steve Novello ’84 states that his upperclassman, Jack Curry’s ('82) latest book, The 1998 Yankees, is prominently featured in his sports-themed man cave!

Mike Lubanski ’90 missed the publication deadline for our last issue but nevertheless offered this: "David Hawryluk never missed a day of school in his four years at HC. Jose Colon received the Scholar-Athlete Award. And the award for character, scholarship, service, and leadership, as a member of the National Honor Society, went to Ray Bugarin.

In an epilogue, of sorts, to our last issue headline “We Have to Ask”, we received this from one alum who, by the way, is loyal to Hudson Catholic. “Today I received solicitations from Hudson Catholic, Seton Hall and the Archdiocese of New York. Not to mention a blood donation request. The request for gift giving from different organizations is significant. One can only give so much.”

To which we responded: “Your comment is appreciated, but as today's Building the Legacy states, ‘We have to ask’. Perhaps a good way to look at the glut of solicitations, and to help you prioritize one above the others, is which of these organizations is most in need of your donations and, frankly, offers a greater return on your investment? For obvious reasons, we will never apologize for asking our graduates to support today’s thriving Hudson Catholic, the very thing we dreamed about 15 years ago! I know your heart is in the right place, so you should never have to feel guilty for not being able to do for all, each time you are asked. You Are The Hawk! We are grateful to have your support of time, talent and treasure through the years.”

If you do ANY charitable giving

We hope you have Hudson Catholic at or near the top of your list

Signs are all around us.

The construction of a new pier in Ocean Grove, NJ.

Turn Your Brothers and Sisters In!

(We Need Their Email Addresses)

We lose touch with some of our graduates who move around, go off to college, start careers, get married, etc. 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.

FYI

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

Purchase Hawk gear online at:

https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/newjersey/jerseycity/hudson-catholic-high-school

For Hawk Chatter on Social Media:

Facebook: Hudson Catholic Regional High School Friends, a private group with 1,300 members and climbing.

Linkedin: Hudson Catholic Regional High School page

"Cheers to you, my friends,

and to the true meaning of servant leadership."

-- Steve Dnistrian '82,

running for the N.J. State Senate this year

Requiescant in Pace

Vita Mutatur Non Tollitur

(Life is changed, not ended)



John Reid III '05

We are grateful for our Mikes!

Michael Skea '74

Your Trusted Real Estate Advisor at the Jersey Shore