From the Hawks Nest, to Your Home

Headwinds

When economic times become tough, or tougher, charitable giving becomes harder, as there is less discretionary income in a family budget, or assets such as stock holdings and real estate may depreciate.

Those same tough times also become a measure of the affinity of those who support a cause, or a mission as it were, in our case the Lasallian mission of Hudson Catholic.

We appreciate these financial stresses because we endure them similarly, both personally and professionally. Just as we know that you understand our obligation to forge ahead with fundraising and requests of our supporters on behalf of the 530 sons and daughters entrusted to our care.

In the days, and perhaps years, ahead, we ask you to continue to include us at or near the top of the charitable causes that matter to you the most, and do your very best to help assure the continued upward trajectory of Hudson Catholic.

‘Hawks Helping Hawks’ Exchange

We’ve given a lot of thought to starting a professional ‘exchange’ of sorts, whereby Hawks who are hiring and Hawks who are seeking opportunities might match up and provide solutions to each others’ professional needs.

So, let’s get this off the ground with a beta test. Chuck Ahrens ’80 has graciously offered his situation as a crash test dummy for this feature. He’s been in scientific instrument sales for the past 20 years, covering the Northeast U.S., working from Allentown in northeast PA where he resides. He is a proven technical sales professional across many vertical markets, experienced at closing sales with scientists, engineers, government officials and C-suite executives.

If Chuck's credentials may be of interest you or you believe you can be of assistance to Chuck, either directly or through referral, drop a note to advancement@hudsoncatholic.org and we’ll put you in touch with each other and let you take it away.

For other Hawks seeking new opportunities or Hawk hiring managers or business owners, drop a note to the above email address with particulars of what you may be seeking and we’ll work with you to get you posted to the ‘Hawks Helping Hawks’ Exchange that will appear in this digital magazine as a regular feature.

In the event that a match is made, we ask the Hawks on each end of the deal to donate a ‘broker's fee' to the Annual Fund in whatever amount you would choose. The Hawk always takes a cut!

Message From the President

When you run a small Catholic high school like Hudson Catholic, you always worry about donor fatigue.  Questions such as “Have we asked too often?” and “Will people still want to give?” run through my mind.  Ironically, we always publish the BTL on Tuesday, and I know today is Giving Tuesday.  I also know that if your email is like mine, it’s overloaded with requests for you to give and give and give!  Every organization and cause are out there flooding the internet with requests.  I gave serious thought to not including a piece today because of that very reason.  But then I read an application from an 8^th grader who wants to come to Hudson Catholic next year and I thought I should share it with you.

Hudson Catholic is the high school I always thought I'd go to, with beautiful uniforms, a good education system, and many other things. Specifically, that it is Catholic.  I used to go with my grandma to church once a week, before she passed a year ago. I don’t know a lot about the religion, but I feel like I’ll be closer to her in some way. I heard of this school from my friend who recently got transferred there, four weeks ago if I'm not wrong. She used to talk a lot about Hudson, I did my research. And…I fell in love with it after I saw the Intro video on YouTube. A reason why I would love to attend this High School is because I don’t feel safe where I’m at. A group of kids recently brought a gun to school; they got suspended, but that’s it. Have you ever got that weird feeling when you’re in a place you don’t want to be in? With no energy, or motivation to do anything. Some of my teachers are nice, but half of them don’t motivate you to want to do things, some of them don’t get up and teach you something. Also, it's a small high school, I assume it is not crowded in the hallways after each period. I enjoy being in small places with a minimum number of people. I would like to experience my 4 years of high school there and graduate from an awesome place like this. 

This application answered my questions.  “Have we asked too often?” and “Will people still want to give?” The answer to the first is a “No” and the answer to the second is “How could they not?”  This young lady’s financial situation will require aid in order for her to attend.  But how can we not make it happen?  She “fell in love” with our school; she wants to “feel safe”; she wants a “Catholic” school; she wants students to be accountable; and she wants teachers that care.  The reality is that she NEEDS Hudson Catholic…and so do so many others like her.  

One of the drawbacks of Giving Tuesday is that the email requests don’t give you a chance to see your donations in action.  You don’t get to directly see how you make a difference.  However, you can see your donations in action every day at Hudson Catholic because everything we receive goes towards our students.  They are your living, breathing, tangible proof of the difference you make.  God Bless you on this Tuesday and every other day that you help change the lives of young people and provide access to opportunities that are only available because of you!  

So Long, 2022!

Celebrate with Tax Savings

There’s still time for you to make a timely impact at Hudson Catholic in 2022, especially if you itemize your taxes. Consider these smart ways to wrap up 2022 on a financial high note. Generous donors who make gifts to Hudson Catholic receive the joy of changing students’ lives and the satisfaction of knowing they are maximizing their philanthropic impact. And they can receive the added benefit of saving on their taxes.

MAKE A BETTER DAY WITH YOUR IRA! Tax bills on your IRA come due when you take distributions and when you leave your assets to heirs. If you haven’t considered supporting Hudson Catholic through your Individual Retirement Account, there can be tax benefits when making a qualified charitable distribution.

Are you required to take minimum distributions? If you are 70½ or older, you can make a gift of any amount up to $100,000 per year and the transfer doesn’t generate taxable income, so you pay no income taxes on the gift. Depending on the amount of your gift, it may satisfy part or all of your required distribution.

Or, as long as you are 59½ or older, you can take a distribution from your retirement plan account without incurring an early withdrawal penalty, gift it to Hudson Catholic, and take a charitable deduction for that amount If you itemize your deductions.

If you have a check-writing feature on your IRA, be aware your check must clear your account by Dec. 31 to count toward your required minimum distribution (RMD) for 2022. For non-RMD IRA distributions (prior to age 70½), if your gift is in the form of a check, it must be postmarked on or before Dec. 31 for your donation to qualify this year.

For more in-depth information about Qualified Charitable Distributions presented above, see BTL issue 70 (Nov. 1st) at hudsoncatholic.org/btl

DONATE APPRECIATED STOCK INSTEAD OF CASH. If you have owned a stock for more than one year and it has grown in value, you may be in line for two tax benefits: avoid taxes on the appreciated value, and qualify for a charitable deduction based on today’s market value when you itemize. You receive the same tax savings as if you wrote a check, but with the added benefit of eliminating capital gains taxes. Just be sure to complete all transfers by Dec. 31., whether by mail, electronic transfer, or hand-delivery of the assets.

SELL DEPRECIATED ASSETS AND DONATE THE CASH. Unfortunately, 2022 wasn’t good for most portfolios. If you would like to support Hudson Catholic but your stocks have fallen in value, selling them first and then donating the cash allows you to record the loss as a tax deduction and receive a tax deduction for the gift, so long as you complete all the cash donation by Dec. 31.

OPEN A DONOR ADVISED FUND and enjoy tax savings on amounts contributed to the account by Dec. 31 when you itemize. You do not have to designate the funds this calendar year to receive the tax benefits. After setting up and contributing to the account, whether in cash or appreciated securities, donors can then contribute to Hudson Catholic by nominating a grant from the Fund to the school.

MAKE A TRIBUTE GIFT. Any of the gifts described above can be made in a loved one’s name as a heartfelt way to celebrate or remember someone important in your life.

Your own tax or financial advisor might have recommendations about any of these types of gifts.

(This article presented with assistance of Michael Dunne, '77 CFP)

Reminders

Today is Giving Tuesday!

(hudsoncatholic.org/1964)

Hudson Catholic Giving Day is April 7th

Save the Date!

Hudson Catholic Gala & Hall of Fame Inductions

Thursday, March 30, 2023

at The Liberty House, Jersey City

Look at Us!

Advancement Web Pages Shine

at www.hudsoncatholic.org

In the Advancement pages on the school’s website, you can find what is going on or has happened with any recent Hudson Catholic event or class reunion. Pour over the covers of 58 published works of 13 Hawk Authors in our Library of Hawks. Visit the Hudson Catholic Hall of Fame and (soon) the Wall of Honor to review the credentials of those so honored.

You can delve back into our Building The Legacy Digital Magazine Archives, containing one tile for each published issue. Click on a tile to bring up the entire issue. Lots of features and photos of alumni, students, faculty, and Christian Brothers, both current and back in the day.

Peruse the multitude of scholarships set up to honor many Hawks of yore that benefit today’s Hawks. Pull up our annual reports. Update your personal contact information at ‘stay-connected’. View our ‘Stay Educated’ video with appearances by alumni and students. Order a leaf on the Tree of Life in the school lobby. Connect to the Alumni Association website. Or find upcoming Events and make your reservations to attend or sponsor.

And, of course, learn more about all the ways to invest in Hudson Catholic -- how to plan a legacy gift from your estate or retirement assets, or purchase the naming rights to a campus classroom, give the gift of education, provide for a matching gift, make gifts from a donor advised fund, and, of course, make a donation to 1964: The Fund for Hudson Catholic.

These web pages are meant to enhance your Hawk experience. Consider them your wealth of reference for many, if not all, things Hudson Catholic. And let us know what else we could document for your reference by writing to advancement@hudsoncatholic.org.

Random Acts of Kindness?

No, it's Peer Ministry, In Service to Others

Today’s Hawks continue the tradition of performing acts of service that will benefit our local community and beyond, showing the love that a Catholic institution should. Our students continue their longstanding relationship with volunteerism at Campus Kitchen at St. Peter’s University after school.

Women Rising is a local non-profit that helps domestic violence victims. Mr. James Falconer of the Hawk Faculty recently accompanied Peer Ministry students who were interested in the work of this organization to their offices to hear more. 

And in the accompanying photo, Hudson Catholic Peer Ministers have prepared over 200 ‘boxes of joy’ -- shoe boxes filled with toys and essentials that are sent to poor children overseas in places like Haiti in time for Christmas. Pictured, left to right, are Cale Sagun, Daniel Valdes, Sarah Abdelmalik, Joel Korley, Erick Trochez, Mariano Padilla, Jaeda Figueroa, Donnell McHenry, Malachi Miller, Si'Najsia Revels, Devin Valdes, Marco Diaz, Melissa Jibodh, Nicol Papageorgiou, Leilanie Torres, Jocelyn Brown, Naijah Classen.

Calling on our Veterans

While we extended our sincere thanks and gratitude to our Hawk Military Veterans recently, our letter went out to our entire community; we did not individualize our thanks to those who served our nation. While we do know dozens of our alumni who served, there may be another bunch who we are not aware of having served.

Therefore, we want to use this medium to encourage all alumni veterans to tell us about yourselves and your service.

Send a note to advancement@hudsoncatholic.org that will contain your branch of service, rank attained, length of service, deployments, and a photo of yourself, preferably wearing the uniform.

Now is not the time to be modest. You did enough of that as a Catholic school kid and as a member of the armed services. We want to know. We look up to you, whether you like it or not. Share, please, so we can say thank you in better fashion in the years ahead.

The Basketball Reunion

More Laurels for Hawk Basketball Greats

Spanarkel and O'Koren

Year two of The Basketball Reunion (TBR), a charitable social event created to celebrate the greatest teams and players in New Jersey's rich basketball history, will reunite coaches and players with New Jersey ties for an evening of food and beverage, reliving the glory days, and making new memories.

Our own Mike O’Koren ‘76 and Jim Spanarkel ’75 will be honored as Hall of Honor inductees at this year’s event to be held the night of the NCAA Championship game (April 3, 2023) at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Players, coaches, and fans alike can enjoy the Hall of Honor induction ceremony and then watch the game together. 

Last year, TBR honored the Rutgers, Seton Hall, and Princeton Final Four Teams, and they were ecstatic to be able to spend time together for the first time in decades.

Ticket options vary from $100 for a seat in the stands to a full steakhouse experience on the court. More details to follow in the time ahead.

The Basketball Reunion is the brainchild of Fred Hill of the Team Hill Foundation, which also supports Hudson Catholic.

Alumni Spotlight

Brave New World. Andrea Schelmety ‘15 is yet another Trailblazing Hawk, she being among the first class of three women to join the ranks of the Woodbridge, NJ Fire Department.

Firefighting Family. Devon & Dylan Schelmety ’18 will be joining their sister, Andrea, among the ranks of firefighters, graduating the Fire Academy today, and joining the Keasbey Fire Department.

[Photo: The Schelmety Hawks: Andrea flanked by brothers Dylan and Devon]

Home Cooking. Marc Budinich '88 is the proprietor of 15 Fox Place, a restaurant in Jersey City at that address, which has been cited by NJ.com among the Top 7 Italian Restaurants in New Jersey. "Try the veal. It's the best in the city."



Hawk Author Mike Londrigan ’72 worked in the apparel and textile industry for close to 30 years and when he got into education, working for schools that taught fashion, he noted a void in the market for a textbook that discussed the menswear industry from a business perspective. So, he pitched the idea to Fairchild Publishers and he was off and running. The glorious result of inspiration and perspiration was The Menswear book, first published in 2008. A second edition in 2018 brought the first edition current. His second publication, Fashion Supply Chain Management, also debuted in 2018, again the result of spotting a void in the marketplace for a text dealing with the fashion industry supply chain from a pure business standpoint. Ironic for Mike that the pandemic put the concept of supply chain front and center, but in his industry it has always been a vital fact of life. Both textbooks are used by Mike’s alma mater, LIM College in Manhattan, and by many other institutions of higher learning around the world, and, of course, reside in our digital Library of Hawks

Vested and Invested. Saxon Sorrentino '91 is Executive Director at Morgan Stanley, in the field of Wealth, Investments, and Asset Management.

Move over, Goofball! Kevin Rodrigo '06 is a professional Teqball referee. Teqball is being voted on for inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games. Anyone for football and table tennis at the same time,?

Central Banker. Anthony Romano ’04, CISA, CRESC, CEH is starting a new position as Senior Cybersecurity Supervision Specialist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, without having to move to Richmond. He is currently working remotely while they work on finding him a desk at the NY Fed fortress in lower Manhattan.

BTLv72 Focus on '72

Above, members of the Class of '72 at their recent 50th Anniversary Reunion held at Edwards Steakhouse in Jersey City.

Memories

Of Joe Slota: I remember the greatest group of young men. People who truly cared for each other and would not use the word love, but were clearly that close. I recall a group who were joined at the hip, down to earth, and funny, yet deep. I recall a group of men who had adversity external to us, yet togetherness that was special to us! We really loved who we were. We waited for the next album by Pink Floyd, Led Zep, Grand Funk Railroad. We were in the coffee houses, dances, and basketball games. We just had each other, and that was fabulous. It taught us friendships and teaming better than ever. This was the class of ‘72!!!!, the best.

Of Mike Londrigan: Having Jumpin’ Joe Bonner for home room sophomore year 2C; Brother Pat driving the school bus to cross country practice and meets, and swim meets; playing "foosball" in gym; learning Latin from Brother Al, especially when you did not conjugate your verbs properly -- ouch! the recipient on several occasions; listening to Brother Al play the spoons; hitchhiking with my classmate Bob Lemper to Montreal during Easter break in senior year; commuting with my two brothers from downtown; learning how to type with Mrs. Stelmach. 

Not exactly the Baldwin Boys! But that is Joe 'Club' Slota '72 holding court at the Hudson Catholic 50th Anniversary Gala with Hawks Gary Ferrari '73 to his left, and brothers Steven '78 and the late Anthony '77 Zembryski, both seated.

Big Man on Campus

Bishop Gregory Studerus

Auxiliary Bishop of Newark

In recent issues, we have profiled more than a few Hawk alumni clergy. While not an alumnus, we thought it only fair to add Bishop Gregory Studerus, an integral member of the Hudson Catholic campus and community, to our features of clergy and religious. Many of you may know ‘Padre Greg’ from hosting our Alumni Mass of Remembrance each November for three years running now.

Most Reverend Bishop Gregory James Studerus is a prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has been serving as Auxiliary Bishop of Newark for Hudson County since 2020. He has spent nearly four decades as an archdiocesan priest serving in Hudson County. And he just happens to maintain an office on the first floor of the former Residence building on campus, from where he conducts his pastoral duties and ministry for the clergy and faithful. As a result, he is uniquely positioned to also serve as our unofficial spiritual leader, and does so whenever asked to say mass, offer blessings at official school events, and generally offer prayers for our community.

‘Padre Greg’ as he is also colloquially called among some Hawk friends, was born in Orange, NJ on March 31, 1948. Growing up in West Orange, he attended elementary and high school at Our Lady of the Valley in Orange before pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Art Education from Montclair State College. He served in the National Guard while pursuing a successful career as an artist, teacher, and owner of an art gallery and workshop.

After deciding to enter the priesthood, he obtained a Master of Divinity degree. On May 31, 1980, he was ordained to the priesthood, following which he was appointed parochial vicar to St. Aloysius Parish in Jersey City, where he organized youth programs and had opportunities to study Spanish in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. This allowed for a lifelong ministry in our Archdiocese to the Spanish-speaking population that continues to this day.

From 1990 to 1997, he served as pastor of St. Bridget Parish in Jersey City, at the same time serving on the Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council, and was named Dean of the Jersey City Downtown Deanery, a position he would hold again from 2002 to 2005. In 1997, he was the founding pastor of Parish of Resurrection, which combined the former parishes of St. Boniface, St. Bridget, St. Mary, St. Michael, and St. Peter.

In 2005, he was appointed pastor of St. Joseph of the Palisades Parish in West New York, the largest Hispanic parish of the Archdiocese. In 2005, he was also named Chaplain to His Holiness by Pope Benedict XVI, with the title of Monsignor. From 2013 to 2016, he served as Dean of North Hudson Deanery 8, and in 2015, was appointed Episcopal Vicar of Hudson County. On February 27, 2020, His Holiness, Pope Francis named Reverend Monsignor Gregory Studerus, E.V., to serve as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark. His consecration, delayed by the pandemic, occurred on June 30, 2020, and he has maintained an office at Hudson Catholic since that July.

Hawk Get-Togethers

'69 Seafaring Hawks? Apparently snapped aboard an unidentified sailing vessel are, L. to R., Bob D’Agosta, Ed Sekowski, Charlie Benedict, John Cossolini, Steve Honsinger, Flavio Rubano, Bob Stroebel. Five were among the ballers of that fabled Atlantic City State Finals Team back in the day.

’74 stalwarts Bill Cappiello, David Carbone, and Bill Dombrowski recently met up at Tero's Restaurant in North Arlington. 

Mad Men Nominations for the McGinley Square Billboard

Andrew Conti ’72 suggests one billboard could read “WELCOME TO THE NEST, HOME OF THE HAWKS.” The other to read: HUDSON CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, with our school crest. Simple but powerful.

JR Regelsky '79 endorses "Welcome to Hawk Country. Where your Future Begins"

Artie Tevletidis '88 gives us "Welcome to Hawk Nation! Soaring to Success Since 1964!

Craig Fallon 'xx came in with "Jersey City's Hawk Nest. Where Courage, Strength, and Vision are Forged."

Mike Hellriegel '71: "Home of the Hawks. Where Honor, Ethics, and Leadership are Cultivated."

Terence Schaefer 'xx: "Hawk Pride"

Mike Silva ’04 submitted “2 Hawk heads on each side of the billboards with our crest in the background and the message “Prepare to Be the Best” standing out bold,” going so far as to submit a rough sketch of the concept.

Readers Respond

We recently highlighted Hawk Author and Former Faculty and Head Football Coach, Mr Ed Agresta's children's book, Roger, the Bravest Bird in the World, on our social media channels, to which hawkey-ed Faculty great and peer, Jim Gannon retorted: "He also trained pigeons to play ping pong in 1969." Which sounds like another story. Ed and Jim, please provide details at advacnement@hudsoncatholic.org

Why Would Anyone

Unsubscribe from our Mailings?

And miss a chance to catch up on what your old classmates are doing? Or to share with them what you are up to?

Miss updates on how our beloved school is doing -- in the classroom, on the stage, and at the athletic venues?

Forego awareness of key events - reunions in particular, but also events like the Hall of Fame, Black & Gold Golf, and Wall of Honor?

And trips down memory lane with retro photos, features, and forums?

Before you press that button, consider the above features and benefits of staying in touch with your classmates and friends through Building The Legacy every two weeks and other topical mailings.

Be The Hawk! Stay Connected!

"Show me a successful individual and I'll show you someone who had real positive influences in his or her life. I don't care what you do for a living -- if you do it well, I'm sure there was someone cheering you on or showing the way. A mentor. "

-- Denzel Washington

Requiescant in Pace

Vita Mutatur Non Tollitur

(Life is changed, not ended)



James Trifon '74 (May 2022)

Robert Kucks '89 (Sept. 2022)

Roseanna Kahrer, mother of Edward '72 / Michael '75, / Mark '79 Maria Minvervini, mother of Dominick '77

Bernardina Samin, mother of Ted '86

Robert Allen, partner of John-Paul Kocot '92

Vincent Le Fante, father of Jason '93

Joao Goncalves, father of John '01

Michael Skea '74

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