1964 - 2024

60 Years of Catholic, College Prep Education,

Serving the Families of Hudson County

Many fine things continue to occur

at the corner of Mercer and Bergen

Where dreams begin!

There Will Be

Hudson Catholic Football

Next Year!

(Details As They Develop)

"I'm Lovin' It!"

The University of Auburn is already touting our Senior, Tahaad Pettiford, as their own, so why shouldn't we make a big deal about this?! Yesterday, we learned that "Auburn five-star point guard signee Tahaad Pettiford has been named a McDonald's All American ."

Tahaad becomes just the third Hawk to receive this national honor, following in the footsteps of Jahvon Quinerly '18 and Louis King '18 (who we seem to be writing about in every issue!), and pre-dating McDonalds laurels which started up in 1977, Mike O'Koren '76 received Parade Magazine All American honors, but there was no game to accompany that. Pettiford is ranked as the top point guard in the 2024 class according to 247Sports, and he is a consensus Top 25 overall player in the nation according to recruiting websites. And he is one of only two NJ schoolboys selected for the McDonalds team and game, the other being Dylan Harper of Don Bosco Prep.

Congratulations are also in order to Coach Nick Mariniello and his entire coaching staff, including assistant Colin McKenna who is also on Faculty, teaching History, at The Nest.

The University of Auburn press machine in high gear -- they already have Tahaad in their uniform, before he leads the Hawks to another Hudson County Title!

Progress Report against

‘THE CHALLENGE’

Part of Gerry McGraw’s $50,000 Match Challenge is an offer to match every dollar of select class- or decade-level giving that exceeds prior year giving totals, along with all First Time Gifts and all Alumnae Gifts.

A few classes are especially close to making it over last year’s thresholds -- 2003 and 2004 are within hundreds of hitting their targets, 1982 is just $800 shy, 1980 is $1,000 short, 1983 is $1,500 shy, and 1981 has $1,700 to go.

On a decade level, the ‘00s are just $650 below their target, and the ‘90s just $1,600 below theirs.

With five more months to go before the end of the fiscal year, the classes of the ‘80s stand within $25,000 of reaching their Decade Match Target.

Of the older classes, 1969, 1976, and 1979 are running considerably behind their traditionally higher giving totals, and 1974, 1977, and 1978 are also running behind last year totals at mid-year. Because we count on their traditionally higher giving levels, we hope to see more gifts begin to roll in from these classes.

We realize that class year and decade level information is not everyone’s cup of tea, but we present it for those to whom it may be of assistance in planning the amount and timing of their gifts to the school.

Visit www.hudsoncatholic.org/1964

Message From The Prez

Usually, I don't want to single out one student over another, but today's news was pretty special. Tahaad Pettiford, a senior point guard at Hudson Catholic, has been named a 2024 McDonald’s All-American. Pettiford is ranked by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 22 overall player in the Class of 2024 and the No. 1 point guard in the country. He has committed to Auburn University.

While the McDonald's All-American honor is certainly incredible, what stands out to me even more is that Tahaad is so much more than a basketball player. He is a strong academic student and a Peer Minister here on campus. He is part of the fabric of the school. Tahaad comes from a long-time Jersey City family and in an era where high school student-athletes seem to jump from school to school, it is particularly special that he receives this award as a 4-year member of our student-body. Coach Nick Mariniello said, “It’s been a pleasure to have the opportunity to coach Tahaad. In my 24 years as a head coach, he’s one of the best leaders I have been around both on and off the floor.  Usually, players become better people as they go through the process of being a high-level athlete and student. In Tahaad’s case, I am a better coach having been around him for these past 4 years.” 

To me, this is the even bigger story. Tahaad is a homegrown talent who understands the mission of Hudson Catholic. He realizes that life is more than basketball, despite playing at the highest level. Being a peer minister allows him to lead by example, as well as give back to his school and community. Those are the life lessons that will live on long after his basketball chapter comes to a close. But let's enjoy being a part of that basketball journey, too!!!

Tahaad is the 3rd McDonald's All-American to come out of Hudson Catholic under Coach Mariniello, as he joins Jahvon Quinerly and Louis King in that prestigious company. The 2024 McDonald’s All American Game will be aired on Tuesday, April 2, on ESPN at 9 p.m.

"Storybook Electric" Heroics

on Heroes of Hudson Night

"Couldn't have scripted it any better"

With scores of our Heroes of Hudson (along with Color Guard and pipers) in attendance, many of whom were returning to The Nest for the first time in a long time, our Boys Basketball Team treated a packed house to one of the most exciting games ever played in the Rocky Pope Gymnasium. We are aware that that is a rather incredulous statement at face value, given the rich basketball history put on display in that room, but really. Double overtime against another NJ Catholic School State Power! Senior, Auburn-bound Tahaad Pettiford absolutely driving the crowd to a frenzy, not once, but twice, with 3-point buzzer beaters in each of regulation and the first overtime session! Ultimately our Hawks prevailed, pulling away in the second overtime, to a hard-fought 93-84 win. Fittingly, heroics on display on a night for Heroes.

Next Up

This Sunday, January 28th, our Hawks will host invaders from Asbury Park's College Achieve Charter School, coached by former Roselle Catholic coach Dave Boff and featuring not one, but two, nominees for the McDonalds All America game -- Eunique Rink and Michel Jones. This should be a tough game!

To watch Hawk basketball or other events, go to

https://www.youtube.com/@hcyoutube8233

Saturday, April 27

Signature small plates from

Alumni Chefs, Local Restaurants

in the Hudson Catholic Auditorium

Proceeds to benefit HC academics & tuition assistance

Further Details TBA

Contact jcypher@hudsoncatholic.org for

Sponsorship Details

Friday, May 17th

Induction Event

at Hudson Catholic

Honoring the Greatest Student- Athletes

in Hudson Catholic History

Event Details Forthcoming

Reunion Reminders

1974 / 1999 / 2014

(and any other classes)

Start planning now!

Contact Jill Cypher at jcypher@hudsoncatholic.org

to express interest in having / helping with your class reunion

Class leaders, contact advancement@hudsoncatholic.org

to be put in touch with the '73 Reunion Committee

for their experience in hosting their event at the school.

Making the Case for

Giving to Hudson Catholic

(early, often and substantively)

In consumer reporter and investigative journalist John Stossel’s article of December 27, 2023 for the New York Post, titled At Year’s End, donate to charity -- it does a lot more good than government, he references one of his favorite causes that earn his charitable donations -- “Student Sponsor Partners (SSP)-- a non-profit that gives scholarships to kids from low income families so they can escape bad public schools, [sending] them to Catholic schools.” And Stossel is not even Catholic.

SSP in New York is a mirror organization to the NJ-based Student/Partner Alliance a long-time, significant supporter of Hudson Catholic, giving well above $100,000 annually to our school in support of our Hawks who apply for individual awards and also receive mentorship from the individual donors.

Stossel says that he donates “because government-run schools are often so bad that Catholic schools do better at half the cost…….thousands of kids escape poverty.”

Because Americans, broadly, and Hawks, specifically, are generous, we are able to deliver assistance with a lasting, successful effect to those in need, in the form of a quality, life-changing education to our deserving students. This is a noble cause -- worthy of your consideration and ongoing support.

Recovering

Mr. Jim Gannon is on the mend, albeit a recovery that will be lengthy and not easy. He is one lucky ducky to have as his primary care giver, his wife Peggy, and has been thrilled by the receipt of many get well cards, a few notes, and countless messages through FB and texts inquiring about his health and buoying his spirits. And why not? His Hawks love this guy!

Alumni Spotlight

Leadership, Service, Achievements

(and occasional whimsy)

In this segment, a span of 50 years of Hawk Alumni

Healthy Path. Ireland Tavarez '19 recently graduated the University of Scranton with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pre-Medicine / Pre-Medical Studies. For the past three years, she has worked as a Patient Care Technician at Geisinger Health System and as a Medical Assistant at Frankel Foot & Ankle Center, both in northeast Pennsylvania.

Roots. Jack Curry ’82 is a 2024 nominee for induction to the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame and voting is underway among Gold Level members of the Irish American Baseball Society. Jack traces his roots back to Donegal (three generations) and Fermanagh (four generations). After 20 years covering and writing about baseball at the NY Times, Jack is now in his 14^th year at the YES Network. Among Jack’s impressive collection of awards and achievements, he has snagged seven! Emmy Awards and authored four best-selling books, but his highest honor undoubtedly is having his photo and profile adorning the lobby of Hudson Catholic High School in our Hall of Fame display of members!

Is Jack Curry the lone Hawk Emmy Award winner?

There are whispers we had another at HBO.

Tell us if we missed someone else, please, at advancement@hudsoncatholic.org

Unearthed. Joe Calcagno '70 has been circulating for some time now, but this vintage Jersey Journal caricature by Lore as a Hawk diamond star had gone undercover for many years - until now. Our investigators will find you if you have something to crow about!

Scene on the boardwalk in Avon-by-the-Sea. Bob Stroebel '69 out for a 'stroll-ble' with wife Maureen, sporting the most coveted headgear along the Jersey Shore. Because only a Hawk can wear a hat that says 'HATS', you should rush out to the 2024 Hawks at the Shore (HATS) event in Belmar this summer to score this kind of unique and witty swag! Thanks, Bob, for proudly sporting our Hawk legacy for all to sea and many to ask about.

Staying Connected.......and Engaged

By now, you know the drill. We consistently ask our Hawks to “stay connected” with Hudson Catholic, directly, or via this digital magazine and on social media, to help us maintain a current database of contact information - email address, phone number and mailing address - so that we can keep you updated on “all things Hudson Catholic - past and present,” in addition to reaching out when the financial need exists.

We also publish, in each issue, a list of names and class years of alumni who we have fallen out of touch with, at least from an email perspective.

Your efforts in this regard have been yielding excellent results, so we are happy to share our progress and where we stand among the alumni base.

We are now capable of reaching 3,736 alumni by email, an increase of 39 in the past month, representing 50.23% of living alumni, up from 49.0% last month, and the first time we have crossed the 50% threshold for email addresses of living alumni. Our email distribution list to alumni is 56% higher than the 3,200+ count at the start of our acquisition efforts that commenced in July 2020.

Total active subscribed email addresses in our distribution platform, including non-alumni, now total 4,149. Constant Contact assesses 65% of these as ‘Most’ or ‘Somewhat Engaged’ based on email opening behavior, which is up from 61.6% a month ago. In this respect, new acquisitions mean new engagement. And that is why we do this - to engage with each other.

If you have a newsworthy item or something from the present or past to share with the Hawk community, drop a note to advancement@hudsoncatholic.org

In The Words of Our Patron Saint

Blast From the Past

From the 1970 'Hawk' Yearbook

One of the more novel sites for photographing a home room class, although you won't be able to tell from how this photo was cropped in the yearbook. This home room snap in 1969 was of '73 Hawks as Freshmen while they sat on the overpass that attaches the main school building to the old Brothers' Residence, legs dangling over the side (with no retraining gear!).

Some Academic Levity

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

Note:

If any link in this issue is not clickable,

please copy and paste the 'link' into your browser's address window

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

Convey an obituary notice

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 1,400 members and climbing.

Linkedin: Hudson Catholic Regional High School page, with nearly 500 followers at https://www.linkedin.com/school/27080137/admin/feed/posts/

For Viewing

Digital Hawk Yearbooks

https://www.hawkalumni.org/hawk-alumni-scanned-yearbooks/

Hudson Catholic Events and Athletic Contests

https://www.youtube.com/@hcyoutube8233

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.

“I believed in something and I sacrificed everything for it.”

-- Mack Reilly '14, JCPD

in a Facebook post honoring

the late JCPD Detective Joseph Seals, EOW July 13, 2014

Requiescant in Pace

Vita Mutatur Non Tollitur

(Life is changed, not ended)

____________________________________________

Michael Fiorentino '71

Joseph Luistro '86

Elizabeth Davis, mother of Tom Davis '68

____________________________________________

Will be remembered in our annual

Alumni Mass of Remembrance

on November 3rd, 2024

In announcing the passing of Sgt. Joseph Luistro '86 of the Edison Police Force, the NJ Honor Legion posted this about our brother Hawk: "A Jersey City kid who graduated from Hudson Catholic, Joe's entire life exemplified the term 'service' like no other. He wore the uniform for 25 years, retiring in 2020, volunteered as a firefighter in Piscataway, was an active member with the Knights of Columbus, and we at the Honor Legion know Joe best from his time serving as President of the Asian American Law Enforcement Officers Association. Joe was a dedicated servant to all, and a fighter to the very end, in a courageous battle against the ALS that took his life."

The Office of Advancement ~ Gary, Jill & Jenine

201-332-5970 x118

Advancement@hudsoncatholic.org ~ OR ~ gferrari@hudsoncatholic.org