From this issue forward, 'BTL' is going Monthly,

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Return To The Nest!

Hawk Alumni Flock to Career Day

To Share their Prolific Journeys

Flanking Faculty members James Falconer and Frank McGady, center, are, L. to R., Correy Mezzina '11, Alex Luna '98, Pierre Chrissafis '85, and Giuseppe DePinto '96.

For the first in-person Career Day held since the end of the pandemic, 19 alumni spanning from the classes of 1969 to 2015, among 21 speakers, returned to the Nest to share their cumulative 470 years of professional and life experience. Judging from the turnout of speakers, we’d say there was some pent-up demand among our alumni to talk about what they do for a living! And we are glad they came and did so.

Our young Hawks were treated to insights into careers in the fields of show business, film production, music and TV entertainment, air traffic control, FBI law enforcement, architecture, journalism, pharmacology, pediatric trauma, emergency response, physical therapy, life sciences supply chain, sports marketing, information technology, marketing, banking, human resources management, restaurants, education, and special education.

A big Hawk THANK YOU!-- for giving of their time and talent to our young Hawks -- goes to Ceara Hennessey ’15, Erika Leynes ’14, Correy Mezzina ’11, Chris Ramirez ’02, Ryan Famanila ’00, Alex Luna ’98, Giuseppe DePinto ’96, Brian Fitzgerald ’92, Fred Barbi ’86, Pierre Chrissafis ’85, Brian Sullivan ’85, John Nastasi ’81, PJ Leonard, ’80, Peter D’Angelo ’79, Tony Monte, ’78, Ray Krajewski ’71, Larry Basinski ’70, Jim Doherty ’70, Thomas F.X. Bender Jr. ‘69, and Former Faculty Mr. Liam Matthews.

Congratulations are in order for Mr. John Cahill of the Hawk Guidance Office, along with his colleagues, Ms. Ashlee Rivera ‘16, and Mrs. Allison Ryan, who put this important day together.

Cafeteria Hang-outs: Our Career Day Crew

A Giant of Hudson Catholic Has Passed Away

Brother Luke Maher, FSC

1937 - 2024

Eternal Rest Grant Unto Brother Luke, O Lord,

And May Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him

Word reached the Hudson Catholic community on April 29^th that our beloved 3^rd Principal, Brother Luke Maher, FSC, had been called to eternal life the night before at De La Salle Hall, Christian Brother Retirement Residence on the campus of the Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, NJ. Many members of the first seven classes were close to Luke and are deeply saddened by his passing

Born David Maher in Arlington, NJ in 1937, he entered the Ammendale MD Novitiate on October 15th, 1956, received the Religious Habit & Name Denis Luke on February 1, 1957, and pronounced Perpetual Vows in Towson MD on August 17, 1963.

Sixty-eight years a Christian Brother, he gave us 22 of them, first coming to Jersey City in 1965, from Central Catholic in Pittsburgh, among the second-year wave of Founding Christian Brothers that expanded as the school added its second class. During his first assignment with Hudson Catholic, which continued through 1972, Luke became School Principal in 1968. He followed in the footsteps of Brother Francis McCormick, FSC (dec.) and Brother Thomas Caldwell, FSC (dec.), and handed the baton to Brother Timothy Dean, FSC (dec.). In 2021, Luke was elected to the Hudson Catholic Hall of Fame as a member of those Founding Christian Brothers.

Luke was so good in his role as Principal that it got him ‘kicked upstairs’ for the next three years, serving as Assistant Superintendent of Schools in the Newark Archdiocese. Thereafter, he returned to Pittsburgh at South Hills Catholic High School for four years. Among a number of other assignments, he served as Principal of Paterson Catholic High School from 1985 to 1988.

He returned to McGinley Square in 1998 and spent one year in residence, to study, before going off to the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, CA. Following a stint as Principal of Morris Catholic High School from 1999 to 2001, the good brother made his way back to The Home of The Hawks in 2001, working in various roles for four years, including keeping the Development effort alive, then retiring in 2005 and living in residence until the withdrawal of the Christian Brothers community at Hudson Catholic. During those later years, he could be found at the annual Alumni Golf Outing, greeting our graduates, and mixing at a variety of school and alumni events, his love of Hudson Catholic and its people prominently and always on display.

His 22 years in total service to Hudson Catholic is the 4^th most years for FSC at Hudson Catholic, exceeded only by Brother Raymond Murphy, FSC (35 years), Brother Patrick King (dec.), FSC (33 years), and Brother John Condon (dec.), FSC (29 years).

Many, many tributes poured in as word of Luke’s passing reached into our ranks. Bill Cullen ’72 paid Brother Luke a significant compliment: “His leadership put together the team of Brothers and lay teachers that defined the sprit of the school that remains so strong.”

Hall of Famer Thomas F.X. Bender, Jr. 69, who was taught by Brother Luke, stated: “I visited Br. Luke regularly in Lincroft, joined on occasion by Steve Honsinger, Bob Stroebel and Bill Mahoney. We reminisced about our days at Hudson Catholic and the great faculty, facilities, students and characters that were a part of the early days there. Br. Luke shared some aspects of his life that we didn’t know. He was born in Jersey City, lived in Kearny, and moved to Pennsylvania. His ministry as a Christian Brother is extensive as an administrator in numerous Catholic schools in NJ and Pennsylvania. One constant during our conversations was his love for Hudson Catholic -- Steve Honsinger and I fondly remembered him practicing with us at basketball practices during our freshman and sophomore years. As Luke’s physical decline became more apparent, his mental capacity stayed sharp. When he could no longer go out to lunch, over 70 “brothers boys” attended a luncheon in his honor at CBA in 2022. Br. Luke was greatly moved by the occasion. A poster was created that attendees signed with personal messages of appreciation for Br. Luke’s role in the lives of maturing young men. Luke proudly displayed the poster, along with individual pictures of the event, in his room for all to see. We lost a giant with his passing. He was an integral part of the foundation of Hudson Catholic, rock solid in his demeanor and approach to building Hudson Catholic into what it is today. For all of us who benefited from his tenure at Hudson Catholic, we are eternally grateful and thankful for his ministry and contributions to Hudson Catholic.”

In a note from across the Atlantic, Dubliner Mark Bulwicz ’73 wrote: “This is a personal one for you and me, this is when the passing of a particular Brother pains our memories. So sad to hear of his death. If he were a layperson, I'd call him Gentleman Luke, but, as a Brother, he is now on my personal Saints list. I'm sure he made yours as well. My recollection of first meeting him was on the first day of school when he looked down on me and said 'So you're Steven Bulwicz's younger brother, well, we're all expecting big things from you’. I thought of that one line nearly every day of my life. I mean, who is this giant man I've never met and how does he know something about me? Sheesh, I'm only 13!”

Like his classmate, Mark, Chief Advancement Officer Gary Ferrari ’73 met Brother Luke as his Principal upon entering the halls in September 1969. He is certain that he speaks for many of his classmates in describing the man he met at that time. “Brother Luke would stand outside the Principal’s Office every day, ’greeting’ students as they entered for class. To me, he was such an imposing figure determined to leave an impression upon students that he meant business and spoke with this deep voice that implied unquestioned authority. Not a man to be tried. As I got to know him differently in later years, he was just the kindest, most mild mannered man you could want to know. I loved that man.”

In one of the greatest photos ever taken, circa 1989, to document Hudson Catholic history, Hudson Catholic's first seven Principals, all FSC, gathered in the school lobby. Today, it remains on display in the Front Office. Brother Luke Maher, FSC, 3rd in succession, is seated on the far right.

Rest In Peace

John Nagel ‘77

Hudson Catholic has lost a great alumnus and true friend, and St. Dominic Academy has lost a 46-year legendary Hall of Fame track coach and athletic director. Mr. John Nagel, one of nature’s noblemen, always ready to lend support anywhere it was asked, passed away on Friday, April 19^th while visiting Florida with his daughter, Ashley.

In addition to offering our condolences to Ashley, we would be remiss if we did not extend our heartfelt sympathies to the entire St. Dominic Academy community, of which John was an integral member, a part of the glue that binds that community together. The fact that our alum, a graduate of a then-all boys school went on to a lifetime of coaching at the nearby all-girls school, is a remarkable occurrence. A letter to the St. Dominic Academy community from the SDA Leadership Team stated: “This loss will have a significant impact on our entire school community.”

There is perhaps no one more knowledgeable of Hudson County Track & Field in the past 40 years as was John, and he, Coach Paul Lenczuk, and Gerry McCann ‘68 formed nearly the totality of Hudson Catholic institutional memory (and record books) about the history of our school’s track and field program. John is even a member of the record book at Hudson Catholic. Along with Joe Jankowski '75, Rocco Dacchille '77, and Hall of Famer Steve Dzitko '77, John was part of the team that remains, since 1975, the school recordholder in the Shuttle Relay Hurdle Event.

Wall of Honor Coach Paul Lenczuk remembered John with this: “If there was anyone who LOVED Hudson Catholic it was John Nagel.” Paul remembers John and he taking their Track and Field kids from St. Dom’s and Hudson to Lincoln Park to practice together, and telling John, “thank God it’s you coaching the girls, I could never do that.” Paul will miss John’s wit and sense of humor. He ended with “WE LOVE YOU JOHN!”

In the history of Hudson Catholic, John was the only graduating member of a class to receive the Yearbook Dedication, as he did in 1977. John returned to alma mater as a young Faculty member, serving on staff from 1982 to 1986, teaching Algebra, Business Management, and Economics, and assisting with coaching Track. And for over 20 years, John lent his voice to Hawk football and boys and girls basketball games, as the public address announcer. Scads of Hawk ‘ballers’ have had their names called out by 'The Voice of the Hawks' during introductions or as play transpired. John was also a trusted, respected, and reliable source to the Advancement function when we called, often, to corroborate facts to be included in Building The Legacy, or to provide context on Hawk and other County track athletes.

He began coaching St. Dominic cross-country and track just a year after graduating Hudson Catholic, for the 1978-79 school year. While there, he piled up 108 Jersey City championships, 52 County titles, 80 HCIAA championships, and three Non-Public B State titles. The totals are staggering.

For his coaching records, John was honored many times for these achievements, and for his selflessness as a person, and is perhaps the most decorated Hawk alumnus, in terms of inductions into Halls of Fame, with four. In 1999, John was inducted into the Hudson County Track & Field Hall of Fame. In 2000, it was the New Jersey State Coaches Hall of Fame. The St. Peter’s University Hall of Fame called in 2003. And in 2006, it was his star turn into the Hudson County Sports Hall of Fame. That apparently was not enough as far as accolades. In 2019, he was honored with the naming of the Lincoln Park Cross Country route, as the “John E. Nagel Running Path.”

As is customary when a well-known and well-regarded person dies, condolences, remembrances, and tributes poured in from the Hudson Catholic community. Steve Dnistrian ’82 summed it well: “Good man right there. Always focused on serving others.”

President-Principal Terry Matthews remembered John this way: "We lost a good man when John E. Nagel passed away. I first met John when I was a sophomore at Rutgers University. I opened the door to our dorm for some guy who was looking for a friend of his. Two years later, in September of 1985, I joined the faculty at Hudson Catholic and met John again. We clicked. John was both a friend and a colleague. He was also snarky and droll and quick-witted and a tremendous pain in the ass. And I say all that with love. His idiosyncrasies were legendary. From his paper organization to his checklists, he was infuriatingly repetitive. He HAD to do things a certain way, in a specific order and even with a certain pen color. But he didn't care if it drove you crazy because he was just being him…and he could laugh at himself and the absurdity of it all, too. I’ll miss him as a colleague. I’ll miss him as our sports announcer. But mostly, I’ll miss him as my friend. Rest In Peace, John E. Nagel. And as you always said…”Be good to yourself.”

John’s classmate, Hudson Catholic Hall of Famer Steve Dzitko ’77, recalled “We met as kids not 10 years old at Brook Valley Day Camp sponsored by the YMCA and Jersey City Board of Ed. We would catch a bus every morning, M-F, for three summers, and ride to Kinnelon. He became a good friend and we competed friendly at swimming and softball. Later, meeting him at Hudson was a great continuation of that friendship. I admired his dedication to his sports and the leadership he showed to classmates and classes behind us. After high school, we went our separate ways but kept in touch. I am proud to have been a friend.”

Hudson Catholic Hall of Famer Thomas F.X. Bender ’69, who worked alongside John for the benefit of supporting St. Dominic’s, had this to say: “It is always sad to lose someone of John’s stature. His legacy will echo in the halls of Hudson Catholic and St. Dominic Academy for many years."

George Bailey ’80: “He was Captain of the Track team and was an extension of Coaches Lenczuk and Becht. He was always a great leader and, when not running in a race, he was always the biggest cheerleader for our other events."

Jim O’Neill ’83: “It was well after I graduated...I was in NJ and decided to go to a Hudson Catholic football game at Caven Point. This was at a time when they were searching for a win. John was the announcer and it was late in the game, under a minute left. We were up by two points and had the ball. In what would likely be the last play of the game, our QB drops back and starts scrambling to run out the clock. John is commentating as the play develops, "..he drops back...he's scrambling..." By this point the QB has probably dropped back 20 yards or more and is on our own 20-yard line. John continues, "...a safety will tie the game..." I just thought it was a funny little story and have retold it often. RIP and thanks for all you did for the youth of Jersey City.”

An Appeal for the Year End

From the Chief Advancement Officer

(with apologies to Clint Eastwood)

We are looking for a few good Hawks. Or maybe a few more than that.

Our annual operating budget includes targets for fundraising in the annual fund, tuition assistance programs, events, etc. We keep you apprised of our results to-date for the Annual Fund in the hopes that it serves as a reminder to join in with your fellow Hawks and friends in supporting Hudson Catholic.

With just two full months to go until the closing of our fiscal books on June 30^th, The Fund for Hudson Catholic stands at $256,953, or 85.6% of our $300,000 goal for the year. Last year, we blew through this goal in the last days of June.

Please don’t allow this to get exciting (in my case, very anxious). Please plan to give now, and to the best of your ability.

In addition to being able to meet our operating expenses, we are faced with providing tuition assistance to some families who have tried and will be unable to meet their obligations for the full year. This is where your gifts can have a dramatic impact, not only helping us foot the bill, but enabling well-performing and deserving students to return to campus in September.

Go ahead, make my day! Hit the button below.

Message From The Prez

There are only two weeks left for our seniors. Believe it or not, Senior Exams begin May 20^th and Graduation is June 1^st. The cycle that is high school life never ceases to amaze me. The only thing that seems to go faster than these four years is this last senior year. As our graduates begin their next life journey, I know that they are well-prepared to go out and make a difference in the world. Armed with the Lasallian values instilled over the past four years, our graduates are ready to serve.

But as we watch this year’s group march down the aisle in St. Aedan’s and out the doors, a new group will shortly be marching in through the front doors of 790 Bergen Ave. The circle remains unbroken, opportunities and life-changing experiences await, all because our friends and families have believed in our mission. This is shared success!  Congratulations!  

May 9, 10, 11

The Hawk Drama Society Presents

The Tony Award Winning Musical

on

The Jack Campion Stage at Hudson Catholic

Click on the logo for tickets

Saturday, June 15

Click on the image for details & tickets

Monday, June 17

Click on the image to register or sponsor

Saturday, August 17

4th annual summer get-together in Belmar

at The Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh Club, 16th Avenue -- 3pm

Inflation Buster! Same price since '21; a mere $85 for bar, hot buffet

Click on the logo to register and pay

Saturday, October 26

SAVE THE DATE

Hollander Hotel, St. Petersburg

Same site as last year

Reunion Reminders

1974 Planning Well Underway

Contact David Carbone '74 at

dcarbonephd@msn.com

1999 / 2014,

it's getting late!

Contact Jill Cypher at jcypher@hudsoncatholic.org

to express interest in having / helping with your class reunion

Hawk Happenings

Spring Has Sprung on Campus

It’s A Wrap!

4th Year of Dual Enrollment Program Comes to a Close

Total College Tuition Saved: $ 470,000

This year, 12 students will be graduating from Hudson Catholic’s Dual Enrollment Program.  Those students recently received stoles to wear at the St. Peter’s University Commencement ceremony on May 17th at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, at which they will receive Associates Degrees in the Social Sciences. They will also get to wear these at Hudson Catholic’s Graduation Day on June 1st.

Over the course of their high school years, our DEP grads amassed 60 college credits in earning an Associates degree -- 16 credits in sophomore year, and 22 credits in each of their junior and senior years. Each of the 20 classes they take to reach the 60-credit level costs $275 which, over the three years in the program, costs a Hawk family $5,500 beyond their Hudson Catholic tuition. That compares favorably to $35,700 had those credits been taken when they reached the college level.

Additionally, SPU has offered the Presidential Scholarship to the top senior in the program, Cale Sagun, who will attend Saint Peters next year on full scholarship for academics for the duration of her education there. Thus, for 12 Hawk families and our Presidential Scholarship winner, the Dual Enrollment Program has advantaged them for a total of $469,455!

Many thanks are due to Mrs. Erin Drennan-Eckel, our Director of College Programs, who guided this year’s DEP program upon assuming responsibilities from the retired program founder, Mr. Bill Venezia ’70.

Ten of our 12 DEP Seniors receiving their SPU Commencement stoles

SJU Campus Visit

Growing our partnership with St. John’s University, on Friday, May 3rd, Mrs. Alison Ryan and Ms. Ashlee Rivera ’16 of the Hawk Guidance Dept., accompanied a group of juniors to the campus of Saint John’s University in Queens, to participate ina a career services workshop, courtesy of collaboration between Mrs. Erin Drennan-Eckel, Director of College Programs, and Saint John’s, where ‘Red Storm’ representatives spoke with our students, provided useful tips for resume-building, toured them around campus, and had them meet with the SJU admissions team.

BobbleHawk

In his classroom, American History teacher Mr. Frank McGady maintains a collection of Presidential bobbleheads, for reference to his lessons. His story is that this one was obtained at a Washington Nationals baseball game, and that any resemblance to the History teacher is purely coincidental. We think not. His is a presidential countenance, lending some credence to the theory that he reengineered this one to insert himself into the lineup and lesson plan. You be the judge.

Coach Class

The Hawk Coaching Directory contains 12 coaches of 16 distinct Varsity sports offering competition for 10 Boys teams and 11 Girls teams. Eight of the 12 coaches are resident on the Hudson Catholic Faculty & Staff, as is one Alumna.

Additionally, eight Faculty members contribute as assistant team coaches: John Cahill, Track; Jaime DeLeon, softball; Erin Eckel (Drennan), Girls basketball; Derek ("The") Edge, baseball; Andre Jackson, volleyball; Colin McKenna, Boys basketball; Ashlee Rivera '16, volleyball and softball; Anthony Romano, Girls basketball.

Nice Shirts, Seniors!

Our seven seniors on this year's edition of the Hawk Varsity Baseball Team were presented with replicas of their Hawk baseball jerseys on the recent Senior Day. Sure to instill Hawk Pride in them long after their playing days are over. Nice touch.

Hawk Pride

We are proud of our school's history.

The straight line that runs through it is

top quality education,

traditions built by the student body,

and affinity for 'Hudson' that lasts a lifetime

In 2000, our Hockey Hawks ruled the State

Rivaling 'The Miracle on Ice',

One of the most prolific athletic teams

in Hudson Catholic history is honored with Induction into

The New Jersey High School Ice Hockey Hall of Fame

Twelve members of our State Champion Hockey Hawks were present for the induction ceremony, along with three coaches. From L. to R., are Head Coach Cory Robinson, Joe Aliseo George Brew, Mike Lagola, Peter Haglund, Frank Baker, Jason Ortolano, Brian Russell, Rich Rusnak, Mike Caputo, Joe Cucci, Ryan Trott, Louis Simpson, then-Athletic Director Terry Matthews, Asst. Coach Dave Metcalfe '88, and Asst. Coach Frank McGady.

Alumni Spotlight

Leadership, Service, Achievements

(and occasional whimsy)

Serving Our Country in Harm’s Way. Legacy Hawk and U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Thomas F.X. Bender III ‘04, son of Hall of Famer Thomas F.X. Bender ’69, is a Task Force Wolverine 1-114th Infantry Division, deployed deep inside of Syria, exact location withheld for security reasons. At the time of his deployment he was with the Essex County Sheriff’s Department assigned to the US Marshall’s fugitive squad. He can receive email at tfxbender@gmail.com. Please feel free to send him a note of encouragement and let him know how grateful and proud his fellow Hawks are for his service.

Hero. Dana Fuller '02 is an Officer with the Port Authority Police. In 2020, Dana and two fellow officers and first responders combined to save the life of a stricken and unconscious motorist locked in his car at the Kennedy Boulevard on-ramp to the Holland Tunnel.

Roger. Wilco. Giuseppe DePinto ’96 became interested in air traffic control when he attended Vaughn Aeronautical College in Flushing, NY, ostensibly for an airport management degree, including some air traffic control electives. Shortly after taking the FAA entrance exam, he found himself in Oklahoma City training to be an ATC. The 17 years since then have literally flown by! In addition to guiding airplanes on their flight paths, he serves on training review panels, oversees the updates and adaptations on a vital equipment that ATCs and pilots depend on, and teaches classes to other air traffic controllers. He recommends his profession to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced environment in which you are challenged to think outside the box and perform at the highest levels of safety and efficiency. That's Giuseppe with his oldest daughter, Gabriella, in front of his job site.

Victims Advocate. John Mulkeen '89, center, started as an Attorney at Herman Law in January, as a civil practitioner representing survivors of sexual abuse, following his retirement from long-standing government service as Chief Assistant Prosecutor for the Special Victims Unit of the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.



American Story. Pierre Chrissafis ’85, Retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent (nearly 30 years of service), tells his story: “My decision to join the FBI was a matter of service to my country. I almost joined the military after high school and for a long time, I felt a sense of regret. The FBI filled that void. My family immigrated to the United States in 1972, from Morocco. My father was adamant that we should accept the country that had adopted us. He would remind us that we were not entitled to anything in our new country - only a chance to prove ourselves. We did our shopping (and other things) in areas where my mother could use her Spanish language skill. I learned English in school, at No. 6, and in the neighborhood." He spent much of his time working on counterintelligence investigations that were rarely made public. In particular, following 9/11, he was assigned to the case team working the anthrax threat. "You went where you were most needed. The FBI is not perfect but the personnel are committed. Our 35,000 strong rivals the size of the standing armies of many nations.”

Trial Judge. James Carten '84, with 20 years of clinical management experience at his firm, is Global Trial Leader at Novartis Pharmaceutical in Flemington, where he manages all operational aspects of clinical trials. James earned his BA in Zoology and Physiology at Rutgers University-Newark, and followed with an MS in Microbiology from Seton Hall University.

Local Product. Carmine Conti '81 is Head of Electronics and Specialty Products at Messer Group in Stewartsville, NJ. He is a St. Peters' University alum, with a BS in Accounting and Finance, and, in service to others, is a member of the Advisory Board of Little League International.

North-South Hawk. George Bailey '80 reports from Stuart, FL that he hung up his professional cleats in January after a 40 year career in Sales, Consulting and Leadership roles at various start-up companies and IT titans, including EMC and HP. He now spends most of his time in Stuart but still keeps a home in NJ and returns to visit his children and friends. “Life is good!!!!” George, we hope to see you at the 2^nd gathering of Florida Hawks in St. Petersburg in October!

There Must Be Something About YES! Jim Spanarkel ’75 makes FIVE Emmy Hawks! He received an Emmy Award in 2014 as Best Sports Analyst fo YES Network broadcasts of Brooklyn Nets games, meaning both he and Jack Curry ’82 have secured Emmys while working for YES. And speaking of Jack Curry, word has it that he is juggling his duties at YES, in this case, at Yankee Stadium.

Hawk Get-Togethers

On Saturday, April 20th, a group of Hawks centered around our '84 County Champion Baseball Team, and others from surrounding years, gathered at Val's in Rumson, to embellish their deeds from yore, if that is even possible! Organized by Steve Novello '84, Kaz Sculc '84, and Bobby England '83, we present our Diamond Star Hawks, then.....and now.

Our reuniting Hawks are, seated L. to R., Steve Novello '84, Kaz Szulc '84, Brother Tim Ahern, FSC, Larry Sullivan '82 -- Nice Shirt! -- Bob Jarmolinski '83,Tom Bertolini '85, Richie Flynn '84, and Bill Waddleton '86. Standing, L. to R., are Terry Crowley '83, Cliff Crolius '83, Jack Curry '82, John Furch '85, Bobby England '83, Al Coulter '81, Mike Wegryziniak '85, and Steve Donato '81.

Nice Shirts!!

Birds of a feather……That’s Tyler Pistilli ’21, right, resident guitarist and matriculated undergrad at Purdue University and Greg Knipp ‘84, a/k/a Professor Purdue (Faculty Director of Translational Pharmacology), consorting under the replica of the space capsule in the Neil Armstrong Building on the Boilermaker campus, home of 7’4” Zach Edey and and this year's NCAA Basketball runner-up (also vanquished two years ago in the Sweet Sixteen by our St. Pete’s down the block!). Little known fact, as Greg tells it: “Purdue is the cradle of astronauts.” 

The First Legacy Hawks

This photo on the far right, from a page of the '85 Hawk, tells the tale. In September '84, Hudson Catholic opened its doors to the first son of a graduate. That is proud papa Harry Morris '69 accompanying frosh son Shawn Morris '88 into school on Day 1. Since that time, (again, that we know of), 45 Legacy Hawks, including 6 females, have descended from, and been gifted to Hudson Catholic by, 38 alumni. Footnote: we await our first Legacy Hawk from a female graduate.

Blast From The Past

From Mike Hellriegel ’71. "Do you remember these things? They were pretty valuable when seniors had 'direct learning' periods at the end of the day, because we could go home. Found in my Mom’s things; guessing she thought the gold color made it special." It was special. Mike, thanks for sharing.

Readers Respond

Last issue, we asked about the origin of Eddie Ford's nickname as 'The Faa'. One reader thought it might have been to differentiate his identify from Hall of Fame Yankees hurler Whitey Ford, whose given name was -- you guessed it -- Edward. But that would be incorrect.

Mike Perchun ‘75, no surprise, was first in with the origin of Eddie Ford’s nickname. It seems ‘The Faa’ had a penchant for late night (and we do mean late night) forays into The City for his favorite Chinese food at -- who doesn’t know Wo Hop’s? He exchanged names with the waiters and, upon ensuing arrivals, would be greeted as "Faa." Faa’s friends, being JC denizens, were not the type to let an opportunity for good-natured ribbing go, and took up the moniker, with glee. With the passage of time, a legend was born!

For Mike’s quick and accurate response, he receives a free one-year subscription to Building the Legacy!

You can help Hudson Catholic

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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.

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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

“Remember, when you leave this earth you can take with you nothing that you have received, only what you have given: a heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice, and courage.”

-- St. Francis of Assisi

Requiescant in Pace

Vita Mutatur Non Tollitur

(Life is changed, not ended)

____________________________________________

Brother Luke Maher, FSC

Thomas Gaynor, Varsity Basketball Coach, '67-'71,

father of Thomas Gaynor, Jr. '82

James Kovy '69

John Nagel '77

Susan Darowski,

wife of Raymond Darowski '69

Anthony Pasquale,

father of Michael Pasquale '91 and Anthony Pasquale Jr. '91

___________________________________________

Will be remembered in the annual

Alumni Mass of Remembrance

on November 3rd, 2024

The Office of Advancement ~ Gary, Jill & Jenine

201-332-5970 x118

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

We Thank

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