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

For the Glory of God and Service to Man

School Spirit and Hawk Pride on Display at

5th Annual 'Hawks at the Shore' Belmar Blast

Saturday, August 16th brought our fifth rendition of Hawks at the Shore, colloquially referred to as 'HATS', always held at the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh on 16th Ave. in Belmar. This year, we had 63 Hawks in the kettle, which is the highest count on record. More on why, below.

Ten members of the Class of '73 were on hand to present their 50-Year Class Gift to President-Principal Terry Matthews. The gift of $11,300 was designated to the Brother Patrick King Tribute Fund that is being amassed to commission a sculpture as a lasting remembrance of our beloved Brother to stand in King's Courtyard and welcome all visitors to the campus. L. to R.: John Winstanley, Jim Sweeney, Mike Finley, Tom Mullarney, Jim McDonough, Prez Terry Matthews, Bob Quirk, Lou Manzo, Gary Ferrari, Carl Gargiulo, Al Long.

'69 was out in force! Thanks to Bob Stroebel's recruitment, this class threatened to turn the event into their 56-year reunion! Class members are, Front L.to R.: Bob Stroebel, Mike Villani, John Lesko, Tony Polcari, Charles Benedict, Steve Honsinger, Mark Mai; and, Back L. to R.: George Lyons, Denis Sweeney, Kevin Farrell, Steve Liptak, Dennis Dran, Tom Critelli, Jack Cohen, Ed Quirk, Jack Ryan, Tom Bender.

We thank everyone for joining in, participating in the 50/50 raffle that raised $750 for the school, and was matched by the generous winner, Tom Mullarney '73, who donated his $750 back to the Brother Patrick King Tribute Fund! Thank you, Tom! See everyone next year, as Steve Liptak '69 always says upon departing the event........"The Good Lord willing!"

A Welcomed Gift

We are so grateful for Don Hart and Gordy Close from the Shrine of St. Joseph who have generously become our new partner in supporting quality Catholic education. Thank You!

The Privilege of Giving

See how closely you may identify with the following sentiment offered by the donor of a recent mega-gift made to the University of Kansas. (Spoiler Alert: It's not about the size of the gift.)

"One of life's greatest privileges is being able to give back to the people and places that gave so much to you." Substitution: [Hudson Catholic and Jersey City] "are a big part of my story and it means a lot to support [the school] that invested in me. Philanthropy, like investing, pays dividends over time. Each gift compounds, creating opportunity not just for today, but for years to come. This is really about the future we're building."

Catholic School Tragedy

"With the horrific events that occurred in Minneapolis, I pray that St. Michael the Archangel will cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits that prowl around this world. I pray for the parents of those children killed and injured in this senseless act of violence towards the Annunciation School and Catholic Church. May Our Lord welcome those two children into His Kingdom and wrap the Annunciation community in His loving arms. All for the Sacred and Eucharistic heart of Jesus. All through the Sorrowful and Immaculate heart of Mary. All in union with St. Joseph." -- Mary Growden, The Apostolate for Family Consecration

Excerpted from Cardinal Joseph Tobin's Statement of August 27, 2025: "We hold close in prayer the children, families, teachers, and parish community of Annunciation. We also extend our support to Archbishop Bernard Hebda, who once served the faithful of Newark as our Coadjutor Archbishop, and to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, as they shepherd their flock through this time of grief."

Message From The Prez

It seems like only yesterday that I was thanking you for making 2024-2025 such a successful year. However, the wheels of education keep turning and we are now starting the 2025-2026 academic year. I’m thrilled to announce that 138 freshmen arrived on campus to start their high school journey. This is one of our biggest classes in recent memory and helps put our numbers over 500 enrolled students. Our ability to provide resources so that the tuition is affordable to all is a major factor in not only attracting students, but retaining them, as well. YOU are the reason we are able to do it! Thank you so much! I cannot wait to share the amazing accomplishments of our students and staff as the year progresses.

Invest in Hudson Catholic

and Help Secure Our Future

September 22nd

October 6th

In memory of

Dr. Alfred Fiume '80

In Support of Therapeutic Assistance &

Scholarship at Hudson Catholic

October 18th

5pm at The Hawks Nest

October 25th

At the Hawks Nest

April 24th

REUNION REMINDERS

Hey MillenniAlums!

It's 25 Years for 2000

It's Not Too Late

Contact Jill Cypher at jcypher@hudsoncatholic.org

to express interest in having / helping with your class reunion

Who Was Your Hudson Catholic Principal/Prez?

Everyone knows Terry Matthews, whose tenure as our present-day President-Principal commenced in January 2021. He is our 16th 'Head of School' We thought to provide a brief history lesson about the occupants and chronology of the office at the corner of Mercer and Tuers.

Francis McCormick, FSC 1964-1966

Thomas Caldwell, FSC 1966-1968

Luke Maher, FSC

1968-1971

Timothy Dean, FSC

1971-1974

Martin Zewe, FSC

1974-1977

Emmit O'Neil, FSC

1977-1983

Kevin Stanton, FSC

1983-1991

Thomas Gerrow, FSC 1991-1994

David Baginski, FSC

1994-1996

Charles Barbush, FSC 1996-1999

Timothy Ahern, FSC

1999-2005

James Dries, FSC

2005-2008

Rev. Warren Hall

2009-2011

Sister Joann Marie Aumand

2011-2012

Richard Garibell

2012-2020

Memories may be passed along to advancement@hudsoncatholic.org. We'll publish the best.

What Were The Chances? John O’Neil ’80 would have John O’Neil (then Brother Emmitt O’Neil) as his Principal?

Hawk Happenings

Meet the New Guys

A.D. Jerry Smith & Baseball Coach Josh Beteta

Meet Jerry Smith, Interim Athletic Director, a veteran administrator brought on board to provide a steady hand on short notice, as we navigate the upcoming year. Jerry is Jersey City-born and holds a Bachelor's degree from Jersey City State. His A.D. experience includes 13 years at St. Joseph’s (Metuchen) and five years at St. Thomas Aquinas (Edison), 70 conference championships, and 25 state titles. He taught at Hoboken High and coached baseball for 14 years and track 13 years, capturing a variety of championships. Personal accolades include coach of the year, NJSIAA Baseball Man of the Year, and Hoboken Hall of Fame. Jerry is a US Army Vietnam combat veteran.

New varsity baseball coach Josh Beteta did not have to travel too far to find Hudson Catholic. A veteran 20-year coach with a track record of success in the ranks of Hudson County baseball, he served as Head Coach at Ferris High School from 2020 to 2024, where his Bulldogs reached the Hudson County Championship Game twice and winning Ferris' first such title in 69 years. For that 2021 season, he was named Hudson County Coach of the Year. His team twice earned appearances in NJ.com's Top 20 State Rankings.

Greek Life at Hudson

(or, Hudson Comes to Greek Life)

What has developed into an annual trip abroad for culture-minded Hawks took a student and chaperone group to Greece this July (last year was Spain). Among the locales and sites the group experienced were Athens for the Acropolis and the modern Olympic Stadium; the Corinth Canal in the Angolida Region; a beach in Tolo on the Peloponese Peninsula; Olympia, including the archeological site (see photo) at which the initial Olympic torch was lit; Delphi, for the Temple of Apollo and Archeological Museum; and, a cruise to the Saronic Islands of Poros, Hydra, and Aegina, including swimming. They also experienced a pistachio farm, olive oil farm, and pottery factory. Faculty member Ms. Tara McDonough led the group trip, ably assisted by Administration chaperones Ashley Allen and Jill Cypher.

No Longer Acting

Former Hudson Catholic Board Member, Is Now Directing

Former member of the Hudson Catholic Board of Consultors and Provost at St. Peter's University, Dr. Frederick Bonato has been elevated from Acting President to 22nd President of Manhattan University. Dr. Bonato is recognized as a respected educator, administrator, and scholar, known for his dedication to student-centered, mission-driven innovation.

As Dr. Bonato arrives on the Manhattan campus, he will share the Jasper experience with other Hawks, Jon-Rodney Lynch '16, Assistant Men's Basketball Coach, and Omari Moore '25, who will be playing for the Jaspers' Men's Team this year.

Student /Partner Alliance Seeking Volunteer Mentors

The S/PA is seeking a few more mentors for the Hawk class of 2029. Their Mentor Training Session will be held virtually on September 16th from 7-9pm and mentors will meet their students at school in October. NOW is the perfect time to apply!

A "Mentor" is a trusted and experienced individual willing to make a four-year commitment to provide coaching and advice to a student attending Hudson Catholic. For more information about mentoring with the S/PA, visit their website at studentpartneralliance.org/volunteer/, or to access the Mentor Application, go to https://l00zzem1.paperform.co/

You can help to make a major difference in a motivated high school student's future. Start your journey as a mentor with the S/PA this year!

Already mentoring with S/PA? Please forward this note to someone who you think would be a great mentor!

Black & Golden Lager

remains available for sale!

Order at the button

Pick up at 902 Brewery any time.

Tell them The Hawk sent you!

Alumni Spotlight

Leadership, Service, Achievements

(and occasional whimsy)

Going Pro. Zanai Jones '25 has officially joined the Baseline Sports roster. Baseline is a Sports Management and Marketing agency specializing in the representation of college basketball players considering professional careers. Baseline promotes Zanai as a 5'7" point guard excelling in floor leadership, composure, and an ability to control the tempo of a game. Over her five years of college competition, she averaged a shade below 10 points, 4 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game. She is further described as having high basketball IQ, defensive tenacity, and a great work ethic. That's our Hawk!

Amaz-ing Service to Others. JaVeon Ensley ‘16, Vice President of Amazon's Black Employee Network. His organization partnered with Reading is Fundamental to assemble and provide 100 summer literacy kits containing books and reading resources for students at Chicopee Woods Elementary School in Gainesville, GA.

Serving and Protecting. Hall of Famer First Female Graduate Alyson Montalvo '10 is a Patrol Officer with the Fairview, NJ Police Department and is a L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs) Officer at Fairview's Lincoln School and Academy of Our Lady of Grace.

Foodie. Rich Luzzi '95 is a 30-year food industry professional, and the Director of National New Business Development - Retail at Epi Breads.

Changing the Urban Landscape. Hany Ahmed '91 is a founding member and partner in the Hoboken-based real estate development and management company, Pegasus Partners, with a track record of many residential and mixed-use projects in Hoboken and Jersey City that are designed to integrate with the history, character, and needs of the community. Hany holds a B.A. in Marketing and Masters in Human Resources from Rutgers University.

City Builder. Joe Javier '88 and the Brothers Javier. Joe, is the Principal Architect in his Iselin-based firm, Jjavier Architect, LLC. For 26 years through June 2024, he served as an architect for The City of Jersey City. He holds two degrees from NJIT and is a member of a prolific Hawk family of four brothers, including Francis Javier '86, Donald Javier '90, and Michael Javier '94.

Dragnet. Earl Graves '86, since 2019, is the Director of Police for the City of Elizabeth. Prior to that, he served as Deputy Chief of Detectives for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office for 21 years. He completed the FBI National Academy, 246th Session for Criminal Justice and Police Science in 2011 at the University of Virginia.

Hawk Author Jim DeRogatis '82, one of the Hawks' greatest and most famous Rock historians, launched into writing upon receiving word of the passing of the great Rock legend, Ozzy Osbourne. He penned a fitting tribute to the Black Sabbath frontman, entitled Metal Never Would Have Existed Without Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne, which was nationally syndicated and picked up by The New York Post on July 22nd. Jim spent 15 years as a Music Critic for the Chicago Sun-Times. See his works at https://hudsoncatholic.org/library-of-hawks.

Limiting Liability. Russell Mancino '81 is a Medical Malpractice Civil Trial Defense Attorney for the firm of Grossman, Heavey & Halpin, P.C. in New Jersey. He holds a Doctor of Law (J.D.) from Seton Hall University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from St. Peter's University.

Editor's Note. Wayne Kalyn ’69 is a long-time magazine editor and Cranford-based free-lance writer for Parade, Health Magazine, GQ, Parenting, Good Housekeeping, Parents, and Arthritis Today. He is the former editor of ADDitude Magazine, a publication for adults and children diagnosed with ADHD.

Prayers Are Requested for filmmaker PJ Leonard '80 who has had to be medically-induced into a coma after a serious fall while visiting Ireland.



Tell Us

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

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

Hawk Gatherings

These West Side Hawks gathered in Florida to celebrate the wedding of Kevin Galvin's daughter, Emily. L. to R., Tom Tornatore '85, John Carlo '84, Kevin Galvin '81, Joe Walsh '87, James Walsh '83, Bobby England '83

Several Hawks formed a 'Hudson Catholic' team to compete in the annual Hudson County Legends Classic held at Jose Marti STEM Academy in Union City. This is an event for former players age 35+ to come together each year, using basketball as an excuse to do so. The event organizers make up the uniforms for the occasion. The Hawks are, L. to R., Mike Clerk '03, Donnie Brown '00, Marquis Boyd '05, Gabriel Robinson '05, 1,000 Point Scorer Jonathan Cortez '08, Ronnie Cutler '05, AJ Morales '05, Brian Perkins '02.

Hawk Run-Ins

What were the chances? Perry Cecchini ’72 & Jim Spanarkel ’75 on Park Ave. in Rutherford.



Nice Hat!



That would be Dennis Danilewicz '71, and his wife, Eileen, casually trekking through Greenland, of all places! Perhaps they were on official business to size up the rare earth mineral deposits or strategic defense sites. Or maybe they were just taking in our northern neighbor's renowned, stunning Arctic landscapes, icebergs, fjords, glaciers, and Northern Lights?

Blast From the Past

Artifacts from '68; The Smithsonian Called!

Courtesy of Pioneer Hawk Hall of Famer David Alfonse '68, we present these mementos of a bygone era, reminders of what school life was like at the dawn of a new school's existence: our very first Commencement Program (Bishop Martin Stanton presiding!); a football game program from our first varsity season, when they did such things as print programs so you could know who the players were, which brings us to the Team Rosters in that game. Can you believe we had a big-time corporate sponsor like Coca Cola to print those programs?! Bet you didn't know Snyder had a first name? Henry!

If you can't take it with you,

why not leave it to Hudson Catholic?

Where it can provide perhaps the greatest gift of all

THE GIFT OF EDUCATION

For more information on ways to arrange a meaningful planned gift

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

Did You Know?

The first Field Goal ever kicked in the history of Hawk Football didn't come until the 1973 season, but marked a momentous occasion. Don't trust us - read it for yourself, courtesy of The Jersey Journal archives. This article appeared on Monday, Nov 19, 1973. The toe of Bruce Bock '75 accounted for the only points of the game against St. Joseph's, AND gave us a winning season as the first Hawk Football Team to win 5 games. Editor's Note: In its inimitable style, famous for butchering the names of local athletes in print, the JJ leads off the article by misnaming our hero, as 'Brian' Bock. But make no mistake, our Bock is Bruce!

Korrections Korner

The Requiescant in Pace segment in the August issue of 'BTL' identified Mike Garner '68 as a brother of the deceased, Mary Falzarano, however, we neglected to identify a second Hawk brother, that of Robert Garner '69. We regret the omission.

You can help Hudson Catholic

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

No Hawk Left Behind

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

Reminders

If you receive our email at your workplace

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

For Hawks at or nearing retirement age

and receive this newsletter at your workplace email address

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

advancement@hudsoncatholic.org to:

Plan a visit back to the Hawks Nest

Obtain or donate a yearbook through The Yearbook Exchange

Convey an obituary notice

Advertise your business card here for $30 per issue

Death Notifications

may be sent to

info@hawkalumni.org

Catch up on back issues of

Building The Legacy 

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

·    Landed your first job? Taken a new one?

·    Received a promotion or honor?

·    Gotten engaged or married?

·    Celebrated a milestone anniversary?

·    Welcomed a child or grandchild?

·    Reminisced with fellow Hawks recently?

·    Relocated?

·    Retired from your last job?

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

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

advancement@hudsoncatholic.org

Words of Wisdom

"We can ignore the truth, but we cannot ignore the consequences.”

-- Ayn Rand,

Russian-born American writer

"Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle."

--Abraham Lincoln

"Sometimes the most powerful leadership isn't being followed, it's being believed."

-- Joe Slota '72,

from his book From the Streets to Global Seats

"I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will....... and now..... you are mine and I am yours. And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven."

John Wesley,

English cleric, theologian, and evangelist

Requiescant in Pace

Vita Mutatur Non Tollitur

(Life is changed, not ended)

___________________________

John Morro '74

Mr. Daniel Kelleher, FFAC

Helen Scarpa,

mother of Darren Scarpa '80 and Steven Scarpa '85

Alexandra Weckesser,

wife of Justin Weckesser ‘05

______________________________

Will be remembered in the annual

Alumni Mass of Remembrance

on November 2nd, 2025

The Office of Advancement ~ Gary, Jill & Jenine

201-332-5970 x118

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

We Thank

Our Alumni Sponsors