The Reason for the Season

Joy to the World!

Merry Christmas, from the Hawks at Hudson Catholic

Take the Pledge!

Building A Recurring Revenue Source

1964: The Fund for Hudson Catholic is the centerpiece of our annual fundraising efforts, as it is the vehicle through which we raise the largest total of unrestricted cash to enable Hudson Catholic to balance the operating budget and meet unanticipated cost challenges that arise throughout the year.

But the Fund can go beyond that and serve as a vehicle for assuring a healthy financial future for the school, by accumulating multi-year financial pledges on which we can rely for next year or beyond.

To be able to grow recurring pledges would not only give us a head start as each school year begins, but optimize the use of our time and resources in cultivating gifts and donations among our supporters.

So, when you make your decision to give to The Fund, please consider adding a commitment to make your gift one that repeats for one or more years into the future. While our present position is one of strength, we believe it is not a bad idea to act in a manner that buttresses our forward planning. We hope you agree.

At hudsoncatholic.org/1964, simply click on the link under Take the Pledge, complete the form, and we'll send you a notice 30 days from the anniversary of your gift made this year, as a reminder to meet your commitment. For many gifts having previously been made to this year’s appeal for 1964: The Fund for Hudson Catholic, we will be following up with an invitation to make your gift one that repeats into the near future.

Be. The. Hawk.

Please Remember Hudson Catholic

in your

Year End Charitable Giving Plans

Advantage Yourself with

The HHH Exchange

We hit a chord. Several Hawks inquired about the HHH Exchange as a result of our introductory announcement, and how it could be used. At the moment, but always flexible enough to accommodate new uses, we would suggest thinking about it in these ways:

“I’m looking for a job as a.......”

“I’m a manager or business owner looking to hire someone as a .......”

“I’m in need of a professional (tax accountant, contractor, graphic designer)"

“I’m in need of mentoring or career development advice”

Send you inquiry or need to advacnement@hudsoncatholic.org and we'll get it published in the next issue of Building the Legacy.

What Happened?

You may wonder why we did not inundate you with appeals on Giving Tuesday?

Frankly, last year we started our own Hudson Catholic Giving Day on April 7th, the St. John de La Salle Feast Day, and found that it is much more preferable to carve out a day just for Hudson Catholic, and for you to focus on, rather than to do so on the Giving Tuesday, the first Tuesday following Thanksgiving when every philanthropic organization, well beyond the field of education, targets all their supporters and prospects for gift giving. We will repeat this tactical approach this coming year.

We would rather ask our constituents to focus solely on Hudson Catholic for a day of giving, then to compete for attention, notice, and dollars among the heavy hitters like the Red Cross and our universities all at once. That is an un-level playing field.

Among any and all of your charitable causes to support, if you should not have Hudson Catholic at the very top of your list, all we ask is that you please include us in your top three. Of course, at the calendar year-end, when many of us are tax-planning and thinking of which of our favorite causes to support, we kindly ask you to remember Hudson Catholic and keep us among your plans for year-end donations.

Remember, Hudson Catholic Giving Day is April 7, 2023.

Accolades

The 2022 NJBIZ Reader Rankings contain more than a few pleasant results, producing favorable impressions of Hudson Catholic both directly and by association.

Congratulations are due to both Hudson Catholic and its Dual Enrollment partner university -- Saint Peter's University -- for coming out in the top three schools (no rankings) in their respective categories. Congratulations! Hudson Catholic was cited among Top Private Schools K-12 in New Jersey, along with The Pingrey School and that other Catholic school in downtown Jersey City. And SPU appeared in Top Accounting Degree Programs, with Rutgers U - New Brunswick, and Centenary U.

Other noteworthy recognitions include our long-running host course for our Annual Black & Gold Golf Event, the Essex County Country Club in West Orange, as a top Golf Course, along with Ridgewood Country Club and Panther Valley Golf & CC. And, our long-time event sponsor, Turner, turned up among top Construction Management Firms, alongside T&M Associates and SJP Properties.

If you are the company you keep, then Hudson Catholic, on its own and by its associations, can be regarded as a top-notch institution that stands among successful, notable, and winning organizations.

Save the Dates!

Hudson Catholic Gala &

Hall of Fame Inductions

Thursday, March 30, 2023 6pm

at The Liberty House, Jersey City

The Jack Campion Stage Naming & Dinner Theatre Tribute

Sunday, May 21, 2023 3pm

in the Joe 'Rocky' Pope Gymnasium

In the Spirit of Hudson Catholic

50 Years of the Brother Henry Laffey Award

The Brother Henry Laffey Award is presented at Graduation to the senior "who best exemplifies the true spirit of Hudson Catholic H.S. by his academic performance and commendable and responsible participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities over a period of 4 years." This has been the case since 1972.

The initial Laffey award was presented at 1972 Commencement, to William Cullen, and has continued up to current times, with Juan Teira receiving it in the Class of ’22. To commemorate 50 years of the Henry Laffey Award, Bill Cullen will be presenting this year's award at Commencement.

Brother Laffey is enshrined in the Hudson Catholic Hall of Fame hudsoncatholic.org/hof by virtue of his service among 'The Founding Christian Brothers (1964-68), having served at Hudson Catholic in 1966-67. He was then assigned to be Director in Ammendale, MD at Holy Family, and returned to Jersey City for the 1970-71 school year while seriously ill with cancer. He presided at a few Religion and English classes that year, but his illness forced his departure three quarters of the way through the year. He passed away at his family home in Pittsburgh in July 1972. He is remembered on the Memorial for Deceased Faculty and Staff in the lobby of Olney Hall at La Salle College in Philadelphia.

Brother Martin Zewe remembers that Brother Henry came into English classes to give presentations that were always lively and entertaining, due to his strong voice and great sense of humor, filling a room with his presence and warm and outgoing personality. "We were all disappointed when he had to leave. He was a great asset to our community and the school."

Brother Gervald Henry (Andrew Laffey), 1916-1972, received the holy habit of the Christian Brothers on September 7, 1932, and made his perpetual profession in 1941. Assignments included De La Salle College and St. John College in Washington, the Ammendale Junior Novitiate, the Second Novitiate in Rome, West Catholic and La Salle College in Philadelphia, and Central Catholic in Canton.

Brother Patrick Ellis of La Salle College eulogized Brother Henry as follows: "Hank Laffey's gifts were big and kind. To be verbally so sharp yet never cutting required a very fine mind and a loving, big heart. A man of one-liners, spinning tales, and genteel understatement. He understood community life, and that joy in being together is the glue. Never a paragon of management or system, he would instantly charm those who were all set to be testy over a late arrival or a missed deadline. Any student was fortunate to sit at his feet. His life was as filled up with with faith and love as we are likely to see." At the celebration of his Silver Jubilee, it was written about Brother Henry's FSC service that he "has always represented our cause with distinction."

In 1959 (!), while serving as Director of Vocations of the Baltimore Province of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, Brother Henry was quoted at a symposium on vocations as saying "modern youths are strangers to sacrifice." Sixty three years later, that quote applies to today's youth. But not to those at Hudson Catholic. The Lasallian credo of 'service to others' is part of the blood coursing through Hawk veins, and has remained so throughout our long and storied history.

We welcome any remembrances of Brother Henry Laffey during the short duration of his life in our Hudson Catholic community. Send to advancement@hudsoncatholic.org. Also to this email address, tell us if you were a Laffey Award recipient in your year of graduation!

Brother Joseph Grabenstein, FSC, Archivist for the Legacy Baltimore District and Co-Archivist for the District of Eastern North America of the De La Salle Christian Brothers, at La Salle University in Philadelphia contributed to this article with background and photo. Thank you, Brother Joe!

60^th Anniversary Time Capsule

If we were going to create a time capsule in commemoration of the first 60 years of Hudson Catholic, and leave its contents to be opened by Hudson Catholic students and faculty 60 years hence, in 2084(!), what would you suggest we put in it? What should we say to those who come well after us? Should we do it?

Comments to advancement@hudsoncatholic.org

Alumni Spotlight

Strut Up. Alexandra Ruiz ’14 has joined the SPU Guarini School of Business as Outreach Coordinator for Graduate Programs in the SPU Data Science Institute. Contemporaneously, Alex is a Doctoral Student of Higher Education in the Caulfield School of Education Ed.D of Higher Education Program in SPU. She hold’s an M.A. in History from Seton Hall, has professional experience as a Director of Graphic Design for Academia NorteAmericana de Literatura Moderna Internacionale, and is the recipient of a 2018 Award of Honor from the Unesco Cultural Center bestowed for creating a Biographical Documentary on Ernest Hemingway, which resulted in the City of Miami proclaiming July 21^st as Ernest Hemingway Day.

Son of Hawk. Joe Pompeo ’70 has a namesake son who has written an acclaimed book entitled "Blood and Ink," published by William Morrow. A non-fiction novel, it documents the unsolved 1922 murder of a minister and church choir member in New Brunswick against the backdrop of the Roaring 20's, the Hudson County Hague Machine, and the rise of tabloid newspapers. Like his father, Joe Jr. is a graduate of Rutgers and also has an MA in Journalism from Columbia. He is a writer for Vanity Fair magazine, and credits his parents, both educators, for instilling in him his love for reading.

BTLv73 Focus on '73

Was that really 40 years ago?

This being a photo from our 1983 class reunion, why, yes, yes it was!

Memories

The '73 Brother Henry Laffey Award to: Jim Lipovsky.

Making Bookstore purchases for "a mere 50 cents" from Brother Al, 'The Kiddies' Pal'.

Becoming best friends in alphabetical seating order: Ferrari, Ferri, Finley.

Ken Dandorph's Algebra: “First the theory, then the monkey mechanics.” 

Watching the World Trade Center Towers rise during freshman year from 328.

The imposing figure of Brother Luke Maher outside the Office 'welcoming' students each morning.

A, S, D, F, ;, L, K, J: the 'Home' position in Mrs. Stelmach's Typing Class.

Jack DeSalvo competing in the New York Golden Gloves at MSG.

Intramural Goofball, Donkey Basketball in the Gym, the H.O. Club.

The first Hawk marching band performing at football games and school functions; Bandleader: Vic Cabrera.

Class Characters: Lou Manzo, Rich Dreiss, Jerry Keller, Jim Sweeney, Keith Labuz, Timmy Sullivan, Felix Reyes, George Polasky, George Lammers, Jack Ferri, Stick Campbell Louie 'Big Bird' Russo.

Prolific middle distance runner, Alexander Long.

At an Assembly, singing "We're So Sorry, Brother Albert" for leaving the Caf so messy, for Brother Al to clean up. Brother Al accepting our apology, then rocking the place, playing the spoons!

Jack Ferri & Mr. John Longworth rolling around in the 3rd floor hallway between classes.

Being given our first exposure to Broadway plays like Cuckoo's Nest, The Sunshine Boys and Deathtrap, by Jack Campion.

Playing our first Thanksgiving Football Game, and wishing we hadn't, with the State's #1 ranked team, Essex Catholic, the opponent -- led by future NY Yankees catcher Rick Cerrone at QB.

The first All County First Team Gridiron Hawk: Robert 'Rosco' Quirk.

Hudson's first 1,000 point scorer for Varsity Basketball: Jim McDonough.

Watching a new Journal Square Transportation Center being built right over the top of the PATH train tracks.

The drinking age at 18: McSorleys in NY, the Iron Lung in the 'hood.

The unforgettable Senior Dinner performance by Lou Manzo & Jim Sweeney who managed to get many classmates AND faculty in the splatter, with their Karnak the Magnificent routine.

The 4-Year Varsity Baseball Letter Men of the 70s

According to archivist-at-large Peter Morales ’74, Mark Fallon ‘73 was the first 4-year Varsity baseball player in HC history. Peter asks you to play along and try to name the next four such accomplished diamond dwellers. We’ll save you the angst. They were Brian Altano ‘74, Jim Spanarkle ‘75, Tom Fitzsimmons ‘76, and Bob Hammer ’77. 

Whatever Happened to?

The Banner in the Gym Commemorating the 1973 North Jersey Parochial A Basketball Champs?

That Championship Season!

The 1972-73 Parochial A North Jersey Champs

L. to R., kneeling, Mark DiMartini '76, Mark Meleniak '74, Tony Alvarez '73, Jim Sweeney '73, Tim Hurley '74, Peter Morales '74. Standing: Hall of Fame & legendary Coach Joe 'Rocky' Pope, Mark DeCorso '74, Mike O'Koren '76, Frank Ford '74, Mike Finley '73, Jim Spanarkel '75, 'Big Mac' - Jim McDonough '73, and Principal Brother Timothy Dean.

The Changing Neighborhood

The Journal Square Concourse? Orange Julius? Three Guys From Italy? The Tube Bar? Gone, gone, gone and gone! Big change came to Journal Square in 1972 and 1973.

McGinley Square circa 1964. The well-used bus depot where most commuting Hawks would be dropped off and picked up by buses from around the county. Note the Pix Theatre and the white columns on the Dutch Reformed Church going up the opposite side of Bergen Avenue. And the commercial buildings sitting on property that ultimately became our parking lot following the purchase of the land with the proceeds of our 25th Anniversary Capital Campaign in 1989 (Thank you, Brother Kevin Stanton!). Oh, and the site of what became our campus under construction.

Nice Shirt!

Readers Respond

John Verdonck ’74 wrote to remind us that, in reference to donating securities at year-end to optimize tax liabilities, in the event of taking losses on those securities, only $3,000 of any excess capital loss may be applied to your income each year—or up to $1,500 if you're married filing separately. You may carry over excess losses to offset income in future years, for which that same $3,000 or $1,500 limit applies. Thank you, John!

Leave No Hawk Behind

Continuing in our never-ending quest for help in locating alumni for whom we do have an email address or for whom such addresses have gone stale or inactive. This is THE WAY that we stay in touch with each other, making the Hudson Catholic community what it is -- connected, vibrant, caring, current, and proud of our past, our traditions, our legacy. That is why each and every one of us should Be. The. Hawk.

Please share their email address with us at advancement@hudsoncatholic.org, or send them to hudsoncatholic.org/stay-connected to update their personal contact information.

“Don’t let fear set in. Play brave.”

-- Landon Collins, former World Cup USMNT

Requiescant in Pace

Vita Mutatur Non Tollitur

(Life is changed, not ended)



Dominick Donato, father of Stephen '81 & Michael '85

James McCaffery, brother of Mark '71, the late Paul '69, and the late Peter '72 

Michael Skea '74

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