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

Merry Christmas!

And Greetings of the Season

From Our Home (of The Hawks) to Yours!

Giving Tuesday Cancelled!

(Well, sort of........)

Tuesday, December 3rd is International Giving Tuesday, when you undoubtedly receive solicitation for donations from a plethora of non-profit organizations. While this is a noble initiative, Hudson Catholic gave up trying to compete with the Red Cross and your college or university a few years ago.

We have found that your affinity and loyalty to Hudson Catholic and our young Hawks manifests itself better, and in more meaningful ways, when we are able to offer Match Challenges -- throughout the month of December (see below), our way of extending the Giving Tuesday concept to the entire month, and by holding and promoting our own Hudson Catholic Day of Giving each April 7th, to commemorate the Feast Day of our patron saint, St. John Baptist de la Salle, and have the whole day to ourselves for fundraising appeal.

So, while we are not appealing specifically for Giving Tuesday, we would not discourage you from making a gift to Hudson Catholic at hudsoncatholic.org/1964 on Giving Tuesday because it would be matched as part of our December Year End Challenge. Read on.

Alumni Association Plays Santa Claus

Will Fund the Christmas Party for

Faculty, Staff, Admin -- Dec. 6th

Thank you, Brian Slattery '94, Mariam Fouad '14, Larry Basinski '70, Rob Astudillo '06!

Our Year End Challenge Returns

with an Opportunity of

$100,000

With extreme gratitude for a generous anonymous alumnus, we present the Hawk community with a fundraising challenge that could bring $100,000 into the Hudson Catholic treasury. Our benefactor is prepared to donate up to $50,000 should we respond to two challenges he is making.

The first is a dollar-for-dollar match of $40,000 of your donations to 1964: The Fund for Hudson Catholic during the month of December. We've done this before -- you know the drill. The year-end is a common time for charitable donations to be made, especially for those who itemize their tax returns for the year. What better cause do you have than the school that gave you a boost on the path to how you chose to live your life?

Reminder: those who are age 70 1/2 or older can gift directly from an IRA via a Qualified Charitable Donation with no tax consequences -- contact your IRA administrator. Reason to Give: With a QCD, the full amount of the withdrawal goes to Hudson Catholic, with no part of it going to the IRS!

The second Match Challenge is another dollar-for-dollar match up to $10,000 for gifts made to the The Fund throughout the entire school year by any member of these ten Classes:

1991, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009

Investing in education and ensuring that every Hawk has access is among the worthiest of causes. Please give generously at this joyful and giving time of the year. And designate your gift to the below sub-funds as you wish.

Show us what is important to you by voting with your gifts.



If you are reading this on your phone and wish to donate via the QR Code, please open this newsletter on your computer and scan the QR Code on your screen.

Or, simply click on the button below

In the spirit of year-end giving, we'd like to share the benefits of establishing a tax-advantaged charitable account with an investment firm, such as Fidelity, Schwab, or Morgan Stanley, which would help the causes you care about, including Hudson Catholic, in a way that could help your finances, because it is a flexible, low-cost account that can help you give smarter. A charitable account can be used to contribute a variety of assets, from cash to long-term appreciated securities, and qualify for tax benefits. The account allows the balance to grow tax-free, unlocks more dollars for your favorite causes, can be used to give when it makes sense for you, and does not generally require a minimum contribution or balance.

Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend

The Jersey Journal

will end publication February 1^st

The hometown newspaper housed in the eponymous city center that serves as a gateway to our school, and one at which our Hall of Fame writers and journalists Jack Curry ’82 and Wayne Witkowski ’71, and other Hawks, made their chops, has announced that it will cease operations on February 1, 2025 after 157 years of publishing.

This is certainly a blow to our city and collective local history, as so much of our school memory is linked to this newspaper - the birth of our school, our athletic team coverages, our All County accolades, our High School Set, the election of the City's youngest mayor ever, Gerry McCann ’68, Muhammed Ali's visit to the Hawks Nest, the passing of Principal Brother David Baginski, FSC, and much more. Not to mention that many of our alums who were ‘paper boys’ and ‘paper girls’ delivering the print edition to neighborhood homes back in the day will lament the extinction of home delivery.

Jack Curry, YES Network studio analyst and reporter, reflected on his personal experience and employment with the newspaper. “When I heard The Jersey Journal would cease to exist after more than 150 years of covering the news, I was sad and disappointed. We are losing an institution and an old friend, a newspaper that was an essential part of our lives because it chronicled what was going on in and around our city. It’s disheartening to think that a city that is as lively and as vibrant as Jersey City will be without a daily paper. Growing up in Jersey City, some of the coolest moments I ever experienced were seeing my name in The Journal for an accomplishment in a Little League game. For a 12-year old back then, that was the equivalent of being featured on ESPN. I pored over The Journal, absorbing every story. By the time I was 19 years old, I was working for the paper. I spent three summers as a sports intern at The Journal and those were formative years in helping me launch a sports journalism career that has now stretched four decades. I’m thankful for those summers at The Journal. I’m thankful for everyone who made The Journal the reliable outlet that it was for a century and a half. I will miss it.”

Wayne Witkowski, editor-in-chief of the Pike County (Pa.) Dispatch, had this reaction: “I was shocked to read this. Of the domino effect of newspapers closing, I felt the Jersey Journal would survive. I worked there for a third of my life, with so many memories. Foremost is the community spirit of a city that was like one big neighborhood back in the 1970s when the Jersey Journal circulated over 70K daily. I remember the camaraderie and the support of a staff that was like one big family. I've worked at four newspapers since, and their closeness and staff personality do not measure up to those days -- personalities in the Sports Department like the late Cas Rakowski, Mike Rowan and Steve Rosenberg, as well as Harvey Zucker, who was a leading mentor in my career, along with Milt Kerzner, Arnie Leshin, Pete Wevurski, Kevin Downs, and Fred Kerber, who went on to work for the N.Y. Post. They all were well known in the community. Probably the most memorable achievement was working for a newspaper that was a pioneer back in the 1970s and 1980s for Title IX, covering female sports and being the first community newspaper in the state to select All-County teams in different girls sports. Sadly, Hudson County becomes another in the ‘news desert’ cropping up across the country.”

There are many Hawks among the former "carriers" lamenting the end of the newspaper that gave them their first job and earnings. Let's take a headcount. If you delivered for the Jersey Journal, drop a note to us at advancement@hudsoncatholic.org. We may even publish an amusing anecdote from your experience.

Message From The Prez

As we enter December, it’s important to remember that above everything, the season is about the coming birth of Jesus Christ. Amidst the increasing commercialization of Christmas, Hudson Catholic has an even stronger responsibility to keep Christ in Christmas. Although we continue to celebrate the incredible diversity of our students and staff, we do so while steeped in the teachings of our Catholic faith. Christmas is one of the most important days of the Church year, second only to Easter itself. Celebrating the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is the culmination of the mystery of the incarnation, the feast of God becoming flesh. We celebrate the birth of Christ into our world and into our hearts and reflect on the gift of salvation that is born with him, including the fact that he was born to die for us.

The gift of salvation is the greatest Christmas gift we will receive. But it is also important to note the incredible gifts that enter the halls of Hudson Catholic each and every day in the persons of our young men and women. Our students are the future and they represent the very best God has given us. It is a privilege to work with God’s greatest creations on a daily basis. I am truly blessed.

Hudson Catholic remains a beacon of hope at the top of the hill on Montgomery Street and Bergen Avenue because you enable us to live our Catholic mission every day. I wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas and I thank you for your continued support. 

The Annual Report of Giving is Here!

Find it online at hudsoncatholic.org/annual-report

Note: the report is in flip-book / page-turner style. At the bottom of the panel, there is a magnifying glass to enlarge the page size and buttons to download and print the report.

On November 30th, JC Fire and Bayonne Police played a Benefit Hockey Game at The Rink at American Dream in the meadowlands in support of the 10th Annual Holiday Toy Drive in memory of Captain Mark V. Lee '77.

Reunion Reminders

50 Years for 1975!

Contact Frank Martineau at 201-238-7753

SAVE THE DATE: OCTOBER 18th at The Nest, 5pm

Reunion Kickoff 4pm

The Astor Bar, 725 Montgomery Street

a/k/a The Shrine at St. Astor

1985 / 1995 / 2000 / 2005 / 2015

It is time to start thinking about your milestone.

Contact Jill Cypher at jcypher@hudsoncatholic.org

to express interest in having / helping with your class reunion

For the nearly 800 Hawks who have joined our mailing list

over the past year, we invite you to have a look at our

'Stay Educated' video.

Created three years ago,

it still resonates on what it feels like to be a Hawk.

Hawk Happenings

In the Greatest 5-4 Season in Hawk History, Football ends after a taste of the State Playoffs

Although our Hawks were undone in the State Parochial Non Public B Playoffs by Paramus Catholic, 35-8, who would have picked the Hawks to be here in the first place during our Hawk-as-the-Phoenix season -- restarting a program that had to be terminated last season due to the unavailability of a sufficient number of healthy, experienced players just a couple games in? We are heartened by Coach Lamar McKnight's restoration of pride and hope to our program, and by the return of our team's core leadership for next season and the one after that. The future looks bright for Hawk Football.

Hudson History Honcho Hosts

'The Cost of War' Exhibition

On November 19th, Mr. Joseph Cook, History Department Chair, hosted 'The Cost of War' Exhibition in the Learning Commons, in partnership with the National Museum of Civil War Medicine (Frederick, MD) and Gettysburg National Military Park. The program consisted of Mr. Cook's opening remarks, a video, and exhibits, and ran for three different sessions. Focused on the human, physical, emotional, and monetary costs of the American Civil War, the event tells the story of the toll that conflict takes on a society. 

“We are pleased to have been selected as a site for this exhibition,” said Mr. Cook. “With the recent observation of Veterans Day, today being the anniversary of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, and with the presence of war in the world today, this is an appropriate time to reflect on the tremendous sacrifices and sufferings that America’s conflicts have necessitated from soldiers and civilians alike.”

The exhibition focused on telling the story of soldier experiences in the Civil War and beyond, with exhibits titled "Grief and Mourning," "Homefront Anxiety," "Irritable Heart Syndrome (PTSD)," ""Homesickness," "Postwar Veteran Resources," and "Picking Up the Pieces."

Hawk Drama Society Plans Taking Shape

Off-Broadway Director Joe Barros, in conjunction with the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, will be at Hudson Catholic on December 6th to hold an audition workshop for West Side Story, this year's spring musical to grace The Jack Campion Stage at Hudson Catholic. While auditions are open to all, the workshop itself is limited to 30 Hawks. The members of the Drama Society and Mrs. Barbi look forward to seeing all at our spring musical.

Hawk Shutterbugs Are Themselves Photogenic

Mr. Frank McGady's Photography Club took one of its customary outings to Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, with its plethora of photogenic sites. Turns out, our Hawks were the best subject for photographic composition. Here, our Hawks pose in THE most iconic spot in DUMBO, seen in many movies and TV ads, with the Manhattan Bridge in the background (and the Empire State Building viewable through the lower arch).

Alumni Spotlight

Leadership, Service, Achievements

(and occasional whimsy)

Off to a Great Start. Tahaad Pettiford '24 came off the bench for the Auburn Tigers Basketball team and scored 21 points in 24 minutes to lead Auburn to victory over #4-ranked Houston on November 10th.

Child Caring. Juan Teira '22 wrote an article regarding the Child Tax Credit and New Jersey's daycare system that was published in Rutgers University's Kairos Magazine that can be found at this link: https://kairosmagazine.rutgers.edu/can-tax-credits-be-sold-cure-the-high-price-of-child-care/

Performance Enhancer. Mike Albunia '14, MS, ATC is an Athletic Training Student at Montclair State University, and has just successfully passed his Board of Certification Exam for Athletic Trainers. His prior experience includes interning as an athletic trainer for the San Diego Padres Minor League organization and Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, NJ.

Rx. Jessica Kowalski '12 is a Registered Nurse with Hackensack University Medical Center as part of Hackensack Meridian Health. She is a graduate of Seton Hall University.

Backing up a Point of View. Jocelyn Martinez ‘12 is a Freelance Researcher who offers academic research and writing services to clients in the behavioral sciences and holistic health industries, assisting with conceptual development and content creation.

Leading his Flock. Rev. Eugenio de la Rama ’99 has left his role at the Archdiocese Newark for an appointment as Pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Harrison, NJ.



SWOOSH! Peter Koytroulis '99 is Vice President & Creative Director for Streetwear, Footwear and Apparel for the Global Jordan brand at Nike in Beaverton, OR.



For Those About To Rocket. Matt Giambusso '98 is an experienced physicist working in the arena of electronic propulsion, with a background as a nuclear-powered submarine officer. He has been the primary operator of the VASIMR VX-200SS experiment, a 100kw class plasma thruster prototype for in-space propulsion. After 12 years as Senior Research Scientist at Ad Astra in Houston, Matt has recently moved on to Busek in Natick, MA in a similar capacity.

We are sorry to report that Elijah Gertrude '23, a sophomore at the University of Virginia, will miss the entire Cavaliers basketball season due to a knee injury suffered in April. Hopefully, he can be 'red-shirted' for this year, and will retain three years of eligibility in future. Looking on the bright side, that extra year of physical maturity could prove to be a secret weapon for his performance down the road.

Stairway to Heaven. Gary Doran '69 is the owner and operator of The Religious Shoppe in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ. He retired from a 34-year career with AT&T and had a second career with United Way of America (in service to others). He then decided to fulfill a life long dream of owning his own little store that he could operate in his retirement. The Associated Gift Shoppe had been in business in Hasbrouck Heights since 1960. Gary bought it in 2006 and renamed it. He calls it the best decision he ever made — next to marrying his wife Barbara! While he doesn't make large coin, he says he is always in awe of the many customers who come in who are very devout Catholics and have strong faith even in the face of difficult life circumstances. "And we have survived visits from fellow '69 Hawks Tom Bender and Steve Honsinger, and '70s Hawks Vic Pianese and John Verdonck, where only a few statues tumbled from the shelves!"

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.

Hawks Abroad Q&A

Q: Hey, Mark Bulwicz '73, from the JC Heights to living in Ireland, how did you celebrate your Thanksgiving?

A: At the 2024 Thanksgiving Banquet for Americans Abroad hosted at the Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel in Dalkey, Ireland.

Mark Bulwicz, right, and his wife Geraldine, left., flanking their 2.5 American neighbors at Thanksgiving Dinner, sharing the evening with 150 other Vote from Abroad Americans, and sending Irish pride to Hawk history teacher Mr. Jake O'Halloran.

Hawk Get-Togethers

On Oct. 29^th, several members of the Class of ’74 still on a Reunion high visited with their favorite Chem teacher from back in the day, Mrs. Nadia Makar. (If the Makar name is familiar to you, it may be because, Mrs. Makar believed in the value of a Hudson Catholic education so much, that she sent her two sons to Hudson -- Ralph ‘78 and Roger ‘80.) Our Hawks presented Mrs. Makar with a Hudson cap, a Hudson pin, a Class of ‘74 50th reunion mug and placemat, as well as a couple of macadamia nut candy bars from Hawaii, courtesy of Steve Switaj '74 who lives there. They lunched at her office, enjoying a good meal from Mexican restaurant Chofi Birria. Nadia spoke fondly of her time at Hudson, mentioning how gentlemanly both Brothers Luke Maher and Timothy Dean were, how saddened she was to hear of Brother Pat King's passing, how wonderful and dedicated the teachers with whom she worked at Hudson were, and how, in 1979, Jake O'Halloran offered collegial assistance when she was leaving Hudson for the Union City school system. Nadia is the STEM Supervisor at the Jose Marti STEM Academy for the Union City School District overseeing 50 different STEM programs. She's worked for the district since December 1979, as a teacher, program coordinator, school liaison, and program supervisor.

16 members of the Class of 1970 gathered at their old standby, Laico’s in Greenville, joined by favorite faculty member Mr. Jake O’Halleran, on October 30^th. From left to right: bottom row: Charlie Marsella, Ray Spanarkel, Joe Pompeo; middle row: Roy Weiss, Billy Venezia, Mike Sorrentino, Danny Murray, Jimmy Lannon, Rudy LaRini; back row: Jake O’Halleran, Vinnie O’Malley, Tommy Orrico, Timmy Healy, Billy Dunn, Joe Barrow, Joe Fazio, Joe Santora, Bobby Cangelosi.

There was a pre-Thanksgiving gathering of Hawks catching up and telling stories at fabulous Fernandez's Steakhouse in Newark. Left to right, Danny McCarthy '89, Dave Barbossa '87, Tommy Tornatore '85, Mark Pica, Ken Such '80, Jim Brennan '85, and Joe Vesey '87. Ken said: "It's always a good time getting together with this group. Ironically, hockey was not the only topic of conversation."

Blast From The Past

Nice Hat!

Thom Riscoe '73 reported this sighting in the Cayman Islands!

Korrections Korner

That's Taj White '22, not ‘21.

We’ve made this type of mistake before regarding Fall Sports teams. Jay Fallon ’70 wrote to say that the photo captioned “1969 Football Team” was actually the 1968 football team, which no doubt appeared in the 1969 Yearbook.

Additionally, the Basketball Team photo would appear to be the ’89-’90 team, as Mike Lubanski ’90 informs that some of the pictured guys graduated in ’90, therefore, could not have been on the ’91 team. So we're going to try that again -- with a photo of the '90-'91 team, below.

Readers Respond

Steve Liptak ’69 wrote (and acted) in response to our appeal ‘Defund the IRS: Donate Directly from an IRA’: “Gary, This is a great way for us old guys to divest our savings and beat the tax. I authorized $x,xxx for the school last Friday. So, you should receive a check in the next few days. All the best, Steve.” He went on to say “I like this method of giving. My plan is to bump up the amount each year. Hudson provided the foundation to my adult life. I'm glad to be in a position to give back.” Thank you, Steve! We'll save the hug for in person at 'Hawks at the Shore 2025'.

Vets we missed in our Tribute. Our November 11^th ‘BTL’ Special Tribute to our Hawk Veterans was very well received. And true to our word in asking to be notified about those Veterans of whom we were unaware, here are those who have come to our attention after publication. We wish to acknowledge them and thank them for their service to our nation.

Fred Paleologo ’70 U,S. Navy became an MD, enlisted, and rose to the rank of Lt. Commander. We are unaware of his service record and in need of an email address for placing him on BTL distribution.

Mike Flanagan '82 U.S. Navy, who served six years (1983-1989).

Joe Pallazzo '04, U.S. Navy.

Master Sergeant Michael Smalls '05 U.S. Marine Corps joined the Corps in 2005 and remains on active duty 19 years later. In November 2007, he was deployed to Iraq as a rifleman during Operation Iraqi Freedom; in October 2010, having completed communications school, he again deployed to Irag for Operation Iraqi Freedom, this time as an Electronic Switching Equipment Technician. Afterwards, he served as an Assault Climber Instructor, Cyber Network Chief, and Drill Instructor. He is presently serving as the Amphibious Communications Chief for the Expeditionary Strike Group awaiting assignment to 2nd Fleet Naval Forces in Norfolk, VA.

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

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

“This is the day which the Lord has made, let's rejoice and be glad in it."

-- Psalm 188:24

"A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where 51% of the people may take away the rights of the other 49.”

-- Thomas Jefferson, on why the United States of America is not a democracy, but a republic

"Tough times do not last; tough people do."

-- Fred Versaci '86

Requiescant in Pace

Vita Mutatur Non Tollitur

(Life is changed, not ended)

_____________________________

Dorothy Gajewski,

mother of Christopher Aveta ‘85

Dr. Refat Moneir Khilla,

father of Moneir ’05, Maykel ’06, Marcos ‘15

Carmelo Marmora,

grandfather of Anthony ’08, Michael ’09, Casey ’10, Giovanni ‘18

Marie Metcalfe,

mother of Kevin Metcalfe '98

________________________________________

Were 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