Welcome to The Beehive
It is our pleasure to welcome you to The Beehive, Molloy’s community newsletter! Every two weeks, Molloy shares news from around our school community, including student achievements, Stanner sports, upcoming events, alumni notes, and more. Alumni, students, and families can expect to receive The Beehive in their email inbox every other Friday.
Share your news with us! If you have a relevant news item you would like to submit for consideration in our newsletter, please email it to beehive@molloyhs.org.
Thank you for reading, and we look forward to a wonderful 2026-27 school year. Go Stanners!
Marking 25 Years Since September 11, 2001
Pictured: Memorial display in our main lobby; Stanner Hall of Fame portraits; the cover of the November 2001 issue of The Stanner newspaper.
On September 11, 2001, school was in session at Molloy for just the second full day of the new year. It was a beautiful Tuesday morning, and students were still settling into their new classes. A short time into the day, Principal Br. Roy George ’62 made a public address announcement that changed many lives forever. The community would later learn that Stanners, family members, and friends were among the 2,977 victims of the horrific and senseless events of that day.
25 years after the events of September 11th, it has become more important than ever to remember the tragedy through the spirit of the heroic acts of many first responders and ordinary citizens. Many students witnessed and experienced that day in their own unique ways, but generations since have learned about it as a historical event. In commemorating September 11th each year, we can ensure that present and future generations understand the impact of these events, as well as join in honoring and continuing the legacies of so many selfless heroes.
On this 25th anniversary, Principal Dr. Darius Penikas addressed our students by reading the names of those in our Stanner family who were lost on September 11, 2001: Richard D. Allen ’88, FDNY; Thomas J. Ashton ’97; Joseph J. Berry ’64; Michael J. Cawley ’87, FDNY; Batt. Chief Thomas DeAngelis ’68, FDNY; William A. Gardner ’73; Ralph M. Licciardi ’89; Lt. Robert B. Nagel ’63, FDNY; Lt. Robert M. Regan ’71, FDNY; Mark Rosen, Parent; Robert L. Scandole ’83; Capt. Patrick J. Waters ’74, Parent, FDNY; Timothy M. Welty ’85, FDNY.
Dr. Penikas also read the names of first responders who have passed in later years as a result of 9/11 related illness: Laurence J. Dougherty ’82, NYPD; Lt. John “Jack” Gremse ’68; Kevin Lavelle, Parent, NYPD; Thomas Oelkers ’92, FDNY.
Pictured: 2002 yearbook cover and inside front cover artwork.
At Molloy, we continue to remember and honor the heroes of 9/11. Their legacy lives on, as many reside in our Stanner Hall of Fame, while numerous scholarships provide the gift of Catholic Marist education to outstanding students in need. These include The Joseph J. Berry Memorial Scholarship, The Firefighter Michael J. Cawley Memorial Scholarship, The Lt. John “Jack” Gremse Graduation Assistance Fund, The Lt. Robert Nagel Memorial Scholarship, The Firefighter Tommy Oelkers Scholarship, the Robert Regan Memorial Scholarship, The Robert Scandole Memorial Scholarship, and The Captain Patrick Waters Memorial Scholarship.
Recently, a Stanner alumnus shared with Molloy that there was another member of our community who was lost on September 11, 2001 and whose story we have not previously shared. Sean Canavan attended Molloy from 1976 to 1978, but transferred to Long Island City High School after sophomore year. The eldest of five children, Sean attended St. Raphael’s Elementary School in Long Island City before Molloy and LIC HS. He went on to work as a carpenter, working for Installation Resources along with his younger brother Ciaran. On September 11th, Sean was refurbishing offices on the 91st floor of the South Tower when it was struck. While Ciaran was able to evacuate, Sean sadly lost his life that day. He left behind his parents, Rose and Ciaran, and his siblings Ciaran, Kathleen, Teresa, and Celine. He was buried on September 9, 2002 on what would have been his 40th birthday. Today, we remember Sean as a beloved member of our community.
Please visit www.molloyhs.org/news to read more about our 9/11 heroes.
In addition, AMNY published an article today featuring NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny ’83. Chief Kenny reflects on 25 years since 9/11 and the ongoing battle many are fighting with related illnesses. | Read the Article in AMNY
Back to School: 2026-27 School Year Begins
Pictured: Freshmen work on opening their lockers for the first time.
Archbishop Molloy High School welcomed faculty, staff, and students back to Manton Street earlier this week, officially kicking off the 2026-27 school year! On September 8th, faculty and staff returned after a restful summer, while the seniors and freshmen attended their orientations the following day. Sophomores and juniors returned on September 10th, followed by all grades returning for a half day and simulated schedule run-through on Friday, September 11th. Our first full day will be Monday, September 14th!
For the Class of 2030, it was their first time finding their homerooms, meeting many of their classmates and teachers, navigating the building, and, of course, attempting to open their lockers. Faculty members and senior volunteers were stationed around the halls to assist the freshman class, helping to point them in the right direction or open those tricky lockers.
We encourage our students to take full advantage of everything Molloy has to offer! With over 46 sports teams and over 60 clubs and activities, there are plenty of opportunities to find new interests, connect with new friends, and make your mark during your Molloy journey. Save the date on October 6th, when all clubs will be recruiting new members at the Activities Fair in the Jack Curran Gymnasium!
We wish everyone a successful 2026-27 school year, and we look forward to celebrating your many achievements in The Beehive!
Pictured: Members of the Class of 2027 during their first week of senior year. Some are sporting backpacks for the upcoming Backpack Donation Drive. More on that in the next Beehive!
Class of 2030 Enjoys One-Day Retreat
The Class of 2030 attended its Freshman One Day Retreat on Thursday, September 3, 2026! Throughout the day, students had the opportunity to connect with their classmates while learning about the five Marist Pillars: Presence, Simplicity, Family Spirit, Love of Work, and In the Way of Mary.
The retreat gave incoming Stanners a meaningful introduction to what it means to be a Marist student at Molloy, encouraging them to become agents of justice and service while embracing their role as faith-filled members of our community. Activities included lighting their class candle, playing games, listening to presentations, walking through a blindfolded obstacle course, participating in a magic show, and more! Thank you to our student volunteers and to Mr. Corrado, Mrs. Morris, and Mr. Costa from our Campus Ministry team for giving Stanners a chance to come together and make connections before classes begin.
Molloy’s Summer Enrichment Program
Over the summer, rising 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th graders attended Molloy’s 4th Annual Summer Enrichment Program! Participants had the opportunity to learn from Molloy’s own faculty and staff, taking courses such as Music Composition & Production, Chess, Broadcast Journalism & Podcasting, Principles of Rocketry, Theater, and more. Between their main classes, students enjoyed a recreation period filled with games, brain teasers, and opportunities to connect with other program members! We hope to see these bright young learners return for next year’s Summer Enrichment Program and, one day, as students walking the halls of Molloy!
Archbishop Molloy High School’s Summer Enrichment Program provides an exciting summer experience for rising 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th graders, as they enjoy fun and dynamic activities led by experienced Molloy faculty and staff. Program participants select their daily “Majors” and “Minors” from among variety of interesting subjects, each focused on sparking your child’s intellectual curiosity and creativity. Participants can make new friends, gain new knowledge, and get an early view of what it’s like being in and around Molloy. Stay tuned for information about the next program running in Summer 2027!
In Case You Missed It: Summer Stories
Even though our news cycle slows down a bit over the summer, there are still important stories to share! In August, we published our summer edition of The Beehive, featuring stories about our new Athletic Director, Freshman Camp, the release of the latest issue of Stanner Life magazine, and more. In case you missed it, click here or the button below to read the summer issue of The Beehive.
A Note From the Stanner Alumni Center
We have a wonderful lineup of events coming this Fall, and we can’t wait to see our alumni, families, and friends. Whether you’ve been coming to alumni events for years, or you just graduated this past June, there is something for everyone! Click the buttons or flyers below to visit registration pages, and secure your spot at our events today. You can also contact me or another member of the Stanner Alumni Center any time with questions or to learn more about our events.
— Sarah Quispe ’19, Alumni Development Officer | squispe@molloyhs.org
* Early Fall Events – Register Now! *
* Events Later in Fall / Early Winter – Register Early!*
| SOFTBALL: Congratulations to Molloy Softball (pictured above left), who have repeated as the top program with a 4.0 GPA, according to the NFCA’s Easton Top 10 GPAs for High Schools. With Coach Lou Santos at the helm, Molloy saw 15 Stanners earn All-America Scholar-Athlete recognition! Read More at NFCA.org. |
| SOCCER: The Girls Varsity Soccer team (pictured above right) recently came together with Newtown High School, Francis Lewis High School, and The Mary Louis Academy for the special Kicking for a Cause Tournament in support of breast cancer research. It was more than just a day of soccer; it was a day of community, competition, and coming together for an important cause. The tournament was a great success, as all participating schools combined to raised $2,108! Shoutout to our Molloy JV Soccer team, who stepped up to support the event by selling concessions and merchandise throughout the day. Congratulations to Jennifer Muzio ’28, who was named MVP Defender of the tournament. Thank you to all the players, coaches, families, and supporters who helped make Kicking for a Cause a success. Together, we can make a difference, one kick at a time. (Information provided by our Sports Management Interns) |
| TENNIS: The Girls Varsity Tennis team (pictured below left) had a strong start to their season with a 5-0 win against St. Joe’s by the Sea. In singles, Nela Kacperski ’29 headed the lineup, winning 8-0. Madeline David ’29 and Angelina Pustovoytov ’28 each clutched their second and third singles matches with scores of 8-1 and 8-0. In first doubles, seniors Olivia Wawerski ’27 and Temulen Jadamba ’27 secured an 8-1 win, while in second doubles, juniors Emilie Killian ’28 and Flavia Foukas ’28 teamed up, adding another 8-1 win for the Stanners. |
| CROSS COUNTRY: Over the summer, members of the Cross Country team (pictured below right) enjoyed the 4th Annual Br. Bob Andrews Harriers Hangout in Dover, VT. Special thanks to chaperones Coach AJ Power ’84, Coach Joe Chowske ’81, alums Tyler Bay ’11 and Lauren Donowski ’18, and Ms. Dorothy DeNoto. |
| SCHEDULES: Follow @molloyhs_athletics or visit www.molloyhs.org/athletics for fall sports schedules! |
Congratulations to recent grad Elizabeth Canty ’26, who earned the Girl Scout Gold Award for her work in her local community. Elizabeth created Coast Club, a running program that inspires teenage girls to focus on their mental and physical health through exercise and a growth mindset. The Gold Award is the organization’s highest honor “recognizing projects that create lasting, sustainable change in a community.” Click Here or the button below to read more about Elizabeth in the LI Herald.
by John Doyle ’77
There has always been something about fall that feels both nostalgic and renewing. Nature seems to wipe the slate clean, letting go of the old and preparing for what comes next. Yet, before it does, it gives us one last spectacular display via a magnificent tapestry of colors that reminds us to pause and appreciate the beauty of what came before. A season of change and renewal….but also one that naturally brings us back to memories and traditions such as Stanner back-to-school week!
And that thought of memories and enduring connections is at the heart of our Stanner Spirit, which was alive and well in New Hampshire this summer when Mark Ventimiglia ’77 visited Bob Kennelly ’77 at his stomping grounds for a tour and renewal. There is something special about knowing that Molloy remains a part of us all, and that life has a way of bringing that part into the present. “Stanners For Life.”
Dr. James Lynch ’83 shares more Stanner sightings! Dr. Lynch bumped into Don Chung ’74 and Stephen Cottone ’89 at a rainy Jones Beach, where they were all participating in a 5K as part of the NYS Summer Park Running Series. In the third photo, Dr. Lynch spotted a group of incoming Molloy freshmen on the train from Douglaston to Citi Field as all were headed out to enjoy Irish Heritage Night at the Mets game. Dr. Lynch always enjoys spotting Stanners and encourages all to “Always wear the colors!”
Archbishop Molloy High School continues to mourn the passing of Mr. Kevin Lavelle on August 22, 2026. Mr. Lavelle joined Molloy’s staff in 2016 as one of our first Safety & Security officers. A retired NYPD officer and Stanner parent, Mr. Lavelle was previously stationed at the nearby 107th Precinct for many years, where he served as Molloy’s local police liaison. At Molloy, Mr. Lavelle kept Stanners safe and offered warm greetings to students, faculty, and visitors each day at the front desk. Mr. Lavelle served in this role until 2024, when he stepped away due to an illness. He was a kind, dedicated, funny, and caring person who will be deeply missed.
We pray for Mr. Lavelle, his loving wife Marina, their children, Kevin ‘13, Christina ‘15, and Garrett ‘19, and all of Mr. Lavelle’s loved ones during this difficult time.
Please pray for the repose of the souls of husband and wife Daniel P. Burke ’77 and Mary Burke, who passed away on September 5, 2026. Daniel was a beloved member of the Class of 1977, recently attending a gathering of classmates over the summer. An additional reflection on Daniel and Mary will be shared in our next Beehive. We pray for Daniel, Mary, and their many loved ones during this difficult time.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of John Holland ’77, who passed away earlier this month. Beloved son of the late John & Patricia Holland, loving partner of Kaia Updike, dear brother of Kathleen Holland, Kevin (Debra) Holland and the late James Holland, cherished uncle of Drew and Kevin, and also survived by many dear friends. | Visit Memorial Page
We are saddened to share the passing of Joseph Harder ’70 on August 25, 2026. He is survived by his wife Nancy, his sons Wes and Andrew, their spouses Helen and Amanda, his grandson Link, and sisters Jeannie (Tom) Fitzgerald and Maryann (Kurt) Oberhofer. Please keep Joseph and his loved ones in your prayers.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Richard Rocco ’70, who passed away in August 2026.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Isla Glenn (September 1, 2026), sister of Dylan Glenn ’26. | Visit Memorial Page
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Angela Sganga, mother of Fred S. Sganga ’76. Angela passed away on July 16, 2026 at the age of 101.
