Over 400 Alumni Reunite at Molloy
This past weekend, over 400 alumni from class years ending in 2 and 7 returned to Molloy for our annual Stanner Alumni Reunion. This was coined the “Let’s Try This Again” Reunion by President Richard Karsten ’81 after it had originally been postponed in the wake November’s Superstorm Sandy. Despite the initial disappointment of the postponement, alumni quickly jumped on board for the new Spring date. It is usually hard enough for over 400 people to mark one date on their calendar, but for everyone to mark a second date, March 23rd, was a great testament to the excitement many felt about reuniting with their fellow Stanners.
The evening began with the annual Mass of Remembrance, which is an opportunity to come together as a community and pay tribute to alumni and friends who have been lost in the past year. Fr. John Serio ’71 celebrated Mass along with concelebrants Fr. Ed Sheridan ’71 and Fr. Bob Shortall ’62. Palms were given out and blessed in celebration of the beginning of Holy Week, and readings and the Passion were provided by Charles Chomas ’62 and John Fazio ’87. After Mass, alumni medals were presented to the Class of 1952 (60th Anniversary Reunion), the Class of 1962 (50th Anniversary Reunion) and the Class of 1987 (25th Anniversary), all of whom were extremely enthusiastic about returning to Molloy for their milestone reunions. In particular, Mr. Chomas did a great job recruiting his classmates in anticipation of their 50th anniversary reunion, and his efforts were applauded by all.
Following the medal presentations, all classes met for cocktail receptions before making their way to the Jack Curran Gymnasium. Alumni Spiritual Director Br. Pat Hogan welcomed the crowd and introduced President Karsten, who thanked everyone in attendance for making it to the rescheduled date. Karsten also announced that the Classes of 1962 and 2007 nearly had record crowds, which incited a rousing applause from each. Karsten then asked the crowd to pay tribute to “two giants” the Molloy family lost this past year – Br. Francis Regis and Coach Jack Curran. The gym was silent for one minute as a brief presentation of photos was displayed on stage. Following this touching moment, Marist Provincial Br. Ben Consigli ’80 provided the evening’s invocation, giving thanks to God for making such a beautiful reunion possible.
Some alumni in attendance had not returned to the school for nearly 50 years. When asked how it felt to be back, one alumnus from the Class of 1962 remarked, “It’s wonderful. The school looks different, but amazingly enough, it looks the same.” “I wish I could do it all over,” said an ’07 alumnus as she walked past Br. James Vagan at the bookstore. Returning to where it all began brings back a wealth of memories, and many in attendance spoke of how much they miss Molloy and their classmates – and that’s what it’s all about. The Stanner Alumni Center extends its sincerest thanks to our alumni and our administration, faculty and student volunteers for making this a truly memorable night. View a full photo gallery by clicking the link below, or by visiting Molloy’s Facebook page.
CLICK HERE to view the full PHOTO GALLERY from the Stanner Alumni Reunion.
Win Super Bowl XLVIII Tickets!
The Jim Kinnier Stanner Golf Classic is a little under a month and a half away, but it’s never too early to start thinking about making a reservation for your foursome. An event in which all proceeds support Molloy’s Scholarship Program, the Classic is not only a fun day on two prestigious golf courses on long island, it’s an opportunity for alumni to give back to their alma mater, helping to ensure that deserving students have the opportunity to receive an excellent education at Molloy. The many perks for golfers and guests include top-notch food and adult beverages in the clubhouse and on the course, brunch, dinner, cigar and scotch holes, and countless prizes. Some of our most impressive prizes can be won through the raffle, one of the most successful parts of the Stanner Golf Classic for many years. Anyone can purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to earn some really big ticket items. Third prize is a crisp 40 Inch Sharp HDTV, perfect for taking in summer baseball games Sunday afternoon football in the fall. Second prize is an amazing 4 day, 3 night vacation to Las Vegas, Nevada with airfare and hotel accommodations included. Try your luck at 5 raffle tickets for $100 and you could rake in this stunning vacation package. If gambling isn’t your thing, well brace yourself for the top prize: 2 tickets to Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. And hey, if you don’t win the tickets, maybe you can watch the game on your brand new Sharp Aquos TV. Prize winners will be drawn at random the day of the Stanner Golf Classic, but winners need not be present. These are some incredible prizes, and at $20 per ticket, giving yourself a chance to win is practically a steal!
There is also a special opportunity for current Molloy students. If you have children that currently attend Molloy, they can make some extra money by selling raffle tickets in support of the Classic. For every raffle ticket sold by a student to their family and friends, they will receive a $5 profit (please tell them to ask for more information in room 124 at Molloy). In addition, if a student sells a winning ticket, they will receive $200! If you believe your son or daughter would be be interested, let us know! If you would like to purchase your own raffle tickets, sponsor a journal ad, register a foursome, reserve additional sponsorships, or have any questions at all, please contact 718.441.9210.
Around the School
33rd Annual International Day
It is always important to remember our roots. Some 8 million people make up the population of New York City, each boasting a unique culture that speaks to the true beauty of our city. NYC is a cultural mosaic, celebrating its diversity as part of its identity every day. At Molloy, the student population mirrors that of our city, with a burst of cultures making up our school community. Just as it is important for our city to celebrate the heritage of its citizens, so too is it important for Molloy to celebrate the cultural roots of its students and their families. Molloy recently hosted its 33rd Annual International Day, welcoming over 1,000 visitors to Manton Street for an afternoon of food, music and entertainment from across the globe. Students and their families contributed homemade dishes from their heritage, all of which was served by many volunteers. Midway through the afternoon, the a program in the Jack Curran Gym began, which featured music and dance performances by many of the cultural clubs here at Molloy including the Asian, Greek, French, Eastern European, Indian, Irish, Italian and Spanish clubs at Molloy. Performances by Molloy’s award winning step teams rounded out the afternoon’s program. “International Day is not a celebration of our differences, but of how our unique cultures work to bring us closer together as one community,” said President Richard Karsten. “International Day encourages us to support each other, further strengthening our bond and our mission as Marists.” We would like to thank everyone who volunteered at International Day, as well as Mr. Lou Santos and Ms. Sabina Kobinski ’04 for all the hard work they put in to planning the day. (Photos courtesy of Ms. Laura Sawyer ’07.)
Molloy Pipes & Drums Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day Festivities
St. Patrick’s Day is never just once a year. Communities across the five boroughs recognize the Catholic holiday sometimes weeks before the actual date, with food, music, and parades filling the streets in celebration of both faith and Irish culture. As a result, Molloy’s talented Pipes & Drums band is usually very busy during late February and early March, often booking numerous appearances and performances. The band plays for many local parishes around Queens – from Forest Hills, to Long Island, to southern Queens and beyond. In addition, our Pipes & Drums band marches in several high profile St. Patrick’s Day parades around the city, representing Molloy’s “Stanner Spirit” and far-reaching community presence. The band marched in the Rockaway, Mineola/Garden City, and Ronkonkoma parades, and finished their season with the 5th Avenue Parade last week.
Students Step Up to Help Esopus Summer Camps
Elizabeth Governale ’13 (right) and Kayla Murphy ’13 (left) are current seniors at Molloy who have formed a special bond with the camps at Esopus. For the past two years, Elizabeth and Kayla have not only attended their own class retreats, but have also volunteered during the summer at the Esopus Mid Hudson Valley Camp, specifically with students from Sacred Heart Elementary School. Elizabeth and Kayla chaperoned Sacred Heart students to Esopus and helped create the atmosphere that they both have experienced at the camp themselves. Based on their experience, the seniors recognized that the camp’s volunteer program always benefits from additional support. Elizabeth took this opportunity to initiate a collection of donations from camp-goers to help support their Esopus experience. After the initial success of this impromptu fundraising effort, the director and co-director of the Mid Hudson Valley Camp contacted Elizabeth and Kayla and asked if they would be interested in supporting the cause further. They were thrilled to be able to help the camp they know and love. Soon after, Elizabeth and Kayla helped organize a fundraiser during a basketball triple header at Molloy against Holy Cross. Together with other classmates, they were able to organize a bake sale and raffle that would raise over $1,000 for the camp program. “I wanted to raise the money because it’s amazing to see the kids enjoy themselves,” says Elizabeth. “It feels good to share the camp experience with them.” Elizabeth and Kayla hope to continue their volunteer efforts as alumni in the coming years.
Upcoming Events
Tribute to Coach Jack Curran / Players’ Day & Rededication
When: Saturday, April 27th, 2013- Molloy vs. Chaminade: 11:30 – 3:00pm
- Registration: 3:00pm
- Memorial Mass: 3:30pm
- Reception: 5:00 – 7:00pm
- REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED
On Saturday, April 27th, 2013, Archbishop Molloy High School will honor the memory of Coach Jack Curran by inviting his former baseball players, basketball players, and friends to a special Players’ Day, coinciding with our Rededication of the Jack Curran Gymnasium. The day will begin at 11:30am near Stanner Field as the Molloy Varsity baseball team takes on rival Chaminade. Following the conclusion of Molloy vs. Chaminade, guests will be invited inside for our Rededication of the Jack Curran Gymnasium, where we plan to pay tribute to Coach Jack Curran, the man who pioneered basketball and baseball at Molloy and beyond for 55 years. A reception will follow the Rededication, as well as a special viewing of MSG Varsity’s “Legends of Coaching” video, which features Coaches Jack Curran, Lou Carnesecca and Frank Rienzo. There is no registration fee for this event. Please help us celebrate Coach’s life on April 27th by attending this event in his honor.
Firefighter Michael J. Cawley Memorial Foundation 12th Annual Benefit
- When: Saturday, April 6, 2013, 3pm – 8pm
- Where: Mulcahy’s (3232 Railroad Ave, Wantagh, NY (516) 826-6857
The 12th Annual Benefit in honor of Firefighter Michael J. Cawley ’87 is set for April 6th, 2013 at Mulcahy’s in Wantagh, Long Island. Michael Cawley gave his life in the struggle to save others in the World Trade Center towers on September 11th, 2001. Michael’s passion for life and his tremendous spirit has touched many lives, and he will always be remembered as a hero. Please help remember Michael J. Cawley by attending the 12th Annual Benefit in his name. For more info on attending this event, please click on the flyer to the right.
11th Annual Tommy Ashton 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament
- When: April 26th and 27th, 2013
- Where: St. Sebastian Parish Center, 39-60 57th Street, Woodside, NY 11377
The Thomas Ashton Foundation announces the 11th Annual Tommy Ashton 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament to be held on April 26th and 27th, 2013 at St. Sebastian Parish Center. The Tournament’s goal is remembering and honoring Tommy Ashton ’97, a young man who was tragically killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. In memory of Tommy, the generosity of numerous sponsors, participants, volunteers and spectators has enabled the tournament to donate over $230,000 to worthwhile charitable organizations and local projects. This year’s proceeds will be donated to worthwhile programs/projects benefiting St. Sebastian Parish and the Woodside, Queens community. In addition, a donation will be made to the FRAXA Research Foundation, whose mission is to accelerate progress toward effective treatments and ultimately a cure for Fragile X Syndrome (the most common inherited cause of intellectual disabilities and the most common known cause of autism) by directly funding the most promising research worldwide. The Thomas Ashton Foundation has also been instrumental in establishing the Thomas J. Ashton Memorial Scholarship at Molloy, which supports deserving students, allowing them to receive an excellent education. If you would like to learn more about this event, please visit alumni.molloyhs.org or check out www.thomasashtonfoundation.com.
Please continue to keep our beloved Coach Jack Curran in your thoughts and prayers as our community continues to mourn. In case you missed it, you can read our Beehive tribute to Coach HERE.
We are saddened to share news of the passing of Mrs. Marie Flynn, mother of Pat Flynn ’94 and Colleen Rooney. Please keep Marie and her family in your prayers.
Earlier this week we received sad news that alumnus Robert Ruggiero ’71 passed away on March 9th, 2013. Robert was most recently a resident of the Garden City community and kept in touch with other members of the Class of 1971. Please keep Robert in your prayers.
We are saddened to report the passing of Mary Chiofolo, Mother of Joseph ’76 and Thomas ’82, on February 14, 2013 – her 84th birthday. In the words of Thomas, “She devoted her life to us, to ensure we were educated and successful. We will miss her dearly.” Please keep the Chiofolo family in your thoughts and prayers.
We were informed by Jillian Spataro ’13 that her grandfather passed away on February 22nd at the age of 83. Jillian’s grandfather is Francis G. Spataro, Class of 1948 at St. Ann’s Academy. According to his 1948 yearbook, Francis, a.k.a. “Spitz”, was a “smiling native of Rego Park” but spent the later years of his life living in Taunton, Massachusetts. Francis was very close to his family and would have celebrated his 60th wedding anniversary this year. Please say a prayer for Francis and the Spataro family.
Mrs. Cathryn Lopez informed us of the passing of her beloved husband, Juan Jose Maurice Lopez ’77 on May 6th, 2012 after losing his battle with cancer. Mrs. Lopez asks that the Stanner community please pray for Juan.
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