Stanner Alumni Reunion – THANK YOU!

(Pictured above: Preview of Class of 2012 group photo)

We would like to extend our sincerest thanks to the over 450 alumni and guests who attended this year’s Stanner Alumni Reunion on November 4th. Eight decades of Stanners were represented, including some who traveled great distances (Peru!) to reunite with their classmates. It was a memorable evening, and we thank everyone again for their enthusiasm and Stanner Pride! We are still sorting through all of the photos, so a full recap and photo gallery will be published later this month. Check the next Beehive for more.

Class years ending in 3 and 8, your reunion is next up on November 3, 2018!

“125 Years of What Matters”

• When: Wednesday, November 22nd | 11:00 AM
• Where: Archbishop Molloy High School
• Who: All members of our Stanner family

In March, Molloy began its celebration of “125 Years of What Matters” in recognition of the founding of St. Ann’s / Molloy in 1892. The celebration kicked off with several significant alumni events, including an evening with the Honorable Raymond W. Kelly ’59, our Stanner Hall of Fame Induction, and the Jim Kinnier Stanner Golf Classic. At each event the message was clear: from St. Ann’s, to Molloy in the 20th Century, to Molloy in the Information Age, the focus has always been on What Matters. That is to say, students have been blessed with lessons in faith, service, academic excellence, family, guidance, tradition, spirit, integrity, and so many other things that define who we are as good citizens in our global community.

In September, students began to see a series of banners and signs start popping up all around school. They were quickly introduced to our anniversary theme through dozens of iconic images paired with words that, again, define us as Stanners. A sampling of the these images can be viewed in the gallery below. Each image represents an important part of our history. Whether it’s a photo of a Marist Brother, an inspiring lay teacher, a championship team, or a nod to our recent history of coeducation, each image tells its own story. Students, faculty, and alumni are encouraged to consider What Matters most to them. What inspired you most during your own St. Ann’s or Molloy story? Was it a coach? A teacher? A friend? Esopus? Working as an alumni volunteer? There are so many ways that we we can be inspired by what we’ve learned here.

On Wednesday, November 22nd, we will celebrate the 125th Anniversary of St. Ann’s / Molloy with a special Mass. The Mass will take place here at Molloy at 11:00 AM and coincide with our annual Thanksgiving Liturgy, serving as a symbolic homecoming for our community. A light reception will follow. Of note, we welcome Bishop James Massa, who will be celebrating Mass with us! All alumni, students, family members, and friends of St. Ann’s / Molloy are invited to attend this historic occasion as we celebrate 125 Years of What Matters. In the meantime, think about What Matters to you. What lessons have helped shape you into a confident, compassionate adult? We will reflect on these lessons together as we celebrate this November.

Around the School

2017 Walkathon Has “Cool” Aspirations

With a slightly new route in place, and shirts commemorating the “Stanner 125” anniversary celebration, Molloy held another successful Walkathon on October 27th. Each year, students are encouraged to raise money leading up to the Walkathon, with funds supporting a new capital project and various other needs around the school. Recent Walkathons have funded renovations or upgrades to the cafeteria, Jack Curran Gymnasium, lockers, first floor chapel, equipment in the Ralph DeChiaro Theater, exterior exit doors, and the main entrance and lobby. These completed projects have all since improved the quality of student life and helped maintain Molloy as a safe and modern learning environment. The Walkathon is the only student-driven fundraiser held annually.

Molloy’s administration announced that funds raised by this year’s Walkathon would begin to address a long-term capital project that students have held out hope for seemingly for decades: AIR CONDITIONING. Some recently renovated areas of the school have received central cooling units already, however the majority of classrooms currently utilize ceiling fans only. “Our focus is to install air conditioning in approximately six classrooms, which will be part of an overall master plan to add air conditioning to each classroom at the school,” said President Richard Karsten ’81.

The Walkathon itself went very well. Students enjoyed a beautiful day, the track team got some training in by running the route, and seniors had the option to participate in special activities such as Zumba, Ultimate Frisbee, or the World Trade Center Walk (more on that below). Special thanks to Ms. Liz Murdocca, our faculty and staff, Mr. Glenn DaGrossa for his shirt design, and to the local 107 police precinct for directing traffic. Check out our photo gallery below or the full gallery on Facebook.

World Trade Center Walk: A Unique Journey

14 years ago, Mr. Chris Dougherty ‘91 and the senior class started a new tradition as an offshoot of the annual Walkathon. The World Trade Center Walk is an 11 mile trek from the steps of Molloy to Manhattan’s Financial District. The route takes seniors and faculty chaperones along Metropolitan Avenue through Forest Hills, Middle Village, Ridgewood, and Williamsburg. Mr. Dougherty then leads everyone over the Williamsburg Bridge, through Chinatown, and finally to the World Trade Center. This year approximately 43 seniors and four chaperones took part in the WTC Walk. We began at 9:30 AM and arrived at the World Trade Center at 4:30 PM (including time allotted for stretching, breakfast, and lunch breaks along the way). (Pictured above: Group shot after crossing the Williamsburg Bridge. Pictured right: Nearing the 6 mile mark, with the WTC in the distance)

The walk is inspired by the life and memory of Br. Leo Richard, a beloved guidance counselor and founder of the SMILE program. Br. Leo once completed a WTC Walk of his own…and even walked BACK to Molloy (for those not counting, that’s 22 miles)! He was well known as a communicator who was impeccable at reaching students who were struggling in school, personally, or socially. “Br. Leo knew that out of the many ways to reach a kid, going on a walk allowed for a more free flow of thoughts and feelings. Plus, he was a very active guy,” explained Mr. Dougherty, who was once a Peer Group Leader for Br. Leo. Mr. Dougherty is also currently the Guidance Department Chair and heads the iconic SMILE program. College Guidance Counselor Mr. Ted McGuinness ’81 and Guidance Counselor Br. James Norton ’63 (a close friend of Br. Leo) have also been integral to the history of the walk, participating many years with great enthusiasm.

Though much of the walk is full of laughs, smiles, and friendly banter, Mr. Dougherty does well to draw everyone in for reflections along the way. The first takes place outside Fox Funeral Home in Forest Hills (pictured above left). The funeral home was the location of services for Br. Leo after his passing in 1995. Countless Stanners paid their respects to Br. Leo then, and Mr. Dougherty has continued to do so with the students of today. During the reflection, Mr. Dougherty asks everyone to pause and think about why they are walking, and to think about how someone like Br. Leo has inspired them in their lives. The second reflection takes place at the World Trade Center itself (pictured above right). Mr. Dougherty again asks everyone to lower their heads, close their eyes, and pray for the victims of the attacks on September 11, 2001. We’ve reached a time when many of Molloy’s students have little to no memory of that day, making it increasingly more important to build awareness.

In all, the World Trade Center Walk is a memorable day filled with laughter, reflection, and a sense of accomplishment. Mr. Dougherty summarizes saying, “Once in a while we should stop and smell the roses. We can be so busy, especially in a city like New York, so it’s a wonderful thing to be able to walk through three boroughs with friends, all in memory of a legendary Marist Brother whose Peer Group & SMILE counseling programs have inspired so many Molloy students.”

Fall Sports Update

It has been another fine fall season here at Stanner High, as a number of teams have performed very well, while other teams have proven to be elite. We also recognize several outstanding individual performances in Cross Country. Congratulations to all student-athletes and coaches on their success thus far! See our full fall sports update below:

• Cross Country … John Osling ’20 Soph/Varsity B/Q Individual Champion
• Cross Country … Thomas Anich ’21 Freshman B/Q Individual Champion
• Cross Country … Boys Team won the B/Q Championship
• Cross Country … Freshmen, Sophomores, JV and Varsity all won Championships
• Cross Country … Girls Team won the B/Q Championship
• Cross Country … Girls Freshmen and Varsity teams both won Championships
• Cross Country … Varsity Girls placed 3rd in City Championships, Freshmen Girls 2nd Place
• Varsity Swimming … Girls get off to another undefeated start at 3-0
• Varsity Soccer … Boys reached the quarter finals of the City Playoffs
• JV Soccer … Boys won the B/Q Championship and reached the Semifinals of the City Playoffs
• Varsity Soccer … Girls reached the Semifinals of the NSCHSAA “A” Division Playoffs
• JV Soccer … Girls won their second consecutive NSCHSAA “A” Division Championship (pictured above)
• Varsity Volleyball … Reached the Semifinals of the B/Q Playoffs
• JV Volleyball … Reached the Semifinals of the B/Q Playoffs
• Varsity Tennis … Girls were finalists in the B/Q Playoffs
• Bowling … Varsity and JV were recently undefeated at 7-0

Meet Jeffrey, Molloy’s New STEAM Robot

The STEAM Club has a brand new member: Jeffrey, an Arduino Robot. Jeffrey knows how to follow a line, avoid obstacles, and can be controlled remotely via infrared light or an Android phone. Jeffrey was built from electronic parts, such as circuit boards and sensors, and is programmed in the C programming language.

Club presidents Anthony Pizzulli and Pahola Bustos said that the hands-on experience in Arduino programming and electronics gave members a solid knowledge in robotics and sparked their interest in learning more about engineering and automation.

The STEAM club has two more robot kits to assemble and program. Their plan is to build a race track so that robots can race against each other. (Thanks to Ms. Edit Boral for contributing to this article)

Upcoming Events

Alumni New England Event

• When: Wednesday, November 15, 2017 | 6:30 PM
• Where: Two Roads Brewery (Stratford, CT)
• Who: New England/Connecticut Alumni (Ages 21+)
• Admission: $25 per person
• REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

We’re just one week away from our alumni event at Two Roads Brewery in Stratford, Connecticut. We invite our New England/Connecticut alumni to come out on Wednesday, November 15th for this casual social gathering. Your ticket includes dinner and drinks for the evening. Join us as we catch up with our Stanners north of NYC. Spouses and family members ages 21+ are welcome. Register online or contact Matt Rizzotti ’04 for more info.

Badges / Alumni Night + AMHS Basketball

• When: Thursday, December 7, 2017 @ 6:00 PM
• Where: Archbishop Molloy High School
• Who: Badges Alumni + All Members of Molloy Community
• REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED

Please join us on Thursday, December 7th for Molloy’s Badges Alumni Network event as the Boys Varsity Basketball team takes on St. Anthony’s High School in the Jack Curran Gym. The Badges Network will also honor “Man of the Year” Lt. John Russo ’93 for his accomplishments on the police force and in his community.

The evening will begin at 6:00 PM with a reception featuring food and beverages, which will also be available throughout and after the game (the reception will take place in the main Cafeteria). At 6:30 PM Molloy will present Lt. Russo with the “Man of the Year” award. All are invited to join us on this special event honoring an outstanding Alum. (Pictured above: Our last Badges / Alumni Night in January 2017)

Alumni Race at Van Cortlandt Park

• When: Saturday, November 11th | 12:15PM
• Where: Van Cortlandt Park
• REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

Alumni of all ages are invited to participate in this year’s Alumni Race at Van Cortlandt Park. This annual race pits Stanners against alumni of other high schools, while current student-athletes participate in Varsity City Championship races throughout the day. Register before Saturday 11/11 to be eligible.

During their 22nd General Chapter meeting in Colombia, the Marist Brothers announced they have elected a new Superior General, Vicar General, and General Council to lead the Marist Institute. The General Council will accompany the new Superior General, Br. Ernesto Sánchez, and the new Vicar General, Br. Luis Carlos Gutiérrez, in the leadership and animation of the Marist Institute over the next 8 years (2017-2025). Among the newly elected General Councilors is Br. Ben Consigli ’80, who taught social studies at Molloy during the 1990s and previously served as the Marist Provincial of the United States (2009-2015). Br. Ben represents the US Province once again as a General Councilor. Since 1995, Br. Ben has been involved in numerous other Province administration roles including as a member of the Marist Finance Commission, as Vice Provincial, Provincial Assistant, and Director of Marist Education. Most recently, Br. Ben has been serving as a guidance counselor at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Florida. In a statement, US Provincial Br. Patrick McNamara (pictured above to the right with Br. Ben) said, “Congratulations, Br. Ben, and thank you for the gift you will continue to be to our Global Marist World!” {General Councilors pictured with Br. Ben include Br. Oscar Martin Vicario (Compostela), Br. Joao Carlos do Prado (Brasil Centro-Sul), Br. Kenneth Charles McDonald (Australia), Br. Sylvain Ramandimbiarisoa (Madagascar), and Br. Joseph Maria Sotera Pons (L’Hermitage)}

Guidance Department Chair Mr. Chris Dougherty ’91 and College Guidance Counselor Mr. Gus Esgro recently attended a workshop in Boston, Massachusetts sponsored by the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC). According to their website, the organization, founded in 1937, features 16,000 professionals from around the world who are “dedicated to serving students as they make choices about pursuing postsecondary education” and they are “committed to maintaining high standards that foster ethical and social responsibility among those involved in the transition from high school to college.” During their trip, Mr. Dougherty and Mr. Esgro connected with Carl Ahlgren ’85 (of Andover Prep High School) and former members of Molloy’s guidance department, Ms. Kristin Tetreau (pictured above left, now at Central Catholic High School) and Ms. Christine Loo (pictured above right, now at The Stony Brook School). “Between the workshops and the networking we do with college admissions counselors, this conference is invaluable to the work we do with our students,” said Mr. Dougherty.

Paul Galbraith ’74 had an interesting Halloween this year. The Hudson Valley-based actor was recently featured as a zombie in a Bud Light social media promotion, which filmed in Queens at Astoria Park and on 31st Street under the N/W train. Zombie Galbraith also ventured onto the NYC subway (Beehive Editor’s Note: All things considered I’d say it looks like a typical New York commute). Paul also recently played the role of a photographer at a football game for the NBC TV show Rise. “It was funny that Rise filmed at Stepinac High School, our rivals in track and field when I was at Molloy,” said Paul.

We are saddened to share the passing of Stanner Hall of Famer John O’Neill ’62 on September 19, 2017. John was a decorated Vietnam veteran (1969-1970) and was respectfully honored with a military salute and the presentation of the American flag to his family upon his burial at St. Anne’s Catholic Cemetery in Cranston, Rhode Island. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Lois, four children, and nine grandchildren. Please keep John and the O’Neill family in your prayers.

We are saddened to share the passing of Joseph Cobb ’80. He is survived by his wife, Paris, and sons Noah and Samuel. Please keep Joseph and the Cobb family in your prayers.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Peter Paul Pellegrino ‘62, who passed away April 2, 2016 after a long battle with illness. He is dearly missed by his beloved family, including his wife of 51 years, Delia, their four children, and their granddaughter. Please keep Peter and the Pellegrino family in your prayers.

We were recently informed of the passing of Fr. Walter Kelleher ‘47 of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. Fr. Kelleher passed away November 7, 2011. Please remember Fr. Kelleher in your prayers this week.

We are saddened to share the passing of Louis Decolator ‘48 on August 23, 2017. He will be sorely missed by his loving wife, Maren, and their family. Please keep Louis and the Decolators in your prayers.