In Memory of Karina Vetrano ’04

Our Stanner family was deeply saddened earlier this month by the tragic passing of Karina Vetrano, Class of 2004, daughter of Phil Vetrano ’74 and Cathie Vetrano. So many members of our school community, and the community at large, have come together and shown their unified support of the Vetrano family. In an extremely difficult moment many acts of kindness have shone through.

Part of the trailblazing first coed class in St. Ann’s/Molloy history, Karina was one of the remarkable young women to enter Molloy with no blueprint to follow. Like her classmates, however, Karina made her mark in her own ways. She was a kind and caring person. Following in her father’s footsteps, she was an excellent track athlete. Karina was a member of the first and only girls team in Molloy history to win the freshman Cross Country Intersectional City Championship. Most memorable of all, she was someone you were proud to call a friend.

“She had a wonderful smile and a great sense of humor,” said Mr. Frank Gambino ’74, who coached Karina. “Like the rest of the Class of 2004, Karina was very competitive, smart, and determined. She and her classmates all took Molloy and the CHSAA by storm and made their presence felt,” said Br. Pat Hogan, who taught and coached Karina. (Karina pictured with her teammates and coaches in 2002. Front row third from left.)

There is a great desire among our community to honor Karina in a significant way. Molloy shares in this sentiment, but wishes to first give the Vetrano family the time and care they need. In turn, we ask that you continue to keep Karina and the Vetranos in your thoughts and prayers.

Continued Prayers for a Young Alum

Last month, alumnus Sean Harrison ’11 was injured in a very serious auto accident. We initially asked for your prayers as Sean recovered in hospital, and we ask again that you continue to pray for Sean and his family during what is expected to be a long recovery process. Currently, Sean is rehabbing in a New Jersey medical facility that is offering the best possible care he can get. He may have a long road to recovery, but we want him to know that his friends at Molloy and in our community will always be in his corner. In speaking with Sean recently, he said that he was very happy to hear that his Molloy family has been thinking of him, so please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

The Stanner Challenge – Goal Within Reach!

Since July 1st, the Molloy community has responded to the call to double their impact by supporting the Stanner Challenge. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous benefactor, your donations this summer have been matched dollar for dollar. Your gifts to date total $72,000, which when matched has doubled to an amazing $144,000. This means we are just a $25,000 match away from our goal!

To give you perspective on this impact, the average needs assistance grant provided to a student and family undergoing extraordinary circumstances is $3,000. Through this Stanner Challenge, Molloy now has the capacity to help more students and their families.

While this is a strong finish for our 2015-16 fiscal year, the need to help remains great. With your support of the Stanner Challenge you will enable Molloy to have the resources and ability to help deserving students, and improve the 6 acre campus with critical updates to a 50+ year old facility. Please read more about the Stanner Challenge and how to donate in the graphic below. Again, thank you so much for your generosity.

Non scholae sed vitae,

Craig Katinas ’93 | Alumni Development Director

Construction Update

Renovations to Molloy’s main lobby are progressing nicely, and students, teachers, parents, alumni, and visitors can expect to be greeted in a whole new way this September. With a brighter, more welcoming feel, the main lobby features new lighting, tile, and flooring, a brand new donor wall (phase II), and a formal reception desk. This will allow for a welcome center for those entering through Manton Street and better overall security. New entrance doors with more security glass have also been installed in several locations around the building, allowing more light to enter the halls and providing a tighter seal. A new electronic locking system on each exterior door further enhances security. (Pictured: Main lobby renovations)

Other work has seen several classrooms receive upgrades with energy-efficient lighting, acoustic tiles, and new electrical, and the third floor computer lab receive new carpeting, paint, furniture, and lighting. Each of these upgraded spaces will improve the overall comfort of our students and teachers while keeping Molloy modern and environmentally friendly. The roof on the Ralph DeChiaro Center has also been replaced, while fencing along Stanner Field and portions of the parking lot has been replaced after seeing some damage this past winter. One more project, the freight elevator located in the southeast corner of the Jack Curran Gymnasium is has also been upgraded to be more reliable, safe, and meet current city code. (Pictured left: work under the freight elevator)

Thank you to all parents and students who helped us reach our most recent Walkathon goal, and to our community for your continued support of Catholic education rooted in the Marist tradition. We welcome our community to visit Molloy and tour these improvements, which you have made possible, during the upcoming school year!

Ken Fischer ‘83 Represents Molloy on Jeopardy

In July, Ken Fischer ’83 proudly represented Molloy on an episode of Jeopardy. According to Ken, approximately 100,000 people take the online test every January to try and make the cut to appear on the show. After passing the initial test and a follow up, and participating in up to six separate auditions, including one in Philadelphia, Ken was finally selected among a final group of 400 potential contestants for the past season. “I felt pretty good going in. I had three weeks to prepare once they told me I would be on the show, so I hit the books. That means I studied the 2016 World Almanac, Wikipedia, Factacular, my notebook from Mr. Diorio’s Political Science class, and various trivia sites. Of course, I also played along at home. I was doing generally well, and I was consistently answering questions that none of the contestants were answering. Being well read and staying on top of world events helps too,” explained Ken. (Photo by Glenn Kagen)

Ken finally made his appearance on Jeopardy on July 14th, 2016 (the episode was previously taped). He played very well, reaching an impressive five figure score with relative ease and giving his opponents a worthy challenge. “Knowing the answers is only half the battle! Trying to ring in ahead of your competitors is probably the toughest part. There are 61 questions posed in every episode. I knew the answer to 50 of those, but I was only able to buzz in first about half the time,” said Ken. He also cites lack of sleep as a factor, as he was a bit jet lagged after flying from New York to Los Angeles.

Ken, who currently works as an attorney in the insurance industry, referenced running track at Molloy during his introductory chat with host Alex Trebek. “After filling out a questionnaire, the producers liked what I had written about my track career at Molloy. So during the intro Alex asked me about the state cross country championship that we won in 1981. My four years at Molloy were fantastic. Running track was a great experience and I was happy to be able to give Molloy a plug on national television.” (Pictured: Ken Fischer in the 1983 yearbook.)

The game came down to Final Jeopardy, with all three contestants within a margin of victory. The Final Jeopardy question was “Of the 4 prewar states that permitted slavery, but did not secede, it was the largest in area and latest to join the union.” Ken’s answer was “What is Kentucky?” The correct answer was “What is Missouri?” Ken noted that he was very close to answering correctly. “I had narrowed it down to Kentucky or Missouri and picked the wrong one. That was a bit frustrating. I should have paid closer attention in Mr. Kinnier’s AP American History class!” Overall, however, Ken enjoyed his appearance on the show. “The staff at Jeopardy are a great group of people, and they emphasized how difficult it is to get on the show. It was a good experience, except for the ending,” he said with a laugh.

Around the School

Students Donate Jerseys

At the end of this past school year, Mr. Lou Santos coordinated an effort with Molloy students to donate clothing to underprivileged children in the Dominican Republic. Students collected many old Molloy basketball uniforms and donated them to a non-profit organization that collects and distributes such items to children in need. Congratulations to Mr. Santos and our students on their outstanding work!

Upcoming Events

Stanner Alumni Reunion

• When: Saturday, November 5th, 2016
• Where: Archbishop Molloy High School
• Who: Classes of 1946, 1951, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011
• Admission: $100 per person | $150 w/spouse or date
• Discount for Class of 2011: $50 per person
• Discount for Class of 1966: Complimentary for you w/spouse or date
• REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED

The Stanner Alumni Reunion for class years ending in 1 and 6 is set to take place here at Molloy on Saturday, November 5th. The Reunion is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with your alma mater, rekindle old friendships, and make new ones with classmates and teachers alike. We will be celebrating many milestones, including the Class of 1966’s 50th “Golden” Anniversary, and the Class of 1991’s 25th “Silver” Anniversary. Your admission includes dinner, dancing, dessert, and open bar. More info about the evening’s schedule, valet parking, and online registration can be found on your class event page at www.molloyhs.org/events.

Class years ending in 1 and 6 will receive a postcard invitation in the mail in early September. If you do not receive your invitation, please email alumni@molloyhs.org and provide updated contact information.

Baseball Alumni Reunion

• When: Saturday, September 24, 2016
• Where: Archbishop Molloy High School
• Who: All Former Baseball Players & Families
• Admission: Alumni $50 (online) | Family Members $25 (pay at door) | Kids Under 12 Free
• REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED

A reunion for Molloy’s Baseball Alumni is set for Saturday, September 24th! All former baseball players and their families are invited to come out to Molloy for a great day that includes a Varsity baseball game (10:00am), a tailgate BBQ (11:30am), and an alumni softball game on Stanner Field (Time TBD). The hat pictured to the right, which pays tribute to the late Jack Curran, will be available for purchase at this event. Other new clothing items will also be sold. Your ticket includes lunch, beverages, and a Molloy T-Shirt (for Alumni). Please share this information with your former teammates and help us get a great turnout.

Tom Pappas ’77 is set to perform vocals with the Barry Levitt Quartet at Kitano Hotel jazz club (66 Park Avenue) on Thursday, September 1st. Tom will be featured in two shows, one beginning at 8pm and one at 10pm. According to his friend and classmate Andy Tansey ’77, “I’ve seen several of Tom’s performances, and they are first rate.” Learn more about these shows and Tom’s work at baritonefromqueens.com.

Rev. Elias Mallon, SA, ‘62 of the External Affairs for Catholic Near East Welfare Association, has written an article titled, “A Global Peril: The State of Religious Freedom Today” that highlights the suffering of religious minorities around the world. It is featured in an issue of America Magazine, which is the leading Catholic journal of opinion in the US and the only Catholic weekly magazine in North America. Read: http://americamagazine.org/issue/global-peril (Photo is courtesy of the Franciscan Friars of Atonement at Graymoor)

Classmates Bill Lynch ’76 and Tom Mastracchio ’76 recently met up in the Bronx for a Yankees game on July 18th. The Yankees beat the Orioles 2-1. Tom was visiting from California where he currently works for Xerox. Bill lives in Oceanside, NY, and is a retired law enforcement officer.

As stated at the beginning of our newsletter, our Stanner family was deeply saddened earlier this month by the tragic passing of Karina Vetrano ‘04, daughter of Phil Vetrano ’74 and Cathie Vetrano. We ask that you continue to keep Karina and the Vetrano family in your prayers.

Molloy was just recently informed of the sudden passing of Kenneth Schemitz ’96 and his mother on August 14th. We pray for the repose of the souls of Kenneth and Mrs. Schemitz and ask that you remember them in your prayers.

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Br. Joseph Sacino, FMS, on August 19th at the age of 67. Br. Joe was a member of the Marist Brothers of the Schools for 43 years. Br. Joseph was born in New York City. He graduated from St. Helena High School before entering the Marist Brothers Postulency in Esopus, NY in 1967. After completing his religious and academic studies at Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY with a BA in Business Administration, he entered the Marist Brothers Novitiate at Esopus, NY in 1973. He professed first vows in 1974. He began his ministry serving as a teacher at Marist High School, Bayonne, NJ from 1974 – 80. He also served as a teacher at St. Mary’s High School in Manhasset, NY (1980-82), Marist College (1982 – 94) and Archbishop Molloy High School in Briarwood, NY (2012-15). He served in the Finance office of the Marist Brothers from 1996-99 and again in 2008-2009. He also worked in the Finance offices of St. Agnes High School in NYC, Mt. St. Michael Academy in the Bronx, NY as well as Archbishop Molloy High School. He was the Dean of Freshmen at Mt. St. Michael Academy from 1999-2003 as well as Deputy Principal from 2005 – 2008. He was also Deputy Principal at Marist High School, Bayonne, NJ from 2003-05. He professed his final vows in 1981. He earned his Masters degree in Education from Seton Hall University in 1980, and also earned an ED D in Higher Education Administration from Marist College in 1992. Br. Joseph was the son of James and Jenny Sacino. He is survived by his parents, his sister, Marie Sacino-Hanlon, his nieces and nephews, and many friends as well as by his Marist Brothers of the Province of the United States. Please keep Br. Joseph Sacino in your prayers.

It is with sadness that we share the passing of Mrs. Mari Hart, one of the co-founders of Molloy’s SMILE program. SMILE, which began over 50 years ago, stands for “Something More in Life’s Experience”. It provides an outlet for students to express themselves freely among their peers and counselors, in turn helping them to become more confident young adults. Mrs. Hart was on the front lines of that effort for several decades, and her influence on the program continues to inspire our counselors and students today. Please keep the Hart family in your thoughts and prayers.

We are saddened to share the passing of Carmela (Millie) Grignoli, mother of retired Alumni Relations Director Maria Ford. Please keep Carmela and her family in your prayers.

We are saddened to share the passing of John Miller, father of Mark Miller ’77 and Scott Miller ’90. Please keep John and the Miller family in your prayers.

We are saddened to share the passing of Mr. Brian Tracey, father of Amanda Tracey ’16. Please keep Brian and the Tracey family in your prayers.