The Stanner Alumni Center would like to offer our thanks to all alumni, family members, and friends who attended this morning’s Thanksgiving Liturgy. As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving with our loved ones, it is important that we take the time to pause and reflect on what we are most thankful for. We are thankful for you, our community. Sharing moments and stories with you in The Beehive is certainly a delight, but having the opportunity to welcome you back to Molloy and to a multitude of events off campus throughout the year is something we are sincerely thankful for. We hope that you will continue to consider Molloy to be a home away from home, and remember that we are always here to help in any way we can, and always just a phone call, email, or tweet away. The Alumni Center and our entire faculty and staff wish a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving to all of our Stanner families.
Before you start that dinner prep, please take a moment to browse some of the photos from today’s Liturgy and reception in our photo gallery below. All of the photos from today will be on Facebook next week.
Stanner Alumni Reunion Welcomes Seven Decades of Alumni Back to Manton Street
One of the most anticipated annual events on Molloy’s calendar, this year’s Stanner Alumni Reunion did not disappoint. On November 7th, Molloy welcomed over 460 alumni and guests, representing grads from seven different decades, back to high school. While there were quite a few familiar faces roaming the halls that evening, we were excited to meet and catch up with many alumni who have not been back to Briarwood in a long time. It’s only natural; we graduate from high school, perhaps go away to college, and soon find ourselves establishing lives and routines that stretch across the country and even the world. Still, it is important to remember our roots, and on this night Molloy was back in the hearts and minds of many Stanners. Vin
tage hats, prom photos, original student ID cards, and other incredible artifacts were worn and shown proudly by men and women who were excited to relive and reminisce about good times from those four memorable years.
Lou Campione ’50, a representative of St. Ann’s Academy on Molloy’s Track & Field Wall of Honor, was our most tenured alum in attendance, while the Class of 2010 showed their pride by drawing the largest attendance number of the night. Other “Original Stanners” from St. Ann’s in attendance included James McHugh ’55, Alex Slonicki ’55, and William Albergo ’60. After a lot of hard work and determination to track down all of their classmates, the Class of 1965 celebrated their golden 50th anniversary. Glenn Gray, Rich Calo, John DiSpaltro, and Vincent Marzullo (pictured) are to be commended for their tireless efforts as 65’s reunion committee to spread the word and draw an impressive turnout. Meanwhile, the Class of 1990 celebrated their silver 25th anniversary with a great turnout of their own. What all classes shared, however, was a level of enthusiasm and excitement that we will not soon forget.
“This year’s reunion
was phenomenal,” said Matt Rizzotti ’04, Alumni Development Officer and lead organizer of the event. “I spoke to a lot of people who were just happy to be back, and that’s what it’s all about. It was very rewarding to be able to put this all together for our alumni, and it is motivation to keep working to provide quality, memorable events.” (Pictured: Class of 1990)
“I was astounded by the enthusiasm shown by our alumni at the reunion,” said President Richard Karsten ’81. “The stories that were told, the laughs that were shared, they all reinforced the family atmosphere that we always talk about here at Molloy. It doesn’t matter if you saw one of your classmates yesterday or for the first time in 50 years, the memories and the bonds are still strong. We’re all fortunate to enjoy a relationship like that with our high school. It was a pleasure hosting this year’s reunion and I am already looking forward to next year’s event.” The 2016 Stanner Alumni Reunion will invite class years ending in 1 and 6 to celebrate at Molloy. The tentative date is currently Saturday, November 5th, 2016, so be sure to save the date! (Pictured: President Richard Karsten ’81 with GCHSAA Hall of Famer Jessica McEntee ’05)
Special thanks to everyone who made this reunion such a huge success. Thank you to our alumni, to all spouses and guests, Fr. John Serio ’71 for celebrating the Mass of Remembrance, and FLIK Food Services for their hard work. Thank you to Mr. Mike Germano ’93, Ms. MaryAnn Safrey, and Mr. Jim Sheehan ’75 for preparing Mass. Thank you to our chorus, bagpipers, and student volunteers. Thank you to our facilities staff for their efforts to set up and break down each room and detail and thank you to Molloy’s administration, faculty and staff for spending time with our alumni. (Pictured: Amanda Ruecker ’05 and classmates point out their senior yearbook portaits, which were hung for each class throughout the Jack Curran Gym)
Don’t be a stranger! Stay in touch with Molloy by reading The Beehive every two weeks, by following us on Facebook and Twitter, and by contacting us at alumni@molloyhs.org any time with an idea, question, or need. The Stanner Alumni Center is always here to serve you, our alumni community.
View full Stanner Alumni Reunion Photo Gallery
Alumni Race Results
The results are in from the alumni race that was held alongside the Varsity City Championships at Van Cortlandt Park on November 14th! Our Stanner alumni placed third overall in the race, tallying 27 points in 42:32. Molloy’s top time was recorded by Tom Dreyer ‘12, who finished seventh overall out of 102 runners with a time of 13:57.01. Walter Rodriguez ‘12 was Molloy’s next highest finisher at ninth with a time of 14.11.56. Tyler Bay ‘11 rounded out Molloy’s top three finishers at eleventh overall with a time of 14.22.53. Molloy, its coaching staff, and the Stanner Alumni Center offer congratulations to all of our participating runners, and we encourage more alumni to consider being a part of the race next year to help bring the title back home. A full list of results can be found HERE. You might just find coaches Frank Gambino ’74 and Joe Dombrowski on the list!
Joe Russo ’62 Inducted into NYS Baseball HoF
Joe Russo ’62 is among a group of elite baseball players, coaches, and broadcasters that have been honored with induction into the prestigious New York State Baseball Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2015. Ken Singleton, John Flaherty, Frank Viola, Lee Mazzilli, and Dennis Leonard are just a few of the greats that joined Russo on induction day. Needless to say, Russo’s resumé is exceptional. He first gained notoriety as a player at Molloy and St. John’s University. He captained the Varsity baseball squad at St. John’s in 1963 as freshman while also an active member of the school’s basketball team. A gifted athlete, Russo later played in the NCAA Summer Leagues in Massachusetts in 1963 and 1965 and went on to represent the United States in the Global World Series in Hawaii in 1966.
Russo’s playing experience set him up perfectly to make the transition to coaching. He coached baseball and basketball at the high school and college levels while also teaching English and physical education courses. As head baseball coach at St. John’s University, Russo amassed an incredible all-time record of 1,011 wins and 443 losses across multiple sports between 1973 and 1996, earning him the title of winningest coach in the school’s history. His coaching credentials extend to the NCAA Summer Leagues for the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League and the Pan American Games in 1995, where he coached Team USA. He mentored many great players throughout his career, including major leaguers John Franco and the aforementioned Viola.
Beyond the field of play, Russo has been an advocate for disadvantaged kids through his volunteer efforts at various athletic workshops and camps. In 1975, Russo served as President of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, and in 1980 as the President of the National Association of Summer leagues. He later accepted the position of President of the Baseball Coaches Advisory Board in 1985 during the Big East Conference. Russo also achieved success as a pro liaison to Major League Baseball franchises, including his hometown Mets and Yankees. He is a member of several other Halls of Fame including the National Italian Hall of Fame, the Christ the King High School Hall of Fame, the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and the Stanner Hall of Fame. Archbishop Molloy High School extends congratulations to Coach Russo on adding an induction into the NYS Baseball Hall of Fame to his unique and inspiring body of work. Click here for a full list of inductees.
Around the School
Molloy’s Dual Drive for Coats and Food a Huge Success
The Stanner community did their part to keep the less fortunate warm and fed this Thanksgiving. Students, faculty, family members and alumni worked together to donate 313 coats for individuals in need and enough food to help two different pantries. Molloy also raised $2,400 during the dual drive for a mission collection. Thanks to everyone who made a donation, to our senior Spirit Leaders for collecting and sorting items, and to Mr. Bill Niklaus ‘80, Mr. Mike Germano, Ms. Liz Murdocca, Mr. Richard Karsten ‘81, and Mr. Darius Penikas for their support of the dual drive. This is what the Marist spirit is all about!
Stanner Players Captivate Audiences with “Alice in Wonderland”
The Stanner Players provided the audiences with a very memorable weekend, as their four performances of Alice in Wonderland proved to be truly enchanting. Adapted for the stage by Eva Le Gallienne and Florida Freibus, Alice takes place in “a whimsical, complex world.” Director Shannon Winters ’06 spoke on the adaptation. “This version does omit some of the original story, but also includes scenes from Lewis Carroll’s sequel, Alice Through the Looking Glass. We get to see some better known characters, but also enjoy some new ones. The students exceeded my expectations with a visually and verbally challenging interpretation.” Ms. Winters also took time to thank the families that provided meals for the late working Players during rehearsals, and to the Parents of the Players (PoPs) for “their patience, understanding, and support – and enabling your children to put on this show!”
Katie Van Riper ’17, in her second Stanner Players production and third year in the Theatre Arts and Improv club, portrayed Alice. In addition Katie has experience acting outside Molloy, performing with St. Gregory’s Theatre Group and the Broadhollow Theatre Company since the age of ten. Paul Tibo ’18, on the other hand, had never participated in Theater Arts and Improv or acting until earlier this school year. He joined the club and realized how much fun it was. After auditioning for Alice, he landed the role of the March Hare. Megan McLoughlin ’16, a senior, has been a member of the Stanner Players since freshman year. She has appeared in nearly every show during that time including Peter Pan, You Can’t Take It With You, The Matchmaker, and Seussical the Musical. In the show’s program, she thanked all of her co-stars for making her last year at Molloy “a spectacular one.” These are just a few of the many talented stars of the show. We’ve included a PDF of portions of the booklet so you can read up on all of our scene-stealing Stanner Players. Of course, the show could not go on without the crew behind the scenes. From lighting and set design (more on this in Class Updates below), costumes and ushers, stage managers and make up, to the running crew and the prop crew, there are so many people that made Alice possible. Their names are also included in the attached PDF. Thanks to all who worked so hard, and to all who supported The Stanner Players by attending one of the four performances. Look out for their spring musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, in April, and don’t forget to follow The Stanner Players on Twitter at @stannerplayers. (Photos by Laura Sawyer ’07)
Upcoming Events
Br. Ron Marcellin Scholarship Dinner – Save the Date!
- When: Sunday, January 17th, 2016 | 8:00pm
- Where: Trinity Restaurant & Bar in Floral Park
- Contact: jsommo@molloyhs.org
- Admission: $40 Donation
- REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED
Archbishop Molloy High School is pleased to announce the Br. Ron Marcellin Scholarship Dinner to be held on Sunday, January 17th, 2016. This dinner, which is hosted by our friends at community favorite Trinity Bar & Restaurant in Floral Park, pays tribute to the memory of Br. Ron Marcellin, one of the most caring and influential figures in Molloy’s history. Br. Ron’s faith, passion for education and music, and care of each individual student inspired all who knew him. In fact, those who knew him continue to be inspired by him. The Brother Ronald Marcellin committee have hosted this event annually in hopes of raising money to help future Stanners in Br. Ron’s name. Funds raised by this event will directly benefit students in need, giving them the opportunities they need to succeed as the leaders of tomorrow. A 50/50 raffle, and live auction will be among the festivities while dinner, beverages, and great company are also part of the evening. 50/50 raffle tickets will be available for purchase during the event only. Please save the date and tell a friend! We hope to have another full house on January 17th as we celebrate Br. Ron and introduce a whole new generation of Stanners to his wonderful legacy.
Alum Finds Success and Growth in Scenic Art
Elizabeth Langer ’11 is a freelance scenic artist and set designer. She is a graduate of Macaulay Honors Program at Queens College with a double major in Fine Art and Psychology. “I kind of fell into scene painting and set design through a roommate and an independent study course, but I love it,” said Liz. “It was an easy transition because I’m a landscape painter – I just had to scale up. Since the switch I’ve improved my best skills and learned some new techniques too.” Liz can now claim to have designed and built theater sets for both of her alma maters – Queens College and Molloy. She worked on several shows at QC including The Liar and Three Penny Opera, and most recently worked on Molloy’s production of Alice in Wonderland. “I caught wind of the opportunity here at Molloy through my high school art teacher Ms. Burke. She connected me with Shannon Winters, the Director of The Stanner Players. Shannon liked my portfolio and offered me the set designer job for Alice. It was the first time I got to design and paint an entire show as the lead designer.” Liz enjoyed her time working on Alice, noting she was very happy with the overall results. “It was different from other shows I’ve worked on, but while doing the work I was able to help the students learn a bit about the process too. It was a lot of fun. I even got some of my old classmates and my family to come see the show.”
Liz’s next step will be seeking a paid fellowship where she can further master her craft and make connections. “I’d love to be able to work in and live near a theater. On a grander scale I want to get into the United Scenic Artists Union by 2017, and way down the road I will try to work toward a Master’s in set design. It’s a tight knit community, but I want to set myself up for long-term success.” In the meantime, Liz is currently interning in a scenic shop in New Jersey. One other note: while visiting the Stanner Alumni Center Liz noticed and commented on a painting by Br. Jogues, a former art teacher and track coach at Molloy and St. Ann’s. “Br. Jogues would spend time with some of the art students after school when I was here. He’s very talented. I loved working with him.” You can learn more about Liz and view her portfolio at www.elizabethlanger.wix.com/portfolio.
Class Updates
Laura Mansour ’08 was recently highlighted by her employer, Con Edison, as Employee of the Month. In a press release, Laura, a Chief Construction Inspector, is highlighted for outstanding service to customers and local communities. Currently Laura is part of a team that is replacing 10 miles of gas transmission pipeline in the Bronx/Westchester. It is a tough project that requires patience from residents in the affected neighborhoods. The press release states that on a daily basis Laura voluntarily talks with customers from these communities and explains the ins and outs of the need for the construction. In Laura’s words, “They should know why this project is important. An elderly woman approached me making her way to the bus. I escorted her and gave her a rundown on the project. If we can explain why we’re there, customers appreciate us more.” Con Ed Director of Public Affairs in Westchester Jane Solnick called Laura “a wonderful spokesperson and ambassador for us on this project.” Congratulations, Laura! (Photo courtesy of Laura Mansour ’08)
Baritone singer Kenneth Powis ’84 is set to perform in Music at the Gate: Unto Us A Child is Born. Those in attendance will enjoy music for the Advent and Christmas season including “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah accompanied by orchestra and organ. The show will take place this Saturday, November 28th at 7:00pm at St. Mary Gate of Heaven Church (103rd St & 101st Ave) in Ozone Park, Queens. Admission is free and all are welcome.
It is with sadness we report the passing of Edward Nolan ’49. A resident of Woodside, Queens, Edward was an all-city basketball player for St. Ann’s Academy. Please keep Mr. Nolan in your prayers.
We are saddened to share the passing of Marie Oliva, mother of John Oliva ’79. Please keep Marie and the Oliva family in your prayers.