Freshman Camp 2012

As has been a tradition at Archbishop Molloy High School for nearly 40 years, incoming freshman students filled every reservation as they came together at the Marist Brothers’ Center at Esopus for the school’s annual Freshman Camp. Part of what makes Molloy a special school is the family atmosphere that the Marist Brothers and Stanners established many years ago. This atmosphere is continued and reinforced in present day through programs such as Freshman Camp, which allow students to become friends with one another during a fun-filled, spiritual week in July – a relaxing time well before students begin their challenging academic schedule. Mr. Jim Sheldon ’88, one of the main organizers of Freshman Camp, believes it is a very special tradition. “Freshman Camp is important because present students are able to help the new ones before they ever enter the building,” says Mr. Sheldon. “It demonstrates service to others, which is one of the biggest aspects of Marist Charism. The positive actions of the upperclassmen serve as a good example for the incoming students to follow.” Students are also able to meet some of the Marist Brothers as well as many of the teachers that will guide them through the next 4 years.

Alumni volunteers are plentiful as well, providing help for freshman students at the camp in addition to advice based on their own experiences as Stanners. “It is important for alumni to volunteer because it really shows what ‘Not for school but for life’ means,” explains Mr. Sheldon. “Once students graduate from Molloy, they never really stop getting involved at the school. It is never too early for our freshmen to see Stanner alumni volunteering.” It really is all about the incoming students, however, as the Freshman Camp program is tailored to be extremely fun! Students are able to gain a strong sense of community in addition to having a great time by participating in activities such as rafting and pool games, sports like basketball, volleyball or gym hockey, and other games like the always popular Flag. With the beautiful Esopus campus as the backdrop for all the fun and excitement, there may be no better way to spend a week in July! “I wish we could take every new student at Freshman Camp, but we just don’t have enough room,” says Mr. Sheldon. “However, I am confident those students that benefit from the experience will share that positivity about the school with their classmates in September.” We wish all members of the class of 2016 well as they embark on their journey as Stanners. You can view some more great photos from this year’s Freshman Camp below. All photos for this story are courtesy of Mr. Jim Sheldon.

Upcoming Events

Molloy Softball Alumni Reunion – Save the Date!

On Saturday, October 6th, Archbishop Molloy High School will host a special 10th Anniversary Reunion for its softball alumni. Whether you logged 4 years, 1 year or 1 month playing for Coach Lou Santos or Coach Maureen Rosenbaum, you are invited to attend this very special event. Coach Santos also extends an invitation to all parents of softball alumni, remarking, “They are our greatest fan base, and we would love to have them attend.” Festivities will get underway at 3:00pm with a softball game (weather permitting) featuring our attending alumni, followed by a family-style barbeque at 4:00pm. Beer and wine will be available at 5pm for attending parents and alumni ages 21+. A special softball alumni t-shirt will also be designed for attendees. Ten years ago Molloy’s first softball teams began making an impact on the standings of the CHSAA. Now, ten years later, they are still going strong, having won Diocesan, City and State Championships as recently as 2011. We hope you will join us on October 6th to show your pride for being not only a Molloy alum, but for being a Stanner softball player. More details regarding registration will be become available in the next issue of The Beehive, so keep reading!

Stanner Alumni Reunion – Class Years Ending in 2 and 7!

Register Online Now! In just over 2 months, Stanner Alumni will reunite once again at Archbishop Molloy High School on Saturday, November 3rd. Class years ending in 2 and 7 will come together for their reunion, including 1942, 1947, 1952, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002 and 2007. The evening program is as follows:

• 5:00pm – Mass of Remembrance (Ralph DeChiaro Theater)
• 6:00pm – 25th, 50th & 60th Anniversary Medal Presentations (Ralph DeChiaro Theater)
• 6:30 pm – Cocktails, Dinner & Dancing

Single admission to the reunion is $100 while a couple can register for $150. The class of 1962 will enjoy complimentary admission along with a guest in honor of their 50th anniversary. The class of 2007 will receive a special reduced rate of $50 for a single admission and $100 for a couple’s admission in honor of their 5th anniversary reunion. Click here and find your class year to register online, or call the Stanner Alumni Center at (718) 441-9210 for more info. Be sure to call us with any questions regarding hotel and other travel accommodations as well. If you would like to serve as a class officer and help in recruiting members of your class to attend the reunion, contact 718.441.9210.

by Frank Gambino ‘74

Register Online Now! In a little over one month, on October 7th, 2012, Archbishop Molloy High School will host its 25th Anniversary Andrew Harvey Memorial 5K Fun Run. In 1997 the race was renamed in memory of Andrew Harvey, a beloved Molloy student and track athlete. We are hoping for a record number of participants at this year’s milestone event so that we can not only come together as a community as we so often do, but so we can continue to keep Andrew’s memory alive in our hearts. One goal of ours is to have at least one alumnus from each of the last 25 years entered in this run – a true display of the dedication our Stanner Alumni have for their alma mater and for each other. We have a collection of shirts from previous races as well as a new shirt design for 2012, and we’d like to take a commemorative photo of 25 people wearing these shirts. We will also be taking a picture of all race participants to commemorate this event. So please mark October 7th on your calendars and help us make this year’s run a truly special day.

Class Updates

Andrew Tansey ’77 and other Molloy alums headed to Juniper Valley Park on July 17^th to see a “group of groovin’ musicians” perform on stage in front of the hometown crowd. The event was 60’s music at the park with “AFTER DARK”, a band featuring several Stanners including Kevin Dunn ’78 on Electric guitar, Gary Colter ’76 on bass, John Holland ’77 on drums, and Larry Vedilago ’76 on keys. Listening to the jams were Gary’s son Roy Colter ‘14 (a tennis player at Molloy), and Bud Bergleitner, Eugene D’Allessandro, Chris Delehanty, Tom Pappas and Bryan Pazaras, all from the class of 1977. You can watch a clip of the Stanner band performing HERE. While attending the concert, Tansey was reminded of another experience involving Dunn’s band at the opening of a New York Historical Society exhibit about legendary band The Grateful Dead. Band members Bob Weir and Phil Lesh shared a performance with an excited audience to celebrate the opening. The Stanner connection? Kevin Dunn’s band, Wigjam, accompanied the legendary musicians on stage. “When we were at Molloy, many of us dreamed of an occasion to sit in with a band like ‘the Dead’,” said Tansey. A video of Dunn’s band playing with the rock legends can be seen HERE. Kevin can be spotted in the video wearing the maroon red shirt.

Gerard ’81 and Kevin King ’82 recently celebrated their parents’ 50th wedding anniversary along with many other King family members at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston. Mr. and Mrs. King were married on August 25th, 1962 at Sacred Heart R.C. Church in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen, and the two are still going strong in 2012. Gerard and Kevin are very proud of mom and dad and wish them all the best as they look toward their next great anniversary milestone.

Paul Alioto ‘82 (pictured left) sent us the news that he “finally” tied the knot with Nicole (Catapano) Alioto.  The Doctors Alioto were married July 7th on Chapel Island, which sits on Upper Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks. Paul is the school superintendent in Dansville, New York in the Finger Lakes Region.  He sends a big hello to the Rosedale gang and his buddies from the lesser parts of Queens. Paul is also looking forward to attending his 30th anniversary reunion on November 3rd. Congratulations to the newlyweds!

We are delighted to announce the marriage of Marisa Raimondi-Smith ’07 and Michael Smith (pictured right). The couple was married on July 28th in Kent, Ohio while Michael was home from his deployment to Afghanistan. Marisa’s brother, Marc Raimondi ’02 (far right), was Michael’s best man. Marisa and Michael will be living in the Nashville, Tennessee area once Michael returns home. Marisa is a 2011 graduate of Adelphi University with a Bachelor’s in Social Work while Michael is in the security forces with the US Navy. Congratulations to the happy couple!

Event Honoring Late Stanner

In January 2011, the Stanner community lost a wonderful individual in Donald Sweeney, class of 1990. Donald was a kind, giving person who loved nothing more than to help others. On Monday, September 10th, 2012 the Sweeney family will host the 2nd Annual Don Sweeney Memorial Golf Outing at Forest Hills Golf Course to honor Donald’s spirit and all that he stood for. All proceeds from this event will be donated to the Molloy fund in Donald’s name as well as in the continued support of the recovery of Justin Thompson ’13. Earlier this year, we asked the Stanner community to come to Justin’s aid. A junior and star soccer player at Molloy, Justin was the victim of a terrible crime, suffering a severe injury that left him paralyzed and unable to walk. Our community stepped up in a big way, helping to raise over $70,000 for Justin’s rehabilitation through the Donald Sweeney ’90 Guidance Department Fund here at Molloy. This fund enables assistance to students in extraordinary circumstances, just like Justin. In updating his recovery efforts, Justin is continuing his treatments at the Kessler Institute – an outstanding center for spinal cord injury rehabilitation and research. Justin is doing very well and is speaks positively about his recovery.  If you are interested in attending the Don Sweeney Memorial Golf Outing, please click on the attached event flyer.

We received news from Tom Finner ’61 that his lifelong friend and classmate Bob Schumm ’61 passed away on August 11th after a prolonged illness. According to the family, anyone wishing to send a mass card may mail it to Mrs. Alice Schumm at 72 Saratoga Ct., Somerset, NJ 08873-7416. Please pray for Bob and his family.

We are saddened to share news of the passing of Joseph V. Caraccia Sr., father of Stephen ’81 and Joseph ’76 and father-in-law to John C. Ptakowski ’74. Stephen asks that the Stanner Community pray for his father Joseph as well as their entire family during this extremely difficult time.