BTL56 HC Loses Mr. Tim Eigo Apr 19

Faculty Great

Mr. Tim Eigo

Has Passed Away

In a year that has seen thousands of former and current Hawk students say goodbye to faculty members who meant so much to them in their developmental years, yet another beloved former faculty member, and Hudson Catholic Hall of Famer, Mr. Timothy Eigo, passed away on March 29that age 70. Tim was a 32-year History / Current Events / Psychology / Social Studies teacher at McGinley Square, starting in 1984. That and a genuine interest in his students, and an engaging and infectious personality, earned him election to the Hudson Catholic Hall of Fame in 2015. Mr. Eigo retired from Hudson Catholic the following year.

Tim was an exceptional teacher who challenged his students’ perspectives and showed them what was possible through learning, critical thinking, and a healthy sense of skepticism towards authority. His sense of humor and penchant for storytelling gave him the unique ability to connect with and inspire his students. He would often joke that “teaching is not a calling, but an affliction.” He was well known for his self-branded invitation to his classroom: “You go, I go, we all go to Eigo.

“Tim was a Hudson Catholic fixture and a true character in every sense of the word. He was worldly, gregarious, and loved to share, code for ‘Boy, could he talk!’ Students and staff loved him and he positively impacted countless lives. For those of us who knew him, we were certainly lucky. For those of you who didn’t, you missed out on a treat.” - President-Principal Terry Matthews, in remembering his cherished colleague.

Former students joined in the tributes. Justin Cetro ‘02 wrote to say: “One of my favorite teachers, but also the best person I have ever met. Mr. Tm Eigo, you will be truly missed.”

Dominick Chiego ‘87 added: “Best teacher I ever had. A straight shooter, a mentor, always good for a quick pep talk or a tough love reality check. So many of his lessons, not just the subjects he taught, but life’s lessons. The lessons you carry for life. They are still with me. What a great man, true to his calling. I never have nor ever will forget Mr. Eigo. RIP, you made a difference in my world.”

He was nearly as devoted to Hudson Catholic as he was to his wife Anna and daughter Gillian. They plan a celebration of Tim’s life later this year and ask that any friends who wish to honor Tim’s memory make a contribution to the Joel Ramos Memorial Scholarship Fund by sending checks c/o Brian Slattery, Hudson Catholic Regional High School, 790 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306, or to The Parkinson’s Foundation (Parkinson.org).

Success!!

Hudson Catholic Giving Day

Delivers $28,632

We Made It! We set, hit, and exceeded our goal of $12,500 for our first Hudson Catholic Giving Day de-coupled from the International Giving Day that annually follows soon after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Our total of $13,866 was our highest total ever raised on Giving Day, and it more than doubled the amount raised on our last Giving Day in December 2020.

Our result was undoubtedly helped along by the incentive of a Challenge Gift offered by an anonymous donor in the alumni ranks. After receipt of checks written and mailed to us for our Giving Day appeal, our total receipts were $14,316 which, when matched, brought our result to $28,632.

From all at Hudson Catholic -- our students, staff, faculty, and administration -- we send our sincere gratitude for the generosity of our alumni and friends who support Hudson Catholic at every turn and in so many ways.

THANK YOU!!

Mr. Tom Cash

A Friend of Hudson Catholic

Retired Executive VP, American Express

Co-founding member of the Student/Partner Alliance

For a Gift of $25,000!

It's Baseball Opening Day!

Which means we will find Jack Curry '82, a YES Network Game Analyst at Yankee Stadium, above, right -- in this case on the field, pre-game, with his broadcast colleagues, Bob Lorenz, L., And John Flaherty, C., himself a Bergen Catholic grad.

Prop Up our School Musical

Mrs. Barbi’s School of Rock production hits the Hudson Catholic stage on May 6th and 7th, tickets on sale after the Easter Break, April 25^th. A link will be provided at that time to accommodate online ticket sales.

The production is in need of a cello for use as a stage prop. We have many musical Hawks. Perhaps you have one lying around from your days in that garage band? If so, get in touch with Assistant Principal Sarah Degnan-Barbi at [email protected].

The following is printed with permission of Thomas F.X. Bender Jr. ’69. It is his address to the 2003 Junior Ring Ceremony at St. Aedan's, emphasizing the importance of giving back.

Once ‘Diamonds in the Rough’

Hawks Must Answer the Call

When it Comes

“When Mr. Gallagher called and invited me to speak tonight he said that my talk should be “ something inspirational about the Hudson Catholic experience and its relevance to life” and about five minutes in duration. I responded with: 'You want me to be inspirational and talk for five minutes on a subject that I have been trying to communicate to my son Tom for the past three years!

So that night I was rummaging about the house, looking in closets, drawers and boxes. I was quite frankly starting to annoy my wife, who finally asked, 'what is it that you are looking for'? I told her I was looking for inspiration, to which she replied, 'I doubt you will find it looking in any of those places'.

I finally found what I was looking for and I placed it on my night table. For the last two weeks I have looked at it each night hoping it would help me find the words that I may use to inspire you tonight.

Then one night something clicked and I was reminded of a young man, a member of the Class of '69. I asked him if I could share this story and he gave his permission. I hope you will find this story about him to be inspirational.

It concerns an event in his life that occurred during his freshman year. He came to Hudson Catholic at the age of 14 filled with youthful enthusiasm. From the first day he stepped into the building he loved it. He wanted to participate in as many activities as he possibly could. He was a member of the student council and he played football and basketball.

One day an announcement was made that baseball tryouts would take place in two days and that interested candidates should report to Lincoln Park with caps, gloves and spikes. That day at home, he took out his cap and oiled his glove. While cleaning his spikes, he thought he should try them on. As it happened, his feet had grown measurably during the past year and his spikes no longer fit. He planned to ask his parents for nine dollars to buy new spikes.

That evening, he overheard them discussing finances. Their conversation hit him like a thunderbolt. For the first time in his young life, he realized the personal sacrifices his parents were making. In addition to his tuition, his parents were paying for his older sister and brother to attend college, and supporting an uncle who lived with them. He knew they would give him the money if asked, but something inside of him made him refrain from doing so.

Two days later when baseball tryouts started, much to the surprise of his parents, friends and even the coaches, he did not show up for tryouts. When people asked him why, they soon saw that he was uncomfortable with the subject so they let it drop. It was soon forgotten.

Over 30 years would pass before he saw his first Hudson Catholic baseball game or shared his story with anyone. In retrospect, he would tell you that his disappointment was the best thing that ever happened to him. It made him realize the primary reason he attended Hudson Catholic. He was here to get a good education and that extra-curricular activities were just that -- EXTRA.

This disappointment also instilled in him a burning desire to succeed in life so that he could better serve his family, friends, community and Hudson Catholic. It inspired him to develop a work ethic that can best be described as feverish.

He would also tell you that when you do a job, do it right and see it through. When you work hard, good things happen. He would encourage you to separate the important from the unimportant, to set goals for yourself, work to attain them, and remember those who helped and guided you along the way.

I know he credits his Hudson Catholic experience for providing him with some of the tools necessary to succeed in life. He tries to give back to Hudson Catholic whenever he is asked in whatever way he is asked.

Many years ago, Brother Albert Lautenslager, referred to students as diamonds. When asked why, he said that when students first come to Hudson Catholic they are like newly mined diamonds. They come in varying sizes, shapes and colors. They are not very impressive-looking at first glance. He went on to say that while they were here, they would be cut, faceted and shaped. Then they would be polished and shined and then finally when ready, they would be placed in a proper setting. When they left Hudson Catholic, they would be so much more valuable than when they first arrived.

As I look out upon you, I can see that you are starting to shine. You are more defined and polished than when you first arrived here. Each day you grow more valuable to yourselves, your families and Hudson Catholic. Your value to Hudson Catholic will not end when you leave here. In years to come you will be asked to give back to Hudson Catholic so that future students can continue to be refined. When that call comes, do not fail to answer it.

As we were leaving the house this evening to come here, my wife stopped me and asked if I was forgetting something. I asked what and she said, ‘your inspiration’. Then she handed me the object that was on my night table these past two weeks, my Hudson Catholic school ring.

I could not be more proud than to put this ring on again tonight after so many years, on the night that my son and his classmates and teammates will wear theirs for the first time. I hope that these rings will always be a source of inspiration for you. Wear them proudly.

Years from now, after you may have taken them off, you will occasion upon them, and I hope they will evoke fond memories of your Hudson Catholic experience and that that experience will have served you well during your journey through life. May God bless you and your future endeavors, may God bless your families and may God bless Hudson Catholic.

Every day you utter a few lines at the conclusion of your prayers. Lines that are unique to the Hudson Catholic and Christian Brother experience. I hope you grasp their relevance and are inspired by them.

St. John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us. Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!”

In Remembrance of a Great '78 Hawk

& Support of Hudson Catholic Scholarship

Life Savers, anyone?

Our Medical Arts II students recently received their skills evaluation and took their AHA BLS Test to be CPR-certified.

Does Anyone Recall Jersey Journal Feature

'The High School Set'?

Back in the day, Hudson Catholic had a club named after a feature that ran regularly in the Jersey Journal, called The High School Set. Each high school in the county could submit a column for publication on a set schedule, and they were printed to share with the community readership what was going on at our local high schools.

The accompanying 50 year-old photo is of one such column that indeed found its way into print in our hometown newspaper, sometime near the approach of 1972 graduation.

Among the things we told the community …….. it was Arts Week. Dress code was relaxed in the last marking period - no jacket and tie required. Faculty member Don Ruby was notarizing seniors’ college papers - for free.

The Comparative Government class held a Mock Trial that came to be know as the “OH Henry Murder Trial” because Henry Dabrowski played the part of defendant, Mike Londrigan his counsel, and David Beni the prosecutor.

Members of the Hare Krishna movement offered an interesting presentation to students, who were made aware of the philosophy of the East and its effects on our own society.

Some of the printed mysteries or questions may or may not have yet been solved or answered, so we will ask them again.

"What do cookies and milk mean to John Manley? Ask him."

“Stop and see Bill Narkiewicz working at the movie theatre on 440. He has a surprise for you”

"What is a tally wacker? Ask Mike Thompson."

"Who started the Chess revolution in the cafeteria? Was it (History teacher) John Ferro?" Editor’s note: the lead-up to the Bobby Fisher vs. Boris Spassky World Chess Championship Match may have been at the root, as it would be held in Reykjavik, Iceland in July, and was captivating people n the everyday because it was American vs. Russian during the Cold War.

There you have it, the riveting topics of the day and matters that mattered to our students fifty years ago, in May 1972.

Alumni Spotlight

From Havana to Hollywood. Vic Cabrera ’73 is a career TV producer/director and independent writer living in Burbank, CA. Vic credits late, beloved faculty member Dominick Garvey for channeling his interests in TV and writing in the proper direction. Mr. Garvey accompanied Vic to NYU in his senior year, to make introductions and secure Vic a spot in the incoming class, where he earned a degree in Film and Television. His goal: to work on and direct sit-coms.

Soon after, a career in television took him to an ABC affiliate in Reno, NV, running audio for the local news, then to directing, and then to production. A San Jose, CA operations manager role at a new TV station became the next stop, followed by Los Angeles, where he settled at NBC for 20 years. He started with scheduling, then associate director, running commercials, so if Vic tells you he will call you at 8:30, you will receive his call precisely at 8:30! He became Director of the local newscasts for KNBC Ch4 and for the early morning shows.

Following his NBC career, Vic chose to freelance his services and went to work for the Cable Music Channel and Apple Events, among others. He has taught television production at California State University at Northridge.

All along his directing career, Vic invested time in his writing, be it one act plays or novels. His four books will be separately featured in a future issue of ‘BTL’. Remember that goal of directing sit-coms? Well, the road he traveled went in a different direction, but his love of comedy is thoroughly vested in his published work.

He has been; president of the board of First Stage LA, co-founder and president of the Alameda Writers Group, and is a long-time member of the New Playwrights Foundation.

Vic was born in Havana, Cuba, his family emigrating in 1961; he was 7. English is his second language. He has fond memories at Hudson Catholic, where he played the trumpet in the school’s first band that performed at Pep Rallies and at football and basketball games. Legendary band organizer Charlie Budd installed Vic as the Band Leader, and the first song the band mastered -- ‘The St. Louie Blues’ -- became their theme song, demanded by the student body whenever and wherever the band showed up.

Vic and his wife Peg have two adult daughters, Carly and Allison. For more on Vic, visit cabreraproductions.com

The Raconteur & the Quipster. Brian Altano ’74 and his son, perform a storytelling and comedy show, Just a Jersey Guy (and Son), seen around the country and the world. As the title suggests, Brian is joined on stage by his son, nationally touring standup comedian. Dan Altano. Having taken their act on the road to Austin, Chicago, Miami, and San Francisco, and internationally to the UK, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Mexico and Venezuela, the Altanos will be performing at the Ciccone Theatre on the Bergen Community College campus in Paramus, NJ on Saturday, May 14 at 7:30pm.

Brian and Dan will be telling their original stories, featuring Brian’s darkly comedic 7 Reasons I’m Going to Hell, the experiences of colorful Jersey characters (names changed to protect the ‘innocent’), and Dan’s Grow Up, which covers the stumbles and triumphs of adulthood while trying to maintain a sense of humor.

No word yet on when the tour will be coming to the Hudson Catholic stage but, apparently, 'The Raconteur of the Garden State' (now there's a word that Joe Bonner would enjoy hearing form one of his charges!) has his eyes set on a gig at Hudson Catholic as the pinnacle of his performing career! But as we often say at Hudson Catholic, "our standards are tougher," so Brian and Dan will be honing their craft in Paramus before seeking to storm the stage at the Hawks' Nest!