March 30th

Gala/Hall of Fame

Sponsored by Fidelity Investments

Now Open for Reservations

Tickets, Tables, Sponsorships, Testimonials

at hudsoncatholic.org/galahf

Messages ABOUT & From The Prez

Our own fearless Principal-President, Mr. Terence Matthews, he a 38-year veteran Hawk faculty member and administrator, has been bestowed with a great honor as part of this year's Jersey City St. Patrick's Day celebration, named as the '2023 Irish Educator'!. And while he is Irish through and through, he is far too humble, as he is also Catholic, to toot his own horn. We simply had to stumble on this on our own to find out that he is bringing honor to himself and Hudson Catholic. Please favor him with your support and come on out on March 10th and/or 12th to celebrate Terry's recognition for the lifelong and career-long work he has performed for the betterment of our school and the thousands of students who have passed his way through the halls of Hudson Catholic and on into life.

From the Man: Last week was National Catholic Schools Week and it was a resounding success here at the Hawks’ Nest.  The spirit of our student-body is infectious as they participated in various dress down days and activities, including writing letters to veterans and sending colored pictures to patients in a children’s hospital.   We ended the week by showing the movie TILL to mark the start of Black History Month.  Once again, the maturity, empathy and insights of our students were truly amazing.  We shared opinions, stories and personal experiences in a safe, open environment.  The emotional connections between our students and staff are real, healthy and built on a foundation of mutual respect and acceptance.  There are many times where the students become the teachers, and this was one of them.  The Lasallian ideals surrounding service and respect are alive and well at Hudson Catholic.

Bringing the Hall of Fame to You

Inductees 0f 2009

Brother Ray Murphy, Jim Spanarkel,

Brian Neary, Bill Keegan, Gary Ferrari

In the lead-up to the induction of new Hall of Famers on March 30^th, we will bring you the profiles of those who are installed in the Hall of Fame on display in the main lobby of the school.

For those of you not able to visit in person, this will give you an opportunity to dwell on the many significant contributions of our Hall of Famers to Hudson Catholic, their communities, and professions.

While the Hudson Catholic Hall of Fame is a visual centerpiece in the school lobby, we realize that not everyone can visit the school to see it. Consequently, we are in the process of digitizing the Hall and presenting it on hudsoncatholic.org/hof for all to see ‘the best of Hudson Catholic’ on display.

Brother Ray Murphy, FSC

Longest-serving Christian Brother in Hudson Catholic history * Born in Philadelphia, attended West Catholic, and joined the Christian Brothers Juniorate (high school program) in 1955, receiving the Brothers habit in 1957 * Received his B.A. at LaSalle University in 1961, M.A. in History from Georgetown University, and M.A. in Theology from Villanova University in 1983 * Assigned to St. John’s College High School in Washington, DC from 1962 to 1975, serving as Assistant Principal in the last three years * Arrived at Hudson Catholic in 1975 and served for 34 years to present, with the exception of a 1984-1986 interruption spent at Archbishop Carroll High School in Radnor, PA * At Hudson Catholic, served as Mothers Guild Moderator, Football Moderator, Director of the Brothers Community from 1990 to 2001, Guidance Counselor, and for many years, the Chair of the Religion Department * Frequently led student groups on field trips to New York City -- the first exposure to the City for many -- to the Cloisters, the Met, the Opera, the Brooklyn Bridge, and George Washington Bridge * Students of the 90s will recall his love of Jeopardy and how he worked questions from the evening show into his next day’s lessons, broadening his students’ knowledge beyond the subject matter of the day * Celebrated 50 years as a Brother in 2007, a majority of those in service to Hudson Catholic, for which we owe a large debt of gratitude.

Jim Spanarkel '75

All American and Professional Basketball Star, and TV Analyst * All County and All State Basketball and Baseball star at Hudson Catholic * Also a member of the Hudson Catholic Wall of Honor and Hudson County Sports Hall of Fame * Starred for the 1972-73 Basketball Team (North Jersey Parochial A Champion) * Captained the 1974 Baseball Team that won the Hudson County South Division championship * Co-captained the 1974-75 Basketball Team to the Hudson County Championship, defeating St. Anthony’s * Returned Duke University to basketball prominence, as Team MVP in 1977, 1978, and 1979 * Led Duke to the National Championship Game in 1978 * Earned All American Honors in 1979, Academic All American Honors in 1978 and 1979 * Finished as Duke’s first 2,000 point scorer * Selected as an All ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament Legend in 2009 * 1st round pick of the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1979 NBA Draft * Played one season for the 76ers, four seasons for the Dallas Mavericks, its leading scorer in 1980-81  * Earned a Certified Investment Management Analyst designation from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School * Is a Certified Investment Management Consultant and a Certified Financial Planner at Merrill Lynch * Parlayed his playing experience into becoming a Basketball Analyst for the New Jersey Nets, CBS College Basketball, and NBA TV * Active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals * Played a volunteer leadership role in 2008’s Save Our School campaign

Brian Neary '69

‘Neary for the Defense’ * An accomplished criminal trial lawyer in New Jersey, a legal educator, a bar association president, and a media commentator * A member of the Class of 1969, 3^rd in his class, member of the National Honor Society, two varsity letters in basketball, VP in student government, and on staff of student newspaper * The Archdiocese of Newark Council of Catholic Men bestowed him with Hudson Catholic’s High School Senior Award * Earned an academic scholarship to Notre Dame, graduating with honors, with a degree in Sociology * Elected Phi Beta Kappa * In 1976, earned a Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law; admitted to the New Jersey Bar * A Certified Criminal Trial Attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey and the National Board of Trial Advocacy * Member of New Jersey, New York & Massachusetts Bars * Former Prosecutor in Hudson and Bergen Counties * Practices criminal defense in municipal, superior, appellate and federal courts * Named to Best Lawyers in America for the past 25 years in both white collar and non-white collar defense * Chosen by his peers as one of the top 100 Super Lawyers in New Jersey for the past 12 year * A Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, the American Bar Foundation, and the American College of Trial Lawyers * Past President of the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey and the Hudson County Bar Association * Adjunct Professor of Law at Rutgers School of Law for 10 years * Teaches at Notre Dame Law School in its Intensive Trial Advocacy Program * Lectures lawyers and judges for the New Jersey Bar Association’s Institute for Continuing Legal Education * Serves as the Chair of the Hudson Catholic Board of Consultors * Past President of the Hudson Catholic Alumni Association * 2012 Recipient of the Signum Fidei Award.

Bill Keegan '73

A man of heroic deeds and service to others * A highly decorated Lieutenant in the Special Operations Division (S.O.D.) of the Port Authority Police Department * Port Authority Police, Night Commander of the WTC 9/11 Rescue/ Recovery Team * Awarded the highest medal for the W.T.C. 9/11 assault; the Medal of Valor for his rescue of school children trapped in a stalled elevator during the 1993 W.T.C. bombing; the Hanratty Medal of Honor, and over fifty police duty medals * A member of the N.Y.P.D. and New Jersey Honor Legions * Featured in a Parade Magazine cover story on leadership at Ground Zero *Co-authored with Bart Davis the book Closure: the Untold Story of Ground Zero, published by Simon and Schuster * Founded H.E.A.R.T. 9/11, a volunteer team of search and rescue professionals, as another avenue for the W.T.C. recovery workers to heal and pay forward the assistance NYC received during the 9/11 rescue/recovery mission * Continues helping workers who suffered injury or trauma during the rescue and recovery operations by maintaining relationships with health organizations such as St. Vincent Medical Centers and Mt. Sinai Hospital * Has lectured at Georgetown, Rutgers, and Stony Brook Universities * Developed a stress management program with the Benson Henry Institute of the Harvard School of Medicine SMART Program for First Responders * Awarded the Meritorious Service Award for training of the Newtown Police Department following the Sandy Hook school shooting. 

Gary Ferrari '73

A LaSallian man for others * Decades of service to alma mater * Signum Fidei Award Recipient 1996 * Prolific fundraiser to advance the mission * Led Save Our School fundraising in 2008: $508,000 in 3 weeks / $1.5 million in pledges to sustain operations over three years * Appointed to newly formed Board of Consultors, served 2009-2011 * Co-founder, Hudson Catholic Alumni Association, 1982 * Twice Elected President, Alumni Association, 1993-1997 * Founder, Alumni Phonathon 1983 / Alumni Golf Outing 1994 / Alumni Leadership Program, 1994 * Sponsor of the Kathleen V. Ferris ALP Award since 1994 * Inducted into the Hudson Catholic Hall of Fame, 2009 * Chief Advancement Officer 2020-present.

Looking Ahead.......

Feast Day of St. John Baptist de La Salle &

Save The Date

The Jack Campion Stage Naming Tribute

All That Jazz…



Live theater is back and thriving on the stage at Hudson Catholic. As we prepare to honor legendary director Jack Campion this spring, rehearsals are already underway for the May 2023 production of CHICAGO.  In the coming weeks, we will spotlight some of the talented young actors and actresses who will take the spotlight from May 18 to 21 to perform. Our cast comprises 30+ students, and we had so much talent that four of our roles have been double cast. Today, we’ll highlight the four young women who play Roxie Hart or Velma Kelly, each of whom perform twice.

 Meet the Leading Ladies of ‘CHICAGO’Jr.' at Hudson Catholic

Julia Ortiz (9th) and Gabi Hueting (12th) will each play Roxie Hart. Both have a great deal of stage experience. Julia has performed in 11 musicals, and Gabi in seven. Both are coming off leading roles in the fall, Julia as Rizzo in Grease Jr. and Gabi as Cassie in Neil Simon’s Rumors. They bring a lot of energy to the role. Julia is “ proud I managed to land a leading role as a freshman and excited to…make Roxie come to life.” Gabi, as she prepares to graduate, is “happy to get a change of character for my final performance at Hudson ….it’s an exciting change of pace for me.” Both young ladies support Theater Arts because “ it allows people to get out of their comfort zones,” and “theater is a great tool for people to become more confident.”

Salome Torres (10th) and Myra Villomar (12th) have been cast as Velma Kelly. No strangers to the stage, Salome has done 12 musicals and Myra has done seven. Most recently, Salome starred in School of Rock at Hudson, playing Ms. Mullins, and Myra starred as Chris Gorman in Rumors. Myra, who is usually cast in sweeter roles, is excited to “play a character type I’ve never played before,” and Salome concurs, stating “ Velma is a role that’s really outside my comfort zone…and allowed me to improve my craft as a performer." Both of our Velma’s feel that Theater Arts give students an “outlet to express themselves.” 

Their smiles, voices, and dance moves light up the stage and we could not be more proud of these four young ladies who are working tirelessly to capture the essence of two iconic female roles. 

Left to right,

'Roxies': Gabi Hueting, Julia Ortiz; '

'Velmas': Myra Villomar, Salome Torres

Hudson Hawks are fortunate to attend 'Catholic', where they are afforded the opportunity to be both spiritually and academically enriched, developing as young people who truly are becoming the best versions of themselves by serving their communities, engaging in team sports, and accomplishing amazing academic success. These successes would not be realized without the key foundational elements of a Hudson Catholic education displayed through dedicated faculty, staff and administrators, angel donors of time, talent and treasure, small class sizes, individualized attention, and rigorous coursework -- all balanced with prayer and service to community.

WE ARE HUDSON CATHOLIC!

Football Wall of Fame Dinner & Induction

On Tap for February 25th

Honoring:

Michael Gordon '84 / James DeFilippis '90 / Steven Vilas '00 Azam Twal '05 / Jeremy Jermin '08

Also celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the

Thomas F. X. Bender, Jr. Scholarship Award

which will be presented to this year's recipient.

Each year, this award is presented to a football player who has made a long-term commitment to the program, participates in other programs in the school, and makes a conscientious effort in the classroom.  

Hawk Alumni who have benefited from the generosity and support of Thomas F.X. Bender Jr. over the past 25 years.

1998 Jonathan Wasielewski / 1999 Dwight Bartholomew / 2000 Christopher Dalton

2001 Darren Lionakis / 2002 Maikel Griages / 2003 Nick Lucci

2004 Jonathan Calderon / 2005 Andrew Anglin / 2006 Vincent Del Giudice

2007 Brian Doyle / 2008 Chase Whetstone / 2009 Ruaidhri Walsh

2010 Matthew McMonagle / 2011 Michael DeBari & Byron King 

2012 Jalen Carter / 2013 Champion Smith / 2014 Joseph LaBrutto

2015 Kamau Laguerre / 2016 Nicholas Giordano / 2017 Ibrahima Toure

2018 Quinn Kieselowsky / 2019 Jonathan Bates / 2020 Christian Rodgers

2021 Andrew Hunter / 2022 Jacob Rodriguez

7pm at the Hawks' Nest / $25 per person / RSVP Feb. 22nd

Checks payable to Hudson Catholic High School

Memo line: 'Football Wall of Fame'

Send to School Address / Attn: Coach Lou Zampella

201-401-4544 / lzampella@gmail.com

Class of '73 50 Year Reunion Upcoming

Location: At the School / Date: Fall 2023

https://www.facebook.com/groups/677737720530595 for interest and details

Alumni Spotlight



Go for Broker. Michael Skea ‘74, a Broker Associate at Ward Wight Sotheby's International Realty at the Jersey Shore, was announced as his company's top producing realtor for 2022.



Opening Doors. Ericka Leynes ‘14 is one of the more recent among a long line of dual Hawk-Peacock graduates, but she goes one better than most, and becomes the latest Hawk to land professionally at St. Peter' University, serving in the role of Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions, where she is undoubtedly opening doors and welcoming her fellow Hawks from a block away.

No Ordinary Man. Peter D'Angelo ‘79 is the founder, owner and President of IntegraSys, headquartered in Watchung, NJ. The company supports the food services industry with the industry-leading Direct Store Delivery Software Solution supporting fleets of 5 to 500 trucks. Peter was called to serve in the church, and is a Permanent Deacon ordained on June 6, 2015 for the Diocese of Metuchen, after studying for five years at Seton Hall's Immaculate Conception Seminary and earning a Master's degree in Theology. He is assigned to his home parish of St. Mary's - Stony Hill in Watchung. Peter credits his time at Hudson Catholic for preparing him well for these challenges, and is indebted to his wife Dawn and daughters Nicole and Dominique for their unconditional support throughout his formation and service in the Church. All in the Hudson Catholic community are remembered in his prayers. "We must never forget where we came from and where our roots are embedded the deepest.  For me, that is Jersey City and Hudson Catholic.  I will forever be a Hudson Hawk!"

The Future of Finance. Kristina Lizaso '17 is a Wealth Management Product Specialist at Broadridge Financial Solutions in Newark, NJ.

Chief Among Us. Rob Lorfink ’88 is the Chief Financial Officer of Diversified Services Agency, a division of Omnicom Group, an American global media, marketing, and corporate communications company headquartered in New York City.

'South of the Border.' Rich Buchicchio ’83 is now the National Sales Manger at San-tron, Inc., a Massachusetts Manufacturer of appliance, electrical, and electronic products. You'll find Rich in Summerville, SC.

If you've ever wondered what a Baseball Writers Association of America Hall of Fame ballot looks like, well, here it is. This one belongs to our very own Hudson Catholic Hall of Famer Jack Curry '82 who is a member of the BBWAA and has a vote every year. This year, the baseball writers honored one big leaguer with election to Cooperstown. That would be Scott Rolen, whose box can be seen checked off on Jack's ballot.

BTLv77 Focus on '77

Memories

The March 17, 1977 Commentator reported that Brother Martin Zewe, FSC would be concluding his outstanding 12 year run at Hudson Catholic, having arrived in 1965 to teach English and Religion, ascending to the Vice Principal's role in 1971, then to the corner office where he served as Principal from 1974 through 1977.

Johnny Jude Pecoreli being taught how to paint a billboard as part of a project for Ms. Carroll's Art Class.

Bob Kearney, Mike Dunn, Steve Dzitko, Rich Zanetich, Tom Graziano, Mike Tully, John Szupiany (dec.) and Paul Tagleri (dec.), under Coach Ed Agresta, led the football team to the County Title in Division B and the best record, 7-2, in school history at that time (see 'Korrections Korner' for last issue's misplaced gridiron accolades).

Dzitko trading in his football pads for track cleats to become the closest thing to a decathlete that Hudson ever had, setting school records in high jump, hurdles, and pole vault, and a new Jersey City record in the high jump that had lasted for 30+ years.

Varsity Soccer also delivered the first Divisional Title in school history, led by Joe Cutri, German Lara, and Bill Mykytka.

Mike Dunne recalls enjoying Friday night bus trips to ski under the lights at Great Gorge, concerts at MSG and Roosevelt Stadium, “Born to Run”, “Frampton Comes Alive”, “Star Wars”, “Saturday Night Fever”, “SNL” (with Chevy Chase), during his school years, and while in school, the GPA-breaking Mr. Campion and his Drama class and “Masterpieces of the Western World” (the best course by far of my time at HCHS); Mr. O’Halloran teaching us about the antics of political bosses in history, particularly those of JC’s own former mayor Frank Hague; the supportiveness of Mr. Quirk in the guidance office; floor hockey games in the gym; being able to correctly identify each of the Colucci twins (“Hey Colucc!” if you weren’t sure), and the inexhaustible patience of the faculty and staff (e.g., Mr. Capizzi’s repeatedly explaining what a “function” is in math class) with our immature adolescent selves. And during my days delivering by bike for nearby Stuyvesant Liquors, I had the pleasure of delivering an order to…..the Brothers’ residence at HCHS!

Vintage Jersey Journal photo of local baseball talent, including our Bob Kelly and Bill Mykytka identified by their 'H' hats, pictured with the late, great Eddie Ford, a/k/a 'the Faa'.

Fast Forward to Today

Really Nice Shirt!

Son Sean Honors late Dad

Mike 'Mooney' Ryan '83

Sean Ryan is a senior on the Point Pleasant Boro varsity basketball team this year. The inspiration he draws from his father, Mike, is obvious, and his tribute is moving. Imagine a kid living and playing over 50 miles away from Hudson Catholic, wearing a replica jersey of our uniform and his dad's number from his playing days as his warmup jersey before each Point Boro game this season?! Well done, Sean!

Wear in the World?

Would You Sport Your Hawk Shirt?

We sure would like to know where you wear your Hawk shirts, particularly when you go on the road. Send us a photo of yourself wearing your Hawk Pride on vacation to places near and far, and we’ll print them!

Blast From the Past!

Who ever had one of these?

Send comments to advancement@hudsoncatholic.org

Korrections Korner

We regret the misreporting of the passing of Orlando Garcia ’06 in the last issue, consequently we are elated to tell you that Orlando is alive and well and living, we are told by classmate Rob Astudillo, in Florida!

Hawks, your comprehension scores on the SAT are waning! No one caught the seismic bungle crediting the '76 County Football Title to the Class of '76 when, in fact, that distinction, along with the best record in school history to that point, belongs to the Class of '77, as the '76 football title was captured in the Fall of '76 as part of the '76-'77 class year. Got that? Maybe you can see how this class year stuff can be tricky!

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” -- Romans 12:10

Requiescant in Pace

Vita Mutatur Non Tollitur

(Life is changed, not ended)



Danny Quintela '05

Cleveland Eatman Sr, father of Cleveland Jr '82 and grandfather of Paul '09

Michael Skea '74

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