Upcoming Alumni Events

3’s and 8’s Reunion to be Held Saturday, November 1st

The events for the evening are all set. There will be food, fun and a certain amount of jocularity - sufficient to exceed everyone’s expectation. The DJ promises to be ready for any request. The Pipe band is tuning up. The food will be spectacular… and far, far better than you remember. More important, will be the time spent with old friends and great memories.

The class lists continue to grow and as far as we are concerned, the more, the merrier. I have even heard about certain groups plotting after-party parties.

The Mass will be celebrated by Fr. John Serio ’71, and Deacon Logan ’58. The St. Ann’s Bell will sound for each member of the Stanner Community lost during the past year as their name is read out.

Class pictures will be taken after the cocktail party as we dismiss each group to get their dinner. All photographs from the evening will be posted on the alumni website within days of the event.

Around the School

Halloween Dance

More than 300 Stanners gathered in the cafeteria for an evening of good old fashioned fun and costumed competition. The DJ was doing something right because the dance floor was busy all evening. The costume competition brought out a level of creativity I haven’t seen in quite some time… the pictures will speak for themselves. The political masks aside, my favorites in this year’s competition included the two prisoners and “the Joker”… it was so realistic, a photo does not capture the quality of the make-up… but here is the attempt.

Open House 2008

More than 5000 students, parents and family members attended Open House this year. We followed a new format in presenting Molloy this year. Upon Entrance into the school, groups were formed and they were off to tour the school and watch the Molloy video in the Theater. After that, tour leaders took small groups around the building to see the latest and greatest features of Molloy.

The Science area was a major attraction with the introduction of the new Chemistry Lab. A number of Chemistry students put on demonstrations in their new home. It was a most impressive demonstration of Stanner pride. One of the highlights of the day was when the Fazio family brought the next generation of Stanners through. As we all know by now, Fazio Brothers Construction oversaw the construction of the new Chemistry Lab and all that project entailed. It had to be gratifying to them to see the fruits of their labors appreciated by so many new people.

The Curran Gymnasium was the scene of a “Molloy Fair” with teachers and administrators available to answer questions. The Parent Volunteer committee answered 100’s of questions from people new to Molloy. The Alumni table was very busy with many second and third generation Stanner families stopping in to let us know that they were “home”.

The Marsloe Gymnasium was the home of all athletic and activity tables where most perspective students stopped to see the wide variety of activities available for any perspective student. Molloy has many ways to get involved and demonstrate school spirit.

The 2008 Walk-a-thon

The primary fundraiser for the school took place Friday morning with the overwhelming majority of students participating in the annual walk-a-thon. The AMHS Pipe and Drums provided a rousing send-off as our school ran or walked the 5K route through Briarwood. The runners were “off” first, and were back in record time. One alternative to the Briarwood walk was the ten-mile sojourn to the Twin Towers site. Those students who had a variety of physical challenges had something to do to prepare for the walkers return to the school. Every faculty and staff member participated and the weather was 100% cooperative. Brother Roy and President John Sherry were last to leave the building and provided the “safety net” for anyone who fell behind. The proceeds from this year’s event will provide a “second payment” for the Chemistry Lab renovation.

The Journey to Van Cortlandt Park — NYC X-Country Carnival

Well it has taken 44 years to get me to a Cross Country Meet at Van Cortlandt Park. And, I must say, it was a great day. Now, there were moments of confusion as Mr. Jeff Gallagher attempted to drive a bus and talk at the same time. In spite of his best efforts, we made it. The weather was perfect and we saw a few alumni working the games and encouraging former team mates. Joe Chowske ’81 served as an official and watched his son Devin ’10, as he passed the finish line by what they affectionately call the Aqui Tree. Ally Brennan stopped in from Manhattan College to cheer her former teammates on. All in all it was a great day at the park. More than 100 Stanners competed and had some fun in the park.

Faculty Spotlight - Ms. Mary Pat Gannon ’08

A Stanner at heart, Ms. Mary Pat Gannon has spent 90% of her life involved with Catholic education. She was educated by the best - Convent Station Charities, School Sisters of the Sacred Heart and New York Charities. Add to this powerful mix the professional life she has served under the Marist charism at Molloy and you wind up with a professional educator on a life long mission.

Part of her childhood was spent growing up in New Jersey. She also spent a part of her life in Thailand. While there, she and her mom did some work in an area orphanage. Before they knew it, one of the little girls wove her way into the family heart and is now Mary Pat’s sister, and a practicing attorney. Whenever she speaks about her family, especially her daughter, she beams with pride. Her other interests include gardening. She claims that she is “an Irish Peasant at heart”.

After receiving her Bachelors degree from Mt. St. Vincent College, she won a Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship and a Regents Fellowship that enabled her to complete her Masters Degree and Doctoral Course work at New York University. During that time her literary companions were James Joyce and George Moore. She served as the Chair of the English Department Chair at a cooperative university extension program from Fordham, Marymount and Mt. St. Vincent’s College. The program was in Harlem and her students were “amazing”. You could “see” them learn - there was such a spark in their eyes.

In 1974 she saw an ad for a teaching position at Molloy, and the rest, as they say, is history. She has taught a variety of courses at all levels, and has had some of her students come back as colleagues. Her commitment extends to the various clubs and committees she counts as part of her mission at Molloy. Her vision for Molloy includes a community of continuous learners. She is fascinated by “the way we learn and the way the brain processes information”. Mary Pat has the distinction of being named as the first female member to the Stanner Hall of Fame. She was inducted in 2008 and can’t wait to have additional female Stanners join her in the near future.

Family, Learning and the Marist Charism are central themes in her life… so much so that she considers Non Scholae-Sed Vitae… part of her vocation and her life.

Sports Update — Mike McCleary’s Notes for the Week

• GV Soccer won NSCHSAA “A” Championship Wednesday 2-1 over MLA
• Girl’s JV Soccer Lost in Championship Game 3-1 to OLMA
• Boys Varsity Soccer won Brooklyn Queens Championship. They enter the playoffs as the number 1 seed from B/Q and they play Msgr. Farrell 1:00 PM on Sat @ Randalls Island
• Boys JV Soccer also won the Brooklyn Queens Championship. They entered the playoffs as the number 1 seed from B/Q. They defeated Xaverian in the quarterfinals yesterday 3-1 and play in the semifinals on Wed 10/29 3:30 PM at Alley Pond Park.
• Girls Volleyball both Varsity and JV finished third in B/Q the play in the playoffs this Sunday 10/26 @ St. John’s Prep. The JV is at 1:00 PM. The Varsity is @ 2:30 PM
• Girls Tennis Lost in the Diocesan Championship last week.

Non Scholae — Sed Vitae

Joseph Grauso ’96

While awaiting my assignment for the walk-a-thon to begin I visited with Joseph Grauso ’96. He was having a light breakfast prior to launching out on the walk-a-thon with the rest of the students. He had a few minutes to check his records to make sure we had the correct e-mail address and updated contact information. Just had enough time prior to the kick-off to get a quick picture. He sends out a shout to all of his classmates and encourages them to update their records with the Alumni office. Facebook is good, but it doesn’t offer the latest news from the school.

Dino Chooweenam ’00

We had a nice visit with Dino Chooweenam ’00 this week. A US Marine veteran of the Iraq War and owner of two Subway franchises in East NY and Brighton Beach, he is well on his way to entrepreneurial success. Prior to his experience in Iraq, Dino attended SUNY Old Westbury where he majored in Philosophy and Religion. The war interrupted his education for a while but he intends on completing it as time permits. Dino grew up as a youngster in Guyana, and has many contacts in government there through his family. He is very interested in creating a bio-fuels company based on sugar cane production which is prevalent throughout the region. A very interesting opportunity in light of today’s great energy debate.

Jim O’Neill ’80, visits from Chicago

Last Saturday, while I was in the office preparing for the Open House, Jim O’Neill ’80, and his son Matthew stopped in on their way to a family function honoring Jim’s uncle. We had a great visit. While at Molloy he was a hurdler. We toured the school and he and his son spent some time in the locker room reviewing the names on the Stanner Track Records boards. After Molloy he went on to Dartmouth College and then to Harvard for his MBA.

Jim has had an interesting career in IT consulting. It has taken him around the world, working from his various home bases in London, Warsaw, Prague and now Chicago. Jim and his wife, Kim, have three sons. Matt is exploring High Schools in the Chicagoland area and has a tough decision to make… are they as great as Molloy? Best of luck in your search, Matt. Welcome home, Jim… we have sent your best on to Brother Pat Hogan and are confident that Brother Terence is looking with favor on you and your family. Thanks for stopping in.

From the Stanner Bookshelf — ML Sullivan ’78

Necessary Heartbreak — Book one of a Trilogy

Product Description
Do you believe that time heals all wounds? Michael Stewart doesn’t. Twelve years later, he’s still struggling with the demands of being a single father. His life revolves around his daughter Elizabeth, a precocious girl who’s growing up much too fast. Michael is all too aware of time lost, and time still slipping away. But fate, or perhaps something more divine, has other plans for Michael. When he and Lizzie stumble upon a root-cellar door in the floor of an old church, they discover that it’s actually a tunnel leading back in time to first century Jerusalem during the tumultuous last week of Christ’s life. With the help of Leah, a newfound friend, they try desperately to escape, avoiding menacing soldiers at every turn, including one determined to make Elizabeth his own. Trapped in the past — both literally and figuratively — Michael comes face to face with some of his most limiting beliefs, and realizes he must open himself up to the possibility of a deeper faith in God, people, himself, and love before he can find his way home. Michael Sullivan is the author of several books for young readers. He lives on Long Island with his wife and two daughters.

The book can be ordered directly through the website at www.whentimeforgets.com.

In Memoriam

Dr. Edward J. Barbarisi, ’34

A note came in from the Barbarisi family this week. “My grandfather just passed away Sunday - I was just searching for his Obit and I found your listing. I wish I’d found it sooner!”

Dr. Edward J. Barbarisi, 91, of 666 Pelham Rd., New Rochelle, passed away peacefully Sunday at his home. He was the beloved husband of the late Susan (Perrella) Barbarisi and father of Dr. Vincent E. Barbarisi. Edward served in the medical corps during World War II, deploying to North Africa and Europe, and was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery. After returning home, he married Susan, his longtime sweetheart, in December 1945, and began work as a dental technician. With her help, he put himself through New York University, earning his D.D.S. from NYU in 1961. His award-winning academic career earned him a placement on the staff at NYU Dental School, and he opened his own practice in the Bronx. His dental practice spanned three decades, but he was particularly proud that many of his patients became close friends. He retired in 1993 and passed his practice to his son Vincent. He is survived by his son Vincent, daughter-in-law Barbara Goodstein, and his grandchildren Daniel and Rachel Barbarisi.