Upcoming Alumni Events

Thanksgiving Liturgy — November 26th, 8:00 AM

In this season of giving thanks, we would like to remind you that there are many ways you can demonstrate your appreciation for all you have been given. Your presence and prayers as a member of the Stanner Community are a major part of our spiritual foundation. Please come to the Annual Thanksgiving Liturgy Wednesday, November 26th at 8:00 AM.

As mentioned last week, you will be allowed upstairs to visit former teachers once the Mass is over. The Alumni Association is sponsoring a free breakfast voucher for any Alumni updating their files with us that morning. Forms will be in the cafeteria, and the voucher will be good for a three dollar credit against any purchase in the cafeteria that morning.

Please, do not park in the school lot when returning for the Thanksgiving Liturgy. These spots are reserved for faculty and administration only. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

“Ad Gentes” — A Special Request

As you consider the many things you are thankful for this year, I would ask that you consider a special prayer of thanksgiving to St. Marcellin Champagnat for his Marist Brothers. Without his foresight and the dedication of the Brothers, there would be no Molloy today. The Marist Brothers are in the midst of a major missionary effort — Ad Gentes. This effort will send 100 Marist Brothers to Asia where they will begin the process of building relationships that will hopefully plant Catholic, Marist schools in their footsteps.

Brother John Raeilhe Mr. Mark Sweeney and Ms. Kathy Loughran, are leading this effort here at Molloy. Their dream is to raise the $10,000.00 necessary to support one Marist Brother for a year. The Alumni Association raised $1000.00 in support of this effort through the sale of Blood Manor tickets this Halloween season. Blood Manor is a regional Halloween Attraction owned by Stanner Jim Faro ’70.

Brother John estimates that the Friday Dress-Down Day drive and Bake Sale will bring the total to more than $7,000.00.

If you would like to show your appreciation and support, please contact Mark Sweeney or Brother John to arrange a donation.

For information about the Ad Gentes: http://www.maristbr.com/public/Mission_Ad_Gentes.PDF.

Sports Update from the A.D.’s Office

• Boys Varsity Swimming: 1 — 0
• Bowling: 16 — 1

Girl’s Basketball Update

School Spirit is in the air as the Basketball season begins at Molloy. The orders of the day are; Practice, Practice and when there is a bit more free time, PRACTICE. Both Gyms are busy day and night. The season will start December 10th with Home games at 5:30 and 7:00 PM. Our Girl’s teams are the defending Diocesan Champions and this year’s varsity will include 7 returning players from last year’s team.

The Girl’s Varsity Basketball team has a new coaching staff this year. Head Coach Tom Catalanotto ’75 came over from TMLA this year. In a recent interview he was asked about that move and how he plans to make this program his own. “I plan to build additional stability into the program. We will work hard, prepare well and compete to win. As coach, my plan is to put as much into this program as I do my own business. The schedule is aggressive, but the team is up to the challenge.”

Also new to the coaching staff is John Sikiric ‘01 as Assistant Coach. Another Stanner coach, John played two years professional ball in Europe. “Our goals are to get the best out of each of our players every day. To develop the talent we already have and to achieve more than we have in the past.”

The Girl’s Junior Varsity team is also ready for the season. The JV coaching staff includes Head Coach Anthony Alfaro along with Assistants, Leah Lipschitz and Bill Niklaus.

This team of proven coaching professionals will work to develop our current talent base while building a program that will stand the test of time and attract strong players for years to come.

Coach Curran Closes in on his 900th Win

Coach Curran is closing in on his 900th career win. The games scheduled for November 29th at the Thanksgiving quadruple header could make the number 899 which would make a possible 900th game the evening of December 5th. We will keep you posted.

Tom Farrell ’61 Honored at St. John’s Dinner

Many members of our coaching staff attended a dinner at St. John’s University this week honoring Tom Farrell. Jeff Gallagher ’88 caught a few pictures from the evening. The St. Ann’s and Molloy presence was felt with representatives from both schools. Tom is one of the most decorated athletes from both Molloy and St. John’s. An Olympian and Track legend, he is a member of the Stanner Hall of Fame and the St. John’s Hall of Fame. The evening was held in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of his 800-meter Bronze Medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games.

Around the School

Faculty Spotlight — Bill Niklaus

Twenty five years ago, Bill Niklaus was called to come home to Molloy by Mr. Raymond Egan and Bro. James Maher when they were looking for a History teacher. Bill remembers in his interview with Bro James Maher that he was asked what his philosophy of education was, to which he replied “I believe that students can laugh and learn, students shouldn’t be scared or worried when they come to class.” All these years later, he still believes this and hopes everyday that he keeps to this philosophy.

Bill graduated Archbishop Molloy High School in 1980. He then graduated St. John’s University where he was a double major (Psychology and Sociology). He graduated college early and student taught at Molloy. He then earned his Masters degree from St. John’s. Bill considers himself a “country” person because he spent half his life in upstate New York. He also attended Albany State University and Columbia Greene Community College for additional credits. He still resides in a small town in the Catskill Mountains called Cairo. Many students and alumni are surprised when they run into him in Albany, Kingston or even swimming with his kids in upstate creeks.

“Molloy was a great high school experience” says Bill. He choose Molloy when, during his eight grade visit for Open House, he lost his tour guide and wound up in Bro. Leo Richard’s room (aka “The Cave”). “Bro. Leo was the reason I attended Molloy”, “I never met anyone as genuine as he was”. “I was very lucky in my life to have met 3 “saints”, Bro. Leo Richard, Bro. Terence Jones and Bro. Ron Marcellin”. These men had a true love for students and were the epitome of our school motto. They cared for students inside and outside of school. It is Bill’s hope that he can in some way follow these men, and keep their spirit alive. Bill considers himself even luckier that while teaching here he became close to Leo, Ron, and Terence. “They made me look forward to coming to work everyday”.

Bill has taught many subjects here at Molloy, including American History, Regional Studies, Health, Global Studies I, Global Studies II, Sociology, and Psychology. He enjoys teaching his college level Psychology class because he believes that psychology is not only a subject but extends in a practical sense to everyone’s daily lives. He enjoys hearing stories from students and alumni about how the topics discussed in class suddenly become real in their own lives.

Bill is also a coach at Molloy. He started Molloy’s golf program 21 years ago. As a coach, he believes that players should love the sport that they play. His rule is to laugh, play their best, be good teammates, and try to win. Last year, Bill reached a milestone as a golf coach with 201 wins and 39 loses in 20 years. The Molloy Golf Team has also had 11 consecutive Brooklyn /Queens Divisional Titles. Bill also became the Assistant JV Girls Basketball coach 3 years ago. Last year, he was both Girls Assistant Varsity and Assistant JV Coach and both teams won the City Championships. “A coach is only as good as his players and I have been lucky to have had good players”, says Bill. Bill was offered the position as Head Varsity Coach at St. Francis College a few years ago, but passed it up to stay at Molloy. “Molloy is my home and if I can provide a few students/players with a good high school experience, then I feel that I have done my job. High school is the time of life to have great experiences and make memories; hopefully I can be there for a few students.”

Bill has a daughter Kristen, 10 and son William, 14, who just became a Stanner freshman this year. “I am very proud of my children and hopefully, someday they will say the same about me.”

The next time anyone visits Molloy and hears the Music of Pink Floyd, you will find Bill’s classroom, and the door is always open for a visit.

St. Ann’s Corner

We heard this week from Mr. John Feehan ’46 (grammar school). He was interested in learning more about the 38 Stanners that continued on at St. Ann’s for high school. They would have graduated in 1950. John lives on the west coast and remembers many of his former classmates very well. We have sent along pages from the 1950 yearbook to bring back memories of former classmates and his time at St. Ann’s.

Non Scholae — Sed Vitae

Prayer Requests:

Mr. Leonardo is resting comfortably after a round of tests in St. Francis Hospital. Please keep him in your prayers as he recovers and prepares to come back to school.

Prayers of Thanksgiving - California Fires — Jim McDermott

John Sherry heard from Jim McDermott ’63 earlier in the week when the wild fires hit CA. “The Montecito fire got within 1 mile of our home but the wind took it away from us after that. I happened to be in Orange County on Saturday to visit my 94 year old mother when the Yorba Linda fire started. The evacuation area came within two blocks of her condo. Once again we were blessed by a change in the wind direction and she didn’t have to evacuate. These are two good reasons to give thanks this season. Please keep those less fortunate in your prayers this week as the fires subside.

Special thanks to Stanner Parents, Students and Staff

It is an all hands on deck event when it comes to the Annual Phonathon. The Office of Advancement plans and organizes the eight nights of phone fun and frivolity, Nancy Catalanotto gathers up student volunteers to work the phones, Steve Kimmons and Maria Ford keep them motivated as they make their calls, and our personal chef Brian Yuska prepares a different menu each evening.

Behind the scenes, parent volunteers work to keep the records up to date. This year’s parent volunteers included; Monique Ambrose, Victoria Hart, Victor & Laura Maldonado (see picture), Lily Sadek, Andy Tansey, Narcisa Toledo-Akay, Peter & Felicia Vairo, and Kevin Wooley. Thanks to all and special thanks to those who made a donation.

Mike Germano Sends Thank You for Coat Drive Support

A huge thank you to everyone who helped to make our Coat Drive such a great success- especially Pat Flynn and Lou Santos who were enthusiastic in getting kids involved. All told we were able to donate 497 coats. The mission collection for the coat drive was also incredible as well- as that brought in $2,685 - just shy of our record set last year. Huge thanks go to Mary Grennan, Eric Stolze, Ed Cameron and Jeff Gallagher whose homerooms were the top 4 in the school.

The Operation Christmas Child brought in 65 boxes. The kids who did those boxes did a wonderful job. Hopefully we can add to that success next year.

Again, thank all of you for all you do to support our wonderful causes. Our Toy Drive will start the Monday, December 1st.

Thought for the Week

Brother Roy’s prayer for Friday this week was the Prayer of St. Ignatius Loyola

Dearest Lord,
teach me to be generous;
teach me to serve You as You deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to ask for reward
save that of knowing I am doing Your Will.

God Bless all Stanners!