On Saturday, October 29th, members of the Molloy community, including our Track & Field community, gathered to remember a beloved Marist Brother, coach, teacher, mentor, and friend. In April 2020, we lost our beloved Br. Bob Andrews, who served the Molloy community for over 43 years. Known to many as Br. Bob, or simply Bob, he was a dedicated teacher and coach who inspired generations of Stanners in and out of the classroom. His coaching accolades include induction into numerous Halls of Fame, a NYS XC Championship, 17 NYC Catholic Indoor/Outdoor Championships, and 75 Brooklyn/Queens Championships. Beyond his success, he was a caring person who loved and helped everyone he met.
The event included a prayer service as well as a ceremony that featured several guest speakers. Br. Dan O’Riordan offered comments via a pre-recorded message. “I had the privilege to run for Br. Bob Andrews….as well as coach with him in the 90s. He became a beloved friend and mentor in my life, and he will always be one of my greatest impacts,” Br. Dan shared. Other speakers included Dan McGrath ’01, William Vescpe ’92, Artie Dohler ’82, and Frank Gambino ’74, representing the many decades of Stanners Br. Bob coached and or worked alongside. Each speaker reflected on their relationship with Br. Bob from a different perspective, but all painted a picture of a beloved figure who had a positive on countless people.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the track coaches joined President Karsten ’81 and Craig Katinas ’93 in unveiling a new memorial plaque honoring Br. Bob. The plaque, which mirrors the style of a plaque honoring Jack Curran, now resides on the wall in Molloy’s main lobby. This plaque will greet all students, faculty, and visitors each day and serve as a reminder of the incredible legacy that Br. Bob has left here at Molloy.
For those who were unable to attend, a video recording of the ceremony will be shared with our community soon. Until then, please click the link below to view our event photo gallery. Special thanks to Bobby Oerzen ’01 for allowing Molloy to use his original artwork as the centerpiece of our new plaque.