Meet The 2002-2012 Hall Of Fame
2002 HOF Inductee
Jerry E. Brown, Jr. '64
Jerry Brown was born to Caroline and Jerry Brown, Sr. on June 3, 1946, the oldest of six children. In 1951 the family moved to Closter, NJ where he attended St Mary’s Grammar School. In 1960 he entered Mt. St. Michael Academy, Bronx, NY. Two years later the Browns moved to Spring Lake, NJ where in the fall of 1962 he entered Christian Brothers Academy.
During his junior and senior years he helped CBA win two Shore Tennis championships while becoming N.J. State Tennis Champion, never losing a match. At the same time he was ranked 11th in the United States in singles and 5th in doubles, and played on two junior Davis Cup squads. The Christian Brothers became a family tradition. His father graduated Manhattan Prep, Bronx, NY in 1940, his brother, David, CBA class of 1967 (Captain Basketball Team) and attended St. Mary’s College in San Francisco, his brother, Paul, CBA class of 1975 (Tennis Team) and his son, Jerry Il, CBA class of 1995 (Tennis Team).
After CBA Jerry attended Georgetown University and shortly after college, started a career on Wall Street. His beginning years were in the sales department at Paribas Corporation, later as a bond trader at Kidder Peabody and then onto a career at Salomon Brothers. Jerry spent twenty years at Salomon Brothers. In addition to trading, he was Liability Department Director, Capital Markets Calling Officer and Director and Head of Salomon Brothers Canada in Toronto. Jerry retired from Salomon Brothers and joined Needham & Company in November I999 as Managing Director and Head of Institutional Equity Sales.
Jerry lives in Fair Haven with his wife Betsy Elsas Brown. Jerry has a son, Jerry, 26, (class of 1995) living in Arlington, Virginia, a daughter, Tracy, 24, who lives in Denver and four step-children: Alex Friedrich, 28, living in Scottsdale, Arizona, Amanda Friedrich Lenz with husband Steve, also living in Scottsdale, Arizona, Lindsay Stanley McConnel, 27, who lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her husband, Lan, and Liza Friedrich, 23 who lives in New York City. In 1996 Jerry’s wife, Mary Foreman Brown, of 26 years passed away having been diagnosed with cancer.
Finally, Jerry has been an active member of the CBA Alumni Association for many years and currently serves on the CBA Board of Trustees. He is also a past trustee of Sea Bright Lawn Tennis and Cricket Club, Rumson, N.J.
2002 HOF Inductee
Marty Kenney '66
Marty Kenney was born to Mary and Martin Kenney on June 25, 1948 in Jersey City, N.J. He attended Horace Mann Grammar School in North Bergen, N.J. Upon the family’s move to the Jersey Shore, he attended Memorial School in Union Beach for two years before beginning his 35 year affiliation with Christian Brothers Academy in 1961. Marty’s passion for athletics was fueled by his days at CBA join the baseball diamond and basketball court. The highlight of his high school athletic career occurred in 1965 as point guard of the first state championship basketball team.
Marty continued his education and athletic career at Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y. While at Hartwick, he played baseball and contributed to the basketball team’s three appearances in the NCAA Division II tournament: In 1970, he graduated with a B.A. in Economics. After a year of military service, he returned to CBA in September 1971 to begin his career as a history teacher and coach.
Marty immediately began his basketball coaching career under the tutelage of his former coach, Vinnie Cox. In nine years, as the head of the Junior Varsity program he compiled a record of 158 – 32, capturing the Holiday Jubilee championship five times. During this period, he also put together a win streak of 65 consecutive games. His following nine years were spent as varsity assistant to Ed Wicelinski during a period in which CBA basketball continued to maintain its status as an elite program.
During his first year at CBA, Marty also assumed the role of Junior Varsity baseball coach. In two years, his teams put together a record of 35 – 5. In 1974, he became one of the youngest varsity coaches on the shore. During his 28 year tenure, CBA teams have collected 491 wins, placing him second among Shore Conference baseball coaches and among the top ten in New Jersey for all-time total career victories. CBAs baseball program is consistently raked each year among the top twenty teams in the state. Under his leader-ship, twenty championships have been earned by CBA baseball teams, including a state championship in 1977, three South Jersey championships, and a national ranking of 17th in 200I. Marty is noted for having fundamentally sound teams, which are highly focused, motivated and disciplined. Many former players have gone on to continue their playing careers in college. Over the years, Marty has felt privileged to have had the opportunity to work with players who share his dedication and commitment to the game.
Mary lives in Freehold with his wife, Kathy, also a teacher, and daughter Erin, a graduate student at Fordham University. Both Marty’s sons, Mary Jr (*90) and Chris (94) have played and coached baseball at CBA. Over the past 3Iyears, CBA and CBA athletics have been a major part in the lives of the Kenneys. They know well, Marty’s “Love of the Game.”
2002 HOF Inductee
William Alter
Bill Alter was born in Brooklyn, NY. He graduated from St. Xavier Grammar School in 1944 and LaSalle Military Academy in 1948. He attended Manhattan College and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. After graduation, he entered the Marine Corp. and retired from the Marine Corp. Reserve as Lieutenant Colonel in 1980
Mr. Alter has been a member of the American Stock Exchange since 1961. During his tenure on the Amex he served on all the exchange committees, and was a member of the Board of Governors from 1981 – 1990. He served as Vice Chairman of the American Stock Exchange from 1986 – 1987. He was elected man of the year at the Amex in 1998. Since 1965 Bill Alter has been an active member of the Board of Trustees of the United States Naval Academy Foundation and has been a member of the Executive Committee form 1988. Mr. Alter was a member of the Board of Trustees at the MJ Neely School of Business at Texas Christian University from 1986 – 2000. He has been visiting instructor and lecturer at TCU and Pepperdine University.
Bill is the past President of the Board of Trustees for Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, NJ where he served for more than 17 years helping with the development & establishment of the maintenance program. Bill has been actively involved in the school since its inception has been a member of the Father’s Club for more than 25 years. He has been fortunate to watch CBA evolve and flourish from its first freshman class to the current prestigious school of education.
Bill lived in Rumson, NJ with wife Jeanne until 1990. They currently reside in Hobe Sound, FL, married since 1954, the Alters boast nine children, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Bill now spends his spare time between volunteering at St. Vincent DePaul and playing golf 7 days a week, weather permitting.
2003 HOF Inductee
Brother Frank Byrne '75
Born in Red Bank, New Jersey, to Richard and Claire Byrne, Brother Frank is second in a family of five. His brother Richard (CBA ’74) is the oldest and he has three younger sisters: Regina, Michele, and Mary Claire. A close family, Brother Frank has happy memories of growing up in Shrewsbury.
Brother Frank graduated from St. James Elementary School in 1971 and from the Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, New Jersey, in 1975. Brother Frank’s first recollection of CBA was going along with his father to visit the construction site of the main building. His father was the Vice President of The Walter Hurley Construction Company, the builders of the original main building. Brother Frank has fond memories of his active days at CBA. A member of the Student Council, of the Intramural Football Program, and of Mr. Tom Heath’s Indoor/Outdoor Track Team, his days were full. After graduation, he followed a family tradition by becoming the fourth generation Byrne to attend Notre Dame University where he received a BA in Accounting in 1979,, An MS in Religious Education from Fordham University was earned in 1987, and Professional Certification form Manhattan College in 1995.
Brother Frank’s professional life has embraced teaching and coaching (track), serving as Vocations Director, working as a high school Assistant Principal as well as Principal, and his present post as the elected Provincial for the New York District of the De La Salle Christian Brothers. Chronologically those years took the following shape: 1979-1981: teacher and track coach at St. Raymond High School for Boys in the Bronx: 1982-1989: teacher and track coach at La Salle Academy in New York City; 1989-1992: Vocations Director for the New York District; 1992-1993: Assistant Principal at St. Raymond High School for Boys; 1993 2002: Principal at St. Raymond High School for Boys and, from; 2002 to the present: Provincial of the New York District of the De La Salle Christian Brothers.
Brother Frank is an active member of the Manhattan College Bagpipe Band for whom he also serves as Treasurer. He enjoys his interaction with band members at meetings and rehearsals as well as the camaraderie during their frequent performances. The band has received several awards and is cheered on by many during the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City. No stranger to the golf course, Brother Frank enjoys perfecting his swings and putts whenever his busy schedule allows.
As leader of the New York District of the De La Salle Christian Brothers, he is dedicated to renewing the vigor of the Founder, St. John Baptist De La Salle, especially in his commitment to the poor and disenfranchised of this world. Brother Frank serves on the following Boards of Trustees: Manhattan College; Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, New Jersey; Las Salle Institute, Troy, New York; and George Jackson Academy in New York City.
2003 HOF Inductee
Ed Wicelinski
The only child born to Mary and Ed Wicelinski, Ed Jr. was raised in Greenpoint Brooklyn, a parishioner of St. Stanislaus Parish and school. He attended Brothers schools, Bishop Loughlin (1965) and Manhattan College (I969), before beginning his teaching career alongside Brother Christian Jones at Loughlin. In 1972 BC] crossed the Hudson and a year later he introduced the Wicelinski family to CBA. That spring Brother Peter Mannion hired Ed to teach Health and P.E. thus continuing a relationship with the Brothers that has now spanned almost 40 years.
He began his coaching career at the Academy as an assistant to Marty Kenney in the baseball program and a year later was hired as the school’s freshman basketball coach. In 1980 Brother Andrew O’Gara appointed Ed to the impossible task of replacing retired basketball coach Vinnie Cox who both on and off the court built the Colts into a model High School basketball program. What seemed like a simple change of address changed forever the lives of the Wicelinski family.
The value system influencing his teaching style and daily outlook was instilled in him by his parents, godparents, and lifelong family friend Fr. Ed. It was further nurtured in his formative years by his Lasalian education, and is replenished daily through his family, friends, and colleagues. Ed’s wife of 35 years, Virginia, and daughters Therese and Kristen are a typical coach’s family; hiding in the background, but always ready to lend a hand. They quickly embraced the family atmosphere at CBA and their love and support were essential to any commitment that Ed was able to make to his students and players during his career. Coach Wiz’s elder daughter Therese married a CBA grad, Jack Heidelberger, and has four children: Grace (8), Erin (6), and 2 year old twins Cecilia and William. Kristen married a Manhattan grad, Scott Dinnell, and has two children: Patrick (3), and Riley (I), and is expecting the Wicelinski’s seventh grandchild in March.
The fact that he has survived teaching and coaching for over 30 years at CBA can be directly attributed to the familial support, evident sitting behind the bench cheering on the Colts at most games.
The journey started inI973 wasn’t as difficult as it may seem. The CBA Administration has always supported his schemes and dreams with unwavering loyalty. He has always had the support of many great assistants who work closely with him without getting the recognition they deserve. Ed has taught and coached in an environment where students and players were easy to motivate and overachieving is the norm. And the spirit?? That was the easiest part of all. From the beginning he was blessed with encouragement from Brothers Arnold, Cam, Leo, Henry, and Joseph and had role models like Chez, Vin, Bob Mason and Johnnie O. If you simply followed their example one day at a time how could you go wrong?
2003 HOF Inductee
Bernard J. Berry, Jr.
Bernie Berry was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and graduated from St. Peter’s Prep, St. Peter’s College and Fordham University Law School. Upon graduation, Bernie clerked in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey for Judge Lawrence A. Whipple and after practicing law for one year in Newark, in 1973 he joined the Middletown law firm, now known as Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla (“GH&C”). Bernie is currently the chairman of the Business Law and Banking department with an emphasis on counseling closely held businesses in virtually every aspect of their commercial endeavors. He has served as chairman of the Banking Law section of the New Jersey Bar Association. For seventeen years he was co-managing partner of GH&C as it grew from six attorneys when he joined to the fifty plus attorneys it has today. He presently in on GH&C’s board of directors and its senior policy committee.
Bernie has been a member of the CBA Board of Trustees for the past thirteen years and served as Vice-Chairman and Chairman over the past six years. Currently, designated as Trustee-Emeritus, Bernie has agreed to serve as Co-Chairman of the Ronan Tynan Fundraising Concert to honor Brother Andrew O’Gara’s twenty-five years as President-Principal at CBA. Together with partner John Giunco (and current chairman of the Board of Trustees), Bernie (and GH&C) have contributed may volunteer hours of service as legal counsel, advisors and supporters, In addition, Bernie has deemed it a privilege to serve as legal counsel to the current Provincial of the New York District of the Lasalian Christian Brothers, Brother Frank Byrne, FSC (tonight’s CBA Alumnus Honoree) and his two immediate predecessors.
Bernie is an active parishioner and Eucharistic minister at St. Elizabeth’s, Avon-by-the-Sea and a member of the financial advisory committee of St. Rose High School, Belmar New Jersey from which his five (5) daughters have graduated. He is also a member of the Educational Advisory Council of the Diocese of Trenton advising the Bishop and Diocesan administrators on the Catholic education system which is educating 30,000 students. He is currently the president of the Jersey Shore chapter of Legatos, an international organization of practicing Catholic layman from the business community, comprised of CEO’s, Presidents and Managing Partners. In addition, Bernie is a founding member of Catholic Men for Jesus Christ which for the past five years has held and annual conference attended by 1,000 men, which CBA will again host on March 20, 2004.
Bernie lives in Avon-by-the-Sea, New Jersey with his wife Marion and in March, 2004 they will celebrate their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. Bernie and Marion have six children: David (CBA class 89), who is an Assistant United States Attorney in Washington, D.C. and recently married to Nicole, (also a Lawyer); daughters Amy, (married to Bruce Dunfee who are parents of granddaughter Riley Elizabeth). Allison, (engaged to Greg Wagner, CBA class of ’88), Dr.
Tymara Berry-Delatush (married recently to John Delatush of Manasquan), Marion (a senior at Moravian College), and Elizabeth Ann (a sophomore at Notre Dame).
2004 HOF Inductee
Mark Hall '71
Mark Hall was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, grew up on the Jersey Shore and graduated from Christian Brothers Academy – Class of 1971. Mark attended St. Michael’s College in Vermont, graduating in 1975 with a Business degree.
Mark is married to Nancy (Kelly) Hall, a graduate of Red Bank Catholic. They have three children; two sons, both of whom graduated from Christian Brothers Academy – Mark, Jr., Ryan and their daughter, Lauren.
Mark Hall is the President of Hall Construction Co., Inc. (a third generation general contractor). Mark started his career as a Carpenter Apprentice during his summer years of high school. While in college, he spent countless hours during his summers at the drafting table. Upon graduating college in 1975 he worked in the New Jersey home office of Hall Construction Co., Inc. becoming an Estimator, then a Project Manager, and eventually became President of Hall Construction Co., Inc. He remains as President and Project Executive on current projects and has overseen numerous notable project such as the Luxury Suites Addition to Giants Stadium, the Restoration and Expansion of the Atlantic City Boardwalk Convention Hall and The Wildwoods Convention Center.
In addition to Hall Construction Co., Inc.; Mark is also serving his second term as President of the Building Contractor Association of New Jersey (BCANI), is a member of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), an Allied Member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) a Management Trustee for the NJ Statewide Laborers Benefits Funds and a Management Trustee for the New Jersey Carpenters Funds.
For the last fifteen years, Mark has been an active member of the Christian Brothers Academy community. He is presently Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees, is a member and past President of the Alumni Association, and has also served on the Fathers Club while his sons attended CBA. Mark has also served as a member of the St. Leo the Great School Advisory Board. Additional, Mark and his family are active supporters of many non-profit, community based, and charitable organizations.
Mark is an active parishioner of St. Leo the Great Parish is Lincroft, New Jersey.
2004 HOF Inductee
Dan Keane
Dan Keane was born to Elizabeth and Daniel Keane on January 9, 1948 in Kearny, New Jersey. He attended both Queen of Peace Grammar and High School in North Arlington, N). Nineteen sixty-two was the start of a 39 year relationship with the Christian Brothers.
Upon graduation from Queen of Peace, Dan went to Seton Hall University, South Orange, NI, majoring in Secondary Education. While at Seton Hall, Dan was the contributing Sports Editor to the Setonian, the school newspaper and served as the student government senator for two years. Dan graduated in May 1970 with a teaching degree and was named to “Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.” Thanks from the help of his high school mentor, Bro. Thomas Wilkinson, F.S.C., Dan gained a teaching position at Paramus Catholic H.S., Paramus, N.J. He taught at Paramus from 1970 to 1977 and was Varsity Baseball Coach and Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach during his time there.
In 1977, Dan accepted a position at C.B.A. as the chairman of the History Department. The following year, Dan took over the Varsity Soccer Team. In 1980, he also took on the duties of Varsity Tennis Coach. He is currently the longest running Soccer Coach at the Jersey Shore (27th Season) and will be entering his 26th Season with the tennis team in the spring. Under his leadership, both Soccer and Tennis programs have maintained a high level of success.
In Soccer, CBA teams have won State Championship in 1992, 1998, 2000, and 2002 as well as 5 Shore Conference Championships and 13 Conference Titles. Most notably however would be the 5 straight appearances in the Parochial A Final, an achievement accomplished by no other school. Dan was named Asbury Park Press “Coach of the Year” in 1998 and the National Soccer “Coach of the Year” in 2000 by the National Soccer Coaches Association.
Dan has been the Varsity Tennis Coach for 26 seasons. His overall record is (473-96) during that time. CBA has won 16 Parochial A State titles and 6 All-Group State titles under his leadership. The Colts also have won the Newark Academy Invitational 5 times. Dan has also had the honor of coaching 2 State Singles Champions: Chris Gambino in 1988 and David Kenas in 1995. He was named 1982 Newark Star Ledger “Coach of the Year,” the 1990 Asbury Park Press “Coach of the Year” and the Newark Star Ledger “Coach of the Decade” – 1980s.
Over the years, Dan has been involved in over 1,000 CBA sports events winning over 800 of these contests. However, he is quite proud of the accomplishments of his athletes, as they became young men and achieved success in many walks of life including teaching and coaching.
Dan has felt privileged to have had the opportunity to work with players who share dedication, work and sportsmanship as values that reflect CBA athletics.
Dan lives in Little Silver with his wife, Barbara, also a teacher, son Dan (’95) who is an Account Executive with U.S. Securities Associates, Woodbridge, NJ and daughter, Anne, who is an Editorial Assistant and Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief with Good Housekeeping Magazine in NYC.
2004 HOF Inductee
Dolly Gartland Sullivan
New York is home to many notable dignitaries, specifically – Dolores Sullivan who is affectionately known by all of her friends and family as Dolly or Gram. Dolly’s skills and talents in the food business were recognized at a very young age. Not one to sit idle, Dolly’s expertise lent itself to fortifying the students of Monmouth Junior College in Long Branch while her husband, Jim, attended College at Rutgers University. Dolly and Jim had four children, Catherine, Theresa, Joseph and Sally; they also raised two foster children Kathy and Tina.
Dolly and Jim met the brothers at CBA while providing meals for the construction workers of the Walter Hurley Company which was contracted to build CBA. During that time, they cultivated many lifelong friendships with the brothers, specifically – Brothers Bernard McKenna (Scottie) and Andrew Valentine (Val). For two years, Val and Scottie would start their day over coffee with Dolly and lim. Before CBA opened its doors in 1959, Scottie, the first principal of CBA; knew he needed someone he could count on to run the school cafeteria and asked the “Dynamic Duo” if they were interested. For those of you who know Dolly, the rest is history! She would not trade her years with CBA for all the world for she has many treasured memories of her tenure with the school and the brothers. Brother William Chasson always brought a smile to her face when he joked about Jim’s chicken noodle soup and the accompanying claim that the same chicken ran through that soup all year long.
In 1969, Dolly and Jim purchased The Olde Farmingdale House, a restaurant in Farmingdale where their son Joe was the chef. Many of the brothers quickly became patrons of The Olde Farmingdale House and discovered new culinary delights to delight their palates.
In 1976, Dolly was widowed and a few years later, she met Charles Sullivan. Dolly and Charlie were married in 1979. Charles is an Alumnus of the Bishop Lockland High School in Brooklyn, New York. Charlie soon joined Dolly in running the catering service and became an invaluable asset to Garson Catering. Charlie jokes that the Catholic boys at CBA would not know bagels were if it were not for Dolly!
In 1982, Dolly was named Businesswoman of the year at NYU for her lifetime achievements in the food industry with Garson Catering. Dolly has 15 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren which is quite a feat considering she started with four children. For over 35 years, her children and grandchildren have worked for her. She taught them work ethic, responsibility and a chance to learn first-hand how to run a catering business. Two of Dolly’s grandsons are CBA graduates.
Over the years CBA has become a second home to Dolly, she considers the faculty, staff and brothers an extension of her family. Throughout the years, she has been blessed with a wonderful staff of employees.
She has been devoted to CBA for the last 45 years and feels a close association and mutual respect for the brothers. She and Charlie have developed many lasting friendships with the faculty, brothers and employees and they both hope to be blessed with good health and many more years of service to CBA.
2005 HOF Inductee
Roger Mumford '74
Roger Mumford was born in England and moved to the United States in 1962, becoming a US citizen in 1996. After living five years in Virginia, Roger’s family moved to NI where he attended Christian Brothers Academy and graduated in 1974. Roger obtained a BA Degree in Economics from Lafayette College in 1978.
Roger is married to Virginia, and they have three children; Danielle 25; Andrew 16, a sophomore at CBA; and William 14, a freshman at CBA.
In 1986 Roger co-founded The Matzel & Mumford Organization, serving as President for 14 years until his retirement in 2004. His considerable experience in construction, management, marketing, and human relations elevated Roger to a leadership position in the development industry. He is widely credited as an industry pioneer, with his signature employment of estate style architecture, design centers, innovative marketing approaches, and overall emphasis on quality.
In 1999, Roger negotiated the sale of Matzel & Mumford to K Hovnanian. After the acquisition, Roger continued as president of MEM while working with CEO Ara Hovnanian as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee from 2000 through 2004.
Through Matzel & Mumford, Roger has received over 50 major industry awards including New Jersey’s “Community of the Year” Award (5 times). In addition, his honors include “Entrepreneur of the Year” NJ Real Estate category by Ernst & Young, Inc., “Distinguished Citizen of the Year” from the Boy Scouts of America, Thomas A. Edison Council, and “Citizen of the Year” from the Borough of South River.
In addition to his focus on various business interests, Roger is a board member of Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities, a nonprofit organization whose mission includes increasing government funding for social needs at no additional expense to the taxpayer by reducing outmoded Cold War era weapons.
Roger is a longtime supporter of Christian Brothers, and admires the dedication demonstrated by both the Brothers and the lay faculty alike.
2005 HOF Inductee
Father Garry Koch
Garry Koch joined the faculty at Christian Brothers Academy in 1982 as a member of the Religion department. The department was under the inspirational direction of Ron Boro, with Pat Tracey, Bernie Krzan, Pat Scott, Bro. Bernadine Aucoin, Bro. Michael Kennedy, Bro. Daniel O’Brien, Bro. Peter Mannion, Bro. Robert Berger and Bro. Andrew O’Gara as colleagues.
Garry quickly found a home at CBA, with its young and dedicated faculty, strong tradition of the Christian Brothers, and intelligent and enthusiastic students.
Growth at CBA was in evidence with the advent of Project’80’s and the faculty underwent a slow and steady transformation as more and more lay men and women took up the mantle of Lasallian education. Garry took on additional roles and responsibilities. He has been faculty adviser to the National Honor Society since 1984. He was Director of Intramural Sports (1986-1998) and has been the timekeeper for home varsity and JV basketball and wrestling since 1985. >From 1995-1998 he served, along with James Britton ’98, as the co-editor of CBA Today. From 2000 – 2005 Garry worked with Barbara Britton, Maureen Maroney and Jack Thawley as the moderator of Pegasus: The Yearbook of CBA. He serves as a coordinator of Liturgical Ministries.
As important as the co-curricular activities are, it is the classroom which has always been Garry’s greatest enjoyment. He began teaching freshman, sophomore and senior Phase 4 (now Standard) Religion, and then graduated to Phase 3 (now Honors) courses. He has taught the honors junior course on Scripture, several senior theology electives, Christian Service, Psychology and World History throughout the years.
It is his inheritance of the GURU Program (Peer Ministry) in1986 from Mr. Boro that has been his most formidable task. The responsibility of training and coordinating seniors as they conduct small group mentoring sessions with freshmen is a challenge which is always exciting and demands continual oversight and renewal. He has shared teaching responsibilities in the program with Bernie Krzan (1986), Father Joseph Farrell 65 (1989-1995) and Joe Finn ’89 (2000-2004).
Garry has served as Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees (1990-1993; 1995-2005) and chair of the Lasallian Committee (1991-1995).
Taking his passion for teaching and theology beyond the walls of CBA, Garry is a Master Formation Catechist for the Diocese and teaches in the Permanent Deacon Formation Program. He is a frequent speaker in adult religious education programs and teaches courses in the Bible at St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Red Bank. Garry writes The Word column for The Monitor, the newspaper of the Diocese of Trenton, and contributes to the Faith Matters column in The Asbury Park Press.
Garry was named Director of Advancement at CBA in 2005, where he has assumed responsibilities for communications and public relations, and works with Bro. Andrew and Pat McGann in areas of development and alumni and constituent relations.
He was Lasallian Educator of the Year in 2005 at CBA and of the New York-New Jersey-Michigan District of the Brothers Schools for the 2004-2005 year. A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Garry lives in Monmouth Beach
2005 HOF Inductee
Dr. Stephen Dubel
Dr. Stephen Dubel has been a loyal and dedicated physician to the Christian Brothers and many of their students at Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, New Jersey for the past forty years. His medical and personal service was always generous and gratuitous.
In 1977 Dr. Dubel was honored by Brother Pablo Bastarecchia, Superior General, with letters of Affiliation to the Brother of the Christian Schools for his extraordinary love and devotion to his family and Church, his dedicated service to his patients, including the Brothers and their students.
Stephen Dubel was born and raised in Irvington, New Jersey, baptized and confirmed in Sacred Heart Church. He was an excellent student in Irvington High School, Class President in the senior year and a varsity athlete in football and track.
He attended Rutgers University on an academic and football scholarship, was President of Zeta Psi Fraternity and graduated Cum Laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He was a member
of Rutgers University Choir and Glee Club for four years.
Stephen Dubel and Verna Chaplin were married on August 15, 1953. Stephen attended Temple University School of Medicine, was a member of the Babcock Honor Society and earned the medical degree in 1956. He interned at Hartford Hospital in 1956, did his Medical Regency in Newington Veterans Hospital in 1957 and at Temple University Medical Center during 1959-1961 and his Cardiology training as a Resident Physician via the National institute of Health was completed in 1962. Dr. Dubel served as Captain, USAF during 1957-1959 as Chief of Medicine and Radiology at the Loring Air Force Base, Caribou, Maine.
During these demanding assignments, Stephen and Verna began their remarkable family of five daughters and four sons-Diana, Nancy, John, Anna, Teresa, Mary Louise, Thomas, Michael and David. Their four sons attended and graduated from Christian Brothers Academy. Steve and Verna were happily married for thirty three years, blessed with nine children and twenty three grandchildren. Verna died on July 13, 1986.
Dr. Dubel and Elaine Andrews married on May 12, 1990. They added her three children-Lisa, Dale and Tammy. Dr. Dubel had a private practice in Internal Medicine and Cardiology in Red Bank, NJ from
1965-1995. On May 11, 2001 he was honored by the Medical Staff as the First Recipient of the Riverview Medical Center Outstanding Physician Award.
In well deserved retirement, Dr. Dubel reflects the biblical proclamation, “Planted in the House of the Lord, the Just will flourish
in the courts of our God still bearing fruit when they are old, still Green.” Such is our beloved physician, father, grandfather, affiliated Brother of the Christian Schools.
2006 HOF Inductee
Lt. Dennis Zilinski II '00
Dennis William Zilinski, II was born on December 23, 1981 in Red Bank, New Jersey. His proud parents are Dennis W. and Marion R. Zilinski. Dennis has three older siblings, Douglas Kenner, Michele Vaughn, Tiffany Zilinski and one younger brother Matthew Zilinski.
As a small child, Dennis developed a catch-me-if-you-can attitude. He loved joking and making others feel so special about themselves. He had the God given ability to bring out the very best that you had to give. He gave 100% all of the time and he expected all of us to be giving 100% all of the time. Dennis loved life and people so much. He infected the community with his ability to wake up happy and to be just so glad that he was alive.
He attended grammar school in Middletown Village School and middle school at Thorne Middle School. He then requested that he be able to attend CBA with all of his swimming buddies from the Red Bank YMCA.
CBA offered Dennis the room to grow, not only as a student, but as a human being. Dennis had indicated that all of his sons would go to CBA. There was no question in his mind that his sons would experience the education, the love and the nurturing that he received by being part of the CBA family.
What can be said about swimming and Dennis? Dennis began swimming competitively at the age of 8 at the Red Bank YMCA. He wanted to win. He wanted to be with his friends and compete in the friendly competition. He gave when most people just couldn’t give anymore. He was determined to be a leader even in the pool. He set goals for himself and then working like no other to achieve those goals. He didn’t always finish first, but he would get into the pool and explode at the most unexpected times and would bring joy to everyone there, because he wasn’t a first place finisher all the time. He was named a team captain for the “Y” team. He also swam on the CBA team and during his sophomore year they were the State Champions. Dennis was also named Captain of this team in his senior year.
At West Point, Dennis continued his determination to be the best that there was. He was named the team captain in his first year and received the 1923 Memorial Award presented to the outstanding member of the men’s swimming team and the Capt. Michael W. Kilroy Memorial Award, presented to the Captain of the Army Men’s Swimming Team.
Dennis’ hope for the future was to protect the community which he loved so much. Dennis chose West Point to attend because he wanted to wear the uniform. What a tall order that is. With wearing the uniform you announce to the world that you are here to serve and to protect humankind. So Dennis. He was willing to defend all of our beliefs, he was willing to protect all humankind, and he was willing to give his life for all of us. He just wanted to give others the chance to experience freedom. Dennis’ hope was that all humankind would learn to respect and care for one another, even though we are different or believe differently.
Dennis wore his uniform with great pride. It had to be perfect. He loved the Army and was born to be a leader. He gave all there was to give. He earned the right to wear a Ranger Tab in March of 2005. He was then stationed with the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Combat team of the 101st Airborne Unit where he was a platoon leader where he exemplified the motto of “Let Valor Not Fail.” He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, The Purple Heart and the Iraq Campaign Medal.
Through the examples of his life, Dennis gives us all hope.
Dennis had this very special relationship with his Savior that was nourished in his home life and then continued with the teachings at CBA. He was completely comfortable with that relationship. Dennis knew in his heart that no matter what happened to him in his life that he was comfortably in God’s hands. In a moment of time, Dennis was standing before his friend, his Lord and Savior.
Dennis life on earth ended on Saturday, November 19, 2005 while on patrol in Bayji, Iraq when his humvee was struck by IED (improvised explosive device) with four other soldiers from his platoon.
No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s own life for one’s friends. Well done my faithful servant.
2006 HOF Inductee
Helen Doyle
Helen Doyle is the Office Manager of Hall Construction Co., Inc. and Administrative Assistant to Mark D. Hall, the company’s President (CBA Alumni). Helen’s involvement with the CBA community started when she and Mark were asked to organize a summer fund raising event for the CBA Alumni Association. Helen acted as Event Coordinator for the Alumni Association’s Annual Clambake for the first five years.
Helen also volunteers her time to Holiday Express – a non-profit organization whose mission is to “Deliver the gift of human kindness” during the holiday season. Helen is a member of the Holiday Express Board of Trustees and has served as Scheduling Coordinator and Event Manager. In addition, Helen has served on various committees within the organization, such as the Holiday Extensions Program, Giving Partner Committee, Golf Outing Committee and the
Dinner Dance Committee.
Helen and her husband of 24 years, Bob Doyle, are both graduates of Red Bank Catholic High School. They have three sons – Robert (20) attending Fairleigh Dickinson University, Jack (18) attending The Richard Stockton College of NJ, and Mark (13) an eighth grade student at Howell Middle School South (who is anxious to become the family’s first Colt Crazy).
2006 HOF Inductee
Alfred "Fred" Casagrande
Alfred Charles Casagrande was born in Belmar, N.J. June 20, 1913. We don’t think he really knew who he was named after. “We always just called him Fred”, was the smiling answer we received. It was his father’s brother, Alfred – “Uncle Fred”, who had that honor. He was raised in Spring Lake, schooled there, at A.P.H.S. and then William and Mary College in Ta. He was an exceptional sportsman. Played championship football, basketball and baseball in High School and at College. He owned and operated Casagrande’s Liquor Shop from 1934 to the present. His son Eugene has been his mainstay since the 1960’s. He enjoyed his work so much he never retired. He married Marjorie Bork in 1940. They raised five sons and five daughters. All were educated beyond high school.
Had many joyful times, sorrowful times, times of service to others, always dedicated to his work. Many times of generosity to others, loved all sports, especially the N.Y. Yankees, many of whom visited at his sister – joy-o-joy!
Loved young peoples visits, so many tell us of their visits “home,” and always come to see “Mr. C.”! He suffered pain and sickness with patience, yet always “Had to get to his store.” We
called it “His spot.”
Our bond is maintained with him – living out the values and virtues he taught all.
2007 HOF Inductee
Gary V. Sagui '69
Gary was born to Mary and Julius Sagui on October 23, 1951, the second of six children. They lived in Spring Lake and he attended Saint Catharine’s grammar school. He entered CBA in September 1965.
His main extracurricular activity at CBA was wrestling. He won the Phillipsburg Christmas Tournament, the District Title twice, the Regional Title twice and took a second in the State Championship as a junior and a fourth as a senior. He graduated from CBA in June 1969. Gary’s brothers also attended CBA, his older brother Tom ran track and wrestled and graduated in 1968. His brother David wrestled and graduated in 1976. His brother Matthew attended 2 years, wrestled, and graduated from Manasquan High School in 1979. His nephew Kevin graduated from CBA in 2004.
After CBA Gary attended Princeton University and graduated in 1973 with a degree in Economics. Among the wrestling highlights were winning the West Point Plebe Tournament and taking a second in the Clearfield Open. His wrestling career ended with three knee surgeries as a junior. Gary then attended University of Chicago Business School and received an MBA in1976 with a concentration in Finance.
His trading career began as a Foreign Exchange Trader at the Harris Bank. He then went on to trade Corporate Bonds at Blyth, Eastman & Dillon. When Blyth merged with Paine Webber he transferred to the commodities department. In 1982 he joined Kidder, Peabody as floor manager of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). He was made a partner in 1985, transferred to the Government Bond Department in 1987 and resigned in 1989. In 1989 he joined his brother Matthew in forming a trading partnership at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). In 1999 they formed Templar Trading LLC along with Bob Dickey and Steve Stewart. Gary is managing member of Templar Trading.
Gary is a long time member of The CME and CBOT. He served on many committees at both exchanges and served on the Board of Directors of the CBOT while they went through demutualization. He has written on many controversial industry topics including: Merger of the CME and CBOT, Block Trading, Payment-For-Order-Flow, and migration from floor to computer based trading platforms. Some of his writings were covered in the national press. He served on the Board of Advisers of The Midwest Chapter of Beat the Streets which is an organization that combines a wrestling and mentoring program to help at-risk youth.
He has supported many charitable causes but those nearest to his heart involve poor kids and wrestling. He contributed to building the wrestling rooms at CBA, Princeton University, and Northwestern University. He fully funded the purchase of wrestling mats and other startup costs for wrestling programs at: East Harlem School in NYC, Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, Hope Chicago Academy in Chicago and at five Beat the Streets locations. He has raised substantial sums for inner city Chicago youth to attend summer wrestling camps at Northwestern University every summer since 1992. In addition to wrestling the attendees receive mentoring from Northwestern staff on academic and other non-wrestling aspects of life.
Gary lives in Wilmette, Illinois with his wife Maureen and their daughter Jane. Jane is a freshman high school student and attends Loyola Academy where she runs Cross Country and Track and is an avid Equestrian.
2007 HOF Inductee
John Przygocki
John Przygocki is the Athletic Director of Christian Brothers Academy. He taught sciences at The Bergen School in Jersey City before coming to Christian Brothers in 1973 to teach biology, which he continued to teach until 2002. John became the Director of Intramurals and accepted the position of Athletic Director in 1976. He attended Saint Michael’s Grammar School and High School in Jersey City. He continued his education at Rutgers University in Newark.
John married Mary Ann Jackson in the summer of 1968. They have two children, John and Kristan. John – CBA Class of 88 and Loyola College and his wife Kerri Devine have three daughters, Maggie, Erin and Kelly. Kristan married Gerry Geiger – CBA Class of 89. They also have three children Jack – CBA Class of 2018, Cate and Will – CBA Class of 2022.
2007 HOF Inductee
Raymond V. O’Brien, Jr.
Raymond V. O’Brien, Jr. was born on September 23, 1927 in Bronx, NY. He graduated from St. Nicholas of Tolentine Elementary School in the Bronx, Regis High School in Manhattan and Fordham College and Fordham Law School. Ray O’Brien served our country in the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant and fought in Korea in 1952 and 1953.
Upon completion of his service, Ray joined the Chase Manhattan Bank and was employed there until 1974. Ray left the Chase as a Senior Vice President to join the Emigrant Savings Bank as President and Trustee. Ray worked at the Emigrant until he retired as Chairman and CEO in 1993. He continued to serve as a Director of Emigrants’ Board of Directors until 2004.
Ray was married to Theresa S. O’Brien until her death in 1981. They had six children; Susan, Ray III (CBA Class of 75), Chris (Class of 1976), Sean (Class of 1979), Carol and Nancy. Ray is married to his wife Ellen and they are grandparents to eleven grandchildren, one of whom is currently a junior at CBA.
Ray was actively involved in CBA and served as Chairman of the Finance Committee and on the Board of Directors from 1970-1985. He has also been involved in many schools and organizations: Fordham University Board of Directors, Regis High School Board of Directors and the Board Chair of the Catholic Youth Organization, Diocese of New York. Ray is a Knight of Malta and a life member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.
Ray and Ellen have resided in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida since 1993.
2009 HOF Inductee
William E. Howell '74
Bill was born to Mabel and Everett Howell on August 11, 1956, the third of three children. Originally living in Springfield, NJ and summering in Brick, NJ they moved to Brick year round as Bill entered second grade. Bill completed his primary education in Brick public schools (Osbornville and Emma Havens Young Elementary and Lake Riviera Middle School) entering CBA in September 1970 and graduating as a member of the class of 1974.
Bill enjoyed his years at CBA and learned much, both in terms of traditional education as well as Christian values. It was during his years at CBA that Bill would be introduced to computers by the late Brother James Dobson, learning to program in Basic and FORTRAN. This would spark Bill’s interest and lead to his primary career focus of information technology.
Bill’s extracurricular activities at CBA centered on the Chess Team where he played at first board. Bill was also active in the startup of a stamp and coin collecting club and the library. Outside of school Bill’s passions involved most things associated with water including sailing and waterskiing.
At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Bill studied engineering while working part-time and found the application of his education to business problems particularly motivating. Bill graduated from RPI with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. At RPI Bill served as Commodore of the RPI Sailing Team as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the Student Union.
Bill began his career as Data Systems Manager for Mechanical Technology Incorporated, a manufacturer of computer controlled machine tools. Bill was responsible for the development of geometric algorithms and the automation of coordinate measuring machines. Bill went on to be Major Account Software Manager with Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC). Bill also served part-time on the faculty of several colleges.
In 1983 Bill joined the Faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Graduate Computer Science Department as Director of Computer Services. Bill’s primary role was management of the computing environment which in 1991 was recognized as “the absolute best computing infrastructure available in academia.” Bill’s success would result in him being asked to keynote national conferences.
In 1994 Bill joined Glaxo, a British pharmaceutical corporation that would go on to become GlaxoWellcome and later GlaxoSmithKline. Bill progressed through roles culminating in the position of Vice President of Global IS Architecture and Planning. During these years Bill’s staff expanded to include a broad international base requiring bi-weekly travel to London. This sparked a curiosity into the management of global organizations that led Bill to complete a Master of Business Administration degree at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. During these years Bill met his wife Nancy, Worldwide Director of Pharmaceutical Project Management at Glaxo, and they became proud parents to their son David in January 2000.
Bill continued in the pharmaceutical industry with Vice President positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb and Eli Lilly and then in 2004 joined Accellent, a KKR portfolio company and the world’s largest contract manufacturer to the medical device industry, where he is Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer.
During Bill’s career he has supported many worthwhile charitable causes. First among these has been CBA with a primary focus on supporting academic computing. Given Bill’s introduction to computing at CBA it was only fitting that Bill would donate a room during a CBA expansion in honor of the late Brother James Dobson.
Bill lives in Andover, Massachusetts with his wife Nancy and their son David. David is a third grader. Bill’s passion for everything water continues and during the summer the Howell family can be seen visiting New England coastal towns aboard their powerboat the “Attitude of Gratitude.”
2009 HOF Inductee
Michael Reynolds
Christian Brothers Academy coach Mike Reynolds, one of the most successful high school ice hockey mentors over the last 16 seasons, has announced his resignation from the Lincroft school. There’s no denying the fact Reynolds was a master at coaching on a high school level. He is the only coach in state history to earn The Star-Ledger state Coach of the Year twice (at Toms River North in 1991-92 and CBA in 1995-96) and the only coach to lead his team to three straight Star-Ledger Top 20 Trophies.
Never was there a time I heard an opposing coach being excited about playing a Reynolds-coached team. He was a great tactician, a marvelous scholastic innovator and as successful as any coach in history. He leaves with a career mark of 319-173-52, which puts him fourth on the all-time coaching list behind Brick’s Bob Auriemma, Seton Hall Prep’s John Warchol and Chatham’s Harvey Cohen. The 54-year-old Reynolds has accepted the position of hockey director at the Navesink Country Club in Middletown. “Navesink has an outdoor rink, so it’ll be just like old times coaching kids out there,” Reynolds said. “I’ll be coaching mites to bantams and even a men’s team. Heck, I’ll even lace on the skates to play again. I’m very much looking forward to it.”
As a youngster, Reynolds received scholarship offers to play at Merrimack, Providence and Boston College, choosing the former. The 1976 Merrimack grad was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in ’84. He had 113 career goals and 224 points. Reynolds returned to Merrimack as an assistant coach under Bruce Parker for two seasons in 1978-79 and 1979-80.
There, he was involved in one of the most memorable victories of his coaching career, a triumph over Lowell University of Maine in the ECAC championship game in 1980. After a playing stint in Sweden, he returned to the U.S. to coach boys’ soccer and ice hockey at Madison Borough for the 1982-83 campaign, before taking over ice hockey duties at TRS. In the 1986-87 season, he took the ice hockey reins at TRN.
“I always wanted my kids to be creative on their own, particularly in the offensive zone,” Reynolds said. ” When they retrieve the puck, I want them to ad lib and freewheel out there, because that’s when it becomes fun.. “Lane hockey, in which players go up and down the ice without much flow, can get boring. I also think it’s important to incorporate a wrinkle at every practice to keep the players on their toes.”
Most recently, Reynolds coached Middletown’s James van Riemsdyk at CBA for two seasons before the budding superstar left high school in the summer of 2006 and joined the U.S. Junior National Team. Van Riemsdyk was the second overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft on June 22 by the Flyers.
Reynolds’ last state championship came in 2004-05 when his team scored a memorable 2-1 overtime victory over Delbarton in the non-public final at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford. “I suppose those memorable games against Delbarton stick out the most to me,” Reynolds said.
His team’s 3-2 overtime triumph over Delbarton in the 1993-94 state semifinal, which led to his first state championship, was, perhaps, a sign of things to come.” That victory (over Delbarton in 1993-94) was a turning point for our program at CBA,” Reynolds noted.
I’m sure I speak for every coach across the state in wishing Mike Reynolds the very best in all future endeavors. He was a class act and a true gentleman to deal with in my 18 seasons of coverage.
2009 HOF Inductee
George & Gail Hempstead
George and Gail Hempstead were both “military brats.” Gail’s dad was an Air Force pilot. She was born in Texas and later lived in Mississippi, Massachusetts, Alaska and Japan before moving to Mitchel Air Force Base in East Meadow, NY. George’s dad was an Air Force Judge Advocate and his family lived in Germany, France and England before also being transferred to Mitchel Field where George and Gail met and they began dating in 1959.
George attended St. John’s University and Law School in Brooklyn. Gail worked for the March of Dimes and received her “PHT” (Putting Hubby Thru). They were married at the end of George’s first year of Law School in 1965. James Hempstead (CBA-1985) was born on Gail’s birthday in 1967 just before George’s graduation.
Following graduation, George, Gail and James moved to Washington, DC where George became a Trial Attorney for the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice. Bob Hempstead (CBA-1986) arrived in 1968. In 1971, the Hempstead family moved to New Jersey and George began working on Wall Street with Simpson Thacher and Bartlett as a Trial Lawyer. Chris Hempstead (CBA-1989) arrived on the scene in 1971 and Scott Hempstead (CBA-1992) arrived on George’s 30th birthday in 1973.
In 1982, the family moved to Colts Neck and had to deal with Ruth Manning to get to Brother Andrew in order to get Jim into CBA. Somehow Brother Andrew admitted Jim and has never regretted that decision. Once involved in CBA, George join the Father’s Club and Gail got involved with the Mother’s Club. Over time, George and Gail became more and more involved heading up the first CBA Auction which raised over $50,000 in 2 years. George later became President of the Father’s Club and Gail became President of the Mother’s Club and it was the first time in the school’s history that the President of the Father’s Club admitted to sleeping with the President of the Mother’s Club!
Throughout the 1980’s, Gail was actively involved in the annual CBA Art and Fashion Shows and was notorious at pulling practical jokes on the Brothers. At one of Brother Andrew’s annual thank you dinners for the Mother’s Club, Gail had all the active mothers dress up as nuns which really shook up the Brothers house.
One of Hanson’s subsidiaries was Universal Gym Equipment and thanks to George, CBA was able to install a beautiful new work out gym which Coach Wiz thought was just for the basketball team. George was also instrumental in procuring the new scoreboard in the old gym and the tent used for graduations and alumni reunions.
Following Scott’s graduation in 1981, George became Chairman of the CBA Board of Trustees. As president, he was influential in developing a new strategy for the financing of the school and with the Board and the negotiating team hammered out a fiscal package regarding health costs to the betterment of the Academy.
During their busy career of raising children and putting in endless hours on deals, George and Gail devoted themselves to their children. George somehow managed to serve as a Cub Scout Packmaster in both New Jersey and Delaware and was involved with each of his sons as a manager or coach in the Little League programs in New Jersey and Delaware. In 1983, George served as President of the Colts Neck Youth baseball program.
Today, George and Gail are retired, residing in their summer home on Cape Cod and their winter home in Naples, Florida. Both George and Gail are avid golfers and George’s boat on Cape Cod a 30 foot Grady White named “Takeover,” is his fishing machine. They are also enjoying and regularly babysitting their 14 grandchildren, several of whom are hoping to keep the Hempstead name alive at CBA.
2010 HOF Inductee
Dr. Daniel Mulholland '78
Dr. Daniel Mulholland graduated from CBA in 1978. He was a member of the National Honor Society and a wrestler. He went to college at the University of Notre Dame and graduated with a degree in Pre Professional Studies. He then attended Georgetown University School of Medicine where he graduated cum laude and a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society.
Dr. Mulholland completed a general surgery internship at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York. He then completed residency in Orthopedic Surgery at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston. From there he fulfilled his military obligation for his medical school scholarships. He was an Orthopedic Surgeon at Walson Air Force Hospital at McGuire Air Force Base/Fort Dix for 3 years. Next he did a fellowship in Sports Medicine/ Arthroscopy with Dr. Richard Caspari, one of the fathers of arthroscopy. Part of this training included working with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The last 13 years Dr. Mulholland has worked as an Orthopedic Surgeon at the OrthoCenter in Middletown, New Jersey. For 12 of those years Dr. Mulholland has been having a training room clinic on Thursdays with Brother Robert Fagan, and now with Sean Malysz. He has averaged seeing 150-200 students, Brothers, teachers and employees. Dr. Mulholland also does charity work for the Parker Clinic in Red Bank and Our Lady of Providence Clinic in Neptune.
Dr. Mulholland lives in Little Silver with his wife Donna, his step daughter Ashley and his sons Troy and Zach. While he used to be an avid fisherman; he now spends most of his free time chasing his sons.
2010 HOF Inductee
Mike Sullivan
I was the first of five children born to Robert and Elaine Sullivan. I began my Catholic school education at St. Thomas Aquinas in the Flatlands section of Brooklyn, NY. As an elementary school student I began my swimming career in the third grade, swimming in the Brooklyn CYO league until I graduated in 1966.
In my freshman year at St Francis Prepatory in Brooklyn, I met Mr. Thomas Booras who would make a lasting impression on my coaching career at CBA. Mr. Booras was a coaching legend in the New York City Catholic League. By the time I graduated from The Prep in 1970, Mr. Booras had taught me all I would need to know while coaching young Catholic men.
While pursuing my undergraduate degree at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, I was awarded the opportunity to continue my swimming and water polo career. I continued to learn and prosper at swimming and playing water polo as well in the field of education. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1976, I pursued my education at Long Island University Brooklyn campus of course! In the fall of 1978 I received a Master’s degree in Adapted Physical Education / Developmental Disabilities.
I began my teaching career after Bro. Andrew O’Gara approached me in 1988 about taking a one year replacement for Bernie Arnella as a physical education teacher at CBA. My brother-in-law Edward Wicelinski, then head coach of the CBA Basketball team, was also pivotal in my developing education and later, coaching career. During my one year tenure at CBA, Athletic Director John Przygocki asked me if I would be interested in coaching swimming at CBA as there was talk of starting at team at the Academy. I had enjoyed teaching at CBA and was thrilled about the prospect of becoming involved in the sport of swimming again, this time as the coach of an emerging team from a school with stellar reputation not only for academics but sports as well.
The Christian Brothers Academy Swim Team debuted in 1990. We had an undefeated Shore Conference dual meet schedule and won the Monmouth County championship and the Shore Conference team championship, all in our first season!
We went on to have 18 undefeated shore conference dual meets seasons as well as 18 Monmouth County Championships and 18 Shore Conference Championships. To thin day CBA has never lost to a shore conference team, 20 straight years! We finally won our first state championship in 1998.
I owe this success to many swimmers and their parents who made the commitment to CBA swimming. I want to thank all the Brothers of CBA and John Przygocki who trusted me to represent CBA and continue to educate young catholic men in the Lasalian tradition. Mr. Booras who taught me how important it is to win but it’s more important to be a better person for winning!
Finally, I have to thank my wife Jeanne and my daughters Lauren and Clare for allowing me the time to do something I truly love!
2011 HOF Inductee
Joseph R. Tort '76
A graduate of CBA’s Class of 1976, Joe can trace his connections to the Academy back to the very beginnings of the school. His parents, Robert and Florence Tort, recognized the value of a Catholic education in the Lasallian tradition and planned to send their two sons, Bob ’68 and Joe, eight years later, to CBA following in the footsteps of their nephew Joe Zarcaro ’65. Graduating from St. Mary’s School in Deal, NJ, Joe jumped right into academy sports playing basketball and track and field. He played for legendary varsity coach and friend, Vinnie Cox, and contributed to Tom Heath’s track and field team’s long standing win record as a high jumper (though Tom did not recognize the existence of field events until he needed the points to win!). You’ll see Joe’s name on the school’s track record board with three other jumpers holding the four man high jump title.
Involved in numerous other activities at CBA, Joe was a member of the National Honor Society, chaired the Social Committee, played drums in the school play pit band, worked for Dolly in the cafeteria, sang in the school chorus, and even had a cameo role in Lil Abner as the muscularly enhanced Government Man. Lots of laughs. Joe and his friends emerged as the second generation of Bla Na Na, a CBA knock-off of the famous Sha Na Na fifties band playing at CBA talent nights and a few high school dances for fun. The most important person he met while at CBA was a young Frank Byrne ’75 – yes, Br. Frank who is now the President of CBA. Joe clearly enjoyed the total CBA experience.
His most notable memory while at CBA was in 1972 when he heard Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band for the first time playing in the CBA gymnasium. A few years later in 1975, the Student Council tried to get Bruce to return for another concert but it wasn’t to be. Forty years later he is still telling that story and remains a diehard Bruce fan like so many other Academy men.
Joe went on to Fairleigh Dickinson University to study accounting and to meet Miriam, his wife of over 26 years, get married and live happily ever after. Graduating summa cum laude from FDU, Joe set off on his accounting career in one of the Big 8 accounting firms. Joe is now a partner in the New York office of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an international accounting, tax and advisory professional services firm. Joe has served some of PwC’s largest and brand defining clients including AT&T, Lucent Technologies, Agilent Technologies, Thomson Reuters, and The Interpublic Group of Companies. Joe spent five years in the Silicon Valley practice for PwC before returning to New York, and has served in various leadership positions at the Firm. In 1998, Joe completed the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School.
Joe has given of his time and talent over the years to several not for profit organizations including serving as president and board member of the Monmouth Conservatory of Music, The Count Basie Theatre Foundation Advisory Board, the Silberman School of Business at Fairleigh Dickinson University, the Independent College Fund of New Jersey and serves as an assistant Boy Scout Leader for his son’s troop. In CBA tradition, Joe and his entire family spend time and financially support the Trinity Church Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry in Asbury Park NJ at Thanksgiving.
Joe still has time for his alma mater. He currently serves on CBA’s Board of Trustees and chairs the Audit and Finance Committee there as well. Joe also serves as the Campaign Chairman for CBA’s successful Project 50th building campaign which has rebuilt Fleming Hall and the Sprint Barn, as well as constructed the new Library/Media Center, Science Labs and new classrooms. The campaign continues now with the athletic phase which will enhance or build several athletic buildings on campus. Project 50th is the largest and most ambitious campaign in CBA’s history.
Even with those activities, Joe enjoys, even more, events with the students such as speaking at CBs Career Day and his most memorable service to CBA hosting a group of CBA students on a service trip to the De La Salle Blackfeet Indian School in Montana with faculty member Tim Sewnig.
Most important to Joe is his family. His oldest son Joe is a graduate of CBAs Class of 2007 and now attends graduate school at the University of Exeter in England. His daughter Sarah (who desperately wanted to go to CBA) is a sophomore at Northwestern University, and youngest His Andrew currently attends the Academy and will graduate in 2014. His nephew Travis Bergeron continued the CBA tradition graduating with the Class of 2010, Miriam, who loves CBA as much as Joe, currently serves as President of the CBA Mother’s Club. Joe and his family reside in Rumson NJ.
2011 HOF Inductee
Virginia Decker
Virginia Decker has been teaching at CBA since the early years. She came to the Academy in 1971 and has been conducting Spanish classes since then except for maternity leaves when her daughters Kara and Laura (now 30 and 28, respectively) were born.
She is a true member of the CBA family … her husband David is a member of the Academy’s first graduating class in 1963. She attended several CBA dances when she was in high school as well as the 1963 senior prom.
Mrs. Decker teaches 2nd Honors and 4th year Spanish. She was also the moderator for many years of the 30+ member Spanish Club. She comes to her fluency in Spanish naturally. Spanish is her native tongue … she was born in Havana and left Cuba to come to the United States when she was 13 years old.
Her goal in and out of class has always been to instill (while having fun) a sense of Spanish culture in her students, not to merely teach language out of a textbook. For instance, one of her classes produced a Spanish newspaper. Her students also have dined in Spanish restaurants; traveled to Spain, Mexico and France; attended performances of Spanish theatre and opera works; performed traditional Christmas carols in Spanish; and created serious and sometimes very amusing Spanish language videos.
During her years at CBA Mrs. Decker has worn several hats. She was dance chairperson during the early years … Bruce Springsteen played at some of those dances. She was moderator, with Br. Ralph and MS. Schroll, of CBA’s riding club at High Hope Farm in Colts Neck and even drove the Academy van on occasion… she had to stand up while driving due to her stature.
Mrs. Decker attended Montclair State College and taught Spanish in Lawton, Oklahoma and Point Pleasant high schools before coming to CBA.
She believes CBA is a very special place, thanks to “the motivated students and the tremendous cooperation of parents, fellow teachers and Academy administration … there’s an overall pleasant atmosphere here”.
2013 HOF Inductee
Bill and Betty Barnett
Bill and Betty Barnett have been active members of the CBA community since 1979. The older of their two sons began as a freshman that September, and within weeks, Bill and Betty had become parent volunteers, responding to calls for school dance chaperones.
It was a pattern that has continued now for more than three decades. Again and again, while their sons were students and in all the years since, both Bill and Betty have responded with a cheerful “Sure!” anytime their help was needed. And they still do. From the Fathers’ Club and Mothers’ Club in the 1980s, to the Board of Trustees in the 1990s, to organizing alumni parents for Project 50th in 2009-11, the Barnett’s have continuously put their can-do optimism and their infectious good nature at the service of Christian Brothers Academy.
Ask Bill and Betty what motivates them, and they make only the briefest reference to a desire to help, before moving on to talk animatedly about friendship and community, good times and high spirits. They are especially grateful to Brother Andrew and Brother Ralph for the lighthearted sense of fun they fostered among parent volunteers, creating a camaraderie that grew into lasting friendships, bonds of friendship that grew into a lasting sense of community.
The Barnett’s are the parents of three — Bill (CA ’83), Kathleen, and Kevin (CBA’88) — and grandparents of eight. Now that Bill has retired, he and Betty both spend as much time as they can with their five grandsons and three granddaughters, who range in age from 5 to 13.
