Reunion 2009

On Saturday, November 21, 2009 the Lewis Avenue Alumni of St. John's Preparatory School held their Annual Reunion at the New York Athletic Club in New York City. The classes of '49,  '59, and '69 were honored this year. The evening began with a mass, celebrating the feast of Christ the King, at which Reverend Joseph Daly, C.M. '49 was the main celebrant. Concelebrants were Rev. John Freund, C.M.'55, Rev. Msgr. David Cassato, '64, Rev. Loius Trotta, C.M. and Rev. Bernard Tracey, C.M. '63.   Following the mass, guests had the opportunity to mingle with classmates and faculty during the cocktail hour. Following the cocktail hour, Principal William Higgins formally welcomed those gathered and invited the crowd to join together to sing "God Bless America", which was followed by the 50th Anniversary Class of 1959 leading the crowd in singing a stirring version of the St. John's Prep school song, complete with the foot-stomping to correspond to the words "Fight, Fight, Fight."

The evening’s St. Vincent  de Paul Honorees were Mario Cuomo ’49 and Joseph Mattone, Sr. ’49.  The St. John the Baptist Honorees were Mario Fichera ’59, John Houston’69 and Christopher and Mary Pia ’84. 

The evening was a warm and friendly gathering of alumni who shared a special experience at St. John's Prep in Brooklyn and Astoria. The Prep is still a vital institution providing a quality Catholic education in its new location, Astoria, Queens. Prep alumni who attended the Brooklyn institution are welcome to visit and see the "New" St. John's Prep.   Click here to link to a reunion slideshow.   

If you do not receive alumni mail, please send your complete name, year of graduation and mailing address to sjpalumni@stjohnsprepschool.org.  

The 2009 Prep Honorees (l-r) Mary Pia ’84, Mario Cuomo ’49, Chis Pia ’84, Jack Houston ’69, Mario Fichera ’59, Joe Mattone ’49 (front, center).

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 St. John's Prep Class of 1963 Celebrates Friendship

Members of the class of 1963 recently gathered to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of their coming together as a class in September 1959!  The group assembled for dinner at Trattoria L'incontro in Astoria on September 10, 2009.  They traded lots of stories and memories of their days at the Prep and watched a slide show of  pictures from the 1960 Prep Shadows while they listened to the number one song of 1959 - Bobby Darin singing "Mack the Knife."  Franey Donovan '63 stated, "The boys" have not lost their innate ability to mimic every teachers' mannerisms and expressions - right on target and of course, absolutely hilarious!...In summary, we all got so comfortable with one another it was as if the intervening 50 years had never occurred - what a great night!"
 
Donovan continued, "All of us expressed a deep sense of gratitude to our parents for making the financial sacrifice, to our teachers who inspired us to be the best we could be and of course, to the good Vincentian Fathers - none of us would be where we are at today without their guidance and direction some of which continued long after our graduation from SJP in 1963! We even performed a rousing rendition of the fight song: "Hail St. John's!"  

 Seated (L to R): Larry McElynn and Paul "Squeeky" Maguire 
Standing (L to R): Ed Skirde, Tom Long, Joe Carvalhido, Bobby Klein, Nick Cavagnaro, Paul Navarro, Ed Deacy, Alex Tallarico, Franey Donovan, George Salamy, Lou Ballarino, Eddie Sheerin and Walt Zarzycki 

  Frank Palermo '60 sent me this link.  Brooklynites will enjoy it!

  ww.screanews.us/NewYork/BrooklynOld.htm