We Are St. Pius X Annual Fund Issue - St. Pius X Catholic High School

Passings
George Asip, 82, passed away on June 26 after a courageous three-year struggle with cancer. In life, he
loved his wife, his faith, his family, and music. George met Sally, his wife of sixty years, in Flatbush,
New York. They lived two blocks apart from each other near Avenue D in Brooklyn. After their marriage,
he served his country as a United States Navy pilot, fighting in both World War II and Korea.
When George returned to civilian life, he worked as a recruiter for Georgia Tech and was stationed at the
Naval Air Station (now PDK airport). He and Sally moved back to Brooklyn to start their family, but
his new position at Western Electric as an Engineer brought him to Georgia once again in 1962. As they
settled into their home, the Asip family quickly grew, and George and Sally sent their eight children to
Catholic school at St. Jude—where George sang in the church choir for 25 years—and St. Pius X. One
of the great traditions of the Asip family is the annual trip to Florida. It started with the station wagon
loaded to the gills with George, Sally and the children headed for Boca Raton. The tradition continues
to this day with the entourage numbering 84 when the Asip’s come to town. “My dad did what he did
without comment, sure of his role as father to us all. He and my mother sacrificed to educate us and were committed to having us all go to
Catholic schools. One time I heard him reflect on his life, and he asked rhetorically if his life had amounted to anything,” said son Steve ’72.
“I think the legacy of his family speaks for itself. We have reached our goals because we are standing on his shoulders.”
George’s children who graduated from St. Pius: Cathy Gasperini ’65, Jimmy ’66, George ’72, Steve ’72, Edward ’74, Billy ’77, John ’80, and
Sally Beach ’84; and grandchildren alumni: Lisa Parris ’88, Elizabeth Kimberl ’90, Amy Sampona ’94, Rebecca Gasperini ’98, Kelly Iannucci
’98, Leanne ’01, Anastasia ’03, Sean ’04, Sara ’06, Will ’07, and Hunter ’10.
Stan Bird, 60, passed away August 28, 2006. Every school morning at 5:45 a.m. for 20 years Gainesville
native and resident Stan Bird would turn his Honda Civic southward towards St. Pius, in time for daily
Mass. Thus enriched, he set about the task of bringing the language of Caesar and of the church to St.
Pius students. His wife of 38 years, Charlene Bird, shared his love of Latin, having met in Rome while
studying, “I really think his main love of the language sprang from the fact that it was the language of
the church.” He became intranced with the language and Catholicism at the death of Pope Pius XII in
1958. He was drawn to Latin hymns and Gregorian chants, though he also possessed a CD of Elvis songs
in Latin. His bearded, bespectacled face beamed from his tall frame and was the font of wry humor,
and friendly mild mannered goodness. According to Mark Kelly, “You could feel God’s warmth when
you were talking to Stan. I think his students were intrigued by Stan’s passion for all things Latin, he
loved the whole language, he loved the culture, he loved the history of it, and that enthusiasm couldn’t
help but motivate his students.” He is remembered as a kind and caring leader, also by his colleagues,
in his capacity as foreign language department head.
“There was nothing average about my father. He was outstanding in everything he did. He was the
walking embodiment of the word ‘patriarch’.” Neal Callahan
Robert “Bob” Lee Callahan, Jr. devoted himself to his family and his faith throughout his life. Born in
Brooklyn, New York, he was educated in Catholic schools, graduating from Brooklyn Prep and Georgetown
University. He took his law degree from Georgetown with honors and began his law career in
Washington, D.C. Eventually he became the head legal council for Coca-Cola USA and then Vice President
and Deputy General Counsel. In 1955 he married Mary Byrne Carolan, and together they had ten
children, nine of whom were sent through Catholic school at St. Jude and St. Pius. He was grandfather
to 21 and just became a great grandfather. Bob and Mary Byrne served as Home & School Association
presidents and helped establish the Development Office as we know it today.
Bob Callahan was known as the consummate family man and with his loving wife Mary Byrne supported the activities of their clan. Though he
kept a low profile, Bob exhibited talents in other areas—writing and producing musical comedies at St. Jude’s in the 70’s and 80’s. He supported
all the parishes and schools with which he was associated, most recently St. Helena in Clayton, Georgia. When Mary Byrne died in 1999, Bob
established the Mary Byrne Callahan Endowment, a fund that provides awards for student scholarship and for teacher development.
In the words of his sons, he was a man who balanced the demands of a high profile job with life at home. He was able to leave his work at
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