Tarmac October 2007.pdf - Chaminade High School

TARMAC
Newspaper of the Chaminade Flyers Chaminade High School, 340 Jackson Avenue, Mineola, New York 11501-2441 (516) 742-5555
http://www.chaminade-hs.org est. 1934 Vol. LXXIV, No. 1 Special AAC Issue OCTOBER 2007
A RED-RIBBON DAY
68,354-Square-Foot Activity-Athletic Center Opens Its Doors
by Michael Strandberg ‘09
F
rom above, it might have looked as
though a large letter C had formed
around the front door of Chaminade’s
newest facility, the Activity-Athletic Center.
In reality, over 500 members of the
Chaminade Family had assembled in a large
semicircle there to watch the ribbon-cutting
ceremony for the new building, commonly
referred to as the AAC.
Just a few minutes later, they were filing
through the front door, gathering around the
large letter C at center-court in the new complex.
There, they marveled at the 68,354square-foot
facility as they ate, drank, socialized,
and celebrated the newest chapter of
Chaminade’s history.
The $20-million complex houses three
facilities under one roof. The centerpiece
of the building,
the gymnasium,
accounts for 27,491
square feet of the
AAC and will become
the new
home court for
Chaminade basketball
and volleyball.
The two-story
arena, with bleacher
seating for 1,400,
will also allow the
entire student body
to gather under one
roof for Masses and
assemblies. A tenthof-a-mile
indoor
track surrounds
the arena.
Just east of the
main arena is a
separate wrestling
room with its own
First Student-Body
Mass in the AAC
Over 500 members of the
Chaminade Family assemble
to watch the ribbon-cutting
ceremony.
page 12
bleacher seating.
Home and visitor
locker rooms occupy
the space beneath the
wrestling room. At
the west end of the
complex is the
Hearst Auditorium,
a 270-seat lecture
hall that will serve
the Social Studies
Club, the Speech and
Debate Club, and
other groups.
The AAC also features
an exhibition hall
for alumni events, dinners,
and other gatherings;
a spirit-sales counter carrying
Chaminade merchandise;
and a concession stand. The
exhibition hall is the permanent
home for Chaminade’s
full-scale replica of
Michelangelo’s Pietà, donated
in September, 2005 by
Mr. and Mrs. Mario Zito,
parents of Joseph ’97 and
Pasquale ‘01.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony
for this new facility
was the culmination of one of
the largest construction
projects at Chaminade since
the opening of the original
building on September 27,
1931. “It’s stupendous,” said
Mr. Richard Kearns ’68, chair-
An Inside Look at
AAC Construction
Mr. John Kirrane ’01, Bro. Joseph Bellizzi ’78, Mr.
Thomas Dufek, Fr. James Williams ’87, Mr. Richard
Kearns ’68, Fr. Thomas Cardone ’73, Mr. Joseph
Lucchesi ’63, and Mr. Robert Van der Waag ’61 are
ready cut the ribbon, formally opening the AAC.
man of the Board of Advisors.
Later, during the formal
portion of the evening, Mr.
Kearns joked that drivers on
Jericho Turnpike would soon
page13 page 5
be passing signs that read, “Welcome to Mineola
– a Marianist Community.” His witticism reflects
just how large the new facility is and how
it has expanded Chaminade from a school building
located at 340 Jackson Avenue to a campus
that now occupies two full blocks along Jericho
Turnpike.
The Saturday, August 25th ribbon-cutting
ceremony was certainly one of the highlights
of this year’s President’s Council Dinner, an
annual event held to thank major donors to
the TORCH Fund, an annual-giving program
that helps defray the cost of each
student’s tuition. This year, the invitation
list included not only TORCH Fund donors
but also those who had contributed to the
construction of the AAC, either financially
or through donated services and materials.
Usually, the President’s Council Dinner is
held at a local country club. This year, the
Activity-Athletic Center hosted the event.
Caterer Richard Allen and his staff worked
out of the AAC’s ample kitchen, fully outfitted
with restaurant-grade equipment.
See “AAC,” page 19.
Activity-Athletic Center
Hosts General Pace
page 16

TARMACEditorial
by Michael Contillo
‘08
“For believers,
Mother Teresa’s
sense of
abandonment
echoes the
abandonment that
Christ Himself
experienced on
the Cross.”
A Light in the Midst of Darkness
Despite Doubts, Mother Teresa Followed Christ and Served the Poor
She bemoaned the dryness and darkness of her soul.
She said that her smile was just a cloak that covered
the truth. She has been called the “Saint of
the Gutters.” But we know her more commonly as
Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
The recent release of Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light
(Doubleday) has ignited a heated controversy over the
inner spiritual life of one of the most beloved and important
religious figures of modern day.
The book highlights 66 years of correspondences between
Mother Teresa and her confessors. In these correspondences,
Mother Teresa speaks of her private dialogue
with Jesus Himself, but more often of the absence of Jesus
and of any spiritual consolation whatsoever.
“When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven – there
is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts
return like sharp knives and hurt my very soul,” she
writes. “I am told God loves me – and yet the reality
of darkness and coldness and emptiness is so great that
nothing touches my soul.”
Ironically enough, the book’s editor and compiler is
Rev. Brian Kolodiejchuk – a senior Missionaries of
Charity member who is responsible for presenting the
case for Mother Teresa’s canonization. He published
the book to chronicle the modern-day saint’s faith-filled
perseverance in the midst of spiritual darkness.
According to Rev. Kolodiejchuk, “The compilation sheds
light on what St. John of the Cross deemed as the ‘dark night’
stage in the growth of spiritual masters. She lived with the
darkness without the abandonment of her belief or work.”
Prominent atheists have pointed to Mother Teresa’s
dark night of doubts as further evidence that God does
not exist. In an article published
in the September 10, 2007 issue of
Newsweek, Christopher Hitchens,
author of God Is Not Great,
writes, “. . . [this] is the inevitable
result of a dogma that asks people
to believe in impossible things
and then makes them feel abject
and guilty when their innate reason
rebels.”
“ . . . the Church should have
had the elementary decency to
let the earth lie lightly on this
troubled and miserable lady, and
not to invoke her long anguish
to recruit the credulous to a
blind faith in which she herself
had long ceased to believe,”
Hitchens concludes.
Mother Teresa’s admirers see
things differently. Says the Rev.
James Martin, an editor for the
Jesuit magazine America, “Everything
she’s experiencing is
what average believers experience
in their spiritual lives writ
large. I have known scores of
people who have felt abandoned by God and had
doubts about God’s existence. And this book expresses
that in such a stunning way but shows her full of complete
trust at the same time.”
The Rev. Joseph Neuner, a prominent theologian and
one of Mother Teresa’s confidants, firmly believes that her
spiritual turbulence reflected “a craving for God that validated
His hidden presence in her life.” She felt God’s absence,
but she never abandoned the search for Him. That
search, in itself, demonstrates a belief in God that Hitchens
and other atheists have called into question.
For believers, Mother Teresa’s sense of abandonment
echoes the abandonment that Christ Himself experienced
on the Cross. In 1951, Mother Teresa wrote that she wanted
to share in the Passion of Christ. “I want to . . . drink
ONLY [her emphasis] from His chalice of pain.”
That wish was granted. In an undated reflection from
her correspondences, Mother Teresa cries, “Lord, My God,
who am I that You should forsake me?” Nailed upon the
Cross, Jesus voiced the same sense of abandonment: “My
God, My God, why have You forsaken me?”
See “Mother Teresa,” page 4.
T ARMAC
Established 1934
Published by the students of Chaminade High School
STAFF ARTISTS
LAYOUT EDITORS
PHOTOGRAPHY
Chaminade H.S.
Photo Service
WRITERS: Conor Finnegan, Brian Mullin, John Potapchuk, Joe Ross, Brett Wishart,
Philip Lettieri, Brendan O’Shea, Peter Adams, Lukas Bentel, Jonathon Dornbush,
Matthew Hughes, Brandon Pues, Thomas Rooney, Andrew Scarpitta
MODERATOR
Bro. Stephen Balletta, S.M.
ASSISTANT MODERATORS
Mr. Patrick Reichart
Bro. Stephen Ries, S.M.
Louis Stokum
Conor Mercadante
PRINTING
Chaminade H.S.
Print Shop
2 COMMENTARY
Tarmac • October 2007
TEAM A
TEAM B
Anthony Kolodzinski
Nicholas Plumeri
SPORTS EDITORS
Kyle Blanco
Tyler White
FEATURE EDITORS
Eamonn Cummings
Harry Liberman
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF:
Michael Calceglia Tyler Considine
Salvatore Garofalo Robert Ryan
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
FOR WRITING
Alex Kamath
Michael Strandberg
LAYOUT STAFF
Byron Smith
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
FOR PRODUCTION
Kevin Doherty
EDITORIAL EDITORS NEWS EDITORS
Michael Contillo
Dennis Grabowski
Phil McAndrews
HEADLINES AND
CAPTIONS EDITOR
Allen Buzzeo
Anthony Ferrara, Anthony Mastroianni, Sean Till, Colin Dickinson, Michael
Jacobellis, Ryan Krebs, Jaison Kuruvilla, Dylan Walsh
WRITERS: John Maher, Michael Riley, Michael Gaffney, Desmond McWeeney,
Denis O’Leary, Cody Abbey, Frank Arland, Michael Bucaria, Joseph Dalli, Daniel
Hinton, Anthony Nania, Eddie Parisi, Liam Ray, Troy Sampson, Fred Cucciniello

It All Begins with a Handshake
A Record 494 Freshmen Welcomed to Four Years at Chaminade
by Harry Liberman ‘09
F
our years of high school for
Chaminade’s 494 freshmen began
with a handshake at the main entrance
of the school. There, CHS president
Fr. James Williams and principal Bro. Joseph
Bellizzi welcomed each member of the Class
of 2011 to the Chaminade Family. Several
Senior Leaders were also on hand to welcome
the freshmen, as was Fr. James’ dog, a gentle,
88-pound Samoyed named Greta.
This warm greeting from faculty, student,
and canine representatives of the Chaminade
Family was the first of many indications that
3-C Week would deliver on its promise of
forming community, building confidence, and
instilling commitment in the new freshmen.
3-C, a weeklong orientation program to
Chaminade High School, brought the freshmen
into school an entire week (August 27 -
August 31) earlier than their sophomore, junior,
and senior counterparts. Field events;
classes in writing, study skills, and mathematics;
and brief introductions to many aspects
of student life filled the week and
helped ease the transition into a new school.
Field events constituted a major portion of
3-C Week. They provided an outlet for pent-up
energy, an opportunity to meet new friends, and
No Cause for Alarm
... But First Day of School Is a Bit of a Wake-up Call
by Cody Abbey ‘10
Wake me up when September
ends.” As August drew to a
close and the beginning of the
school year drew near, most of Chaminade’s
1700-plus students probably shared those sentiments
from the musical group Green Day.
But on Wednesday,
September 5, they were
all rudely awakened for
Orientation Day, the
first of 180 official
school days for the 2007-
2008 school year.
Freshmen had to wake
up the earliest. They reported
to school by 8:30
a.m. for a presentation in
the auditorium, where
they were addressed by
principal Bro. Joseph
Bellizzi, dean of students
Bro. Thomas
Cleary, and president
Fr. James Williams.
Fr. James, who doubles
as freshman divisional
moderator, presented the
an introduction to intramural athletic competition.
The competition included matches in various
sports, including
ultimate Frisbee,
dodgeball, soccer, European
handball, volleyball,
basketball, and
water polo.
“Because of the
sports, I got to know
many of my classmates,
which will certainly
help when
classes begin,” said
Brendan McFadden
of homeroom 1H.
When all the 3-C
points were tallied,
however, it was
homeroom 1M, the
“Monstarz,” that
came out on top, earning
them a congratulatory
handshake
Anthony Mascolo ‘08 (foreground)
and Anthony
Mastroianni ‘08 compare
their senior-year schedules.
from Fr. James and a trophy to display in their
homeroom for the rest of the school year.
Over 100 sophomores, juniors, and seniors
were on hand during 3-C Week to
shake hands with the freshmen and shep-
1M “Monstarz” with the 3-C Championship
Trophy. It was a tight race, with a single point
separating each of the first three finishers.
Afterwards, the freshmen reported to their
homerooms; received their schedules; and
experienced an abbreviated school day, meeting
each of their teachers for 15 minutes.
Sophomores, juniors,
and seniors enjoyed the
luxury of a little more
sleep. Their orientation
programs began at 9:30
a.m., 10:30 a.m., and
11:30 a.m. respectively.
As did the freshmen, the
three older divisions reported
to the auditorium
and listened to presentations
from the principal,
the dean of students, and
their divisional moderator.
Chaplain Fr. Garrett
Long led each division in
an opening prayer.
In his address to the students,
Bro. Joseph offered a
point of focus for each of the
three divisions. Speaking
herd them from place to place during their
first week of school. The volunteers helped
out in homeroom,
assisted with extracurricular
activity
presentations, and
refereed intramural
competitions.
“The volunteers
worked well with the
freshmen and definitely
contributed to
the smooth running
of the field events,”
said Bro. Ryszard
Decowski, fieldevents
coordinator
for the week. “We
couldn’t have done it
without them.”
Many faculty
members expressed
a similar debt of
gratitude to the
upperclass volunteers. “We had a core of juniors
and seniors who came out to Meribah
every day to welcome the freshmen to
Chaminade’s retreat house and serve them a
Mike Falco dribbles past Dylan
Scarpato to score a goal during
3-C Week.
See “3-C Week,” page 9.
to the sophomores, Bro. Joseph alluded to the
parable of the talents from the Gospel of Matthew.
“Take a personal inventory of your gifts
and talents, and make a commitment to grow
and develop,” Bro. Joseph said.
Utilizing still another verse from St.
Matthew’s Gospel – “You are the salt of the
earth. You are the light of the world” – Bro.
Joseph encouraged the juniors to step into
the role of upperclassmen, making the most
of “the year that really counts.”
To the seniors, Bro. Joseph stressed leadership,
advising them to “create a positive
legacy in the Chaminade Family.”
Dean of students Bro. Thomas Cleary
summarized the regulations of the handbook
with one sentence: “Common sense
and respect – follow them, and I assure
you you’ll have a good year.”
Following the assembly, the three upper divisions
reported to their new homerooms,
where they received their schedules, identification
cards, and yearbooks.
Afterwards, Fr. James served up a free
lunch of barbecued hot dogs, soda, and
chips. Clear, blue skies and mild temperatures
provided the perfect opportunity for
See “Orientation Day,” page 9.
Tarmac • October 2007 BACK TO SCHOOL
3

THEPilot’s Seat
FROM
Lost in Translation
Tutor of English Learns Lesson in Patience
4
by Salvatore
Garofalo ‘08
“Despite the
substantial
cultural and
linguistic gap
between us, I
was ultimately
able to connect
with a complete
foreigner.”
COMMENTARY
I
lya Sweeney! Ilya Sweeney! Ilya Sweeney!” he
shouted angrily.
I was trying to teach him his name, but he would
do nothing but fight me. It was a daunting way to
begin a lesson – my pupil screaming at the top of his
lungs – but I was determined.
Two summers ago, I volunteered to be a teacher’s
assistant at an English second-language
program. One
student, eight-year-old Russian
orphan Ilya Sweeney,
needed a one-on-one tutor because
of his deficiency in the
English language. I assumed
the responsibility.
In fact, when the four-week
course had concluded, I suggested
that I could tutor Ilya
for another five weeks. Mrs.
Sweeney, Ilya’s adoptive
mother, was happy to take me
up on my offer.
When I met Ilya, his understanding
of English was limited
to one word, hello. To
complicate matters, my
knowledge of the Russian language
was, well, non-existent.
The tutoring session I remember
most was a particular spelling
lesson in early August. Writing
each letter was a challenge because
Ilya was still used to spelling
with the Cyrillic alphabet.
I repeated his name as he wrote it, but instead of appreciating
my help, he lashed out at me. He began to scream his
name over and over as he threw his notebook across the room.
Even though we had been working together for five
weeks, he still had trouble spelling his name, and his
temper tantrums were just as explosive as when we
“Mother Teresa,” continued from page 2
Noticing the striking similarity between these two
cries of pain, Rev. Neuner observes, “It was a redeeming
experience when she realized [that] what she felt
in her heart was a special sharing she had in Jesus’
Passion.” In his role as her spiritual advisor, Neuner
tried to help Mother Teresa understand this connection
between her own agony and that of her Savior.
Mother Teresa was comforted by Neuner’s response.
In a letter to him (circa 1961), she wrote, “. . . for the first
time in . . . years – I have come to love the darkness. I
believe now that it is a part of a very, very small part of
Jesus’ pain on earth . . . Jesus can’t go anymore through
the agony – but He wants to go through it in me.”
Now, ten years after her death, the “Saint of the Gutters”
is also emerging as “a saint to the skeptics,” as
Rev. Martin calls her. Apparently, Mother Teresa un-
had begun. While he sat cross-armed and breathed
heavily, I told him I was trying to help him, but he kept
shouting, “No thank you.”
Despite the setback, I was determined to persevere. Some
of my friends called it stubbornness on my part. I preferred
to think of it as faith in my student’s innate ability.
After a short break, Ilya had relaxed enough to continue.
Before we went back to
his book, I reminded him that
I was acting in his best interests,
and he said, “Ilya know.”
By the end of that day, with a
little resolve and effort, Ilya
learned how to spell his name
and count to 20 in English.
I was pleased not only with
the outcome of that day’s lesson,
but also with the cooperation
that Ilya finally demonstrated.
Although he often
lost his temper, I cared about
him too much to just walk
away. He did not speak perfect
English by the end of the
summer, but I had certainly
taught him enough to prepare
him for his first day of school
in September.
Ilya and I shared some of
the most memorable weeks of
my life. He gave me the experience
of a lifetime. Despite
the substantial cultural
and linguistic gap between
us, I was ultimately able to connect with a complete
foreigner. Ilya’s success in learning left me with a great
feeling of accomplishment. What had started as an attempt
to teach a student English had become an immeasurable
reward. Ilya learned how to spell his name,
and I learned what effort and patience could reap.
derstood that her legacy would include not only her
shining example of Christ-like service but also the inner
darkness that gnawed at her soul.
“If I ever become a Saint – I will surely be one of the
‘darkness.’ I will continually be absent from Heaven –
to [light] the light of those in darkness on earth.”
For Hitchens, Mother Teresa “was no more exempt from
the realization that religion is a human fabrication than
any other person.” In other words, she was living a lie.
For Kolodiejchuk, Martin, and millions of believers,
she provides a powerful example of faith in the midst
of doubt, perseverance in the midst of pain, and light in
the midst of darkness.
Living a lie, or seeking the truth? Given the magnitude
of Mother Teresa’s charitable work, the humility
of her soul, and her sharing in the Passion of Jesus Christ,
we think the answer is obvious.
Tarmac • October 2007

Don’t Drink the Water . . . But Do See the Play
Fall Comedy Set to Open November 16th
by Joe Ross ‘08
A
curious phenomenon occurred during
the first week of school. Several
students, particularly freshmen,
seemed to be avoiding the water fountains. They
had, no doubt, seen the signs in the hallways
reading “Don’t Drink the Water,” but apparently
they were taking the message a bit too literally.
The signs, in fact, referred to the Darby
Players’ latest production, not to the potability
of Chaminade’s H O. “The title Don’t
2
Drink the Water refers to the advice travelers
often receive when they visit foreign countries,”
said cast member Tim DeLuca ’08. “I
have high hopes for a great production.”
Don’t Drink the Water focuses on the
paranoia that existed on both sides during
the Cold War. “The play is an ensemble
piece, much like Godspell was last
year,” said director Mr. Michael Bruno. “I
Founder’s Finds Much-Needed Space
New Dormitory Wing Adds Room for 32
by Philip Lettieri ‘09
A
though it is hard to believe, the new
Activity-Athletic Center was not the
only major construction project the
Chaminade Family worked on this past year.
This August, Founder’s Hollow, the
Marianist Retreat House in Stone Ridge, New
York, opened up a new dormitory wing. The
project, conceived almost three years ago, involved
constructing nine new bedrooms – eight
for retreatants and one for faculty moderators.
Each of the retreatants’ bedrooms sleeps four
students comfortably, and each has its own bathroom
with a shower, a toilet, and three sinks.
“No more excuses about being late to morning
prayer because there weren’t any bathrooms
available!” joked Bro. Thomas Cleary, the assistant
director of Founder’s Hollow.
The new dormitory wing also includes
a living room, a multi-media room, and a
purposely picked a play that
would highlight the strong core
of returning actors.”
In the opening scene, Axel Magee,
played by Pat Kennedy ’09, takes
over his father’s job as a diplomat at
the American embassy in a fictional,
unnamed Eastern European country.
He protects fellow American
Walter Hollander, played by Mike
Rinere ’09, from the country’s police
after Hollander is accused of
spying on the government. The
rest of the play revolves around
Magee helping the family find a
way to return safely to America.
Performances can be seen on
Friday, November 16 and Saturday,
November 17. Tickets are
$5.00 apiece.
CHS and KMHS volunteers enjoy a retreat full of
work and prayer at Founder’s Hollow.
carpentry shop. All three rooms are
located beneath the nine new bedrooms
and are built into the side of
a hill on one side. On the other side,
these three common rooms offer unobstructed
vistas of the main house,
the chapel, and the property’s lower
pond, as do the nine bedrooms.
According to Bro. Thomas, “The
purpose of the project was to accommodate
more students, more comfortably
on retreats.”
A breezeway connects the new
complex to the rest of the house. An
attic runs the length of the entire dormitory
wing, creating considerable
additional storage space.
Professional construction workers
and Marianists from both Chaminade
and Kellenberg Memorial High
Schools worked
on the new dormitory
wing all summer long.
Bro. Thomas and Bro.
Stephen Ries from
Chaminade did a
great deal of work on
the new wing, as did
Fr. Philip Eichner, Bro.
Donald Nussbaum,
and Bro. Richard
Hughes from Kellenberg.
Bro. Richard
is the director of
Founder’s Hollow.
While the nine bedrooms
are fully opera-
Julia Massoti KMHS ‘09 and Pat Kennedy
‘09 practice for the Darby Players’
production of Don’t Drink the Water.
Junior Joe Gallagher installs Sheetrock
in a hallway at Founder’s Hollow.
tional, there is still a good bit of finishing
work to be done on the hallways and the
common rooms downstairs. Under the supervision
of Fr. Garrett Long from
Chaminade and Bro. John Sandrowicz
from Kellenberg, 16 student volunteers
from the two schools spent the weekend
of September 14-16 installing vinyl-clad
Sheetrock in the hallways and capitalizing
on their time at Founder’s Hollow as
an opportunity for an Ora et Labora
(Prayer and Work) Retreat as well.
“ It was a wonderful opportunity to combine
prayer, work, and relaxation – and to
continue the work on the dormitory building,”
said Fr. Garrett.
Tarmac • October 2007 NEWS
5

Flyers Journey to Germany, Austria
Pilgrimage Highlights 20th-Century Heroes of the Church
6
by Alex Kamath ‘09
Alex Hildebrandt ’08 strode across the
living room and shook hands with
Franziska Jägerstätter and her
daughter Maria. He introduced himself, and
the three began a conversation.
Alex and several fellow Flyers were
guests in the Jägerstätters’ farmhouse in
St. Radegund, Austria. They were thousands
of miles away from their homes on
Long Island – noteworthy in itself.
Even more notable was this rare opportunity
to meet a living piece of history – the
wife of Austrian martyr Franz Jägerstätter.
“It was inspirational to meet someone
who had endured so much hardship in her
life and still found the strength and the
faith to raise her children by herself. Despite
all that hardship, to this day she still
supports her husband’s decision to oppose
the Nazi regime,” said Alex.
Alex and 27 other Chaminade students,
along with moderators Bro. Richard Hartz
and Mr. Richard Tully, had come to visit
the shrine of Franz Jägerstätter, who will
be beatified on October 26 in Linz, Austria.
Jägerstätter’s hometown was one of many
stops on a pilgrimage that highlighted five
20 th century heroes of the Catholic faith who
lived under the Nazi government.
Alex Hildebrandt ‘08 (3 rd from l.) meets
Franziska Jägerstätter (2 nd from l.), the
wife of Austrian martyr Franz Jägerstätter,
and her daughter Maria. With them is
Marianist Bro. Alfred Aigner (l.) of the
German-Austrian Region.
“We had read about all of these people
before we departed for Germany and Austria,
but their stories were truly brought
to life at each of the places we visited,”
said Mr. Tully. “Our trip made their stories
more tangible and had a profound impact
on all of us.”
Franz Jägerstätter had refused to serve in
Hitler’s army during World War II and was
imprisoned in Linz and Berlin. In 1943, he
was beheaded, but he left behind a set of
moving letters that summed up his beliefs.
SUMMER TRAVELS
“We need no rifles or pistols for
our battle, but instead, spiritual
weapons – and the foremost of
these is prayer.”
“Twentieth-Century Heroes of
the Church,” Chaminade’s pilgrimage
this summer, departed for
Germany on July 17 and returned
to New York on July 27. The pilgrims
landed in Berlin, where they
visited Plötzensee Prison, the site
where Blessed Jakob Gapp was executed
by the Gestapo for his outspoken
opposition to the Nazi regime.
Following the tour of the
prison, the group conducted a
prayer service in honor Blessed
Gapp at the Regina Martyrum
Monastery. This was the first
of five different prayer services
held to commemorate each
“20 th century hero of the
Church.”
“The trip tried to emphasize
the courage of these five people
who stood up to the Nazis, even
to the point of death,” said Bro. Richard,
who planned the pilgrimage. “Each service
allowed us to reflect on their sacrifices,
both on the personal level and
for the faith.”
From Berlin, the group traveled
to Vienna, Austria, the site
of a shrine to Blessed Sr. Maria
Restituta. She had been a
nurse at a hospital in Vienna
and had spoken against the
Nazis to both her colleagues
and her patients. A Nazi doctor
who worked in the hospital
betrayed Sr. Restituta; she
was beheaded in 1943.
Chaminade’s pilgrims vis-
ited the motherhouse of the
Franciscan Sisters of Christian
Charity, Blessed Sr. Restituta’s
religious order. At the chapel
there, they had a memorial
prayer service.
“It was a small chapel and
late in the afternoon. There were already
elderly nuns and patients inside the
chapel, and the students filled the chapel
completely,” said Bro. Richard. “At the
end of our service, the nuns and students
alike sang the Salve Regina (a hymn in
Latin dedicated to Mary) in unison. It was
a moving experience for all.”
“This was one of the things that I enjoyed
most about the trip – that we had the opportunity
to visit places that ordinary tourists
never get to see,” said Jimmy Kovar ’10.
Frau Dr. Erna Putz places flowers at the
shrine of Franz Jägerstätter as Ryan Minett
‘10, Mike Warch ‘09, Pat Donnelly ‘08, John
Ready ‘09, and Tyler Pastori ‘09 look on.
From Vienna, the pilgrims traveled
through Linz and Upper Austria to
Munich and the Bavarian Alps, where the
Gestapo had placed Blessed Rupert
Mayer, a Jesuit, under house arrest. He
had denounced Adolf Hitler; pointed out
the fallacies of Nazi propaganda; and
preached Catholic dogma, despite the
threat of execution.
Blessed Mayer escaped execution, however,
because he was so well loved in
Munich and its environs. The Nazis feared
that his execution would incite a revolution.
The pilgrims’ final stop was Dachau, one
of the most infamous of the Nazi concentration
camps. There, the students visited
the spot where Blessed Fr. Otto Neururer
had been executed. Blessed Neururer had
been a member of the Christian Social
Movement and had defended the civil
rights of his parishioners in Götzens, Austria.
“It was difficult to imagine the sheer
number of atrocities that had been committed
at Dachau,” said Ryan Horrmann ’09.
In addition to visiting the sites associated
with these heroes of the Church, the
Flyers spent time at many well-known
tourist destinations, including the
Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria and the
Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna.
“I felt that the common thread for the
pilgrimage was the opportunity to reflect
on the lives of those who had the courage
to stand up for their beliefs,” said Mr.
Tully. “They were ordinary people who
had extraordinary faith.”
Tarmac • October 2007

Flyer Rower Competes in Beijing
Anthony Altimari ’07 Leads U.S. to Fifth-Place Finish
by Brian Mullin ‘08
O
n August 8, 2008, some of the best
athletes from around the globe will
descend on Beijing, China for the
Summer Olympic Games. If the U.S. Crew
Team hopes to win a medal, they may want
to turn to CHS alum Anthony Altimari ’07
for some pointers.
Anthony was one of 29 athletes invited
from across the nation to try out for the
U.S. Junior National Crew Team. After
nearly two months of intensive training,
he was chosen to represent the United
States at the competition, held this past
August in Beijing.
Anthony was selected to be the coxswain
of America’s premier boat, the “Junior
Eight,” racing on the same course that
Americans Abroad
Flyers Participate in People to People Ambassador Program
by Thomas Rooney ‘10
O
ur travel time was over 20 hours,”
said Trevor Pirro ’10. “However,
the chance to fly halfway around
the world and experience a totally new culture
made it all worthwhile.”
Sponsored by the People to People Student
Ambassador Program, Trevor and 39 other
American teenagers traveled to Australia for
20 days of seeing the sights and meeting the
locals. The trip ran from July 23 to August 10.
A native Australian tour guide greeted
Trevor and his fellow student ambassadors
when they arrived in Sydney
and “taught us a lot about Australian
culture and history.” The group
toured Sydney’s famous opera house,
will be used during the
Olympics. He led the U.S.
team to a solid finish, placing
fifth in the world, just
ten seconds behind firstplace
finisher Germany.
“It was the best experience
of my life,” said Anthony in
a telephone interview from
his dorm at the University of
Wisconsin. “It was a tremendous
opportunity to represent
the United States overseas,
and I would advise
anyone who comes across
the same opportunity to
make the most of it and to
enjoy the experience.”
climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge, and
visited the local cricket grounds.
“From Sydney, we traveled to the outback
and stayed on a family farm of some 57,000plus
acres,” said Trevor. The student ambassadors
also snorkeled in the Great Barrier
Reef, visited a crocodile farm, and fed pelicans
and dolphins. Oh, and they also met a
variety of people, including civic leaders
from the Burdekin Shire Council, students
from the Gin-Gin Elementary School, and the
Aborigines of the Australian countryside.
Above: Lions and tigers and . . .
Trevor Pirro ‘10 (r.) poses with a
wombat and its trainer.
Left: Mandel Dawkins ’08 takes in
the view from the foothills of Mt. Fuji.
Anthony Altimari ‘07 was coxswain of
America’s premier boat at the World Rowing
Junior Championships.
“The trip was a great way to learn about
life in Australia, as well as the native Aboriginal
culture,” said Trevor.
Mandel Dawkins ’08 had a similar experience,
although his student ambassadorship
took him to Japan, where he lived
with a Japanese family. Mandel’s visit to
Japan ran from July 28 to August 12.
“I took a lot out of the trip to Japan. Before
I went there, I didn’t really know
about the Japanese language and culture,”
said Mandel. “After the trip, however, I
came out with a basic idea of the language
and the customs.”
The trip to Japan afforded Mandel a
wide variety of opportunities. In Tokyo,
Mandel and his fellow student ambassadors
met with Japanese government
officials and learned about diplomatic
ties between Japan and the
United States.
The group also visited several other
places of geographic and historical significance,
including Mt. Fuji, Himeji
Castle, and Hiroshima. Mandel called
Himeji Castle “a marvel of Japanese architecture.”
At Hiroshima, Mandel was “profoundly
moved” by the memorial to
those who had lost their lives in the
world’s first atomic bomb blast of a civilian
location.
“The trip taught me to keep an open
mind,” said Mandel. “There’s plenty to
learn when you travel to a foreign country,
as long as you are open to new experiences,
new people, and a new perspective
on life.”
Tarmac • October 2007 SUMMER TRAVELS
7

CULTURECorner
by Eamonn
Cummings
‘08
“The day had
been a success. I
enjoyed
exploring a
museum that I
had never fully
appreciated.”
Better Than “A Night at the Museum”
Museum of Natural History Has Even More to Offer by Day
ast winter, the world “discovered” what goes on
at the American Museum of Natural History at
night. The movie A Night at the Museum showed
the fictitious nocturnal exploits of the exhibits at the Museum
of Natural History, located in Manhattan.
This novel idea sparked renewed interest in the museum,
which has occupied the four city blocks bounded
by Central Park West, Columbus Avenue, West 77th Street, and West 81st L
Street since 1869. Intrigued by
the hype surrounding the movie, I set out for the museum,
accompanied
by my seven-year old
cousin Philip, a selfproclaimed
expert on
the movie.
Before we walked
through the building’s
main entrance, we
looked up to the statue
of President Theodore
Roosevelt, whose father
was one of the
museum’s founders.
Walking through the
revolving doors into
the main atrium, we
were immediately met
by an enormous
Barosaurus fossil.
Right away, I was informed
by Philip that
this was not the playful
Tyrannosaurus rex
from the movie.
We began our tour
of the building, looking
for similarities between
the real museum
and the museum
from the movie.
The Akeley Hall of African
Mammals was a
favorite of Philip’s.
He spent a long time
there trying to find the crafty capuchin monkey that
stars in A Night at the Museum, but to no avail.
Next, we headed to the Margaret Mead Hall of Pacific
Peoples. Quoting a line from the movie, Philip
screamed, “Dumb, Dumb!” and immediately ran to the
huge Easter Island head that is housed there. Although
I did not see the humor in this important scientific artifact,
Philip apparently found it hysterical.
Although the movie focused on various points of interest
in the museum, it failed to give a comprehensive
view of all the exhibits offered. Determined to
show to Philip that there was more than just a “large
dinosaur” in the museum, I led him to some of the exhibition
halls not shown in the movie.
An exhibit that caught my interest was the Northwest
Coast Indians Wing. Here, I discovered the dugout
canoe from J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye.
It is on permanent display and is a must-see for anyone
who is a fan of the book.
The Halls of Mesoamerican Peoples, African Peoples,
and Asian Peoples, respectively, offered a look into cultures
from around the world. The artifacts there show
history as the museum
was meant to
present it. This important
aspect was,
not surprisingly, left
out of the movie.
Our next stop was the
fourth floor, which is almost
completely devoted
to dinosaur fossils.
I was impressed to
learn that the floor is arranged
so that, as visitors
walk among the exhibits,
they travel
through time, going
from early vertebrates
to modern mammals.
The highlight of the
floor was the saurischian
dinosaur section,
where the museum
houses its rightfully famous
T-Rex.
Besides its permanent
displays, the museum
has many other rotating
exhibits to offer. Philip
and I had fun walking
through Mythic Creatures,
where we saw what
unicorns, mermaids, and
dragons would look like
if they existed.
At the Hall of Human Origins, we got a look at our
development as a species. Although this was a little
over Philip’s head, he enjoyed the many interactive stations
the museum offered.
Just as Philip and I were heading to the Hall of North
American Birds, the announcement came that the museum
was closing. Since I had no intention of having my own
night at the museum, we left the building and headed home.
The day had been a success. I enjoyed exploring a museum
that I had never fully appreciated. Meanwhile, Philip,
who is a huge fan of the movie, learned that there was more
to the museum than what goes on there at night.
8 COMMENTARY
Tarmac • October 2007

COUNTRY ROADS, TAKE ME HOME
Flyers Travel to West Virginia to Lend a Helping Hand
by Conor Finnegan ‘08
W
alking through the cool, wet
grass, six Chaminade seniors
and two Brothers followed
Nazareth Farm staff member Chris Panepinto
over to three wooden structures.
“And this here is where you shower,” he
turned and said to the stunned Flyers. “You
fill that bucket with water from the hose over
there and rinse yourself using that second
bucket next to it. Oh, and please try to limit
yourself to only three showers this week.”
Bewildered and anxious about what
lay ahead, the eight Chaminade men
continued on their tour of “the Farm.”
Included on the tour were the three outhouses
they would use for the week –
“the Colosseum,” “Peace Out House,”
and “Noah’s Ark.”
“Bucket showers” and outhouses, however,
were only two of the many sacrifices
that the six seniors made on their trip to
Nazareth Farm in Salem, West Virginia.
Departing from Chaminade on August 11,
seniors Kyle Blanco, John Buonocore, Zach
Colen, Ryan Conway, Conor Finnegan, and
Trey Thornton embarked on the 424-mile
journey down south.
Director of apostolic activities Bro. Peter
Heiskell led the students for the
week, with the help of Bro. Stephen Ries
from August 11 to 16 and Bro. Patrick
Sarsfield from August 17 to 19.
As the yellow Chaminade bus pulled
up to the house, staff members cheered
and hugged the students, welcoming
them “home.” “At first I thought ‘What
did I get myself into?’ “ said Kyle Blanco.
“But as the week went on, I realized why
everyone who has been to Nazareth Farm
considers it an amazing place.”
Joining the Flyers were four other groups
of students and moderators from New Jersey
and Illinois. In total, 39 volunteers
worked, prayed, laughed, and lived together
by the four cornerstones of the Farm – prayer,
service, community, and simplicity.
At least as far as first impressions go,
simplicity was the most obvious cornerstone
of the four. Students and moderators
were pushed to work through their
“groan zones” into their “grown zones,”
hearty lunch of barbecued hot dogs, soda, chips, and ice
cream,” said Bro. Stephen Balletta, who spent the week at
Meribah, about 10 miles east of the Chaminade campus.
Most things in life, it has been said, come full circle. Four years
from now, the members of the Class of 2011 will end their highschool
careers with a handshake as they receive their diplomas and
heartfelt congratulations from the principal. Probably more than a
few of them will remember that it all began with a simple handshake
and a heartfelt welcome at the front steps of the school.
opening themselves up to new people,
new experiences, and new ideas that they
would otherwise never have encountered.
Reinforcing the simplicity that prevails at the
Farm, staff members asked volunteers not to use
cell phones, iPods, and other electronic devices
during the week in order to free themselves from
distractions and to be more present to others.
The real focus of the week, however, was
to serve the people of Doddridge County,
many of whom live below the poverty line.
The volunteers did so primarily by repairing
Volunteer Ryan Conway ’08 tries his
hand at some home improvement in
the “hollows” of West Virginia.
homes. They also provided countless, less
tangible acts of service: shared conversation,
a shared lunch, a warm smile, a kind word.
Each morning, the volunteers divided
themselves into six groups of six or seven
each and traveled to a different work site
every day. They painted walls at a nearby
church, installed gutters on one of the local
houses, built a porch at another house, and
put a new roof on still another – all under
the supervision of the Farm’s staff.
Every morning began with a prayer led
by one of the groups. Throughout the
week, volunteers dug deep inside themselves
to strengthen their relationships
with God and with the community.
One morning prayer, for example, took the
volunteers through the Stations of the Cross
and posed questions for individual reflection,
such as “Where do I see God in my life?”
Following morning prayer, everyone on
the Farm did chores, like mowing the lawn
and packing the trucks, and then came together
to eat breakfast. The community
prayed together one last time before sending
each group off to the work sites.
After seven hard hours on the job, everyone
returned home to the Farm to enjoy
each other’s company in recreation and dinner.
Following dinner, the six groups would
share with the other volunteers the stories
of their day through humorous games, reenactments,
and songs.
“We worked hard during the day, but
we had a lot of fun at night,” said Ryan
Conway. “All the laughter definitely
helped to bond us together.”
In the evenings, the community would
pray together and then be given free time
before lights out and bed. In particular,
most volunteers enjoyed a popular game
of “Moose,” which easily became one of
the highlights of the week. More important
than the game, though, were the
bonds of friendships forged by it.
The strong feeling of community extended
beyond the volunteers to include
many of the residents of Doddridge
County. On the Tuesday night, residents
from several nearby “hollows” (mountain
valleys where clusters of homes are often
located) visited the Farm to share in a delicious
home-cooked meal. The conversations
that followed ranged from light-hearted
joking to more serious discussions about local
living conditions, family, and faith.
“It’s people that matter most,” said John
Buonocore, “and Nazareth Farm taught me that.
No matter how different the details of our lives,
there’s a common bond that allows us to come
together, form friendships, and do something
worthwhile for our fellow man. That’s the lesson
that I took away from Nazareth Farm.”
“3-C Week,” continued from page 3 “Orientation Day,” continued from page 3
sophomores, juniors, and seniors to congregate on Ott Field,
enjoy the free food, and swap stories from the summer that
had just past.
“It was great to see so many friends whom I hadn’t seen
since June,” said Tom Byrne ’10.
Dave Mammina ’10 was a little more measured in his assessment
of Orientation Day. “It was kind of like a wake-up
call,” he said, “bringing you back from summer to the reality
of another school year.”
Tarmac • October 2007 NEWS
9

SHORE
by Michael Calceglia
‘08
THING T.R.’S HOUSE
“Revisiting
Sagamore Hill
gave me a
better
understanding of
our ‘Rough
Rider’ President,
as well as the
inspiration to
visit other
historical sites on
Long Island.”
10 FEATURE
Exploring the Home of “Long Island’s” President
As I sat in Mr. Bruce Bombara’s American history
class, learning about Theodore Roosevelt and the
Rough Riders, I could not help recalling the
memories of summers past. Sagamore Hill, home to Long
Island’s only President, Theodore Roosevelt, has provided
me with frequent opportunities to discover the house behind
the “Rough Rider.” After getting the facts from history
class, I decided to return to the “Hill” and learn more
about Roosevelt from outside the binding of a textbook.
After walking up the dirt path, I joined the other guests
sitting on wooden rocking chairs, waiting for our tour
guide, Mr. Andrew Buttermilch, to arrive. He began with
a background lecture on Roosevelt’s life.
“Theodore Roosevelt bought 155 acres of farmland on a
small peninsula called
Cove Neck, located in
Oyster Bay, New York. In
1884, Roosevelt hired a
New York architect from
the firm of Lamb & Rich
to design a shingle-style
Queen Anne home to be
built on this property,
where Roosevelt and his
family would reside for
the rest of their lives,” said
Mr. Buttermilch.
After this background
lecture, we were ushered
through the oversized front
door and into the front hall.
As I walked through the
hall, my eye was drawn towards
the large elephant
tusks in front of the fireplace. It would be nearly impossible
not to notice this gift from the emperor of Abyssinia. “These
tusks are the most frequently questioned and most often remembered
artifact in the house,” said Buttermilch.
Just off the front hall is the library. I learned that this
space was where Roosevelt sat down and wrote his 30plus
books and biographies. I later discovered that this
room was also the site for family games and discussions
among the President and his children.
During the famed “Summer White House” years,
1902–1908, the library was transformed into a meeting
place for the President’s staff.
While Roosevelt had the library to showcase his books,
the crown jewel of the home is undoubtedly the North
Room, where he displayed his big-game trophies. This 20’
x 40’ room was added to the house during Roosevelt’s
Presidency to host his prominent guests.
Standing in the roped-off visitors’ section, I inquired
about the large, round table which stood out among
the various animal heads in the room. “The reason
why this table was round was to ensure that no one
was able to sit at the head of the table when Roosevelt
met with foreign dignitaries,” said Buttermilch.
I spotted a sword and hat hanging on a moose head, which
was mounted on the far wall. These items were used during
the famed charge up San Juan Hill during the Spanish-American
War, a topic of particular interest to me from American
history class. A samurai sword and dagger, gifts from the
Japanese Emperor in honor of the Portsmouth Treaty, also
caught my attention. Other interesting artifacts included an
elephant-foot waste-paper basket and a mosaic of the Vatican
Gardens, given to Roosevelt by Pope Leo XIII.
Our tour continued into the dining room and kitchen. During
dinner with distinguished Presidential guests, Roosevelt’s
children were expected to
take part in conversation,
which was unusual at the
time. In the kitchen, a
phone and safe, both uncommon
in the early 1900s,
were added. Roosevelt
stored many valuables in
the safe, including his
Nobel Peace Prize.
While I was already familiar
with T.R.’s military
and Presidential careers,
I was still curious about
his personal life. This cu-
riosity was satisfied
when my tour moved to
the gun room, located on
the second floor.
Roosevelt stored all of his
guns and hunting equipment in this room, which he used
on his rather frequent family hunting expeditions.
As the tour concluded on the porch, Mr. Buttermilch
was quick to point out that there were many other attractions
that could be found on the grounds of Sagamore
Hill. Among these are the carriage house; pet cemetery;
ice house; windmill; and Ted Jr.’s house, which was transformed
into a museum displaying many more of
Roosevelt’s artifacts, including his Nobel Peace Prize.
On my trip home, I realized that there was much
more to history than what is written in textbooks. Revisiting
Sagamore Hill gave me a better understanding
of our “Rough Rider” President, as well as the inspiration
to visit other historical sites on Long Island.
Tours of Sagamore Hill run Wednesdays through Sundays
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the gift
shop before the tour; however, it is recommended that the
tickets be reserved ahead of time during the spring and summer
months. For more information, call 516-922-4788, or
check out Sagamore Hill’s website at www.nps.gov/sahi.
Photo courtesy of Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
Exploring Sagamore Hill: Trophies and artifacts
from President Theodore Roosevelt’s life line
the main hall at his home in Oyster Bay.
Tarmac • October 2007

Teaching Halfway Around the World
Project MAST Returns to the Solomon Islands
by Conor Mercadante ‘10
The majority of the natives live in huts
made of grass, leaves, and bamboo.
Most farm and fish to sustain their
lives. Few villages have electricity, and in
those that do, the power lasts for only a few
hours each day. Running water is just as rare.
It was in these living conditions that two
members of the Chaminade faculty, Bro.
Timothy Driscoll and Bro. Ryszard
Decowski, spent eight weeks of their summer.
The two Marianists were missionaries
to the Solomon Islands, located near
the equator in the West Pacific Ocean.
There, they conducted six Marianist Apostolic
Spiritual Training (MAST) workshops,
each lasting four or five days. Bros.
Timothy and Ryszard departed for the
Solomons on June 7 and returned to New
York on August 1. While they were there,
they visited six different villages, along
with Honiara, the capital, some 8,529.7
miles away from downtown Mineola.
The Brothers’ goal was to aid Catholic
teachers and youth leaders in deepening
their faith and developing a greater understanding
of their vocation as Catholics
and educators. Workshops in six different
parishes in the Dioceses of Auki and
Gizo centered around the theme for World
Youth Day 2008 proposed by Pope
Benedict XVI: “You will receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;
and you will be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8)
Bros. Timothy and Ryszard challenged
the participants – about 250 in total – to
identify ways in which the Spirit works
through the Scriptures and the tradition
of the Church to make them witnesses
to the Kingdom of God. They
also focused on the importance of a
Catholic education to the local faith
community.
While his goal was to teach others about
the Catholic faith, Bro. Ryszard, a first-time
visitor to the Solomon Islands, also
developed a deeper appreciation
for his own faith during his
stay in the country.
“It was a very spiritual experience
for me to celebrate
Mass with the Solomon Islanders
because, while we
were people coming from totally
different backgrounds
and cultures, we were bound
together by the Eucharist,”
said Bro. Ryszard.
Bro. Timothy Driscoll
poses for a picture with
one of Project MAST’s
younger students.
Tarmac • October 2007
Bro. Timothy and
Bro. Ryszard were
both impressed by
the happiness and
generosity of the
Solomon Islanders,
despite the
many material
deprivations they
must endure.
“It amazed me
that people can
have so little of
what we consider
material comforts,” said Bro.
Ryszard, “but that they can still be extremely
happy and friendly.”
“Many of the people are what we
would consider poor,” said
Bro. Timothy. “The differ-
Left: Travel in the
Solomon Islands is
often by boat.
Here, Bro. Ryszard
Decowski sits back
and enjoys the
ride.
Below: Students of
Bro. Ryszard and
Bro. Timothy show
off their certificates
after completing
one of the
Spiritual Training
workshops.
ence, though, is that, although these people
may not have a lot of money, they are not hungry,
and they are still content with their lives.”
The trip to the Diocese of Gizo was especially
poignant for Bro. Timothy, who is a five-year veteran
of Project MAST. On April 2, 2007, the area
was ravaged by an earthquake and tsunami. Bro.
Timothy returned to find 30 to 40 villages, all of
which had been thriving only a year before, severely
damaged or even decimated.
“The effect of the earthquake and tsunami
on the people of the region is very much
like the experience of September 11, 2001
for us,” said Bro. Timothy. “For many years
to come, everything will be measured as before
or after the morning of April 2.”
The experience reminded both Bro. Timothy
and Bro. Ryszard that, although cultures
and lifestyles may be different,
all people have much in common.
“For me, it’s been a positive
experience to visit another culture
and to get to know the
people as more than just a
tourist,” said Bro. Timothy.
“I return each year, and I
continue to find that I have
more in common with
these people of such a different
lifestyle than I would
ever have imagined five
years ago.”
NEWS
11

A Dream Come True
Student Body Celebrates Mass Under One Roof for First Time in 30 Years
by Jonathon Dornbush ‘10
T
he opening Mass of the new school
year, the first ever held in
Chaminade’s new Activity-Athletic
Center, celebrated the power of the imagination.
For many students, the Mass provided
the first opportunity to see the interior
of the new facility.
The September 13th event also marked the
first time since 1977 that the entire student
body could gather under one roof for Mass.
For the past 30 years, school Masses have
been held simultaneously in the auditorium
and the gymnasium to accommodate the increase
in student population that began in
the 1970s and continued into the 1980s with
the addition of Powers Hall.
From the arrival of students for Mass, to
the homily, to a moving Communion solo,
this Mass was all about the power of the
imagination to achieve great things. In his
homily, CHS president Fr. James Williams
spoke of the “creative imagination” that
brought the AAC from a dream to a reality.
“What you are sitting in now started as this,”
Above: Dimitri Moise ‘10
sings “I Can Only Imagine”
during the distribution of the
Eucharist.
Right: CHS president Fr.
James Williams blesses the
Activity-Athletic Center with
holy water.
12 ACTIVITY-ATHLETIC CENTER
said Fr. James,
holding a pencil in
his left hand.
“Thanks to the
hundreds of architects,
bricklayers,
and students who
helped, a sketch
on a piece of paper
was turned into a
70,000 square-foot
facility.”
And who could
have imagined the
size and the
beauty of the new
Activity-Athletic
Center? As they
filed into the main
The CHS student body and faculty gather to celebrate
the first Mass held in the newly completed Activity-
Athletic Center.
arena and took their seats, students pointed at
the building’s most prominent features – the
undulating, aluminum-panel ceiling 38’ feet
above them; the tenth-of-a-mile indoor track
surrounding the arena; the crimson-and-gold
bleacher seating for 1,400, not only around the
court but on a second-story balcony as well.
“Their eyes widened as they scanned
the complex. You could hear the excitement
in their voices,” said dean of students
Bro. Thomas Cleary. “Finally,
they saw for themselves what had once
existed only in their imaginations.”
The Mass celebrated another kind of
imagination as well – religious imagination.
In his homily, Fr. James reflected on
“the kind of imagination that empowered
our four Marianist martyrs to do the seemingly
impossible – sacrifice their lives.”
The Mass was celebrated in honor of
four 20 th century Marianist martyrs:
Blessed Jakob Gapp, Blessed Carlos Eraña,
Blessed Fidel Fuidio, and Blessed Jesús
Hita. All four were beatified by Pope John
Paul II within the last 12 years.
“I Can Only Imagine,” a popular song by
the musical group Mercyme, continued the
theme. As Fr. James walked up and down
the aisles, sprinkling holy water to bless both
the building and the students, a recording
of the song played over the PA system.
Later, during Communion, sophomore
Dimitri Moise sang the same song. According
to Mrs. Joanne Juckiewicz, Glee Club
moderator, “Dimitri sang ‘I Can Only Imagine’
with such feeling that it left me and many
others in the congregation with chills.”
After Mass, students were treated to an
unexpected surprise –
175 dozen donuts, with
none left over, and over
1,700 servings of orange
juice to enjoy as they
toured the building.
“You are free to walk
around the building and
explore its facilities as
you like,” Fr. James announced.
“Just make
sure you get back across
the street and into
homeroom by 11:55.”
When the faculty first
pooled their ideas for the
new Activity-Athletic Center,
they imagined “a cathedral
where we can play
ball,” according to Fr.
James. As the Chaminade
Family celebrated its first
Mass in the new facility, it
was abundantly clear that
those dreams had, in fact,
come true.
Tarmac • October 2007

BUILDERS BECOME A “BAND OF BROTHERS”
Professionals, Students, and Faculty Complete the AAC Ahead of Schedule
by Tyler White ‘10
N
ot too long ago, an abandoned Ford
dealership stood at the corner of
Jericho Turnpike and Saville
Road. Less than two-and-a-half years
later, Chaminade’s brand-new, 68,354
square-foot Activity-Athletic Center
stands in its place.
A conglomeration of union and nonunion
construction workers, Brothers,
lay faculty members, alumni, and students
collaborated to complete the new
building, which includes a 1,400-seat
basketball arena, a tenth-of-a-mile indoor
track, a 6,987 square-foot wrestling
room, and a 270-seat lecture hall. According
to CHS president Fr. James Williams,
the facility was completed several
months ahead of schedule.
“Fr. James deserves an enormous
amount of credit for coordinating the professional
construction workers with the
Brothers and the student workers. From
what I understand, this kind of joint effort
between professionals and amateurs
is rather unusual in the construction industry,”
said Bro. Stephen Balletta, who
supervised the painting at the site.
“These past two-and-a-half years were a
testimony to Fr. James’ ability to coordinate
the project and motivate many different groups
of people to work together,” he added.
That collaboration was an integral part
of the AAC’s construction – and an embodiment
of Chaminade’s motto, Fortes in
Unitate, Strength in Unity.
“[The tradesmen and the students] had a
very strong relationship, like a father teaching
his son,” said Fr. James. “It was evident
that all the workers enjoyed being a part of
this project by
their attitude
and humor.”
“I remember
when Fr. James, a
few students, a few
Brothers, and I were
working on pouring cement
pads for machines
in the basement,”
said Mr. Bill
Zimmermann, the first
professional laborer on the
job site. “We brought it
down wheelbarrow by
Two construction
workers place an
American flag
atop the AAC,
signifying the
completion
of the steel
frame.
Right: Chris Kuehn ‘06
(l.) and carpenter Tom
Bruder share a laugh as
they take a break from
their work.
Below: Construction workers
suspend aluminum
acoustical panels from
the AAC ceiling.
wheelbarrow, yard by yard, with concrete
weighing 2,100 pounds a yard. Each pad alone
required three yards of cement. We finished our
job in an hour because of all the volunteer help
– an eighth of the time it would have taken professionals
with all the pumps and everything.”
“When we finished, we were all having
pizza. It was an amazing experience that
day, and when I think back on it, it was
like that all during the job,” he added.
Work started on the Activity-Athletic Center
with groundbreaking on April 25, 2005,
and kept at a steady pace throughout. In
January of 2007, the Marianist Community
started showing up in force, lending their
help to the professionals who had been
pouring foundations,
erecting steel, and laying
brick for over a
year and a half.
Initially, the Brothers
cleaned up construction
debris and moved equipment,
reducing the cost
of labor for the job. Several
volunteer groups –
most notably Emmaus
and a number of sports
teams – pitched in as
well, as did many coaches and teachers.
This summer, the Marianist Community and
over 100 paid student and graduate workers
assumed a bigger role, working on everything
from landscaping to painting to carpentry. The
carpenters, for example, covered the wrestlingroom
walls with a sheathing of two-tone
Formica, installed cherry and maple paneling
in the exhibition space and gym lobby, and built
cabinets and lockers for the coaches’ offices.
Meanwhile, the painters trimmed and
rolled in the locker rooms, in stairwells, in
the lecture hall, and in the main arena.
“Every time I drive by 311 Jericho Turnpike,
it feels great to be able to say that I
helped make that building,” said summer
painter Jimmy Kovar ’10. “It makes me feel
even more a part of the Chaminade Family.”
Representatives from all parts of the
Chaminade Family played a vital role in transforming
the AAC from a set of plans to a finished
building. Mr. Thomas Dufek, a member
of the board of advisors, helped with fundraising
and financing for the project. Mr. Joseph
Lucchesi ‘63 drew up the plans and
served as a consultant during construction.
Mr. Timothy Bowe, father of two recent
graduates, donated the services of his company
to install 822 sprinkler heads. The
sprinkler equipment itself was provided by
Mr. Michael Fee ’75, owner of The Reliable
Automatic Sprinkler Company.
See “AAC Construction,” page 18.
Tarmac • October 2007 ACTIVITY-ATHLETIC CENTER
13

68,354 SQUARE FEET 18,250 CONCRETE BLOCKS 139,500 BRICKS 46 FEET TALL 1,360 CUBIC YARDS OF REINFORCED CONCRETE 536 TONS OF STRUCTURAL STEEL
2,470 FEET OF STEEL PIPE 3,280 FEET OF COPPER TUBING
137,000 POUNDS OF DUCTWORK 13,780 FEET OF WIRE 84 DOORS
822 SPRINKLER HEADS 400-KILOWATT GENERATOR 6,000-POUND CAPACITY FREIGHT ELEVATOR
2005
O
The Activity-Athletic Center
2005
nce just a dream for the Chaminade campus,
the Activity - Athletic Center would rise from
what was the former Koeppel Ford property, purchased
on January 30, 2004. After months of designing
and planning, construction began, with
the official groundbreaking for the new facility taking
place on April 25, 2005.
James Hollwedel ‘05 and Conor Blanco ‘07
Sal Ambrosino ‘08
Chris Sullivan ‘09
Dave Miller ‘07 Bro. Benjamin Knapp
From Dream...
...To Reality
14 WINGSPAN
Tarmac • October 2007 15
2007
853 days after the first shovel broke ground at
the site, Chaminade High School officially
opened the 68,354-square-foot facility at the annual
President’s Council Dinner, held on August 25, 2007.
The dream became a reality.
T
he building contains a 1,400-seat basketball
arena, a wrestling room, a 270-seat auditorium,
and a suspended track, as well as locker rooms
and a concession stand.
The completion of the project, with help from
students, faculty, and Brothers, occurred months
ahead of schedule – a testament to the enthusiasm
and support of the entire Chaminade Family.

TARMAC
Newspaper of the Chaminade Flyers Chaminade High School, 340 Jackson Avenue, Mineola, New York 11501-2441 (516) 742-5555
Check out Tarmac’s
Next Issue,
November 2007
The November 2007 issue
of Tarmac will feature
coverage of:
— Gold Star Mass
— Academic Awards Assembly
— Sodality Events
— Emmaus
— Senior Evening of Recollection

General Pace Pays Tribute to His Friend
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Visits Slain War Hero’s Alma Mater
16
by Phil McAndrews ‘08 and Alex Kamath ‘09
hen-2nd T
Lieutenant Peter Pace and
Lance Corporal Guido Farinaro ‘67
were on patrol during the infamous
Tet Offensive in Vietnam on a hot July day in
1968. This was the first tour of duty for both
Marines, and they had become fast friends.
Suddenly, Lieutenant Pace heard a gunshot
and watched in horror as his friend Guido fell
to the ground, shot by a sniper. “A sense of
rage came through me.”
The Chaminade Gold Star was
the first soldier to die under Pace’s
command, and the career Marine
never forgot him.
Forty years later, four-star
General Peter Pace, Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff and principal
military advisor to the
President of the United States,
arrived at Chaminade High
School to honor the memory of
Guido Farinaro, whose photograph
the General has kept on
his desk throughout his long and
distinguished military career.
“I made a promise to myself back
then, that I would continue to serve
in the Corps in Guido’s and all the
fallens’ memories, and try to do my
job out of respect for them.”
“He had tried to come two years
ago for the Gold Star Mass but
was called away last minute by
the President,” said CHS president
Fr. James Williams. “With his
retirement approaching in October,
the general had made it a
point to visit Guido’s alma mater
before he retired from the service.”
The entire Chaminade student
body gathered in the new Activity-
Athletic Center to welcome the
General on September 19. With the
Gold Band playing “Ruffles and
Flourishes” – a fanfare for distinguished
members of the federal
government, including the Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff –
General Pace walked onto the stage.
Seated directly in front of him
were approximately 160 invited
guests, including Chaminade graduates currently
serving in the United States military, as
well as several Gold Star families.
Mrs. Marianna Winchester, mother of Ronald
Winchester ’97 (1979 -2004) was in attendance,
as were Mr. Gregory LiCalzi and Greg Jr., the
father and brother of Michael LiCalzi ‘00 (1982
- 2006). Mr. and Mrs. James Regan, parents of
James Regan ‘98 (1980 – 2007), also attended.
Ron, Mike, and Jim were all killed in Iraq.
THE GENERAL’S VISIT
“There are no words that anyone can ever
speak to you that can possibly capture . . .
your loss and your families’ sacrifice. . . . I
hope in some way that the understanding of
what your loved ones’ sacrifice has brought
for all of us somehow can ease your pain. [We
are] indebted to you for being here today to
say a few words of thanks from all of us who
have the privilege to live in this country.”
It was an emotionally charged moment.
“Many fought back tears,” according to de-
General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, kept students on the edge of their seats
as he recounted the heroic story of Lance Corporal
Guido Farinaro CHS ’67.
velopment officer Mr. Charles Mansfield
’62, a former Marine himself.
Next, the general turned his attention to the
faculty and the students. “Those who have
passed through this institution have never lost
the love of what this institution has provided.
It turns out young men who have been dedicated
to lives of service. Our country has a
gift in this high school. . . . I want to thank the
faculty for making this possible,” he said.
As he expressed at several points
throughout his presentation, it was Guido
Farinaro who provided General Pace with
one of his earliest firsthand experiences of
the Chaminade man. “Guido was one
graduate whose life made a difference.
Guido’s life has changed mine,” said General
Pace, his voice cracking with emotion.
“Guido Farinaro and others who sacrificed
their lives for this country, following the orders
of 2 nd Lieutenant Peter Pace in combat,
made me realize there was something
I was supposed to do in my
life,” he continued.
Apparently, Guido Farinaro’s
death not only helped young Lieutenant
Pace decide what he would
do with his life, but also how he
would live. “Regardless of what
you do in life, hold on to your moral
compass,” General Pace advised
the Flyers. “Moral challenges come,
and if you have thought through
what kind of person you want to
be, you will be that person.”
Recalling the deaths of so many
of his Vietnam buddies, General
Pace urged the students to live
their lives to the fullest because
“we don’t control how we die, but
we do control how we live.”
“I was moved by the entire
speech. Obviously, it was emotional
for General Pace to talk
about Guido. But it was also clear
that he really wanted to be here,”
said Ryan Carroll ’09.
Senior Mike Ceriello agreed.
“General Pace is a man of integrity.
I could tell by the way he
spoke that he has truly lived by
his values throughout his life.”
Following the speech, the
General fielded several questions
from the student body.
(See p. 18) “I was a little nervous
that the students would be
afraid to speak up and that we
wouldn’t be able to fill the time
[allotted to questions],” said social-studies
teacher Mr. Brian
Anselmo, “but they really were
interested and asked quality questions.”
One of the most poignant questions came
from senior Joe Lovas, whose father had
served in Vietnam. According to Joe, when
his father and his fellow soldiers returned from
the war, they took a good bit of heat – even
disrespect – from their fellow Americans. Joe
asked General Pace how he deals with the
pressure and criticism often placed on him and
on the military by the American people.
Tarmac • October 2007

“Things have really
changed in the 40 years
that I’ve been in the service.
Those of us who
fought in Vietnam were
thought of as part of the
problem,” said General
Pace. “People who did
not like the war treated
us with disrespect because,
in their minds, we
represented the war.”
“Just as people grow,
nations grow,” he continued.
“Regardless of how
our fellow citizens feel
about Iraq and Afghanistan,
they appreciate the
guys and gals in uniform
serving their country to
the best of their ability.”
“I was particularly impressed with the
level of poise and detail with which Gen-
eral Pace answered
each of the questions,”
said social-studies
teacher Mr. William
Carriero. “Each was
difficult in its own
way, but the General
gave everyone an honest
answer.”
After the assembly,
during a brunch held in
the new Activity-Athletic
Center’s wrestling
room, General Pace took
the time to personally
meet each of the Gold
Star families present. He
spoke with them all,
shook their hands, and
gave each a commemorative
medallion.
“Really, my focus for the visit was to
meet with each of the families and to ex-
A Four-Star Spouse
Adash of confidence, a pinch of
wisdom, and a splattering of charisma
– all wrapped up in a love
for his country and a passion for his faith.
Oh, and the secret ingredient in the recipe
of a great man: A strong woman behind him
who manages to keep everything together.
General Peter Pace, who has had the support
of his loving wife Lynne for over 36
years, is no exception to this
rule. The couple have two
children: Peter Jr., who was
a Marine for over six years
and currently works for
Goldman Sachs in Chicago,
and Tiffany Marie, who is a
CPA in Charlotte, N.C.
“[Being the wife of a general]
is not necessarily
hard, but it certainly has its
challenges,” said Mrs. Pace
at a reception held in the
Activity-Athletic Center after
her husband’s speech.
“The hardest thing is the
moving. We have had to
move all the time. My
daughter attended eight or
nine different schools, and
every time she had to make new friends.
We even lived in Japan and Korea, for two
years in each place.”
The hardships are much more bearable,
however, when mixed with the opportunities
Mrs. Pace has had to help
others. Asked what her most rewarding
experiences were, she responded,
“The opportunities I’ve had to help
those who need it most, especially
General Pace and Fr. James
review the honor roll of
Chaminade’s Gold Star Alumni.
by Dennis Grabowski ‘08
wounded soldiers and their families.
Many of the soldiers don’t even have the
equipment they need, so I do what I can
to help them.”
Though their lifestyle is hectic and the work
is sometimes heart-wrenching, laughter is still
often heard in the Pace household. In fact,
the relationship that Mrs. Pace and the General
share is even rooted in a funny story.
General Pace, Mrs. Pace, and Fr. James walk
from the main school building to the AAC.
“I was dating the roommate of Admiral
Mike Mullin, the man who will soon
be taking over for my husband as Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. When I
broke up with the man I was dating, the
Admiral actually introduced me to Peter.”
From there, it was happily ever after.
“We’ve been married for 36 1/2 years,”
laughed Mrs. Pace, “but we’ve been dating
for over 40.”
press my gratitude for their sacrifice,” said
General Pace.
Forty years ago, Lance Corporal Guido
Farinaro left an indelible mark on 2 nd Lieutenant
Peter Pace. This past September,
General Pace left his own indelible mark
on the entire Chaminade Family. No Flyer
will soon forget his heartfelt visit to remember
a man whose “life has changed
mine forever.”
Mr. Lawrence Mahon ‘78, chairman of the
TORCH Committee and former president of
the Alumni Association, could barely contain
his emotion after General Pace’s presentation.
He called the event “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
. . . This day was one of the best
ever for me personally and for Chaminade. .
. . I came away with inspiration and a deepened
faith.”
Senior Brian Caulfield agreed. “I think I
can speak for the entire student body when I
say that General Pace’s visit is something we
will always remember.”
Some Advice from
an Honored Marine
by Michael Strandberg ‘09
W
hen General Peter Pace
spoke to the student body
on September 19, he brought
with him a host of high-ranking military officers.
One of them, Colonel Harvey C.
Barnum, more commonly known as Barney
Barnum, served the Marines for over 27 years.
Much like General Pace, Colonel Barnum
felt a personal connection to Chaminade,
as eight of his classmates at St. Anselm College
had graduated from CHS.
During the Vietnam War, Colonel
Barnum made his mark on the Marine
Corps, receiving the United States’ highest
honor for bravery in combat, the Congressional
Medal of Honor, in 1965.
“Set your goals high and always
reach high to get there,” Colonel
Barnum told the crowd at the Activity-
Athletic Center. “The future of this
great country is in the hands of our
youth. Step up to the plate and keep
hitting home runs.”
Colonel Harvey C. Barnum receives
a Chaminade sweatshirt.
Tarmac • October 2007 THE GENERAL’S VISIT
17

Four-Star General Fields a Few Questions
by Salvatore Garofalo ‘08
would like to stop talking at you and
answer your questions,” said General
Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff. “The rules are pretty simple. You
get to ask anything you want on any topic you
want. I get to give you whatever answer I
want. If I know the answer, I’ll tell you. If I
don’t, I’ll make something up. By the time
you figure out I made it up, I’ll be gone.”
Timidly at first, and then quite eagerly,
Chaminade students took advantage of
the opportunity to pose their questions to
the most powerful man in the United
States military after the
Commander in Chief.
The question-and-answer
session lasted for
53 minutes.
At the September 19th I
assembly with General
Pace, held in the newly
opened Activity-Athletic
Center, the Flyers asked a
range of questions regarding
the challenges of the
General’s job; the diplomatic
and military situation
in the Middle East; the
military’s “don’t ask, don’t
tell” policy; and even civilian
Peter Pace’s views on
illegal immigration.
General Pace invites
questions from the floor.
“AAC Construction,” continued from page 13 Capt. Terzi’s Uniform Now
Others involved with the project became members of the Chaminade Family “by adoption.”
In a letter to “Fr. James, Fathers, Brothers, and students,” Mr. Tom Bruder, one of
the union carpenters on the job, put it this way: “I want you all to know that being a part
of your team has been a wonderful experience for me as well as my brother carpenters.”
“In all my years,” he continued, “this is the job that I am most proud of. I want you
to know that I feel like I have become a part of your family, and for that I thank you.”
“It was a wonderful experience working side-by-side with the professionals and
learning many parts of the trade from them,” said summer worker Eddie Corrigan
’08, a member of Chaminade’s Woodworking Club.
“It’s going to be very exciting to see the same spirit that characterized the House
of Noise carry over into the new gym,” said John Buonocore ’08, a fellow woodworker.
“I’m glad to have played a part in making it happen.”
“State,” continued from page 20
By 8:30 a.m., the program’s participants had convened for a daily assembly, during
which time updates were published and announcements were made. At 10:30
p.m., taps sounded to signify the day’s end.
Participants held elections throughout the week for the different positions in the fictional
Boys’ State government. Dennis Grabowski was elected mayor of his city, the party
chairman for his city and county, a legislator on the state level, and the party candidate
for attorney general. He also passed the Boys’ State Bar Exam to become an attorney.
Gary Dawes was a member of his party platform committee, and Jack Gamber was
responsible for leading his party as the chairman for his county.
“The most difficult part about the election process was definitely the deal-making,”
said Jack Gamber. “Sometimes we made promises to other party’s candidates
that we ended up breaking, but I guess that’s politics.”
Everyone was happy to return home after a long week of physical and political training,
but most were glad they had the chance to attend. “Boys’ State has encouraged
me to take a bigger role in my government,” said Gary Dawes. “I’d definitely advise
those who get the chance to attend Boys’ State to really take advantage of it.”
18 THE GENERAL’S VISIT
“This is not going to end on board the deck
of the Missouri with a peace treaty,” said the
General with regard to the war in Iraq. Instead,
American troop levels in Iraq will decrease
significantly, he said, “not when Iraq is
free of terrorist acts – because they will continue
– but when the terrorist acts are at a level
that local security forces can handle on their
own and when the people can go about their
daily lives living the way they want to live.”
Turning to the nuclear threat posed by Iran,
General Pace said, “Iran is a problem, but it is not
a problem for the United States to solve ourselves.
. . . Having weapons [of mass destruction] in the
hands of terrorists – who do
not respond to the same
kind of logic, ethics, and persuasion
that most nations
do – is a big problem for the
international community.”
Before giving his responses
to these and
other inquiries, General
Pace asked each questioner
to raise his hand so
that he could address the
student directly. “He really
made you feel as if he
was speaking directly to
you,” said Anthony
Mastroianni ’08, who
asked a question concerning
the situation in Iraq.
a Cherished CHS Memento
by Joseph Dalli ‘10
Since the 1940s, the name of Captain Joseph A. Terzi ’37 has been listed on the Gold Star Alumni
roster found in the school’s lobby. The award for the Varsity Football Team’s Most Valuable
Player bears his name. Now, his uniform will grace the annual Gold Star Masses
and other tributes to Chaminade men serving in the United States military.
Recently, Captain Terzi’s nephew donated the uniform to the school. It was first displayed
when General Peter Pace spoke to the student body on September 19.
“It is a great honor for Chaminade to be given this gift by the Terzi family,” said CHS
president Fr. James Williams.
Like the other Gold Stars of this country,
Terzi gave his life while serving in the military.
He was killed in action in the South Pacific
on Christmas Day, 1945.
Terzi was not only a model student; he
was also a star football player. After graduating
from Chaminade, he continued his academic
and athletic career at Niagara University.
Captain Terzi served with honor in the
Marine Corps during World War II.
Several items remind Chaminade students of
the sacrifices made by the Gold Star Alumni.
Among them are a photo album of all of their
pictures, a flag that once draped the coffin of a
Gold Star Alumnus, and 1 st Lieutenant Stephen
E. Karopczyc’s ‘61 Congressional Medal of Honor.
General Pace also answered a number of personal
questions. One student asked the General
how he felt when he learned that he would
become Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff –
the first Marine, in fact, to occupy that post.
“It was and is an incredible honor,” he responded,
adding quickly, “I also know for a
fact that the reason I got the opportunity was
because other Marines who have gone before
me in positions of high rank gave the country’s
leaders faith and confidence in the Marines.”
Answering a question about the decisions
he must make every day, General
Pace explained, “I try to stand back, especially
if it has to do with people’s lives, in
combat or in day-to-day living. I take a
step back and think about the decision I’m
about to make and how it is going to impact
individuals.”
“I get up every morning and say, ‘God,
please give me the wisdom to know what
is right and the courage to do it.’ At the
end of the day, I thank Him for the help.”
“I was impressed with how deliberately and
sincerely General Pace responded to the questions.
Some of the questions were difficult, but
he answered each one with careful consideration
and remarkable candor,” said Victor Garcia ’08.
“Although General Pace thanked us for the
invitation to visit Chaminade, I think we’re
the ones who should be thankful,” Victor said.
“It’s not often that we get a chance to speak
with someone as important as he is.”
Captain Joseph Terzi ‘37
Now, Captain Terzi’s uniform occupies a place of honor among these cherished mementos.
As CHS chaplain Fr. Garrett Long said, “His uniform is a great symbol of sacrifice from people
who gave all they had for our freedom, and Chaminade is honored to have it.”
Tarmac • October 2007

As always, the event began with Mass
in Darby Auditorium. CHS president Fr.
James Williams was the principal celebrant.
Seven other priests concelebrated,
including Fr. Thomas Cardone,
provincial of the Province of Meribah,
and Fr. Philip Eichner, president of
Chaminade from 1967 to 1992 and himself
the impetus behind several other
major construction projects at
Chaminade. Bro. George Endres, CHS
president from 1992 to 1999, also attended
the event.
Following the Mass, guests viewed a
video highlighting the progress of the
AAC, from groundbreaking on April 25,
2005 to the finishing touches of paint and
polyurethane, made just days before the
August 25 th opening date.
Members of ETV created the video,
with the help of moderator Mr. Patrick
Reichart and former moderator Bro.
Michael McAward, who had returned to
Long Island for a few weeks from his duties
in Rome as secretary general of the
Society of Mary.
Artists on Display
by Matthew Hughes ‘10
Over the summer, eight members of the Art Club participated
in an interscholastic art festival at the Nassau
County Museum of Art in Roslyn, marking the first
time the school has engaged in such an event.
The artists collaborated on one large project. Before they
could paint, they had to submit a sketch to the museum. Although
the festival was not a competition, the Flyers’ work
underwent intense scrutiny to earn its place in the display.
The surrealismthemed
festival had one
guideline: each work had
to include a vase and
flowers. “The key to success
was imagination,
not rationality,” said Art
Club moderator Mr.
Frank Marenghi. “We
constructed a creative
piece filled with vibrant
Eight members of the Art Club
and Mr. Frank Marenghi submitted
a painting to an art
festival held at the NCMA.
“AAC,” continued from page 1
Once they moved from the auditorium
at 340 Jackson Avenue to the new basketball
court at 311 Jericho Turnpike, guests
enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, a
four-course dinner, and plenty of camaraderie
and high spirits at this high point
in Chaminade’s history.
During the cocktail hour, several volunteers
from the String Orchestra entertained
the guests with selections from their repertoire.
The cocktail hour also provided the
guests with a chance to tour the new facility.
Dinner itself began with a brief formal ceremony.
Sophomore John Dautzenberg sang
the Star-Spangled Banner with what Glee
Club director Bro. Robert Lahey called “remarkable
confidence, complete self-possession,
and a beautiful voice.”
Speakers included Mr. Thomas Dufek, master
of ceremonies and a member of the Board
of Advisors; Dr. James Sheehan, director of
the annual fund; Bro. Richard Hartz, director
of development and alumni relations; Mr.
Lawrence Mahon ’78, chairman of the TORCH
Committee; and Mr. Richard Kearns ’68, chairman
of the Board of Advisors.
colors that incorporates a
fish bowl as the vase.”
Once their proposal
and preliminary sketch
had been accepted by
the museum, the students involved with the project worked at
least twice a week for almost four straight weeks. Participants
included graduates Dan Cody ’07, Alex Corrado ’07, and Vinny
Stracquadanio ’07; senior Sam Curcio; juniors Cory Mahoney,
Marco Piscitelli, and Matt Ryan; and sophomore Leodor Altidor.
On Sunday, June 10, the students and their parents visited the
display at the museum. The artists received certificates, and they
and their guests enjoyed a brunch at the museum.
“It was a great experience. I was very proud of the work the students
did and how their project came out,” said Mr. Marenghi.
Last to speak was Fr. James Williams, who
received a standing ovation for his dedication
and leadership in this project. “For many years,
may this court be a location of passion in sports.
May the auditorium instill eloquence in speech
and precision of ideas. May our students
grapple in the wrestling room,” he said. “But
more importantly, may they grapple with ideas
of God, speak eloquently of God, and have a
passion for Christ and His Mother.”
Before Fr. James had a chance to sit
down, however, CHS principal Bro. Joseph
Bellizzi called him back to the lectern
for a surprise presentation – a
framed 45-inch by 16-inch artist’s drawing
of the new Activity-Athletic Center.
Now, however, the Activity-Athletic Center
is more than just an artist’s drawing, more
than just a set of plans, more than just a dream
about what an abandoned car dealership at
311 Jericho Turnpike could become for the
Chaminade Family. It is now a building of
concrete and steel, brick and mortar – ready
to strengthen the bodies, minds, hearts, and
souls of generations and generations of
Chaminade students.
A Summer of Study
by Peter Adams ‘10
A
fter the completion of the school year, three students chose
to take their career dreams a step further. Matt Fitzsimons
’09, Patrick Murphy ’09, and Uchenna Kema ’08 kept busy
this summer with some academic pursuits.
Matt Fitzsimons attended the Cold Spring Harbor DNA Center for a
week in late August to take a course in human genomics, the study of the
applications of gene research. Matt compared DNA sequences of different
nationalities. “I’ve been attending courses like this one since 2003,”
said Matt, “and this one focused more on research rather than lab work.
Patrick Murphy studied screenwriting at the School of Visual Arts
in New York City. Thanks to the three-week program, which ran
from July 9 to July 27, Patrick earned two college credits. During
those three weeks, Patrick stayed at his brother’s apartment in
Harlem, taking the subway to and from the academy.
“It was a great experience, and I’m looking forward to taking their
directing/film-production class next summer, or using connections
at the school to acquire an internship,”
said Patrick.
Also studying for three
weeks, senior Uchenna Kema
honed his directorial skills at
the New York Film Academy in
Union Square. Uchenna made
two films – one a three-minute
60s-style spy thriller and the
other a 30-second “continuity
film” demonstrating various
filmmaking techniques.
Uchenna is considering a career
in directing and is currently
“getting my portfolio together for
college-level filmmaking pro-
During the summer, Matt
Fitzsimons ‘09, Uchenna
Kema ‘08, and Patrick
Murphy ‘09 pursued possible
career paths.
grams.” He found the summer program at New York Film Academy
both informative and enjoyable. “I liked the teaching staff, their knowledge,
and the atmosphere of the school,” said Uchenna.
Tarmac • October 2007 NEWS
19

FLYERS ON THE GO, DURING AND AFTER SCHOOL
FLIGHT PATH
20
Flyers Attend Civil War Institute at Gettysburg
by Andrew Scarpitta ‘10
T
rekking through a wooded area on the outskirts of
Gettysburg National Park, 14 Chaminade students,
one alumnus, and four moderators came across a
clearing. In it, they discovered a grave marker with the epitaph
“Edward I. Florence, Pennsylvania, Mech. Co. D. 60 Inf.,
5 Division, World War I, November 19, 1895 – June 4, 1958.”
“This grave marker belonged to a mechanic with the first
group of tanks ever sent into war,” explained Bro. Lawrence
Syriac, who organized the trip to Gettysburg. “The gravestone
had been removed for some reason and dumped on the perimeter
of the park. Later, we found out that a replacement grave
marker has been placed in the National Cemetery at Gettysburg.”
This almost 50-year-old piece of history represents just
one of the many highlights of this year’s trip to the
Gettysburg Civil War Institute. Sophomore Pat Schmitz was
particularly excited at this historical find: “It was a completely
unexpected discovery during our excursion to a place
that is so important to our country. The entire trip made me
feel that I had a real connection to America’s past.”
Held annually at Gettysburg College, the Civil War Institute
does indeed provide “a real connection to
America’s past.” This year, the Institute ran from Sunday,
June 24 to Saturday, June 30.
When the group arrived, Bro. Lawrence wasted no time
in giving a tour of the famous battlefield. The students
saw both Culp’s Hill and Power’s Hill, crucial vantage
points on the battlefield.
Another memorable part of the trip was an auction of original
Civil War memorabilia. The most expensive and unique
item offered was a rifle from 1863 that sold for $3,000.
During the trip, the group was able to rub elbows with
a number of Civil War experts, including James
Future Leaders Convene at Boys’ State
FLIGHT PATH
by Dennis Grabowski ‘08
Every student learns about democracy over the course
of his education, but how many get the chance to live
it before they are old enough to vote?
In New York State, the number of students who receive
such an opportunity is approximately 1,100 a year. From June
24 to June 30, Jack
Gamber ’08, Gary
Dawes ’08, Cody
Alt ’08, and Dennis
Grabowski ’08 were
among the 1,000plus
young men attending
Boys’ State,
a week-long program
meant to introduce
high-school
seniors throughout
New York to the
practices of democracy,
the workings
of the political process,
and the merits
of patriotism.
“Boys’ State, the
name the American
Legion chose for
the program, refers
Students listen intently as Bro. Lawrence
Syriac guides them on a tour of the
Gettysburg battlefield.
McPherson, author of Battle Cry of Freedom, and Dr.
Gabor Boritt, author of The Gettysburg Gospel.
Chaminade’s own Civil War expert, Bro. Lawrence Syriac,
went with the students as both a member of the Civil War
Institute and a guide.
The theme for this year’s Civil War seminars and lectures
was the Battle of Fredericksburg, the site of the first
amphibious assault in history. More than 10,000 soldiers
were killed or wounded in this pivotal battle. On Tuesday,
historian Francis Augustín O’Reilly conducted a
walking tour of Fredericksburg. The Flyers were privileged
to accompany him.
“This trip helped me see the battle in a different way,”
said sophomore Dan Tierney. “I had access to new information
that cannot be found in books or online, which
was awesome.”
to the opportunity to be politically active, even as young
people,” said Bro. Lawrence Syriac, who regularly encourages
members of the Social Studies Club to attend.
“It is a good opportunity for them to practice leadership. It
also teaches them different skills that they wouldn’t normally
be able to find in a school environment,” Bro. Lawrence said.
The week was
filled with meetings,
assemblies, athletics,
and speeches
given by prominent
politicians. Among
all of the activities,
however, a few
constants helped
to give the week
its fairly regimented
structure.
Led by the Marines,
physical
training began
each morning at
6:00 a.m., and it
was “definitely a
good idea to be on
(l.-r.) Seniors Cody Alt, Gary Dawes, Dennis Grabowski,
and Jack Gamber learned valuable lessons in politics and
government at Boys’ State.
time,” according
to Cody Alt.
See “ State,” page 18.
Tarmac • October 2007

Outward Bound
by Brendan O’Shea ‘09
T P
here is more to us than we know. If we can be made to
see it, perhaps for the rest of our lives, we will be unwilling
to settle for less.”
Kurt Hahn described the Outward Bound program that he founded
in 1961 with these simple but profound words. Since its inception,
Outward Bound has helped hundreds of thousands of young people
discover their potential, challenging
them to test their mettle
in a variety of outdoor activities,
including hiking, camping, canoeing,
and kayaking.
Each year, Chaminade has
nominated one student to attend
Outward Bound. Director of
guidance Mr. Daniel Petruccio,
who oversees the selection process,
reports that past CHS delegates
to the program have
called it a “wonderful experience.”
Joe Kaplan ’05, a cadet at
West Point, told Mr. Petruccio
Eamonn Cummings ‘08
that Outward Bound was “a
kayaks around the San
huge part of the process that
Juan Islands in the
helped me choose my career.”
Pacific Northwest.
Eamonn Cummings ’08
was this year’s CHS delegate to Outward Bound. From the
many Outward Bound programs offered throughout the United
States, Eamonn chose to sea-kayak around the San Juan Islands
in the Pacific Northwest. Eamonn and the other members of
his team embarked from Shaw Island, off the coast of Washington,
and traveled to seven other islands, making a stop at the
Lummi Indian Reservation and ending in Bowman Bay.
Eamonn thoroughly enjoyed seeing “nature preserved in
its pristine state” and visiting islands “with no one around.”
The “best part” of Eamonn’s kayaking adventure was “learning
how to navigate by using the tides and currents.”
And what did Eamonn discover about himself? “I learned about
kayaking, but mostly I learned leadership skills and how to take
charge of a group when usually I let someone else lead.”
Rebuilding New Orleans
by Brandon Pues ‘10
acking into the car after work, my family and I drove to the
infamous Lower Ninth Ward to see for ourselves the destruction
of Katrina,” said Conor Finnegan ‘08. “Even while we
were crossing the bridge to get there, we sensed a complete change;
it was completely empty.”
Conor, along with his brother Danny ’11, witnessed the devastation of
New Orleans firsthand. Even though the city is more than two years
removed from Hurricane Katrina, many neighborhoods are still devastated,
and the Finnegans were determined to help in the rebuilding process.
They volunteered with Habitat for Humanity from August 5
to August 10, working on two houses in Jefferson Parish, a neighborhood
that was hit particularly hard by Katrina. Their work
included installing siding, painting the exterior of the houses,
putting up Sheetrock, and building an attic floor.
“We became involved with Habitat because, after visiting my brother
several times at Tulane [University], we fell in love with the city,” said Conor.
“We would definitely encourage anyone interested in volunteering
for Habitat for Humanity,” said Danny. “It was a great
feeling seeing the neighbors understand that people still cared
about rebuilding the city.”
Flyers Attend Leadership Programs This Summer
Participants Gain Experience in Fields of Medicine, Law, and National Security
by Ryan Krebs ‘09
W
e walked in the room, and the medical student pulled
the cover off the examining table. The cadaver staring
back at us reeked of embalming fluids,”
said junior Alex Kamath. “The student then proceeded
to point out all the major organs, including the brain,
lungs, intestines, and heart.”
Alex gained insight into the medical field, including a
look at the human anatomy, during a session of the National
Youth Leadership Forum. This summer, thousands
of high-school students participated in similar programs
throughout the country.
Students who received nominations for the National
Youth Leadership Forum, National Student Leadership
Conference, and Global Youth Leadership Conference attended
programs in one of six cities, including Philadelphia
and Washington, D.C.
Juniors Andrew Curiale, Mike Gaffney, Alex Kamath,
Ryan Krebs, and Chris Rypl, and
seniors Ricky DeCicco, Mike
Osorio, and Mike Sehn attended
the NYLF; seniors Abner
Fernandez, Victor Garcia, John
Giammarino, and Pat Gillespie
participated in the NSLC; and seniors
Michael Mink and Zach
Wynkoop went to the GYLC.
The NYLF program offered students
the opportunity to specialize in
medicine, law, and national security.
“The program I attended
wasn’t just about medicine,” said
Mike Gaffney ’09. “It was about
the camaraderie we developed
Conor Finnegan ‘08 (l.), Danny Finnegan ‘11 (3rd from
l.), and their family volunteered for Habitat for
Humanity.
with high-school students around the nation.”
(l.-r.) Seniors Mike Osorio, John Giammarino,
Zach Wynkoop, Victor Garcia, Michael Mink, and
junior Matt Fitzsimons studied various topics at
leadership programs over the summer.
Tarmac • October 2007 FLIGHT PATH
Photo by Phil Falzone ‘08
21

Flyers Travel South to Serve
Flood, Falzone, Cunningham, and Kutner Volunteer in Central American Missions
22
by Conor Finnegan ‘08
Four Flyers headed south this past
summer – not to the ocean beaches of
the South Shore, nor to Florida’s popular
tourist attractions, nor to the Caribbean’s
tropical resorts. No, these four Flyers traveled
to some of the poorest parts of Latin America.
There, they worked as
missionaries, lending a
helping hand and bringing
hope where both are frequently
in short supply.
Leaving on Friday, June
22 for nine days, seniors
Ryan Flood and Phil
Falzone journeyed together
to Ticuantepe, Nicaragua,
with Phil’s mother,
Ryan’s father and uncle,
and eleven other volunteers
from the organization
“Bridges to Community.”
Ticuantepe is a suburb
of the Nicaraguan capital,
Managua, but still remains
an impoverished
and destitute area. One
quarter of the population
cannot read, and the
people often live without
water for days. “Bridges
to Community” has been
working with local leaders
and citizens since
2002, building better homes and one school.
Ryan, Phil, and the other volunteers constructed
a home for a large family that had
previously lived in a tin-roofed “shack”
with no door, a dirt floor, and only two
beds. “I was stunned when we first got
there,” said Ryan. “I could not believe this
is how they lived day after day.”
After one week, however, the group had
built a new house made of cement blocks,
and while the family still does not have
“things that we take for granted,” like running
water, “they were so happy and even
began to cry tears of joy,” said Ryan.
“This type of service opened my eyes to
what is really out there,” said Phil. Ryan
added, “I took away a sense of how fortunate
I am to have the life that I live. I must
always remind myself that, no matter how
‘bad’ life may seem here, it is still miles above
the way the people live in Nicaragua.”
Sophomore Conor Kutner also visited a
Latin American country during his summer
break. From July 6 to 15, Conor traveled
throughout Guatemala with his father, older
brother, and a group of volunteers, bringing
clothes to the needy of the country.
Fr. Tom Moran, a missionary priest in
Guatemala, led the group to the various
FLIGHT PATH
Above: Ryan Flood ‘08 sees
the benefits of his work in
the smile of a young
Nicaraguan girl.
Right: Conor Kutner ‘10
distributes clothes to
Guatemalan children.
villages where he has taught and worked
for thirty years.
There, the volunteers distributed clothes,
prayed, celebrated Mass, and came together
in the people’s homes to enjoy a meal and
each other’s company. “They gave us such
a receptive welcoming,” said Conor, “despite
the fact that
they have nearly
nothing compared
to us.”
As is the case in
Nicaragua, most
housing in Guatemala
is substandard.
Most
houses are built
of straw and
mud, although
some are made of
cinder blocks.
Most of the time,
a family of six
will live in a single 7’ x 10’ room without running
water or even a floor.
“It really puts things in perspective,” said
Conor. “Life is not about money or material
possessions. These people who have it so
rough are some of the happiest people I’ve
ever seen because they have what matters
most – family, friends, and faith.”
The final Flyer to trek south was Greg
Cunningham ’08. Accompanied by twenty other
students from St. Mary’s in Manhasset, his local
parish, Greg traveled to San Manuel Chaparrón,
Guatemala, from June 24 to 30, where he and the
others distributed clothing, toys, and candy and
painted the local school, the Mother Teresa School.
A small town four miles from Guatemala
City, San Manuel Chaparrón is better off than
most other towns and villages. The people
have just enough to support themselves, and
running water works about every other day.
In the smaller, surrounding villages, however,
“conditions are terrible,” said Greg. “There were
families of eight living in a 12’ x 15’ single-room
shack with no running water at all.”
Despite these dire living conditions, the people
were “great, especially the kids.” Every day, after
several long, hard hours of work, the American
students competed against the Guatemalan
youngsters in a friendly game of fútbol.
“At the beginning of the week, we were
terrible at soccer, but by the end, we were just
as good, making the games really fun and
exciting,” said Greg. “It
was a good cultural exchange,
but it also
helped to break down
the language barrier
that we faced in the beginning,
bringing us
closer together.”
“I really learned a lot
from those kids. Never
take anything for granted;
always remember that
there are people who
could use your help; and
know that even the smallest
deeds, like donating
your old clothes or painting
a house, can go a long way,” said Greg.
Perhaps Conor Kutner put it best: “It was
the best trip I’ve ever taken.” In fact, the
others agree so much that Ryan Flood and
Phil Falzone both plan on returning next
summer, and all four would highly recommend
this kind of trip to other Flyers.
“I would definitely recommend it to anyone,
because this was one of the most influential
trips of my life,” said Ryan. “Anyone who gets
the chance to go on this trip or a similar one
should definitely take that opportunity.”
Homerun Hopefuls
Milk cartons replace gloves. Rocks replace balls.
These are the adaptations that underprivileged
and impoverished children make to play baseball
in many underdeveloped countries.
Jordan Ott ’09 traveled to the Dominican Republic
from August 20 to 28 to participate in Homerun Hopefuls,
a non-profit project that brings new and slightly
used baseball equipment to underprivileged children. For
eight days, Jordan traveled from town to town, playing
by Brett Wishart ‘08
catch and giving dozens of children new equipment and,
in turn, new hope. Jordan visited 14 towns, including
Peralta, Negro Santo, and a Haitian refugee camp, organizing
pick-up games with the local children.
“Most of the places we went to were so poor that the
kids would beg us for our shoes and clothing,” said Jordan.
“I realized that what I regard as such a small thing
could change someone’s life down there. We always felt
good at the end of the day.”
Tarmac • October 2007

Show Me the Money!
Ad Drive Hopes to Rake in the Dough for Yearbook
by Allen Buzzeo ‘10
Show me the money!”
The 2008 Crimson and Gold ad drive
chose this classic line from the film
Jerry Maguire as its theme, as staff members
decorated the halls with colorful posters
of $100 bills.
On Monday, September 17, John
Buonocore ’08 and Dan Sheehan ’08, the
editors-in-chief of the yearbook staff, officially
kicked off this year’s drive. Appearing
on ETV, Chaminade’s closed-circuit
television network, John and Dan urged
the student body to raise $220,000 by Monday,
October 15. They specifically asked
the Senior Class to raise $125,000 to pay
for their own full-color section in the final
yearbook of their Chaminade careers.
“Selling ads is easy. All you have to do
is ask, and you will be surprised with the
results,” said Mr. Daniel Petruccio, financial
moderator of the Crimson and Gold.
“The students’ enthusiasm contributes
enormously to the success of this awardwinning
yearbook every year. They take
a lot of pride in the finished product, and
they support it by selling ads.”
One Last Farewell for the Class of ‘07
Yearbook BBQ Unites the Newest Alumni Before They Set Off for College
by Michael Bucaria ‘10
L
ike most Long Island teenagers,
Chaminade’s most recent graduates
spent their time “hanging out” with
their friends, earning some extra cash, and
getting ready to leave for college. On Friday,
August 10, however, they reported to school
one last time, for one last “afternoon assembly,”
so to speak, at the annual Yearbook Distribution
Barbecue.
Two groups, the Alumni Association
The Crimson and Gold rewarded
a 15% commission to each student
who sold an ad in the first week of
the drive. Each student who sold
an ad during the remaining three
weeks earned a 10% commission.
“Every year, the Crimson and Gold
works with ETV to create ad-drive commercials
not only to boost ad sales, but
also to bring laughter to the morning announcements,”
said John Buonocore.
Ryan Sullivan ’08 produced the
commercials for ETV, working daily
to coordinate the project with the
Crimson and Gold.
“I was with them in the studio when
they were capturing and editing clips
from Jerry Maguire, and I found their
theme to be both appropriate and attention-grabbing,”
said ETV moderator
Mr. Patrick Reichart.
“As always, we’re working hard to
ensure that the 2008 yearbook is better
than previous years’,” said ad-drive coordinator
Michael Mink ’08. “With the
support of the student body, we believe
we can accomplish this goal.”
and the Crimson and Gold staff, joined
forces to sponsor the event.
The highlight of the event was the distribution
of the fourth and final yearbook to
the recent graduates and soon-to-be college
freshmen. Several yearbook staff members
helped yearbook moderator Mr. Michael
Foley and assistant moderators Bro. Peter
Heiskell, Bro. Robert Fachet, and Mr. Daniel
Petruccio hand out the books. John
Buonocore ’08, co-editor-in-chief of the 2008
Crimson and
Gold, and
R y a n
Horrmann
’09, activities-section
editor for the
2008 book,
were particularly
helpful.
Rob Drummond
‘07 (l.)
and Anthony
Trombetta ‘07
catch up with
Fr. Ernest Lorfanfant
during
the yearbook
BBQ.
Ad-drive coordinator Michael Mink ‘08
(l.) supervises the construction of the
2008 ad-drive billboard.
“Processing over 1,900 yearbooks and
setting up for the event took the entire
day, but it was well worth the effort,” said
Mr. Foley. “I am grateful to everyone who
contributed to the 2007 book, particularly
co-editors-in-chief Sean McGonigle and
Sean Rober.”
According to George Anderson ’07, now
a freshman at Stonehill College, “The
turnout was great, actually. It was one of
the last times we saw each other before
we all took off for college. The faculty
served us hamburgers and hotdogs right
off the grill, and we received our yearbooks.
There was a lot of catching up to
do with classmates and faculty members.
It was an exciting, high-energy event.”
As their theme, the editors of the 2007
Crimson and Gold chose Fortes in
Unitate, “Strength in Unity.” The camaraderie
evident at the barbecue certainly
provided a concrete example of that
theme.
Matt Quinterno ‘07, one of the senior-section
editors of the 2007 yearbook
and now a freshman at West
Virginia Tech, put it this way: “Socializing
with high-school friends
one last time was the perfect ‘going
away party.’”
Tarmac • October 2007 CRIMSON AND GOLD
23

Their BITE As
Bulldogs Devour the Competition
T
by Louis Stokum ‘09
heir stretching was done.
Their minds were focused.
They had said all their lastminute
prayers. The stage was set
for battle.
At one end of the 50-foot rope stood
the members of homeroom 4A, ready
to ride their “A-Train” to victory. The
fierce “Bulldogs” of homeroom 4B
stared them down from the other end
of the rope, waiting to release their
canine instincts on anyone who
stood in their way.
Both homerooms fought fiercely that
night, securing spots for themselves in the
championship match. Sure, their legs
were cramped, their backs ached, and
24 SENIOR NIGHT
their callused hands had already suffered
from some bad cases of rope
burn, but their desire to win remained
firm.
When the signal was given, both
squads picked up the rope and set
their feet on the floor, ready to fight
for the honor of victory. The shriek
of the whistle sounded, and the time
had come to see what these
homerooms were really made of.
After an intense struggle of legchurning,
heart-throbbing action, the
A-Trainers found themselves defeated,
pulled across the line by the savage
Bulldogs, who rightfully claimed the
title of Senior Night Champions.
The tug-of-war competition was only
one part of Senior Night, which is held
annually for seniors as they begin their
last year of high school. At 6:00 p.m. on
Friday, September 14, the cafeteria began
to fill with over 250 seniors, all talking
about what the evening would have in
store for them.
The night began as any would at
Chaminade – with some delicious food.
Featured for the evening was
Chaminade’s famous pasta, along with
rolls, cookies, and soda.
Following dinner, the group of seniors
performed a Senior Night first. Instead of
completing the rest of the night in the
House of Noise, they walked over to the
newly completed Activity-Athletic Center.
Once there, the seniors gathered on the
bleachers for a group photo. Afterwards,
they sat down and watched a video of
highlights from the 3-C Week of their freshman
year. Amazed at how young they
looked, the Class of 2008 watched and
laughed at all of the memories from their
earliest days at Chaminade.
Above: Leading on the “Kool Aid Gang,” Dan Ramirez (foreground),
Dan Reuter, and Scott Scuderi fight to stay in the match.
Left: Putting aside homeroom loyalties, “Bulldog” Greg Cunningham
(r.) gives some words of encouragement to “A-Train’s” Ryan Brenner
before his homeroom’s match.
Tarmac • October 2007

Bad As Their Bark
After this blast from the past, it was time
for the homerooms to compete in the ultimate
battle of strength and endurance to see who
would be crowned the ruler of the rope, the
master of tug of war.
Head varsity football coach Mr. William
Basel stood at the podium at the front of
the gym, commanding attention with his
unmistakably loud and clear voice. He explained
that the tournament would proceed
in double-elimination style and that
each team would be limited to 13 players.
Determined to adhere to the rules (If they
didn’t, after all, they would be disqualified.),
the homerooms conducted their war councils
and chose their 13 representatives. Once the
teams had been made, the matches began
under the refereeing of assistant varsity football
coaches Mr. Kevin Parente and Mr. Christopher
Lynch.
“The matches were really intense,” said Senior
Divisional moderator Bro. Thomas
Cleary. “There were so many guys who were
just physically exhausted. The teams were
so evenly matched that the flag on the middle
of the rope didn’t even move until many seconds
into the competitions.”
Commandos, Dictators, Floods, Epidemics,
A-Trainers, Generics, Hailstorms, L-
Right: (l.-r.) Zach
Colen, Ricky
Buckshaw, Luke
Nawrocki, and
Brendan Guerrier
take a break from
dinner to pose for
a picture before
heading over to the
AAC for the tug-ofwar
tournament
among the senior
homerooms.
Bowers, Mobsters,
Kool Aids, and
even the formidable
Jiggley Puffs fought
hard. But they
were all eliminated,
leaving the Bulldogs
alone as champions.
In this case, the Bulldogs’
bite was just
as bad as their bark.
After their final
defeat of the A-
Train, the victorious
Bulldogs, anchored
by Mike Catapano,
Brian Ciullo, and
Zach Colen, posed
for a championship
photo.
“Senior Night was
an amazing experience,”
said Mike. “It
was great to come
together as a
homeroom to win.”
Bro. Thomas Cleary
summed up the event, saying, “The bonding
as a class was incredible. It was a great
“Ruff” and ready: Posing with homeroom
moderators past and present, the champion
“Bulldogs,” Mr. Michael Cummo (l., 1st row), Bro.
Robert Lahey (r., 2nd row), and Bro. Benjamin Knapp
(r., 3rd row) celebrate their Senior Night victory.
way to kick off what will be an exciting
final year.”
Below Left: “Bulldogs”
Wayne Cox (l.) and Anthony
Capobianco unleash some
of their canine instincts
during the championship
round against the 4A A-
Train.
Below: (l.-r.) “Dictators”
Rob Gotterbarn and Victor
Garcia show some grit
and determination in the
third-place match.
Tarmac • October 2007 SENIOR NIGHT
25

Medals Won in the Summer Sun
From Alabama to Armstrong Stadium, Chaminade Athletes Excel
by Daniel Hinton ‘10
The 30th Empire State Games, the second-largest
amateur sports competition
in the world, featured over 6,000
participants in 31 different events at 12 separate
venues across Westchester County. The
participating athletes, including two of
Chaminade’s own, competed from July 25
to 29 and represented the six regions of New
York – Adirondack, Central New York,
Hudson Valley, Long Island, New York City,
and West New York.
The Olympic-inspired opening ceremony,
held in Valhalla, Westchester
County, kicked off with the lighting of a
torch, progressed with a march of the athletes
representing each region, and concluded
with entertainment and fireworks.
Mike Liguori ’08 played baseball for the
Long Island team in the Scholastic Division.
His team fell to Hudson Valley in the
first game, 5-1, but they would go on to
win their next four, defeating New York
City, Central New York, Adirondack, and
West New York, respectively.
Against Central New York, Mike showcased
his talent under pressure with a
pinch-hit grand slam in the bottom of the
sixth, giving Long Island a 6-5 lead. “I had
dreamed of a moment like that my entire
life, and it finally came true,” said Mike.
“It felt great knowing that I had contributed
to my team’s success.”
The Long Island team entered the championship
game on a hot streak, but their opponent,
Hudson Valley, was the only team
that had defeated them in the tournament.
Going into the fourth inning trailing 3-2,
Long Island blew the game wide open. They
scored seven runs on their way to a 12-6 victory
and captured the coveted gold medal.
Matt Gibson ’08 was Chaminade’s other
Matt Gibson ‘08 dodges around a
defender at the Empire State Games.
26
SPORTS
participant in the
Games, playing lacrosse
in the Scholastic
Division.
Long Island defeated
New York
City, 11-3; West
New York, 13-4;
Adirondack, 16-6;
and Central New
York, 12-7. In their
match against West
New York, Matt
scored the game’s
first goal, and
against Central
New York, he netted
a goal with two
seconds remaining
in the first period.
(l.-r.) Mike Liguori ‘08, Matt Gibson ‘08, Brandon
Saldana ‘09, Dino Tomassetti ‘10, and Matt Johnson
‘09 participated in a variety of summer athletic
activities.
In the last game of the tournament, Long
Island fell in overtime, 10-9. In spite of this
blemish on their otherwise flawless record,
Long Island clinched the gold medal, sending
another member of the Chaminade student
body to the top of the podium.
“Winning the gold medal was great, especially
since people thought it was a weak year
for Long Island lacrosse,” said Matt.
About 1,170 miles south, in Andalusia,
Alabama, baseball players between the ages
of 13 and 15, including sophomore Dino
Tomassetti, competed in the Babe Ruth World
Series. The series consisted of 10 teams from
across the nation, including Bellmore, New
York, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Champions.
In their first game, Bellmore went up
against Henderson, Kentucky. Dino ran the
bases well, turning a hit-by-pitch into a run,
a key contribution in his team’s 3-2 victory.
The team further proved their offensive talent
in the next game against Sarasota, Florida,
with an incredible 13-run first inning.
Dino scored twice and had
two RBI’s.
Bellmore won their last three
games by a total of 14 runs, including
the championship, finishing
as the Babe Ruth World Series
champs. “The quality of our
coaching helped us get so far in
the tournament,” said Dino. “All
in all, the team hit great together.”
Closer to home, Brandon Saldana
‘09 partook in the Ray Reid Soccer
Tournament, held at the University of
Connecticut. The competition was directed
by UConn men’s NCAA championship-winning
coach Ray Reid.
Brandon was the goaltender for the
Massapequa squad, which went on to
win the camp-ending championship
match.
Brandon was also honored for his individual
performance with the Goalie of the
Week Award. “The camp was a lot of fun,”
said Brandon. “I would definitely accept
the chance to participate next year if the
opportunity comes again.”
Another Chaminade athlete, Matt Johnson
’09, spent the last several weeks of his summer
vacation as a ball boy in the U.S. Open.
Two months before the Open began, firstround
tryouts took place with nearly 350
teenagers vying for the 70 positions. Matt
had his mind set on the most responsible
and energy-consuming position – the net.
After proving his speed and skill at the position,
Matt returned in mid-July for callbacks.
He prevailed during the most difficult
training sessions and was rewarded a
spot on the selective roster.
A week before the Open, the ball boys
and girls returned for the qualifying
rounds. Matt worked the net for Scoville
Jenkins, who faced top-ranked Roger
Federer in the first round.
Matt was also chosen to be the net ball
boy at the Men’s Doubles second-round
match, held at the Billie Jean King National
Tennis Center. The match featured
Wimbledon Men’s Doubles champions
Arnaud Clement and Michael Llorda, who
were defeated by Alex Kuznetsov and
Jesse Levine of the United States.
Despite working a match that featured
some of the best tennis players in the
world, Matt’s favorite moment of the Open
occurred when he and soon-to-be men’s
runner-up Novak Djokavic accidentally
bumped into each other inside the tunnel
of Louis Armstrong Stadium.
“It was amazing to be so close to one of the
best tennis players in the world,” said Matt. “I
was happy to be a part of one of tennis’ biggest
events.”
Tarmac • October 2007

PARA
Chutestrings
Nothing Like a Game of Dodgeball
Intramural Tournament Helps Freshmen Form Friendships
B efore
his first day of high-school orientation, Jon
Roger ’11 had a lot to be nervous about.
A new school. New classmates. Four years worth
of the vaunted Chaminade curriculum and discipline.
Needless to say, he felt some butterflies.
As the final moments of summer waned, last-minute
uncertainties crept into Jon’s mind. Is Chaminade the
right school for me? Will I like it? Are the teachers as
mean as people say they are?
Soon after his arrival, Jon was relieved. He was not
sweating in a humid auditorium, listening to the standard
welcoming
speeches from various
members of the
faculty. Nor was he
sitting in a musty
classroom, daydreamingnostalgically
about the summer
that had just
flown by. In fact, he
was not even in the
school building at all.
Instead, Jon was on
Ott Field, in the
midst of a heated
game of intramural
dodgeball.
Although the game
between the newest
freshman homerooms
started off timidly, it
didn’t take long for
the intensity to crescendo.
Ooos and
ahhs began to follow
every knockout.
Gunslingers fired
away as their prey
sought cover. Dodging,
ducking, dipping,
diving – and dodging – Jon and his classmates used every
ounce of athleticism to fight for their lives, or at least
for bragging rights among the other freshmen.
As the game wore on, these 20 students – complete
strangers 20 minutes earlier – found themselves united
as teammates. In the end, Jon’s homeroom, 1K, prevailed.
The countless high-fives and congratulations among them
made it seem as if they had been friends for years.
Not your typical start to high-school orientation?
“When I heard we were going to play dodgeball first,
I was shocked, but definitely excited,” Jon said. “After
the game, I couldn’t wait for what was going to
happen the rest of the week.”
At Chaminade – a school known for its academic
rigor, disciplinary regulations, and jacket-and-tie dress
code – why does high-school orientation start with a
game of dodgeball?
Tarmac • October 2007
The truth is, sports have a way of bringing people
together like nothing else can. Whether you’re a sports
skeptic or an ESPN junkie, the unifying power of sports
is undeniable. Sharing in the ups and downs of a game
or season – as a fan or an athlete – creates powerful
bonds that build community.
Take the example of the 1G “Grizzlies.” After splitting
their first two games on Monday, the homeroom
decided that they needed something extra to give them
an edge for Tuesday’s action.
Homeroom moderator Mr. Michael Foley led the students
in calisthenics
before going out to
the field, and once
out there, the Grizzlies
did not lose a
game. Using the exercises
as sort of a
good-luck charm, the
team went on a tear.
They overcame a 16goal
deficit to secure
a victory in European
handball and finished
the week in
second place, just
one point behind the
1M “Monstarz.”
Mr. Foley saw how
much the intramural
sports helped his students
come together
as a homeroom. “I
definitely saw us
bond when we had
our string of wins,” he
said. “Even though
we fell short in the
end, our homeroom
had a blast.”
“The sports were
the best part of the week, no doubt,” said Matt
Khazzam of homeroom 1G. “Having the homeroom
together the entire week helped make the transition to
Chaminade a lot less difficult. It definitely made me
excited to come back a week later.”
Fortes in Unitate.
Strength in unity.
And what better unifier is there than sports?
It was the Yankees’ postseason run that brought
New York City together after the September 11 th attacks,
and it was the New Orleans Saints who unified
the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. For our freshmen,
it was a simple intramural tournament that allowed
them to form bonds that will stay with them
for the next four years.
So when it comes to high-school orientation, why not
start with a game of dodgeball?
A sports
commentary by
Kyle Blanco ‘08
“Whether you’re
a sports skeptic
or an ESPN
junkie, the
unifying power
of sports is
undeniable.”
SPORTS
27

Senior Night
It’s a Dog-Eat-Dog World
xx
page page page xx
24
T A R M A C
SPORTS
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T A R M A C
Chaminade High School
340 Jackson Avenue
Mineola, New York 11501-2441
PARAChutestrings
Dodgeball: Five D’s For 3-C page 27
page page 13
Let The Games Begin!
Flyer Sports Hit the Ground Running
1. 1. Up Up Up Up Up for for for for for grabs::::: grabs grabs grabs grabs Brian Fay ‘08 defends
the ball against a Friar striker.
2. 2. 2. Inbounds Inbounds Inbounds::::: Inbounds Inbounds Luke Nawrocki ‘08 makes
a catch en route to a 21-12 victory over
Xaverian.
Crunch time::::: Defenders Bobby Lucas ‘09
and Mike Riley ‘08 team up to stuff the run.
3. 3. 3. Crunch Crunch Crunch Crunch time time time time
4. 4. Flyer Flyer Flyer Flyer Flyer on on on on on the the the the the move::::: move move move move Charlie Donnelly
‘08 jogs ahead, preparing for the crosscountry
season.
Non-profit
Organization
US Postage
P A I D
Mineola, NY
Permit #54
28 SPORTS
SPORTS
Tarmac • October 2007
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