f Spring - Chaminade High School

A Celebration of Seventy-five Years
by Michael Matosic ‘07
T
hroughout the 2004-2005 school
year, Chaminade students, faculty,
and alumni have joined together to
celebrate the Seventy-fifth Anniversary of
the school’s foundation in 1930. Flyers of
all ages honored the anniversary with a student-body
photo, a Mass and Social, a
groundbreaking ceremony for the new Activity
and Athletic Center, a Gala dinner,
and a surprise barbeque lunch in school.
The yearlong commemorations began with a
student-body photograph on Tuesday, September
14. Aligned in a perfectly rectangular formation
on Ott Field, the students smiled up at the
cameraman located on Chaminade’s rooftop.
Following the picture, they enjoyed surprise icecream
sandwiches and each other’s company.
Four days later, on September 18, over 2,300
Chaminade alumni, students, faculty members,
and their families gathered to celebrate Mass in
honor of the anniversary. The Mass and Social,
originally intended for Ott Field, took place in
the auditorium and gymnasium due to the
downpours and high winds visited upon Long
Island by Hurricane Ivan. Sophomore Steve
Martinez, who sang in the Glee Club at the Mass,
commented, “I was surprised at how many
people came out for the Mass and Social. It really
shows the unity of the Chaminade Family.”
On Saturday, April 23, the school hosted a
groundbreaking ceremony during the day and
the Seventy-fifth Anniversary Gala in the
CHS Cooks Up a Surprise for Students
BBQ Commemorates Move to “New” Building
On May 20, 1931, the young Chaminade High School celebrated
a major milestone: the entire school moved from its original
home in the Garden City Bar Building to its current location – a
stately, Federal-style structure located at Jackson Avenue and Emory
Road in nearby Mineola. To commemorate this occasion and the many
students who have put in four years of blood, sweat, and tears in this
building, the current Chaminade student body had its own celebration
on Friday May 20, 2005. As CHS president Fr. James Williams announced
at the Mass in Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary on May 19, the faculty
and administration would host a free barbeque featuring hamburgers,
hot dogs, chips, iced tea, and ice cream to celebrate the event.
Fr. James later noted, “Friday, May 20, which was the first day of classes
in this building seventy-four years ago, seemed a fitting occasion to reward
the student body for its hard work.” Head chef Mr. Anthony Madia and
his assistants cooked up over 4,800 hot dogs and hamburgers, which faculty
members, student volunteers, and cafeteria staff served during each of
the four lunch periods. Threatening thunderstorms forced the barbeque,
originally slated to take place on Ott Field, indoors to the Courtyard Café.
Pouring rain and poor weather conditions, however, failed to
dampen the Flyers’ enjoyment of their special day. As excited sophomore
Mike Duranti put it, “What better way to commemorate such a
momentous occasion than with fun, friends, and lots of free food?
The faculty certainly did a fantastic job turning an ordinary lunch
period into an extraordinary feast.”
The second of two seventy-fifth-anniversary festivities to celebrate the
Tarmac • July 2005
by Dan Bruen ‘07
evening. Over seventy-five spectators gathered
at the former Koeppel Ford dealership on Jericho
Turnpike to witness the groundbreaking ceremony.
CHS president Fr. James Williams ’87
broke ground for the new Activity and Athletic
It’s all in the book: Mr. Kevin
Schuler ‘95 (l.) and Bro. Peter
Heiskell ‘86 debut Chamiande’s
Seventy-fifth Anniversary Journal.
Center with the same shovel used seventy-five
years ago when Bro. Alexander Ott broke
ground in the middle of a Mineola potato field
for what would eventually become the school
building as Chaminade students know it today.
The day’s events continued later that night
with the Anniversary Gala at the EAB Plaza in
nearby Uniondale, New York. Members of the
String Orchestra, Glee Club, and Jazz Band entertained
the guests during the cocktail hour. Following
speeches by current administrators and
several alumni, the attendees enjoyed a threecourse
meal and a chance to put on their dancing
shoes to the tunes of a live band. In addition,
guests received a copy of the ninety-sixpage
Seventy-fifth Anniversary Journal, produced
by Mr. Kevin Schuler ’95, his committee,
Bro. Peter Heiskell ’86, and the yearbook staff.
On Friday, May 20, the student body had its
own celebration on the occasion of
Chaminade’s location change exactly seventyfour
years ago from the Garden City Bar Building
to its current location. A free barbeque, compliments
of the school, was originally slated to
take place on Ott Field, but thunderstorms
forced the feast of over 4,800 hamburgers and
hot dogs inside to the cafeteria. “Ironically, we
ended our seventy-fifth anniversary celebrations
in the same way we began them, with
inclement weather forcing us indoors,” noted
dean of students Bro. Thomas Cleary ‘81, who
coordinates all of the food services of the school.
“Still, I think everyone had a great time at both
events, as well as all the ones in between.”
Fr. James summed up the year’s celebrations:
“Anniversaries provide an opportunity along
the journey of life to pause and reflect on the
many blessings of the past as well as affirm a
direction and commitment to the future. The
year’s events certainly fulfilled this goal.”
“Who says there’s no such thing as a free
lunch!” exclaim Terrance Wakely ‘07 (l.) and
Trevor Vincent ‘07 (r.) as CHS president Fr.
James Williams stops by.
students specifically (The first was the student-body photograph
and free ice cream on Tuesday, September 14.), the
barbeque was a success, as indicated by the many smiles
on the faces of the satisfied students. Indeed, according to
freshman Phil McAndrews, “While every lunch period may
be a feast fit for a Flyer, this was a feast fit for a king!”
75 YEARS
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