MSM Story
The Mount St. Michael Story - 1926...
by Brother Gerald Doherty, FMS '61
This story of Mount Saint Michael Academy is dedicated to the generations of "Mounties" and to the countless women and men, lay persons and Marist Brothers who have labored to make the Mount a Catholic school of excellence fulfilling the educational challenge of Saint Marcellin Champagnat �to make Jesus Christ known and loved" among the young.
Mount Saint Michael Academy celebrated its diamond jubilee as an outstanding Catholic school in the Archdiocese of New York on September 13, 2001. For seventy-five years the Mount has provided a quality Christian education for generations of young men in the Northeast Bronx.
The history of the Mount is rooted in a wider story that precedes the school's founding in September 1926 by one hundred and ten years; a story of a saint whose love and care for youth continues to be the hallmark and life giving spirit of Mount Saint Michael.
In every age the Church raises up women and men, who under the impulse and guidance of the Holy Spirit, proclaim the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Marcellin Champagnat was one such person. Being raised within a devout Catholic family, Marcellin at age fifteen responded to the call to become a priest to assist in the work of reevangelizing French society. Ordained for the Archdiocese of Lyons in 1816, Marcellin was assigned as parish priest to the parish of La Valla located in the rural mountains in southern France. In October of that same year, Marcellin was called to the sick bed of a young man who appalled him with his lack of rudimentary knowledge of the Catholic faith. Champagnat experienced this as a defining moment in his life, resolving that no child should remain ignorant of the gospel of Jesus Christ. On January 2, 1817, he founded with two young parishioners, a group of Brothers who would labor for the Christian education of youth, especially the most neglected. "To make Jesus Christ known and loved" became the guiding inspiration of Champagnat's small congregation.
From two Brothers in 1817 to over five thousand Marist Brothers world wide in 2001, the vision of Champagnat has been blessed by God. Mount Saint Michael Academy is both heir and participant in this his vision. Its history as an extraordinary Catholic school bears retelling since the fruit of its labor for the sake of Jesus Christ is a profound testament to God's fidelity, a fidelity evident in the school's past and the promise of its future.
TO THE STARS THROUGH DIFFICULTY
Mount Saint Michael staffed by fourteen Marist Brothers opened its doors to sixty-two boarding and day students on September 13, 1926. Along with Brother Mary Florentius, the founding Principal, Brother Leo Vincent and Brother John Lawrence were members of the original faculty; subsequently each becoming Principal and Director of the Mount in ensuing years. The school was equipped to teach both grammar and high school students. The original sign located at Murdock and Nereid Avenues announced the Mount as a "boarding and day school in the country", to the passerby. The Main Building and the Powerhouse completed by June, 1929, were dedicated and blessed, along with the statue of Saint Michael the Archangel which prominently stands at the school's entrance, by Msgr. Michael Lavalle, Rector of Saint Patrick's Cathedral and delegate of Patrick Cardinal Hayes, on May 8, 1927. Saint Paul's Hall was added to the campus buildings in 1929 to expand the recreational and dormitory facilities for the boarding students.
Adding an additional class with each ensuing year Mount Saint Michael graduated its first class in June, 1930. From the very first the Mount provided a classic education placing emphasis on the development of student minds and their ability to critically think and question. Life and physical sciences, mathematics, Latin and romance language study, literature, grammar, and social sciences were all preeminent in the curriculum, laying a solid foundation for a strong academic atmosphere which has been a characteristic of a Mount education to this day.
A family spirit quickly developed between the Brothers and their pupils with their willingness to assist each other in the common pursuit of an outstanding education. Central to this academic life was the vibrant influence of the Catholic faith with its insistence on the importance of the daily celebration of mass, preparation and celebration of the sacraments, the recitation of the Rosary and prayers and visits to the Blessed Sacrament enhanced the Catholic identity of the Mount. Only God Himself can estimate the infinite good that has emerged from this religious formation; a formation that has borne fruit in countless and generous ways among generations of Mount students who have lived their Catholic faith unreservedly.
In March 1928 construction was begun on the first cinder track, one third of a mile in length. The northeast corner of the campus, originally the site of a small lake whose tributary ran through the property to Pitman Avenue, was covered by thousands of tons of "fill" in order to construct a football field. The field, dedicated on May 19, 1940, is named after the generous contractor, Mr. Patrick McGovern, who donated the landfill in order to accomplish this task. By September 1929, the Mount had already become known in the surrounding neighborhood as the "big school up on the hill!" "To the stars through difficulty," the school's motto inscribed over the main entrance, led the founding Brothers and their students to rely upon God and to be generous, optimistic, and dedicated in providing the Mount with an enduring foundation.
ALL TO JESUS THROUGH MARY
There was no segment of American society that went unaffected by the now famous Stock Market Crash of October, 1929, which ushered in the Great Depression. Although only in its fourth year of existence, Mount Saint Michael Academy was influenced by this national economic disaster that cast its shadows over American society until the beginning of World War II in 1941.
The Mount can point with pride to the Marist Brothers who worked so arduously to maintain the school in perilous times. They are the early heroes of the Mount! Brothers Paul Ernest, Linus William and John Lawrence all served successively in the role of Principal, guiding the Mount through its first fifteen years of life. Brother Paul Wilfred introduced track to the Mount as did Brother Francis Xavier with football. Basketball, baseball, tennis and gymnastics all played a part in making the Mount an athletically competitive school. It proudly entered into interscholastic competition in the early days beginning a long history of excellence in athletics. The Annual Gymnastics Exhibition became an annual event during this decade, often accompanied by a music program under the direction of Dr. Reuther, the founder of the Mount's famous marching band.
The school year 1938-39 saw a record enrollment for the Mount with a total of 702 students. Signifying the venerable place given to Blessed Virgin Mary in Marist education, a statue under the title of Queen of the Mount was presented to the school by "her loyal Mountaineers in 1937. Located in the Quadrangle this statue has become a focal point of school life at the Mount with decades of students reciting the Rosary before it during May Devotions.
No history regarding the Mount is complete without mention of the arrival in 1935 of Howie Smith, a recent graduate of Notre Dame University and an enthusiastic and versatile coach in several sports. Howie became a "Mount Legend", leading the school to numerous city championships in football and baseball for the following 45 years. The MountLetter, spring 2001 edition recording a student memoir of the day says this of Howie, "he was easily recognized and readily captured our hearts, touching the memory of thousands of young men who spent their high school years on campus." Alumni, who had known Howie, would often inquire, "And how is Howie doing?" Howie, along with many fine Marist Brothers and students who were at Mount Saint Michael in the 1930's believed that the good they accomplished arose from their faith in the Marist motto of "all to Jesus through Mary!" It is this living faith that sustained the Mount during the great depression and molded this educational institution that was quickly becoming prominent in New York.
THE LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION
Seven hundred and four young men presented themselves in September 1940 for the opening of the school year at Mount Saint Michael. World War II, which was two years old, was a great distance away on the "other side of the world," having little influence on the daily life of Mount students.
The Mount was undaunted, and even audacious in planning for its future; a spirit that remained even with the eventual entrance of the United States into World War II. McGovern Field came into prominent use during the 1940's.
The physical expansion of the Mount during and after the War was the work of visionaries who made dreams a reality. Brother Leo Sylvius, Principal from 1942 to 1952 is responsible for the inspiration and motivation to construct the Memorial Gymnasium, seen as early as 1941 as a much needed addition to the Mount. Brother Joseph Damian, Mount Director from 1939 to 1943 brought his quiet fortitude to the school and became a Mount legend as an exemplary teacher, counselor and friend for numerous students over the years. Brother Nicholas Mary, as Director is remembered for his consistent kindness and wonderful smile. In 1946, Brother John of the Cross arrived at Mount Saint Michael to become school treasurer. Small of stature he possessed limitless energy in "balancing the books," "paying the bills," "feeding an army of youngsters," and demonstrating a generous heart and spirit that was committed to providing a quality Catholic education to all Mount boys.
Student life during and after World War II was characterized in sports as "this little four-hundred student school beat the living daylights out of schools two, three times our size." In 1943 Dr. Anthony Cerrato treated Clement Boyan his "first patient" at the Mount, who became a Mount "Gold Star" Alumni, giving his life in the service of his country at the end of World War II. Dr. Cerrato became a fixture at the Mount being an outstanding physician to Brothers and students until his retirement at the end of the 1970's.
The honor roll to Mount Saint Michael graduates serving in World War II was made by Brother Paul Ernest. To this eventually would be added at its center the list of the GOLD STAR ALUMNI, those thirty-nine graduates of the Mount who had given "the last measure of devotion" in the service of their country. From the remembrance of these distinguished alumni would come a dream to honor them in a most fitting way - the construction of the Memorial Building. One gathers from the dedication book the rationale for this new building. "We are blessed with thirty-nine intercessors in God's Court. We ask them today to remember us and we assure them that we will remember them and the debt we owe them as long as Mount Saint Michael exists. The new gymnasium building is especially dedicated to the memory of these thirty-nine alumni."
The Memorial Building, at the time of its blessing and dedication by Francis Cardinal Spellman, on the Feast of Saint Michael, September 29, 1951 boasted the largest gym in all of New York State. It also contained a library, sixteen classrooms, a recreation hall for boarding students, a fully equipped kitchen and cafeteria that could sit 350 students. A beautiful complex had been added to the Mount's already distinguished buildings.
A LARGE SCHOOL STILL IN THE COUNTRY
Prosperity in the 1950's, even with the beginning of the Korean War, was a welcome relief to both students and Brothers at the Mount. Mount Saint Michael had taken its place as a premier Catholic school in New York City; its education becoming synonymous with excellence. Brother Vincent Dominic, Brother Leo Vincent, Brother Norbert, Brother Patrick Eugene Magee, and Brother William James Kearney would become names familiar to the students of the Mount. Brother Vincent as an excellent math teacher and fair disciplinarian, Brother Leo Vincent, versatile in the classroom, as a coach and as an athlete, Brother Patrick for his thorough interest in all aspects of the student life at the Mount. Both he and Brother William James, were excellent teachers and coaches, the latter as a baseball coach and moderator of the student newspaper, The Tower. With the expanding enrollment, the Mount in the 1950's fielded three levels of teams in the major sports of baseball, basketball, football and track.
Mr. Howie Borck would become city renowned for the excellent performances of the Mount Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track Teams both on the McGovern Field Track and at the then famous 168th Street Armory in Manhattan. Brothers Edward Lawrence and Stephen Anthony directed student plays in the basement of Saint Paul's Hall while Brother Gregory Francis was instrumental in establishing the Mount Forensic and Speech Team with a citywide reputation for excellence in competition. With the death of the beloved eighth grade teacher, Brother Albert Gustave, the library in the Memorial Building was named in his honor. He had been instrumental in installing the beautiful woodwork that was donated by Cardinal Spellman from the Archdiocesan Chancery Office.
Mr. Anthony Tricario, a neighbor of the Mount enrolled both of his sons in the school - Joseph '51 and Richard '57. Mr. Joseph Tricario became an excellent coach and teacher at both the Mount and Cardinal Hayes. Held in high esteem by all who knew him he was the embodiment of all that Catholic education strives to instill in the young. His death in 1983 left a void in the life of the Mount. His younger brother, Richard, simply known today as "Mr. T", is hailed by past and present Mount students as athletic trainer, coach, teacher and administrator, but most especially as a friend.
Brother Joseph Damian returned to his beloved Mount in 1959 after having successfully served as Marist formator in Esopus, New York. Always generous with time and talent, Brother Joseph administered the cafeteria service, an arduous job for a boarding and day school while continuing to be an excellent mathematics teacher who successfully navigated many a student through difficult Regents exams. His excellent classroom demeanor was always evident with his simple daily introduction � "now boys � we are ready for prayer." He would remain at the Mount until his death in 1988.
THE 1960's AND THE MOUNT
Entering the 1960's, the Mount, similar to other Catholic schools, experienced a sense of prosperity born from a combination of faith in providence and collaboration of so many people in its thirty five-year history. Brother Aloysius Mary's hand-made grandfather clock located in the Main Lobby and its famous fifteen minute chimes symbolized this environment of well being. The election of John Fitzgerald Kennedy was a watershed for Catholics in the United States, a vibrant signal that they had entered the mainstream of American life. Two events, Vatican Council II and the Vietnam War, would leave the Mount deeply affected by the end of the decade. The first called for a renewal in all areas of the Catholic faith felt most profoundly in the Church's educational institutions and the second would cast the specter of war across the Mount student body.
Brother Patrick Eugene Magee, followed by Brother Bernard Garrett and Brother Kevin Moran, served as Principal of the Mount during the 1960's. All excellent classroom instructors, they assumed administrative leadership of the Mount when its enrollment would exceed 1600 students. These Marist Brothers prepared for and implemented the awarding of the Middle States Secondary School Accreditation in 1962 recognizing and strengthening the Mount's academic excellence.
The Vatican Council, summoned by Pope John XXIII in October 1962, had a profound influence on the life of the Catholic Church universally and on the Mount community in particular. Religious instruction shifted from a catechetical and apologetic approach to being based in Sacred Scripture. Mass and the Sacraments were now celebrated in English. The Mount's Catholic identity was affected as was the religious and community life of the Marist Brothers but the strength and evidence of the Catholic faith remained unchanged. The gospel of Jesus Christ as it is expressed within the Roman Catholic communion continues to this day in forming students with a deep love of God and a desire to serve their neighbor, especially those in need. Likewise, the Vietnam War would also dramatically touch the Mount community. Reminiscent of World War II, several young alumni would give their lives in the service of their country. Michael Cunnion of the Class of 1963, a well-known athlete, would be one of these alumni. A plaque and flagpole, located at the west end of McGovern Field is dedicated to their memory.
FROM NEIGHBORHOOD TO METROPOLITAN SCHOOL
Mount Saint Michael has always prided itself on being a school educating the sons of immigrants to the United States, providing an education skilling its students and graduates in obtaining the American dream. As New York City's ethnic and racial demography expanded in the 1970's the Mount welcomed a more diverse student population. As Latino and Afro-American young men joined their Italian and Irish counterparts at the Mount, diversity and inculturation characterized the school's inclusiveness. The introduction of ethnic studies into the curriculum resulted in the formation of the Hispanic and Afro-American Clubs and the celebration of these rich student identities. Subsequently, the Mount became the school of choice for Asian, African, South American, and eastern European new arrivals in the United States. The Mount emerged as a large urban Catholic high school in the 1970's contributing to the strong ability of Catholic education to respond to the educational needs of the young in a rapidly changing New York City.
Terrence Cardinal Cooke, the Archbishop of New York, celebrated the Mount's Golden Jubilee in 1976 with the blessing and rededication of the Mount and the Administration Building, referring to the Mount as being synonymous with excellence - academically, spiritually and athletically. The Marist Brothers teaching staff numbered 31 and the lay faculty numbered 40. The latter had come to make a valuable contribution to Marist education by providing excellent classroom instruction, generosity in coaching and moderating and most essentially becoming for Mount students outstanding role models as Catholic adults. Thirty alumni had become members of the Marist Brothers, 27 had been ordained as Catholic priests, and 18 alumni served on the faculty in 1976.
I LOVE NEW YORK
Mr. Paul Daigneault became the first layman to serve as Mount Principal in 1982, placing an emphasis on mutuality in Marist education between the Brothers and laity. Upon the death of Paul Daigneault, Brother Anthony Iazzetti '61 arrived as Mount Principal. Quick to assess the needs of the school, he moved to renovate the ground floor of the Main Building adding a new faculty room along with refurbishing the science labs and opening the new computer center on the fourth floor.
THE CITY STREETS STOP HERE
Many a student has passed through the "back door" of the Main building on the way to and from school. Renovations of this area in 1989-90 on the ground floor, the enlargement of the Bookstore and the addition of elegant trophy cases and a statue of Saint Marcellin Champagnat, students of the 1990's continued to be educated in the Mount's tradition of excellence in Catholic education. Brother Anthony Iazzetti '61 was instrumental in having the Mount declared a "blue ribbon school" in 1992 when it received the National Exemplary School Award bestowed by the Education Department of the United States Government.
Keeping the Mount abreast of current educational developments has always characterized the dedicated principals and administrators of both the high school and elementary school. Thus in 1992 a division of the principal�s role into two administrative positions was undertaken with the appointment of Brother Anthony Iazzetti as School President and Brother James Kearney returning to the Mount as School Principal. School planning and on-going development is the responsibility of the President while the Principal retains his traditional responsibilities for the daily administration of the school.
Mount Saint Michael's Junior High School department continued to provide an excellent grade school education to many young men. Providing students for enrollment in the high school throughout the Mount history, the grammar school department prepared graduates to become accomplished leaders at the Mount and beyond. Brother Louis Euthyme and Brother Regis James as Principals of this school are representative of the many outstanding Marist educators who labored here. Brothers Ambrose, Francis Gerard, Arthur, Roch Anthony and Stephan are names synonymous for many years with the Mount grammar school. Located in various places throughout the years, the present junior high school is located in the Memorial Building under the principalship of Mrs. Lillian Dippolito. Her graduation wish for the Junior High Class of 2001 summarizes the ideals of this school - "Your unique characters and positive actions are a part of what Mount Saint Michael represent. Keep your faith and allow yourselves to be proud of who you are."
Brother John Bantz, '56 assumed the role of President of the Mount in 1997. As an alumnus, teacher, guidance counselor, moderator, coach, and Principal of the Junior High School, Brother John's long association with the Mount assured the school of a promising and bright future in the fast approaching millennium. Brother Michael Mullin became Principal in 1998. In December of 1998 the Mount was recognized by U.S. News and World Report as "an outstanding American High School."
Rejoicing was the by-word of the entire Marist world when on April 18, 1999, Pope John Paul II canonized Marcellin Champagnat declaring him a saint. A Mount delegation joined over 40,000 Marist pilgrims in Rome to witness the Church's affirmation of Marist education in general and Mount Saint Michael's Marist education in particular. Seven decades of Mount Saint Michael prayer to God that this honor be bestowed upon the Marist Brothers and through them their co-workers, alumni and students throughout the world gives living proof to Saint Paul's admonition to Christians, "to pray without ceasing." It is this same spirit of prayer and dependence before God that blessed the Mount since 1926 and assured it of this same God's continued blessings at the dawn of the third millennium.
A NEW DECADE, A NEW CENTURY � A NEW MILLENNIUM
September 29, 2000, once again the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, witnessed the opening of the Academy's seventy-fifth jubilee year. Brother John Bantz, current President, had the great pleasure and distinction to preside over the rededication and Blessing of a refurbished Mount Saint Michael track located on McGovern Field. This blessing committed the Mount to once again hosting track and field events for the Catholic High School Athletic Association as it had for many prior years. The new track and field was dedicated in honor of Brother Linus Eugene Carroll, Mount math teacher, coach, moderator, and former Principal of the Junior High School whose love of track and coaching ability remains unparalleled. Symbolically, this rededication reemphasizes Mount Saint Michael's ideal of reaching out to the wider Catholic community in the metropolitan area and reemphasizing its continued commitment to the well being of all who are called to the Christian education of youth. As the Mount celebrates its jubilee with gratitude for the success of 75 years, it wishes this same success to all the other Catholic schools within the Archdiocese of New York. Together with newly appointed high school Principal, Mr. William Vallar, a thirty year veteran teacher at the Mount, Brother John continues to strive to make the Mount an exemplary school, one proud of its history, yet prepared for a bright future in the twenty-first century.
Both June 2000 and June 2001 saw the seventieth and seventy-first graduation ceremonies at Mount Saint Michael. Graduates of both classes, the first of the new millennium, entered a world far different than the one entered into by their predecessors in the class of June 1930. Challenging as today's world is, and well prepared to meet its demands, these graduates carried with them the values and promise of a Mount Saint Michael education strikingly similar to the graduates of seventy-one years ago. The love of God in the person of Jesus Christ, the love of their neighbor especially those most in need, the development and use of their minds and talents coupled with a love of learning are these priceless values.
The Mountaineer, school yearbook for seven decades records in its 2001 edition two sentiments, the first written by the yearbook staff in 1936, the second composed by the current Mountaineer editors. Both serve as a befitting way to bring this story to a close. "As Mount Saint Michael nears the completion of the first decade of its history, it is certainly apropos to cast a retrospective glance over these early years. Perhaps on the occasion of the school's diamond jubilee in years to come, when our own grandchildren beseech us for a story of the first years, this resume may serve to complement our then failing memory." May the story here recorded fulfill this request. Mounties of 2001 sum up the sentiments of the Mount students past and present when they say, "this Mountaineer edition not only commemorates today's generation of young men, but also commemorates the men and women who have helped bring Mount to the occasion of its diamond jubilee. Congratulations to the Mount family for a job well done!" May this always be true!
Mount Saint Michael Academy celebrated its diamond jubilee as an outstanding Catholic school in the Archdiocese of New York on September 13, 2001. For seventy-five years the Mount has provided a quality Christian education for generations of young men in the Northeast Bronx.
The history of the Mount is rooted in a wider story that precedes the school's founding in September 1926 by one hundred and ten years; a story of a saint whose love and care for youth continues to be the hallmark and life giving spirit of Mount Saint Michael.
In every age the Church raises up women and men, who under the impulse and guidance of the Holy Spirit, proclaim the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Marcellin Champagnat was one such person. Being raised within a devout Catholic family, Marcellin at age fifteen responded to the call to become a priest to assist in the work of reevangelizing French society. Ordained for the Archdiocese of Lyons in 1816, Marcellin was assigned as parish priest to the parish of La Valla located in the rural mountains in southern France. In October of that same year, Marcellin was called to the sick bed of a young man who appalled him with his lack of rudimentary knowledge of the Catholic faith. Champagnat experienced this as a defining moment in his life, resolving that no child should remain ignorant of the gospel of Jesus Christ. On January 2, 1817, he founded with two young parishioners, a group of Brothers who would labor for the Christian education of youth, especially the most neglected. "To make Jesus Christ known and loved" became the guiding inspiration of Champagnat's small congregation.
From two Brothers in 1817 to over five thousand Marist Brothers world wide in 2001, the vision of Champagnat has been blessed by God. Mount Saint Michael Academy is both heir and participant in this his vision. Its history as an extraordinary Catholic school bears retelling since the fruit of its labor for the sake of Jesus Christ is a profound testament to God's fidelity, a fidelity evident in the school's past and the promise of its future.
Mount Saint Michael staffed by fourteen Marist Brothers opened its doors to sixty-two boarding and day students on September 13, 1926. Along with Brother Mary Florentius, the founding Principal, Brother Leo Vincent and Brother John Lawrence were members of the original faculty; subsequently each becoming Principal and Director of the Mount in ensuing years. The school was equipped to teach both grammar and high school students. The original sign located at Murdock and Nereid Avenues announced the Mount as a "boarding and day school in the country", to the passerby. The Main Building and the Powerhouse completed by June, 1929, were dedicated and blessed, along with the statue of Saint Michael the Archangel which prominently stands at the school's entrance, by Msgr. Michael Lavalle, Rector of Saint Patrick's Cathedral and delegate of Patrick Cardinal Hayes, on May 8, 1927. Saint Paul's Hall was added to the campus buildings in 1929 to expand the recreational and dormitory facilities for the boarding students.Adding an additional class with each ensuing year Mount Saint Michael graduated its first class in June, 1930. From the very first the Mount provided a classic education placing emphasis on the development of student minds and their ability to critically think and question. Life and physical sciences, mathematics, Latin and romance language study, literature, grammar, and social sciences were all preeminent in the curriculum, laying a solid foundation for a strong academic atmosphere which has been a characteristic of a Mount education to this day.
A family spirit quickly developed between the Brothers and their pupils with their willingness to assist each other in the common pursuit of an outstanding education. Central to this academic life was the vibrant influence of the Catholic faith with its insistence on the importance of the daily celebration of mass, preparation and celebration of the sacraments, the recitation of the Rosary and prayers and visits to the Blessed Sacrament enhanced the Catholic identity of the Mount. Only God Himself can estimate the infinite good that has emerged from this religious formation; a formation that has borne fruit in countless and generous ways among generations of Mount students who have lived their Catholic faith unreservedly.
In March 1928 construction was begun on the first cinder track, one third of a mile in length. The northeast corner of the campus, originally the site of a small lake whose tributary ran through the property to Pitman Avenue, was covered by thousands of tons of "fill" in order to construct a football field. The field, dedicated on May 19, 1940, is named after the generous contractor, Mr. Patrick McGovern, who donated the landfill in order to accomplish this task. By September 1929, the Mount had already become known in the surrounding neighborhood as the "big school up on the hill!" "To the stars through difficulty," the school's motto inscribed over the main entrance, led the founding Brothers and their students to rely upon God and to be generous, optimistic, and dedicated in providing the Mount with an enduring foundation.
The Mount can point with pride to the Marist Brothers who worked so arduously to maintain the school in perilous times. They are the early heroes of the Mount! Brothers Paul Ernest, Linus William and John Lawrence all served successively in the role of Principal, guiding the Mount through its first fifteen years of life. Brother Paul Wilfred introduced track to the Mount as did Brother Francis Xavier with football. Basketball, baseball, tennis and gymnastics all played a part in making the Mount an athletically competitive school. It proudly entered into interscholastic competition in the early days beginning a long history of excellence in athletics. The Annual Gymnastics Exhibition became an annual event during this decade, often accompanied by a music program under the direction of Dr. Reuther, the founder of the Mount's famous marching band.
The school year 1938-39 saw a record enrollment for the Mount with a total of 702 students. Signifying the venerable place given to Blessed Virgin Mary in Marist education, a statue under the title of Queen of the Mount was presented to the school by "her loyal Mountaineers in 1937. Located in the Quadrangle this statue has become a focal point of school life at the Mount with decades of students reciting the Rosary before it during May Devotions.
No history regarding the Mount is complete without mention of the arrival in 1935 of Howie Smith, a recent graduate of Notre Dame University and an enthusiastic and versatile coach in several sports. Howie became a "Mount Legend", leading the school to numerous city championships in football and baseball for the following 45 years. The MountLetter, spring 2001 edition recording a student memoir of the day says this of Howie, "he was easily recognized and readily captured our hearts, touching the memory of thousands of young men who spent their high school years on campus." Alumni, who had known Howie, would often inquire, "And how is Howie doing?" Howie, along with many fine Marist Brothers and students who were at Mount Saint Michael in the 1930's believed that the good they accomplished arose from their faith in the Marist motto of "all to Jesus through Mary!" It is this living faith that sustained the Mount during the great depression and molded this educational institution that was quickly becoming prominent in New York.
The Mount was undaunted, and even audacious in planning for its future; a spirit that remained even with the eventual entrance of the United States into World War II. McGovern Field came into prominent use during the 1940's.
The physical expansion of the Mount during and after the War was the work of visionaries who made dreams a reality. Brother Leo Sylvius, Principal from 1942 to 1952 is responsible for the inspiration and motivation to construct the Memorial Gymnasium, seen as early as 1941 as a much needed addition to the Mount. Brother Joseph Damian, Mount Director from 1939 to 1943 brought his quiet fortitude to the school and became a Mount legend as an exemplary teacher, counselor and friend for numerous students over the years. Brother Nicholas Mary, as Director is remembered for his consistent kindness and wonderful smile. In 1946, Brother John of the Cross arrived at Mount Saint Michael to become school treasurer. Small of stature he possessed limitless energy in "balancing the books," "paying the bills," "feeding an army of youngsters," and demonstrating a generous heart and spirit that was committed to providing a quality Catholic education to all Mount boys.
Student life during and after World War II was characterized in sports as "this little four-hundred student school beat the living daylights out of schools two, three times our size." In 1943 Dr. Anthony Cerrato treated Clement Boyan his "first patient" at the Mount, who became a Mount "Gold Star" Alumni, giving his life in the service of his country at the end of World War II. Dr. Cerrato became a fixture at the Mount being an outstanding physician to Brothers and students until his retirement at the end of the 1970's.
The honor roll to Mount Saint Michael graduates serving in World War II was made by Brother Paul Ernest. To this eventually would be added at its center the list of the GOLD STAR ALUMNI, those thirty-nine graduates of the Mount who had given "the last measure of devotion" in the service of their country. From the remembrance of these distinguished alumni would come a dream to honor them in a most fitting way - the construction of the Memorial Building. One gathers from the dedication book the rationale for this new building. "We are blessed with thirty-nine intercessors in God's Court. We ask them today to remember us and we assure them that we will remember them and the debt we owe them as long as Mount Saint Michael exists. The new gymnasium building is especially dedicated to the memory of these thirty-nine alumni."
The Memorial Building, at the time of its blessing and dedication by Francis Cardinal Spellman, on the Feast of Saint Michael, September 29, 1951 boasted the largest gym in all of New York State. It also contained a library, sixteen classrooms, a recreation hall for boarding students, a fully equipped kitchen and cafeteria that could sit 350 students. A beautiful complex had been added to the Mount's already distinguished buildings.
Mr. Howie Borck would become city renowned for the excellent performances of the Mount Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track Teams both on the McGovern Field Track and at the then famous 168th Street Armory in Manhattan. Brothers Edward Lawrence and Stephen Anthony directed student plays in the basement of Saint Paul's Hall while Brother Gregory Francis was instrumental in establishing the Mount Forensic and Speech Team with a citywide reputation for excellence in competition. With the death of the beloved eighth grade teacher, Brother Albert Gustave, the library in the Memorial Building was named in his honor. He had been instrumental in installing the beautiful woodwork that was donated by Cardinal Spellman from the Archdiocesan Chancery Office.
Mr. Anthony Tricario, a neighbor of the Mount enrolled both of his sons in the school - Joseph '51 and Richard '57. Mr. Joseph Tricario became an excellent coach and teacher at both the Mount and Cardinal Hayes. Held in high esteem by all who knew him he was the embodiment of all that Catholic education strives to instill in the young. His death in 1983 left a void in the life of the Mount. His younger brother, Richard, simply known today as "Mr. T", is hailed by past and present Mount students as athletic trainer, coach, teacher and administrator, but most especially as a friend.
Brother Joseph Damian returned to his beloved Mount in 1959 after having successfully served as Marist formator in Esopus, New York. Always generous with time and talent, Brother Joseph administered the cafeteria service, an arduous job for a boarding and day school while continuing to be an excellent mathematics teacher who successfully navigated many a student through difficult Regents exams. His excellent classroom demeanor was always evident with his simple daily introduction � "now boys � we are ready for prayer." He would remain at the Mount until his death in 1988.Brother Patrick Eugene Magee, followed by Brother Bernard Garrett and Brother Kevin Moran, served as Principal of the Mount during the 1960's. All excellent classroom instructors, they assumed administrative leadership of the Mount when its enrollment would exceed 1600 students. These Marist Brothers prepared for and implemented the awarding of the Middle States Secondary School Accreditation in 1962 recognizing and strengthening the Mount's academic excellence.
The Vatican Council, summoned by Pope John XXIII in October 1962, had a profound influence on the life of the Catholic Church universally and on the Mount community in particular. Religious instruction shifted from a catechetical and apologetic approach to being based in Sacred Scripture. Mass and the Sacraments were now celebrated in English. The Mount's Catholic identity was affected as was the religious and community life of the Marist Brothers but the strength and evidence of the Catholic faith remained unchanged. The gospel of Jesus Christ as it is expressed within the Roman Catholic communion continues to this day in forming students with a deep love of God and a desire to serve their neighbor, especially those in need. Likewise, the Vietnam War would also dramatically touch the Mount community. Reminiscent of World War II, several young alumni would give their lives in the service of their country. Michael Cunnion of the Class of 1963, a well-known athlete, would be one of these alumni. A plaque and flagpole, located at the west end of McGovern Field is dedicated to their memory.
Terrence Cardinal Cooke, the Archbishop of New York, celebrated the Mount's Golden Jubilee in 1976 with the blessing and rededication of the Mount and the Administration Building, referring to the Mount as being synonymous with excellence - academically, spiritually and athletically. The Marist Brothers teaching staff numbered 31 and the lay faculty numbered 40. The latter had come to make a valuable contribution to Marist education by providing excellent classroom instruction, generosity in coaching and moderating and most essentially becoming for Mount students outstanding role models as Catholic adults. Thirty alumni had become members of the Marist Brothers, 27 had been ordained as Catholic priests, and 18 alumni served on the faculty in 1976.Keeping the Mount abreast of current educational developments has always characterized the dedicated principals and administrators of both the high school and elementary school. Thus in 1992 a division of the principal�s role into two administrative positions was undertaken with the appointment of Brother Anthony Iazzetti as School President and Brother James Kearney returning to the Mount as School Principal. School planning and on-going development is the responsibility of the President while the Principal retains his traditional responsibilities for the daily administration of the school.
Mount Saint Michael's Junior High School department continued to provide an excellent grade school education to many young men. Providing students for enrollment in the high school throughout the Mount history, the grammar school department prepared graduates to become accomplished leaders at the Mount and beyond. Brother Louis Euthyme and Brother Regis James as Principals of this school are representative of the many outstanding Marist educators who labored here. Brothers Ambrose, Francis Gerard, Arthur, Roch Anthony and Stephan are names synonymous for many years with the Mount grammar school. Located in various places throughout the years, the present junior high school is located in the Memorial Building under the principalship of Mrs. Lillian Dippolito. Her graduation wish for the Junior High Class of 2001 summarizes the ideals of this school - "Your unique characters and positive actions are a part of what Mount Saint Michael represent. Keep your faith and allow yourselves to be proud of who you are."
Brother John Bantz, '56 assumed the role of President of the Mount in 1997. As an alumnus, teacher, guidance counselor, moderator, coach, and Principal of the Junior High School, Brother John's long association with the Mount assured the school of a promising and bright future in the fast approaching millennium. Brother Michael Mullin became Principal in 1998. In December of 1998 the Mount was recognized by U.S. News and World Report as "an outstanding American High School."
Rejoicing was the by-word of the entire Marist world when on April 18, 1999, Pope John Paul II canonized Marcellin Champagnat declaring him a saint. A Mount delegation joined over 40,000 Marist pilgrims in Rome to witness the Church's affirmation of Marist education in general and Mount Saint Michael's Marist education in particular. Seven decades of Mount Saint Michael prayer to God that this honor be bestowed upon the Marist Brothers and through them their co-workers, alumni and students throughout the world gives living proof to Saint Paul's admonition to Christians, "to pray without ceasing." It is this same spirit of prayer and dependence before God that blessed the Mount since 1926 and assured it of this same God's continued blessings at the dawn of the third millennium.
Both June 2000 and June 2001 saw the seventieth and seventy-first graduation ceremonies at Mount Saint Michael. Graduates of both classes, the first of the new millennium, entered a world far different than the one entered into by their predecessors in the class of June 1930. Challenging as today's world is, and well prepared to meet its demands, these graduates carried with them the values and promise of a Mount Saint Michael education strikingly similar to the graduates of seventy-one years ago. The love of God in the person of Jesus Christ, the love of their neighbor especially those most in need, the development and use of their minds and talents coupled with a love of learning are these priceless values.
The Mountaineer, school yearbook for seven decades records in its 2001 edition two sentiments, the first written by the yearbook staff in 1936, the second composed by the current Mountaineer editors. Both serve as a befitting way to bring this story to a close. "As Mount Saint Michael nears the completion of the first decade of its history, it is certainly apropos to cast a retrospective glance over these early years. Perhaps on the occasion of the school's diamond jubilee in years to come, when our own grandchildren beseech us for a story of the first years, this resume may serve to complement our then failing memory." May the story here recorded fulfill this request. Mounties of 2001 sum up the sentiments of the Mount students past and present when they say, "this Mountaineer edition not only commemorates today's generation of young men, but also commemorates the men and women who have helped bring Mount to the occasion of its diamond jubilee. Congratulations to the Mount family for a job well done!" May this always be true!
1926.....