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I looked up Kevin P. Newman’s photo in my Class of 1974 yearbook and while I didn’t know him very well, I do remember he was a really nice guy – friendly, low-key, a gentleman. (Friends who knew him well may want to send me a better description and I’ll be happy to add it to the post announcing his passing.)

And it got me thinking about all the folks who impacted my life in a very positive way at Cardinal Mooney High School. Because I can’t list all my friends here, I’ll start by thanking just a few of the faculty and staff who I had personal contact with. They ALL deserve a big thank you, including those I don’t mention!

Please add your own list in the Comments below!

Some of the Good Folks Who Impacted My Life at Cardinal Mooney High School in Rochester NY

  • Sister Lisette, Art Teacher: kind, gentle, supportive, encouraging
  • Sister Mary Eymard: Even though I flunked Freshman Latin, she let me down easy!
  • Sister Gloria Ruocco: My homeroom teacher in Freshman year – a cheerful bundle of energy – always wonderful to see her smiling face at the beginning of the day
  • Mrs. McHail and Mrs. Puleo in Secretarial Practice: you’d be proud of my keyboard skills! Hopefully you never discovered I used the mimeograph machine to publish the “Flockette Gazette”!  (I still have them)
  • Miss Joann Hinz: You had a steady, positive influence and it’s wonderful to know you’re still connected with CM grads!
  • The Office Ladies: Mrs. Grace Paul in the Principal’s Office and Mrs. Florence Michaloski in the Assistant Principal’s Office – smiling, gentle ladies
  • The Cafeteria Ladies: Mrs. Betty Kuhn and Mrs. Tina Barbato were the faces I remember most, but they ALL deserve a thank you!
  • Mrs. Irene Rose Piedici: God bless you for your patience with me in Math!
  • Mr. (formerly Brother) John Larrere: Music teacher, always positive, upbeat (pun intended!), energetic and encouraging
  • Mr. David Ameele: Dedicated and fun! He wrote in my yearbook – “Good luck to the best Schickler (sorry cousins and siblings, but I couldn’t resist!), keep in touch and remember Syracuse!” (but I don’t remember what happened with Syracuse!)
  • Mr. Frank Camiola: Happy and patient; I enjoyed his jokes – thank you for making Chemistry fun and interesting!
  • Brother Thomas Gallagher: How me maintained his patience with our pranks in the Library, I don’t know, but I remember him as a kind man
  • Brother Robert Hyde: another calm, happy, helpful person with a smile on his face!

Teachers and staff don’t always realize the impact and influence they have on students.

We graduate and go on with our lives and they have a sea of new faces to get to know each year. They may retire or move on to new occupations without realizing the influence they’ve had over our lives.

I’d like to close by saying, “Your work is important. Thank you for making our lives a little bit brighter, more informed and certainly better able to face the world!”

From the class of 1974, we’re sad to hear the news of Kevin P. Newman’s passing

March 3, 1956 – January 22, 2010

Kevin P. Newman, 53, of Beloit, WI, unexpectedly went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, Jan. 22, 2010, in Beloit Memorial Hospital surrounded by his family. He was born March 3, 1956, in Rochester, NY, a son of Burton G. and Betty A. (Brown) Newman. Kevin was a 1974 graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School, Rochester, NY. He attended the State University of New York at Alfred and University of Wisconsin Rock County. He married Patricia E. Dresselhaus on Oct. 6, 1979, in Estes Park, CO. Kevin was the owner and operator of Landek Specialties. He enjoyed remodeling his home, spending time with his family and going to church and work. Kevin was a member of Central Christian Church, where he was a trustee. He was also instrumental in the construction and landscaping of the new facility at church.

Survivor’s include his wife of 30 years, Patty Newman; three children: Seth Newman, Haley Newman and Raquel Newman, all of Beloit; his father, Burton (Ginny) Newman of Rochester, NY; sister, Linda (Ron) Nortier of Clinton, WI; brothers, Tom (Lori) Newman of Portland, ME and David Newman of Beloit; in-laws, Milton and Betty Dresselhaus of Beloit; sisters-in-law: Kathy Cikar, Nancy (Greg) Ferguson, Beth (Ron) Koopman, Carol (Tulio) Duran and Debbie (Sam) Eljoundi; an aunt, Alice Macdonald of Webster, NY; many nieces, nephews, close friends and business associates. He was predeceased by his mother, Betty.

Dear friends, faculty and alumni of Cardinal Mooney High School,

This blog is now more than a few years old and while I’ve neglected it for a while, I have changes in mind for the New Year. Please peruse this list and let me know if you have other ideas I can implement to make this blog even more enjoyable for you!

In 2010…

We’ll have our own dedicated hosting site. Up until now, this blog has been hosted by WordPress, which has served us well for very little money. However, there’s a great deal more functionality available if I move it over to a dedicated domain and use a highly customizable “theme”. So look forward to a new “look and feel” in the coming weeks!

I’d like to add video clips. For those of you who are holding reunions and can capture it on video, please send me the file or the YouTube link and I’ll embed it.

More class links. Dedicated class websites and Facebook pages are springing up all over, so please send me the URL’s and I’ll link them under “More Class Pages”.

Articles. I’m jazzed to post more articles in the upcoming year and have a few ideas of my own (see below). But I don’t have the corner on great ideas, so please send me topics you’d like to see posted. Here are some ideas to start with…

  • Top 20 things I learned in life since graduation
  • Top 10 people who had a positive impact on my life at Cardinal Mooney
  • 17 Reasons why Cardinal Mooney was a blessing (or a curse! haha!)
  • 14 Things I remember most as a freshman, or senior
  • Craziest things I did at Cardinal Mooney
  • Something I did (and will admit to) at Cardinal Mooney that few people know about

Interviews: I’d love to record audio interviews with “mystery guests” and am seeking a few willing victims um, volunteers. So if you have 10-15 minutes of time and you’d like to be interviewed about Mooney related memories and topics, please contact me. (Please, no marketing or political messages)

So that’s my list. Got any other ideas we can use to make this blog bigger and better? Please post in comments below or email me your ideas!

Warm wishes, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Laurie Schickler Benjamin

Please pass the word that while the Class of 1974 Reunion has been cancelled, it appears there is a “grassroots effort” underway to hold a gathering anyway! Please check out the Cardinal Mooney High School Facebook page on this blog site for the specifics. Thanks again to the Class of ‘74 Committee for all their hard work! We realize you put in a great deal of time and energy and hope you know we ALL appreciate it!

Laurie Schickler Benjamin, Class of ‘74

Here is an update on the Class of 1969 Reunion:

Cardinal Mooney Class of 1969!  It’s been 15 years since our last reunion!

We’re planning a casual affair with sixties music, hors d’oeurves, cash bar and three grazing stations. Pat  is compiling a slide show of photos; send him yours by snail mail or to buttsy50@mac.com. Price per person is $35. Attire is country club casual (no jeans or sneakers, please). Make checks payable to Patrick Butler and mail to Pat by Oct. 1:  24 Oak Bridge Way, Rochester, NY  14612.

Questions?  Email Mary Lou Studley Newstead, Communications Chair, at ML.Newstead@gmail.com. RSVP for free at Classmates.com and please forward this web page to as many classmates as possible.

Hope to see you in November!!!

Your 40th Reunion Committee,

Pat Butler, Charlie Manel, Carol Cox Gursslin, Dick Marion, Dan McBridek Karen Pellett, Mary Lou Studley Newstead

Alan Mueller, Town of Greece Historian, has been so generous with his time! Look what he dug out of the archives….

cardinal-mooney-mania-days

Perhaps I was absent that day, but would someone please tell me – what were Mooney Mania Days?

Hi folks! Here are updates on beloved faculty from dear old CM…

First, from Charlie Yanaitis, Class of ‘74

“Laurie, I found this great webpage with a picture and write-up on Mr. Merola, on his induction into the Section V Hall of Fame. I thought you may be interested in posting this. Go Cardinals! (remember that!)”

Tony Merola Section V Hall of Fame inductee

Tony Merola Section V Hall of Fame inductee

Anthony Merola  split his nearly four-decade coaching career evenly between varsity head coach and program assistant responsibilities, registering nearly unprecedented success at both levels. The Caledonia native (CMCS Class of 1952), a 4-year starter in football (24-6 record), baseball, and basketball for his hometown high school, began as a freshman coach at Mt. Morris and then took the varsity from 0-7 in 1959 to 7-0 in 1962 for the only undefeated mark in school history. That was followed by 10 winning seasons in 13 years at Cardinal Mooney in Greece, with the highlight coming in 1972 as the Cardinals won their only outright City-Catholic League championship.

For the “rest of the story” (as Paul Harvey would say) on Mr. Merola, please visit this page

Next, from Mary Lou (Boehm) Cooper (Class of ‘73?) regarding “Where in the world is Sister Lisette?”

“I saw Sr. Lisette a couple of years ago at something at Mercy H.S. I think at that time she was living out in the community somewhere with other sisters. If you called the Sisters of Mercy Motherhouse, I’m sure they could connect you with her.”


Hi all,

Here’s a “p.s.” from the good folks who are organizing the Class of 1974 reunion. Please forward this blog post to anyone you know who has “fallen through the cracks” so to speak!

Laurie Schickler / Laura Benjamin

“Just like the Class of 73, we’re trying to get updated locations on classmates.  Can you add a message for all ‘74 classmates to email mooney74@rochester.rr.com with their current email & snail mail addresses, along with contact information on anyone they keep in contact with? Thanks again.  Love the blog!”

We have another reunion announcement:

There will be a 35 Year Reunion for the Class of 1974.  It will be Saturday Sept 5, 2009 at the Barnard Exempts Club, right up the street from our old high school. More information forthcoming after the New Year.

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