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I thought I’d post this in a more prominent spot than in the comment section just in case someone can help this guy out…
We’ve already had one amazing reunion - perhaps there are more in the future!
Laura
Does anyone know Sue DeRoller ? I knew her back in the mid sixties …She went to Cardinal Mooney in Greece …
If so please send me some contact information … I think she graduated in 1965 or 1966 …
Thank You
Kind Regards
Jake Gerber
S.F.CA.
I would be indebted to anyone that could shed some light on this woman …
415-346-6783
415-378-0711
gerbaby@comcast.net
Hi, I taught English at Mooney from February 1973 through June 1981.
Once a month a few members of the Class of ‘74 go to breakfast together and I am honored to be invited to join them. Now that they are well into their fifties, we seem to be (and are) the same generation.
Sad to say, Spanish teacher Jerry Hertweck passed away a short time ago. He’d had multiple strokes. His wife Rosie gave him the tenderest care possible. Some of our group went to the funeral and reported seeing Ed Nietopski there…so he can’t be dead!
Laura, I can remember you–a lovely blonde young lady, right?–but I don’t know if I taught you English or Theology.
Two years ago I retired from teaching English and Creative Writing at Canandaigua Academy (a public high school), and now I am living happily ever after.
Warm regards to all my former students, a wonderful group of people!
Joann Hinz
This question came through a few days ago, and it seems legit. So I’m posting it in full and hopefully someone can help this gentleman out. If so, please contact him directly.
Hi! I left a post on the Cardinal Mooney blog site, but I noticed your contact info too. I am actually in the middle of an adoption search and am reaching out to anyone who went to Cardinal Mooney back in 71-74. I was born in 1972 and given up for adoption by my birth mother and father, who both went to Cardinal Mooney. They would have graduated in 1973. My mother was the middle child with 8 other siblings, one of which who passed away in 1971 from Addison’s Disease. My birthfather was an only child supposedly and was into baseball and basketball. I know it’s a long shot, but did you remember anyone who was pregnant back then at Mooney? She would have missed the first half of 1971-72 school year, and then would have returned for the remainder of 72. She would have graduated in 1973. Just wondering. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you so much!
-Matthew Marquardt,
Please contact Matthew at: Matthew dot Marquardt at PAETEC dot com
Thank you so much Laura! Again, I great appreciate any and all help! It’s been a long journey, but I feel closer each and every day. I look forward to hearing from you soon! --Matthew
Copied verbatim from the archives, written by “The Wind” (circa 1972) and found in an old cardboard box somewhere in Laurie Schickler’s attic. If anyone knows who “The Wind” is, please let us know!
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About 100 Days (But Were Too Drunk to Ask)
“The day of March 17th was a day of celebration for the Senior class, and if anyone ever did justice to St. Patrick’s Day, it was the class of ‘72. All over St. Chuck’s parking lot people were seen drinking from Wink bottles, 7-Up bottles and orange juice bottles, which isn’t so unusual considering you can never judge a bottle by its cover.
The parade to the institution of lower learning was a real bust-up as approximately 111 to 112 cars flooded Maiden Lane and proceeded to tie up traffic. Waiting motorists let loose a barage of obscenities at the Seniors, while the Seniors, trying to conserve their voices, responded with sign language.
For the first time ever, many a Senior found himself following the Police instead of the other way around! They drove down the street with horns blowing and freaks (freaks?!?) hanging out of windows, sitting up on convertibles or just spaced out on the roof. However, the presence of the Greece Police did prevent them from having another pass-over celebration.
Upon arriving at Cardinal Mooney, they proceeded to play bumper-cars, which ended abruptly as a lone Aquinas man was spotted in the middle of the parking lot. Then the Seniors began to practice their figure eights all over his body. After finishing his 5th bottle of tranquilizers, Brother John came outside and calmly asked them to stop. The AQ man turned out to be a CM Frosh, so the Seniors apologized to him and then parked their cars. After chanting, “Hell No, We Won’t Go!”, they invaded the school, causing the faculty to wish they had “had a few” too.
Seniors spent the first few periods walking around saying, “Hey man, what’s happening?” AND tried to remember that Cardinal Mooney was a school, not a bar.
“The Wind”
We’re starting to pick up some speed here. Welcome to those who just found out about this blog! Please tell your friends and family that it exists and that I’m looking for guest writers, photo’s, stories and of course comments from anyone who attended or graduated from the Rochester NY or Greece NY Cardinal Mooney High School.
Also, I’ve started a Facebook group of Cardinal Mooney Alumni which can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/people/Laura_Benjamin/1259130890. Please join as a friend. It’ll be great to have you!
What are the Benefits of a Catholic School Education?
Does anyone feel the same way I do - that having a Catholic school education was a real gift? I could go into what’s happened to the quality of our public education system these days by comparison, but then I’d have to get a bit political and that’s not a pretty sight! (grin)
Certainly, at the ripe old age of 51 I’ve forgotten about many of the typical teenaged frustrations and insecurities, so perhaps my perspective is colored now. But I believe having had a Catholic school education gave me a tremendous boost in life. Here’s why…
The Value of a Catholic School Education
It helped me recognize the sacrifice my parents made to put my brothers and sisters and I through Mooney. I don’t know how much it cost back then, but I’m sure it would have been much easier for them to use that money some other way. Six children are a lot to feed and clothe, my Mom didn’t work outside the home (she worked her you-know-what off inside it, however!) and my Dad was (and still is) a realtor/appraiser which meant you didn’t get a regular paycheck. So I was aware even then that this investment in us kids meant something. They were happy to do it and they didn’t complain about the cost. I learned that a good education was important.
Catholic School Rules and Discipline
I also learned that while we did our best to bend the rules, there WERE rules and there were also consequences if you didn’t follow them. Here’s a few rules I remember:
- No rolling that plaid, pleated skirt to hike it up above your knees then hide it under a sweater vest. Sister Kathleen was really good at spotting anyone who’s hemline was more than an inch above the kneecap!
- No running down the halls, sliding down the stairway railings or chewing gum in class
- No swearing, sassing or disrespectful behavior towards teachers, staff or one another (at least within ear-shot)
- No smoking, unless of course you snuck across the fence to the parking lot on the other side
School Uniforms
The uniforms helped eliminate, or at least modify, one of the ways young people seek status and differentiation. You were less likely to harass someone or make snide comments about their clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc. when everyone is dressed the same. Yes, I remember most of us tried our best to spice things up a bit by accessorizing “outside the lines”, but there were limits with that too. Uniforms put most of us on more of an even playing field. While I hated those plaid skirts back then, I see very good reasons for having them now!
Faith, Spirituality and School Spirit
I remember there were a few kids at Mooney who weren’t Catholic, but whose parents sent them there to get the parochial school education and environment. I remember celebrating and honoring the days of observation, the moments of prayer at athletic events, the sports teams bending at the knee in front of the statue of Mary before a home game, etc. I believe the benefit of attending a Catholic school was the momentum in school spirit when you combined it with religious commitment. It strikes me now, that it was like a “biggee sized” boost - and something that is missing from our public school system.
Whoops, I’m getting dangerously close to political commentary here - hold me back!
Character building qualities. This was probably one of the greatest benefits I believe we gained from a Catholic School Education. The combination of faith, structure, discipline, commitment and respect (towards oneself and others) provided the materials to build character and develop strong values to face life’s challenges. I believe we got an abundance of it!
And for that I personally am very, very thankful!
Until next time, Laura Benjamin (Schickler), writing from Colorado
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