Rich Olohan:
Danny, Wow, I missed the notice about ECHS closing. Saddens me very
much to hear that our Essex will be no more. Though the move from
Broadway was disheartening, the final closing of Essex is, well,
tearful to me. I graduated Class of '73, both of my brothers graduated
from Essex as well, Class of '70 and Class of '76 .Many friends
are alumni. Many times I've told my children about that grand building
on Broadway and how I still cherish the memories of ECHS. Rich Olohan
Pat (Miceli) Haderthauer:
Sad to hear the news about Essex Catholic. My husband graduated
from there in 1966, my brother Greg attended for a year before going
to Vailsburg and we all had many friends from EC. I went to Archbishop
Walsh in Irvington but was a regular at ECHS dances. They were the
greatest! What a place that ballroom was. Who could be happy at
a dance in a gym after attending one at EC.
Jule Spohn:
I too saw the article in the Star Ledger and felt a loss also. Even
though I didn't go to Essex Catholic I have somewhat of a small
connection to it. Many of my friends went there back in the late
50's/60's. I went to St. James down neck. We were a small school
but had one heck of a basketball team throughout that period. We
played many games against Essex Catholic. As a matter of fact I
still have all of the newspaper clippings of the 1960 games. Here
is the one for January 10, 1960: ESSEX CATHOLIC TOPS ST. JAMES.
Essex Catholic High clung to a slim early lead and defeated St.
James 48-45 yesterday at Essex Catholic's gym in Newark. Some of
you might know some of the players: For Essex Catholic: Lacara,
Delmauro, Lynch, McNish, McGinley, and Couzzo. For St. James: Joe
McKenna, Joe Alves, Joe Paolella, Jack Gaven, and Matt Dillon.
The old building is still beautiful. Today it is a nursing home
and the local neighborhood group holds it's monthly meeting in one
of the rooms on the ground floor. The building is well preserved
and taken care of.
I live right around the corner from it on Van Wagenen Street and
pass it several times a week. It reminds one of an old Greek or
Roman Temple - in many ways it was a Temple - a Temple of learning
- and what a wonderful group of men came out of it. Congratulations
to you all.
Joan Niven:
There is another write up in todays Star Ledger about Essex Catholic
Closing..Pictures of students protesting the decision.
Rich Olohan:
Danny, I just looked up Marty's picture in my yearbook. I remember
him, of course it has been 30 years already since we graduated!
I believe we were in some classes together. Rich
Charles McGrath:
Essex Catholic High School
It is too bad that Essex Catholic is closing. The sad thing is
that many parents do not realize the difference between the standards
of education in public high school versus catholic high school.
My daughter is sending her chidden to Morris Catholic in Denville,
N.J.
The tuition is approximately $8,500.00/ year. This cost is a major
deterrent for many parents ,but believe me, the educational development
from secondary education is more important than from college level.
One of my daughters children attends Saint Cecelia's Grammar School
in Rockaway, N.J. Yesterday her class visited Sacred Heart School
in Vailsburg (Newark). In the 1960's it was the largest catholic
school in New Jersey with an enrollment od 1,600 students. Yesterday
the enrollment was approximately 700 students. The majority being
"Non Catholic". Doesn't that tell you something?
When I graduated from Saint Benedict's Prep in 1954 we had our
graduation in the auditorium of the Mutual Benefit Insurance
Company Building. It's president at that time was a graduate of
Saint Benedict's Prep. And that was also probably why he eventually
sold it to the Archdiocese of Newark.
Three of my five daughters graduated from East Orange Catholic
High School which Essex Catholic replaced 20 years ago.It's a sad
day when quality education is lost because it isn't recognized.
Rich Olohan:
Charles, Well said. All 3 of my children have attended, or are currently
attending Catholic School. Yes, the choice is a financial hurdle,
many sacrifices are made to pay tuitions but I believe the end result
is a better educated child.
Mary Ellen Howley:
Sorry to hear about Essex Catholic closing. While it wasn't there
long when I left Newark in 1960, I remember it well being the Mutual
Benefit Life Ins co. Had my dance recitels there and ran up and
down the steps many times just for fun. I too sent my youngest kids
to the Catholic schools, here in Pa, and the education they got
was worth the sacrifice.
The older ones went to the public schools but at a more nicer
time. These days you don't have much of a choice. I went to St Michaels
and never realized just how well educated we were. Bless those nuns,
even though half the time we were getting knocked on the head with
a pointer and hit on the knuckles for just about everything! We
all survived and made it in life...of the good old days!
|
