INTRODUCTORY REMARKS FROM REUNION COMMITTEE CHAIR MIKE GARZONE ’76
It took a village to put this event together and I want to thank so many of you for helping me track down classmates. We were able to identify 70% of our class, which is pretty incredible. I would also like to acknowledge and thank the reunion committee: Darryl Brooks, Tom Garvey, Larry Marchese, Gary Politano and Steve Zirpoli. We worked on this reunion over the past 18 months and have put together a fun night for all. I would also like to thank Jim Albani, who generously donated the beautiful centerpieces on each table.
We should be very proud of the Essex Catholic Class of 1976. It was a very accomplished class that graduated from the hallowed halls of 300 Broadway. The Varsity Football team finished 6-3 and were ranked 6th in Essex County. The Varsity Wrestling team won both the Districts and Regionals and was ranked 7th in the State. The Varsity Baseball team won the Parochial A State Championship and was ranked 2nd in the state. The Fencing team was ranked 2nd in the State. The Indoor Track & Field won the State Championship. The Essex Catholic Drama Club produced “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” and “George M!” to packed houses.
Seven classmates and three teams have been inducted into the Essex Catholic Hall of Fame. The individuals are Jim Clark, Nick Frannicola, Bruno Giordano, Al Matos, Marcelo Moyano, Tom Powers and Steve Zirpoli. The teams are the 1975 and 1976 Varsity Baseball squads, whose Class of 1976 members were Jim Clark, Tony Garcia, Mike Garzone, Bruno Giordano, Bill Higgins, Dan Horniacek, Marcelo Moyano, Angelo Paz,and Jim Theobald; and the 1976 Varsity Wrestling team, whose Class of 1976 members were Ron Delli Santi, Tom Foti, Al Matos, John Scioscia, John Thomas and Bob Zecca.
50 years. Just saying those words out loud is a little hard to believe. It was a pretty incredible experience pulling this event together, and I wanted to share my observations. As I reached out to classmates, it was impressive to hear everyone’s story. The number of classmates who became doctors, lawyers, judges, teachers, policemen, fireman, business leaders, business owners, coaches, musicians, artists, world travelers, and respected leaders in their community or their church.
When we think back to freshman year, 1972, 54 years ago, we had nothing; no money, no titles, no accomplishments. When we entered those high school doors, we were barely teenagers. We carried books, dreams, uncertainties, and as we look back at the yearbook pics, some questionable hair and fashion choices. We were young boys with acne, trying to figure out who we really were. No one had a five-year plan. No one had family wealth which they would inherit someday.
Those days weren’t always simple. High school wasn’t perfect. We came from different neighborhoods, Newark and the suburbs, different families, different backgrounds, and different circumstances. We were a mixed-race group of young men growing up in a city that was itself going through enormous challenges.
But Newark taught us something. It taught us that you have to work hard and compete for everything you want. It taught us that people who were different from one another going in, could still become great friends. It taught us how to find common ground. It taught us resilience, because you got knocked down. Those years shaped us, and we can clearly say that we were lucky to have each other.
When we think back, we appreciate you the friends, we appreciate the teachers, coaches, and family members who helped shape our lives, and inspired us to accomplish great things. And, we probably didn’t realize it at the time, but Essex prepared us for well for the adult world which we were entering. It is a crazy world we live in right now, but the world wouldn’t be this crazy if everyone went through the Essex experience. We know the world would be a better place.
And then the 50 years happened and we built impressive lives, with incredible accomplishments.
And now, speaking with different classmates, I was hearing that we learned something else late in life. Something that we didn’t have back in high school: We learned Perspective. We have a better sense of the relative importance of things We get joy from being with the people we love and the friendships we maintain. We get joy from the people whose lives we’ve touched. We get joy from the challenges we’ve overcome. We get joy for being true to ourselves. And tonight, everyone in this room has already accomplished something pretty remarkable: We made it here. Sadly, some classmates have passed or are too ill to attend.
I ask you to raise a glass to the young men we were. To the men we’ve become. To the classmates who couldn’t be here. To the friends, teachers and family who helped point us in the right direction. To the city of Newark, which taught us to be strong. And to the friendships and memories that brought us back together tonight. Cheers to the Class of 1976!
