Class Notes Spring 2024

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St. Benedict’s welcomes any and all news about your career, education, family life and reconnecting with other alumni. Submit news via email to graybee@sbp.org.

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 ’63 

Robert G. Lahita, M.D., Ph.D., was presented with the Arthritis Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the Evening of Honors on May 2. Bob is Director of St. Joseph’s Institute for Autoimmune and Rheumatic Diseases, Professor of Medicine at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and Clinical Professor of Medicine at Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School. He has authored more than 16 books and 150 scientific publications on autoimmune diseases and their relation to sex hormones, genetics and environmental factors. Bob is also an Editor and Reviewer for several medical journals, serving on the editorial boards of three. 

 ’64 

Six members of the Class of 1964 and their wives had lunch on October 23, 2023, with Dennis Costello, M.D., and his wife, Linda, during a recent trip east from their home in La Jolla, Calif. Joining the Costellos at lunch were Art Sholz, Ralph Lilore, Sabino DeRogatis, Bill Columbo, Art SanFilippo, Brian Froelich and their wives. 

John J. Walter was inducted into the 2023 Newark Athletic Hall of Fame.

 ’65   

Mary Kelly Blakeslee (BA) wrote that she has published a children’s book, Isabella and the Pink Flamingos.

 ’69   

Ron Felber published his seventh novel (based on a true story) titled The Unwelcomed, The Curious Case of Clara Fowler. William Peter Blatty, author of The Exorcist, passed the idea along while filming the movie at Georgetown University, where Ron was a student. That was 50 years ago, but Ron is quick to point out, “Better late than never!” 

 ’71   

Vincent Scalera played in world-renowned tenor Juan Diego Florez’s concert at Carnegie Hall in November 2023. Pat Flynn H’95, who attended the event, which included selections by Rossini, Donizetti, Verdi, Puccini and more, sent backstage photos of Vinnie, Daniel Quinn ’70 and Frank Crowley ’71. All were in Drama Guild together. 

 ’72   

William M. Brown III received the 2024 Amistad Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Mike Niemira, who is retired and lives in Tucson, Ariz., shared the news that he has published his third book, Practical Macroeconomics for Non-Economists: A Question-and-Answer Approach. A member of the Class of 1972, the last class of the “old school” before it closed for a year, Mike wrote, “It is hard to believe it has been so long! Lots of memories of the School and people who made a difference at the School then and since. I remember Matt Payne ’69 (Fr. Mark Payne, O.S.B.) was in my brother’s class and was his good friend. I remember when Fr. Edwin (who was in my cousin’s class at Benedict’s) returned to the school as Br. Edwin ’63. I was in class with Jack Dalton who was a very good friend, and of course, his dad taught at Benedict’s.” 

 ’79   

Marc C. Riley earned a bronze medal in the exclusive senior black belt division of the 2023 Shorinjiryu Shinzen International Shiai Tournament. Karate brothers Renshi Chris Vaca and Sensei Larry Dammon took silver and gold medals, respectively. 

 ’82   

David E. DeLorenzi is the Chair of the Intellectual Property Group at the Gibbons law firm. Gibbons has once again ranked among the world’s leading patent professionals by Intellectual Asset Management.

 ’83   

James Daly recently moved into a new role with Pfizer, Inc., as Director of Marketing, Oncology Biosimilars & Hematology Portfolio. He is responsible for payer marketing and contracting strategies. His wife (and St. Benedict’s prom date) retired in July after a 31-year career working in trade and IT with Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

 ’85   

John Matthews played lacrosse with the Central Jersey Lacrosse team to raise money for veterans. “As a team we raised $3,000 for a great cause,” he wrote. 

 ’89   

Andrew D’Arcy’s law firm, D’Arcy Johnson Day, has been awarded gold for the 10th year in a row by the Best of the Press Atlantic City.

 ’92   

Late Newark Fire Captain Wayne “Bear” Brooks Jr. had a street named for him in Union, N.J. He died in the line of duty battling a blaze at Port Newark on July 5, 2023.

 ’97   

Michael O’Hara sent greetings from the Land of the Morning Calm: “Yes, my wife, Leena, and I, along with our two kids (Leo, 9, and Therese, 4) packed up and moved from the Big Easy (New Orleans) to Daegu, South Korea, in July. I took a job with the U.S. Army. Meanwhile, Leena has enjoyed walking the halls of Daegu Elementary School once again, this time as a parent and volunteer. We are hoping to explore Korea and Asia in general this year. If you are out this way, look me up. I think Geoff Eaton is planning a trip out in June.”

 ’02   

Olufemi Ijandipe, Val Philippe, Tyrone Heggins and Stan Foster participated in the City Challenge
Obstacle Race.

 ’04   

Kamal Biggham released a book, Black Astronaut: The Stars Belong to the People, which is a photo compilation that gives readers a striking depiction of the nationwide revolution ignited by the pandemic and the passing of George Floyd. He wrote, “By taking an innovative approach, my book creates an unparalleled opportunity to explore pivotal sectors of our country’s unrest. In addition, this new book will encourage readers to reflect on the importance of overcoming uncertainty and hostile situations to reach our goals.”

 ’05   

Jaheer T. Jones became a member of the Gamma Eta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.

 ’10   

Lt. Brendan A. Coble is at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait with RQQQ Eurofighter Typhoon at Camp Italy. 

Philip V. McHarris, Ph.D., was recently hired as an Assistant Professor of Black Studies at the University of Rochester.

Paul Oyefesobi is a member of the Allon Cycling Club and finished the season with a 40-mile ride.

 ’13   

Edward K. Cheserek placed eighth in the 2023 New York City Marathon.

Raheem Veal has a new YouTube page called Black Soul Media. A season premier is located on YouTube, Spotify and Amazon Music. 

 ’14   

Joshua A. De Sousa was ordained as an Elder for Abundant Hope Christian Center, Newark, N.J. A service was held at New Hope Baptist Church in East Orange, N.J.

 ’15   

Evan C. Jenkins is now working at Temple Health Systems Transport Team. 

 ’17   

Travis Wright modeled on the runway at the 2023 New York Fashion Week. 

 ’19   

Damon Wright became an Alpha Phi Alpha, just like his brother, Travis ’17. 

 ’21   

Reuben Kadushin has been honored with the Gerald Meyer Undergraduate Award by a leading academic journal, Science & Society. As a result, Reuben’s essay, “Black Folk, Then and Now and the Late DuBois’ Marxist Dialect,” will be published in a future edition of the journal. This represents the first academic publication for Reuben, a former editor-in-chief of the Benedict News. Reuben is a junior at Swarthmore College pursuing an honors special major in political sociology and a minor in Black studies. He presently holds a 4.0 GPA and is a Mellon Mays Fellow, a Richard Rubin Scholar, an Aydelotte Fellow and a lover of books. The ideas for his Science & Society essay, he said, were first generated during a yearlong independent study project at SBP focused on Black literary geniuses, including Wright, Baldwin and DuBois. Upon graduation, he hopes to pursue a doctoral degree in either American studies or human geography. 

 ’23   

Ja-Keem Hayden was recently asked by his pastor to serve as an Armor Bearer/Usher at his church. In October 2023, he was hired as a Runner/Busser at the Prudential Center.

 

 Marriages, Enagagements and Births   

Audra and Mark Zeno ’86 were married in Las Vegas. 

Patricia and Brian Delaney ’02 welcomed a son, Declan R. Delaney. 

Robert C. Innis ’02 and Ruth Georges-Innis were married. 

St. Benedict’s Physics Teacher and Head Fencing Coach Richard Molina ’06 and Kelly E. Dietz were married July 1, 2023, at Valley Road Vineyards in Afton, Va. Associate Headmaster for Academics and Science Teacher Michelle Tuorto H’16 officiated.

Vivian and Nana Osei-Opare ’07 welcomed their second child, Osei Aili Lu-Opare. His big sister, Aiyun, loves her new little brother.

Dan Sheehan ’08 and Maggie Drowica were married on September 16, 2023, in Hampton Bays, N.Y. 

Luis O. Villacis ’08 and Crystal Caez welcomed their first child, Emery Villacis.