Joseph Benevenia, MD '76    2003 Alumnus of the Year

The eyes of the community are often fixed on those involved in leading-edge medicine. The unfortunate facts of life today will probably put everyone at some time or another in contact with professionals involved in cancer research and treatment. One of those at the forefront of our own New Jersey medical community is Dr. Joseph Benevenia, SHP Class of 1976. Director of Musculoskeletal Oncology at University Hospital in Newark, Dr. Benevenia is also Associate Professor of Orthopedics and Vice Chairman of Orthopedics at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. His establishment of the area's first practice specifically planned for surgery for bone, joint and limb cancers, set him fully in the spotlight in New Jersey, as the only alternatives formerly were New York City or Philadelphia.

Headmaster Msgr. Michael E. Kelly '57 announced in the fall that Dr. Benevenia would be the recipient of the 2003 Msgr. Thomas Fahy Award as the Alumnus of the Year. "I continue to be so proud of each our of our alumni. I marvel at who they are and what they are doing for others," Fr. Mike noted. "Dr. Joseph Benevenia is representative of the high standards and caring qualities that we hope to instill in our students."

Dr. Benevenia seemed to know the general direction of his life from early on. "What inspired me to go into medicine was my interest in figuring things out, how they worked," he said. "Once at The Prep, Sr. Regina in Chemistry and Mr. Dorflinger in Advanced Bio helped forge my base in science, leading to medicine and surgery."

After his graduation from The Prep, his path led through St. Louis University where, he recalled, "I was to say the least, a bit scared at first (mostly, of the Jesuits!), but more importantly, college itself. But, after the first few tests, it was clear that my education and training at The Prep was superior. I remained at the top of my pre-med class and was able to attend the medical school of my choice!"

UMDNJ was his choice ("who would have figured that Mr. Hoffman's Latin course would transform gross anatomy, the most feared and hardest course in medical school, to the most enjoyable journey through the marvels of the human body and lead me into the field of surgery?") followed by a fellowship in oncology at Case Western Reserve University. It was in these later years of study that he "fell in love" with surgery.

Whether recalling his experiences in Prep science classes, or even his time spent in music and art classes, Joe notes, "The habits and exercises we were taught formed an unshakable foundation that allowed me to pursue a career in cancer surgery and academic orthopaedics. These experiences help me in my work everyday in what I do as a surgeon, caring for patients and educating medical students and doctors.

He sums it all up simply: "My priority is the patient. At the end of the day, it's still you and the patient." Seton Hall Prep is proud and New Jersey is fortunate to have Dr. Joseph Benevenia as one of their own, continuing to bring honor to his Alma Mater and caring service to the community.

Patrick Hobbs  '78    2002 Alumnus of the Year

Patrick E. Hobbs, Class of 1978, Dean of the Seton Hall University School of Law, is the Seton Hall Prep Alumnus of the Year.

In announcing this year's awarding of the Msgr. Thomas G. Fahy Award, Prep Headmaster Msgr. Michael E. Kelly noted, "Our Prep alumni have distinguished themselves in a variety of vocations, locally and throughout the world. We did not have to look far for the gentleman whom we acknowledge as the Alumnus of the Year 2002. The credentials and accomplishments of Pat Hobbs, Class of 1978, are so significant that they caught the immediate attention of the Alumni Office."

[photo courtesy of SHU Law School]

Patrick's response was typically humble: "To have my name added to a list that includes names like Frank Walsh, Tom Sharkey, Mike Kelly and others, is a great honor. Seton Hall Prep has done so much for me it is impossible to put into words. It not only gave me a great education, it also developed in me the habits which brought whatever later academic success I was able to achieve. I am privileged to be able to say that I attended SHP and I often tell people how indebted I am."

Though the route from the Prep's "Future Lawyers Club" and National Honor Society to his highly visible position as Dean of a highly respected law school may seem to have been carefully mapped out, reflecting on his honor, Patrick recalled a few discomfiting speed bumps along the way, courtesy of some Prep immortals of the late 20th century: "my first F-rewrite with Binkowski ( I thought I was going to be a high school dropout as a freshman); Doc Egan standing on his desk, shouting during a December 7th "Remember Pearl Harbor" history test; getting an 18 or 20 out of 100 on Mr. Theroux's Physics exam (for a B+), German with Father Wortmann (I don't think he's forgiven me for not writing to his niece, I think, in Germany); being taught how to read the Racing Form by Father Accocella (and then getting the chance to put that education to the test one night at the Meadow-lands); hanging out the window of Mr. Dawson's English class in Springtime as the women of the University passed between Mooney and Duffy Hall (maybe we should leave this one out); getting jug for wrestling with Carl Comasco in the hallway between classes; polyester plaid pants (they were all the rage in 1975)."

Lest we get the idea that all Pat did was wile away his time on frivolity, he quickly added, "What I actually most remember is being pushed academically, having to work very hard, and learning that academic competition is important. I think we all felt that we were all a little special because we were at the Prep. I remember at graduation thinking how much I would miss everyone and how lucky I was to know just how lucky we all were."

Pat's road following that 1978 commencement took him on to Seton Hall University, for a Bachelor of Science in Accounting [magna cum laude]. He spent time as an associate with Hannoch Weisman and Shanley & Fisher after receiving his LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law, and his law degree at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

In announcing Patrick's award, Msgr. Michael Kelly remarked, "Pat's success as an attorney and eventually as Dean of a major school of law is no surprise. He continued to build on his Prep achievements and his personal character. He is as bright, principled and caring a gentleman as you can imagine. I am honored to add my congratulations and thanks to Pat for representing the ideals of the Prep so well.

Patrick and his wife Joanne live with their three children, Patrick, John and Alexandra, in Basking Ridge.

He was the guest speaker at the Prep's 142nd Commencement on Sunday June 2, 2002, at Seton Hall University's Walsh Auditorium.

Alumnus of the Year 2001—  Rev. Paul R. Manning  '51

How can you measure the impact that a person has over the course of a career on those around him. With the superstars of sports, corporate-America or the media the tangibles of money and publicity left in their wake are nearly always quantifiable—just look it up in an annual report or a media guide.

When the subject has spent a career as a priest and teacher, one might assume the impact to be less concrete, more difficult to perceive.

So if we come across a name, the mere mention of which conjures up a litany of positive, heartening and affirming images, remembrances and stories, we can be sure that we have come into the presence of someone very special indeed.

For his classmates and, since the early sixties, his students across New Jersey, the name Fr. Paul Manning has much the same effect that a word like "Ruthian" does to describe a long homerun, or "Wagnerian" has when it describes a musical production.

A short anecdote involving two other Prep personalities may serve us well.

Thinking back on his days as a Seton Hall University underclassman, current Prep Math Department Chairman Joe Boland recalled, "I had become good friends with Prep alumnus Bob Podolski ['66], a fellow math major. As our freshman year progressed I became more and more impressed with how much math Bob knew. Finally, one day I asked Bob how he had acquired so much math knowledge. He answered simply, "I had Manning." That was it. No elaboration needed. From his tone and expression I could tell that his curt answer was supposed to explain everything. Well, back then it didn't, but ten years later it did. [After a chance to work with him] I had found Fr. Manning to be the most organized and most thoroughly prepared teacher ever. He showed himself to be a master of motivation as well as the definitive work-a-holic. He routinely taught seven classes, fitting an extra class in before school or during lunch. After school was not an option because he moderated the French Club, the Math Club, the yearbook and coached Tennis."

Current Prep German teacher Fr. Joseph Wortmann chose the same "work-a-holic" description of his close friend of over fifty years. He filled out the description with the beginnings of a lengthy list of Fr. Manning's tangible achievements. "He has been recognized with many prestigious awards, among which are the Princeton University Prize for Distinguished Secondary School Teaching and an award from the National Catholic Conference. He is very respected and loved by his students, both as a teacher, a priest and a coach, which is attested to by the great number who have asked him to perform their marriages in later years. One would have to call him "educator par excellence."

The more complete listings look like a want-ad for "Renaissance Man."— BA and MA from Seton Hall University, Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Catholic University, MA and PhD from NYU Courant Institute of Mathematics Science, Archdiocese of Newark Outstanding Secondary Educator Award, lecturer at the International Congress on Mathematical Education in Japan on Applications of Mathematics to the Humanities.

In announcing Fr. Manning's selection as 2001 Alumnus of the Year, Prep Headmaster Msgr. Michael E. Kelly '57 remarked, "I have never come across a teacher who has the broad base and depth of knowledge and ability to teach in so many areas, including theology, mathematics, science, the arts, history and language."

"I'm honored by the selection," Fr. Manning said. Humble in the extreme, in the same breath he added, "There are so many more deserving... I loved my four years at the Prep as a student, and my sixteen years there as a teacher."

Though many students might immediately be reminded of Fr. Manning's generally austere classroom persona and laser-like glare, they actually masked his wry sense of humor and cagey schemes for motivating students. Current Prep Athletic Director Joe Walsh still speaks about it from first hand experience. When Joe began sophomore year at the Prep, he unexpectedly found himself scheduled into Geometry Honors. [His dazzling performance in Finn Tracey's Algebra I class had earned him a spot in the major leagues of math.] At the time he was also struggling mightily to pronounce words beginning with the letter "s." A technique he had been taught was to divert attention from the word itself, to allow the brain to more naturally form the sound. The diversion he constantly resorted to was to punch the guy sitting in front of him in the back as he did combat with the offending words. [It happened that the recipient of the tension-relieving thumps was his friend and future Hall of Famer, Jim Reynolds.] Joe's victories over the stutter and geometry theorems were due in no small part to Fr. Manning, feigning ignorance all the while, persistently calling on him when the answer was the infamous "side-side-side triangle" or one otherwise laden with "s" numbers like "seventy-seven 'x' squared.

Fr. Manning's teaching tenure was an all-too-short 1959-75. He moved over to Oratory Prep, where he continues his relentless pursuit of excellence without let up. [Well, he did reveal that he was just able to drop the seventh class, and only teach six, but he still holds his Math Club meetings on Fridays after school because, "if they're really serious about Math, they'll come on Friday afternoon!"]

For those concerned about the education of their sons or their friends, there continues to be no higher praise than "I had Manning."

Alumnus of the Year 2000— Msgr. Kelly has announced that the Seton Hall Prep Alumnus of the Year is Rev. Joseph Wortmann, Class of 1950. Fr. Wortmann has devoted his entire adult life to the service of the Prep. Following his 1954 graduation from Seton Hall University with an AB in Classical Languages and Philosophy, and an STL Degree from Catholic University in 1958, he was ordained in May of 1958. Immediately assigned by Archbishop Thomas A. Boland to the Prep, he taught Latin and Religion and was the adviser of the Pirate , the school's newspaper, a post he held for 14 years. Chairman of the Classical Language Department from 1964 to 1969, and then the Foreign Language Department until 1989, he received his MA in Classical Languages from Fordham in 1963. Fr. Wortmann has been recognized with the Prep's service award for his work on the Pirate (1971) and received the Thomas A. Reynolds Award from the Prep Fathers Club (1994). He lived and worked in Germany from 1975 to 1977 and has provided Sunday assistance to St. Nicholas (Jersey City), Our Lady of Peace (New Providence), St. Joseph (Raritan) and St. Peter's (Erkeln, Germany) His long-time colleague, Chairperson of the Language Department, Jean Moretti remarked, "Fr. Wortmann continues to serve as a model to faculty and students alike. His dedication to the priesthood, his classes and to Seton Hall Prep inspire all of us who come in contact with him." When Fr. Wortmann enrolled as a freshman in 1947, the Prep was housed in Mooney Hall, on the So. Orange Campus, an era when both the College and the Prep were all-male, also a time when some Prep students boarded on the 3rd floor in Mooney Hall; night prayers in Immaculate Conception Chapel were mandatory. On looking back across the years, he noted, "Before the more, Seton Hall Prep was similar to a department within Seton Hall University. [since the move] The physical location really doesn't matter. It's the ability to make an impact on the life of a student in any classroom, anywhere, that makes you life as a teacher so rewarding." Alumnus of the Year 1999— At Seton Hall Preparatory School's Commencement Exercises on Saturday June 12, the Prep will bestow on James G. O'Connor the Msgr. Thomas Fahy Award as the Outstanding Alumnus of the Year. O'Connor will also be the Commencement Speaker for the ceremony, which will honor the 173 graduates of the Class of 1999 and the returning 50 Year Class of 1949. James G. (Jim) O'Connor is President of Ford Division and a Ford Motor Company Vice President, responsible for the marketing, sales and distribution of all Ford brand trucks and cars in the United States. After joining Ford in 1964, Jim progressed through a series of sales, marketing, and executive positions, landing him, in 1992, the position of President and CEO of Ford Motor Company, Canada. He followed it up in 1995 with a promotion to the executive directorship of marketing operations for Ford, Inc. After a stint as General Manager of Lincoln-Mercury Division beginning April 1996, he was appointed to his present position in May 1998. O'Connor was born in New York City. He graduated Seton Hall Prep in 1960. Msgr. Michael E. Kelly, Headmaster of the Prep, recalls Jim as a dear friend, whom he has known since their days in grammar school. Jim and his brother, Peter, were two and three years behind him in school, and he admired them  both. "Jim was a hard working student-athlete, a first-class gentleman and a man who cared about other people. His classmates recognized his qualities in electing him President of the Student Council. His teachers recognized his attributes by selecting him the Most Representative Setonian, our highest graduation award of honor." Moving on to Villanova University, Jim earned a Bachelor's Degree in Economics in 1964. Serving as the President of the National Alumni Association, in 1997 Jim received the prestigious Villanova "Loyalty Award" from the Villanova Alumni Association—the highest award given to an alumus. O'Connor has been active in various charities and fundraising activities, including the United Way, the Northwood University Scholarship Campaign, Harper Hospital and Michigan Opera Theater. He is on the Board of Visitors for Howard University's School of Business and Board of Visitors for Villanova University's School of Commerce and Finance, a member of the Board of Directors of the planned Mustang Museum and recently named to the Corporate Board of Advisors for the National Council of "La Raza." Jim and his wife, Judith, are the parents of two daughters and make their home in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. Msgr. Kelly summed up the choice of O'Connor for the honor: "Jim's success as a husband, father, and businessman is no surprise to me. I am so proud to have him as a friend and fellow alumnus." The attendees will be welcomed by Salutatorian Benjamin Scheick, of West Orange, and will be addressed by Valedictorian Matthew Rausch, of Cranford. [photos of the Commencement]