Donor Profiles

Donor Profile: Kim & Jeff '87 Fryer

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 05:00:00 +0000

What did your experience at Holy Cross High School mean to you?
Holy Cross not only prepared me for college but gave me the opportunity to grow and learn in a nurturing environment and with the values of our faith that inspired me to be who I am today.

Why did you choose to leave a financial gift to Holy Cross High School in your estate plans?
Several faculty at Holy Cross went above and beyond to personally ensure I succeeded at what I was doing, and I credit some of them for guiding me to a very successful career. As a way of acknowledging their efforts and an unwritten thank you to them, we support Holy Cross to ensure other young men and women can have the same experiences that I did and can be successful in their future.

Donor Profile: Paul J. Whealon

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 04:00:00 +0000

It is difficult to explain the influence that Holy Cross High School and the Brothers of Holy Cross had on my life. Although I had experienced the Brother’s influence when I was in high school at Notre Dame in West Haven, it wasn’t until I was teaching at Holy Cross High School that I realized that the philosophy of Basil Moreau deeply influenced my vision of education and what my responsibility was to my students. The deeply embedded spirit of Basel Moreau, so much a part of a Holy Cross education, was such a part of my background that it came out when I taught without even thinking about it. [Education is the art of helping young people to completeness; for the Christian, this means education is helping a young person to be more like Christ, the model of all Christians. – B. Moreau]

I always felt that, no matter where we encountered our students, in class, in the halls, in outside activities, even after graduation, we were teaching. I came to realize that I was doing my job without even knowing it. [We shall always place education side by side with instruction; the mind will not be cultivated at the expense of the heart. While we prepare useful citizens for society, we shall likewise do our utmost to prepare citizens for heaven. – B. Moreau]. And, no matter what changes were made in the curriculum, the students, the school structures, we were still TEACHING [How we educate the mind will change with the times; how we cultivate the heart is and will remain timeless. – B. Moreau].

I have always done my best to support Holy Cross High School. I firmly believe that the education that I received and participated in is one that should be available to all. Whatever small commitment I could make to Holy Cross High School, I felt was a small repayment to Basil Moreau and his Congregation. [The widow’s mite.] And, now that I am retired and planning for the future, I am willing to make a more specific commitment to the legacy of Holy Cross High School. I have included Holy Cross High School among the beneficiaries in my will. It is my wish that, with my small donation and the donations of other alumni, parents and friends, Holy Cross High School will be able to ensure a future education in the Basel Moreau/Holy Cross tradition to young men and women who seek it.

Donor Profile: Joe Lanzetta '72

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 04:00:00 +0000

My years at Holy Cross have been some of the best experiences of my life. Holy Cross offered the perfect educational atmosphere. Teachers were demanding yet compassionate. Rather than teach us, they engaged us, encouraging discussion and freedom to think, question and debate.

There was something about the atmosphere at Holy Cross that always encouraged me to do the best I can and to constantly reach higher. I felt a sense of comradery, respect, and a bond with both the students and faculty. It was a feeling of belonging which felt great.

One of the most memorable experiences I had at Holy Cross was the religious encounter weekend at Enders Island. This experience continued long after our weekend as we made the trip on Sundays to surprise and support other classmates finishing their encounter weekend.

In 1968 when I entered Holy Cross as a freshman, the Waterbury public school system was not considered an option by my family. Fortunately, there were many Catholic schools to choose from, including Holy Cross. Fast forward to 2022, Holy Cross is now the only Catholic school in the area. I chose to leave a significant financial gift to Holy Cross to help ensure it remains a high-quality Catholic choice in the greater Waterbury metro area for years to come.

Donor Profile: Don Trella '72

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 04:00:00 +0000

When looking back at my time at Holy Cross now 50+ years later, I can honestly say that I am able to recall less and less over the years. However, while the day to day things that I experienced of course fade over time, what doesn’t fade is how my Holy Cross experience made me feel. Emotionally I can say that it is right near the top of the list when determining what the 4 best years of my life were. The Holy Cross culture is and always has been one of welcoming all, building relationships, and total focus on the student experience. I believe it was the second stone (after my parents laid the first) laid in building my foundation of faith and Christian values while preparing me academically to succeed moving forward. So much so, that while living in the New Haven area some years later, I wanted to provide my son with a similar experience and was able to send him to another Holy Cross school - Notre Dame of West Haven.

I know many graduates who have felt and have done the same. I think that says something!

I have chosen to support Holy Cross over the years in a way that was comfortable for me, so that the school can continue to produce the amazing results in terms of its graduates. But now through the 1968 Society, I have found another way that I can continue to support the school through my estate after I am called home. For any graduate that can look back feel the same, I would encourage them to be a part of the 1968 Society.