St. James High School alumni dedicate monument
EDDYSTONE » St. James High School closed nearly 25 years ago, but its spirit is alive and well among its dedicated alumni.
More than 50 members of the Alumni Association gathered Sunday at the Dog House, which is the official home of the St. James Bulldogs, to dedicate a stone monument which holds the school insignia: an important part of St. James history.
Alumni President Mike Ritz presided over the dedication, which also included a prayer by Rev. Msgr. John M. Savinski, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Morton; raising of the school flag by former principal John Mooney; and the school Alma Mater and fight song performed by the Blue and Gray Voices.
“There is a great pride in what St. James means to all of us,” Ritz said. “Next year we will be commemorating 25 years since our school closed and our theme will be ‘Keep the Spirit Alive at 25.’”
Ritz said he often drives by the school when he is feeling nostalgic and to his surprise, above the outside door to the entrance of the gymnasium he noticed the large gray stone school insignia, which shockingly, he had not seen before.
“I always entered school from the front door, and this seal was at the Upland Avenue entrance, which led to the gym” he said. “Well as soon as I saw it, I knew it had to be here at the dog house. It had to come home.”
Ritz called Media Realty, owners of the building, and made repeated attempts to secure the large stone insignia. He said he received a call back stating that he could have the piece of St. James history, but the stone work needed to be replaced.
In turn, Ritz told Pat Pondok, ‘72 and Rich Gorman, ‘76, who own Target Building Construction, and they took care of the removal of the school seal and replacement of the stonework.
“We are very grateful to Pat and Rich for everything they have done to make this day possible,” Ritz said. “It is amazing that all we have to do is mention that something needs to be done and our guys step up. St. James was a very special place that produced very special people, that is for sure.”
Above the school seal on the monument, a saying written by former Alumni Association President Bob McLaughlin reads: “This monument is dedicated to the graduates of St. James High School for boys. Once boys, now grown to manhood, all share an eternal bond of brotherhood, an earnest faith in God, and a resolute love of country. In triumph and in strife, true to our school motto, Quae Sursum Quaerite.”
The St. James Alumni Association, which boasts more than 1,600 members, has provided more than $1.1 million in scholarships since 1993. Currently, there are 35 students attending five Catholic High Schools receiving $2,000 scholarships each year for four years.
Mooney, who served as principal, vice principal, athletic director, English teacher, disciplinarian, and even bus driver at St. James High School, jokingly said he asked to be buried on the grounds of the dog house.
“Apart from my family, St. James was and is my life,” Mooney said. “I loved every minute I was at the school and these guys are the best.”
“Apart from my family, St. James was and is my life. I loved every minute I was at the school and these guys are the best.” — Former St. James principal John Mooney