Fitting Tribute

Posted


By RON LAJOIE


The school community at St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School on Staten Island certainly has enough facilities, classrooms, labs and sports fields that could have been named in honor of Msgr. Joseph C. Ansaldi. He is, after all, largely responsible the existence of most of them.

In the end the school's new endowment fund was named for Msgr. Ansaldi who, during his 27-year-tenure as principal, built the co-ed institution into one of the archdiocese's best-equipped and highest academically achieving high schools.

That's because, more than all the improvements to the physical plant, more than the expanded sports programs, the music wing, the auditorium, all of which he is immensely proud of, what concerned Msgr. Ansaldi most in his time as administrator, was keeping this gem of a high school on the borough's South Shore affordable for the average Staten Island Catholic family. The Msgr. Joseph C. Ansaldi Fund is designed to do just that.

"How do you honor somebody that built 10 different things?" asked Father Michael Reilly, who became school principal when Msgr. Ansaldi stepped down from the post last spring at 73. "At one point I thought I would name Viking Park (the 11-acre, state-of-the-art sports complex, including a Field Turf football and soccer field, baseball and softball diamonds, a track and three tennis courts he built) the Msgr. Joseph Ansaldi Athletic Complex. But it would almost minimize all his accomplishments. He has done so much."

The fund allows alumni, parents, parents of alumni, friends and neighbors to make a tax-deductible donation to the school. Contributions to the fund are invested and the earnings from the principal, which remains intact, are used to defray tuition for all Sea students. The contribution from the Ansaldi fund is deducted from the tuition bill that parents receive.

"I think the elephant in the room is the issue of keeping Catholic schools affordable in the long-term for the average family," Father Reilly told CNY. "Tuition doubles every 10 years and people's income doesn't double every 10 years. We want the average working-class family to have the opportunity to get a Catholic education." Tuition for the 2009-2010 academic year at St. Joseph by-the-Sea is $5,750.

Sea has been able to keep its costs low by a combination of frugal financial management, and creative staffing along with the support of an active family association.

"All administrators have always taught classes," explained Msgr. Ansaldi of his philosophy of cost containment. Indeed, he continues to teach German at Sea.

"For example, right now Father Reilly teaches two classes. The academic dean teaches three classes," Msgr. Ansaldi said. "Of course, a big help has been the family association. They've been our major fund-raising arm since the school went private in 1973. That's why we've been able to put all these additions on without having to borrow and without having a debt. Our aim has been to keep tuition as low as possible without depriving the students of anything. And as you can see, we have everything here."

A new gymnasium was added in 1988. Cardinal O'Connor dedicated the new music wing in 1996 and the Msgr. Thomas Gaffney Auditorium was dedicated in 1999. The school also boasts a fitness center, TV studio, and three thoroughly modernized science labs.

With such advantages, Sea's 1,400 students are expected to meet exacting academic standards. Sea makes public the school's scores in the New York State Regents Exams. And with scores in 2009 hovering in the 98 to 100 percent range they certainly have nothing to hide.

"All our kids take it and all our kids have to pass all these tests and we're getting 99 percent," says Father Reilly proudly. "If you tell them, 'you have to pass it, you have no choice, or you have to depart,' they will pass it."

Msgr. Ansaldi, who began as a teacher at Sea in 1978 after teaching at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx—was named principal in 1982. He has spent his entire career in education, including during a period, 1991-1998, when he also was vicar for Staten Island.

"I knew at 14 I wanted to be a teacher and I wasn't sure until I was 21 I wanted to be a priest," he said.

His teaching style is basic: "Be firm when you have to be firm and be there for them when they need you."

That's why Father Reilly believes the endowment is a particularly fitting tribute to the man who has made a career of "being there" for Staten Island's Catholic kids.

"That's what I love about this," he said of the endowment. "This fund will continue to keep tuition affordable in his name for generations to come."

Information: Roy Mackey, director of development, (718) 984-6500, ext. 5324.