Photo Blog

On Dec. 14, volunteers from the Holy Cross Club of the Capital Region joined Boston College alumni at Arlington National Cemetery to place wreaths at the graves of deceased Crusaders and Eagles.  This joint event, part of a national “Wreaths Across America” effort, aimed to honor our fallen heroes. Through the on-campus research of Rev. Robert Keane, S.J., director of Special Projects in Mission, 15 Holy Cross alumni were identified as being interred at Arlington. If you know of alumni who are buried at the National Cemetery, please contact the Alumni Relations Office at alumni@holycross.edu or 508-793-2483.

In October, Nativity School of Worcester hosted a black tie gala at Worcester’s Mechanics Hall (bathed in Crusader purple, which is also the signature hue of Nativity) to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the school’s opening (and to benefit the school’s ongoing programs to educate young men from Worcester’s most at-risk neighborhoods in the Jesuit tradition). The celebration sold out with 450 attendees who enjoyed cocktails, dinner, dancing, and, of course, a 10th  birthday cake.  “We were all thrilled that so many people came to help celebrate a school that was just a dream ten years ago,” says Patrick T. Maloney ’02, the school’s director of advancement. Maloney is just one of many Holy Cross alumni and student volunteers who work at Nativity, which has a strong relationship with the College.

Sean Dillon ’04, the principal of Nativity School of Worcester, cuts the cake with Matthew Brunell, Crista (Carrick) Mahoney ’02 and one of Nativity’s young students, Naethan, looking on.

Two men from the Holy Cross family who laid the foundation for the Nativity School 10 years ago, and continue to champion it today: Charles “Chick” Weiss, director of grants, foundation and corporate giving for Holy Cross and Nativity Worcester board member and former president of the College, Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J.

Spoiler alert: This young man, an 8th grader at Nativity, will be the subject of a “day in the life” feature in the Winter 2014 issue of Holy Cross Magazine, hitting mailboxes in mid-December.

Photography by Rob Carlin

J.D. “Dave” Power III ’53, Founder of J.D. Power and Associates, the well-known global marketing information firm that surveys customer satisfaction, product quality and buyer behavior, returned to campus for “An Evening with J.D. ‘Dave’ Power III ’53” on Oct. 1 in Rehm Library. Power was interviewed by Aaron Nicodemus, editor of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette’s “Business Matters” section, about the new book “POWER: How J.D. Power III Became the Auto Industry’s Adviser, Confessor, and Eyewitness to History,” (Fenwick Publishing, September 2013).

After a special dinner and the lecture, Power signed copies of the book, which will be featured in the upcoming Winter 2014 issue of Holy Cross Magazine. 

This year’s Homecoming festivities included “Back to the Hill,” a dinner celebrating the Black Student Union’s 45th Anniversary along with the 40th anniversary of women attending the College. Above Peter Mitchell ’78 shares a hug and a laugh with psychology professor emeritus Ogretta V. McNeil and Rev. Philip Boroughs, S.J., President of the College.

Above BSU co-chairs Payton Shubrick ’15 (left) and Vicmarys Brito ’15 welcomed the BSU alumni to a special dinner in Hogan. Founded in 1968, following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., the BSU is committed to educating the Holy Cross community about the importance of heritage, the affirmation of identity and the legacy of achievement. Emphasizing the academic, cultural, social, and political development of its members, BSU aims to provide a support system for African American students and all members of the Holy Cross community by creating an environment that promotes leadership, embraces identity and encourages diversity.

Above Classmates Robert DeShay ’70 and Art Martin ’70

Alumni, parents and students mixed and mingled at the 2013 Homecoming events, including tailgating on Fitton Baseball Field before the HC v Harvard game.

Photograph by Joao Vickttor De Carvalho ’15

Tom Cecil, professor of mathematics and a member of the Class of 1968, shared two photos taken by Tom Andruskevich ’68 and this weekend’s reunion. At the 11 a.m. Class of 1968 Mass on Saturday in Mary Chapel (below), Holy Cross President Rev. Philip Boroughs, S.J., was joined by concelebrants Rev. John Endres, S.J., ’68 (left) and Rev. John Michalowski, S.J., ’68 (right).

Cecil (left) and his classmates Linnie Regan, Mike Ball and Rich Regan provided the music for the Mass. “We had a great reunion,” Cecil notes.

Newly-minted graduates and their families, seen walking down the stairs by the Hogan Campus Center, make their way down to Kimball Main Dining Room for a reception following Commencement Exercises. View more photos on the Commencement website.

Photograph by Dan Vaillancourt

The 174-acre Holy Cross campus (which is a registered aboretum) is once again blooming with spring colors, and local watercolor artist Nick Connors finds inspiration in the mix of classical and modern architectural styles that give the College its award-winning look. The son of John Connors ’56, Nick says O’Kane is his absolute favorite location to paint.

O’Kane Hall by Nick Connors. (Anyone interested in purchasing Nick’s work can contact him at nick.connors@townisp.com)

Nick (left) with his father, John Connors ’56, at a local art show in March.

St. Joseph Memorial Chapel by Nick Connors (nick.connors@townisp.com)

Each year on Holy Cross Cares Day, alumni and students go out into their communities and help with a cleanup or other work project. This year in Worcester, students tackled cleanup in Middle River Park along McKeon Road (across from the lower athletic fields) and alumni cleared brush in Cookson Park just off College Street. The day began with a kickoff breakfast, speakers and registration at the Hart Center, after which volunteers from both groups walked to their sites to begin working.

Photography by Matthew Atanian

The Holy Cross men’s and women’s rowing teams dedicate a new boat in honor of Rev. Anthony Kuzniewski, S.J., professor of history and athletics chaplain, at a ceremony at the Donahue Rowing Center at Lake Quinsigamond. The teams recognized his long service as athletics chaplain, his devotion to Holy Cross and its student-athletes.

Rev. John Savard, S.J., rector of the Jesuit community, and Rev. James Hayes, S.J., associate chaplain for mission (not pictured), bless the boat.

Fr. K, as he is affectionately called by members of the Holy Cross community, christened the boat with holy water.

Fr. K stands next to the boat that bears his name. Alumni and friends of the team were in attendance.

Photography by Ed O’Donnell