School Events Recap
Jack Foley
“ I have said it many times : Jack Foley is the memory and the conscience of the faculty ,” says the Prep ’ s Assistant Principal for Professional Development & Supervision and classmate Dennis Ahern ’ 63 .
After graduating from the University in 1967 as a classics major , Jack found himself that September sitting in the faculty lounge . Looking back , he recalls how the experience left him awestruck and often tongue-tied , but also how welcomed everyone made him feel as a rookie teacher .
Since that September over 50 years ago , “ Captain Jack ” Foley has been a beloved member of the faculty , teaching Latin and Greek . He also served as assistant headmaster from 1982 to 1985 , held the office of the dean of students from 1975 to 1978 , coached baseball and football , moderated a spectrum of clubs and served as faculty representative on the Board of Trustees . Today , with a double Bene Merenti medal , a Maroon Key and the University ’ s President ’ s Award , Jack Foley is widely credited with maintaining the credibility and prestige of the Prep ’ s Classical Languages Department in the 21st century .
Mr Foley was my mentor Freshman year , also my Latin 1 teacher . I ' d never studied a language other than English before , and Mr Foley kept it from becoming an intimidating experience ; I ' ve been an ( informal ) student of languages ever since .
— Chris Blake ’ 84
Classic Foley was seeing him in disguise ( he looked like Inspector Gadget , trench coat and all ) trying to catch students coming to the Prep not in full dress ( i . e ., shirt , tie , dress pants & jacket ) getting off a bus or train on Fordham Rd !
— John McBride ’ 80
Mr . Foley was my sophomore year Latin teacher back in the fall of 1967 . It was his first year teaching . He was always upbeat , easy-going and positive . He managed to take a difficult language that many students found intimidating and make it humane . Anytime you asked Mr . Foley for something - academic help , supervising an activity - he always said yes . When I became a teacher , I tried to remember how Mr . Foley treated his students . I saw him a few months ago , and almost 50 years later , he still remembered my name and knew what I was doing . Thank you , Mr . Foley , for your kindness , dedication and service !
— Vinny Castellano ’ 70
I was a classmate of Jack Foley . I remember studying AP Latin with Jack from Charles DaParma , a great teacher , and , I came to realize years later , perhaps someone who motivated Jack to become a teacher of the classics , just as I became motivated to teach as well at the university level . Jack was not only a terrific student but a wonderful colleague , a friend in and outside the classroom , the sort of person whom to ask if in doubt and to trust always with certainty .
— Jorge Domínguez ’ 63
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