WILL ARIAS
Thirty years ago, Mr. Will Arias had organized a 5k run on the Upper East Side of Manhattan with the Road Runners Club.“ It was the spring of‘ 96 and I remember seeing a neighboring school at dismissal time on 89th Street,” Arias recalled.“ Little did I know that just months later, fate would bring me back to this very block- and it’ s been a life changing experience for me.” In the fall of the same calendar year, he interviewed with Pedro Morales and it would be here that his four-decade run of coaching would commence.“ This has become my family,” Coach Arias proudly stated.“ Pedro( Morales) is a Godfather to my first-born Marco. Chris( Murphy) and I started the same year( 1996) and have been brothers ever since. I later married my wife Kylah in the Chapel in 2015, so this is home for me.”
When asked what has changed over the past 30 years at Saint David’ s, Arias linked the school’ s physical growth to the Athletics pillar,“ The series of expansions have led our community to become even tighter. With games and events centralized on our campus, it provides a great atmosphere and brings everyone together.” As Arias reflects on the past 30 years, he also looks forward,“ Continue to strive, contribute to get better,” he shares.“ We preach to our boys about self-improvement and we as coaches practice that same drive as well.” The connection and continuity between Athletics and community is also a core element to the Saint David’ s experience.“ As coaches, we are always considering what’ s best for the boys,” he shared.“ The individual( boy) is always the focus and with Athletics as a core pillar to the school’ s identity, this aspect of attention and care is what makes us unique.”
Rooted in mission, this core trait is an intrinsic aspect of Saint David’ s life and personifies the school’ s identity.“ When graduates return to campus and share how much they appreciate their experience( as students), and the impact on development, that’ s very rewarding to me— and it’ s a privilege to have that impact.”
DIREXA DEARIE
For Mrs. Direxa Dearie and the Dearie family, Saint David’ s has been a second-home for over 50 years.“ The school that we were introduced to was warm and family-oriented,” she fondly recalls.“ The feeling I had in 1976 is a constant— the environment shines through, a sense of care and support that defines Saint David’ s.”
When Mrs. Dearie’ s eldest son( Christopher Jr.‘ 86) was looking for schools, friends and neighbors recommended the small campus on East 89th Street.“ For my husband( Christopher Sr.) and I, the warmth was apparent from the start, it was a wonderful situation for us,” and when Christopher Jr. was admitted for the 1977-78 academic year, it would commence a Dearie Family legacy that can be felt to the present day, as sons William‘ 93 and John‘ 95, were to later follow the same path. With teaching experience from the Convent of the Sacred Heart, and with her younger boys graduating, Mrs. Dearie transitioned into a substitute teaching role within Saint David’ s Lower School.
In 1996, she became an assistant teacher to the first-grade homeroom; and held several positions within the division thereafter. A natural storyteller, Mrs. Dearie had the experience and knowledge to conduct Chapel for first and second grade classes, and make a lasting impact in that space.“ I would share New Testament stories with our Lower School boys, there was a natural evolution into a role as a religion teacher,” she explained.“ Today, our Sophrosyne program has such a natural overlap with this space, but back then when it did not yet exist, I incorporated elements.”
When asked what has changed the most about the school, she was quick to emphasize its growth,“ From partnerships to field trips to language offerings, the academic opportunity is remarkable- and that exposure is so important,” she proudly shared.“ The school is a gift to all the boys who come through, and it’ s a gift to everyone who works here. It’ s a home away from home, and it’ s a community that supports every child and family. That is Saint David’ s.”
34 • Saint David’ s Magazine • 75th Anniversary Edition