From the Headmaster
Septuaginta quinque annos
April 2026
Celebrating the 75th anniversary with a special“ Birthday” cake.
Dear Saint David’ s Community,
More than one thousand Saint David’ s community members( and another four hundred plus on livestream) attended the school’ s 75th anniversary mass at St. Ignatius Loyola on February 5, 2026, representing decades of alumni and alumni families, as well as our current school body. The following night, at a majestically restored Waldorf Astoria, one thousand two hundred gathered for a festive benefit dinner dance, honoring current teachers with a tenure of 25 years or more at the school. The energy was electric, the joy evident, and the connection that this community has both with the school and with each other, palpable. To see and speak with“ boys” from classes spanning decades, and to watch them mingle with their teachers, fellow classmates, and classmates’ families, affirmed what we have always known: it is the people that make this unique and special school the institution it is at 75.
At the conclusion of the anniversary mass, a young alumnus approached me with tears in his eyes and said he’ d cried multiple times throughout the ceremony—“ it was that moving!,” he said. He wasn’ t the only one. It was a profoundly meaningful service and a true celebration of who we were, who we are, and who we want to be. Our music department’ s stirring“ Seed to Sow,” delivered by members of our First Choir, Bell Choir, and Percussion Ensemble, post Communion, said it all—
“ We look back with pride and ahead with joy.”
This special edition of Saint David’ s Magazine does just that, proudly reflecting on our past, while joyfully anticipating our future. Inside, you will find personal reflections by our Board President Dan Connolly’ 77, Alumni Council Chair Will Smith’ 00, and master teacher Tom Ryan, our longest serving faculty member. In addition, we present our series honoring the current faculty and staff who have devoted 25 plus years to the education of our boys.
We also share the story of Saint David’ s continuing strategic evolution since the celebration of her 50th jubilee. Our history is one of consistency— of fealty to our mission, traditions, and values— combined with deliberate, purposeful progress, always striving upward with vision and confidence: to excel.
This issue of the magazine is dedicated to the school’ s ten bold founders( see page 5), who had the prescience of mind to create an independent boys’ school in the Catholic faith tradition in New York City at a time when doing so required courage, audacity, and a steadfast sense of purpose.
May the spirit of our founders continue to lead this great school forever upward. At this exciting moment, we also honor the stewardship of our trustees and leaders, the exceptional professionalism of our faculty and staff, the dedication of our families—“ both past and present”— and the insatiable joy, energy, and curiosity of our boys that define this school— Ut viri boni sint.
Happy 75th, Saint David’ s! Enjoy the magazine. I remain,
In appreciation,
P. David O ' Halloran
Saint David’ s is an independent elementary school for boys of all faiths and backgrounds. Boys are admitted to Pre-Kindergarten through Grade Eight. Since its founding in 1951 by nine Catholic families, Saint David’ s has graduated more than 2,300 students. They have gone on to the most competitive New York City secondary schools and regional boarding schools, and from there to ranking universities and colleges throughout the nation. The school is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, subscribing to its Principles of Good Practice for admission of students. Saint David’ s also belongs to the Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York. The school’ s headmaster is Dr. P. David O’ Halloran.
Community and Inclusion
In addition to our rigorous academic program and in keeping with our founding faith’ s spiritual traditions, Saint David’ s is known for its sense of family, compassion, and kindness. Our community includes boys and faculty that reflect the cultural, ethnic, racial, socioeconomic, and religious diversity of New York City. At Saint David’ s, we believe that being curious without prejudice and without bias is essential to a well-informed, educated young man. Our boys develop cultural competency as they are taught to respect and embrace difference in all its myriad manifestations. Boys broaden their perspectives as they learn from diverse traditions, creeds, and ways of life— fundamental in fulfilling the aspiration of the Founders“ that they be good men.”
4 • Saint David’ s Magazine • 75th Anniversary Edition