15th Annual Hall Of Fame Induction At Albertus Magnus

Saturday, Nov. 23 marks an important day on the calendar for Albertus Magnus High School. That is when the school holds its 15th annual Induction Ceremony for the Hall of Fame with a group of inductees recognized for their athletic contributions, support of the school and commitment to ideals established by the school’s founders, the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill. The honorees come from throughout Rockland County: New City, Nyack, Congers and Nanuet.

The honorees include:

Monsignor Emmet R. Nevin, class of 1965, vicar of Rockland and pastor of St. Paul’s Parish in Congers, is being acknowledged for his service as an educator, administrator, priest, EMT/ambulance driver/medical technician and athletic coach.

Tom Downes of New City has been a longtime Albertus patron and “great citizen” of Rockland County. He is described as a "Christian Gentleman" of the highest order who has made a positive mark at Albertus over four decades and been a strong friend to Albertus athletics. His seven children also graduated from the school.

The 1975 New York State Championship Cross Country Team will enter the annals. Its members Jamie Kempton of Nanuet, Patrick Chambers and Tom Festa of Fesco Fence are among the school’s top runners and their team is known as a Team of Distinction.

Sister Cecilia La Pietra, OP, the director of One-To-One Learning, Inc. in Nyack, helps immigrants learn English, continue their education and find jobs.

Donna Hudson, also a 1965 alumni, grew up in Marycrest, West Nyack. Although she did not have many interscholastic sports opportunities available as a high school student in the early 1960s did not let that deter her. By the mid 1980s she was considered an elite Ultra Marathon runner. She competed internationally in races that covered more than 50 miles and held a World record.

Terri Sullivan, class of 1979, was the first member of the school first swim team. She received a full athletic scholarship to swim for Boston University. Her recognition takes place as Albertus starts a new girls' swim team.

A more recent graduate, Antoine Duvert, class of 1994, earns recognition for his basketball and football achievements. He was Albertus’ first basketball player to record more than 1,000 points and first football player to be honored by the Hall of Fame. Duvert played on the Falcons’ inaugural varsity football team in the fall of 1993.  His basketball honors included All-State and Rockland County Player of the Year. In football, Antoine was selected for All-County and All-State - Honorable Mention.

Tickets cost $55 for the event that begins with a 6 p.m. social reception in the cafeteria followed by the 7:30 p.m. formal induction in the gymnasium. Tickets can be reserved through Tuesday, Nov. 19 here.