In Memoriam

A Memorial Mass for deceased alums and members of the ACND community was held on November 1, 2007.

 

Br. William May C.S.C.

BROTHER WILLIAM MAY, C.S.C. died on December 30, 2007, at Notre Dame, Indiana. He was born in 1933. 

“Doc” May served on the faculty from 1964-1972 and was much loved by students, parents and faculty. He was Assistant Principal, teacher and Guidance Counselor.

 Beyond his basic responsibilities he had a special love and dedication to the Cuban boys who were coming, generally unaccompanied, during these years. Brother William took Spanish night classes for years to be of service to them. He spent at least six summers on the staff at the group home—run by the Archdiocese-- in an old motel on Biscayne Blvd.

 I know hundreds of graduates over these years will want to know of his passing. I just talked with his sister who agreed that a request for memorial gifts to the school’s scholarship fund would be comforting to his family.  ~ Br. Edward Leyden

Bro. William May will always be remembered fondly.
 
He taught us Religion.  The main theme/track was Apologetics.  This provided us with the tools/knowledge to defend the basis/beliefs of our Catholic Faith.  When I get into religious discussions, he and his discourses often come to mind.
 
He taught us the definition of "mind over matter".  No matter how cold it was, I don't think I ever saw Bro. May with a jacket or a sweater.  The white shirt and tie, with maybe a t-shirt underneath, was his attire.  When we asked him if he was cold, his response was "gentlemen, mind over matter".
 
In addition to his nickname of "Doc", he was affectionately called "Bup" or "The Bupper".  This was a result of, on occasion, randomly uttering this 'syllable'.  As we would walk down the hallway by his classroom (when classes were in session, maybe if he was talking with a student in his class during change of periods) or even if you passed him in the hallway, we would make a "Bup" sound and he would sometimes reply.  Well, as you can imagine, he would have his class in stitches when he would reply, during a class in session, to a passerby in the hallway.
 
I don't recall having seen Brother since we graduated (1970), but I can tell you that he is still making us smile when we recall our memories with classmates.  (We would usually get updates on the Brothers during the planning of our Class Reunions and it was nice to hear how they were doing.)
 
His love and dedication extended beyond the Cuban boys which came to Curley.  Approximately five years ago, I ran into Garland Curry (Class of 1971, maybe 1972) on the school grounds.  We were both watching our sons play Tennis (Curley vs. Belen).  I had not seen Garland in roughly thirty years.  We talked about our great memories of Curley, the teachers and the good old days.  He proceeded to tell me the influence which Brother William May had on his life and how much he owed/thanked him for who he is today.  He truly reached out and touched many lives.
 
May God Bestow Upon Brother William The Ultimate Reward.
 
J. V. Velasco
ACHS (AC/ND HS)
Class of 1970 

 

 

 

Mrs. Norma Roberts

 

Mrs. Norma Roberts, beloved Notre Dame Academy teacher, passed away in her sleep on Sunday, January 6, 2008.

"Norma Roberts was born in Staten Island, New York, and attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic School and Curtis High School.  After graduating from Curtis H.S., Norma enrolled in art school in Manhattan.  She then relocated to Miami Beach, Florida, and worked as a swimming instructor.  Following the tragic events of Pearl Harbor, Norma enlisted to the Naval Air Station in Miami for the duration of the Second World War.  While stationed there, she met and married Fred Roberts, a fellow shipmate.  They raised two children, Joanne, a Notre Dame Academy graduate, and Christopher.

Mrs. Roberts attended the University of Miami and graduated with a bachelors degree in art and became certified to teach not only art but also health and physical education.  In 1956, she teamed up with Sister Leo Xavier and Msgr. Nelan and became one of the original faculty members of Notre Dame Academy.  She headed the physical education department and earned a personal record of perfect attendance for 25 years.  While at Notre Dame Academy, Mrs. Roberts was a teacher of health as well as personal fitness; she also became actively involved in starting up the school's athletic program.  She herself initiaited Notre Dame Academy's entry into an interscholastic sports program with other Catholic high schools of South Florida.  Active also in the community, Mrs. Norma Roberts directed swimming instruction, managed an adult volleyball team and coached a youth bowling league.  Despite such a busy life, she managed to attend graduate school at the University of Miami working on a degree in Guidance and Counseling. 

Both personally and professionally, Mrs. Roberts' unwavering mission has been to keep people healthy and energized.  Her dedication to her students and to Notre Dame Academy are what made both groups successful.  The ACND school communities are proud to have her rank among its outstanding teaching staff. "  ~ ACND 50th Jubilee Hall of Fame Journal

 

 

 

 

Br. William Jogues Murphy, CFC

 

Br. William Jogues Murphy joined the ACND family during the 1995-1996 school year as a math teacher.  During his time at ACND, took on many titles including Freshmen Advisor, Director of Maintenance but it was his job as the first director of the Beck Work Study Program for which he is most remembered.  Brother passed to his eternal reward on Sunday, August 19th.  His funeral will take place at Holy Family Church in New Rochelle, New York, on Thursday, August 23, 2007.  The ACND family will gather at the school on November 1, 2007 for a mass to offer prayers of thanksgiving for his years of dedicated service to our students. 

 

 

 

 

Edgar Joseph Hall

1938 - 2007

Edgar Joseph Hall `56 of Cooper City passed away on Sunday April 22, 2007.  Ed was born in New Rochelle, NY to Edgar L. Hall and Irene Butler Hall on October 11, 1938.  His parents and sister, Ann H. Edinger preceded Ed in death.  Ed is survived by his nephew Michael Edinger; niece Mary Edinger; great-niece Michelle Smith; great-nephew Mark Edinger; and great great-neice Taylor Smith.  Ed moved to Hialeah with his family and went to Archbishop Curley High School, where he graduated in 1956.  That same year he went to work at the Parks & Recreation Dept. of the City of Hialeah.  Ed rose through the ranks to become the Director of Leisure Services for the City of Hialeah.  While he was there he was responsible for the development of the cities program designed to meet the recreational needs of the city's special population.  This was the 1st city sponsored program of its kind in the state of Florida.  Today the facility is the home to the special population in Hialeah is named the Edgar J. Hall Special Population Center.  Ed personally affected and touched the lives of hundreds of the City of Hialeah's youth over his thirty year career.  After retiring from the City of Hialeah, Ed became the "director" of his neighborhood on 115th Ave. in Cooper City.  His garage was an open door and he had every tool known to man.  He could put air in your tires or ice in  your coolers, he was the man who could fix anything.  He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.  - Published in The Miami Herald on 4/29/07

 

 

 

 

Brother Keric Dever

Brother Keric Dever, CSC,  Principal of Archbishop Curley High School form 1959 to 1965 has passed to his eternal reward. He died at the age of 82 in Austin, Texas.   The Archbishop Curley Notre Dame High School community joins in expressing condolences to the Brothers, his family, friends and former students. His faithful dedication fostered a lasting tradition of  excellence, respect and family spirit.  May he rest in peace and may we continue to give thanks for the wonderful blessing of his life.  --   Brother Patrick Sean Moffett, CFC,  Principal

 

 

Cyril Baptiste

1950 - 2006

At age 56, Cyril Baptiste, Class of `68, passed away from prostate cancer in August 2006.  "It was a life that started with fame and unending possibilities but ebbed into a difficult and troubled existence." 

At Archbishop Curley High School, Baptiste received "the ultimate high school award in South Florida, being named The Herald's Athlete of the Year" and was named "Parade All-American after leading Curley to a 28-2 record by averaging 25.1 points and 16.4 rebounds per game -- unheard of numbers at the time". 

Baptiste went on to play for Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and became a member of the pre-Olympic team.  In 1971, Baptiste signed to play with the Golden state of the NBA but never played a game succumbing to a drug habit that ended his basketball career.

His funeral drew a crowd of 120 "family", "friends", "coaches", "teammates" and "opponents" to pay their respects.  "They talked of the glory days.  If you heard it once, you heard it 20 times.  Cyril was the greatest high school basketball player in South Florida history.  They came to praise 'Bap' or 'Tree'..."  "What I remember most about him is that big smile," said Coach Phil Petta, "That's one of the reasons everybody loved him."

Coach Petta also stated, "Did Cyril fail in life?  No.  Maybe basketball-wise he failed in not reaching his potential.  But along the road of life he did not fail.  Look at what happened on Saturday [referring to Baptiste's funeral].  Look at all those people who showed up and loved him.  He was a hell of a man.  No, Cyril definitely did not fail in life." 

- excerpts from The Miami Herald, August 26, 2006, "Hoops Icon Cyril Baptiste Remembered" by Bill Van Smith

 

 

Patrick T. Gerrits

1937 - 2005

Long-time South Floridian Patrick T. Gerrits passed away at age 68. Patrick was the President of Edward J. Gerrits, Inc., a construction company which helped grow the South Florida skyline. Patrick oversaw building of such structures as the One Biscayne Tower, Jackson Ryder Trauma Center, Parkway General Hospital, Boca Raton Community Hospital, Lynn University, Lynn Insurance World Headquarters and the Miami-Dade Community College Bonnie McCabb New World School of the Arts. Patrick Gerrits was the founder of the Coaches National Championship football trophy which was awarded to the University of Miami several times during the early years and will be handed out this year at the Rose Bowl to the Bowl Championship Series Champion. Patrick believed in the community and supported numerous organizations particularly the P.A.L (Police Athletic League) where he was given many awards for this generosity. Patrick continued to support the community when many of the P.A.L. boxers turned pro by opening up Gerrits Leprechaun Gym which was used by the community as well as the P.A.L. boxers who turned pro in the later years. The Gym was world renowned for having such boxing greats as Lenox Lewis, Roy Jones, Jr., Mike Tyson, and Glenn Johnson regularly training at the Gym. Gerrits Leprechaun Gym hosted the U.S. Olympic boxing team while they trained for the 1996 Olympics. During their stay, Patrick sponsored exhibition matches between the U. S. and Russian Olympic boxing teams. Patrick also was a key partner in the 1987 Papal visit in which the Archdiocese entrusted the Gerrits Family with building and helping to coordinate all seven sites that Pope John Paul II visited while here in Miami. Patrick is survived by his son David and his daughter Christine (Kline) their spouses Barbara and Jeffrey and his grandchildren Jonathan, Kelli, Debra, Patrick, Christopher, Kathleen and Julie. Brothers Edward and Michael and sister Maartje (Murphy).
Published in The Palm Beach Post on 11/27/2005.

 

 

Mary C. Kindelan

1921 - 2005

A founding member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Parish and an active member of the St. Rose Mothers' Club and Notre Dame Academy Parent Association. She was the loving mother of graduates of NDA and ACH and grandmother of graduates of ACND. Family prefers that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the St. Rose of Lima School Development Fund.

Richard Barkett

1952 - 2005

Richard "Dickie" Barkett was a graduate of the Class of 1970, ACH.  Mr. Barkett was a worldwide veterinary supplier.  "He was not going to let the odds dawn on him," said his brother John, an environmental attorney.  He was described as someone whose life experiences taught him to live every day as if it were his last, by his aunt Rosemary Barkett, the first female chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court.  Mr. Barkett will be remembered by all whose lives he touched here at ACND.

Archbishop Curley Notre Dame High School
Revised: 11/28/06