The Enduring Legacy of the Northeast Catholic High School Alumni Association

Northeast Catholic High School for Boys, an institution that stood from 1925 to 2010, may have closed its doors, but its spirit lives on through the Northeast Catholic High School Alumni Association. This association is not merely a nostalgic gathering; it's a dynamic organization committed to supporting Catholic education in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Through its FALCONWAY Program, the Alumni Association channels its resources into tuition assistance, awarding scholarships to students attending specified Catholic colleges, high schools, and elementary schools within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Diocese of Trenton. This also includes St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and Allentown College of St.

A Brotherhood Forged in Tradition

The genesis of the Northeast Catholic Alumni Association can be traced back to Father George A. Mahoney, OSFS, Hon., '34, a popular Class Moderator. His suggestion to form an alumni association resonated deeply with his proteges, leading to the association's establishment. The Class of 1929 unanimously elected John J. Conmy as President; Paul M. Kennedy, Vice President; Gerard L. Klauder, Secretary; and John S. Walsh, Treasurer. These officers then selected a committee to assist them in managing the Association.

The association's foundational principles were formalized in 1929 with the adoption of its first constitution. The core objective was, and remains, "to form a more perfect brotherhood, to create fraternalism and good fellowship among the graduates, clergy, and supporters of the Northeast Catholic High School." This enduring mission underscores the association's commitment to preserving the ideals and traditions of Northeast Catholic High School. Their motto, "Tenui nec dimittam" - "We have taken hold and will not let go" - encapsulates their unwavering dedication.

Scholarship Fund: Investing in the Future

The Alumni Association's commitment extends beyond camaraderie. Following the school's closure, the Scholarship Fund reverted to its original purpose: providing grants to other schools. The Scholarship Fund operates with specific guidelines. A major stipulation is that these scholarships are primarily available to children and grandchildren (excluding great-grandchildren) of dues-paying members of the Alumni Association. As Knobbs stated, “It is their money and they get to set the rules.”

In a recent allocation, the association distributed $500,000. This substantial sum was divided among various educational levels:

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Undergraduate College Grants: $160,000 was allocated through five undergraduate college grants of $32,000 each.
High School Grants: A total of $280,000 was distributed through five $20,000 grants, five $16,000 grants, five $12,000 grants, and five $8,000 grants.

Payments for colleges and high schools are structured in eight installments, disbursed twice a year on fixed dates determined by the Scholarship Fund. Elementary grades receive their grants over six payments, starting in sixth grade. Colleges receiving grants must be co-ed (with the exception of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary), while high schools and elementary schools must be diocesan or parish schools. Students don't need to be Catholic to qualify, but the schools themselves must be Catholic, not merely Catholic-oriented.

The Scholarship Fund's endowment currently exceeds $4 million, according to the latest Charity Navigator report. The alumni newsletter reported that last year it raised $279,984 for the fund through tax-deductible donations and bequests. Knobbs noted that some years see higher contributions due to bequests, particularly from alumni who graduated in the 1940s.

A Look Back: North Catholic in its Prime

A photo from the 1954 yearbook of North Catholic High School offers a glimpse into a typical classroom scene at the school. A priest faculty member of North Catholic gets an enthusiastic response from his class in this photo from the school’s 1954 yearbook. Northeast Catholic reached its peak enrollment the year Knobbs graduated, boasting 4,700 students. The subsequent year saw a decline with the opening of Father Judge High School in North’s territory. Ultimately, the school property was sold to the Marianna Bracetti Academy Charter School for $3.5 million.

Alumni Association Leadership

The Association is administered by the Executive Board, comprised of eleven elected officers, and the Board of Governors, which includes two elected Class Representatives from each graduating class. Currently, there are 36 men on the Board.

Current Northeast Catholic Alumni Association Officers:

President: James F Kelly
1st Vice President: Greg Masi
2nd Vice President: John Devine
3rd Vice President: Joseph Pilawsky
4th Vice President:
Secretary: Jeffrey W Brown
Assistant Secretary: Robert J Kensil
Exec Secretary/Treasurer: Stephen A Cardullo
1st Assistant Treasurer: John Garson
2nd Assistant Treasurer: David Shafie
Historian: Thomas P Morgan

Current Chaplains:

Rev James Dalton OSFS Hon. '89 (December 14, 2023 - Present)

Past Chaplains:

Rev Francis X Quaile OSFS '35 (January 30, 1974 - June 30, 1975)
Rev George A Godley OSFS '31 (June 30, 1947 - June 30, 1948)
Rev George A Mahoney OSFS Hon.

Past Association Presidents:

James F Kelly '70 (July 1, 2024 - )
Robert J Kensil Jr '74 (July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2024)
Albert P Waskiewicz '79 (July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2019)
Jeffrey W Brown '79 (July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2016)
John T Musial '63 (July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013)
John J Hanejko '65 (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2012)
Edward J White '55 (July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2009)
Anthony J Colletta '72 (July 1, 2003 - June 30, 2006)
Edward J White '55 (July 1, 2000 - June 30, 2003)
Stephen A Cardullo '72 (July 1, 1997 - June 30, 2000)
James W Bollendorf '73 (July 1, 1995 - June 30, 1997)
Francis J Gleason '53 (July 1, 1992 - June 30, 1995)
Thomas P Morgan '64 (July 1, 1989 - June 30, 1992)
John R Hanejko '65 (July 1, 1986 - June 30, 1989)
John T Musial '63 (June 9, 1983 - June 30, 1986)
Leonard F Knobbs '53 (June 12, 1980 - June 9, 1983)
Raymond P Zegarski '59 (June 9, 1977 - June 12, 1980)
Anthony J Cendrowski '57 (June 10, 1976 - June 9, 1977)
Francis J Gleason '53 (June 14, 1973 - June 10, 1976)
J. William Arnoldy '38 (June 11, 1970 - June 14, 1973)
Rocco G Iacone '55 (June 12, 1969 - June 11, 1970)
Leonard F Knobbs '53 (June 9, 1966 - June 12, 1969)
Patrick J Boyle '49 (June 13, 1963 - June 9, 1966)
James J Cox Jr '36 (June 8, 1961 - June 13, 1963)
Charles E Malone '30 (June 9, 1960 - June 8, 1961)
James E Fitzgerald '42 (June 13, 1957 - June 9, 1960)
Hon Joseph Murphy '29 (June 10, 1954 - June 13, 1957)
Charles J Quinn '36 (November 27, 1949 - June 10, 1954)
Bernard F Bygott '34 (December 16, 1947 - November 27, 1949)
George W Sommer '36 (January 26, 1947 - December 16, 1947)
Paul J Kelly '34 (July 6, 1942 - January 26, 1947)
Rev James McGuire '34 (January 25, 1942 - July 6, 1942)
William P Robinson MD '29 (December 26, 1937 - January 25, 1942)
Rev James McGuire '34 (December 27, 1936 - December 26, 1937)
John W Brecht '30 (January 20, 1935 - December 27, 1936)
Frank T McKee '29 (January 14, 1931 - January 20, 1935)
Rev John Conmy '29 (June 10, 1929 - January 14, 1931)

Remembering Those Who Served

The Alumni Association also plays a role in honoring the memory of North Catholic alumni who served in the armed forces. On Veterans Day, the Northeast Catholic Alumni Association joins with Father Judge to honor all those who gave everything for this country from the only two Oblate schools in Philadelphia. This includes the 27 Father Judge young men who lost their lives during the Viet Nam conflict, as well as the 257 North Catholic Falcons who gave their lives in WWII, Korea, Viet Name and Afghanistan.

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Recent Alumni News

The Northeast Catholic Alumni Association remains active in the lives of its members, hosting events such as the 95th Communion Breakfast held on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at Canstatters. The association also mourns the passing of its members, including Ernest "Ernie" Koschineg '61, the long time Vice Principal of Student Affairs and Disciplinarian, who passed away peacefully in his home on Friday, November 28, 2025.

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