40 years ago (October 19, 1970) - Issue 2, Volume 1 of the Bishop Reilly Observer
If only one person remembers you after you die consider yourself a success.
By this
standard Brother Stephen Shaw posthumously proved himself one of the world's
most
successful men. Brother Stephen Shaw gave his all to Reilly and on his final day
the
Brothers, Teachers, and students gave their all in return. From 1941 to 1970
Brother
Stephen led a fulfilled, successful life. He was born in 1941, the only son of
his
parents. He grew up in Brooklyn attending St. Rose of Lima grammar school. The
school was
run by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart and young Stephen became attuned to
sports. Upon
graduating from St. Rose of Lima Stephen entered St. Joseph's High School of the
Brothers in Metuchen, New Jersey. There he achieved the highest marks in the
history of
the school. His classmates remember him as the slugger of the intramurals, the
chief
quarterback, and the hockey goalie. After finishing High school Stephen spent
his first
year of novitiate at St. Josephs, a year of intensive study and examination of
the
responsibility of being a Brother. That year was followed by three years at
Spring Hill
College in Mobile Ala. where Brother Stephen was awarded a Bachelor of Science
degree. He
spent a year at Coindre Hall, Huntington where he taught math and science to the
fifth, sixth, and seventh grades. Brother Stephen was transferred the next year,
1962,
to Reilly where he served until his untimely death on October, 1970. Brother
Stephen
embodied the "new spirit" before it was in vogue. He was a real supporter of
every
school activity. Any organization that needed a moderator and had trouble
finding one could
always go to Brother Stephen. Never was Brother Stephen happier than when Reilly
was
victorious. Mr. Robert Annucci called him, "One of the meekest men I ever knew."
His
massive heart attack deprived Reilly of one of its chief assets. He was truly a
good man.
If the meek shall inherit the earth, then this world could not be left in better
hands.