This portion of the HOPES Dinner is always very special as we honor one exceptional volunteer whose work in the area of Advancement on behalf of one of our elementary schools has earned Archdiocesan recognition.
The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award is named for one of the founders of Catholic school education in this country; a woman who was dedicated to providing education to all, particularly those who were disadvantaged and lacking resources.
Once again this year the St. Elizabeth Anne Seton Award Selection Committee has stepped up to the difficult task of deciding among several exceptionally qualified candidates, bringing careful thought and deliberation to their selection. My gratitude goes out to the committee members including retired principal Julie Pion; principal of Assumption School, Ansonia Kathy Molner; principal of St. Mary School, Milford Frank Lacerenza; and Pastor of St. Bridget School and Church, Manchester, Fr. Stephen Sledesky.
Before our 2011 honoree joins us, I would like to share with you some of the background that inspired the committee to make their choice. Our 2011 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton honoree is Mr. Donald P. Deloge of St. Francis – St. Rose of Lima School in New Haven. Don's involvement first with St. Francis School, and then with St. Francis – St. Rose of Lima School following their 2009 merger, is a long standing one with a foundation built, like so many things, on family. His father, Wilfred Deloge, graduated from St. Francis School in 1926, and his mother Virginia was the first secretary/bookkeeper employed by the school from the 1960's through the early 1980's. Needless to say, Don's childhood was interwoven with St. Francis School where he attended grades one through eight and from which he graduated in 1955. Yet the family connection doesn't end there since Don's late wife, Shirley, was the first grade teacher at St. Francis School for 13 years until her death in 1990. So, St. Francis School has been, and continues to be, a part of Don's life.
He went on to serve as a Flight Officer in the U.S. Navy and as a Commander in the Naval Reserve, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Naval Commendation Medal, and many Air Medals. Don earned his bachelor's degree in science education, his master's in biology, and his sixth year certificate in Administration and Supervision from Southern Connecticut State University and after retiring from the military, began a career in education at North Haven High School. From 1967 to 2000 he served first as a science teacher, then as head of the Science Department, and finally as Assistant Principal for eight years before his retirement.
But Don is not the type to truly retire – he's really one of the busiest people I know, living out Catholic social teachings in his daily life. As soon as he retired in 2000, Don began working with the Development Committee at St. Francis School, or as he describes them, "just a bunch of old guys." However, believe me when I tell you that they are some of the most active and dedicated older gentlemen you will ever meet! For the past nine years, Don has served as the volunteer Coordinator of Advancement and Secretary/Treasurer of the Advancement Committee at St. Francis, continuing in this role following the merger of St. Francis with St. Rose of Lima School.
His role requires the donation of numerous work hours throughout the school year as he assists with all the Advancement mailings, collects and acknowledges all the gifts received by the school, deposits the funds, ensures that Advancement expenses are paid, and maintains the donor management database. Each year, Don coordinates the March phonothon for St. Francis – St. Rose of Lima School which profoundly and positively affects the school's ability to provide numerous scholarships to deserving students. He undertook the difficult but vital task of integrating both schools' alumni databases, increasing the efficiency and potential productivity of the school's data manipulation.
Don reaches out to other Catholic schools as well, assisting them in their Advancement efforts with his expertise and advice. Twice a year he helps to produce the St. Francis – St. Rose of Lima School alumni newsletter which is distributed to 1,400 graduates, and he helps to coordinate all of the alumni reunions that take place on graduation weekend. Don has also been a member of the School Board since 2004, working toward the continued viability of the Fair Haven school. Working diligently with his fellow volunteers, Don has contributed to raising an average of $100,000 each year from donations, memorials and the annual golf tournament. In 2004, he received the HOPES Volunteer of the Year Award from St. Francis School.
In addition to his efforts on behalf of Catholic school education, Don is also a dedicated and weekly volunteer for Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven and co-chair of Sleeping Giant Build, a group that sponsors Habitat housing by raising funds and providing volunteers. Not surprisingly, Don has also been honored with Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven's Volunteer of the Year Award in 2003, and their Master Builder Award in 2008.
Despite these many accomplishments, Don is a humble man, described by St. Francis – St. Rose of Lima principal, Victor Vessicchio, as a "soul of patience" and someone who "embodies all the attributes of the award." Victor says that "you couldn't find a more deserving person" for the 2011 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, and we concur.
For his many years of devoted efforts to enhance the financial viability of St. Francis – St. Rose of Lima School, to engage alumni support for the school, and to nurture the growth and strength of his elementary alma mater, the Archdiocese of Hartford honors Mr. Donald P. Deloge with the 2011 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award. At this time, I ask that Archbishop Mansell and Superintendent Hoyt escort Mr. Deloge to the stage to accept the 2011 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award.
|
