October 24, 2011 - Don Bosco Prep Honors Robert Van Dyk, Martha Byrne and the Chernalis Family at Tenth Annual President’s Gala
Alumni Achievers are also inducted into Hall of Fame
Photo1 left to right: Mark Chernalis, Nicholas Buchanan, Phyllis Chernalis, David Buchanan, Anthony Chernalis, Martha Byrne, Fr. James Heuser, SDB, Robert Van Dyk, Jeanette Andre, and Susan Chernalis Buchanan.
Photo 2 left to right: Don Bosco Prep Hall of Fame Inductees: Robert Zuppe, Class of 1991; Dr. James Scanlon, Faculty Member for 47 years at DBP; Director/President Fr. James Heuser, SDB, Rev. Dr. Steven Shafran, SDB, Class of 1974; John Conte, Jr. Esq., Class of 1977; and Robert Gunn, Class of 1965.
RAMSEY, (NJ) – Don Bosco Prep Director/President Fr. James Heuser, SDB, honored Robert Van Dyk, President and CEO of Van Dyk Health Care, Martha Byrne, actress in “As the World Turns,” and the Chernalis Family, owners of the Market Basket, at the Tenth Annual President’s Gala held at the Westmount Country Club, Wodland Park, NJ, on Thursday, October 20, 2011.
Robert Van Dyk, President and Chief Executive Officer of Van Dyk Health Care, was presented with Don Bosco Prep’s 2011 President’s Award for his work as owner and operator of nursing homes, assisted living residences, senior housing and home care company, which are headquartered in Ridgewood, NJ. Mr. Van Dyk holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a Master’s Degree from George Washington University in Health Care Administration. He is the immediate past Chairman of the American Health Care Association and the past Chairman of the National Center for Assisted Living and currently serves on the executive boards of both organizations. He serves on the Boards of Directors of Columbia Bank and Houghton College. Mr. Van Dyk was elected to serve on the White House Conference on Aging in Washington, DC, and serves on many committees at state and national levels. Mr. Van Dyk’s son is a graduate of Don Bosco Prep.
Mr. Anthony Chernalis accepted the Don Bosco Prep Community Service Award on behalf of the Chernalis Family, owners of The Market Basket in Franklin Lakes, in recognition of their selfless work with numerous local charities. Their family’s generosity is extensive including Eva’s Village in Paterson, the Oasis Foundation, Mary Help of Christians Academy, Christian Health Care Center, the Wyckoff YMCA, St. Elizabeth’s Church in Wyckoff, Most Blessed Sacrament Parish in Franklin Lakes, the American Cancer Society, Wyckoff Parks and Recreation Foundation, Ramapo High School and Don Bosco Prep.
Martha Byrne, actress in Broadway’s “Annie” and on television’s “As the World Turns” was awarded Don Bosco Prep’s Humanitarian Award for her long-standing commitment in supporting St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
This recipient of two Daytime Emmy Awards, who grew up in Waldwick and is a resident of Mahwah, has helped to raise over $2 million dollars for St. Jude’s Hospital which treats children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases.
Don Bosco Prep Alumni and Faculty are inducted into Hall of Fame
Fr. James Heuser, SDB inducted several alumni into the prestigious Don Bosco Prep Hall of Fame, honoring them for the significant contributions they have made to their professions, communities and/or to the school. This year’s hall of fame inductees included:
Dr. James Scanlon, former DBP Principal and a member of the faculty, who is commencing his 47th year at the school. Dr. Scanlon has served as a teacher, vice principal, principal, guidance counselor, and basketball coach. Dr. Scanlon earned a B.A. in Classical Languages from Iona College, and M.A. in Educational Psychology and Special Education from William Paterson University, a M.A. in Reading from Montclair State University, and M.S. in Administration and Supervision from Fordham University and a Ph.D in Administration and Supervision from Fordham University. He is one of only two lay people to have been principal of Don Bosco Prep, and the first in the school’s history. In 2004, Dr. Scanlon was the recipient of the school’s Distinguished Faculty Award. Admired by his students and co-workers for his keen wit and intelligence, Dr. Scanlon is highly regarded, as well, by decades of graduates of Don Bosco Prep. A former long-time resident of Ridgewood, New Jersey, he currently resides in Saddle River, New Jersey.
John A. Conte, Jr., Esq., Class of 1977 is a partner in the Montvale-based law firm, Rubenstein, Meyerson, Fox, Mancinelli, and Conte. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Pre-Law from Seton Hall University, and is a graduate of Seton Hall Law School. He has been active in Don Bosco Prep’s alumni, soccer and hockey programs, and is a past member of the school’s board of trustees. John and his wife reside in Mahwah with their three sons, who are graduates of Don Bosco Prep.
Rev. Dr. Steven Shafran, SDB, Class of 1974, is the founder and president of Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School of the Archdiocese of Washington located in Takoma Park, Maryland. The Cristo Rey network of schools is funded, in part, by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is dedicated to bringing innovative advancements in health, development, and learning. Rev. Dr. Shafran was Director-President of Don Bosco Prep from 1998-2004. He also served on the Provincial Council for the Salesians of the St. Philip the Apostle Province (Eastern United States) headquartered in New Rochelle, New York. Fr. Shafran earned his B.A. in Philosophy from Don Bosco College. He earned a Master's in Dogmatic Theology from the Pontifical College Josephinum in 1985, and completed his doctorate in educational administration in 1994 at the University of San Francisco. He has been a Salesian for 35 years and a priest for 26 years.
Robert Gunn, Class of 1965, is the founder and principal of Gunn Financial Inc., a full service real estate development and investment company, which is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. A graduate of John Carroll University in Cleveland Ohio, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting, he became a licensed CPA in New York and later Boston with Arthur Andersen & Company. In 1973 he became the International Controller at the Bank of Boston and later the Director of International Finance at Digital Equipment Corporation. In 1981, Mr. Gunn left the corporate world and founded Gunn Financial Incorporated which developed, purchased and owned hotel, apartment, retail and industrial real estate in cities such as Boston, Baltimore, Minneapolis-St. Paul and New Orleans. He is active in Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Marblehead, Massachusetts, the North Shore ARC, the Marblehead Counseling Center, the Massachusetts General Hospital Lung Cancer Research Center and the Don Bosco Prep and John Carroll University alumni associations.
Robert Zuppe, Class of 1991, is an Account Executive with State Farm Insurance. A graduate of Drew University, Mr. Zuppe is active in the school’s alumni association and founded Career Day, which connects alumni and seniors for career advice and mentorship. He and his family are residents of New City, NY.
Founders' Sponsors of the President’s Gala were Mr. Robert Van Dyk, Parent 2003, and the Market Basket. Presidential Sponsors included Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Adzima, Parents 2015; Mr. and Mrs. Mark Alexander, Parent 2009; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gunn, Class of 1965: Ms. Kathleen McGillycuddy and an anonymous alumnus. The event generated over $100,000 for the benefit of educational programs and financial assistance for students-in-need at Don Bosco Prep.