Cardinal Gibbons

I was a member of the graduating class of 1972 at Cardinal Gibbons. What an incredible time to be a teenager in the late '60s and early '70s for many reasons. I was so proud when I received my acceptance letter to attend an all-boys Catholic high school with such a great reputation. In looking back, they were the most formative years of my life. I will never forget the values we learned there. I will also never forget playing junior varsity and varsity baseball on the same field as Babe Ruth.

The Sun's Scott Dance recently reported on the salvaging of baseball fields at the shuttered Cardinal Gibbons school ("$1.4 million raised for baseball field at site of Cardinal Gibbons School," April 20). He reported money was raised by the Cal Ripken Foundation and other donors. Last week, State Comptroller Peter Franchot asked for the resignation of Towson University President Maravane Loeshke for the school's failure to manage their budget allowing for the insolvency of their sport's teams including baseball.

My brother and I graduated Cardinal Gibbons in the late '70s. This place changed my life. I had no idea of it's financial problems. Gibbons has always been a bright spot during troubled times in the city school system. They were personally interested in the individual student. The all-male student body and dress code made for a unique environment and reduced the daily distraction that high school kids deal with today. What a shame. Conrad Johnson

Saint Agnes Hospital and the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation said Friday that they have raised $1.4 million to renovate the baseball field of the former Cardinal Gibbons School, preserving a site where Babe Ruth once played. The hospital, meanwhile, is firming up plans to add homes and offices around the field, on the campus of the Catholic school that closed in 2010. Saint Agnes plans to break ground on the baseball field within the next year, launching what officials have envisioned as Gibbons Commons, a mixed-use development on Caton Avenue, across the street from the hospital.

An elegant marble statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary graces the entrance to St. Augustine School in Elkridge, moved there by alumni of the shuttered Cardinal Gibbons School. The sculpted image of a veiled young woman stands beneath a large white cross and above a memorial plaque. When Charlotte "Sis" Slavotinek learned that the archdiocese was closing the all-boys Catholic high school two years ago, she insisted that the statue, dedicated to her son Michael, his two classmates and their teacher who died in a 1968 plane crash, be relocated.

Boys' Latin knew it had been in a battle last night. Its starting quarterback, Grady Gamble, was sidelined with a hip injury. Receiver/defensive back James Neal's hamstring was cramping up. And several other Lakers players complained of being banged up. But the visiting Lakers persevered over Cardinal Gibbons, escaping with a 16-13 Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference North Division victory. The win sets up Friday's North Division title game against St. Paul's, with the winner meeting South Division champ Archbishop Spalding in the inaugural B Conference championship game Nov. 12 at Towson University's Johnny Unitas Stadium.

Top-ranked Mount St. Joseph (9-0) rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit Friday to defeat host Cardinal Gibbons (3-4), 65-50, in an MIAA A Conference and Catholic League game as Gibbons dedicated its basketball court to longtime coach and player Bob Flynn, who died in 2007. The Crusaders' Dylon Cormier, who will play at Loyola College next season, led all scorers with 24 points. Eric Atkins led the Gaels with 23 points. "We turned up the intensity on the defensive end in the second half," said Atkins, who will play at Notre Dame next season.

Seemingly everyone close to Matt Brown calls the diminutive Temple running back a dynamic personality - someone who draws attention and causes groups to flock in his direction. But for years, Brown, 5 feet 5, 170 pounds, could barely get any college recruiters to listen to him. Ever since he started playing running back for the Northwood Rams Pop Warner team, Brown knew he would play Division I football. It was a dream that just wouldn't fade. He went everywhere he could - he started at City, transferred to Cardinal Gibbons and then Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J., went to a prep school in New York and finally landed at Temple.

Tickets remain for tomorrow night's dinner honoring Cardinal Gibbons basketball coach Ray Mullis at Martin's West at 6 p.m. Tickets are $60 for adults and $30 for high school students.Mullis, the area's winningest basketball coach with 612 wins, learned in July that he has pancreatic cancer.Information: Cardinal Gibbons High School at (410) 644-1771.

"Ellicott City - The annual feast day of St. Charles was observed by a visit from Cardinal Gibbons at St. Charles College, Howard County, and a sermon by Rev. Charles J. Kell, of Hoboken, N.J. After the celebration of high Mass, Cardinal Gibbons confirmed a number of young students." - The Baltimore Sun, Nov. 5, 1896. [ Sun Library Researcher Paul McCardell contributed to this item.]

An article in the Aug. 30, 1962, edition of the Herald Argus and Baltimore Countian reported on the arrival of a new, all-boys Catholic high school in the area. Although construction will not be complete until December, the new Cardinal Gibbons High School will open next week on the site of the old St. Mary's Industrial School at Wilkens and Caton avenues. It will be conducted by the Marianists. The first principal is Brother Matthew Betz , S.M. The Marianists formerly taught at St. Michael's, St. James' and, many years ago, at St. Martin's parochial grade schools but this is their first venture into the high school field in the Baltimore area.

An elegant marble statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary graces the entrance to St. Augustine School in Elkridge, moved there by alumni of the shuttered Cardinal Gibbons School. The sculpted image of a veiled young woman stands beneath a large white cross and above a memorial plaque. When Charlotte "Sis" Slavotinek learned that the archdiocese was closing the all-boys Catholic high school two years ago, she insisted that the statue, dedicated to her son Michael, his two classmates and their teacher who died in a 1968 plane crash, be relocated.

Steve Wojciechowski still looks like the pugnacious point guard who came out of Cardinal Gibbons nearly two decades ago and proved those wrong who said he wouldn't make an impact at Duke. He's spent the past 13 years as an assistant and now associate head coach wunder the legendary Mike Krzyzewski and the past six helping Krzyzewski's staff for the U.S. Olympic team. In describing his role with the national team, Wojciechowski said he, fellow Duke associate coach Chris Collins and Syracuse associate head coach Mike Hopkins help prepare scouting reports on upcoming opponents as well as get on the court during practice to run drills for the likes of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.

The Cardinal Gibbons High School class of 1972 thought about canceling its 40th reunion after learning of the sudden loss of the man who organized the event. Instead, they picked up where Stephen J. Hughes left off and turned the gathering Sunday into a tribute to the man who touched so many lives. On June 4, Hughes, 57, a prominent Towson attorney and longtime Catonsville resident, died in a car crash in Oxford, England, that also killed his two sons-in-law, Gregory Brooks, 39, a graphic designer from Catonsville, and Andrew Pain, 31, of London.

Jimmy Patsos can pinpoint the day when his Loyola basketball team began its ascent that ultimately brought the Greyhounds to the brink of the school's first NCAA tournament appearance in 18 years. It came two days after New Year's last season, during a game against Marist. It was the night that Dylon Cormier, then a freshman out of Cardinal Gibbons, became Loyola's de facto captain. "We had lost three in a row - to Howard, Georgetown and Bucknell - and he [Cormier] had been playing with mono," Patsos recalled Friday.

Notre Dame men's basketball coach Mike Brey will be the guest speaker at the Baltimore Catholic Leagu's 2nd Hall of Fame banquet, the league announced Thursday. Local broadcaster Keith Mills will be the emcee for the event, which will be held May 3 at the Rolling Road Country Club in Catonsville.  The 2012 induction class includes Tim Coles (Cardinal Gibbons, '82), Leon Dickerson (Cardinal Gibbons), Darryle Edwards (Calvert Hall, '81), Darnell Harris (St. Frances, '04) Phil Lane (Saint Maria Goretti, '96)

An article Saturday about the history of the Baltimore Archdiocese incorrectly referred to Baltimore Cardinal James Gibbons as Irish-born. Cardinal Gibbons was born to Irish immigrants in Baltimore in 1834, but they went back to Ireland when James was 3. He and his mother returned to America in 1853.The Sun regrets the error.

Notre Dame men's basketball coach Mike Brey will be the guest speaker at the Baltimore Catholic Leagu's 2nd Hall of Fame banquet, the league announced Thursday. Local broadcaster Keith Mills will be the emcee for the event, which will be held May 3 at the Rolling Road Country Club in Catonsville.  The 2012 induction class includes Tim Coles (Cardinal Gibbons, '82), Leon Dickerson (Cardinal Gibbons), Darryle Edwards (Calvert Hall, '81), Darnell Harris (St. Frances, '04) Phil Lane (Saint Maria Goretti, '96)

The Baltimore Catholic League will hold its 2nd Hall of Fame Banquet May 3 at 6 p.m. at Rolling Road Country Club in Catonsville. This year's inductees include six players: Tim Coles (Cardinal Gibbons, 1982), Leon Dickerson (Cardinal Gibbons, 1988), Darryle Edwards (Calvert Hall, 1981), Darnell Harris (St. Frances, 2004), Phil Lane (St. Maria Goretti, 1996) and Robbie O'Conor (Loyola, 1975). The class will also include one coach, Mark Amatucci (Calvert Hall), and one contributor, Larry Callahan (former Cardinal Gibbons athletic director)

Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien was quoted as saying in relation to the school closings this past year, "It was difficult for me, and in hindsight some are unforgiving" ("Pope Benedict to elevate Archbishop O'Brien to cardinal," Jan. 7). This demonstrates how utterly tone deaf the leadership in the Roman Catholic church are, and in particular this archbishop. There was a grade school girl who had to transfer to a different school two consecutive years. She has the right to say, "It was difficult for me. " What about the kids who were juniors at Cardinal Gibbons who had to finish their high school careers at a different school?