The Warren Jaques Memorial Committee celebrated its 75th anniversary on Saturday night, and with over 250 people in attendance, Li Greci’s Staaten was transformed into a Staten Island basketball spectacle for one special night.
Tim Gannon, the chairman of the Jaques Committee, announced to the enthusiastic audience one by one the forty previous Jaques Award recipients, an honor bestowed yearly upon the Island’s most exceptional boys’ and girls’ basketball players.
Tom Walsh of the Augustinian Academy, who won the prize in 1954, served as the dean of all previous Jaques honorees, while Angelina Hodgens, a senior at St. Joseph by the Sea, was the youngest honoree present after obtaining the coveted medal earlier this year.
Bobby Fisher (Curtis), the 1963 boys’ Jaques champion, joins Patricia Conroy (St. Joseph Hill), the 2017 girls’ co-Jaques winner, during the 75th anniversary luncheon of the Jaques Memorial Committee on Dec. 7, 2024. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
Borough President Vito Fossella and committee chaplain Ft. Louis Jerome spoke to the crowd before Gannon, the event’s emcee, illustrated the friendship theme of the spectacular by reading a letter Jaques wrote to his former teammate Buddy O. Grady in 1941 while he was serving in the U.S. Army. Weeks later, Jaques tragically passed away.
Mickey Tighe took the mic next and recalled his father, Mike, and uncle John’s connection with the Jaques Committee. In addition to being Jaques teammates during the 1937–38 season, they were also members of the first Jaques Committee in 1948.
Chuck and Bill Magnuski, St. Peter’s Boys High School (represented by John Walsh), the Tighe and McGinley families (represented by Mickey Tighe and Jim McGinley), longtime Jaques selection committee members Lou Anarumo and Mike Reardon, Kathy Murphy (the first female member of the Jaques Committee), Jim Ford (the longest serving member of the Jaques Committee), Tony Navarino, and Bob Newman were among the first Joe Kiernan Memorial Award winners, who were presented by Gannon to those who had supported the committee over the years.
The head of the Jaques Committee and his former coach, Tim Gannon, join former Curtis’ star Nigel Wyatte, left, who took home the 2000 boys’ Jaques Award, at the 75th anniversary supper of the Jaques Memorial Committee on Saturday at LiGreci’s Staaten. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
Tom Walsh (Augustinian Academy), Sue Harnett (Moore Catholic), Bob Mahala (Monsignor Farrell), Greg Pedro (St. Peter’s), and Kenny White (Monsignor Farrell) were among the former Jaques champions who spoke as guests.
Legendary former Staten Island Advance/SILive.com sports columnist Jay Price gave a reflective speech to finish the evening.
On Dec. 7, 2024, Tom Walsh of Augustinian Academy, the 1954 boys’ Jaques Award winner, speaks to the audience at the 75th anniversary luncheon of the Jaques Memorial Committee. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
Gannon, Rich Potter (Deputy Chairman), Navarino (Corresponding Secretary), Murphy (Recording Secretary), Kristine Zieris (Treasurer), and Ft. Jerome are among the officers of the Warren Jaques Memorial Committee.
Zieris was also recognized for her tireless efforts to ensure that Saturday’s event went off without a hitch and that everyone had a great time.
Scroll down for further images from Saturday’s event:
Before the event began, a number of the 40 previous Jaques Award recipients who attended the 75th anniversary dinner of the Jaques Memorial Committee were presented to the audience. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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Bobby Mahala, the 1978 boys’ Jaques Award winner from Monsignor Farrell, center, is joined by Moore Catholic athletic director Mike Ponsiglione, left, and Jaques selection committee member Tony Petosa during the Jaques Memorial Committee’s 75th anniversary dinner on Saturday. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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Sue Harnett, the 1986 girls’ Jaques Award winner out of Moore Catholic, talks about her experience with the crowd at the Jaques Memorial Committee’s 75th anniversary dinner on Saturday. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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On Dec. 7, 2024, Joe Nugent joins former Curtis star Tim Hyland, right, the 1997 boys’ Jaques Award winner, during the 75th anniversary banquet of the Jaques Memorial Committee at Li Greci’s Staaten. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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Ex-St. Peter’s star Greg Pedro, who won the Jaques Award following the 1983 season, talks about his experience winning the CHSAA AA city championship, as well as winning the Jaques Award, during Saturday’s Jaques Memorial Committee’s 75th anniversary dinner. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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Angelina Hodgens of St. Joseph by the Sea, Nicole Melious of Susan Wagner, Clare Mitchell of Staten Island Academy, Patricia Conroy of St. Joseph Hill, and Kristen Markoe of McKee/Staten Island Tech, from left to right, wait to be called just before the 75th anniversary dinner of the Jaques Memorial Committee on Saturday at LiGreci’s Staaten. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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Ex-Monsignor Farrell star Steve Rossiter, center, who won the boys’ Jaques Award in 1979, has a word with former Curtis star Bobby Fisher, the 1963 boys’ winner, during Saturday’s Jaques Memorial Committee’s 75th anniversary dinner at Li Greci’s Staaten. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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Jay Price, a former sports reporter for the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com, discusses the significance of the Jaques Award during the 75th anniversary luncheon of the Jaques Memorial Committee on December 7, 2024. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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On Dec. 7, 2024, former McKee star Lamont Harris, the 1985 winner of the boys’ Jaques, autographs an oak tag board honoring the 75th anniversary of the Jaques Memorial Committee. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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At the 75th anniversary banquet of the Jaques Memorial Committee on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, the inaugural Joe Kiernan Memorial Award winners pose for a photo. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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Mickey Tighe, whose dad, Mike, was not only a teammate of Warren Jaques, but an original committee member, speaks to the crowd during Saturday’s event at Li Greci’s Staaten in West Brighton. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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Former Staten Island Academy star Clare Mitchell, left, and ex-St. Joseph Hill star Patricia Conroy the 2017 co-girls’ Jaques Award winners are introduced to the crowd during Saturday’s Jaques Memorial Committee’s 75th anniversary dinner at Li Greci’s Staaten. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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Former Monsignor Farrell hoops star Kenny White, who won the boys’ Jaques Award in 1988, had plenty of nice things to say about basketball in the 1980s during the Jaques Memorial Committee’s 75th anniversary dinner on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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Father Louis Jerome, the Warren Jaques Memorial Committee’s chaplain, addresses the Jaques 75th anniversary dinner’s crowd on Dec. 7, 2024. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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Chris Clancy, the former St. Peter’s star who won the boys’ Jaques Award following the 2019 campaign, is joined by Charlie Driscoll, his former coach with the Eagles, during Satruday’s Jaques Memorial Committee 75th anniversary dinner. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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Former Moore Catholic star Sue Harnett, who won the girls’ Jaques Award following the 1986 season, is joined by Moore assistant athletic director Sue Shepherd and athletic director Mike Ponsiglione during the Jaques Memorial Committee 75th anniversary dinner on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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Ex-Augustinian Academy Jaques Award winner Tom Walsh (1954), center left, is joined by former St. Peter’s Jaques winner John Baiano (2002), center right, and other former winners of the prestigious award during the 75th anniversary dinner on Dec. 7, 2024. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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Jaques Memorial Committee chairman Tim Gannon, who emceed the 75th anniversary dinner, addresses the crowd during Saturday’s event. (Charlie De Biase Jr. and Staten Island Advance)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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Members of the Tighe family were acknowledged during the Jaques Memorial Committee 75th anniversary dinner on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Charlie De Biase Jr.)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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Sandy Litkenhaus, who won the girls’ Jaques Award out of St. Peter’s Girls HS in 1987, is joined by Kenny White, who captured the Jaques Award out of Monsignor Farrell a year later, during the Jaques 75th anniversary dinner on Saturday. (Staten Island Advance/Charlie De Biase Jr.)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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Former Curtis HS star Timmy Hyland, who won the boys’ Jaques Award in 1997, left, is joined by fellow guard and ex-St. Peter’s star John Burke, who was selected the Jaques winner in 1992, during the 75th anniversary dinner on Dec. 7, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Charlie De Biase Jr.)Charlie De Biase Jr. and the Staten Island Advance.
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Ex-Curtis star Nigel Wyatte is introduced to the crowd during Saturday’s Jaques Memorial Committee 75th anniversary dinner on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Charlie De Biase Jr.)Staten Island Advance/Charlie De Biase Jr.
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Ex-Monsignor Farrell star Bob Mahala, who won the Jaques Award in 1978, speaks to the crowd about his experience as a winner of the prestigious award during the 75th anniversary dinner at Li Greci’s Staaten on Saturday. (Staten Island Advance/Charlie De Biase Jr.)Staten Island Advance/Charlie De Biase Jr.
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Jaques Memorial Committee 75th anniversary dinner committee members Anthony Passalacqua, Mia Marinaccio, Sly Willis and Danny Fisher, left to right, greeted everyone who attended Saturday’s gala at Li Greci’s Staaten. (Staten Island Advance/Charlie De Biase Jr.)Staten Island Advance/Charlie De Biase Jr.
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Former Jaques Award winner Chris Clancy (St. Peter’s, 2019), Nick Corbett (Monsignor Farrell, 2016) and Reilly Walsh (St. Peter’s, 2015) wait to be announced during the Jaques Memorial Committee 75th anniversary dinner on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Charlie De Biase Jr.)Staten Island Advance/Charlie De Biase Jr.
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