For each of the past 17 years, the Archdiocese of Hartford has honored one particular volunteer with a special Advancement award – the Distinguished Friend of Catholic Schools. Traditionally, this award has acknowledged the exceptional contributions of one outstanding volunteer on behalf of one of our Catholic elementary schools.
This year, the Distinguished Friend of Catholic Schools Award has been given a new name in honor of the most important aspect of our school network – its Catholic identity. While the nature of and qualifications for the award have remained the same, it will henceforth be known as the St. Elizabeth Ann SetonAward in acknowledgement of the woman who was pivotal to the development of Catholic school education in this country. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton founded America’s first free Catholic school for girls and throughout her life, briefly synopsized in your program, remained deeply committed to the work of education. Indeed, she is the Patron Saint of Catholic school education in the United States. How fitting then that her name graces this award, presented to individuals regarded as saints by the schools blessed by their support and benefaction.
One thing I’m sure will remain the same: the amazing and generous nature of these volunteers who all have had such a profound and positive impact on their schools. And certainly, it remains a pleasure and an honor to present this newly named St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award.I’d like to thank the members of the Selection Committee who give their most serious consideration to the choice of honoree. Believe me, this is not an easy task. It is a real tribute to our Catholic schools that they seem to attract supportive volunteers of such an exceptional nature – to choose from among that caliber of nominees is extremely difficult. But the committee has made their choice and it is now my pleasure to share that selection with you. In just a few minutes Maria Maynard will join me and we will invite our honoree to come forward, but first allow me to tell you why he was chosen to receive the 2009 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award.
Mr. Robert O’Keefe graduated from Assumption School in Ansonia in 1947 and he remains part of that school community to this day. He pursued further studies at Fairfield Prep, Fairfield University and the University of Dayton, and today is the CEO of O’Keefe Controls located in Monroe, CT. Mr. O’Keefe has never forgotten the fine start he received at Assumption School, nor has he ever faltered in his firm belief in the value of Catholic school education. In fact, it is his personal mission to do what he can to make a Catholic education accessible to all, particularly the needy. It strikes me that this was one of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s vocations as well – the provision of a Catholic school education to the disadvantaged.
Robert O’Keefe consistently commits his time, talent and treasure toward the fulfillment of this goal, both in this Archdiocese and beyond. He has been and continues to be a particular blessing for Assumption School in Ansonia. For instance, with an eye toward the long-term stability of the school, several years ago Mr. O’Keefe established an endowment fund for Assumption School. His goal is to continuously enhance this endowment fund so that the interest it bears will fund scholarships to Assumption School for children with financial need. To that end, each year he has contributed $10,000 to the endowment fund which now totals approximately $100,000. In addition to his annual endowment fund gift, each year Mr. O’Keefe awards $1,000 to a needy family to assist with tuition expenses. I’m sure somewhere in heaven St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is smiling.
However, that is not the extent of Robert O’Keefe’s support for Assumption School. His enjoyment of Assumption’s annual musical production was the impetus behind his recent donation to the school of a $10,000 state-of-the art sound system. Each year he is a major sponsor of both the musical and of the school golf tournament.
2010 will mark the 100th Anniversary of Assumption School, and leading the planning for the centennial festivities is Robert O’Keefe who has assumed the role of General Chairperson of the 100th Anniversary Committee. It is a role that he has undertaken enthusiastically and to excellent effect. Under his direction alumni decade captains have been coordinated, class representatives for nearly every class have been identified, a search for updated alumni contact information has been organized, a history of the school is being developed, and the whereabouts of former faculty and staff – both Sisters of Mercy and lay – are being researched.
And, like any good Catholic school volunteer, Mr. O’Keefe has recruited family members to assist. His son, Joseph, designed the new logo for the school as well as a pen and ink drawing of the school to be utilized in all 100th anniversary publications. His son-in-law has worked with Robert to scan the graduation pictures from nearly every class so they may be integrated into the anniversary souvenir booklet being published. As a way of thanking his entire 100th Anniversary Committee, Mr. O’Keefe invited them to a “Good Folks Gathering” he hosted at his business for the many volunteers with whom he is associated.
I mentioned earlier that Mr. O’Keefe’s philanthropic endeavors extend beyond the Archdiocese of Hartford and Assumption School. The list of Catholic schools and organizations supported by Robert O’Keefe is long and various. He serves on the Board of St. Joseph High School in Trumbull and has donated to their science labs, softball fields, and alumni chapel along with supporting scholarships and endowments at the school. He helped fund the Media Center at St. Stephen School in Hamden and serves on the Annual Fund Committee at Fairfield Prep. Mr. O’Keefe supports the Annual Funds at St. Theresa School in Trumbull, St. Jude School in Monroe, St. Catherine School in Trumbull, Fairfield Prep, Fairfield University, St. Raphael School in Bridgeport, St. Stephen School in Hamden, St. Catherine Academy in Fairfield, and of course, Assumption School in Ansonia. Mr. O’Keefe also funds named scholarships at Lauralton Hall in Milford, The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, and at Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden. His generosity also extends to Catholic churches and organizations and he is a former Board of Directors member for the Mercy Learning Center.
Clearly, Mr. Robert O’Keefe lives his Catholic faith in a very real way. In the words of Mrs. Kathleen Molner, principal of Assumption School, “Mr. O’Keefe is a person who gives his time, help and care for Catholic education…(He) is a humble man who remembers his roots and firmly believes in Catholic education…Mr. O’Keefe is dedicated to making the lives of children better by providing opportunities for them to attend excellent Catholic schools.”
I would like to share with you one final and wonderful contribution made by Mr. O’Keefe to the centennial celebration of Assumption School – a poem entitled “100 Years Assumption School”. With his permission, I’ll read it to you now…
100 Years
Assumption School
The oldest of grads have long passed away
The youngest have finished just yesterday
Through 100 years – near five thousand strong
Were taught to distinguish what’s right and what’s wrong
In a sturdy brick school high on a hill
Overlooking the works of the busy brass mill
So much has transpired – a century passed
The list of events is exceedingly vast
Technologies that are so common today
Were new to the world – were just underway
Light bulbs and autos and plumbing inside
Replaced candles, and horses, and bathrooms outside
Laser, computers and cell phones emerged
Before Twenty and Twenty-One centuries converged
And conflicts arose throughout all these years
With Graduates called to serve amid tears
In Europe and throughout the Pacific vast sea
And Mideast deployment most recently
Changes occurred as the early years fled
The Sisters no more, lay teachers instead
The first fifty years – black habits galore
And then the transition – plain clothing they wore
But the essence of teaching remains heaven sent
Through the skill of great ladies and an occasional gent
Enter to learn…go forth to serve
This is the creed…still to observe.
The graduates have reason to be grateful
To the Pastors, Principals, Teachers and Staff
Who have served with dedication in the early education
Of five thousand students during the century 1910-2010
RO’K ’47 (April 2009)
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