CBA Announces 2023 Hall of Fame Class
January 27, 2023
Christian Brothers Academy and the CBA Alumni Association are pleased to announce the 2023 CBA Hall of Fame inductees.
The five men have been industry leaders, educators or businessmen, all of whom have made an impact on CBA and their community both as students and alumni. The Academy will also be honoring the 1983 varsity hockey team, which won the first state championship in a storied program history.
The 2023 Hall of Fame Gala will be held on March 18 at Jumping Brook Country Club in Neptune. Tickets and sponsorships are now on sale by visiting this link.
Read below for short biographies on each inductee!
Joseph Azrack ’65
Joe Azrack is the principal owner of Azrack & Company, a real estate investment and advisory firm based in New York City. He previously held senior positions at Apollo Global Real Estate, AEW Capital Management, and served on the boards and investment committees of numerous public and private real estate investment companies. He holds an M.B.A. from Columbia University, a B.S. from Villanova University, and is a graduate of Harvard University’s Advanced Leadership Initiative. Joe has also been involved in not-for-profit organizations, and currently focuses on mentoring, conservation and climate change, and refugee relief programs. He divides his time between New York City and Little Compton, RI, and enjoys travel, fly fishing, and spending time with his family.
Brian Casey ’81
Brian W. Casey is the 17th President of Colgate University. He is a native of Monmouth County, New Jersey, and a graduate of Christian Brothers Academy where he was a member of both the National Honors Society and student government. He was also the first member of what was to become CBA’s varsity swim team. After graduation, Casey earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and economics at the University of Notre Dame, graduating with highest honors and earning election to Phi Beta Kappa. He then went on to earn a law degree from Stanford Law School and worked as a lawyer for an international law firm before attending Harvard University where he earned a Masters Degree in History and his PhD in the history of American civilization. After graduation, he worked as Assistant Provost at Brown University, and later as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard. He served as President of DePauw University before being appointed as Colgate University’s President in July 2016. During his time as President of Colgate, he has led the construction of five major buildings and a one-billion-dollar fundraising campaign, the largest such effort by an undergraduate institution in the nation. He has also developed a comprehensive vision for Colgate titled The Third-Century Plan, which sets a long-term course for the University.
Vito Chiavaralloti ’99
Vito was born and raised in Middletown, New Jersey, the son of Italian immigrants. He attended Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) where he excelled academically and athletically, particularly in swimming and baseball. He set numerous records and became an All-State athlete, earning All-American honors and being named the 1999 New Jersey Swimmer of the Year. He went on to play baseball at the University of Richmond and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays, playing professionally for 8 years. After his playing career, Vito returned to CBA as Head Swim Coach, leading the team to numerous titles and being named Coach of the Year multiple times. He also served as Director of Athletics before leaving to pursue a career in medical technology with Stryker. Vito and his wife Erin have two children and run a scholarship and fundraising event for cancer awareness in honor of Vito’s father.
Patrick McGann ’71
Patrick Joseph McGann is a former teacher and alumni director at Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) in New Jersey. He was born in Long Branch, NJ, and grew up in Monmouth Beach. Pat attended CBA as a student and played intramural sports and varsity baseball. He then went on to study at Providence College and Monmouth University. Pat began his 46-year teaching career in 1975 and taught at Holy Cross Grammar School and Red Bank Catholic High School. He joined CBA as a teacher in 1991, where he taught U.S. history and world history, coached baseball and football and chaired the Principal’s Committee. He also served as the school’s Alumni Director/Coordinator for 25 years, during which time he helped to raise over $2 million for the school. Pat and his wife Debbie, live in Point Pleasant, NJ and have two children.
Joseph Paterno ’85
Joe Paterno was born and raised in Spring Lake, New Jersey, as one of eleven children in the Paterno family. He attended St. Catherine’s School in Spring Lake and Christian Brothers Academy (CBA), where he had a successful basketball career, earning two Shore Conference championships and two State championships. He was also selected first team All-Shore, first team All-State Parochial and first team All-State in his senior year. He went on to attend Fordham University where he graduated as the third all-time leading scorer and was inducted into the Fordham University Hall of Fame in 1991. After playing professionally in Italy, Joe built a successful career in logistics as the owner and president of Galaxy Fulfillment, LLC, excelling in third-party logistics, warehousing, inventory management and transportation across a variety of industries. He also has a passion for real estate and enjoys buying, renovating and selling properties with his wife and children. He is a lifelong surfer and enjoys coaching his daughters’ travel basketball teams, being active in the gym, cycling and anything to do with the ocean, and is an active member of St. Mark’s Church. He is married to Denise for 18 years and has 3 children, Alec, Rylie and Caden and currently lives in Sea Girt, NJ.
The 1983 Hockey Team
Bob Smith was the coach of the Colts hockey team that became the State Hockey Champs, winning the first state hockey title in school history. The team finished the year with an impressive record of 22-2, ultimately defeating their two opponents in the state playoffs. The team’s strong first line consisting of forwards: O’ Hern, Bottazzi, & Fitzgerald, defensive men: Ryan and Pettinato, and goalie: Cielo, and talented seniors: Mancuso, McCafferty, Brow, & Ahern, contributed to this victory. Paul O’Hern scored the most goals for the team with 30, and Brian Fitzgerald contributed the most points with 67. Bob Cielo was also appointed to the All Parochial first team and the All State second team. Coach Bob Smith and the team members deserved respect and admiration for their great accomplishments.