2019 Hall of Fame Dinner 

Please join us as we induct the newest members to the
Bergen Catholic High School Hall of Fame.
This year's inductees include:

Jimmy Canton ’85 graduated from Bergen Catholic in 1985. He attended Stanford University and graduated with honors in Humanities before returning to BC for a brief period as an English and New Testament teacher. Jimmy received a master’s degree in theology from Yale Divinity School. In 1994, he became the Camp Director for The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, which was founded by actor Paul Newman to provide “a different kind of healing” to seriously ill children and their families — all free of charge. In his current role as the Camp’s CEO, Jimmy has helped to expand year-round programs and increase revenue to serve more than 20,000 children and family members annually. He resides in New Haven with his husband of 15 years and their five-year-old son.

Mark Fizulich ’93, † was often described as an easygoing kid who played a gritty brand of basketball for Bergen Catholic High School. His numbers said it all. Mark averaged 18.2 points, nine rebounds and two steals a game as a senior in 1992-93. Mark was a 2-time All-County selection for the Crusaders who scored 773 career points. He attended St. Michael’s College in Vermont on scholarship, where he enjoyed a Hall of Fame career. After graduation from St. Michael’s, Mark found success on Wall Street, rising rapidly to the position of Vice President for Credit Derivatives for Bear Stearns. In 2005, Mark was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Despite his amazing spirit, and the love, prayers and care of his family, Mark lost his 2 1/2-year battle on March 9, 2008. He was just 32 years old.

Christophe Lafontant ’01 has been battling chronic illness his entire life, facing numerous life-threatening challenges along the way. Despite his diagnosis, Christophe excelled academically, holding several leadership positions at Bergen Catholic. In his junior year, he received his first heart transplant in 2000. Despite complications after surgery and several readmissions to the hospital, he graduated Bergen Catholic with honors and was accepted to Columbia University in 2001. He faced rejection of his first donor heart in 2004, and after eight months in the Intensive Care Unit, he received his second heart transplant. Now, Christophe is an active volunteer of the Child Life Services at New York Presbyterian Hospital. He hosts an annual heart transplant reunion for patients awaiting transplant, and also organizes an annual holiday toy drive for the Children’s Hospital. He is available for counseling to families and children awaiting heart transplants. Christophe has written an autobiography, 1 Man 3 Hearts 9 Lives, and is also the founder and president of The Christophe Lafontant Foundation for Myofibrillar Myopathies, Inc.

Matt O’Reilly ’86 was ranked third in his class and was a three year varsity starter for the basketball team at Bergen Catholic. He was a member of the ’85 team that won the Parochial A North Championship and the ’86 team which won the Bergen County Jamboree title. During his senior season, Matt was selected first team All League and All Bergen County. Matt is also a member of the Jamboree All Decade Team (1980s). Matt’s greatest achievement is his marriage to his wife Christy for 27 years and their four children, Sean (24), Katie (22), Maddie (20), and Jack (18).

Rich Tandy ’89 was one of the most dominant players to ever play for the Bergen Catholic Crusaders’ Baseball Team and one of the most feared hitters in the State of New Jersey. He was the starting third baseman on the Parochial “A” Northern Sectional Championship team in 1987. Rich was team captain of both the 1988 and 1989 NNJIL League Championship squads. In 1988, he was selected First Team All-NNJIL and Second Team All-Bergen County. Rich is most proud of being the husband of wife Megan for twenty years and the father of sons Rich and Jack.

Ben Tonon ’93 was a two-way starter and leading tackler on the 1991 and 1992 NJ State Championship Teams that ended with a winning record of 22-0, finishing 6th and 9th, respectively, in the USA Today polls, which led to the start of Bergen Catholic’s dominance over North Jersey High School Football in the 1990’s. In addition to being named Captain his senior year, he was voted Defensive Player of the Year for his play at linebacker, 1st team all-league, 2nd team all-county and 2nd team all-state for his play at guard. Ben also helped the Crusaders win a team state championship in wrestling in 1991 and compiled an individual 53-13 record over his 4 year career. Ben also played baseball his freshman and sophomore year.

Brother Brian M. Walsh joined the Christian Brother Congregation in 1962. He earned degrees from Iona College, Seton Hall and Nazareth College of Rochester. After being the GBT (Great Biology Teacher) at several schools, Brother Walsh has been President of three high schools, principal (head of school) of three high schools, Superintendent of the Catholic Schools of the Rochester Diocese, and Deputy Leader and Province Leader of the Christian Brothers. Brother Walsh finished nine years as President of Bergen Catholic in June 2018, completing a total of 16 years of service to the school. At present, he is the President of Damien Memorial School in Honolulu and Co-Director of the Office of Educational Services for the Brothers.

Brother Peter Zawot ’75 graduated from Bergen Catholic High School in 1975. The following semester, he entered the Congregation of Christian Brothers. He obtained a B.S. degree in Biology from Iona College (NY). He subsequently obtained a M.S.Ed in Biology/Education from St. Bonaventure University (NY) and a M.A. in Administration from Fairfield University (CT). He taught high school biology, religion, and anatomy & physiology in New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Florida. He was on the faculty of Bergen Catholic from 1981-86 where he also coached the Academic Quiz Bowl, moderated the Mothers Club and chaperoned a number of school trips to Europe.

Seasons
644 Pascack Road, Washington Township, NJ 07676
Cocktails: 5:00 p.m. - Dinner - 6:00 p.m.
Click the 'Register Now!' button for more information!