Archbishop Molloy High School

History

The school is staffed by the Marist Brothers, founded by Saint Marcellin Champagnat.

In 1892, Br. Zephiriny opened St. Ann's Academy in two brownstone buildings at East 76 Street and Lexington Avenue. Initially a parish elementary school, the program expanded to include a two-year commercial course and then a four-year high school program. Initially conducted entirely in French, the school moved to English-language instruction, and by the 20th century, the Brothers anglicized the name to St. Ann's. During the Theodore Roosevelt era, the school briefly took on a military air, with uniforms and a marching band. Boarding facilities were added. When the original parish church was replaced in 1912 with the present-day church, the Brothers acquired the old building and converted it as a gymnasium. A purpose-built five-story school building was then constructed, and other neighboring buildings were acquired.

65 years after its foundation, the school enrollment was 800 in grades one through twelve, and all available buildings were full. Some of the earliest buildings had deteriorated structurally, and required replacement.

Archbishop Thomas Edmund Molloy, the Ordinary of the Diocese of Brooklyn, offered the Marist Brothers a 6-acre (24,000 m2) site he had purchased in central Queens County. In 1957, the Brothers moved to the new site, naming the building in honor of Archbishop Molloy. The building received an award from the Queens Chamber of Commerce's annual architectural competition in 1957. The expanded facilities had the school nearly double its enrollment.

In 1956, at the request of the Diocesan bishop, Archbishop Thomas E. Molloy, a high school in East Elmhurst was opened as Msgr. McClancy Memorial High School in honor of Msgr. Joseph V. McClancy's priestly, energetic, scholarly nature as he contributed so much to Catholic Education.

In 1987, the Ralph DeChiaro Center for Arts and Sciences was dedicated.

In 2000, Molloy became co-educational. It graduated its first coed class in 2004.

Richard Karsten, class of 1981, was appointed President of Molloy in July 2010. He served on the school's first director in the 1990s and is a member of the Stanner Hall of Fame.

Stanner

"Stanner" is a word created by Archbishop Molloy High School. Before modern-day Molloy was built in Briarwood, Queens, the school was named St. Ann's Academy. The students were known as "St. Ann-ers," a nickname which, over time, simply became "Stanners." All of Molloy's students, current and alumni, are known as Stanners.

Several things in the school have this name, including the school newspaper, The Stanner. The school's athletic teams are also known as the Stanners.

Academics

The U.S. Department of Education recognized the school as a "National School of Excellence." Molloy was named as 1 of 96 most "Outstanding American High School" by U.S. News & World Report in 1999, as well as an "Exemplary School" by the United States Department of Education.

Notable alumni

Walter Signer (1928) - Former MLB player, Chicago Cubs

Xavier Rescigno (1930) - Former MLB player, Pittsburgh Pirates

Nick Tremark (1930) - Former MLB player, Brooklyn Dodgers

Edward D. Head (1936) - 11th bishop of Buffalo

Lou Carnesecca (1943) - St. John's Red Storm men's basketball coach in College Basketball Hall of Fame

Charles J. Hynes (1952) - Brooklyn District Attorney

Tommy Kearns (1954) - Former NBA player

York Larese (1956) - Former NBA player

Raymond Kelly (1959) - Former New York City police commissioner

Peter Vecsey (1961) - Sports columnist and television analyst

Tom Farrell (1962) - Bronze medalist, 800 metres, 1968 Summer Olympics

Jim LeClair (1962) - Former AFL quarterback, Denver Broncos

Steve Konchalski (1963) - Men's basketball coach at St. Francis Xavier University

Louis Willett (1963) - War hero and Medal of Honor recipient

Tom Konchalski (1965) - Men's basketball scout

Jim Larrañaga (1967) - Men's basketball coach at University of Miami