Chaminade Appoints First-Ever Chief Operating Officer
Chaminade High School announces the appointment of Brian Crimmins ’95 as the school’s first-ever Chief Operating Officer (COO). Mr. Crimmins, who served as the CEO of Changing Our World, Inc. – a leading philanthropy and management consulting firm – brings a wealth of experience and deep commitment to education and leadership to his new role at Chaminade. As Chaminade continues to expand and enhance its mission, the appointment of a chief operating officer marks a significant milestone in its history.
Mr. Crimmins has dedicated his career to fostering positive change and enhancing the impact of organizations. His diverse background in leadership, strategic planning, operational management, and philanthropy makes him exceptionally well-suited to oversee the business operations of Chaminade High School. In addition, having served as a member of the Board of Advisors for the past few years, Mr. Crimmins will bring his deep knowledge of the current environment that Chaminade is operating within.
As chief operating officer, Mr. Crimmins will report to President Bro. Thomas Cleary, S.M. ’81, and collaborate with the Board of Advisors and other key administrators, all working towards the continued advancement of Chaminade’s mission statement and core beliefs. He will oversee the Offices of Advancement, Alumni and Parent Relations, Campus Facilities, Communications and Marketing, the Treasurer, and finance and investments. He will also advise other areas within the school, including admissions, athletics, financial aid, and scholarships.
“We are thrilled to welcome home Brian Crimmins ’95 as our first-ever chief operating officer,” said Bro. Thomas. “His track record of leadership, dedication to education, and commitment to our Chaminade Family aligns perfectly with the need to support our current and future operational plans and strategies. The timing of Brian joining us is critical as we begin planning for our 100th anniversary [in 2030] of providing Catholic education on Long Island.”
Mr. Crimmins expressed his enthusiasm for his new role, saying, “Chaminade High School has a tremendous history of educating the whole man – body, mind, and soul. And, as someone who personally experienced this opportunity, as did my brothers, my brothers-in-law, my nephew, and my father-in-law, I understand the importance of developing Chaminade Men for our society today. In addition, I’m excited to take 22+ years of consulting – including with many colleges and high schools – and bringing that experience to my work at Chaminade.”
Chaminade High School remains committed to providing a holistic and transformative education that prepares young men for lifelong success. The appointment of Brian Crimmins as chief operating officer reinforces the school’s dedication to ensuring the necessary strategies and resources are in place to continue supporting Chaminade’s mission into the future.
Mass for Health Care Professionals
Society of St. Vincent de Paul Selects Tom Abbate for National Board of Directors
Tom Abbate, CEO and Executive Director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of the Long Island Diocese of Rockville Centre has been selected for that organization’s National Board of Directors. Abbate will serve as a member of the Society’s CEO Task Force.
Prior to his role as the CEO/Executive Director in Rockville Centre, Abbate was the Director of Stores for the local Council. For 20 years prior to joining the Society, he was the Operations Director for Stern’s Department Store, a Macy’s division in New York.
Abbate has led SVdP of Rockville Centre since 2012. He has attended the Society’s Invitation for Renewal, a leadership formation program for current and emerging Vincentian leaders. After Superstorm Sandy, he worked with the National Disaster Committee in assisting with the Long Island recovery effort.
Abbate has served as a member of the Society’s National Governance Committee, as well as a member of the National Stores Committee. In that role, he visited SVdP thrift stores across the country to offer suggestions to improve operations and service.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a network of friends, inspired by Gospel values, growing in holiness and building a more just world through personal relationships with and service to people in need. Since its founding in Paris in 1833, the Society has grown to 800,000 members in over 150 countries with 1,500,000 volunteers. Vincentians understand that service to a neighbor in need is an opportunity to see the face of Christ in those we serve, while striving to be the face of Christ for our neighbors in need. Vincentians offer tangible assistance to those in need on a person-to-person basis through a variety of works, including food pantries, rental assistance, disaster relief, thrift stores, charitable pharmacies, and more.
Mother Teresa and Me Movie in Select Theaters October 5 only
Mother Teresa & Me | Fathom Events
Man up New York October 7
Bioethics Conference
Holy Hour for Vocations
New York State Eucharistic Congress
Mass to Honor St. Gerard Majella
Sundays at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception
Te Deum Dinner at Seminary honors Rev. Msgr. Frank J. Caldwell ’81 with the Immaculate Conception Medal
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Obituaries
Sister Claire Pfundstein, OP (Sister M. John Bosco, OP)
At 10:25 in the evening of September 22, 2023, Diamond Jubilarian Claire Pfundstein, was welcomed into the arms of her Loving God. Earlier in the day as the sisters were singing the Salve for her, Claire appeared to be singing along with them. Claire was 93 years old and had served the people of God as a Sister of St. Dominic for 75 years.
On July 28, 1930, Joseph and Magdalen Thomas Pfundstein welcomed their daughter Claire into their home in Glendale. She was greeted by her brothers Thomas, Richard, and Gerard, as well as by her sister Loretta. This close-knit, religious family belonged to Sacred Heart Parish in Glendale. Her dad was a Third Order Dominican. Claire had two aunts who were Sisters of St. Dominic-Mother Augusta and Sister Miriam Claire. Her uncle, Monsignor Adam Pfundstein, was Pastor of Notre Dame Parish in New Hyde Park for many years.
Upon graduating from Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School, Claire entered the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville on September 8, 1948. She received the Dominican habit on August 4,1949 and was given the name Sister M. John Bosco. After a year of novitiate, Sister pronounced her First Vows on August 5, 1950. Three years later on August 5, 1953, she pronounced Final Vows.
Sister received a Bachelor of Science degree from St. John’s University, Jamaica; a Master of Arts from Manhattan College, Riverdale; and a Master of Divinity from Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall University, New Jersey.
Sister John Bosco was an educator “par excellence”. She taught on the elementary level for 10 years at St. Patrick in Brooklyn, St. Joseph in Long Island City, and Most Holy Trinity in Brooklyn. For the next five years, she was assigned to teach mathematics at Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School in Brooklyn. Sister Claire was asked to continue her ministry in mathematics for the next five years in Puerto Rico where she taught in Santo Tomas de Aquino Colegio in San Juan, in Colegio Santa Rosa in Bayamon, and in Catholic Pontifical University of Puerto Rico in Ponce. Upon returning to New York, S. Claire assumed the role of Mathematics Department Chairperson at Dominican Commercial High School in Jamaica and later the role of Assistant Principal at St. Michael High School in Brooklyn. In 1976, Sister Claire moved into the ministry of Director of Religious Education. She served in this capacity in St. Martin of Tours/Fourteen Holy Martyrs Church in Brooklyn, Our Lady of Fatima Church in Manorhaven, and in St. John Vianney Church in Queens.
After spending two years as Program Director of Samaria Prayer Center in Farmingdale, Sr. Claire was elected as Regional Superior for the sisters living in Region 4. Upon completing her term as Regional, Sr. Claire became the Personnel Director at Queen of the Rosary Motherhouse until her retirement in 2004. She made good use of her organizational and people skills in all the ministries in which she was called to serve.
Sr. Claire was looking forward to celebrating her Diamond Jubilee with her set on September 30th. One of the sisters in the set said that “Claire jumped the line and got to heaven before the rest of us.” Claire loved her family and was always interested in its many activities through the years. She was a woman of deep faith and very prayerful. She especially liked praying the Office from her Dominican Praise book as well as attending daily Mass. Claire was known for her wit and keen mind. She also enjoyed sewing, a gift she inherited from her dad who was a tailor.
Sister Claire will be missed by her 22 nieces and nephews, her grandnieces and grandnephews, her cousins, as well as the sisters who shared community with her through the years. Sr. Claire especially will be missed by the members of her set: Sisters Mary Erica Burkhardt, Colleen Colbert, Mary Christine Conetta, Maureen Conway, Alphonse Louise Gendron, Jeanne Puff, Maria Carmel Wirsching and Maryaline Zierle, as well as by her dear friends Margaret Sammon and Andrea Sasala.
