Alumni Hall of Fame

The Cathedral Alumni Hall of Fame

The Cathedral Alumni Hall of Fame is a museum which chronicles the rich and storied history of Cathedral High School, the oldest Catholic high school in Hamilton-Wentworth, established in 1912. This museum is dedicated to preserving the history, celebrating the excellence, and promoting the Catholic foundation and values of Cathedral High School.

The idea and vision of the Cathedral Alumni Hall of Fame originated from Jim Daly (Class of 1961), a former Cathedral student council president, teacher, principal, and Director of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board. This vision came to fruition through the leadership and efforts of Mark Daly (Class of 1987) during his tenure as principal of Cathedral High School and Vince Lepore (Class of 1979), the longest-serving teacher in the history of Cathedral High School.

The Cathedral Alumni Hall of Fame is located on the main floor of Cathedral High School in the Main Office area.

The Cathedral Alumni Hall of Fame features the following major exhibits:

1. Cathedral Historical Wall Mural

2. Cathedral Wall of Distinction

3. Cathedral War Memorial

4. Cathedral Historical Display Case

5. Historical Information Panels

6. Next Planned Phase - Cathedral Historical Timeline

Tour Information

Donation Information

1. Cathedral Historical Wall Mural

This 30’ x 10’ wall collage contains photos of approximately 300 notable and historical Cathedral alumni, teams, and special events spanning from 1912 to present.

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2. Cathedral Wall of Distinction

The Cathedral Wall of Distinction recognizes distinguished Cathedral alumni who have brought honour to Cathedral High School through their achievements, accomplishments, and contributions in their chosen fields and greater community. Their leadership, vision, commitment, creativity, and faith have been lasting, pervasive, and profound. These alumni serve as a constant reminder and inspiration to current and future Cathedral students to strive for greatness in their own lives.

There are currently over 160 Cathedral alumni who have been inducted into the Cathedral Wall of Distinction.

For a complete list of inductees and their plaques, click the following link: Cathedral Wall of Distinction

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3. Cathedral War Memorial

The Cathedral War Memorial is a monument which commemorates the 76 known Cathedral alumni who were killed in action during World Wars I and II.

This monument consists of the original Cathedral War Memorial statue from 1947 which has been enhanced by a background wall displaying descriptive plaques for each of the Cathedral alumni war casualties. The original War Memorial statue consists of a beautiful marble statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a cement base containing the inscribed names of the known Cathedral war casualties at the time. In 1947, it was blessed by Bishop Joseph Ryan. He was assisted by Father John Noonan and Father Blake Ryan. The new cathedral War Memorial was blessed by Bishop Douglas Crosby on November 11, 2022.

For a complete list of the 76 Cathedral war heroes and their plaques, click the following link: Cathedral Wall Memorial

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Watch the CHCH TV news report on the blessing of the new Cathedral War Memorial:

4. Cathedral Historical Display Case

This exhibit contains historical artifacts and memorabilia associated with the esteemed history of Cathedral High School, spanning over 100 years. It allows viewers to engage with history in a tangible way. This exhibit not only highlights the aesthetic and cultural value of its contents, but also educates and inspires curiosity about different time periods and events. This display case also includes a pictorial collage of many historical events in the history of Cathedral High School.

5. Historical Information Panels

These descriptive panels (10’ x 6’) serve as rich historical guides, offering viewers a deeper understanding of the individuals, events, and milestones that have shaped Cathedral’s legacy. They not only honour the past, but also inspire future generations to appreciate and preserve Cathedral High School’s enduring heritage.

Below are two examples of Cathedral historical information panels:

Tours

Tours of the Cathedral Alumni Hall of Fame are offered to alumni, family, and friends of Cathedral High School who would like to reconnect and learn more about the heralded history of Cathedral High School. These tours have proven to be very popular and have received excellent reviews.

Tours are conducted on weekdays from 3:30 pm onwards. To arrange a tour, contact Vince Lepore at [email protected].

Watch Stephen Dunn (Class of 1951) sing the Cathedral School song during his family tour:

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Watch Dr. Vincenzo DiNicola (Class of 1972), President of the World Association of Social Psychiatry, during his tour of the Cathedral Alumni Hall of Fame:

Here are a few of the reviews from the Cathedral Alumni Hall of Fame tours:

"Thank you so much for inviting us to the marvelous display at Cathedral. You have done an amazing job." - Eleanor Thomson

"Thank you so much for taking the time to show us the wonderful display…..it was so wonderful to see so many of our memories brought to life." - Fran Wiesner

"Thank you for the wonderful afternoon we spent at the “new” Cathedral High School. To say that I was impressed is an understatement." - Bill Crandall

"Just wanted to thank you so much for an incredible tour and experience of the Hallowed Hallways of Cathedral High." - Ed Markson

"Your committee has completed an outstanding memorial of the history of Cathedral High! Our family was very impressed." - Russ Morreale

"Thank you for your hospitality and the astonishing work you have done to augment and celebrate Cathedral’s extraordinarily distinguished history." - Dermot Nolan

"I can’t begin to thank you and tell you how much I enjoyed seeing the Wall of Distinction and the Veteran’s Wall." - Marianne Priestner

Next Planned Phase - Cathedral Historical Timeline

The next planned addition to the Cathedral Alumni Hall of Fame will be a Cathedral Historical Timeline (65’ long x 10’ high) which will chronicle the storied history of Cathedral High School. Spanning from the school’s founding in 1912 to the present day, this timeline will highlight the key milestones, championship teams, remarkable individuals, and cherished traditions which have shaped Cathedral’s esteemed history. Through carefully curated photographs and inspiring narratives, visitors will be able to walk through the decades and witness the school’s enduring legacy. From its early days of academic excellence to its continued commitment to faith and service, this timeline will serve as a powerful reminder of Cathedral’s powerful impact. Whether you are a Cathedral alumnus reminiscing about the past or a friend of Cathedral learning more about its history, this timeline will connect generations and celebrate the special spirit of Cathedral High School.

Timeline

Fundraising Campaign

To date, the entire Cathedral Alumni Hall of Fame has been financed through the generous donations of Cathedral alumni and friends of Cathedral.

For the next planned phase, the estimated cost for the planning, design, production, and installation of the Cathedral Historical Timeline is $30,000.

In order to fully fund this timeline, we are currently appealing for donors. All donations are tax deductible through our charity number.

Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated. However, Legacy Donors, those who donate $5,000, will be permanently acknowledged on a large professionally created commemorative plaque (10’ x 9’) which will be located within the Hall of Fame exhibition. The Legacy Donor Wall design is shown below:

To date, the following Cathedral alumni and friends of Cathedral have become Legacy Donors through their donations which funded the previously completed phases of the Cathedral Alumni Hall of Fame:

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For those interested in making a charitable donation, cheques are to be made payable to “Cathedral High School” with “Cathedral Hall of Fame Project” written on the memo line.

Donation cheques are to be mailed to:

Cathedral High School

30 Wentworth Street North

Hamilton, Ontario

L8L 8H5

Attn: Mickey Bellavia

You can contact Mrs. Mickey Bellavia, the Cathedral Head Secretary, at [email protected] or at 905-522-3581 (Ext. 3005) to arrange payment as well as to receive a charitable receipt.

For further information regarding the Cathedral Alumni Hall of Fame (including tours, donations, and nominations),
contact Vince Lepore at [email protected] or at 905-746-2913.