St. Mary's High School Alumni Association is pleased to name as their 13th annual Don Monti Memorial Golf and Tennis Classic honoree and alumni of the Class of 1954 - Donal J. Murphy. Donal Murphy exemplifies the vision that St. Mary's Parish Schools promote: being a positive Christian agent of change in the world.

Don was born and raised in Flushing, Queens, one of six children of his parents Dr. Raymond and Alice (Clancy) Murphy. He attended St. Mary's High School and graduated in 1954 to further his education at St. John's University. He is a self-made man who, after a successful 19-year investment banking career at Bankers Trust, founded his own company - D J Murphy Associates, Inc., a marketing firm that represents investment services to public pension funds.

Murphy's Irish ancestry has been the catalyst for his social justice pursuits. Since 1978, he has been involved with bringing Catholic and Protestant children from Northern Ireland together for summer holidays. In 1989, he founded Northern Ireland Children's Enterprise (NICE), so the children and their families would have a safe and neutral environment to interact with their neighbors from the other community. Don arranged financing for a residential facility located an hour outside Belfast, away from the segregation and violence. In 1998, a second facility was purchased and is used for after-school programs and as a community center throughout the week and serves as headquarters. NICE provides many programs directed at peace and reconciliation, some of which have been instituted in both Protestant and Catholic schools for children in various age groups. The newest program was introduced three years ago at Friends Academy. The program's goal is to work with 17 and 18 year olds who are about to leave school and move on to university or into the workplace. It is now an accredited course by the Open College Network and is being expanded to seven schools, three Catholic, three Protestant and one integrated.

Donal is active in the community and is a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the Irish American Partnership, ICCUSA and the Ireland-US Council. He is the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and has been honored twice by Irish America magazine as one of the top 100 Irish Americans of the year. This fall, he will be received as an "unsung hero of compassion" by his Holiness the Dalai Lama, as well as being honored by Her Majesty, Elizabeth II, Queen of England. Don and his wife of 40 years, Mary Jo, have two children, Kerry Anne and Donal, Jr.

Come join us on Thursday, Sept. 15 at Plandome and North Shore Country Clubs for a round of golf or a set of tennis. The evening's festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be held at Plandome Country Club, Plandome. Enjoy a terrific evening of camaraderie, cocktails and dinner including special presentation of the 2005 Timothy J. Coughlin Award by the Coughlin family. There will be a live and silent auction as well. The proceeds of the 2005 Golf and Tennis Classic will be used for academic and athletic programs at St. Mary's College Preparatory High School.

To book a foursome for this exciting event or for underwriting opportunities, please contact Nicole Oberheim or Michael O'Hurley in the Alumni and Development Offices at 627-4605.