Louis Sillari isn’t your typical high school graduate.
The 98-year-old from Concord actually hasn’t been to class for more than 80 years. We know what you’re thinking: how does someone get a degree after playing hooky for that long? Would a note from home be sufficient enough to explain that kind of extended absence?
Well, it’s because way back when, Sillari gave up his opportunity to graduate. He was set to receive his diploma from St. John’s High School in 1934, but his family needed him more. It was during the Great Depression, and Sillari chose to quit school and get a job to help his family. Luckily, it’s an action that is about to be rewarded.
“He would have been part of the first class,” Maureen Kimball, director of advancement at Bishop Brady, said.
Sillari will be given an honorary degree at Bishop Brady High School’s 50th Jubilee Celebration on Saturday, 50 years to the day of Bishop Brady’s first graduation. Hey, at least Sillari won’t have to wear that silly cap and gown, and now maybe he can finally apply to NHTI since he’ll have that cool piece of paper with his name on it.
“We would love to take credit for it,” Kimball said of the dates matching up. “But it was just happenstance that the dates lined up after we set the date.”
It’s one of many great stories that will be shared at the final installment of Bishop Brady’s year-long celebration marking 50 years of doing the whole school thing. Just think of it as the loud bang at the end of a fireworks show. We sure do love all the pretty colors.
“This has been a year long celebration, and this is just the grand finale,” Bill Hardiman, a 1972 Brady graduate and member of the jubilee planning committee, said.
Hardiman was just 9 years old when Bishop Brady opened in September 1963, but he spent a lot of time at the high school in those days because his father, Thomas, was the school’s first varsity boys basketball coach and has the gym named after him. His wife, Carol, was a classmate, and his five younger siblings all attended Bishop Brady, as did his two sons – the oldest of which also met his future wife at the school.
“I’ve really been there since day one,” Hardiman said.
Hardiman was also part of the jubilee planning committee and helped put together the event that will cap off a half century of educational greatness. No word if there will be some of that delicious Jubilee Roll from Friendly’s for guests to enjoy. It would only be right if there was at least one of two, but that’s only if someone planned ahead, since it’s only available in winter.
“It’s just a great thing to celebrate,” Hardiman said.
The night will begin at 6:30 p.m. when the doors open to all those who have a ticket. And just so you know, tickets will not be sold at the door, so don’t even try it. There’s also no going in the side door, propped open by a cinder block one of your friends put there, like when you were trying to sneak back into school.
The first hour and a half will consist of heavy hors d’oeuvres (whatever that exactly means), mingling with other jubilee attendees and pictures to remember the good old times.
“We’ve got thousands and thousands of pictures,” Kimball said. “It’s a walk down memory lane.”
Once the food has been consumed and you’ve run out of things to talk about, it’s on to the sharing portion of the evening. There will be speakers from each decade of Bishop Brady’s 50 years, describing what the school was like back in their day. In addition to Sillari’s honor, the school will also recognize members of the 660 Club, like Dr. John Argue and Joseph Farrelly. The club is credited with saving the school in tough financial times. Bishop Brady owed $664,000 in 1976, and the goal of the club was to encourage 1,000 people to each donate $660. And since Bishop Brady is still around, it looks like they did a good job. Maybe we can talk to them about fundraising for our retirement.
“They helped save the school when it almost went under,” Hardiman said.
At 9 p.m., and for the final two hours of the night, attendees can dance the night away to music of the times with DJ Tim Patoine, a 1984 graduate.
Tickets are $20 and must be purchased ahead of time. To check on availability, contact Kimball at 224-7418, ext. 223.
