Dear Saint Peter’s Prep Family,
I write this brief letter with profound sadness and profound gratitude.
I am sorry to share that our friend, our colleague, our Prep brother, Rev. Tony Azzarto, S.J., passed away peacefully earlier today. He was 84. I had the opportunity to visit with Tony a few times over the past couple of weeks, and I reminded him, on behalf of the entire Prep community, how much we loved him and how transformative his time with us has been. Over a span of 60 years, Tony served Saint Peter’s Prep as teacher, counselor, chaplain, and retreat director. This is only scratching the surface of this extraordinary life, and does not include countless baptisms, weddings, funerals, handwritten notes, pictures, and so much more.
I can say, quite simply, that Tony walked the road with all of us. He walked with us on the road to Emmaus, he walked with us on the dark and lonely roads, and he walked with us on the roads to our greatest heights. And right now our hearts break at the thought of walking on without him. But our faith tells us Tony will walk on forever, in all the lives he shaped, and the lives we will go on to shape through all he has taught us. And what he has taught us is the very best of what it means to be Saint Peter’s Prep.
When we know the dates and times of Fr. Azzarto’s funeral arrangements, we will be sure to let you know.
I know that all of us have an “Azzarto story.” Most of us have many. I know we will be sharing them with much love and gratitude for years to come. While no one gesture can begin to capture what Tony has meant to Prep and to each of us, below is a link to a brief video tribute. There will be many more opportunities to celebrate his life and legacy in the days ahead.
Prep for Life. Prep Forever.
Michael Gomez, Ed.D, ’91
President
