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Proud Prep alumnus and legendary Hudson County sportswriter Jim Hague, ’79, passed away on Sunday at age 62. Jim was an unforgettable character and a great friend of Prep Athletics—and high school athletics in North Jersey in general. Please read on for details on funeral arrangements.

Prep’s VP for Planning and Principal Giving, Jim Horan, ’70, was Jim Hague’s journalism teacher at Prep. He offered the following tribute to his former student:

 Very few graduates of Saint Peter’s have been as passionately proud of their Prep diploma as Jim was, and through both his infectious personality and his prolific sports writing career he was both well known and admired by fellow alumni of many generations.  As we all know, Jim ‘lived’ in the world of sports, and he was as enthusiastic about a local freshman team’s winning season as he was about a stunning state championship game at MetLife Stadium. That said, especially in Hudson County, he was both a pundit and an everyman, seemingly always on the scene and quickly churning out compelling copy. His passing is not only a loss for Saint Peter’s Prep, but also for Hudson County’s many athletes who have lost their most reliable chronicler.

Jim Horan, ’70

Funeral Arrangements

A wake will be held in Prep’s O’Keefe Commons on Wednesday, June 14, from 3-7 p.m.
The entrance to the Commons is found at 236 Van Vorst Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302.
As always, please note that parking in downtown Jersey City is limited on weekdays. Prep recommends arriving via  PATH at Grove Street or Exchange Place, or the Hudson Bergen Light Rail at Marin Boulevard or Exchange Place, which are all less than a 10-minute walk from campus. If you will be driving, there are numerous pay parking options nearby. For your convenience, here is a map of several nearby locations. Prep does not have a relationship with these facilities; please contact them directly for further information.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Saint Paul the Apostle Church on Thursday, June 15, at 10:30 a.m.
Saint Paul’s is located at 14 Greenville Avenue (at Old Bergen Road), Jersey City, NJ 07305.

Jim most recently wrote for the Observer of Kearny, where a fellow Prep alumnus, Kevin Canessa, ’92, is the editor. The Observer published this obituary over the weekend, which also includes tributes from a number of his many friends and colleagues.

As we continue to celebrate the life and legacy of Rev. Tony Azzarto, S.J., we can now share the details of Fr. Azzarto’s funeral arrangements:

Visitation and Vigil Service: Thursday, April 20

A wake will take place in the O’Keefe Commons at Saint Peter’s Prep, located at the corner of Grand and Van Vorst Streets in Jersey City, from 1-7 p.m. 

The wake will conclude with a brief vigil service, beginning at 7 pm. The service will include a reflection by Prep President Michael Gomez, Ed.D., ’91, a Gospel reading with a homily by Rev. John Mullin, S.J., prayers of the faithful, music by Prep Vox, and a eulogy by John T.M. Chester, ’74, P’03,’05.

Please Note:

• Access to the Commons will be through the doors on Van Vorst Street only. 
• In order to accommodate as many guests as possible, we respectfully request that you limit your time in the Commons.
• Parking on campus is extremely limited, a condition exacerbated by ongoing utility work on York Street. Permit and alternate-side restrictions also apply for street parking. Therefore, we strongly suggest you plan to arrive via public transit. PATH at Grove Street or Exchange Place, or the Hudson Bergen Light Rail at Marin Boulevard or Exchange place, are all less than a 10-minute walk from campus. If you will be driving, there are numerous pay parking options nearby. For your convenience, here is a map of several nearby locations. Prep does not have a relationship with these facilities; please contact them directly for further information.

Funeral Mass: Friday, April 21

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at Saint Aedan’s, the Saint Peter’s University Church (800 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City) at 7 p.m. 

Please note:

• Parking will be available in the Saint Aedan’s parking lot (entry on Tuers Avenue between Mercer and Vroom Streets), and in Saint Peter’s University Lot #1 (entry on Montgomery Street between Jordan and Tuers Avenues). 
• Parking in these lots is also limited. We appreciate your understanding.
• The doors to the church will open at 6 p.m.

Live streams

Live streams will be available for both the Thursday vigil service and the Friday funeral Mass. Full details here.

Gifts in memory of Fr. Azzarto

Per Fr. Azzarto’s wishes, donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Saint Peter’s Prep (online at spprep.org/give or by mail at 144 Grand Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302). When donating, please indicate your gift is in memory of Fr. Azzarto. You can note this on your check, or check the “tribute gift” box on the online form.

Share your memories of Fr. Azzarto

As Dr. Gomez noted in his message Saturday, everyone with a connection to Saint Peter’s Prep has an “Azzarto story.” As a tribute to Fr. Azzarto, we have created a place to share memories, in words and pictures, of this Prep Legend. We welcome you to add yours as we celebrate a life well-lived, giving glory to God through tireless service to others.

Share your memories here.