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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.

Prep is proud to announce a transformative partnership with The Howley Foundation: a four-year, $800,000 grant to support student scholarships and financial aid. This remarkable gift will directly impact talented young men whose families might not otherwise have access to a Saint Peter’s Prep education, changing the trajectory of their lives.

The Howley Foundation, known for its deep investment in educational opportunity, shares Prep’s unwavering belief in the power of academic excellence, character formation, and service to others. Both institutions are grounded in the idea that investing in students today builds a stronger, more just society tomorrow.

“This extraordinary gift will open doors for deserving students,” said Prep President Michael Gomez, Ed.D. ’91. “We are deeply grateful to The Howley Foundation for joining us in our Jesuit mission to form young men in mind, body, and spirit.”

“We are delighted to partner with Saint Peter’s Prep on this scholarship program,” said Nick Howley, Founder, Chairman and Trustee of the Howley Foundation. “SPP is closely aligned with our Foundation in the belief that the best way to create social and economic mobility and improve lives is to provide good education opportunities. We believe a quality education combines both strong academic programs and a component of character formation.”

Together, Saint Peter’s Prep and The Howley Foundation are ensuring that the promise of a Saint Peter’s Prep education isnot limited by a family’s financial means—but extended by their son’s potential.

About The Howley Foundation:
Nick and Lorie Howley established their family foundation in 2003, with the intent of helping students receive the best education possible, regardless of economic means. The Howleys believe that education is one of the most important catalysts to promote positive change in individuals and society as a whole. Starting with one student scholarship in a local Cleveland Catholic high school, they have grown the foundation and the Howley Scholars Program to currently provide meaningful tuition assistance to approximately 1400 scholarship students annually, as well as program assistance and other support at
the primary, secondary and college levels and post-secondary workforce development programs. The Foundation operates primarily in the Northern Ohio and Mid-Atlantic areas, and currently sponsors qualified students at a number of high schools including select Jesuit high schools. For more information please visit howleyfoundation.org or @thehowleyfoundation on Instagram.