Jump to content

Salesianum School

From Catholicism Wiki
Salesianum
Location
1801 North Broom Street
Wilmington
,
Delaware
19802-2891
United States
39°45′39″N 75°32′58″W / 39.76083°N 75.54944°W
Information
Type Private
Motto Tenui Nec Dimittam
(I have taken hold and will not let go.)
Religious affiliations Roman Catholic
(Oblates of St. Francis de Sales)
Established 1903
CEEB code 080195
President Tom Kardish
Principal Rev. Chris Beretta, O.S.F.S.
Grades 9–12
Gender Boys
Enrollment 924
Colors Gold and White
Song "In the Shadows of the Night"
Athletics conference Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association
Team name Sallies / Sals
Rival St. Mark's
Accreditation Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Newspaper The Salesianum Review[1]
Yearbook The Salesian
Tuition $21,200 (2025–2026)[2]
Website www.salesianum.org

Salesianum School is a Catholic independent school for boys located in Wilmington, Delaware. It is run independently within the Diocese of Wilmington and is operated by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.

The current enrollment is about 930 students, declining from a peak of about 1,100 in recent years, from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Salesianum has established a close connection with Lycée Saint Michel, another Oblate high school, located in Annecy, France. Salesianum was named one of the Top 50 Catholic High Schools in America by the Catholic Honor Roll in 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.[3]

Campus

The 22-acre (89,000 m2) campus is home to the school itself as well as a gymnasium. In addition to the campus, the athletic program also makes use of Wilmington's newly constructed Abessinio Stadium, formerly Baynard Stadium, which is located directly across from the school. In 2023, the school was given a $10 million donation by Anthony Fusco to build a new athletic facility.[4]

Athletics

Salesianum School has won 200 Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) approved boys' state championships as of summer 2025, with particular success in cross country, swimming, lacrosse, and soccer.[5] Salesianum won its first state championship in basketball, led by Donte DiVincenzo and Brian O'Neill (American football), in 2014[6] and latest one in 2023.[7]

Salesianum's historical rival is St. Mark's High School, which is located in Newark, DE. Their fall meeting in football is commonly referred to as "The Holy War".[8][9]

The soccer team won 11 state championships between 2002 and 2014, and in 2013 defeated Saint Benedict's Preparatory School, the top ranked high school program in the nation, on a game-winning goal scored by Joseph Dolce. They finished the season ranked as the number two high school team in the country.[10] The 2016 soccer team finished the season ranked sixth in the nation by USA Today on its final Super 25 Expert Rankings.[11]

The cross country team has won 37 of the 42 DIAA state boys' championships, losing only five years between 1972 and 2013.[12]

The Salesianum swimming team has won ten consecutive state boys' championships between 2005 and 2015, and 11 of 12 from 2005 to 2017.[13]

History

Salesianum (Latin for "House of Sales", referring to St. Francis de Sales) was founded in 1903 and was located at 8th and West Streets until the move to its current location in 1957. In 1950, Rev. Thomas Lawless, OSFS, a 1908 graduate of Salesianum, admitted five African American students four years prior to the Brown v. Board of Education decision which made it mandatory, thus making Salesianum the first racially integrated school in the state of Delaware. The school was recognized for this with a historical marker.[14]

In August 2012, the Wilmington/Philadelphia Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales published a letter stating, "Since 2004, the Wilmington/Philadelphia Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales has been named in lawsuits in the Superior Court of Delaware filed by 40 plaintiffs, each of which contained allegations of sexual abuse of a minor." The letter named 12 oblates who had been involved and expressed regrets, stating, "The abuse of children by priests and other clergy is shocking, reprehensible, and devastating to all whose trust has been shattered by their selfish deeds."[15] This followed a settlement in August 2011 of 39 lawsuits against the school and the order, with the order and its insurers paying $24.8 million to be shared between the plaintiffs.[16]

Notable alumni

Academia

  • Name — Class year — Notability — References
  • Donald E. Pease — 1963 — Professor of English and comparative literature at Dartmouth College. Scholar on Dr. Seuss. — [17]
  • F. Gregory Gause III — 1976 — Professor of International Affairs and Head of the International Affairs Department at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M. — [18]

Arts, Entertainment, Media, and Literature

  • Name — Class year — Notability — References
  • Bernie McInerney — 1954 — actor
  • Bill Press — 1958 — political commentator and talk radio host, chair of the California Democratic Party (1993–1996) — [19]
  • Thomas Turcol — 1971 — 1985 Pulitzer Prize winner for General News Reporting — [20][21]
  • Bill Marsilii — 1980 — screenwriter — [22]
  • Patrick Kenney — 1986 — professional wrestler — [23]
  • David Acord — 1989 — Sound editor and voice actor best known for serving as supervising sound editor on Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). He received Academy Award and BAFTA nominations for his sound editing on The Force Awakens, and later earned a second Academy Award nomination for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), both shared with Matthew Wood. As a voice actor, Acord portrayed several Star Wars characters, including the stormtrooper FN-2199 ("TR-8R"), Imperial and stormtrooper voices in Star Wars Rebels, and the vocalizations of Grogu in The Mandalorian. In 2020, he received a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Sound Editing for The Mandalorian episode "Chapter 1: The Mandalorian." In 2021, he won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing for an Animated Program for the seventh season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. — [24]
  • Christopher Castellani — 1990 — novelist
  • Neil Casey — 2000 — Actor, writer, and comedian known for his work in television, film, and sketch comedy. He earned Primetime Emmy nominations for his writing on Saturday Night Live (2012–2013) and Inside Amy Schumer (2014), and has also written for Kroll Show before returning as a guest writer for Saturday Night Live in 2023. As an actor, he starred in the comedy series Other Space and Making History, and played the villain Rowan North in the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot.

Business

  • Name — Class year — Notability — References
  • Miguel Bezos — 1963 — adoptive father of Jeff Bezos — [25]

Government

  • Name — Class year — Notability — References
  • William M. Duffy — 1936 — served as the President Judge of the Delaware Superior Court, the Chancellor of the Court of Chancery, and later as a Justice on the Delaware Supreme Court; co-author of The Supreme Court Until 1951: The "Leftover Judge" System and The Supreme Court of Delaware After 1951: The Separate Supreme Court — [26][27]
  • Joseph T. Walsh — 1948 — Justice on the Delaware Supreme Court (1985–2005)
  • Joseph diGenova — 1963 — United States Attorney for the District of Columbia (1983–1988) — [28]
  • Orlando J. George Jr. — 1963 — Served in the Delaware House of Representatives from 1974 to 1995. President of Delaware Technical Community College from 1995 to 2014. — [29]
  • Richard S. Gebelein — 1964 — Politician and jurist who served as the Attorney General of Delaware from 1979 through 1983, as a judge on the Delaware Superior Court from 1984 through 2005, and as an international judge in the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2005–2006).
  • E. James Burke — 1967 — Chief Justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court (2014–2018)
  • Thomas P. Gordon — 1971 — Delaware law enforcement officer and politician: He was co-commander of the state's first serial killer task force which led to the apprehension and prosecution of Steven Brian Pennell, the only known serial killer in Delaware history. He eventually became Chief of Police of New Castle County Police Department, serving in the role for eight years.
    7th New Castle County Executive (1997–2005). 10th New Castle County Executive (2012–2017). — [30][31]
  • John F. Brady — 1977 — Delaware attorney and politician: Sussex County Register in Chancery (2001–2003), Sussex County Recorder of Deeds (2003–2011), Sussex County Clerk of Peace (2013–2017) — [32]
  • Mark Toner — 1982 — 26th Spokesperson for the United States Department of State (January 20, 2017 – April 24, 2017). United States ambassador to Liberia (August 7, 2024 – August 4, 2025)
  • N. Christopher Griffiths — 1998 — Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court (2023 – present) — [33]
  • Anthony Delcollo — 2004 — Republican member of the Delaware Senate representing District 7 (2016–2021) — [34]

Military

  • John F. R. Seitz
    John F. R. Seitz
    Francis D. Vavala
    Francis D. Vavala
    Timothy Szymanski
    Timothy Szymanski
  • Name — Class year — Notability — References
  • John F. R. Seitz — 1925 — Major General, United States Army. Commanded an infantry battalion at Schofield Barracks at Oahu, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Commanded the combat team at Omaha Beach during the Normandy landings on D-Day, in the breakout from Normandy and at the approach to close the gap in the Falaise Pocket. Recipient of the Silver Star. Buried in Arlington National Cemetery. — [35]
  • James J. Connell — 1957 — Lieutenant commander in the United States Navy, recipient of the Navy Cross. POW in the Vietnam War. Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame inductee. — [36][37]
  • Francis D. Vavala — 1964 — United States Army Lieutenant General and adjutant general for Delaware
  • Hugh T. Broomall — 1966 — United States Air Force Major General — [38]
  • Charles J. Dunlap Jr. — 1968 — Major General, United States Air Force JAG Corps; professor at Duke University law school — [39]
    [40]
  • Timothy Szymanski — 1980 — vice admiral, United States Navy. Commander of United States Naval Special Warfare Command in Coronado, California. — [41]

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Medicine

  • Name — Class year — Notability — References
  • John M. Byrne — 1967 — Distinguished Professor of Energy and Climate Policy at the University of Delaware. Contributed to Working Group III of the United Nations-sponsored Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) since 1992. The panel was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. — [42]
  • Anthony Monaco — 1977 — His doctoral research led to his landmark discovery of the gene responsible for X-linked Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. He subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship in London, where he worked on the Human Genome Project at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now Cancer Research UK), and subsequently a faculty position at the Institute of Molecular Medicine of the University of Oxford. Monaco identified the first gene specifically involved in human speech and language. 13th President of Tufts University (2011–2023). — [43]

Sports

  • NBA player Donte DiVincenzo
    NBA player Donte DiVincenzo
  • Name — Class year — Notability — References
  • Edward J. Michaels — 1932 — American professional football guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins, and Philadelphia Eagles — [44]
  • John Tosi — 1933 — NFL offensive lineman — [45]
  • Dominic Montero — 1938 — Football coach at the University of Maryland (1967–1972). Inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 1978. — [46][47]
  • Leon Dombrowski — 1956 — American football linebacker who played for one season in the American Football League (AFL). He played in one game for the New York Titans in 1960
  • Victor Zwolak — 1956 — 1964 Olympic runner — [48]
  • Thomas F. Hall — 1958 — National Football League (NFL) wide receiver. He played for the Detroit Lions (1962–1963), Minnesota Vikings (1964–1966, 1968–1969), and New Orleans Saints (1967). Inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 1980. — [49]
  • Edgar Johnson — 1962 — University of Delaware swimming and cross country coach and long serving Athletic Director from 1984–2009 — [50]
  • Ken Szotkiewicz — 1965 — MLB shortstop
  • Kevin P. Reilly — 1969 — NFL linebacker. Inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.
  • Joseph Campbell — 1973 — NFL player, Super Bowl champion (XV) with Oakland Raiders.
  • Michael Reed — 1990 — NFL player, defensive back coach at Clemson University — [51]
  • Cesidio Colasante — 1993 — NPSL player
  • Joe Hortiz — 1994 — general manager (GM) for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL) (2024–present) — [52][53]
  • Steve Casula — 2005 — NCAA football coach — [54]
  • Andrew Szczerba — 2007 — NFL tight end
  • Brian O’Neill — 2014 — NFL offensive lineman — [55]
  • Troy Reeder — 2014 — NFL linebacker. Super Bowl champion (LVI) with the Los Angeles Rams. — [56]
  • Donte DiVincenzo — 2015 — NBA player and 2021 NBA Champion with the Milwaukee Bucks — [57]
  • Stephen Mallozzi — 2019 — NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver — [58]

Other

  • Name — Class year — Notability — References
  • Paul Anthony Ciancia — 2008 — terrorist shooter at Los Angeles International Airport in 2013 — [59]

Notable Non-Graduates

  • Name — Class year — Notability — References
  • Tom Welling — 1995 (attended as freshman, 1991–1992) — Actor. Best known for starring as Clark Kent/Superman in the television series Smallville (2001–2011).
  • Charlie McDermott — 2008 (attended for two years, left in 2006) — Actor. Best known for his long‑running television role as Axl Heck on The Middle (2009–2018).

References

  1. Back to citation "Salesianum Review". Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  2. Back to citation "Tuition and Financial Aid". www.salesianum.org.
  3. Back to citation "The Cardinal Newman Society > Error". cardinalnewmansociety.org. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2015; "The Cardinal Newman Society > Error". cardinalnewmansociety.org. Retrieved March 31, 2015; "The Cardinal Newman Society > Error". cardinalnewmansociety.org. Retrieved March 31, 2015; "St. Thomas More and Salesianum named among top 50 Catholic High Schools for 2009". Hockessin Community News. Retrieved March 31, 2015; "The Cardinal Newman Society > Error". cardinalnewmansociety.org. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  4. Back to citation Marie, Deanna. "Salesianum Receives $10 Million Donation From Honorary Graduate". Mix 99.5 WJBR. May 8, 2023. Accessed: May 9, 2023.
  5. Back to citation "Athletics | Salesianum". www.salesianum.org. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  6. Back to citation Greene, Sean (March 8, 2014). "Salesianum wins 1st basketball championship". WDEL. Wilmington, DE. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  7. Back to citation "Salesianum holds off William Penn to claim 3rd DIAA Boys Basketball Championship". March 11, 2023.
  8. Back to citation Buzby, Jon (November 12, 2009). "As season comes ends, 3 local teams hope to play on". The Newark Post. Newark, DE.
  9. Back to citation "State of Delaware – Sports". Doe.k12.de.us. Archived from the original on August 19, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  10. Back to citation Bernstein, Jason (October 22, 2013). "St. Benedict's Prep winning streak ends at 71 games after 1–0 defeat to Salesianum of Delaware". Star-Ledger. Newark, NJ. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  11. Back to citation Super 25 Expert Rankings for 2016–17 Boys Soccer Week 13, USA Today. Accessed May 2, 2017.
  12. Back to citation "DIAA State Boys' Cross Country DI Champions" (PDF). Delaware Department of Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 12, 2012.
  13. Back to citation "DIAA- Boys' Swimming & Diving Champions" (PDF). Delaware Department of Education.
  14. Back to citation "Remember the Salesianum students who stood against Delaware school segregation". The News Journal. Wilmington, DE. December 4, 2018. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  15. Back to citation Greenfield, Very Rev. James J. (August 2012). "Healing Letter". Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, Wilmington-Philadelphia Province. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  16. Back to citation "Oblates settle abuse suits, paying $24.8 million". National Catholic Reporter. Catholic News Service. August 22, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  17. Back to citation "Professor Donald Pease, Guardian of Dr. Seuss | Dartmouth". November 9, 2023.
  18. Back to citation "F. Gregory Gause".
  19. Back to citation "Campaign Leadership". Salesianum School. Archived from the original on May 1, 2014.
  20. Back to citation "Newspaper facsimile" (PDF). udspace.udel.edu. April 26, 1985. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  21. Back to citation "The Pulitzer Prizes – Awards". pulitzer.org. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  22. Back to citation "Bill Marsilii". Archived from the original on February 27, 2007. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  23. Back to citation "FORMER TNA, ECW STAR PAT 'SIMON DIAMOND' KENNEY FILES LAWSUIT STEMMING FROM HIS OWN CHILDHOOD ABUSE, HOPING TO HELP OTHERS COME FORWARD | PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  24. Back to citation "The Oscar goes to...Delaware's own stormtrooper?". delawareonline.
  25. Back to citation "Salesianum Jacklyn & Miguel Bezos '63 Historic Gift".
  26. Back to citation "Salesianum inducted its 13th Hall of Fame class on Saturday, June 4". www.facebook.com. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  27. Back to citation "Salesianum Hall of Fame".
  28. Back to citation "Trump's new lawyer credits Salesianum education for shaping his views".
  29. Back to citation "Long-time Del Tech president stepping down". Delaware Public Media. January 28, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2024; "Orlando "Lonnie" George Jr". Charles P. Arcaro Funeral Home. Retrieved May 28, 2024; Tollefson, Terrence Alfred; Garrett, Rick L; Ingram, William G. (1999). Fifty State Systems of Community Colleges: Mission, Governance, Funding and Accountability. Overmountain Press. p. 99. ISBN 9781570720925 – via Google Books.
  30. Back to citation 3 Slayings Reviewed For Pennell Link – Philly.com. Articles.philly.com (1989-11-30). Retrieved on 2012-08-24.
  31. Back to citation Wilson, Xerxes (November 7, 2015). "Tom Gordon again faces trouble with closest ally". The News Journal.
  32. Back to citation "John Francis Brady's Obituary, Visitation & Funeral Information". Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium.
  33. Back to citation "Judicial Officers – Supreme Court – Delaware Courts – State of Delaware". courts.delaware.gov; "N. Christopher Griffiths". Ballotpedia; Owens, Jacob (May 4, 2023). "Senate confirms Supreme Court picks despite opposition".
  34. Back to citation "Senator Anthony Delcollo (R) – Delaware General Assembly". legis.delaware.gov.
  35. Back to citation https://alumni.westpointaog.org/memorial-article?id=5101a579-e90e-486d-8115-e91e1f3f0b6a; https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-100391/; https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1978/10/13/john-fr-seitz-retired-army-major-general/51a83a23-f08e-4ae7-b4fc-5b30410e9034/
  36. Back to citation "James Connell – 2019 Inductee".
  37. Back to citation https://www.virtualwall.org/dc/ConnellJJ01a.htm
  38. Back to citation "Major General Hugh T. Broomall, Special Assistant to the Director, Air National Guard, ret". August 4, 2012.
  39. Back to citation "Veterans Breakfast". Salesianum School. November 7, 2025.
  40. Back to citation "Salesianum inducted its 13th... – Salesianum School Alumni"; "Maj. Gen. Charles J. Dunlap, Jr., USAF (Ret.) | Duke University School of Law". law.duke.edu; "Charles Dunlap".
  41. Back to citation "Naval Special Warfare Command Holds Change of Command Ceremony". Naval Special Warfare Command. August 4, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  42. Back to citation "Salesianum Hall of Fame"; "Bio2"; "John Byrne" (PDF). jbyrne.org. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  43. Back to citation "Honors and awards". Salesianum School. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012.
  44. Back to citation "Edward "Eddie" Michaels – Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  45. Back to citation Zabitka, Matt (November 22, 1990). "Ed Pankowski reminisces". The News Journal – via Newspapers.com.
  46. Back to citation "Dominic 'Dim' Montero '38 Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org.
  47. Back to citation "Dim Montero – Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame". desports.org.
  48. Back to citation BC (November 13, 2012). "Villanova Running: Vic Zwolak: Villanova's Only Individual Male XC Champion". villanovarunning.blogspot.com. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  49. Back to citation "Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in Wilmington, Delaware – 1980". www.desports.org; "Thomas Hall Obituary (2017) – Enfield, Ct, MA – The Republican". Legacy.com; http://www.nfl.com/players/tomhall/profile?id=HAL542400 NFL.com player page
  50. Back to citation "Edgar Johnson Announces Retirement as Delaware Athletic Director". CAA. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  51. Back to citation "Salesianum School Alumni". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022.
  52. Back to citation "Joe Hortiz – Director of college scouting" (PDF). www.ravenspr.com.
  53. Back to citation "Los Angeles Chargers Agree to Terms with Joe Hortiz as General Manager". www.chargers.com.
  54. Back to citation "Steve Casula". umassathletics.com. University of Massachusetts at Amherst SID. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  55. Back to citation "Brian O'Neill". The Official Athletic Site of the University of Pittsburgh. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  56. Back to citation Lang, Mike (December 19, 2013). "Salesianum's Reeder wins 2013 DeLucia Sportsmanship Award". The Dialog. Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington. Archived from the original on September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  57. Back to citation "10 Donte DiVincenzo". Villanova Wildcats. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  58. Back to citation Greene, Sean (July 8, 2022). "Salesianum alum to make NASCAR debut Saturday inspired by father's cancer fight". WDEL 101.7FM. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  59. Back to citation Rubinkam, Michael; Matheson, Kathy (November 1, 2013). "NJ police: Dad called, worried about LAX suspect". The San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
Retrieved from "https://catholicism.wiki/index.php?title=Salesianum_School&oldid=197992"