From Joe Rodino

"Vince,

The ride down to Prep from Union City is one of my favorite memories. Riders in Walter's Ford included George Hicks, John Connors and sometimes we picked up a hitchhiker like Bob Filoramo along the way. Things got a little rowdy when George tried to sing opera mimicking Sid Caesar from his Show of Shows on TV.  Walter always kept us under control. George and I remember the great times we had in 4-B with Fr. Butler. I forgot to mention another occasional rider... Tony Alo. 

When Walter wasn't driving we took the #18 bus from Transfer Station. I remember being on the bus ride with Tommy Heinsohn, the NBA great. 

When I was in Pharmacy school at Rutger's Univ. I was on the baseball team with a scholarship and we played St. Peters College in a double header at Roosevelt stadium. I was shocked when I came to the plate because the catcher was Larry Gladys from Prep. It's always a small world. 

Living in Florida I have taken over 100 cruises. I love being at sea and when I look out over the ocean I realize how little we are in God's universe. Life was truly great in'58.....   Regards to all"

Joe Rodino

"There is no way to compare the trip down to Prep before our senior year and after it. For 3 years, I trudged up the hill to get a bus to Transfer Station, and then switched to the 18 Hudson bus which inched its way down Summit Ave, picking up Prep guys, Dickenson kids and whomever. Crowded, noisy and slow. And if I missed the last 18 Hudson, I had to take the 16 bus, which added another 20 minutes to the agony.

Near the end of our Junior year, Tom Garrity offered to give me a lift to Prep by car, and offered again as our senior year began. My life changed. He was always on time, and besides the change in comfort and speed, I got to spend quite a bit of joking around time with Tom, Harry Hurley, Peter Norton and an occasional stray. Tom had a late 30's sedan - a Plymouth, I think - but no matter, it wasn't the bus. I'm pretty sure his car got me to graduation day. Thanks, Tom."