By Sven Stumbauer
In the halls of Columbus, the term “Legend” is thrown around a lot due to so many notable figures continuing to build up the school, and they played a "memorable" part in creating it. As a result, the school granted those who contributed greatly to Columbus and the greater community of Explorer Nation by enshrining them in the school’s Hall of Fame. Here’s the scoop on the latest Hall of Fame Ceremony, which unfolded on Thursday, November 14, and in its way, made history as a unique iteration of the storied tradition.
As for the celebration itself, the night started with an hour-long cocktail reception where the guests mingled. Cheese, fruits, finger foods and a bar were present as the dinner was being prepared and people were reconnecting with others over drinks and chatting the night away.
At around 7:15, the true celebration began as the attendants were seated for dinner and the program started with a prayer from Mr. Kruczek.
The first inductee in the hall of fame this year was Maximo Alvarez, the patriarch of the Alvarez family and a major contributor to the Columbus community. He was born in Cuba, attended the Maristas School during the 1950s, and came to the USA as part of the famous Pedro Pan program at just thirteen years old.
He is the President of Sunshine Gasoline Distributors, which supplies gas to hundreds of gas stations in Florida and is one of the leaders in that field within the Sunshine State. Arguably just as notable, he was appointed by Governor DeSantis to FSU’s Board of Trustees and most recently was behind the groundbreaking of the current renovation program for the A Building.
During an incredibly emotional and heartwarming acceptance speech, Mr. Alvarez laid out thanks to many people, but in particular, to the group that served as his guiding light.
“I am passionate about certain things that I will always carry in my heart, and that thing is Los Maristas," Alvarez said. "Those are the people who deserve so much because they cemented those family values that I learned at home. I will never, ever be able to pay back what I was given when I came to this country and got to receive a Catholic education. We need to ensure that we continue the Marist Tradition, as it’s our guiding light.”
After Mr. Alvarez, the original program had Mr. Trujillo, current Dean of Students and Defensive Coordinator of the Explorer Football Team, up next to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. However, due to Columbus’ playoff game against Spanish River being at the same time, his induction was pushed back to 2025 when he can hopefully be present to receive a well-deserved honor.
However, the show went on with the induction of an alumni parent, Mr. Jorge Rico, an individual whose impact in Columbus is more significant than meets the eye. Over his time in service to Columbus, Mr. Rico has worked in various roles behind the scenes as a Board Member, a member of the school’s Development Committee, and a Strategic Advisor.
Additionally, he has a wealth of experience in the health sector with over 35 years of experience and specializes in the development and implementation of plans for public and private health providers. He sits as a member of the Board of Directors at several institutions such as Baptist Health and is the Vice President of the Board of Trustees at St. Thomas University. Most notably on Columbus’ campus, Mr. Rico is the visionary behind the Mary Our Good Mother Statue on the third floor of the L Building along with the DQ Plaza it is surrounded by, which was built in memory of Cross Country runner and Columbus Alumnus Danny “DQ” Quesada ‘19 who sadly passed away from cystic fibrosis.
When introducing Mr. Rico to the stage, Mr. Kruczek highlighted his vision behind the creation of the DQ Plaza.
“Jorge’s desire was to ensure that the story of Danny lived on: a story of perseverance even in the face of incredible adversity," Kruczek said. "Together, we decided that the third floor of the L Building would be a fitting location for both the statue and the DQ Plaza, serving as a daily reminder of Danny’s indomitable spirit. In the years of its existence, the plaza and statue have inspired countless students, kept Danny’s memory alive, and continue to remind us to strive forward with faith and determination in our lives.”
Mr. Rico’s contributions to Columbus span far and wide, and it’s an honor that his vision has been able to grace the school’s campus in such a significant way for the Columbus family.
Following Mr. Rico, Carlos Rodriguez ‘82 was set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. A graduate of Harvard, Mr. Rodriguez has made a tangible impact on Columbus’ reputation across the world. Most notably, he served as the CEO of ADP, a Fortune 500 Company, being one of the handful of notable Explorers to achieve the feat.
Under his leadership, ADP was selected as one of “FORTUNE” Magazine’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” for 12 straight years and was featured on Business Insider as one of the best CEOs of large companies. His leadership, expertise, and success both as a businessman and an Explorer are undeniable, and he has rightfully earned his place among Columbus’ brightest stars.
Once Mr. Rodriguez was inducted into the Hall of Fame, Mr. Kruczek approached the podium to present a posthumous induction of Br. Julio Vitorres. He passed away in 2022 and before then, Kruczek noted that he had an indelible mark on the lives he influenced, most notably through his service to the Marist brothers for 71 years.
He served at Columbus for over 25 years and served in several countries including Cuba, Guatemala, Switzerland, Spain, Japan, and El Salvador, and served in various US States such as New Jersey and Texas. His contributions to Columbus are numerous, the most notable being that he founded the Explorers Soccer Team. Additionally, he was the architect behind the immensely popular Mother and Son Mass and the Father and Son Mass and served in additional capacities, such as managing the Columbus bookstore and in administration positions in the Library and the Office.
One of Brother Julio’s closest companions, especially during his time at Columbus, Brother Brady, laid out a litany of praise for the late inductee, highlighting his respect for his most admirable qualities.
“I met Br. Julio probably in the 1980s and that was when he came to Marist High School in New Jersey. I was an administrator then and Br. Julio wasn’t only a teacher but he was very active in different sports. As time moved on, I came down to Columbus and Br. Julio became a missionary in Japan for a few years. Then, he came back to Miami and he and I reconnected. He was always a very passionate and enthusiastic brother and he loved what he did. He loved the brothers, the boys, being a teacher, and being very involved. His passionate love for his vocation was truly second to none.” Brady said.
Brother Julio’s contributions to Columbus are staggering, and even though he may not have lived to see his induction, it is only right to acknowledge the greatness of such an accomplished man whose actions continue to uplift Columbus in the present day.
After the bittersweet induction of Brother Julio, history would be made at the Hall of Fame Ceremony with the first-ever organization to be inducted: The Castaways Against Cancer. For over 25 years, this group of “sea hippies” have fervently kayaked, cycled, and ran from Miami to Key West to fund cancer research and hopefully find a cure. Their legacy is palpable in Columbus’ campus and their induction is just icing on the cake to the overwhelmingly positive reception of the group and its endeavors.
At the ceremony, Mr. O’Brien and Mr. Pino went on stage to accept the award, but they were accompanied by other Castaways such as Mr. Hermida, Mr. Kumer and Mr. Scholer who have undeniably influenced the trajectory of the group in an upward direction.
When asked to talk about the Castaways’ success and the significance of the group’s induction, Mr. Hermida had some choice words about the distinction.
“It’s a historic moment," he said. "We started with Mr. O’Brien and some fellow teachers and we saw them as these renegades who went out into the wild and paddled. Then we found out it was to raise money for cancer research, and we realized that it was for a good cause. They did it humbly, quietly, and grew to be the biggest fundraising organization in the Marist system. I believe it's well deserved and long overdue and I’m so glad to be part of the ride, pun intended.”
While the Hall of Fame Ceremony usually ended with the last induction, this year, another award was given to a very deserving candidate for the very first time. This award is the “In the Way of Mary” Award, granted to an outstanding faculty member who carries the legacy of Mary Our Good Mother through servant leadership and silent yet notable contribution to the Columbus community. This year’s recipient was the great Brother Edmund Sheehan.
Although currently known as Columbus’ librarian, Br. Edmund has notably served as one of Columbus’ principals and has also been inducted into Columbus’ Hall of Fame.
When he found out that he had received the Inaugural In the Way of Mary Award, Brother Edmund was especially surprised.
“I am startled to have received this award. However, I am certainly grateful to Columbus for its recognition of the brothers’ work," Brother Edmund said.
In a surprise move at the ceremony, Carlos Rodriguez, class of 82, made a contribution to assist a scholarship in honor of Brother Edmund Sheehan. This scholarship will support future students for generations, covering tuition, meals, and enriching experiences, including class trips, junior ring, AP exams, Grad Bash and prom. Brother Edmund’s legacy in Columbus has already been cemented as one of the greatest of all time according to all in attendance. Yet he is still promoting a significant impact on the campus as a friendly face and a phenomenal individual in any capacity.
Overall, this Hall of Fame Ceremony was truly one for the history books, as are all ceremonies of similar ilk. Its significance to the Columbus community is incredible, and here’s to all the inductees enshrined last Thursday and all inductees in the future.
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