Fordham Prep Commons Dedicated to Joe Moglia '67 at 50th & Golden Rams Reunion

Golden Rams Reunion attendees in Moglia Commons on May 14th, 2022. 

Reunion 2022 was a special one for many reasons, the first being that the Prep made up for lost time by celebrating several classes, including three class years of Golden Rams (1970, 1971, and 1972), after having to postpone the 2020 and 2021 reunions due to the pandemic. 

Newly inducted Golden Ram George Press '71 receiving his pin at the 50th and Golden Rams Reunion Luncheon on Saturday, May 14th, 2022 in the Hall of Honor. The Golden Rams are a special society of alumni who graduated from Fordham Prep 50 years ago or more.

The second reason, and perhaps the most impactful, was the dedication and blessing of Moglia Commons, named for former Fordham Prep board member and former Prep football coach Joe Moglia ‘67. Moglia, who has achieved success in the realms of finance and coaching, has been a Golden Ram since 2017. He’s is a Fordham Prep Hall of Honor and Football Hall of Fame inductee.

The dedication and blessing of Moglia Commons took place after Mass in the Fordham University Church, which was followed by a cocktail hour. 

“I was just at the reunion last night with gentlemen who graduated five, six, and seven years ago, and when they speak about the Commons―this space that we are in―they speak about the camaraderie and brotherhood that connects them to each other, all from these different backgrounds,” said Prep President Fr. Christopher Devron, SJ, in his speech as he reflected on his time speaking with the alumni who attended the 5-Year Reunion on May 13th.

“What I love about [this space] is that it’s so close to the front entrance so when visitors come, they are able to see all of our students here at lunch period enjoying themselves, connecting, and creating those bonds of friendship,” he added.

Fr. Devron then introduced Moglia before the lettering in Moglia Commons and a plaque detailing Moglia’s accomplishments was unveiled. Fr. Devron then blessed the space with holy water.
 

Moglia’s guests helped cut the ribbon in Moglia Commons during the dedication and unveiling. 

Moglia started out his speech noting that his former classmates always manage to find time to gather together both prior to and during their Fordham Prep reunions. About 40 alumni from his class got together at J.C. Fogharty’s in Bronxville on May 13th. “I’m aware that we have over 40 here tonight,” Moglia stated. “Think about that. [We graduated] 55 years ago!” he marveled.
 

Golden Rams Reunion attendees from the Class of 1967 in Fordham Prep’s gym.

During his speech, Moglia also recalled his mother leaving it up to him to decide where he wanted to go to high school. The decision came down to either attending Fordham Prep or the nearby public school, George Washington High School.

“I went to my mom and said, ‘I’m really struggling’ and she said, ‘Son, you’ve worked hard, you’re 13 years old, and you are man enough to make this decision. Think it through. You’ll figure it out. You’ll make the right decision’,” he remembered her telling him. After a week had passed, Moglia still hadn’t made a decision, however his mother kept encouraging him to think it through. She told him to go to his room, make a list of the positives and negatives for each of the two schools, and pray on it to help him make the right decision.

The next morning, Moglia confirmed with his mother that he made the list and prayed on it. When she asked him about his final decision, he recalled saying, “‘Mom, I’m going to go to George Washington High School’.” His reasoning? It was a walkable 10 blocks away from home, all of his Our Lady Queen of Martyrs classmates had chosen to go there, it’s co-educational, and he knew he would get good grades there since school’s academics wouldn’t be too challenging. 

He remembers his mother shaking her head to all this. She countered his list of positives in favor of George Washington High School with the benefits of Fordham Prep’s long-standing reputation for providing students with high-quality Catholic Jesuit education and care. “‘You’re going to Fordham Prep’,” she told him.

As for many alumni throughout the years, Fordham Prep holds a special place in Moglia’s heart. “There is nothing in my life with what this place means to me, that matters more to me, than this honor,” he stated.