St Johns Preparatory School - Prep Shadows Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

Page 10 text:

Dedicated to if Q! fi g MR. JOSEPH I. TREZZA Mr. Iohn Trezza has' devoted himself to St. Iohn's Prep for thirty-six years. In grateful recognition, Mr. Trezza, we dedicate Prep Shadows to you. Born in 1894 near Salerno, Italy, Mr. Trezza came to America as a child of eight. After graduating from De Witt Clinton High School, he volunteered for the U. S. Navy in World War I, where he achieved permanent rank as a Chief Petty Officer and temporary assignment as Ensign. Legend has it that he earned an unofficial ranking as one of the wrestling champions of the Pacific Fleet. Following his discharge from the Navy, Mr. Trezza earned his degree as an accountant from New York Univer- sity. In 1922 he married his childhood sweetheart, Concetta Sasso, a concert violinist whose father was a Professor of Music. This marriage reflected Mr. Trezza's great love for music, one of the hobbies he still enjoys, and a trait which he and his wife have bequeathed to their four children and seven grandchildren. Mr. Trezza first came to St. Iohn's Prep in September, 1923, where he taught commercial subjects in the co-ed 6 Mr. Trezza branch of the school located at Broad- way and Myrtle Avenue. YVhen the commercial school was closed, he split his school day teaching business subjects in St. Iohnis Seminary, then located in the Willoughby Avenue Building, and Social Studies in the Prep. Eventually he took over the position as teacher of French in the Prep, a post he has held ever since. His popularity with the Prepsters is unquestioned, in spite of the countless uchevronsv he has silently but perman- ently bestowed on the shin-bones of many an inattentive or boisterous stu- dent. Any Prepster who has gone on the boatride recalls the familiar sight of Mr. Trezza striking out senior after senior or driving in one run after another in the annual Faculty-Senior softball game. After the game he managed to have as much fun on the amusements as any Prepster. He is equally popular with the faculty members. Hardly a teacher has passed through St. Iohn's without grateful remembrance of the practical help re- ceived from Mr. Trezzais widc store of common sense and wide experience. His booming laugh and ready wit have made him a desirable companion in and out of school. One of the great rewards of his teaching career has been the steady flow of correspondence from his former students. Many of these have found themselves in the Armed Forces, par- ticularly the Navy, and have turned to Mr. Trezza for advice and counsel. It is not unusual for an ex-Prepster to drop into the Faculty Room for a few words with Mr. Trezza, and wind up having discussed everything from the baby's new tooth to the mortgage on the house. Through your continued counsel and wisdom, Mr. Trezza, may many other students learn to live and laugh and love-as men devoted to God. Ad multos annos!

Page 9 text:

2 .. I V' iL .' N! A V sk? ' 'fn .-i3 . vu' Q- x ,, , . L? K A Q wwf . 2, 'f J. 4 i M33 . . Ai, .. . fy, ' 'xl 5 . ,X 5 ffxg im, K Silk g 'K ' H Q. x ., ES. 'Q 9 I' with nl hi 532 14 ffgrae A 2 9 'S::,x.fS! X X SKY rd .,1 . , gg k 13, wi LQ fm N ,r in .yy gg -f3gL,3sui M2155 C I H 2 KW MS f 35524 V ' ' 1:4 xl ,, . .L., 4 1 W fx Q L, 14 Q' x ,JM xv ' -he fffxfbf , 'MY M , A wg 'f Q '.y -: a '. :v 5,xx,..- W. , X I , my. 1 f v St. Patrick's Cathedral ' ' Brooklyn Museum F l 3 United Nations

Page 11 text:

i Navy service in XVorld War I. . The familiar smile in the corridor between classes. Correcting the paper of one of many thousands of students. ' 4 ....,,., V u 9 '.s R K, mx ' 1 fl -au. v 1 . I I' Another homer coming up?