Latest news with #Chaminade
New York Post
3 days ago
- General
- New York Post
Long Island students travel to Normandy, honor long-forgotten alum who died in D-Day invasion
Chaminade High School students prayed for hours at the gravesite of a long-forgotten alum who heroically died after the D-Day invasion of Normandy during a recent trip to France. Officials at the Long Island Catholic school had just found out about the tragic death of 1935 graduate John J. McDonald a week before an annual spring trip to the country. They learned of the Mineola man killed in action two days after Allied forces stormed the beaches in June of 1944 — and found out he's one of the thousands laid to rest at the massive cemetery there. Advertisement 5 Chaminade High School students visited France and prayed at the graveside of an alum who died after the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Courtesy Chaminade High School 'We never even thought that one of our alumni was buried over in France,' Chaminade president Brother Thomas Cleary told The Post. 'We know he married, had no children…I don't know if anyone has ever visited his grave.' Advertisement The school scrambled to rearrange its Easter break travel plans and had all 30 students, taking turns in small groups, pray for nearly an hour at the grave of the Army Air Corps lieutenant who was shot down two days after D-Day. 'It really set in. This man, he's buried here — alone in a foreign country without his family,' said junior Andrew Kerr, who was part of the sobering moment that paid respect to the bombardier who flew 71 missions with the Ninth Air Force. 'I just can't even imagine what it would be like, that one day you just get up, go to war, you don't see your family again.' 5 John J. McDonald graduated Chaminade High School in 1935. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post Advertisement A hero's legacy — 81 years later Although many details about McDonald's life remain unclear, it is known that he was a track athlete at Chaminade who had a love for model airplanes before flying in one. McDonald even threw one he spent weeks building onto the school's football field during a homecoming game. 'You hear about it and you feel like it's so distant from you,' Kerr added. Advertisement 'But then you see his picture on the wall with the class of 1935 at school, and it all of a sudden it becomes 'wow, this really does relate to me.'' The 1918-born warrior first entered the Marines in 1937 and, after a medical discharge, re-enlisted in the Army in the thick of World War II. He wed while on leave in 1943. Brother Cleary is now trying to track down a member of McDonald's family to connect with and share the experience and learn more about him. 5 McDonald was a track athlete at Chaminade High School and loved planes. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post 5 Students Dylan Stampfel, Gianni Bono, Andrew Kerr and Maximilian Matuszewski posed for a portrait next to a plaque honoring McDonald. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post 'They were people like us, exactly like us,' junior Gianni Bono, whose brother is a Marine, said. 'It's an insane thing to think about.' Advertisement Being at the gravesite steps from the once bloody beaches of the Great Crusade to liberate Europe also gave the students a perspective not viewed in even an advanced placement curriculum. 'When you learn about this in history class, it's just a number,' said junior Dylan Stampfel. 5 Many details about McDonald's life remain unclear. Courtesy Chaminade High School 'But when you go there and you see the over 9,000 graves just lined up on the perfectly manicured lawn… it's very humbling.' Advertisement The teens also visited on a gorgeous day with polar opposite conditions to the notorious rain and fog that the beach storming is remembered for. 'What struck most of the students was that most of the beaches are now used recreationally,' said Marta Agosti, the school's world language chair who planned the trip. 'But I thought that is the best way in which you can say thank you to all the people that actually died there — so that we could continue with life.' Advertisement Junior Maximillian Matuszewski, who watched 'Saving Private Ryan' ahead of the trip, said Tom Hanks' core-shaking final words of 'earn this' have new meaning to him. 'It means to put my best foot forward always, and work as hard as I can,' he said. 'And to be thankful that I would never have to experience something that McDonald would.'
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New York Legislative Candidate Petros Krommidas Goes Missing
A New York legislative candidate named Petros Krommidas has been reported missing. Krommidas's Facebook page says he is a "Democrat Running for Nassau County Legislator for the 4th District." Town of Oyster Bay Councilman Louis Imbroto wrote on Facebook, "Petros Krommidas has been missing. He is a Chaminade alumnus and works in government. He was last seen in Baldwin on Wednesday night at 9:00PM and was reported to NCPD as missing at 7:35PM last night." He added, "Petros is described as 6'2 tall, 230 lbs, with brown hair & brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a camouflage print sweatshirt & gray sweatpants. He is believed to be in the Long Beach area. If anyone has any information on his whereabouts, please contact NCPD Missing Persons Squad at 516-573-7347 or call 911. All callers will remain anonymous." According to The New York Post, Krommidas's family has revealed he "likely swam in the sea while training for an upcoming triathlon." The Post reported that he was last seen when he left for the swim, and his locked car was found at a local hotel. "He locked his car, took a towel, and around 10:30 p.m. walked onto the beach to exercise, just as he had done many times before,' his family wrote on social media, according to The Post. 'The police found his towel, clothes, and phone left on the beach. Since then, search efforts have been ongoing, but we need the public's help.' Krommidas's last post came on April 22, 2025. "I had the opportunity to speak at last night's Nassau County Young Democrats' monthly meeting alongside Joe Scianablo, who's running for Town of Hempstead Supervisor. Thank you to the Nassau County Young Democrats for having me—always great to be with such a thoughtful, engaged group committed to making a difference in our community," it reads. A person wrote on his page comment thread before he went missing, "I knew when I first met you that you were destined for great success. I'm proud of you Petros." A post in the Long Beach City Facebook group reads, "My friend Maria is looking for her son Petros Krommidas and is hoping for extra eyes and volunteers to assist in any way they can. She is unconsolable and desperate to find her boy and bring him home."
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Young Long Island politician Petros Krommidas goes missing days after speaking at youth group event
Young Democrat leader Petros Krommidas went missing two days after speaking at a youth event. Petros Krommidas , a 29-year-old Long Island Democrat, has been missing since April 23, two days after he spoke at an event for young party members. Krommidas is a candidate hoping to become a lawmaker in Nassau County in New York. On April 22, he posted about speaking at a monthly meeting for the Nassau County Young Democrats the night before. "Thank you to the Nassau County Young Democrats for having me—always great to be with such a thoughtful, engaged group committed to making a difference in our community," Krommidas wrote on Facebook. He was last seen in Baldwin at 9pm, wearing a camouflage print sweatshirt and gray sweatpants. His disappearance was reported to police on April 24 at 7:35 pm. Who is Petros Krommidas? by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Don't Miss The Top Packaging Trends Of 2025 Enhance Your Brand With The Latest Insights Packaging Machines | Search Ads Search Now Undo Krommidas is a Long Island native who graduated from Chaminade in 2013 and later from the Ivy League university as a member of the rowing team and with multiple degrees in American history and business management, according to his LinkedIn. Krommidas' sister, Eleni, pleaded in a message on social media for anyone who has information to come forward. 'My brother is missing, and we are deeply worried,' his sister wrote. Krommidas joined politics in 2024 as a Democratic Party field organizer. Before this, he worked in finance, including at Morgan Stanley and Sageview Capital.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
Did you see a crime scene at Kaimana Beach? It's not what you think
KAIMANA BEACH, Hawaii (KHON2) — If you thought you stumbled across a crime scene at Kaimana Beach on Friday, April 20, don't worry — it was not real. Forensic science students at Chaminade University put their skills to the test by collecting evidence, analyzing and documenting a crime scene. Hawaiian Humane Society cares for dog seen in social media abuse video The mock crime scene was posed as an exam for students, where they had to determine whether the scene was a homicide or a suicide. Students used yellow caution tape, investigative tools and official CSI gear to complete the task. 'I bring this exam outside the campus so they can feel a real-life experience, even if it's a mock crime scene,' said Carlos Gutierrez, Assistant Professor of Forensic Science. 'They can interact with the public, people can ask questions, so they can feel the reality to be in a real crime scene.' Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Gutierrez said 12 students take the class every semester to prepare for a mandatory 135-hour internship. Following the course and the completion of their undergraduate years, Chaminade University said about 86 percent of students land science-related positions. 'They can work in any forensic lab, they can join the police, they can join an affiliate agency as well,' Gutierrez added. Chaminade officials said students have landed jobs with the Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner, police departments in Hawaii and Guam and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command's Central Identification Laboratory. Check out more news from around Hawaii For more information on Chaminade's Forensic Sciences program, visit their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Chaminade-Madonna baseball celebrates district title with another walk-off thriller
As Yogi Berra famously said: 'It's déjà vu all over again.' If Chaminade-Madonna shortstop John Bishop is unfamiliar with the phrase attributed to the baseball legend, the senior will surely understand it now. On Thursday night, Bishop delivered yet another walk-off hit in extra innings, chopping an RBI single into right field that lifted the Lions to a 1-0 win over NSU University School in the District 14-2A championship game at NSU. No stranger to long games, the Lions' claimed the district crown by winning two extra-inning affairs. Thursday's thriller, however, lasted a mere 2-hours, 15-minutes. Compare that to Tuesday when Chaminade outlasted Hialeah Educational Academy, 2-1, in 17 innings. That marathon started at 3:30 p.m. and ended roughly five hours later with a Bishop walk-off double. The Lions (23-3) were the top seed, and Thursday's contest lived up to the billing against No. 2 seeded U-School (23-4). Both schools will advance to the best-of-three regionals, with the seedings and matchups scheduled to be released on Friday. There's a good chance both schools will host in the regional quarterfinals. Cardinal Newman is expected to be the top seed, and Chaminade would appear to be the No. 2 seed. But that's to be determined. The way the Lions are rolling, they're ready to take on anyone. 'This team was built on picking [players] until you make it,' Chaminade coach Mark McCoy said. 'Now, we're starting to make it. We've now beaten all the top teams in our region. We beat Newman. We beat St. John Paul. We beat these guys. So, I mean, we've got to feel invincible going into the playoffs. We control our own destiny.' Chaminade's winning rally came with two outs in the eighth. Josh Andel, on a 2-2 pitch, bounced a high grounder into right field, just out of the reach of second baseman Isaac Rosa. Miguel Roa worked the count full and drew a walk, putting runners on first and second for Bishop. Bishop attacked the first pitch, and chopped the ball into right field. Andel rounded third and slid home with the lone run of the game. Both teams had their chances prior to extra innings, but neither could push across a run. U-School started the game with Bradyn Potter doubling on the first pitch of the game off Chaminade right-hander Santi Arismendi, who worked four innings. The Lions had a shot in the sixth inning when Trace Zalman singled up the middle, but Potter made a perfect throw to the plate, and catcher Griffin Pomper applied the tag on pinch-runner Nolan Loonam, who was out on a bang-bang play. The Sharks had a golden chance in the fifth inning off reliever Manny Delaosa, who loaded the bases with one out. Gage Agate inherited the jam but retired Pomper and Rocco Rovetto to keep the game scoreless. Sharks starter Aiden Jacobs impressed in 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Manuel relieved in the sixth and kept the Lions off the board. Chaminade's pitching was sensational in the two-game district, giving up one run in 25 innings. 'We play our game,' McCoy said. 'We don't worry about anybody else. We worry about what we do and we're going to win.'
