Our interviews started with Tony Basilio, one of the earliest graduates, who, despite a serious war injury, fortunately is still with us today.  In France during World War II, Tony sustained a bullet wound to the head that, according to the attending physician, came within one-quarter inch of taking his life.  But God still had work for Tony to do.

While Tony graduated in 1934 from the St. Patrick School we know today, the school building did not open until the fall of 1927.  Before then, classes were squeezed into the convent, next to the church.  This is where his schooling began.

Once St. Pat’s opened, classes averaged about 15 or 20 students, each representing two grades, so there were only four classrooms in the entire school, all on the second floor.  A big auditorium filled the first floor of the school. 

Tony remembers double desks, inkwells, pens with tips to dip in the ink and, of course, ink splattered all over the paper.  And he remembers the nuns who, with few exceptions, scared him to death, he says, with a twinkle in his eye. 

“We had about four or five nuns all together in the school — St. Joseph nuns.  That was a long time ago, but I still remember Sister Raphael and Sister Margaret Mary, who were great teachers,” he says.  “Sister Margaret Mary was a sweetheart.  She was so loving and so caring.

“Serving as an altar boy for Father Grady had a great impact on my faith and my years at St. Pat’s,” Tony says. 

In all likelihood these early years as altar boy may well have seeded the vocation he has now as one of the lay spiritual leaders of the parish.  Tony went on to Kennett High School, and then after the War, Goldey College (now Goldey Beacom College), where he majored in accounting.

Tony’s life has been grounded in the Catholic faith.  He attributes his steadfastness both to St. Pat’s and also from living in a large God-oriented family headed by his holy mother and grandmother, both of whom had a powerful influence on his life. 

Tony's love of God and passion for his faith has led him to leadership roles in St. Pat’s charismatic prayer group, which meets on Thursday evenings, as well as the Tuesday Night Bible Study group.