Timothy P. Lenahan, '76

A lifetime resident of Haddon Township and a graduate of St. Rose of Lima before coming to Paul VI High School, Tim was a gregarious, friendly, loyal, and out-going person. He loved life and life loved him back. He sang unabashedly. He laughed out loud with no reservation, and he took great joy in engaging others in his elation – whatever it might have been at that moment. Tim was blessed with an uncanny ability to make the individual he was speaking with feel as though he or she was the most important person in the world, and with Tim it was genuine.

During our high school years, Tim was actively involved in theatre – in productions and as a member of the Drama Club. He was a student leader, elected vice president of his junior class and president of his senior class foreshadowing the leadership qualities that would become his hallmark later in life. He even racked up a pair of Senior Superlatives –Most Willing Worker and Most School Spirit. Both spoke volumes about who Tim was at that time and what he was to become. All of those accolades and accomplishments, however, took a back seat to his number one passion – basketball. From 1978 until his untimely death in 2005, Tim‘s teams at St. Rose compiled an incredible 942-191 record – a winning mark of .830. In seventeen of those seasons the Falcons steamrolled their way to more than 30 victories. In three other seasons, they topped 40 wins, and in one incredible season (1999), they racked up an unbelievable 53-0 record. Not once during that 28-year span, did the St. Rose Falcons have a losing season. Moreover, in sixteen of twenty-eight campaigns, Tim‘s squads earned league champion honors. Among his many coaching honors, Tim was inducted into the Al Carino South Jersey Basketball Hall of Fame in the spring of 2004. Tim taught his players about jump shots and rebounding, for sure, but more importantly Tim used basketball as a metaphor to teach them critical lessons about life – the importance of persistence; the rare and fragile nature of integrity; the significance of honesty; the enduring character of loyalty; and the essentials of dedication, dependability, hard work, and intestinal fortitude. Countless youngsters either played for Tim at St. Rose or attended one of his many “At the Top” basketball camps. Quite a few went on to play high school basketball in South Jersey, and some were skilled enough to play at the college level. Two – Billy Lange (Navy) and Matt Brady (James Madison University), head coaches in the Division I college ranks.

There are other important facets of Tim‘s life that could be shared – his love for his wife Lisa and their

three children Taylor, Connor, and Morgan; his devotion to his faith; and his entrepreneurial spirit. Something that remains with me after all these years with such clarity and distinction is the joy I experienced whenever our paths would cross. It was like the years would melt away. It was a gift Tim had, one of many, and he readily shared it with me and so many others.

“He loved life and life loved him back. He laughed out loud with no reservation.”

Marie Gallagher, Honorary

By Marie (Gallagher) Staley ’82

Marie Gallagher’s road to Honorary inductee to the Paul VI Hall of Fame began shortly after she graduated from Camden Catholic, Misericordia School of Nursing and Villanova University.

After earning her degree as a Registered Nurse, she began her first nursing job at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. Shortly after she became the school nurse at Camden Catholic from 1952-1956. During her last few years at Camden Catholic, she married Joseph Gallagher.

Mom’s nursing career continued as she and Dad began their family. They had five children, all of whom attended Paul VI over the years. They now have eleven wonderful grandchildren , many who have attended Paul VI. Mom not only took care of all of us, but when needed, she also worked as a private duty nurse. She used to joke that she knew a big bill had come in whenever Dad would take out her white shoes and begin to polish them for her.

In 1982, Mom was asked to become the nurse at Paul VI, her initial reaction was to decline, but after some thought and a talk with Dad, Mom changed her mind and was glad she did. Her duties at first, were not only nursing, but for a few years, she also taught First Aid. For anyone who remembers having mom, you know she made an impression right away. She quickly became known for being the no nonsense, compassionate person that she is. She always had time for a student or teacher who did not feel well or needed her. However, she had no time for slackers. She could spot a student trying to get out of class and would send him or her back quickly. Her most famous saying to students was “Honey, if I had a cure for the common cold, I would be rich women and not working.”

Mom’s nursing ability was obvious, but what also became obvious was her dedication to Paul VI. An example of this was when she broke her leg. Mom had a feeling something was wrong, but still went to work. During the day, Mom realized she needed to go to the doctor, so she left, got an x-ray, got a cast and returned to work on crutches. Although she would have told anyone in her place to go home and rest, she insisted she had to return because she had left things undone. If you know anything about our mother, it’s that things are not left undone!

Marie worked at Paul VI until 1999 and is currently retired. Since retiring she remains busy in many activities, including her volunteer work at First Way, helping many infants and their families who are in need.

Back