Holy Name Celebrates 100th Anniversary

Official Ohio Historical Marker now graces the front lawn of Holy Name High School.

View Image Gallery

Holy Name High School celebrated its 100th anniversary on June 14th, 2014. The all-alumni reunion weekend included an all-class reunion dance on Friday and a fun-run and festival on Saturday.  An historical marker dedication ceremony to commemorate the centennial kicked-off the festival with welcoming tributes by the President and Principal, Benjamin Famer, followed by prayer and a blessing by Father John T. Carlin, Pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish. Speakers at the dedication included Laura Herron, Ohio Historical Society; Dr. Brian Adams, M.D., Holy Name Advisory Board Chair; and the Mayor of Parma Heights, Michael P. Byrne. Jennifer DiGeronimo, class of 2015, led the National Anthem and the Alma Mater.  

The marker was unveiled and the text was read before the crowd of dedicated Namers – many of whom had graduated from the high school in its earlier location at the corner of Broadway and Harvard avenues. Holy Name High School began its first year when the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati arrived in 1914, prior to that year, high school students of Holy Name Parish used the Carroll Building named for Father John Carroll, pastor of the parish from 1886 to 1913. 

Marion Kempf Schuckert, class of ’38, was one dedicated Namer who attended the events with her daughter Patricia, class of ’64.  Marion attended the high school before it had indoor bathrooms. “We’ve had five generations who’ve graduated from Holy Name,” she said. 

The dedication was followed by a festival in the schools rear grounds that lasted well into the evening and included music by the Liverpool Lads, a cornhole tournament, children’s games, free wax hand-sculptures, and Holy Name t-shirts, backpacks, and souvenir cups commemorating the anniversary. The weekend events concluded with an outdoor Mass at 9:00 p.m.