Saint Bernard School Honors Three With Clairvaux Medal

Saint Bernard School held its 2018 Saints Gala on April 21 at the Cabaret Theatre at Mohegan Sun, and presented The Clairvaux Medal to alumni Fred Smith ’64 and Sean Kaylor ’86, and the Ray H. and Pauline Sullivan Foundation, which has been a prominent financial supporter of Saint Bernard School.

• Smith, who lives in New London, is currently celebrating 50 years of teaching English at Saint Bernard. He is also a 1964 St. Bernard High School graduate. Over the years, he has served on many committees including chair of the English Department and president of the Saint Bernard Education Association. Smith was inducted into the St. Bernard High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010 for his former work as a girls’ basketball and softball coach at the school. He was recognized as The Day’s Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year in 1983 and The Bulletin’s Softball Coach of the Year in 2001.

• Kaylor, a 1986 SBHS graduate, resides in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and is currently the Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing and Communication at Marist College in Poughkeepsie. He has served on the SBS Board of Directors since 2015 and initiated the partnership between SBS and Marist College. Because of his leadership, SBS has received countless hours of technical support from Marist, a new school website managed by college personnel, donated computers, and the ability to create online Marist courses in which SBS high school students can enroll. Additionally, Kaylor initiated the Saint Bernard Golf Outing which has raised over $20,000 for Saints Athletics and Tuition Assistance. He regularly communicates professional development opportunities to SBS staff and works closely with the School Counseling Office to create a pathway for students who wish to attend Marist.

• The Ray H. and Pauline Sullivan Foundation has continued to be a major financial donor to Saint Bernard School. The relationship began in March 1965, when Mr. Sullivan contributed $100,000 to the St. Bernard Boys’ High School to construct the chapel in memory of his late wife, Pauline. In 1972, the Ray H. and Pauline Sullivan Foundation was established by Mr. Sullivan who set up a $3 million trust for the Norwich Diocese for educational, religious and charitable work. Today, the trust holds close to $16 million. To date, the foundation has distributed over $3 million to Saint Bernard School for scholarships and operational expenses. They have also provided an additional $250,000 in college scholarships to Saint Bernard School students.