Joe Macali, Jr. ’84
JOE MACALI, JR, CLASS OF 1984
Joe “Baba” Macali was a six-letter athlete at Southern from 1981 to 1984. He received two letters for football, two for baseball and 2 for bowling. He was the first recipient of the Award for Best Lineman of the Thanksgiving Day Football game. He was also a member of the All-Public 1st football team. Joe was Team Co-Captain for Football and Bowling and was named Team Captain and a starter on the Daily News All Public Team. At Southern he also participated for 3 years in the South Philadelphia High School Choir and participant in SPHS shows.
Joe received the South Philly Businessmen’s Athletic Award for 21 Years of Coaching 7 – 12-year-olds Pee Wee Football. He coached over 1,000 young Athletes.
He is a retired retail manager (PetSmart), community leader, and activist. He has been married to Lisa for 33 years, and together they have 3 children: Joseph, Brittany, and Freddy.
Dr. Kurt Bomze ’53
Dr. KURT BOMZE, CLASS OF 1953
Kurt Bomze arrived at Southern in February1950. The teachers at Southern instilled in him the traits of the desire for learning and intellectual curiosity Being at Southern increased my interest in sports. Tennis is what best suited him. Kurt played first man singles and doubles and was captain of the tennis team for three years. It also gave him the opportunity to make Temple’s varsity tennis team, playing for two years. He played tennis until age 87. It truly became a lifelong sport. Kurt also was on the table tennis team, a sport that he still plays.
In tenth grade Kurt was asked by Mr. Paravacini if he would like to write for the school newspaper, The Southron. Kurt became the special features writer. In his senior year he also became the associate editor of the yearbook. This experience allowed him to become a features writer for the Temple Dental School Journal, and to become the editor of the yearbook.
Kurt also served in student government, which gave him a sense for leadership, which he pursued in both his professional and secular life. He was inducted into the Mace Honor Society for multiple years. At graduation he gave the class speech, won the chemistry award, and won a scholarship award given by the Jewish War Veterans of America.
The teaching of science at Southern where of a level that allowed me to excel at Temple University to the degree that I made Dean’s List and got early acceptance into Temple Dental School. A Southern alumnus, Dr Morris Kelner, a pediatric dentist, got me accepted into the pediatric residency program at Eastman Dental Center, The University of Rochester.
That was put on hold till I finished my military service. As fate would have it, I was attached to the 101st Airborne as the Post Pediatric Dentist, and the Head of the Children’s Dental Health Program for the Post School System. Division Headquarters knew of my playing tennis at Temple University and at Southern and I was asked by one of the generals to play tennis with him. The 101st Airborne and Southern have a meaningful connection-Band of Brothers.
On graduation I opened a private practice in Southern New Jersey. I became the director of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Mt Sinai Hospital, later to become the Einstein Medical Center, Southern Division. I taught both at Temple and Penn Dental Schools, and at the New Jersey College of Osteopathic Medicine. I was also for a short time the head of the Pediatric Dental Program at Jefferson Medical Center. I also lectured for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the International Association of Pediatric Dentistry, and Hebrew University.
I am married to my wife, Nadline, who was born in South Philly, for 67years. I have three children and five granddaughters.
Mark Marini ’75
MARK MARINI CLASS OF 1975
It is with great sadness that we were informed that Mark passed away suddenly in January, and we send our condolences to the Marini family.
Mark Marini was in the South Philadelphia High School graduating class of 1975.
Mark was a two-sport athlete who played baseball and ice hockey. Because of Mark’s exceptional speed he would be a familiar face on the base path. Coach Pendino knew he would be able to steal bases and score a run in tight game situations. He was also a good defensive player. In the field, he had consistent success at the plate, which allowed him the opportunity to get on base and be in scoring position for the Southern team
Mark also played ice hockey for Southern which was a sport he excelled in. He was the highest goal scorer in his Junior and Senior years at Southern. He was named Captain of the team in his senior year. The two years Mark played hockey for Southern the team only lost 1 game each of the years he played. Mark had many game deciding goals that came off his stick. Thanks to Mark’s talent Southern defeated Haverford High, St James Prep and Newman High School. Southern’s Ice Hockey Team dominated the Inter County League which to lots of media coverage from the South Philadelphia Review and the Philadelphia Daily News where Marks was asked for post game comment on many occasions.
