The Saint Mary’s High School Alumni Association hosted another successful Don Monti Memorial Golf Classic and Fall Alumni Dinner on Thursday, Sept. 25, despite the cancellation of the golf outing portion of the event due to heavy rain and wind throughout the day. The event, which was the 22nd annual, honored Tom Raleigh of Floral Park, who was this year’s recipient of the Timothy J. Coughlin ’76 Award for Outstanding Contributions to St. Mary’s High School.
The evening portion of the event brought a large turnout of alumni and guests to Plandome Country Club for the dinner reception to support St. Mary’s High School’s many wonderful programs. All the money raised directly benefits current St. Mary’s students.
Honoree Tom Raleigh has deep connections to St. Mary’s High School and the Manhasset community. Four of Raliegh’s five children went to St. Mary’s — Tom, Jr. ,’88; Brian, ’91; Katie, ’93; and Kevin, ’95. He has been a loyal St. Mary’s advocate both as a past parent and former coach. Raleigh joined the Nassau County Police Department in 1969, and after three years as a patrolman, he found his calling. He spent the next 17 years overseeing the Manhasset Police Boys Club (PBC), responsible for coordinating all of the youth services and sports in the community. It was in this role that he would come to know and coach many of the young men who would go on to become St. Mary’s High School students and now alumni.
He also spent seven years coaching basketball at St. Mary’s High School, winning five league championships on three different levels. An avid lacrosse fan, Tom coached lacrosse at Manhasset High School for seven years and started the Floral Park youth lacrosse program. He has resided in Floral Park for 37 years, where he was actively involved in CYO.
Raleigh is married to his elementary school sweetheart, Marilyn. The Raleighs have five children, Tom Jr., Brian, Katie, Kevin and Kristie Erin, and 12 precious grandchildren.
“It is always the highlight of the Don Monti golf outing when we pay special tribute to someone in memory of Tim Coughlin,” a St. Mary’s graduate of the Class of 1976 who was killed on Sept. 11, 2001, said Grace M. Cavallo, president of the Schools of Saint Mary. “This year’s recipient truly does justice to Tim’s spirit and love of St. Mary’s, and the young people it serves.”
“During the 17 years he oversaw the Manhasset sports programs, the parents of Manhasset entrusted to Tom Raleigh’s care their children,” said Frank Coughlin, Jr. ’73, during the presentation of the award named after his brother. “From a parent’s perspective, there can be no greater charge” and Raleigh’s devoted work with the young people “confirmed that such trust was indeed well placed. My brother Timothy John would be immensely proud, for he loved the Raleigh family, and as the son of a former policeman, appreciated the sacrifices and commitment that members of the department make each day.”
Raleigh’s acceptance remarks were interspersed with resounding applause and warm laughter from those in attendance, as he recognized the love and support of his family and reflected on what he described as the “best job” — working as a police officer and as a coach with the kids in Manhasset and at St. Mary’s.
