"I was only there for the fourth and fifth grades in 1958-1960, but believe I was one of the youngest borders to ever attend. Being away from home at that age was different enough, but being with high school aged students truly made for a unique experience. I am amazed as I look through the two yearbooks at how vividly I am able to rememebr the personalities that go with the faces. I think being so young in a strange setting caused me to become a keen observer of my surroundings.

"The first yearbook was in 1959 and I am photographed on the front steps, in front of round, fluted columns. The very next year the first page shot in the yearbook is of the building with its new square columns. I must admit I never even noticed the change in the columns, as I am sure neither did most of the other students."

-Bruce MacDougall

 

"I was a teacher for a year at Croydon Hall from 1965 to 1966. Howie Goch was a fellow teacher. I have very fond memories of my year there."

- Dan Ranck

 

"I attended 1959-1960. I played football and was in the band. Got into the University of Miami Fla. I was a commuter student living in Elberon and drove myself to school daily. Over all it was a good experience with very small classes and an international student body."

- Michael S. Segal

 

"We got to CHA, my brother Edwin and I, by pure chance. My father, who was a Master Horologist and Goldsmith, his wife and us came to New York City in 1952 from Puerto Rico. He was transacting the purchase of a jewelry store in Manhattan. This was in the spring/summer switch-over, so pretty soon we had to think of school enrollment. I don't recall how, exactly, we came to have a meeting with Dr. Carr, tall, opulent and immaculately dressed, and with a handshake that wouldn't have dented a marshmallow! We met in NYC and only saw the school in the picture brochures he had. He and my dad got into conversations about Dr. Carr's birthstone (blue sapphire) and how nice a big, gold ring with a nice, big sapphire would look upon his finger.

 

"We started right after that summer. The campus looked gorgeous. It was almost like the greens at a country club! We were shown the small house that would be our home-away-from-home. Once we met Mr. & Mrs. Grimes we knew it was not "home." We had all our meals at the big house. Excellent German ladies in the kitchen (whose acquaintance I made right away!)

 

"I think about those days when the Academy would send the "gentlemen" from Croydon Hall to visit and dance with the girls at Star of the Sea Academy near Atlantic City (or somewhere else - the school never told us anything!). My brother Edwin and I had many memorable times of which I'd love to reminensce with my buddies at the Grimes' house and those who enjoyed Mrs. Eicheles' cooking and the gilly-breads from the other German lady in the kitchen! If my recollection is working, the year was 1951-1953. Mr. & Mrs. Grimes were in charge of the chalet that housed my brother, myself, Bear Tracks, Jerry Devine, Tiger Girl, the Ardilla Brothers (Colombia). 1952-1953 was the only year CHA had won any tournament in basketball."

- Candido E. DeLeon

 

"I went to high school at Croydon Hall from 1965 to my graduation in 1968. My brother Larry also attended abd graduated from Croydon Hall a few years later. I have a lot of nice memories of the many teachers like Mr. Leahman, Dr. Carr, Billy Carr (coach), Howie Goch, Mac the bus driver and so many more. Then there were the students - Fortunado, Petillo, Garma, Kessler, News, Balmer, Lily and others. A lot of us might not have gotten a diploma if not for these people and buildings."

- David (Buffy) Rowland

 

"I attended Croydon Hall for only one year, graduating in 1960. I went to Red Bank High, class of 1959. My mother was giving me another chance to get to college. For many of us, Croydon Hall was post-graduate high school. Seven of us from the class of 1960 went to St. Anselms' College in New Hampshire. Dr. Carr had an in with the college who gave him his honorary doctor's degree."

- Joseph F. Shine

 

"I went there in '67 & '68. In the dorm in '67 when Howard Goch was the dorm master, or whatever it was called. I graduated in '68 and that year I was the proctor for Mr. Coleman. Always curious why the school did close. Remember the teachers "Chippy" Carr, the two Duffys, Ms. Cavanaugh, etc."

- Stephen Rabinowitz

 

"I attended CHA from 1970-1974. I did not want to attend Red Bank High or Red Bank Catholic and my three brothers, Jack, Lloyd and Robert already graduated CHA. To my surprise my mother Rose Petillo, then the president of CHA PTA, went to Dr. Carr to see if he would go co-ed. He told my mother if she could get three to four girls he would. So September 1970, Sandy, Debbie, Boopy and I walked through the doors of Croydon Hall and into school history as the first young ladies ever to grace the Hall."

- Francine Petillo Jordan

 

"I have heard that Brooks Holota still has his red GTO convertible which he drove onto campus (top down) as soon as the first one arrived at the local Pontiac dealership."

- Vince Forgione

 

"I attended CHA for three years at the start of the '70's. I stayed for my 6th through 8th grade years there and have mostly good memories of the school. I have run across very few classmates over the years. It was a sad place for many of the boarding students as I have learned by chance encounters with a couple of them. There were some very good people there as well, Howard Goch, Mrs. Burke, and Mr. Duffy to name a few. There were also some troubled souls that found their way to that school and spread their poison to a few innocents held captive there. I was lucky not to end my days on campus so it was generally a positive experience. My classmates were Stuart Miller, Mike Maffie, Roy Townsend, Carlos Perriera, David Nuewirth, and Frank Gilligan to name the ones I can recall without digging out an old "Columns" and cheating. Norm Caldwell was my coach in basketball and Mr.Coleman was the Headmaster. Just writing to you about this brings back a flood of memories."

- Jack J. Hanley Jr.

 

"I was a student at Croydon Hall from 1968 to my graduation in 1972. It was a great experience for me. I made a lot of friends and enjoyed my years there. The classes were small and we had some great teachers. Mr. Odom and Mr. Brown come immediately to mind but there were many others. I was sorry to see CHA close."