Union Catholic Alumni Memorial

The Union Catholic Alumni Memorial video board, donated by the Class of 1979, is prominently located in the main lobby of school.  The display scrolls continuously throughout the day, exhibiting names of faculty, staff, students and alumni who have passed away.  This helps ensure that they remain forever in our hearts. 

This newest edition includes all names received through October 10, 2022.  Click on the video below to watch; faculty/staff names are displayed first, followed by each class year beginning with 1966.

To share news of the passing of a UC alumna/alumnus, please email [email protected].

Coach Rico Parenti 

Americo C Parenti “Rico” 90 of Scotch Plains died peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Tuesday March 7, 2023. 

 Visitation will be on Tuesday March 14, 2023 from 4pm - 8 pm at the Rossi Funeral Home 1937 Westfield Avenue Scotch Plains, NJ 07076. Service will be at the Funeral Home on Wednesday at 10:30 am. Interment to follow at St. Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia.
In lieu of flowers donations are requested to be made in Memory of Rico Parenti to the Michael J Fox Parkinson’s Research Foundation .  http://give.michaeljfox.org

  Rico was born in Plainfield, NJ and raised in the East End.  A 1952 graduate of Plainfield High School, he enlisted in the United States Army and served during the Korean Conflict. Afterwards Rico attended Seattle University playing 4 years on the basketball team as a point guard with NBA Hall of Famer Great Elgin Baylor.  He graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History.  

  Rico returned back to his New Jersey roots and married his love Nancy. They soon built a home in Scotch Plains where they would raise their sons and live out their married life.  

  He began his teaching and coaching career in 1960 at St. Benedicts High School in Newark and then went onto Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains where he had great success. Eventually Rico returned to his Alma Mater Plainfield High School where he would teach for 30 years, before retiring in 2002.  He was the Mens Head Basketball Coach from 1973 - 1986. In 1987 and 1988 he was an assistant Coach at Immaculata where his son Michael was playing.  Rico took a short break from coaching so he could enjoy watching his son’s Angelo and Michael play in the same backcourt in college at Southern Connecticut State University.  Afterwards, he returned to Plainfield for another 3 years. During his years as Head Coach at Plainfield High the team won 10 Watchung conference Championships, 10 Christmas Tournaments, 2 Union County Championships, 2 Group 4 State Championships and 3 Sectional Championships.  Rico was inducted into the Plainfield Hall Of Fame in 2002. On February 26, 2007 he received a great honor when the Plainfield High School gymnasium was renamed The Americo “Rico” Parenti Gymnasium. During his career he received many awards such as Coach of the Year from The Courier News 7 times, Star Ledger twice, Union County Coach of the year 6 times. Daily News Coach of the year and numerous awards and recognition from various organizations. 

  In addition to his basketball career, Rico was also one of the best fast pitch  softball pitchers around. One of the greatest wins he ever had was beating the King and his court. Rico was very active and loved to exercise  at  the SPF YMCA. He was a long time member of the North Plainfield Italian American Club.

  He and Nancy loved their grandchildren and never missed an opportunity to cheer them on. He was always there to share his wisdom of the field and court. He is survived by his 2 loving sons Angelo and wife Eileen, Michael and wife Anna, four cherished grandchildren Blake, Evan, Sebastian and Alessandra. He is also survived by his sister in law Dolly and many caring nieces and nephews.

  The family wants to thank and express deep gratitude to his primary caregiver Eileem and also to Veronica and Aliany.  
He was blessed to be assisted by such caring professionals. 

Father Paul Manning 1/25/34 – 3/7/23

Reverend Paul R. Manning, 89, of Lourdes Noreen McKeen Residence, West Palm Beach, FL passed away after a lengthy illness. Born and raised in Newark (Vailsburg), NJ, he was predeceased by his parents Gerald Manning and Lillian (Morrison) Manning. Surviving are his brother, Robert and wife Tina of York, ME, niece Francine Pidgeon and husband Bill of Davie, FL, nephew Duane and significant other, Thayer Kelley of South Hero, VT. Also, godson Mark Sanchez and dear friends Eileen Butka, Luis Sanchez and family, Fr. Jack Holian, Fred Roden, Mario Mangila, and many other friends, former students, and fellow priests.

Fr. Paul Manning studied at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, NJ and was ordained into priesthood on May 25, 1959. He spent many years as a teacher of Mathematics at Seton Hall Prep, South Orange, NJ, Union Catholic High School, Scotch Plains, NJ and Oratory Preparatory School, Summit, NJ. Fr. Manning went on to become Headmaster at Oratory Prep from 1992- 1994. He was also the weekend assistant at St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Church, Summit, NJ for many years.

Fr. Manning held BA and MA degrees from Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, a STB degree from Catholic University, Washington, DC, and MA and Ph.D. degrees from New York University, where he studied at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Science. The Archdiocese of Newark named Fr. Manning, Math Dept. Chairman at Oratory Prep, Summit, NJ as the outstanding Catholic School Educator in 1998.

As a member of Oratory Prep staff beginning in 1976, Fr. Manning taught French, Latin, Spanish, Greek, Religion, and Mathematics, his true love. During his tenure at Oratory Prep, Fr. Manning was moderator of the school yearbook, The Aries, the Math Club, the Chess Team, and the French Club. As coach of the tennis team, he led the varsity team to first place in the Mountain Valley Conference Championship. After 19 years as tennis coach, he retired with 214 wins. As moderator of the Math Club, he guided his team to 1st place in the Tri-State Math League 1997-98.

Fr. Manning was the recipient of various educational awards. In 1986 he was named finalist for the Presidential Award in Mathematics in NJ. In 1991 he was awarded the Princeton Prize for secondary school teaching, presented to him at Princeton University. The Engineering School of Manhattan College honored him as Outstanding Mathematics Educator in 1992. He was also named the Tandy Scholar in 1993.

In addition to his dedication and love of teaching others, Fr. Manning continued to further his own education. He was awarded a fellowship from the National Endowment for Humanities to study Latin and Greek at Harvard University in 1992. In 1997 he was named Fulbright Scholar and studied in the Fulbright Classics Seminars in Rome and Naples.

He retired to sunny West Palm Beach in 2004, where he enjoyed dining out with family and friends, walking on the beach, lounging and reading poolside, and attending operas, especially those by his favorite composer, Giuseppe Verdi. Along with his brother Robert, he was a loyal fan of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. He also enjoyed many fun trips taking his niece and nephew on great getaways.

For all the lives that were touched in some way over the years by Fr. Paul, he will be missed.

A visitation for Fr. Manning will be held Sunday, March 12, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Quattlebaum Funeral, Cremation and Event Center, 5411 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33417. A funeral service will occur Monday, March 13, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Lourdes Noreen McKeen, 315 S Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. A graveside service will occur Monday, March 13, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery, 10941 Southern Blvd, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Fr. Manning’s name to the Macular Degeneration Association, 5969 Cattleridge Blvd., Suite 100, Sarasota, FL 34232, www.macularhope.org.