Canisius High School
| Canisius High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
| , New York United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, all-male |
| Motto | Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (For the greater glory of God) |
| Established | 1870 |
| President | James P. Higgins, S.J. |
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic, Jesuit |
| Faculty | 60 |
| Number of students | approx. 850 |
| Mascot | Crusaders |
| Colors | Blue and gold |
| Website | http://www.canisiushigh.org |
Canisius High School is a Roman Catholic Jesuit private high school for boys located at 1180 Delaware Avenue in North Buffalo, New York. The school, founded in 1870, has historical ties to Canisius College.
History
In 1870, a group of Jesuits left Europe in response to Bishop John Timon's call for a Catholic institution to serve European immigrants settling in Western New York. The Jesuits founded Buffalo's first Catholic college and named it after St. Peter Canisius, a distinguished Jesuit theologian, scholar, and educator of the 16th century.
The school was first located on Ellicott Street, but quickly outgrew that location and moved to a building on Washington Street in 1872. In 1944, the High School split from the college and moved to its current location on Delaware Avenue.
Campus
The current Canisius site is notable in many ways. The current Koessler Academic Center, also known as Berchman's Hall, was originally began in 1918 by George F. Rand, Sr., President of Marine Midland Bank. However, both he and his wife died before construction was completed. George F. Rand, Jr., completed the house in 1921 and moved in with his siblings.
The building was sold in 1925 to the Masons, who converted it into the Buffalo Consistory. The Masons added a large foyer, an auditorium, a pool, Turkish baths, bowling alleys, and locker rooms.
The Jesuits bought the building in 1944. They converted the auditorium into a gym/auditorium combination by removing some seating. Soon after, the Beecher Classroom Wing was added to the south of the structure. A Jesuit residence (Fraunheim Hall) was added to the northwest side of the building. Sometime in the mid-1950s, the adjacent Milburn House, the site of the death of President William McKinley, was demolished to provide room for a student parking lot.
Notable alumni
- Tom Fontana '69, TV producer, Oz (TV series), The Jury, and Homicide: Life on the Street
- John LaFalce '57, United States Congressman
- Phil McConkey '75, New York Giants wide receiver
- Carl Montante '60, Buffalo businessman
- Edwin J. Roland, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard
- Mark Russell '50, comedian, pianist and singer
- Tim Russert '68, journalist, host of NBC's Meet The Press
- Sebastiano Sisti '38, baseball player, Boston Bees, Boston Braves, and Milwaukee Braves