MARINE PARK — From Monday to Friday for nearly 32 years, Marie Del Gaizo has had the same routine, driving from her Bensonhurst home to Good Shepherd Catholic Academy, ready to devote her day to the students.
On March 1, it seemed just another normal day for Del Gaizo, the administrative assistant at Good Shepherd. It was the day before her 75th birthday, and she was going about her day like always.
But after the morning Mass service, principal Timothy Dillon asked her to walk out the school’s front door with him. There, she was surprised by students, staff, and alumni singing her “Happy Birthday” and unveiling a statue of Divine Mercy Jesus in her honor.
“It’s very touching. You go about your day doing things, and it’s not looking for attention or just doing something extra for recognition. … I was emotionally overwhelmed. I can’t believe it myself,” Del Gaizo said in reflection on the celebration.
In September, Del Gaizo will have been serving at Good Shepherd Catholic Academy for 32 years. She joined the school’s staff after years as a devoted mother, giving up her career as a secretary on Wall Street to raise her two sons.
In 1992, her boys were in high school and college, so she decided to reenter the workforce, following a lead from a friend for a secretarial position at Good Shepherd. She soon couldn’t imagine leaving, considering the position a ministry.
With a love for Catholic education, she believes her job furthers the mission of intertwining faith and academics to improve the lives of young people holistically.
Installed to the left of Good Shepherd’s main entrance, Del Gaizo has paused in front of the Divine Mercy Jesus every morning since it was erected for a moment of silent prayer.
A parishioner at Our Lady of Guadalupe, her appreciation for the statue goes beyond the appreciation of having something installed in her honor: She has a special devotion to Divine Mercy Jesus, praying the chaplet every night. It is a routine she shared with her husband, who died 12 years ago.
“I do place my trust in Jesus. I live my life that way, and I get through everything that I get through — the challenges, the good times, and the bad — in that trust,” Del Gaizo said.
Mentioning that devotion to the school’s previous principal, John O’Brien, Del Gaizo believes that he kept that information tucked away for a moment like the one on March 1.
The statue ceremony had around 75 people attending, including O’Brien, who now serves as the associate superintendent of Changing Schools. Her two sons and granddaughter came from New Jersey to attend the celebration, a welcome sight for Del Gaizo.
“She had no idea what was happening, and she was completely overwhelmed … the students, the faculty, the parents, everyone here has such tremendous admiration for Marie and all that she does,” Dillon said.
As the administrative assistant at the school, her office is the first room the students see when they walk through the front door. After decades with the title of secretary, Del Gaizo recently earned the promotion, with the principal recognizing her extensive responsibilities in the school.
“I quite literally would not be able to do this job without her. Just every day, with everything that I need to do, she helps me,” Dillon said.
Emmerson Raimundi, an eighth-grade student at Good Shepherd, has always admired Del Gaizo and has looked up to her. On March 1, Raimundi loudly sang for Del Gaizo, giving a speech to show appreciation to her.
“For me, Good Shepherd is really like a family, and every family needs a sturdy foundation. For us, that’s Marie. She’s an amazing secretary and even through the most difficult situations, she’s been there for us,” Emmerson told The Tablet.
After more than 31 years, Del Gaizo’s morning routine has changed, adding a little extra prayer to her day before starting work. She hopes that the new statue outside Good Shepherd encourages students to do the same.
“I hope those who see me stop there maybe will take a look at the statue and offer up a word to Jesus. Just the statue alone was beyond it for me,” she said.
