The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) of Brooklyn and Queens hosted its annual Hall of Fame induction dinner on Feb. 13 at The Rockaway Hotel in Rockaway Park. This year marked the eighth class of CYO Hall of Famers — taking the full total of those enshrined since the inaugural 2014 event to 86 members.
“These individuals are not being recognized for games or championships won but for their years of dedicated service and commitment to the Catholic Youth Organization,” said CYO Executive Director Keith Goldberg. “Our honorees have all helped teach the lessons to the youth, enabling them to achieve spiritual growth, assume leadership roles, and establish a sense of Christian community throughout our diocese.”
Though their backgrounds, roles, and parishes may differ, these inductees all have lived out the CYO’s main values of community, hope, service, dignity of person, and spiritual growth. Here’s a complete look at the new seven-member class:
Father Kevin McBrien
Born in Park Slope, Father McBrien attended Holy Name of Jesus School before heading to Cathedral Prep Seminary in Brooklyn. He was ordained a priest in 1986 and served in parishes throughout the diocese. He was pastor of St. Clare, Rosedale; Our Lady of the Snows, North Floral Park; and currently Sacred Heart of Jesus, Glendale. At each stop, he has been a supportive force in the parochial CYO programs.
Msgr. Richard Ahlemeyer
Born in Broad Channel, Msgr. Ahlemeyer attended St. Virgilius School. He was ordained a priest in 1977 and served in a number of roles throughout the diocese before being elevated to a monsignor in 2020. As pastor of St. Camillus-St. Virgilius, he was an ardent supporter of the parish’s CYO program, where he could often be heard in the stands encouraging the children and reminding the parents that it’s just a game. He died in May 2024 at the age of 73.
Thomas Larkin
Larkin graduated from Holy Name School in 1968 and 10 years later began coaching in the parish’s Father’s Guild. He coached all three of his children at Holy Name. He soon was appointed president of the guild and served as parish athletic representative, overseeing a vibrant sports program that included more than 500 children playing basketball, baseball, soccer, swimming, flag football, dodgeball, and softball annually. He died in February 2020 at the age of 66.
Jean Marie Kessel
Born and raised in Our Lady of the Blessed Sac rament (OLBS), Bayside, Kessel has done and seen n it all in terms of CYO. She played and coached basketball, volleyball, soccer, softball, and swimming at the parish. She was also a CYO board member, commissioner, and referee and was even asked to serve as CYO executive board secretary, where she ran the Communion breakfasts. She currently serves as a CYO and high school volleyball referee, in addition to her role as religious education secretary at OLBS.
James Pellegrino
Pellegrino’s CYO journey began at St. Margaret, Middle Village, as a basketball and baseball player. He started coaching there as an assistant hoops coach and soon ran his own Rookie Division team, as well as a basketball skills clinic for grade school children. After a few years away from the league, he started officiating CYO softball and has never left. He also referees basketball games for the CHSAA and other local youth sports leagues.
John Carroll
In the mid-1970s, Carroll moved his family from New Jersey to Queens, where he began coaching CYO basketball at St. Margaret, Middle Village. When his son Kevin reached the Novice Division, he started coaching at St. Pancras, Glendale, and eventually led the hoops program for over two decades. In addition to serving as parish athletic representative, Carroll helped grow the St. Pancras Holiday Tournament to a premiere local winter event. He died in November 2023 at the age of 76.
Thomas Friemel
Friemel attended Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Grammar School in Maspeth and played CYO basketball for the parish from a young age. He coached for more than 20 years there and served on the athletic board. Other CYO coaching stops for him included Corpus Christi, Woodside, and St. Adalbert, Elmhurst. He currently is the assistant boys’ freshman basketball coach at Msgr. McClancy H.S., East Elmhurst, and he also manages the clock at all Crusader games.