Tony Reddick '78 Speaks at Founder's Day

St. Sebastian’s welcomed Tony Reddick ’78 home to offer the Founder’s Day address on Friday, September 27. Marking the School’s 83rd anniversary, the annual event celebrates St. Sebastian's first-ever day of classes held on September 29, 1941, on Nonantum Hill in Newton.​​​​

Mr. Reddick shared an account of his time at St. Sebastian’s, making the nearly two-hour commute each way on two buses and a train from his home in Roxbury. In retrospect, he told today’s Arrows, “St. Sebastian’s saved my life.” He had the love of his family, but his circumstances were difficult. The opportunities he had at St. Sebastian's set him on a different trajectory. He is extremely thankful for his time here because he felt that if he was part of the St. Sebastian’s family, “then someone would show me the way.”  St. Sebastian’s offered him access to an outstanding well-rounded curriculum, great teachers and an environment where he could grow as a student, as an athlete and as a gentleman. He impressed upon the students the importance of making the most of the opportunity to attend this school and to pay it forward. Mr. Reddick has most certainly done that, having recently retired from a career as an educator, a coach, and ultimately the Superintendent of the Gadsden, Alabama school district. Following the address, Tony, joined by his wife, Belinda, attended classes with Mr. Cleary and Mr. Palmaccio, as well as Mrs. Ellis and Mrs. Rynne Annan, where he discussed his success as a portrait artist and showed students some of his work. To complete his return to campus, Tony served as the honorary Captain of the football team at Homecoming.

Watch the Founder's Day Address ►