Looking Forward, Giving Back
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From his first day as a 7th grader in the fall of 1986, Dave Cuzzi ’92 felt welcomed into the St. Sebastian’s community. His parents, Joe and Martie Cuzzi—a salesman and an administrative assistant from Waltham—were committed to ensuring Dave and his brother, Mike ’94, received the best education possible. Drawn to St. Sebastian’s by its academic reputation, they prioritized their finances and made sacrifices so their sons could attend the School.
Dave truly loved his days as an Arrow. He made close friendships with his classmates and teammates that have lasted to this day. Guided by excellent teachers, he was challenged academically and is especially grateful for the emphasis the School placed on writing. His coaches served as great mentors, further helping to shape his character. “St. Sebastian’s really has so much to do with who I am today,” credited Dave.
When the economy took a turn for the worse in the late eighties, the Cuzzis’ jobs were negatively impacted, and they found themselves struggling to pay the tuition. Dave’s father paid a visit to the Business Office, and the first thing Jack Doherty said to him was: “Mr. Cuzzi, your boys are going to graduate from St Sebastian’s. So let’s just make sure we’re clear on that right away.” Hugely relieved, but determined to pay his way, Joe worked out a favorable long-term payment plan with Jack so that both of his sons could graduate from St. Sebastian’s.
Forever grateful for the kindness shown to his family, Dave and his wife, Christina, were thrilled to be able to give back by making a bequest to St. Sebastian’s. “When we were doing our estate planning, we thought about all the places that have had big impacts on who we are as individuals and as a family and St. Sebastian’s was among those places,” shared Dave. As an alumnus, he continues to feel the strong sense of community, a sentiment now shared by Christina when Dave gets together with his classmates or comes back to campus for events. “Academics are important, but the sense of community at St. Sebastian’s is really powerful,” noted Christina. “Our whole family always feels so welcome. I wish I had gone here!”
As members of the Monsignor Charles D. McInnis Society, the Cuzzi’s join a growing number of alumni, parents, and grandparents who have chosen to support the School through their estate planning. By providing a legacy gift, they will help build the endowment, making a St. Sebastian’s education more accessible for future generations of Arrows through financial aid.
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