WARWICK, RI (April 18, 2023) – Fr. Robert L. Marciano, KHS ’75, President, is proud to announce that he will award three individuals with the Bishop Hendricken Medal of Honor at Epoch: The 2023 Gala for Hendricken on Saturday, April 29, 2023. Fr. Marciano will honor Michael Flood P’11, President of Flood Auto Group; Joseph P. Healey ’84, Co-Founder of HealthCor Management; and the late Gerald “Gerry” Habershaw ’83, Principal at Pilgrim and Warwick Veterans Memorial High Schools. The evening will begin at 6pm. Honors presentation will take place at 8pm.
The Medal of Honor is awarded annually by Bishop Hendricken’s president to those who actively promote, strengthen, and advance the school’s mission. Previous recipients of the award include Gary Furtado P’02, former President and CEO of Navigant Credit Union; Br. Richard Grodin, C.F.C., Founder of Epoch and Hendricken faculty member; and former Warwick Mayor and Rhode Island Governor Philip Noel.
“In their own way, each of these men have lived the Bishop Hendricken mission of faith, excellence, and service,” said Fr. Marciano. “They have each made our state, our Church, and our world better by living the Gospel values. We are proud and privileged to honor each of them at Epoch: The 2023 Gala for Hendricken.”
Through his involvement both as an alumni parent and leader of Flood Auto Group, Michael Flood has been instrumental in supporting the Bishop Hendricken community in various ways for the last 15 years, particularly through the school’s annual gala. Flood and his wife, Donna, have always stressed the importance of a quality education and one’s Catholic faith to their children. After their second youngest, Michael Jr. graduated in 2011, their involvement did not falter. The Flood family has continued to support and believe in the mission of Bishop Hendricken and leading young men to live faithful, productive, and fulfilling lives. A self-starter, Flood owns and leads Flood Auto Group which has been a top-three dealer in the northeast for the past 30 years. Flood is the longest sitting spokesperson for the New England Ford Dealers Advertising Board.
With a generous passion for paying it forward, Joseph Healey founded the Healey Scholarship which provides funding for bright students who have a strong desire to attend Bishop Hendricken, but cannot afford tuition. Today, the Healey Scholarship is the largest cumulative gift in school history, and no doubt, the most philanthropically transformative. Healey has consistently attributed his success in life to the values and teachings that were instilled in him during his time as a student at Bishop Hendricken. After graduating, Healey went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Boston University and a Master’s in technology management from the University of Maryland. He has held various positions in the healthcare field and currently serves as co-founder, partner, co-CEO, and portfolio manager of HealthCor Management, a health care and life sciences investment management firm.
A Hendricken man dedicated to the value of lifelong learning, Gerry Habershaw was an incredibly influential educator, coach, and leader within Warwick Public Schools. A stand-out student-athlete in football, basketball, and baseball while at Bishop Hendricken, Habershaw always used his many talents and gifts in service of others. A noted advocate of students, Habershaw most recently served as principal of Pilgrim High School and Warwick Veterans Memorial High School. He previously served as Assistant Principal of Aldrich Junior High School and a special education teacher at Pilgrim. Habershaw was a revered, beloved, and respected principal whose impact on the local community has been incalculable.
Flood, Healey, and Dr. Beth Zielinski-Habershaw, Gerry’s wife, will be in attendance to accept their honors. Tickets for Epoch: The 2023 Gala for Hendricken are on sale now at hendricken.com/epoch. All proceeds from the gala benefit tuition assistance for boys who wish to attend Bishop Hendricken, but need help to make it a reality.
