Dennis Gallagher was born in 1812 in Tuloughbegley, County Donegal, Ireland, the son of Joseph Gallagher and Bridget Fary. He immigrated to Scotland to seek work and was employed in a pottery factory in Delfware. After a time he left Glasgow for New York where he arrived on June 4, 1840, with an introductory letter for Mr. Dennis Kelly of Cobb’s Creek, Pennsylvania. He worked there in Mr. Kelly’s mills, then at Haverford College and on the railroad.
Francis Augustine Driscoll was born on April 15, 1889, on Staten Island, New York, to Daniel Driscoll and Emma Biery. For a time, his family were members of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, where Francis received the Sacrament of Confirmation on December 10, 1901. After graduating from Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, he was received into the novitiate on July 4, 1905. He professed simple vows on July 5, 1906, and solemn vows on July 7, 1909.
Lorenzo A. Andolfi, son of Pietro Andolfi and Elisabetta Marcucci, was born on December 24, 1888, in Roccalvecce, Viterbo, Italy, where he received his early education. When Lorenzo was ten years old his mother died, leaving his father and Don Giovanni Sonni to encourage him in a religious vocation. On September 7, 1903, he entered the Augustinian Novitiate at Carpineto Romano, south of Rome, and professed first vows on December 25, 1904.
Richard Dominic Appicci, was born on February 4, 1928, at North Bergen, New Jersey, the son of Domenico Appicci and Ida Rimoldi. He had one sister, Beatrice. He was baptized on March 25, 1928, at Saint Rocco Church, Fairview, N.J., and attended Jefferson Elementary School and Franklin Junior High School in North Bergen, and Emerson High School in Union City. After graduation in 1945, he worked as a radio repairman, mail clerk, sales clerk, and psychiatric technician. He began night-school college studies at Fairleigh-Dickinson University in 1946, and served in the U.S. Army from 1950-1952 in France.
Philip Francis Barrett was born on March 12, 1918 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Patrick Barrett and Anna Aneen. He was baptized in the Church of Saint Francis de Sales, Philadelphia, on March 24, 1918, and was raised in Larksville, Pa. He attended Saint Vincent’s School in Plymouth, Pa., and in 1935 he entered Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, as a postulant. Following his high school education, Philip worked at Bendex Aviation Corporation. With the outbreak of the Second World War, he entered the military in 1942, serving in the Navy until 1945.
Philip Henry Foley was born on May 24, 1921 in Audubon, Iowa, to Philip Foley and Veda Minerman. He was baptized in June 1921, at Saint Patrick’s Church in that city. Philip attended Saint Sabina Parochial School, Chicago, for six years before enrolling in Saint Nicholas of Tolentine School, Chicago, for the last two years of his elementary education. He began his secondary education at Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Chicago, and later transferred to Saint Rita High School. After a year at Saint Rita, Philip was accepted as a postulant into Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, which granted him a diploma in 1942.
Anthony A. Cirami was born on January 26, 1908, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Joseph Cirami and Maria Grazia, and was baptized in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in South Philadelphia. He received his early education at Our Lady of Good Counsel School, and entered Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, as a postulant on September 9, 1924. He was admitted into the novitiate in 1928, and professed simple vows on September 10, 1929.
Eugenio Maria Zega, son of Pietro Zega and Rosa Marziali, was born on November 5, 1910, in S. Angelo in Pontano, Le Marche, Italy. He attended the elementary school in that town from 1920 to 1925, and high school at the Ginnasio Salesiano, from 1925 to 1929, at Genzano, Lazio, Italy. In 1930, he entered the novitiate in Tolentino where, after he professed simple vows on October 18, 1931, he studied philosophy and theology from 1931 to 1936.
Henry Ambrose Fleming, son of William Fleming and Anna Tanner Ra, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 26, 1826. Reared a staunch Presbyterian, upon reaching manhood he was converted and received into the Church by Father John O’Dwyer, O.S.A., on July 4, 1847. He entered the seminary at Saint Charles but was obliged to discontinue there in order to support his aged mother. He had attended Villanova College from 1851 until 1854, and following his mother’s death in January 1869, he then returned to Villanova several months later as a postulant. He was admitted to the novitiate on January 20, 1870, professed simple vows on January 21, 1871, and then solemn vows on January 25, 1874.
John William Dwyer, son of Patrick Dwyer and Elizabeth Lawler, was born in Hellertown, Pennsylvania, on January 22, 1889. His primary education was obtained at Holy Infancy Parochial School, South Bethlehem, Pa, after which he attended Villanova Preparatory School for four years. He was received into the novitiate on June 25, 1909, made his simple profession of vows the following year, and in September, 1911, was sent to Saint Monica’s International College in Rome for his theological training.