When most people think of notable Oratory alumni, most will jump to the conclusion that Danny DeVito is the most important. What people forget, however, is that Mr. DeVito is really the second most-important person to ever graduate from OP. Graduating from the Oratory Preparatory School for Blue-Ribbon Earning Young Gentleman in 2006, Jeffrey Beer is a fine example of how Oratory can transform young Padawans into Jedis who dominate the American workforce. I had the immense pleasure to have a little chat with Mr. Beer about his experience at Oratory.

1. What year did you graduate?

I graduated from Oratory in 2006.

2. What was your favorite part of Oratory?

The Catholic environment. In seventh grade, I really started taking my faith seriously. I also enjoyed being part of the OP brotherhood and making great friendships.

3. Were there any teachers or students who made an impact on you?

Some teachers that impacted me were Mr. Fava, Mr. Trefz, Mr. Crum, and Mr. Hoyt. A teacher that impacted me was Mike St. Pierre, who was very encouraging and a great role model.

4. How was Oratory different in your time from the current Oratory?

We had an even smaller school environment. My class was the largest class in Oratory history at 50 kids. Even though OP has expanded in recent years, I hope that the small school environment hasn’t changed. The education quality has improved, featuring more technology and extracurricular activities.

5. Any favorite memories from high school?

When I get together with my old OP friends, we like to share our favorite memories from high school. I enjoyed getting to know people so well in the small school environment. We used to play the floor is lava in class, which was a lot of fun as well.

6. What college did you attend/what career are you pursuing?

I attended Rutgers for undergrad, and Fordham for law school. I now work as an attorney and volunteer for the Catholic Church in youth ministry and religious education. OP helped me take on leadership roles which prepared me to pursue ambitious careers.

7. Anything else you’d like to add?

I am very grateful for my time at Oratory. My education here really prepared me for college. It also expanded my relationships with God and my fellow classmates. I have made friends that will be the godparents of my future children. It just goes to show you how many awesome people you will meet at OP. I am very supportive of this high school.