Anthony Celentano’s Lifelong Love of Learning Forged at Montclair Academy Has Inspired Him to Make an Estate Gift to MKA

Anthony Celentano ’74 arrived on the hill in ninth grade. His art teacher, Calvin Matzke, who combined his art and music degrees as an art teacher and artist, invited Anthony to the First Congregational Church in Montclair to hear him sing in his role as First Baritone. And while the choral program was impressive and wonderful, it was the organ playing at that service by Montclair Academy music teacher Nixon Bicknell that really impacted Anthony. Anthony started private organ lessons, and the road to his degree in music and lifetime commitment to playing the organ began. Anthony followed in the footsteps of these two musically gifted teachers and attended Westminster Choir College to study and earn two degrees in sacred music and organ.

While at Montclair Academy, Anthony was fortunate to form a bond with English teacher and advisor John Noble. English classes with him and with Allan Penner were rigorous and taught Anthony the art of writing a well-crafted, well-researched, and eloquent essay. This skill proved incredibly helpful throughout his college experience and especially when Anthony was at Seton Hall University earning his degree in counseling. It was with this degree that Anthony began a career spanning 18 years as a guidance counselor and the registrar at Pope John XXIII in Sparta, New Jersey, until his retirement in 2018.

As a member of the Class of 1974, Anthony was in the last class to graduate from Montclair Academy—and he has remained steadfast in his support of MKA’s growth while the school has maintained its connection to its founding schools. Anthony has been a longtime financial supporter of MKA and is a member of the Heritage Society because he recognized at an early age that “Other people made it possible for me to go to Montclair Academy.” He was aware of the students, families, and alumni whose contributions allowed the school to grow and flourish through the years. From many different points in his life and career, Anthony can draw a line back to the incredible academic foundation he was given and to a few very influential teachers at Montclair Academy.