An outstanding basketball player and a track star with an unbroken record have been inducted into the Academy of the Holy Angels’ Athletic Hall of Fame. Sister Virginia Brobowski, Class of 1961, and Julie Clifford Murray, Class of 1999, were recognized at a recent ceremony at Academy of the Holy Angels.
AHA President Melinda Hanlon addressed the attendees, providing overviews of each athlete’s accomplishments.
Sister Virginia Bobrowski, who was honored in absentia, attended AHA when the school was still at its original location in Fort Lee. “Ginny Bro,” as she was known to her teammates on the basketball team, was known for her leadership and integrity as well as her abilities on the court. Sister Virginia played three years on the varsity team and served as captain during her senior year at AHA.
Over the years, Sister Virginia returned to AHA twice more. In 1967, when she was known as Sister Anthony, she became an AHA faculty member who specialized in chemistry, math, and religion. She shared her love of basketball by serving as coach from 1968 to 1971, when she left AHA to pursue her master’s degree.
She again returned to her alma mater in 2005, when she became interim president. She continued on in the role of president until 2013, when S. Virginia accepted a post as pastoral associate in Boston.
Most recently, Sister Virginia became a volunteer for Solidarity with South Sudan, a health and education program sponsored by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Her contribution to this program involved providing two months of teacher training.
Sister Virginia is currently a Provincial Councilor for the Atlantic-Midwest Province of School Sisters of Notre Dame, a role she accepted in July.
Julie Clifford Murray showcased her athletic prowess as captain of the cross country, track and field, and basketball teams.
As an Angel, Murray set the school record in the 800 meters, which remains unbroken. Her athletic endeavors led to her being named to the All-Bergen cross country and track teams. She was also the YMCA of Greater Bergen County’s 1999 High School Athlete of the Year.
When Rutgers University offered Murray a scholarship to run for the university, she accepted and soon made a name for herself at her new school. She earned varsity letters in cross country and winter and spring track, and participated in the 4x800 meter relays.
While she was forging her memorable athletic career at Rutgers, Murray was also named to the Dean’s List and the All-Big East Academic All-Star Team multiple times. In 2003, she graduated from Rutgers with a bachelor’s degree in history and political science.
Since then she has run the New York Marathon twice. She still runs through her hometown of Oradell.
Murray’s busy life now includes her family and her work as Assistant Corporate Secretary at Starr Companies, a global insurance and investment company.
Since 1879, thousands of women have passed through the portals of Academy of the Holy Angels high school, the oldest private girls’ school in New Jersey. Many go on to study at some of the nation’s best universities, earning high-ranking positions in medicine, government, law, education, public service, business, arts and athletics. Our goal is to provide each girl with the tools she needs to reach the fullness of her potential—spiritually, intellectually, socially and physically, by offering a first –rate education in a nurturing environment where equal importance is placed on academic excellence, character development, moral integrity and giving service to others.
- Jennifer Crusco, the Communications Assistant, The Academy of the Holy Angels
