The William J. Cronin Award was established in 2006 to annually recognize an individual, usually a Fathers’ Club member, who has given selflessly to our children and the St. Agnes Cathedral School community. This year, it is presented to Brian Joesten. Born in Queens, New York, on August 12, 1959, at a time when Nasa was beaming back the first-ever photos of Earth from orbit, Brian Joesten was the third of Edward and Mary Joesten’s five children. Like his siblings before and after him, Brian followed the same early educational path: Attending grammar school at St. Anthony of Padua before graduating to Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens.

From there, Brian entered St. John’s University, where he broadened his educational horizons, made lasting friendships, and, more importantly, met his future wife and mother of their four children, Blanche – who fell in love with him at first sight. Brian graduated St. John’s with a Bachelor's Degree in American Government and a Master’s Degree, cum laude, in Public Administration & International Relations.

Brian’s first job was with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a Management Analyst, Logistics, & Communications Manager. His career underway, Blanche and Brian decided it was time to start a family. They took their Vows of Marriage at Resurrection Ascension Church, in Middle Village, on May 2, 1987.

The happy couple soon welcomed their first child, Chrissy, born in 1990. Nick followed in 1995. Amy was born four years later, in 1999. And God delivered Katie in 2004. All are proud graduates of St. Agnes Cathedral School.

Between the births of Nick and Amy, Brian changed careers and moved to Rockville Centre. He was now a senior sales director building worldwide data networks and Chrissy was enrolled in St. Agnes Cathedral School just as Brian’s Mother had requested.

It was the start of a beautiful relationship with the school and it stretched on for 22 years. Imagine this: A Joesten child was continually enrolled at St. Agnes from Chrissy’s entry, in 1996, until Katie’s graduation in 2018. They sang in the childrens’, girls’ and teens’ choirs, performed in school plays, played soccer and basketball and volunteered as altar servers. They all attended Catholic High School, either at Chaminade or Sacred Heart Academy. Their exceptional Catholic education propelled each of them into college: Chrissy graduated from Adelphi, cum laude, with a Master’s in Education; Nick graduated from the Catholic University of America with an Economics degree; Amy graduated last May from Salve Regina University with a Business degree; and Katie, graduating from Sacred Heart Academy in June, has been accepted into Adelphi’s Nursing Program for the fall of 2022. All thanks to the excellent foundation they received at St Agnes (and their parents!).

Along the way, the Joestens were parochial school parents, school board members and presidents of the school’s Fathers’ and Mothers’ Clubs, Brian having served as SAFC president in 1999-2000 – and unsuccessfully recruited many times since for a second term. They and their children and extended family remain devout parishioners.

Brian also watched his mother run a soup kitchen continuously from the 1970’s through today. Her philanthropy set an example. It made it second nature for Brian to volunteer his time and talents toward furthering Catholic Education. Among his cherished memories is standing outside Sunday Mass selling raffles, building the school’s stage (twice), installing new playground equipment (twice), wiring the school for internet connectivity, dismantling the old & installing new school lockers, chairing charity golf outings, lighting Christmas Trees, dancing in the Nutcracker with the South Shore Symphony, serving on the School Board, volunteering for the Parish Party, coaching basketball or soccer, and raising money for Mercy Hospital or Sacred Heart.

And, especially, contributing with love for St. Agnes and its mission.

Brian, since 2008, has also been privileged to serve on the Friends of Mercy Hospital Board serving as President in 2010. He was president of the Sacred Heart Academy Fathers’ Club from 2007 –2012 and served as a St. Agnes School Board member from 2015-2018.

In his 35th wonderful year of marriage, 31 as a father, and with 26 years of experience as an active SAFC member, Brian knows how important Catholic Education is, not only in broadening each child’s horizons but in its mission as a moral compass for our wider St. Agnes family and for society as a whole – especially during these trying times. Brian would like to thank you all for choosing him as the 2022 SAFC Golf Outing Honoree. He encourages you to continue your involvement in supporting St. Agnes and the ideals of Catholic Education.