Ruben Carriedo ’61

– By Edwin Hearn, President, St. Augustine High School

Dr. Ruben Carriedo, ’61, a graduate of Notre Dame, New York University and Harvard, has not always been an active Saints alumnus.  Following college and during the early part of his professional career, his focus was the University of Notre Dame.  While serving Notre Dame with his committee work and his philanthropy, his primary relationship with Saints was through his class reunions.  Over the years, he began to realize that Catholic secondary schools had far greater need than universities and that his energy as a volunteer was needed in this arena.

Dr. Carriedo’s interest in serving others took shape in 1963, during his junior year at Notre Dame, when he heard Sergeant Shriver speak about a new federal program, the Peace Corp.  Motivated by the speech, he joined the organization following graduation and worked with the Ayara Indians inBolivia.  This experience led to a desire to be an educator.  AtNew YorkUniversityhe earned a Masters degree studying the Education of the Disadvantaged.  He continued his education at Harvard, studying Student Planning and Social Policy and earning a Doctorate in Education.  Following a highly successful career in teaching and administration in public education, Dr. Carriedo served as a research associate studying the nature of effective Catholic schools.

While continuing to serve as a consultant to school district’s on school improvement plans, Dr. Carriedo has also become an increasingly larger fixture at Saints over the past several years.  In his very quiet manner, Dr. Carriedo has become an influential face for his alma mater, helping to plan the 50th year reunion for class of ‘61’s and becoming a member of the Cor Unum Legacy Society, a group that designates a portion of their estate to Saints.  Most recently he was named varsity tennis coach and looks forward to giving back to the school that gave him the tools for a successful life.

When asked what he believed was the ideal Saints Alum, Dr. Carriedo stated:

Ideally, the alumnus comes to recognize the importance of Saints in his development – academically, spiritually and socially.  It is an acknowledgment that Saints allowed him to prepare for a career, lead a faith-based life and make a contribution to his community.

Additionally, the ideal alumnus advocates for his alma mater to family, friends and the community when it is appropriate.  I am always encouraging families to consider Saints as an option for their sons.  I am interested in enlarging the Saints family and celebrating its quality academic program, Catholic tradition and fine athletic program.

Finally, what is the role of the alumnus in passing on the “Saints Experience” to the next generation?  The contribution need not be only financial, but can be made in the form of volunteer work, attendance at Saints athletic events, reunions, and other activities.  This is a tangible way of saying “thank you.”

 Measuring the worth of a person’s life is a difficult task.  It is easy to stumble in trying to evaluate the quality and magnitude of a person’s contribution to the fabric of the community.  Dr. Carriedo has lived his life giving back to those communities that made a difference in his life.  In all the endeavors of his life, the Peace Corp, teaching, coaching, school administration, committee work at Notre Dame, Saints class reunions and finally, returning to his alma mater to coach tennis, Dr. Carriedo has intentionally tried to be a person who serves others.

Saints is indeed blessed to have Dr. Reuben Carriedo, Saintsman of the Class of 1961, return to the place that helped form him into a man who continues to contribute to the Saints Experience.