Written By: Richie Adenau '27

Published On: 9/30/26

A career in broadcasting was not something Gordon Deal ’85 planned. Instead, opportunities he chose to pursue, lessons he learned through competition, and the people who supported him shaped his path. Today, Deal hosts “This Morning, America’s First News,” a nationally syndicated radio show, and is the public-address announcer for the New York Giants, but he traces much of his approach to his time at Saint Joseph High School.

At Saint Joe’s, Deal said, he was surrounded by people who wanted to see him succeed.

“I felt like, at all times, teachers and faculty had my back no matter what,” he said.

That support came alongside a constant push to improve. Deal played soccer as a Falcon, where he learned lessons about competition that would eventually carry into his career.

“There was always a push to be better,” Deal said. “And I think that for me came not only from the classroom but also from athletics.”

After graduating from Saint Joe’s, Deal attended Rutgers University, where an unexpected opening helped launch his broadcasting career.

While playing soccer as a freshman Scarlet Knight, he saw an ad in the Rutgers newspaper for positions at WRSU, the university’s radio station. Deal applied and landed a role doing play-by-play.

The opportunity opened the door to a career that took him through numerous radio and broadcasting roles. He worked at WCTC, WINS, and WCBS before joining Metro Networks. Along the way, he became a public-address announcer for the New York Knicks and New York Liberty before eventually joining the Giants. Deal was recently inducted into the Rutgers Radio Hall of Fame in May 2026, recognizing his contributions to the university’s broadcasting community.

Along the way, Deal learned the importance of seizing opportunities rather than waiting for them to come to him.

“I learned to not say no to opportunities,” Deal said. “I think that it goes back to all those competitive days at Saint Joe’s where if you’re not going to do it, somebody else will.”

That mindset has continued throughout his career. Deal emphasized the importance of networking, putting himself out there and continuing to work toward the next opportunity.

Those lessons are especially relevant to his current role with the Giants. Deal said being the PA announcer for the organization comes with significant expectations.

“There’s obviously a lot of pressure,” he said. “Everybody is expected to be great at all times.”

Deal remains connected to his alma mater, serving as the master of ceremonies for the Saint Joseph Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony and dinner. He has also donated equipment to the Saint Joseph Broadcasting Club. He believes giving back is part of the school’s culture.

“I think it’s just the nature of the Saint Joe’s way to want to give back,” Deal said.

For current Falcons interested in sports media or broadcasting, Deal’s advice is simple: “Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date, say yes to those opportunities that come along, and outwork the next guy.”

Deal’s journey from a Saint Joe’s soccer player to a Rutgers broadcaster, nationally syndicated radio host, and Giants public-address announcer was built one opportunity at a time.

By Chris Harring '05

What it takes to be a Saint Joseph Man is often left up to individual interpretation, though rarely will you see it defined without the impassioned commitment to one’s community. Service, at its core, is to act in the image both of the very best of men and in the spirit of the Lord. 

Gregory Tufaro ‘85 passed away on August 10, 2026, at age 59. Greg had been battling blood cancer for years, all the while working diligently to help others as he had done throughout his life.  Even when his body was failing him, Greg never failed his community, as he continued to lead the Marisa Tufaro Foundation, founded with his wife, Cyndi, in honor of his late daughter Marisa, in their mission to provide support for children in need throughout Middlesex County.  Marisa passed away in 2017 after developing Stage IV cancer as a result of surgeries to correct a cardiac defect.  

Greg and Cyndi turned the pain of that incredible loss into a source of support for those who needed it the most, children at their most vulnerable point, by way of over $500,000 in donations since its inception in July of 2017.  In addition to the monetary support, the Tufaro Foundation also donated countless items to families in need, including food, jackets, books, school supplies and toys, and awarded over $40,000 in scholarships to students in Middlesex County who similarly devoted themselves to service work.

Greg’s contributions to Saint Joe’s, his alma mater, are equally as extensive, as he stepped in to represent the alumni community every opportunity that he had.  Students who graduated from Saint Joe’s over the past several decades and pursued careers in journalism can point to Greg as a model to follow after his many Career Day talks and the impact that he had on the local high school sports community as a writer for the Home News Tribune and Courier News for thirty years.  He was a walking encyclopedia of Saint Joe’s sports knowledge, which is why he was integral to the return of the Saint Joe’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.  Greg was also a constant partner of students looking to pursue their own service work, as he and his Foundation sponsored events like the Saint Joe’s Bowling Pro-Am and the Marisa Tufaro Bowl.

When the foundation sent out an email on August 3 announcing that it would be concluding its charitable mission, there were few who could have assumed what news would follow just one week later.  No one who saw Greg at the many events he assisted with or helped organize over the past several years could have assumed that he was quietly battling his own illness due to the passion he showed for helping others. Until his final moments, Greg was committed to making the lives around him better, and there is no greater role that someone could serve.  For that, Greg will always be a model for all future Falcons to follow.  

By Richie Adenau '27

On February 3, Saint Joseph High School welcomed back alumnus Brandon Bielak '14 to have his jersey number retired during halftime of the varsity basketball game against Sayreville. The ceremony recognized his outstanding achievements as a Falcon.

"It was a pretty special moment," Bielak said in a recent interview.  

Bielak was a standout pitcher at Saint Joe's, finishing his high school career with 159 strikeouts and only 20 earned runs.  In 2014, he won the GMC Player of the Year and led the Falcons to a GMC Tournament Championship.  His outstanding high school career earned him induction into the Saint Joseph High School Hall of Fame.   

After graduation, he went on to play in college at Notre Dame and in the minor leagues. He then went on to play in the MLB for the Oakland Athletics and the Houston Astros, winning a World Series ring.

Bielak's jersey retirement serves as an inspiration to current Saint Joseph High School student-athletes, showing that determination and hard work can lead to playing at the highest level.