Tarmac Online

Albert Heinlein ’43 returns to campus to celebrate his 100th birthday

By Blake Lou Weaver ’27

In 1943 the world was at war. The Soviet Union was standing its ground at the Battle of Stalingrad and the Allies were invading Sicily. Back home in the U.S., the Pentagon Building was completed, the Zoot Suit Riots were happening in Los Angeles, and the hit Broadway Musical “Oklahoma!” had just made its debut. In addition to these, Albert Heinlein had just graduated from Chaminade High School.

On September 26, 2025, Albert Heinlein ’43 returned to Chaminade to celebrate his 100th birthday. He was accompanied by his daughter, Mary Lou, and his son-in-law, Bob. Bro. Thomas Cleary, S.M. ’81, as well as a group of upperclassmen, were waiting outside for his arrival. Wearing a senior white sweater, Al was back like he had never left.

After his arrival, everyone gathered in the Darby Auditorium Lobby, eager to listen to him share stories from his time at Chaminade. Growing up in Huntington, he recalled waking up at 5:30 every morning to get on the train to Mineola. “Back then, I was the only guy from Suffolk County.” While this experience may have been tough for him, he certainly thinks it was worth it. “There has not been a day in which I have not thought about Chaminade.”

Al also reflected on how much the school has grown since he was here. “It’s unbelievable,” he explained. “I thought it was Heaven when I was here, so I can’t believe they could make it even better.”

Al played football all four years at Chaminade and recalled lots of memories from practices and games with his friends and teammates. He remembered working in the cafeteria before school, serving breakfast to other classmates. He shared that his favorite subject at Chaminade was German. Being the son of German immigrants, he grew up speaking and understanding the language, which gave him a secret advantage over his classmates. He laughed, explaining, “Everybody thought I was so smart!”

He was very proud of the education he received at Chaminade, explaining, “ It was the equivalent of a college education.” Al loved Chaminade for all of these reasons, yet the biggest reason of them all was the people. He remembers the brotherhood that he felt within the walls of Chaminade, and the great mentors that he was able to learn from, remembering the names of the brothers who taught him and the coaches who helped him become great on and off the field. One of the men that he remembered most was his baseball coach, Arnie Bossu, who he claimed was “one of the best men I ever met” and was a great role model for growing up. For Al, the relationships he made were the thing he remembered the most.

 After chatting for a while and getting to know some of the faculty and students, Al wanted to check out the new cafeteria. When he walked in, he was met with a standing ovation and a wonderful rendition of “Happy Birthday” from the students who were eating lunch there.

Grant Caiafa ’26 was one of the students who was lucky enough to join Al during his visit. “Meeting Al felt like stepping into history,” Grant shared. “Even at 100, he has an amazing memory and a real spark in him. You could tell how much Chaminade meant to him, and I feel incredibly lucky that I was able to hear his stories.”

When asked about what was the most important thing he learned from his time at Chaminade, Al looked straight ahead and said, “Do the right thing at the right time, even if no one’s watching.” After over 80 years, the motto of the Chaminade Man was still strong in Al’s heart. “People say you can’t go home again, but I’m home. This is the place I love. I’m home.”

Al, we can’t wait to welcome you home for your 101st birthday!