Going to Seton Hall Prep can do many positive things for boys. They become better, kinder, and more intelligent men. In addition, going to this great school also opens up many opportunities for them. A great example of this is the life of Mr. Louis Puopolo, class of 1959, who now lives in Naples, Florida. Coincidentally, my family and I were in Naples visiting friends when I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Puopolo over a great breakfast.
Mr. Puopolo was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, and he explained how he was limited in what he could do. I was curious about how he decided to enroll at The Prep. Mr. Puopolo explained that at first, he was attending Barringer High School in Newark. However, his father’s cousin, a swimming coach at the University, suggested that Mr. Puopolo go to Seton Hall Prep instead, which was in South Orange at the time. After an interview with Father Daly, the assistant headmaster of the school during that time, and an entrance test, Mr. Puopolo was admitted.
We chatted about Mr. Puopolo’s fondest memories at The Prep and living in New Jersey. He told me that just being part of a “crew” was great, as were the students around him. In addition, since he played piano, he was an important part of the theater scene at school. Also, on the side, he did some running which he enjoyed, and he continued to be an avid runner even as he got older. I asked Mr. Puopolo if there was someone or a class at The Prep that really inspired him. While Monsignor Daly was a big inspiration to him, everything he accomplished during his adult days was not dependent on anyone or anything. Rather, it was simply his own hard work and dedication.
The Theater Club was something that Mr. Puopolo was very interested in and participated significantly in at The Prep. He was always a part of the seasonal plays which we still have today at school. This love of theater was later translated into a life-long career. Mr. Puopolo first started out in advertising. During the start of his career, he was an associate producer of the pre- and post-game shows for the Mets. After, Mr. Puopolo shifted to becoming a producer and eventually ran his own production company called Puopolo Productions Inc. His company, which worked all over the country, appealed to many advertisers, their markets and agencies.
During this time, Mr. Puopolo and his company had many accomplishments. One logo with which mostly everybody is familiar is the “I Love New York” logo, which Mr. Puopolo created. This logo boosted tourism and became a billion-dollar industry. After another change in jobs, Mr. Puopolo turned to screenwriting and feature development where he directed a production of Field of Dreams with some famous actors. Mr. Puopolo traveled all over the world for his productions.
What I loved most about our meeting was how informal it was. We were just two Seton Hall Prep men who talked about life. Mr. Puopolo described his life around the world, in New Jersey, and in sunny Florida. He talked about his family and what he loved doing. What inspired me was how The Prep has stayed with him all these years and how connected he is to his fellow Prep graduates. Mr. Puopolo took the time to meet with me on a Naples morning to share his thoughts. He is one of the greatest examples of a life and career that was shaped by this amazing school.