Click, click, click. The shiny head of its black and silver lining along the outside, with its heavy weight of iron bringing it down, joins the pages of paper like a dominant shadow above a bright city.
The thin, sharp pieces of metal press down one by one on the blank sheets of nothingness, folding its ends away slowly. Holding it in the palm of a hand, it is rough and smooth all at once, yet still feels potently mighty as its bold black lettering reads, Boston 20.
The Boston 20 is a firm, vintage style, all metal stapler that has been around for decades. Although they have been discontinued for some time now, whenever they do make an appearance to the public eye, it creates a buzz.
Under the current ownership of Michael Vezzali-Pascual ’88, the Boston 20 sits high and mighty in his classroom. However, beyond just being a stapler, there is an enticing story behind its origin, trailing a tradition that has been followed for years.
Being in the Riordan English Department for around 40 years, Tom Barber was its original holder in the late 70s and early 80s. In teaching Vezzali-Pascual as a student, he was first introduced to the Boston 20 Stapler, not knowing it would be under his ownership in the future.
After graduating, he returned to Riordan in 1993 as an alumnus, and Barber was still the English Department Chair. Leaving a few years later, Vezzali was no longer alone, as two of his former school mates joined the faculty of the English department, that being Doug Brown and Chris Valdez.
In the passing down of the stapler, Brown became the new owner, until he eventually left in 1997, giving it to Vezzali, who is its current owner and has had it ever since.
Looking back on receiving it, Vezzali said, “It reminds me of that time at Riordan and the connection we all had,” adding, “… of the time we spent together here first as schoolmates and now as colleagues.”
Aside from being a materialistic object, it has deeper, meaningful value to the embracing, loving culture of Riordan, as it not only connects the past to the present, but shows the uniqueness of culture through impact.
Don Dilag ’25, a student of Vezzali’s, stated, “It represents the legacy and culture of Riordan as it is a symbol of the past teachers who once walked these halls and classrooms and laid the foundation for the students and teachers today.”
Now, as a tradition, there are some rules Vezzali has to uphold to keep the legacy true. These rules were placed by Barber himself, and consisted of freshmen not being able to use it immediately, having students staple their papers a certain way, and most importantly, having to take a yearbook photo with it every year.
That being said, the future of this tradition awaits for three people in the English Department, all alumni of Riordan. Kevin Estrada ’00, Richard Sylvester ’01, and Brian Kosewic ’16, all of whom have had an association with Vezzali in the past.
Whether it has been through class experience of when they were students, or during retreats like Kairos, they have gained the trust and knowledge to uphold the legacy when the time is right.
“It’s one of those random and unique memories that you carry with you from school long after you’ve forgotten everything you learned in class,” Kosewic said.
Riordan is like no other place. Full of a unique, loving, embracing culture that has been rooted in the Marinsist Legacy for decades, making it a school of special community and involvement. However, it is the people in the school that make it so special, bringing the spirit to a whole new level.
“Coed or all boys doesn’t matter, it’s the same wonderful legacy and that’s what’s important,” Vezzali said. Adding, “Now, there’s no better time to be a Crusader. The good old days are now.”
