Makeover to enhance Mary’s immaculate image
May 22, 2019
When students and faculty enter Riordan through the front door or walk around during munch and lunch, out of the corner of their eyes, they are bound to notice the 65 year old statue of Mary, the Immaculate Conception, right in the middle of the courtyard.
Some have noticed over the years that the statue is not as clean as it used to be. In response, Riordan alumnus Reno Taini ’59 and his friend, Mark Fontana, who is also the owner of V. Fontana & Co, are coming to Riordan to restore Mary.
Taini is invested becausehis father was one of the firstgroundskeepers of Riordan, and he was one of the people who shored up the statue before the earthquake of 1955.
They have already come, inspected, and worked on Mary. They plan on not just deep cleaning Mary, but are also doing extra work to showcase the importance of Mary overall, and specifically to our community.
Tani said, “Some little suggestions from Mark (Fontana) is this: eliminate the green shrubs at the base of the statue, then the focus will be very dramatic and purposeful. Also, the opportunity to explain more about this precious statue of Mary on a plaque is possible. She has a fine story ofinspiration and survival.”
The deep cleaning of the statue is important to some at Riordan community. Alex Datoc ’87, Director of Campus Ministry, said, “I believe that the importance is that she is located in a central location of the school, and she is the central figure of our school being a Marianist school.”
He added, “She symbolizes the Marianist society and us (Riordan) being a Marianist school. She is our role model and guardian of the courtyard.”
