Alumni Blog
Carry The Fire – The Covella Brothers – Peter (’73) & Jerry (’75)
Posted June 10th, 2017
On Wednesday, May 11th, Class of 1975 alum Jerry Covella visited St. Augustine Prep’s campus for a strategic planning meeting with Alumni Leadership and the Hermits Leadership Network. Jerry is a longtime supporter of the Prep, having previously served on the Alumni Board of Trustees, and is also the proud parent of two OLMA graduates, where he most recently dedicated his time and talents to coaching the Villagers lacrosse team.
Jerry crafted a long and successful career in the journalism and publishing industries, serving for over 20 years with Gannett Newspapers where he excelled as a sports writer, sports editor, and news editor; he was also the president and publisher of New Jersey Golf Magazine. After leaving the media field, Jerry’s professional path has been focused on entrepreneurial pursuits; he is currently a certified business coach for FocalPoint, where he consults with small and mid-sized businesses to help their management teams define a clear, quantifiable path to creating a stress-free workplace and true success. Mr. Covella is also very active in the local business community, serving on the Gloucester County, Greater Millville, and Greater Vineland Chambers of Commerce.
While at the Prep, Jerry was an active member of the Student Council, as well as a varsity tennis player and a key performer on the state championship cross country team during his senior year. He credits iconic Prep teacher and cross country coach, Dr. John Mahoney, for a piece of advice that has motivated him ever since – “Just when you think you have given everything you have, give a little more.”
Jerry followed his brother, Pete, Class of ’73, into the Prep. Together, the Covella brothers are another example of the value that so many families have placed, and continue to place on the Augustinian educational experience that St. Augustine Prep provides for the young men of southern New Jersey. The brothers are standard bearers of the professional and personal achievement attained by so many of our Hermits alumni.
Pete Covella has built an illustrious career as an energy and commodities trader. Currently working independently, leveraging his experience and his proven track record of success in the industry, Pete is now focused on crude, corn, and ethanol. His professional path has taken him up and down the eastern seaboard of the United States, as well as the United Kingdom, serving in key roles with global powerhouses Mobil Oil, Exxon Mobil, and Amerada Hess; in his most recent role prior to establishing his independent operation, Pete worked for 10 years as Vice President Risk Management and Products Trading for Noble Americas Corp.
After graduating from the Prep, Pete went on to earn a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Drexel University in Philadelphia, graduating with high honors. He also earned an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering and an M.B.A. in Financial Management, both from Drexel. Completing his impressive educational pedigree is an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Married since 1986, Pete is the proud father of three children, and grandfather of four. Currently residing in Stamford, Connecticut, Pete’s interests are varied and include sailing, skiing, bicycle riding, cooking, and making wine, limoncello, and soppressata. Pete is also active in singing choir, which he has done since 1994. He loves automobiles, especially Porsche and Lamborghini, and spends part of his spare time driving a tractor-trailer for his brother-in-law’s farm in Nebraska.
St. Augustine Prep thanks Jerry and Pete for the role that they played in blazing the path for the generations of Hermit Brothers who walked in “Richland’s proud and peaceful glen” after them, including our young men on campus today. Their contributions as Hermits are valued, and their personal and professional achievements as alumni make us exceptionally proud.