Albert Einstein High School
Athletic Hall of Fame and Alumni Association

To: All Hall of Fame Members-Coaches

From: Malcolm Wilson, Co-Founder and Secretary  MDW

RE: Bob Owens

Effective Tuesday, January 9, 2024, Bob Owens will officially relinquish the leadership of the organization he helped found, the AEHS Athletic Hall of Fame. With the help of his friend Rob Westwood, he put a vision in motion. There are not enough words in my vocabulary to express the deep thanks I know I have for those two reaching out to me back in late 2005 to see if I would be interested in helping.

We went from a mission of recognizing the early standout athletes to adding scholarships, supplementing equipment needs and subsidizing camps and outside training opportunities. Over the past 17 years, Bob, along with Joe Monte and others, we raised enough money to fund over $400,000.00 in scholarships to date, and provide uniform and equipment needs as well as infrastructure support to the school (fencing in the ball fields, press box painting, shot put landing pad) to mention a few. With the guidance of Ricky Eisenacher and others, he put in place a first-class golf tournament, which is our main source of revenue. Bob has also, at the request of individual families and friends, created two new scholarships in the last year. 

His willingness to expand the reach of the Hall of Fame led to a partnership with Carol Chelemer and the Alumni Association, and through her efforts, the subsequent formation of the Arts Hall of Fame. Carol is also on the AEHS HOF Board of Directors. These three groups have succeeded in raising the profile and recognition of both the school and the individuals that have passed through its hallways. 

I spent eight years (2001-2009) as the parent of two Titan athletes, who participated in five different sports, and I served on the board of the Booster Club, (which Bob also helped found in the early 70’s when I attended Einstein) and was keenly aware of the culture at that time.  I’m pretty certain, that without Bob’s dream, we’d still be struggling for recognition in this respect. 

I am confident that the selection of Chairman Robert Stouffer and Vice Chairman Patrick Randall will continue to move the Hall forward. I have seen first hand their commitment to the mission and also the fresh ideas that young minds bring to the table. 

Finally, it was unanimously agreed upon at our last Board Meeting that Bob Owens will retain the title of Chairman Emeritus of Albert Einstein Hall of Fame. I hope that you all will take a moment to thank Bob for his work and continue to support your Hall of Fame. 

Congratulations to former lacrosse player Ariane Leon ('21) who was selected for and played (even started some games) for the Mexican women's national team in the Women's World Lacrosse Championship tournament over the last few weeks. Way to go Ariane! Ariane is also a member of the women's lacrosse team at the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine. (Vol. #95, September 2022)

James Heffney (’19), a redshirt sophomore catcher, has earned the University of Maryland's Sportsmanship Award, which given to a player who has distinguished himself or herself through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. He is majoring in mathematics at the University. The Maryland baseball team posted its best record in history with 44 wins and the Big Ten regular season title. The Terrapins ranked eighth in the country as they headed into the regional tournament. (Vol. #93, June 2022)

Arnold Ebiketie (’17), who played defensive end for Temple University and Penn State University, has been drafted by the National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons. Arnold was the sixth selection in the second round of the draft. After playing three seasons at Temple, Arnold transferred to Penn State as a senior. During his senior season in 2021, Arnold was named second-team All-America and first-team All-Big Ten. He finished second in the Big Ten in tackles for loss and third in sacks. Falcon fans are excited about Arnold’s joining the team. Sportswriter Matt Miller wrote that “Ebiketie will provide a much-needed boost to the Falcons' edge-rushing game and should factor into the rotation at defensive end very early in his career. Ebiketie has an ideal skill set to fill an outside linebacker role in [defensive coordinator] Dean Pees' 3-4 scheme.” Writing in USA Today’s Falcons Wire, Matt Urben commented that “I’m quite impressed by Ebiketie’s athletic potential, movement skills, and palette of schemes to get to the quarterback.” (Vol. #92, May 2022)

In his 25-year career at Albert Einstein High School, Bob Boyle covered all the bases. His students and colleagues knew him as a father figure, a teacher, a caregiver-even a best man. But last weekend he was remembered in the role that suited him best: Coach.  Boyle, who coached baseball for 23 years and junior varsity football for 20 years, as well as short stints with gymnastics and girls' basketball, was inducted into the Albert Einstein High School Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, in the company of 15 other coaches, athletes and founders inducted into the 2008 Hall of fame class, many of whom thanked Boyle for his contributions to their own accomplishments. (Click the headline to read the whole article.)

Jen Beasley | Staff Writer Gazette Newspapers Wednesday October 1, 2008.