La Salle Academy’s Scholarship Benefit Bios
God Shammgod ’95
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Harlem, God Shammgod ’95, also known as Shammgod Wells, embodies the true spirit of a La Salle Academy graduate and a New York City basketball legend as he became a McDonald’s All American his senior year. After La Salle he played two years at Providence College, leading the team to the 1997 Elite 8 before entering the NBA draft.
After Providence, he was the 45th pick in the 1997 NBA draft and was signed to the Washington Wizards. He later played in the Chinese Basketball Association and overseas. Throughout his career, Shammgod has played with and trained some of the best ball players in the NBA.
After his professional playing days in the NBA and overseas, Shammgod found his true calling – coaching, teaching and giving back to his community. Shammgod re-enrolled at Providence in 2012 to complete his undergraduate studies and earned a bachelor’s degree in Leadership Development in May 2015. He served as an undergraduate student assistant on Ed Cooley’s staff. Currently, Shammgod is the Player Development Coach with the Dallas Mavericks and plays a significant role in the development of all the team’s players, most notably NBA All Star guard Luke Doncic.
Shammgod signed to RocNation Sports Management in 2016 and became a brand ambassador for Puma. His signature sneaker with Puma, The Legacy Shammgod Basketball shoes, released on June 15, 2020. Outside of basketball, Shammgod still carries the Lasallian spirit through his work in poverty-stricken communities in New York City. He has sponsored a cancer walk and a back-to-school basketball tournament for kids. Shammgod has also partnered with the Share for Life Foundation and the New York City Housing Authority by providing sponsorship support, educational programs, services for residents, and masks during the pandemic. He continues to leave a lasting impact on the next generation of basketball players and the greater New York City community.
Shammgod was inducted into La Salle Academy’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011, so La Salle Academy is thrilled to honor him with a Lasallian Medal at the 30th Annual Scholarship Benefit this year.
William “Bill” Scarry ’59
William “Bill” Scarry ’59 was born and raised in New York City on 52nd Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues. He started at La Salle Academy in 1955 and was a successful athlete. During his four years at La Salle, he was co-captain and captain of the freshman, junior varsity and varsity basketball teams. La Salle won the JV championship during Bill’s sophomore year. Bill was coached by Brother Phillip his freshman year, Brother Cormac during his sophomore year and Hall-of-Fame Coach Danny Buckley during his junior and senior year.
After graduating from La Salle in 1959, Bill attended Newberry College in Newberry, South Carolina on a full basketball scholarship. Bill lettered all four years while at Newberry and was the starting point guard his sophomore year for Newberry’s first NAIA trip to Kansas City in 1961 for the National Championship. He was also the starting point guard for both his junior and senior year while at Newberry College. On the 1960-1961 national title team, Bill was All-Tournament, All-Conference, Outstanding Sophomore of the Year and was Honorable Mention, All-State. During the 1961-1962 season, Bill was All-Tournament, All-Conference and Bergen MVP. Bill was also co-captain for both the 1961-1962 and 1963-1964 seasons. Bill played for Newberry College Hall of Fame coaches, Tom Quinn, who recruited Bill, and Neil Gordon for his senior year. Bill received his Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce and was a member of the Kappa Phi Social Fraternity, Newman Club and made the Dean’s list during his senior year.
After graduating from Newberry College in 1964, Bill attended one of the first training programs in the developing computer industry with Control Data Corporation. He has had a career in sales, primarily in the Information Technology field, where he distinguished himself with numerous sales achievement awards throughout his career.
Bill currently lives in McLean, Virginia with his wife, Karen, and has three children, Anne (resides in Charleston, SC), John (resides in McLean, VA) and Trish (resides in Charleston, SC). Bill has four grandchildren, Rachel, Rebecca, Michael and Abby.
La Salle Academy is thrilled to honor William “Bill” Scarry ’59 with The Legacy Award this year, as his kindness and generosity toward La Salle has existed for many years and will continue for many more.
John “Jack” Scarry ’52
John “Jack” Scarry ’52 grew up on the east side of Manhattan along with his brother Bill ’59 and his sisters, Maureen and Kathleen. At La Salle, Jack was a star athlete. He won numerous medals, placing in the top three at events including the Eastern Cross-Country Championships, NYU Interscholastic games, Bronx-Manhattan-Westchester games, and the Interscholastic Cross-Country Championships at Fordham. He was part of the relay team that set the CHSAA record for the 4×100 at Van Cortlandt Park and competed at the Millrose Games.
After La Salle, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Army and was selected for the 82nd Airborne division. Upon leaving the army, he attended St. John’s University on the GI Bill. Working multiple jobs and finishing St. John’s in 3.5 years, he graduated with a degree in Industrial Labor Relations, and was acknowledged as the top student in that major.
Upon graduation, Jack was accepted into the highly competitive IBM sales training program. He had a long and successful career in computer sales management, continuing with Honeywell, GE and NCR Comten, and culminated with him running his own sales company.
Jack often credited his solid foundation to his formative years at La Salle and made sure to support La Salle throughout his life, whether it be through donations or his time. After his sister, Kathleen, passed away, he established an endowed scholarship in her memory at La Salle Academy. Besides his family and friends, the Yankees and the stock market, one of his greatest passions was making sure the young men who followed after him at La Salle were able to continue with their education.
Jack passed away on March 22, 2022, but he knew about this great honor and was excited and grateful to be recognized with his brother by his alma mater. Jack was married to his wonderful wife, Linda, for 38 years until she died in 2010. He is survived by his loving family, daughters Elizabeth Batenhorst (Chris), Jane Petrucci (Vin) and Sarah Scarry, and son John Scarry, along with his two granddaughters whom he adored, Maggie and Sarah Batenhorst, his siblings, Bill Scarry and Maureen Feltman, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
La Salle Academy is thrilled to posthumously honor John “Jack” Scarry ’52 with The Legacy Award this year, as his kindness and generosity toward La Salle has existed for many years.
St. Francis College
St. Francis College, for more than 160 years, has provided a diverse student body, from Brooklyn and around the world, an accessible private college education rooted in Franciscan values of inclusivity and respect of all people.
Located in the heart of Brooklyn — minutes from Wall Street, world-class cultural institutions and leading entrepreneurial hubs — St. Francis College offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and five master’s degree programs that inspire lifelong learning and prepare students for fulfilling careers in the 21st-century global economy.
In September 2022, the College is moving to a new state-of-the-art campus located in Downtown Brooklyn to accommodate enrollment growth as well as offer its students a first-class campus experience. The new Downtown Brooklyn campus, located only minutes away from the current campus, offers modern, flexible classrooms, labs and research facilities.
St. Francis College is also launching several new degree programs in Finance, Community Health, Exercise and Movement Science and more, as well as strengthening its flagship programs like accounting, biology, nursing and psychology. Visit sfc.edu/forward to learn more.
La Salle Academy is thrilled to honor St. Francis College, under the leadership of President Miguel Martinez-Saenz, with the Educator of the Year Award at their 30th Annual Scholarship Benefit. Through St. Francis College’s Bridge Plus Program, La Salle Academy has incorporated seven dual-enrollment classes into its curriculum, allowing current students attending La Salle the opportunity to receive college credit will still in high school. St. Francis College is an institution that has served La Salle students and La Salle alumni for more than 135 years and shares a similar mission to educate diverse students across the five boroughs. Join us in celebrating St. Francis College on Thursday, June 9th at Tribeca Rooftop!