Top photo caption: Kenneth and Patricia Horstman stand proudly with their grandson Dylan Horstman, new graduate of Red Bank Catholic High School. Courtesy photo
By David Karas, Correspondent
When 82-year-old Kenneth Horstman first contacted The Monitor’s editorial office in late May, he wanted to share the good news that his grandson and recent graduate, Dylan Horstman, had just received a special award.
Dylan, a member of Red Bank Catholic’s Class of 2026, was honored with the school’s Bishop Ahr Award in recognition of a graduate “who demonstrates academic excellence in religion and embodies the values of Christian witness and service, living their faith in everyday life.”
But during Kenneth’s interview with The Monitor, it became clear that there was more to the story. It turns out that this has been a very busy and joyful graduation season for the extended Horstman family. Another granddaughter graduated from college, and two great-grandchildren had pre-K graduations. And perhaps most notably, on May 17, Kenneth completed his bachelor of science degree in accounting from St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y., more than six decades after he started it.
Kenneth recalls that he and his wife, Patricia, were beaming with pride at the Red Bank graduation May 29. But he told The Monitor, “Had Dylan not received any award, Pat and I would have still been bursting with pride over the distinguished and caring young man that he has grown to be. He is a selfless, tireless witness of Catholicism who presents bright hope for the future of our faith.”
In presenting the award, school officials commended Dylan for living his “Catholic faith in a way that sets a powerful example for others. With a mature and thoughtful attitude, he approaches both his responsibilities and his relationships with integrity, humility and a deep sense of purpose. He has stepped up to the plate, not just as a catcher for the Caseys baseball team, but in a much more meaningful way, through his active participation in the Casey campus ministry,” of which he was a core team member.
Dylan will be going to Shenandoah Univ. (Winchester, VA) enrolled in an “Early Assurance 3 + 3 Dr. Phy. Therapy” program – and, of course, playing baseball
Grandparents on-the-go
The Horstmans have been blessed with four children, 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The couple lives in Manchester and belong to St. John Parish in Lakehurst, where Pat is a Eucharistic minister and Kenneth serves on the Finance Council and as a trustee of the Knights of Columbus.
This year’s graduation season also afforded Kenneth and his wife the chance to celebrate two of their great grandchildren – Riley Vaccaro, 5, who graduated from Pre-K at St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan; and Lucas Vaccaro, 3, who will be moving into Pre-K in the fall. They also recently traveled to Connecticut to celebrate the graduation of granddaughter Julia LaSpina from Sacred Heart University.
“Our children and grandchildren attended various parochial schools throughout the years – giving them a solid foundation in our Catholic faith,” said Kenneth, noting his pride at how his family lives their faith each day. “Of course, that education quickly evaporates if it is not supported by faith-centered family lives.”
Kenneth Horstman married Patricia in 1963, when he was a junior at La Salle University. When they later learned they were expecting twins, he paused his educational journey to focus on family.
After Kenneth took a job at Chase Manhattan Bank, he transferred to St. John’s University and took night classes after working his day job. But with two more children on the way, he eventually stepped away. He went on to have a successful career touching a number of industries – finance, construction, real estate development and retail operations – before retiring in 2015.
Back to school
In retirement, Kenneth was inspired to return to the classroom.
“The pursuit of my degree was initiated by the example of our grandkids’ achievements,” he said. “Sitting in those uncomfortable bleacher seats for hours on end gave me a lot of time to consider my own academic journey – or, more accurately, my unfinished journey. Their doctorate, master’s and undergraduate degrees called for me to revisit my goals.”
While Kenneth began his coursework remotely due to the distance from his campus, he eventually became more comfortable with returning to an in-person classroom environment. He has been reported to be the oldest graduate to “walk” in SJU history, though Kenneth takes care to note that he hasn’t researched that himself.
“My ‘cockiness’ left when I was faced with the two-hour, 100-question final exam,” he said. “The reality of an 82-year-old’s flawed memory brought some degree of panic, but with the aid of the Holy Spirit – yes, I prayed – I prevailed.”
