DANBURY—Immaculate High School (IHS) will honor Anthony W. Cirone, Jr., of Newtown, Conn., and Msgr. Thomas Powers of Darien, Conn., at their 17th Annual Gala “Together Again on Broadway” for their support and commitment to Immaculate High School, Catholic education and their communities. The event will be held at the Amber Room Colonnade, Danbury, on March 26.
Anthony T. Cirone, Jr. will receive the Nancy K. Dolan Leadership Award. He has been an Immaculate High School board member in numerous capacities since 2010 and currently serves as the vice-chairman of the board of directors as well as a member of the board finance committee which he chaired for over six years. Tony has assisted with the financial stewardship of the school as well as serving as an advocate for the school to the local business community. After spending several years working in a large Connecticut-based firm, he returned to Danbury to begin his own CPA practice in 1992. Tony is now the managing partner of CironeFriedberg, LLP, a leading regional CPA firm serving middle-market, privately held and family-owned businesses and individuals with a full range of tax, audit, accounting, and business advisory services with office locations in Bethel, Shelton and Darien, Conn.
While attending WCSU, Tony met his wife, Jen. They are the proud parents of Immaculate alumni Mike ‘15, Lauren ‘17, Kristen ‘19 and their youngest, Julia ’23. Each of their children graduated from St. Rose School in Newtown. Tony and Jen’s commitment to Catholic education has been a priority; the faith-based education their children received enabled each of them to pursue acceptance to the college of their choice and ultimately to pursue a career path they enjoy.
An active leader in community and professional organizations, Tony is a member of the boards of directors of the Western Connecticut State University Foundation, Ancell School of Business at Western CT State University, the associate board of directors, Nuvance Health, and The Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce where he also serves as treasurer. He is a corporator of Union Savings Bank as well as an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and The Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants.
The Nancy K. Dolan Leadership Award was established in 2006 in honor of Nancy Dolan, the first chairperson of the Immaculate High School Advisory Board. This award honors special individuals who exemplify the beliefs, dedication and work efforts of Mrs. Dolan, who served IHS tirelessly and was a strong community leader committed to Catholic education, works of charity and to helping those in need.
Msgr. Thomas Powers will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Msgr. Thomas W. Powers, son of Thomas, Sr., and Margaret Mary, was raised in Newtown, Conn. with his three sisters, Kathleen, Susan and Meghan, and his younger brother, Christopher. While at Immaculate, Msgr. Powers played football and tennis, was engaged in several clubs and activities and served as student council president his senior year. He attended the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, where he graduated in 1987 earning a bachelor of arts in economics and minoring in finance. Upon graduation, Msgr. Powers worked as a financial consultant with Andersen Consulting in New York City, followed by one year in Puerto Rico with the Center for Social Concerns of the University of Notre Dame.
In 1992, he entered St. John Fisher Seminary in Trumbull and later earned a bachelor’s degree in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University and a licentiate from the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family. Msgr. Powers was ordained a priest on May 24, 1997.
After serving as parochial vicar at St. Theresa Parish in Trumbull from 1998 to 2001 and as the spiritual director of St. John Fisher Seminary and chaplain of Trinity Catholic High School in Stamford from 2001 to 2005, Msgr. Powers was assigned as an official in the Congregation for Bishops in Vatican City from 2005 to 2015. During that time, he lived at and served as a spiritual director at the Pontifical North American College. While in Rome, he was also tapped to be the “English-language voice of the Vatican” during Christmas Midnight Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. In 2010, Monsignor Powers was named a “Chaplain to His Holiness” by Pope Benedict XVI.
In 2015, Msgr. Powers returned to the Diocese of Bridgeport to serve as vicar general. Since October 2020, while continuing in the role of Vicar General, he has been pastor of St. John Parish in Darien.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to the service of others in their community, parish, family and circle of friends as well as recognition and support to Catholic education and its importance in the lives of our young men and women.
Immaculate’s Annual Gala will feature dinner, dancing, silent and live auctions and a $10,000 cash raffle drawing. Tickets are $175 per person or $350 per couple. There are sponsorship and advertising opportunities available. To purchase tickets, sponsorships or advertising, please visit: www.immaculatehs.org/gala.
For more information about the Gala, contact Jeannie Demko, director of events, at jdemko@myimmaculatehs.org or call 203.744.1510 ext. 158.
Located in Danbury, Conn. Immaculate High School is a private, non-profit Catholic college-preparatory institution serving students from 28 communities in Connecticut and New York. Founded in 1962, Immaculate High School also allows students to focus on their spiritual development, personal moral commitments and service to others.
