On May 24, at the graduation ceremony for the Class of 2015, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School inducted Simon R. Cory and Paul John (PJ) Staab II into the SHG Hall of Fame. They were recognized for the exemplary ways in which they integrated the mission of SHG into their lives.
PJ Staab graduated from Griffin High School in 1976 and attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), where he received an associate's degree in mortuary science. Having worked in nearly every position at Staab Funeral Home, including grounds and maintenance, he currently is president of Staab Funeral Home. He and his family are dedicated to providing funeral services for the under-served in the Springfield area and numerous times each year, bury or cremate those who have no family or friends.
Staab is involved in many activities throughout the Springfield area. He assisted in the construction of the Spaulding Veterans Memorial and the New Berlin Area Veterans Memorial and now serves on both of their boards. Having been a life-long member of Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Parish, he served on the executive committee for its restoration and helped with the campaign to fund the project. He has also served on almost every committee and activity at Cathedral.
Most recently, Staab worked with combat veterans to recreate the funeral hearse that carried President Abraham Lincoln to his final resting place at Oak Ridge Cemetery. (See CT, 5/17/15.) He was instrumental in the historical weekend when Springfield re-enacted the funeral procession of President Lincoln in honor of the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's death.
Staab Funeral Home participated in the SHG internship program, sponsoring several interns at the funeral home which allowed students to gain experience in the workplace while earning tuition assistance.
Staab has been married to his wife, Ruth, for 30 years and they have six children — Elizabeth, Courtney, Paul John III, Lauren, Peter and Parker — who all attended SHG.
The late Simon Cory graduated from Griffin in 1966 and received his bachelor's degree from SIUC in 1971. He began his teaching career as a science teacher at Griffin High School immediately following his college graduation.
During his tenure at Griffin and then SHG, Cory taught biology, health, theology and later became Dean of Students and campus minister. He was also active and instrumental in the Wilderness Adventure Club, SHG Works, JOSHUA (Journey of Service Helping Upper Appalachia) and the Kairos retreats.
In fact, Cory was responsible for bringing the Kairos program to SHG. He served as a leader on 42 Kairos retreats, a retreat enabling the participants to know God, themselves and one another better. The Kairos program continues to be a highlight of students' high school career at SHG.
Besides his involvement at the high school, Cory held many leadership roles at St. Joseph Parish in Springfield, St. Joseph's Home in Springfield and at Habitat for Humanity.
He passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on June 5, 2014. Cory and his wife, Kathleen, were married for 44 years and raised five children — Colleen, Patrick, Bridget, Megan and Tommy — who all attended Sacred Heart-Griffin. His wife accepted the honor posthumously on Cory's behalf.