2025 Homecoming Honorees

Bishop Watterson’s 2025 Homecoming Honorees were introduced to the student body by our Student Council leaders, President Ryan Alvis, Vice President Alex Das and Senior Class President Cecilia Keller. Following is the introduction:

We are very excited to introduce this year’s 2025 homecoming honorees, Mr. Paul Pardi and Mrs. Charlene Pardi!

The Pardis have been a part of the Watterson community for nearly seven decades.  Their “first” daughter started as a sophomore at Bishop Watterson in 1967 and since then their nine children, 24 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren have graduated from Bishop Watterson.  Currently Juniors Max Theado and  Jonah Gruver and Freshman Angelo Pardi and Lina Kaleta are in attendance  with many, many more to come.

Mr. Pardi’s story is incredible. A graduate of St. Charles, he went on to serve in the Air Force, then worked as a builder, literally building houses brick by brick. Many of the homes in Upper Arlington and Clintonville were constructed by Mr. Pardi, one of those being the childhood home of Deacon Campbell. Mr. Pardi also played and coached football at St. Andrew, but his biggest mark on the Watterson Community is being the Voice of the Eagles.

Mr. Pardi became the announcer starting in 1958, a job he held for 58 years, ending just recently in 2016. Mr. Pardi is even in the Athletic Hall of Fame for this position. Anyone who has heard him knows he always ended every game with his iconic catchphrase, “Please drive home safely, the life you save may be mine.”

Mrs. Pardi has her legacy here, too. She grew up attending Immaculate Conception and always kept faith at the center of her family. Her rule was simple, “Sports will not interrupt Sunday mass.” Mrs. Pardi was integral to the football team in her own way; she would make her famous meatballs for the football team before big games.

Together, the Pardis know Bishop Watterson football through and through.  Paul and Charlene have been married for 74 years and they have attended 29 straight grandparents days.  They brighten every room they enter.

The Pardis intertwined their family into the Eagle community, and from the crowd of people we can see behind us,  it would not be the same without them. We are honored to present this award to a very deserving couple. Let’s give a warm welcome to Mr. and Mrs. Pardi!