Stephen Oliver. Photo by Georgine Benvenuto
Stephen Oliver was born and raised in Brooklyn and still resides in Bay Ridge. He began his education at St. Patrick’s School, then graduated in 1980 from Xavier High School in Manhattan. He attended St. John’s University and Brooklyn Tech, where he earned a degree in hotel and restaurant management.
Oliver’s maternal great-grandfather, Thomas Pentony, who fought for Ireland’s freedom, moved his family to the north of Ireland, and his grandfather, Francis Aloysius Pentony, was born in the city of Newry, County of Armagh. The name Pentony dates from the Norman invasion of Ireland around 800 years ago. Francis moved his family to America and settled in St. Thomas Aquinas parish in Flatbush
Oliver’s exposure to the restaurant industry began as a young boy, working for his father in Pipin’s Pub. He worked from the bottom up, learning every aspect of the business, until he opened his own establishment, Chadwick’s, in 1987 at the age of 25. Chadwick’s has become a staple in Bay Ridge and is currently entering its 25th year of successful operation. In addition to Chadwick’s, Oliver returned to his roots seven years ago as one of the partners in Pipin’s Pub. Both of these establishments continually support various organizations within the Bay Ridge community.
In 2007, Oliver was named the head coach of Fontbonne’s Junior Varsity basketball team and, in 2008, he was named Varsity head coach. The team has been very successful under his reign, garnering two Brooklyn/Queens championships and, for the first time in school history, won the city championship. While he is proud of the many accomplishments of his teams over the last four seasons, he said is most proud of the way these incredible young women consistently represent themselves and Fontbonne in a manner of which we can all be proud.
Oliver turned 50 on March 18. He has been married to his wife Laurie for 24 years and they have three children: Stephen, 21, a Xavier High School graduate and a junior basketball player at the College of Mount Saint Vincent; Jillian, 18, a Fontbonne alumnus and freshman at Iona College; and Kate, 15, a sophomore and member of the Varsity basketball and soccer teams at Fontbonne.
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