V ERITAS
The Magazine of Bishop Montgomery High School
SPRING/SUMMER 2010
UNITED WE SERVE
We Salute Our Alumni in the Military
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT/PRINCIPAL
Dear Friends of Bishop Montgomery, Mary’s prayer, the Magnificat, is her response to the Angel Gabriel’s news that she will be the mother of Jesus, the Savior. She begins: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior. For He has looked upon His handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name.” Who is this Mary? Who is this person who responds to the Angel Gabriel’s news not with fear but with joy? Who is this person who in this extraordinary moment “sees” God’s promise, sees her role in that promise and welcomes it?
We see her in other small moments throughout the Gospels—the finding of Jesus in the Temple, the wedding feast at Cana—each time she is the same person who proclaimed the Magnificat. She is the person who is direct, strong, full of faith, and love. In each instance, these things are clear—she knows her Son, she sees clearly who He is, and loves Him with a quiet strength that carries her through not only the times when Jesus is followed and adored, but also those times when there seemed to be no good news at all, only pain. She is the quiet person in the background who says yes to God’s call. This is a woman of steely resolve whose faith and love are tested over and over again. In Mary, we see a woman who welcomes and lives her mission with courage and quiet grace. I often remind our students that though they are here at Bishop Montgomery to pursue their academic education so crucial to their development as thinking human beings who will contribute to the many communities to which they will belong after they leave, what is even more crucial is how they learn to use their knowledge to serve those communities. We are each called to put our faith into action, to be about doing and not just about speaking, to pray and to live those prayers through commitment to social justice. Our students live this call every day and every day I learn of how our graduates continue to identify and live their call to holiness. In this issue of Veritas, we see graduates who, like Mary, welcome and live their mission, also with courage and quiet grace. We offer this issue of Veritas not only as a celebration of the men and women that you will meet within its pages, but also as an expression of thanksgiving for their example and service. Our gift to them is our continued prayer for them, for their mission, and for their safety. Please remember, too, that all of you, who offer us your love, your faith, and your support, continue to be in our prayers as well. You are partners in all of our endeavors. We are grateful. Sincerely,
Rosemary Distaso-Libbon President/Principal
Contents
COVER STORY United We Serve: Alumni in the Military
5
SPIRITUAL Alumna Assists in Haiti
10
ACADEMIC Academic News Commencement 2010
13 14
10
PHYSICAL Athletic Wrap-Up New Football Coach
16 18
SOCIAL
14
Student Service Awards 19 Juniors Tour D.C. Colleges 20
20
DEPARTMENTS Dates to Remember Development Class Notes Reunions & Events
4 22 24 27
27 www.bmhs-la.org
Spring/Summer 2010 • 3
FEEDBACK
Send us news of your new job, marriage, birth, latest adventure, or other event for publication in VERITAS.
Send in your news: by e-mail to amarafino@bmhs-la.org or by mail to: Development Office Bishop Montgomery High School 5430 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503
Dates to Remember September 24:
Homecoming Football BMHS vs. Laguna Beach 6:00 pm
November 2:
Undergraduate Awards BMHS Gymnasium 9:00 am
November 30:
UC and CSU Application Deadline
December 3:
December 5:
The Latin word Veritas is defined “truth.” In Roman mythology, Veritas was the goddess of truth, a daughter of Saturn and the mother of Virtue. Veritas is also the name given to the Roman virtue of truthfulness, which was considered one of the many virtues any good Roman should have possessed. “Veritas” is included in many university mottos as well, including Yale University’s Lux et Veritas (Light and Truth). Veritas is also the motto of Harvard University, and the Dominican Order of the Roman Catholic Church. The BMHS motto is “justice, truth, honor” and the case can be made that all pursuits, if they are valid, must first be rooted in truth. We, as a school community, certainly strive to achieve that goal. VERITAS magazine is published two times a year by the Development Office of Bishop Montgomery High School. For more information or to send comments or suggestions, please contact: Andy Marafino Director of Development Bishop Montgomery High School 5430 Torrance Boulevard Torrance, California 90503
Open House Students 1:00 - 3:00 pm Families 5:00 - 7:00 pm
(310) 540-2021 ext. 246 amarafino@bmhs-la.org www.bmhs-la.org
Mothers’ Club Christmas Luncheon 11:00 - 2:00 (SAC)
December 13-15:
Fall Semester Final Exams
February 12:
Black & Gold Night
For more information, go to www.bmhs-la.org or check the school calendar located in the student agenda book.
4 • Veritas
V ERITAS The Magazine of Bishop Montgomery High School
Publisher:
Rosemary Libbon, Principal
Editors:
Andy Marafino, Director of Development Dione Dierks, Asst. Director of Development Amy Traxler, Asst. Director of Development John Hong, Publications Director
Photography:
Ron Alpine, BMHS Yearbook, Vince Carreon ‘99, Bridget Fitzpatrick ‘88, Bob Knight Photo, LifeTouch, John Metcalf ‘65, Pt. Loma Nazarene University, US Air Force, Daniel Schiavi ‘97, Laura Valleni-Basile ‘87, Jaylen Wimbish ‘11, Mike Williams ‘72
Contributors:
Mike Williams ‘72
Printer:
Shanahan Printing & Graphics, Inc.
Bishop Montgomery High School
COVER STORY
UNITED WE SERVE BMHS Alumni Serve in the Military Around the Globe
I
n the long and wonderful history of Bishop Montgomery High School, thousands of graduates have gone on to lead successful lives serving the communities in which they live. BMHS graduates have excelled in careers in athletics, business, education, entertainment, homemaking, law, medicine, and a host of other professions which allow them to use their talents to make the world a better place. Amongst the BMHS alumni community, there is another sizable group that has chosen military service and many are still active today, at home and overseas. In the last few years, BMHS compiled a list of alumni who have chosen to serve in our country’s armed forces. It is our goal to make this list as comprehensive as possible as a way to acknowledge all graduates who have sacrificed for our country. It is just one small way that we can say “Thank you.”
The following stories tell of just a few of the many alums who have served or are serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard. These graduates embody the sacrifices required to serve our country. However, there are many more stories to tell and, over the next several years, we will try to tell as many as we can of other alumni in the military, here in these pages and on our website. Our list currently has the names of over 100 alumni who have served in the military. We are also presently aware of two Knights who lost their lives while serving on active duty in our nation’s military: Dennis O’Neill ‘61 and Francis Snee ‘67, both of whom died in Vietnam. If you served or are still serving, or you know someone who is/was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, please contact the Development Office at 310540-2021 ext. 246 or e-mail Andy Marafino, Director of Development, at amarafino@bmhs-la.org.
THANK YOU! www.bmhs-la.org
Spring/Summer 2010 • 5
COVER STORY
Col. John Breeden ‘83 - United States Air Force
F
or some people, it is apparent early on that they are going to be successful wherever life takes them. Colonel John Breeden ‘83 is not only successful in his own life, but he leads others to be successful as well. While at BMHS, Breeden was an excellent basketball player and served as ASB President his senior year. Upon graduation, he received an appointment to the United State Air Force Academy where he earned his degree in history and began a life in service to our country. After Squadron Officer School in 1993, Breeden received his Master’s degree in management from Troy State University (1996) and continued on to Air Command and Staff College (2002) and Air War College (2006) at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. His education has spilled over into his faith, as he will be ordained a deacon for the Diocese of Las Vegas in June 2011 after five years of formation. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Katie Brizzolara ‘83, and they have three children, Chad, 21, Chelsea, 18, and Chase, 16. Upon graduation from the Air Force Academy, Breeden began Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot training in Texas and was assigned an A-10 Warthog, which he flew from 1989-2001 in Europe, North Carolina, and the Republic of Korea. He also served in several leadership capacities during this time, including instructor pilot at the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom and Chief Weapons and Tactics and Flight Commander at Osan AB, Korea. Since 2001, Breeden has served in the Air Force Reserves and is currently the Reserve Advisor to the Commander, 9th Air Force/U.S. Air Forces Central at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. In addition to flying A-10 Warthogs, Breeden flew MQ-1 Predators in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, serving as the Director of Operations, 46 Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron. Breeden has earned several major awards and decorations, but is most proud of three in particular: the Air Medal I he received for MQ-1 Predator operation in the initial stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom; the 1998 Air Combat Command Anthony C. Shine Award Nominee for proficiency and professionalism in flying a fighter; and, the 2004 Air Force Reserve Command Lance Sijan Leadership Award Nominee in the Senior Officer category. When asked what he appreciated most upon returning home after being overseas, Breeden answered: “The only thing on my mind when I return home is reconnecting with my wife and children. Next to putting one’s life on the line, the time away from family is the biggest sacrifice one who serves in the military makes. No one I know serves for the glory or the great riches to be obtained, but they do serve for you and this great country and I know every service member appreciates a simple ‘Thank you for serving’ at any time.” “The military has been a great life for my family and me. It may surprise many, but the military is filled with a majority of faith-filled men and women with integrity, a commitment to excellence and a servant’s attitude. Being able to serve alongside these people has been the highlight of my almost 23 years of service. That being said, my words of wisdom to pass on would be the four F’s: Faith, Family and Friends and Fun. Keep God in your lives, cherish your family and friends, and find a job that is fun and makes you smile and yours will be a Happy, Holy and Healthy life whether that path takes you to the military or not.”
Staff Sgt. John Metcalf ‘65 - United States Army (Retired)
T
he late 1960’s and early 1970’s were a time when many young American men faced difficult decisions about the selective service. One of those young men was Army Staff Sergeant John Metcalf ‘65. “To be honest, I frittered away a year and half of college education and was facing the draft,” explains Metcalf. “I decided to enlist and choose the specialty I would serve in as opposed to being drafted into the infantry.” For three years, Metcalf served at a variety of stops, including Fort Ord (CA), Fort Knox (KY), Fort Carson (CO) and Fort Hood (TX). “I [also] spent one year in Vietnam as a tank commander and Intelligence Sergeant at Con Thien (Demilitarized Zone) and Lai Khe (Rocket City).” At the end of his three years of service in the Army, Metcalf declined a battlefield commission in Vietnam to return to civilian life, but not before earning several awards and commendations for his service. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, a Vietnam Campaign Medal with five Battle Stars, a Viet Nam Service Medal, a Good Conduct Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation and the Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation. see Metcalf on page 7... 6 • Veritas
Bishop Montgomery High School
COVER STORY
Metcalf continued... Upon his return to the United States, Metcalf attended Harbor College and West Los Angeles College and earned his degree in Criminal Justice. Needless to say, he has put his degree to good use. Prior to retiring a few years ago, Metcalf served 28 years with the Los Angeles Police Department, primarily as a detective and a detective supervisor. Unable to sit still for very long, Metcalf returned to work two years ago with the LAUSD’s Office of the Inspector General as a senior investigator. When asked about what he feels is most appreciated by servicemen and women upon their return from duty, Metcalf’s response was simple, yet powerful: “What is most appreciated, without a doubt, is a ‘Thank You’.”
Lt. Vincent Carreon ‘99 - United States Navy
W
hen Navy Lieutenant Vincent Carreon ‘99 graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2003 with a degree in physics, he decided to go into the military because he had a strong desire to serve his country. Yet, there was something else pulling at him as well. “Flying cool fighter jets helped [make my decision],” he says with a chuckle. And that is exactly what he has excelled in during the last seven years in the Navy, flying 30 combat missions over Iraq, logging over 1,000 flight hours and completing 800 Super200 aircraft carrier landings. When asked what words of advice he has for anyone who joins the military, Carreon encourages all to make the most of the opportunities that are afforded to military personnel. And he is living proof. Since 2004, Carreon has completed Officer Candidate School and two years of flight training (earning his wings in 2006) and he has been designated a Naval Flight Officer. In 2007, Carreon was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron Eleven flying the F/A-18F Super Hornet strike fighter where he served for three years. While in this squadron, he deployed to Iraq, flying combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom while onboard the USS Harry S. Truman. “Aside from flying in the squadron,” says Carreon, “my duties included serving as the Line Division Officer where I was the in charge of 40 sailors responsible for the daily maintenance of our 11 F-18s.” This March, Carreon was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron One Zero Six where he serves as a flight and tactics instructor flying all variants of the F/A-18. “My job is to train newly winged Navy and Marine Corps aviators how to fly and fight the F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet,” explains Carreon. As a Naval fighter pilot, Carreon has seen things and traveled to places he never thought imaginable. “I’ve flown fighter jets into combat, sailed into exotic ports, and made friends that will last a lifetime,” says Carreon. Additionally, one of the “perks” of his job came in 2008 when he was selected to participate in Naval flyovers at both the Daytona 500 and the ceremony commemorating the FBI’s 100th anniversary in Chicago. In his service to our country, Carreon has received several awards and commendations, including being named a top graduate at flight school and earning the Air Medal for meritorious achievement during combat operations. When asked what he appreciated most upon returning home after being overseas, Carreon answered: “I honestly feel a little embarrassed by the attention given when we are home. That being said, the little things while on deployment far from home make all the difference. A package of goodies or a letter from home makes those long months far away a little more bearable.” Continuing his words of advice for those interested in joining the military, Carreon reflects on the choices he has made and the opportunities that he has had during his time in the Navy. “It’s an honorable profession,” states Carreon. “Whether enlisted or as an officer, you will be making a difference... The military will give you nothing but opportunity, but, it’s up to you to make the most of it,” continues Carreon, “The GI Bill will pay for college (Carreon is also currently working towards earning his MBA from Duke University where he will graduate in 2011), the training you will get is second to none, and the experiences you’ll remember for a lifetime.”
www.bmhs-la.org
Spring/Summer 2010 • 7
COVER STORY
Sgt. Daniel Schiavi ‘97 - United States Army (Retired)
S
taff Sergeant Daniel Schiavi ‘97 served in the United States Army for eight years before retiring in April 2010 because of a knee injury. Since retiring, Schiavi, who now resides in Georgia, has been traveling around the country and visiting friends. He is also earning his Master’s degree in forensic science and criminal justice from American Military University. He has two children, daughter Kayla Michele, 10, and son C.J., eight. While in the army, Schiavi served two combat tours in Iraq. From January 2005 to January 2006, he was stationed at Camp Liberty in Baghdad. In March 2007, he was deployed to Baghdad once again, this time serving at Camp Victory until August of 2008. His specialty was in Infantry and Artillery and he was also Sniper Qualified and Special Forces Selected, though he was unable to serve on Special Forces due to his knee injury. On his first tour of duty in Baghdad, Schiavi served as personal security for a one-star general. On his second tour, Schiavi was a personal shooter for a one-star general. During his eight years of service to our country, Schiavi was awarded many medals and commendations, including two Bronze Stars for actions in Iraq. The Bronze Star Medal, awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service, is the fourth-highest combat award of the U.S. Armed Forces. Additionally, he earned three Army Achievement Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, three Army Good Conduct Medals, two Overseas Ribbons, and an Iraq Campaign Medal. When asked what he appreciated most about returning home after being overseas, Schiavi replied, “What I appreciated the most was just being [back] on American soil after combat and seeing familiar faces and loved ones.” His advice to those who are interested in joining the military? “Just give it your all and don’t quit,” says Schiavi.
Sgt. Jason Silva ‘02 - United States Marine Corps
A
sk most military men and women to explain why they chose to join the Armed Forces and they will tell you that they wanted to be a part of some bigger than themselves. For Marine Sergeant Jason Silva ‘02, his answer would be the same, but with one caveat: “Given the chance to do it all again,” he explains, “I would have joined right after graduating from Bishop.” After completing a semester at El Camino College, Silva, who plans on completing his degree one day, joined the Marines to be a part of a special organization. It is a decision he knew in his heart was the right decision for him and his family. For the last five years, Silva has served in several capacities. He currently serves as the Admin Chief for the Fleet Introduction Team Detachment West, Marine Corps Air Station at Camp Pendleton. His unit serves as a liaison between Marine headquarters and the civilian contractors in charge of the UH-1Y Venom (huey) and AH-1Z Viper (cobra) helicopters. Prior to his current position, Silva received orders in 2007 to report to Camp Pendleton’s 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. While at the 11th MEU, he served as the Operations and Training Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge for a western pacific deployment aboard the USS Tarawa. While on deployment, his command was in charge of carrying out various humanitarian operations and joint exercises in Guam, Bangladesh, Singapore, Kuwait and Djibouti, Africa. It is these projects of which Silva is most proud. While in Bangladesh, Silva was part of a humanitarian effort after a typhoon devastated much of the country. “The unit I was with provided water, food and shelter to aid the people that were effected by the typhoon,” explains Silva. Because of their efforts, his unit was awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal. Perhaps the proudest project he has been a part of was while his unit was in Djibouti, Africa. “We had the opportunity to provide medical and dental aid to a small village as well as donate sports equipment and picnic benches with sun shades to a school,” explains Silva. “The look on the children’s faces was priceless and it made me thankful for everything that I have in my life.” For Silva, “everything” means his wife, Sheena Chew-Silva ‘02 (pictured above) and their children, Hayden and Logan. In the short time he has been in the Marines, Silva has received many commendations and honors, many of which celebrate the service projects for which he has been involved. These honors include the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Sea Service Ribbon. Additionally, Silva has earned a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal. see Silva on page 9... 8 • Veritas
Bishop Montgomery High School
COVER STORY
Silva continued... When asked what he feels are the things most appreciated by servicemen and women once they return home, Silva pointed to those close to him: “Knowing that we have the support of our friends and family is the greatest thing that I personally appreciate,” says Silva. “It is because of the individuals that will be reading this profile that I am proud to put on my uniform everyday and be a part of this great nation. I would like to thank my wife, Sheena, and my two beautiful children, Hayden and Logan. Without the support from you guys I would not be able to carry on.” When asked what words of advice he has for any future BMHS alumni who are planning on joining the military, Silva replied: “Nothing worth having ever came easy. The hard work that you put in at Bishop is only the start of what lies ahead. With a positive mental attitude and determination you can accomplish the most grueling task thrown your way. I am proud to say that anyone in the Armed Forces past, present or future will forever be my Brother or Sister!”
Amber Placencio ‘00 United States Coast Guard (Retired)
A
t the end of high school, Amber Placencio ‘00 wanted to get out of her comfort zone and make a difference. “I wanted to do something big with my life,” she says. Her love of the ocean and her desire to help people led her to enlist in the United States Coast Guard, where she served for six years from 2000 - 2006, including posts in Mississippi, San Pedro, and Long Beach. While in the Coast Guard, Placencio was trained and certified in a variety of areas, including search and rescue training, first aid and CPR, maritime law enforcement, port security training, overseas deployment training and chemical warfare training. At the conclusion of her enlistment, she worked as an engineer servicing and maintaining engines for various Coast Guard vessels. While in the Coast Guard, Placencio was involved in several special projects. In 2003, she was set to deploy to Iraq with her unit but was forced to stay back due to a severe injury. Never wavering, Placencio assisted her unit in preparation for Iraq by staying involved in crewman overseas training and preparing equipment to be flown overseas. “During the deployment, I assisted the administration and operations departments sending care packages and relief shipments to the troops overseas,” explains Placencio. She also served on boat crews immediately following the 9/11 tragedy, keeping watch over the country’s ports. Over the course of her six years of service, Placencio received several awards and commendations, including the Coast Guard’s Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, a Meritorious Unit Citation medal, recognition for serving as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and a Good Conduct award. Since being discharged, Placencio has been very busy with both school and work. She earned a certificate in Medical Billing, Insurance and Coding from Bryman/Everest College and she is currently using the remainder of her GI Bill to get her BA in business. Placencio works as the import manager at a freight forwarding company near LAX. “My years in the military prepared me for the security of this type of job,” she explains. “We have to be TSA compliant, and be diligent about security... for our nation through the air and ocean shipments we handle.” When asked about words of advice for anyone considering the military, Placencio offered a thoughtful reply: “[The military] is an excellent opportunity and it will change your life forever. We commit ourselves to our country, and to do that is a very honorable duty. Respect all and have a continued devotion to duty. Even if you feel like you can’t go on, keep trying because you will be amazed at the things you do that you never thought you could. Being away from family and your home can be very hard, but you will find home and family in your fellow military brothers and sisters. There are always people there ready to help. You ARE doing your part to save lives and protect our country and no matter how small, every effort matters.”
THANK YOU! www.bmhs-la.org
Spring/Summer 2010 • 9
CHRIST-CENTERED
Lending a Helping Hand -- and Heart Laura Valleni-Basile ‘87 volunteers to help Haiti earthquake victims.
O
n January 12, the catastrophic magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti left an already impoverished country devastated. Buildings collapsed, over 200,000 persons perished, and millions of men, women and children were left with no homes, no food, and no sanitation. Relief efforts began immediately and within 24 hours emergency response teams, including military and medical personnel from around the globe, arrived in Haiti. For Florida neonatologist and BMHS alumna, Laura Valleni-Basile ’87, the call to provide medical aid for thousands of earthquake victims was one she could not ignore. Working through Heart to Heart International, a non-profit organization whose humanitarian mission brings medical relief to countries in need, Laura spent 10 days among the ruins of Port Au Prince, Leogane, and other Haitian communities, offering her expertise, her aid, and, most importantly, her compassion, to a population that had just lost everything. During her week and a half in Haiti, Laura shared her experiences and observations on a Facebook blog she titled Degaje: “The updates in this manuscript are real and raw; often posted from the back of a tap tap (truck with a cover, open entrance in the back) as I clung to the metal side gratings.” Below are excerpts from her posts.
ABOVE: Inside Port Au Prince’s National Soccer Stadium’s temporary tent city, Dr. Laura Valleni-Basile ‘87 treats a four year-old girl.
Degaje Laura Valleni Basile ‘87, MD, MSPH - Neonatologist January 29 at 2:48pm Preparing to leave for Haiti tomorrow to join Heart to Heart International’s medical team. January 30 at 11:34pm Dominican Republic airport… Medical and rescue teams from around the world. Will sleep for 2 hours... Have to get to the Dominican Republic / Haiti border in time to meet the convoy - safest way to be escorted in. Plan is to start seeing patients by early afternoon. Amazing people, humbling stories.
February 1 at 9:25pm Grace, strength, impoverished, faith, resilience...hope for a better future. Saw 100s of patients working with people from around the world. I’m mainly seeing babies (the youngest was 8 days old) and kids but also debriding wounds on all ages. Children without parents, baby being breastfed by aunt now, mentally disabled boy with seizures and gangrene toes who lost his father...broken bones for weeks just getting care now...
In Haiti. Speechless.
February 2 at 9:55am Nearly every building in the downtown vicinity is damaged. The dust is so thick the leaves are gray… People lined up to be seen at the soccer stadium...
January 31 at 4:53pm …Flattened buildings… US tanks, impossible roads, animals meandering, trash fire pits burning, children playing, children hungry asking for food, parents seeking care, tent cities, beautiful strong Haitian people.
February 2 at 5:04pm …Nutrition a huge problem - especially for orphaned babies being cared for by friends/relatives. Need for post-op care, prosthetics for amputated limbs, physical therapy.
January 31 at 7:58pm Will be seeing patients at our clinic at the soccer stadium starting early a.m. Part of the team will go to our clinic in Leogane - the epicenter. The congregation sang at Sunday service in Haiti today “because He lives, I can face tomorrow.”
February 2 at 5:16pm Saw several weak babies today who lost parents and are only being fed 2-3 times a day. Great need for formula.
January 31 at 6:59am
February 1 at 8:22am Downtown Port au Prince going to see patients all day at soccer stadium. Absolute destruction. Unimaginable conditions. 10 • Veritas
February 2 at 11:03pm The UN has formed a task force to address infant/child nutrition. Anything we can get will help. Food/water distribution is under tight security due to the desperation of the people and potential for injury. We need it to save infants in the immediate time period.
Bishop Montgomery High School
CHRIST-CENTERED February 2 at 10:56pm Will trade out with Heart to Heart team members tomorrow in Leogane [the epicenter]… Leogane is flattened - approximately 90% of the buildings are… down. The Mennonites have been hosting our group in their compound. Will be sleeping under the stars tomorrow night (in the mosquito net!) February 3 at 8:37am Riding in a tap tap. (Google it!) Picture a bobble head and that is us in the back holding on to medical supplies and backpacks riding over broken road. Will be in Leogane… working in two clinics Heart to Heart set up. February 3 at 10:28am Still making our way. Should take 30 minutes already 2 hours… makeshift shacks line up street center dividers, people must bathe and use the bathroom in the open. When you think it can’t possibly be any worse, it is. February 3 at 1:56pm In Leogane. Every building is damaged, most destroyed… Former preterm baby now 3 months dehydrated, malnourished, weighs 4 pounds. 3 [year old] lethargic, dehydrated, septic. Term baby, thick meconium, mom labored for 2 days. Could not resuscitate successfully – no epinephrine, no ventilator, no aspirator, only adult ambu bag... February 4 at 6:57am Tired this morning… It rained… The ground shook a few times over night! …Expect to see about 120 patients… today. February 4 at 10:03pm Busy day... Tuberculosis, malaria, dengue fever, parasites, gangrenous feet sent for amputation, post amputation wound care, malnutrition, anxiety, headaches… STDs, most awful case of tinea capitis... February 5 at 3:09pm Most heart wrenching day. Japanese ambulance with Dr. Brett (US doc) is picking me up to help manage premature baby and get to hospital that has an Italian neonatologist and pediatrician. Earlier today 8 [year old] child walked in with deep foot laceration, filthy clothes, tinea capitis, needs to take food to tolerate the medicine but has none. Another child, with a grandmother- no one knows his age. February 5 at 10:47pm Japanese ambulance actually was a car... Dr. Brett (med/peds) had the [premature] baby and was bagging with anesthesia bag… Handed me the baby and we left for Italian-run pediatric portion of St. Damien’s. Should take half hour to get there but took 4 hours... February 5 at 10:57pm Hand bagged baby for 2 hours then [oxygen] ran out. No more flow to anesthesia bag thus couldn’t bag. Baby worsening… thus extubated. Retracted but pink, good [heart rate]. February 5 at 11:01pm Continue to crawl in traffic. At 3.5 hours, ask US Army if have [oxygen]- no, but one look at infant and called in a convoy through secured back road. Arrived at St. Damien Hospital after 4 hours of travel.
ABOVE:
Valleni-Basile with preemie and his mother at St. Damien’s in Petionville.
February 5 at 11:05pm [Emergency room] and [operating room] with US docs. Upstairs Italian docs running Peds… Baby pink, improving resp… Received 2 incubators yesterday.... February 5 at 11:11pm …Mom needs antibiotics - we have it… Give mom money for food and ride home once baby ok. Gastric tubes available. No… breast pumps - might get one tomorrow - mom needs to make milk for this baby but baby [too] little to nurse - probably 30 weeker. February 5 at 11:16pm Heart to Heart came to hospital to pick me up. People from around the world coming together for a common purpose. This baby would be so easy to take care of in US with very good outcome potential. Worry also about IVH (bleeding in brain) – [was a] very bumpy ride, held baby as still as possible. February 6 at 8:21am “Degaje.” Find a way. (Loose translation – do whatever you can with very little/make the most of what you have) February 6 at 8:45am On our way to the soccer stadium. Busy Sat morning. Baby at hospital doing ok. Women in her 20s fell off tap tap, one of our team members attempted resuscitation, crowd around bewildered. She died. A vendor covered her with a grass mat, placed rocks over and everyone continued on with their day. February 6 at 9:31am At the stadium safely. Setting up to start seeing patients. At least 200 people lined up. February 6 at 2:03pm The smell today is awful, unbearable but we have no choice. The lack of sanitation is worsening. Flies all over our medical field and patients. Many older wounds today with maggots. Took one 5 mo baby to the hospital… mom died thus no breastmilk and family has scarce food. Child was listless, pedal edema, staph scalded skin, dehydrated.
www.bmhs-la.org
Spring/Summer 2010 • 11
CHRIST-CENTERED February 7 at 10:59pm Packed up. Taking 7:30 am US Embassy bus to the Dominican Republic in the morning. February 8 at 7:05am Thousands of people lined up at US Embassy hoping to be allowed into US. February 8 at 10:29am As I am leaving Haiti I am finally able to cry. I am leaving behind so many babies and children who will not survive and are in such misery. My job is to try to save babies and here there are so many who will not be. As a mother, it is unbearable to imagine not being able to provide for my dying, starving child.
ABOVE: Haitian children greet Valleni-Basile before she heads to work at one of Heart to Heart’s makeshift clinics.
February 6 at 2:08pm Now in a tap tap taking a maybe 2 pound baby to the hospital. Was born… at least 2 months early… Mom trying to manually express breast milk and feed with a dropper. They live on the street. Baby is dehydrated, failure to thrive but strong cry. Taking to my new Italian neonatologist friend. February 6 at 3:19pm Neonate from last night doing well, started gavage feeds. New baby I just brought is febrile, hungry but stable. Will start antibiotics, gavage feeds. February 7 at 8:16pm Another amazing day. Worked the NICU… did the best with what we had. These premature babies are hearty! Share monitors, share isolettes (incubators), IV fluids without pumps, no special fluids… can gavage feed, have antibiotics. Moms stay on cots by their babies. Some babies abandoned. February 7 at 8:48pm The 2.2 pound baby that was born 2 weeks ago and lives on street that I brought to St Damien’s looked great! An Italian pediatrician is here to help moms breastfeed said this mom is very “clever” with getting her baby to eat. February 7 at 9:01pm The NICU/ nursery/ postpartum with so many needs, low on supplies. Went back to the hospital with a truck load of supplies from Heart to Heart International. Medicines, gloves, diapers, soaps, tape, hygiene kits for moms, hydration solution... It was better than any Christmas present! February 7 at 10:51pm 20 month baby boy playing next to his mom. Happy, smiling, playing a game with us making smacking/kissing sounds with his mouth. Both arms amputated, sister killed in earthquake, mother adores him, she is asking for him to be adopted so he will have a better life. February 7 at 10:56pm Nursing school next to General Hospital collapsed with about 500 nursing students. Pulling out mummified bodies. 12 • Veritas
February 9 at 7:56pm I returned from Haiti today and cannot adequately express to my family what it is like, nor do I feel I should. As my 3 children run around the house laughing and wrestling so many in Haiti are in misery. For every child I was able to help, thousands go without. Children under one year of age are particularly vulnerable. Many have lost mothers thus no more breastfeeding. Other women are trying to breastfeed infants that aren’t their own. Ready-made formula is not available for most. Infants are being fed whatever food that can be scrounged up. On Saturday, I carried a 5 month old with kwashiorkor to General Hospital – he could not make a sound when he tried to cry. A mother brought a 1 kg premature baby to our clinic who was already 2 weeks old… those little ones are amazingly strong… Children walk in for medical care alone – and receive care without an adult they know being present. Those that have been to Haiti know the sorrow in the eyes of so many, know that the needs are bigger than all of us...We also know we must go back again and again. We must keep Haiti in the forefront of people’s minds. The hurt, the needs, the tasks are huge – but not impossible. February 13 at 7:34am About to start my first 24 hour+ shift since returning from Haiti. Such a contrast - here everything we need...is at our fingertips. February 13 at 9:00am Marie Ambroise Thigpen, MD (Haitian American, Neonatologist): We’re definitely blessed to live in the US. For Laura’s complete blog and more pictures, visit http://degajehaiti.shutterfly.com. Password: degaje.
About the Author Laura lives in South Florida with her husband, Dave, three children, Sarina, 13; Nicholas, 10; and, Sofia, 3 and many pets. The oldest of four girls who grew up in Southern California, Laura graduated from Bishop Montgomery in 1987 and earned a B.S. in Biology at the University of California, Riverside. At the University of South Carolina, she received an MSPH and M.D., and also completed her pediatric residency. She is a double-board certified physician in pediatrics and neonatology and works full time in the neonatal intensive care unit of several hospitals in the Palm Beach area. Laura completed a three-year neonatology fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. In 2004 and 2005, with Heart to Heart International, she taught a systematic approach for saving newborn lives to medical providers in China and Tibet. Laura is also the author of a library of research articles published in various medical journals.
Bishop Montgomery High School
ACADEMICALLY DEDICATED
Senior Named National Merit Scholarship Recipient
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BMHS Represented at Boys’ and Girls’ State
ecent graduate Annette Martin ‘10 , right, was named a National Merit Scholarship recipient this spring by the National Achievement Scholarship Program. Martin is one of only 700 students in the United States to be awarded a $2,500 scholarship. She was also a Class of 2010 valedictorian and will attend Carleton College (MN) in the fall. Carleton College is ranked the eighth best liberal arts college in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
This summer, BMHS was well represented at both Boys’ State at CSU Sacramento and Girls’ State at Claremont-McKenna College. Beginning June 19, juniors Devon Cannata ‘11 and Zane Miyamoto ‘11 spent a week at Boys’ State learning the rights and responsibilities of franchised citizens. The training centered on the structure of city, county and state governments. Fellow classmate Tim Parr ‘11 was an alternate from BMHS.
As a National Merit Finalist, Martin represented less than 1% of the nation’s high school seniors who took the PSAT in October of their junior year. Last fall, Martin was named a National Merit Semi-Finalist - one of the 16,000 highest scoring students in the country (less than 1%), out of 1.5 million who took the exam.
The lone BMHS representative at Girls’ State was junior Blaire Frei ‘11. Girls’ State, held from June 26 - July 2, strives to provide high school-aged girls with the opportunity to learn more about how government works at various levels and provides hands-on experience. Siena Rizzo ‘11 was a Girls’ State alternate from BMHS.
Undergraduate Awards Ceremony Honors Many Students
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wice each year, BMHS honors the academic achievements of its students at the Undergraduate Awards Ceremony. The fall ceremony honors students for their success the previous spring semester. The spring ceremony honors academic success from the current fall semester and is the first ceremony attended by the freshman class. It is an exciting moment for the freshmen and all of the students who are recognized in front of their parents and peers. At the ceremony, a variety of academic awards are given, including Principal’s Honor Roll and department awards, as well as recognition of National Merit Scholarship recipients. One of the highlights of the ceremony is the announcement of the Students-of-the-Semester for the previous grading period. Each semester, BMHS recognizes one boy and one girl from each class who excel in a challenging academic program. The fall 2009 Students-ofthe-Semester were: Class of 2013 Austin Walcher and Lisa Bell Class of 2012 Eric Hambly and Nikki Windisch
Class of 2011 Martin Fabbri and Daisy Franco Class of 2010 Andrew Petersen and Kelly Hashimoto Beginning in the 2009-2010 school year, BMHS Principal Rosemary Libbon invited a current senior to be the featured speaker at the Undergraduate Awards Ceremony. On March 30, at the most recent ceremony, Kyle Olsen ‘10 (right) praised his teachers for all of their guidance and he acknowledged the sacrifices that students make in order to achieve success in the classroom. “Throughout all of my classes during my high school career, I have never encountered a teacher who was unwilling to meet with me before or after school to go over a concept I was unsure about, or give me a sense of direction for a particular assignment,” said Olsen. “To all of my teachers, I am forever grateful.” Perhaps Olsen’s most important message to his classmates was to appreciate the opportunities that have been provided to every Bishop Montgomery student. “I have been so fortunate to be a member of a community that www.bmhs-la.org
ABOVE: Kyle Olsen will attend College of the Holy Cross (MA) in the fall.
stresses both academic and moral education,” said Olsen. “By taking the initiative to earn good grades in high school and gain new insights from each academic course,” Olsen told his peers, “you are opening so many doors and providing yourself with so many more opportunities in life.” Spring/Summer 2010 • 13
ACADEMICALLY DEDICATED
GRADUATION 2010 The Class of 2010, the 50th graduating class, joins the ranks of BMHS alumni.
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nder sunny skies, the 282 members of the Class of 2010 convened for one last time at their commencement on May 28. Though a couple of strong gusts during the ceremony threatened to blow a few caps off of the graduates’ heads, the wind could not begin to put a damper on the excitement among the seniors and their 2,500 friends and family members who had gathered to witness this momentous celebration. ABOVE: Members of the Class of 2010 celebrate after receiving their diplomas.
For many students in the class of 2010, graduation day was a long time coming, but for Bishop Montgomery High School, it was a day 50 years in the making. This special class of graduates secured a unique place in the Knights’ history books as BMHS’ 50th graduating class. To commemorate the occasion, graduates donned gold stoles over their black gowns. The stoles were inscribed with the school’s “M” logo and “Class of 2010.” At the conclusion of the ceremony, Principal Rosemary Libbon invited the graduates to present their stoles to people who had been meaningful in their lives- to give them as a gift of gratitude.
ABOVE: Leslie Salisbury ‘10 delivered the salutatory address at the 2010 Commencement.
14 • Veritas
In addition to the 50thanniversary stoles, many students also wore honor cords, signifying the academic honors they were awarded after four years at Bishop Montgomery. For GPA honors, students wore blue, white or red cords to indicate their achievement of summa cum laude, magna cum laude or cum laude honors, respectively. Some students also donned gold cords to signify their membership in the California Scholarship Federation.
Around the necks of twelve students, Vice Principal Yvette Vigon ’87 hung large medals during the ceremony. Ten of the students-- Elizabeth Arevalo, Kevin Di Pasupil, Erika Holmbeck, Anthony Lubbers, Annette Martin, Edward McLaughlin, Viraj Panchal, Andrew Petersen, Teresa Puente, Leslie Salisbury, and, Stephanie Zamora-were honored as class valedictorians; one senior, Taryl Crabtree, was honored as class salutatorian; and, another student, Leslie Salisbury, received two medals signifying the rare honor of being selected as one of the class’ valedictorians and salutatorians.
Class of 2010 Valedictorians
Elizabeth Arevalo - Notre Dame Kevin Di Pasupil - UC Berkeley Erika Holmbeck - UCLA Anthony Lubbers - UC Berkeley Annette Martin - Carleton College (MN) Eddie McLaughlin - UCLA Viraj Panchal - USC Andrew Petersen - Loyola Marymount Teresa Puente - Notre Dame Leslie Salisbury - Washington University in Saint Louis Stephanie Zamora - Loyola Marymount These students, along with the rest of their classmates, will head to college this fall, joining freshman classes at schools including Tufts, Cornell, UCLA, Cal, University of Virginia, Boston College, and The United States Naval Academy. And, though some of these grads will travel across the country to begin a new chapter in their lives, and others will stay close to home, it is certain that all of the graduates in the Class of 2010 can always call Bishop Montgomery home.
Bishop Montgomery High School
ACADEMICALLY DEDICATED
GRADUATION 2010 Class of 2010 Veritas Award Recipients The Veritas Award, formerly known as the Outstanding Graduate Award, was re-named in 2010 and recognizes those graduates who personify the Bishop Montgomery motto of “justice, truth, and honor.” Each year at graduation, three seniors are honored for their commitment to living the school’s motto; they are students who selflessly give to their school community and the communities in which they live. These students are true examples of what it means to be a Bishop Montgomery graduate. While at Bishop Montgomery, Sam Hickerson ‘10 was involved in many activities which allowed him to serve those less fortunate. As a member of the Habitat Club, Hickerson participated in the walk to end homelessness held in Exposition Park in Los Angeles. He also served food to the homeless at each of the Habitat Club’s monthly trips to the Long Beach Rescue Mission. In addition to these activities, Hickerson served as a Kairos retreat leader. Hickerson will attend Northern Arizona University.
ABOVE: 2010 Veritas Award recipients, from left, Sam Hickerson ‘10, Sara Tobias ‘10, and Melissa Jaquez ‘10.
It is safe to say that Sara Tobias ‘10 was the model student while at BMHS. At the senior awards ceremony, she received an award for perfect citizenship in addition to her academic honors. Tobias also received one of three Concordia Club Scholarships for her work in this campus service club. Additionally, Tobias volunteers her time at St. James School’s Extended Care Program. Tobias will attend Concordia College.
As the ASB President during her senior year, Melissa Jaquez ‘10 served the school community in numerous capacities. Besides leading the morning announcements, Jaquez served as a student spokesperson at events such as Open House and she served as a peer tutor through CSF. Outside of school, Jaquez provides swimming lessons to children with special needs and volunteers to feed the homeless. She will attend USC.
Class of 2010 College Matriculation 100% of Seniors to Pursue Higher Education Members of the Class of 2010 were accepted to: • 282 • 227 (80%) • 53 (19%) • 2 (1%) • 282 (100%) • 254 (90%) • 240 (94%) • 101 (36%) • 37 (13%) • 37 (13%) • 55 (20%) • 52 (18%)
Seniors Seniors attending 4-year institutions Seniors attending 2-year colleges Seniors attending vocational schools Seniors attending college Seniors who applied to 4-year institutions Applicants accepted to 4-year institutions Attending Cal State System Attending UC System Attending Private California Colleges Attending Junior Colleges/Trade Schools Attending Out of State Colleges
* ranked in US News & World Report Top 100
*Boston College Boston University Cal Poly SLO *Carleton College (MN) *Claremont-McKenna *Cornell University *Drexel University *Georgetown University *Harvey-Mudd College *Holy Cross Loyola Marymount University *University of Michigan *New York University *Northeastern University *University of Notre Dame Penn State *Pitzer College
www.bmhs-la.org
*Purdue University *Reed College (OR) *University of Rochester *Saint Louis University *Tufts *UC Berkeley *UC Davis *UC Irvine *UCLA *UC San Diego *UC Santa Barbara *United States Naval Academy University of San Diego *USC *University of Virginia *Washington University in Saint Louis
Spring/Summer 2010 • 15
PHYSICALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE
Winter/Spring Athletic Wrap-Up BOYS’ BASKETBALL Tyler Harvey ‘11
in program history. Ale and sophomore Devon Brookshire ‘12 were 1st Team All-Del Rey League picks as well as 1st Team All-CIF selections. Junior forward Chelsey Aaron ‘11 was a 1st Team All-Del Rey League selection and was a 2nd Team All-CIF pick. The Lady Knights had a trio of players who were also 2nd Team All-Del Rey League picks: Tiffany Hicks ‘10, Taylor Sansbury ‘11 and Ariona Sampson ‘12. Chelsey Aaron ‘11
Rey League First Team by seniors Chris Balcer ‘10 and JP Anderson ‘10. Boys’ soccer had a trio of players who were 2nd Team All-Del Rey League picks: Casey Anderson ‘11, Matt Gomez ‘10 and Alex Quijije ‘10.
GIRLS’ SOCCER Girls’ soccer battled through a tough Del Rey League schedule to finish 5-7-5 overall under the direction of co-coaches Shannon Martinez and Dan Martinez. The Lady Knights were led by senior defender Kristen Mihara ‘10, who was the team’s lone representative on the All-Del Rey League First Team. Mihara also was named to the Daily Breeze All-Area 2nd Team. Other outstanding performances were turned in by Ashley Foster ‘10, Megan Mehl ‘10, Michelle Rohrer ‘10 and Jessica Flores ‘12, all of whom were 2nd Team AllDel Rey League selections.
BOYS’ GOLF A young boys’ basketball team finished second in the tough Del Rey League and advanced to the CIF playoffs for the 21st consecutive year under head coach Doug Mitchell. The Knights (16-9) had a starting line-up that included two freshmen, a sophomore and two juniors. In addition, several other underclassmen provided valuable minutes for the Knights. Leading the way was junior Tyler Harvey ‘11, who was a 1st Team All-Del Rey League selection and a 2nd Team AllCIF pick. Alphonso Lester ‘10 was named 1st Team All-Del Rey League. Two freshmen, Leon Jacobs ‘13 and Larry Taylor ‘13, were 2nd Team All-Del Rey Leagues picks.
Boys’ golf, coached by Martin Von Kanel ‘80, finished 2nd in the Camino Real League with a 6-2 record. The Knights were led by senior Kevin Cruz ‘10, who was the Camino Real League MVP. Cruz qualified for the CIF individual playoffs and will continue his playing career at UC Riverside.
BOYS’ SOCCER Boys’ soccer finished the season by qualifying for the CIF playoffs once again. They lost to powerhouse Channel Islands, 2-0, in the first round. The Knights, coached by Clive Hulbert, finished the season 8-10-3 and were led by 3rd Team All-CIF performer Kevin Callinan ‘11. Callinan was joined on the All-Del
CO-ED SWIMMING Sophomore Kathleen Dung ‘12 qualified for CIF as an alternate in the 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 1:17.67. Seniors Melissa Jaquez ‘10 and Kyla Sharpe ‘10 and junior Jayson Madrigal ‘11 also turned in strong performances for the Knights in the pool.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Girls’ basketball, coached by Alexa Johnson, followed up an outstanding season last year with an even better 2009-10. The Lady Knights finished 29-8 and were the Del Rey League tri-champions. The playoffs proved to be an exciting time as they advanced to the CIF Finals and the State Southern California Regional Finals. The most exciting moment of the season came in the CIF semi-finals against Orange Lutheran. Trailing by three with just seconds remaining, junior Kristen Ale ‘11 buried a three-pointer and was fouled on the play. She calmly sank the free throw to send the Lady Knights to their 7th CIF title game 16 / Veritas
Kevin Callinan ‘11
Bishop Montgomery High School
PHYSICALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE BASEBALL For only the second time in the last eight years, the Knights’ baseball team, coached by Andy Marafino, did not qualify for the CIF playoffs. It was a disappointing season for the Knights, who finished 7-17 overall and finished in fourth place in a tough Del Rey League. Offensively, they were led by senior AJ Kissinger ‘10 (.338, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 2nd Team All-Del Rey League), junior Johnny McLaughlin ‘11 (.263, 10 RBI, 2nd Team All-Del Rey League), and sophomores Andrew Garbe ‘12 (.350, 6 RBI, 2nd Team All-Del Rey League) and Christian Sarabia ‘12 (.303, 2nd Team All-Del Rey League). On the mound, the Knights were led by senior Eddie McLaughlin ‘10 (3.09 ERA, 1st Team All-Del Rey League), senior Scott Brower ‘10 (2 wins), and junior Ryan Murphy ‘11 (3.20 ERA). Kissinger led the Knights with a 2.06 ERA. The highlight of the season was the performance turned in by sophomore Andy Burschinger ‘12. On March 26, Burschinger threw a no-hitter in a 5-0 home victory over Cantwell-Sacred Heart. It was the 21st no-hitter in school history.
SOFTBALL
Johnny McLaughlin ‘11
GIRLS’ TRACK
BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL
The lone league champion for girls’ track was a familiar face. Annie Grove ‘12 was the Del Rey League champion in the 3200m (12:08:35) and she also qualified for CIF playoffs in the 1,600m with her second place finish in the league finals (5:29:52).
Boys’ volleyball, coached by Kevin Norman, won the Del Rey League for the 4th consecutive year and finished 22-11 overall. The Knights were unbeaten in league play and finished the regular season ranked 5th in the Division IV CIF rankings. They advanced to the semi-finals of the CIF playoffs where they fell to El Segundo in four games. They were led by Del Rey League MVP and 1st Team AllCIF pick Chris Heppell ‘10, Leeone Legaspi ‘10 (1st Team All-Del Rey League, 1st Team All-CIF), Danny Geber ‘11 (2nd Team AllDel Rey, 2nd Team All-CIF), and Jonathan Legaspi ‘12 (2nd Team All-Del Rey, 3rd Team All-CIF). Bob Heutmaker ‘10 and Michael Gonzales ‘10 were also 1st Team All-Del Rey League selections for the Knights.
BOYS’ TRACK Boys’ track, coached by Brian Haynes ‘89 and Martin Haynes ‘94, had several outstanding performers in 2010. Walter Gonzalez ‘10 finished in third place in league in the 800m with a time of 2:04.75. The 400m relay team of Sedale Barkley ‘10, Matthew Simmons ‘10, Kristian Arnold ‘10 and Nolan Plummer ‘11 finished second in league finals with a time of 43.08.
BOYS’ TENNIS Kim Kurata ‘10 Girls’ softball, coached by Jimmy Legaspi, finished 6-19 overall and in fourth place in the Del Rey League. The Lady Knights were led by 1st Team All-Del Rey League selection Larissa Sandoval ‘10 and 2nd Team All-Del Rey League selections Jacklyn Duran ‘10, Kim Kurata ‘10 and Kathryn Hylton ‘12. Sandoval will continue her playing career at Cypress College. Duran will play next year at the University of La Verne and Kurata will play at Fairfield University.
Boys’ tennis, coached by Alex Angel, finished the Del Rey League as co-champions. The team qualified for the CIF playoffs where they defeated Village Christian 16-2 in the Wild Card round of Division V. The Knights lost to San Dimas 10-8 in the first round. The team was led by singles players Joseph Quimson ‘10 and Darryl Jorda ‘10 and the doubles teams of Alex Cano ‘12 and Eric Dazet ‘11, Alan Natsumeda ‘11 and Austin Guillermo ‘11, and Seth Stratton ‘11 and Vincent Budrovich ‘11. Doubles partners Cano and Dazet advanced to the CIF individual playoffs. www.bmhs-la.org
Chris Heppell ‘10
Spring/Summer 2010 • 17
PHYSICALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE
Hodgkiss Named New Football Coach
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or many reasons, this past February was an exciting time at Bishop Montgomery. Students were settled into the new semester, the school’s annual Black & Gold Night inducted five new members into the school’s Hall of Fame, and a new football coach was hired. Early in the month, BMHS announced that Ed Hodgkiss would be he school’s 13th head coach. Hodgkiss, a native of Maryland, is the former head coach of the Arena Football League’s Los Angeles Avengers. From 2002 through 2008, he compiled a record of 57-53 and led the franchise to a postseason win in 2007. Hodgkiss also served as the offensive coordinator for the Albany Firebirds team that won the 1999 Arena Bowl. Prior to coaching the Avengers, Hodgkiss coached collegiately at Morehead State, Randolph-Macon and Fairmont State, his alma mater. Hodgkiss was a three-year letter winner at Fairmont State from 1990-1992.
Asked why he wanted to coach at the prep level, Hodgkiss expressed a desire to follow in the footsteps of his high school coach, Stu Mackintosh, whom he played for at St. Vincent Pallotti in Maryland. Hodgkiss, a 2004 inductee into his high school’s Hall of Fame, is excited about the task ahead of him. “It’s the first time I’m working with high school kids, and I’m looking forward to having a chance to make an impact,” Hodgkiss said. The BMHS community is also excited to have Hodgkiss on board. “With the experience he has had as a coach, Ed just seems like he’s going to be a really good fit,” says Steve Miller, BMHS’ assistant principal. “He’s down-toearth and he has a lot of positive energy about him. He’s ready and he’s excited.” Hodgkiss and his wife, Beth, have twin boys and they reside in Manhattan Beach. They are members of American Martyrs Church. “I really feel blessed about the whole situation
and how it came about,” Hodgkiss said. “It’s perfect timing in my life.” In addition to serving as football coach, Hodgkiss will teach health at BMHS.
Athletic News & Notes • Carmelita Jeter ‘98 continued to dominate on the track in 2010. In February, Jeter won the women’s 60 meters in 7.02 seconds in the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Albuquerque. Jeter’s personal best time was the fastest by an American and second fastest in the world this season. In all, Jeter has three of the world’s top four times and the fastest four in the U.S. In May, Jeter captured the 100m in 11.09 at the Diamond League meet in Shanghai, China. • Noelle Quinn ‘03, a member of the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA, played this past off-season for Elizur Ramla in Israel, where she was named All-Israeli League Honorable Mention. She averaged 16.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. • Liah Ector ‘06, left, a senior at Point Loma Nazarene University, was named a 2009-10 NAIA Division I Third Team All-American. She averaged 13.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.3 steals. She finished her collegiate career with 1,025 points. • Rheina Ale ‘08, a sophomore at the University of San Francisco, was named to the 2009-10 All-West Coast Conference Honorable Mention Women’s Basketball Team. The Lady Dons’ co-captain averaged 13.2 points and 4.4 rebounds. • Alex Davis ‘09, a freshman at the University of Minnesota, led the softball team with 10 home runs and was named to the All-Big Ten Conference Third Team. She was named the team’s MVP and co-Rookie of the Year and was named a University of Minnesota “Maroon & Gold” Champion. • Justin Cobbs ‘09, who was a freshman point guard at the University of Minnesota last year, has transferred to the University of California, Berkeley. Cobbs played in 34 of 35 games for Minnesota last year, averaging 2.1 ppg and 1.3 assists. • The class of 2010 had several student-athletes make commitments to Division I schools to continue their athletic careers: Danielle Butler, Hampton University (Tennis), Rachel Clark, University of Virginia (Volleyball), Unaloto Hamala, University of San Diego (Football), Kim Kurata, Fairfield University (Softball), Collin Mack, UCSB (Track), and Matthew Simmons, Washington State (Football). Two baseball players will continue their playing careers as well. Scott Brower will play at Colorado Christian University and AJ Kissinger will play at Cal Baptist University. In addition to Kurata, two other softball players will continue their careers in college: Jacklyn Duran will play at the University of La Verne and Larissa Sandoval will play at Cypress College.
18 • Veritas
Bishop Montgomery High School
SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE
BMHS Students Receive Service Awards Jaquez, BMHS’ ASB president this past school year, is involved in many service activities both in and out of school. She provides swimming lessons to children with special needs, regularly feeds the homeless, and serves as an altar server and lector at St. James Church. While at BMHS, Jaquez, who will attend USC, served as a CSF peer tutor.
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ishop Montgomery students volunteer hundreds of hours of service each year to the school community and to local, national and international communities. This year, four students received public recognition for the work they provided to various causes and organizations. Each year, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles honors high school students with the Christian Service Award. The honored students have distinguished themselves with their concern for others, their willingness to give of themselves, and their witness to faith in action. This year, three members of the Class of 2010, Melissa Jaquez ‘10. Taryl Crabtree ‘10, and Brynna Ledford ‘10, above, were honored at a special Mass, celebrated by Cardinal Roger Mahoney, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on March 16.
Crabtree, who will attend UCLA, dedicates her free time at Huntington Hospital working on the cardiovascular service line. She also volunteers with those in need in the deaf community. Ledford, who will attend UC Berkeley, has been involved in a variety of service activities. She volunteers weekly at Sunrise Senior Assisted Living in Hermosa Beach where she is a bingo caller. She is also a Girl Scout and has served on the Redondo Beach Youth Council for the last three years. In addition, Ledford was in the BMHS Key Club and volunteers at the VCA Animal Hospital. Not to be outdone, BMHS junior Ryan Lippert ‘11 was recently recognized for his volunteer work when he received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award by the President’s
Council on Service and Civic Participation. This prestigious award acknowledges individuals who have volunteered for at least twelve months and who have encouraged others to serve their local communities. For the last three years, Lippert has been volunteering at the Redondo Beach Sea Lab, a facility that rehabilitates marine animals who have become trapped and injured by the adjacent Edison plant. One of Lippert’s main duties revolves around beach clean-ups, but what he enjoys most about his work is providing tours of the facility. The Sea Lab is dedicated to educating those in the South Bay about conservation and ocean pollution. Lippert’s primary repsonsibility is to help inspire future generations to care about the environment and seek to protect its future. “When I give tours,” explains Lippert, “I emphasize environmental protection because of all the pollution that is harming plants and animals everywhere. We are all connected to the plants and animals of our Earth.” All four of these young people will surely continue to serve as Christian role models in their own communities. They are outstanding examples of Christian service and are wonderful representatives of what it means to be a Bishop Montgomery Knight.
BMHS Baseball Strikes Out Cancer
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or the last two years, the players and coaches in the baseball program have made it one of their responsibilities to raise funds for cancer research and promote cancer awareness. “Cancer affects so many people and some of those people are very close to us here in the baseball program,” said head coach Andy Marafino. “We want to do our part to support them and fight back against this disease.” Last year, the baseball team had pink and blue ribbons embroidered on their hats and they also sold specially made black and pink wood bats. At the end of the 2010 season, cancer took the life of the father of one of the varsity players. Prior to his death, the team sold black t-shirts with “Knights” in blue. “We were fortunate enough to have a few alumni players donate the money to pay for the t-shirts,” explained Marafino. “It allowed us to donate 100% of the sales to cancer research.” All the funds raised over the last two years have gone to the V Foundation for Cancer Research, a charity started by ESPN and former North Carolina State basketball coach Jim Valvano, who died of cancer in 1993. To date, the baseball program has raised over $1,100.
ABOVE: The varsity baseball team pauses for a moment of silence before their game against Bishop Amat. The team wore special shirts for cancer awareness in the last few weeks of the season.
For more information about the V Foundation, go to www.jimmyv.org. If you are interested in purchasing one of the black t-shirts, contact the baseball office at 310-540-2021 ext. 246 or at amarafino@bmhs-la.org. Sizes and quantities are limited.
www.bmhs-la.org
Spring/Summer 2010 • 19
SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE
Two Juniors Make Trek to Washington, D.C. with NFL Superstar
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ABOVE: Jaylen Wimbish ‘11 (left) and Daisy Franco ‘11 (right) share some time with Nnamdi Asomugha at the end of their trip to Washington, D.C.
The program, the Asomugha College Tour for Scholars (ACTS), was launched in 2007 by current Oakland Raiders star and former Bishop Montgomery student Nnamdi Asomugha. The program, for students who are in their junior year, have at least a 3.5 GPA, and have a financial need, provides each recipient with an all-expense paid trip to visit colleges in a chosen city - in this case, Washington, D.C. “The program is really for those students who would not have a chance to do something like this,” explained Mitchell. For the counselors, finding a few students was easy; meeting the deadline was another story. After calling juniors Daisy Franco ’11 and Jaylen Wimbish ’11 into her office, Adams informed them that they needed to write an essay about the importance of education in their lives and how they could give back to the community through their education. “That was the simple part,” explained Adams. “The hard part was they only had five days to meet the deadline.” After working with Adams on their essays, Franco and Wimbish waited to hear that they had been selected and soon started preparing for their trip with one of the top players in the National Football League. Asomugha, who attended Bishop Montgomery his sophomore year before transferring to Narbonne, is widely considered to be one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. Since becoming a first round pick by Oakland in 2003, he has been named to the Pro Bowl three times; first team AllPro once and second team All-Pro twice. What makes Asomugha stand out, though, is the work he has done outside of football. A passionate advocate for education and community service, Asomugha has received several honors for his work in the community. This past season, Asomugha, who graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in corporate finance, received the Byron “Whizzer” White NFL Man of the Year Award, the NFL Players Association’s highest honor. 20 • Veritas
n January 2010, guidance counselor Doug Mitchell received a phone call from The Asomugha Foundation asking if there were any Bishop Montgomery students who would be potential candidates for a program that “provides high-achieving high school students of color with the opportunity to visit college campuses across the country.” After a discussion with colleagues Celeste Adams and Leticia Orozco, and after a review of the criteria, he had just the right students in mind. When it came time to go to Washington, D.C. in March, Franco and Wimbish did not fully know what to expect. They knew they were going with 15 other high school juniors from Los Angeles and Oakland, and they knew they were going to visit colleges like Georgetown, Howard, American, and George Washington, but they didn’t expect to be treated to many other adventures. “Everything was great,” explained Wimbish. “I can’t even pinpoint one thing that was my favorite.” The group visited the White House, where they bowled in the President’s private bowling alley, and visited other national monuments. They even learned how to use the Metro, the city’s public transportation system. A surprise to both Franco and Wimbish was when they first met Asomugha and were handed an envelope containing spending money. “I knew the trip was all-expenses paid, but he even gave us money for souvenirs,” said an excited Wimbish. “Once I tried to buy a bottle of water and Nnamdi stopped me and paid for it,” added Franco. While in the nation’s capital, Asomugha also treated the students to an Alicia Keys concert, where they got to meet the superstar, and to a visit to the office of Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA). The main focus of the trip, however, was to visit college campuses and to experience new things. “Seeing college life in action really broadened my options,” explained Wimbish, who plans on majoring in chemistry, physics or computer engineering. “This was the first time I had ever been on a college campus,” explained Franco. “I want to work in international relations and in human rights and this trip really helped me know what I am supposed to look at when I apply to schools.”
Bishop Montgomery High School
See ACTS on page 21...
SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE ACTS from page 20...
For Asomugha and his foundation, providing these opportunities to young people is an important part of giving back to the community, a fact not lost on Wimbish or Franco. “He stressed to us that we should always try to be the best person we can be and to give back to our communities,” said Wimbish. “I didn’t think the trip and the tours would be so hands-on,” explained Franco. “But Nnamdi was really amazing. He was with us at all times and he truly cares about us and our futures.” In fact, the trip to Washington was not the end of the relationship between Asomugha and the students. In May, the students from southern California met up with Asomugha in downtown Los Angeles to feed the homeless on Skid Row. When talking with Franco and Wimbish, it is clear that meeting Asomugha and going on the trip was an experience that changed their lives and inspired them to continue to make education and community service a priority in their lives. “When I think of community, I don’t just think of my own town,” said Wimbish. “I think of the whole world as my community and I hope to be able to use my education to spread knowledge to others.” An emotional Franco, who will be the first person in her family to go to college, realized that there are so many options out there for her: “My dream school is UC Berkeley, but I will definitely look at going out of state as well. I want to focus on helping people any way I can and this trip opened my eyes to the world.”
Two Alumni Honored By Chamber of Commerce June 18 was a special day for BMHS at the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce 2010 Installation and Awards Ceremony held at the Doubletree Hotel. Craig Leach ‘73, president and CEO of Torrance Memorial Medical Center, received the George H. Whittlesey Award, which recognizes leaders “who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their commitment to the business community, its ideas, views and philosophy.” Leach led the planning and permitting effort to gain approval for a new 256-bed patient hospital tower scheduled for completion in 2014. Leach also led the building committee for the new Student Activity Center here at BMHS. Leach and his wife, Judi (Kruzic ‘73), are the parents of three BMHS alumni (David ‘99, Paul ‘01, and Daniel ‘03). The Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce also celebrated the inauguration of Mark Waronek ‘86 as the organization’s 20102011 Chairman of the Board. Waronek, who is the former mayor of Lomita, continues to serve BMHS as the PA announcer for many athletic events, including football, boys’ and girls’ basketball and boys’ and girls’ volleyball.
Black & Gold Night Honors Hall of Famers
T
he 10th Annual Black & Gold Night was not just a huge success in terms of money raised for tuition assistance at BMHS, it was also a big hit with the guests as they celebrated “Big Apple-style.” The “New York, New York” themed night featured dinner and dancing at the Manhattan Beach Marriott with both live and silent auctions. The live auction was especially entertaining, as veteran BMHS teachers and self-proclaimed comediennes Debbie Skelley and Patti Loehr served as auctioneers. The live auction items included ten graduation tickets with parking and special seating, autographed Kobe Bryant shoes and a luxury Mexican vacation. The silent auction also proved to be a success as the guests were able to shop for one-of-a-kind items including a signed jersey of hockey Hall-of-Famer Luc Robataille, a Torii Hunter autographed baseball, a stay at the Ritz-Carlton in Boston, and a stay at the Laguna Riviera Beach Bungalows. The highlight of the night, however, was the induction of five members of the school community into BMHS’ Hall of Fame. Staff members Jan Fitzpatrick and Maggie Wilbanks were inducted for their 25 years of service to the school. In addition to serving as the school’s receptionist, Fitzpatrick is also a past parent of two alumni (Bridget ‘88 and Tom ‘91) and can be found at many BMHS athletic events. “I love my job,” explains Fitzpatrick, “because I get to enjoy all of the special things that happen when you’re going to school, and I get to experience these things year after year.” Wilbanks has served as the school’s attendance clerk since 1985 and, like Fitzpatrick, is an alumni mother (twins Danny and Dennis ‘88 and Stacy ‘90). “This is my family away from my family,” explains Wilbanks. “I call Bishop ‘the happiest place on earth’ and I couldn’t imagine my life any different.”
ABOVE: Principal Rosemary Libbon, left, welcomes the newest class into the Bishop Montgomery Hall of Fame at Black & Gold Night.
Also inducted were past parents Greg and Doris Morton. Even though their daughter, Michele ‘89, graduated over twenty years ago, the Mortons continue to give back to the school that provided so much for their family. “We believe BMHS is committed to providing the proper religious instruction and academic instruction to all students regardless of their background,” explained Doris. “Because of this, we support BMHS in any way we can.” The final inductee was BMHS plant manager and basketball coach Mike Murphy, who was inducted posthumously. Accepting the honor for Murphy, who died on April 10, 2009, were his sons, Paul and Ed. “Selecting Mike for the BMHS Hall of Fame was an easy choice,” explained Black & Gold Night co-chair Amy Traxler. “Mike was, and always will be, an important part of the fabric of this school and this campus.”
www.bmhs-la.org
Spring/Summer 2010 • 21
D EVELOPMENT ADVANCING THE MISSION OF BISHOP MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL
Dear Friends of Bishop Montgomery, Welcome to another issue of Veritas magazine. In June, Bishop Montgomery graduated another class of outstanding young men and women who are ready to take on the next challenges in their lives. The 282 graduates are a collection of intelligent, talented, and caring people who will continue to represent BMHS with pride and honor. In the coming years, we will surely hear more about their accomplishments.
July was also a special month as two classes -- 1985 and 1990 -- held their reunions in BMHS’ main gymnasium. On July 17, over 100 members of the Class of 1985 returned to campus to celebrate 25 years since graduating from Bishop Montgomery. A week later, the Class of 1990 held their 20th reunion with dinner, dancing and renewing old friendships. It was great to have so many alumni back on campus!
We are especially excited to bring you this issue of Veritas as a way to honor all the alumni who are serving or have served in the armed forces of the United States. The individuals profiled in the cover story are just a small sample of the courageous men and women from our community who have chosen to serve their country. This issue is just one way that we can say ‘Thank You’ to all of our servicemen and women for the sacrifices they make to serve and protect our country.
The new school year, already upon us, is sure to be an exciting time, especially for the members of our newest students in the Class of 2014. We hope you enjoy reading this issue of Veritas and we look forward gathering information for the next issue of the magazine. We thank you, our loyal readers, for making it possible to share with you the stories of the wonderful members of the BMHS community.
Sincerely, As is the case every year, the summer has been a busy time on campus. In addition to the bustle of summer school and athletic conditioning classes, campus improvements have become a yearly ritual during the summer months. This year, the student store and the development office received much needed face-lifts, as did the football/baseball team room and the bleachers in Knight Stadium. None of these projects is possible without the support of our community.
Andy Marafino Director of Development
KNIGHT PRIDE ALUMNI GIVING 2010-11 Bishop Montgomery High School relies upon the generosity of our entire school community -- alumni, parents, past parents, faculty, staff and friends -to assist us in providing our students with a quality, Catholic education.
A gift of only $10 from each BMHS alumnus would provide the school with over $150,000.
Consider making your gift to Knight Pride today!
Your tax-deductible contribution to Knight Pride is used to: *Enhance school programs - academics, music & arts, technology, athletics *Provide facility and equipment renovations & upgrades *Provide tuition assistance to students who would otherwise not be able to afford a BMHS education
22 • Veritas
Bishop Montgomery High School
DEVELOPMENT
1 2
6 3
BMHS/Morgan Miranda Golf Tournament The 8th Annual Bishop Montgomery/Morgan Miranda Memorial Golf Tournament, held on June 18 at Lakewood Country Club, was an exciting and emotional day. Dozens of alumni, parents, faculty, coaches, and friends gathered together to share a day of golf and camaraderie. The dinner included many awards, prizes and a silent auction. All of the tournament’s proceeds went to the Morgan Miranda Scholarship for tuition assistance at BMHS.
4 1. Steve Miller, Ed Hodgkiss, Andy Marafino, Charlie Kobayashi. 2. Mike Fay ‘83, Joe Rumsey ‘83, Kris Barr-Colin ‘83, Destry Bell ‘83, Mike Carroll ‘83 3. Michael Debelak ‘06, Eric Fuller ‘94, Brian Monreal, Rich Petroshanoff 4. Linda Miranda, Elaine Schiiller 5. Jason May ‘00, Matt Elias ‘00, Mark Woods ‘00, Jake Miller, Steve Miller, Nelson Miranda ‘04, Lauren Holman ‘00, Andy Mara-
5
fino, Damien Holman ‘00, Rachel Valadez ‘00, Juan Vega, Sam Prouty ‘00 6. David Martinez ‘94, Yong Kim ‘94.
www.bmhs-la.org
Spring/Summer 2010 • 23
CLASS NOTES
It’s A Small “BMHS” World BMHS is considered a small school, but it is a large community that reaches people all over the world. Proof of this is in the following story from 1972 BMHS graduate Mike Williams, who traveled to New Zealand this past February.
ABOVE:
Mike Williams ‘72 and Sylvia Egger reunite in New Zealand.
1970’s
“Myself and my wife, Cynthia, had been traveling in New Zealand for three weeks and we were staying in Rotorua, a city on the North Island. We were waiting in the lobby of the hotel for a Maori cultural show to begin and I started speaking to another lady who was waiting for the same show. I had overheard them speaking and knew from the accent (or lack of) that they were from the United States. After about 30 seconds of the usual chit-chat, the ‘where did you grow up?’ question popped up and amazingly, we both realized that we grew up a few miles from each other in Torrance.”
1990’s
Mitch Tavera ‘76 was named new police chief of El Segundo. He assumed the post on April 7, 2010. Tavera joined the agency in 1978 and has held an array of positions, including police officer, narcotics investigator and commander of the South Bay Mobile Field Force Platoon, a position he held for the last nine years.
1980’s
24 • Veritas
“We couldn’t believe how the ‘what a small world’ theory had brought two former BMHS students together so far from home.” Mike Williams and his wife, Cynthia, reside in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.
Elisa Maldonado ‘98 was awarded her Ph.D in Marine Biology from Scripps Institute of Oceanography, UC San Diego. She wrote her doctoral dissertation on “small-scale biological-physical interactions in marine plankton: the effects of small-scale turbulence on grazing, growth and swimming of sea urchin larvae.” In January 2010, she accepted a 3-year National Science Foundation Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in the Department of Engineering at Harvard University. She graduated summa cum laude from UCLA in 2002 with a degree in Marine Biology. Paul Bellezza ‘99 graduated from USC’s Interactive Media MFA program and is the cofounder of The Odd Gentlemen, a video game studio in Los Angeles. He is the producer of the award-winning XBox Live Arcade game The Adventures of P.B. Winterbottom.
Reverend Mark Strader ‘81 was recently appointed as the spiritual head at St. Luke the Evangelist in Temple City. Liliana Aranda ‘89 is celebrating 15 years of her photography business, Starstruck. She attended Cinta Aveda Institute in the spring and graduated with a license in Ethiology. She plans on opening a skin care studio in San Francisco and establishing a line of custom cosmetics for women.
“The next obvious question was ‘where did you go to high school?’ Well, you can probably guess that we both attended BMHS! Not only that, but we both attended Nativity School. The girl I had run into 10,000 miles from home was Sylvia Egger [who attended BMHS in 1968 and 1969], who was visiting New Zealand with her husband. We had dinner together and had a great time discussing all the people we both knew from BMHS and Nativity.”
Joshua Bettencourt ‘98 and Jill Duvall-Bettencourt ‘98, above, were married on May 15, 2010 in Manhattan Beach. Anthony Navarro ‘98 is married and has three children. He works as a Senior Account Executive for Deco Lighting.
Bishop Montgomery High School
CLASS NOTES
2000’s The Reverend Becca Moran ‘00 was ordained a Minister of the Word and Sacrament for the Presbyterian Church, USA on February 6, 2010.
HELP WANTED: CLASS REPS We are looking for alumni to serve as representatives for their respective classes. The job entails communicating, generally electronically, with your classmates about news, reunions, and other special events and activities at BMHS. Not an e-mailer? Not on Facebook? Not a problem. We also welcome those who prefer traditional methods of staying in touch. It is our goal to have at least one representative from each class, but more are welcome. If you are interested in being a class representative, contact Andy Marafino at 310-5402021 ext. 246 or amarafino@bmhs-la.org. The following are the confirmed class representatives and their e-mail addresses:
Cristina Checa-Valdez ‘01 and her husband, Bob, finalized the adoption of their first child, Thomas, above, on October 22, 2009. Mike Walle ‘00 and Lisa Roehl-Walle ‘00 welcomed daughter Aubrey on July, 27, 2010. Jessica Boren-Dillard ‘02 and her husband, Travis, were married on March 13, 2010.
1965 - John Metcalf - john.metcalf@lausd.net 1971 - Mary Pat Smith - mp_smith22@yahoo.com 1983 - Jackie Harris - jharris@citybm.info 1985 - Natalie Slawson - natalie.slawson@gmail.com 1986 - Cheri Bailiff - missbailiff@hotmail.com 1990 - Peter Wollner - peter.wollner@verizon.net 1991 - Bobby Cappasola - batcap@gmail.com 1994 - Celeste Adams - cadams@bmhs-la.org 2001 - Tyre Sperling - tsperling@ups.com 2002 - Pina Pumilia - ppumilia@sbcglobal.net 2004 - Ra’kenna Joseph - rakennaj@gmail.com 2005 - Andrea Nunag - andrea.nunag@gmail.com 2006 - Jessica Webster - jwebster310@yahoo.com 2007 - Thania Guardino - tguardino17@gmail.com
Pina Pumilia ‘02 received her MBA from the University of Phoenix in June 2010.
Kristin Fierro-Gohl ‘07 and her husband welcomed Brooks Zachary on March 2, 2010.
Vicky McLaughlin ‘07 graduated from UC Davis and is starting law school in the fall.
Vincent Vinzon ‘03 has recently been hired as a DJ at Power 106 FM in Los Angeles.
Rochelle Higgins ‘07 is interning at Fox Sports Net. At LMU, she is a member of the “Harmony Unison of Beats” dance team and the VP of Corporate Relations for the Latino Business Student Assoc. She is the President of the Tau Delta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She spent last spring break in New Orleans assisting Catholic Charities with rebuilding homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
Three former BMHS student-athletes were selected as El Camino College Scholar-Athletes for 2009-2010. Alexandra Stumpf ‘07 (water polo), Justine Zavala ‘07 (soccer) and Rachel Kudron ‘08 (softball) were honored by Scholar-Baller, an organization that recognizes athletes who are committed to academics.
Janon Burks-Johnson ‘04 and her husband, Josh, are expecting their second child in December 2010. Andrea Nunag ‘05 owns Bacik Athletics, LLC, where she offers brazilian jiu jitsu classes, personal training, and CrossFit. For more information, visit www.bacikathletics.com. For more information on CrossFit, visit www. crossfit.com. Peter Winfrey ‘05, a 2009 graduate of Loyola University (LA), is among 235 young people pledging to perform 10 months of public service as part of the National Civilian Community Corps, an AmeriCorps program for young adults. Winfrey recently spent eight weeks working with Serve Green in Louisiana and will work on other projects involving environmental conservation, infrastructure improvement, urban and rural development, energy conservation, and disaster relief.
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Join the Bishop Montgomery High School Alumni group on Facebook. We are already 2,084 members strong!
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Spring/Summer 2010 • 25
CLASS NOTES
In Memoriam Bishop Montgomery extends its prayers to the families of members of our community who have passed away:
Alumni Mary Frances Buffalo ‘63 passed away on July 8, 2010 after a long bout with liver cancer. She was a longtime resident of San Pedro and is survived by two sisters, Lillian Buffalo-Tompkins ‘64 and Margaret Buffalo-McGraw ‘66. Susan Yoklavich-Dugan ‘67 passed away on March 2, 2010. She settled in Reno, NV and is survived by her husband, Paul, her son, James and nine brothers and sisters, including Patricia Yoklavich ‘66, Mary Yoklavich-Harvey ‘69, Barbara Yoklavich-Heric ‘70, Sarah Yoklavich-Jones ‘74 and Laura YoklavichMetzler ‘76. Analee Palazzo-Lilore ‘70 passed away on August 23, 2010. She was a resident of Carlsbad and is survived by her husband, Barry and their two children, her sister Giselle PalazzoKeith ‘76 and her brother, Mike. Catherine Cafaro-Busse ‘80 passed away on October 14, 2008. She resided in Seal Beach, CA. She is survived by five sisters who graduated from BMHS: Angela Cafaro-Biscan ‘78, Maria Cafaro-Fattal ‘81, Diana Cafaro-Homeier ‘83, Elaine Cafaro-Sansbury ‘85, and Rosanne Cafaro-Paul ‘90. Joseph Kelley ‘82 passed away in February 2008. He was living in Camarillo, CA. Erin Norton ‘88 passed away on February 4, 2010 at the age of 39. He attended and played baseball at El Camino College, Hancock College and Porterville College before attending Cal Poly SLO. He worked as a deputy probation officer for San Luis Obispo County. He is survived by his wife, Shannan; his son Erin; his daughter, Andelyn; his father Louis; and his sister, Kelly Norton-Harrington ‘84. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary GreenNorton ‘65.
physical education teacher at a junior high school in south Los Angeles. He also boxed professionally as a cruiserweight and had a record of 7-1 with three knockouts. Watson is survived by his two sisters, twin Darneika Watson ‘89 and Tangye Watson ‘92. Heather Kain ‘01 passed away on February 13, 2010 in Hawthorne, CA at the age of 26. She was a member of St. Lawrence Martyr Church. She completed two years at El Camino College where she was a biology major. Kain is survived by her parents, Robert and Maura.
Alumni Families Rose Abend, mother of Rosemary Abend ‘64 and David Abend ‘65. Raymond Archambault, father of Danny Archambault ‘85.
Robert O’Brien, father of Brigid O’Brien ‘86. Steve Puccio, father of Margie Puccio-Keshishian ‘81, Carol Puccio-Kennedy ‘82, Mike Puccio ‘84 and Matt Puccio ‘94. Editha Ricardo, mother of April Ricardo ‘05. Ellen Phyllis Ruzek, mother of Joe Ruzek ‘70 and Lynn Ruzek-Boatright ‘74. Edward Sarmiento, father of Jill Sarmiento ‘97 and Jon Sarmiento ‘00. Guadalupe Trevino, mother of Gloria TrevinoJohnson ‘73, Irene Trevino-Bronner ‘78, Theresa Trevino-Hardesty ‘80, Loreen TrevinoOkata ‘83 and Michele Trevino-Toddun ‘85.
Camille Castelao, mother of Anthony Castelao ‘82, Joe Castelao ‘83, and Robert Castelao ‘85.
Bernita Wert, mother of David Wert ‘80 and Ray Wert ‘85.
Diane Dick, mother of Dirk Dick ‘72, Camille Dick-McCray ‘73, Therese Dick-Hooker ‘75, Tim Dick ‘76, Laurie Dick-Long ‘81, Richard Dick ‘83.
Jocelyn Zentil, mother of Bruce Zentil ‘61, Donna Zentil-Prime ‘62, Dennis Zentil ‘66, Victor Zentil ‘70 and Adele Zentil-Younkin ‘73.
Manuel Garin, father of Myra Garin-Wilson ‘80, Nancy Garin-Burns ‘81, and Noreen Garin-Helvie ‘81.
Current Families
Mary Herbers, mother of James Herbers ‘61, Susan Herbers-DeLay ‘64, Richard Herbers ‘67, John Herbers ‘72, Mary Herbers-Mackey ‘74, Carol Herbers ‘75, Debora HerbersDoran ‘81, Kathleen Herbers ‘84. Irene Hebert, mother of Nancy Hebert-Resnick ‘67, John Hebert ‘71, Paul Hebert ‘72, and Mary Hebert ‘73.
Darrius Watson ‘89, at right as a member of the Cal State Fullerton football team, passed away on February 1, 2010 of a heart attack while running on the beach in Los Angeles. He was 38 years old. After graduating from BMHS, Watson played football at Cal State Fullerton from 1989-1992. Upon the program’s suspension, Watson transferred to the University of Louisville where he was a cornerback on the 1993 team that finished 8-3, including an 18-7 victory over Michigan State in the 1993 Liberty Bowl. Watson had a tryout with the San Francisco 49ers following the completion of his college eligibility. Prior to his death, Watson was a 26 • Veritas
Anna O’Brien, mother of Ross O’Brien ‘76, Catherine O’Brien-Leeder ‘79 and Eileen O’Brien ‘80.
Mourad Andrawes, father of Anthony Andrawes ‘10. Reilly Atkinson, father of Anne Atkinson ‘12. Roy Tyler, father of Cameron Tyler ‘12 and Adam Tyler ‘14.
Faculty & Staff Sr. Marilyn Therese Rudy, CSJ, an original faculty member, died on December 26, 2009 in Santa Monica. She taught religion, history and civics. She was the co-founder of St. Joseph’s Center in Venice where she dedicated her time serving the poor and homeless. Mr. Mark Ule, who taught chemistry, biology and algebra from 1969-1972, died on April 25, 2010 in Ohio. He also served as the science department chair and helped coach cross country and baseball. Mr. Tom Forthun, who taught music from 2004-2009, died on September 2, 2010 in Torrance. A member of St. Margaret Mary Church, he taught many students how to play instruments and was an inspiration to all on campus.
Bishop Montgomery High School
REUNIONS & EVENTS
Consider holding your reunion back on campus. Facilities and tours are available. Times and dates are subject to availability. Contact the Development Office at 310-540-2021 ext. 246 or e-mail amarafino@bmhs-la.org.
Class of 1975
Class of 1980
• October 23, 2010 • 6:30 pm - 11:30 pm • Keegan’s Pub 1434 Marcelina Torrance, CA
• October 2, 2010 • 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm • Lucky Strike South Bay • Go to the 1980 reunion page on Facebook for more information • Contact: Tim McOsker ‘80 (tmcosker@nd.edu) or Jan Schubert-Glusac ‘80 (mrsglusac@hotmail.com)
Class of 1976 • Contact: Nora Montoya ‘76 at nimontoya@msn.com
Class of 1981 • Contact: Noreen Garin-Helvie ‘81 / 408-244-8619
Classes ending in 1 and 6, contact the Development Office today! Recent Reunions & Events
Class of 1985 The Class of 1985 held their 25th reunion on July 17, 2010 in the BMHS gymnasium. Over 120 people were in attendance to enjoy dinner, casino-style gaming, a special 1985 slide show and sharing memories with friends. Special thank you to the 1985 reunion committee members for a wonderful night. And thank you to all the members of the Class of 1985 who returned to campus. You are always welcome back to BMHS!
Class of 1990 The Class of 1990 held their 20th reunion on July 24, 2010 in the BMHS gymnasium. Over 150 people were in attendance to enjoy dinner, dancing and reconnecting with friends. Special thank you to the 1990 reunion committee members for a wonderful night. And thank you to all the members of the Class of 1990 who returned to campus. We are always happy to have you back at BMHS!
Above: Members of the Class of 1985 gather for a group photo at their 25th reunion on July 17, 2010.
Above (L to R): Aileen Quiazon ’90, Peter Wollner ‘90, Ryan Gagajena ‘90, Karen Teer-Chapkhaneh ‘90, Junnie Verceles ‘90, Laura Chovan ‘90.
Above (L to R): Kristen Pesutich-Williams ‘85, Celia Chiang ‘85, Mari Schneider ‘85.
Left: Brian Cox ‘90 and Erik Geierman ‘90
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BLACK & GOLD NIGHT SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2011 Manhattan Beach Marriott Dinner, Dancing, Live & Silent Auctions, Hall of Fame Induction For more information, visit www.bmhs-la.org or e-mail Amy Traxler at atraxler@bmhs-la.org.