Spring/Summer 2015 www.bmhs-la.org
V ERITAS
Members of Bishop’s girls’ beach volleyball team take a break from practice to pose for a picture.
Features 50 Years of Concordia 6 BMHS club celebrates five decades of serving local, national, and international communities.
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Graduation 2016
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Sophomore Called to Serve
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Alumni Photographers
The Class of 2016 celebrates a fantastic year.
Bishop sophomore Lauren Turner ‘19 travels to Haiti with her father to provide children a better life.
We profile three alumni who are making a name for themselves in the world of photography.
Departments 4
From the Principal
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Around Campus
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Class Notes
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In Memoriam
The Latin word Veritas is defined as “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. Principal: Rosemary Libbon Director of Development: Andy Marafino Director of Outreach & Public Relations: Dione Dierks Events & Communications Coordinator: Amy Traxler Publications Director: John Hong Editors: Andy Marafino, Dione Dierks, Amy Traxler, John Hong Photographers: Brandon Bibbins ‘09, Tom Hauck ‘84, Daniel Solomon ‘99, Dione Dierks, John Hong, Andy Marafino, Lifetouch, BMHS Yearbook Staff. Cover Photo: Brandon Bibbins ‘09 Cover Design: John Hong Printer: Shanahan Printing & Graphics, Inc. Published by Bishop Montgomery High School for alumni, students, parents, and friends of BMHS. © 2016 Bishop Montgomery High School For more information, address corrections or to send comments or suggestions, please contact: Andy Marafino, Director of Development Bishop Montgomery High School 5430 Torrance Boulevard Torrance, California 90503 310.540.2021 x 246 / amarafino@bmhs-la.org www.bmhs-la.org
On the cover: The 2016-17 Concordia Club officers hold a photo of the 1966-67 club officers.
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
“Our prayer is that our students remember that a Christian life is about becoming the largest, most inclusive, most responsive, most Christ-like persons they can be.”
Dear Friends of Bishop Montgomery,
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s our students pursue their academic goals here at Bishop Montgomery, they learn so many things as a result of the excellent classroom instruction they receive. Certainly, their academic education is crucial in their development as thinking human beings, but even more critical is how our students learn to live and love in community, how they learn to put their faith into action--to be about doing, not just about speaking—to know how to pray, but also to know how to live their prayers through a commitment to each other and to social justice—to have the courage to walk in Jesus’ shoes. These lessons do not come from books, but rather as a result of learning to live in a Christian community, the community that is Bishop Montgomery. Our goal and our continued prayer is that our students will remember not only the academic lessons taught to them so well over the course of their four years here, but that they will most importantly remember the lessons about how to live a life that is a witness to the message of Jesus Christ. Our prayer is that our students remember that a Christian life is about becoming the largest, most inclusive, most responsive, most Christ-like persons they can be. St. Teresa of Avila said it this way in this very lovely prayer: Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of
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Christ must look out onto the world. Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which He is to bless the people. Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything. Whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices.” There are wonderful examples of Christian service in this issue, examples that are not extraordinary in the daily life of Bishop Montgomery. Just as our students excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in their love—they also excel in the grace of living. They are exceptional young men and women. Thank you for the prayers, support, and love that you offer our school community every day. You are powerful witnesses to what it means to “excel in the grace of living” and we want you to know that we are grateful for you and pray for you every day. Sincerely,
Rosemary Libbon Principal
V ERITAS
2015-16 Concordia Club members Tamaya Devereaux ‘16, Caitlyn Kester, Katie Sutton and Kevin O’Donnell ‘17 gather stuffed animals for the Violence Intervention Program in Los Angeles. 4 • Veritas
COVER STORY
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Concordia Club...50 Years of Service
hen Bishop Montgomery alumni find their way back to campus, they often remark about the many physical changes that have taken place over the years. Where there was once a parking lot now stands Crawford Gymnasium and Student Activity Center; the Franciscan House has been replaced by the Schneider Retreat Center; the administration building has gone through multiple renovations; and the library is currently in the beginning stages of its transformation into a digital media center and learning commons. There are, of course, many other changes that have taken place since the early 1960’s, some more noticeable than others.
need to succeed in life like public service, public speaking, critical thinking, debating, and having confidence in ourselves.” Originally formed as a girls’ honorary service club, Concordia members aimed to provide vital services to both the school and the local community. The first year, Concordia members served food at BMHS faculty meetings and worked closely with the staff on important projects. In the surrounding community, Concordians supported local charities and organizations by venturing off campus to read to the blind, tutor grammar school students, and bring handmade gifts to hospitals. A look at Concordia today may suggest a very different club on the surface. For the past few years, the club has boasted a membership of almost 200 members, and the club is now co-ed. But, a closer look reveals that the club has not really changed at all.
Yes, despite the changes, many graduates are happy to learn that some things at Bishop have stayed the same. Class pictures still adorn the walls of the buildings; the hallways inspire Serving those in need is at the heart memories of visiting with friends and of Concordia. In its 50 years, the rushing to class to beat the late bell; number of people and organizations and, the students are, as they always served by Concordia Club members is have been, bright, respectful young impossible to count, but its impact men and women working daily to on those who have been helped and pursue their college dreams. One conon the students themselves is expostant on campus, that has been part of nential. Today, the club has extended the fabric of the school community for its reach to help those at national and five decades, is Concordia Club, and international levels, but maintains its the 2016-17 school year marks its 50th connections to those in need in Toryear. Concordia is the longest running 1966-1967 Order of Concordia Officers: Mrs. Gail Schoening, Kathy Maage ‘67, Mary Reimer ‘67, Kathy rance and the greater South Bay. Conservice club at Bishop, and though it Roach ‘68, Marcia Pene ‘67, Margaret Kemper ‘67, Lynn Thompson ‘70. cordia Club students still slate activihas gone through a few changes, the ties similar to the original club in 1966, essence of the club remains-- students serving those in need. including visits to local hospitals bearing handmade items. In the fall of 1966, BMHS English and speech teacher Gail Schoening approached senior Marcia Pene-Bell ‘67 with an idea to start a service Under the guidance of Spanish teacher Laura Fabbri, one of Concordia’s club, and asked Pene-Bell if she and her friends would be interested. With main service projects for over a decade now has been making blankets for Pene-Bell and her friends eager to get the club up and running, it was time the pediatric and burn units at both Torrance Memorial Medical Center to go to work, and soon the Order of Concordia (named after the Roman and Little Company of Mary Hospital. It is one of Fabbri’s and her stugoddess of harmony and peace) was established. “[Mrs. Schoening] came dents’ favorite projects. The idea for making blankets was actually introup with all of the ideas and how to implement them,” recalls Pene-Bell. “I duced to Fabbri years ago by colleague Judy Kline, and since then, the club has heard many stories of the impact their generosity has had on those in realize now how hard she must have worked to get the club started.” the hospitals. “Recently, [faculty member and alumna] Lisa Roehl-Walle Pene-Bell is quick to point out that for her and her friends in the club, Mrs. ‘00 had to stay overnight at Torrance Memorial with her daughter,” recalls Schoening was the ideal person to have as its leader. “Mrs. Schoening was Fabbri. “When [her daughter] had an accident with the blanket she was the perfect person to mentor senior girls,” she explains. “She was young, carrying, the nurse told her, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll get a new one,’ and she came beautiful, well-spoken, compassionate, kind and wise, and I now realize back with one of our blankets with our message ‘hand-made by BMHS that she was probably just a few years older than we were, so she truly Concordia Members’.” understood the angst of being a teenager.” For Pene-Bell and the other For Fabbri, and surely every Concordia moderator over the years, the 49 girls in the inaugural year of Concordia, what they learned from their satisfaction of helping others and teaching life lessons to the students go mentor and their service would last a lifetime. “We all looked up to [Mrs. hand-in-hand. “To have the chance to teach students ways in which they Schoening],” says Pene-Bell. “She concentrated on the things we would
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50 Years of Concordia can help others, and to show them how to organize a project or materialize an idea that they might have is particularly rewarding,” says Fabbri. One of the annual projects under Fabbri’s direction is helping orphanages and schools in Mexico. It is a project that has had a lasting impression on every student in Concordia, which is particularly rewarding for Fabbri. “Every year when we collect and organize the tens of 1000’s of crayons, pencils, papers, and other school supplies to be delivered to orphanages and other schools across the border, I always hear students say, ‘The kid who gets this is going to be so happy’,” says Fabbri. “I know they ‘get it’; they understand the feeling of happiness and making someone else’s day a bit brighter.” Through service to others, a core value that surely accounts for the longevity of the club, the goals of Concordia have generally stayed the same since 1966. By helping others, Concordia members not only provide a service, but they cultivate skills and learn lessons that will last them a lifetime. These are things that have not gone unnoticed by club members, whether they are current students, or were in Concordia two, five, ten, 20, or 50 years ago.
together to help the community around us,” she adds. “It didn’t matter what grade level you were in, what friend group you were in, or what sport you played, everyone became one united group while working with Concordia Club.” Like her sister, Sara viewed Concordia as an extension of what her parents always taught her: to give back to those in need. Currently a member of Sigma Alpha (the agricultural sorority) at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Sara uses the tools she learned through Concordia in current service projects. Each quarter, her sorority participates in several community projects, including volunteering at local nurseries and participating in events to raise money for ALS. “The most satisfying part of being in Concordia was seeing how our hard work impacted the community and those in need, recalls Sara, who was actively invloved in Concordia projects like the Dress A Girl Around the World campaign. “[Concordia] teaches the students how leadership, hard work, passion, and dedication can truly affect someone’s life.” Sara’s Bishop classmate, Vanessa Cicchini ‘15, was likewise involved in Concordia all four years and found every aspect of the club both meaningful and rewarding. Like many members before her, Cicchini found the club to possess a welcoming environment that made it easy to join, and she credits Fabbri and others for getting her started. “Mrs. Fabbri was super welcoming and encouraging, and all of the upperclassmen spoke very highly of the club,” says Cicchini.
For Emma Arellano-Sills ‘84, being a member of Concordia came naturally, as friends and family members before her served in the club and provided insight into all it had to offer. When she became club president as a junior, Concordia was going through an evolution. “I worked with the club moderator [Ms. Cheryl Palac] to bring a new service perspective to the club,” she recalls. “We brought When asked about the most school service with a smile to the club.” satisfying part of Concordia Club The lessons she learned as Concordia membership, Cicchini responded president followed her to college (she with a simple, yet powerful answer: graduated from Loyola Marymount), the helping others. Whether it was workforce (she has worked in finance making blankets to deliver to hospiand I.T. offices for large companies), and tals (her favorite project) or buying family life. “Concordia had a direct effect clothes and shoes for the Adopt-aon me [after high school],” she recalls. “I Brian Haynes ‘89, and Nancy Carmody-Lomibao ‘90 walk the runway at the 1988 Concordia Club Fashion Child project, Cicchini found value became aware of people in need of service. Show. Each year, the fashion show raised money for tuition assistance for students. in every project and was more than My overall character became empathetic happy to use her free time to serve and I carried that through college, married life, and parenthood. Genuine those in need. “Knowing that every single project we did was going to help acts of service and empathy are traits I try to instill in my children.” people not only in our local community but the global community as well, Sammi Toia ‘11, and her sister, Sara ‘15, both felt a calling to give back to that was satisfaction in itself,” she says. “It made every second spent tying the community. Each was a Concordia member for her entire four years knots, sorting through stuffed animals, or making bags of candy worth it. at Bishop and carries memories she will never forget, and values she adTaking time out of our lunches, and even after school, in order to work on heres to in every aspect of her life. One of Sammi’s fondest memories of these projects was a good way to stop and reflect on how we were making Concordia is helping Fabbri collect school supplies for the orphanages a difference in someone else’s life.” in Tijuana. Every summer just a few weeks after school was out, Sammi Today, Cicchini carries on the spirit of Concordia by giving back to a variwould gather her friends to help sort through school supplies to send to the ety of causes, primarily organized through the Center for Service and Acchildren in Mexico. Now a second grade teacher at an elementary school tion at Loyola Marymount, where she is a sophomore. During her freshman in San Diego, Sammi does not take having proper supplies for granted. “I year, Cicchini participated in ServeLA, and painted murals at an elemencan see how so many children can be positively affected by having school tary school to help beautify the campus. She also served as a coach during supplies, something so simple that most of us take for granted,” she says. the World Special Olympic Games where she was paired with an athlete “The most satisfying part of being in Concordia was seeing everyone come 8 • Veritas
50 Years of Concordia and spent the day assisting him. As if those volunteer opportunities, along with her studies, was not enough to keep her schedule filled, Cicchini, through her sorority, also volunteers at a nursing home near LMU. Fast forward to 2016 and it has been about a decade since boys were first invited to join Concordia. Currently, one of the most active participants is junior Kevin O’Donnell ‘18. A member of student government, O’Donnell has made sure he builds time into his busy schedule to give back to the community. Like many others, he sees how much Concordia offers BMHS students. “There is something for everyone in Concordia with so many diverse and fun service projects,” explains O’Donnell. “One of the great things about Concordia is that such a large percent of the student body is involved and [students] of all grade levels are working together for a similar purpose.” One of Concordia’s newest and most successful annual projects is the brainchild of O’Donnell. Two years ago, when he was a freshman, O’Donnell approached Fabbri with an idea to partner with USC and support their commitment to the Violence Intervention Program in Los Angeles. Since 2014, O’Donnell and his fellow Concordians have asked Bishop students to donate new stuffed animals for children who have been victims of abuse and/or neglect. The stuffed animals are more than just a gift for the children as they enter the program and undergo a battery of physical and psychological tests. “These [items] are something for them to hold on to and have as their own as they make adjustments to their new life,” says O’Donnell. This year, O’Donnell and his clubmates collected 197 stuffed animals and 48 brand new children’s books and delivered them to the USC program in the spring. For O’Donnell, one of the most satisfying aspects of this project, and Concordia as a whole, is involving as many students as possible and
making a difference. “[Concordia members] see thousands of things shipped out to those in need, and we know that each one touches someone’s life,” says O’Donnell. “We receive thank you letters back from some of the programs. The best part is seeing pictures from those that we helped and seeing the smiles on their faces.” Of all the ways Concordia has remained the same over the last five decades, perhaps the most enduring is the smiles on the faces of the service recipients. After 50 years, Pene-Bell is still thankful that she was part of such a special club and recalls one of her lasting memories of her time as an officer in the Order of Concordia. “The biggest lesson I learned from Concordia was how blessed I am,” recalls Pene-Bell. “I suppose I knew on some level that there were hungry and hurting people out there, but I sure didn’t know them. One of our projects was to collect food… and we delivered that food to individual families. I still remember the smiling face of the little boy who answered the door of a tiny place that looked like a converted garage. My eyes were opened... not everyone had enough to eat, clothes to wear, security.” Two years ago on a visit back to California, Pene-Bell, who owns a farm in Michigan with her husband Nick, made a detour to Bishop Montgomery to meet the present-day Concordia members. She spoke to the students about her experiences and learned about their current projects. “I so enjoyed visiting with the club a few years back,” recalls Pene-Bell. “I’m still struck at how the club is so different from the club of 1967, yet still holds onto the spirit.” Proving that the desire to help others never leaves a Concordia member, Pene-Bell did not finish her visit to campus without sitting down to help roll coins for the club’s annual Pennies for Patients drive, an annual project that supports the fight against leukemia.
2014-15 Concordia Club members display dresses they made for the Dress A Girl Around the World Project. Concordia partnered with Hope 4 Women Internatioanal to provide dresses for at-risk women and girls. Pictured with club members is Jan Cooper (2nd from left), a Southern California representative for Dress a Girl Around the World, and longitme Spanish teacher Dulcie Galdamez (middle).
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FEATURE
Graduation 2016
“I’ll be the first to to tell you that we have some of the most ambitious, respectful, compassionate, understanding, empathetic, helpful, outstanding, and all around incredible people you’ll ever meet, and I’m so glad to be part of this community.” James Serrano ‘16, Salutatorian
Class of 2016 Statistics Bishop Montgomery’s Class of 2016 graduated on Friday, May 27, officially becoming members of the school’s alumni community when they crossed the stage and received their high school diplomas. The class saw a year marked with another outstanding number of honors-at-entrance awards, and merit scholarships from colleges and universities across the country, as well as many other scholarships and recognition from local, state, and national businesses and organizations. Of the 200 seniors, 198 will attend college and two will take gap years. Below are some of the class’ highlights. On the facing page is the list of schools to which the graduates were accepted and where they are attending. • 198 (99%) • 153 (77%) • 45 (23%) • 178 (89%) • 165 (93%) • 52 (26%) • 42 (21%) • 28 (14%) • 32 (16%)
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Seniors attending college/university Seniors attending a 4-year college/university Seniors attending a 2-year college/vocational school Seniors who applied to 4-year colleges/universities Seniors who applied & were accepted to 4-year colleges/universities Seniors attending Cal State System Seniors attending UC System Seniors attending Private, In-State Seniors attending 4-year, Out-of-State
Class of 2016 Matriculation Members of the Class of 2016 were accepted to the following schools: Academy of Art University Alabama State University *University of Alabama *American University Arizona State University University of Arizona The Art Institute of California, Los Angeles Auburn University Azusa Pacific University Barry University *Baylor University Biola University *Boston College *Boston University California Lutheran University California Maritime University California State Polytechnic University, Pomona California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo California State University, Bakersfield California State University, Channel Islands California State University, Chico California State University, Dominguez Hills California State University, East Bay California State University, Fresno California State University, Fullerton California State University, Humboldt California State University, Long Beach California State University, Los Angeles California State University, Monterey Bay California State University, Northridge California State University, Sacramento California State University, San Bernardino California State University, San Diego California State University, San Francisco California State University, San Jose California State University, San Marcos California State University, Sonoma California State University, Stanislaus *University of California, Berkeley *University of California, Davis *University of California, Irvine *University of California, Los Angeles University of California, Merced University of California, Riverside *University of California, San Diego *University of California, Santa Barbara *University of California, Santa Cruz Cerritos College Chapman University *University of Chicago Clark Atlanta University Colgate University *University of Colorado at Boulder University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Colorado State University *University of Connecticut Creighton University *University of Denver Dillard University *Drexel University *Duke University El Camino College
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Los Angeles *Fordham University Fresno Pacific University George Mason University *Georgetown University *Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia State University Gonzaga University Grand Canyon University Hampton University University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Hiram College Hofstra University Hope International University Howard University Iowa State University *Indiana University *Johns Hopkins University Kalamazoo College University of Kansas Kent State University The King’s College Laboratory Institute of Merchandising University of La Verne *Lehigh University Long Beach City College The Los Angeles Film School Los Angeles Harbor College Loyola Marymount University Marymount California University *University of Massachusetts, Amherst *Michigan State University Middle Tennessee State University University of Mississippi Mount St. Mary’s University University of Nevada, Las Vegas University of New Mexico New Mexico State University *New York University Northern Arizona University *University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill University of North Carolina, Charlotte *Northeastern University *Northwestern University Norwich University *University of Notre Dame Oregon State University University of Oregon Otis College of Art & Design Pace University University of the Pacific *Pennsylvania State University *Pepperdine University Portland Community College Portland State University University of Portland University of Redlands Ringling College of Art & Design
Saint Mary’s College of California College of Saint Rose *University of San Diego University of San Francisco Santa Clara University Santa Monica College Seattle University Seton Hall University University of South Carolina *University of Southern California *Southern Methodist University Spelman College St. John’s University - Queens Temple University University of Tennessee *The Ohio State University Tuskegee University University of Utah Villanova University Washington State University University of Washington West Los Angeles College Wheaton College Whittier College Xavier University of Louisiana
Bold indicates Class of 2016 graduate attending the college or university *indicates US News & World Report Top 100 National University
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Lauren Turner ‘19 and her father, Ryan Turner, share some laughs with Chloe and Caleb in Haiti.
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FEATURE
Bishop Sophomore is Called to Serve
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Bishop Montgomery’s Lauren Turner ‘19 knows that her calling in life is to make a difference in the world
lthough she is only a sophomore in high school, Bishop Montgomery’s Lauren Turner ’19 knows she has a calling in life. By all accounts, she is a model high school student – intelligent, athletic, friendly, well-rounded – who aspires to go to a great college. She is the daughter of hard-working, college-educated parents, Wendy and Ryan Turner, and she has three younger siblings who look up to her. As a freshman last year, Turner immersed herself into several honors classes and she had an outstanding season on the girls’ varsity volleyball team. She does not know, at this point, where she will end up going to college, or what her career path will be. What she does know, however, is that there is a plan for her. “I believe that we are all called to do something good in the world,” she says, “to find something we are passionate about and make a difference.” Turner is not waiting around until she has finished with college and is a member of the work force. She is already off and running. Almost as soon as Bishop’s spring semester ended, Turner was at LAX with her father boarding a plane bound for Port-au Prince. Turner, who previously visited Haiti in November 2015 with her dad, was heading back to the Caribbean island to continue serving the Haitian youth she had met there in the fall. During her first trip, Turner saw first-hand the poverty and lack of resources that affected almost every citizen of the depleted third-world country. “It was really mind-blowing to me-- that’s really the only word that comes to mind-- because Haiti is just so impoverished,” she says. “Everyone is so poor.”
opportunity for her to use that gift in a very simple way to make a few kids’ days brighter.” The Turners brought diapers and toys for all of the 60 children living at the orphanage, and Lauren spent much of the trip playing with them and leading them in outdoor games. For Ryan, seeing his daughter interact with the children in the orphanage was a “magical” experience. “ While it melted my heart to see her make the children smile and laugh, it also was a powerful way to teach her about perspective and how very blessed we all are to have a life of opportunity in such a stress-free environment,” he says. On this second trip, Lauren and her father again stayed with the Johanssens who were one step closer to finalizing the adoption of Caleb and Chloe. Though Lauren’s visit to Chances for Children was uplifting and her help was well-received, her visit to another orphanage in La Doucette brought the realities of Haiti’s poverty and economic turmoil into sharp focus. “The orphanage in Doucette had no power, no bathrooms… not even running water,” says Lauren. “These kids had nothing-- I mean, nothing.” To help the orphans, Lauren and Ryan shopped at the local grocery store in Doucette and brought food to the children. With scandal and greed running amok in some of the country’s orphanage management, they wanted to ensure that the food would get into the hands of the children in La Doucette: “We brought food directly to them and gave it to them. Otherwise, we couldn’t be sure [the children] would actually get it.”
Providing help directly to the children in need is something that both Ryan and LauLauren Turner ‘19 has fun with some of the children at Chances for Children orphanage in Haiti ren see as vital. However, satisfying that during her trip in June. During that stay, Lauren and Ryan need will be a huge challenge as there are bunked with family friends, the Johansmany hurdles to clear. “What we are wressens, who were in the process of adopting two Haitian children from the tling with now is whether or not there is an opportunity to find a way to Chances for Children orphanage and crèche in Kenscoff. The Johannsens, who make a difference at [the orphanage in La Doucette],” Ryan explains. “The moved from Fresno, California to a rented home in Haiti to be with siblings squalor, corruption and exploitation at this particular facility is beyond Caleb, age 5, and Chloe, age 3, until their adoptions are finalized, live just comprehension. We are trying to brainstorm a way to change that.” a twenty minute walk from Chances for Children. “I was excited when the Although the Johanssens returned to the U.S. with Caleb and Chloe in the Johanssens invited me to go on that first trip,” she says. “They wanted me to summer, Lauren knows that she will always have a place to stay at Chances see the kids and I really wanted to experience everything I could.” for Children while in Haiti. “They have a guest house where they will let me There is no doubt that the Johanssens chose the right person, as helping stay while I’m there helping,” explains Lauren. Given her strengthened others, especially children, is something that comes easy to Lauren. “[Lauconnection with the children of Haiti, Lauren looks forward to returning in ren] has always had a very special heart for others and it comes very natuthe next few months and possibly bringing some of her Bishop schoolmates ral for her,” her dad says. “She has the ability to shut out anything that is along with her. “I’m just kind of in love with the kids there, and I want to around her and just make younger children laugh and smile. Being the oldhelp them,” she shares. “I really just want to find ways to make their situest of four children, she has been playing and taking care of younger ones ations better.” since she was three years old. Visiting orphanages in Haiti was the perfect
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FEATURE
One Thousand Words’ Worth
Tom Hauck ‘84
Daniel Solomon ‘99
Brandon Bibbins ‘09
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ishop Montgomery alumni are doing amazing things in almost any field one can imagine. They are wonderful mothers and fathers. They are leaders in medical, legal, political, and military professions; and they are fantastic educators, engineers, architects, builders, buisness owners, athletes, entertainers, artists, and whatever else it is they are called to do. One of our priorities with Veritas magazine is to highlight our alumni’s achievements. We recently caught up with three talented photographers to find out how they got started in photography and what inspires them.
4 auc@khauc‘8 to.com ho kp TomotH o.com • tom
www.hauckph
What were your inspirations in becoming a professional photographer? My inspiration to be a sports photographer came from a photo taken of me playing football at BMHS by Mr. Balderas (black & white picture at left). Capturing great athleticism at peak moments of action was an exciting challenge. I hung up my ties and put away my brief case, from my commercial real estate career, and began focusing on photography. How did you get your start in photography? I got my start in photography picking up assignments with the Daily Breeze and Beach Reporter. I gravitated to and excelled at sports action and caught a lucky break landing a staff position in 1997 at Getty Images Sports. Getty was notable because I got to photograph sporting events all over the country - ranging from the NBA Finals and World Series to Super Bowls, as well as working along side extremely talented staff photographers and learning how they approached covering different sports. Our photographs were distributed around the world almost instantly to most newspapers, magazines and commercial clients. What are your specialties/favorite things to photograph? Fifteen years ago I launched Tom Hauck Photography now based in Portland, Oregon. I have been capturing high-impact images for a variety of clients including Nike, Microsoft, Direct TV, ESPN the Magazine, Student Sports and Under Armour. My favorite thing to photograph is football. I have photographed over 400 NFL games, in every stadium in the league, and 15 Super Bowls. My favorite place to photograph football is Lambeau Field. I became a fan of the Green Bay Packers, as they possess a unique family culture not present in most professional sports.
@hauckphoto
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Daniel Solomon ‘99
www.dansolomonphoto.com • dan@dansolomonphoto.com @danielsolomonphotography
@dansolomonphoto
What were your inspirations for becoming a professional photographer? I picked up my first camera about ten years ago and immediately became enamored with viewing life through a lens. It became very satisfying and addicting to produce a work of art from a single moment in time. I am constantly searching for the interaction between my subjects and light. Dull, flat light can make an amazing subject look less than desirable while beautiful light can turn an ordinary or mundane subject into something magnificent. About four years ago, I decided to go all-in and start my own photography business, with the help and support of my family and, most importantly, my wife, Josie. (Daniel is married to Josie Tartaglia ‘99)
“Bishop Montgomery truly did give me the tools to succeed in life and God has blessed me so immensely with such an amazing wife, family (both my sisters and mom attended BMHS) and friends, all of whom have supported me both personally and professionally.” What are your specialties/favorite things to photograph? My main area of expertise is architectural photography, which includes architecture, resorts, hotels, hospitality, real estate, and interior design. However, I also photograph fine art, weddings, engagements, family portraits, head shots, and products. One of my favorite shoots was photographing the rooms, suites and villas at Terranea Resort, which was both incredibly challenging and satisfying. I also love shooting real estate because it encompasses architecture, construction and interior design all into one. I enjoy getting a glimpse into homes throughout Southern California. Everyday is different - I may shoot a ranch-style home in Palos Verdes one day and a family portrait at the beach the next.
9 bins b‘ib0 b i B n s.com o in b d n randon Bra m • photo@b
@flashbibbs
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ibbins.co ww.brandonb
What were your inspirations for becoming a professional photographer? It all began my freshman year of college when I was a writer for my school’s newspaper. We were very short on photographers at the time, so I had to go out and capture the photos for the event I was covering. I had zero experience photographing, but my professor still insisted I go. He tossed me a small DSLR, showed me the on and off button, and pushed me out the door. Aperture, shutter speed, ISO were all foreign terms to me, so I just turned the camera knob to automatic and shot away. The photos were cringe-worthy when I look at them now, but it didn’t stop me... it was that night that I fully understood what it meant to have the ability to visually tell a story through photographs. That single principle motivated me to learn about photography and is the core of my photography business today. What are your specialties/favorite things to photograph? I am primarily a wedding and lifestyle photographer based in the South Bay. However, I have a soft spot for landscape and aerial photography, so in my off time I am busy doing that. Meeting new people, building relationships, and creatively expressing myself are a few reasons why I love being a photographer. Through the years, some of these reasons may come and go, but there is one that will always remain. Every day I have the opportunity to visually create memories that people can cherish for a lifetime. It is that simple principal that is the underlying core of all my work. Capture the story, not the smile. Where have you been published? I have been featured in Post Card & Tag in “Best of Instagram: Aerial Photography.” I also have been featured in the LA County Sheriff’s Department magazine and website (opposite page). Most of my aerial photography prints are for sale at Kelly I Designs in Palos Verdes. I am closing some more deals with boutiques in the South Bay, so be on the lookout for more information. I love meeting new people, so please feel free to contact me through my website at www.brandonbibbins.com or email me at photo@brandonbibbins.com.
www.bmhs-la.org • 15
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Carlos Bernal ‘17 Earns Eagle Scout Badge
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students about his life as a judge and about career opportunities in law. Bedsworth is an Associate Justice with the State of On Sunday, June 5, senior Carlos Bernal ‘17 completed California Court of Appeals. the requirements for his Eagle Scout badge with the Boy Scouts of America. For his final project, Bernal organized 3 Students Treated to Piano Master Class a huge conservation project in the Angelus National Forest. He is pictured with a few of his Bishop teachers, In the spring, music students were treated to a piano master (r to l) Mrs. Alda Rodriguez, Mrs. Joanne Svarda, and Mr. class by professional session musician and private music teacher John Sansalone, who were on hand to celebrate Bernal’s Chris Wilson. Wilson has performed with Grammy-winning impressive accomplishments artists including Stevie Wonder and Mariah Carey. He provided the students in Mr. Hankey’s classes hands-on piano instruc2 Hon. Bill Bedsworth ‘65 Returns to Campus tion and answered questions about his career in music. Above, Wilson, far right, instructs Thomas Li ‘19, right, and Daniel Santa Ana judge and BMHS alumnus Bill Bedsworth ‘65 Muncherian ‘16, middle. returned to campus in the spring to speak to government 16 • Veritas
Arce ‘17 and Clapp ‘17 Attend Naval Academy Summer Program
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he summer was hardly ordinary for two members of the Class of 2017. Chris Arce ‘17 and Muriel Clapp ‘17 (above right) each spent a week at the United States Naval Academy’s Summer Seminar in Annapolis, Maryland. Arce and Clapp participated in the second of the three sessions, although they were in different squads during their June stays. For both Arce and Clapp, the experience was equal parts tough and exhilarating, and one they will never forget. The summer seminar offers a small taste of what life is like for students at the Naval Academy and both Arce and Clapp went through a rigorous application process to attend. Upon arrival, the students quickly changed into a uniform and were introduced to their squad leaders. For the week, Arce was a member of Echo Company and Clapp was assigned to Charlie Company. Arce and Clapp were made to follow many of the rules that plebes (freshmen) must follow, attended classes, participated in daily workouts, and ate all meals together. “We had to have our hats on while we were outside and off while inside,” explained Clapp. “It took some getting used to remembering things like walking on the inside of the hallways and the outside in the stairwells.” Following a morning workout each day, Arce and Clapp attended classes and participated in other activities required of freshman. To get a feel for classroom life, Arce and Clapp could pick which classes to attend. Clapp, for example, took classes called Politics, Freedom, and Power and Prospectives on the Past while Arce took English and Physics courses. “Although we were only in classes for a few days, it was all so interesting,” explains Clapp. “The physical training and classroom work gave me a clear idea of what life is like as a student.” Arce and Clapp both walked away from the experience with similar feelings: scared and excited. They realize that attending a school like the Naval Academy would be a huge commitment, but also something they want. “The commraderie you feel there is so great,” says Clapp. “I really had an amazing time and I am definitely going to apply to the Naval Academy.” Prior to attending the seminar, Arce already had plans to apply to the Air Force Academy. His experiences in Annapolis solidified his decision to apply to the Naval Academy as well. “The campus and the atmosphere was incredible,” says Arce. “I have already started the application process.”
Jeter ‘98 Returns to Campus For Her “What If Moment”
In the spring, alumna Carmelita Jeter ‘98 returned to campus with the producers at thepostgame.com to film a piece about her journey from the basketball court to the track. The video, with Jeter as the narrator, chronicles her move from playing basketball all her life to running track for the first time. Billed as her ‘what if?” moment, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist reflected on what would have happened if she kept playing basketball and never tried track. A few weeks after her part was filmed, Jeter’s cousin arrived on campus to act as the “high school” version of Carmelita. She was joined by BMHS students Kayla Padilla ‘19, Samantha Isozaki ‘18, and Muriel Clapp ‘17, who served as Jeter’s high school teammates. The entire video can be viewed at www.bmhs-la.org or at www.thepostgame.com.
Longtime History Teacher Mike Butler Retires
History teacher Mike Butler retired at the end of the 2015-16 school year after 31 years at BMHS. During his time at Bishop, one of the most popular classes was his U.S. After 1945 course, which included the history of Rock ‘n Roll. In addition to the music coming from the third building, there was no mistaking that Room 305 was special, as the walls were completely covered with music posters. In addition to teaching, Butler also coached girls’ cross country and track as well as boys’ volleyball in his early days at BMHS. “My best memories are the countless daily interactions with my students that I will always remember and which have made my life fuller and richer for having experienced them,” he said. Happy retirement, Mr. Butler!
www.bmhs-la.org • 17
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BMHS Hosts Knights of Columbus Sports Clinic
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n the morning of June 27, Bishop Montgomery hosted the Knights of Columbus Southern California Sports Clinic for students in grades 3-8. The clinic was one of many organized around the world by the Knights of Columbus Sports Council, headed up by BMHS alumnus Bill Bordley ‘76. Boys and girls from all over the South Bay and Los Angeles participated in the event, listening to athletes speak about their faith and learning football and baseball skills on the field.
Bordley, who had a prolific baseball career at Bishop Montgomery, USC, and in the major leagues, currently serves as the Director of Security Operations and the Director of Sports Outreach at the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus. Prior to his role with the KofC, Bordley served in the Secret Service under President Clinton and as Vice President of Security for Major League Baseball. In his role on the Sports Council, one of Bordley’s passions is recruiting Catholic athletes to go in to the community and teach children the importance of faith, family, and living a life of integrity. Joining Bordley on the BMHS campus were a few of his great friends from the world of sports, who helped deliver a strong message to the students about leaning on faith and family. Former Los Angeles Dodger Tim Leary and USC and NFL Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz were joined by BMHS and USC alumnus Eric Torres ‘99 to speak to the students in the gym prior to heading to the fields. In addition to these three speakers, Bordley invited other great friends of his to help at the clinic. BMHS Athletic Hall of Famer Dan Graham ‘67, former UCLA pitcher Tim O’Neill, and former USC baseball star Jim McDowell were on hand to lend their expertise and join in the fun. “The message the speakers delivered to the kids and their parents was powerful,” explained BMHS Director of Development Andy Marafino. “Hearing these highly accomplished athletes explain that their greatest accomplishment in their lives is being fathers to their children is inspiring. These are men who have accomplished great things in athletics, but their roles as fathers and their strong family values are what they are most proud of leaving as their leagacies.” On the BMHS fields, the kids were treated to fun drills in football and baseball and were helped by members of the Bishop Montgomery coaching staffs as well as players from both the baseball and football programs. “The kids brought so much energy and a willingness to learn and have fun,” noted BMHS Head Baseball Coach Eric Fuller ‘94. “It was so fun to teach them the proper way to catch and throw a football,” added BMHS senior Daniel Schubert ‘17. “Some of those little kids have quite the arm on them!” Special thanks to Bill Bordley and everyone at the Knights of Columbus who made the event special for all involved. Thank you, also, to the BMHS baseball and football coaches, their players, and the BMHS Ambassadors for their help in creating a fun atmosphere for the kids and parents.
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New Athletic Hall of Fame Class to be Inducted
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n October 7, Bishop Montgomery will induct its newest honorees into the Athletic Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will begin with a reception in the main BMHS gymnasium prior to the Knights’ football game against Verbum Dei. The honorees will also be recognized at halftime of the football game. The reception begins at 5:00pm and the game begins at 7:00pm. The event is free to attend and is open to the public. The Class of 2016 features six individuals and one team and they represent BMHS athletic excellence from the 1960’s to the 2000’s. The class was chosen by the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee from an outstanding list of nominees submitted to the school. Below are the honorees who will be inducted on October 7. For complete bios, or to send in a nomination for 2017, visit the Athletic Hall of Fame page at www.bmhs-la.org. The Class of 2016: Coach Jim Arnaiz - Coach Arnaiz served as an assistant fooball coach and Head Boys’ Track Coach at BMHS from 1962-1968. As the head track coach from 1964-1968, he led the Knights to league titles in 1967 and 1968. Following BMHS, he went on to a decorated football coaching career at Helix HS in San Diego. Coach Ernie Martinez - From 1972-1984, Coach Martinez served as the baseball coach, leading the program to five league championships, seven CIF playoffs appearances, and the 1975 CIF title. He is the winningest coach in program history and his 1975 team is ranked by CalHiSports as the team the 24th greatest high school baseball team in state history. Tony Guggiana ‘64 - During his time at BMHS, Guggiana stood out for his excellence in both basketball, where he was a 3-year letter winner, and on the baseball field. On the baseball diamond, he was a 3-time All-League selection and was named Bishop’s 1964 Male Athlete-of-the-Year his senior year. Sharkie Boehnert ‘68 - Sharkie Boehnert-Zartman ‘68 stood out as one of the school’s best athletes during her days at BMHS. She played three years of volleyball and basketball and, in her senior year, she helped lead the volleyball team to the program’s 1st ever league title, She went on to a decorated playing career at UCLA and coaching career at El Camino College. Cindy Weglarz ‘95 - Cindy Weglarz is arguably one of the best volleyball players in BMHS history. She was a 4-year varsity letterwinner and 4-time all league selection. As a junior, she was named State Player of the Year and she followed that up with CIF Player of the Year honors as a senior. She went on to have a decorated playing career at Loyola Marymount University. Fred Washington ‘03 - During his four years on the basketball team, BMHS won 3 league titles, 3 CIF titles, and 2 state titles. He was named All-Del Rey League, All-CIF, and All-State multiple times in addition to being named Daily Breeze Player of the Year, BMHS Male Athlete of the Year, and an All-American as a senior. He went on to an excellent career at Stanford University. 1995-96 Girls’ Basketball Team - The 1995-96 Girls’ Basketball team has the distinction of being the first team in school history to win a state title in any sport when they captured the Division III crown. In addition to winning a state title, the Lady Knights also captured the 1995-96 CIF-SS Division III title under head coach Yevette Angel.
www.bmhs-la.org • 19
AROUND CAMPUS
For athletic scores and news, follow us on twitter @BMHSKnights
Athletics
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Winter & Spring Athletes Excel 1
David Singleton ‘18
Boys’ basketball (28-3) continued to dominate on the court under head coach Doug Mitchell. They went undefeated in the Del Rey League to capture their 4th straight league title. Playing in the CIF-SS Open Division, arguably the toughest division in the country, the Knights’ only losses came against the nation’s top-ranked team Chino Hills (twice) and nationally-ranked Sierra Canyon. The Knights advanced all the way to the State Southern California regional finals. Leading the way for the Knights were a trio of players. David Singleton ‘18 was named 1st Team All-Del Rey League, 1st Team All-State Sophomore, Daily Breeze Player of the Year, LA Times All-Star, and Max Preps 2nd Team Sophomore All-American. Jordan Schakel ‘17 was named 1st Team AllDel Rey League, 1st Team All-CIF, 2nd Team All-State Junior, and 1st Team Daily Breeze AllArea. Ethan Thompson ‘17 was named Del Rey League MVP, 1st Team All-CIF, 1st Team AllState Junior, and 1st Team Daily Breeze All-Area.
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Nathan Draves ‘17
Baseball (16-10-1) turned in another successful season under head coach Eric Fuller ‘94. In the wild card round of the CIF-SS playoffs, they delivered a 1-0 win over Santa Maria before losing to Ganesha 4-3. Nathan Draves ‘17 led the way as he was named Camino Real League Pitcher
of the Year and Daily Breeze 2nd Team All-Area. He was 5-1 with a 1.78 ERA on the season. Several other players turned in excellent seasons. Brendan Marafino ‘16 was named 1st Team All-Camino Real League (.347, 9 RBI’s, 12 stolen bases / 2-0, 2.28 ERA); Corey Caldwell ‘18 was named 1st Team All-Camino Real League (.338, 10 RBI’s / 5-5, 2.11 ERA); Desmond Gates ‘17 earned 1st Team All-Camino Real League honors (.392, 2 HR, 18 RBI’s).
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Andrea Guzman ‘16
Softball (13-10) had a breakthrough season under new head coach Gary Ferrin. The Lady Knights were Co-Camino Real League champs with a young squad. They were led by senior Andrea Guzman ‘16, who was named 1st Team All-Camino Real League and 1st Team All-CIF after leading the Lady Knights to the playoffs. She hit .529 on the season with 36 hits. Joining Guzman as 1st Team All-Camino Real League selections were Jamie Garvey ‘18 (.464 / 7-4 on the mound); Alex Fifer ‘18 (.418); Kat Hummer ‘19 (.508, 7 doubles); and Madison Jacobus ‘19 (.478, 33 hits, 4 HR’s).
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Daniel Kelly ‘17 & Bernard Amofa ‘17
One of the highlights in an impressive year for boys’ track & field was the performance turned in by the 4x100m relay team of Bernard Amofa ‘17, Daniel Kelly ‘17, Mark Ogbunamiiri ‘17, and Dhahran Woods ‘16. On April 13, the quartet not only beat rival Serra, but they did so by setting a new school record with a time of 42.57. Later in the season, they qualified for CIF Prelims to cap a great year.
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Camille Buckley
Camille Buckley was hired as the new girls’ basketball coach. She replaces Bridgette Reyes, who is now an assistant coach at Loyola Marymount University. Buckley was an outstanding player at Colony High School and UC Irvine. At Colony, she was the CIF 3A Player of the Year as a junior and led her team to consecutive CIF titles. At UC Irvine, she was twice named All-Big West Conference. She becomes the 18th coach in program history.
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Athletic Record Book & Almanac
BMHS is working on compiling a comprehensive athletic record book. The current draft is available to view at www.bmhs-la.org and contains records and stats for every sport. Please note that this document is a work-in-progress as statistics and records are missing and still being researched. If you have any information to add, please email alumni@bmhs-la.org.
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Jade Murray ‘17
Girls’ Track & Field turned in some impressive performances in 2016. Jade Murray ‘17, the school record holder in the triple jump at 35’7”, won league titles in two events, the high jump and triple jump. She qualified for CIF prelims in both events, and she was named 2nd Team Daily Breeze All-Area. Sophia Carroll ‘18 was the league champion in 110m low hurdles and also qualified for CIF prelims. JaNarie Rhambo ‘17 set a new school record in the discus with a throw of 89’ 3”.
www.bmhs-la.org • 21
CLASS NOTES
1962 John Leninger ‘62 (right) was inducted into the Hermosa Beach Surfers Walk of Fame in August. John Joseph ‘63 (left) was Master of Ceremonies and had the privilege of introducing his friend of alomost 60 years.
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Submit your class notes and photos for publication in Veritas: 1. Submit news online through the alumni portal at www.bmhs-la.org 2. Email the Development/Alumni Office at alumni@bmhs-la.org 3. Message us on Facebook on the Bishop Montgomery High School page 4. Call us at 310-540-2021 ext. 246 5. Mail news to Development Office, 5430 Torrance Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90503
1971
Dorothy Harrington-Edwards ‘64 and her husband, Thomas, had their 50-year marriage vows renewed on February 7, 2016.
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1980 The Class of 1971 held their 45-year reunion on July 30 at the BMHS Schneider Retreat Center. The warm summer night was enjoyed by over 90 classmates.
1973 The Class of 1966 held their 50-year reunion on June 11 at the BMHS Schneider Retreat Center. Over 120 guests enjoyed visiting with friends and classmates. The evening included a silent auction and dancing under the stars on the patio outside the Retreat Center. It was truly a special night on campus.
1968 Class of 1968 (50th Reunion) When: September 15, 2018 Where: Portofino Hotel / Redondo Beach Sharkie Boehnert-Zartman ‘68 recently published another book. It is titled “Take on Aging as a Sport: The Athletic Approach to Aging” and can be found on www.barnesandnoble.com as well as www.amazon.com She will be inducted into the BMHS Athletic Hall of Fame on October 7. Read more about her and her other books at www.sharkiezartman.com.
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1976 Class of 1976 (40th Reunion) October 15, 2016 / Wyndham Hotel / Irvine Contact: Nora Montoya ‘76 310-935-6362 or nimontoya@msn.com
Tim Tessalone ‘73, the longtime Sports Information Director at USC, was inducted in June into the College Sports Information Director’s of America (CoSIDA) Hall of Fame.
Patty Froehlich-Gasso ‘80, the head softball coach at the University of Oklahoma, led the Sooners to the NCAA title in June when they beat Auburn 2-1 in the Women’s College World Series. It was the third national title for Gasso and the OU program. Gasso is pictured with her son, DJ.
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1974 The Class of 1981 held their 35-year reunion on July 23 at the Torrance Tavern.
1986 Geoff Rizzo ‘74, above right, was recently re-elected to the Torrance City Council for a 2nd term. Rizzo is a retired lieutenant with Torrance Police Department and has lived in Torrance his entire life. As a councilman, he has served on the Transportation Committee, the Employee Relations and Public Safety Committee and the Finance and Governmental Operations Committee. He also serves as a lay Eucharistic Minister at St. Lawrence Martyr Church.
The Class of 1986 held their 30-year reunion on August 13 at the Doubletree Hotel in Torrance.
Alumni Mallin ‘80 and Strader ‘81 Celebrate 25 Years of Ordination Rev. Peter F. Mallin ‘80, OFM Conv. (center) celebrated his Silver Jubilee of Ordination to the Priesthood on June 16, 2015 at St. James Church, the site of his ordination in 1990. The celebration was celebrated by Bishop Carl Fisher, SSJ, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. During his 25 years of ministry, he has served in Reno, NV, Riverside, Hermosa Beach and Torrance. He is currently a chaplain with Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center and is working on a Doctor of Bioethics degree at Loyola University, Chicago.
Rev. Mark Strader ‘81 celebrated his 25th Jubilee of Ordination to the Priesthood at St. Luke the Evangelist in Temple City, where he has been pastor for over six years. “I give thanks to God for the great journey I have been on since ordination to the priesthood on June 8, 1991,” he says. Fr. Mark has served in various roles, including parochial vicar, Pastor, secondary educator and administrator, and in clergy formation. “In looking back over these past 25 years, I truly enjoy celebrating the Eucharist and teaching people the beauty of Christ in the sacramental life of our Catholic faith,’ he says. “I always proclaim at the end of each homily that ‘Our journey continues.’ I give thanks for the support I have received throughout the years from those who educated me as a youth at St. James and Bishop Montgomery. Go Knights!”
310.463.8488 Class of ‘91
www.bmhs-la.org • 23
CLASS NOTES
1996
The Class of 1996 held their 20th reunion on July 9 in the Schneider Retreat Center on campus. Over 100 members of the class enjoyed visiting with classmates and dancing to music of the 1990’s. It was truly a memorable night for these alumni.
1997
Villalobos ‘11 Reaches Finale of ‘America’s Greatest Makers’ BMHS graduate Brendon Villalobos ‘11, along with his tech partner, recently competed on the show “America’s Greatest Makers.” The show allows teams of inventors to pitch their ideas to a panel of experts for a chance to win $1 million. Although he did not ultimately win the competition,Villalobos and his invention, HandsON, advanced all the way to the final episode where he competed against four other teams. HandsON is a sensor-enhanced glove that translates American Sign Language into text and voice. His Brendon Villalobos ‘11 demonstrates how to use his inven- idea was born while he was working on a project for tion, HandsOn, on the finale of ‘America’s Greatest Makers.’ a deaf community in Nicaragua. Finding that communication was difficult and frustrating for both sides, Villalobos set out to create a system of communication to make translation easy, portable, and nonintrusive. On the show, he and his partner received feedback and guidance from mentors from Intel as they advanced through the competition. Following graduation from BMHS, Villalobos received his B.A. in Statistics and Psychology from Columbia University. He is currently working on his Master’s Degree at NYU and works as a software engineer at PeerIQ in New York. Watch full episodes of ‘America’s Greatest Makers’ and Villalobos at www.americasgreatestmakers.com
Nielson Ballon ‘97 and his wife, Myralynn were married on September 7, 2013. Their daughter, Kayla Marie, was born on November 5, 2014. Go Knights! Class of 1997 (20th Reunion) Date: TBD Contact: Cristina Gonzalez ‘97 714-350-2479 or cristinaglez01@gmail.com.
2001 Chrissie Zartman-Courtney ‘01 recently started an online nutrition coaching business. She can be reached at www.chrissienutritioncoaching.com or at chrissiecourtney23@gmail.com
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2011 Eric Dazet ‘11 received his Master’s Degree in Computer Science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
Erik Escobar ’08 is a stand-up comic who has appeared on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, The Bandit Hound, alongside Lou Ferrigno and Judd Nelson, and the documentary Where Have You Gone Lou DiMaggio? He 100% credits his success and inspiration from the plays he was lucky enough to be a part of through Dee Master’s Drama Lab, his time on the BMHS comedy improv team, and the always fun, life-changing talent shows put on in Thomas More Hall.
Michael Morgan ‘11, U.S. Army, was honored as a Hometown Hero and his banner is hanging in Torrance. His current assignment is at Arlington National Cemetery. Bernard Valentino ‘11 graduated Summa Cum Laude from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2015 with a degree in Information Technology and Communications. He is a software engineer at BOSE Corporation in Boston.
2002 Had a baby? Get a bib!
Ronald Turner ‘02 is a DJ who goes by name DJ RTistic. He recently won the Flavor Battle, a McDonalds National DJ competition. More information on Ronald can be found at www.DJR-Tistic.com.
2005 Josh Jones ‘05 is the new cornerbacks coach at the University of Central Arkansas. 24 • Veritas
Andrew Forney ‘08, bottom right, had all BMHS classmates in his wedding party. Top (l to r): Matt Akiyama ‘08, Robert Huizar ‘08, Greg Scott ‘08, Jimmy Bresnahan ‘08, Adam Diab ‘08, and Eric Debelak ‘08. Seated at left is Brett Toyama ‘08.
We’d love to include a photo of your baby in a future issue of Veritas. Please request your bib and email a photo with a few details about the baby and your family to alumni@bmhs-la.org.
2014
Births & Weddings
Peter Sarmiento ’14 graduated from El Camino College with an A.A. degree and will attend USC as a Business Administration major.
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Aimee Myers ‘15 made the honor roll at the University of San Francsico and serves as an editor and writer for the school paper, The Fog Horn. She is also a disc jockey at the campus radio station, KUSF, as well as the station’s music director.
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Cameron Olsen ‘15, second from the left, and his band, Weathers, received a recording contract with RCA Records, which also has artists Cage the Elephant, Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, and Walk The Moon as clients. RCA Records is currently the number one label in alternative music.
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Homecoming 2016
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Alumni: Come back to campus for all the Homecoming festivities!
September 30, 2016 Food Trucks 5:00-8:00pm ** Food Trucks will be on the south side of Knight Stadium this year!
Football Game 6:00pm • Knights vs. St. Genevieve For more information, call 310-540-2021 ext. 249 or email atraxler@bmhs-la.org.
1 Everly Alessandra to Michael Delaney ’97 & Christina Viquez-Delaney ‘00.
8 Michael Dean to Lisa Roehl-Walle ’00 and Mike Walle ‘00.
2 Nadia Eliza to Frank Holman ‘97 and Samia Holman.
9 Alistair Tiberius to James Ruiz ‘00 and Mersedeh Ruiz.
3 Désireé Elyse to Michael Boutté ‘00 and Siannah Boutté. 4 Ryan Espe ‘00 and Leslie Reyes-Espe. 5 Ezekiel George to Damien Holman ‘00 and Shawna Holman. 6 Zackary Boyce to Lauren Holman-Muller ’00 and Keith Muller. 7 Katie Olsovsky-Dresie ‘00 and Pablo Dresie.
10 Nevaeh Renee to Chris Liggins ’02 and Monique Liggins. 11 Shanti L to Britney Harris-Blake ’05 and Derland Blake. 12 Braylon Parker to Britteny Stone-Joel ‘06 and Jah-Mar Joel. 13 Corrine Kosidlak-Willson ‘12 and Thomas Willson.
www.bmhs-la.org • 25
IN MEMORIAM
Gene Goorchenko ‘63 of Carlsbad, CA, died March 4, 2016 Gene Goorchenko ‘63 of Carlsbad died peacefully on March 4, 2016 after a long illness. He was surrounded by his loving family. He was 70. Gene was in the first graduating class (1959) of St. Lawrence Martyr School. While at BMHS, Gene was very involved in many activities. He was a member of the Sodality Club all four years, and Knightlife as a junior and senior. As a junior, he served as the sports editor of the paper. He was a member of the varsity swimming team and the National Latin Honor Society. After BMHS, Gene attended Loyola University in Los Angeles, majoring in English. He was active in the Alpha Delta Gamma National Fraternity, the English and Biology
Societies and he was a member of the Watts Tutorial project. After a brief stint in the Peace Corps, he moved to San Diego, acting as a FDA Regulations Administrator for several major pharmaceutical and bio-medical firms, before earning a degree in law from the University of San Diego in 1999. Gene loved to give, and whether it was family, friends, loved ones, or strangers, he would always extend a loving hand. Gene is survived by his wife Karin, son Andrew and daughter Christina, twin brother Tony Goorchenko ‘63, and sister Vera Goorchenko-Skinner ‘70, along with numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives, including Jennifer Goorchenko ‘92, and Alexander Goorchenko ‘96.
Loretta Roth ‘64 of Claremont, CA, died June 7, 2016 Loretta Roth ‘64 of Claremont died on June 7, 2016 She was 69. While at Bishop Montgomery, Loretta was very active in drama productions, art, and many clubs, including the Sodality Club, Art Club, and G.A.A. Following BMHS, Loretta attended Marymount College where she received her B.A. in Art. She moved on to Cal State Long Beach and received a Master’s degree in Fine Arts. While at BMHS and in college, she competed in semiprofessional rodeo barrel racing.
Loretta spent the majority of her professional life as an art teacher. She spent 35 years teaching in the Los Angeles Unified School District (3 years) and Montclair High School (32 years). For 20 years, she also organized the art exhibit at the Los Angeles County Fair. Loretta was also a very well-known local and regional artist. She is survived by her sisters Maggie Roth and Josette Roth-Bishop ‘67, her brothers John Roth ‘70 and Al Roth ‘72, and many other relatives.
Mary Manis ‘66 of Torrance, CA, died June 10, 2016 Mary Manis ‘66 of Torrance died on June 10, 2016, just a day before the Class of 1966’s 50th reunion. She was 68. While at Bishop Montgomery, Mary was a four-year member of the Junior Classical League and the G.A.A.
After graduating from BMHS, Mary attended El Camino College. In 1981, she began working at Automatic Data Processing as a Senior Quality Assurance Engineer. She is survived by her sister Michele Manis-Cahill ‘71.
Sara Culverhouse-Gilleran ‘68 of Phoenix, AZ died April 6, 2016
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Sara Culverhouse-Gilleran ‘68 of Phoenix, died on April 6, 2016 after battling pneumonia due to complications from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). She was 65 years old.
She worked for many years for such companies as Xerox, where she worked in customer service; Western Alliance Bank Of Arizona in Accounts Payable; and Lincoln Financial Group in Scottsdale recruiting advisors.
While at BMHS, Sara was active in the Sodality Club, Pep Club, and G.A.A. She was also an outstanding athlete. She played three years on the varsity volleyball team and four years on both the varsity basketball and softball teams.
She is survived by her loving family, including her daughter, Colleen, son, Leo, and three sisters, Marian Stange, Susan Cunningham, and Judith Culverhouse ‘64.
Patricia Stinchcomb-Milbank ‘69 of Irvine, CA died June 18, 2016 Patricia Stinchcomb-Milbank ‘69 of Irvine, died on June 18, 2016. She was 64. While at BMHS, she served as ASB Vice President, and was co-editor of Excalibur. Additionally, she was a member of Concordia Club and CSF and was the Class of 1969 Salutatorian. At graduation, she received the Ad Glorium Dei Medal for Scholastic Excellence.
She then attended UCLA School of Law and received her J.D. in 1978. At the time of her death, she was the Vice President and Associate General Counsel at Masimo Corp. in Orange County. She is survived by her siblings Susan Stinchcomb ‘64, Robert Stinchcomb ‘65, and Mary Stinchcomb ‘70.
Following graduation, Patricia attended Stanford University where she graduated in 1973 with a degree in English.
John Herbers ‘72 of Palmdale, CA died April 21, 2016 John Herbers ‘72 of Palmdale, died April 21, 2016. He was 62. John was a machinist all of his life and had a passion for raising and breeding exotic birds like cockatoos and macaws. John often went by the nickname “BirdMan” to friends and family. He also enjoyed watching NASCAR on the weekends and The Walking Dead.
John is survived by his siblings Shirley Herbers, Jim Herbers ‘61, Michael Herbers, Susan Herbers-Delay ‘64, Richard Herbers ‘67, Bob Herbers, Louie Herbers, Mary Lou Herbers-Mackey ‘74 and Kathy Herbers ‘84. He is also survived by his dogs, Thunder and Storm.
Rochele Quiroz-Rippeto ‘79 of Torrance, CA died on March 27, 2016 Rochele Quiroz-Rippeto ‘79 of Torrance died on March 27, 2016. She was 55.
Rochele is survived by her husband, John, and their sons, Travis and Trevor.
Following her graduation from BMHS, Rochele attended El Camino College and then SeamLess Education Academy in India. At the time of her death, she worked as a Special Education/Resource Employee at Torrance Unified School District.
Eric Wilson ‘79 of Huntington Beach, CA, died April 21, 2016 Eric Wilson ‘79 of Huntington Beach died on April 21, 2016. He was 55. While at BMHS, Eric was a valuable member of the varsity soccer team that claimed its fifth straight CIF playoff appearance during his senior year. Following graduation from BMHS, Eric attended Cal State Long Beach and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity. It was at Long Beach State where he met the love of his life, Karie. They were married 27 years and blessed with three beautiful children. Eric spent his entire professional career working in the ports of Long Beach,
Los Angeles, and Oakland progressively moving upward to the position of Vice President of Seaside Transportation Services for Marine Terminals Corporation and Evergreen. Under his leadership, Evergreen was named North America Terminal of the Year in 2007 and 2009. Eric is survived by wife Karie, sons Taylor and Anthony, daughter Natalie, mother Helen, brothers Chris Wilson ‘82, and Dean Wilson ‘85, sister Sheila Wilson ‘75, parents-in-law Albert and Joan Bottini, brothers-in-law Mark, Nick, and Steve, sister-in-law Tracie (Miller), and numerous nieces and nephews.
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IN MEMORIAM
Deborah Dieter ‘80 of Redondo Beach, CA died May 16, 2016 Deborah Dieter ‘80 of Redondo Beach, died on May 16, 2016. She was 53. While at BMHS, Debby was a member of the Ski Club and she was very involved in decorating during Homecoming Week each year. Her mother, Kathy, was the bookstore manager at BMHS for over 25 years.
She was a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers and was an active supporter of animal rights organizations, especially in the South Bay. Deborah is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Kathy Dieter. She is survived by her bother John Dieter ‘84 and sister Diane Dieter-Baaden ‘88.
Robert Herzog ‘86 of Forest Falls, CA died May 31, 2016 Robert Herzog ‘86 of Forest Falls, CA, died on May 31, 2016. He was 48. Prior to BMHS, Robert attended St. James School. While at BMHS, Robert was an active member of the Surf Club. Following graduation, Robert attended El Camino College and earned his degree in business from Cal State Fullerton in 1991. He also earned an accounting certificate in 2012. After college, Robert worked as a stock broker, owned a car lot and his own construction company, and most recently, owned a property management company. He was
also a talented artist (you can view his artwork on the Facebook page Which Way is Up by Zog). Robert loved to surf, go to the beach, go camping, do creative, artsy things, and go on adventures, such as attending Burning Man. Robert and his wife, Amanda, were married in 1991. They have two children, Emma, 19, a sophomore at San Francisco State, and Max, 14, who just started high school. Robert is also survived by his father, Robert Sr., who resides in Rancho Mirage.
Mike Hann ‘92 of Los Angeles, CA died July 15, 2016 Mike Hann ‘92 of Los Angeles died on July 15, 2016. He was 42.
Following high school, Mike graduated from UCLA and he worked at Westport Capital Partners.
While at BMHS, Mike was an excellent student and athlete. He was a member of the California Scholarship Federation and the varsity tennis team.
Mike is is survived by his parents, Tina and Howard Hann, and his brother, James Hann ‘90.
Andre Fuentes ‘93 of Los Angeles, CA, died May 31, 2016 Andre Fuentes ‘93 of Los Angeles, died on May 31, 2016. He was 40. While at BMHS, Andre was a member of Thunder By Knight and the men’s dance team. In his senior year, he was voted “Most Talented” by his classmates. Following graduation, Andre embarked on a career as a director, dancer, and choreographer, working in a variety of genres in the entertainment industry. He appeared as a principal dancer in films such as “The Longest Yard,” “The Birdcage,” and “Charlie’s Angels.” 28 • Veritas
His credits include working alongside such artists as Jewel, No Doubt, Beyonce, and Prince. He is best known, however, for being the longtime dancer and choreographer for Britney Spears. Andre began working with Spears in 1999 on music videos and live performances. His dance credits with Spears include “I’m a Slave 4 U,” “Sometimes,” “Born to Make You Happy” and “(You Drive Me) Crazy.”
Todd Liptzin ‘07 of Torrance, CA, died July 18, 2016 Todd Liptzin ‘07 of Torrance, died on July 18, 2016. He was 27. He is survived by his parents, Russell and Eliwyn Liptzin, and his sister, Cherisse Liptzin ‘10.
Ron Jenkins
February 28, 1960 - April 18, 2016 Longtime teacher Ron Jenkins passed away on April 18, 2016. At the time of his death, he had been teaching at BMHS for 27 years and was loved by all of his students and colleagues. He was 56. Ron attended Colorado State University where he was a receiver on the football team and earned his Bachelor’s degree. He went on to play for the Dallas Cowboys. Following his playing career, Ron began coaching football at Santa Monica College, LA Harbor College, and El Camino College. He also founded the Top Gun Quarterback/Receiver Academy where he trained players of all levels. Ron authored 13 books on football training and coaching and earned two Master’s degrees from the California State Univesity system. Ron began his teaching career at Bishop Montgomery in 1989. Over the next 27 years, he taught algebra, economics, psychology, and architectural design. He truly loved teaching, but more importantly, he loved all of his students. He was inducted into the BMHS Hall of Fame in 2015 for his 25 years of service to the school. “On Earth, Ron was as Jack London said, ‘a superb meteor, every atom of me a magnificent glow’,” said BMHS Principal
Rosemary Libbon at Ron’s memorial Mass. “Ron is even more fully and more gloriously that now. The Angels have indeed taken him to paradise, to the new city, the new and eternal Jerusalem. Ron was a wonderful man. Ron loved his family, he loved his students, he loved football, he loved Bishop Montgomery—and he loved teaching, whether it was football or math, psychology or architectural design, with a great passion. He did nothing half-way. He wanted his life to count and he wanted that for his students, too. He and I talked about this often. Honor him by caring for each other. Honor him by loving each other.” Ron is preceeded in death by his mother, Dolores Jenkins. He is survived by his father, Ron Jenkins, Sr., his brother, John Jenkins, and his two sisters, Casey Jenkins-Casey and Cody Jenkins. Following his death, the Jenkins family established the “Ron Jenkins Memorial Scholarship” at BMHS. The scholarship provides tuition assistance to students who have financial need. Gifts to the scholarship fund in memory of Ron can be made by check or credit card. For more information call 310.540.2021 ext. 246 or visit www.bmhs-la.org.
We Remember BMHS Parents Who Have Passed Away: • Jim Burschinger, father of Mary Burschinger-Levesque ‘72, Jim Burschinger ‘73, Ann Burschinger-Thatcher ‘74, John Burschinger ‘77, Paul Burschinger ‘79 and grandfather of Steven Burschinger ‘10, Andy Burschinger ‘12, Monica Thatcher ‘07, and Laura Thatcher ‘09. • Delia Contreras, mother of Mario Contreras ‘74, Alma Contreras-Plewes ‘76, Rody Contreras ‘80, Lorena Contreras-Decker ‘81, Veronica Contreras-Carnahan ‘87, Robert Contreras and grandmother of Danny Carnahan ‘15, Sean Carnahan ‘17, Caeley Carnahan ‘20, Emily Contreras ‘12, and Jake Plewes ‘07.
• Dan Gillespie, father of Dan Gillespie ‘66, Kathy Gillespie-Moran ‘68, Tim Gillespie ‘71, and Patty Gillespie ‘74. • Dorothy Harrington, mother of Dorothy Harrington-Edwards ‘64. • Panos Kakoudakis, father of Peter Kakoudakis ‘97. • Francis LoDuca, father of Paul LoDuca ‘79. • Gloria Murphy, mother of Cindy Rangel-Bandy ‘92 and grandmother of Adriana Bandy ‘09.
• Walter Delsigne, father of Dave Delsigne ‘74 & Diane Delsigne-Huggins ‘76.
• Sonia Nichols, mother of Adrian Nichols ‘98 and Ian Nichols ‘01.
• Madonna Marie English, mother of Jeanne English ‘68, Bob English ‘69, Tom English ‘70, Don English ‘71, Maureen English ‘74, Judy English-Mueller ‘77 and Susan English-Barkely ‘80.
• Violet Vuoso, mother of Anthony Vuoso ‘89, Paul Vuoso ‘92, and Stephen Vuoso ‘94.
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