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Volume XXXVII Number 4 Fall 2009
The Irish Come Home
www.fatherryan.org
Table of Contents New Stadium Opens ......................... 1 Class of 2009 Graduates.................... 4 Ryan Connections .............................. 5 Spring Sports ..................................... 6 Gala Honoree Announced................. 8 Alumni Spread Faith.......................... 9 Reunions........................................... 14 Class Notes........................................17 Birth Announcements ..................... 20 In Memoriam.................................... 21
ADMINISTRATION Jim McIntyre, President Paul Davis ‘81, Principal Sara Hayes, Dean of Academics Connie Steinmetz, Chief Financial Officer Carolyn Evans, Dean of Students Tim Forbes ‘93, Dean of Campus Ministry and Student Life Pat Lawson ‘93, Athletic Director
Board of trustees EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Patrick J. Nolan III ‘69, Chair Judy Komisky Orr ‘75, Vice-Chair James Sochovka, Finance Committee Chair Tommy Bradley ‘81, Membership Committee Chair
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Letters to the Editor Dear Irish Ayes, I graduated from Father Ryan in 1961. I’m currently living in Washington state and retired from the Air Force in 1990 after 27+ years. For the last 10 years I have been employed by The Boeing Company as a simulator Flight Instructor on the C-17 Aircraft, teaching Air Force pilots here at McChord AFB. In all those years in the Air Force and since, I have never run across one single person from Nashville. On December 20, 2008 I was scheduled to teach a class to two lieutenants who were new to the C-17. To break the ice and relax a bit prior to engaging in business I engaged in small talk to get better acquainted. I asked one individual where he grew up. This one young man stated that he was from Nashville. My eyes got big and my ears immediately perked up. I then asked where he went to school. When he spurted out “Father Ryan,” I nearly fell to the floor. He then further added that he went to grade school at St. Ann’s. I graduated from St. Ann’s in 1957. You can just imagine my surprise. For the rest of the evening, in between the required instruction, we spent the time catching up on school/ West Nashville news.The Lieutenant was Andre Dieu ‘01. I have not run across him since that night, as there are about 300 pilots here, and we have 22 pilot instructors. With these crews being deployed on missions around the world, I may not see him for months, but I sure enjoyed that night. Hopefully, I’ll get the opportunity to be his instructor again. Tom Mrzena ‘61 Lt Col, USAF, retired
William R. Stejskal ‘79, Facilities Committee Chair Philip M. Mattingly, Sr. ‘69, Advancement Committee Chair
In the last issue of Irish Ayes, we included a story regarding Father Ryan’s 2009 wrestling state champions and regrettably left out a name. Cory Norcross ‘10 also won the state championship title in his weight class. He is described in the Tennessee Register as probably “the Ryan wrestler that improved the most during the season.” Congratulations, Cory, and we apologize for our error.
BOARD MEMBERS Antoine Agassi Rev. Mark Beckman David Bohan ‘66 Betty Lou Burnett Lori Copeland Chamberlain Judith E. Hoover Steven Janicak Rev. Patrick J. Kibby ‘73 Patricia Kyger Dr. Robert Labadie Robert J. Mendes Stephen P. Mullins ‘75 John Siedlecki Brett Wesnofske ‘88
Please send your comments and letters to Irish Ayes to alumni@fatherryan.org
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Most Rev. David R. Choby ‘65 Rev. David Perkin, V.G. James A. McIntyre Dr. Therese Williams
LIFE TRUSTEES W. Irvin Berry ‘46 Thomas G. Connor, Sr. ‘60 John J. Cunningham, Sr. William H. Farmer ‘65 Edward B. Gore J. Terry Hunter Vincent T. Phillips John C. Shea ‘51 William F. Smith Edward A. Stack
IRISH AYES
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Fall 2009, Volume XXXVII Number 4
Irish Ayes is published by Father Ryan High School and is distributed without charge to alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends of the school. Phone: 615-269-7926 • E-mail: alumni@fatherryan.org.
e, Nashville, TN 37204
Father Ryan High School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
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IRISH KICK OFF NEW FOOTBALL ERA
New Field, Big Results for 2009 Team
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victory, as the Irish topped Hillwood 42-0 to usher in a new era of Father Ryan football.
After 84 years of perpetual “away” games, the Irish took the field against Hillwood on August 28 with a bagpiper in the lead, the Knights of Columbus honor guard on the field and the cheers of a proud Irish Nation, almost 5,000 strong, ringing throughout Giacosa Stadium. Quarterback Trey McPhail scored the first touchdown, Joe Francescon and Tyler Kincaid each returned punts for TDs and a stout defense rewarded the faithful with what everyone hoped for—a
The night brought out fans of all ages who cheered early and often, beginning with the dedication of the field and the salute to Father Charley Giacosa. Many of his family members stood below the scoreboard and watched as the home scoreboard lit up with the word “Irish” for the first time. The cheers continued as honorary captain Jim Carell ‘54 joined the captains for the coin toss, and then the Irish took the field, running through the “Power I” formed by the band as the musicians played the fight song over and over.
o say there was a bit of anticipation for the first game in the new Jim Carell Alumni Athletic Complex is the height of understatement.
(Continued p.2)
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IRISH KICK OFF NEW FOOTBALL ERA
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Whether it was the excitement of the new field, the experience of the players, the plans of the coaches or simply Irish Spirit, the season has been a run of strong performances. After losing its opener 21-20 against Overton, one of the city’s powers, and then topping Hillwood, the Irish stunned Brentwood Academy with a 90-yard TD drive in the last four minutes of the game to pull out a 35-34 win, its second straight over the Eagles. Victories over Antioch and BGA, followed by a 20-13 win against Pope John Paul II, took the Irish to the top 10 in the state in our division leading up to the annual match-up against MBA. The game was a defensive battle, and although the Irish got to the Big Red 1-yard-line in the last three minutes, they settled for a field goal and lost in the last minute, 7-3. But through all the outcomes, the Jim Carell Alumni Athletic Complex has been a huge hit for the players and the fans, and the sight of the entrance lanterns—which light up purple after every victory—has been a warm and welcoming glow for the Irish faithful.
Father Ryan Dedicates Athletic Complex with Saturday Night Lights
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f patience is a virtue, consider the people of Father Ryan downright saintly. Eighty-four years is a considerably long time to wait when it comes to constructing a facility that will house one of the strongest and most reputable athletics program in the state. Not to mention, a field that will host Ryan’s internationally ranked band and color guard. With eight decades of anticipation, it’s no surprise that Father Ryan would create a finale worth waiting
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for. Saturday Night Lights served as the dedication of the Jim Carell Alumni Athletic Complex and Giacosa Stadium on Saturday, August 8 in front of several thousand guests, from alumni to students to faculty to neighbors, all excited and curious to see the final product.The Saturday Night Lights event saluted donors, alumni and athletes with an evening to remember. Following Mass in the Catignani-Drennan Fieldhouse, the crowd moved to the main gate entryway where Bishop David Choby ‘65 and other dignitaries cut the ceremonial ribbon to the sound of clapping hands and hurrahs.The Bishop then moved to the the Jerusalem SEARCH cross and touchstone for the stadium blessing and time capsule ceremony. Then, in celebration, the band played the Fight Song as people rushed into the athletic complex to see and feel the Irish’s new home. The biggest smile belonged to Jim Carell ‘54.
Faith, Knowledge, Service His contribution initiated a state-of-the-art facility that showcases the latest in technology and design, including the best in artificial turf, lighting and sound systems. At the same time, the complex incorporates older elements, specifically from the Elliston Place campus, into the design. The bricks from the old campus are built into the Jerusalem SEARCH cross; the Sacred Heart Statue from Elliston’s Annex building sits at the front entrance gates; the decorative rosettes are included in the wall of the stadium; and the “Father Ryan High School” sign in stone above the old entrance has been replicated on the inside stadium wall.
Paul Davis ‘81, Student Body President Margaret Molteni ‘10, Mayor Karl Dean, Jim McIntyre and Bishop David Choby ‘65 after the dedication.
“Seeing the Jim Carell Alumni Athletic Complex come to life has been both exciting and rewarding” said President Jim McIntyre. “I am exceedingly grateful for Mr. Carell, the Giacosa family and all the donors who helped this dream come alive. We are truly fortunate to have the generous support from these people within our community and they are a testament to the strength and spirit of Father Ryan.”
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Seven More Students Honored by National Merit
The Evidence Is in the Numbers
The Class of 2009 Graduates Full of Promise
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n May 17, the Class of 2009 set forth into a new world, armed with the knowledge, experiences and good wishes of Father Ryan.Their four years of high school had come to an end— accompanied by smiles, high-fives, hugs and tears—but there’s no disputing that in those years they accomplished a great deal.
The Class of 2009 gained acceptances to more than 100 colleges and universities in 26 states. Of those colleges and universities, 18 are Catholic institutions.Together, they amassed over $13 million in scholarships, everything from academic to athletic to service scholarships.Thirteen students received scholarships to play college athletics, including football, basketball, soccer, tennis, baseball, wrestling and swimming. Of those student-athletes who signed their National Letters of Intent, eight will play at Division I schools.The students tested well, too. Nine seniors received perfect scores in at least one of the categories of the ACT or SAT; one had a perfect score in a subcategory on the ACT and SAT.
The National Merit Honorees with Principal Davis and President McIntyre are (front, l. to r.) Emmy DiGiovanni, Dom DiGiovanni, Nina Fredericks, Katie Boyd. (Back l. to r.)Stephanie Doctor, Becca Menke, Matthew Warrick. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation honored three seniors as Semifinalists and four seniors as Commended Students this year. This brings the total number of Father Ryan students honored by National Merit to 104 since 1996. The students named Semifinalists for their performance on the Preliminary SAT (PSAT) in 2008 are Dom DiGiovanni, Emmy DiGiovanni and Becca Menke. Katie Boyd, Stephanie Doctor, Nina Fredericks and Matthew Warrick were named Commended Students. The students represent a total of five parishes and four Catholic schools throughout the diocese. Collectively, the students will have completed a total of 97 Honors and 54 AP classes during their junior and senior years. They have an average weighted GPA of 4.608. “We are delighted that these outstanding seniors have been honored by the National Merit Scholarship Program,” said Mr. McIntyre, in making the announcement. “Their accomplishments are the result of their dedication to hard work and the support of their teachers and family. We congratulate them on this exceptional honor.” According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s official website, approximately 1.5 million students take the PSAT each year, with 34,000 (2.3%) named Commended Students and 16,000 (1.1%) named Semifinalists.
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Stephen Bailey (top) and Rachel Hunkler (bottom)
With the level of academic success rising each year, it may come as no surprise that many students were nationally recognized this year. Last fall, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation honored 14 Father Ryan seniors as Commended Students for their scores on the PSAT. Approximately 2.3% of students who take the test receive this honor each year. In the past 13 years, 104 Ryan students have been honored by National Merit.
This year’s top honors went to Stephen Bailey and Rachel Hunkler, named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. Bailey set a school record by taking an impressive 13 AP courses while enrolled at Ryan. He participated in organizations like Science Academy, track and field and the Nashville Pipes and Drums. His level of involvement and academic success helped him land acceptance to Vanderbilt University, where he is majoring in electrical engineering. Likewise, Hunkler was accepted to Vanderbilt, but has decided to travel a bit farther south to the University of Alabama, where she was offered a full scholarship. She earned a total of $254,000 in scholarship money. She is studying Spanish education, for which she is wellprepared. She was a member of the Spanish Honor Society, served as president of the Spanish Club and was active in the Future Teachers of America, among other organizations. She was also honored as the Bellevue Exchange Club Student of the Month. “I am continually impressed with the successes our students achieve each year. Stephen and Rachel are phenomenal examples of what can be accomplished with hard work and the support of a community of teachers, friends and family,” said Principal Paul Davis. With the heavy amount of academic and extracurricular interests Ryan students pursue nowadays, they will have the capability to achieve excellence beyond high school in leadership roles in their own communities. And if the numbers are any indication of the future, then each graduate, all 205, will be awarded an infinite amount of opportunities to succeed as engineers, architects, doctors, musicians or whatever dream they choose to follow.
Relay for Life
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Huge Success
Ryan Connects Community and Business ather Ryan is always looking for ways to engage its community through interaction and networking. Ryan Connections was founded two years ago by 1993 alumnus Jeremy Bisceglia for just those purposes.
Jeremy Bisceglia ‘93
Ryan Connections is a networking event open to all alumni, parents and friends of Father Ryan.The event allows attendees to connect with other business leaders in the community. Held quarterly in the Center for the Arts from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m., the event invites a guest speaker to discuss their business, industry trends and to answer questions. Past speakers have included Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and Journey Johnson, president and CEO of the YMCA of Middle Tennessee.
Bisceglia, a financial advisor for Edward Mayor Karl Dean speaks at Jones andLetters Alumni Board vice chair, created Ryan Connections Sean Conway and Courtney Rymer sign their National of Intent. the event in 2007 as a connection across several groups within the Ryan community. “My goal was to bring alumni, current parents and parents of alumni together in a professional setting where they can discuss business, what they do and hopefully help each other out.” The event has grown since its inception and now attracts more than 50-75 people to each gathering. “There’s a strong Catholic network in Nashville and a strong allegiance to Father Ryan. Ryan Connections is a platform to bring those networks together.We’re trying to keep the speakers relevant and the environment welcoming for business leaders to go and leave their business card,” Bisceglia said.
On September 25, dozens of individuals from the Father Ryan community gathered at the campus for Relay for Life to honor those affected by cancer, both past and present. The event honored the memory of Father Charley Giacosa, a former teacher at Father Ryan and priest in the Nashville Diocese who passed away from cancer in the fall of 2007. Participants walked around the track at Giacosa Stadium from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. (yes, that was all night long) while enjoying live music and food. This is the first Relay for Life event hosted by Father Ryan and the first time students comprised the entire leadership committee for the city-wide event. The event raised over $20,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Since he joined the Alumni Board two years ago, Bisceglia has assumed a leadership role within the Father Ryan and Catholic communities. He has been actively involved with the planning committee for a new parish in Spring Hill and is a member of the Nashville Catholic Business League. His involvement in these areas has broadened his outreach to more alumni and parents, including former parents, who have become reengaged with Father Ryan through events like Ryan Connections. “I am proud to be associated with Father Ryan. I had a wonderful experience here.What’s exciting is when I meet students today and alumni who have the same feeling.To have a good experience during my teenage years was huge for me and shaped who I am today.”
Attendees gather at Ryan Connections to share business ideas and discuss industry trends.
Visit www.fatherryan.org/ryan_connections for more information and the schedule of meetings.
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Ruggers Secure 2nd State Championship T
he Rugby Club could not have asked for a better season. With their undefeated conference play and a 14-2 season record, the team’s dominating defense and fast-paced attacking offense led them all the way to the state championship, where they secured their second state title in three years.
sliced through Maryville’s backline to drive within 10 meters of the goal and with quick rucks from the Irish forwards, enabled Mulloy to score again. Nick Bateman and Glinski finished out the game each with a goal, Glinski making the conversion. At the final whistle, Father Ryan claimed the state title 29-7.
On Mother’s Day, the Irish Ruggers entered the state championship finals paired against Maryville, a rematch of the 2007 semi-finals. Father Ryan set the tone early in the game with a strong defense despite the muddy conditions.
The season ended in celebration with the players, caked in mud, holding their state trophy high for all to see. Mark Mulloy was named MVP. Coach Marty Blair celebrated, too, while recognizing his players’ talent and hard work this season. “That is a testament to the teamwork that these players have shown throughout this season. Many players have found opportunities themselves to pick up the mantle and lead the team at moments during games, especially at the State Tournament.”
Kevin Davis made the first goal of the game. After deftly stiffarming his opposite wing, Davis outraced the defense to touch down between the posts; he then converted his own try to make it 7-0 Irish. Mark Mulloy and Alex Glinski also scored in the first half to give Ryan a 17-0 advantage at halftime. The Irish came out charging in the second half, exhorted by team captain Will Donnelly, who was sidelined with an injury from the semi-finals. Their strong tackling kept Maryville on their heels for a majority of the half. A brilliant “dummy-pass” from Mitchell Stoffer
Many players from the Irish team were selected to participate on the Middle Tennessee Conference All Star Team: Kevin Davis, Will Donnelly, Mark Mulloy, Mitchell Stoffer, Nick Bateman, Chris Agnew, Wes Wesley, Frank Hand, “Cookie” Marshall, Sam Hohl, Patrick Spray, Ryan Spray and Alex Glinski.
Ryan Student Named Among Top 250 Senior Aces for 2010 Senior Ellen Mullins was named in the top 250 volleyball recruits in the Class of 2010 by prepvolleyball.com. Named high school “Libero of the Year” in 2007, Mullins, who has committed to play at the University of Tennessee next fall, earned Region MVP and All State honors. “She is the type of player who loves the contact, the competition, but not the glory,” said Father Ryan coach Jinx Cockerham. A great leader who helps a team as much off the court as on it, Mullins is the kind of back
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row player who makes the spectacular look ordinary. Said one club coach: “While her defense is what is counted on the most, it is her passing that will make her a star at the next level.” Mullins comes by her talent naturally. Her sister, Ann, was the Atlantic Sun Libero of the Year in 2005 and made First Team All-Conference in 2006. Her other sister, Marie, is a setter at Austin Peay.
championship, the Irish maintained their defensive pressure, keeping the ball on the Purple Wave’s side of the field for a majority of the game.
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he boys’ soccer team might say they experienced a little déjà vu this season. An exciting run during the regular season earned them a spot in the championship final against a familiar opponent, Christian Brothers, whom they topped 2-1 in 2008 to capture the state. This year, the team was intent on defending their title. Ryan’s team entered the game with the same determination and spirit they carried throughout the season. Like last year’s
Father Ryan Athletics
Soccer Team Competes for State Title Again Neither side scored in the first half, but two and half minutes into the second half, a small window of opportunity opened and Christian Brothers took it to claim a 1-0 lead. The Irish fought hard, but were limited in their chances to score. Much like last year, the game was a close match of equal offensive and defensive powers. Time ran out with Ryan unable to score and the defending state champions ended their season as State RunnersUp with the game at 1-0. Despite the loss, senior Jonah Powers-Myszka showed no ill-will towards the opponent, telling Nashville’s City Paper “I know a lot of guys on their team – they’re good friends of mine. And I can honestly say I’m happy for them.” The runner-up title was a testament to a team that values and practices sportsmanship and is committed to excellence. Next year’s season will demonstrate nothing less.
Lady Irish Softball Reach State Tournament T
his past spring, the Lady Irish put up their best fight to earn a place at the softball state tournament. Their 18-14-1 season included wins over teams like Ensworth, Harpeth Hall and Brentwood Academy.
The Irish also achieved success on the regional level, finishing first in the DII Middle Region Tournament against JPII and second in the DII East/Middle Region Tournament against Girls Prep. Seniors Maggie DeKalb, Sarah Campbell, Olivia Waters, Hannah Harris and junior Brittanie Albright made the All Region team. Following their string of victories at home and their win over St. Agnes at sub-state, Ryan traveled to Murfreesboro for the state opener, pitted against St. Benedict. Ryan defeated the Memphis team 3-1 early in the
season, but this game would prove more difficult. The Irish were able to stay in the game early with pitcher Brittanie Albright allowing only one hit in the first three innings. The Eagles would score two runs in the fourth, but Father Ryan came back in the fifth and countered with their only run of the game when Albright grounded into a fielder’s choice and Waters scored. Despite Father Ryan’s fight, the game was called at an 11-1 victory for St. Benedict. With heads held high, the Irish moved on to play in Game 3 against Baylor, and although junior Taylor Heim singled and scored a run for Ryan, the loss at 12-1 prevented them from advancing. As a team grounded in determination and teamwork, with that intrinsic and familiar Ryan spirit, the Lady Irish still have much to celebrate this year. Next season, the girls will do it all over again, carrying the same discipline and strength in the fight to the state championship.
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Bishop David R. Choby ‘65: Gala Honoree All Alumni Priests to Be Saluted at 31st Legacy Gala
Bishop Choby was elected as diocesan administrator for the Diocese of Nashville by the diocesan College of Consultors in 2004 after Bishop Kmiec, was installed as the Bishop of Buffalo. Bishop Choby was installed 14 months later as the eleventh bishop of Nashville on February 27, 2006. He is only the second priest of the diocese’s 169year history to be tapped as its bishop; the others have all come from outside the diocese. Bishop Choby was born in Nashville and baptized in the Cathedral of Incarnation where he was ordained a bishop. He is the son of Raymond and Rita Choby, both deceased. He has one sister, Diane C. Dyche of Fort Worth, Texas. He attended Catholic schools growing up, graduating from Father Ryan High School in 1965. After spending one year at Aquinas College in Nashville, he entered the seminary at St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa. He also studied at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., before being ordained as a priest on September 6, 1974 by Bishop Joseph A. Durick at St. Henry Church in Nashville. He has served a number of assignments in the Diocese of Nashville. He was associate pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Madison, administrator of St. Ann Parish and spent three years in residence at Christ the King Parish while working at the diocesan tribunal. From 1989 until his ordination as bishop, he served as pastor of St. John Vianney Parish in Gallatin, where he has been active in the community and in the local ministerial association.
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ather Ryan has anounced that Bishop David R. Choby, Class of 1965, will be the honoree at the school’s 31st Annual Legacy Gala.
Bishop Choby holds a Canon Law degree from the University of St. Thomas (Angelicum) in Rome and has worked at the diocesan tribunal throughout most of his priesthood. He was on the faculty of The Pontifical College Josephinum, a seminary in Columbus, Ohio between 1984 and 1989. He currently serves on the seminary’s board. He has served two five-year terms on the diocese’s Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors.
The 2010 Gala will also honor all of the alumni of Father Ryan who have become priests, a total that numbers more than 60. The event will take place April 10, 2010 at the Embassy Suites in Cool Springs. “Bishop Choby is a great supporter of Catholic education, and of all that it provides young men and women,” Mr. McIntyre said. “He is an exceptional leader of this diocese and provides everyone at Father Ryan with his insights, his commitment and his support. We are grateful for his leadership and, in this year of the priest, we are proud to salute him and all of the priests who share the Father Ryan experience by honoring them at the 2010 Gala.” The annual Gala was founded in 1980 to honor individuals who have played a central role in the school’s development and service. Funds from the event support financial assistance and special academic programs at Father Ryan.
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Bishop Choby ‘65 blesses the touchstone at the opening of the Jim Carell Alumni Athletic Complex.
Spreading a Timeless Message in a Changing World The message of faith isn’t always an easy one to communicate. Amid the abundance of media entertainment and information technology, faith often competes for attention, a short attention at that. Whether we like it or not, the media of communication are changing which, in turn, affects the way we converse, the way we educate and the way we serve. And although our message remains the same, the means to deliver that message is being altered. At the forefront of this evolution are a few alumni who have continued to share their faith long after they graduated from Father Ryan. Those alumni represent a variety of fields, some in nationally and internationally recognized positions while others are closer to home, teaching our children. Msgr. Owen Campion ‘58, Tony Spence ‘70, Amy Johnston ‘93 and Elizabeth Coyle ‘02 have discovered how to break the communication barrier. By understanding their audience, they are able to unite a contemporary world with a simple yet timeless message of faith.
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Msgr. Owen Campion ‘58 Monsignor Owen Campion ‘58 is surprisingly attuned to global trends, especially those in cyberspace, but his job as editor of Our Sunday Visitor requires him to be in sync with his audience, as well as their cell phones, Twitter sites and the like. And as an editor, he’s adept at the publishing world, too. With the ever-shrinking need for print, he has been pressed to find other means to communicate.
For someone who has become a fixture and leading voice in global communications, Msgr. Campion began his journalism career in more local environs. In 1971, five years after his ordination, he became editor of the Tennessee Register. In 1988, he was appointed by Pope John Paul II as an advisor to the International Union of Catholic Press. That same year, he joined the staff of Our Sunday Visitor and has been there ever since. He has also served as president of the Catholic Press Association.
His publication may be distributed within the U.S. Catholic community, but his knowledge spans the globe. When he’s not at Our Sunday Visitor offices in Huntington, Indiana, he is in Rome as part of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. He explains that the council’s role is not authoritative, but rather one that develops policy, and researchs and monitors industries. The hot button issue at the council is, predictably, the internet. Imagine him speaking to the pope about Facebook and Twitter. However absurd it may seem, it’s an important issue that’s garnering global attention. “Communication in cyberspace is expanding and becoming very broad. Blogs and twittering, just where does it stop? The council is very conscious of that.”
Perhaps a precursor to a successful career in publications, he was named Father Ryan’s editor to the Moina and editor of the yearbook while in school. His was the first class in the state of Tennessee to go through four years in a racially desegregated school. Careful to document that experience in the Moina and the yearbook, he still hasn’t forgotten what he learned. He calls it “a learning experience in and of itself. There was no other issue that was more apparent and more important in Nashville and in the South at that time. The faculty, mostly composed of priests, gave a sense of human dignity and human equality that I think was very valuable.”
“Communication in cyberspace is expanding and becoming very broad.”
He also acknowledges the very public decline of print in the Western world. “Economy drives communication,” and with the recent dip in the economy, media were affected. “Communication around the world is very different. Print is still dominant in the developing world mostly because access to electricity is limited or not available.” Culture also drives changes in communication, he says. He lists immigration, illiteracy, lack of freedom of the press and of speech as contributors to the cultural divide. Trends like Western Europe’s shift away from institutional religion are also a growing problem that he expects the U.S. to eventually experience. So the question is, how do you reach your audience? “The whole development of niche audiences. It’s rare that a publication or broadcasting would reach a broad audience—it’s all about niches. You must tailor the message to the technology reality and to the cultural reality.”
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He was drawn to publications through a solid background in the “mechanics of writing” he received at Overbrook and Father Ryan. Likewise, his attraction to the priesthood was founded in his Catholic education and the priests who taught him. “From the first day I started Ryan, my heroes were not movie stars or athletes, but the priests on the faculty. They were smart, bright, young and vigorous. It was very easy to see them as role models.” In many ways, Msgr. Campion is a role model himself. He has helped remind readers of the impact of topics like human rights, from racial equality to poverty, through the publications he has served. For him, the person who receives the message is just as essential as the message itself. Whether the message is in English or Arabic, online or in a newspaper, he is dedicated to the communicaton of the timeless message of the Catholic faith.
Tony Spence ‘70 never imagined he would be responsible for reporting Catholic news to the U.S., much less the world. It’s a fairly intimidating position for a man who never intended to stay in the Catholic press more than a few years. Yet, he seems born for the role of storytelling.
describes the Catholic press as its own social network.
Tony realized his passion for journalism early in his career. “The moment I knew I would stay with the Catholic press is when I worked for the Register. I wasn’t an editor in chief, didn’t have a big desk. I was just a reporter and I could go around and listen to people’s stories. I visited every county in the state of Tennessee. Just go around and see what the people in the church do. Homeless shelters. Nuns who travel in the backwoods to Sunday school. They desperately try to sustain themselves, and they are inspiring stories to tell.” Today, as director and editor in chief of Catholic News Service (CNS), he sits at the top of the oldest and largest religious news service in the world. But he began his journalism career in town after a brief stint in microbiology. “I went to Monsignor Campion to get some career advice and he said he had an opening at the Register for a reporter. I didn’t expect that nor did I expect him to say ‘Start Monday.’”
Cover Story
Tony Spence ‘70 As is the case in most of the publishing world, he has had to compete for headlines, some of which come from the big dogs—the White House. For him, those stories don’t always hit home. “Even though the White House deals with macro issues, the human contact— those who present the face of Christ to someone in need—is what gets you every time.” The biggest issue he’s reported in the past year has been the American election. “It was a huge issue because Catholics make up a fifth of the U.S. We are educated, well-off, well-invested in the country as a political process. It was one of the most contentious elections in years and had so many issues Americans cared about—life issues, the economy, bioethics, immigration, education.” Tony divides his time between Washington, D.C. and Rome. His time in the Eternal City is often spent sitting on the Pontifical Council, a prestigious position held by only one of four Americans. He graciously accepted the position after an unlikely phone call—from the Pope. “You don’t say no to your mother and you don’t say no to the Pope,” he laughs. His appointment put him at the forefront of global communications where he oversees media expansion, particularly in developing countries in Africa and Asia, where the communication means are vastly different from those of economic powerhouses like the U.S. and Europe. Communicating the church’s message is a challenge in countries without computers, televisions or radio. And it’s dangerous in countries where Catholics are persecuted.
“You start getting immersed and falling in love with the Church.”
From that start his career took off. Editor in chief of the Tennessee Register. Communications Director of the Diocese of Nashville. Executive Director for Advancement Communications for Vanderbilt University. President of the Catholic Press Association. Following his time at the Register, he joined Our Sunday Visitor and in the mid 1990s,Vanderbilt University asked him to be part of its alumni publishing group. He spent six years with Vanderbilt, working with publishing and the website, eventually becoming executive director. Then, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) asked him to apply for the Catholic News Service. In Tony’s mind, he was rusty at reporting but as he put it, “nothing ventured, nothing gained. I never intended to stay in the Catholic press for more than a few years. But two things happen—you start getting immersed and falling in love with the Church.” With a billion Catholics in the world and 65 million in the U.S., he never runs out of stories to tell or an audience to tell them to. He has built relationships with Catholic media all over the world and
Although an international man now, he prepared for his global role at home in Nashville. He is a graduate of St. Ann and Father Ryan and readily credits his old roots for his activity in the Catholic community. “That sense of responsibility that I learned at St. Ann’s and Ryan, that Catholics have a responsibility to act in the community to transform the world in the light of the Gospel. It all came out of the Catholic community.” He has taken that responsibility to a higher level and connected a billion people with simple stories of those who transform the world. “When you see the fruits of your labor and you know people take that information you have worked to provide and they take that into society, into their own lives and do something with it. That’s a big responsibility, but it’s a great privilege.”
www.FatherRyan.org 11
Elizabeth Coyle ‘02 You may have seen her at the Catholic Youth Office, Youth Leadership Workshop or SEARCH or in the classroom. Wherever she is, though, social justice is on her mind.
and happen. High schoolers don’t sit down and have faith conversations.” She may have a great point. Texting and Facebook have replaced most face-to-face interaction, consequently diluting the levels of communication. Many conversations among teens are shortened to what can be conveyed in a text or “tweet” and peppered with emoticons.
Social justice are two words that Elizabeth Coyle ‘02 is very familiar with as an active participant in youth ministry and education. She prefers the subject because “it’s the way students could connect their faith to everyday life. They took the decisions they made about what they buy, eat and how they live their lives and say, yes, those are moral decisions.” What better lesson for her students at Pope John Paul II High School than experiencing real life situations. Nashville’s Urban Plunge, a 24 hour immersion program designed to demonstrate living in poverty, put Elizabeth and her students in contact with the homeless and taught them to eat dinner on a mere dollar.
Despite pressures for entertainment in the classroom, Elizabeth enjoys teaching social justice and has found other ways to engage students. “Telling a really good story…telling them who I really am. I think they’re really interested and thirsty for adult perspectives on faith. I would tell them a time I screwed up and how it relates to real life. I was telling them my mistakes. What still grabs attention is honesty.” Activities outside the classroom were also helpful. Field trips to the Campus for Human Development and Catholic refugee settlements introduced a new perspective to students. “It was fun to teach social justice because it was new to students. Students got a whole new perspective—that the church teaches more than they thought. They didn’t know that the Catholic Church cares about immigration.”
“Conversation is where faith can grow and happen... but high schoolers don’t sit down and have faith conversations.”
This is not the only time she has seen social justice first-hand. Her summer vacations were spent in rural West Virginia working at Nazareth Farm, a Catholic community that does home repair in the Appalachian area. She helped coordinate the children’s reading program and recruit other volunteers to the program. Everything from leading prayer services to washing dishes was, for Elizabeth, a lesson in social justice. And as she describes, “the community has a lot of need. Nazareth Farm will go fix their porch or insulation, whatever they need.” First traveling there as a chaperone, she fell in love with it and returned last summer to volunteer.
Her experience in education and youth ministry has pointed her in a new direction towards Vanderbilt University’s Divinity School where she is studying for her master’s degree in theology. She hopes studying the history of the Catholic Church, the scriptures and urban poverty in combination with other world religions will shine light on new perspectives of her own faith. “I want to rediscover why I am Christian, and more importantly, why I am Catholic.”
The retreat-style program connects simplicity, faith and youth with service to the local community. Simplicity is the operative word here. The program is literally a retreat from modern luxuries. No cell phones or iPods. Outdoor bucket showers. And although there is indoor plumbing, outhouses are also available. Without these distractions, she points out, communication with one another opens up and these conveniences become unimportant.
As a mentor in youth ministry, she hopes to be as inspirational and personable as her favorite teachers at Father Ryan, among them Ms. Hayes and Mr. Lancaster. During her time at Ryan, she was most involved with ministry activities, like the Respect for Life Club, and was a Eucharistic Minister. “I was especially interested in and inspired to be part of the liturgy and of the Mass.”
With the presence of media devices in nearly every part of students’ lives, she often feels the need to be entertaining. “I don’t see people communicating with each other as much. They’re not having as many face-to-face conversations. Conversation is more important and is where faith can grow
She has maintained the same inspiration and fervor from her high school days eight years ago. More importantly, she has taken with her the ability to strip away distractions that deter from communication and learning. The end product is a simple message, delivered face-to-face.
FRHS 12
Amy Johnston ‘93 brings a whole new meaning to the term “keeping up with the Joneses.” It’s a full-time job for most adults to keep up with the gluttony of cell phones, iPods and YouTube, but just trying to break through the mediasaturated world of Generation Next will make your head spin.
“I want students to understand what’s going on in class, to learn something in a comfortable environment. I bring in people who can address and reinforce those issues talked about in classrooms, like people who can share personal stories.”
Enter Amy. She can tap into the teenager mind, an impressive skill that many parents would gladly give their 401(k) to know. That ability enables her to teach high school students 35 hours per week. Dealing with the short attention spans of today’s students and the increasing length of classes, “you have to engage them in different ways.You can’t lecture for 90 minutes,” she says. “Technology has made levels of influence evolve. In the fifties, the biggest influences were church, friends, family and school. Now it’s TV. You’re competing with texting and Facebook. Everything in their lives is instant.” The biggest difficulty with the instant mentality, she explains, is in the contrasting messages they receive. While she encourages students to understand the consequences of their decisions, outside factors prevent them from focusing on the long-term. Rather, these factors condition them to expect an immediate response.
Cover Story
Amy Johnston ‘93
Sometimes she shares her own personal story, a familiar one to her students because it originates in the same hallways they walk. During her years at Ryan, she was active in SEARCH, Student Council, Future Teachers of America, campus ministry and sports. After helping with the SEARCH program, she realized she loved teaching teenagers, though she never imagined she would. Through the program, she reconnected with her Ryan roots and now has what she calls her “dream job”—junior theology. “I always wanted to be a teacher. My dad taught at Father Ryan so it’s in my blood, and I’ve always enjoyed working with children.You feel like you’re connecting with the future and doing something bigger than yourself.”
“I always wanted to be a teacher...You feel like you’re doing something bigger than yourself.”
Despite emerging competition in the forms of media and technology, she has learned some effective methods to reach her students. For example, she incorporates media clips and learning tools that can be found on the web. “I want to find new ways to bring the subject alive.” Although integration of these tools has proven effective, there’s nothing like communicating the message through real life experiences. That’s why she helped jumpstart Ryan’s Theology Speaker Series two years ago. The series, held each month, invites people with a variety of backgrounds to speak to students and parents about contemporary issues like poverty, healthy living and caring for the environment. Speakers from local organizations like Catholic Charities, the Campus for Human Development and Fisk University’s Race Relations Institute have participated in the series. Last year, one speaker series was devoted to Voting as a Catholic in 2008.
In class, she covers morality and social justice in real life terms—how you make choices and what affects your freedom, all while connecting those lessons to current events. And she doesn’t shy away from sensitive topics like pornography, prejudice and abortion. She’s quick to emphasize that so much of teaching also happens outside of class time, from the sports fields to the stage. Her part-time involvement with the SEARCH program enables her to have that outside classroom connection with her students, who often drop by her room to talk. The biggest challenge? Helping students prioritize, she says. “The biggest message is faith, family and friends, that those things come first. Back then, you could be involved in just a few sports and in other activities. Now, you have to do summer school and be on this and that team. 110% is expected of them. So the question is, do we want them to be successful in academics and athletics or do we want them to be successful at finding who they are?” Conflicting messages are a struggle, but teaching students to discern those messages is her passion. While the communication channels may have changed with the iGeneration, the message of faith is still the same. As an educator, her goal is to provide students with the tools to prioritize and put faith back at the top.
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The Class of 1959: our newest Golden Grads
Over 1,000 Alumni Return for Reunion Weekend T
he Father Ryan campus was buzzing with activity during the first week of June as alumni from across the country returned for Reunion Weekend activities. Over 1,000 people attended events throughout the weekend—some from as far away as Alaska! The Alumni Reception on Friday evening kicked off the weekend with a record attendance of over 200 people. Attendees reunited with former classmates, friends, faculty and staff over hors d’oeuvres and music from Jeff Schletzer’s jazz band. Saturday was an early day for many alumni and friends with an 8:00 a.m. start for the Lou Graham Alumni Invitational Golf Tournament at Champions Run Golf Course. Alumnus and 1975 U.S. Open Champion Lou Graham ‘56 was in attendance to give participants a few pointers. The tournament trophy was awarded to Marty Graham ‘54, Trevor Graham ‘13, Ron Graham ‘83 and Hollie Graham; their team shot a 55 to win the tournament. Mike Holzmer ‘84 won the putting contest and Vince Phillips ‘85 won the straightest drive prize. During Saturday evening, classes from 1949, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994 and 1999 celebrated their reunions with gatherings all around Nashville. Some reunion classes even
FRHS 14
invited former teachers to the festivities! Pat Nolan from the Class of 1969 counted down his class reunion with a blog highlighting Father Ryan memories and moments in history. Sunday celebrated the Golden Grads. Following Mass, 20 members from the Class of 1959 were inducted into the Golden Grad Society. Afterwards, the new inductees enjoyed brunch among their family and friends as well as members previously inducted as Golden Grads. Overall, the weekend proved a success, welcoming back hundreds of alumni, some of whom had not been to Father Ryan since their graduation. Even those who were not celebrating a reunion year returned to campus to celebrate with the Irish, a sign of Ryan’s strong support from its alumni family. View pictures from the alumni weekend by visiting www.fatherryan.org and clicking on our Media Gallery. If you are an alumnus/a, we encourage you to update your contact information by visiting www.fatherryan.org/alumni and completing the Alumni Information Form.
Class of 1954
Class of 1959
Class of 1964
Class of 1969
Class of 1984
Class of 1989
Faith, Knowledge, Service
Photo By Mike Gomez ‘85
Reunion Weekend
www.FatherRyan.org 15
Reunion Weekend
Remember the Moment with These Keepsakes! 2009 Inaugural Season Program —80 pages of Ryan history and lore. Only $10
Class of 1994
SAND TWO THOU F A U G U S T, Y EIGHTH O THE TWENT
AND NINE
plus $2.50 shipping and handling
Poster of the First Kick-off 22” x 28” full color.
Only $15 plus $2.50 shipping and handling. A record number of alumni attend the Alumni Reception.
Members of the Golden Grad Society and their families enjoy brunch after the Golden Grad ceremony.
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To order go to www.fatherryan.org/keepsakes or contact the Spirit Store at 615-383-4200 or fogartyc@fatherryan.org.
Here are two photos of Ryan alumni when they were a little younger. See if you can identify the faces. (Answers on page 19)
Class Notes Class Notes
Dr. Edwin Foster ‘60 received the Peter G. Hoadley Award for Outstanding Engineering Educator at the annual meeting of the Tennessee Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Ed was the president of the TN Section of ASCE in 1995 and was the UT-Chattanooga ASCE student chapter faculty advisor for 27 years. The award was even more special for him because Hoadley was Foster’s professor at Vanderbilt University. Ed and his wife, Joyce live in Hixon, TN and have three children and eight grandchildren.
‘60
Dr. Tim White ‘60, FRHS valedictorian, is the Site Director of the Redstone Arsenal site of Florida Institute of Technology, whose main campus is in Melbourne, FL. At this site, Dr. White oversees 18 adjuncts and five administrative staff in providing graduate-level degree programs to clientele both from Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, AL, and surrounding areas. He oversees a $0.5 million annual operating budget to educate approximately 1,000 students and to graduate about 200 each year. Besides his teaching two graduate-level courses each semester, Dr. White also teaches, on occasion, at Columbia College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in support of their MBA programs. He is establishing a Doctor of Public Administration to be offered at this site initially and later rolled out to other sites.
‘65
Mike Chilando ‘65 remarried Sharon (Spray) Chilando (Cathedral 1967). Mike and Sharon married in 1968 and have five daughters, Toni Taylor, Shannon Cullen (both St. Cecilia graduates), Amy Goodwin, Mary Katherine Chilando and Rebecca Chilando, and 13 grandchildren. Mike reports that after ten years apart, he asked Sharon to rejoin his life. Mike owns and operates the Midas Auto Service Shop on Charlotte Pike and is on the advisory board of GasLamp Antique and Decorating Mall in Berry Hill, which he developed and recently sold.
‘69
Pat Nolan ‘69 was awarded Business Wire Best of Show by the Nashville Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and its 23rd Annual Parthenon Awards. The event recognizes excellence in all aspects of public relations. Pat is Senior Vice President at Dye Van Mol & Lawrence and is the Chair of the Father Ryan Board of Trust.
Class Notes
Flashback How much do you change?
Joe Lisle ‘85 Joe Lisle, class of 1985, was named the Employee of the Year at the University of South Carolina in the spring of this year. With nearly 20 years of video production experience under his belt, he works as the university’s Video Services Director. He joined the South Carolina staff in 1997, mostly working with football, and five years later, the Collegiate Sports Video Association named him the Outstanding Southeastern Conference Video Coordinator of 2002. Prior to South Carolina, Lisle worked as a video coordinator at the University of Memphis for two years, during which he coordinated the filming and production of all sports games and practices. He is an alumnus of MTSU where he received his bachelor’s degree in mass communications with an emphasis in broadcast production. During his last year, he assumed the role of video coordinator. He was also active in athletics and was a placekicker for the Blue Raiders; he led the nation in field goal percentage during his senior year. He also coached other kickers at MTSU. Joe is married to fellow alum Anne (Claiborne) Lisle, class of 1984. They have two sons, Mark and Gordon, and a daughter, Maggie Grace.
www.FatherRyan.org 17
Class Notes Class Notes
‘69 ‘70
Wayne Wise ‘69 is Chairman and CEO of Western Express, Inc. The company was recently named one of the 25 fastest growing private companies by the Nashville Business Journal.
Pat Higdon ‘70 was promoted to president of Universal Music Publishing Group, Nashville. Previously, Pat was Executive Vice President/General Manager for the publisher. He will oversee the company’s country music publishing activities.
‘81
Dr. Elizabeth (Sanders) Martinez ‘81 is a veterinarian living in College Station, TX. After receiving her DVM degree from the University of Tennessee in 1987, she completed an internship and residency in Anesthesiology at Cornell University and became a Diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists in 1992. She is an Associate Professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University where she enjoys her teaching, research and patient care responsibilities. Elizabeth has published numerous scientific papers and has presented continuing education lectures all over the country. She is also a consultant to the Veterinary Information Network, the largest online veterinary community. She is married to Gilbert Martinez and has three children: Jared, 9, Sara, 7, and Emily, 4, all of whom attend St. Joseph Catholic School in Bryan, TX. The Martinez family belongs to the St. Thomas Aquinas parish in College Station.
‘92
Suzanne Sevier ‘92 was recently featured in the Memphis Commercial Appeal and on “Talk of the Town” on WTVF Nashville about her custom skirt business. Suzanne has been selling her designs through home shows throughout the Southeast since 2004. To learn more about her unique, custom tailored skirts, visit her website at www.sevierskirts.com.
‘93
Stacy (Oertel) Mitchell ‘93 and her husband, Jason, welcomed a new baby boy, Caden James, born April 24, 2009. Big sister Brooklyn is thrilled at the new addition. Caden’s godmother is Christine (Sopko) Baubach ‘93. Stacy stays home, while Jason runs his own real estate company.The family lives in Gardendale, AL, a suburb of Birmingham. (Photo above)
‘94
Erin (Stover) Chady ‘94 lives in Knoxville, TN where she is a social studies teacher and the head cross country coach at Karns High School. She still enjoys running and had a great race in the Knoxville Half Marathon in March 2009. She and her husband, Markus, are enjoying life with their 19 month old son, Charlie.
‘83
Louise (Gilchrist) Grant ‘83 is Vice President of Marketing & Communications for Corrections Corporation of America in Nashville. She is the founder of Backpacks for Nashville Homeless, a non-profit cause to collect and donate backpacks for homeless persons and is a mentor for women in prison through the Leaving the Cocoon non-profit agency.
‘84
Stephen Hughes ‘84 and his wife, Monica, live in Hampton, VA with their children Lydia, 4, and Zoe, 1. Stephen is an engineer with NASA Langley Reasearch Center.
‘85
Dr. John “Terry” King ‘85 was featured in the cover story of the 2009 spring/summer edition of Who’s Who in Nashville magazine. Terry’s pediatric dental practice, SnodgrassKing Pediatric Dental Associates, has four locations in Middle Tennessee.
‘86 ‘87
In March 2009, Pat Rottero ‘86 graduated from the police academy and is now a police officer in Murfreesboro, TN.
Paul Mammarelli ‘87 recently joined Caris Diagnostics as the director of business development. He also is the head wrestling coach for The Catholic High School for Boys in Little Rock, AR.
‘88
Flynn Doyle ‘88 was named to the Nashville Business Journal’s Top Forty Under 40. Flynn was one of hundreds of nominees chosen as an outstanding business leader, under the age of 40, who is making great contributions to Middle Tennessee. He is a CPA and Tax Principal with Decosimo’s Nashville office.
‘89
Hugh Nash ‘89 is married to Meghan Ingleson Nash. They have two daughters, Reagan, 6, who attends kindergarten at St. Matthew School, and McCarthy, born September 17, 2008.
‘91
Lance Wise ‘91 is the regional sales representative for Implant Direct, LLC for Tennessee and Kentucky, where he sells dental implants and prosthetics.
FRHS 18
Thomas Langdon ‘94 married Kelley Cameron at St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Beverly, MA, where they now live. His Best Man was his cousin John Langdon ‘92. He and Kelley are expecting their first child, Clifford David, due on November 28. He is sorry to have missed the opening of the new football stadium and is impressed at how beautiful the complex has become. (Photo above) Christy (Yutendale) Mayo ‘94 is living in Grand Rapids, MI, with her husband, Tim, and their two daughters. Mackenzie was born in July 2007 and Madison was born in September 2008.
‘96
Tony Coode ‘96 is the new Tight Ends Coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Tony was a three-time letter winner at linebacker for the UTC Mocs during his college career.
Nicole (Crossland) Gauthier ‘96 returned to Nashville after living in Tampa Bay, FL, for five years, where she appeared as a fitness expert on the Home Shopping Network and owned a fitness studio. Nicole now owns Niki G’s Fitness Boot Camp and continues to work as a spokesmodel for various fitness companies. She and her husband, Sam, have been married for 11 years and have two daughters, Savannah, 8, and Brooklynn, 2.You can reach Nicole at www.nikigfitness.com. Andrew Kelso ‘96 is working at First Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN, as the Sports Coordinator, where he is in charge of organizing and running sport leagues for both children and adults. He has worked there for six years and is enjoying every minute of it. Andrew is also a varsity TSSAA basketball referee. If you would like to get in touch with him, email him at akelso@fpcnashville.org.
Class Notes
Nicole (Arkin) Leth ‘96 moved to Germany this summer with her husband, Allen Leth, a Major in the U.S. Army. Nicole is a paramedic and will be working on her master’s degree in public health while stationed in Germany. Her husband will deploy to Afghanistan next summer. They had a little girl, Gabrielle Viola, in September 2008. Nicole ran her seventh marathon in Little Rock, AR, in March. She and her husband plan to run the Venice Marathon this fall. Mike Novak ‘97 is the new principal at Liberty Elementary School in Shelbyville, TN. He began his career in education as an art teacher. Most recently Mike was assistant principal at Eakin Primary School in Shelbyville. Peter Geisen ‘99 received his master’s degree in microbial biotechnology from North Carolina State University on May 9, 2009 along with a Certification in Biotechnology. He will receive his MBA in May 2010 and is interning with Research Triangle Institute. Daniel Clark ‘00 is a sales representative at Thompson Machinery, Caterpillar, Inc. and is pursuing an MBA degree at Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business, Belmont University. Ryan Donnelly ‘01 started Miracle One Wines based in Sonoma, CA, and recently released a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Ryan and his business partner aim to produce wine while having a minimal impact to the environment. Look for Miracle One Wines in your area or visit their website at www.miracleonewines.com. Billy Haley ‘01 recently married Lauren Marino. He is the son of Mike and Jodie Haley and has a younger brother, Matte ‘03. Billy graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in sport management and a minor in business administration. He served on the Adidas Partners in Sports undergraduate board for the Sports Management Program. This summer he joined the team at Peachtree Planning of Tennessee in Brentwood as a financial representative. Billy was recently asked to serve on the Father Ryan Alumni Board. Chad Moss ‘01 graduated from The University of Tennessee College of Medicine on May 29, 2009. He has matched in a Surgical Residency at East Tennessee State University. He and his wife, Lynne (Mullins) ‘01, live in Johnson City. Paul Schlacter ‘01 collaborated on a short film for Google to promote its Chrome browser. To see the film, go to http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=enfDtvEoQzA.
University. Ann, a three-time all-conference player, was named the Atlantic Sun Libero of the Year in 2005. She holds several defense records at both Lipscomb and the Atlantic Sun.
‘04
Joshua Cressaty ‘04 graduated from Belmont University receiving his BBA degree in May of 2009. He works for Cressaty Metals, Inc. In his free time, Joshua enjoys traveling and writing.
Faith, Knowledge, Service
Class Notes
‘05
In September, Shaun Hart ‘05, a recent graduate of the University of Evansville, began a year-long Fellowship at the Hedgerow Theatre in Media, PA, outside of Philadelphia. Catie Smiley ‘05 graduated from the University of Tennessee School of Nursing summa cum laude in May of 2009. She is employed at University Hospital in Knoxville to gain experience before pursuing anesthesia school to become a nurse anesthetist.
‘06
Ben Beasley ‘06 completed Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in Quantico,VA on August 13, 2009. Ben, a senior at the University of Colorado (Boulder) is majoring in economics and received a “full ride” scholarship from the Marine Corps. He is the son of Skip Beasley ‘68 and Laura Beasley, a Father Ryan teacher since 1994. Chris Meriwether ‘06 was named to the SEC All-Academic Team. Chris is a member of the basketball team for Vanderbilt University.
‘07
Lacey Purcell ‘07 is a junior at the University of Tennessee majoring in public relations. In addition to her PR major, she is working toward a double minor in business and environmental studies. This summer, she interned at McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations and previously interned at Varallo Public Relations, both in Nashville. In Knoxville, Lacey serves as secretary for the College of Communication and Information’s Diversity Student Leaders Society and is a member of SPEAK (Students Promoting Environmental Action in Knoxville).
‘08 ‘09
Justin Simpson ‘08 received the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts on December 18, 2008. Denmark Grant ‘09 performed in the Byron & Beth Smith Apprentice Company’s production of Taming of the Shrew this summer.
Visit www.fatherryan.org/alumni to submit class notes
Patrick Wimberly ‘02 and his band, Chairlift, performed on the June 26, 2009 Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
Photo 1: Frederick Strobel ‘70, Tony Marchetti ‘70, Pat Bauer ‘69 and Pat Nolan ‘69 as Boy Scouts in 1965
Ann Mullins ‘03 is the new co-volleyball coach at Siegel High School in Murfreesboro, TN. She was a three-time all-state player at Father Ryan and played at the University of Tennessee before transferring to Lipscomb
Photo 2: Jimmy Clarke ‘49, Larry Long ‘50, Arthur Schmitt ‘48, Eddie Derrick ‘50, James Warner ‘49, Theodore Friedmann ‘48, Sonny Hite ‘48 and Johnny Shea ‘51 in 1946
Tracy Cepnio ‘03 is the first women’s lacrosse coach in Millsaps College history. Millsaps will begin competition in the spring of 2011 for both men and women. Previously, she was at Washington & Jefferson College in Pennsylvania, where she spent two seasons as the assistant women’s lacrosse coach and also served as the assistant coach for the field hockey team.
www.FatherRyan.org 19
Births Charles Edward to Markus and Erin (Stover) Chady ‘94 born on October 28, 2007.
Peyton Rees to Chip and Kate Goetzinger (Staff) born on May 3, 2009. She joins big sister, Allison, age three.
Jackson Kimble to Jaime and Mike Horton ‘97 on October 7, 2008. He was welcomed by three year old brother Nathan Douglas.
Julia Anne to Eric and Anne Marie (McCabe) Morgan ‘00 born on May 12, 2009. The family lives in Birmingham, AL.
Carson Coode to Laura and Charlie Coode ‘00 born on June 22, 2008.
Aliza Grace to Salvatore and Kristen (Hillier) Guido ‘89 born on May 22, 2009. She joins her ten-year-old brother.The family lives in Westerly, RI.
Paige Marie to Courtney (Maher) ‘95 and Andrew Thompson born on July 31, 2008. McLean Elizabeth to Robert and Katherine (Timmons) Duck ‘97 born on January 30, 2009.
Stella Blue to Cristin and Paul Mammarelli ‘87 born on June 19, 2009. Stella joins big sisters Sophia and Anna. Julian Coleman to April and John Lankford ‘98 born on July 12, 2009.
Andrew (Drew) Jackson to Brian and Marney (Low) Patterson ‘97 born on February 27, 2009. Drew joins big brother Will, age three.
Thomas Whitwell to Courtney (Lawson) ‘98 and Jason Alexander born on September 19, 2009.
Bobbi and Coach Bruce Lussier (Faculty) welcomed their first grandchild, Aaron Cosmas DeMatteo on April 24, 2009.
Luciana Michelle to Jan (Crowell) ‘95 and Juan Zamudio born on April 22, 2009.
Caden James to Stacy (Oertel) ‘93 and Jason Mitchell born on April 24, 2009.
Aidan Michael to Anna and Steven Schrimpf ‘00 born on June 8, 2009. The family lives in Birmingham, AL.
Stephen Maxwell to Shelley and Randy Lancaster ‘83 born on July 14, 2009.
Anna Madelene to Matt and Tarah (VanNuck) Miller ‘99 born on April 13, 2009. Anna’s sweet two-year-old brother, James, also welcomes her with open arms.
William Richard Patterson to Gary and Hope (Murray) Patterson ‘90 born on April 26, 2009. He joins his twoyear-old sister, Lily.
Elizabeth Lee (Libby) to Katie (Nolan) ‘97 and Mike Rosenhagen born on April 26, 2009. Big brother Shaun and grandparents Betty Lee and Pat Nolan ‘69 are excited about the newest member of their family.
Trent William to Jason and Rachael (Trent) Ogletree ‘00 born on May 28, 2009. Trent is also the nephew of Ryan Trent ‘95.
Alexis Grace to Amy and Mike Bradley ‘83 born on June 1, 2009. Holding Alexis is her cousin Magen Bradley ‘06.
Brady Jennings to Christina and Daniel Clark ‘00 born on September 9, 2009.
Zane Thomas to Matthew and Deanna (Berens) O’Neal ‘95, born on June 8, 2008. The family lives in Nashville, TN
Devyn Nicole to Tonya and Daniel Hamsley ‘93 born on May 1, 2009.
Weddings Nancy Freund (St. Bernard Academy ‘81) and Stan Weglarz ‘81 were married on May 17, 2008 at the Buchanan Log House in Donelson, TN. Courtney Reed ‘99 and Justin Scott were married on April 25, 2009. The couple lives in Lexington, KY. Jennifer Lamon and David Pass ‘94 were married May 2, 2009 at First United Methodist Church in Tuscaloosa, AL.
Lisa Fertitta ‘86 and Mike Cunningham were married on June 27, 2009 at The Parthenon in Nashville. Lisa and Mike run Cunningham Electric and Building Services together and live in Mt. Juliet. Amanda Ringenberg and Andrew Kelly ‘00 were married July 18, 2009. Sarah Williams ‘03 and James Wynn were married on July 25, 2009.
Jennifer Hurley and Louis Seele ‘96 were married on May 23, 2009 in Columbia City, IN. The couple lives in Carmel, IN.
Pam Parker and Dan Stigliano (Faculty) were married on July 26, 2009. One month after the wedding, Dan became a grandfather after his daughter gave birth to Maya Rose.
Lauren Mondelli ‘01 and Joseph Edenfield ‘96 were married June 13, 2009 at The Cathedral of the Incarnation.
Lauren Marino and Billy Haley ‘01 were married on August 15, 2009 at Christ the King Church in Nashville. Peter Geisen ‘99 and Emily McFarlane were married on October 17, 2009, at Lake Lure near Asheville, NC.
FRHS 20
DEE J. AYERS, JR. - Father of Mike D. Ayers ‘69 and Jill A. Biddle. RICHARD “RED” S. BARR, SR ‘43.
DONALD T. HARRIS - Father of Lenetta Jones ‘77, Jeff Harris ‘86, Teddy Harris ‘88 and Donna Harris ‘89.
WILLIAM COLE BELL, JR. ‘46 - Brother of Martha Langdon and Joseph Bell.
WILLIAM TURNER, JR. - Father of William Hill ‘67, Robert Turner, Sr, Diane Hill, Rossi Turner, Marteda Oglesby, William Turner, III and Steavie Turner.
KATHRYN G. BEVINGTON - Mother of Mary Johnson, John Bevington, Jr. ‘69 and Michael B. Sayles and sister-in-law of Fr. William Bevington ‘42.
ELIZABETH “LIBBY” HOBBS - Mother of Mike ‘65, Joe ‘69, Ronnie ‘71 and John Hobbs ‘83.
MICHAEL BRODA ‘70. MICHAEL BRODBINE - Father of Sandra Umanita, Deborah, Teresa, Michael, Chris ‘88, Andy ‘88 and Megan Brodbine. LORETTA “LORI” CALARCO - Mother of Lynn Brunner (Bill ‘77), Pam Netti and Sharon Calarco. JAMES “JIM” A. BURNS ‘56 - Brother of Martin ‘46, William ‘51 and Johnny Burns ‘56. DIANA BURNS - Mother of Karen Malone and Jeff D. Burns ‘89. KENNETH J. BURNS ‘53. WILLIAM E. CLARDY - Father of Benita Clardy ‘79 and Marie Brown. JOHN CONNERS ‘37 - Father of Ginny Ripley, John Conners III ‘69, Elly McLain, Jeanne Schaedle, David Conners, Richard Conners, Nancy Goldin, Jim Conners and Amy Murphree. Brother of Anne Broden and Dr. Jim Conners ‘42. BRIAN J. CONRAD ‘85 - Son of the late Michael Conrad ‘65 and brother of Lori Conrad Graves ‘87 and Amy Conrad Wilder ‘93 (Jason ‘94). JACK E. COOK - Father of Pat ‘69, Michael ‘72, John ‘75 and David Cook ‘81, and Jane Odle Brown. ROBERT MICHAEL “MIKE” CRAVEN ‘69 - Brother of John ‘67, Susan, Donna, Joe ‘75, Cathy, Beth, Mark ‘81 and Jim Craven ‘83. BERNARD HALEY DONLON, SR. ‘36 - Father of Ellen, Buzz ‘69 and John Donlon and Joan Donlon Lorber. Brother of William Donlon ‘31. JOANNE CORDELL DONLON - Widow of the late Bernard Donlon ‘36, mother of Ellen, Buzz ‘69 and John Donlon and Joan Donlon Lorber.
JOHN IACOBUCCI ’82 – Brother of Jean Snyder and Mimi Dukes. ANN CUNNINGHAM JAMESON - Mother of Maureen, Tim ‘72, Kevin ‘76, Christopher ‘77 and Mike Jameson ‘81. IRENE JOHNSON - Mother of Lance ‘72, Eric ‘73 and Kirk Johnson ‘76. MICHAEL R. KAVANAUGH ‘70 - Brother of Pat Kavanaugh ‘72. VINCENT MAMMARELLI ‘51 - Father of Mike Mammarelli ‘85, Cathy Watts ‘85 and Paul Mammarelli ‘87. Brother of Nicholas Mammarelli ‘53. EUGENE E. MULLOY, JR. ‘42. EUGENE “GENE” MULLOY, SR. ‘54 - Father of Gene ‘75, James ‘79 and Mary Katherine Mulloy. JOE NATCHER ‘82 - Son of Charley Natcher, Sr. ‘50, father of Tommy Natcher ‘11 and brother of Chuck Natcher, Jr. ‘78 and Christy (Natcher) William ‘81. DONALD L. HARTMAN - Father of Deb Nebel (Faculty). LAUREN O’SAILE - Daughter of Mary (Volpe) O’Saile ‘80. JAMES “JIM” D. PUCKETT ‘41 - Brother of Joseph Puckett ‘39 (deceased). THOMAS C. REESE ‘70 - Brother of Bob Reese ‘66 and Joe Reese ‘72. DONALD “KEVIN” ROWAN ‘79 - Father of Andrew ‘07, Eric ‘11, Kara and Tori Rowan. Brother of Rory Rowan ‘81, Jimmy Rowan ‘82, Gwen Hornberger ‘86, Rosalie Rowan ‘89 and Natalie Rowan ‘05. MICHAEL J. SCHOEN ‘69 - Brother of Pat Schoen ‘71. JAMES E. SHARPE ‘44.
WILLIAM E. DONLON, SR. ‘31 - Father of William Donlon, Jr. ‘78, Mary Lee Bunch, Teresa Avery and Kate Hilton. Brother of Bernard Donlon ‘36 (deceased).
JOHN E. SHEA ‘43.
KATHRYN L. HEARNE - Mother of Brenna Downey ‘04.
ANNE MARIE THOMPSON - Mother of Jeannette Capshaw, Charles Thompson III, Mike Thompson ‘77, Kevin Thompson ‘78 and Laura Boone.
MARIE DOYLE - Mother of John (deceased), Tom ‘63, Andy ‘65, David ‘68 and Peter Doyle ‘75 and Therese Luken and Catherine Doyle. CHARLES J. “BUDDY” DUBOIS, JR. ‘59 - Brother of Annette Nellums, Edward DuBois ‘64, Randall DuBois ‘69, Marie Runion and the late Margaret Slayden and Thomas DuBois. JAMES MICHAEL “MIKE” DUBOIS ‘59. WILLIAM J. DUNIGAN, Life Trustee - Father of David, Michael ‘78 and Karen Dunigan ‘79.
Faith, Knowledge, Service
In Memoriam
ELIZABETH M. SMITH - Mother of Peggy Stapleton, Connie Martin, Leland Riggan and Kevin M. Smith ‘71 and sister of Joseph McHenry ‘42.
LUKE VALIQUETTE ‘93 - Brother of Elaine, Al ‘66, John ‘68 and Richard Valiquette ‘71, Loretta Osborn ‘75, Ginny Gilliam ‘77, Kathy Edry, Johanna ‘79 and Christine Valiquette. RICHARD M. WARD ‘67 - Brother of Carol Ward Cannon ‘74 and David Ward ‘80. HENRY M. WINECOFF ‘53 - Father of Andy Winecoff ‘85, Tim Winecoff (Kim Ayers Winecoff ‘84), Terry Winecoff, Susan Metcalf and Trudie Rogers.
STANLEY SAWICKI - Father of Linda Evans (Stewart ‘65). M. ELIZABETH FYKE - Sister of Henry ‘49 and John Fyke ‘54.
www.FatherRyan.org 21
2009/10 Annual Fund Goal
$375,000 We Believe
With 100% participation in this year’s Annual Fund, our faculty and staff have shown their dedication to Catholic education. We ask you to join them in supporting our students. Your contributions to the Annual Fund ensure the quality of virtually every aspect of school life—from the classrooms to the playing fields to the stage. Help us build on the record-setting results of last year. Please prayerfully consider giving to Ryan’s Annual Fund so that today’s students can continue to experience this life-changing gift.
To make your gift, contact the Advancement Office or go online to www.fatherryan.org/giving
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