SALLA
Union DE LA SALLE HIGH SCHOOL
“Mark DeMarco Legacy”
Mark DeMarco Retires at the End of 2020-21 School Year • David Holquin Named Next President Spring 2021
Hybrid Learning at De La Salle • On Track for Higher Education • Campus Ministry Pivots 2021 Distinguished Alumnus • Bob Ladouceur Retires • Athletics: The Boys Are Back L The Brotherhood of the Spartan Is Like No Other L
Message from the President
Dear De La Salle Community,
Mark DeMarco ’78 President
“Being a former Brother, I have never separated my work life from my
personal life. It is simply
who I am and what I do. Some have called me a
workaholic. I have never shut off the work switch
– it is a 24/7 job. A job that I have chosen and
one that I would choose
again.”
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Well, here we are 12-plus months into this pandemic. I know we can all become irritable—we want our “normal” lifestyle back whenever that may be. Hopefully, we are getting closer. As you know by now, I announced that I would retire at the end of this school year and in doing so, I thought I might share some final thoughts with you. In the early pages of the book Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson, he includes a story that continues to remind me about what matters the most and this is not easily done for me.
Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called work, family, health, friends, and integrity. And you’re keeping all of them in the air. But one day you finally come to understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls—family, health, friends, integrity—are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered. And once you truly understand the lesson of the five balls, you will have the beginning of balance in your life. Think about the balls that you are juggling. What are your priorities? Some of you may feel like you are being torn apart. Family is important, but so is work. How are there enough hours in the day to do it all? How can you find a balance? What does matter the most? Which of these balls is most likely to shatter for you, and how can you stop this from happening?
Being a former Brother, I have never separated my work life from my personal life. It is simply who I am and what God has called me to do. Some have called me a workaholic. I have never shut off the work switch—it is a 24/7 job. A job that I have chosen and one that I would choose again. If I had read the story of the five balls earlier in my life, it MIGHT have changed the way I lived my life, but I honestly doubt that. I share this with you only to assist you in your daily lives and to give you a little perspective and/or wisdom. I think I finally know the true understanding of the five balls. For me, I have treated them all like glass. Let me finish with what really drives me—the words of Steve Jobs sums it up well, "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it." Thank you De La Salle High School for allowing me to serve 14 years as President, four years as a teacher, and four years as a student. You have shaped me as the person I am today.
In the Spirit of Saint John Baptist de La Salle,
Mark DeMarco ’78 President
Union PRESIDENT’S CABINET
WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE
Mark DeMarco ’78 President
Dr. Heather Alumbaugh Vice President for Academic Life
Mark Chiarucci Vice President for Advancement Lynne Jones Vice President for Finance
Leo Lopoz ’94 Vice President for Athletics
Joe Aliotti Senior Staff for the Office of the President Produced by the Office of Advancement
De La Salle High School 1130 Winton Drive Concord, CA 94518 Tel: (925) 288-8100 Fax: (925) 686-3474 www.dlshs.org
Comments, questions, news? Contact Rich Davi at davir@dlshs.org
Editor: Rich Davi
Layout and design: Jack Farage Design, Email: farage4art@yahoo.com
Text: Cory Blumberg ’93, Nicholas Cochran ’11, Rich Davi, Mark DeMarco ’78, Rick Freeman ’86, Erin Hallissy, Mary Hassett, Julian Homberger ’09, Michael Hurlbut ’98, Teri Hurlbut, Lynne Jones, Lloyd Schine, III ’94, Ida Tolentino, Karla Wiese, James Van Wyck ’11.
Photos: Mike Aquino, Nicholas Cochran ’11, De La Salle Photo Library, Rick Freeman ‘86, Brother Lawrence Haley, FSC, Michael Hurlbut ’98, Studio One Photography, Bob Sansoe, Lloyd Schine, III ’94, James Van Wyck ’11. Read the Union online at www.dlshs.org
The De La Salle “Union” is a bond of unity for the extended De La Salle family — alumni, parents, alumni parents and the many friends who make up our school’s growing family.
The School Seal
The school seal is an important part of the identity of De La Salle High School. The symbols used to make up the seal have particular meanings that reflect the values and purpose of the school. In the center of the seal is the Chi Rho (Kye Row). This is the Greek abbreviation of the title “Christ.” The first two letters of the word Christos or “Christ” are “Chi” and “Rho,” represented in the Greek alphabet as a capital “X” and “P.” The fleur-de-lis, with “lis” meaning lily in French, reminds us of our French origins with Saint John Baptist de La Salle. The lamp is a symbol of knowledge, reminding us of our primary purpose as a school — education. The section of broken chain represents freedom — freedom from ignorance. The chain surrounding the seal signifies strength and unity. “Les Hommes de Foi” is French for “Men of Faith.”
Spring 2021
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2 4 7 10 11 12 14 17
On Track for Higher Education Transition of Campus Life
Campus Ministry Pivots to Meet Pandemic Standards Social Justice: Keeping the Conversation Current De La Salle Featured in: To Raise A Boy Making Lemonade Out of Lemons
Mark DeMarco…This is Your De La Salle Life! David Holquin Named Fourth President
advancement
18 19 20
2019-2020 Annual Report
De La Salle Fall Fundraising Success Legacy Locker Program
alumni news
21 22 23 24 25
Reunions
In Memoriam
Staying In Touch
Spartan First Responders
De La Salle 2021 Distinguished Alumnus
spartan sports
27 28 29
Bob Ladouceur Retires from Teaching Athletic Competitions Return Summer Camps
About the cover: After serving as the De La Salle President for the past 14 years, Mark DeMarco ’78 will retire after the completion of the 2020-21 school year. Including his time as a student, teacher, and President, Mark spent more than 20 years, or one-third of his life, on Winton Drive. For more information on the accomplishments achieved during his tenure as President, check out the story on pages 14-16. SPRING 2021 UNION
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On Track for Higher Education
here’s good news about college plans for seniors and juniors who have had to adjust to moving targets on everything from SAT tests to expectations over college tours, campus life, and personal educational goals beyond high school. Despite the COVID-19-caused upheaval in normal college preparations, De La Salle students are choosing to pursue higher education at the same rate as pre-pandemic, says Esther Lopez and Lisa Sciacca, Co-Directors of College Counseling. That trend is holding true even as uncertainty continues to loom over whether colleges will have in-person classes or online learning. Preparing for college admission has been difficult, starting with the spring of 2020 when the pandemic began, and continuing even today. There has been confusion over whether students would be required, or even able, to take SAT or ACT exams and AP placement tests, and how to learn about what colleges may be best for them. In spring 2020, Lopez said it created havoc when it was unclear whether SAT tests would be administered to juniors, and even a question of whether students would take it home before colleges announced that it would be waived. AP placement tests also were in jeopardy because of coronavirus shutdowns, although the tests were offered in a shorter format for students to take at home.
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“We try to stay very much in the know,” Lopez says, noting that keeping up with email, Facebook groups and other communication forums like Fairtest.org, which followed the current policies for colleges in terms of testing were a necessity. Lopez says it helped that the University of California and the California State University systems came out early on with uniform and clear policies that SAT and ACT tests would not be used for admissions for the near future, although there was uncertainty until a recent court ruling over whether they would be optional tools for colleges to consider. Students who are strong test takers may be disappointed by not having the opportunity to have SAT scores considered, and those who are choosing an out-of-state or private college may still need SAT scores, so De La Salle offered a test on campus in October 2020 for juniors. A little less than half of the eligible students took the test. While there have been reports of many graduating seniors opting to take a gap year before beginning college, Lopez says, De La Salle students are not following that trend. “What we’re seeing is that our students remain focused on their goals,” she says. “They remain hopeful. We’re encouraging them to keep moving forward.” Senior Lance Distefano says he was considering a gap year or going to DVC for a year, but he now wants to go to a
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four-year college. “I don't mind if [college] is in-person or through distance learning. I just want to go experience something new while still getting an education,” he says. Exploring college options has been tougher because he hasn’t been able to do in-person tours, and “online tours really aren't amazing.” But Lance, who says he is particularly excited about possibly attending the University of Oregon, appreciates the De La Salle College Counseling Office. “I think that the school has done remarkably well with equipping us to search for and apply to colleges this year, all things considered. We truly have an amazing college counseling program.” Lance, who has been engaged solely in distance learning, says he’s been able to adjust to the model at De La Salle through setting up a learning space at home, becoming very organized, and having an understanding family, making him one of many students whose grades have actually improved during the pandemic. Lopez says that she’s seen many students who have excelled academically during the pandemic, becoming very resilient and organized. Senior Fernando Valdez is one of them. “I think it was both a mix of changing my perspective of school and using my resources more often,” states Valdez. “Prior to distance learning, I had more of a ‘I hope I do well in this class’ mentality, which is the bare minimum, and changed it to an
‘I have to do well, because college is not that far away’ type of thinking. I encouraged myself to ask for more help not only from teachers, but also from peers.” Fernando, who will be the first in his family to go to college, says he found it easy to apply for college with help from Sciacca. “Scheduling weekly Zoom meetings with her was very helpful in trying to figure out what colleges I would be a good fit for,” said Valdez. “My counselor was nice enough to review my Common App (a college counseling online program used to apply to college, research financial aid and scholarships, and more) and CSU applications to make sure everything was perfect.” “My parents are very proud that I am looking forward to pursuing a college education,” he adds. “Coming from immigrant parents who did not have a high school education, they encourage me to take the opportunities given to me that they never had, and in this case, being able to attend college.” Fernando is leaning toward attending Arizona State, although some California colleges are also intriguing. “Regardless of whether it will be in person or through distance learning, I think I will experience a good transition into college,” he says. “The difficult part will probably be making new friends and getting adjusted to a different city, but it all happens through time.”
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TRANSITION OF
CAMPUS LIFE
DURING HYBRID LEARNING
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hen De La Salle High School students returned to Winton Drive on October 26, 2020, campus life was a little different. Hybrid learning was the new norm, as approximately 70 percent of the student body returned to on-campus classes two days a week, while the remaining 30 percent stayed home for distance learning four days per week. When students returned to campus, they were greeted with signs to remind them to social distance, to wash their hands, and to wear a mask. They also saw a tent covering the Quad, providing an outdoor community space for the school, an outdoor weight room at the baseball field, and many of the desks in the classrooms were removed to meet social distancing guidelines. Although the physical signs were new, faculty and staff worked hard to make sure that campus activities continued—even if they look and feel different. Here is a perspective at how De La Salle adjusted to meet COVID-19 protocols.
Athletics De La Salle opened the brand new Ladouceur Athletic Performance Center in the Fall of 2019, but with the
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advancement of COVID-19, the school was required to shut down the indoor center. Strength and Conditioning Coach, Mark Wine, had other plans. Wine and De La Salle Athletic Department personnel constructed an outdoor workout facility in the batting cage of Koch Diamond. This outdoor “weight room” allowed De La Salle students to continue workouts in cohorts. Workout group sizes were limited to 12 students and two coaches, as Spartans continued to train for their season in the new “Sandlot” gym. Spartans had access to this outdoor facility starting in October of 2020, when the school returned to campus for Hybrid Learning. Band The use of musical instruments was considered a high spread activity during COVID-19. After moving to a completely virtual format to end the 2019-20 school year, Mr. Larry Colon, Director of Bands, was prepared to have students play together when the school was allowed to return to Hybrid Learning in late October. After reviewing a study by the California Music Educators Association (CMEA) and numerous discussions with CAL OSHA, strict protocols were established to allow on-campus practice for De La Salle music classes. Mr. Colon’s Jazz and Concert Bands moved their seats and stands to the parking lot outside the music room, creating an outdoor classroom. This outdoor classroom, where the students wear musician masks, applied bell covers to their instruments, and rehearsed for no more than 30 minutes, allowed students to play together safely on the De La Salle campus. Half the
class was on campus during the week, while the other half of the class was home and logged in virtually on Zoom. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, De La Salle had to cancel its annual Christmas Concert, but Mr. Colon and the students found a way to produce a virtual performance, with all the students performing together on Zoom. This concert was then shared to the internal De La Salle community during the Christmas break. As the calendar rolled over to the second semester, Mr. Colon turned his attention to music for the marching band. In late February, the marching band finished recording music that is performed at football games, and is working on virtual performance videos, similar to the Christmas Concert. All the video recordings are being done over Zoom. The band uses web-based software that enables the students to record their part individually. Once recorded, the students submit their files to Mr. Colon, who then adjusts the syncing/sound and video to create the final project. Be on the lookout for the De La Salle Spring Music Concert, which will be done virtually.
Clubs/Campus Activities During the constantly shifting landscape of our pandemic reality, clubs at De La Salle have continued to meet. Initially these gatherings were virtual, and then shifted to hybrid. The De La Salle class schedule was altered to include a “Flex Day” which is held on Wednesdays. During Flex Day, time was created for Campus Ministry, class level activities, tutoring, and time for clubs to meet. Some of the school’s activity clubs that depended on in-person activities have taken a hiatus, while other clubs continued to meet via Zoom as an outlet for students to make connections and pursue their interests. New clubs have emerged and students have sought ways to include all members—whether hybrid or virtual. Some of these new clubs include; Bring Change to Mind (mental health awareness), Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society), online gaming contests (more events than clubs) - although clubs like Minecraft continue to meet. Under the guidance of Greg Brown-Davis, the school has embarked on e-gaming competitions with games League of Legends and Rocket League. Depending on participation numbers and student interest, De La Salle could potentially expand game options. Sign-ups took place in mid-February, and more than 25 De La Salle students registered to participate in the school’s newly created online gaming opportunities.
Library Although quieter than normal, the De La Salle Library remained much the same during the Hybrid Learning time: warm, welcoming, and supportive of students' academic and
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social needs. The biggest adjustment is the limited seating capacity spaced out through the Library. During hybrid learning, the Library is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Students are welcome during any open period (i.e., before school, break, lunch and after school) and the Librarians are available to assist students with research, finding books, and any other needs they may have throughout the day. Students are able to check out books, as well as have access to chargers, and use of the printers. Importantly, the Library staff, which include Elaine Seed, Brooke Heskett, and Brian Wiersma, continue to encourage students to talk, study, and socialize.
Robotics The De La Salle Robotics Club, directed by Tim Bedford ’03, recently introduced newcomers to the school on how they can get involved with the club. Beginners to the club have been able to observe and assist returning members with small projects. Club leadership has been determining how they want to set up competitions during the spring semester, which if they do happen, won’t be until April or May. During the time from October through March, the overall priority has been focused on team building and training the required skillsets for larger competitions that the students have missed out on. Service Leadership The school’s service learning class, moderated by Dr. Elizabeth Berkes and Andrew Berkes, has also had to adjust their outreach projects during the pandemic, to continue to provide support for the local community. The school’s most impactful fall semester service projects, the
Cereal Drive and the Toy Drive were held virtually in 2020. The Cereal Drive generated a school record $16,342 for the Monument Crisis Center, while the Toy Drive generated $5,952 in donations to support the De La Salle Academy, the SPRING 2021 UNION
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Bay Area Crisis Nursery, the Oakland Catholic Worker, and Running with Love. During the spring semester, the service leadership class transitioned its Laps for Life event to support teen suicide into a virtual presentation through Zoom. This event was held on February 6th, and had an audience of over 300 people for the webinar. For this year’s Laps for Life event, $2,976 in donations were received to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Contra Costa County Crisis Center, BeingwellCA, and Bring Change 2 Mind. Most recently, the students turned the annual Spartan Charity Challenge into an online donation platform as well, utilizing GoFundMe. The 2021 Spartan Charity Challenge, which is coordinated through the Campus Ministry Office, ran from February 17th (Ash Wednesday) through March 30, with a goal to generate more than $11,000 to support Generation Alive, the De La Salle Brotherhood Fund, the Nativity Village School in Shinara, Eritrea, and the Brothers’ Ministries in India and Sri Lanka. Through these four important student-driven annual fundraisers, more than $35,000 in financial donations was raised to support all of these organizations.
Theatre The De La Salle/Carondelet Theatre Company was one of the few local community high school performing arts clubs in the Bay Area to put on a performance during the fall and spring
semesters. During the Fall of 2020, students performed under a huge tent in the Quad, producing a performance of “12 Angry Jurors” for family and friends during a chilly month of November. All the cast and crew of “12 Angry Jurors” worked in cohorts while on campus for rehearsals, while many of the meetings and read-throughs were held virtually on Zoom. For the tech side of the cast and crew, students completed many of their set designs at home, before transferring them to campus for the final performances. When classes resumed for the Spring semester, COVID-19 restrictions were still in place. Therefore, Director of Theatre Arts, Ms. Meredith Barnidge, began preparing for the cast
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and crew for a similar outdoor performance of “1984”. Company’s performance of “1984” under the “big top” will be held from April 15-24, with all performances starting at 7:15 p.m. Despite the global pandemic, De La Salle and Carondelet continued a long-standing tradition of two performances each school year.
Yearbook Telling the story of the 2020-21 school year was always going to be challenging. The Yearbook staff is only three students – the smallest team ever assembled—and only one of
the three students is on campus at any given time. Much of what the students normally do, such as popping into classrooms to take pictures and conduct interviews, has been rendered impossible by the pandemic. Yet, the staff felt that their role this year was more important than ever before. As staff member, Kadin Kerrigan shared, “This year is special because it will never be forgotten. The year the sky fell down and the whole earth started spinning the wrong way. It is our job to make this year even more memorable and capture everything that will make it memorable. Out of 1000+ students and 100+ staff members, we chose to capture this year and we will not disappoint.” The staff chose “Playing It By Ear” as the theme of the 2021 Yearbook, and throughout the year they’ve been finding creative ways to work around challenging situations. They’ve invited students, faculty, counselors, and campus ministers to their class Zoom meetings to conduct interviews. They’ve relied on parents, coaches, and moderators to provide photos of events, since they couldn’t attend in person. They’ve explored ways to include the entire De La Salle community at a time when so many feel isolated or disconnected. In the absence of team sports coverage, the staff is creating a photo essay about the perks and pitfalls of distance learning and showcasing individual athletes—including tournament golfers and martial artists. “The situation and circumstances of 2020 have brought new memories, and I think it'd be pretty neat to have them visualized in a book,” staff member Ean Lacsamana said. “I think it would be important to show how people were able to adapt to the new changes, and (for us to) show that in this year's book.”
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Campus Ministry Pivots to Meet Pandemic Standards and “Live the Fourth” Campus Ministry, just like every other department at De La Salle, had to adjust programs to fit state and county protocols. So with patience and prayer, Campus Ministry faculty and staff made the “pivot” to make as many of the school’s faith life programs available to the De La Salle community and “Live the Fourth” by continuing to serve others.
Kairos In mid-January, the first ever on campus, fully masked and social distanced Kairos retreat was facilitated. Ever since the final Kairos retreat of the 2019-20 school year had to be cancelled due to the pandemic, faculty and staff began strategizing ways to keep Kairos going and with the closing of off-campus retreat centers, this demanded that Kairos happen on campus. “It takes a community to make Kairos happen” and Kairos 129 was the best example of that ever. The Administration, the COVID Task Force, Maintenance and Cafeteria Teams, and lots of other generous folks made it possible, and Kairos was as good as it has ever been.
Junior Retreat The Junior Retreat, traditionally a day-long on campus experience for 60 students, had to be adjusted to a Zoom virtual experience for the entire class. The focus of the retreat is the journey to becoming a man of faith and it was broken down into four, two-hour segments. Parts one and
two happened in late October and early December and parts three and four will happen during the second semester.
Sophomore Immersion Program The SIP program for sophomores has undergone a revision to match the Religious Studies curriculum shift (see Spring 2019 issue, 21st Century Curriculum). A hybrid version with SPRING 2021 UNION
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many sophomores on campus was conducted and those who wanted to participate from home could do so. There were two movements to the experience, a poverty simulation that allowed students in small groups to live out the scenarios of families that live below the poverty line; and the other movement was participation in creating 20,000 meals for families that go to the Monument Crisis Center for food. The Generation Alive Foundation provides the ingredients for “Cheesy Rice” meals which our students package, seal, and box. Students found this to be a very powerful experience of service for the poor and marginalized. Freshman Retreat The annual Freshman Retreat, which was held on February 3rd, had students participate both virtually, and in person at De La Salle, utilizing almost the entire campus to maintain social distancing. It was a fun and meaningful experience for the Freshmen as they were invited to experience what it means to be a member of the De La Salle Family.
Lasallian Youth Lasallian Youth continues to meet on Flex Days via Zoom. A wonderful new addition is a twice monthly virtual meeting that is shared with Palma School—our host for Ven a Ver Salinas—called “Exercises in Empathy” where students hear the stories of inmates at Soledad State Prison, our “Brothers in Blue” as we know them, and share how they are handling life in prison, particularly during the pandemic. Our students never fail to be inspired to think deeply about their own lives, choices, and consequences.
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Liturgies and Mass Starting with our Founder’s Day Mass and the Senior Baccalaureate Mass for the 2019-20 school year, Campus Ministry discovered early how to pre-record and live stream liturgies so the De La Salle community would not miss a single major liturgical event. Since then, every mass and prayer service of the 2020-21 school year—New Student
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Welcome Mass, Mass of the Holy Spirit, the Sophomore Family Mass, the Opening of the International Lasallian Days of Prayer for Peace, Veterans’ Day Prayer Service, and a beautiful Prayer Service for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe—has been either live streamed or pre-recorded. The popular MMM (Music, Ministry, and Munchies) Thursday has changed to MMM Wednesday so that it could be part of the Flex Day schedule. Prayers and reflections have been pre-recorded, along with announcements for Ministry events and opportunities. Since March of 2020, Father LaSalle, the school chaplain, has been live streaming daily mass on the De La Salle Facebook Live Page (now on YouTube) and quite a congregation has evolved—literally hundreds of people from all
Virtual Morning Mass
over the United States and even internationally join online every day! Father also offers The Sacrament of Reconciliation for students on campus on Tuesdays and Fridays at lunch socially distanced in the courtyard of the Brothers’ Residence. The Campus Ministry faculty and staff definitely look forward to and pray for the day when we can all worship together again. In the meantime, they will do everything possible, with the help of the amazing De La Salle community, to keep the faith alive and growing!
Participants in Ven a Ver San Diego spend several hours contemplating these murals, and many others, in a unique outdoor free public museum located in Chicano Park near downtown San Diego. SPRING 2021 UNION
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Social Justice: Keeping the Conversation Current
oncern for the Poor and Social Justice, one of the tenants of the Five Core Principles of a Lasallian school, continues to be a priority for De La Salle’s Campus Life leadership and the school community as a whole. In support of the school’s Lasallian mission, De La Salle is committed to promoting positive social relations within a diverse group of students and to building a healthy school environment that consists of respectful and culturally sensitive interactions between students and faculty. This past year, De La Salle High School took the opportunity to reflect on and examine the programs offered to its students around the subjects of equality and respect for all. School Administrators and faculty members took time to review the school’s investment applied to educate our students.
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In November of 2020, De La Salle formed a committee representing faculty and staff to review campus activities around diversity, equity, and inclusion. During these initial meetings, the committee cataloged more than 20 programs and activities that take place on campus to engage with students regarding these topics, as well as other important areas that our students encounter on a daily basis. It was discovered that while faculty, staff, and students engage in structured educational programming, there are also numerous casual meetings and anecdotal remedies that take place on a regular basis at the school. And much more needs to be done. To help better promote the topic of diversity and inclusion and encourage more discussion and training on campus, the school will continue to add specific programs that are relevant to the growth of our students and faculty. Leadership programs currently being planned for the next school year include: empowered communications training, specifically designed to identify and manage micro aggressions in communications; Campus Climate and Leadership, where a focus will be on gender equality conversations, and an increased level of coaching and training around masculinity. The school endures to provide education to its students through its SCORE program, its MVP training, which is part of the sophomore Religious Studies curriculum, and continued conversations with Mr. Ashanti Branch. In addition, education on the topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion needs to carry on and evolve to meet the needs of an ever changing society.
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De La Salle Featured in: To Raise A Boy
ournalist Emma Brown, a reporter for the Washington Post, recently released a book titled To Raise A Boy: Classroom, Locker Rooms, Bedrooms, and the Hidden Struggles to American Boyhood. In her research for this book, Mrs. Brown sat down with a number of De La Salle faculty and staff members in April of 2019 to collect information on what the school is doing to educate its students on the topics of respectful masculinity, gender equality, inclusivity, and the difficulties of growing up as a boy in today’s society, as it relates to the #MeToo movement. De La Salle is dedicated to the practice of respect for all persons and creating an inclusive community. Central to this approach is raising our students' awareness of not just treating others with respect, but actively noticing and interrupting disrespect, harassment, and violence directed towards others. Taking courageous leadership to be positive agents of change. To support these ideas, De La Salle annually provides education on these topics through its Student Coalition for Respectful Education (SCORE) program and Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) bystander approach training with Dr. Jackson Katz for all new faculty and staff, and students through our Religious Studies 2 curriculum. Also, De La Salle partners with Mr. Ashanti Branch,
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founder of the Ever Forward and Taking off the Mask programs, to talk with our freshmen students, approximately 260 students, annually. He recently visited the campus to meet virtually and socially-distant with the freshman class on February 3, 2021. In his conversations with students, he discussed that each person has a set of shared human needs—for support, expression, recognition, meaning, and connection. By closing the gap between who we are on the inside and who we show up as in public, we are working with our students, as young men, to create more meaningful connections, healthier communications, and deeper engagement with one another, leading them to be their most authentic selves. All of these topics were discussed with Mrs. Brown during her visit to the De La Salle campus, where she was able to have dialog with various members from the school community. During her visit, Mrs. Brown was able to observe the MVP training for members of the faculty and staff. The results of those conversations and observations from her time on campus are featured in chapter seven of the book. The chapter is titled Why Harry Needs Sally: How All-Boys Schools Are Trying to Stay Relevant. To Raise A Boy: Classroom, Locker Rooms, Bedrooms, and the Hidden Struggles to American Boyhood by Emma Brown is currently available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble retailers.
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Making Lemonade
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De La Salle’s Transition to Hybrid Learning
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hile classrooms in many parts of the country and the world remain shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic, De La Salle and Carondelet High Schools have brought reduced numbers of students together to learn in person, while others join in through their computers on alternating days of the week, since late October 2020. For teachers, that meant “hybrid” classrooms with some students in-person in classrooms while others join the classes online from home. Teachers have learned to perfect skills of keeping students in both places engaged while being mindful of making sure they can see and hear the same materials and be engaged through conversations and lessons. Teachers, with the benefit of a helpful and skilled technology staff on campus, can use multiple computer screens and tablets to project lessons in the classroom and online, and a useful school learning database (Schoology) keeps students up to date on assignments. It may be a lot of work, but faculty and students are happy to have a semblance of the “normal” classroom experience. “It’s made my job much easier because you have some people in the room to interact with,” says Donald Van Bomel, Social Studies teacher, Director of Summer School and Online Programs, and a member of the De La Salle COVID Task Force. “We still have some kids who have not been in class, which is understandable. But it’s made it easier for me to have more interaction.” Students who are able to participate in on-campus learning say they value the interaction as well. “I was extremely happy that De La Salle announced they were going hybrid because I was able to see my friends and teachers again,” says senior JT Baird. “The teachers’ enthusiasm has transferred to the students.” The hybrid program has three groups. Students whose last names end in the letters A-K are on campus two days a week (G1), while those whose last names are from L-Z are on site two other days (G2). Students who learn online full-time make up the third group (G3). The fifth day is a flex day where students can meet with teachers for additional help, work on assignments, or participate in club activities. Van Bomel says that most of his freshmen students are coming to campus, up to the maximum number of 14 allowed in a socially distanced classroom. For younger students who are just starting out in high school, it may be more important to meet their classmates and teachers in person. Melissa Marnell, mathematics teacher and Math Department Chair, says her classrooms also vary in number depending on the kind of class, so fewer are in her Algebra 2 and Algebra/Trigonometry class, while more are in her Calculus class, which also includes girls from Carondelet.
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Out of Lemons:
campus news
Marnell says she has a separate monitor so she can watch students learning from home while still engaging those in the classroom, and a separate tablet that can project lessons to both groups. “It’s like a juggling act,” she says. Keeping up with the technology available is vital, she says, but old-fashioned teaching skills are also important. “You definitely have to call students out. You have to try to be smarter than the kids,” she says with a smile. Van Bomel says he makes sure his students could be called on at any time, remarking, “I look at kids to see if their eyes are wandering.” Having students do short assignments of five to six questions every day also helps, Van Bomel says. He notes that the Schoology system used at De La Salle means that the questions can be in different orders for each student, meaning they can’t easily share information, such as by text messages, to complete answers. For students, being back on campus at least some days of the week has meant being able to do not just academics but also service projects, ministries, and other co-curricular activities. JT, who is on the football team, says he’s been able to be in staggered practices with limited numbers of teammates, although high school football had not yet been permitted by February 2021. “Obviously all of us are disappointed we haven’t been able to play, but coach has taught us to be mature individuals,” JT says, and kept players motivated, just as teachers have kept students motivated. The senior says he was also able to work on the cereal drive for the Monument Crisis Center with senior Luke Anderson via online donations through Luke and his sister’s nonprofit, Para Ti Global. The De La Salle community raised $16,000 in about three weeks and presented a large check to the center in the fall, in place of the 3,000-plus cereal boxes they usually donate. For students, teachers, staff, and administrators at De La Salle, the hybrid learning experience has proven to be a valuable option in a global pandemic, which can be akin to making lemonade out of lemons. Van Bomel says he has pointed out to students that the hybrid model will give them a foundation for their future in college and in workplaces. “I’ve told them the reality is this is probably going to be part of your life moving forward. Let’s be practical about this.” JT, says he feels “super blessed” to have the option to come back to school in person. “The memories I’ve made this year with my friends at practice and in class I’ll never forget,” he says. “I’ll be able to tell my children I was able to go to school during a pandemic.” SPRING 2021 UNION
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campus news
Mark DeMarco…
This is Your De La Salle Life! On September 1, 2020, it was shared with the De La Salle community that President Mark
DeMarco ‘78 will officially retire at the end of the 2020-21 school year. Mark shared his reasoning for this decision with the community, “My father died at 59½ and I turn 60 this month. My dad
worked his entire life and never enjoyed
retirement (he was sick with cancer). In 1999, I
“inherited” Stage 3 colon cancer and to date have survived that scare. I am looking forward to
spending quality time with my family and my mom as she will turn 90 in April.
The average CEO of a company stays for 10 to 12
years. Fourteen years as President, four years as a teacher, and four years as a student is over
one-third of my life spent on Winton Drive—and it
was a good run. It is now time for someone else to take the school to the next level.”
The Board of Trustees formed a Search
Committee, led by Dr. Teri Hurlbut, former Board
Vice Chair and past Carondelet High School
Principal. The Committee retained a highly
recognized and capable search firm to help it with
the process, and the Board was determined to
secure the best possible candidate to ensure the
continued success of De La Salle High School. 14
UNION SPRING 2021
campus news
D
time as president, all Lasallian schools in the District of San e La Salle would be remiss in celebrating the tenure and Francisco-New Orleans were responding to a mandate from tremendous accomplishments of our president, so...Mark De La Salle Institute, their parent organization, that at least five DeMarco—THIS IS YOUR DE LA SALLE LIFE! percent of their student bodies be from families whose income When the Union magazine featured a profile of President does not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level—the Mark DeMarco in the spring of 2008, he was finishing up his first year as president, spending much time hard at work income level that would qualify a student for the Federal envisioning and planning for De La Salle’s future. At the time he Reduced Lunch Program. shared, “We are envisioning many things. We’re a good school With faculty and staff, De La Salle High School established but there’s so much more potential we can do here in terms of the Bishop John S. Cummins Scholarship Program. A service for those kids who are entrusted to our care.” comprehensive effort to ensure that students with severely One particular goal Mark mentioned of priority at the time of limited financial means can experience the educational the spring 2008 article was the importance of managing excellence offered at De La Salle by providing access, financial resources to keep Catholic education affordable. “We are going support, and the tools to succeed was established through this to price ourselves out of the market or it's going to turn into the program. With a committed faculty, challenging academic haves and have nots. De La Salle is not a school for only those program, comprehensive co-curricular offerings, and a dedicated who can afford to attend. Nor is it a place only for those Bishop Cummins Student Support Coordinator, Bishop Cummins needing full financial assistance. We are a community of people Scholars are provided the opportunity and tools to succeed at with varied resources, De La Salle High School and we must take care so “We appreciate all of Mark’s excellent accomplishments, and cherish how and beyond. the middle will not be Thanks to Mark’s work he’s placed our students, the school, our community, and our Lasallian Catholic mission above himself. He leaves the school in a strong financial squeezed out.” with the Bishop Cummins position, with an excellent academic reputation, significant enhancements Over the past 14 Program, it garnished to the school’s facilities, and a legacy of enabling students to become years, Mark has taken attention and the inspiration young men of faith, integrity, and scholarship.” this particular goal to to create the De La Salle Frank Wagner, ‘73 heart as the school Academy, a fifth through - Chair, De La Salle Board of Trustees focused fundraising eighth grade Lasallian efforts to increase support for financial aid, awarding $1.3 milCatholic middle school in the San Miguel model. The De La lion in 2007-08 to now more than $4 million in 2020-21 (an over Salle Academy would provide a transformative, life-changing, 207% increase). In addition, De La Salle’s endowment has and accessible Catholic educational experience for promising increased from $4 million to $26.8 million (a 570% increase) boys from underserved families in the greater Concord area, and thanks to Mark’s work with donors such as the late Kenneth H. assist them with the attrition to De La Salle High School. Hofmann and numerous others who believe in the mission of But tuition support was not the only focus for Mark. The keeping a De La Salle education affordable to as many families school also needed to continue to focus on academics, which as possible. identified a need to enhance facilities to provide the additional Continuing the call to support families in need, during Mark’s space for learning. The Steve ’83 and Kellie Abreu STREAM
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campus news
(Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) Innovation Center came to fruition due to the need for more educational space and the growing demand for focus on science, technology, and engineering. Thanks again to tremendous support from the De La Salle community, the STREAM Center was realized in August of 2015. With the new space, the school could focus efforts on refurbishing classrooms to address another great need—creation of the Learning Center. Both the STREAM Center and Learning Center have helped to revolutionize academics on campus. You can’t say De La Salle without athletics, and having been part of the swim team during his time as a student, and a coach in the 80’s while a part of the faculty—Mark understands a young man’s need to compete. That’s why transformations have been completed to the pool, football field and track, as well as the renovation of the “Old Cafeteria” into the Ladouceur Athletic Performance Center. “Students come to De La Salle for the comprehensive education the school provides: mind, body, and spirit,” shares DeMarco. “With 80 percent of our student population participating in athletic programs or health and wellness courses, we need to rise to the challenge and provide space for these students to practice, compete, and learn.” When Mark taught freshman Religion in the 80s, he would teach: “Your life is God’s gift to you. What you do with your life is your gift to God.” Mark’s faith never waived and it shows in his passion for the expression of faith and faith life throughout campus. De La Salle’s faith life expression was permanently displayed through quotes from Saint John Baptist de La Salle installed throughout campus and the commission “We are grateful for Mark’s leadership and lifelong dedication to De La Salle High School. From his days as a student and throughout the time since he first returned to campus, Mark’s commitment to the De La Salle community has never wavered. I wish him the very best in his retirement from a long career devoted to Catholic education.”
- Brother Donald Johanson, FSC, Visitor of the District of San Francisco New Orleans.
and installation of a new statue of the Founder placed in the aproposly named Brothers Courtyard. All to be permanent reminders of De La Salle High School’s Lasallian Catholic identity and faith life. Because as Mark would share, “while as an educational institution, we will get your sons into a great college, our Mission is to also get our young men into heaven.” On the operational side of the business of a De La Salle education, Mark worked feverishly with the Board of Trustees, Finance Committee, administrators, faculty, and staff to ensure that the school has the needed finances and resources to operate successfully. Full enrollment throughout his 14 years, three times through successful accreditation, continued recruitment and retainment of dedicated faculty and staff members, financial cornerstones established to ensure sustainability, and the constant stewardship of an enormous community of caring and invested parents, alumni, grandparents, and friends of the school who have helped make these successes possible. Looking back to that Spring 2008 Union article…you can see all that has been accomplished thanks to Mark DeMarco’s leadership. Not one to take credit, Mark would say, “De La Salle High School is successful because it is God’s work.” While it is indeed “God’s work,” it is thanks to Mark’s faith and leadership that De La Salle can continue this legacy of success. What a tremendous gift of time, talent, and treasure Mark has left for the students of De La Salle now and in the future. Thank you just doesn’t seem to encompass the wonderful gifts you have shared with the community, Mark. We look forward to the next chapter and wish you a wonderful retirement. Our community hopes you will visit often!
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Top Accomplishments
1. Increasing De La Salle’s Endowment to $28.6M – 570% increase
2. Building and funding the STREAM Innovation Center 3. Established the De La Salle Academy in partnership with Ken Hofmann 4. Creation of the De La Salle Student Learning Center 5. Building the Ladouceur Athletic Performance Center 6. Guidance and formation of the Bishop John S. Cummins Scholarship Program 7. Refurbishment of the De La Salle pool 8. Stellar accreditation during tenure 9. Full enrollment during tenure 10. Financially sound during tenure 11. New school leadership structure 12. Catholic representation on campus
David Holquin
Named Fourth President of De La Salle High School
campus news
O
n Monday, March 1, 2021, De La Salle High School Board of Trustees Chair, Frank Wagner ’73, announced the appointment of David Holquin as the next President of De La Salle High School, effective July 1, 2021. Holquin will take over school leadership from Mark DeMarco ’78, who, after 14 years of outstanding service, announced his retirement at the end of this school year. “I am deeply honored and humbled to serve as the next President of De La Salle High School,” said Holquin. “The De La Salle community stands tall because of many giants. In particular, the exceptional work done by President DeMarco ’78, the President’s Cabinet, and the entire faculty and staff demonstrably benefits the young men entrusted to our care.” Holquin, who will be the fourth President in the school’s 56-year history, comes to De La Salle from another Lasallian school, Napa’s Justin-Siena High School, where he currently serves as President. Holquin has nearly 20 years of experience in school administration. A resident of the East Bay and parishioner at Santa Maria Catholic Church in Orinda, Holquin is a proud product of Lasallian education graduating from Christian Brothers High School, Sacramento and Saint Mary's College of California. Holquin also has a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Administration from the University of Notre Dame and a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. He and his wife Danielle live in San Ramon with their children Jackson (11) and Sloane (7). The Board of Trustees unanimously agreed with the Search Committee’s determination that Holquin would best fit the needs of De La Salle and its community. “This announcement is the culmination of a thoughtful and thorough process that began with the formation of a Presidential Search Committee at the beginning of the current school year,” said Wagner. “The Committee secured the services of an executive search firm to support its efforts, and identified the leadership qualities and characteristics required of the next President.” “The Brothers, Trustees, parents, alumni, benefactors, and students themselves round out a truly special community,” said Holquin. “We have great work ahead of us, and I am excited to begin this work with each of you.” De La Salle High School first opened the doors in September of 1965, and after 29 years using the traditional
Principal arrangement, the school adopted the President/Principal model of administration. In 1994, De La Salle changed its leadership model, and the Board of Trustees unanimously appointed James Tschann, who was the Principal at the time, the school’s first President, starting on July 1, 1994. This change was a response to the growing complexity experienced in leading Lasallian Catholic high schools, and moving to this model was a way to redistribute responsibilities and provide chief administrators with reasonable and sustainable leadership roles position descriptions. The President took on oversight of these areas: financial management, fundraising, marketing, alumni affairs, board relations, legal matters, human resources, public relations, and buildings and grounds. The President continues to provide overall leadership within the school and has a visible presence to its external publics. Tschann held the position of President until 2001, then Bruce Shoop was hired as the second President, serving in the role for six years. DeMarco ’78, who was also a teacher and a coach at De La Salle, was the first alumnus to hold the office of President when he was hired in 2007. “We are confident that David’s selection as President will continue to strengthen De La Salle’s commitment to the education of young men of Faith, Integrity, and Scholarship,” said Wagner. SPRING 2021 UNION
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advancement
De La Salle 2019 - 2020 Fiscal Year
Annual Financial Report
De La Salle High School Annual Report For the School Year Ended June 30, 2020
The 2019-20 school year wrapped up in “unprecedented” fashion, “unprecedented” being the most over used word of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its fallout. Most spring activities on campus were cancelled, and life became remote, with remote learning, remote teaching, remote working, and even our first-ever remote audit. While the majority of tuition was collected for the year by the time the pandemic hit, several families experienced job losses and pay reductions which did decrease year-end tuition collections. Thanks to our benefactors and supporters, we were able to provide enough additional financial aid to retain the students and families who were COVID-19 impacted. Tuition for 2020-21 was not increased for the first time in the School’s history in an effort to help families cope with the tough economic times. Many fundraising activities were cancelled, decreasing fundraising income, and our cafeteria and bookstore were forced to close, reducing those income sources. With all the cancelled co-curricular activities and events, gate revenue and expenses were also way down. De La Salle’s largest expense, compensation, was not significantly impacted by the COVID-19 adaptations in 2019-20. The school made an all-out effort to retain all faculty and staff throughout the Shelter-In-Place, keeping the trained workforce employed and at the ready, not in unemployment limbo. So while 2019-20 looked like no other year before (but a lot like 2020-21 will probably look), here’s how the year ended:
Operating Income (In 000s) $3,477
Instruction $15,067
Net Tuition and Fees Contributions and Net Fundraising Investment Income Other Income Release of Restricted Income
Endowment Fair Market Value
30,000,000
25,000,000
20,000,000
15,000,000
10,000,000
5,000,000
6/ 30
/2 0
/2 0
6/ 30
20
19
18
17
/2 0
6/ 30
6/ 30
6/ 30
/2 0
/2 0
/2 0
16
15
14
/2 0
13
12
/2 0
6/ 30
6/ 30
/2 0
6/ 30
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6/ 30
18
/2 0
11
10
Enrollment remains healthy as a result of the school’s commitment to educate students on campus at allowable, safe levels which takes the full commitment of every administrator, faculty, and staff member. De La Salle will continue to provide a loving place of learning for your sons, and we look forward to your support and partnership in the future.
Instruction Administration Fundraising Transfer to Capital Reserve Transfer to Operating Reserve
/2 0
Net Tuition & Fees $17,101
$565 $600
$825
6/ 30
$556
$1,850
6/ 30
$58
$968
Operating Expenses (In 000s)
advancement
T
De La Salle Fall Fundraising Success he year 2020 was a different environment globally as we all navigated the repercussions of COVID-19. De La Salle and its community were certainly not immune. In spring 2020, the school administration made financial decisions amidst the pandemic to assist our families during these economically challenging times: not increasing tuition for the 2020-2021 school year; providing financial aid relief to families affected by COVID-19 job loss at the end of the 2019-2020 school year, and increasing tuition assistance to $4.2 million for the 2020-2021 school year. As school opened in August 2020, students were welcomed virtually and settled into the school year’s “new normal”. While budgetary preparations were made to navigate the new school year, there were additional bumps along the way. With students learning at home, there was no income from cafeteria sales. With athletics postponed, sponsorship and gate revenues were on hold or potentially lost for the year. With the inability to gather physically as a community, future event fundraising income was also unpredictable. With these challenges, De La Salle was faced with a significant loss of more than $300,000 in operational revenue to support school efforts - tuition assistance, faculty development, and student co-curriculars.
But in fall 2020, the De La Salle community answered the call for support. Through gifts in response to mailings, gifts on De La Salle Giving Day (10.15.20) and Giving Tuesday (12.01.20), parents, alumni, grandparents, faculty, staff, and friends showered the school and students with greatly needed donations. Special thanks to Steve ‘83 and Kellie Abreu and an anonymous donor who made Challenge Grant opportunities available to encourage giving. In total, more than $200,000 was raised this past fall to benefit the students through these efforts. As the county was able to gradually start opening in October, De La Salle transitioned to hybrid learning with students on campus two days a week. This format continued throughout the fall and into the winter months thanks to our thoughtful community of donors, wonderful faculty, administrators, and staff who worked together to make it possible. The need is still very great as De La Salle continues to make the gift of a Catholic, Lasallian education available to the students. Thanks to our community who make investing in the school and our young men a philanthropic priority throughout the year.
Every Gift Is a Major Gift
Every supporter and every gift is crucial to the fulfillment of our mission, and there are many ways to give:
• • • •
•
• • • •
Outright Gifts – gifts of cash are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Pledges – commitments payable over three to five years. Endowed Gifts – a lasting tribute for a specific program or financial aid. Stocks, Securities, Real Property – are tax-deductible based on market value, and donors can avoid capital gains taxes on appreciated property. Matching Gifts – employers will double or even triple an employee’s gift. Check with your employer to see if they provide this benefit for employees. In-Kind Gifts – good or commodities relevant to our educational program. United Way – De La Salle is qualified as a recipient of United Way donations and many workplace giving programs. Bequests – remembering De La Salle in your will or trust creates a lasting legacy. Planned Giving – planned and deferred gifts, through appreciated stock, bonds, real property, bequests, trusts, and insurance, provide mutually beneficial giving opportunities; and can provide significant tax advantages to donors.
Visit www.dlshs.org and click on the Support De La Salle tab for complete information, forms, and secure online giving transactions. Or contact Vice President for Advancement, Mark Chiarucci at (925) 288-8106 or chiaruccim@dlshs.org for more information. De La Salle High School thanks you for your support.
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advancement
H
Legacy Locker Program
onor or memorialize a graduate, family member, teacher, coach, or friend through a named locker in the Ladouceur Athletic Performance Center. De La Salle is excited to share a new naming opportunity in the Ladouceur Athletic Performance Center. The Legacy Locker Program is a great way to leave your legacy at De La Salle. Locker naming opportunities will be displayed within the Team Room in the Ladouceur Athletic Performance Center. Lockers are $500 each and have the ability to be personalized with three lines, 20 characters (spaces and symbols included) per line. This is a limited time offering. Visit www.dlshs.org/legacylocker for more information and reserve your locker today!
Additional naming opportunities are still available for the Ladouceur Athletic Performance Center. For more information or questions, contact Mark Chiarucci at (925) 288-8106 or chiaruccim@dlshs.org.
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De La Salle and Carondelet Summer Reunions
alumni news
The De La Salle Alumni Office was hoping for a busy summer of reunions this year, but due to the pandemic, we are pushing back all reunions for class years ending in 0, 1, 5, and 6. Reunion dates for these classes will be announced at a later time. To keep informed, be sure to check out alumni email communications, your reunion class Facebook groups, and the De La Salle Alumni website for further updates. Hopefully, as things begin to open up, these classes will have the opportunity to gather again and celebrate like its 2019! See you all soon, when it is safe to come together as fellow Spartans and Cougars once again.
Below are a few photos from five years ago as well as a few photos from a few of the Zoom gatherings that we held this past fall and winter.
CLASS 1970
CLASS 1976
CLASS 1980
CLASS 1986
CLASS 1990
CLASS 1996 SPRING 2021 UNION
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alumni news
CLASS 2005 The Alumni Office is looking forward to planning the 50-year Golden Reunions for the classes of 1970 and 1971, and look forward to reconnecting these alumni once again at De La Salle and Carondelet.
Save the Date
50-Year Golden Reunions for the Classes of 1970 and 1971 Saturday, October 9, 2021 • Renaissance Walnut Creek Hotel
De La Salle Alumni are needed to help plan this year's events, to make it your best reunion yet. If you are interested in being part of reunion planning, please contact Director of Alumni Relations, Lloyd Schine ‘94 at 925-288-8171 or schineL@dlshs.org. For more information about all De La Salle reunions, visit our reunion web page at www.DLSHS.org/reunions.
In Memoriam
May they rest in peace…with God forever. Mark Halvorson (March 10, 1963 - February 15, 2021)
De La Salle High School was saddened by the passing of long-time wrestling head coach Mark Halvorson, who died of a heart attack at the age of 57. Mark was hired by then Athletic Director Terry Eidson in 1999, and coached the varsity wrestling team at De La Salle for 22 years. He led the Spartans to 11 North Coast Section championships, while sending nearly 100 student-athletes to state meets, claiming 23 medals and two individual championships. Mark also coached for Team USA Wrestling, where he was a volunteer coach for the 2016 Summer Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro. Mark’s care for others, unselfishness, work-ethic, passion for his sport, and life lessons he taught the student-athletes will make him unforgettable on the De La Salle campus. My he rest in peace.
Carlos Amaya father of Carlos Amaya '06 and uncle of Michael McKay '94 Ron Dallimonti father of Ramey Dallimonti '07, former De La Salle Parent’s Association member and former Carondelet faculty member and administrator Patrick Falconer '18 Mark Halvorson De La Salle wrestling coach
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Robert Kearney father of Joseph Kearney '74 William E. Manning father of John Manning '89 Thomas J. McGoldrick '71 Damian Paonesa father of Sampson Paonesa '20 and Vincent Paonesa '22 Nancy Pittman mother of James Pittman ’81
Conrad Pringle father of Andrew Pringle '22 Dennis Renaghan ’69 uncle of Mychal John Dolan ‘21 Herbert Sanguinetti father of Matthew Sanguinetti '87 and Paul Sanguinetti '83 Daniel M. Williams '00
alumni news
Staying in Touch: What’s Happening Alumni
Sean Clarke ’91: Sean is a Controls Lead Technician at Sunbelt Controls. Sean has an FCC General Class License, and has spent over 10 years installing, servicing, and repairing HVAC/R equipment in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. He is also a member of UA HVAC/R Pipefitter Local 342.
Mike Mitchell ’75: Mike, the founder of Project Play Soccer (www.projectplaysoccer.org), is starting the organization’s next project in the Bay Area at the San Gregorio Gardens in San Gregorio, Calif. The objective is to combine teaching kids how to grow food so they can play. Project Play Soccer is about to build a NEW soccer field in San Gregorio (see photo). If you would like to help, please get a hold of Mike at mike@projectplaysoccer.org
Michael Maxfield ’78: Michael attended Saint Mary’s College after De La Salle and graduated with a degree in Mass Communications in 1982. He currently works at Tech Data in Indiana as a Senior LC Associate. He is also the owner of “Creations by Michael Maxfield” which focuses on design and construction of yard, garden, and home decor, including photo-plaques featuring original photography.
Gregory Genovese ’82: Greg graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1987 with a degree in Economics. He is the Founder and CEO of USG Realty Capital, a full service real estate securities sponsor specializing in Opportunity Zone Funds, 1031 Exchange Programs, and Non-Traded REIT offerings.
Todd DeVincenzi ’84: Todd graduated from CSU, Sacramento with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing in 1988. He is currently the President of Global Operations for Inglenook Winery in St. Helena, Calif. In the summer of 2020, Todd married Teresa Schaub (Carondelet, Class of '85) who he has known since first grade. They have six kids between them and they are enjoying a full life together.
Marco Anderson ’92: Marco has a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies and Film History from UC Berkeley and a master’s in Planning, Policy, and Design from UC Irvine. Marco is a program manager with the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and a contributor to The Car in 2035: Mobility Planning for the Near Future. He currently works in the Sustainability Department integrating land use and transportation policy. Marco is the program manager for the SCAG Electric Vehicle Programmer, and the Sustainability Planning Grant Program.
Lou Rigney ’93: Lou earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications and a minor in Economics from San Francisco State University in 2013. He recently founded and is the President of EPI Strategic Inc., which is a boutique recruiting placement firm.
Andrew Desmond ’03: After De La Salle, Andrew attended Butte Fire Academy and now works as a Fire Engineer at Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. Andrew is also a state licensed real estate agent and a licensed realtor serving the East Bay. He has been married for three years to Leah Dimas and they recently moved back to the East Bay to start a family.
Steven Bong ’05: After graduating from De La Salle, Steven attended UC Berkeley and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Statistics in 2012. Steven is the founder at AuditFile, a secure, cloud-based audit solution that helps CPA firms perform dramatically more efficient and profitable engagements. Steven’s daughter Phoebe was born in 2020.
Ethan Niedermeyer ’06: Ethan recently joined the Swanson Law Group as an attorney, where he will help the firm open their Walnut Creek, Calif. office. Before that, Ethan was Assistant District Attorney at the San Francisco District Attorney's Office where he completed 23 jury trials. He is also the proud uncle of two beautiful nieces - Bridget and Maeve.
Matthew Cavallero ’13: Matthew earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2018. He currently works for the Santa Clara Valley Water District as an Electrical Engineer.
Nicholas Chua ’18: Nicholas is attending the University of California, San Diego at the Jacobs School of Engineering, working on a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. He expects to finish his degree in 2022.
What’s Happening? Send your news and photos to Lloyd Schine III ’94, Director of Alumni Relations, at SchineL@dlshs.org. — Log on at www.dlshs.org/alumni.
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alumni news
Spartan First Responders
The past year, COVID-19 has changed the way of life for millions of Americans and people throughout the world. A Global Pandemic with this type of far reaching effects has not been experienced since the 1918 pandemic. Front line first responders, data specialists, and lab technicians are doing everything that they can to help save lives. Below are stories and reflections from a few Spartans who have been on the front lines making a difference during these challenging times. Thank you to our featured alumni and to all of our Spartan First Responders for your service to our community.
James Van Wyck ’11: I have been blessed with the opportunity to be hired as a probationary firefighter/paramedic with El Cerrito Fire Department. In these unprecedented times, my role as a first responder has been demanding and stressful, but ultimately centered around providing care to people in our community and keeping everyone safe. We all work as a team; police departments, fire departments, ambulance agencies, and neighboring hospitals in ensuring patients continue to receive the best care possible, to limit the spread, so everyone goes home safely. My time at De La Salle had guided me into entering this career path. I am thankful for the brotherhood that I experienced then, and I am continuing to experience now.
Michael Hurlbut ’98: In 2015, I returned to California and began working for the Pleasant Hill Police Department, where I am now a Patrol Corporal, but also held roles as a Field Training Officer, Force Options Instructor, Active Shooter Instructor, and Driving Instructor. Work has been very different during the pandemic. We went from doing normal police work in February of 2020, to only responding to in-progress crimes just a month later. Most incidents were handled by phone, as our interaction with the public went down to almost nothing. Masks have obviously become a normal precaution, but we have to be careful about our contact with people and where and how long those contacts are for. As of February 2021, our department is back to providing full services to the Pleasant Hill community, but we still encourage officers to limit interaction with the public in close quarters—if a phone call will suffice to handle the incident. The most important piece of De La Salle that still holds true for me after 13 years in this job is the idea of service to others. There is no better feeling in this job than responding to someone's call for help and being able to provide them with a solution or resource that improves their situation. Working together as a team for a greater good was a fundamental principle at De La Salle and it is one that has carried on for me in this line of work.
Cory Blumberg ’93: In 2014, I figured out my true calling, law enforcement, and was hired by the Antioch Police Department in January 2015. During the time of COVID-19, nothing has really changed as a department operationally, other than the obvious masks and more attention to Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). However, interactions with the public has been a big change. In these trying times there needs to be a bit more empathy and compassion because everyone is struggling or hurting. I am fortunate to work in a recession/pandemic proof industry, but most people are not as fortunate, and are having a difficult time. Going that little extra makes all the world of difference in somebody’s day or life. I truly believe this current state isn’t our “new normal” but rather we have to be
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allowed to get back to normal. De La Salle provided me with the faith that if you just trust in God, you can find the strength to persevere through the toughest of times. Now more than ever we all need that faith.
Nicholas Cochran ’11: At the San Jose Fire Department, I am the Program Manager for the Air Operations Division within the Bureau of Operational Support. In this changing climate of COVID-19, our department has faced larger concerns with our use of medical oxygen for medical aid, 911 calls, as well as how our air equipment, face masks, and overall PPE is best suited to protect our members and the public. The city of San Jose has taken a strong stance in social distancing and mask protocols in trying to keep people safe. With almost 97,000 emergency response calls per year, the San Jose Fire Department is very active. We have seen surges of COVID-19 in our department, sometimes with 100 firefighters held off duty due to potential exposure. We have been successful in aiding our training groups as well as safely maintaining our recent 2020 fire recruit academy of 25 new firefighters at the start of the pandemic. As an athlete at De La Salle, the foundation of working hard for the life we have has always been inside me. The foundation De La Salle provided me to take diligence in my education and to be determined to seek a goal oriented lifestyle had helped me to get to this point in my life. Once a Spartan, always a Spartan.
Julian Homberger ’09: I lead the data science team at Color, a health technology and diagnostics company that provides SARS-CoV-2 testing services and software, while working with a number of public health departments, employers, and universities. My work around the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is more behind the scenes than on the front lines, but it's still critically important. Time and time again, we’ve seen the failures in healthcare infrastructure, logistics, and coordination during the pandemic, that have hampered our ability to respond to the public health emergency. We had difficulty coordinating increased testing at the beginning of the pandemic, and now, again, we are seeing major difficulties in rolling out vaccinations. We are responsible for a lot of mission critical data transfers—and as anybody who has worked with computers knows will happen—we've had our share of late nights and emergencies in terms of debugging and fixing issues. At the end of the day it is very fulfilling to see the impact we have had on a huge number of people by being able to provide testing for this deadly disease. This year we've all been called to make serious sacrifices to protect the most vulnerable in our communities. I think that is at the heart of what De La Salle and a Lasallian education teaches each of us to do. I think what helps me to balance the work is my hope that this is one of the moments that I can look back on in my life and really know that this was a moment that I stepped up, that we all stepped up, and worked harder and made personal sacrifices in order to protect others. I just pray every day for the strength to continue stepping up to the plate and to remember that serving is sometimes, well, hard. The core faith and call to service is so important when working in such desperate times. It's extraordinary times, but it is heartening to see so many people working so hard to make things better.
alumni news
2021 De La Salle Distinguished Alumnus of the Year: Rick Freeman, Class of 1986
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he De La Salle Alumni Association and the entire De La Salle community is proud to honor Rick Freeman ’86 as the 2021 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. Rick’s parents were big believers in Catholic education, so when their five children were of age, there was no question where they would go to high school. Their two sons, Rick and Dan, attended De La Salle and their three daughters, Molly, Michelle, and Lisa, attended Carondelet. Rick married Tammy Anderson Freeman (Carondelet, Class of ’86), and all five of their children Maria, Luke ’18, Julia, Michael ’22, and Catherine attended either De La Salle or Carondelet, because they believe so strongly in the value of the education and experience, both academically and spiritually. Looking back on his days at De La Salle, Rick had a number of influential teachers who impacted his high school education. Like Mrs. Anne Koch, his English Literature teacher, who required a high volume of quality work, taught him to think critically, and read rapidly while improving his understanding of the material. There was Larry Dean, Rick’s “nutty professor” Physics teacher, who was interesting and engaging, and would
read passages from Robert Frost before every exam, just to get students in the proper mindset. Charlie “Chaz” Nolan, who taught World Religions, was so excited and invested in what he was teaching, that it was hard not to be engaged and love the class. And Rick credits Mark “Snake” McKinnon ’69, who taught his English class “Tough Guys and Mean Streets” and started each class with a trivia competition, for his love for reading, specially hard-boiled detective novels. Four years playing football and baseball at De La Salle were also impactful for Rick and taught him so much about himself, challenged him, taught him to face fears, make goals, and work harder than he ever thought he could. Hard work, determination, Brotherhood, teamwork, accountability, and sacrifice, he witnessed and learned every day from his teammates, coaches, and everyone involved with the programs. To be a part of something bigger than himself, to sacrifice and never give up, were things invaluable to him.
After Rick graduated from Occidental College, he made a list of attributes that he wanted for his ideal career. These included: to be part of a team, challenging, exciting, personal interaction, community oriented, service to others, mentally and physically challenging; basically doing something good and positive that he could be proud of, and to be “hands on” mostly outside of an office, and a cool uniform was a bonus! He also loved the excitement of not knowing what each shift would bring. The fire service checked every box. Rick was hired as a Firefighter/EMT at Daly City Fire Department in 1995 and became a California licensed firefighter/paramedic in 1999. After leaving Daly City Fire, Rick was hired by the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, and in 2009, he was promoted to Fire Captain/Paramedic. Currently, he is the Fire Captain/Paramedic in downtown Concord at Station 6, where he is fortunate to have two other Spartans working with him, Andrew Desmond ‘03 and Brian George ‘07. SPRING 2021 UNION
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alumni news
During this time of COVID-19, Rick feels very fortunate and humbled that his job is considered “essential”, and there’s a renewed emphasis on making sure that first responders stay as healthy as possible. As a supervisor, it's his responsibility to make sure all the safeguards are in place and adhered to by their crew. This past fire season was extremely busy, there was an increasing number of individuals who are unsheltered, and of course COVID-19 response. He takes pride in helping others in his community, often on their worst day, and credits De La Salle for preparing him well for the challenges of his profession. Rick stays in contact with a number of close De La Salle classmates and friends, and remains best friends with a number of Spartans he met in the fall of 1982. Rick is who he is because of these men; who epitomize what it is to be a Spartan. Their kids have all grown up together and some are even best friends and classmates at De La Salle today. It helps to have so many great Spartan role models for his kids. Rick is a former De La Salle Alumni Board member, and he helped coordinate the “Every 15 Minutes” program at
De La Salle. He loves to attend the De La Salle Crab Feed and Auction, and other school fundraisers with family and friends, while Tammy sponsors golf tournaments and fundraisers through her company every chance she gets. Rick would tell younger alumni exactly what he tells his own sons, Luke and Michael, “Stay close with your friends. Make an effort to stay involved—you get back more than you give. Go to De La Salle sponsored events and support the Spartans at athletic events and games. Put a foursome together and play in the annual Brother Maris Alumni Golf Tournament. Attend fundraising events when you can. Give where you can and be generous with your time. Time is our most precious commodity and sharing your time means a lot. You never know how your act of involvement will inspire someone else. Typically, there is no perfect time to give back, so do it when you can, but start now. You will not regret it.”
Brother Maris Is June 21, 2021: Come Join the Fun
The 36th Annual Brother Maris Golf Tournament raised funds in support of De La Salle student financial aid last year. Special thanks to Anthony Viscia ’90 and Pacific Funding Group for their title sponsorship and numerous years of support, making the event a success. The 37th Annual Brother Maris Golf Tournament, hosted by the De La Salle Alumni Association, will take place on Monday, June 21, 2021 at the Round Hill Country Club in Alamo. This event honors Brother Maris Spillane, FSC, a teacher and golf coach in De La Salle’s early years. Gather a foursome of your De La Salle brothers and join us in helping raise funds to support our Spartans of the future. For information or if you are interested in getting involved or sponsoring, please call Lloyd Schine ’94 at 925-288-8171 or email schineL@dlshs.org.
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Bob Ladouceur Retires from Teaching
ust eight years ago, Robert (Bob) Ladouceur stepped down as the head football coach at De La Salle High School. In January of 2021, at the age of 66 and 42 years after beginning his employment at the school, Bob made the decision to retire from teaching, effective immediately, ending his long-standing employment at the school. In 1979, a young man in his mid-20s joined the De La Salle faculty as a Religion teacher and head football coach. That man, Bob Ladouceur, soon set about his work of leading and guiding young men both in the classroom and on the football field. What he did over the last 41-plus years is nothing short of incredible. “The Brothers of the Christian Schools hired me at the age of 24 to be a teacher and coach at a school grounded in the philosophy and tradition of Saint John Baptist de La Salle,” said Ladouceur. “The most important aspect of that tradition is the understanding that every student must take personal responsibility for building community—both inside and outside the school.” That position guided Bob in his teachings every day at De La Salle. When asked to share his thoughts about Bob’s retirement from teaching, President Mark DeMarco ’78 said, “We congratulate Bob on his well-deserved retirement after 41-plus years of service to the Mission of De La Salle High School! Bob has made numerous contributions to the school and really put the school on the map, in terms of what we do and how we do it. He has touched the hearts and minds of many students and employees during his tenure.” Through his role as a teacher in the Religious Studies Department, and later as a Physical Education teacher, Bob has impacted more than 9,000 young men over his time on Winton Drive. “We at the school, and others as well, are amazed at how he has taught, even inspired, young men to learn about the rhythms that make for a successful life, a life of meaning, and a life of service,” said former Principal Brother Robert Wickman, F.S.C. “Bob guided our Spartans to see how greatness comes when people care for each other, when they express commitment to each other over the long haul, when they do the hard work necessary, and when they shy away from the shortcut route that can be so tempting.” Bob has lived a life that witnesses to the idea that Lasallian educators commit themselves to working with young people through the ups and downs of the teenage years. Vice President for Academic Life, Dr. Heather Alumbaugh has come to admire the teaching of Bob as well, “I have had the great honor of knowing
spartan sports
Bob for over two decades: first as a mentor and coach to my brothers and then as a colleague and a friend. He is a leader who exudes both determination and a fierce wisdom that are born out of his commitment to the Gospels, his own compassion, and his openness to being a life-long learner.” “Einstein said it best. There was only one thing he knew for certain—and that was that man is basically here for the sake of other men,” said Bob. “Our students are perfect role models for integrity, hard work, and a complete dedication to the development of the total person.” It would be hard to leave out the many accomplishments from Bob’s time as the football coach. In his 34 seasons (1979-2013) as the De La Salle head football coach he had a record of 399-25-3, with 29 North Coast Section championships and several national and state titles. He helped bring national recognition of the De La Salle program, while leading the Spartans to the national winning-streak record of 151 games from 1993-2004. Amidst all of challenges that COVID-19 has brought on to celebrate anything in person, thankfully in October of 2019 so many family and friends were able to attend and honor Bob’s lasting impact at De La Salle in person, at the Ladouceur Athletic Performance Center unveiling and celebration. For those that have not been able to visit the new facility in person, we share the dedication inscription for the facility: In honor of Robert Ladouceur. For his dedication to the Lasallian Mission, and the impression he has had on the students entrusted to his care. His success can be measured not only on the scoreboard, but how he has taught and inspired young men to learn the true meaning of teamwork. His impact will be felt for years to come. Forever a Spartan! Teacher, coach, father, husband, mentor, friend, and colleague are just a few words that describe Robert Eugene Ladouceur. With his retirement from teaching, his daily presence on the De La Salle campus will be missed, but the impression he leaves behind for the students, faculty, and staff of the school are immeasurable. Bob’s message always: Love is the engine that cuts through life’s noises and obstacles; faith in a loving God who has made us in His image causes us to look at others as brothers and sisters; commitment is the glue that holds us together in good times and bad. SPRING 2021 UNION
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spartan sports
Athletic Competitions Return - February 2021
When California imposed the initial Shelter-in-Place order on March 10, 2020, it ended high school sports competitions for nearly a year.
Five of De La Salle’s 13 varsity sports got the green light to return to competition on January 29, 2021, when the state of California lifted the COVID-19 stay at home order and shifted back to the Blueprint for a Safe Economy colored tier system. With Contra Costa Country in the Purple Tier, that gave De La Salle sports programs of cross country, golf, swimming and diving, tennis, and track and field the opportunity to resume competitions, effective immediately.
De La Salle’s last competition of the 2019-20 school year was a baseball game against Jesuit High School on March 12th. It took 338 days for competitions to return for Spartan Athletics, when the cross country team competed against, ironically, Jesuit High School in a dual meet on Saturday, February 13, 2021.
Golf began on February 22nd against Amador Valley, swimming and diving got underway on February 26th with a tri-meet against Monte Vista and San Ramon Valley, tennis started on February 25th at San Ramon Valley, and track and field resumed in late March.
A few weeks after the initial five sports were able to resume competitions, the state announced on Friday, February 19 that outdoor sports could resume competitions on February 26th. That announcement gave way for De La Salle’s sports of baseball, football, lacrosse, soccer, and water polo to begin playing competitive schedules, allowing 10 of the school’s 13 programs to resume full activities.
The De La Salle football team took the field for the first time on March 6th with a scrimmage against Las Lomas. On March 13th, the Spartans played their first official game since December 14, 2019, when they hosted St. Mary’s of Stockton. Baseball returned to the diamond for the first time on March 17th when they hosted Franklin High School. Lacrosse, soccer, and water polo are set to begin playing later in the spring.
For the indoor sports of basketball, volleyball, and wrestling, they received the news they were hoping for on March 4th, when all youth and high school sports in California were granted the same opportunity to operate under the reopening threshold used for high-contact outdoor sports. At the time of this article, schedules for De La Salle basketball, volleyball, and wrestling were being worked on but not finalized.
As of the writing of this article, the California Interscholastic Federation has cancelled all Regional (NCS) and California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Championship events for the 2020-21 school year. You can follow De La Salle athletics on the web at www.DLSSpartans.org or through the DLS Spartans app, which is available through both the Apple Store and Google Play. You can also follow De La Salle sports on Twitter and Instagram at DLSAthletics. De La Salle’s broadcast team will be broadcasting home competitions on DelasalleTV.com through the school’s partnership with CBSSports Digital. Tune in and watch our Spartans from the comfort of your home!
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1130 Winton Drive Concord, California 94518
DE LA SALLE HIGH SCHOOL
DAT ES TO REMEMB ER Sunday, April 18 Saturday, May 1
Dads and Grads
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2021
De La Salle Auction “Building Community”
Friday, May 21
Baccalaureate Mass and Reception
Monday, June 21
Brother Maris Golf Tournament
Sunday, May 23
Wednesday, August 11
Graduation, Class of 2021
Virtual
De La Salle Campus De La Salle Campus
Round Hill Country Club
First Day of Classes for 2021-22
De La Salle Campus
50-Year Golden Reunion, Classes of 1970 & 1971
Renaissance Walnut Creek Hotel
Thursday, September 16
Taste of De La Salle
Sunday, November 7
Open House for Prospective Students
Saturday, October 9
De La Salle Campus
De La Salle Campus De La Salle Campus
2021