• T H E J E S U I T H I G H S C H O O L IN TH E N ATIO N ’S C A P ITA L •
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magazine
GONZAGA
The Gonzaga Mothers Club hosted the 41st Annual Gonzaga Gala on Saturday, December 4. Turn to page 8 to see more photos from the evening.
Gonzaga College High School is a Roman Catholic, private, independent, college-preparatory school for young men, sponsored by the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic Order, and governed by an independent board of Trustees. PRESIDENT Rev. Joseph E. Lingan, S.J. ’75
CHAIR OF THE GONZAGA BOARD OF TRUSTEES Michael P. Tierney ’70
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Stephen M. Neill ’89 VICE PRESIDENT FOR MAJOR & PLANNED GIFTS Daniel P. Costello ’72
HEADMASTER Thomas K. Every II
VICE PRESIDENT OF ALUMNI & ADVANCEMENT David Dugan ’98 DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS Byron T. Harper ’84
Gonzaga Magazine, the official magazine of Gonzaga College High School, is published by the Gonzaga Office of Marketing and Communications. EDITOR Mary Clare Glover DESIGNER Brea Neri CONTRIBUTORS Byron Harper ’84 Conrad Singh ’00 Renee Spencer
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PHOTOGRAPHY Shelly Farace Jessica Taglieri Matthew Taglieri ’04
Please send comments, suggestions, corrections, and changes of address to info@Gonzaga.org.
IN THIS ISSUE
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FEATURES
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A Weekend to Remember
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Welcome Father Lingan, S.J. ’75!
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Happy Birthday, Gonzaga!
Graduation weekend is always a busy and joyful one on Eye Street. This year, all the emotion and excitement were doubled as Gonzaga hosted back-to-back commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2020 on Saturday, June 5 and the Class of 2021 on Sunday, June 6.
Gonzaga’s 37th President talks about his time at Gonzaga as a student, teacher, interim president, and now president. Plus — his hopes and prayers for Gonzaga’s future.
This year, 2021, is a momentous one in the history of Gonzaga, as it marks our 200th anniversary of offering young men in the Washington area an unrivaled Jesuit education. This fall, students, alumni, current and past parents, and friends joined us in a variety of ways to celebrate our Bicentennial.
DEPARTMENTS
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Message From the President
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The Good News from 19 Eye Street
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Eye on Eye Street
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Reunions
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News Of
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May They Rest in Peace
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Members of the Gonzaga Community, As most, if not all of you, know, I returned to Eye Street this past summer, and as the pages of this magazine can attest, it has been a wonderful, exciting, and event-filled return to a school I deeply appreciate, and dare I say, love. Beginning with two Commencement Exercises in June — which I attended as a guest — and continuing through the start of this 2021-2022 academic school year, several reunions, the resumption of full athletic competition, dramatic performances, concerts, and so much more, it has been a joy to see and experience Eye Street come back to life so fully after all the challenges of 2020. Please, page through this magazine and read about the many good and graced happenings here on Eye Street. As you enjoy the recaps and photos of all of these full-on goings-on, I encourage you to take a moment to recognize that there is so much here at Gonzaga for which to be grateful. For example, the “Happy Birthday Gonzaga!” article beginning on page 26 reminds us how fortunate we are to be celebrating this year 200 years of Jesuit education in our nation’s capital. What a milestone! And what a privilege and honor it is to mark this historic anniversary with you — and to look ahead with you to our next 200 years. In addition, I am equally grateful for the seemingly smaller moments and accomplishments highlighted in these pages, as well as others not mentioned here. I am grateful to the Gonzaga Fathers Club for starting a new tradition called the National Day of Service (page 5) which reinforces our school’s mission and brings our community together. I am grateful to the many alumni who made possible our Echo Ever Proudly Podcast (page 10) — an idea that grew out of conversations with alumni and relied on their time and talent to bring it to life. I am grateful to our 2021 Teachers of the Year (page 9) — Mr. Brendan Hartnett ’97 and Mr. Ciaran Freeman — for their dedication to our students and commitment to excellence in the classroom. Further, I am grateful to our tremendously spirited student body and creative faculty and staff, who make traditions like GonzagaFest (page 16) possible. Finally, and most sincerely, I am grateful to all of you — our many friends, benefactors and supporters — for all the ways you contribute to and strengthen our community on Eye Street. Thank you for your continued support of Gonzaga, our mission, and the young men who currently walk our halls. Please know that I, and members of the Gonzaga Jesuit Community, gratefully remember you, your families, and intentions in our prayers and Masses. May God bless you and through you, may God continue to bless our beloved Gonzaga College High School. Sincerely, with every best wish,
Rev. Joseph E. Lingan, S.J. ’75 President
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THE GOOD NEWS FROM 19 EYE STREET
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National Day of Service March 20, 2021 This past spring, the Gonzaga Fathers Club organized the inaugural Gonzaga National Day of Service. “By all accounts it was a great day of service both locally and nationally that helped connect the Gonzaga community with their local communities and model our ‘Men for Others’ mantra,” said 2020-2021 GFC President Grant Palmer. “Our hope is for this effort to become an annual event for the Gonzaga community moving forward.” The 2022 event is scheduled for Saturday, March 19 — please visit Gonzaga.org/DayofService for more information.
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1. The Gonzaga family — including alumni, parents, students and friends — identified, organized, and mobilized across the country to lead 27 service projects in support of their local communities. Pictured here is a group of Gonzaga students outside Second Story, a non-profit which provides housing, counseling, and life skills support for young people in Virginia. 2. Volunteers outside the Pope Francis Outreach Center at Assumption Catholic Church in southeast DC. In addition to projects in the Washington metropolitan area, Gonzaga alumni and friends also organized service work in New York City, Los Angeles, Columbus, Charlotte, and Panama City. 3. Volunteers led a clothing drive for the Father McKenna Center, which is located in the basement of St. Al’s. 4,5. Projects included beautification and clean-up of parks, churches, and schools.
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THE GOOD NEWS FROM 19 EYE STREET
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Carmody Lynn Open September 17, 2021 Every fall for more than 35 years, the Gonzaga community has come together for the Carmody Lynn Open, a golf tournament that raises funds for Gonzaga students who do not have a father in their lives. Played in honor of Kevin Carmody ’62 and Michael Lynn ’94, this year’s tournament was dedicated in loving memory of loyal alumnus and supporter John Carmody ’54 — Kevin’s brother — who passed away in July 2021.
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1. From left to right: longtime tournament organizers, supporters, and volunteers Michael Murray ’62, Jane Tuck (P ’98, ’99 & ’03), and Louis Goffredi ’62. 2. From left to right: J.P. Matan ’88, Father Lingan ’75, Erica Lynn, Brian Henneberry ’88, Billy McMurtrie ’88, and Mike Scanlon ’88. 3. This year’s tournament was played at P.B. Dye and Worthington Manor Golf Clubs, where the rain held off for a great day of golf. 4. Play was followed by an awards ceremony and dinner at Worthington Manor. 5. Gonzaga offers a special thank you to all of the generous sponsors who supported this year’s tournament, including United Bank, Donatelli Development, Fulcrum Public Affairs, McCullough Construction, Collins Funeral Home, Greenway Funding Group, Beltway Cleaning Services, and the Matan family. Thank you to all who joined and supported us!
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G Fest September 25, 2021 After missing last year’s G Fest due to the pandemic, Gonzaga friends and alumni were thrilled to return this fall to Old Angler’s Inn in Potomac to celebrate the life and legacy of Geordan Harris ’03. After Geordan’s death in 2013, his family, friends, and colleagues established the Geordan G. Harris ’03 Endowed Scholarship Fund at Gonzaga to honor his spirit and passion. The G Fest raises money for the scholarship fund in Geordan’s name, which provides tuition assistance and a paid summer internship to a rising senior who exhibits strong leadership and motivation.
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1. The weather was perfect for a gathering on the outdoor patio at Old Angler’s Inn. 2. The Harris family from left to right: Hans Harris, Amanda Harris, Heather Harris, Bob Harris ’69, Kristelle (Harris) Kambanis, and George Kambanis. 3, 4. The evening included cocktails and a silent auction. 5. David Dugan ’98, Gonzaga’s Vice President of Alumni and Advancement (left), chats with guests on the patio.
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THE GOOD NEWS FROM 19 EYE STREET
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41st Annual GMC Christmas Gala December 4, 2021 After a virtual gala in 2020, the theme for this year’s event was “A Roaring Return” with Eye Street decked out as a 1920s Christmas party. The evening — which included silent and live auctions, a seated dinner, and a live band — was a wonderful success. “I am so grateful to the Gonzaga Mothers Club for the many, many hours that went into planning and executing this year’s gala,” says Gonzaga President Father Lingan. “The decorations were beautiful, the food delicious, and the auction a great blessing to Eye Street. It was the perfect way to kick off the Christmas season.”
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1. Father Lingan with GMC President Hazel Lychak (far left) and Gala co-chairs (from left to right) Jeanette Staton, Jennifer Winters, and Colleen Schrier. 2. An army of volunteers descended on Eye Street the day before the Gala to transform Eye Street for the event. 3. Before dinner began, guests enjoyed bidding on hundreds of silent auction items. 4. Guests enjoying the gala. 5. Professional artist and current Gonzaga mom Susan O’Neill created several 1920s inspired paintings for the evening, two of which served as the backdrop for the stage.
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SCHOOL NEWS
Head of the Class
Each year, Gonzaga’s faculty select two peers to honor as Veteran and Novice Teacher of the Year. The awards recognize teachers from each Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Washington who embrace teaching as a ministry and demonstrate respect for the Catholic identity and the charism of their school. Congratulations to this year’s awardees, Religion Teacher Mr. Brendan Hartnett ’97 (veteran) and Art Teacher Mr. Ciaran Freeman (novice). Gonzaga is grateful to both of these wonderful teachers for their dedication and devotion! Brendan Hartnett, Class of 1997, has been working at Gonzaga since 2002. Brendan began in the Campus Ministry office overseeing retreats and service before transitioning to teach full-time in the religion department, where he has served as chair for the past three years. In his Ethics classes, Brendan takes care to make sure that all students in his charge are able to wrestle with weighty topics and come to understand Catholic moral concepts, such as human dignity, freedom, grace, conscience, the moral act, Catholic doctrine and natural law, and investigate the interplay between grace and freedom in the moral journey of saints/heroic figures. He tackles tough issues in a way that engages teenage boys in their own moral journey and in doing so helps form men for and with others, a hallmark of Jesuit education. Ciaran Freeman arrived at Gonzaga in the fall of 2019 as a Fine Arts teacher. Since then, he has immersed himself in the life of the school. Ciaran moderates the Yearbook, The Aetonian, regularly serves on retreat and service teams, and teaches Gonzaga’s Broadcast Journalism Course, WZAG. If you are a reader of America Media, online or in print, you may recognize Ciaran’s name, as he is a frequent contributor and commentator on Catholic art and culture. Ciaran strives to inspire his students daily to see the beauty of God’s creation all around them and in so doing to create beautiful and evocative art. He has a knack for designing projects that engage teenage boys and elicit expression and ingenuity.
Another Victory for the Eagles On Monday, August 30, the Archdiocese of Washington celebrated its annual Opening of Schools Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. His eminence Wilton Cardinal Gregory presided, and during the Mass any schools that are celebrating milestone anniversaries this year were given a papal blessing signed by Pope Francis. Pictured here is Father Lingan with Fr. James Day, the president of DeMatha, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. “I jokingly said to him, ‘We’re 200 and you’re 75 — Gonzaga beats DeMatha again!’” said Father Lingan, adding that this was the first time the two presidents had met. “He was a great sport, and we had a good laugh.”
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THE GOOD NEWS FROM 19 EYE STREET
The Echo Ever Proudly Podcast
by t h e n um bers
In September as part of its Bicentennial celebration, Gonzaga launched the Echo Ever Proudly Podcast, exploring the heroes and history of Eye Street. Hosted by former WMZQ morning host Brian Egan ’86 the podcast has brought weekly conversations with Gonzaga names you may know, and shares many stories you may not — all celebrating the rich 200-year tradition and spirit of Gonzaga. Here’s a look at the podcast by the numbers.
May 2021 When podcast interviews began
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September 9, 2021 Date the first episode was released
Number of Zoom calls Brian hosted with podcast guests between May and November
Number of times Brian forgot to hit “record” during these interviews — during a conversation with Fr. Kevin Gillespie, S.J. about Fr. Horace McKenna, S.J. “That was brutal,” Brian says. “Anyone in the media knows that feeling. We've all done it.”
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Number of countries listeners have tuned in from
Number of states (including the District of Columbia) listeners have tuned in from
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Number of members of the Gonzaga community — alumni, current and former faculty, parents, students — Brian interviewed in 2021
Algeria Aruba Australia Canada Dominican Republic El Salvador France
Hong Kong Iceland India Italy Mexico Spain United Kingdom
United States of America
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Number of episodes Brian expects will be aired during the 2021-2022 school year.
The Echo Ever Proudly Podcast can be found on the major podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts. The Gonzaga Alumni Office is extremely grateful to Brian for all his work on this project. If you have an idea for an upcoming Echo Ever Proudly episode, from any era, you can reach Brian via email podcast@gonzaga.org.
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STUDENT NEWS
In Honor and Celebration In October, Gonzaga celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day with a variety of performances, presentations, and exhibits centered around Native American history. The day included a keynote speech by Mary Weasel Bear from the Red Cloud Indian School in South Dakota as well as a variety of activities including cultural dance exhibitions, a traditional Hoop Dance, and a drumming performance. "The storytelling and messages surrounding respecting women, family, culture, and God were inspiring to us as men for and with others,” said Mr. Devon Leary ’06, Gonzaga's Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion.
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THE GOOD NEWS FROM 19 EYE STREET
Back in Full Swing A fter a nearly year-long hiatus, Gonzaga’s sports teams were thrilled to begin competing again in early 2021. Throughout the spring, each program organized shortened seasons — some competing against other teams, others competing and practicing internally. Regardless, it was a joy for our student-athletes to be back out there again with their teammates in purple, especially for the Class of 2021. Since the beginning of the school year in the Fall, Gonzaga Athletics has been back in full swing. On these two pages are some great photos from the past few months. Go Eagles!
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ATHLETIC NEWS
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he Forever Gonzaga Campaign is making possible numerous campus improvements that will enhance the Gonzaga experience for students both inside and outside the classroom. Several of these projects touch on athletics, allowing us to meet the increased demand for sports at the school as well as to improve our approach to and offerings in physical education. 1
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ATHLETIC NEWS
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1, 2, 3. Gonzaga recently secured space on the ground floor of 800 North Capitol — immediately adjacent to Buchanan Field — via a long-term leaseback arrangement. The newly renovated space includes a locker room for field sports and meeting spaces for teams and coaches. 4, 5, 6. We are also undergoing a major overhaul of the “Old Gym” in the basement of Dooley Hall, converting it into a new Athletic Performance Center that will provide expanded space for strength and conditioning as well as additional space for athletic training and rehabilitation, fitness education, and athletic staff offices.
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EYE ON EYE STREET
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Eagles Fly High!
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n Friday, November 5, Gonzaga hosted its annual field day, GonzagaFest. The day featured activities set up all over campus — from mini golf and scooter basketball to a chariot race and nerf gun fight — and ended with the return of the Go Gonzaga Beat St. John’s Pep Rally in the Carmody Center. It’s a tradition during the pep rally for alumni teachers, such as Social Studies Teacher Mr. Nick Pugliese ’08, pictured here, to lead the student body in rousing renditions of favorites such as “Hail, Gonzaga!” and “We Are Number 1.”
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A Weekend to Remember G
raduation weekend is always a busy and joyful one on Eye Street. This year, all the emotion and excitement was doubled as Gonzaga hosted back-to-back commencement ceremonies on Saturday, June 5 and Sunday, June 6. One year after they technically graduated from Gonzaga, the Class of 2020 came together for a long-awaited graduation celebration and reunion of sorts in St. Aloysius Church on June 5. The following day it was the Class of 2021’s turn as they officially became Gonzaga’s newest alumni. We hope you enjoy these wonderful photos from both ceremonies.
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Congratulations, Class of 2020!
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1. The Class of 2020 arriving at St. Al’s for their long-awaited graduation. 2. Gonzaga faculty and staff processing from Ruesch Cantwell into St. Al’s. 3. The church was filled with the graduates, their families, Gonzaga’s faculty and staff, and several members of the Class of 1970, which was celebrating its Jubilarian Reunion from Gonzaga. 4. Mr. Devon Leary ’06, Gonzaga’s Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, looks on as the graduates process up to receive their diplomas. 5. Mr. Jeremy Young directs members of the Gonzaga Chorus and Chamber Choir as they sing “Like an Eagle.” 6
6. Marcus Washington ’98, the Head of School of the Washington Jesuit Academy, delivered the Kohlmann Address. 7. The graduation ceremony was livestreamed into both the Carmody Center and the Sheehy Theater so as many family members as possible could join in the celebration. 8, 9, 10. Gonzaga’s faculty and staff clapped the graduates out of St. Al’s, up Eye Street, and onto Buchanan Field. Along the way were lots of reunions with teachers and friends.
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Scan the QR code to watch a fun video recap of the Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2020!
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Congratulations, Class of 2021!
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1, 2. Mr. Howell and Mr. Kilroy lead the Class of 2021 through a tunnel of faculty and staff and towards St. Aloysius Church for their graduation ceremony. 3. The students were all smiles on their way into the church. 4. Father Planning and his eminence Wilton Cardinal Gregory, who was on hand to deliver the Kohlmann Address, brought up the end of the procession. 5. The church was filled with the graduates, their families, Gonzaga’s faculty and staff, and several members of the Class of 1971, which was celebrating its Jubilarian Reunion from Gonzaga.
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6. Cardinal Gregory delivering the 51st Kohlmann Address. 7. “All of us have learned never to underestimate Gonzaga, even in the times it may seem impossible not to,” said Valedictorian Alexander D. Gerlach ’21. 8. During the ceremony, Father Planning awarded an Honorary Doctorate to John Gabriel Smith ’54, the first African American graduate of Gonzaga. 9. Mrs. Patty Stone congratulates Ms. Danielle Flood on being awarded the Class of 1977 Outstanding Faculty Award, which is determined by vote of the senior class. 10. Graduates showing off their diplomas alongside Counselor Ms. Meaghan Tracey.
Scan the QR code to watch a fun video recap of the Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2021!
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his summer, Father Joseph E. Lingan, S.J. ’75 began his tenure as the 37th President of Gonzaga College High School. As a member of Gonzaga’s Class of 1975, Father Lingan has the distinction of being the only alumnus to ever serve as president. In addition he is the only person to serve in this role twice, as he stepped in as interim President of Gonzaga following the untimely death of Father Allen Novotny, S.J. in 2010. He comes to Gonzaga at a crucial time — as we both recover from the disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic and celebrate our Bicentennial anniversary. We sat down with him to talk about his time as a student on Eye Street, his decision to enter the Jesuits, his hopes for Gonzaga’s future, and more.
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Father Lingan, S.J. ’75!
Can you tell us about your family’s history with Gonzaga? Why did you choose to come here in the early 70s and what was your time like on Eye Street as a student? To make a long story short, my parents wanted their sons to go to a Catholic high school. They chose Gonzaga because it was a Jesuit school. Thus, my oldest brother, Jim ’66, came to Gonzaga in the Fall of ’62, and the remaining Lingan brothers followed—Tom ’70, Bob ’73, and then myself, graduating in 1975. Later, my nephew, Casey ’96, Jim’s son, came to Gonzaga. My family was like many others who have come to Gonzaga—once we were caught by the “purple hook” or the “Spirit of the Eagle,” we were all in. In fact, my mother served as president of the Mothers Club, and my father served as president of the Fathers Club. Thus, when it came time to decide which high school I would attend, there was no question … GONZAGA! I enjoyed my student days at Gonzaga. I had fine classmates; good guys to be sure! There was a vibrancy on campus, always something going on to keep us engaged. The Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and Watergate were the historical occurrences during this time. At the same time, both Gonzaga and Washington, D.C. were beginning what would prove to be significant transitions that would forever change
our school and city. It was an exciting time as I recall. Did your four years on Eye Street inform your decision to enter the Society of Jesus? As I reflect back on it now, I would have to say that my four years at Gonzaga certainly had an influence on my decision to enter the Society of Jesus. Although, if someone told me at the time that I would one day be a Jesuit priest, I likely would have laughed at the possibility. In addition to the Jesuits themselves, probably the most significant influence was a religion course on Ignatian Prayer that I took my senior year. That course was my first significant introduction to Ignatian Spirituality. After graduating from Gonzaga, I continued to pray in an Ignatian way, and my relationship with Jesus deepened throughout my college years. I say all that while admitting that I am not a pious fellow. Nonetheless, I do experience and enjoy a solid and meaningful belief in and relationship with Jesus.
a degree in Public Administration. As I mentioned earlier, while in college I continued to pray regularly. I felt my faith was a very private and personal matter, yet my relationship with Jesus grew, and it became important to me, although quite personal. Simply put, I thought about the possibility of being a priest, and a Jesuit. So, I discreetly inquired, and frankly, the more I looked, the more I liked. Sincerely, I felt drawn toward it. So, during my senior year at Tech, I applied to the Jesuits. It was
Tell us a bit about your time since graduating from Gonzaga—where you went to college and graduate school, why you decided to join the Jesuits, and where your career has taken you over the years? After graduating from Gonzaga in 1975, I attended Virginia Tech, which I graduated from in 1979 with
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a serious process; one of discernment for the Society of Jesus, as well as for me. In the spring of 1979 I received word of my acceptance into the Novitiate and entered the Jesuits that August. It has been a wonderfully graced experience, and while I admit, this life is not for everyone, it is for some of us, and it has been for me. It has been a wonderful life! I pronounced my first vows in August of 1981 and continued on with further studies. I studied the humanities at Creighton University, philosophy at St. Louis University, and theology at the Weston School of Theology and Boston College, earning degrees along the way. I was ordained to the priesthood in 1990, and have had the opportunity to work in secondary education, higher education, pastoral/spiritual ministry, as well as work in Jesuit formation of both Jesuit novices and scholastics. In addition, I have had the opportunity to live and work in a variety of places on the East Coast, in the Midwest, and in the Northwest of the United States. It has been a great ride thus far. You have had four different stints here at Gonzaga—as a student, a teacher, an interim president and now president. Can you tell us a bit about each of those, and how each experience has informed the one that follows it? Wow! That is a hard question to answer briefly. Each “stint” has been unique. For my part, I was at a different point in my own life, and the positions I held offered different responsibilities and required a different
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focus. As a student, I was learning in the moment, but looking ahead toward going to college. As a teacher, my focus was on educating and caring for my students, helping them to be better learners. I was mindful that they, too, were looking ahead toward college. As interim president (20102011), my focus was on consoling a grieving community (following the sudden death of Fr. Novotny), and helping to prepare the community for new leadership, a new president. And now, as president, I am immediately focused on fully opening our school following the necessary pivot caused by the pandemic, and on celebrating Gonzaga’s Bicentennial. Longer term, I am focused on ensuring Gonzaga’s continued educational and institutional success. As I reflect on this question and my response, there is a clear progression to these “stints.” Further, the common thread in each is a posture of looking ahead or forward toward future possibilities; a sense of growth and potential that suggests a genuine and authentic optimism that is enlivening.
In your view, how has Gonzaga changed over the past 50 years? How has it stayed the same? The most notable change is Gonzaga’s growth. Growth in enrollment, academic programming, extra-curricular activities, athletic programming, and in the size of our campus (from when I was a student). One alumnus recently said to me, “Father, Gonzaga has changed . . . it is better!” He went on to say, “Don’t get me wrong, Gonzaga was good when I was here, but it is better today. It is a GREAT school!” That said, there is one notable stable quality: the Gonzaga Spirit! However, upon reflection, perhaps the Gonzaga Spirit has grown too. The Gonzaga Spirit is an infectious, an empowering spirit, an enduring spirit, and a Holy Spirit! I see it in our alumni, our students, our
the world have changed over the past ten years and this, too, has had a ripple effect on Gonzaga. Thus, the world our students are readying to enter and engage requires a certain moral and skill set, all of which impacts our curriculum and formation efforts. Why were you excited to come back as President? What motivates and/or inspires you about this role? parents, and our faculty, staff, and administration. The Gonzaga Spirit is such a gift! I’ve heard you say that Gonzaga has even changed quite a bit since your time here a decade ago. Can you talk about that? How has it changed in that relatively short period of time? Well, in some respects, the history of a high school is rewritten every four years. Over the last ten years, the physical campus has changed— we now have the terrific parking garage and the Eye Street Campus. There have been a number of faculty and staff retirements, so there are a lot of new faculty and staff, not to mention the students and parents, since I was here ten years ago. In addition, the changes and progression of technology have impacted our educational endeavors. Finally, clearly, the nation and
Going back to my beginnings here, I am keenly aware of the gift Gonzaga has been for me and my family. I am excited to help ensure that Gonzaga continues to be a gift to and for the Gonzaga family of today and tomorrow. Further, I am aware of all that Gonzaga has given to me and how my experience with Gonzaga has contributed to my personal and professional growth. To serve now as Gonzaga’s president is an opportunity for me to give back to Gonzaga and I am so grateful for that opportunity. You’ve returned to Gonzaga during a momentous year: our Bicentennial. Tell us about what this milestone means for Gonzaga and how we are celebrating it as an institution. For Gonzaga, or for that matter any institution, to endure for 200 years is a remarkable achievement; not an achievement of one individual, but of many, in fact generations of
many. Further, at 200, Gonzaga is not old, but historic and strong. Thanks be to God! And thanks be to those who have been here before us, and thanks be to those who are here now, poised with confidence toward a stable and abiding future. In 1821, it was believed that this school was needed to help serve and educate the young men of Washington and in turn serve this city. In 2021, I humbly and firmly acknowledge that Gonzaga is needed more than ever, and a Gonzaga Man for Others, is needed more than ever. When you look ahead to Gonzaga’s next 200 years, what do you hope for and envision? This is a moment when we should, appropriately, look back, reflect, and be grateful. But it is also a moment when we should look ahead, and plan ahead; to continue to build on our solid foundation and ensure Gonzaga’s future. This is a moment to acknowledge our successes, and to learn from our failures, and think ahead, dream ahead. A wonderful Jesuit motto is “The Magis,” which means the more! This is a time to ask this question of Gonzaga: What more can Gonzaga be? What more can Gonzaga do . . . for our students, for our community, for our future? Today, my hope and vision for Gonzaga is a bright future. That she continues to be a sure, steady, and influential presence in the greater Washington area, and continues to be a leader in secondary education in this region and beyond. We are a GREAT school and it is my hope and vision that we will remain so for many, many, years to come.
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aga! Gonz , hday Birt BICENTENNIAL GONZAGA COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL
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his year, 2021, is a momentous one in the history of Gonzaga, as it marks our 200th anniversary of offering young men in the Washington area an
the pages that follow are 1unrivaled 8 2 Jesuit 1 - education. 2 0 2 1Onphotos This fall, students, alumni, of three events that current and past parents, and friends joined us in a variety of ways to celebrate our Bicentennial.
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took place this fall. We look forward to continuing the celebration with you into the spring!
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Gonzaga’s Official 200th Birthday The Washington Seminary, the school that would eventually become Gonzaga College High School, held its first day of classes on September 8, 1821. To mark this milestone anniversary, Gonzaga hosted a Mass of Thanksgiving and a full day of festivities on campus on September 8, 2021.
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1, 2. Before the day began, Social Studies Teacher Nick Pugliese ’08 led a group of students and faculty members on a Heritage Walk from 917 F Street, NW — the original site of Gonzaga — to 19 Eye Street. Photo number one shows the group outside the original building on F Street, NW. 3. Mr. Pugiliese and Father Lingan place their hands on the wall of the building at 917 F Street — the only thing that remains from the original campus. “It struck us because it’s just a wall on one hand, but it’s so much more than that,” said Mr. Pugliese. “To be standing there and to think of the people who were standing there 200 years ago. I think it would blow their minds to know that all of us would be standing there 200 years later at the exact minute that they opened the school. Despite how different the neighborhood looks and despite how much everything has changed — and how much Gonzaga has changed — there are still aspects of that vision that have kept us going for 200 years and will keep us going for 200 more.” 4, 5. On campus, the student body gathered for a Mass of Thanksgiving in St. Al’s. During his homily, Father Lingan spoke about Gonzaga’s founding and history, and the importance of remembering, sharing, and continuing to write the stories of this school and community. “In 1821, it was believed that this school was needed to help serve and educate the young men of Washington, and in turn serve this city,” Father Lingan said. “Today, in 2021, I humbly and firmly acknowledge that Gonzaga is needed more today than ever. And a Gonzaga Man for Others is needed more than ever as well.” 6. During the Mass, Father Lingan shared with the students a papal blessing that Pope Francis bestowed upon Gonzaga in recognition and celebration of our 200th anniversary. The blessing was presented to Father Lingan at the annual Opening of Schools Mass, which was celebrated by Cardinal Wilton Gregory at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. This special blessing will be framed and displayed at Gonzaga. 7. The Classes of 2022 and 2023 forming a “200” on Buchanan Field. 8. Father Lingan cuts a Gonzaga birthday cake with SGA President John Jerro ’22 and SGA Vice President Andrew Schaefer ’22. 9. The Booster Club leads student cheers as well as a rendition of Happy Birthday, Gonzaga! 10. That evening at 18:21 military time (6:21 PM), Gonzaga officially kicked off the public phase of the Forever Gonzaga Bicentennial campaign by livestreaming a special video presentation. Pictured here are Father Lingan, David Dugan ’98, Gonzaga’s Vice President of Alumni and Advancement, and Forever Gonzaga Campaign Chairs Monica Thompson (P ’19), John Thompson III ’84, and Michael P. Tierney ’70. WINTER 2021
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Bicentennial Mass and Block Party October 17, 2021 We could not have asked for a more gorgeous fall day for our Bicentennial Mass and Block Party in mid-October. The event drew current and former faculty and staff, current Gonzaga families, young alumni and their children, and Gonzaga friends from all different eras. “This was the first time Gonzaga has ever hosted an event like this,” said David Dugan ’98, Gonzaga’s Vice President of Alumni and Advancement. “Everyone was in such a great mood, enjoying our beautiful campus and one another’s company. We’re so grateful to everyone who came out.” 6 5
1, 2. The day began with alumni, current families, and Gonzaga friends of all ages coming together for Mass in St. Aloysius Church. 3. Justin Fronda ’21 served as cantor. 4. Brain Egan ’86 — host of the Echo Ever Proudly Podcast (see page 10) — doing a reading at the Mass. 5, 6, 7, 8. Family-friendly activities were set up all over campus, including face painters, several inflatables, cotton candy and other snacks, and a paint-your-own pumpkin patch. 9. Current Gonzaga students staffed a table in the Arrupe Commons where visitors could browse through old issues of the Aquilian, Aetonian, and Phoenix. There was also a highlight reel of WZAG segments from over the years. Next door in the Sheehy Theater, guests had the chance to watch A School of Men for Others, a 1994 film about Gonzaga's history featuring actor Robert Prosky and Ash Hawken ’53. 10. A picnic lunch was set up on Eye Street.
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GDA Bicentennial Show
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October 16, 2021 Alumni from across seven different decades gathered in the Sheehy Theater in October to celebrate all the different ways in which Gonzaga has contributed to the performing arts over the years. Performers came from all over the United States — New York, Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, Los Angeles — to showcase everything from musical theater numbers to Irish music. “The reviews from the cast and the audience were universal in their joy and praise of the evening,” said GDA moderator and Gonzaga Math Teacher Mr. Paul Buckley ’86. “Alumni loved catching up with old friends, meeting some new ones, and reliving their days on the stage. It was a joy to see so many talented people of different ages working together — all in celebration of a place we all love so dearly: Gonzaga.”
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1. The performance included dance routines, songs, acting scenes, choral numbers, and more. The alumni celebrated the rich history of Gonzaga in theater, movies, music, television, and radio, and performed with classmates, Hall of Famers, and current students on Eye Street. 2. Michael Bobbitt ’90 singing “Lullaby of Broadway” with both alumni and current members of the GDA. 3. The Class of 2020 and current GDA students performed a medley from Newsies — a production that was scheduled for March 2020 and had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. This was the first time the cast was able to perform the songs on the Warman Stage. 4. Father and son Allan L’Etoile ’73 and Nathan L’Etoile ’12 performing “Brush Up Your Shakespeare.” 5. David Wannen ’96 and Gabriella Barbuto (Academy of the Holy Cross ’14) performing “Tradition” from Fiddler on the Roof. 6. Choral Arts Director Jenni Dunn leads students in “Like An Eagle.”
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REUNIONS
Welcome Back!
After not being able to hold any in-person reunions in 2020, Gonzaga was thrilled to welcome back hundreds of alumni over the course of several reunion events in 2021.
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Fall Reunions Thank you to everyone who joined us for Class and Golden Reunions on Saturday, September 11. After Mass in St. Al’s, reunion-goers enjoyed dinner in the courtyard and along Eye Street.
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Class of 1951 James Hargraves Class of 1955 Donald Hudenburg Class of 1956 Jerry Hale, Geoffrey Naab, Roger Haley Class of 1961 James Deerin, Jr. and Dr. Clement McGowan, III
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Class of 1965 William Lazarus, Jerome Radford, Howard Dent Class of 1966 Al Grasso, John Montgomery, Jim Hanagan Class of 1976 John Delaney, Jr., Dennis O’Reilly, David Williams, Raymond Baker Class of 1981 [ROW 1] Paul Reeping, Michael Glynn, Leo Dimond, Nicholas Charles, Guido Graff, Michael Enright [ROW 2] Michael Cato, William Cox, Carlson Klapthor, Howard del Aguila, Stephen Demetrovits [ROW 3] James Shea, Joseph Kabeisman, Charles Huisentruit, Martin Oliverio, Paul Sheehy [ROW 4] Tom Riley, Tom Fitzgerald, Derrick Flood, Eric Schlegel, Tim Choppin [ROW 5] Dennis Kilcullen, Owen Malone, Michael Drayne, Chris Moakley, Brian Hanlon, Matt Gardiner
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Class of 1986 [ROW 1] Derrick Lewis, Kevin White, Scott Wollard, Scott Gilly, Mark Shaheen, Tom Dempsey, Michael DiLorenzo, Paul Buckley, Brian Egan [ROW 2] Tim Murray, Charles Trafton, Kevin Loome, Michael Casey, Steve Brown, John Bidwell [ROW 3] Mike Miller, Eddie Quinn [ROW 4] Troy Johnson, Rodney Jackson, Marty Collins, Mike Caponiti, Tom Mulholland, Will Smiley, Jerome Hansen, Mike Stanton [ROW 5] Alfonso Ronca, Mark Nixon, Matt Kinnahan , Daniel Kim, Luca Salvi, Frank Fitzmaurice [ROW 6] Matt Flanagan, Tim Swift, Chris Calabia Class of 1991 [ROW 1] Christian Templeton, Chris Hoponick, Tom McCarthy, Rick Mastal, Kevin Hart, Damon Welburn [ROW 2] Chris Fontaine, Matt Oetgen, Rich Fenati, Steve Lenard, Steve Anders, Rob Crawford [ROW 3] Peter Schissel, Eric Anders, Andrew Knauf, Trip O’Dell [ROW 4] Shane McLaughlin, Steve Mabry, Craig Glee
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Class of 1996 [ROW 1] Pete Baroody, Charles Tahan , Terrence McHugh, Johnathan Thessin [ROW 2] Nick Redmond, Ariel Lagilles, Thomas Hastings, Patrick Fitzgerald, Robert McCarthy [ROW 3] Phil Howard, Nick Frank, Derek Foster, Shaun Roche, Joshua Paul, Michael Antonelli, Chris Maier [ROW 4] David Johnson, Karim Sadak, Luke Mullans, Victor Leviste, Matt Carroccio [ROW 5] Will Mack, Chris Nowell, Kevin Higgins Class of 2001 [ROW 1] Anthony Zech, Matt Grace, Anthony Caron [ROW 2] Rob Lewis, Mike George, Dan Cozart [ROW 3] Richard Pica, Stephen Bien, Ben Navarro [ROW 4] Dan McDermott, Dimitry Lynch, Alex Koning, Dan Balserak, Chris Lewis [ROW 5] Matt Dugan, Christian Glynn, Paul Miller
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Class of 2006 [ROW 1] Grant Furnary, John O’ Neill, John Bean, Devon Leary [ROW 2] Andrew Fertig, Thomas Holland, Brian Kelley, Matthew Preston Class of 2011 [ROW 1] Michael Perry, Reid Spencer [ROW 2] Torey Ortmayer, Alex Panzarella, Chris Sullivan, Rick Bautista, Jay Jones, Rainey Brown, Harrison Shoffner, David Planning, Peter Benziger [ROW 3] Paul O’Neal, John Sullivan, Steven Witts, Spencer Pasion, Khary Anderson, Rob Granoski, Pat Daley, Tony Dattoli, Conor Squier, Alejandro Marquez, Nick de Franceaux [ROW 4] Anthony Holland, Ian Guay, Marc Ray, Flin Hyre, Will Gorman, Kyle Davis Class of 2016 [ROW 1] Brian Kilner, Holden Madison, Nick Williams, Ryan Baker [ROW 2] Luke McCaleb, Tommy Clare, Ryan Parbs, Nick McEvoy, Kyle Newman-Smith [ROW 3] Bailey Ogilvie, J.D. Smeallie, Spencer Davis, Hunter Golian, George Christopher WINTER 2021
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Jubilarian Reunions
Gonzaga was excited to host the Classes of 1970 and 1971 for their 50th Reunions on Eye Street in early November. In June, both classes had also enjoyed the opportunity to attend Commencement Exercises (the Class of 1970 for the Class of 2020 and the Class of 1971 for the Class of 2021). To read more about Commencement Weekend, please turn to page 22. In addition, the two classes came to Eye Street on the weekend of November 5th and 6th. On 5
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1. The Class of 1970: Back row Michael Atwood, Bob Kulesher, Carroll Warfield, Ted LeBlanc, John White, Carroll Hayes; third row Tom Daniel, Terrance Bayly, Kevin E. O’Connell, Michael Brosnihan, Fr. Fred Dolan; second row Richard Davis, Tony Dambriunas, Louis Pettey, Herb Palm, Robert Spaniol, Michael Tierney, Rob Pisani, Joe Spriggs, Knute Knutson, Tim Dolan; first row (seated) John McDermott, Michael Flynn, Jeff Garland, Dan Joyce, Wayne Wyvill, Hugo Bonuccelli, and Tom Ronayne. 2. The Class of 1971: Back row Steven Blizzard, Kevin Dolan, Ed McGrail, Chip Lacy, Steve Askland, Bill Geissenhainer, Fr. Tom Gaunt, S.J.; third row Brian Deery, Tom Gormley, Tony Cardillo, Leslie Hollis, Chris Foley, Bob Uhar, Ray Rheault, Kevin McKenna, Dan Foley; second row Tom Carter, Tom Donohoe, Bob Conley, Larry Vagnoni, Charles Carey, John McCarthy, James Connelly, David Snead; first row (seated) Silas Vaughn, Bill Dorsey, Peter Quimby, William Malloy, Tony Ristanio, and Larry Hagerty.
Alumni Golf Outing Thank you to the nearly 100 alumni from the Classes of ’75, ’80, ’85, ’90, ’95, ’00, ’05, ’10, and ’15 who came out to Worthington Manor Golf Course on Friday, May 21 to play some golf and spend time with friends and former classmates. 1
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3. The classes’ Jubilarian Reunion weekend began on Friday, November 5 with a historical tour of St. Aloysius Church, given by Fr. Lingan, S.J. ’75. 4. After campus tours, the two classes enjoyed a casual dinner in the library, where they could watch a livestream of the Gonzaga-St. John’s Game on Buchanan Field below. Pictured here from left to right are Ted LeBlan ’70, Gerry Fay ’70, and James Reilly, Jr. ’70
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5. Name tags for the weekend featured senior photos from the Aetonian. 6. Reunion-goers gathered in Ruesch Cantwell for cocktails before dinner on Saturday. Pictured here from left to right are Knute Knutson ’70, Angela Tsang, Robert Daniel ’70, and Carroll Warfield ’70. 7, 8. During a seated dinner on Saturday night in the lower commons (photo 7) several reunion-goers gave toasts and shared memories, including Michael Tierney ’70 (photo 8), who is chair of Gonzaga’s Board of Trustees.
1. Left to right: Col. (Ret.) Joe Murray ’85 and Ken Hagins ’85 2. Left to right: Paul Lindsay ’00, Andrew Forbes ’00, Eamon Eager ’00, and Colin Cappadona ’00 3. Left to right: John M. Heckler, III ’15, Patrick L. Fergus ’15, and Gonzaga’s Director of Alumni Relations Byron Harper ’84 4, 5. The golfers, who had missed their reunions in Fall of 2020 due to the pandemic, lucked out with a gorgeous spring day at Worthington Manor Golf Club, which is located in Urbana, Maryland.
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NEWS OF Want to share your news?
WRITE Gonzaga Magazine / 19 Eye Street NW / Washington, D.C. 20001 SUBMIT A NOTE ONLINE Gonzaga.org/update EMAIL Info@Gonzaga.org
Faculty & Staff Art Teacher Matt Duffy and wife Frances Temme welcomed Wyatt Christopher Joel on October 30, 2021. Science Teacher Paul Hamm ’08 and wife Bethany welcomed Daniel Paul on August 17, 2021. Mathematics Teacher and Assistant Athletic Director Terry Kernan ’08 and wife Sheila welcomed daughter Kayla Louise on July 18, 2021.
electrical engineer and World War I biplane pilot. His cases included the Lindbergh kidnapping, Howard Hughes, Aristotle Onassis, John Kennedy, and Richard Nixon. Now retired, Edward was an FBI Special Agent for 28 years. A group of members of the Class of 1964 got together this summer at the Delaware shore. The attendees included Mike Loftus ’64, Bill Murphy ’64, Donald Askey ’64, Tom Meyers ’64, Jim Kurtz ’64, Mick Farr ’64, Mike Carper ’64, and Mike Galgano ’64. Mike’s son, Jim
Loftus ’95, also came by to say hello.
1965 Rodney Kelley ’65 wrote a biography of Fr. Aloysius Paul McGonigal, S.J., a Jesuit priest killed during the Battle of Hue (Viet Nam) in 1968 while serving as a Chaplain in the U.S. Army. Fr. McGonigal was Prefect of Discipline at Gonzaga in the mid-fifties. The book is called The Pope’s Marine: Aloysius Paul McGonigal, S.J. (1921-1968).
Modern Languages Teacher Ariel Laguilles ’96 and wife Marissa welcomed Elle McInnis on May 11, 2021. Social Studies Teacher Adrian Oryshkevych ’99 and wife Tanya Skubiak welcomed Nicholas John on November 13, 2021. Maintenance Staff Member Justin Young and wife Latonia welcomed Justin Marcel in July 2021.
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On September 4, 2021, Col. Nicholas J. Morana, Ret. ’43 and his wife Ann celebrated 71 years of marriage. The couple have five children, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
1952 Joseph E. Gutierrez ’52 received the President’s Award from the Medical Society of the District of Columbia (MSDC) on May 14, 2021. Joseph is the retired past president of MSDC and the retired chair of MSDC’s finance committee and served as chair of MSDC’s AMA delegation for 28 years.
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Edward J. Appel ’64 recently published Father of FBI Forensics: The Life of Charles A. Appel, Jr., a biography of his father, who founded the FBI Laboratory. A Georgetown University Law School graduate, Charlie Appel was a concert violinist,
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Top left: Daniel Paul, son of Science Teacher and alumnus Paul Hamm ’08. Top right: Nicholas John, son of Social Studies Teacher and alumnus Adrian Oryshkevych ’99. Bottom: From left to right: Jim Loftus ’95, Mike Loftus ’64, Bill Murphy ’64, Donald Askey ’64, Tom Meyers ’64, Jim Kurtz ’64, Mick Farr ’64, Mike Carper ’64, and Mike Galgano ’64.
1966 James Anadale ’66 and his wife, Carol, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in January of 2021. On Memorial Day, several members of the Class of 1966 got together in Alexandria, Virginia, at the statue of Rocky Versace, a memorial that honors the 67 men killed or missing in Vietnam from Alexandria. Versace was also a Gonzaga alumnus from the Class of 1955. The group paid special respect to their fallen classmates Michael Kilduff ’66, Steve Shields ’66, and John O’Sullivan ’66. Mike’s brother, Jim Kilduff ’61, brought a photo album of him, Mike, and their family dating back to childhood that the group paged through together during lunch. Members of the Class of 1966 in attendance included: Jim Hanagan ’66, Lee Fishkin ’66, Jim Kilduff ’61, Ed Murphy ’66, Paul Edmunds ’66, John Montgomery ’66, Brian Driscoll ’66, and Gael Delaney ’66.
1981 Luis Blandon ’81 co-authored a book that was recently published called A Palace in the Nation’s Capital: Griffith Stadium, Home of the Washington Senators.The book looks back at the history of Griffith Stadium through detailed summaries of more than 70 games played there — including many Gonzaga vs. St. John’s rivalry football matches.
Left: Gonzaga alumni from left to right: Jim Hanagan ’66, Lee Fishkin ’66, Jim Kilduff ’61, Ed Murphy ’66, Paul Edmunds ’66, John Montgomery ’66, Brian Driscoll ’66, and Gael Delaney ’66. Right: Michael Farquhar ‘82.
The Next Generation on the Gridiron
Jim Shea ’81 recently published a book entitled Get Up and Ride: A story of two friends and a cycling adventure on the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal. “The book is about cycling and adventure, but it’s also about friendship,” Shea says, adding: “It’s also a journey ‘home’ for me — riding from my current home in Pittsburgh to the DC Mall and then to my parents’ house in Arlington.”
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Michael Farquhar ‘82 recently published a book called More Bad Days in History: A Gleefully Grim Chronicle of Misfortune, Mayhem, and Misery for Every Day of the Year. Michael filtered through history books, memoirs, letters, journals and newspapers to gather 365 true tragic stories in hopes to provide the
Four sons of Gonzaga alumni all played together on Princeton’s football team this fall. Pictured here from left to right are Harrison Caponiti, son of Michael Capotini ’86; Nicholas Sanker, son of George Sanker ’86; Lucas Warfield ’19, son of Carroll Warfield ’70; and Alex Cherry, son of Marcus Cherry ’85.
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NEWS OF reader with appreciation for their own lives. “It’s not really negative. I like to think it’s a celebratory view of history,” says Farquhar.
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Rylan Harris ’83 enjoyed participating in the Carmody Lynn Open as a virtual golfer in September. Dr. Patrick J. Nugent, Jr. ’83 was appointed President and CEO of the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance in August 2021; the group is a merger of the Dayton Ballet, Opera, and Philharmonic. Patrick was previously the Vice President for Development at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
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John Schmidtlein ’84 was recently named one of Washington’s Most Influential People by the Washingtonian Magazine. Schmidtlein is a partner at the law firm Williams & Connolly LLP where he co-chairs the firm’s antitrust practice group.
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In April 2021, Christopher Clancy ’91, younger brother of Mike Clancy ’88 and Patrick Clancy ’86 published his debut novel, a psychological thriller called We Take Care of Our Own, through Montag Press.
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Jorge Alday ’93 and his wife, Janine Kyanko, welcomed the birth of their first daughter, Ines Alday, on March 13. In July 2021, David Forbes ’93 was named Senior Division Vice President, Sales for ADP where he will serve as the head of sales and marketing for ADP’s Smart Compliance Solutions, Employee Financial Solutions, WorkMarket Solutions and Data Solutions. David joined ADP in 1998 and has served on the Global Executive Steering Committee for ADP’s Business Resource Group (BRG) Cultivate for African American Associates and is an active ally for Women in Sales Leadership. David sits on ADP’s D&I Talent Taskforce Executive Committee and serves as the Worldwide Sales & Marketing (WWSM) executive sponsor for diversity improvement in sales.
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In April 2021, Malcolm Johnson ’94, a former senior banker at JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, helped to launch Langdon Park Capital, a minority-owned business that will manage a series of private funds on behalf of a mix of institutional investors, major U.S. universities, Fortune 500 companies, family offices and community residents. Johnson will serve as the Chief Executive Officer for the Los
Rylan Harris ’83 (Hampton Alum, owner of Drone Photographers and technology consultant), participating as a remote golfer in the Carmody Lynn Open. He was joined by friends Thomas Duckenfield and Dr. Robert Davis. Ryland writes: “Both friends are fraternity brothers of mine in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and were best men in my wedding 20 years ago. Hopefully next year we will be able to attend the Gonzaga tournament in person!”
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John F. Butler ’97 was recently made a military judge for the U.S. Navy. John holds the rank of Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and is also Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Following in the Footsteps of St. Ignatius During Gonzaga’s Ignatian Heritage Day last April, Religion Teacher Mr. Brendan Hartnett ’97 interviewed his former classmate John Pignone, S.J. ’97, who became the first Gonzaga alumnus to enter the Society of Jesus in 35 years when he took his vows in 2017. The theme for Ignatian Heritage Day was St. Ignatius’ conversion from a soldier to a companion of Christ, a theme that Pignone is uniquely qualified to talk about. After graduating from Gonzaga, Pignone decided to postpone college and enlist in the Marines; he ended up deploying three times in the wake of September 11, 2001. Pignone is in his third stage of formation, called Regency, and is working as a teacher at Xavier High School in New York. After watching the interview on Zoom, students had the chance to ask Pignone questions, and then broke out into smaller groups for reflection and discussion.
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Zachary Somers ’97 was sworn in as a judge on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims on December 23, 2020.
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Andrew Hillenmeyer Walsh ’98 and Christen Meredith Capron were married at St. Aloysius on October 3, 2020.
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On June 18, 2021, LtCol Timothy K. Gallagher, Jr. ’99 was made Commanding Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 49 Detachment B at a Change of Command Ceremony in Newburgh, New York.
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Mitch Brooks ’02 and a new venture capital firm he began were featured recently in Yahoo News, The Washington Business Journal, and Afrotech. Called High Street Equity Partners, the firm invests in and supports up-and-coming black business owners.
Top Left: Andrew Hillenmeyer Walsh ’98 and Christen Meredith Capron at their wedding in St. Aloysius Church on October 3, 2020. Top right: Murphy James Smith, son of Danny Smith ’04 with proud grandfather Jim Smith, former longtime Gonzaga board member and board chair. Left: Mitch Brooks ’02 (left) with his business partner Tristan Wilkerson. Bottom left: Ryan O’Toole ’08 and his wife Hannah with their daughter, Rory Gray O’Toole. Bottom right: Gonzaga graduates at the wedding of Quinn McGee ’12 and Ashley Heise (from left to right): Tom Cosgrove ’05, Doug Sarasin ’17, Dylan Young ’17, Quinn McGee ’12, Ashley Heise McGee, Pat Maloney ’12, Brady Young ’20, Reilly McGee ’16, and Will Nogay ’12.
2003 Duante Abercrombie ’03 was featured on WTOP News about how the Washington Capitals hockey team is working to break down racial barriers. As a member of the Washington Capitals’ recently formed Capitals Black Hockey Committee, Abercrombie is working to address racism in hockey and grow the game in underserved communities.
2004 Wally Sedgewick ’04, wife Maggie, and big brother Peter welcomed the birth of Lila Louise in May. Danny Smith ’04 and wife Elizabeth welcomed a son, Murphy James Smith.
2005 A documentary film created by Billy Miossi ’05 aired in September on the Start TV Network. Called Conversations About my Mother: 20 Years After, the film features discussions between Billy and his former Gonzaga classmate, Thomas Heidenberger, whose mother, Michele Heidenberger, died in the September 11, 2001 attacks.
2008 Ryan O’Toole ’08 and his wife
Hannah welcomed their first child, a daughter, Rory Gray O’Toole, in August. Dr. James Roberson III ’08 graduated from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN with a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree on May 15th, 2021.
2012 Quinlan J. McGee ’12 was married to Ashley Caroline Heise on May 8, 2021 in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Quinn and Ashley reside in Charlotte, North Carolina. WINTER 2021
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Outdriving the Competition
Left: Brad Whitaker ’18; Center: Pudge Williams ’17 and Patrick McCarthy ’19; Right: Jimmy Taylor ’19.
Several Gonzaga alumni golfers are making a mark on the amateur circuit and in college. In June, Brad Whitaker ’18 (Georgetown University) won the 100th Maryland State Amateur Championship. After successfully navigating the qualifier, two rounds of stroke play, and four headto-head match play opponents, Brad defeated the two-time defending Maryland Amateur champion in the 36 hole final 4&3. Connor Ebel ’20 helped Brad along the way as his caddy. Just a few weeks later, Jimmy Taylor ’19 (William & Mary) won
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John ‘Jack’ Caudle ’13 graduated from Denison University in 2017. He is currently living in Denver working in live sports video broadcasting for ESPN and Verizon.
In September, Luke McCaleb ’16 was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps during a ceremony on the Alumni Pavilion overlooking Buchanan Field. McCaleb took his oath of office from Col (Ret.) Joe Murray ’85 and did his first salute with Sgt (Ret.) Chris Finlay, father of Ryan Finlay ’16 and Ben Finlay ’19.
Michael Williams ’13 was recently named the head coach of the Washington Wizards G-League affiliate the Capital City Go-Go. Williams served as director of player development with the Go-Go in 2019-20, while also serving on the Erie BayHawks’ coaching staff during the NBA G League’s season in Orlando, Florida.
2015 Ross Caudle ’15 graduated from Loyola University Maryland in 2019 where he was captain of the men’s swim team. He is now working in finance in Boston.
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the 108th Virginia State Amateur, which took place at the Country Club of Petersburg in Peterburg, Virginia. In the same tournament, Teddy Zinsner ’17 (Yale University) was the medalist in stroke play with rounds of 66-62, a course record and the lowest medalist score in the history of the event. Meanwhile Pudge Williams ’17 (Siena College) and Patrick McCarthy ’19 (Fairfield University) were named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s All-Academic team. Congratulations to all!
The parents of Luke McCaleb ’16 (Meghan and Scott ’84) pinning his rank insignia on his uniform while Col (Ret.) Joe Murray ’85 looks on.
Left: Mustafa Beidas ’17 with one of his professors, Dr. Mike Rosenzweig of the College of Science at Virginia Tech; he is also the director of the Biological Sciences Outreach Program. Center: Alumni Service Corps members TJ Gletner ’17, Ben Grimmelbein ’17, Jack Kiyonaga ’17, and AJ Powers ’17. Right: Kevin Donalson ’21 and Jack Glavey ’21.
2017 Mustafa Beidas ’17 was selected as the recipient of Phi Kappa Phi Medallion Award as the top graduating senior in the College of Science at Virginia Tech. Only one such award is given to each college at Virginia Tech. Since completing his high school diploma at Gonzaga in 2017, Mustafa pursued his undergraduate studies majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry at Virginia Tech. Mustafa joined AmeriCorps for a year of service starting in August 2021. He will dedicate 1,700 hours of volunteering to mentor and educate inner-city students in the District of Columbia. Says Mustafa’s mom, Bassem Beidas: “We strongly feel that Mustafa’s love of science and service was cultivated in the Jesuit tradition at Gonzaga.”
Three Generations of Gonzaga Graduates Three generations of Belson men were in attendance at the Class of 2020 Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, June 5, 2021. Pictured from left to right is Griffin Belson ’20, Stephen Belson ’90, and the Honorable James A. Belson ’49.
Gonzaga is excited to welcome back four members of the Class of 2017 as our Alumni Service Corps this year: TJ Gletner ’17, Ben Grimmelbein ’17, Jack Kiyonaga ’17, and AJ Powers ’17. These young men will serve in a number of roles this school year, including as substitute teachers, club moderators, and coaches.
2021 Recent graduates Kevin Donalson ’21 and Jack Glavey ’21 finished Navy NSI Basic Training in Great Lakes, Illinois and are now Midshipmen 4th Class.
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Alumni Honors
The Gonzaga Alumni Association awarded its 2021 Alumni Man of the Year Award to Dr. Mike Kelly ’70 and its 2021 Father Novotny Service Award to
Reginald Wills ’85. The Man of the Year Award is the Gonzaga Alumni Association’s most prestigious award, given to a dis-
tinguished alumnus for outstanding achievement in his professional and personal life who has also remained a devoted alumnus to Gonzaga College High School. This year’s recipient is Dr. Mike Kelly ’70, an internationally-recognized expert in orthopedics who practices at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, New Jersey. Created in memory of former Gonzaga President Father Allen Novotny, SJ, the Novotny Service Award recognizes an alumnus who shows an extraordinary commitment to community service and Jesuit ideals. As a longtime educator, Reggie Wills ’85 has devoted his life’s work to the enrichment of young minds and hearts. He’s taught at Alexandria Country Day School, Grace Episcopal, The Edmund Burke School, and since 2015, at Washington Latin Public Charter School. Congratulations to both!
Stay Connected to Eye Street! Follow us on social media to find out what’s happening on campus and with your fellow alumni!
Find us online at:
@GonzagaGoodNews We post photos and videos of everything from retreats and service trips to pep rallies and plays. We also highlight our incredible alumni and share information about upcoming events at Gonzaga.
Also check out www.Gonzaga.org for in-depth coverage of campus life, online registration for alumni events, a comprehensive calendar, and more. 42
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MAY THEY REST IN PEACE Reed M. Albrittain ’15, brother of Madeline Albrittain and brotherin-law of Mike Fiore, both former faculty members
Helen T. Hitselberger, wife of the late Joseph G. ’47; mother of Frank X. ’82
Rose Marie Anthony, mother of Paul V. ’89
Dr. Vincent W. Hollis, father of Dr. Vincent W. III ’69, Leslie W. ’71, and Michael D. ’86
Dr. Paul D. Barnes ’47, grandfather of Matthew P. ’17
William M. Johnson III, father of Myles A. ’23
Robert W. Barros, father of Stephen A. ’86
Conor Kehoe, son of Kevin B. ’07; nephew of Ian M. ’14 and Matthew W. ’16; great-grandson of the late George H. Beauchert ’41
William D. Beck ’53 Dr. Thomas F. Boylan, father of Matthew J. ’95 and Timothy F. ’99; brother-in-law of Joseph C. Veith IV ’70, Daniel M. Veith ’72, Paul G. Veith ’74, Timothy F. Veith ’76, and Tom R. Veith ’78; uncle of CDR Patrick M. Veith, USN, ’98, Daniel M. Veith ’01, and Timothy F. Veith Jr ’00
Margaret R. O’Brien Lauer, daughter of the late John P. O’Brien, Sr. ’48; sister of John P. O’Brien Jr. ’71 and James F. O’Brien ’75
LaTonya D. Bridgeman, mother of Nasheed R. ’16 and Malik J. ’18
Mary Eileen Loome, mother of Dr. John F., M.D. ’84, Kevin P. ’86, and Brian M. ’88; daughter of the late Dr. Lawrence McCaleb ’28; sister of John “Jack” McCaleb ’54; grandmother of John “Jack” F. Loome, IV ’15; aunt of Scott McCaleb ’84, Phillip Boland ’00, and Patrick Boland ’03; great aunt of Luke McCaleb ’16.
Mary Constance “Connie” Grimm Britell, mother of Timothy J. ’80 and Andrew P. ’84; aunt of Matthew Grimm ’00 Kathleen Wall Casey, mother of Brendan ’89 and B. John ’92 Denis P. Collins ’67, brother of Kevin M. ’68, Joseph ’72, and Brendan F. ’76; uncle of Michael J. Nickolaus ’83 and Daniel B. ’11 James V. Coniglio ’53 Christopher A. Forte, brother of Vincent J. ’74 and Gregory T. ’78, uncle of Christopher D. ’02, Brian F. ’04, and Christian M. ’14 Michael O. Glynn, father of Michael O. III ’81 and Sean W. ’82; grandfather of Michael O. IV ’13 and Brendan P. ’13
Aaron Leathers ’92 Henry F. “Jack” Long III ’71
John W. Milligan, Sr., father of Gerald “Gerry” E. Milligan ’78 Michael T. O’Brien, son of the late John P. ’48; brother of John P. ’71 and James F. ’75 David R. Poole ’63 James L. Quinn ’49, brother of the late John Quinn ’51; grandfather of Christopher Quinn ’03, Michael Quinn ’05, Blake Dutton ’09, and Quinn Dutton ’11 Helen Sheehy, wife of the late Vincent A., III ’46; mother of Paul A. ’81; mother-in-law of Geoffrey Malloy, Sr ’78; grandmother of Vincent A., V ’06, Kevin J. ’08, Geoffrey M. Malloy, Jr. ’10, Andrew P. ’15, Patrick J. ’16, Owen M. ’18, and Frederick L. Fowler, IV ’24 Ann Sheridan, mother of Edward J. II ’82 William J. Sterling, brother of Harry A. ’59 Marcia Washington, mother of Marcus C. ’98
Deborah C. Lynch, sister of John R. ’68, Dennis ’72, and Brendan P. ’79 Gere C. Lynch, mother of Christopher H. ’87 and Timothy C. ’87; grandmother of Daniel P. Barry ’06 and Timothy R. Barry ’12 William R. MacTurk ’08 Meaghan McIntyre, daughter of James A. ’81, niece of Michael ’82, John F. ’86, and Joseph J. ’87
WINTER 2021
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Forever Gonzaga The Bicentennial Campaign For two centuries, Gonzaga has been committed to our Jesuit mission of forming young men of competence, conscience, and character eager to engage the world they encounter. With the Forever Gonzaga Bicentennial Campaign, we are committed to honoring that proud legacy, growing upon the solid foundation our school has built, and addressing the needs of tomorrow.
Visit Gonzaga.org/Bicentennial for information about the Forever Gonzaga campaign's five fundraising initiatives, renderings of planned spaces, updates on campaign progress, and more.
