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. BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2018-2019 Sean R. Creamer ‘82, Chairman Rev. David J. Collins, S.J. ‘83 Mary Beth Connell, MD Louvel J. Fauntroy ‘84 Rev. Thomas P. Gaunt, S.J. ‘71 Sean W. Glynn ‘82 Rodney A. Lawrence Rev. Gasper LoBiondo, S.J. John K.C. McHugh ‘93 William G. McMurtrie, Jr. ‘88 Rev. William H. Muller, S.J. Rev. Stephen W. Planning, S.J. James A. Ryan, Jr. ‘83 Leslie G. Sarasin Paul A. Sheehy ‘81 Edwin A. Sheridan IV ‘89 Lisa Ridgway Slater John R. Thompson III ‘84 Michael P. Tierney ‘70 Carroll M. Warfield ‘70 Thomas M. Buchanan ‘72, General Counsel John J. Carmody, Jr. ‘54, General Counsel Emeritus POSTMASTER and those with new addresses, please send address corrections to: The Good News, Attn: Lashieta Rogers, Gonzaga College High School, 19 I Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001; or via email to lrogers@gonzaga.org; phone: (202)336-7147. Please send editorial correspondence and alumni news to the same address as above: Attn: Mary Clare Glover, Editor, The Good News; via email: mcglover@gonzaga.org; phone: (202) 370-5353. Catch up with Gonzaga online at www.gonzaga.org.
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S p r i n g 2019
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Eye on Eye Street
F E A T U R E S
“Is God Purple? We’re about to find out.”
Service and Devotion
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Hail Mary, Hail Gonzaga! Remembering the greatest touchdown in the history of Gonzaga football.
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Going the Distance Faculty member and alumnus Ariel Laguilles is about to embark on the longest—and most meaningful— run of his life.
Four Honored With St. Aloysius Medal
28 The Transformative Power
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A round E y e S treet
G Fest N E W S
of Poetry When a group of Gonzaga students led a poetry workshop for fifthgraders from the inner-city, they ended up learning as much as they taught.
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Awards By the Numbers Eye on Eye Street Events Athletics Reunions Campus News
D epartments
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Message from the President News Of May They Rest In Peace
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President’s Message Dear Gonzaga Community,
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hen you think of Gonzaga, the first image that might come to your mind is one of students in a classroom learning to think critically about the subjects before them. That is because it is a hallmark of a Jesuit education to engage the world boldly in the pursuit of knowledge. However, this pursuit of knowledge involves more than just the “three R’s.” A Gonzaga education involves the entire community pursuing together the Kingdom of God. Because of this, the Gonzaga experience flows from the classroom out into the world beyond Eye Street. This engagement of the larger community occurs every time we host visitors to our campus and when our Eagles go out to engage the world.
“It is a hallmark of a Jesuit education to engage the world boldly in the pursuit of knowledge.”
As you read this issue of The Good News, I hope you will come away with a small sense of just how complex the modern educational experience is here on Eye Street. The engagement of our school with our alumni, with family members, with the business community, with other schools, and with those in need is broad in its scope. Anything but closed off to the world around us, our Eagles past and present are continuously engaging the larger community in order to learn, to grow, to serve, and ultimately to help build God’s Kingdom here on earth. There is indeed a lot more to being a Gonzaga man than just the “three R’s.” In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples, “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” I hope that as you read you will see all of the good that we try to do here on Eye Street and in the world. I hope you will see the light of Gonzaga burning brightly. I hope too, that it will inspire you to give glory to God who is the source of all these blessings. Thank you for all the ways that you support our beloved school. Thank you for all that you do to keep our light burning brightly. May God bless you with His love and His grace. Sincerely,
Rev. Stephen W. Planning, S.J. President
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Aw a r d s
Head of the Class
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very year, Gonzaga faculty members select two peers to honor as Teachers of the Year. The awards are formally given out at a ceremony hosted by the Archdiocese of Washington’s High School Principals’ Association (HSPA) in October. We asked this year’s Veteran and Novice Teacher of the Year to tell us about their teaching styles, and why they love working on Eye Street.
John Heetderks
Conor Scott
Veteran Teacher of the Year
Novice Teacher of the Year
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fter graduating from Fordham University with a
degree in Biology, John taught at Gonzaga for five years before leaving to pursue a Master’s degree and start a family. He returned to Gonzaga four years later in 2008 and has been here ever since. On his teaching style: “Early on in my career, I remember using an example that a science teacher of mine had used when I was in high school and I had found very compelling. I put this example out there and it fell totally flat. Later in that class, I made a silly comment and the students laughed. I realized that they responded to and sensed my authenticity. While I try to continue to grow in my areas of weakness, I feel that being myself and approaching the material in a way that is best suited to me has helped me become a better teacher.” On why he loves teaching at Gonzaga: “I can teach in an atmosphere that also encourages me to nurture the students’ souls and respond to their individual needs. I take my role as a Jesuit educator seriously and am honored to consider myself one. The goal is not just to educate our students in science, but to make them Men for Others. What better reason could there be?” gonzaga.org
orn in Baltimore, Conor studied Philosophy and Government and Politics at the University of Maryland and received his Master of Arts in Teaching from Notre Dame of Maryland University. He’s currently in his fourth year teaching Social Studies at Gonzaga. On his teaching style: “I try to foster a fun and relaxed environment in my classroom. I think students learn best when they enjoy what they’re doing, and so I make every effort to keep our class periods lively and entertaining, whether with games, music, or hands-on activities. Basically I want to be the complete opposite of how Ben Stein portrays high school economics teachers in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” On why he loves teaching at Gonzaga: “My favorite part of working at Gonzaga is the incredibly dynamic and talented faculty that I get to work with every day. Every day here is an opportunity to learn and grow— not only for students, but for teachers, too.” Gonzaga l Spring 2019
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Aw a r d s
Service and Devotion Four Honored With St. Aloysius Medal
From left to right: Rev. Joseph E. Lingan, S.J., Walter B. Hill, Jr., Carol H. Corgan, Hon. James A. Belson, Rev. Stephen W. Planning, S.J.
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n October 28, 2018, the Gonzaga community gathered at Georgetown University for the St. Aloysius Dinner, an annual celebration to thank benefactors who have been particularly generous to Gonzaga while paying tribute to several individuals who have demonstrated remarkable service to the school and broader community. A longtime judge, Hon. James “Jim” A. Belson ‘49 served as a member of the Judge Advocate General Corps of the U.S. Army, a partner at the law firm of Hogan and Hartson, and a judge for both the Superior Court and the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. In addition to his legal career, Jim helped establish the Class of 1949 Endowed Scholarship at Gonzaga and was a longtime volunteer and leader for the Sovereign Order of Malta. Faculty member Carol H. Corgan teaches Systematic Theology and the Mission of Jesus Christ at Gonzaga. She was instrumental in developing the Magis Program, which helps those working in Jesuit apostolates around the country
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deepen their knowledge and commitment to the Society’s mission. Trained in guiding other lay people through the Spiritual Exercises, Carol was one of the founding members of the Ignatian Formation Committee at Gonzaga, which organizes events that celebrate our Ignatian heritage and offers faculty and staff opportunities for spiritual growth and reflection. Early in his career working at the Export-Import Bank, Walter B. Hill, Jr. ‘83 returned to Gonzaga to coach wrestling. Soon after, Walter helped found the Keith-Sean Lindsey Mentoring program for AfricanAmerican students at Gonzaga. The program brought AfricanAmerican alumni back to Eye Street to share their experiences, offer advice, and give current students a sense of belonging to Gonzaga’s proud history. Walter went on to serve as President of the Gonzaga Alumni Association, a member of the Gonzaga Board of Directors, and as a member of the fundraising committee that dedicated one of the portals onto Buchanan Field to Gabe Smith, the first African-American graduate of Gonzaga.
Rev. Joseph “Joe” E. Lingan, S.J. ‘75 has had just about every role imaginable on Eye Street—student, alumnus, chaplain, teacher, minister, softball coach, member of the Board of Trustees, and for seven months, school president. After his ordination in 1990, Father Lingan embarked on a journey of service that has included grade schools, parishes, retreat centers, universities, and the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. After the tragic death of former President Father Allen Novotny, S.J., Father Lingan stepped into the role of interim President, leading Gonzaga through a very emotional time with compassion and grace. “The St. Aloysius Dinner is one of the highlights of the year at Gonzaga,” says Danny Costello ’72, Vice President for Major and Planned Gifts, and an organizer and presenter during the event. “It’s a chance to step back and recognize and celebrate those who truly embody the mission and spirit of Gonzaga. We are profoundly grateful for the honorees’ leadership and dedication.” gonzaga.org
By the Numbers
Building Community
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very year on Spring Break and during the summer, Gonzaga’s Campus Ministry department organizes nearly a dozen immersion trips for students. Led by members of Gonzaga’s faculty and staff, these groups travel to communities around the country where students have the opportunity to live simply, meet new people, participate in prayer and reflection, and understand and build social justice.
Here’s a look at 2018 Immersion Trips by the Numbers
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Number of students who went on Immersion Trips in 2018
29 35 86 26 Freshmen
Sophomores
Number of faculty chaperones who traveled with students
Juniors
Number of states visited Maryland
New Jersey
Florida
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Number of nights spent away on Immersion trips
Number of foreign countries visited: Mexico
30
Number of hours students spent restoring a house in New Orleans, LA
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Louisiana
Kansas
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Number of families in Apopka, FL who opened their homes and hosted our students for a week
South Dakota
Arizona
Number of miles from Washington, D.C. to Nogales, Mexico—the furthest of our trips in 2018
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Pairs of jeans donated from the Gonzaga community to the Kino Border Initiative, a Jesuit organization that runs programs for migrants along the Mexican border
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Eye On Eye Street
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Eye On Eye Street
Show Time
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n November 18, Gonzaga’s Admissions Office hosted more than 2,000 people for its annual Open House. The day draws 6th, 7th, and 8th graders and their families from all over the Washington area to take studentled tours of campus and speak with faculty, administrators, current parents, and coaches. A highlight is when families get the chance to watch the video, which was created by videographer and Gonzaga alumnus Ash Hawken ’53 along with the Admissions Office staff. “When the video starts, you can feel the crowd quiet down and settle in immediately,” says Andrew Battaile ’90, Gonzaga’s Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid. “It’s clear to me by their reactions that the grade-schoolers are paying close attention. They can feel the spirit of Gonzaga through the video—it’s as if they are picturing themselves as future Gonzaga students.”
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Events
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Grandparents Day September 23
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his fall, Gonzaga held its first Grandparents Day celebration, which included a beautiful morning Mass and brunch on campus. Hundreds of Gonzaga students and their grandparents, as well as Gonzaga alumni and their grandchildren, attended the event. “It was a wonderful chance for our students to share Gonzaga with these very special people in their lives, their grandparents,” says David Dugan ‘98, Gonzaga’s Vice President of Alumni and Advancement. “We plan to turn this into an annual event!”
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1. Gonzaga President Father Stephen Planning, S.J., celebrated Mass in St. Aloysius Church. 2, 3, 4. Gonzaga students with their grandparents. 5. During the Mass, students sang and offered the readings. 6. Afterwards, two grandparents spoke briefly at the brunch: Carole Napolitano (left), the proud grandmother of senior Piers and freshman Graham, and Judge Bill Rowan ‘57 (right), whose grandson Tommy is a member of the Class of 2022. ■
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G Fest October 13
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n a beautiful October evening, several hundred Gonzaga friends and alumni gathered on the outdoor patio at Old Angler’s Inn in Potomac to celebrate the life and legacy of Geordan Harris ’03, who passed away in 2013. In its fifth year, the G Fest raises money for the Geordan Harris Scholarship Fund at Gonzaga, which provides tuition assistance and a paid summer internship to a rising senior who exhibits strong leadership and motivation. 1. The Harris family from left to right: George Kambanis, Kristelle (Harris) Kambanis, Bob Harris ‘69, Heather Harris, Amanda Harris, and Hans Harris. 2. This year’s G Fest had the biggest turnout to date. “It was a huge success, largely due to the great work of the Harris family,” says David M. Dugan ‘98, Gonzaga’s Vice President of Alumni and Advancement. 3. The event included an outdoor bonfire on the patio at Old Angler’s Inn. 4. Kristelle Kambanis and Gonzaga President Reverend Stephen W. Planning, S.J. 5. Guests perused and bid on items during the silent auction. ■ gonzaga.org
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38th Annual GMC Gala December 1
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o go along with this year’s “Jingle and Mingle” Gala theme, a dozen golden bells dangled from the ceiling of the Arrupe Commons on the night of December 1. The bells were just one of countless details and creative touches that transformed Gonzaga’s campus into a Christmas wonderland for the event—Gonzaga’s biggest fundraiser of the year. “The Mothers Club always does a fantastic job putting together the Gala and this year was no exception,” said Gonzaga President Father Stephen Planning, S.J. “It was a wonderful way to kick off the Christmas season—all in support of the young men of Eye Street.” 1. Gala co-chairs (from left to right) Maggie Sinnott Mejia, Meghan O’Boyle, and Lidia Barnes. 2, 3. An army of volunteers descended on Eye Street the day before the Gala to transform Gonzaga for the event. 4. There were hundreds of silent auction items available for guests to bid on. 5. After cocktail hour, guests moved into the Carmody Center for dinner and the live auction. ■
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Gonzaga Business Network Career Fair January 3
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eld every January when college students are typically home for break, the GBN Career Fair gives young alumni the opportunity to meet and network with professionals from top national and local businesses. This year’s event was the eighth annual and drew more than 500 young alumni and 80 companies to the Carmody Center for a wonderful evening of job searching and connections.
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1. This year’s Career Fair welcomed graduates of Gonzaga, Holy Cross, Archbishop Carroll, Holy Child, Georgetown Visitation, Good Counsel, Stone Ridge, and the Washington Jesuit Academy. 2. Gonzaga Business Network members, from left to right: Elise Ravenscroft, Jerry Quinn, Chris Kelly, and Michael Crilley ’80. 3. The fair featured organizations from many different industries, including banking, insurance, real estate, government contracting, IT, security, nonprofit, and more. 4, 5. Participants had the chance to take part in mock interviews and have their resumes reviewed by professionals. ■ gonzaga.org
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At h l e t i c s
Eagles Fly High
Highlights from the fall 2018 season
Cross Country
Soccer
Water Polo
The Cross Country program had a strong season from the start, earning two major titles: its second straight WCAC Championship and third straight DCSAA crown. This year’s team was led by juniors Gavin McElhennon and Cullen Capuano who finished in second and third place respectively at the WCAC Championships. After winning the DCSAA title on November 2, Head Coach John Ausema told the Washington Post: “We have a strong group that bought into the program and ran well since the summer and even before that.”
Gonzaga Soccer started the season on a tear, winning seven of its first eight games, including a 6-3 win over Regis (from Colorado) in the Jesuit Soccer Classic on Buchanan Field. Postseason highlights included a 1-0 overtime victory in the WCAC quarterfinals against Bishop O’Connell on October 30. On November 6, the team beat Theodore Roosevelt in the DCSAA quarterfinals, 5-1. Six Eagles were named to AllWCAC teams, and Ryan Elie ‘20 was named second team AllMet. The Eagles finished 14-7 overall and will have 12 seniors returning for the 2019 season.
A highlight of varsity Water Polo’s season came on October 29, when the Eagles beat Landon 13-10. Called the ViolaBartman Cup, the annual matchup is named after the founders of the two programs— the only varsity high school Water Polo programs in the Washington area. Other high points of the season included trips to the Sunlight Shootout at Xavier High School in Cincinnati, OH, and to the Prep Eastern’s tournament in Reading, PA, where senior Quinn Mahoney was a first team all-tournament selection.
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At h l e t i c s
Athletic Honors Congratulations to the following student-athletes who were selected for All-WCAC and AllMetropolitan teams!
Washington Post All-Metropolitan Cross Country 2nd Team: Cullen Capuano ‘20, Gavin McElhennon ‘20
Football
Football 2018 was a year to remember for Gonzaga Football. The team captured its first WCAC Championship since 2002 with a dramatic, last-second Hail Mary pass to secure the victory over DeMatha (see page 22). Other highlights from the season included wins over St. John’s in the WCAC semifinal game; Bishop Sullivan in Virginia Beach; two-time national champion Don Bosco Prep from New Jersey; and Georgetown Prep in the Jesuit Gridiron Classic. Twentytwo Eagles were named to All-WCAC teams, nine were named to All-Met teams, and senior Defensive End Joseph Weté was an Under Armour All-American. Head Coach Randy Trivers was also named ALLUSA Football Coach of the Year by USA Today High School Sports. The team wrapped up the season ranked #1 in the area by The Washington Post.
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First Team: John Marshall ‘19, Joseph Weté ’19, Caleb Williams ’21 2nd Team: Luke Petitbon ‘20 Honorable Mention: Aaron Davis ‘19, Sean Johns ‘19, Hunter Stewart ‘19, Sam Sweeney ‘19, Olu Fashanu ‘20
Soccer 2nd Team: Ryan Elie ‘19
All-WCAC Cross Country 1st Team: David Giannini ‘19, Cullen Capuano ‘20, Luke Francese ’20, Gavin McElhennon ‘20, Patrick Donnelly ‘21
Soccer 1st Team: Pierre DeLaCroix Vaubois ’19, Ryan Elie ‘19, Brady Young ‘20 2nd Team: Mark Western ‘20 Honorable Mention: Gonzalo Bartoli Pinero ‘19, Sebastian Tabash ’19, Finn McCaslin ‘20
Football WCAC Offensive Player of the Year: Caleb Williams ‘21 1st Team: Aaron Davis ‘19, Dean Engram ‘19, Sean Johns ‘19, Marco Kemp ‘19, John Marshall ‘19, Sam Sweeney ‘19, Joseph Weté ’19, Olu Fashanu ‘20, Luke Petitbon ‘20, Caleb Williams ‘21 2nd Team: Justin Ball ’19, Loic Sangwa ‘19, Hunter Stewart ‘19, Lucas Warfield ’19, Jestus Johnson ‘20, Kye Holmes ‘21, Jackson Leggans ‘21 Honorable Mention: Malcolm Terry ‘20, Jalen McMurray ‘21, Grant Parker ‘21, Aaron Turner ‘21, Joshua Williams ‘21
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Reunions
Welcome Home
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Nearly 500 alumni returned to Eye Street for their class reunions on Saturday, November 3rd. After the Eagles took on St. John’s (in a game that they lost but avenged one week later!), alumni gathered in the quad for oysters and drinks before heading inside the Carmody Center for dinner. Here are some great pictures of the Classes of 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, and 2013 celebrating their reunions with their classmates. Thank you to everyone who came back!
Class of 1973
Class of 1978
Class of 1983
Class of 1988
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Reunions
Class of 1993
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Class of 1998
Class of 2003
Class of 2008
Class of 2013
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C a m p u s N e ws
Welcome New Board Members Gonzaga is thrilled to add the following three new members to its Board of Trustees. Former Gonzaga parent Dr. Mary Beth Connell is the PreHealth Program Coordinator at Georgetown University. A physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, she completed her undergraduate studies at Notre Dame University and received her medical degree from Georgetown. As former chair of Georgetown’s Medical Alumni Board and president of the Georgetown Alumni Association, she has extensive fundraising and alumni relations experience. She and her husband, Marc, an orthopedic surgeon, have been steadfast supporters of Gonzaga since their two sons, Woods ’16 and Marc ’13, arrived on Eye Street. Mary Beth and Marc live in Bethesda, and have a college-aged daughter in addition to their two sons.
John Kyle Collins McHugh ’93 is the President of Francis J. Collins Funeral Home, Inc., which has been owned and operated by his family for three generations, since 1939. John is a graduate of Loyola University Maryland and the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. He has served on Gonzaga’s President’s Council, is an active member of the Advancement Committee, and is an inductee in the Joe Kozik Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 1992 championship lacrosse team. His family has a long history of generosity to Gonzaga—the Collins Rotunda and Collins Quadrangle, the Collins-McHugh Eye Street Portal, an endowed chair in English Literature, and a scholarship fund are all named in appreciation of their support. John is one of many family members to graduate from Gonzaga, including his father Marty ‘52, brothers Bobby ‘88 and Terry ‘96, and several uncles and cousins. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Shepherd Foundation and a parishioner at The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Washington. John lives in Chevy Chase with his wife Isabelle and their three sons.
John R. Thompson III ‘84 is a graduate of Princeton University, where later he served as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach. Following his time at Princeton, John was the Head Coach at Georgetown University and since 2017, he has been the Assistant Head Coach of the U.S. Men’s National Basketball team. At Gonzaga, he serves on the Community & lgnatian Identity Committee, is a member of Gonzaga’s Onyx Alumni Association, and is a leader of the Gonzaga Rugby booster club (John’s wife, Monica, serves as its President). Consistent and generous donors to Gonzaga, the Thompsons live in Arlington with their son, John ‘19.
2018-2019 Board of Trustees Sean R. Creamer ‘82, Chairman Rev. David J. Collins, S.J. ‘83 Mary Beth Connell, MD Louvel J. Fauntroy ‘84 Rev. Thomas P. Gaunt, S.J. ‘71 Sean W. Glynn ‘82 Rodney A. Lawrence
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Rev. Gasper LoBiondo, S.J. John K.C. McHugh ‘93 William G. McMurtrie, Jr. ‘88 Rev. William H. Muller, S.J. Rev. Stephen W. Planning, S.J. James A. Ryan, Jr. ‘83 Leslie G. Sarasin
Paul A. Sheehy ‘81 Edwin A. Sheridan IV ‘89 Lisa Ridgway Slater John R. Thompson III ‘84 Michael P. Tierney ‘70 Carroll M. Warfield ‘70
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From left to right: Rev. Gasper LoBiondo, S.J., Rev. Stephen W. Planning, S.J., Rev. Robert Hussey, S.J., Sean Creamer, and Thomas Every.
Partners in Mission Gonzaga Signs New Sponsorship Agreement with the Provincial Superior of the Society of Jesus
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n September, Gonzaga was pleased to sign a new Sponsorship Agreement with the Provincial Superior of the Society of Jesus. In order for a high school to call itself “Jesuit,” it must be evaluated by the leadership of the Society of Jesus every five years to ensure compliance with the Society’s religious values and educational standards. In addition to Gonzaga completing a self-study, a visiting team evaluated the school over a period of gonzaga.org
several days. The process results in a Sponsorship Agreement between Gonzaga and the leadership of the Jesuits guaranteeing the relationship for another five years. The Agreement outlines the mutual duties and responsibilities of both parties for preserving the academic and spiritual traditions of the Society of Jesus. The new agreement was signed by the Provincial Superior of the Society of Jesus, Rev. Robert Hussey,
S.J., and the Superior of the Jesuit Community, Rev. Gasper LoBiondo, S.J., representing the Jesuits. It was also signed by the President of Gonzaga, Rev. Stephen Planning, S.J., and Gonzaga’s Board Chair, Mr. Sean Creamer. Said Father Planning: “This process ensures that Gonzaga will keep alive and well the spiritual and educational traditions of the Society of Jesus on Eye Street for generations to come.” Gonzaga l Spring 2019
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Talking History
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hen Social Studies teacher Ed Donnellan saw that one of his favorite writers and historians was scheduled to speak at the National Archives, he couldn’t resist asking him to make a stop beforehand at Gonzaga. “It was a total Hail Mary,” says Ed of the email he sent to Yale professor David Blight on October 17. “I didn’t really expect him to respond.” But Blight, a former high school teacher, responded quickly—saying he’d be honored to visit Gonzaga before continuing on to the Archives to speak about his new book, Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. Gonzaga students filled the Sheehy Theater on October 18 to hear Blight talk about the book, which tells the story of Douglass’ life and paints a powerful portrait of one of the most important American voices of the 19th century. A longtime researcher of Douglass, Blight decided to write this biography after he came across a long-lost, private collection of artifacts and documents that shed light on Douglass’ later life, a period not many other historians have focused on. Blight also praised Gonzaga students for the slavery research project they began during the summer of 2017, saying that historical factfinding journeys can often lead to uncovering and facing painful truths. “It’s difficult, I know this,” he said. “But this is also what’s so exciting about history and research.”
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From left to right: seniors Patricio Fraga-Errecart, Collin Dent, Daniel Podratsky, and Edward O’Keefe
Academic Honors
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his past fall, seniors Collin Dent, Patricio Fraga-Errecart, Edward O’Keefe, and Daniel Podratsky were named semifinalists in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Corporation competition. About 1.6 million students from about 22,000 high schools entered the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2017 Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Those who are named Semifinalists represent less than one percent of high school seniors in the U.S.
In addition, 17 other Gonzaga seniors were named Commended Scholars in the program. Congratulations to those students, who are listed below: Joseph Boland Michael Gaines William Hammond Lucas Jung Stefan Lazaroae Timothy Marcille Patrick Mulligan John O’Toole John Pfefferkorn Daniel Roginski William Sanders Parker Scanlon Jason Shephard Stephen Sloniewsky Shane Tomb Ryan Vigilante Peter Zinsner gonzaga.org
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Gonzaga Celebrates St. Aloysius’ Jubilee “Compassion for those in need is the core of the heart of Christ, and is the true embodiment of living as a man for and with others.”
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n Wednesday, February 13, Gonzaga students participated in a day-long celebration of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, who died 450 years ago after going out into the streets of Rome to tend to plague victims. In an all-school Mass to begin the day, Father Planning spoke about St. Aloysius’ extraordinary compassion despite organized opposition to it. “Compassion for those in need is the core of the heart of Christ, and is the true embodiment of living as a man for and with others,” he said. With this idea in mind, students were invited to learn more about “modern day plagues” in our own community, including homelessness, hunger, social isolation, and incarceration. In the morning, seniors visited a number of local nonprofit
The day began with an all-school Mass and included visits to local non-profits as well as special guest speakers on Eye Street. and community service organizations including DC Central Kitchen, the Poverty Clinic at Georgetown University Law School, AARP DC, and DC Tenant/Landlord Court. Meanwhile, back on campus, freshmen, sophomores, and juniors were invited to attend a variety of panel discussions and special guest speakers. Representatives from Housing Up, S.O.M.E., McKenna Center, NETWORK, Catholic Charities, Northwest Pregnancy Centers, Christ House, and more led discussions with students. In the afternoon, students gathered to reflect on the day. Jorge Santana ’19 said, “As Gonzaga men, it’s important that we stay educated on these issues and do whatever we can to help in our own way.” Gonzaga l Spring 2019
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F e at u r e
Hail Mary, Hail Gonzaga! Remembering the greatest touchdown in the history of Gonzaga football.
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he clock read :04 and the Eagles were 53 yards away from the end zone, trailing DeMatha by three points. Sophomore quarterback Caleb Williams bounced up and back and then back up into the pocket before launching a Hail Mary pass 68 yards into the air and dropping it perfectly into the hands of senior wide receiver John Marshall, who was surrounded by five Stag defenders. The dramatic finish—which included three touchdowns and three lead changes in the last 30 seconds—gave Gonzaga its first WCAC Championship since 2002. It also caught the attention
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of football fans around the country, many of whom called it the greatest high school football game ever played. The catch was covered by Sports Illustrated, Good Morning America, and ESPN, where Scott Van Pelt featured it as his “Best Thing I Saw Today.” Those who were at the game—or watching it around the country on livestream—say they’ll never forget that moment. We asked a handful of coaches, teachers, announcers, players, and alumni to take us back to that cold night in November at Catholic University, when Caleb Williams and John Marshall connected on the greatest pass
in Gonzaga football history. Caleb Williams, Gonzaga Quarterback: “I was crying on the sidelines after Sam Sweeney scored. Everybody thought we had won. But then I saw the ball get kicked right down the middle, and I had a feeling they were going to return it for a touchdown. All of DeMatha’s players were going crazy, and everyone on our sideline was just heartbroken. I wiped my tears away really aggressively, and my focus came completely back. On the first play, I went to Dean [Engram] and that got us around the 40 yard line. At that point, my only thought was, I’m gonzaga.org
F e at u r e in range. When the ball first came out of my hands I felt like I had put too much on it, but then I saw it in the air and I knew it was going to get there. They were wearing red and blue gloves, and we were wearing white. I saw John’s white gloves go up above everybody, and I just had a feeling deep down that he caught it.” Ken Meringolo, announcer for 1st Amendment Sports and Bishop McNamara Alumnus: “I have been asked a million times if I planned to say, ‘Is God Purple? We’re about to find out.’ On my honor as a Mustang, I had no such plan. It was only the third game we had ever broadcast and it was hard enough to remember to thank sponsors and other league folks. In my ear, I could barely hear my co-announcer Tim Strachan repeat the old line ‘God doesn’t care, but his mother does.’ That was right at the snap, and as Caleb put himself in position to heave the ball downfield, Tim’s thought kind of prompted mine. The funny part about it is that I didn’t hear myself say it, and immediately forgot I said it in the mayhem that ensued. It is crazy to me that on the broadcast, it comes through clean and timed perfectly.” Mark Howell ’73, faculty member: “I was standing on our sideline in the end zone during the final play. I remember seeing Caleb buying time, and thinking he’s going to get the pass off... this has a chance. I saw John Marshall jump as the ball arrived, surrounded by a crowd. He seemed to be reaching higher than anyone else. I remember shouting, ‘He caught it!’ Then, gonzaga.org
for a moment, I stood there, stunned, my mouth hanging open. I could sense the roar of the crowd, but it felt like a deafening silence for a few moments. I walked onto the field looking at faces, seeing shock, joy, tears, screaming, and hugging. I remember several people saying, ‘What just happened?’ Even now, I think, it is still sinking in.”
and it all payed off.”
Conrad Singh ‘00, Gonzaga Digital Media Manager, and Assistant Football Coach: “We had practiced the Hail Mary the night before, going in the same direction under the lights on Catholic’s field. Caleb to John is what we rehearsed, and it’s exactly what happened. It’s crazy how God blesses those who believe, and those who expect and prepare, with great faith and love, to do great things. There really were no other calls to make—the play before the Hail Mary and the Hail Mary are two plays we practice every single week. Our belief in Coach T and in everything we do allowed us to win in the most dramatic fashion conceivable. It all came down to that final play,
life was playing in that game and making that play.”
John Marshall, Gonzaga Wide Receiver: “I weaved through and went up for a perfectly thrown ball by Caleb. I don’t remember much about the moment I caught the ball, except coming out and seeing white jerseys run all over Catholic’s field. I’ll never forget that. One of the best experiences of my
Malcolm Johnson ‘94, former Gonzaga football player and Gonzaga Athletic Hall of Fame inductee: “I was in a gym in Los Angeles watching my son’s travel basketball game. Thanks to the blessing of livestream technology, I was able to see it live, and I couldn’t believe what I was watching! As the game wound down, each play was greater than the last. I had one eye on my son’s game and one eye on my phone. My heart was racing, my palms were sweaty, I felt every up and down throughout—including ultimately the exhilaration of victory! It was amazing. Gonzaga l Spring 2019
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F e at u r e As a former player who learned the game from some of the all-time greats—Kozik, Maddox, and Collins—it was especially gratifying to watch Gonzaga win the greatest game ever against ‘that team from Hyattsville.’ Every Gonzaga man will always have a piece of his heart on Eye Street. Win or lose, we love the fight that our Eagles display whenever they wear the
People started to slowly rally as DeMatha kicked off. I heard some students saying prayers. On the last play of the game, people around me held hands or put their arms around each other. I closed my eyes when Caleb launched the ball, and opened them to see a blur of athletes in the end zone jump up to try and catch the ball. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but it
link. By this point, we were close to home but my kids were still hungry, so I told them we could stop at McDonald’s. When Caleb dropped back for that final pass, the four of us were watching on my phone from the McDonald’s parking lot. We were all glued to the screen. When the referee signal touchdown, we all started screaming in the car. We were
purple and white. We are all so proud to see the program back on top.”
looked to me like one of our players had gotten it. As the official raised both hands for touchdown, I’ll never forget the crowd roaring behind me.”
high-fiving and hugging and cheering and just going nuts. Anyone in the parking lot at that point must have thought we were crazy. We piled out and I told them to get whatever the heck they wanted. So we order shakes and fries and maybe some nuggets too—I don’t know and I don’t care. If I couldn’t be at the game with my students, being in my car in a McDonald’s parking lot with my kids was the next best place to be.”
Casey Flynn, Gonzaga faculty member: “With a few minutes left in the game, I made my way over to the student section. As we started our unbelievable comeback, the students were getting more and more excited, hope was rising and you could feel the electricity in the student section. Of course, all of that changed when DeMatha returned the kickoff for a touchdown. The students and young alumni who had just so joyously celebrated our touchdown now had a look of absolute devastation on their faces. You could hear a pin drop.
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Paul Buckley ’86, Gonzaga faculty member: “I took my three kids to the game. By the start of the fourth quarter, standing in the cold, my kids were getting restless and hungry. We decided to leave after DeMatha had taken a 33-21 lead. On the way home, I had my son Anthony follow the game on Twitter, reading tweets while I drove. A couple of minutes into the drive I remembered that the game was being livestreamed, so while at a red light, I found the email from Joe Reyda about the livestream and clicked on the
Randy Trivers, Gonzaga Head Football Coach: “When the ball came down in the back of the end zone, I knew someone caught it, but I was just waiting for the officials to give the TD signal. It seemed like it took forever. When the referee’s gonzaga.org
F e at u r e hands finally went up, I dropped to my knees overcome by emotion and cumulative exhaustion. It was as special a moment as I’ve ever experienced in my life.” John Mastal ‘89, Gonzaga parent: “A 7th grade boy from Blessed Sacrament School was sitting next to me and two
Gonzaga moms, Stephanie McGrail and Kate McAuliffe. He thought it was cool that the Gonzaga boys were praying, so he used his iPhone to record the video of the fateful ‘Our Father during the Hail Mary’ that I later posted online. Right before the play, I said, ‘We will find out if God is purple’ just like the announcer on the livestream! We were all shocked and said ‘It’s official, God is purple!’ What an amazing moment for Gonzaga.” gonzaga.org
Jeff Clay ’94, former Gonzaga football player and Gonzaga Athletic Hall of Fame inductee: “I was on the Gonzaga sideline when Caleb threw the ball, and I immediately felt like it had a shot. I actually ran onto the field from behind the play as the ball was descending into the end zone. Until the official raised his arms and signaled
phone and began sending it out to alumni all over the country. My last game as an Eagle was a loss in the WCAC Championship to DeMatha. These kids this year truly gave me a gift.”
touchdown, I didn’t hear anything—it was truly like having ear plugs in my ears. Once he signaled touchdown, I heard an eruption of cheers. By then I was already on the field inside the numbers! I was being such an obnoxious kid, but it was great. When I went home, I turned on ESPN and saw Scott Van Pelt leading SportsCenter with the last three touchdowns. I watched it at least five times, even recorded the screen with my
end zone. When Caleb launched the ball, Joe Reyda, Tom Every, and I ran out onto the field. When the ball disappeared into the group of players in the end zone, my heart seemed to stop in my chest for a moment and my breath froze. This was followed by an adrenaline rush of pure joy. I still feel it when I watch the replay. A great day for Eye Street!” ■
Rev. Stephen W. Planning, S.J., Gonzaga President: “I was on the sideline alongside our players about 75 yards from our
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Going the Distance Faculty member and alumnus Ariel Laguilles is about to embark on the longest—and most meaningful—run of his life.
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n May, Modern Languages teacher Ariel Laguilles ‘96 will become the first person to attempt a 406-mile, 8-day challenge called the Ignatian Run. The route follows the Camino Ignacio in Spain, which stretches from Loyola to Manresa. It retraces St. Ignatius’ steps when he walked from his birthplace of Azpeitia to the Cave of Manresa, where he spent a year in prayer, ultimately developing what we now know as the Spiritual Exercises. We talked with Ariel about why he’s doing the run—and how he’s preparing for such an incredible challenge. Have you always been a runner? Growing up, I was more of a tennis player. I didn’t get into competitive running until after college, when I was living in Nicaragua as a Jesuit Volunteer. When I returned to the states, I started out racing shorter road races (5k-10k) and then began doing half marathons and eventually got into the longer distances. I’ve done 11 marathons and over 20 ultra-trail races so far—an ultramarathon is any distance over 26.2 miles. Running has evolved into an integral part of my life. Aside from the health benefits, I enjoy being able to explore the outdoors on foot, whether it be
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the familiar streets of DC or some trail in the middle of the woods. There’s also a mental element to distance running that I enjoy. I attempted the Leadville Trail 100, a 100-mile race in Colorado, eight years ago, but I had to drop out halfway because of an injury. Failure is always a part of running longer races and although that can be scary and disappointing, it is an important part of the sport. When it happens, it forces me to reflect, and allows me to grow as a person and a runner. That’s one thing I love about endurance running: It’s not easy and anything can happen over the course of a day while pushing yourself to your limit. The Ignatian principles of consolation and desolation add a spiritual element to ultra-running for me. I am excited to take on the challenge of the Ignatian Run and am confident that this journey will allow me to explore what I am physically capable of, as well as recognize how God will be present throughout the experience, as much in the successes as the obstacles. Why did you decide to participate in the Ignatian Run? Running hundreds of miles can be done anywhere, but for me, what makes this challenge special is that it will be in a place
of extraordinary significance. The journey St. Ignatius embarked on, from his birthplace of Loyola to Manresa, where he developed the Spiritual Exercises, eventually led to the creation of the Society of Jesus, and later, Jesuit schools as we know them now. As a product of Jesuit education (Gonzaga and Boston College), a former Jesuit Volunteer (Nicaragua ‘00-’02), and now a teacher in my 15th year at a Jesuit school, I feel a personal connection that calls me to the Camino Ignaciano. As an endurance athlete, I gonzaga.org
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am also drawn to the challenge of running the entire way, and being the first person to do so. What are your goals going into this experience? One of my main goals is to help promote the Camino Ignaciano and the Manresa Cup. I have been working with Varsity Tours, the company that organized our summer Modern Language trip to Argentina and Uruguay. They also organize the Gonzaga Rugby tours. Varsity Tours has launched the Manresa Cup, which is a year-round event that aims to bring together gonzaga.org
athletic teams from Jesuit schools around the world for friendly competition in Barcelona and Manresa, as well as to learn more about the life of St. Ignatius. Another goal will be to try and set the fastest known time (FKT) for the Camino Ignaciano by running it in about eight days. What’s your training schedule like? My training includes a lot of consistent running, increasing my mileage gradually, and focusing on eating well and staying injuryfree. I’m also very grateful for
faculty yoga every week in the Jesuit Dining Room—it is an important complement to all the running I am doing! What are you looking forward to about the run? When I was on the Camino de Santiago last year with a group of students, I had to hold myself back from taking off and running the rest of the way! There is a sense of joy that I feel when I am running, and to do so in a place with such significance will be an extraordinary opportunity. ■ Gonzaga l Spring 2019
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The Transformative Power of Poetry When a group of Gonzaga students led a poetry workshop for fifth-graders from the inner-city, they ended up learning as much as they taught. by Joseph Ross
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t was 7:45 in the morning on a grey day, and the rain was coming down hard. But even the wet February weather couldn’t keep my spirits down. I was on my way to meet up with eight of my students in Our Lady’s Chapel, and then board a bus to the Bishop Walker School, a tuition-free school for boys in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Southeast, D.C. The students, all juniors and seniors, were part of Gonzaga Poets & Writers, a club I cofounded with several students in the fall of 2012, my first semester teaching at Gonzaga. Over the past six and a half years, the group has grown gradually; some years it’s bigger than gonzaga.org
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others. We hold several poetry slams each school year, organize an annual poetry contest, read poems at the Freshman Retreat each January, and for the last two years, host alumni poetry readings on Gonzaga’s campus. We meet every Thursday and I’m consistently amazed at the way poetry draws students. The eight poets who were with me on this February morning were part of a group called Young Poets 2 Young Poets, a subset of Gonzaga Poets & Writers that introduces young people to poetry. On this trip, we planned to hold a poetry workshop for fifth graders. It would be the first time many of my students had ever done something like this. Some of them were excellent poets. Some were students who loved poetry. But all of them had experienced the transformative power of poetry—they’d seen it give their feelings a voice, a way to name and understand the world around them. I knew they could do this. gonzaga.org
As the bus made its way across town, through Washington, D.C.’s morning rush hour, I don’t think the boys, or I, had any sense of the powerful experience awaiting us.
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e began planning for our trip to Bishop Walker School in early January. The students met a few times in my classroom in
Kohlmann Hall to create a schedule for our visit, and select the topics for the poems. Led by Lucas Jung ‘19 and Malcolm Terry ‘20, the group also included Hunter Stewart ‘19, Aaron Davis ‘19, Cole Strudwick ‘19, Hameed Nelson ‘19, Derrick Aikens ‘20, and Wade Davis ‘20. When we arrived, we were greeted by our host, Mr. Bardell Brown, a BWS teacher and a former student of mine at Archbishop Carroll High School. He gave us a tour of the school, which goes from kindergarten through fifth grade, before taking us to meet the group of ten enthusiastic fifth graders we’d be working with that day. Ms. Nelson, the fifth grade teacher, asked her boys to introduce themselves first, then the Gonzaga students did the same. When it was Hunter Stewart’s turn, he spoke about how often young black men are told not to express their feelings. “Poetry is important in my life because it gives me the chance to name and share my emotions,” he said. Lucas Jung described how poetry has
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helped him navigate various challenges in his life. You could tell from the looks on the boys’ faces: They were in, they were ready.
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alcolm Terry, who served as our MC, divided everyone into small groups. Once there, the Gonzaga students asked the BWS students to write a poem on one of three topics: “On My Street,” “Who I Want to Be,” or “A Person I Admire.” Then the writing began. The fifth graders didn’t need much encouragement, they dove right in. You could see the intense effort. They struggled to find the right word. They engaged in some quiet conversation as they wrote, then an occasional eruption of success when they discovered a good line. They shared their poems within their small groups and
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then we organized a poetry slam for the whole class. We moved the desks around facing a central point. They asked their teacher, Ms. Nelson, to turn down the lights. She kept one light up high, front and center, as if it
were “the mic.” Here comes the magic. We all snapped our fingers for Malcolm as he introduced each poet. Most of the fifth graders read their work. Not much shyness here. Malcolm mixed the Gonzaga poets in too. gonzaga.org
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It was working. Some of the fifth graders read poems describing their love of football, their admiration of LeBron James. Others wrote of the motorcycles on their street, of gunshots they hear regularly at night. They wrote of heroic grandmothers and best friends. The poems these boys wrote contained remarkable honesty and bravery. One fifth grade boy wrote about the violence in his neighborhood. He closed his poem with the line, “bullets have no names.” Lucas Jung read a poem he wrote called “Anxiety.” Cole Strudwick read a poem praising the courage of Colin Kaepernick. In our discussion at the end of the poetry slam, one fifth grader made us all laugh by saying: “I thought a poetry exercise would be boring. But it wasn’t. I loved every minute of it.” We took some photographs, gonzaga.org
talked casually, then shook a lot of hands and bumped a lot of fists before we left. We promised to come back or to have the boys visit Gonzaga one day before the school year ends. Part of the Bishop Walker School Mission Statement reads: “The Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys strives to alter the educational and social trajectory of children from traditionally underserved communities and prepare them for leadership and service in their communities and well beyond.” We were thrilled to have been part of this mission, if only for one day.
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n the way back to Gonzaga, the rain kept coming down, but our students were talkative and excited. When we got back to Eye Street, we went into the chapel for a brief reflection before the students went their separate ways, back to the routine of classes and schoolwork. I like to ask short, openended questions. So I asked our young poets, “What did you see
today?” Many noted the difficult topics that came up in the students’ poems. They talked about the boys’ openness to a new experience. I asked them, “What surprised you?” Many were impressed by the easy nature of the fifth graders. They were “all in” as soon as we started. Our poets observed the obvious love these fifth graders feel for their school. We committed to find some ways to stay in touch with these boys and to build a partnership between our poets and theirs, our school and theirs. Lucille Clifton, an African American poet from Maryland, one of the last poets we study in American Literature, is known to have said: “Poetry saves lives from the inside out.” During this magical morning, we certainly saw some of that.
English teacher Joseph Ross is the author of three books of poetry. His fourth collection, Raising King, will be published in the Fall of 2020. ■ Gonzaga l Spring 2019
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N e ws o f. . .
Tom Touchet ’84 returned to Gonzaga in early November to talk to current students about his career path and what led him to start his own company, Smart City Media. Based in New York, Smart City Media’s mission is to make cities smarter, safer, and better connected by delivering helpful locationbased media to users in real-time. Tom, who’s pictured here with students, talked about the importance and value of failure and persistence saying, “Nothing is harder than starting your own business.” After studying at the University of Virginia, Tom began a career in media, working at Fox Broadcasting, ABC News, and NBC News, where he was executive producer of the Today Show. He then pivoted to the world of entrepreneurship, founding several companies including Smart City Media, which is now one of the fastest growing companies in the Internet of Things (IoT) market.
Major General John Ewers ’77 (right) recently retired after serving 34 years in the United States Marine Corps. He is pictured here next to Former Secretary of Defense and Former Marine Corps General James Mattis (left).
Faculty and Staff Gonzaga athletic trainer Zane Cribbs and Orlando Treadwell welcomed a baby girl named Zayla Brooke on January 31... Religion teacher Laura Hudson and her husband, Kevin, welcomed a baby girl, Kathryn Pixley, on February 19…In May 2019, Modern Languages teacher and Gonzaga alumnus Ariel Laguilles ‘96 will become the first person to attempt a 406mile, eight-day challenge called the Ignatian Run (see more on page 26)… James Manion ’94 and his wife, Alyson, welcomed a daughter, Claudia Jean, on March 4. Claudia joins her older sister, Mavis.
at the University of Tartu, Estonia in November 2018. Terence has taught in three former Soviet Republics in the past: Estonia (2008), Czech Republic (2010), and Hungary (2012). He is currently Special Counsel to Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP in Miami, FL, and an adjunct
1960s Terence G. Connor ’60 began teaching a class in U.S. Employment Discrimination law
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instructor at the University of Miami Law School… Jim Moriarty ’62 has three books for sale on Amazon.com: Professor Moriarty’s Short Stories, Bad Actors, and War is Hell! Professor Moriarty’s Short Stories, Vol. 2… After more than 43 years working as a specialist in endodontics,
Patrick Samsel ’01 was recognized in DCA Live’s 2018 Top Corporate Counsel as one of the DC area’s top in-house lawyers. Patrick and his wife, Rachel, also welcomed their first child in January 2019.
gonzaga.org
N e ws o f. . .
Michael C. DiLorenzo ’86, Assistant U.S. Attorney in the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, received the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award for leading the successful prosecution of Ahmed Abu Khatallah for the terrorist attack on the U.S. Special Mission and Annex in Benghazi, Libya, which resulted in the death of four Americans, including the U.S. Ambassador to Libya. He’s pictured here (left) next to former Attorney General, Jeff Sessions (right).
West Point graduate Mark Tilch ’03 (second from left) serves as a board member for Skate for the 22, a nonprofit that was started to respond to the startling statistic that every day in America, an average of 22 veterans commit suicide. Skate for the 22 provides hockey lessons to veterans at no cost in order to get them back into a supportive, team environment. Mark also speaks regularly at suicide prevention seminars. Dr. Gael M. Delany ‘66 has retired from private practice. He is still busy professionally as he was recently appointed an Affiliate Faculty Member at the
Patrick Jordan ’97 returned to Gonzaga on Thursday, January 31 to speak to an AP Human Geography class about the lack of affordable housing in large cities such as Washington, D.C. Patrick is Vice President of Enterprise Advisors for Enterprise Community Partners, Inc, a nonprofit whose mission is to create opportunity for low- and moderate-income people through affordable housing. A former Math and Physics teacher at Gonzaga, Patrick spoke with students about the challenges and opportunities involved in urban planning and how history and policy impact the lives of those in their community. gonzaga.org
Navy Postgraduate Dental School in Bethesda, MD, is a member of the Academic Dean’s Faculty at the University of Maryland Dental School, and continues his pro bono work treating dental patients at the Spanish Catholic Centers in Washington, D.C. and Wheaton, MD, and traveling to Indian reservations on medical missions. He looks forward to spending more time with his ten grandchildren, checking off his “bucket list,” and enjoying new adventures with his wife and adult children...John Engelstad ’69 and his wife, Celia, welcomed a great grandson, Ryker Lee Davis, on November 17, 2017.
1970s Gonzaga Board member and alumnus Thomas Gaunt, S.J. ‘71 Gonzaga l Spring 2019
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N e ws o f. . . recently edited a book called Pathways to Religious Life (Oxford University Press) examining the many challenges and changes for religious orders of men and women in the U.S... Former Gonzaga President Rev. Joseph Lingan, S.J. ’75 recently left the Georgetown Jesuit
Thomas Holland ’06 and Kristina Rowe were married on October 14, 2017 in Richmond, Virginia. Several Gonzaga alumni were there to celebrate with them, including (left to right) Martin Holland ‘01, Michael Holland ’95, Michael Hadeed ’06, Thomas Holland ’06, Anthony Holland ’11, Matthew Chandler ’06, and Richard Barry ’06.
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Musicians Spencer Ernst ’08 (left) and Max Ernst ’08 (right) had a song called “Trampoline” featured in a new Apple MacBook Air commercial. The twin brothers, along with Spencer’s wife, Chelsea, are in a group called SHAED. The trio wrote the song and recorded it in their home studio. Community to serve as a spiritual director at the Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center in Sandy Springs, GA, just outside of Atlanta. This is part of the expanding work of the Maryland Province in Atlanta, which includes Cristo Rey High School Atlanta and St. Thomas More Parish in Decatur. Father Lingan will live at the parish rectory, along with Father Tim Stephens, S.J., a former Gonzaga faculty member who is newly assigned to the parish... Major General John Ewers ’77 retired after serving 34 years in the United
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A group of seven alumni from the Class of 2009 volunteered at the Father McKenna Center this past summer. The Center reached out to Keegan Downey ’09 who pulled the group of former classmates together. Downey said all of the guys jumped at the opportunity to come back to Eye Street and serve. When they got to the McKenna Center, the group was pleasantly surprised to find out that the parents of one of their classmates, Richard Johnston ’09, were also signed up to volunteer that day. Pictured are, front row: Mrs. Johnston (P ‘09), Sean Kelly ’09, Joe Lapaille ’09, Mike Beatson ’09; back row: Mike Mortimer ’09, Keegan Downey ’09, Colin Gerrety ’09, John Balkam ’09, and Mr. Johnston (P ‘09). States Marine Corps (see photo on page 32)…John Donnelly ’79, a national security and foreign policy reporter for CQ Roll Call, was awarded the Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for Distinguished Reporting of Congress, which recognizes U.S.based journalists whose work
shows thoughtful appraisal and insight into the workings of the U.S. Congress and represents the highest standards of journalism.
1980s Tom Touchet ’84 returned to Gonzaga in early November to gonzaga.org
N e ws o f. . .
PJ (Philmore) Anderson ’14 graduated from Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI, in August of 2018 after graduating from Virginia Tech in May of 2018. PJ will report to Pensacola, FL for Flight School post-graduation. talk to current students about his career path (see photo on page 32)…Michael C. DiLorenzo ’86, Assistant U.S. Attorney in the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, received the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award (see photo on page 33)....Thanks to a connection made at the Gonzaga Business Network’s Career Fair, Joe McMahon ’87 hired two young Gonzaga alumni, Owen Fish ’15 and Lucas Rozier ’15, for the summer internship program at his company, Radiant Solutions. Last summer, Lucas and Owen worked on two software projects for the federal government....Kenneth Jordan ‘89 started a new job at Wells Fargo as Enterprise CIO for Marketing and Stakeholder Relations after 20 years at Capital One. His oldest son, Nicholas, is a freshman at MIT, majoring in computer science and gonzaga.org
On December 19, three Gonzaga alumni from the Class of 2014 (left to right) —Patrick Doolin, McKay Allen, and Benjamin Vazirani— graduated from The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia. The Basic School trains and educates newly-commissioned or appointed officers in the high standards of professional knowledge, esprit-de-corps, and leadership to prepare them for duty as company grade officers in the operating forces, with particular emphasis on the duties, responsibilities, and warfighting skills required of a rifle platoon commander. Patrick will go on to serve as an Air Defense Control Officer while McKay and Benjamin will continue on to an Infantry Officers Course. engineering; Nicholas also plays varsity soccer...Stephen Kilcullen ‘89, the Head of Flow Derivatives Sales at Nomura Holding America, Inc, returned to Eye Street for a Gonzaga Business Network meeting on October 24 to talk about what makes a successful career.
1990s Matt Lucey ’91 and his wife Elizabeth had a daughter, Noreen Elenor “Noel”…Kevin M. McHugh ‘96 married Talia Salem in June 2018… Patrick Jordan ’97 returned to Gonzaga to speak to an AP Human Geography class in January (see photo on page 33)...Mark Lyman ’99 and his wife Meghan, welcomed their third son, Robert Francis “Bo,” on January 28, 2019.
Turner Echols ‘14 helped North Carolina A&T State University capture its third Celebration Bowl Championship in four years. The Aggies defeated Alcorn State 24-20 on December 15 in Atlanta, GA. Gonzaga l Spring 2019
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N e ws o f. . . Jonathan Kokotajlo ‘16, and Andy Carluccio ‘16. The cast and crew also included GDA alumni Matt Hoffman ‘17, Andrew Metro ‘18, James Walutes ‘18, Brad Owen ‘17, Matt McDonnell ‘16, Andrew Farabow ‘18, Andrew Allan ‘18, and John Carluccio ‘18… Patrick Samsel ’01 was recognized as one of the DC’s area’s top in-house lawyers (see photo on page 32)…Nicholas Austin ‘02 was named the 2018 recipient of the Young Lawyers Division Trailblazer Award, which recognizes young lawyers who uphold the standards of legal excellence while demonstrating unprecedented achievement in law practice, politics, business, or public service. He will also serve as the Chair of the National Bar Association Young Lawyers Division for the 2019-2020 term… Mark Tilch ’03 serves as a Board Member for a non-profit in New England called Skate for the 22 (see photo on page 33)…
Harrison Coon ’16 (second from left) is a junior at the University of Tennessee majoring in Supply Chain Management in the Haslam School of Business and is a recipient of an Army ROTC scholarship. He was recently selected to join the competitive Scabbard and Blade academic honors society and has also served as a Captain in the Dragoon Drill Company where he presented the flags at home football games and marched in numerous parades and ceremonies (pictured).
Dr. Terrence Bayly ’01 (left) was awarded the Navy Outstanding Young Pediatrician Award by the American Academy of Pediatrics at its National Conference & Exhibition in November 2018. Lieutenant Commander Bayly, currently based at the Naval Hospital in Naples, Italy, was flown to Orlando, FL to receive the honor. Terrence, wife Andrea (Visitation ‘01), Annie, and Henry also welcomed the newest member of their family, Connor, on February 18, 2019.
2000s Kevin Bayly ’00 and wife Brittany welcomed their first child, John Lawrence, in October 2018… Dr. Terrence Bayly ’01 was awarded the Navy Outstanding Young Pediatrician Award by the American Academy of Pediatrics (see more this page)… GDA Hall of Fame member Andrew Curtin ‘01, directed the production of Disney’s Newsies at Saint Bernadette’s Summer Theatre Program this past summer. Several other GDA alumni worked on the production including Chris McDonnell ‘14,
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Reggie Corbin ’15 and Ben Cima ’14 were featured on the Big Ten Network’s “The Journey” series. The ten-minute-long feature focuses on Reggie, who had a great season as a running back at the University of Illinois. It tells the story of how Reggie and Ben, a rugby player, agreed to play each other’s sports at Gonzaga. Ben is now a fly-half for the United States men’s national rugby team. Pictured in this photo (a still taken from the segment) are left to right: Reggie, Varsity Rugby Head Coach Peter Baggetta, and Ben.
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N e ws o f. . . Several Gonzaga Crew alumni participated in the Head of the Charles Reggatta this past October in Boston, MA, including Geoff Evans ‘96, Kevin McGowan ‘13, Mark Roberts ‘14, Devin Flynn ‘14, Christian Tabash ‘17, Patrick Dent ‘15, Tom Vasquez ‘17, Jack Kiyonaga ‘17, Woods Connell ‘16, John Schoenewolf ‘17, Chris Jaicks ‘15, Brendan McCabe ‘17 and Trevor Dowd ‘16. A special congratulations goes to Christian Tabash ‘17 who won gold with Harvard in the Men’s Club Eights and Geoff Evans ‘96 who earned silver with the Marin Rowing Association in the Men’s Senior Master Eights. Andrew Zech ‘03 and his wife, Laura Bierbower, welcomed their first son, Henry Deane, last year… Bryant Yee ‘05 is happily residing in Annapolis, MD, and has been teaching at the Naval Academy since 2017…Thomas Holland ’06 and Kristina Rowe were married on October 14, 2017 in Richmond, Virginia (see photo on page 34)…Nick Interdonato ‘07 and his wife, Colleen, welcomed a son, Adrian, on July 22, 2018. Tony Interdonato ‘66 is a proud grandfather; other relatives include uncles Paul M. Interdonato ‘04 and AJ Interdonato ‘05, great-uncle Andy Interdonato ‘62, and great- grandfather, the late Paul F. Interdonato ‘38... A song by Spencer Ernst ’08 and Max Ernst ’08 was featured in a new Apple MacBook Air commercial (see photo on page 34).
2010s Chase Gasper ‘14, a member of the University of Maryland Men’s Soccer team, helped lead the gonzaga.org
Terps to their fourth national championship in school history in December 2018… PJ (Philmore) Anderson ’14 graduated from Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI, in August (see photo on page 35)…In December 2018, Patrick Doolin ’14, McKay Allen ’14, and Benjamin Vazirani ’14 graduated from The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia (see photo
on page 35)... In December 2018, Turner Echols ‘14 helped North Carolina A&T State University capture its third Celebration Bowl Championship in four years (see photo on page 35) … Reggie Corbin ’15 and Ben Cima ’14 were featured on the Big Ten Network’s “The Journey” series (see photo on page 36)…Brennan Novak ’15, a junior swimmer at Harvard
On September 1, Mount St. Mary’s hosted Penn State in Rugby; Penn State has six former Eagles on its roster. The players are pictured here with Director of Gonzaga Rugby Lee Kelly and Assistant Coach Joe Freeman, who made it out to the match. From left to right: Ian Kilcullen ‘18, Will Lyke ‘18, Ryan Ebel ‘18, Coach Kelly, Joey Freeman ‘16, LJ Koi Larbi ‘17, Danny Kerns ‘18, and Coach Freeman. Penn State came away with the win. Gonzaga l Spring 2019
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N e ws o f. . . HONOR ROLL Each year the Gonzaga Alumni & Advancement Office staff does its best to reflect the loyalty and kindness of Gonzaga’s many generous donors in the annual Honor Roll of Benefactors. However, mistakes occasionally occur. The following donors should have appeared in the 2017-2018 Honor Roll as listed below. Please accept both our heartfelt apology for the error and our deep gratitude for your continued generous support of Gonzaga’s mission.
Four Gonzaga alumni, four current Eagles, and one Gonzaga dad enjoyed the 8th Annual O’Donnell/Palmer/Schaefer Christmas bird hunt this year. Pictured, left to right are Pat O’Donnell ’85, Jamie O’Donnell ’21, Carson Schaefer ’20, Nick Palmer ’21, Andrew Schaefer ’22, Ryan Palmer ’16, Brandon Palmer ’14, Grant Palmer (P ’14, ’16, ’21) and Tom O’Donnell ’15.
The following individuals were omitted from their class listings. CLASS OF 1998 Charles S. Carroccio (11) M The following individuals were omitted from the Parents of Alumni listing. PARENTS OF ALUMNI GIVING The Baumgardner Family (7) Mr. and Mrs. John D. Berman Mr. and Mrs. Ronald A. Bethke II (10) Mr. and Mrs. Ronald A. Bethke, Jr. (10) Mr. and Mrs. John A. Frank III (21) Dr. and Mrs. John A. Gans, Sr. (20) The following individuals were either incorrectly listed, omitted from the giving society listings, or missing Honor Roll key symbols. ST. ALOYSIUS SOCIETY ($1,821 - $2,999) The Baumgardner Family (7) Mr. and Mrs. Ronald A. Bethke, Jr. (10) LOYALTY CLUB Mr. and Mrs. John A. Frank III (21) DONORS Mr. and Mrs. John D. Berman Mr. and Mrs. Ronald A. Bethke II (10) Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Carroccio ‘98 (11) M Dr. and Mrs. John A. Gans, Sr. (20) Mr. William J. Guarini IV ‘16 (2) M
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Gonzaga l Spring 2019
In early January, a group of Gonzaga alumni returned to campus to participate in the Gonzaga English Department’s second annual Alumni Poets’ Gathering. During two periods of the school day, several of the young alumni visited this year’s poetry classes, modeling the poetry workshop process for them. After school, the alumni participated in a poetry reading and discussion about how writing matters in their lives. At the end of the event, English Teacher and Head Football Coach Randy Trivers shared an original poem. Pictured from left to right are Derrell Bouknight ‘16, John Hulede ‘13, Jirhe Love ‘17, Joe Dahut ‘14, Kenny Carter ‘18, Joseph Ross (English Dept), Landen Buckson ‘16, Randy Trivers (English Dept and Football Coach), and Deion Williams ‘17. University, and Ryan Baker ’16 a sophomore swimmer for the University of Virginia, were both selected for the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America Scholar All-America team. The award recognizes students who have achieved a GPA of 3.5 or higher and competed at the NCAA Championships… Harrison Coon ’16 is a junior at the University of Tennessee majoring in Supply Chain
Management in the Haslam School of Business and is a recipient of an Army ROTC scholarship (see photo on page 36)… Owen Sheehy ‘18 was named “College Freshman of The Week” by FloRugby. A flyhalf at the University of Wisconsin, Owen earned the honor after helping his team achive an upset win over Indiana University on Saturday, October 6 by scoring the first try of the game. ■ gonzaga.org
May They Rest In Peace John C. Altmiller, Christopher C. ’00
father
of
Dorothy Conley Andrews, mother of Matthew J. Conley ’78; motherin-law of William A. Murphy ’64; grandmother of Michael A. “Bud” Conley, Jr. ’09; aunt of Dr. Robert O. Conley Jr. ’71, James J. Conley ’72, Stephen C. Conley ’74, and Richard W. Conley ’78; former staff member and Gonzaga Mothers Club president Robert G. Bidwell, Jr., father of John F. ’86 Elizabeth A. Boland, sister of Daniel L. ’61; aunt of Philip J. ’00 and Patrick M. ’03 Elizabeth M. Calhoun, sister of Gerald A. Malia ’87 Francis J. Cantrel, Sr. ’44, father of Francis J. Jr. ’73; grandfather of Joseph G. ’12 Paul M. Coughlan, Jr. ’45, son of the late Paul M. 1919; father of Paul N. ’84 Florence M. Crisafulli, mother of Anthony B. ’60 and grandmother of Benjamin E. ’04
grandfather of Douglas W. Sarasin ’09 Dr. Theodore L. Gessner ’58, father of Samuel M. ’88 and brother of Bernard F. ’54, Michael M. ’64, and Paul G. ’67 Francis X. Gleeson ’50 Earl S. Godfrey, father of Stephen M. ’85 Robert F. Graham ’49, brother of the late John V. ’44; great uncle of John T. Cosgrove ’16 John F. Hanlon ’38, father of the late Timothy M. ’73 Michael H. Heffron ’48 James T. Hewitt ’54 Charles P. Higgins ’44 Charles R. Hooper, father of Terence J. ’85
Pheronette James, Thomas M. Jr. ’83
mother
of
Rev. Joseph J. Kleinstuber ’50
William A. Donohoe ’51, brother of the late Rev. James H. S.J. ’38, the late Walter J. ’44, and the late John C. “Casey,” former coach
Mariellen Leonard, mother of J. Gilbert “Gib” ‘73, John E. ‘74, Francis X. ‘82, and Daniel J. ‘83; grandmother of Chad L. Leonard ‘92, Brian D. Ralston ‘04, Daniel J. Leonard Jr. ‘13, and Ryan P. Leonard ‘14
Loretta M. Favret, mother of Andrew A. ’67, Michael J. ’72, the late Dr. Patrick J. ’74, James V. ’78 and Martin A. ’80 Joan Finnerty, wife of Michael B., former faculty Robert A. Fitzgerald ’50, brother of Lawrence J. ’48 and Joseph M. ’60; uncle of Michael K. ’72 and Stephen B. ’78 Dr. Charles B. Fletcher ’48 Charles J. Fuqua ’53 Larry D. Garmon, father of Board of Trustees member Leslie G. Sarasin; gonzaga.org
father of C.
Albert A. “Pete” Peter ’45 Francis X. Rienzo, father of Matthew C. ’93; grandfather of Edmond D. Paquette ’22 Bernard E. Roache, Jr. ’59, brother of Raymond R. ’61 and William H. ’63, nephew of Philip L. Jr. ’35, Donald A. ’38, and J. Chester Coakley ’44
James H. Schwartz ’51
John D. Kim ’91
Gerald Fauntroy, father of Board of Trustees member Louvel J. ’84
Clarence Pearson, Dwight Pearson ’69
Joan G. Hutchison, wife of Robert N. ’51 and grandmother of Conor T. ’20
Charles A. Donelan, Jr. (’75), brother of Dr. Matthias B. ’63
of
William L. Parker ’54
Eric J. Rohleder ’01, brother of Daniel ’04
Thomas M. James, father of Thomas M. Jr. ’83
mother
Margaret H. Oliver, mother of Rear Adm. Sinclair M. Harris, USN ’77
Margaret D. Hurley, wife of the late Raymond D. ’42; mother of Raymond C. ’69
Raymond E. Dodson, father of Anthony R. ’95
Elizabeth Engelken, Richard II ’89
Julia B. O’Donnell, mother of Patrick P. ’85; grandmother of Thomas P. ’15 and James C. ’21; aunt of Kevin J. Dollard ’82; great-aunt of Carson M. Schaefer ’20, Nicholas G. Palmer ’21, and Andrew Schaefer ’22
Dr. Henry J. Lerian ’49 Katherine Lilly, daughter of Daniel E. ’67; niece of the late Edward P. ’58, the late Henry ’60, Joseph T. ’62, Francis X. ’64, and Martin J. ’72 Christopher Maimone, brother of Gregory ’95 Edward P. McHugh III, father of Kevin M. ’96 Daniel F. Mulcahy, Jr. ’47, grandfather of Peter D. ’11, Ryan P. ’13, Liam F. ’16, and Griffin M. ’21 Hugh M. Neill, father of John Patrick ’83, James T. ’85, and Stephen M. ’89; grandfather of Charles P. ’21 and Thomas P. ’21
Francis W. Savage ’47 Shirley Scott, mother of Dr. Lowell F., Jr. ’84 Patrick J. Sheehy ’67 John E. Shreve ’47, father of Mark E. ’78 Robert Sullivan, father of Robert J. ’79 Kathleen Swanson, mother of Hale R. ’00, Wade L. ’01, and Reid W. ’02 Alvin A. Turner, Sr. ’48, father of Helen M. Free and Alvin A. “Andy” Turner, Jr., current faculty; grandfather of Timothy F. Harden ’99, Ryan A. Turner ’02, Dominic J. Turner ’05, Gabriel D. Free ’10, Joseph A. Kulesza ’10, Samuel A. May ’13; father-in-law of Douglas J. Free ’72 Enrique M. “Hank” Valencia ’58 Reginald E. Waters, father of Maxim W. ’20 Dennis P. Warner ’55, brother of W. David ’49, the late Michael E. ’53, and J. Christopher ’63; grandfather of faculty Terrence P. Kernan ’08, Joseph D. Kernan ’10, Dennis P. DeVol ’15, Brendan W. DeVol ’18 and Seamus T. DeVol ’21 Jeffrey J. Wolfe ’65, brother of the late J. Richard ’62, Michael J. ’63, and Dr. Terrance J. ’69 Gonzaga l Spring 2019
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Gonzaga College High School l Spring 2019
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ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME April 6
ONYX FAMILY PICNIC April 27
GOLDEN REUNIONS
FATHER-SON MASS & BREAKFAST April 28
April 27 JUBILARIAN REUNION WEEKEND May 31 - June 2
COMMENCEMENT June 2
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