10 minute read
Hall of Honor
from Avanti: Spring 2020
by Justin-Siena
Tim Aboudara, Sr. ’73
Timothy Aboudara, Sr. graduated from Justin-Siena in 1973 and was a member of the class that made JustinSiena a “full” school. While a student, he was involved in athletics, student government and drama. His selection, as a Junior, to represent Justin-Siena at The American Legion California Boys State in 1972 was a life changing event. Upon graduation, Tim attended California State University, Sacramento for 2 ½ years. In late 1975, Tim left Sac State to begin a career in the local family business. After the sale of the business in 1991, Tim started a new career in the telecommunications industry. He worked for Pacific Telesis, CellularONE/AT&T and for the last 4 ½ years worked as the Director of Sales for a Satellite Network Operator. He retired in the fall of 2018. In 1995, Tim, while working full-time, enrolled in the St. Mary’s College Extended Education Program, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Management in 1997. In 1999, again while working full-time, he returned to St. Mary’s in the Masters in Business Administration program. He graduated with his MBA in 2001. During his business career he served on the International Board of Directors of the Independent Cash Register Dealers Association (now the R.S.P.A.) and as President of the Micros Dealers Association. In 1975, Tim was invited to return to the California Boys State Program, as a Junior Counselor. He became very involved with this exceptional youth program. In June 2019, he completed his 45th year of service. He was selected to be Chief Counselor 12 years ago and continues in that role. In his 45 years of service he has crossed paths with nearly 45,000 young men who have gone on to leadership positions in government and business all over the country. In 2010, he was selected to join the staff of The American Legion Boys Nation, which brings the top 2 delegates from the 50 Boys State Programs to teach them how our federal government functions. Both programs emphasize “learning by doing.” Tim’s Lasallian education at Justin-Siena and St. Mary’s instilled a strong sense of community and service. In addition to his working career and involvement with Boys State and Boys Nation, Tim served as a Reserve Police Officer from 1973-1995. From 1973- 1996, Tim worked at the City of Davis Police Department. Tim is a member of Sons of the American Legion Squadron 338 where he serves as Squadron Adjutant. He is also the Sons of the American Legion 5th District Commander and is the Chairman of the State Children and Youth Commission. Tim was inducted into The American Legion California Boys State Hall of Fame in 2014 and The Sons of the American Legion Hall of Fame in 2016. Tim and his wife Leslie live in Rohnert Park and have two sons and four grandchildren.
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Tom Carey ’86
Tom Carey was born in Napa and attended public schools in Napa and Sonoma before entering Justin-Siena High School as a freshman in 1982. He learned from legendary educators such as Bob Morrish, Brother Conrad Kearney, F.S.C., and Phil Amormino, played football, and graduated in 1986. Tom then received a BA in Human Biology from Stanford University in 1990. He worked at the Advisory Board Company in Washington, D.C. and obtained a JD from Duke University Law School in 1995. He joined the Napa law firm of Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty, where he practiced for 17 years, serving as managing director from 2008 to 2010. He was a member of the JSHS Board of Trustees from 1998 to 2004 and served as chair from 2001 to 2003. From 2001-2003, he assisted Jonathan Dyer in coaching the JSHS Mock Trial team to consecutive state competitions representing Napa County. He was a member of the Justin-Siena Foundation from 2004 to 2012 and served as its chair from 2005 to 2011. He and his wife Kristi met and were married in Washington D.C. and have five children: Rachel ’17, Brett ’19, Jack ’23, Samantha, and Troy. He has a solo practice in Napa specializing in land use and local government, alcohol beverage, and real property law. As a current Justin-Siena parent, I enjoy seeing my children experience the culture of Justin-Siena, which persists and grows through the presence of things that have endured since my time here: a creative and dedicated faculty and staff, a curious and diverse group of classmates, and a mission centered on Christian values, human relationships, and academic excellence.
Elizabeth “Beth” Nolan Conners ’84
Beth attended Justin-Siena from 1980- 84 and some of her happiest childhood memories are from these years where she made many lifelong friends. Her years at Justin-Siena not only solidified her lifelong love of learning, but also resulted in a recognition that service to others is an expression of faith. Upon graduation, Beth attended UC Davis, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Education and Human Development. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa and then attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education for a Masters in Reading, Language, and Learning Disabilities. Always having known that she would like to work with children, Beth found her passion in remediating learning challenges, especially dyslexia. She has worked for the past thirty years
The Justin-Siena Hall of Honor is comprised of members from our alumni community who exemplify faith, scholarship, and service and embody our Lasallian Catholic ideals. The following are our honored class of 2020.
with students in Kindergarten through 8th grade to help them overcome learning challenges. During this time she taught graduate school classes and she has spoken and published about learning difficulties both nationally and internationally. She had the opportunity to do brain and genetic research under Dr. Albert Galaburda in Boston, as his team studied the differences in brain organization for dyslexic individuals and worked to locate a genetic marker for dyslexia. Beth received her Ph.D. in Developmental and Educational Psychology from Boston College where her dissertation focused on building girls’ self-esteem prior to middle school. Since 2015, Beth has worked at a private elementary school where she has built support services for struggling students, including creating a curriculum for middle school students with reading challenges that has become a model for private schools in the Boston area. In her spare time, Beth enjoys reading, writing, traveling, singing, acting in community theater, and volunteering at Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House in Concord (in her hoop skirt!). She has served on several Boards over the years for theater organizations and currently is involved in serving an opera group, a local agricultural fair, and the Catholic Schools Board for the Diocese of Worcester. Beth also serves as cantor, choir member, and Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist at her parish in Sudbury, Massachusetts. Her greatest joy is found in her family: her husband Jim and her high school-aged children, Anne and Jack.
Greg Calvelo ’89 (Honored Posthumously)
Greg lived his life by the principles of the Lasallian way. He had faith in the presence of God, respect for all persons, and made sure he formed an inclusive community wherever he went. He walked the talk, he led by example, and he did it all with enthusiasm and a smile. Greg naturally was the class of 1989’s leader. He took the class President role and then became the Student Body President. He was involved in many clubs, including the Key Club, Chess Club, Leadership, Yearbook, and Spanish to name a few. He was the Yearbook Sports Editor. He was chosen to be the Salutatorian for his class. Greg was a multi-sport athlete throughout his high school career. He played 4 years of football, including 3 on the Varsity. He played basketball for all 4 years. He also played on the tennis team all four years. Of course, he was always the most enthusiastic team player. He also coached Powderpuff for the class of ’90 girls football team. Greg was a people magnet and made friends everywhere he went, it was only natural that his senior class voted him, “Most Likely to Succeed.” His leadership ability would surface again and again throughout his life, whether it would be returning to JSHS for Founders Day and teaching kids about his career in the Financial Industry, planning class reunions, taking a role on the Justin-Siena
Alumni Council, or coaching youth sports for multiple seasons. He successfully nominated fellow classmate Mark Cassayre for the Hall of Honor. By his initial greeting and when departing ways, he always made sure people knew how he felt about them. He enjoyed reconnecting with fellow alumni. He would often refer fellow alums for job positions he thought they would be great at. He enjoyed returning to his old stomping grounds whenever he got the chance. He would often take his kids to the football games to get them familiar with the lay of the land. Today you will find his daughter Faith, graciously following in her parents’ footsteps at Justin-Siena, class of 2023. Greg married Therese (Bettinelli) Calvelo in 1999. They met at the Justin-Siena basketball tournament when they were in 8th grade. They graduated from Justin-Siena together in 1989. He was a dedicated father and husband. Their daughter Faith Leilani Bettinelli Calvelo was born in 2004 and their son Jackson Koa Bettinelli Calvelo was born in 2007. Greg was all in, nothing was done halfway. He would be so excited to start his day, and loved having family time. He would walk into the house and in his loudest voice say,“FAMILY!” He was always the loudest voice in the stands cheering for all of the kids at their sporting events, whether it was basketball, soccer, baseball, swimming, or taekwondo. Up until his last day, he was at Faith’s championship basketball game in the Dan Clark Tournament at Justin-Siena. There he was cheering for his daughter and her team, and also for the girls on the other team who he knew and had played with Faith in the past. It just shows how much love he had in his heart to give. He was a highly respected mentor and youth basketball coach. He began his coaching career in 2007 when Faith joined the Napa Rec Mini Hoops program. He continued to coach her through this program, as well as his son Jackson up until 2014. He then began coaching Jackson’s youth basketball team, and a year for Faith’s team with the St. Apollinaris CYO program up until 2019. He was known to impress TEAMWORK as the most important part of a winning team. He encouraged the kids to be good teammates to all their future sports teams. He was the Vice President of the AHI Swim Team in American Canyon, where Faith swam for four years. Again, he cheered for all swimmers who entered the pool. He would take song requests from swimmers and play their songs at the meets to get them pumped up. He enjoyed volunteering and participating in field trips and fundraisers at his children’s school, Stone Bridge School. Gregory John Calvelo was born in Detroit, MI, on April 4, 1971, and passed March 11, 2019, in American Canyon, CA, from a cardiac arrest.
Marsha Niemann (Honorary Alumna: 1980-2009)
Marsha Niemann was hired in November of 1980, to coach Girls Varsity Basketball and teach Physical Education at Justin-Siena High School. Before that, she worked for the Napa Recreation Department running their summer playground program. Marsha also started the first girls’ recreation basketball and volleyball leagues in Napa. Just before being hired at Justin-Siena, she helped coach the volleyball and basketball teams at Napa High School. Marsha attended Fresno State University for two years where she played intercollegiate basketball. She then took a two year break from school to become a flight attendant for United Airlines. Traveling and learning about other cultures was a lifelong dream. With her husband Rich, she traveled to six continents. This experience was very important for their understanding of different cultures.
When Marsha returned to school, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Physical Education and a teaching credential from Sonoma State University where she also played intercollegiate volleyball and basketball. After retiring from coaching, Marsha went back to school and received a masters degree in counseling from Sonoma State. Marsha’s lifelong love of sports inspired her to coach basketball and volleyball. During her nine year tenure coaching girls’ varsity basketball, the team qualified for the section playoffs eight times and advanced to the state championship in 1985 (ultimately losing in over-time).
