T H E
K E L L E N B E R G
M E M O R I A L
F A M I L Y
M A G A Z I N E
HEART & M I N D
PANDEMIC IN ACTION
The ARK continues in a new direction to keep religion at the heart of school
Our furry friends kept our hearts and homes warm this year
FUTURE FIREBIRDS CELEBRATIONS Winter 2021
K E L L E N B E RG .O RG
Take a look at our updated Class Notes section
HEART & MIND
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SMALL HEADING
Dear Friends of Kellenberg Memorial
A Letter from the Principal
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ell, we made it to the end of the first trimester providing in-school instruction for all students five days a week while also offering the option for hybrid instruction (two days in school and three days remote) or five days fully remote. The cooperation of teachers, students, parents, and staff at Kellenberg Memorial could not have been better. The technology has enabled us to maintain a high quality of instruction while ensuring the safety and health of students and teachers. We thank God for each day we are able to continue our mission of providing a qualitative Marianist education to our students.
Every inch of space in our school building has been converted into classroom space: cafeteria, auditorium, gymnasium, faculty lounge, library, and even the Emmanuel Retreat House are home to cohorts who spend the day together. Instead of students changing classes, the teachers are moving around the building. High proficiency thermal cameras take the temperatures of each student and staff member as they enter the building. Students bring their lunches to school and eat with their cohort classmates. Teachers have been great about taking students outdoors for a break providing time for relief from wearing a mask all day. One of the hallmarks of our education at Kellenberg Memorial is that we teach by relationship. Over 90% of our students chose to attend classes in-person, but even those students who chose to be remote were connected to the classroom virtually as the teacher presented material. Teachers made special efforts to acknowledge and connect with those remote students while teaching the students before them in each classroom. In mid-September, the Catholic High School Athletic League made the decision to begin low-risk sports for the fall. Students competed in boys and girls cross country, boys and girls soccer, flag football, and girls swimming. It was an amazing feat; so much credit goes to the coaches, athletic director, athletes, and parents for their cooperation. Spectators were not allowed at the games due to regulations on large gatherings. However, we made provisions that all games were live-streamed so parents could watch the competition from their iPhones, iPads, or computers. Games were then archived on the school website for fans and athletes to watch at a later time. There was a lot more “Monday morning quarterbacking” than usual in many households.
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HEART & MIND
Since we could not have large gatherings for student body Masses, Father Thomas, Father Daniel, and Father Albert said Masses for individual cohorts. While the weather was still mild, we were able to have Masses outside under the large tent that was purchased for socially distant gatherings. Even though Emmanuel Retreat House was converted into classroom space, homeroom days of recollection were conducted by the ARK staff at Stella Maris Retreat House, a recent acquisition for Kellenberg. All the sophomores were able to attend their retreats during the fall. We will continue retreats for Latin School and freshmen at Stella Maris when we return after the Christmas break. Many clubs and activities are meeting virtually, and the band, orchestra, and chorus are able to practice in the auditorium after school. We even featured our virtual Christmas concerts during the week of December 7th. So, the school that never sleeps continues to be very busy, but just in a very different way. We continue to receive congratulations and accolades from parents and even administrators from other schools who remarked on how competently we have been able to continue our tradition of qualitative education even with the limitations of a pandemic. One public school official commented that “there is no school within 100 miles that did a better job than Kellenberg Memorial in transitioning to remote learning in the spring.” We clearly have been blessed by the competence of our IT staff under the direction of Mr. James Campbell ’91 and the dedication of a very committed faculty and administrative staff. If all these pandemic adjustments weren’t enough for the new school year, we also took seriously the call for greater sensitivity and awareness of the needs of our multi-racial student population. Over the summer months, the administrative staff reviewed our school handbook to update our procedures and codes to reflect a greater awareness of cultural differences within the student body. A student life office was created to provide space for sharing, understanding, and exploring ways of generating a greater... A Letter from the Principal continues on Page 30
A K E L L E N B E RG M E M O R I A L FA M I LY P U B L I CAT I O N
TA B L E O F CO N T E N TS
04 CLASS OF 2020 06 SCHOOL NEWS FEED 0 8 C E L E B R AT I O N S O F FA I T H 0 9 E Y E O N T H E L AT I N S C H O O L 1 0 C OV E R S T O R Y 14 SPORTS 15 SPREADING OUR WINGS 1 6 S T. M A R T I N D E P O R R E S N E W S 1 7 FAC U LT Y I N T E RV I E W: MRS. ANGELA (WATSON) CAMERON ’03
18 ALUMNI EVENTS 19 FOREVER FIREBIRDS 20 ALUMNI PROFILE: JAZMINE FRAY ’15 2 2 CLASS NOTES 24 FUTURE FIREBIRDS & C E L E B R AT I O N S 2 9 PA N D E M I C P E T S 30 IN MEMORIAM 3 1 2 0 1 9 -2 0 2 0 A N N UA L R E P O R T
Heart & Mind, the magazine of Kellenberg Memorial High School, is published twice a year and distributed to all alumni, parents, alumni parents, faculty, administration, and friends of KMHS.
A D M I N I S T R AT I O N Principal Bro. Kenneth Hoagland, S.M.
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Sports
Alumni Profile T H E
K E L L E N B E R G
M E M O R I A L
F A M I L Y
M A G A Z I N E
HEART & M I N D
PANDEMIC IN ACTION
The ARK continues in a new direction to keep religion at the heart of school
Our furry friends kept our hearts and homes warm this year
FUTURE FIREBIRDS CELEBRATIONS Winter 2021
K E L L E N B E RG .O RG
Take a look at our updated Class Notes section
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O n t h e C ov e r Mrs. Angela (Watson) Cameron ’03’s cohort enjoys learning outside near the Holy Family Shrine. Photo by Mr. Eric Harnisch.
A DVA N C E M E N T Director of Advancement Mrs. Denise Miles Director of Alumni Mr. Thomas Huggard A L U M N I B OA R D President Andrea (Licari) Petrosky ’91 Vice President Anthony Cantelmo ’97 Vice President Jenny Delaleu ’94 Vice President Tara (Fitzgerald) Fuentes ’89 Vice President Tom Nasso ’99 Vice President Jerry Silecchia ’88 EDITORIAL Editor in Chief Mrs. Erin (Byrne) Cicalese ’98 Editorial Advisor Mr. Thomas Huggard Editorial Assistant Mrs. Beth Campbell Creative Director Mrs. Trista Harnisch Contributors Mr. Douglas Cioffi ’97 Mrs. Erin (Toscano) Citrano ’03 Mr. Eric Harnisch PHOTOGRAPHY Mr. Jeff Harris ’03, Director Nicolas Castelli ’17 Joseph Ciorra ’17 Brother Roger Poletti, S.M. HEART & MIND
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Baccalaureate Mass
August 1, 2020
Like so many other milestone events for Firebirds in 2020, both the Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Exercises for the graduating seniors had to be postponed and reimagined due to the pandemic. On August 1, 2020, members of the Class of 2020 came together in Kellenberg Memorial’s auditorium for a final time to celebrate their Baccalaureate Mass, which was concelebrated by Father Thomas Cardone, S.M. and Father Daniel Griffin, S.M. ’02. Although families could not be in attendance due to limitations on large gatherings, the Mass was live-streamed for all to enjoy. 1. Katie Hand ’20, 2. Julian Belardo ’20, 3. Michael Castelli ’20, 4. Kathryn Stewart ’20, 5. Kori Key ’20, 6. and Bila Bonifacio ’20 receive their candles to light the world. 7. Father Thomas Cardone, S.M. and Father Daniel Griffin, S.M. ’02 concelebrated the Mass. 8. Brian Biscotti ’20 was one of the lectors during the ceremony. 9. Sean Tortarella ’20 participates in the candle ceremony.
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Congratulations and Godspeed to the members of the Class of 2020 who have dedicated themselves to serving our country! 10. With West Point cadets needing to report in July prior to Kellenberg’s Commencement Exercises, Camryn Beckford ’20 was treated to a special graduation ceremony and prayer service on June 27, 2020. 4
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A K E L L E N B E RG M E M O R I A L FA M I LY P U B L I CAT I O N
C L A SS O F 2 0 2 0
Commencement Exercises August 2, 2020 Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2020 were held on August 2, 2020. While many educational institutions opted for virtual ceremonies, Kellenberg Memorial was proud to be able to accommodate graduates with two guests each in-person by holding individual ceremonies for each homeroom. Family and friends were able to access a live-stream of the ceremony.
Outstanding Graduates from the Class of 2020 Kellenberg Memorial High School General Excellence Award Outstanding Young Man & Lady
Kellenberg Memorial High School Father Francis T. Keenan, S.M. Valedictorian Award & Academic Excellence Award
Awarded to the Young Man & Lady with the Highest Cumulative Averages From Grades 9 – 12
Nicole Aponte & Wilmarr Saint Surin Brother Richard J. Hughes, S.M. Service Award Awarded to the Young Man & Lady who have shown the Most Outstanding Service to the School Community
Joseph DeMarco & Krista Handler
Edward J. Dunn Student-Athlete Award
Awarded to the Most Outstanding Young Man & Lady Student-Athletes
Town of Hempstead Award for Community Service & Academic Excellence
Kelly Anne Huggard
Nassau County Award for Community Service & Academic Excellence
Jonphilips Iregbulem K E L L E N B E RG .O RG
Amanda Baez
Jordan DeLucia
Maureen McNierney
Matthew Duffy
HEART & MIND
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S C H O O L N E WS F E E D
kellenberg
20 October 3:45PM
The KMHS Mock Trial team successfully competed at the Virtual Bulldog Invitational at Yale. After a tough first day, the team rebounded by winning both of their trials Sunday, ending with a 4–4 record. Congratulations to senior attorneys (pictured above) Colin Crowley ’21, Ava Boneville ’21, and Meaghan O’Keefe ’21 for stellar performances! A special congratulations to witness Edward Goodyear ’21 for receiving a best witness award!
kellenberg
3 October 10:00AM
This year’s Open House launched virtually, and many clicked through to find out more about our school. For those who wanted an in-person experience, tours were held throughout the fall with social distancing protocols in place. #Firebirds #KMHS2025 #OneHeartOneMind
kellenberg
14 November 9:22AM
Six scouts from Troop 87 ventured out to Schiff Scout Reservation in Wading River, NY to participate in the annual Trek-O-Ree. Also, Troop 87 is proud to announce that John Lauritsen ’22 has advanced to the rank of Eagle Scout. During the pandemic, John managed to lead his fellow scouts in building and installing two benches and two planters for the Bethpage Cemetery to improve this historic cemetery. The troop and leadership are very proud of this fine accomplishment. #Firebirds #KMHS2024 #OneHeartOneMind
kellenberg
11 September 6:35AM
The Town of Hempstead’s annual 9/11 Memorial Service held at Point Lookout took place in a safe and socially distant manner. The annual event is Long Island’s largest 9/11 memorial service. As in years past, musical accompaniment for the ceremony was provided by Kellenberg Memorial’s Gregorian Consortium, the high school’s liturgical choir ensemble. Members of Gregorian assembled before sunrise where the 30-foot steel relic of the World Trade Center stands today. This marks the 15 th time the Gregorian Consortium has assisted in memorializing the lives lost on 9/11. 6
HEART & MIND
kellenberg
25 November 11:59AM
The Class of 2020 stopped by to pick up their yearbooks. It was great to see you all again! #KMHS20 #SOAR #OneHeartOneMind #BleedBlueAndGold A K E L L E N B E RG M E M O R I A L FA M I LY P U B L I CAT I O N
S C H O O L N EWS F E E D
kellenberg
9 November 8:15AM
The Kellenberg Model United Nations (KMUN) team kicked off their year with the 22 nd Annual University of Connecticut Model United Nations Conference. After three days of long, vigorous debate and diplomacy, a resolution was passed in all of the 25 committees that were held, and the entire team did an outstanding job. Congratulations to Edward Jansen ’21 and Jake Truncale ’23 for receiving the Best Delegate awards in their respective committees and to Sarah Rao ’23 for being nominated for the Betty Hanson Award, the highest award given at UCONN. Let’s Go #KMUN!
kellenberg
11 December 2:15PM
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2 November 4:23PM
Students have been looking forward to more and more in-person activities starting up. The Firebird Orchestra started rehearsing for the year’s Christmas concert. Here’s to more creative solutions in the #NewNormal!
Our 2020 Advent Collection for Queen of Peace Residence for the Elderly took place from November 30 to December 9. Over the past 31 years, the Kellenberg Family has been associated with Queen of Peace Residence that is operated by the Little Sisters of the Poor. At the conclusion, Brother Michael and seven juniors dropped off the donations! #MerryChristmas Top: Noble Henry ’22 and Augusto Lebron ’22 organize donations in the lobby. Bottom Left: Brother Michael Gillen, S.M. greets the sisters at the Queen of Peace Residence. Bottom Right: Erin Cunnane ’22 unloads the carts of donations.
kellenberg
15 December 3:21PM
What a wonderful showing of Christmas spirit these past few days at Kellenberg Memorial! Have a wonderful, safe, and healthy Christmas vacation! From left to right: Nick Canny ’23, Mr. Aaron Codling ’10, Members of Mrs. Diane Page’s cohort (Gabrielle Debono ’27, Elisa D’Alessandro ’27, Myles Black ’27, Zoe Argenziano ’27, and Maeve Cullhane ’27), Danielle Tercynski ’24 with Bro. Patrick Cahill, S.M., Georgia Noumair ’27, and Mr. Kevin A’Hearn MR’83.
CHECK OUT KMHS SOCIAL MEDIA K E L L E N B E RG .O RG
HEART & MIND
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C E L E B R AT I O N S O F FA I T H
CELEBRATIONS OF At the core of Kellenberg Memorial’s education of the heart and mind is the development of the faith-lives of our students. The ARK (Apostolic Response at Kellenberg) embraced the challenge of evangelization during these difficult times and offered many opportunities for the Firebird community to spend time with the Lord in a socially-distant, safe manner. One of the main highlights of the apostolic activities offered this fall was the return of retreats at Stella Maris in Islip, NY. With its bucolic great lawn situated along Champlin Creek (pictured above), Stella Maris proved to be the perfect place for students to gather together in fellowship to pray and bond with each other over fun activities. Meanwhile, students were also able to connect with God on campus by participating in a Faith Friday Rosary Walk, celebrating Masses with their cohorts, partaking in days of fellowship, and participating in a special outdoor XLT Adoration.
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1. Erin Finnegan ’24 prays the rosary during a Faith Friday Rosary Walk. 2. Father Thomas Cardone, S.M. celebrates an outdoor Mass of Thanksgiving for the newly beatified Blessed Carlo Acutis for freshmen cohorts. 3. Mr. Shaun Moran ’04 served as the guest speaker for a special outdoor XLT Adoration on October 23, 2020. The evening’s atmosphere of prayer was enhanced by beautiful music by the XLT Band and the Gregorian Consortium. 4. Katherine Costello ’21 receives communion at a senior cohort Mass celebrated by Father Thomas Cardone, S.M. 5. Eucharistic ministers from the class of 2021 were installed during a Mass concelebrated by Father Thomas Cardone, S.M. and Father Daniel Griffin, S.M. ’02 on October 28, 2020. 6. You may not be able to see their smiles because of their masks, but these freshmen were enjoying every minute of FAITH Day! 8
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A K E L L E N B E RG M E M O R I A L FA M I LY P U B L I CAT I O N
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1. Latin Schoolers and their families gathered together for an evening of socially distanced fun for a drive-in movie (complete with popcorn) in Kellenberg Memorial’s new parking lot on August 13, 2020. Anthony and Kristi Badolato, with their children, Kacie ’16, Squire Nicholas ’25, and Cadet Michael ’27, created a comfortable set-up for movie night. 2. Squires Tristan Lombardo ’25 and Mario Coscia ’25 volunteered to serve popcorn. 3. Although interscholastic sports were not able to take place in the Latin School this fall, students kept busy by participating in intramural sports, including volleyball, soccer, and touch football. Squire Teagan Urich ’25 prepares to bump the volleyball back to her opponent during an intramural matchup. 4. Masked and socially distanced, new students in the Brother Joseph C. Fox Latin School arrived for Triple A orientation program on September 8, 2020. Students were placed in their cohorts, received their iPads, and learned all about what is expected of them at the Latin School. With the help of Mr. Matthew Kirk ’04, Dean of Latin School Students, Cadet Kaitlynn Roberson ’27 finds her classroom. 5. Latin School students pose by a welcome sign during Triple A. 6. Tyros Daniel Careddu ’26 and Miles Abdeldaim ’26 take a break from the Witness Day activities on November 3, 2020. 7. Students in the Latin School were thrilled to be able to attend Mass celebrated by Father Thomas Cardone, S.M. outdoors on St. John Field in a socially distanced manner on November 9, 2020. 8. On November 24, 2020, Latin School students delivered food donations to St. Brigid’s Parish in Westbury that were collected during the annual Latin School Thanksgiving Food Drive. Pictured are squires Carson Giacopelli ’25, Faith Cairo ’25, Christina Callahan ’25, and Christopher Gallegra ’25. 9. Advent in the Brother Joseph C. Fox Latin School looks a little different this year, but cohorts were able to make pilgrimages to our Nativity Creche with their religion classes in December for mini-prayer services in preparation for the coming of the Lord on Christmas. K E L L E N B E RG .O RG
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A K E L L E N B E RG M E M O R I A L FA M I LY P U B L I CAT I O N
C OV E R S T O RY
182 days after leaving the building in March 2020 due to the global pandemic, Kellenberg Memorial students began returning to campus in-person on September 8th for the 2020-2021 academic year. Although the school days look and feel quite different this year than in the past, Firebirds and their families are thrilled to be able to return to some semblance of a normal routine. Staff and administrators worked tirelessly through the spring and summer months to develop a flexible reopening plan that would accommodate the desires of all students and their families. In that spirit, Kellenberg Memorial offers three models of instruction for students to choose from: full-time in-person, hybrid, or fully remote. Over 90% of Firebirds chose to attend school full-time, in-person, including Michelle Cuocci ’22 who says, “Although it’s tough compared to this time last year, I feel going to school full-time was still better than the alternative of being home five days a week. For me, I am able to concentrate and learn better with a live, in-person environment. Also, I believe in these stressful times it helps to see familiar faces. I am trying to make the best of a difficult situation, and the option of going to school was a big help.” 1. Ethan Abrahams ’27 and the other members of Mrs. Diane Page’s cohort spend their time wisely in class. 2. Kayleigh Murray ’24, Thomas Jack ’24, and their fellow freshmen classmates listen attentively during Triple A. 3. Catherine Saporito ’24 and Marvin Suber ’24 complete an Earth Science soil texture analysis lab in the hybrid learning environment. Remote students and in-person learners assemble as the “lab partners” as these two students go through each step of measuring the amount of sand, silt, and clay from each local soil sample. 4. On a beautiful fall afternoon, Kaitlin McNamee ’24 and Grace Lamoreaux ’24 enjoy lunch outside, six feet apart.
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C OV E R S T O RY
A multitude of health and safety measures have been put in place to protect students, faculty, and staff. Any person entering the building must complete a health screening in conjunction with CDC and New York Department of Health guidelines on a daily basis, including having his/ her temperature checked by state-of-the-art thermal imaging systems. Modifications to the school schedule, including staggered arrival and departure times, assure that large numbers of students do not congregate by the entrances to the school. Each and every inch of available space within the building, including the auditorium, gymnasium, Millennium Room, and cafeteria, has been converted to learning areas with hand sanitizing stations available throughout. A cohort system with proper social distancing is in place ensuring that classes remain as selfcontained as possible. Should anyone in a particular cohort become ill or be exposed to COVID-19, contact tracing and subsequent remote learning is implemented if necessary for the affected cohort only, rather than a larger part of the school population. Teachers move from classroom to classroom and remain socially distant from students to further isolate and protect all cohorts. All rooms are cleaned and disinfected on a daily basis using a hospital grade disinfectant and industrial UV lights. Mask-wearing protocols are in place, with “mask breaks” provided throughout the day in accordance with social distancing guidelines. In addition, faculty members prioritize students’ mental well-being by bringing classes outdoors for lessons, faithbuilding activities, or general free time whenever weather permits. Shanik Nunez ’24 reflects on her experience thus far telling Phoenix newspaper’s 12
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Hailey Pitcher ’21, “At first, I was nervous that it was so different, but everyone adjusted very quickly. The teachers are great. They’re super friendly and helpful. In a way, the cohorts help us all have a deeper relationship with each other.” Students who opted to attend school remotely or in hybrid form are benefitting from Kellenberg Memorial’s adept use of technology. All classes are live-streamed so that students working from home do not miss a moment of instruction. Students learning remotely are encouraged to participate in the live class by posting their questions or comments regarding the lesson in a chat with the teacher. Group projects also connect those at home to those in the classroom. Faculty member Mrs. Mary Beth (Cotty) Farrell ’05 reflects on teaching during these uncertain times, saying, “While this pandemic has certainly changed almost every aspect of our lives, one thing I have always been able to count on is my students rising to the occasion. We are so fortunate here to have students who genuinely care about their academics and overall school experience. For those students coming into the building each day, they are respectful of the new policies, wearing their masks, and accepting the new procedures with a level of grace that most teenagers would not be able to muster. I also give a lot of credit to the students who are learning remotely. It cannot be easy learning at home, knowing your peers are socializing with one another, and still engaging in class with a multitude of distractions around them. Yet, there they are, each day logging into virtual conferences, asking questions, and volunteering in class. The gratitude that our students and their families
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A K E L L E N B E RG M E M O R I A L FA M I LY P U B L I CAT I O N
C OV E R S T O RY
have for Kellenberg’s education approach during the pandemic is overwhelming.” Recognizing that a Marianist education of the heart and mind is not imparted exclusively in the classroom, Kellenberg Memorial has remained steadfast in providing the widest array of athletic and co-curricular activities as is safely possible. Fall sports and intramurals were adapted to meet safety requirements, with football hitting the gridiron in 7 on 7 flag football matchups and Latin School athletics shifting to intramural sports. High school soccer, tennis, and cross country teams were thrilled to be able to compete while adhering to mask and other safety protocols. Although not all winter sports teams will be permitted to compete, the sports deemed “low risk,” such as track & field, bowling, and boys swimming and diving, have been given the green light to proceed by the Athletic Director Councils of the Boys and Girls Catholic High School Athletic Leagues. Since the pandemic began in the spring, Kellenberg has seen great success in keeping Firebirds engaged in co-curriculars by the implementation of virtual “Activity Wednesdays.” All activities and clubs meet virtually on Wednesday afternoons based on a schedule created specifically to minimize conflicts with other school commitments. Students have expressed deep gratitude for these opportunities for camaraderie and invigoration stemming from shared interests among peers. Liam Schroeder ’21 feels fortunate to be back on campus and involved with co-curriculars, saying, “I was so happy when I heard that we would be able to go back to K E L L E N B E RG .O RG
school for in-person learning. I was so glad to be able to see many people I had not seen in several months. I was also able to do some events/clubs, which has been the best part of being back in school. Though this is not how I imagined my senior year, Kellenberg has tried very hard to make the best and safest learning environment possible in the current climate. I know they will continue to improve and adapt to enhance the education of the heart and mind.”
Another critical area of importance which was reimagined this fall was the faith life of the Firebird family. Although all-school Masses are not possible at this time, each cohort is still able to celebrate individual Masses by gathering outside or in a socially-distanced manner in the library. The retreat program resumed in October at Stella Maris, one of Kellenberg’s retreat houses, which is situated on a bucolic stretch of land on Champlin Creek in Islip, NY. Students have been blessed by getting to know two very special alumni, Father James Hansen ’07 and newly ordained Father John Crozier ’11. Both
Father John and Father James have been the “guest stars” of the retreats, celebrating Mass and creating fellowship with the students by playing games, sharing a meal, and hanging out around the Stella Maris fire pit. Gianna Tamburrino ’23 reflected on her retreat experience telling Phoenix newspaper’s Mary O’Connor ’21, “During the retreat, I got the chance to learn more about my classmates. I really enjoyed the team-building exercises and games. But, my favorite part of
the day was when I got to play corn hole with Father James and my friends.” As Kellenberg Memorial looks to the spring and continues to tweak all aspects of the Marianist education to best serve Firebirds during the pandemic, adaptability, compassion, respect, and above all, faith, remain the cornerstones of its reinvented educational approach. The school’s administration remains in close contact with the Nassau County Department of Health, who has complimented the cohort system and Kellenberg’s multi-faceted approach to ensuring a safe
and healthy in-person learning environment. With so many uncertainties regarding the future timeline of the pandemic, the school remains vigilant and poised to pivot to its extremely successful remote learning plan, which received rave reviews from parents, if necessary. “The academic and social challenges raised by the pandemic were handled with patience and careful attention to our children’s needs,” says Amy Urban, whose son, Leo, is a seventh-grader in the Latin School. “We cannot express how much we value and appreciate all that Kellenberg has done to keep our children both actively learning and engaged during this very trying time. Kellenberg’s preparedness for and flexibility during this unprecedented event are truly impressive.” Kellenberg Memorial has risen above the many challenges presented by the global pandemic and found a successful formula to make over 2,600 Firebirds feel connected whether they are six feet apart from each other in a classroom, or miles apart joining together in a virtual learning environment. Principal Brother Kenneth Hoagland, S.M. reflects on the success of Kellenberg Memorial’s reinvented education, saying, “I am extraordinarily grateful for the great cooperation of students and parents in following our protocols in order to keep everyone healthy and safe. The creativity and dedication of our teachers has been outstanding, as well as the ingenuity, perseverance, and forward-thinking of the IT staff and administrative staff. We are a stronger school because of the creativity, dedication, and resilience within the Firebird family.”
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S P O R TS
S P O RTS by Mr. Doug Cioffi ’97
Academic Team Award Congratulations to the 2019 Boys Varsity Soccer team for receiving the Team Academic Award from United Soccer Coaches. This award goes to a team with a composite GPA average of 3.25 or better on a 4.0 scale. This award is a true testament to success both on and off the field.
FOOTBALL BACK IN ACTION Latin School Intramurals While our Latin Schoolers could not enjoy a regular fall season as in the past, they were still able to take the field and stay active by participating in soccer, volleyball, and touch football intramurals.
Our Firebirds were able to hit the gridiron this year, albeit in a different way than in past seasons. Instead of putting on the pads, the team put on the flags for a 7 on 7 flag football matchup. The teams played two 25-minute halves. Congratulations to our JV team on a perfect 5-0 record in their premier matchups this season. The varsity team went 4-1. The teams look forward to returning to more traditional competition in March 2021. Pictured above: Claude Makelele ’23.
Girls Cross Country Congratulations to Victoria McLoughlin ’21, Isabella Coschignano ’22, Grace McKenna ’21, Lauren Tarpey ’22, and Maggie Dollof ’21 on winning the CHSAA JV Intersectional Cross Country Team Title.
ATHLETIC AWARDS Congratulations to the following athletes who were recognized for their individual achievements this past fall season: Girls Varsity Soccer: Sarah DeFreitas ’21 - Newsday Top Performer, Kylie McShea ’21 - Newsday Top Performer.
Girls Cheer & Dance While the girls could not be on the sidelines cheering, dancing at the football games, or performing at competitions, they were sure to get their workouts in safely outside on the practice fields. Pictured above (L) Theresa Marks ’21 and (R) Danielle Field ’21. 14
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Girls Cross Country: Margaret McLoughlin ’21 - Newsday All Long Island, CHSAA All Intersectional First Team Boys Varsity Soccer: Theodore “Jack” Healy ’21 - NSCHSAA All League Honors Colin Richards ’21 - NSCHSAA All League Honors
A K E L L E N B E RG M E M O R I A L FA M I LY P U B L I CAT I O N
SPREADING OUR WINGS
S PREADING O UR W INGS
The interior of the new labs with the freshly finished floors and lighting.
T H E V I S I O N F O R T HE FUT UR E O F K E L L E N B ERG M EM ORIA L
Spreading Our Wings: The Vision for the Future of Kellenberg Memorial is a master plan for the enhancement of the school’s campus facilities based on strategic goals developed to ensure Kellenberg’s continued status as the premier co-ed Catholic high school on Long Island. Many significant improvements have been completed, with many more slated for the future. On Saint Matthew Field, the track has been resurfaced and the bleachers have been renovated and replaced with ADA compliant seating, as well as a press box. Saint Mark Field has been converted to a much-needed parking lot with room for over 200 vehicles. The corner of Hempstead Turnpike and Glenn Curtiss Boulevard is now home to a brand new Athletic Complex complete with two turf playing fields and six tennis courts.
The view of the classrooms from the hallway, the interior of a renovated classroom, and new lockers on the corridor Within a few week’s time, Firebirds will reap the benefits of another monumental piece of the school’s strategic plan: the unveiling of the new, state-of-the-art Science Hall. The Science Hall will give students access to dedicated laboratories ideal for STEM exploration and learning in the areas of Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and Science Olympiad. Looking toward the future, a grand new entranceway is planned for the entry to the property off of Glenn Curtiss Blvd. Spreading Our Wings: The Vision for the Future also plans for the creation of a 28,000 square foot multi-purpose building behind the cafeteria, which would be home to practice spaces for many teams, as well as serve as a flexible-use space for many student activities and apostolic events. K E L L E N B E RG .O RG
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FA L L H I G H L I G H TS AT ST. M A RT I N D E P O R R E S M A R I A N I ST S C H O O L S t. m a r t i n d e p o r r es
by Mrs. Erin (Toscano) Citrano ’03
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1. Millie welcomed back our students on our first day of the 2020-2021 school year. What a blessing it was to welcome back over 400 boys and girls in grades Pre-K through 8! 2. Morgan Wade and the rest of his Pre-K class were treated to some pumpkin picking on the Stella Maris Field. 3. We were so happy to witness the Confirmation celebration of our Class of 2020 graduates, including Emmanuel Iregbulem, pictured with his sister, Duchess (SMMS ’12, KMHS ’16), his brother, Jonphilips (SMMS ’16, KMHS ’20), and Father Thomas Cardone, S.M. 4&5. Some of our kindergarteners discovered how much fun exploring can be by using the telescopes they made! 6. Eighth-grader Ashlyn Newsome designed a beautiful flag, inspired by St. Francis, to wave in our St. Martin’s Day Parade of Saints. 7. St. Martin’s annual Veterans Day celebration was broadcast throughout the school building. Our firstgraders helped lead our school in prayer and patriotic songs. 8. This year’s annual Rosary Rally was broadcast to the entire school building from the Our Lady of Grace Gardens. 9. Third-graders recently learned about different types of communities in their neighborhoods. 10. The first-graders made some crawly spiders while learning spider facts and reviewing the great number eight. 11. Jazlyn Fernandez Ramirez, Kelvin Hall, and Amy Fernandez Ramirez pose with Father Thomas Cardone, S.M. after receiving the sacrament of First Holy Communion during one of our class Masses in September. 16
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A Few Minutes with
MRS. ANGELA (WATSON) CAMERON ’03 When and how did you end up teaching at Kellenberg? I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I’ve studied lots of languages and got my degree from Boston University in Ancient Greek and Latin. I’ve also studied Spanish and Italian, but Latin is the one I mastered the best. I loved languages and knew I wanted to teach at least one of them. Once I graduated and came back to Long Island, I was lucky enough to get a job teaching here. What have you taught and moderated or coached during your time here? For the majority of my time here, I’ve taught both Latin and Spanish, and I am Chairperson of the Latin Department. I have been one of the assistant coaches for varsity girls basketball for the past 13 years, and I have also served as an assistant coach for varsity boys volleyball for eight years. I am also comoderator of The Renaissance, which is the literary arts publication. It’s really cool to be able to see that creative side of kids. You were recently named Assistant Administrator for Curriculum Development, which is a newly created position. Can you tell us a bit about that? There have been many changes to the curriculum over the past few years and in this new position, I examine the overall academic program to make sure that we have a healthy amount of diversity and that all of our students can see themselves in their studies. A conversation I had with Mrs. Cathy von Schoenermarck over the summer really sums up the goal of refreshing our curriculum. She shared an idea put forth by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, who is Professor Emerita of Education at The Ohio State University. Dr. Sims Bishop authored the essay, “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors,” which suggests that a K E L L E N B E RG .O RG
well-developed curriculum should be a mirror that allows students to see themselves, an open window for students to be able to look through, and a sliding door to give students the opportunity to step into somebody else’s shoes. In some instances, we seemed to be missing the mirror part of the equation. Another goal going forward is to make sure that all of our students feel comfortable communicating with one another regarding difficult topics. So we are trying to introduce norms to our students regarding how to best communicate and deal with tough situations through the curriculum. My colleagues and I had the privilege of working with Claudy Damus-Makelele ’93 over the summer. Currently, Claudy serves as Associate Superintendent of Educational Services for Eastern Suffolk BOCES and has a lot of experience dealing with issues surrounding equity in education. Claudy worked with us to help us learn how to get the kids to communicate in a productive and understanding way by introducing to us the following norms: ‘assume positive intentions’; ‘challenge ideas and not individuals’; ‘intentions don’t always equal impact’; and ‘expect and accept non-closure.’ What is your favorite thing about teaching at Kellenberg? There are so many different things. I think the biggest thing is that the students are so excited to come to school here. To go to a teaching job where you don’t have to convince kids to want to learn is so impressive. The kids here are really inquisitive and want to do well. It’s just a good feeling teaching kids that want to be here and learn. What is it like teaching at your alma mater? Kellenberg has definitely evolved over the
years. Being an alum is definitely super helpful in trying to guide students as they navigate time management issues along with heavy workloads. I played sports and was very involved when I was a student here and know what they are going through. What is so unique about an education that impacts both the heart and the mind? The academic side of things is always important, but there are so many other aspects to developing the whole student. I’m so appreciative of the work that the ARK does to make sure that our students always have God pouring into them. What do you hope to instill in your students? I hope that they know they can do anything they want. If they want to be a doctor, they can. If they want to be an artist, they can. High school might be highly focused on academics, but when you leave here having ‘learned how to learn,’ as well as having a strong understanding of yourself, you will be able to apply those lessons to whatever area truly makes you happy and feeds your soul. What does the phrase, “Kellenberg family,” mean to you? This has been a year of learning in so many ways. What comes to the forefront is that we have learned some very tough lessons surrounding the deep societal sin of systemic racism. We have definitely received feedback from students and alumni that we have missed the mark and failed in some important areas. Now we are focused on putting in the work needed to improve things so that every member of the Kellenberg Family feels seen, respected, and loved going forward. THAT’S what a good family does. It recognizes its mistakes and works to become better and stronger. HEART & MIND
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FIREBIRDS RECONNECT AT SOCIALLY DISTANT EVENTS With social distancing guidelines and limitations on groups of people gathering due to the pandemic, Kellenberg Memorial’s Alumni Office developed monthly virtual events for the Firebird alumni family to keep in touch while staying safe. Wine tastings, reunion committee meetings, and storytimes for Future Firebirds have proved to be popular ways for alumni and their families to stay engaged and connected.
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1. Each month, Mr. Chris Alfalla ’94 enjoyed teaching alumni about different wine varietals and recommending culinary pairings. On November 19, 2020, he was joined in the studio by Mrs. Kelly (Lawrence) Meisse ’09. 2. Future Firebirds looked forward to hearing a bedtime story live from Kellenberg once a month. Special thanks to our featured readers: Mr. Doug Cioffi ’97 (pictured with his special helpers Dean ’29 and Antonia ’31 Cioffi!), Mr. Thomas Huggard, and Mr. Denis Murphy. 3. Anthony 4 Marsala ’00, who enjoyed tuning in for the Thanksgiving storytime read by Mr. Huggard, said, “Thank you so much for taking the time to do this; it was so special for my kids, Elise ’34 and Ryan ’34, to listen to one of my favorite teachers read a story on their birthday tonight.” 4. On November 12, 2020 Director of Alumni and former Girls Varsity Volleyball Coach Mr. Thomas Huggard hosted a virtual event to commemorate the 25th anniversary of his team’s volleyball state championship win in 1995. Laura (Iannucci) Connolly ’96, Patricia (Pezzino) Cooney ’96, Katherine (Hower) Creegan ’96, Kimberly (Korduba) 6 5 Hunter ’96, Kathleen (Wallace) Ricciardi ’96, Cristy (Lupfer) Skolfield ’96, Patricia (Kearney) Brady ’97, Susan (Witt) Corry ’97, Julie (Giovanni) Duenges ’97, Eileen (Cosgrove) Ernst ’97, and Amy (Broghammer) Stabile ’97 all logged on and enjoyed reminiscing about their time on the court together. 5. Thanksgiving Eve has always been a special night for wrestling alumni to get together to hit the mats and reminisce. While our Firebird wrestling alums were not able to be together in person this year, they made sure to catch up over during a virtual gathering on November 25, 2020. 6. On November 7, 7 8 2020, football alumni from the classes of 2000 and 2001 met virtually with Coach Hanifan to reminisce and celebrate the 1999/2000 Kellenberg Varsity Football team championship. 7. On December 9, 2020, Bro. Nigel Pratt, S.M., who has been the moderator of Kellenberg Memorial’s award-winning Science Olympiad (SO) team for over 25 years, hosted a virtual reunion for SO alumni. He gave attendees a sneak peek at the newly renovated Science Wing and Science Olympiad room. Aidan York ’20, who is working toward his Bachelor of Applied Science degree at Haverford College, was on hand in-person and Christel-Remy Kuck ’16 joined virtually from her dorm at Cornell University, where she is studying pre-veterinary medicine, to reflect on the important lessons they’ve learned from being part of SO. 8. On December 17, 2020, alumni tuned in for a virtual beer tasting hosted by Bright Eye Beer Co., owned by siblings Luke ’09 and Keira ’11 Heneghan, in Long Beach. Mrs. Trista Harnisch, Mr. Pat Healy ’10, and Mr. Kevin A’Hearn MR’83 sampled several craft beers at the brewery and offered expert advice on best practices to fully appreciate the complexity of your favorite brews. 18
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F O R EV E R F I R E B I R DS
FOREVER FIREBIRDS Tara (Powers) ’05 & Patrick Cunnane ’05
Tara and Patrick reside in Rockville Centre with their daughter, Kelly (2). Tara has spent the past seven years as a teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Malverne. She currently teaches second grade where she shares her experiences from Kellenberg to spread the Catholic faith. Patrick is a VP at BNP Paribas, where he works with financial institutions to achieve their financial and strategic needs. They continue to practice their Catholic faith together as a family at St. Agnes Parish. When and how did you meet? We met as incoming freshmen when we happened to have several classes together. Patrick was a member of the football team for all four years, and I was a member of the cheerleading team for all four years. We wish we could say our love story started way back in freshman year, but we did not actually begin dating until after our Senior Trip to Disney! When and where you married? We were married on June 25, 2016, at St. Rose of Lima, my home parish in Massapequa. Our bridal parties consisted of our best friends from Kellenberg! Our wedding day was filled with Firebird love from former football players, dance team members, and, of course, the entire cheerleading staff. K E L L E N B E RG .O RG
What is one of the best lessons you each learned during your time at Kellenberg? We have both learned many lessons during our time at Kellenberg. These lessons include being on time for class, always tuck your shirt in, and take pride in knowing how to properly tie your tie! Our years at Kellenberg helped us find exactly who we were as young adults. We were both a little shy and unsure of our strengths as freshmen. Kellenberg provided us with a platform to grow and make the most of ourselves during our high school years. We both left feeling thankful for everything we learned and the people we met. I actually loved Kellenberg so much that I never really left! Shortly after graduating, I joined the cheerleading coaching staff. I had
the pleasure of coaching the JV and Varsity teams before leaving in 2018 after our daughter, Kelly, was born. The years I spent coaching brought me so many memories and friendships that I will cherish forever! There are many Firebird alumni who have entered into the covenant of marriage together. What about your time at Kellenberg helped prepare you to make and keep the promise of being “true to your spouse in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health?” Kellenberg taught us our faith is an important building block in having a strong marriage. Life is full of ups and downs but having faith and a supportive spouse will always help you persevere.
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TRUSTING IN GOD’S PLAN: An Alumni Profile of Jazmine Fray ’15
Jazmine Fray ’15, who holds NCAA D1 titles in the individual 800-meter and the 4X400-meter relay, is a professional athlete at Under Armour in Baltimore, MD. A sports management major while at Texas A&M University, Jazmine is now busy training and competing, as well as coaching high school track. Jazmine’s ultimate happiness comes from her relationship with God, as well as her pursuit of myriad causes and activities that hold places of importance in her heart. Read on to learn more about this fabulous Firebird! What is a typical day like in your life as a professional athlete? I like to wake up at around 6AM. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I try to do an abs circuit workout, and then I try to stretch. I have a small breakfast of oatmeal or fruit and then right before I leave I do a Catholic devotional. I journal about my gratitudes or how I want the day to go. I basically write a letter to God. It’s not always easy to find gratitude if you’re having a tough time but it really does change your outlook on life. Then, I go to practice for around three hours. When I get home, I have a little second breakfast and shower before taking a look at my grad school applications. A lot of professional athletes tend to only focus on honing their craft, but I think it’s important to have other things outside of track because I need to have ways to relax and keep myself centered. I want to do a Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Health dual degree. I am also working on getting my real estate license. Once I pass the state test, I will shadow real estate agents and be able to start selling homes. I am also a high school track and field coach at Episcopal High School, so I’m with my kids every weekday from 3 to 5:30PM. That’s a really fun experience because I feel like through teaching kids I actually learn a lot more about myself. I feel like being involved in different things helps to prevent burnout. I am trying to break the stigma for professional athletes that the ONLY thing they should focus on is their trade. Being busy and productive revives me and motivates me. You recently posted on your Instagram account, “We are our own storytellers. The one I tell is one of hope and redemption.” Can you expand upon that? Each of us has a story to tell and that story is so great. Photo courtesy of Under Armor 20
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There are ups and downs, and that’s what makes life beautiful to me. For example, dealing with COVID-19. I’m very social, so I was struggling when the pandemic hit, even though I didn’t even realize it. My running was definitely affected as well, and I felt really bad about that. I am someone who is very hard on myself. I know it’s unrealistic to be perfect, but I do still very much strive for it. So the quote was speaking to how even though I had a lot of ups and downs, I did find myself a lot through that struggle. I know now that if I’m not feeling productive for a day, it’s okay. There is so much hope in God, and He gives me so much hope within myself. At Texas A&M, a sports psychologist taught me that you shouldn’t resist your feelings but rather accept them. There is redemption in that. And if a door closes, another door is open or will open. A huge motto of mine is, “what’s coming is better than what is lost.” This is only my 23rd chapter in life - I have so much further to go. What inspires you to run? What inspires me to run is pretty simple: this is a gift that God gave me. Actually, when I was running at Kellenberg, there was a part of me that didn’t necessarily enjoy running as much as I thought I should. It took me a little while to learn and understand myself and to realize that it’s not that I don’t enjoy it - it’s that I’m scared sometimes. I was scared because I had the potential to be very good at running and that would lead to a lot of expectations of me. I’m a perfectionist and I don’t want to fail people. But I learned that it’s okay to have some pressure on you, and it actually makes life more rewarding. Also, I learned that whenever I run fast, it’s less about me running fast and more about being an inspiration to others. Now that I’m a professional athlete, I have a greater platform in order to talk about things that are important to me, such as public health, global economic systems, and women’s health in underdeveloped countries. God wants me to do more with His gift than just run fast. It’s about figuring out how to use that gift to help others. What is your favorite moment thus far in your running career? So far I would have to say my favorite moment was when I won the NCAA. I had worked so hard to get to that moment. It was my senior year and would be the last 800-meter race I ran in a Texas A&M uniform. When I finished I was so in shock and so happy. I was able to K E L L E N B E RG .O RG
run over to my mother and give her a hug. All my friends were there to cheer me on whether I won or lost. On top of that, we won the 4X400-meter relay. It was truly a day to remember. Do you have any advice for current students or young alumni who are interested in athletic careers in college and beyond? Yes! When you have collegiate athletic pursuits make sure you ask the right questions. Make a list of what YOU want from your college experience. Make sure you ask the coach detailed questions, not “yes” or “no” questions. Also, ask the student-athletes the same questions and make sure their answers match the coaches’ answers. Be yourself. Those teammates are people you will be with for four years, and so you want to make sure they represent the same values and morals as you. How do you think your time at Kellenberg Memorial helped to prepare you for your success in your academic and professional pursuits? Kellenberg definitely helped me and I would say that Mr. Brown was the single individual there that helped me the most. He helped me grow so much as a person and as an athlete. He showed me that no matter what, in every circumstance, you always choose to be GREAT. Whether you win or lose, you always shake someone’s hand and you’re happy for someone else. Mr. Brown taught me to figure out what kind of athlete I want to be and what kind of example I want to set. Kellenberg as a whole taught me so much about Catholicism. I am a very devout Catholic. I learned so much about faith and discipline in God during high school. That’s one of the biggest game-changers. Running can be very disappointing if you don’t perform the way you want to. In that time, you need to know that God has a plan. He would not have given this gift to me if He felt like I could not handle it. I can’t tell you how many times in college I broke a big record, and it made me so nervous because then... you have to try to do it AGAIN the next time. There’s a target on your back. But I trusted God would guide me. Every single thing that has happened to me from elementary school at Holy Child, to Kellenberg, to Texas A&M, is a gift from God. He’s given me so much - it would almost be rude and disrespectful of me to not believe in God’s plan!
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3 1. Jazmine discovered her love of running during her years as a member of Kellenberg Memorial’s Track & Field team. 2. As a senior at Texas A&M University, Jazmine won the NCAA 800M title in 2019. 3. With a worldwide pandemic testing the nerves of many, Jazmine posted to her social media: “Be the reason someone smiles.”
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CLASS NOTES
1970 Ken Doyle serves as Senior Vice President National Sales Manager for Fox Entertainment. He resides in Bluffton, South Carolina, with his wife. They are pictured with their son and daughter. 1
1988 Kerwin Young was recently profiled by Houston Chronicle leading up to the world premiere of his latest work, “Coming Forth by Day,” on November 1, 2020. A trio for oboe, cello, viola, and baritone, the piece is comprised of seven miniatures with a duration of 20 minutes.
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Danielle (Ferraioli) Turco recently authored a book, Keto for Autoimmune Healing, which can be purchased on publishizer. com. She is a certified keto, health, and life coach, as well as an RYT 500 registered yoga instructor and AFAA certified personal trainer. Danielle is a 20-year lupus survivor who has achieved remission by following a ketogenic lifestyle. 2
1994 Kenneth Ryan recently bought a home in New Providence, NJ.
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Juan Estrella, a faculty member and boys cross country/track coach at Kellenberg Memorial, was voted onto the Fordham University men’s cross country A-10 25th Anniversary Team in November 2020. Juan was a multiple-time competitor at the A-10 Championship with his best finish coming at the 1998 Championship held at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia, clocking in at 26:25. In other meets that season, he was Fordham’s top finisher at the IC4A Championship at Van Cortlandt
Park, placing 26th in 26:28.3, as well as at the Metropolitan Championship, taking 21st in 26:50.
1996 Bevin (O’Rourke) Lee married her husband, Milton, in July 2020. Due to the pandemic, they initially had a civil ceremony, which was held over Zoom. The couple happily received the Sacrament of Marriage on November 1, 2020, in the Holy Cross Chapel at St. Agnes in Rockville Centre, NY with Fr. Michael Duffy presiding. FF&C
1997 Katie (Moore) Kenney has been working as a registered nurse for the last 19 years. She is married with five beautiful kids and lives on Long Island. 4
1998 Talitha Vickers, a news anchor for NBC in Winston-Salem, recently authored a children’s book. Why My Hero Had to Go is dedicated to the thousands of men and women serving in the United States Armed Forces and the families who quietly serve a “special mission” of their own. This uniquely illustrated children’s picture book is based on Talitha’s brother who served in the United States Army and her nephew and aims to show how families can stay connected despite being thousands of miles apart. Those interested in learning more may visit talithavickers.com. 3
1999 Diana Alutto and her husband, Gio, escaped New York City and moved to Tokyo, Japan in August 2020. Diana is teaching Grade 1 at Horizon Japan International School in Yokohama, Japan. The couple had visited Japan many times on vacation and decided
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to turn their favorite vacation destination into their residence for a little while. 5 Regina (Reidl) Boutilier got married on September 19, 2020. She resides in Maine, where she has been working for a local credit union in the mortgage department as a mortgage loan processor since 2005. FF&C John Costa graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2008 with a Master in Public Administration degree, along with a masters-level certificate in terrorism studies. He owns two small online businesses and is an amateur radio operator with an extra class license (call sign W1OJ). John also volunteers with South Carolina ARES as a ham radio operator and served two years as a volunteer ham radio operator with US Army M.A.R.S. program. He is a trained CERT team member in the state of South Carolina, where he resides with his wife, Laura, and daughter, Bette. John is pictured with Bette at the South Carolina Emergency Operations Center in Columbia, SC. 6
2002 LaTonja Lee, who is an assistant athletic trainer at Molloy College, also serves as the New York State Athletic Trainers’ Association Diversity & Inclusion Committee Chair. She recently was interviewed by Long Island Herald stating, “My passion for the profession of Athletic Training has been profound, but advocating and promoting diversity in the profession is personal.” LaTonja holds a bachelor’s degree in human biology with a concentration in anthropology from the University at Albany and continued her education and obtained a master’s degree in athletic training from LIU-Brooklyn. 7
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Rudner DeVera met and graduated with his wife, Raquel, while they were attaining masters degrees in counseling and clinical health psychology at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. They married in 2017 and welcomed their daughter, River Jean Johnson, in September 2019. Rudner successfully defended his dissertation, “Emotional Intelligence of Doctoral Psychology Students,” in June 2020. His doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Immaculata University was conferred in August 2020. 8
2004 Meaghan (Curtin) Ledetsch was recently profiled by her alma mater, Scranton University, for her work as a critical care registered nurse at North Shore University Hospital in the Cardiac ICU/ Covid ICU during the height of the spring 2020 Covid-19 surge. In July 2020, she was promoted to assistant nurse manager at Long Island Jewish Medical Center.
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Alyssa (Guerrier) Mannion, a faculty member at Kellenberg Memorial, and her husband, Joe, welcomed their third child, Logan Calvin, in July 2020. Logan joins big sisters Chloé (5) and Natalia (2). FF&C
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2005 Brent Nisbett attended Howard University where he simultaneously studied broadcast journalism and economics. During college, he worked his way up the ranks in television production at Viacom. Upon graduating, Brent continued his journey as a freelance producer, working with major networks such as Bravo, MTV, BET, VH1, TLC, OWN, and Netflix. Currently, Brent is an executive producer/showrunner and recently signed with Creative Arts Agency.
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Connor Vincent, son of Gerri Anne (DiLorenzo) Sweikata ’08
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Logan Calvin, son of Alyssa (Guerrier) Mannion ’04, with sisters Chloé and Natalia
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FEATURED FIREBIRD Mabel Catherine, daughter of Kellie (Murray) ’12 and Ethan Penny ’12.
Michelle Gail, daughter of Kelly (Lawrence) ’09 and Eric Meisse ’06
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Alexandra Rose, daughter of Nina (LaMonica) ’07 and Ed ’07 Proctor
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Skylar, child of Alyssa (McGee) Rackett ’09
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Alena Mary, child of Debra (Powers) ’06 and Edward ’06 Casazza, with brother Teddy
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Bevin O’Roarke Lee ’96 married her husband, Milton
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Robert, son of Maricel (Magday) Franzese ’08
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Jennifer Rizza ’10 married her husband, Martin Abrams Nicholas Thomas, child of Christina (Hardie) Banek ’08
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Regina (Reidl) Boutilier ’99 married her husband, Peter
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Carley Garttner ’12 married her husband, Salvatore Ubaldini, with siblings Trista ’05, Brielle ’08, Richard ’11, and Eric ’15 in the wedding party
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Julianne (DeLay) Ignasky ’12 married her husband, Ian
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Father John Crozier ’11 celebrated his ordination to the priesthood for the Diocese of Rockville Centre
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Sister Regina Ann Tonn, O.P. ’10 professed perpetual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as a Dominican Sister of Saint Cecilia in Nashville, TN
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2006
Debra (Powers) and Edward Casazza welcomed their second child, Alena Mary, in July 2020. Big brother Teddy is loving his new role! FF&C
2007
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Father Michael Plona was recently assigned to be the new chaplain at St. Anthony’s High School and is currently in residence at Christ the King RC Church in Commack, NY. 1 Nina (LaMonica) and Ed Proctor welcomed their daughter, Alexandra Rose, in August 2020. FF&C
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Christina (Hardie) Banek and her husband, Chris, welcomed their first child, Nicholas Thomas, in May 2020. FF&C Maricel (Magday) Franzese and her husband, Frank, welcomed their son, Robert, in June 2020.
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Gerri Anne (DiLorenzo) Sweikata and her husband, Kevin, welcomed their second boy, Connor Vincent, in August 2020. FF&C
2009
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Meg (Connolly) Maloof Berdellans, a digital and social media consultant, was recently featured in Daily Front Row for her work in social media marketing, real estate/ relocation services, and her philanthropic endeavors with The Endometriosis Coalition. 2 Walt Bishop was appointed as federal government affairs manager for San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. He had recently served as the strategic adviser for federal affairs to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. Elizabeth (Moulder) Knudsen and her husband, James,
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welcomed their first child, Abigail Lorraine, in September 2020. Kelly (Lawrence) and Eric Meisse ’06, both faculty members at Kellenberg Memorial, welcomed their first child, Michelle Gail, in August 2020. FF&C Alyssa (McGee) Rackett and her husband, Brian, welcomed their second child, Skylar, in July 2020. FF&C
2010
Mary Giese and her boyfriend of six years got engaged on August 14, 2020, at the Horton Lighthouse in Greenport, NY. 3 James Lasker holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Science degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He was a graduate student in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Chicago. In September 2020, James defended his thesis entitled, “Determination of the Volumetric Type Ia Supernova Rate Using the Full 5 Year Dark Energy Survey Photometrically Classified Sample.” In October 2020, he started a postdoctoral research position on the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. James (center) poses in a photo with his advisor and a fellow grad student in front of the telescope that gathered much of the data used in his thesis. 4
Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary English education from Aquinas College in Nashville, TN. She is currently teaching at St. John Paul II Catholic High School in Avondale, AZ. FF&C
2011
James Corino was recently promoted to captain in the United States Army. In October 2020, he was reassigned to Fort Stewart, GA to continue his service as an infantry officer and to take command of a company there in the next few years. James’ dog, Achilles, continues to enjoy traveling to New York to spend time with his parents while he is away for work. 5 Father John Crozier celebrated his ordination to the priesthood for the Diocese of Rockville Centre at St. Agnes Cathedral on June 20, 2020. He has been assigned to the Church of St. Mary in East Islip, NY. FF&C James Walsh, a Kellenberg Memorial faculty member and guidance counselor, proposed to his fiancée, Jackie, on August 2, 2020. They will be married by Father John Crozier ’11 on June 24, 2022. 6
2012
Carley Garttner married her husband, Salvatore Ubaldini, on September 25, 2020, at St. Philip Neri Church in Northport, NY.
Jennifer Rizza received tenure as a mathematics teacher at North Shore High School in Glen Head, NY this past June and married Martin Abrams on July 3, 2020. FF&C
Sister Regina Ann Tonn, O.P. professed perpetual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as a Dominican Sister of Saint Cecilia in Nashville, TN on July 25, 2020. Sister Regina Ann studied classics at The
5
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C L A SS N O T ES
The happy couple is pictured with their family, including all of Carley’s alumni siblings: Trista ’05, Brielle ’08, Richard ’11, and Eric ’15. FF&C Julianne (DeLay) Ignasky married her husband, Ian, on August 15, 2020, at St. Thomas the Apostle in West Hempstead, NY. FF&C Kellie (Murray) and Ethan Penny celebrated the birth of their second daughter, Mabel Catherine, this past Mother’s Day. FF&C Molly Stewart graduated from Sacred Heart University magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry. She is currently a Senior Research Coordinator with Northwell Health.
SUNY Binghamton with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science while minoring in Middle East and Northern Africa studies. In May 2020, he completed his first year at Fordham Law, where he serves as a research assistant, with honors. Joseph attended the Civitas Dei Fellowship in June 2020, where he took part in a concentrated study of law, theology, and philosophy with teachers and fellows at the Thomistic Institute. He says, “I want to become a mentor to students who want to potentially pursue a career in law and share my experience of being a Catholic in undergraduate and graduate environments. This is the least I can do to show my gratitude and appreciation to the teachers and Brothers of Kellenberg who provided me an oasis during very tough years in my life.”
8
2013
Theresa McKenna started a new job as a graphic designer at Rivkin Radler, LLP, which is located in RXR Plaza across from Kellenberg. Stephanie Staiano graduated from Adelphi University with a master’s degree in health education in May 2020. She is currently working at St. Martin de Porres Marianist School as a physical education and health teacher. 7
2015
Joseph Del Vicario graduated cum laude in May 2019 from
Cara Lee started a new position as a Marketing Associate running large-scale D&I law conferences through the Brooklyn-based company, CenterforceUSA. Currently virtual, attendees include representatives from major companies across the US who attend to share their stories and to hear how to ensure their companies offer equal working opportunities. Cara says, “During quarantine, I adopted another room full of books, binged many a TV show, and completed puzzles I don’t know what to do with - but taking them apart is not an option.” John Liguori recently accepted a job offer to become an electromechanical assembly and test technician for Target Rock, a subsidiary of Curtis Wright.
2016
6 K E L L E N B E RG .O RG
Lauren Michelle Barasona graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Medici di Makati College (formerly Makati Medical Center College) in the Philippines in
September 2020. Lauren says, “Though I didn’t get to receive proper closure and a face-toface graduation due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it doesn’t stop me from looking back at the countless memories I’ve made during my four years of nursing school in the Philippines. When I return to New York, my next goal will be passing the NCLEX. I hope to become a nurse soon so I can help people during these trying times.”
7
Mike Cannon will be attending DeSales University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program starting in August 2021. Justin Broschardt graduated from Salve Regina University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in global business and economics. He is now part of Salve’s fiveyear graduate program and expected to earn his Masters of Business Administration in May 2021. Justin began working fulltime in the world of finance with Commonwealth Financial Group (Part of MassMutual). He currently serves as a financial services professional assisting individuals and families with any financial planning needs they have.
8
2019
Mishelle (Mejia) Falcon, who is a National Guard soldier assigned to the 107th Military Police Company, received a promotion to the rank of Private First Class on August 6, 2020. Mejia was married in June 2020.
9
9
Chrissi Foster is a 3/C midshipman (16th Company) majoring in cyber operations at the United States Naval Academy. She is the membership chair of the Midshipmen Black Studies Club and a diversity and public affairs member of Midshipmen Caribbean Heritage Club. Chrissi is also a company peer educator for the Midshipmen Diversity Team and competes on the rugby team. 10
10
FF&C on pages 24-25
HEART & MIND
27
CLASS NOTES
K ar in e Jean -Pierre ’93 Appoi nt ed to W h it e House Commu n icat ions T ea m On November 30, 2020, President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris announced the appointment of Karine Jean-Pierre ’93 as the administration’s Principal Deputy Press Secretary. She is part of a history-making White House communications team that is comprised entirely of women. A graduate of Columbia University, Karine was Senior Advisor to President-Elect Joe Biden and Chief of Staff to Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris on the Biden-Harris Campaign.
Congratulations, Karine!
Have you recently celebrated a milestone in your life, such as a college graduation, an engagement, a marriage, a new job, the expansion of your family, or a promotion?
Submit a
CLASS NOTE!
Updates and photos (at their highest resolution) should be submitted to
ALUMNI@KELLENBERG.ORG. 28
HEART & MIND
K MHS A LUMNA E West Point Ca dets On August 23, 2020 during a ceremony at Trophy Point, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point cadets from the Class of 2020 received their West Point class rings. Recent Kellenberg graduate Camryn Beckford ’20 was there to help Maggie Oriani ’17 celebrate this special day.
Professional Directory
We are acutely aware that the repercussions of Covid-19 reach far and wide to all the members of the Firebird Family. In particular, those who own or operate small businesses are suffering greatly right now. We are encouraging all alumni, alumni parents, current parents, and friends of KMHS who own businesses to visit
kellenberg.org/business-directory-listing/ to be featured in our business directory, or to search for a business to support! This directory will give those in the KMHS community who are looking for a particular good or service the opportunity to support a fellow Firebird.
A K E L L E N B E RG M E M O R I A L FA M I LY P U B L I CAT I O N
Pandemic PETS
1.
PA N D E M I C P ETS
2.
The coronavirus pandemic has caused a surge in pet adoptions from our alumni, as people have found more time to take care of new furry friends at home. Here are just a few of our pandemic pets! 1. Matthew Caputo ’19 and his family welcomed mini Goldendoodle Leo to their home. 2. Katelin Harvey ’11 found her beautiful kitty, Mooshu, on the side of the road, right before everything closed down where she lives in South Florida due to the pandemic. Katelin says, “She has carried me through these tough times and I am forever grateful for her!”
9. Amy (MacEwen) ’97 and John Muenzen ’98 welcomed Teddy, a first-generation Goldendoodle. Their children, Ryan and Emily, were thrilled to have him join the family!
5. Doug Cioffi ’97 and his family welcomed Abe, a Lhasa Apso, pictured with his daughter, Antonia.
4.
10. Richard Farrell ’14, a registered nurse at Northwell Health: NSUH, added Clover the Corgi to his household. 5.
3. Victoria (Pisciotta) ’08 and Dan Brennan ’09, both faculty members at Kellenberg Memorial, welcomed a mini Goldendoodle to their family. They named their puppy Shea in honor of Dan’s beloved Mets. Shea loves long walks, cuddling, and ice cubes. 4. Carl Curatola ’90 and his family welcomed Luna to their family.
3.
6.
7.
8.
9.
6. Alyssa Scivoletti ’16 recently moved to the northern Kentucky/ Cincinnati area and welcomed Fetti to her home. 7. Kelly (Byrne) Croghan ’02 and her family adopted a dog, Bruno, from Ollie’s Angels Animal Rescue.
10.
8. Caitlin ’08, Colleen ’10, and Kelly ’13 Meenan welcomed Magoo to the family.
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HEART & MIND
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In Memoriam The Kellenberg Memorial family extends its deepest sympathy to the loved ones of recently departed alumni and friends. To inform the school of the death of a member of the Firebird family, please contact alumni@kellenberg.org. Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls, and all the souls of the faithful departed, through Your mercy, rest in peace. Amen. Aston Joseph Allen ’04 Charles Borfitz, Jr., father of Jenna ’21 Liam Carlos MR’70, husband of Elizabeth (Smercak) MR’70 Enio Carrión, father of Cynthia ’98 Maria Clark, mother of Allison Ayers ’99 Joseph Grima ’98 Father Timothy Hirten, uncle of Kelly (Agostinacchio) Forquignon ’99, Caitlin (Agostinacchio) Ellingson ’01, Colleen (Agostinacchio) Guarneiri ’03, and Kasey (Agostinacchio) Grasso ’06 Joseph Lorenzo LS’98, brother of Jesse ’10, James ’12, and Jamie ’14 John T. Ryan, father of Laura ’99 and Kerin ’01
Letter from the Principal, continued from Page 2
sense of “one heart and one mind” within our school community. The English department reviewed its summer reading list to incorporate a wider selection of books that reflect the racial and cultural makeup of our school. Our faculty meetings in September included presentations crafted to help our teachers better understand the deeply rooted racism and prejudice in our society. I also created the Equity & Excellence Committee as part of the recently established Principal’s Advisory Board. Under the leadership of Claudy Damus Makelele ’93, this group of parents and alumni will provide guidance and recommendations for me and the administrative staff to make Kellenberg Memorial even better in assisting our students to grow in greater appreciation that God has created all children in His image and likeness. We have much work to do in this area and look forward to generating a student body that can and will make a difference in promoting greater social justice within our world. The renovations of our science labs on the second floor have been completed. The two turf fields and six tennis courts on the corner of Hempstead Turnpike and Glenn Curtiss Boulevard officially opened this past fall. The elevators were refurbished after serving for nearly sixty years. After a year of labor, a totally new fire alarm system has been installed. We have a few more renovations and plans to share with you in the next issue of Heart & Mind. Please know that all of the friends and family of the Kellenberg Memorial community are in the hearts, minds, and prayers of the Marianist Community. May the new year bring much health, happiness, and peace into your lives. To Jesus through Mary,
Erin Shea ’94 John Snidersich ’93 Eric Tyrrko, husband of long-time former faculty
Brother Kenneth M. Hoagland, S.M. Principal
member, Blanche Denise (Hussey) Walsh MR’77
REUNION UPDATES As with so many special events, the pandemic forced us to delay reunion celebrations. Please see below for updated information on all reunions!
THE 20, 15, 10, AND 5-YEAR REUNIONS FOR THE CLASSES OF 2001, 2006, 2011, AND 2016 WILL BE HELD ON
SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2021.
X
THE 20, 15, 10, AND 5-YEAR REUNIONS FOR THE CLASSES OF 2000, 2005, 2010, AND 2015, WHICH WERE ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2020 WILL BE RESCHEDULED FOR
SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2021.
X
In loving memory of Laine Noreen Dempsey
Class of 2021 February 4, 2003 - October 27, 2020
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HEART & MIND
THE 30-YEAR REUNION FOR THE CLASS OF 1990, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2020, AND THE 25-YEAR REUNION FOR THE CLASS OF 1995, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2020 WILL BE RESCHEDULED FOR SOMETIME IN THE FALL OF 2021. To ensure you receive your invitation, please update your contact information by visiting kellenberg.org/alumni or emailing us at alumni@kellenberg.org.
H ANG IN THERE F IREBIRDS ... W E CAN ’ T WAIT TO WELCOME YOU BACK TO THE NEST FOR YOUR REUNIONS ! A K E L L E N B E RG M E M O R I A L FA M I LY P U B L I CAT I O N
Non-Profit Organization US Postage PAID Uniondale, NY Permit NO. 10
KELLENBERG MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL 1400 GLENN CURTISS BOULEVARD UNIONDALE, NY 11553 SMALL HEADING Change service requested
Parents of Alumni, If your son or daughter no longer maintains permanent residence at your home, please notify the Alumni Office of his/her new mailing address at 516-292-0200 x 396 or alumni@kellenberg.org
“During stressful and anxious times, I sometimes forget to turn to God in prayer and ask Him for peace. St. Padre Pio said,
‘Pray, hope, and don’t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.’ I know that during the pandemic, there have been times that I have done this out of order: Worry, pray, and maybe some hope. Let us ask St. Padre Pio to intercede for us that we can:
Pray, hope, and not worry.” Words of Encouragement from Father Daniel Griffin, S.M. ’02 72
HEART & MIND
A K E L L E N B E RG M E M O R I A L FA M I LY P U B L I CAT I O N
