CLASS NOTES

1960

John Pianta is retired from the computer industry. He and his wife Linda have been married for 51+ years, have three grown children, five grandkids and live in Laguna Hills. wife, Laura, of 46 years; spending as much time as possible with their three grandchildren; playing racquetball; and woodworking as well as serving on a board of directors for a nonprofit foundation associated with the CDC in Atlanta.

1965

Steve Lester retired in December 2020 after working in the nutritional & pharmaceutical industries. He and his wife Linda have been married for 45 years, have four children and now reside in Lake Forest. Tom Reger ’85 and Steve Mokler ’85 met up in Tom’s home state of Colorado in May 2021. Tom is currently the locksmith for St. Vrain Valley School District and Steve is a chef in Pasadena.

1966

Rob Clarke worked in disability management for a number of businesses including Mercer, Chevron, Bank of America, HP and Stanford before retiring in 2015. He and his wife Jeanne have one grown son, one grandson and live in San Jose.

1971

David Mazza is a podiatrist with Chula Vista Podiatry Group. He and his wife Karen have four grown children, five grandchildren so far and reside in Jamul.

Steve Herring is the former Vice President of Research and Development for Grifols Biologicals and retired after 39 years. He and his wife Jane have two grown children, five grandchildren and live in Trabuco Canyon.

Ken Stachler had a 46 year successful career in finance and treasury and retired in May 2020. He is now enjoying time with his wife, Laura, of 46 years; spending as much time as possible with their three grandchildren; playing racquetball; and woodworking as well as serving on a board of directors for a nonprofit foundation associated with the CDC in Atlanta.

1985

Tom Reger ’85 and Steve Mokler ’85 met up in Tom’s home state of Colorado in May 2021. Tom is currently the locksmith for St. Vrain Valley School District and Steve is a chef in Pasadena.

Tom Reger '85 and Steve Mokler '85

1986

Joel Bonifacio and his team from Creative Productions, LLC, won two Telly Awards at the 42nd annual awards ceremony in May 2021 for their work on the Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center Virtual Gala 2020. The Telly Awards honor excellence in television programming, digital video and non-broadcast video. Joel serves as the President/CEO of Creative Productions, LLC.

1989

Joe Blackman '89

Joe Blackman participated in the USA Track & Field Masters Outdoor Championships in July 2021, in the long jump, triple jump, and 4x800 meter relay, winning his tenth national champion event title, and eighth team national championship as a member of So Cal Track Club. Joe is entering his 28th year coaching at La Salle.

1990

Gabriel Pedraza is a senior consultant with Entisys360, a computer engineering company. He earned his master’s in Telecommunications and Finance in 2018. Gabriel and his wife Jennifer have three daughters and reside in Temple City.

1991

Abel Jimenez has been promoted to Lieutenant with the LA County Sheriff’s Department. Abel has worked in the jails, as a patrol deputy, special assignment deputy, fugitive task force, Detective, Patrol Sargent, and Detective Sargent.

1997

Emily Cole was elected as judge for Los Angeles Superior Court in 2020. She took the bench in January 2021 and is handling a felony criminal court. She was previously a deputy district attorney for Los Angeles County for 14 years where she prosecuted child and adult sex crimes. Emily is married to her husband of 14 years. They live in Simi Valley with their two children.

Emily J. Cole '97

1999

Christina Mesesan is the new Justice Deputy for LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

2001

AnneMarie (Mendez) Mecca is a customer service agent for Alaska Airlines and lives in El Segundo.

Kim Havens is the Head of Brand Creative for Discovery - Magnolia Network and currently resides in Waco, TX.

Hung Bach has worked as a Deputy District Attorney for the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office since 2011 and is currently the Board Secretary for the National Asian Pacific Islanders Prosecutor Association, San Diego Chapter.

2002

Heidi Jutsum McAnnally-Linz has been appointed deputy director at the Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale. She will help guide the Center’s overall strategy and oversee its academic programs, grant programs, fellowship and visiting scholar programs, and communications. Prior to this, Heidi spent 10 years at Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), where over the past decade she has had positions of increasing responsibility and success, most recently as the director of policy and external relations.

2003

Kevin Tan has been given the opportunity to join Walt Disney Animation Studios as a layout animator, which has been a huge dream of his since he was a kid. Kevin spent eight years in architectural animation and four years in live action film animation.

Michael Reed '03

Michael “Mikie” Reed received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from CSU Monterey Bay in May 2021. All while working full-time & raising a family with the support of his wife, Megan. He is now pursuing a master’s degree at Stanford.

2005

Bill Loskota is a Managing Director, Real Estate Product Specialist at Blackstone, one of the world’s leading investment firms.

2006

Ashley (Catano) Rodriguez was accepted into the University of La Verne’s Educational Doctorate Program in Organizational Leadership and started this fall.

Chris Clarizio ’06 and Dale Santos ’07 met up at Joint Base Pearl Harbor and Hickam over the summer. Chris was on vacation in Oahu and Dale is currently stationed at the base with the United States Navy.

Chris Clarizio '06 and Dale Santos '07

2008

Christopher Richards graduated and earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He has entered residency training in Emergency Medicine at Sunrise Health GME Consortium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Christopher Richards '08

Veronnica Krizek is working as a licensing associate for consumer products at Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.

2009

Kevin Mattice is working as a consultant for Sendero Consulting. He earned his MBA from SMU in 2019.

2013

Tracy Cresta graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law on May 8, 2021, earning her J.D. with Platinum Pro Bono Distinction for at least 300 hours of pro bono work as a law student.

Erin Hill has started working as a graphic designer for the Oklahoma City Thunder fulfilling her dream of working in professional sports. Erin graduated as valedictorian, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Graphic Design with a Designmatters Minor in Social Innovation from Art Center College of Design in 2020.

2014

Stephen Boyer worked as an editor on the film The Boy Behind the Door for two years. The film played at Fantastic Fest and AFI Fest before being picked up by AMC’s Shudder Streaming Service for distribution. It was a privilege for Stephen to be able to edit an entire feature film.

2015

Kimberly Mejia was named a recipient of Goodwin’s 1L Diversity Fellowship which provides first-year law students from underrepresented backgrounds with a $10,000 award to cover expenses while working in a public interest law position at a nonprofit or government organization during the summer after their first year of law school. Recipients also receive mentorship and guidance throughout the summer and beyond. Kimberly spent the summer as a judicial extern in the U.S. District Court, Central District of California and has started her second year of law school at UC Berkeley.

2016

George Siberell graduated from UCLA in June 2020 with a degree in geography and is working as a carrier sales executive for Schneider in Dallas, TX.

Zachary Damir is in his first year of law school at Notre Dame.

Noel Rozario graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Cal Poly Pomona in May 2021. Noel is working as a full-time engineer with the Department of Defense.

Bettina Lee is working as a legal team project assistant at States United Democracy Center, a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. Reilly Milton graduated from Sonoma State in May 2021 with a degree in Theatre Arts. She was asked to write a segment in “Undergraduate Research in Theatre: A Guide for Students” which was published in July 2021.

Reilly Milton graduated from Sonoma State in May 2021 with a degree in Theatre Arts. She was asked to write a segment in “Undergraduate Research in Theatre: A Guide for Students” which was published in July 2021.

Elise Holmes graduated from UC Irvine with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance - Performance and a Minor in Biology in 2020. She joined San Jose Dance Theatre in 2020 as a trainee performing in Sleeping Beauty and additional original works. She was recently promoted to the Company and is excited to return to San Jose Dance Theatre for the 2021-2022 season.

Emily O’Connor is a math intervention teacher at Allen Avenue Elementary School in La Verne.

2017

Kayla Quintero spent the summer with The Walt Disney Company interning for the KGO-TV (ABC7) 7 On Your Side Internship.

Jennifer Payne graduated in May 2021 from the University of Portland with a BA in Psychology and is now working as a behavior technician.

Jacob Rose graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a minor in accounting from the University of Redlands on April 30, 2021.

Jacob Rose '17

Kinsley Washington graduated from UCLA in May with a degree in psychology and a minor in cognitive science. She is currently earning her Master’s degree at UCLA with aspirations of a career in the medical field as a Physician’s Assistant. On the softball field, Kinsley will return to the UCLA starting line-up for the 5th consecutive year as a middleinfielder with hopes of bringing home another National Championship title for UCLA.

Abby Siracusa will graduate from Methodist University in North Carolina on December 11, 2021 with two Bachelor’s Degrees: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Cyber Forensics. She will also receive a certificate and minor in Pre-Law.

Gina Puccinelli graduated from NYU in May 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Special Education.

Gina Puccinelli '17

Gabriella Navarro graduated from UCLA’s School of Nursing on June 11, 2021 with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She is taking the NCLEX (the boards for nurses) and plans on becoming a certified oncology nurse working with cancer patients.

Michael Sweeney graduated from Southern Utah University’s Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business on April 30, 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Management.

Alec Berberian graduated from Cal State Fullerton on June 14, 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. He is in the process of applying to graduate school to become a physical therapist.

Jonathan Clarizio graduated from the University of San Diego with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Administration and a minor in Supply Chain Management.

Jonathan Clarizio '17

Phillip Krings graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA on June 13, 2021. Phillip will be continuing his studies at UCLA to pursue an MS in Mechanical Engineering, with a specialization in systems and control.

Alyssa Martinez graduated from the University of Nevada-Reno with a BS in Public Health on May 13, 2021.

Alyssa Martinez '17

Grant Fosselman graduated from the University of San Diego with a Bachelor of Accountancy in Accounting and Finance and a minor in Supply Chain Management. He is now working for Ernst & Young in Los Angeles in the Assurance practice.

Grant Fosselman '17

Dylan Thai graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a BA in Business Management and Economics and is currently working on being a financial advisor for Modern Woodmen.

Dylan Thai '17

Steven Froio graduated on May 6, 2021 from the University of Colorado- Boulder with a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities with an emphasis in Philosophy and Music and a double minor in Business Management & Entrepreneurship and Philosophy.

Justin De Mesa earned the degree of Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in marketing and a minor in film studies from Loyola Marymount University on May 8, 2021.

Justin De Mesa '17

Dustin Pavon has joined Flexport as a supply chain operation specialist. Flexport is building the platform for global logistics— empowering buyers, sellers and their logistics partners with the technology and services to grow and innovate. Dustin earned his Bachelor of Business Administration with a minor in mathematics from the University of Redlands.

Dustin Pavon '17

Justin Zuniga graduated from Cal State Los Angeles on May 21, 2021 on the Dean’s List with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. Justin is continuing his education in fire science.

Justin Zuniga '17

Lauren Helgeson graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a BS in Business Administration, Real Estate Finance concentration on June 12, 2021. She is working as a research analyst at Valbridge Property Advisors in San Luis Obispo.

Lauren Helgeson '17

2018

Daniel Cina has been accepted into Willamette’s MBA program. He has one class left to earn his BA and then will start his master’s. Daniel is also the starting left guard for the Willamette football team.

Jeff Daley spent the summer interning with Gordon Law Group, PLC in Nashville, TN. Sanjay Khemani is a rising senior at Whittier College majoring in Business Administration with concentrations in International Business and Business Management, and minoring in Economics. Sanjay spent the summer interning for Lowe’s Companies Inc. as a regional distribution center operations intern.

Ethan Patrick spent the summer interning at Convoy Capital, a commercial mortgage brokerage. Ethan is a senior at LMU where he is majoring in communications.

2020

Emma Dillion is studying Economics with a minor in real estate studies at Texas Christian University. She currently holds a Texas Real Estate License as a sales agent and is looking to expand her contacts and potential clients. She is available for in-person clients in the Dallas/ Fort-Worth area, to offer remote assistance, or make referrals to licensed agents in other cities and states. If interested now or possibly in the future, contact her at (626) 543-5473 or emmardillion@gmail.com.

CORRECTION FROM LAST ISSUE:

2004 Marites Yao worked within the entertainment industry including serving as a research assistant at ABC News and CNN before she pivoted to work on political campaigns. She got her start on Eric Garcetti’s first mayoral campaign and worked on several other winning political campaigns within the Los Angeles area. Eventually she decided on a career in healthcare and recently assisted with implementing testing procedures and leading a team who helped diagnose and treat high acuity patients at the start of the pandemic at Keck Medicine of USC. Marites is excited to announce that she has been accepted into USC’s Physician Assistant Program (Class of 2024). Additionally as an avid cyclist, she has started a sustainable and inclusive cycling brand called Adventurish. Check out adventurish.co for more info.

FAMILY UPDATES

Dominick Gokgoz ’12 and Rebecca Fahey ’12 were engaged on March 27, 2021 at the Huntington Library and Gardens.

Dominick Gokgoz '12 and Rebecca Fahey '12

Phil Krizek Camperi ’12 and his girlfriend Alex Niebling got engaged on July 2, 2021. The two met during their undergrad at Saint Mary’s College in 2015 and have been living in San Diego since 2017.

Phil Krizek Camperi '12 and Alex Niebling

Emily Mukai ’13 and Kentaro Lunn were engaged on June 6, 2021 in front of the engineering building at Cal Poly Pomona. They are planning on getting married in two years after they both finish their Master’s degrees. Emily works for Meggitt Defense Systems as a mechanical engineer and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Kentaro works for Toyota Racing Development as a design and calculation engineer and is working on his Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Engineering.

Emily Mukai '13 and Kentaro Lunn

Laura Borquez ’14 and her fiancé Nick Pizzuti got engaged on April 4, 2021. The two met at the University of Redlands and currently live in Alameda. Laura is a speechlanguage pathologist and Nick is a financial analyst. They are planning a September 2022 wedding in Southern California with many of their lifelong friends from La Salle included in the event.

Laura Borquez '14 and Nick Pizzuti

Nicole Allison ’04 married Jonathan Weiss in Santa Barbara in October 2020. Nicole was recently promoted to Vice President at Murphy O’Brien, a PR agency headquartered in Los Angeles.

Nicole Allison '04 and Jonathan Weiss

Timothy Brian Reed ’10 married Kelsey Cooper on January 22, 2021 in Temecula. Tim & Kelsey met on Bumble in 2017.

Timothy Brian Reed '10 and Kelsey Cooper

Felisa Hervey ’01 gave birth to daughter Alma Isabel Van Hervey at home at 8:48pm on January 27, 2021 with her mom as the attending midwife. Felisa suffered a massive stroke in Afghanistan in 2015, which resulted in aphasia (loss of language, not intellect), but the past year has been especially meaningful for her as she married Nick Van Kleeck and now they welcome their daughter, Alma, into their lives!

Alma Isabel Van Hervey

Gianna (Henke) Friedling ’05 and her husband Easton are proud to announce the birth of their beautiful baby girl, Olivia Marie Friedling. She stomped and twisted into the world on June 19, 2021 at 7:41am weighing 8lbs., 8oz. and measured 21.75in.

Olivia Marie Friedling

Bradford Steele ’05 and his wife Taylor welcomed their son Oliver Benedict Steele on August 13, 2021 weighing 7lbs., 13oz. and 21in.

Oliver Benedict Steele

Matthew Maulit ’06 and his wife Viviana are thrilled to announce the arrival of their daughter Ophelia Janine Maulit. Born happy and healthy on April 14, 2021, at 7lbs., 13oz., and 19.5in. Matthew is happy to claim his daughter as a Lancer to the dismay of mom, a Mater Dei alumnus. Let’s go Lancers!

Matthew with daughter Ophelia Janine Maulit

Aria Jene Hettiger

Anne (Datingaling) Hettiger ’16 and her husband Drew welcomed their daughter, Aria Jene Hettiger, on July 21, 2021 at 12:09pm weighing 6lbs., 7oz. and 18 3/4in. long.

FOR ALUMNI UPDATES FOLLOW US ON:

La Salle High School Alumni Association

@lshsalumni

@LSLancersAlumni

ALUMNI CLOSE-UP

CHRISTINA (RUSSO) GRANADO ’00

Christina (Russo) Granado '00

Christina (Russo) Granado ’00 has worked on the lighting crew at Mystere at Treasure Island in Las Vegas for 15 years, operating a spotlight and maintaining the show’s smoke machines. unessential, and Las Vegas theaters were among the first businesses to be closed as as a result of COVID-19. Mystere’s final shows of 2020 took place on March 14th.

Christina’s interest in the theater world began during her sophomore year at La Salle. It continued into college where she chose Technical Theater as her major at Cal Poly Pomona. There she made friends and connections that eventually brought her to Las Vegas and Cirque du Soleil in 2005. What Christina enjoys most is the sound of a live audience reacting to and enjoying the show!

It goes without saying that 2020 was a unique year for all industries, especially live entertainment. As desired as live entertainment is, it is also As time went on, it was decided that some Las Vegas shows wouldn’t be returning. Luckily, Mystere did survive. On April 26, 2021 Christina returned to the theater for the first time in over a year. For two months, she helped maintain equipment and participated in rehearsals to get the show ready to reopen. Cirque du Soleil’s return campaign was led by the phrase “Intermission Is Over”, and intermission was over for Mystere on June 28, 2021 which welcomed a sold out house. Mystere was the first Cirque du Soleil show to return, and it continues to be sold out ever since reopening.