Lancer Magazine Spring/Summer 2016

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Spring/Summer 2016

BROTHER CHRISTOPHER - A NEW ROAD AHEAD

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BE PAR T OF T HE STEAM TEAM Our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) program continues to prepare La Salle students for the exciting challenges of the 21st Century.

Join us as we continue our quest for excellence with our $300,000 campaign.

Please support STEAM 2 with a gift online at

www.lasallehs.org/STEAM2 Our campaign concludes June 30, 2017.

FEATURES

Lancer Magazine is published three times a year by the Office of Institutional Advancement at La Salle High School of Pasadena, Inc. for alumni, parents and friends.

Inquiries and/or correspondence should be directed to: John C. Blackstock ’67 Director of Communications La Salle High School 3880 East Sierra Madre Boulevard Pasadena, California 91107-1996 626.696.4316 jblackstock@lasallehs.org All pages are displayed on the La Salle website. www.lasallehs.org OFFICERS & ADMINISTRATIONS Board of Trustees: Ms. Tamara Flowers, Chair Mr. Robert Nuccio ’71, P’00, ’02, ’04 Vice Chair Mr. Brad Berger P’03, ’04, ’07 Sister Marilyn Binder, CSJ Mr. James Canny ’65 Mr. Michael Harper P’93, ’95 Mr. David Holquin

Mr. Andrew Hubert P’13 Mr. Robert Kohorst, ’71, P ’03, ’07 Dr. Stephanie Paggi Mr. Ray Pearl, Jr. ’99 Ms. Victoria Richards P’08 Brother Kevin Slate, FSC

Board of Regents: Dennis A. Jebbia, Esq., Chair Mr. Doug Campbell Colleen Deziel, Esq., P’17 Mr. Raymond Ealy, P’13 Peter Godfrey, Esq., P’07,’08 Mr. Peter S. Griffith, P’00,’03 Scott Hancock, Esq., P’11, ’11,’11 Mr. Bret Hardy, P’16,’19 Mr. Bill Kinney, P’19 Mr. David Lam, P’08,’09 Mrs. Linda Lui, P’17 Mr. Joe Lumarda, P’14 Mr. Edward Malicdem ’88, P’16,’19

Mrs. Leigh Olivar, P ’12 Mr. Tom Radle, P’17 Mrs. Lisa Rico, P’17, ’18 Mr. Brent Schoenbaum, P’16, ’19 Mrs. Karen Sisson, P’16 Mrs. Chelisa Vagim, P’16 Mrs. Sheri Wedeen, P’17,’17 Mrs. Julie Williams, P’04 Mr. Matt Wright, P’15 Mrs. Irina Xue, P’17 Joseph M. Zanetta, Esq., P’12

Alumni Board: Mr. Joe Alvarez ’83, P’20 Ms. Tina Bonacci ’94 Ms. Chanel Buccola ’07 Mr. Paul Lees ’75 Mr. Tony Messineo ’80 Mr. Rafael Mirasol ’80, P’17,’18 Ms. Robin Quintanilla ’03

Mr. Armando Ramirez ’93, P’14.’20 Mr. Joe Reid ’00 Mr. Chris Rettig ’84, P’19 Mr. Mike Sullivan ’70, P’08,’13 Mr. Jesse Toribio ’93, P’15 Mr. Tyler Varing ’09 Mr. Phil Velasco ’07

Administration: Dr. Richard Gray, President Mrs. Courney Kassakhian, Principal Mr. Patrick Bonacci, AFSC, Vice President for Mission Mr. Brandon Birr ’03, Dean of Students Mr. Jon Keates, Director of Institutional Advancement Mr. Robert Packard, Chief Financial Officer Mr. Edgar Salmingo, Jr., Associate Principal for Academic Life

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Class of 2016 Honors and awards at the 57th Commencement

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Can You Dig It? The Psychedelic Crystal Ball Honors Brother Christopher

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What is STEAM 2?

New Goals for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math

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Lancers Spring Sports Success

Baseball, Track, Swimming and Golf in CIF playoffs.

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The Long Road: Mission Strong Brother Christopher recalls his varied career

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End of an Era: John Ring Retires “Mr. History” closes the textbooks

DEPARTMENTS La Salle Matters ................................................................ 2

Editor: Mr. John C. Blackstock ’67 Director of Communications

Principal Ideas .................................................................. 4

Publication and Production: Groovin’ On Productions, Los Angeles

Amazing Lancers ............................................................. 18

Editorial Contributors: Ms. Jade Rogers ’01 Ms. Kristen Schultz ’98

Alumni Profile ................................................................. 30

The Nuccio Doctor Trio

David Soltis ’90

Photo Credits: Cover, inside back cover and back cover, John Blackstock ’67.

Pages, 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28 bottom, 29 bottom, 33, 36, 38, 39 center, bottom, 44 middle, John Blackstock ’67. Pages 13,top,17, 26, 27, 28, 44 top, Bryan Ossa ’10. Pages 18, 19 Elizabeth Serhan.

Page 23, Father Time.

On the Cover: Brother Christopher Brady, FSC

Faculty Update ................................................................ 36 Memorial Tribute ............................................................. 38

Brother DeSales Benning, FSC Staying Connected ........................................................... 40

© 2016 La Salle High School of Pasadena, Inc.

SPRING/SUMMER 2016

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

matters

La Salle I

love to read the alumni notes in the back of Lancer Magazine. Not only is it a delight for me to learn about the diversity of accomplishments which characterize 60 years of alumni activities, I am also privileged to have accompanied 17 years of alums who were students during my tenure – many of whom I had the opportunity to teach. Laura Palmer ’00, for example, was recently honored as the PUSD Teacher of the Year; after earning his Ph.D. from Stanford, Matt Velasco ’04 has joined the Department of Anthropology at Ithaca College and his classmate - and my former student - Dorothy Habrat is working as an emergency medicine physician at the University of New Mexico. Of a more recent vintage, Manny Soriano ’12 earned his BS in Electrical Engineering at USC and has accepted a position at JPL in electromagnetics (go to page 40 for more exciting news about our alums).

These impressive accomplishments – as well as those of earlier eras – remind me of how relevant La Salle’s value proposition (developed as part of our recently adopted Strategic Plan) is in explaining how different students – and alums – can be successful at so many different opportunities: What distinguishes La Salle from other college preparatory high schools in the Greater Pasadena Area is its ability to nurture students’ individual passions in academics, arts, athletics and the spiritual life. Because La Salle is the largest private high school in Pasadena, it is uniquely positioned to provide a diversity of opportunities both in and out of the classroom that is unparalleled among its peers.

This issue of Lancer Magazine is chock-full of examples of students – and alums (check out A “Nuccio Trio” of Doctors on page 30) - who were able to nurture their individual talents while at La Salle enabling them to graduate with Honors (page 5), find their passion (page 10), compete in Prague (page 18), earn a playwriting fellowship (page 21), receive a Golden Diploma (page 25) and record athletic achievements (page 26). It is because we make it possible for students to pursue their individual passions at La Salle that our alumni are able to accomplish their dreams. And, we’re not done yet.

I’ve often said that excellent programs require excellent facilities. Our current campus footprint is cramped and insufficient to support the dramatic growth in our academic, arts and athletic programs. We need new and larger spaces to continue to nurture their effectiveness in providing a diversity of opportunities both in and out of the classroom. After 10 long years of pursuing Pasadena approval of our Master Plan application, the City Council unanimously approved the project on September 19th. That approval was a product of lengthy negotiations between La Salle, our neighbors and the City with respect to mutually agreeable uses of the campus. There were many compromises – by all parties – which, I believe, produced a

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Master Plan which will ensure the School’s ability to effectively support our growing programs of excellence while, at the same time, enable us to continue our commitment to be a good neighbor and a contributing citizen of Pasadena. What’s in the Plan?

• Phase I: - Practice Gymnasium - Aquatics Center - Fitness Center

• Phase II: - Visual & Performing Arts Center

• Phase III: - Field House

Clearly, this is an ambitious plan, and one that lays out our priority to support growing programs of excellence with facilities that can ensure their continued impact on the lives of the students entrusted to our care. And, we hope to begin to implement this priority sooner rather than later. We want to identify the resources necessary to launch Phase I within the next 18 months and to pursue philanthropic support for the project as soon as is practicable, thereafter. Look to this space in future issues of Lancer Magazine for updates on our progress.

A consultant – and dear friend of mine – used to describe Presidents of successful schools like La Salle as being tempted by an “Edifice Complex” – a lighthearted pun referring to the Freudian perspective of the Greek play Oedipus Rex. The pun suggests that it is much easier to focus on putting up new buildings (“Edifice”) than to remain true to the programmatic needs of those buildings. As I reviewed this issue of Lancer Magazine, I know that our Master Plan is anything but an “Edifice Complex.” It is a well-honed, thoughtful response to the needs of the students entrusted to our care. I am confident that the successful implementation of our Master Plan will lead to success for our current and future graduates as they pursue their individual passions.

I wish more alums would let us know what exciting things are happening in their lives!

Dr. Richard Gray President

SPRING/SUMMER 2016

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FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Principal H

ello. I am happy to be writing my first article for Lancer Magazine and to be able to introduce myself to the greater La Salle High School community. It has been an exciting first few months for me here at La Salle.

I am incredibly proud and excited to be part of the La Salle High School family and I am grateful for the warm welcome I have received.

As you can imagine, the role of principal is not one that you can ease into. You have to jump right in and get going. In July I jumped in – meeting faculty and staff, learning what it means to be a Lasallian school, and preparing for the opening of another school year. The school year has gotten off to a great, and busy, start.

As I begin my tenure here, I am not only wanting to learn about La Salle, but in doing so find out how I can help to make La Salle an even better school for our students. One of the many projects that I believe will have a powerful positive effect on our students is our STEAM initiative. We know the world our children are growing up in is very different than the world we did and the workplaces they will enter into won’t look the same as ours. Our mission statement says that, “We are distinguished by an insistence on educational excellence.” In order to live up to that mission and offer a truly excellent education to our students, we need to have programs that focus on giving students the skills they will need to be successful in a 21st century workplace. STEAM is a huge part of doing that and I think you will all find our goals for STEAM 2 as shared in this issue of the Lancer highly worthwhile.

This issue also shines the spotlight on three special men who have contributed greatly to the success of La Salle High School over decades:

- Brother Christopher Brady, FSC began his teaching career here at La Salle in 1975 and spent the last four years leading the school as principal. His reflections on his career as shared here are sure to be of interest.

- John Ring served at La Salle High School for an astounding 41 years. His retirement is truly an end

of an era.

- Brother DeSales Benning, FSC was part of the La Salle High School community for 30 years. His passing this summer was a great loss for our community, as one can see from reading his memorial tribute.

Another feature in this issue will review highlights of graduation and the honors and awards that the Class of 2016 received before moving on from La Salle. Our current senior class is also already accumulating awards and honors. Most notably, Phillip Krings ’17 has qualified as a Semifinalist in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program. About 1.6 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2015 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. Phillip is one of these 16,000 semifinalists. Additionally, another nine of our La Salle students received Letters of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for scoring among the top 5% of students taking the 2016 PSAT/NMSQT.

The success of our students is in large part made possible by the generosity of our community members.

Last spring’s Crystal Ball was a great success and we are happy to share highlights from the evening here.

I hope this issue of Lancer Magazine gives you a clear understanding of all the exciting things taking place at La Salle. As I have found out in my short time here, there really is never a dull moment and we are blessed to have so many community members invested in making La Salle the special place it is for our students. As we continue through the year, I hope to continue to meet more parents, students and friends of La Salle.

Go Lancers!

Courtney Kassakhian Principal

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By John Blackstock ’67

SPRING/SUMMER 2016

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Lauren Rewers

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Robert W. Griffith

a Salle High School graduated 160 seniors at its 57th Commencement on Friday evening, May 27, 2016.

Commencement Exercises took place at the First Church of the Nazarene, next door to the School.

Madeleine Malicdem, summa cum laude, gave the Welcome Address and Lauren Rewers, summa cum laude, was chosen by the Faculty Commencement Committee for the honor of delivering the Commencement Address.

Robert W. Griffith, summa cum laude, received the La Salle High School General Excellence Award for the highest cumulative grade point average in the class. Robert attends the University of California, Los Angeles.

Madeleine Malicdem

Robert also received the Scholar Award for Math and Science. Lauren Rewer received the Scholar Award for Liberal Arts, while Zachary Christopher summa cum laude, received the La Salle Scholar Award for Visual and Performing Arts.

Kyle Cueller, cum laude and Sarah Patrick, cum laude, received the Brother Celestine Excellence in Athletics and Sportsmanship Award. Lauren Rewer received the De La Salle Service Award for academics, leadership and service to others.

One hundred percent of La Salle’s graduating class are attend colleges or universities. Of note, 92% of the class matriculated to four-year institutions.

Shea Corwin

bella Mandigo.

becca Piesik and Isa

ron Jones, Re Isabel Espino, Came

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Japhet Quitzon and Bettina Lee with Mr. Edgar Salmingo

Lance Alviso, Sreven Luyapan , Harry Yin, and Ms. Kate Williams

Noah Gohrick, Gabriel Rodriguez, Kayci Jatico and Sarah Patrick.

Matthew Enrequez, Brandon Perez, Josef-Daniele Ramirez, Christian Joseph and Mason Busbee.

SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

At Senior Presentation, Maddy Malicdem ’16 and Samantha Hardy ’16 were name the recipients of the La Salle High School Alumni Association College Scholarships.They were selected out of pool of over 25 applicants for their dedication to service, leadership abilities and their commitment to La Salle. Sam attends USC and Maddy is attending UC Berkeley. The Alumni Association College Scholarship is made possible due to the success of the Alumni Association’s biennial Taste of La Salle event which will take place again in 2018.

The first-ever recipient of the Arion Tavakoli ’09 Dash Award is Reilly Milton ’16, pictured 2nd from left. Reilly was presented with her award at Senior Presentation by Arion’s brother, Arman Tavakoli ’05, pictured 3rd from left.

The Dash Award is a new scholarship that was presented this year at La Salle in honor of Arion Tavakoli ’09 who passed away in 2014. This year, the Tavakoli family instituted this $1,500 scholarship to honor a graduating senior who lives each day with passion to make a difference and has a love and appreciation of life, which are the same values that Arion showed during his short time on this earth. This award is made possible by private donations from Arion’s friends and family who have a desire to keep Arion’s memory alive at La Salle.

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We thought you should know…

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There are 160 students in the graduating class.

Of those, 100% will attend colleges, universities, or two-year colleges. The 145 students attending four-year colleges (92% of the class) will be in 19 states, the District of Columbia and one foreign country. Students applied to an average of 8.4 schools.

Of four-year colleges in California, 97 students (67% of the class) are attending 34 schools: 17 public, and 17 private.

PUBLIC CALIFORNIA COLLEGES (59 students)

University of California System (18%) Berkeley (5) Davis (2) Irvine (5) Los Angeles (7) San Diego (5) Santa Barbara Santa Cruz (4)

California State University System (19%) Channel Islands (2) Fullerton Long Beach (2) Los Angeles (3) Northridge (9) Pomona (6) Sacramento San Diego San Luis Obispo (4) Sonoma

PRIVATE CALIFORNIA COLLEGES (24%)

Azusa Pacific University (2) Biola University California Lutheran University (2) Chapman University Loyola Marymount University (3) Mount St. Mary’s College (Chalon) (2) Occidental College (2) Pepperdine University Saint Mary’s College of California (4) Santa Clara University (2) University of La Verne (2) University of Redlands (2) University of San Diego (4) University of San Francisco (5) University of Southern California (3) Vanguard University of Southern California Whittier College

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OUT OF STATE COLLEGES Of four-year, out-of-state colleges, 47 students are attending 35 colleges (21 public and 26 private) in 19 states, District of Columbia and one foreign country, for a total of 29% of the class:

STATE COLLEGES

Alabama University of Alabama (3) Arizona

Arizona State University (2) University of Arizona (3)

Colorado Colorado State University

Regis University

University of Colorado at Boulder (6)

University of Colorado at Denver Delaware University of Delaware District of Columbia George Washington University Georgia Design

Savannah College of Art and

Hawaii

Hawai’i Pacific University

Illinois

Principia College

Massachusetts

Boston College University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Minnesota St. Olaf College Mississippi University of Mississippi Montana Carroll College New Mexico University of New Mexico

New York Colgate University

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

St. John’s University (NY) Oregon Portland State University

Reed College

University of Oregon (2)

University of Portland Pennsylvania Dickinson College

Haverford College Tennessee Belmont University Texas

St. Edward’s University University of Texas, Austin University of Texas, Dallas

Washington Gonzaga University Seattle University (2) University of Washington Wisconsin Beloit College Mexico Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

14 students (8%) are attending two-year community colleges.

Edmonds Community College (WA) Los Angeles Valley College Pasadena City College (11) Santa Barbara City College

Samantha Hardy IS A HARDY YOUNG LADY

By Jade Rogers ’01

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ave you ever heard people say that if you look up a word in the dictionary then you will see a certain person’s picture next to it? Well, if that were true, then it would not be a surprise to see Samantha’s picture next to the word ’hardy.’ Not only is Hardy her last name, but Samantha also defines what it means to be a hardy leader: capable, strong, courageous, and bold.

To be a great leader, one must be honest, know how to delegate, communicate to different people, be confident and approachable, and be a positive inspiration. “Leadership has been my favorite aspect during my four years at La Salle. I’ve learned that the best leaders are the ones that leave no one behind. Leaders are welcoming, open-minded people who take charge without commanding or ordering others against their will,” says Samantha, who has held many leadership positions, including a member of La Salle’s Senior Senate, Student Ambassador, Student Council Delegate for three years, Support Our Troops, and a Junior Counselor for the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership programs. But Samantha’s biggest leadership role, that was the most challenging and most fulfilling, was President of La Salle’s Student Life.

“When I was a freshman I would always look up to the Student Class Council and the leadership teams at La Salle. I knew very quickly into my high school career that I wanted to represent my school. My favorite part about being Student Life President has been speaking in front of the student body and emceeing events. Now that the school year is over, I leave feeling very proud of all the things Student Life has accomplished. This school year was successful because of the entire team,” says Samantha. Her most favorite events during her run as President were La Salle’s Showdown, an evening of intense competition between the classes, and a Haunted Homecoming Week that consisted of five days wearing themed Halloween costumes, and ending with the Homecoming game where Samantha was crowned Queen. “The Showdown this year was my favorite event because of the support and energy that the student body brought to the games. Homecoming Week was also incredible, and I was extremely proud of the hard work that went into putting the Homecoming Rally together. Looking back on it all, I can honestly say that the Student Life team has accomplished a great deal. We were a great team that acknowledged the successes and failures, and where we did find mistakes, we came together to come up with improvements,” says Samantha.

But Samantha knows that holding a leadership position isn’t always fun and games, with it comes a great deal of responsibility and moments when she wished there were more than 24 hours in a day. “Being Student Life President was always a learning experience. The most challenging aspect was learning and accepting that there must be a separation between having fun with your friends and working to make La Salle a better place. Balancing a heavy workload, family, friends, school, fun, and sleep can be complicating. I’m generally a happy, positive, and upbeat person, but I have days too where stress can be overwhelming. I believe that it’s okay to take a sick day or a rest day, but it’s important to come back with a sense of lightheartedness. My family and friends are the ones that keep me laughing, and when I’m smiling it gives me strength to keep going through the tough days. My dad has always told me, ’Try your best because that’s really all you can do.’”

Over the past four years, Samantha has learned more about what it means to be self-loving. “La Salle has taught me how to be accepting of myself and be unique. The School has encouraged me to get involved in everything possible, and has taken care of me when I needed a supportive community.

I quickly realized that I’m proud of who I am and who I’ve become. I think it is really difficult to love and accept your own flaws, but that process really allowed for me to highlight my accomplishments throughout my high school career,” says Samantha.

After entering La Salle four years ago, Samantha not only wanted to learn about the world around her, but to also learn more about herself. She has learned that the unknown worries her, the future excites her, and honest friendships and open-minded acceptance make her genuinely happy. “If I could give La Salle students one piece of advice it would be to be true to yourself throughout high school – your morals, passions, and even what you dislike. When you are aware of who you are and what you truly want out of this world, then the path that you want to take becomes much more clear. La Salle has shaped a great amount of my character, and I will forever remember the lessons the School has taught me.”

Samantha Hardy is definitely a hardy young lady.

She is excited for what the future holds, and excited to meet new people, try new things, and always remain open-minded. Samantha is now attending the University of Southern California and plans to major in Clinical Psychology and Gerontology.

Samantha Hardy ’16 and Speancer Schoenbaum ’16, Homecoming king and queen.

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SENIORS HAVE

SEBASTIAN SCHIFF “La Salle has taught me how to be a part of an inclusive community. In more than one way, both accepting, and being accepted, La Salle has made that stand out to me. In anything you do, you will always have support from your friends, teachers, as well as all of the different communities on campus,” says Sebastian. “I have earned All-Area Honors from the Pasadena Star News, 2nd in CIF Division IV discus throw, 3rd in CIF Division IV shot put, 3rd in the California State Indoor Championships for the Weight Throw event, and competed in the Arcadia Invitational Track meet, the most prestigious high school track meet in the country.” Sebastian is very passionate about his track and field career at La Salle, and he believes it taught him the work ethic it takes to accomplish goals, as well as teaching him to become more independent and self-reliant. Sebastian is attending Cal Poly Pomona where he will continue competing in Track and Field and major in Architecture. “I give credit to La Salle’s Art Department in playing a big role in my decision to study Architecture. The Art Department is lively and it helped develope my artistic side; combining with my interest in engineering, I had found my passion for architecture.”

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EMILY O’CONNOR

MADELEINE MALICDEM

LAUREN REWERS

La Salle has taught Emily to learn, serve, and lead. “The School’s mantra: “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve” is going to be applied to the rest of my life. La Salle gave me an education where, it not only taught me math and English, but also Catholic education where I was able to examine my faith more.

Everyone taught me how to serve my community and how to lead,” says Emily. “My career goal is to be an elementary school teacher and I believe La Salle helped me finalize that decision. For my spring semester senior service class I chose to be a Teacher’s Assistant at Don Benito Elementary School in Pasadena. It allowed me to be active in a classroom working with kids, which I absolutely love.” Emily was also a member of class council, Student Life, Dance, NHS, CSF, and Support Our Troops. Emily is attending Saint Mary’s College where she is majoring in Elementary Education, more specifically the Teachers of Tomorrow program.

La Salle has given Madeleine a well-rounded high school experience. She was able to interact with a diverse and vivid student body. “La Salle is a special place, and I’ve been privileged to learn in the examples and guidance of those within my Lasallian community,” says Madeleine. “’Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve’ represents this call to action that I, along with other La Sallian members are challenged to.

It’s not enough to be concerned and empathetic with the issues of the world, but to truly create an impact there must be change enacted. And I’ve learned during my four years at La Salle that the learning and serving components go hand in hand.” Madeleine would like to focus on assisting the marginalized and uniformed, especially young girls lacking access to both educational and social resources. Her goal is to work for the United Nations Women Sector so she can work with girls from third world countries who suffer from political and social environments. “La Salle fostered my desire to reach out to the poor and marginalized and helped me realize my responsibility to act upon these concerns,” says Madeleine.

Madeleine is attending UC Berkeley where she studying Political Economy.

“I was on La Salle’s volleyball all four years and it was during my sophomore year in the middle of a game that I tore my ACL and I was out for the rest of the season. That same season our volleyball team won CIF and we made it to the third round in state. I was the team’s biggest fan, cheering them on and taking stats on the sideline. My best memory and biggest accomplishments were our CIF win, recovering from my ACL and meniscus surgery, and getting back to becoming a leader and Captain for our volleyball team during my junior and senior years,” says Lauren. During her time at La Salle, Lauren was a President’s Scholar, a Gold Award recipient every semester for maintaining above a 4.0 GPA, Best Offensive Player in volleyball, and the Christian Service Award recipient from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. “The teachers at La Salle are some of the kindest and most supportive people I have ever met. If I needed help, someone to talk to, or information, there was always a teacher that was there. I found a place at La Salle where I can be a student, an athlete, a leader, a caregiver, and a friend.” Lauren is attending St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota and double major in Exercise Science and Biology. Lauren would like to one day become a physical therapist or an orthopedic surgeon where she is able to help people who experienced injuries similar to hers.

LASTING MEMORIES Edited by Jade Rogers ’01

ERIN MCFAUL “My greatest accomplishment over the last four years has been my participation in the mock trial team during my sophomore, junior and senior years. It was a really cool experience because I was introduced to what being an attorney was like. Our trial was held at the LA County Court House each year in front of a real judge who would decide the verdict. It was one of the most nerve racking things I have ever done, but also the most rewarding. Through the help of our moderator, Ms. Osick, I gained so much knowledge about law and my public speaking greatly improved,” says Erin. “The environment at La Salle is really that of a family. The teachers here go out of their way to make you feel comfortable and cared for. La Salle has given me the opportunity to create amazing relationships.” Throughout high school, Erin has maintained a 4.3 GPA, a recipient of the Outstanding Defense Attorney award for her performance in the LA County Mock Trial competition, and received the Rotary Youth Leadership award from the Sierra Madre Rotary Club.

She has also been a member of Student Life, Student Ambassadors, CSF, and Pi Alpha Chi. Erin is attending UCLA.

SPENCER SCHOENBAUM “La Salle has inspired me to get involved. Coming into the school, I thought that I would just skate through and focus on my academics, but the people and the institution itself motivated me to get involved in leadership. It has taught me that I do not have to be an extrovert to be at the forefront of leadership. I can be myself and still make the environment around me the best it can be. I will definitely carry on this optimism to my next stop in life and beyond,” says Spencer, who has maintained a 4.4 GPA. Spencer’s leadership roles have included President of the National Honors Society (NHS), Senior Senate, Student Ambassador, Student Life, Pi Alpha Chi, and Retreat Leader. “My focus going forward will be to continue being a leader in the community, unfazed by the expectations of what a leader should look or sound like.” Spencer’s four years at La Salle have flown by and he will always remember the teachers that showed a genuine care and who seemed to be riding the “roller coaster” of his senior year with him. Spencer is attending UCLA majoring in Business Economics.

PRECIOUS LACY “My advice for La Salle students is to keep going, moving towards your goals and personal happiness. There are an abundance of people at La Salle who are willing to help with anything you need. I can honestly say that every Academic Counselor I had throughout my four years always had my best interest at heart. Each Academic Counselor was kind and genuine, but most of all they noticed my efforts and potential. They were not only invested in me as a student but also even more interested in the person that I was,” says Precious. During her time at La Salle, Precious was manager for the Football and Girls Basketball teams, Dance, Music for the Masses, and was the Founder of the Black Student Association. But Precious’ primary focus is to become a Psychotherapist, specializing in Marriage and Family Counseling. “I am extremely passionate about caring for the well-being of others. I have seen what a mental disability or disorder can do to alter the character of a person, and I want to do anything I can to assist people with these difficulties.” Precious is attending Azusa Pacific University with a major in Psychology and minor in Biblical Studies.

ELISE HOLMES “My experiences during high school have been greatly impacted by La Salle’s mantra ‘Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve.’

Over these past 4 years it has been a privilege to be able to go out in the community and help different organizations. I have become much more aware that even the smallest of tasks or actions can make a difference and I look for opportunities to help others because not everyone is as privileged to go to the high school I get to attend and the opportunities I have. It is so important to give back to the community. This creates a bond and a sense of responsibility and gratefulness for what you have. Service is a very humbling experience that I think everyone should take part of,” says Elise. At this moment, Elise’s goal is to become a dancer and a physical therapist. “Dancing has always been an outlet for creativity and expression. The La Salle Dance Department has given me more performance opportunities and the ability to be a part of the choreographic process as a dancer and choreographer. I have also gained my passion for physical therapy due to the phenomenal Science Department and the opportunity to take an anatomy class and learn about the body. That experience coupled with La Salle’s mission to serve has helped create my passion for physical therapy.” Elise is attending UC Irvine where she is majoring in Fine Arts, emphasizing in Dance and taking prerequisites in Physical Therapy.

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JUSTIN BERGER-DAVIS

JENNIFER RODRIGUEZ

JORDAN RUPP

JANE ZANTESON

“The teachers at La Salle are all really amazing people.

They challenge you to think outside of your own mindset and it is important that you let them because that is the sole purpose of education. I would like to say that La Salle teachers Ms. Foley and Ms. Smith played an integral part in my growth, especially as a musician,” says Justin, whose primary focus is to continue to hone his skills as a musician and to create art that he is proud of. Justin is attending Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee where he is majoring in Commercial Music and work towards his goal of becoming a successful working musician.

“La Salle has challenged me to do things that are bigger than myself and to not let fear hinder me from doing so. The teachers and staff played a big role in shaping who I am as they provided me with the advice and the courage to be able to take what I learn and put it into action,” says Jennifer. “During my senior year in English class I loved that it contained every topic I was interested in and I enjoyed helping those who were surging in the class. The English teachers at La Salle as well as Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, have inspired me to pursue a career as an English teacher and author. I know I want to change lives.” Through words and reading, Jennifer’s primary focus is to continue being an inspiration to others.

“Not only do you learn more about yourself by doing service, but you are also making a difference to someone else, even if you do not notice it. La Salle has taught me this since there are many service opportunities given here,” says Jennifer. Jennifer is attending Pasadena City College and plans on transferring to Saint Mary’s where she will major in English.

“My biggest accomplishment in my four years at La Salle is winning league in soccer during my senior year. This season was very special to me because I saw the most improvement of a team within a season than I had ever seen before. We put a good win streak together going into league. We played the best soccer I have seen in my four years at La Salle and bonded together tightly. I felt very accomplished as the team Captain because I feel like I set a good example to the rest of my teammates by working hard in every second of each practice and game. I became a much better player and was able to make my teammates better by pushing them to be the best they can be. I feel like our great improvements this season will only help us go even farther next season even though I will not be there,” says Jordan. Through his experiences in sports, Jordan believes that failure is necessary for success.

“During my first year playing Varsity soccer, which was when I was a sophomore, we only won three games the entire year. But success comes from failing and it’s important to have the failures inspire you to work harder and reach closer to perfection.”

Jordan, who maintained a 4.3 GPA, was also a member of the Senior Senate, NHS, CSF, LTV, and Cross Country. He is attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he will major in Mechanical Engineering.

Jane is an aspiring engineer or architect. “At La Salle, I took classes that really influenced my goal. I found a love in math, especially through my AP Calculus AB and BC classes with Ms. Gibson and Mrs. Rojhani.

Math problems are like unique puzzles to me, and I love the challenge in solving them. My general physics and AP Physics classes with Mrs. Holyfield and Mrs. Bauer affirmed my interest in physical science. Physics is simply applied math and calculus; so the subject presents those same puzzle-like problems as calculus, with a twist that makes them applicable to the real world. I’ve also really learned to appreciate fine art through my participation in the Four-Year Arts Program. I love art, math and physics, so what better career to pursue than engineering and architecture,” says Jane. “AP Studio Art with Mrs. Slatkin was an incredible experience, as I chose a single topic to explore through a series of 12 different artworks. I took an architectural approach to my art giving me the chance to really get a feel for the design aspect of a future career in architecture. The calculus and physics, of course, took care of the mathematical side of my desired career. La Salle is a warm and indelible place for me and I will never forget the support I got from my teachers and coaches.” Jane went from being a less-than-confident freshman, to a student who earned a 4.667 GPA, eight varsity letters, a League Champion in Shot Put and Discus, and four Gold Keys awards in art. Jane is attending UC San Diego, majoring in Aerospace Engineering.

LANCER MAGAZINE

LANCER LEGACY

RECEPTION EMARI McCLELLAN

TYLER ANASTASIA

“La Salle has shown me the value of service and the importance of standing up for personal beliefs. I have learned that our voice is the strongest form of power we have,” says Emari.

“La Salle showed me that my voice can make a change. My biggest accomplishment at La Salle was being one of the Founders of the Black Student Association (BSA). The BSA will forever be etched into the history of our School because it is the first formal club for the Black community to give insight into what it means to be Black in modern society. Our club has awakened the voices of many within our Lasallian community.” Emari is focusing on dedicating his life to service for the homeless and the rebuilding of America’s rundown communities. “The School’s mantra, ‘Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve,’ is a code that I have begun to live by. To me it means that whatever situations we are placed in we must enter to learn so that when we leave we can serve the world with our new knowledge.

I believe that without service our world would not survive.

My philosophy is that humans are engineered to serve each other. La Salle played a major role in the formation of that belief within my heart. When we serve, we as the human race progress together as one,” says Emari. During his four years at La Salle, Emari took part in the Performing Arts program, Hip Hop Club, basketball, and football where he was Captain for three years. Emari is attending the University of Redlands and has a double major in Psychology and Business.

The one thing Tyler has always told himself to help him conquer his goals is “Never give up or never quit” because he will never be the best that he can be if he gives up on himself. “I want others to know that I am one of the hardest working people they will ever meet. My passions and ambitions were rooted in me at a young age. I always wanted to be the best and if I get involved in a project or sport, I am going to give it my all and do anything in order to succeed,” says Tyler, whose biggest accomplishment was being named League MVP for the Del Rey League in golf. “I am most proud of this accomplishment because it showed that all of my hard work that I put into my golf game paid off and allowed me to play well in tournaments. Being named MVP also gave me the encouragement to try to walk onto the Ole Miss golf team next year.”

One of the biggest things La Salle taught Tyler was that he is accountable for his grades and how well he does. “The faculty and staff at La Salle are there to teach and they want you to succeed. I can remember multiple occasions when my teachers would get to school an hour before or stay after if I needed extra help because they were there to help. If I were to tell an incoming freshman one thing it would be to reach out to their teachers if they need help and do not hesitate to do so because they will talk the time to help,” says Tyler. Tyler is attending the University of Mississippi and is majoring in Business Marketing and hopes to become a CEO of a company.

The annual Legacy Reception prior to Baccalaureate Mass honors graduates and their alumni parent.

The Class of 2016 Legacies include, left to right: Jesse Corona ’81 and his son Emilio Garcia-Corona ’16 Ed McFaul ’75 and his daughter Erin McFaul ’16 Ed Malicdem ’88 and his daughter Madeleine Malicdem ’16 Charles Tapert ’79 and his son Hayden ’16 Not pictured: John Joseph ’84 and his son Christian Joseph ’16

LANCER LEGACY

BBQ

Robyn & Chuck Tapert ’79, P’16,’20 opened up their home for the Legacy BBQ for the current senior and freshmen class legacy families on September 11th. 12 of the 18 legacy families from these two classes were in attendance and had a wonderful evening reconnecting.

Incoming Class of 2020 Legacies include: Sydney Haupt, daughter of Dennis ’69 Edmund French, son of Edmund ’75 Lauren Tapert, daughter of Charles ’79 Brandon Clarizio, son of Orlando ’81 Aaron Escamilla, son of Ronald ’81 Josefina Alvarez, daughter of Joe ’83 Max Esquivel, son of Max ’83 Noah Mejia, son of Carlo ’83 Collette Allen, daughter of Jeff ’84 Kevin Lima, son of Johnny ’85 Sean-Cooper MacDoanld, son of Kirk ’85 Hannah Labbe, daughter of Guy ’86 Leo Anaya, son of Leo ’89 Vanessa Ramirez, daughter of Armando ’93 Alexander Parseghian, son of Diana (Sankikian) Watkins ’96

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By: Jade Rogers ’01

Brother Christopher Brady, FSC receives the Lasallian of the Year Award from Dr. Richard Gray.

Brent Schoenbaum P’16, 19 advances popular sentiment via posters.

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Hippies display peace and love.

David and Angela Lam P’08,’09.

Bob Kohorst ’71 and Shelley Allen P’07, ’09.

he 1960s was in full effect with psychedelia, peace signs, and flower power, at the 17th Annual Crystal Ball, the “Groovy 60s,” that was held on May 6 at The Noor in Pasadena. The “groovy” and “far out” night, which was Co-Chaired by Ellen Radle P’17 and Suzy Rettig P’19, brought back a decade that spanned the time of lava lamps, tie-dye shirts, mood rings, Beatlemania, and people doing “The Twist.”

Guests arrived at the Crystal Ball “decked out” as hippies, flower children, and as cast members right out of the TV show Mad Men, all while enjoying “a gas” of a night filled with laughter, dancing, and comradery.

Everyone in attendance enjoyed psychedelic video screens that clearly made everyone feel they were transported back to the ’60s. The white linen table cloths with white satin napkins and white flower centerpieces made for stunning tables that were perfect “reflectors” for the beautiful wall washed lights that constantly changed the colors of the room. Guests also felt “jazzed” during the Live and Silent Auctions, as they followed their bids on their smartphones using the custom Crystal Ball Bid Pal app that

cataloged and showcased hundreds of items. Live Auction items included a 10-day vacation to Hawai’i, Staples Center luxury suite, VIP seats at the taping of the Big Bang Theory, a six-night stay in Catalina, and a gourmet dinner with President, Dr. Richard Gray and La Salle’s new Principal, Mrs. Courtney Kassakhian.

Following the Crystal Ball dinner and auctions, music from the ’60s began and the guests were surprised by a “flash mob” dance to the tune of “Gimme Some Lovin’” performed by the Crystal Ball Committee.

Over 300 guests came to enjoy the Crystal Ball and to congratulate the 2016 Lasallian of the Year honoree: Brother Christopher Brady, FSC who is retiring as Principal.

For the last 45 years, Brother Christopher has proven to be a compelling educator, administrator and Christian Brother.

After a four-year stint teaching at La Salle in the middle seventies, he was sent to be Dean of Students at JustinSiena High School in Napa Valley. From there, he spent the next 10 years as an Assistant Principal at Lasallian schools in Portland, Sacramento, and his alma mater, Sacred Heart High School in San Francisco, where he became Principal

Yvonne Waggoner P’17 and Ken McFall P’18 are captured by an iPhone.

Guests saw a colorful evening through their lenses.

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Levi’s vests and fur jackets said, hello ‘60s!

Brother Christopher pulls a winning raffle ticket with Ellen Radel at his left.

Dr. Richard Gray presents thank you gifts to the 2016 Crystal Ball co-chairs, Ellen Radle P’17 and Suzy Rettig P’19.

Walt and Julie Williams P’04

Michael and Meriel Stern P’19

Christine Marez, P’14,’18

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Austin Powers and cronies enjoy the bar.

in 1987, and successfully merged Sacred Heart (boys) and Cathedral (girls) high schools during his 12 years there.

Brother Christopher also served as President/Principal for the all-boys De La Salle High School in Concord before coming to La Salle.

While principal for four years at La Salle, Brother Christopher continued to emphasize school community and that the business of La Salle is the exceptional education of the students entrusted to its care. Everyone in the La Salle community soon discovered they could count on Brother

Gilbert and Cherry Agapito P’18, ’20 with Dustin ’96 and Jessica DeMesa P’17.

Christopher’s well-honed administrative skills and his sense of honesty and justice. Brother Christopher leaves behind him a terrific legacy as Principal at La Salle High School.

The Crystal Ball is La Salle’s biggest fundraiser of the year, with proceeds from the evening going to help support the School’s academic, athletic, arts, and financial aid programs. The generosity and support that La Salle receives helps foster each student’s unique talents and gifts through its many programs and services.

Ladies and gents of the 1960s enjoy the dancing, food, fun, frivolity and friendship.

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AMAZING LANCERS

Global team in Prague 18

LANCER MAGAZINE

LANCERS

TAKE ON THE WORLD

By Mrs. Elizabeth Serhan

L

ast July, five La Salle Lancers competed in the World Scholar’s Global Round held in Prague. Zach Damir ’16, Bettina Lee ’16 and Japhet Quitzon ’16 comprised team #1 and Christian Billings ’16 and Noah Sisson ’16 were paired with Simon Lindinger ’18 from the GEMS school in Geneva, Switzerland to complete team #2. The theme of this year’s Global Round was “An Imperfect World” with over 500 students competing, representing 30 countries. Both teams spent months preparing for the Global Round which tested their knowledge in Crime and Justice, History, Science, Literature, the Arts and Social Studies.

Our La Salle teams stepped up to the challenge and were awarded numerous team trophies and individual medals. Most notable is that Team #1 placed 2nd overall and team #2 placed 19th, qualifying for the Tournament of Champions to be held at Yale University in November 2016. Team #1 won the Scholars Cup and Bettina, Japhet, Noah and Zach were named Champion Scholars.

Bettina was named as La Salle’s top scholar.

Bettina is currently attending the University of California at Berkeley, Japhet is at the University of San Diego, Zach is attending the California Lutheran University and Noah is in Wisconsin at Beloit College.

Noah Sisson ’16 , Bettina Lee ’16 , Zach Damir ’16, Japhet Quitzon ’16, Christian Billings ’16, Simon Lindinger ’18 and Elizabeth Serhan, Global Scholars chaperone.

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POWERS AHEAD S

TEAM programs at La Salle are planned to develop students to be knowledgeable not only across the curriculum, but in relation to up-to-date information to be ready to enter a variety of fields knowing that life-long learning in a rapidly changing world is not just a requirement, but something to be excited about being part of. As adults we know we constantly have to learn new ways of keeping updated and connected with information and how to do new things in life as things we interact with change.

STEAM programs work towards purposefully developing students to be up-to-date on current developments in a spectrum of fields. STEAM programs also promote students working on real-life problems and working on developing solutions prior to entering the workforce. Through this program, students get experience

STEAM is an acronym that represents how all topics in subject areas relate to each other and to the real world.

Defined as: Science and Technology, interpreted through Engineering and the Arts, all based in Mathematical elements.

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understanding the variables of reality that aren’t traditionally covered in schools. The STEAM program offers them the opportunities to learn how to overcome a variety of obstacles and to communicate ideas and be proactive about finding real solutions. STEAM programs are geared to develop students who don’t only want to be life-long learners, but also want to develop things to teach to others.

STEAM 2 is an Advancement program that aspires to augment the STEAM 1 campaign. That campaign resulted in numerous additions to the science and math departments, notably our sets of 3D printers.

The Arts have seen numerous additions to the tech support aspects of our theatre productions and athletics has benefited through additions to our physical training facilities.

The A stands for the broad spectrum of the arts going well beyond aesthetics; it includes the liberal arts, formally folding in Language Arts, Social Studies, Physical Arts, Fine Arts and Music that each shape developments in STEM fields.

MONET HURST-MENDOZA ’05 Selected for New Dramatists Van Lier Playwriting Fellowship

By Dr. Jude Lucas with excerpts from New Dramatist

M

onet Hurst-Mendoza, La Salle graduate of 2005 and a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, has won an Edward and Sally Van Lier Playwriting Fellowship at New Dramatists. Each fellow receives a cash grant of $10,000 per year for two years, a two-year residency (July 2016-June 2018) at New Dramatists, which includes access to the Playwrights Lab programs; a profile page on the New Dramatists website, the use of the building as a place to work and conduct meetings, a vibrant community of diverse playwrights; individual mentorship matched with each Fellow from New Dramatists resident company of playwrights; a Van Lier FellowSoiree introducing their work to field colleagues in the first year of their fellowships; and a “festivalized” presentation of their work within the second-year.

The Van Lier Playwriting Fellowship Program, made possible by a grant from the Edward and Sally Van Lier Fund of the New York Community Trust, was established to help young, economically disadvantaged playwrights living in New York City who are U.S. citizens from minority populations (e.g. Asian American, African American, Native American, Arab American, Latino, etc.) to develop their talent and become involved in the professional theatre community. Past Van Lier Fellows include Jackie Sibblies Drury, Charise Castro Smith, Robert O’Hara, Carmen Rivera, and Steven Sapp; New Dramatists alumni Diana Son, Lynn Nottage, Sung Rno, Eisa Davis, Zakiyyah Alexander, and current New Dramatists member laywrights Qui Nguyen, Betty Shamieh, Christina Anderson, and Kristoffer Diaz. “We received a record number of applications for this year’s Fellowship, quadrupling our last cycle’s numbers,” said Diaz, the current program coordinator. “Our outside panel of readers and judges were impressed by the sheer scope of talent of color currently entering the pipeline.

It’s a thrill to have Monet bring her talent into the New Dramatists fold.”

Monet Hurst-Mendoza is a New York-based playwright from Los Angeles. Her plays have been

developed with Rising Circle Theater Collective, |the claque|, Lookingglass Theatre, Amios, The Oneness Project, The Other Mirror, The Kupferberg Center for the Arts, #serials@ The Flea, Women’s Project Theater, and Playwright’s Playground at Classical Theatre of Harlem.

She is the current Playwright in Residence for The Other Mirror, an inaugural member of the 2016 MITTEN Lab, a 2016 SPACE on Ryder Farm resident, a member of the 2017 Emerging Writers Group at The Public Theater, and a 2014-2016 Women’s Project Lab Time Warner Foundation Fellow. She is a proud member of Rising Circle Theater Collective, where she spearheads INKtank/PlayRISE, a developmental writers lab and new works festival for emerging playwrights of color.

New Dramatists is dedicated to the playwright, and pursues a singular mission: To give playwrights time and space in the company of gifted peers to create work, realize their artistic potential, and make lasting contributions to the theatre. Founded in 1949 by Michaela O’Harra in association with Howard Lindsay, Richard Rodgers, Russel Crouse, Oscar Hammerstein II, John Golden, Moss Hart, Maxwell Anderson, John Wharton, Robert E. Sherwood, and Elmer Rice, New Dramatists is one of the country’s leading playwright centers and a nationally recognized new play laboratory, unrivaled in the depth and duration of our commitment to writers. In the 67 years since its founding, 600 new dramatists have passed through their doors, creating work that has laid the foundation for contemporary American dramatic literature.

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THE LONG ROAD:

Mission Strong

By Dave Soltis ’90

From left, with Brother Christopher are Ethan Patrick, Ryan Pizante, Lilly Grbavac and Sally McKiernan.

B

rother Christopher Brady, FSC leaves La Salle High School, Pasadena, adding to an impressive resume of dedicated service to the Lasallian mission. He now heads to St. Mary’s College – the cumulative expression of a man tireless and unafraid to venture into the unknown.

Each new assignment over his lengthy career, indeed, has had its unknown challenges. Having managed these challenges, having learned from them, leading various peoples and students in various communities, he now quite clearly declares that he would like to withdraw from that position of being in charge (he has survived cancer, served in education for 40+ years, 27 of those as Principal). Despite the fact that he seeks less responsibility now, he impresses upon me with rapt gesture that he is not retiring, something for which people apparently have been congratulating him. He pursues different work, but it is work nonetheless, and it is work worthy of the black cloth that he dons, work that is embedded inexorably in the Lasallian tradition.

As we sat down in his office in June for this interview, I notice he’s already packed a number of pictures and award plaques, books and folders. A short stack of yellow papers,

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a pen, remain by the computer monitor on the desk. He says he’s been busy all morning, but when he sits on the couch in his collared t-shirt and shorts, he looks relatively comfortable. He smiles. (He would later tell me that his blood pressure was recently measured quite low – lower than it has been for decades). The office has very much the feel of a place in transition, showing obvious pockets of absence: it is in this subject of transition that he begins our conversation.

He allows a pensive thought, “Saying goodbye to where it all started.” It started in 1975. Tuition – roughly $500; student body – 430 and all-male; teachers and administration – composed of about ten Brothers with whom he lived and worked on campus. These mentors took notice of Brother Chris’ administrative skills, and they would encourage and guide him into his first major academic transition from teacher to administrator, a job promising the enigmatic job description of “never quite knowing what the job holds until you’re sitting in the chair.” His mentors “never pressured” him but instead gave him “strong council and direction.” He recognized that this was an opportunity to learn from “a great group

of people.” Each venture since, from different schools to various support positions, such as Dean, Assistant Principal, and Director of Activities, has presented a step into the unknown, and Brother Chris, by embracing these challenges, has helped strengthen the mission of La Salle.

One such challenge was the official merging in 1987 of two San Francisco Catholic high schools (Sacred Heart and Cathedral), two schools that despite their Catholic antecedents were, in the words of Brother Chris, “steeped in their own traditions.” Brother Chris became principal of the amalgamated Sacred Heart Cathedral High School in 1987, and in these early years of the school, he learned just how difficult it is for people, young and old alike, to accept change.

He did not want, nor did he want others, to ignore either tradition of the schools but rather to visualize and embrace “the foundation for what we were to become.” He states in no uncertain terms, “It was difficult for people.” It is here in the interview that Brother Chris describes how he has tried to influence decisions and change, an approach that he used in those formative years at Sacred Heart Cathedral but also La Salle, Pasadena and posts in between. He says that he has tried to conduct “most of [his] influence through persuasion, and worked really hard not to have to mandate things – aside from business sorts of things.” For more critical decisions, he finds that he has been more successful when he was able to get people to move with him or be able to derive from the group what the best course of action would be. He uses a local parable: “I don’t want to be the horse at Santa Anita [race track] rounding the turn and crossing the finish line and everybody else is at the starting gate.”

It’s the people; it’s the students… it’s the faculty who are committed to the Mission. The Holy spirit works in strange ways.

Being on La Salle’s faculty myself, I can personally attest to Brother Chris’ periodic, and gentle adages about fear and the discomforting nature of change, from the point of view of technology, there have been quite a few changes. Firstly, there is now full integration of the iPad for students and teachers, and secondly, teachers and their constituencies utilize two important digital databases, RubiconAtlas and Schoology. Additionally, Brother Chris has inspired conversation and change around the topics of grading, homework, assessment, and curriculum. Clearly, these areas of discussion strike at the core of teaching, and they provoke, in the least, a discussion about what we as teachers are doing and why. In the midst of summarizing these accomplishments at La Salle, Brother Chris remarks on a broader transition that schools in general have had to face in the past few decades; he says that “many tasks [have been] given to schools in place of family responsibilities.”

If the 1975 secondary school landscape was “a simpler time,” then the operative term to describe today’s environment, as stated by Brother Chris, is “accountability.” He does “not want to give credit to the almighty dollar,” nor is the transparent nature of the digital world the main cause, but parents have greater expectations, more

Circa 1978

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involvement these days. He clarifies, “I don’t think moms and dads love their kids any more today than back in 1975, but it manifests itself in accountability.” It is in this broader sea-change that Brother Chris seeks to contextualize the changes that have occurred at La Salle. Even as he is looking forward, Brother Chris reflects, and he commends La Salle on a job well done.

In this time of personal transition for Brother Chris (which he finds extraordinarily emotional), he has had the time to reflect on a number of things, and even the peculiar, nostalgic moment arrives “at the most inopportune times.”

He recently, for example, visited the local See’s Candies, buying for a friend in “practically the same spot when [he] had just arrived in Pasadena [in 1975].”It was a“momentary

mission on to laypeople, and in this moment, I want to ask him a question I’ve been waiting for. When I ask what his greatest satisfaction has been in his career, he says immediately, “it’s the people; it’s the students…working with other faculty who are committed to the Mission.” He finishes with this: “The Holy spirit works in strange ways.

Anything is possible.”

Readers might be aware that there are thirteen Presidential Libraries in the United States. Readers might also know that credit for the idea of these libraries belongs to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who speculated that future generations might be interested in past presidential experiences. You might also know that these libraries are not libraries at all but, rather, holding places for

glimpse of going back in time.” He muses, “I don’t know if I could have planned it any better…[this] privilege of coming back to Pasadena.” So he waxes a little teary-eyed as he summarizes his personal experience as a principal.

He says softly, with acceptance, “It’s coming to an end,” recognizing as we often do the patterns in our lives, the closure, the leaving of La Salle, twice, knowing now that with the passing of that great beacon of light Brother DeSales Benning that, in fact, he, Brother Christopher Brady, leaves La Salle, Pasadena absent of the Brothers in carne – but not in spiritu. He continues his line of thought, carefully choosing his words, “the only wish – if I had a wish – is not the state of the school but…I wish I were living on this campus, with the Brothers, doing what we do in association…[being in a] religious community with men who are concerned with youth.” Brother Chris alludes here to the waning numbers of Christian Brothers, yet he is optimistic about the varied strata of laypeople in Lasallian schools, who despite their obligations to family and other needs not burdensome to the Brothers (like car payments, mortgages, and what not), demonstrate their collective commitment to the Lasallian mission of teaching children on a daily basis throughout the world. At St. Mary’s College, Brother Chris will be involved with Institutional Advancement, and he is steadfast about adhering to a strategic and intentional approach to passing the Brother’s

presidential memoirs, papers, and other memorabilia – audio, visual, paper – to which the student, researcher or curioso has access. What you may not know is that Brother Chris will have visited all but one of these libraries by the end of this summer. A political science major in college, Brother Chris has always been fascinated by the Chief Administrators of the United States, so when he had the opportunity to go on sabbatical (in 1999 and in 2011), he took to the road to pursue this personal and professional interest. The heft of this presidential materiel (over 100,000 cubic feet of textual and audiovisual records) would make anyone pause to reflect – and Brother Chris has, and from this reflection he says emphatically,“ [each of these leaders were] so different and so varied that there is no role model that you can say this is the way it ought to be done.” Then this distillation: one trait these presidents had in common is the unalterable fact that none of these leaders knew, at the time of taking oath, what was to come – what challenges lay before them as they took the helm, instructed as they were to uphold the Constitution, to protect and guide its people. Claiming no likeness in stature to these chiefs, Brother Chris, in this stroke of humility, leaves us engaged in the work that he has challenged us to behold, as he too engages his next adventure, unknown challenges notwithstanding, strong in the Lasallian tradition. We wish him well.

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CLASS OF 1966 5 0 Y E A R R E U N I O N C E L E B R AT I O N

n honor of their Fifty Year Reunion, members of the Class of 1966 received their Golden Diplomas during Senior Presentation on May 26, 2016. Following the presentation, those in attendance took a tour of their Alma Mater and joined together for a private luncheon in the Blakeslee Library on campus (the former Cafeteria for the Class of ‘66).

The festivities continued that evening with a party at a private venue in Pasadena where many laughs and stories were shared.

The Class of 1966 set a Class Gift Goal to raise a minimum of

$8,750 to fund a half-tuition scholarship for a deserving student for one year. An anonymous member of their class made a challenge gift of $8,750 to be met by the rest of the class by June 30th. The class was successful in their fundraising efforts and raised over $17,500 to fund two half-tuition one year scholarships for students in need.

More pictures from the Reunion can be found on the alumni website at www.lancernetwork.com.

Those in attendance at the Reunion Party the night of Thursday, May 26th included standing left to right: Bill Viscome ’66, Marty Kneier ’66, Rich Mispagel ’66, John Keese ’66, Steve Hanson ’66, Michael Rademacher ’66, Steve Boggs ’66, Steve Gettinger ’66, George Cabot ’66, Peter Barker ’66, Robert Clarke ’66, Mike Plummer ’66, Fred Tate ’66, Mike Curran ’66, Bruce McIntosh ’66, John Pollara ’66, Steve Brown ’66, Brother Raphael Patton, FSC, Dan Buccola ’66, Greg Renn ’66. Seated, left to right: Steve Salem ’66, Armando Hernandez ’66, Robert Bigler ’66, Larry Bolton ’66, John Maffei ’66, Greg Ladesich ’66, Tim Heney ’66, Jim Kelly ’66. Kneeling in front, left to right: Larry O’Toole ’66 and John Winter ’66.

GOLDEN DIPLOMA

Those in attendance at the Golden Diploma Presentation on Thursday, May 26th included top row, left to right: Bruce McIntosh ’66, Peter Barker ’66, Steve Boggs ’66, Greg Renn ’66, Robert Clarke ’66, Pat Hegarty ’66, Rich Mispagel ’66, John Winter ’66, John Keese ’66, Brother Raphael Patton, FSC. Front row, left to right: Fred Tate ’66, Steve Gettinger ’66, Steve Brown ’66, John Pollara ’66, Mike Curran ’66, Dan Buccola ’66, Michael Rademacher ’66, John Maffei ’66, Steve Salem ’66.

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LANCER ATHLETICS

GOLF UNDEFEATED AGAIN! T

he 2016 Lancer golf team finished the regular season with a match play record of 17-0.

This is the second consecutive season the Lancers have completed the regular season without a loss. The La Salle boys golf team had a historical season in 2015 as they went 18-0.

No other golf team or any team in the La Salle athletic program has accomplished this type of success.

The team/program is on a 39 match winning streak which dates back to April of 2014.

Tyler Anastasia and Noah Gohrick

SUPRISING SEASON FOR TRACK

Sebastian Schiff

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he season was full of surprises starting with the football players coming out to help the boys track team. The Lancers also added a new coach, Don Price, who inspired the football players to participate. When night fell on the season, the stars came out in the form of Sebastian Schiff and Eleni Daughters. These two lancers elevated their game to new levels starting at the Calvin Christian Invitational in San Diego.

In the Calvin Christian Invite, the Lancers took home the Outstanding Boy field event award for Sebastian Schiff and the Outstanding Girl Runner award for Eleni Daughters. Later Sebastian

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Eleni Daughters

won the shot put and discus in the Del Rey league championship, qualifying for CIF in both. Sebastian graduated being one of the most decorated track athletes in the history of La Salle Track and Field.

In a very tough event for our league, Eleni Daughters powered through for a third place finish in league to earn a trip to CIF in the 800 meters. She also led her 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 teams to the CIF prelims with the 4 x 100 team making the finals. Eleni also made the finals in the 800 meters finishing fifth, all the while moving herself into second place on the La Salle Top-Ten list for that event.

20 WIN SEASON HIGHLIGHTS LANCER BASEBALL L

a Salle had a remarkable turnaround season under first-year head coach Mike Parisi, and finished 20-8. Beginning with a seven game winning streak and the Bonita Tournament championship the season saw double wins over Serra and Burroughs High Schools and a split with Cathedral.

Mid season, the Lancers fell to perennial power Bishop Amat only to come back at the end of the season to beat them for the first time in four years, 4-3. Trailing 0-3 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, junior, Tommy Radle comes to bat with the bases loaded and knocks in three runs. After two intentional walks by Bishop Amat, Erik Zimmerman, hits a ground ball to short, but combined with a bobble by the shortstop and a late throw to first, Erik was safe at first and Radle scores the winning run! It was one of the Lancers’ most dramatic come back wins ever and it clinched a divisional playoff berth.

Following an 8-3 win over Rancho Alamitos HS in the first round of the CIF playoffs, the Lancers ran into the No. 1 seed, Redondo Union High School (28-2). La Salle momentarily had real upset aspirations after taking a 1-0 lead on a wild pitch in the first inning. The Lancers would have many more opportunities in the game, but left 11 on base, including a whopping 10 in scoring position. “We lost 8-1, but I think the game should have been a lot closer than it was,” Parisi said.

“We left a lot of guys on base and you have to execute when you have a chance to get guys home, but we had a great year and I am very proud of these Lancers.”

Coach Parisi was selected as the San Gabriel Valley Coach of the Year and sophomore pitcher Zane Lindeman, (9 – 1, ERA .093) who dominated on the mound against his opponents was selected 1st Team All Del Rey League and the Lancers Most Valuable Player.

Brandon Jenkins

SPRING/SUMMER 2016

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LANCER ATHLETICS

SWIMMERS CAPTURE CIF TITLES

T CIF medal winners.

he La Salle swim team had a terrific showing in the Division IV CIF Finals. Sophomore James Torrez won two individual CIF titles (100 Back, 100 Fly) and also qualified for the state meet at Clovis West High school in Fresno. His senior sister Jackie Torrez also claimed a CIF title in the 200 breast. This was her third CIF Title in her four year career at La Salle.

(Jackie captured the CIF Individual Championship in the 100 Breast stroke and the 200 IM in the Division IV Finals in Riverside on Friday May 15, 2015).

BASEBALL COACHES HALL OF HONOR Mr. Brian Miller ’79, La Salle science teacher, has been inducted as a member of the Hall of Honor for the San Gabriel Valley Baseball Coaches. The Ceremony was part of the Senior All-Star game on June 5th at the University of La Verne. Coincidentally, this honor coincides with the 20th Anniversary of the CIF and Small Schools State Baseball Championship titles won in 1996 when Miller was the Lancers’ Varsity Baseball Head Coach.

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BASEBALL TOURNEY BENEFITS CHLA

L

a Salle High School’s Director of Baseball Operations Harry Agajanian took local high school baseball players and coaches to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for a tour of the hospital and to meet one of the patients to present him with a baseball cap and signed baseballs. It turns out the patient who was in CHLA for complications of pneumonia happened to be a little league baseball player from Baldwin Park.

This is La Salle’s second annual fundraiser through open invitation to all high schools for their President’s Day “ALL IN” baseball tournament to help raise funds for CHLA and to teach the students to give back to the community. Of the 40 school tournament participants, student athletes from La Salle, Bosco Tech, Pasadena, Newbury Park, and Pomona High Schools attended a tour of Children’s Hospital Los An-

geles and presented hospital representatives Bob Weiner and Laura Gatewood with the promotional check. The total funds raised for the hospital the past two years is over $15,000.

Coach Aggie asks for more community involvement. “Our student athletes learned that giving without receiving is a treasured gift. Although we grew from 24 participants our first year to 40 teams in 2016, we still need to make a bigger and better push for local establishments to help reach our goals. We are looking forward to even a larger turnout at next year’s Presidents Weekend, as well as more sponsorship through parental involvement. Our mission is to teach our youth that the greatest joy of living is the joy that comes from giving.”

Sponsorship forms for next year’s fundraiser are now available by emailing hagajanian@lasallehs.org.

COACHES & PLAYERS STAR We are pleased to share with the La Salle community some of the athletic accomplishments for the spring season. Varsity baseball coach, Mike Parisi was named the Pasadena StarNews Baseball “Coach of the Year.”

Please note that both of our new head coaches Mike Parisi and Basketball’s Michael Lynch received “Coach of the Year” honors in their first year with the Lancers.

Lancers Named Pasadena Star-News MVPs Boys Basketball All Star MVP - Christian Oyie-Little ’16 Girls Basketball All Star MVP - Rebecca Islas ’16 Softball All Star MVP - Paula Damas ’16 Softball All Star Game Home Run Derby Champion - Vanessa Dwyer ’16 Baseball Underclassmen All Star Game MVP - Ethan Patrick ’18 Boys Golf All Area First Team - Tyler Anastasia ’16

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ALUMNI FEATURE

A “Nuccio Trio” of Doctors

By Jade Rogers ‘01

I

t’s not something you see very often, three siblings, all of them doctors. Meet the “Nuccio Trio”: Scott ’00, Mosey ’02, and Lynn ’04. Whether it is an M.D. or a Ph.D. each sibling is focused on the enhancements of medicine, science, and research.

Dr. Scott Nuccio is the oldest. “I have a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. My primary focus is on communications systems where I did research in fiber-optic communications systems for current and future generation terrestrial networks,” says Scott, who received his Ph.D. from USC in 2011. “I completed my Ph.D. right before Christmas of 2010. Prior to that, I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering in 2004 from UCSD and my Master’s Degree from USC in 2005.”

Scott currently works at The Aerospace Corporation, where he has worked since starting a summer internship in 2005. “The Aerospace Corporation manages and runs a Federally Funded Research and Development Dr. Scott Nuccio Center for the US Air Force. I work in the MILSATCOM (Military Satellite Communications) Department where I help with the requirements definition and analysis for various studies and efforts. I spend the majority of my time working with the Air Force to help them understand what is possible as they project needs and capabilities of the future, where I then help put together and lead various teams of engineers to support the different studies and analysis to evaluate those needs and capabilities,” says Scott.

The middle sibling of the “Nuccio Trio” is Dr. Mosey Dunn, who is an Emergency Medicine Physician. “I work in the Emergency Room at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena. During an eight hour work shift I see multiple patients, from newborns to the elderly.

I treat people who have experienced traumatic events, chest pains, fevers, broken bones, appendicitis, obstetrical Dr. Mosey Nuccio

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complaints, difficulty breathing, etc. Sometimes I put breathing tubes in for patients who have stopped breathing, run codes for patients whose hearts have stopped, and work to diagnose what is wrong with the patient,” explains Mosey. “I love that I get to spend my days interacting with the patients and our staff where together we help and heal others. While some days are emotionally exhausting, I am able to ease people’s suffering and there is a deep sense of accomplishment in that.”

After graduating from La Salle in 2002, Mosey went on to the University of Notre Dame where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Pre-Med, and then moving onto USC’s Keck School of Medicine for another four years. “While in medical school, you do rotations in major areas of medicine that include surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, etc.

During my fourth year, I did my emergency room rotation and I loved it. Upon choosing Emergency Medicine, I applied for my Medical Residency program. I was placed at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina where I completed three years of residency training in the ER, surgical, ICU, medical, pediatric, trauma, anesthesia, and PICU service. Following my residency, I took my written and oral Board exams that I passed in 2014. Once I passed those, I started applying for jobs. It was then I got a job at Huntington Memorial Hospital and I have been there for the past three years,” says Mosey.

Finally, there is the youngest of the “Nuccio Trio,” Dr. Lynn Nuccio, who has a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and is a Board Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist. “I decided to become a Physical Therapist because I’ve always wanted to help people. PT was a field in which I could combine my love of science with my passion for helping others. As a former athlete, PT stood out to me over the other health care professions because of its focus on movement and body mechanics,” says Lynn.

In 2008, Lynn received her Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from Villanova University. During her

third year at Villanova Lynn started to apply for numerous Doctoral programs in Physical Therapy. “I chose to attend the Doctorate in Physical Therapy program at the University of Southern California. I started in the fall of 2008 and graduated in the spring of 2011. Three years after I graduated, I decided to apply for my Pediatric Clinical Specialist Certification.

I submitted my application to the American Board of Physical Therapy demonstrating clinical expertise and advanced knowledge base in the field of Pediatric Physical Therapy. Once I received Board approval, I took my written exam the following year and passed,” says Lynn.

Currently, Lynn works for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) in the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit. “I have worked for CHLA for the past five years. The IRU serves patients from birth to 21 years of age who have had a considerable decline in function due to a medical issue, such as a stroke, brain injury, or brain tumor,” says Lynn.

“What I love about my job is being able to help people get stronger and regain their mobility. I love seeing my patients come so far during their time in rehab.”

Through all the long working hours, late study nights, perseverance, and years of further education, Scott, Mosey, and Lynn never forgot the impact that La Salle has made on their career path. “I loved La Salle. The various teachers and coaches were excellent. But it was fellow classmates that created the most impact for me.

The class of 2000 was an amazing class that exposed me to different ideas and challenged me both academically and socially,” says Scott.

Top row, David Buennaugel ’04, Lynn’s fiancé, Lynn, Lauren and Scott Nuccio. Bottom row, Patrick and Mosey Dunn holding their baby Penny, Jill and Bob Nuccio ’71, holding Scott and Lauren’s son Hudson.

Lynn gives a great deal of credit to La Salle’s science teacher, Brian Miller ’79. “Mr. Miller was the teacher who really helped cultivate my love of science. I had him for Biology, Genetics, and Environmental Sciences and his classes were always my favorite. He created a fun and relaxed learning environment that fostered my interest in the science field.”

And Mosey truly enjoyed her time at La Salle as well.

“La Salle gave me the academic and spiritual foundation I needed to be successful at Notre Dame and beyond, especially my history teacher, John Ring, who really pushed me to study hard and embrace my passion for lifelong learning.”

The “Nuccio Trio” are intelligent, ambitious, and hard working individuals, who have always been supportive of each other’s goals and ambitions. Scott, Mosey, and Lynn all agree that family is the most important thing in their life.

They receive their biggest encouragement from their parents and give the most gratitude to them as well. “We always told our kids that a college undergraduate degree would probably not be enough in today’s job market. We encouraged each of them to strive for a post graduate degree. What they eventually accomplished was beyond our expectations. As parents, we couldn’t be more proud of them,” says their dad and La Salle Trustee, Bob Nuccio ’71.

Dr. Lynn Nuccio

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END OF AN ERA

John Ring CLOSES HIS HISTORY BOOK

By Jade Rogers ‘01 with John Blackstock ’67

J

ohn Ring has always had a deep love for history, and with a family lineage that consists of ancestors who were pioneers, Army Scouts, muleskinners, and frontiersmen, it’s definitely no surprise. Generation after generation, the thrill of adventure has been passed down to him. Experience is the best teacher, and every summer John takes trips to see historical landmarks all over the United States. He has seen great Civil War battlefields, Revolutionary War sites, Washington DC, General George Armstrong Custer’s 7th Cavalry cemetery at Little Big Horn, Pikes Peak, and so many more.

Taking his travel experiences and his extraordinary knowledge of US history and applying them to his classes where students got to experience first hand his intensity for “historical truths,” detailed battle reports, fascinating personal facts about historical figures, and incredible teaching skills, has made John one of the best, and most loved and sought out teachers at La Salle. Now, after giving more than 40 years to La Salle High School, legendary history teacher John Ring has retired.

John began teaching history at La Salle in 1973. Since then, John has been the History Department Chair, basketball and golf coach, Academic Advisor, Director of Student Activities, and Vice Principal.

“No one ever has, nor is it likely that anyone ever will, match John’s years of service to La Salle. For more than 40

years, John has held many titles and jobs, such as Director of Student Government, Athletic Director, Associate Principal of Student Services, key master, coordinator of facilities, calendar guru, unofficial holder of all the secrets of La Salle, and teacher,” says Brother Christopher, La Salle’s former Principal.

John taught Honors and US History, and out of all the titles that he has held, it is the position of teacher that has been held most dearly. “It’s the kids. I just like teaching students who I know will someday make a difference in this great world of ours,” says John in 2008 when he was celebrating 35 years at La Salle. In fact, many of the School’s alumni who were taught by John have described him as a “mentor,” “funny,” “helpful,” “awesome,” “knowledgeable,” and the “best teacher” at La Salle. “I will always appreciate the influence he had on me when I was in his Social Studies class,” says Jack Brkich ’80.

“He inspires me with his words and with his actions. Everything he did, and still does, is with this question in mind: What is best for the student,” says John’s son Chris ’01. Chris continues to say that it was not only the simple things his dad did, for example, staying up late, getting to school early, and double checking everything, but it was also the care his dad took with each individual student. “My dad graded each test or essay with special care, watching his students in a play or a sporting event, to the time just spent talking and listen-

John Ring holds the flag against the wind as he crosses the San Gabriel River to join the faculty at La Salle in 1973. John lies wounded with a ketchup pack after breaking up a food fight as Dean of Discipline in the 1980s.

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ing to all who came into his office and classroom. These are qualities that I strive to emulate as a teacher, coach, and Lasallian,” says Chris.

But it was teaching in his Honors History courses that John felt the most at ease. “Honors classes let me teach the students to think, analyze and create solutions that someday may help solve some of the world’s greatest problems. History shows us that the more things change the more they stay the same. It’s just the solutions that change, and we hope for the better. I hope our students understand that they are an important part of the world and that they can make it a better place,” says John.

In 2014, John was granted a sabbatical from La Salle to travel the West and study American History. He described ambitious plans to travel to the Great Plains, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, study the Westward Movement, and visit historical monuments and Native American places of interest before moving east to see Civil War Battlefields of Shiloh, Fort Donelson, Chattanooga, Franklin, and Vicksburg.

From there, he was planning on heading north to Gettysburg where he traced the battle movements of his relative, Major General Stephen Dodson Ramseuer. “You are never too young to learn,” says John.

With over 40 years of teaching behind him, John has definitely created a historical landmark for himself at La

John Ring with son Christopher ’00 and daughter Teresa (Ring) Elmslie-Britt ’03.

Salle. Having taught or coached more than 50 percent of La Salle’s alumni, it is no surprise that he is the most asked about and sought after teacher at La Salle events. Even alumni who never been taught by John have said he’s “the best teacher ever.”

“For over 40 years, La Salle has been my home and you (the faculty) have been my family which is why, of course, Continued on page 37

PATRICK BONACCI, AFC, BEST FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE SAID: John has been my friend since 1967 when we both enrolled in Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California. We took many of the same classes and “hung” with the same guys throughout our college years and after graduation, we stayed in contact with each other regularly when John began teaching at La Salle in 1973. I joined La Salle in 1985 and from that point on, we were not only the best of friends but John was also a trusted colleague. I named John to be my Vice-Principal, later called Associate Principal, when I became La Salle’s Principal. John was a dedicated administrator and we made a great team together. Any successes that may be attributed to me during my years at La Salle must be shared with John because he was intimately involved in every decision I made. I doubt that anyone will ever be more appreciated by his students than John will.

He is the hit of every alumni gathering because his students knew he was always there for them and their needs came first.

Saint John Baptist de La Salle consistently reminded his early teachers that they must be like Big Brothers; we would now add Big Sisters, for the students entrusted by God to their care. John Ring intrinsically knew this from his earliest teaching days in 1973 through this June when he decided to retire. He did not have to be taught this maxim or be reminded of it - he lived it daily! I miss seeing my friend each day and La Salle misses someone who actually deserves to be called an iconic teacher and administrator.

Sargent Ring led may Lancers into battle as Athletic Director and held the line against historical revisionism as La Salle’s long-time AP History teacher.

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FORMER FACULTY

LA SALLE HAS HISTORY WITH THIS MAN

By John White, ’74

“You’re near Laytonville?” asked Mr. Brown over the phone.

“I’m just leaving Novato. Let’s do it this way: Whoever gets to Willits first scopes out a place to eat and calls the other.”

Simple. Brown-simple.

It was reassuring to hear the same directness and get-tothe-point-ness many of us had for two hours a day our junior year at La Salle. As Mr. Brown taught it, American Studies was a hybrid literature-history boot camp marked by the candor and insight he exercised as track coach, Vice-Principal of Academics and Discipline and later as acting principal. Like American Studies, meeting him for brunch in the middle of his Northern California turf was simple, but it was not easy, entailing ten days of email, text and phone calls with him and his gracious wife Kathy.

But at 11:00 on an April morning 43 years after leaving La Salle, Mr. Brown walked into Ardella’s Downtown Diner on Main Street in Willits for brunch with a former student. His broad grin and sharp eyes were easily recognizable. We shook hands vigorously and sat down at a booth.

An odd charge goes through a handshake with your high school teachers, the people who first plopped you in front of the real world and helped you see what you’d need to take it on. You’re in life sciences now because they once had you dissect a frog, or you’re coaching Little League now because they once let you start at shortstop against Cathedral, or you can make your point at a city council meeting now because they once taught you not to ramble when speaking in public. That charge buzzed through our handshake.

How did you get from Novato to Willits in under two hours?

What are you driving?

“Well, it’s a Harley Davidson,” he joked. “No, the secret is to leave after all the traffic in Petaluma and Santa Rosa dies down. I’ve been driving between our house in Crescent City and school districts in the Bay Area long enough to have the timing down.”

You look darned good, Mr. Brown.

“What can I say? Like the singer, I’m James Brown and I Feel Good!” He laughed heartily.

Used that one a few times, have you?

“Maybe a few, over the years. It still works.”

But what happened to your red hair?

“I suppose a little bit of it has worn off in each district where I’ve worked. Mind you, my grandson Jack Brown has red hair, so the gene is still in the family.”

Mr. Brown taught and coached at La Salle in the late 1960s, took a hiatus to get his master’s degree at the Univer-

sity of Kansas and returned to La Salle until 1973. He left to become assistant principal at Arlington High School in Riverside, then became a middle school principal and eventually a superintendent of school districts up and down the state: Cambria, Lompoc, Palo Alto and finally Glendale. After retiring from Glendale he became a partner in Leadership Associates, a search and leadership consulting firm for California school districts.

So now you’re the Superintendent Finder?

“I guess you could call me that. Citizens elect a school board, which then appoints a superintendent to run the district. We help those boards identify and vet superintendent candidates. We try to find candidates who are the right match for the district.”

What about your retirement?

“That was our hope in moving up from Novato to Crescent City a couple of years ago. I still work on occasional searches, but Kathy really wants me to retire.

We have three sons: Ted teaches high school in Marin County and John works in wind energy in Colorado.

That’s where our grandchildren are.

Eric is married and lives in Switzerland.”

The waiter came over. Mr. Brown perused the menu. Then, we ordered.

“Good job picking this place. It’s right on 101, and brunch here will tide me over during the four-hour drive from the Bay Area to Crescent City. I won’t need to stop at The Peg House in Leggett. They’ve got the best brownies on the north coast and I need to lay off them.”

He studied the interior of Ardella’s: the artwork hanging on the wood-paneled walls, the family in the corner booth conversing with their waitress, the man in the John Deere baseball cap reading a newspaper at the counter.

“This is perfect. There’s no TV. You can hear people talk in here. This is the kind of place I like to take a superintendent candidate. When they’re recruited from out of the area, they don’t always know what they’re getting into. I like to take them someplace where they can get a feeling for the community they may be working in.”

Are you still the English and history buff we all remember?

What are you reading these days?

“Two years ago I did a deep dive on the origins of World War I. Books like The Sleepwalkers by Christopher Clark. I finally figured out who did what to whom and why. It would have made a good class. You guys and I could have stepped back into Room 110 and picked up right where we left off. Now I’m reading Volume One of the Kissinger biography – how he shaped policy in Europe after World War II, up through his work

Alum reconnects with La Salle’s former Principal and Track Coach

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for Kennedy and Johnson. It’s all still relevant.”

The waiter brought our food and we dug in. We shot the breeze on topics like literature, presidential candidates, kids, grandkids, the Hearst Castle field trip, life in Northern California and the merits of blueberry pancakes.

So how do you look back on your years at La Salle?

“Funny thing. On the bulletin board of my office there, I had pinned a white and blue pep button that people all over the school were wearing. It read, ’La Salle won’t wear off,’ and I’ve found that true over time. I taught a lot there, but I learned a lot too, and it hasn’t worn off.”

Like what?

“What I learned from other teachers. Brother Tim Ford, for example. I learned a lot from him about exercising patience with kids, because eventually it pays off. I learned it pays off in working with my peers as well. Then just the relationships I had at La Salle. John Hartnett, Dick Donoghue and I grew to be close friends. Don Blair and I worked together on cross country and track.

“Of course, I really began to appreciate those things after I’d moved to Riverside. At La Salle I could say to a student, ’Don’t do that,’ and he would stop doing that, at least in front of me. It didn’t work that easily at Riverside.”

Was it the public-private school divide?

“Oh, it was more than that. Don’t forget this was the early ’70s. We had new civil rights laws on the books, but it wasn’t easy to make them work in the schools. There were integration policies and busing in those days. You remember Jim Bonzi, that math-science teacher at La Salle? I think he left in ’71. He and his wife adopted two black children, and one day he told us his family was denied service in a restaurant - in Pasadena! Schools had to function with all of that going on. Districts like Pasadena had to make things work in that climate and some of them have never completely recovered.

“When I got to Riverside, we had to deal with gang activity, drugs and even the occasional streaker. My best friends were often police and probation officers. But I sure learned a lot about working with and helping a wide diversity of students.”

So will the idea of Education for All ever really work? What will it take?

“We really need to make urban schooling work for more students.

One of the ways to do that is to give teachers the resources they need in areas like salaries and professional development. Teacher salary is the biggest item in every district’s budget, but it’s important when you’re trying to attract and retain good teachers. Technology materials and facilities are important, but nothing takes the place of good teaching.

“And after high school, community colleges have a big role to play.

I think that 14 years of free or near-free education is a good model that’s worth making work. A lot of people can benefit from it. An enterprising teacher can take a social, political or economic situation like that and build a course around it.”

Is that how you put American Studies together? Mr. Brown took a final bite, set down his fork and took a sip of coffee. “Sort of. I taught that class my last three years at La Salle. Remember how we started it off? I had each of you list the situations in U.S. society that were top of mind for you. Then I pulled together a reading list of books like Babbitt, All the King’s Men, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, The Catcher in the Rye, Native Son and all the others. We discussed them in class and used the textbook for structure, then you guys wrote papers.

“The great thing about American Studies was that we spent two hours a day together. You can make a lot of progress and get a lot of wheels turning when you have that kind of time.”

Do you think that model would still work today, in the age of the 140-character attention span?

Continued on page 37

SPRING/SUMMER 2016

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FACULTY UPDATES

Kate Williams EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR

By Brother Christopher Brady, FSC, Principal

T

he Lasallian Educator of the Year Medal is given annually to a faculty member or administrator who exemplifies the qualities of St. La Salle… specifically meeting the following criteria: • A dedicated and committed individual who is a qualified educator • An educator who understands their

own dignity as a child of God so

that he or she can pass this on to

their students

• A person who cherishes and cares for their students like an older brother or sister, and, above all, someone who is committed to a life of faith and prayer so that they can teach their students in the spiritual life, inculcating living values.

Without a doubt, our recipient this year exemplifies these criterion.

This educator amazes me for a willingness to do anything for the betterment of students.

This teacher is a mentor and spends extra-extra-extra time with students in need.

An individual who clearly loves students and has earned their respect.

This educator lives and breathes La Salle.

Earlier this semester, students completed a Teacher Feedback Form for all of your teachers. Here are the words of students used to describe our recipient:

“Easy to talk to, provides individual help to everyone, very patient and nice, works with us and beside us, everything is amazing in this classroom, creates a relaxed and nurturing environment, communicates with us, and one of the best teachers at La Salle.”

Yes, Saint La Salle would have been proud of this 21st century educator.

Our recipient clearly enjoys teaching and being around young people. One of the qualities that this teacher exhibits in teaching and leading is a real passion for developing the whole student. In fact, one can find our recipient on campus at all hours – even Saturdays and Sundays. Our Lasallian Educator is beginning to understand the word moderation! Additionally, this individual continually demonstrates that being creative and original is already a part of us.

Our honoree has been associated with La Salle High School for only a few years but has completely immersed herself into our Student Life program: participation in retreats, a class moderator and the rally committee. As someone wrote – she is Ms. La Salle.

We are proud to honor Ms. Kate Williams who has been serving this community of students and who now becomes our newest Lasallian Educator of the Year.

Elizabeth Serhan FIRST ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER AWARDEE

By Brother Christopher Brady, FSC, Principal

I

n determining who should be rightfully acknowledged for this award (a non-teacher or administrator) the following criterion were developed.

• Manifests daily actions that

support the Mission of the school • Demonstrates a steady commit ment to fellow workers and stu

dents by exhibiting patience,

understanding and humor.

• Is flexible with one’s time and is willing to assist others.

• Participates in the co-curricular life of the school (attends games, retreats, the arts)

• Is selfless in not expecting any recognition

Our honoree’s name will be inscribed on a perpetual plaque that will hang on a wall on the 3rd floor of the school.

Earlier this month, I invited faculty and staff members to nomi-

nate a deserving individual who meets the established benchmarks.

Thirteen individuals were nominated for consideration.

Here is how different members of this school community described our first recipient of the St. Joseph the Worker Award: “A pleasure to work with at all times, awesome, so caring, makes the time to help others, embodies what this award is intended to recognize, humble, friendly, welcoming, kind and most noteworthy – loving.”

For more than a few years (OK - 11 years) this person has been a part of the La Salle community. She is at her best when she is helping…from listening to others, to planning this, or organizing that.

She finds it difficult to say “NO” to anyone. Whether it is attending a water polo match, or participating in a student retreat, she is a supporter of her fellow workers and the students.

I am pleased to present our first St. Joseph the Worker Award to someone I have the pleasure of working with daily, Mrs. Elizabeth Serhan.

Dave Desmond

DAVE DESMOND, former social studies instructor, football and track coach at La Salle from 1999 to 2014 has been named Assistant Principal at his alma mater, Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento. Dave

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continued to coach football at CBHS until last season.

He and his wife Michelle have a baby son, Ronan, who was born in April, 2015.

Continued from page 33

my children, Christopher ’01 and Teresa ’03 now work here,” says John.

“It was an unbelievable experience being able to work with my dad everyday. Not just as a great history teacher to bounce ideas off of or as a coach to share stories with, but also who wouldn’t love to be able to go to work everyday and spend some time with their dad, especially when he’s Mr. John Ring,” says Chris.

Teresa Ring also had an amazing experience working alongside her dad. “He has always been there for me as an Associate Principal, Athletic Director, but most importantly, as my dad. We have gone through this road together with the long commutes, late nights for theatre, attending every sports games, and to eating all the bags of Jolly Ranchers. It just won’t be the same without him here to help me with last minute subbing, giving me great advice, and staying late with me. But the thing that I will miss most is hearing his laugh down the hall. I hope he has a historic retirement since we all know he definitely deserves it,” says Teresa.

John Ring will go down in history as one of “La Salle’s Founding Fathers.” He was the right man for the job and should be put on the Mount Rushmore for La Salle, because that’s the kind of impact he has had.

Upon retirement, the open road might be calling John again. In fact, though he is retired, John will continue to give his time to La Salle. He most recently dedicated his time to being a chaperone and motivational speaker on the La Salle Cross Country Team’s High Altitude Training Camp in Mammoth Lakes.

As for every day after that, it will be no surprise if John plans on learning something new along the way, but one thing is for certain, that everyone in the Lasallian community will miss him and we wish him a wonderful retirement.

Once a Lancer, always a Lancer!

Continued from page 35

“Absolutely. In fact, when I was superintendent in Palo Alto, I got tired of hearing faculty members tell me, ’It’s different now, Jim. You’ve been out of the classroom too long.’ So I dusted off the old syllabus, put together American Studies and taught it again. Students excelled at it just as they had back at La Salle. That was very hard work for me with everything else I was doing, but I think it was the most enjoyable thing I ever did in the classroom.”

So after all your years around teachers and students, what do you think it takes to educate?

Mr. Brown sat back and thought for a moment.

“A few different things, I suppose. First of all, it’s circa 1970 those high expectations I just mentioned. That’s how I structured the American Studies course. On the first day of class, I told you guys, ’I expect A and B work from you. If you give me C work, I’ll mark it up and hand it back to you to rewrite into A or B work.’ You all knew from the beginning that I wasn’t going to settle for less, so neither did you.

“Also, you have to convey to students that they are capable and can figure out for themselves how to meet your expectations. I always wanted my students to be prepared so that you could walk into a college classroom and handle whatever anybody threw at you. Now that’s tricky if you’re a teacher because you’ve always got a few kids who look as though they can’t or don’t want to figure anything out.

But once a few guys who I thought would never buckle down finally produced Aand B-work, I learned that we teachers should never pre-judge students.

“Then there’s the course material. It has to have some connection to real conditions in the students’ life, like those topics we collected in the first week of American Studies.

“And I’d say it’s also important for teachers to build good relationships with students. I didn’t do that in the early days. I was harder on some students than I needed to be. But I discovered that when you build kids up and show them that you care instead of telling them what they’re doing wrong all the time, they really do learn better.”

The waiter brought the check. Mr. Brown looked at his watch and took a last gulp of coffee.

“Listen, I’ve really got to hit the road. Kathy’s working at a church event to feed the homeless in Crescent City tonight and I’m supposed to help her out.”

All right. One last thing: Are you still running? How do you keep in shape?

“I ran trails for years and years but it started to take its toll on my knees.

These days I cycle and I row on a machine. I get out to run along the coast maybe a couple times a week. It doesn’t feel like running and it doesn’t look like running, but I still call it that. Say, can I get that check for you?”

When you can pick up the eight-dollar breakfast tab for the man who taught you how to read, analyze and write critically about literature, you do so and consider it an honor.

“Great. Thanks. Let the guys know that I’m always glad to talk to former students.”

Another hearty handshake. Another charge.

Mr. Brown turned and walked toward the door of Ardella’s, his gait seasoned as much by the thousands of students he’s affected as by the thousands of miles he’s run. On his way out, he flashed a grandfatherly wave to the two-year-old girl with the family in the corner booth.

La Salle won’t wear off. Neither will Mr. Brown.

John White ’74 lives in San Diego and writes about technology for venTAJA Marketing. He was relieved when Mr. Brown did not mark up his draft of this article as C work and hand it back to him to rewrite. Mr. Brown’s former students can contact him at trailrunner1942@yahoo.com.

SPRING/SUMMER 2016

37

TRIBUTE

2005

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LANCER MAGAZINE

We Remember

BROTHER DESALES

1986

O

2007

2004

n June 25, 2016, we lost a wonderful person and long-time member of the La Salle community, Brother DeSales Benning, FSC. Our community will not be the same without him, but his spirit will be with us always.

Brother DeSales (James Joyce Benning) was born March 20, 1937 in Jamaica, New York, but his parents moved to Chicago when he was one year old. After he finished fourth grade, DeSales and his family again moved to Pennsylvania, where he continued school and attended Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh. “The Christian Brothers taught at my high school, and I liked the way they treated 2005 us,” DeSales recalls.

After graduating, he joined the Brothers and entered the Novitiate on June 18, 1955 and received the religious habit on June 18, 1955. He made final

vows on October 24, 1976, in Los Angeles.

After teaching at Cathedral High School in Los Angels in the 1970s, Brother DeSales was assigned to La Salle where he taught Spanish, Latin and religion from 1982 to 1994 before leaving to earn his masters in Spanish Linguistics from the University of Arizona. Brother returned to La Salle in 1998.

Brother said one of the most enjoyable aspects of being a Christian Brother was the sense of community. He enjoyed immensely the Brother’s Community and also the comradeship of the faculty at La Salle. “We have a great community here,” he said. “A great faculty and the students are amazing. It’s really a wonderful community that I truly love.”

La Salle’s President, Dr. Richard Gray commented, “To say that Brother DeSales loved and was deeply committed to his work at La Salle is an understatement. In fact, his 30 years of service to La Salle represents half of his 60 years in Religious Life. His devotion to his students and colleagues is not only exemplary but worthy of emulation by veteran and novice teachers alike.

BROTHER DESALES BENNING, FSC, 1937-2016 ASSIGNMENTS: 1956 Elkins Park, Philadelphia, PA, Scholastic 1959 Withdrew to enter Brothers of St. Francis of the Poor 07-1975 Re-entered Christian Brothers, San Francisco District 07-1975 Cathedral HS, Los Angeles, Novice/Teacher 07-1976 Cathedral HS, Los Angeles, Teacher 09-1977 Cathedral HS, Los Angeles, Sub-Director, Teacher 07-1979 Cathedral HS, Los Angeles, Director, Teacher 07-1982 La Salle HS, Pasadena, Director, Teacher 07-1994 University of Arizona, Studies 07-1997 San Joaquin Memorial HS, Fresno, Teacher 07-1998 La Salle HS, Pasadena, Director, Teacher 07-2000-11-2015 La Salle HS, Pasadena, Teacher, Cathedral HS Community, Los Angeles (in residence)

SPRING/SUMMER 2016

39

Alumni News, Weddings & Births

Staying

Connected

1965

Ty Gaffney was recently honored by the Pasadena Unified School District.

The PUSD Board passed a resolution in May to name the gymnasium at Sierra Madre Middle School after Ty for his “exceptional educational leadership, serving as a lead teacher, a principal, and a coach for beginning teachers and administrators,” and for his “generous contributions to education.” Ty retired as principal of Sierra Madre School in 2006 after an eightyear term.

1966

Stephen Gettinger retired in May 2015 after 46 years of working as a journalist. He just finished his second tour as an editor for Congressional Quarterly magazine and also edited for National Journal magazine and Bloomberg News. Stephen and his wife Kate reside in Catonsville, Maryland.

Steve Brown retired in 2014 after teaching at Huntington Beach High School since 1990.

Larry O’Toole is a consultant and sales manager with Active Sales Co. He is also heavily involved with coaching and helping administer youth sports in Irvine. He and his wife Joanne have been married for 43 years, have two grown sons and five grandchildren. Larry resides in Huntington Beach.

Stephen Boggs retired from Standard Pacific Homes in 2008 and started his own consulting company, The Boggs Group, LLC in 2009.

He has served on the board for Cal Lutheran University, Economic Forecast and Ventura County Housing Trust Fund. Stephen and his wife have three grown children, four grandkids and reside in Westlake Village.

Bruce McIntosh has been a trial attorney for 43 years, practicing in all areas of the law except antitrust and tax law. He has been in private practice in Pasadena for the last 20 years. Bruce has spent 44 years as a member of the Tournament of Roses and has attended every Rose Bowl game since 1958. He and his wife Susie have two grown children and live in San Gabriel.

Bill Viscome and his family spend half the year living in Thailand and the other half in California. He and his wife have been married for 21 years and have two children, Nicky (14) and Natalie (20).

Brad Boland is an associate professor of surgery within the division of vascular surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Prior to this, he worked in private practice as a vascular surgeon for 22 years. He and his wife Janine have two grown daughters and live in Jackson, MS. Rob Clarke has been living in San Jose for the last 40 years and has been happily married to Jeanne Labozetta for 20 of those years. He man-

aged his own vocational consulting business for 13 years before his post-masters education in disability management led to consulting work and employment with Hewlett Packard, Chevron, Wells Fargo, Mercer and Stanford University. Rob retired from Stanford in 2015.

Steve Hanson is retired from his career in accounting and finance. He and his wife have been married for 41 years and live in Simi Valley.

Tim Heney worked as an elementary school music teacher until 2008 and has served as a parish choir director for 38 years. He now volunteers and does substitute teaching in a hospital based job training program for young disabled adults.

Fred Tate and his wife Janis have been married for 35 years and live in Austin, Texas. They attend national arts shows and sell wearable art.

Class of 1967 50 YEAR REUNION

Save the Date!

MAY 24-25, 2017 More information coming soon!

Make sure your contact information is up to date with the Alumni Office at

www.lancernetwork.com/Update

1968

Gary Pohlson was recently appointed a judgeship in Orange County Superior Court by Governor Jerry Brown. Gary is a longtime criminal defense attorney and was a founding partner at three different law offices since 1980. He served as a deputy district attorney at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office from

CLASS OF 1975 REUNION Dino Clarizio ’75 hosted a summer BBQ for ’70s grads at his home in Arcadia. Members from the Class of 1975 in attendance included, left to right: Sergio Escalante ’75, Miguel Salas 75, Jim LeBerthon ’75, David DiLettera ’75, Rick Snyder ’75, Dino, Bill Morris 75, Paul Lees ’75.

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LANCER MAGAZINE

1976 to 1980 and served as a deputy city attorney at the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.

1970

Dale Di Stefano is a neurologist in Newport Beach and is affiliated with UC Irvine Medical Center.

New York in June, 2015. And, on this past July 9th, he completed the 20-mile swim across the Catalina Channel becoming one of less than 150 swimmers worldwide to have successfully swam all three of these iconic open water swims.

1971

1989

Kenneth Stachler works as a finance executive. He and his wife Laura have three grown children, one grandson and live in Atlanta, Georgia.

1982

Juan Ossa took his Oath of Enlistment as a Specialist in the California State Military Reserve on May 7, 2016.

He has been assigned to Security Forces (SECFOR), Installation Support Command (ISC) at JFTB, Los Alamitos where he will work with other squad members to provide armed security and law enforcement services to the base. Juan always had a desire to join the military and is proud to be serving the state of California and his country as a citizen-soldier in the CSMR Army. In his civilian life Juan works as the executive director for information technology and ecommerce for The Shamrock Companies.

Michael T. Anderson was elected by the UCLA Alumni Association to the UCLA John Wooden Center Board of Governors, serving a two-year term beginning July 1, 2016. The John Wooden Center Board of Governors manages the policies, general operations, finances and administration of the John Wooden Center. The JWC was opened in May 1983 and serves over 1.25 million visitors a year.

Leroy Cisneros had the opportunity to attend the 80th Annual Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, GA. He attended the Resident, Intermediate Level Education course, at the Command & Staff General College campus, on Fort Gordon, GA, and has since returned to Ukraine, in support of Operation Fearless Guardian 2016. He is now serving as a J3 Operations Officer.

Joe Blackman competed at the USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships in March as a member of the SoCal Track Club. The team

Kevin Shinnick successfully completed the Triple Crown of open water swimming this past summer. Following his solo swim across the English Channel in 2013, Kevin swam the 28 miles around Manhattan Island in

1996

Veronica Velez is a professor and director at Western Washington University.

She received her Ph.D. in Education from UCLA with a specialization in race and ethnic studies.

Bill Alexander is a client relationship manager at Western Asset Management Co., a global leader in fixed income investment management.

In May, he received an MBA in Finance from The Peter F. Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University. Bill and his wife Michelle (Medeiros) ’97 have been married for 11 years and have two daughters, Kate (6) and Morgan (4).

Julie (Curley) Saldana is an elementary school teacher in the Live Oak School District. She and her husband Clyde have two children, Caitlin (7) and Conner (6), and live in Santa Cruz. won the national championship title and Joe won two gold medals with his teammates in the 4x200 meter relay and 4x800 meter relay. The meet was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

1993 1994

1987

Jennifer (Tien) Massey managed commercial real estate before starting a family with her husband Justin who serves on the City Council for Hermosa Beach as Mayor Pro Tem. Jennifer and Justin have two children, Shayne (4 1/2) and Cody (21 months).

Jamie (Kelley) Payne has been married for nearly 12 years and has two boys. She and her family live in Glendora.

Simon Santana is a teacher and counselor at Palisades Charter High School and resides in Marina Del Rey.

Mike Ryan ’85, left, Susan Ehring ’97, not pictured, and Everett Evelth ’87, far right, participated in the Semper Tri Triathlon at U.S. Navy Assault Craft Unit 5 at Camp Pendleton in August. They were cheered on by fellow alumni James Ryan ’86, Kathleen (Polenzani) Talbot ’97 and Steven Talbot ’95.

Hall and Gardens in Arcadia. Their mission is to build a safe and inclusive community for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

Steven Andres works as a security assessor for Fortune 100 clients and moonlights as a Professor of Cyber Warfare & Terrorism at San Diego State University in a night-time Master’s Degree program. He completed his Ph.D. in Information Systems and Technology from Claremont Graduate University in November 2015 with a dissertation entitled “Disposable Social Media Profiles.”

1995

Victor Aguirre for Harrahs in Laughlin.

works as a cook

Json Marruffo works in public affairs as a communication specialist for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He also volunteers for Boy Scouts of America and Team Summit, a youth snowboarding athletic club. Json and his wife Jennifer have three children, Caleb (15), Aurora (13), Isabella (11), and live in Colorado Springs.

Aaron Saenz is a health information management and technology instructor in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He also works closely with the San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ Center which has secured a permanent home at the Prince Erik

Rayne Roberts is a story development and production executive at Lucasfilm where she has helped develop and launch films such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and the upcoming Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (December, 2016), and Star Wars: Episode VIII (2017).

1998

Mark Dizon got married in October 2015 and moved shortly thereafter to The Netherlands to work in Netflix’s European headquarters based in Amsterdam. Mark is in charge of everything technical and a/v related for the Amsterdam office, as well as the other offices in the EU located in Berlin, London and Paris.

1999

Ray Pearl is a financial advisor for Wells Fargo. He and his wife Mary (Magluyan) ’99 have three children and reside in San Dimas.

Caitlin Slegr earned her Bachelor of Fine Art from Art Center College of Design and went on to earn her Master of Fine Art from Bard College.

She has been working as an artist assistant in Los Angeles.

2000

Sarah Moore is the marketing manager for Baker Tilly, an accounting and advisory services company in Vienna, Virginia.

Sarah lives in Arlington.

Laura Palmer was named one of the five recipients of the 2016 Teachers of Excellence Award, presented annually in April by the Rotary Club of Pasadena to educators who excel in their proSPRING/SUMMER 2016

41

fession. Laura went on to be named the 2016 Pasadena Unified School District’s Teacher of the Year and was recognized at a special ceremony on August 10, 2016. Laura is a fourth grade teacher at Sierra Madre Elementary School.

2003

Jessie Stegner recently moved back to California after living in Chicago where she worked as a commercial actor and performer/ teacher at ComedySportz Chicago. Jessie is continuing to work in comedy in Los Angeles and was accepted into UCLA’s MFA screenwriting program through their School of Theater, Film and Television.

2004

Matt Velasco has joined the faculty in the Department of Anthropology at Ithaca College after a post-doc year.

Dorothy Habrat finished her emergency medicine residency training at the University of Nebraska and is now working as an emergency medicine physician at the University of New Mexico and completing a subspecialty fellowship in EMS [Emergency Medical Services/PreHospital Medicine].

2006

Ben Brekke graduated in May with a Master of Public Health degree from the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He has been accepted to medical school within the American Association of Medical Colleges at SJB School of Medicine in Puerto Rico. SJB School of Medicine receives more than 1,400 applications and accepts 5% to fill an incoming class of 63 students. As part of admission they require Spanish fluency. Ben would like to be a plastic surgeon or cardiac surgeon.

Colleen Miller graduated with her BA in Communications from Loyola Marymount University in 2010 and works in recruiting for Facebook.

Colleen currently resides in San Francisco.

Kimberly Nonato earned her degree in Business Economics from UC Irvine and is working as an associate buyer for JackThreads in New York City.

Class of 2006 10 YEAR REUNION FRIDAY

NOVEMBER 25, 2016 Hotel Constance in Pasadena 7:30pm -10:30pm Buy your tickets now at:

www.lancernetwork.com/06reunion

2007

Troy Baugh received his Master’s in Cross Cultural Communications from Newcastle University in the UK in November 2015. He is now working for Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK, with the goal of assisting US and UK students in obtaining academic and athletic scholarships domestically and internationally. Additionally, he will be entering Northumbria’s International Business master’s program and playing basketball for the university.

Sarah Shevlin graduated from the University of Redlands with her MBA earlier this year.

Sarah is pictured with her parents on her graduation day.

Elizabeth (Mendez) D’Alessandro earned her Doctorate in Clinical Forensic Psychology from Alliant International University earlier this year.

She is completing an internship at Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk where she does restoration of competency treatment with those declared incompetent to stand trial and other forms of treatment with the not guilty by reason of insanity and mentally disordered offenders.

2008

Justine Tashiro was selected to become a Miami-Dade Corps Member for Teach for America in 2013 and spent two years serving students in the Little Haiti Community.

She received her Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University and is currently an instructor at Doshisha University’s International School in Kyoto, Japan.

2009

Alexandra Don graduated from Marquette Law School in May. She received an Honors cord for the Pro Bono Honors Society as well as certificates in Alternative Dispute Resolution and International Commercial Arbitration.

Laura Trujillo was accepted to the Ohio State University School of Veterinary Medicine and the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. She has decided to attend Ohio State on a four year academic scholarship.

She will pursue a DVM and MS dual degree in public health. She looks forward to exploring what Columbus, OH has to offer.

Brianna Santos received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Cal Poly Pomona in June after transferring from Pasadena City College with A.A’s in Natural Science and Arts. She is in the process of earning her EMT certification and plans on attending graduate school.

2010

Louis Maskin is a strategist with The Culinary Edge, a restaurant consulting

2016-2017 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EVENTS Check out all of the event details at www.lancernetwork.com NOVEMBER 2016

11/12 - Alumni Fall Production @ 2pm at Porticos Art Space 11/23 - Class of 2011 Five Year Reunion @ Café Santorini 11/24 - Alumni Flag Football Tournament @ 10am on Kohorst Field 11/25 - Class of 2006 Ten Year Reunion @ Hotel Constance 11/25 - Alumni Basketball Game @ 5:30pm/7pm in the

Duffy Lewis Gymnasium 11/26- Alumni Water Polo Game @ 11am at Arcadia County Park

DECEMBER 2016

12/3 - Alumni Adopt-A-Family Gift Wrapping Party & Santa Visit @

10am in the Linda M. Grinstead Theatre

JANUARY 2017

1/7 - Alumni Soccer Game @ 10am on Kohorst Field 1/14 - Alumni Baseball Game @ 1pm at Arcadia County Park 1/16 - Alumni National Day of Service 42

LANCER MAGAZINE

MARCH 2017

3/4 - San Diego Alumni Regional Gathering 3/14 & 3/16 - Career Days 3/30 - Orange County Alumni Regional Gathering

APRIL 2017

4/1 - Alumni Spring Musical Production @ 2pm at

Porticos Art Space 4/8 - Bay Area Alumni Regional Gathering

MAY 2017

5/24 - Class of 2017 Legacy Reception 5/24 & 5/25 - Class of 1967 Fifty Year Reunion 5/25 - Senior Class Alumni Induction & Alumni

Association sponsored breakfast

firm in San Francisco. In his role, Louis helps formulate strategies for companies to improve their food offerings and positioning. His clients range from small restaurants to companies with over 2,000 locations.

Class of 2011

2014

Claire Fitzgerald is entering her junior year at the University of Puget Sound as a business major with a minor in politics and government. Claire plays on both the women’s basketball team and the women’s tennis team for the Loggers and was profiled in April during NCAA Division III week on her campus.

WEDNESDAY

Alex (Krizek) Camperi is spending the start of his junior year at St. Mary’s College studying abroad at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia. Alex is studying business with a concentration in entrepreneurship.

Café Santorini’s Rococo Room Old Town Pasadena 7:30pm-10:00pm

Tiffany Arunarsirakul is an ethnic studies major at UC Riverside. Tiffany served as an orientation leader last summer and now volunteers as a peer mentor and works as a service member for the UCR dining team.

5 YEAR REUNION

NOVEMBER 23, 2016

Buy your tickets now at:

www.lancernetwork.com/11reunion

Jered Aragon is a junior at Virginia Tech and has been admitted to the College of Engineering, majoring in materials science and engineering.

2012

2015

ing. He has started work as an electromagnetic compatibility engineer at JPL this fall.

Engagements

Manny Soriano graduated in May from USC with a BS in Electrical Engineer-

David Jackson graduated from Emory University

in May with a BA in Economics.

Amelia Garrison graduated from the University of Vermont with a BA in Art History and a minor in anthropology on May 22, 2016.

Rebecca Fahey graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and is now pursuing a Master of Social Work at the University of Southern California.

2013

Austin Uteda, a communication major at the University of Colorado- Boulder, was a summer intern at the Bravo TV network, working in the on-air promotions department.

He was responsible for scheduling the day’s bugs, adjusting snipes and sending premiere times to the network’s East Coast operations.

Taylor Brennan completed his freshman year of college in Florence, Italy and has returned to life in New York’s Hudson Valley at Marist College.

Lynn Nuccio ’04 and David Buennagel ’04, who were high school sweethearts, got engaged on May 28, 2016. They plan to get married in early 2017.

Mallorie Pinto ’07 got engaged on September 1, 2016 to her boyfriend of five years, Brandon Wong.

Brandon proposed during their trip to Paris in front of the Eiffel Tower. The couple is living and working in San Diego and are eager to start planning their wedding.

Michael Alexander ’10 and Erin Lopez-Valdez ’11 got engaged in San Francisco in April and are planning to marry in Saratoga, California in August 2017. Michael works for a technical hardware sales company called iSquared in the Silicon Valley and Erin started working as a registered nurse at Kaiser Permanente in May.

Births & Adoptions

Ainsley Arnold, on May 28, 2015. Rowan joins her 2 1/2 year old brother Asher. Kim and her family reside in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Yvonna (Rowinski) Press ’98 and her husband Michael are happy to announce a girly little addition to a male dominated household.

Kamila Zosia Press was born on June 29, 2016, weighing 10lbs., 8oz. and 22.25in. long. Her brothers Hank (4) and Al (2) are watching over her, while simultaneously smothering her with kisses. She will be one tough gal and they couldn’t be happier.

Alejandra Arbelaez ’99 welcomed a son on August 7, 2016. Iker Alejandro was born weighing 6lbs. and was 20in. long. While Alejandra resides in Australia she came back to California to have her son.

Lynn (Wheeler) Hoffer ’00 and her husband Jason welcomed their son Miles William Hoffer on February 23, 2016. Big sister Madison is just as in love and is happy to lend a helping hand as often as possible.

Everyone is happy and healthy and looking forward to catching up on some much needed sleep in the near future.

Katie Johnston ’01 and her husband Alan Ford welcomed their son, Benjamin Allan Ford, on December 12, 2015 at 3:27pm. He weighed 8lbs., 5.7oz. and was 22in. long. Katie and her family recently moved to Washington, DC after living in Japan for the past three years.

Adam Inman ’03 and his wife Sheena are proud to announce the birth of their son, Colin Lawrence, who was born at Huntington Memorial Hospital at 8:05am on February 6, 2016.

Colin weighed in at 10lbs., 7oz. and was 23.5in. long. Adam and Sheena have been married for three years and reside in San Gabriel. Adam is currently a producer at Fox Sports 1. Both parents are enjoying the precious new addition to their family.

Brandon Birr ’03 and his wife Zulie are happy to announce the birth of their son, Sebastián Gallo Birr, who was born on May 25, 2016 weighing 6lbs., 6oz.

Coreena Salazar ’09 welcomed her daughter, Sirena Nicole, on June 17, 2016 at 6:31pm weighing 6lbs., 4oz.

Kimberly (Rodriguez) Arnold ’97 and her husband Robert welcomed their baby girl, Rowan SPRING/SUMMER 2016

43

THE LAST WORD

Bishop, David G. O’Connell with Confirmed students.

Bishop Celebrates Founder’s Day

By Patrick Bonacci, AFSC, Vice President for Mission

I

n conjunction with the celebration of our founder, St. John Baptist de La Salle, all Lasallian schools celebrate mass on Founder’s Day.This year on April 29, we also celebrated the many La Salle students who received the Sacrament of Confirmation during this school year. According to Catholic Doctrine, Confirmation, together with Baptism and Eucharist, form the Sacraments of Initiation that are all intimately connected. In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized person is “sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit” and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ. Our recently confirmed students all made a personal choice to continue their Catholic faith journey; we thank them for making that informed decision.

The celebrant for our Founder’s Day Mass was Auxiliary Bishop, Most Reverend David G. O’Connell. We were honored to have Bishop O’Connell visit our campus for the first time since he was installed as the Auxiliary Bishop for the San Gabriel Pastoral Region. The Bishop was a huge hit with the students and we certainly will invite him back to La Salle as often as his schedule allows. We also thank La Salle graduates: Msgr. Timothy Nichols ‘65, Fr. John Keese

’66 and Fr. William Nicholas ’88 for returning to their alma mater to concelebrate the Founder’s Day Mass with Bishop O’Connell. Deacon Steve Marsh P’12,’15 also assisted with the liturgy.

From left, Deacon Steve Marsh P’12,’15, Fr. William Nicholas ’88, Bishop, David G. O’Connell,.Msgr. Timothy Nichols ‘65, Fr. John Keese ’66.

LA SALLE STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION DURING THE PAST SCHOOL YEAR. Reilly Milton – St. Rita Alex Nino - Assumption BVM Seihera Asao – St. Luke Lance Alviso – St. Christopher Eric Rico – SS. Felicitas and Perpetua Johnathan Martinez – St. Philip Ziraili Martinez – Holy Family, Glendale Ashley Conlon - St. Rita Ashley Mayo - St. Rita Sarah Day - St. Luke Savannah Nelson – Holy Angels Arianne Miller – St. Therese Michael Piesik - Assumption BVM Nicholas Sweetland Assumption BVM

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Michelle Nguyen - Holy Angels Sierra Black - Transfiguration Brian Boull›t - SS. Felicitas and Perpetua Riley Sansone - Holy Angels Juan Daniel Valdez – St. Bernard Mark Camarena - St. Bernard Nickolas Morales - St. Philip Makenna Maucher – St. Rita Tamia Cephus – St. Rita Claire Ganguin - St. Philip Gabriela Rico – Holy Family, Glendale Mary Costa - St. Philip Hannah Alviso – St. Christopher Hallie Milton – St. Rita Abby McKiernan - St. Rita

Natalie Mirasol - Holy Angels Ethan Lee – St. Rita Cristina De La Cruz – St. Thomas Aquinas Bryan Dionisio - Assumption BVM Jordan Labbe - Assumption BVM Victor Scalzo – St. Rita Raphael Navarro - St. Philip Mia Stone - St. Philip Annika Bohanec -SS. Felicitas and Perpetua Julia Angeli Macabuhay – St. Dominic Nicholas Zuniga - St. Rita Natalie Gohrick – St. Rita Dylan Mazaros – St. Rita Katherine Sabido - Holy Angels

Mary Harmon – St. Rita Maria Velosa - Assumption BVM Cameryn Brown – St. Rita Benjamin Aralar - Assumption BVM Daniel Costello - SS. Felicitas and Perpetua Samantha Nieto - SS. Felicitas and Perpetua Isabella Marez - St. Philip William Dalgarn - St. Philip Eric Zimmerman – St. Rita Taylor Beddawi – Holy Angels Giovanna Martinez - Holy Angels Michelle Broussard - Holy Family, Glendale Savannah Nelson – Holy Angels

1962

2016

Our thanks to, from left, Elizabeth Ayala ’17, Noelle Shimazu ’18, Angelo LeRoi ’17 and Carlos Rico ’17 and to my producer, Teresa Elmslie-Britt ’03, for helping us begin our 60th Anniversary celebrations. The Editor.

CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF LASALLIAN EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

La Salle High School

3880 East Sierra Madre Boulevard Pasadena, CA 91107-1996 www.lasallehs.org Address Service Requested

FAVORITE CATHOLIC SCHOOL FAVORITE COED HIGH SCHOOL

Transforming Lives Since 1680

8th Annual Alumni Adopt-A-Family Wrapping Party & Photos with Santa Saturday, December 3 10am-12pm Linda M. Grinstead Theatre PHOTOS WITH SANTA CLAUS ARE ONLY $5.00 AND ARE PRINTED ONSITE. y a photo ria (Romero) Bitonti ’97 enjo Susan Ehring ’97 and Ma dren chil two s with Santa with Maria’

Proceeds benefit the Alumni Adopt-A-Family fundraising drive to purchase Christmas Gifts for foster children and needy families in the community.

A great way to kick off the holiday season!

For more information visit www.lancernetwork.com/Wrap2016