MARIAN A N EWSLETTER
FOR
Matters
M ARIAN C ATHOLIC A LUMNI , PARENTS AND F RIENDS . . . B ECAUSE M ARIAN C ATHOLIC R EALLY D OES M ATTER SPRING 2009
SPARTAN ATHLETES HONORED
Mike Prior ’81 with parents Don and Mary Prior at the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame ceremony.
Terence Marable ’94 at the East Suburban Catholic Conference Hall of Fame ceremony.
A couple of the finest athletes to wear a Spartan uniform have gained recognition for their talents at Marian and beyond. Mike Prior ’81 was recently inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame and Terence Marable ’94 became Marian's fourth inductee into the East Suburban Catholic Conference Hall of Fame on March 12. A standout in football, baseball, and track at Marian Catholic, Prior played in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts, and Green Bay Packers, where he was a Super Bowl Champion. Prior now lives in Indianapolis, works with the Colts, and is an assistant football coach at Indianapolis Cathedral High School. In his college days at Illinois State University, Prior played both football and baseball, also getting drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers. As a Redbird, Prior set and still owns football records for interceptions (24) and career punt return yards (906). He still owns ISU baseball records for career batting average (.388) and career slugging percentage (.715). “Michael Prior is the greatest all-around athlete to have attended Marian Catholic,” according to Athletic Director and football coach Dave Mattio ’66. “His high school, collegiate, and professional careers were highlighted by successes that are unparalleled. “Prior was a ‘silent’ leader at Marian Catholic and his efforts were an inspiration not only to his peers, but also to the student body, and to his fans. He was an inspiration to the great semi-final team of 1980 and they to him.” Mike Prior was inducted into the Marian Catholic Hall of Fame in 1995 as Athlete of the Year. Mike, his wife Diane (Brown) ’81, and the couple’s three daughters, Nikki, Briana and Paige, live in Carmel, Indiana. Terence Marable, a 1994 graduate and standout on MCHS’s 1993 Class 4A state championship football team, joins Athletic Director Dave Mattio ’66, state champion wrestler Mickey Griffin ’93, and basketball/softball standout Kathryn Gleason ’92 in the ESCC Hall of Fame. “While Terence Marable was able to establish some noteworthy individual honors, it was his ability to recognize the efforts of his squad members that was a most integral part of that Continued on page 3
50TH ANNIVERSARY SPRINGFIELD HERITAGE TRIP Alumni & Friends Travel to Springfield, Visit Dominican Motherhouse as the 50th Anniversary Year Draws to a Close
Joining the Lincolns are front row l-r: Mary Emig, Geneieve Kaszuba, Michelle (Feldner) Lancaster ’77, Christine Wasik, Sister Judine. Standing l-r: Cindy Dupczak, Karen Marvinac, Mary Jo Kelly, Emmet Cassidy, Elaine Cassidy, Loretta Katauskas, Cathie Zerante, Marge Berger, Vince Zerante ’70, Mary Cassidy ’86, Sharon Kiehl, Bill Kiehl, Ellen Longawa, Mary Margaret Flanagan, Holly Griffin, Sharon Stillman, Nancy Rita Kaz. (Abraham Lincoln and his family are scattered in amongst the crowd)
Despite our intrepid travelers having to endure all four Illinois weather seasons during their weekend trip to Springfield, everyone came back enlightened and enriched with the Dominican Spirit as the Sisters welcomed them to the Springfield Motherhouse. “It was as if we were one, big happy family on vacation,” remarked Mary Margaret Flanagan, who has served the Marian community for forty-one years. “Perhaps the biggest highlight was the Mass and reception with the Sisters, but the tour of the Old State Capital and visiting the Lincoln Museum was very interesting, too.” Marian alumni, parents and faculty toured Springfield through wind, rain, sleet and snow and somehow still managed to have a wonderful time. Where and when will the next Alumni & Friends trip be? Suggestions welcome. Long weekend in Las Vegas is an idea floating around; where would you like to go next? Watch future issues of Marian Matters or the Marian website for details.