Alumni Spotlight

Legacy Family an Active Example of Viatorian Tradition

In recent years, Saint Viator High School has come to be known as an institution where faith, tradition, and innovation meet. While some may see it as a marketing phrase, there are plenty of examples in which the sentiment is clearly brought to life. As more and more families with alumni across multiple generations fill our community, the tent poles of faith, tradition, and innovation can be seen across the kitchen table as well as throughout the halls of Saint Viator.

Current faculty and students hear about the tradition of Saint Viator. Members of the Trapani family of Arlington Heights helped build it. Dan ’71 and wife Beth Sommers ’77 were students during the formative years of the schools, and each relied on older siblings Greg ’69 and Linda ’67 to help guide them through these new schools. But their commitment to Catholic education didn’t begin in school, it began at home where both sets of parents played a role in strengthening local parishes and leading the drive to build Catholic high schools in the suburbs.

Both Dan and Beth’s parents already knew the value of Catholic education having been educated in either a Catholic grade school or high school in the Chicago area. As young couples, and throughout the years, they volunteered countless hours to the formation of the St. Raymond’s parish and school in Mt. Prospect. Bill Sommers, a graduate of St. George High School, had a strong bond with his classmates which added to his interest creating a similar type of secondary Catholic education for his daughters. Bill helped with the original steering committee to plan for Sacred Heart of Mary spending many hours with Mother Loyola and Sister Columba, Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, on the logistics for their first Catholic high school in the Midwest.

During those initial years, students didn’t really know they were laying the groundwork for traditions that would live on decades later. “We were so young we didn’t really know what was going on,” said Dan about what those early classes were building. “We just knew we were different.” Dan notes that in those years, the seniors took care of the school. They each took on a little brother in the freshmen class who they looked out for and taught them the ropes of high school. “There was no bullying of the younger kids. It was not acceptable.”

Dan and Beth speak reverently about the impact the Saint Viator and Sacred Heart faculty had on their lives, something that took on even more meaning when they saw that impact repeated decades later with their children Sarah (Sullivan) ’08 and Nic ’10. The level of personal commitment by faculty members is what many consider to be the strongest component of the tradition of Saint Viator.

During Dan’s sophomore year, he contracted mono and was out of school for weeks. “Br. Larry Lentz made sure I got my lessons and did not let me fall behind,” Dan said. “Fr. Pat Render told my dad I could do anything I want the day I decide I want to do it. As you age, you come to really value what they did, along with awesome educators like Fr. Arnold Perham and Fr. Pat Cahill.”

From left: Sarah Trapani Sullivan ’08 with her husband Beau and children, Beth Sommers Trapani ’77, Dan Trapani ’71, Nic Trapani ’10, and his wife Christiana. Beth recalls how teachers fostered her interest in learning, especially across multiple disciplines. “My biggest driver for getting into nursing had to do with the science teachers at Sacred Heart, the way they engaged me and excited me about the field.” But Beth’s experience with her English teachers and their guidance on how to do research also had an impact—allowing her, years later, to combine the skillsets in her role as Senior Manager, Medical Affairs, Medical Information at Baxter International Inc.

Disparate career paths but caring guidance from faculty and counselors led both to Marquette University, continuing the pursuit of Catholic education. For Dan, it was a last-minute recommendation from Fr. Fraser, C.S.V. to Dan’s dad to visit Marquette that had him enrolled and on-campus four days later. Interestingly, a few years later, Br. Lentz intervened with another student by encouraging him to pursue his interest in journalism by interning his senior year – with Dan Trapani. When that student, this author, was lost in choosing a college, it was Dan who drove him to Marquette, introduced him to the faculty and had him enrolled and in class shortly thereafter. Alumni looking out for the next group — it’s how things are done.

Both credit their high school education for giving them the ability to thrive at Marquette. Each then went on to innovative careers. Dan began working in radio, doing everything that came his way but quickly found his calling in ad sales. In the years that followed, he found himself at the forefront of innovative new markets, blazing a trail for those who would follow, including his daughter Sarah.

Flash forward to the 2000’s. Sacred Heart has closed and merged with Saint Viator, and Dan and Beth now have two children enrolled at St. James and are considering high schools. They looked at the outstanding public school in their area, but felt drawn to the combination of academics and faith formation that Saint Viator still offered. “For me, I didn’t have the hallway experiences to go back to,” Beth said. “Sacred Heart was gone but I felt that same strong commitment on behalf of the faculty to educate and impart religious aspects and values and create that same culture I had experienced.”

To hear Sarah’s story is to hear an echo of her parents’ experiences. “I was able to experience a holistic environment,” she said. “I did cheerleading, tried soccer, was on student council, and served as a LINK Leader. I took AP classes and fine arts classes and picked up skills that are transferable to my career.” Like many Saint Viator students over the years, she quickly mentions Br. Bob Ruhl, C.S.V. as an influence. “It wasn’t just what he was teaching regarding literature,” she said. “I was more interested in his life lessons.”

Nic speaks freely about people like Kate Schafer Costello ’70 and Nancy Rosean having a major impact on his experience. He played on the golf team and was deeply involved in theater tech all while thriving in the classroom with support from staff in the Scanlan Center. “Nancy Rosean took care of implementing the Viator mission. She provided individual attention to give me and others the education we deserved, and never let me fall behind,” Nic said sharing his story without any prompting of his father’s similar experience with Br. Lentz. That theme is doubled as Sarah recalls struggling in Chemistry until Fr. John Van Wiel, C.S.V. stepped in to make sure she succeeded.

For Sarah and Nic, the transition to leading universities was seamless. Sarah attended the University of Illinois. “Academically, I was overprepared. U of I was easier than Saint Viator.” Nic took quickly to Marquette’s theater department with Dan noting, “Without Saint Viator, Nic doesn’t go to Marquette. People look at the cost of tuition but it’s a part of what you sign up for. It pays for itself.”

Both took their Viator experiences with them as they carved out innovative career paths. Currently Vice President, Director, Solutions Architect at Starcom, Sarah was inspired by not only her dad, but his classmates and colleagues in the advertising industry. “I had access to a big network, but I also rely on what I learned as a LINK Leader about respecting peoples’ time and being a leader. I still draw from that a lot.”

Nic quickly rose through the ranks at Mainstage Theatrical Supply, drawing on the construction knowledge he gleaned from his uncle and grandfather as he works on lighting systems for some of the biggest, most innovative venues in the county. “I feel prepared to navigate challenging people and situations. I lean back on the foundational pieces of accountability and ethics that I learned at Saint Viator.”

Beyond the influence of their family members, each of the four relies on their Saint Viator and Sacred Heart families. Dan counts a number of Saint Viator grads from multiple classes among his closest friends today, while Beth sees former classmates in her neighborhood and at work. Sarah is in daily contact with as many as nine of her classmates. In addition to friends, Nic also points to other Viator connections. Along with his dad and Sarah, he counts Saint Viator past-parent Jack Klues as a mentor and friend, noting that Viator grads of all generations are always available to assist other alumni. Even faculty like Fr. Charles Bolser, C.S.V. provide multi-generational connection as he recruited Dan for the feeder program, later baptized both Sarah and Nic, and eventually officiated at each of their weddings. It’s no surprise then that the other key pillar of the Saint Viator tradition, service, is a final central theme among them all. Once again citing his parents and siblings, Dan says, “We didn’t know any other way.” He spent years launching and building the Saint Viator feeder basketball Clockwise: Dan Trapani ’71, Beth Sommers program and was Trapani ’77, Nic Trapani ’10, and Sarah Trapani involved in the Sullivan ’08. early version of the Alumni Association. “The expectation is that you will influence the world in a good way.” In recent months, Sarah, Beth, Dan, Dan’s siblings Jan ’74, and Joan ’74 and many others have jumped in to assist Nic and his wife Christiana in their effort to assist the people of Ukraine. Christiana, who is of Ukrainian descent, explored her entrepreneurial side by launching a start-up Door County Delivered and flourishing during the pandemic, then taking on another small company Door County Candle. Nic makes time to assist her with operations, back-end software, and ordering raw materials. But when she launched a special candle to raise money for the people of Ukraine after the Russian invasion, things took off to another level.

“She hoped to raise five to ten thousand dollars,” Nic said. “After some publicity, we have donated five hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars to date with more to come. When there is a national story about the effort, we can get a thousand to fifteen hundred calls. Dad and my aunts have tried to return every call.”

Conducting this interview while walking her young son home from pre-school Sarah is asked if there will be another generation of her family at Saint Viator. “That is the plan,” she replies.

But before that time arrives, both she and Nic offer advice to current students. “Experience everything now,” advises Sarah. “Saint Viator provides a well-balanced education. I feel like a well-balanced person in all that I do because of it.”

For his part, Nic draws from the structure of family and friends he built growing up. “Identify people who will mentor you and take them up on it. Listening is one of the most important things you can do.”

For the Trapani family, the tradition of Saint Viator and Sacred Heart of Mary is seen every day whether it is in innovative careers or in giving back to those around them. It is clearly much more than a marketing phrase to them. n