SAINT VINCENT M A G A Z I N E
FALL 2016
1929 — 2016
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Upcoming
Events
Tomer Gewirtzman, piano Saint Vincent College Concert Series 7 p.m. Saturday, October 22
Robert S. Carey Student Center Performing Arts Center. Presentation of Father Joseph Bronder Prize for 2016. For tickets: www.stvincentstore. com.
Sixth Nationwide Juried Catholic Arts Exhibition, November 3-December 2
Saint Vincent Gallery during regular gallery hours. Juror, Dr. Denis R. McNamara. http://gallery.stvincent.edu.
Threshold: Catholic-Jewish Dialogue: 7 p.m., Thursday, November 3
‘Pope Francis’ Rabbi,’ Abraham Skorka and Cardinal Donald Wuerl will lead a group of Jewish and Catholic theologians in a Catholic-Jewish Dialogue in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Vatican II document Nostra Aetate.
Stephen Buzard, organ Saint Vincent College Concert Series, 7 p.m. Saturday, November 19 Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica. For tickets: www. stvincentstore.com.
Xavier Foley, double bass Saint Vincent College Concert Series, 7 p.m. Saturday, January 21
Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica. For tickets: www. stvincentstore.com.
Petar and Daniel Guitar Duo Saint Vincent College Concert Series 7 p.m. Saturday February 11
Robert S. Carey Student Center Performing Arts Center. For tickets: www. stvincentstore.com.
JASON SEIDLING, C’07
DAVE GEIER, C’12
Saint Vincent Graduates Hoist Stanley Cup
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s the Pittsburgh Penguins earned the title of World Champions through their 2016 Stanley Cup victory, two communication graduates of Saint Vincent College were lucky enough to be in the midst of the excitement. All who had the chance to see and hold the Cup use the same words: “A dream come true.” Jason Seidling, C’07, is the manager of communication for the Penguins, where he has been working for seven years. As the team kept advancing through the playoff rounds, the communication department had to handle more and more media requests. “Our number one priority is making sure the players, coaches and management are not overwhelmed so that they can concentrate on the biggest priority, winning games, and eventually, the Cup.” All of the work surrounding the run was made worth it when Seidling had the chance to hold the Stanley Cup. “Lifting the Stanley Cup was literally a dream come true. Spending a summer around such an amazing trophy has been like living the ultimate fantasy. It really pumps you up to do it again in the future.” Dave Geier, C’12, works as the new media design coordinator, where he is a team photographer, a graphic designer for social and web content, and posts to the Penguins’ various social media accounts. His responsibilities varied throughout the playoffs, but as creator of graphics on scores, game day, the different teams and the playoff brackets, his duties grew along with the importance of the games. For the final Stanley Cup game in San Jose, Geier covered the game in person as a photographer and was on the ice to take pictures right after the win. As for hoisting the cup, “you can’t describe it other than surreal. I grew up playing hockey on Saint Vincent lake and always had a passion for the game. I never thought I would work for the Penguins, let alone have a chance to raise the cup. It was a dream come true.” Along with Seidling and Geier, Erika Hudock, C17, was an intern for the Penguins Foundation, which is dedicated to promoting physical wellbeing, encouraging teamwork, stressing the value of education and providing essential life skills to young people in the community through various projects. Hudock works as a community relations intern, where she assists in the coordination of community events. She says seeing the Stanley Cup is something she will never forget.
—Kathryn Klawinski
HELP STUDENTS LIKE ERIKA HUDOCK BY CONTRIBUTING TO THE STUDENTS FIRST SCHOLARSHIP FUND. SEND GIFTS TO INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT, SAINT VINCENT COLLEGE, 300 FRASER PURCHASE ROAD, LATROBE, PA 15650 OR CALL (724) 805-2949.
Departments
President’s 4 Message More Features 5
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Saint Teresa of Calcutta canonization has Saint Vincent, local ties; new look for stvincent.edu.
Saint Vincent Partners With CRS
Faculty 12 Father Justin Nolan retires.
News Briefs
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Sports
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New fire truck; concert series marks 45 years; class of 2015 reports successes.
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Kevin Wanichko returns as cross country coach.
SUE HOZAK: 600 WINS
Alumni
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Alumnus/Alumnae Achievement Awardees, Athletic Hall of Fame honorees; Sorek family gift and Class News.
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Manoli, Canterna Remembered
S a in t V inc e n t M a g a z ine ARCHABBOT AND CHANCELLOR Rt. Rev. Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B. PRESIDENT Br. Norman W. Hipps, O.S.B. EDITOR Kim Metzgar svmagazine@stvincent.edu DESIGN Kim Metzgar & Jordan Hainsey PRINTING Laurel Valley Graphics ALUMNI NEWS COORDINATOR Mary Ann Dunlap PROOFREADER Carol Riddle
Fall 2016 Volume 14, Issue 1
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jude Dippold John M. Elliott, Esq. Suzanne Wilcox English Kathryn Klawinski Kim Metzgar Don Orlando Regis Simasek Sports Information Office Jim Wirth EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Ellen DeSimone PHOTOGRAPHY Archabbey Archives Alumni Relations Office Jared Bundy Alexander Byers Seth Harbaugh Kim Metzgar L’Osservatore Romano Sports Information Office
Saint Vincent Magazine (United States Postal Service Publication Number USPS 5144-8000) is published by Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, for alumni, parents and friends. Third class postage paid at Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Alumni Office, Saint Vincent College, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650-2690. Saint Vincent College reserves the right to accept or decline submissions of both information and photos for use in the Saint Vincent Magazine, based on content, quality, timeliness and suitability, at the discretion of the editor. Saint Vincent College subscribes to a policy of equal opportunity in the classroom, workplace and programs, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, veteran status, national origin, marital status, genetic history or disability. To learn more, visit: http://www.stvincent.edu/ Legal-Information/.
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Cover: Golfing legend Arnold Palmer, a native of Latrobe and friend of Saint Vincent, died September 26, 2016 in Pittsburgh. His public memorial service was held at Saint Vincent on October 4. See pages 22-25 for more on his friendship with Saint Vincent. Photo courtesy of Arnold Palmer Enterprises.
Building Global Perspectives
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A Message From The President
Dear Alumni and Friends,
ummer 2016 was an exciting time and that excitement has carried over into fall. As they have for more than 50 years, the Pittsburgh Steelers made our campus their home for their annual training camp. Following the close of camp, our chancellor, Archabbot Douglas Nowicki, O.S.B., traveled to Europe for the international Congress of Abbots and during a papal audience, had the opportunity to present Pope Francis with a football autographed by the Steelers, as you will see inside. My predecessor as president, H. James Towey, took part in the canonization of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, around whose work a special conference was held here at Saint Vincent in 2007. As we were preparing this issue, we learned of the death of our longtime neighbor and friend, Arnold Palmer, and were honored with the opportunity to host a memorial service for him in the Basilica. Our lives were also touched with sadness through the deaths of two longtime members of the Saint Vincent community, retired coach and athletic director Dodo Canterna and Chuck Manoli, professor emeritus of history. Dodo is remembered by three 1963 alumni, John Elliott, Jim Wirth and Regis Simasek, while alumnus Jude Dippold, C’68, recalled Chuck and his wife, Anita, both for Chuck’s insightful classes and for welcoming him and others into their home. During our Athletic Hall of Fame induction, Dodo was remembered with a moment of silence; he will remain in our hearts. In October, the Charles G. Manoli Tribute Lecture will feature Donald J. Mullineaux, Ph.D., ’67, speaking on “Looking at 19th-Century Banking through a Manoli-Inspired Lens,” and the Chuck and Anita Manoli Scholarship, which has received a touching and impressive flow of gifts, will continue to keep Chuck’s memory alive for decades to come. As did the Archabbot, I also enjoyed a special trip during the summer, making a “Journey of Hope” with others from Catholic Relief Services that allowed me to learn about and be inspired by the personal, collaborative and strategic work of this agency, sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. We are proud to be a CRS Global Campus, dedicating the time and energy of our students and faculty to learn more about and share At the Catholic Relief Services training site. in this work. To see how Catholic Relief Services touches the lives of people in personal and meaningful ways, while collaborating with other agencies to tackle problems too large for a single organization to address, was deeply impactful for me. I am working to support the integration of this expanded worldview into our curriculum so that all of our students have the opportunity to grow both intellectually and in their faith through this important connection. Our students returned for the fall semester in late August, and our relationship with CRS has helped to spark new experiences for our freshman students. Our faculty have selected the Pope’s encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’, as the shared reading for our first-year seminar. In addition, Dr. Kim Lamberty, CRS director of university and mission engagement, spoke to the freshmen about “Peacebuilding through Integrated Human Development.” We hope these important messages will help our students to develop a global perspective as they continue their academic journeys. It was wonderful to see so many return for Homecoming. Please know that you are welcome to come back and visit us at any time, and I invite you to follow news of Saint Vincent in the media, online and through our social media, keeping close to your alma mater. God bless, Brother Norman W. Hipps, O.S.B., President
NEW COLLEGE WEBSITE OFFERS UPDATED LOOK, EASE IN EDITING, FUNCTIONALITY Development of the new Saint Vincent College website was a labor of love—but one heavily driven by standards and statistics. The website project was driven by the fact that the site launched in December 2010 was constructed by an external contractor, who built it in such a way that substantial changes, particularly with the all-important front page, had to be made with assistance from the contractor, an expensive and oftentimes lengthy proposition. In addition, the back-end of the site, or its content management system (CMS), was not intuitive, which made updates by those who did not use the system regularly cumbersome and difficult. “While we were able to make the site do what we most needed it to do—facilitate information searches, visits and applications by prospective students—it was often challenging, and by late 2014, we knew we needed either a substantial upgrade or a new website,” said Suzanne Wilcox English, vice president of Admission, Marketing and Communications. A partnership between Marketing and Communications and Information Technology, the search for a new system began Saint Vincent Magazine
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navigation, dynamic header images, use of rankings, statistics and reviews, and more images of student life on campus, were all incorporated into the designs. Reviewed by Cabinet, the deans of the four schools and selected Benedictines and faculty members, the site map and wireframes of the page designs generated a lot of interest and comment. “We were very pleased with KDG’s responsiveness to our requests for changes and for new functionality. This allowed us to work with them on an Amazonstyle page called ‘Explore Your Interests,’ proposed by Marketing and developed in collaboration with our academic deans. It offers prospective students the opportunity to select their area or areas of interest, and be presented with a clickable matrix of all of the undergraduate majors, minors, cooperative programs or graduate programs that fit their interests,” English said. The transition process was led by Cindy Hoffman, who served as liaison to KDG and coordinated meetings of the primary team, which included CIO Peter Mahoney, Roberto Wisnesck and Doug Carns of Information Technology along with English, digital marketing specialist Jared Bundy and digital media specialist Alex Byers of Marketing and Communications. “Cindy Hoffman, who has a specialization in project management, has worked tirelessly throughout this process. Whenever a change was proposed, she immediately understood its impact throughout the website and alerted us to any concerns. She also served as coordinator of feedback from the Cabinet and deans,” English said. “Her work has been invaluable and essential to the success of the project.” To reduce costs, all content transfer was performed by Marketing and Communications, again coordinated by Hoffman. The new website launched October 6, with training for other departments to be offered through the fall and spring semesters. Along with previously mentioned features, it offers improved opportunity for tracking various advertising and marketing campaigns.
in fall 2014, and by October 2015, the Sitefinity system had been chosen. A search then began for a partner to assist in reviewing the current site, developing a better site map and implementing the new system. After evaluation of several possibilities, extensive vetting of recommendations and a campus visit, Kyle David Group (KDG) was selected in spring 2016. “One of the most attractive features of KDG was the firm’s emphasis on incorporating best practices in all aspects of the process,” English explained. Because a primary target audience for the website is prospective students ages 1618, the company interviewed current students on campus on their use of the site and performed research using subjects in that range as it considered revisions for the site map, ensuring that the subjects could locate and perform the most important functions, or “red routes,” prior to making recommendations for change. All design and functionality is based on Google design standards, and requests for changes or preferences among different designs were evaluated through user testing. For instance, with the current website, click tests were performed to ensure viewers could find the request to take a tour of campus, a specific major, the academic calendar, information about alumni or how to make a gift, while five-second retention tests determined if the most important information on a page was making an impression. In addition, users were shown a page and asked, without time constraints, to answer questions about the information it contains, to ensure that information is easily found and understood. Prior to the design phase, best-practice pages were identified among a wide-ranging set of institutions nationwide, with new functionality requested for evaluation. Competitive analysis tests were performed, again using the target age group, with the Web pages of competitors. Each was evaluated for message focus, consistency, uniqueness, usability and opportunities for improvement. That information was then considered and most-desired practices including clean design, user-friendly Saint Vincent Magazine
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Partnership with Catholic Relief Services Broadens SVC’s Window on the World
Members of the CRS/Saint Vincent group working with Missionaries of Charity (Saint Teresa’s community) at an orphanage.
By Suzanne English
Brother Norman invited Dr. Woo to speak at May Commencement 2015. As they grew to know each other better, Brother Norman learned about a newly developing opportunity for colleges and universities to partner with CRS as a Global Campus. Campus minister Father Killian Loch, O.S.B., was named to head SVC’s CRS task force, and Saint Vincent became one of the first CRS Global Campuses in spring 2016 and is one of 23 colleges and universities to hold that designation. CRS asks for a three-pronged commitment: student involvement, faculty engagement and institutional commitment. One aspect of Saint Vincent’s institutional commitment was Brother Norman’s taking part in a CRS “Journey of Hope” to Vietnam and Cambodia this summer, which broadened his understanding of CRS’ work. Two situations touched him especially deeply, one in Vietnam. “Forty years after the end of the Vietnam War, there is still a problem of live land mines,” he said, adding that one man lost much of his arm when he encountered a mine while working in a rice paddy. While the government has agreed to make the man’s home accessible, CRS was able to provide him with a cow, enabling
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s so often happens, Saint Vincent College’s becoming a Catholic Relief Services Global Campus was the result of a personal encounter that helped to develop a relationship between the two organizations. In this case, College president Brother Norman Hipps, O.S.B., heard Dr. Carolyn Woo, the president and chief executive officer of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), speak at a meeting of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities. “I found her talk to be particularly moving, specifically when she spoke about her experience as dean of the business school at Notre Dame. Her concern was that the students graduated both prepared for the business world, and secure in their faith—to live life both competently and meaningfully.” With the help of SVC Board of Directors member Jeri Eckhart Queenan, who is also a CRS board member, Saint Vincent Magazine
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him to feed himself. In addition, an education program for children in grades 1-5, teaching them to be aware of and avoid mines, has resulted in zero accidents in three years in the area where the training was provided. Many times, CRS provides a connection or coordination that improves a situation. In Cambodia, CRS offered training to help children with disabilities to be identified and integrated into the educational system, as undiagnosed sight or hearing disabilities that could be corrected or treated often impair learning. Having begun the program in Vietnam years earlier, CRS brought Cambodian teachers to Vietnam, where Vietnamese teachers trained them to recognize disabilities in their students, work with their families and assist them in being successful. In another instance, with the Red Cross in the lead, it partnered along with several other agencies on training of volunteers, teaching them how to provide flood rescue and relief, or how to rescue Group photo of the people from participants in the Journey of fallen buildings. Hope. Brother Norman Hipps, The training O.S.B., Saint Vincent College does not make president, is at right. Inset the volunteers photo, local residents training professionals; for disasters. it helps them to reduce the risk and impact of natural disasters prior to the arrival of professional assistance. “It reminded me of training programs that Brother Pat Lacey conducted for volunteer fire departments in western Pennsylvania,” the president said. Father Killian, in his role as task force chair, coordinates efforts in each of the three areas. Some initiatives are new, while others build on enterprises already begun on campus. For example, the task force asked Parkhurst Dining Services to examine changing from Styrofoam containers to reusable plastic, which it did. The task force also supports recycling efforts begun years earlier. “A lot of it is education—what is available already? What more can we do? One of the challenges we have is to bring all the efforts together and develop a unified vision throughout campus,” Father Killian said. In addition to taking advantage of training opportunities, such as a workshop at Catholic University of America in mid-September, student-led efforts have included a collecSaint Vincent Magazine
tion drive throughout the residence halls for the Rice Bowl giving program during Lent, and further development of an educational campaign against human trafficking, which led to Father Killian and a pair of students speaking at events including a Respect Life Breakfast along with an FBI agent. The faculty incorporated Laudato Si’ into the curriculum, choosing it as shared reading for all freshman seminar students, and CRS staff members have spoken at the College, including an address to all first-year students at the start of classes. Dr. Elaine Bennett, associate professor of anthropology, who studies children’s nutrition in Guatemala, has incorporated several CRS resources into her classes, and now serves on a committee for CRS, which sent staff members to meet with her and her students while engaged in research there. Other administrators and faculty members including Dr. John Smetanka, vice president for academic affairs, and Dr. Tim Kelly, professor and chair of history, are also involved in the effort. Father Killian sees the partnership with CRS as supporting Saint Vincent’s efforts to incorporate Catholic, Benedictine values throughout life on campus. “It’s not only doing projects; it’s doing things and living life in a way that reflects Catholic values.” Brother Norman hopes that working in collaboration with Catholic Relief Services will help students to reflect on how to build a more harmonious world. “To the extent that our engagement with CRS creates learning opportunities for our students, expanding their knowledge of the world and of our Church’s involvement, I see that as the most important piece,” he said. But he hopes the partnership’s impact will be broader, helping all community members to discover “how our students and faculty and administrators can work together to create a community which is aware of world problems, but also aware of what we can do to make our community a more authentic Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts school.” 8
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H. James Towey, who served as the 16th president of Saint Vincent College, reads during the Canonization Mass for Saint Teresa of Calcutta celebrated by Pope Francis at the Vatican on September 4, 2016. Photo © L’Osservatore Romano. Used with permission.
SAINT TERESA OF CALCUTTA:
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LOCAL TIES AT CANONIZATION
T has been 19 years since the death of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and on September 4, the day before the anniversary of her death, His Holiness Pope Francis canonized her as Saint Teresa of Calcutta during a Mass at the Vatican in Rome. She was beatified by Saint John Paul II on October 20, 2003.
legal counsel to Mother Teresa from 1985 until her death and traveled with her on numerous occasions. Because of those close ties, Towey was asked to read during the Canonization Mass, as he is pictured doing in the photo above. While at Saint Vincent, Towey led a group of Saint Vincent students to Calcutta to work in her missions, and was instrumental in having Saint Vincent College host a first-ever gathering of her family and close friends to celebrate her life’s work in a three-day conference in conjunction with the tenth anniversary of her death. Held in October of 2007, the three-day conference featured an address by the late Sister M. Nirmala Joshi, M.C., superior general of the Missionaries of Charity and successor to Mother Teresa, who traveled from Calcutta to Saint Vincent. She was accompanied by other members of the religious order Mother Teresa founded in 1950, including Sister Mary Prima Pierick, M.C., who now serves
H. James Towey, who served as the 16th president of Saint Vincent College from 2006 to 2010 participated in the Canonization Mass. Prior to serving at Saint Vincent, he was the director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at the White House in Washington, D.C., and prior to that he served for 12 years as U.S. Saint Vincent Magazine
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Scenes from the Canonization Mass for Saint Teresa of Calcutta celebrated by Pope Francis. At right, portrait painted by Chas Fagan. Canonization photos © L’Osservatore Romano. Used with permission. Portrait photo and photo below of Chas Fagan being interviewed about the portrait (on page 11) courtesy of Chas Fagan, third from left.
as the major superior of the Missionaries of Charity. The order has grown to more than 4,500 members who serve the homeless, unwed mothers, persons suffering from AIDS and others in need in 134 countries. Additionally, a Ligonier native now living in Charlotte, Chas Fagan, son of Charles A. Fagan III, former chairman of the Saint Vincent Seminary Board of Regents, painted the portrait of Saint Teresa of Calcutta used in the canonization. It can be seen as reproduced in the tapestry in the photo on page 9, which was draped from a balcony at The Vatican. He also provided the copy of the portrait on page 11. Fagan had only four months to complete the official portrait, which was initially commissioned by the Knights of Columbus. The Charlotte-based artist’s work was called
Saint Vincent Magazine
“the finest depiction of Mother Teresa I have ever seen,” by Carl Anderson, chief executive officer of the Knights of Columbus. More than one million cards with the image were distributed during the canonization Mass. Anderson, who was honored with an honorary doctorate from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2003, had asked Chas Fagan to do a portrait of Father Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus. After seeing that, as well as a statue of Saint John Paul II the artist made on commission for the organization, out of the blue Anderson asked him to do the Mother Teresa portrait. Fagan said that while his artwork has received acclaim in the past, “this was way beyond that, in a different stratosphere.” He said that even with all of the acclaim from the public audience, “the most important thing in my painting or in my sculpture work is the immediate family. If it makes them happy, I’m pleased.” On the day of the canonization, Pope Francis tweeted the portrait, captioning it “Let us carry Mother Teresa’s smile in 10
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our hearts and give it to those we meet along our journey.” Fagan has painted and sculpted historical figures for renowned venues—including astronaut Neil Armstrong, civil rights activist Rosa Parks, former President Ronald Reagan and former first lady Barbara Bush, among many others. The artist painted the saint smiling, radiating joy and humility, something noted by Pope Francis. “A group of sisters was there for the unveiling,” Fagan said, each taking a prayer card. Archabbot Douglas, who worked with the late Fred Rogers from 1978 to 1984, met Mother Teresa in Pittsburgh during her visit to Saint Paul’s Cathedral. “Fred Rogers had written to Mother Teresa to ask her to be interviewed for his documentary-style series ‘Old Friends...New Friends,’ produced for PBS,” Archabbot Douglas said. “She had agreed to be interviewed, but then had to cancel once she received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.” After she received the Nobel Prize, he said, she received so many requests for interviews that she declined them all in order to continue working with the poor in Calcutta. Fred Rogers and Archabbot Douglas visited her at her convent in the Bronx. They helped to serve lunch to the children and families as well as homeless persons who utilized the services at the center she established there.” One of the Saint Vincent conference panelists, Rev. Robert Conroy, of the Missionaries of Charity Fathers, noted that the event at the time linked symbolically the
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et us carry Mother Teresa’s smile in our hearts and give it to those we meet along our journey.” —Pope Francis
Saint Vincent Magazine
souls of two holy people from different times and places— Mother Teresa and Saint Benedict, founder of the Benedictine Order. He said that Benedict called the monastery his world, while Mother Teresa said the world was her convent. “They are united by their burning love of God and they are like two paintings drawn by God. Seen under the proper light, their lives seem to run together.”
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YEARS OF SERVICE
55
Father Justin Nolan, O.S.B., Retires Kim Metzgar Father Justin Nolan, O.S.B., is a monk who has been By known to virtually every student who has passed through campus since 1960, as philosophy has always been a part of Saint Vincent’s liberal arts curriculum. Over the years he has taught classes such as Introduction to Philosophy, Ethics, Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, Modern Philosophy, the Philosophy of God, the Philosophy of Man, the Philosophy of Nature and History of Philosophy.
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e kept at it for 55 consecutive years before retiring at the end of the spring semester. Father Justin, a native of St. Marys, came to Saint Vincent as a student in the scholasticate, knowing he had a priestly vocation. He stayed to earn a bachelor of arts degree in philosphy from Saint Vincent College in 1952, then went to Italy, where he was ordained a priest in Italy by Bishop Placido Nicolini in 1955. Father Justin completed a licentiate in philosophy in 1957 and a doctorate in philsophy in 1959 from Sant’ Anselmo, the international Benedictine university in Rome. He returned to Latrobe to begin teaching philosphy in 1960. Since he has retired, he said, he has been doing a great deal of reading. The topic? Philosophy, of course. While a long-time favorite has been Saint Thomas Aquinas, on whom he completed his dissertation, he also enjoys reading works of German philospher Fredrich Nietzsche, Frenchman John Paul Sartre, as well as Matthew Fox, an American priest and theologian. Father Justin, who also earned a master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary, has had many other roles at Saint Vincent, including serving as master of ceremonies and guestmaster for the Archabbey, dormitory prefect, director of the College Scholasticate, and even chairman of the Philosophy Department for 15 years. But his longest-serving role has been as a philosophy instructor, serving both the College and the Seminary, moving up in the ranks from instructor (1960-1965), assistant professor (1965-1969), and associate professor (19692015). Although he has missed some classes for priestly duties, such as funerals, he does not recall ever missing a class due to health reasons, something he remains grateful for. Like Pope Francis, he shares a concern for the environment, and hopes future students continue to learn about Ethics, a course that he notes is increasingly important in today’s society. He is concerned about the loss of faith and Christian values. “We have to make good decisions. We have to use our freedoms, hopefully in a good way.The future depends on it.” —Kim Metzgar Father Justin Nolan, O.S.B., has taught Saint Vincent Magazine philosophy at Saint Vincent since 1960.
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MY ROAD TO SAINT VINCENT GANJOFARID ANVARZOD, C’16, was born in 1993 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Growing up in the post-civil war state of his country, he discovered vast realms of new ideas, myths, legends and characters filled with great adventures written in books. Wanting to immerse himself further into the imaginative world, he spent time drawing and creating his own fantasy worlds. Throughout the course of his life, he was presented with the opportunity to live and study in different cultures, such as in Romania and the United States. He chose to become a graphic design major with a double minor in studio arts and photography at Saint Vincent College. He also served as a resident assistant, which gave him the ability to share his life experiences and help guide other students to better themselves. The graphic design program helped Ganj, as he is known, achieve an understanding of the elements and principles of art and give him proper training in drawing, illustrating, web design, video editing, printmaking, and various graphics software applications. During his college years, Ganjofarid executed numerous freelance works, from designing logos for
campus clubs to designing the cover art of a student-run magazine, along with doing special projects for classmates. This summer, an intensive summer job on campus had him designing eight websites for various Archabbey and College apostolates, as well as creating artwork and taking photographs for various publications, including the Basilica painting that accompanies his feature story. In future issues we will continue to profile some of our Saint Vincent Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) alumni as they continue on the road that led them here, and which now leads them into the future, some close by, some far afield, but always, we hope, with an affection for Saint Vincent in their hearts. Ganjofarid hopes that, through his art and through himself, he will be able to build a greater community wherever he goes, based on a deep understanding of each individual, mutual Saint Vincent Magazine 13 for freedom and peace. Fall 2016 respect and an unending quest
A LIFE IN HISTORY:
Charles Manoli Had Lasting Impact On Former Students
It
By Jude Dippold
wasn’t part of his job description. It was his life’s work. For over 60 years, Charles G. Manoli was an integral part of life at both Saint Vincent College and the former Saint Vincent Preparatory School. The record will show that Chuck Manoli, after graduating from both the prep school and the college, taught history at the prep from 1958 through 1962 and at the college from 1962 through 2005.
What the record does not show, however, is that for Chuck Manoli, history was merely a vehicle to some higher purpose each time he entered a classroom. He commanded that space by far more than his vast knowledge of subject. First there was the matter of his physical presence. He was a tall man with the easy grace of a former athlete; and he used that attribute to get his students’ attention, seating himself nonchalantly on his desk more often than using a chair. He had a reason for putting himself front and center in a classroom. He wasn’t there to convey facts so much as to teach his students to think, and the way he did that was to get in the face of everyone’s preconceived ideas on subjects ranging from politics to religion. Any of the components in the broad sweep of history were fair game in achieving that end. Officially, there were textbooks and ancillary readings for most of his classes, just as there was a course deSaint Vincent Magazine
Charles G. Manoli Sr., 1927-2016 scription in the college catalogue; but Chuck Manoli was not about regurgitating books in class that he expected students to read on their own. Instead he regularly engaged his students in a Socratic dialogue on some aspect of the material he expected them to be familiar with from reading assignments made during previous classes. He would ask simple questions, usually ones that required a student to draw a conclusion. Then he would bore in on that student’s answer to force the logic behind the conclusion to the fore, throwing follow-up questions around the class until he was certain that the methodology of history was as well understood as the facts. There really were no wrong answers in his classes, as long as a student could logically support a conclusion; and while he was decidedly liberal in his own political persuasion, he would admit to conservative conclusions if they were logically supported. In fact, he went out of his way to elicit a broad range of historical opinions both from his students and in the texts he selected for study. When it all worked, when he sensed a student or the entire class getting a handle on the logic of history, his eyes would flash with unmistakable delight, and he would increase the relentless pace of his questions until his enthusiasm would become contagious. His success would be evident at the end of class by the number of students who milled around his desk after class was dismissed to continue the discussion. While Chuck Manoli didn’t expect all his students to be equally adept at the thrust and parry of his classes, he did expect all his students to be equally familiar with the 14
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assigned material and attentive to the flow of classroom discussion. If he sensed that either of those prerequisites for his class was not being observed, his eyes would narrow and hone in on the suspected offender. One or two quick questions later, the message would have been clear to the chastened student without a word having been delivered about the actual offense. In the best traditions of the small, Benedictine, liberal arts college at which he taught, Chuck Manoli did not believe that his job as an educator ended at the classroom door. His office was always open between classes, and most often contained an interesting mix of students and professors engaged in spirited discussion. That sort of cross-fertilization was part and parcel of what he believed education should be. Ultimately, it would lead to lifelong friendships with both professors and students in a wide variety of disciplines. And make no mistake, those friendships lasted because Chuck Manoli cared in a manner that went far beyond shared academic interests. He cared deeply about the lives of those he befriended. He tracked far more than his students’ academic progress. He was a keen observer of their lives. It is not an exaggeration to say that Chuck Manoli created a large, extended family that stretched from his home on Ligonier Street in Latrobe through Saint Vincent College to his ultimate home on Boniface Drive. The depths of those bonds are not to be underestimated. Students he first encountered at the beginning of his career in the prep school and college were still visiting him up to the end of his life. There was a reason for that. He cared. He cared enough to open his own home to students who needed befriending for one reason or another, even if it was only for a meal. He shared his own gracious family with those whose lives were empty for want of family. He offered counsel when counsel was needed and extended a helping hand whenever he could. For that, many of us owed him our thanks; but beyond that, we today owe his family for all the times they shared him with us. Speaking personally, Chuck Manoli saw me through the loneliness of the prep school years by making education something exciting beyond all my expectations. He is the reason I returned to Saint Vincent for my college education, mindful that any institution that hired him must have shared his educational values. I wasn’t disappointed in that decision. Chuck Manoli saw me through college and kept me on an even keel when I was drafted into the Army in 1968. When I got out, he got me my first fulltime job at Latrobe Brewing. He encouraged my newspaper career and provided much-needed insight into the political life of Westmoreland County. After I moved out of the area, married and had a child, it seemed important to introduce my wife and son to him and Anita. My son still recalls that visit fondly. Saint Vincent Magazine
And I was but one of many over a long and fruitful career. We marked that career with milestones—a retirement party, the establishment of a lecture series, and the Chuck and Anita Manoli Scholarship. It was fitting to do so for his career. It is almost impossible to do so for his life. He went too deep. After graduating from Saint Vincent College in 1968, Jude Dippold served in the U.S. Army before beginning his working life as a journalist and editor at a number of daily newspapers. That eventually led to a career in business and a position as director of corporate communications at Blair Corporation, a 2,500-employee mail order firm headquartered in Warren. He is currently retired and living in the Cascade Mountain region of northern Washington.
Above, some of Charles G. Manoli’s former students. At left, John Degnan, C’66, D’16, chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and his wife Mary, with Anita and Charles Manoli. Photo at right is Charles Manoli with Donald L. Miller, C’66, D’93, the John Henry McCracken Professor of History at Lafayette College. Degnan called his former teacher “an intellectual provocateur. He had a prodigious appetite for reading. He brought excitement to the classroom virtually every day when he would share the ideas that those readings provoked, put them in historical context and stimulate a deeper analysis, dialogue and development of the concepts. And he did it devoid of condescension or arrogance, inviting our skepticism and our disagreement, in the process teaching us how to think for ourselves, and perhaps most importantly, how to articulate those thoughts.” Miller, author of Supreme City: How Jazz Age Manhattan Gave Birth to Modern America, which was dedicated to Manoli, and many other books and television scripts, called him “the most important intellectual person in my life. I don’t think I would have gone into history as a field if I had not come under his influence.” 15
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City Of Greensburg Donates Truck To SVFD The relationship between the Saint Vincent Fire Department and the City of Greensburg and its Fire Department has been strong since Greensburg firefighters helped save the lives and buildings of the Saint Vincent campus in the fire of January 28, 1963, including the Basilica. That friendship continues to this day through Fire Chief Ed Hutchinson and many local firefighters. Recently, Susan M. Trout, city administrator of the City of Greensburg, and John Solochier, a mechanic in the Department of Public Works, delivered a 1991 Seagrave fire truck to the Saint Vincent Fire Department. The truck has a two-stage fire pump, 500-gallon booster tank, a 6,000-watt Onan diesel auxiliary generator, diesel engine and automatic transmission. The two-stage pump delivers 1,250 gallons of water per minute. Taking part in the presentation were, from left, Father Paul Taylor, O.S.B., executive vice president of Saint Vincent College; Susan M. Trout; Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B.; John Solochier; Father Joseph Adams, O.S.B., director of public safety and Brother Norman Hipps, O.S.B., college president.
Senior Interns At USCCB Alexandra G. Lahoud of McLean, Virginia, a senior theology and psychology major, served as an intern with the Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C., this summer. “I assisted in developing the For Your Marriage website, and I conducted research on priority projects for the
Secretariat,” Lahoud said. She revised and updated the social media channels, wrote several articles and gained experience in a variety of areas. She had the opportunity to begin reading and discussing Pope Francis’s recent apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, with staff members. “As a double major in theology and psychology, it can be challenging to incorporate them both
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into any work experience. However, my internship this summer did in fact integrate both,” she said. Her supervisor was 16
Bethany Meola, assistant director of the Secretariat on projects pertaining to marriage and family life issues. Fall 2016
Concert Series Celebrates 45 Years this season
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he year 1971 was a momentous year. Apollo 14 landed on the moon in February. The Vietnam War was in full swing and The New York Times began to publish the Pentagon Papers. A Barbie™ doll cost about $2, and the first pocket calculators were about $150. Walt Disney World opened in Orlando, Florida. And the current Concert Series director was almost a teenager. It was also the year that Rev. Joseph Bronder, O.S.B., a Benedictine priest and classical pianist, just returned from graduate school at Yale University, began presenting chamber music performances at Saint Vincent. Saint Vincent College Concert Series is celebrating its 45th season
in 2016-17 with seven performances featuring internationally acclaimed classical musicians. “Our founder, the late Father Joseph Bronder, O.S.B., would be proud that the Concert Series is continuing with such a variety of renowned artists, some of the best chamber musicians in the world,” noted Ann Holmes, series director. The 2016-17 schedule features the Aletheia Piano Trio, (September performance); Tomer Gewirtzman, winner of the Bronder Prize for Piano, Saturday, Oct. 22; Stephen Buzard, organ, Saturday, Nov. 19; Xavier Foley, double bass, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017; Petar and Daniel Guitar Duo, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017; Katherine Siochi, harp, Saturday, March 25, 2017; and Chrystal E. Williams, mezzo-soprano, Saturday, April 8, 2017.
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Concerts begin at 7 p.m., and a free reception to meet the artists follows every performance. The November performance will be held in the Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica, and the February and March concerts will be in the Basilica Crypt. All other performances are in the Robert S. Carey Student Center Performing Arts Center. Continuing this season is a free shuttle between the parking areas and the Carey Center for performances held there. There is no shuttle for performances in the Basilica. Season tickets (premium seating at each of the concerts) are $130, and flex passes (seven admissions) are $140. Single tickets are $25 and group rates are available for groups of ten or more. 17
Top, from left, Aletheia Piano Trio, Francesca dePasquale on violin, Juliette Herlin on cello, Fei-Fei Dong on piano, September concert; Tomer Gewirtzman, winner of the Bronder Prize for Piano, October 22; Stephen Buzard, organ, November 19; Xavier Foley, double bass, January 21; Petar and Daniel Guitar Duo, February 11; Katherine Siochi, harp, March 25; Chrystal E. Williams, mezzo-soprano, April 8.
Children 12 and younger are admitted free with adult supervision/admission. To purchase online visit www. stvincentstore.com. Further information is available by contacting the Concert Series box office at 724 805-2565 or http:// concertseries.stvincent. edu. Tickets will also be available at the door one hour before each concert. Fall 2016
Octave Sings At Steelers Game Assistant professor of music Thomas Octave sang the national anthem at the Pittsburgh Steelers pre-season game with the Philadelphia Eagles on August 18. Octave has earned degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and Duquesne University. Recently, his collaboration with the Theater Department of Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s production of “A Year With Frog and Toad” earned a Kennedy Center nomination. He recently conducted the world premiere of Galbraith’s “The Passion of Christ” in England and in the United States. Currently, Octave is an assistant professor of music at Saint Vincent, where he conducts the SVC Singers and teaches courses in voice, music appreciation and opera. He also currently serves as the musical consultant to the archabbot.
Drumline Plays For Steelers The Saint Vincent College March of the Bearcats Drumline performed with the Pittsburgh Steelers official drumline prior to the Steelers pre-season game with the Philadelphia Eagles August 18 at Heinz Field. They also performed outside of the stadium and took part in a parade of game day entertainers. The drumline includes, front, from left, Allison Hartsek, Uniontown, freshman, liberal arts major; Justina Whipkey, Normalville, freshman, physics major; Larry Daniels, Greensburg, senior, accounting major; Daniel Young, Orwigsburg, sophomore, undecided; and Faith Brake, Gaithersburg, Maryland, freshman, psychology major; back, from left, Randall Kratofil, band director; Amanda Thayer, Grand Valley, senior, communication major; Maria Crocker, Latrobe, a student at Westmoreland County Community College; Ryan Schwartz, Penn Run, sophomore, engineering major; Benjamin Riddle, St. Marys, senior, computing and information science major, equipment manager and band president; and Christopher Plummer, drumline instructor.
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King Wins CPA Award Dr. Jason King, associate professor and chair of the theology department, won a book award from the Catholic Press Association for a book he co-edited with Sister Shannon Schrein, O.S.F., God Has Begun a Great Work in Us: Embodied Love in Consecrated Life and Ecclesial Movements. The publication won a thirdplace award in the category of gender issues.
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Rogers Center Announces New Community Outreach The Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media at Saint Vincent College was awarded a Remake Learning Grant from The Sprout Fund to support a new studentdriven community outreach program. Incubator 143, the student research and development lab at the Fred Rogers Center, recently launched the Neighborhood Music Visits program. The program provides young children with an opportunity to learn from Saint Vincent College student musicians through a “music visit” modeled after Fred Rogers’ visits with artists on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Designed to inspire wonder and encourage positive self-expression in children
ages 1 to 8, a student “facilitator” and a student “performer” host a discovery experience to learn about the instrument, the performer, creative expression, learning challenges and constructive ways to manage feelings. The project aims to build and sustain a model of interdisciplinary service learning by college students with child development interests or musical talents to reach out to underserved children in their own community. “Upon researching the concept for the visit in the Fred Rogers Archive, we came across a proposal to the American Music Conference written in 1972 that used music to support children’s growth and personal development,” said Fred
Rogers Center co-director Dr. Junlei Li. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for us to support the community in a way that Fred envisioned and was very near to his heart.” To date, Neighborhood Music Visits have occurred at the Adams Memorial Library, Fascination Station, Latrobe Kinder-Schull and Latrobe Elementary School. The program helps fulfill the students’ vision of developing a community outreach to serve young children in Fred Rogers’ hometown of Latrobe. Dr. Kathleen Beining has been appointed as Faculty Fellow to support this endeavor. Established at Saint Vincent College in 2003, the Fred Rogers Center enriches the development of current and emerg-
ing leaders in the fields of early learning and children’s media by supporting the professional advancement and mentoring of the next generations of Fred Rogers through the Early Career Fellows program, educational opportunities for undergraduate Fred Rogers Scholars, research and special collaborations by Rogers Center Senior Fellows and resources and information on the developmentally appropriate use of media. The center is the official home of the Fred Rogers Archive as well as a straightforward, understanding and compassionate voice for the healthy social and emotional development of children birth to age 8 (fredrogerscenter. org).
Class Of 2015: 97 Percent Find Professional Success Saint Vincent College Career Center reported that 97 percent of the class of 2015’s graduating respondents have found career and professional success. “We are very excited about what last year’s graduates have achieved in just one year and we are especially pleased because our statistics represent 93 percent of the members of the class,” said Courtney Baum, director. “While some colleges and universities report high rates of job or graduate school placement, that may represent only a small percentage of the class that responded to their survey. Saint Vincent is committed to trying to contact every single graduate to find out what they are doing.” The success of the students who graduated in 2015 increased by one percent over the previous year and is consistent with the statistics reported for the past several years. “Success means that the student is working, going to school or employed in a field related to their major or their area of interest after graduation,” Baum said. “We distinguish those who are employed in their field of study from those who accept employment, unrelated to their targeted Saint Vincent Magazine
career goals, which we categorize as ‘still seeking employment.’ The purpose of a Saint Vincent degree is to advance in a career and our goal is to work with students to help them reach their goals.” There were 342 graduates in the Saint Vincent class of 2015. Of the 97 percent of students reporting success from the class of 2015, 66.5 percent are employed, 29 percent have enrolled in graduate school, law school, medical or allied health schools or programs in which they are continuing their education and another one and a half percent are working in the military or are engaged in volunteer community service positions. Saint Vincent graduates accepted employment with a wide variety of companies and organizations including Kennametal Inc., PPG Industries, Mt. Lebanon School District, Bettis Laboratories, Westinghouse, First Commonwealth Bank, Sisterson, Fifth Third Bank, BNY Mellon, Excela Health, PNC Bank, Bombardier, ADP, Somerset Trust, UPMC, Adelphoi Village, Giant Eagle Inc., Aflac, Walt Disney World, CBS Radio, S&T Bank, Amazon, Forbes Hospital and many others. 19
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STEELERS AT SAINT VINCENT For the 51st consecutive summer, the Saint Vincent campus turned black and gold as the Pittsburgh Steelers once again returned for training camp. Camp began with the opening mass for Steelers Training Camp celebrated by Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B. Readings were done by (right, from top to bottom) Art Rooney II, president, Pittsburgh Steelers; Kevin Colbert, general manager; and Daniel Rooney, coaching assistant. Archabbot Douglas is a great Steelers fan, and he hopes everyone else is also, including Pope Francis. Archabbot Douglas presented the football autographed by Art Rooney II, Daniel Rooney, Coach Mike Tomlin, Antonio Brown, and many other Steelers to the Holy Father. The photo received news coverage far and wide and late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon even used it on the Tonight Show. He got a good laugh from the audience when he said that after thanking the Archabbot, Pope Francis smiled and said “I root for the Saints.” When Pope Francis pretended that he was going to throw the football, Archabbot Douglas noticed that there was a large glass window in the direction of his pretended aim. Archabbot Douglas remarked to Pope Francis that the Rooney family has been a friend of the Saint Vincent family for more than a hundred years. He said, “I hope that friendship goes on for at least another hundred years.”
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A GREAT FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR By Don Orlando
From his earliest days, Arnold Palmer enjoyed a close friendship with his neighbors at Saint Vincent College that lasted throughout his life. Palmer, 87, who died on September 25, frequently talked about his memories of visiting the college as a young boy with his father, Milfred (Deacon) Palmer, to walk among the trees and fields or play around Saint Vincent Lake. Later, he began to visit on his own, and some monks remember him hitting golf balls on the practice field. Saint Vincent hosted his public memorial service at the Archabbey Basilica on October 4. Palmer once said that he believed that at least a portion of the present-day Saint Vincent campus grounds was at one time the property of his grandfather. Research by the late Father Omer U. Kline, O.S.B., archivist, revealed that to be partially true. A one-room school in nearby Manito, operated by Saint Vincent Basilica Parish was known as the Palmer School. It was located
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ING STUDENTS INT VINCENT: 1) SHOW SA AT ER LM PA LD ARNO T COLLEGE 14TH SAINT VINCEN HIS SWING; 2) WITH .; 3) WITH HIS FIRST MARTIN BARTEL, O.S.B PRESIDENT FATHER VICE PRESIDENT RI BRITT, C’96, NOW CO D AN IE NN WI , FE WI CHABBOT RPRISES; 4) WITH AR TE EN ER LM PA LD NO OF AR OR TOM RIDGE; I, O.S.B. AND GOVERN LATE DOUGLAS R. NOWICK GERS, WIFE OF THE 6) WITH JOANNE RO ; MA YO AN YO G TH IN WI IV 5) 7) RECE SCHOOL CLASSMATE; GH HI S HI , RS T. GE KI RO FE FRED COND WI Saint Vincent Magazine 1996; 8) WITH HIS SE 23 IN E AT OR CT DO RY HONORA
“on the road from Manito to Pleasant Unity near the Palmer Farm.” Father Omer’s research concluded that, “we must have been good neighbors to have had a Saint Vincent grade school named for the Palmer family.” Early in his golfing career, Palmer came to campus to demonstrate his swing for the young college students. Even then, they gathered around him with a sense of awe. He made a memorable visit to campus in 1974 to congratulate the students at the conclusion of the world’s record bed push, a challenge for charitable causes. In 1986 he became a spokesperson for Sears-Roebuck apparel and brought a professional camera crew to campus for two days to shoot photos of him in sport coats and raincoats that were published in a national promotional brochure that had a circulation of 18 million (see page 31). Many alumni and friends were proud to see Leander and Placid halls in the background of many of these shots. Palmer was the main speaker for commencement on May 11, 1996—the college’s 150th graduating class. “I appeal to you to try to restore a kinder, more gentle atmosphere to this world of ours,” he told the graduates, their parents and friends. “Only an all-out effort to get back to the basic values and virtues of humanity will give future generations the quality of life our forefathers worked and sacrificed for to give us the standards of life we have enjoyed in our time.” He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree “in recognition of his lifelong commitment to the values which this Catholic, Benedictine college cherishes because of the
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primacy of church, family and community in his life and because of all that he has done to make the world a better place in which to live and play.” Also graduating that day with a bachelor of science degree in accounting was Cori Britt, a Latrobe resident who had worked part time at Latrobe Country Club. Today, Britt is vice president of Arnold Palmer Enterprises based in Orlando, Florida. Palmer brought the Wake Forest Concert Choir of his college alma mater to campus in 1998 for a performance in the Basilica as part of a spring concert tour. “My life has been touched by Saint Vincent College in many ways, over the years,” Palmer once said. “I can’t begin to count and recognize all of my friends and acquaintances who have launched their adult lives and successful careers through their fine education at Saint Vincent.” Father Martin R. Bartel, O.S.B., 14th president of Saint Vincent College, said that Arnold Palmer was born “just a long drive off the tee in a good wind away from Saint Vincent.” Palmer was among the first members of the Advisory Board for the College’s prestigious Threshold on the Twenty/First Century Lecture Series which serves the college and the regional community with noted speakers on a range of important topics. He frequently wrote letters of support to potential speakers, encouraging them to accept the college’s invitation. His first wife, the late Winnie Palmer, was a member of the Saint Vincent College Board of Directors and was instrumental in protecting the integrity of the land surrounding the college from unwanted commercial development. After her death, Palmer created a 50-acre nature preserve named
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1 & 2) Family members and friends of Arnold Palmer gather after his October 5 memorial service to watch Pete Luster copilot Arnie’s plane past the Archabbey Basilica one last time; 3) golfers Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson brought the Ryder Cup; 4) golfer Nick Faldo; 5) former Governor Tom Corbett and H. Martin Westfall; 6) former Governor Tom Ridge; 7) Doc Giffin, Arnie Palmer’s friend and longtime assistant; 8) Charlie Mechem, past commissioner of the LPGA; 9) broadcaster Jim Nantz; 10) gofler Ernie Els; 11) Tim Finchem, commissioner of the PGA tour; 12) golfer Sam Saunders, grandson of Arnold Palmer; 13) golfing legend and Arnie Palmer’s longtime friend Jack Nicklaus; 14) Russ Meyer, former chief executive officer and chairman, Cessna Aircraft; 15) golfer Annika Sorenstam; 16) Peter Dawson, former chief executive of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of Saint Andrews; 17) Sis and Herman Dupré with Brother Norman Hipps, O.S.B., president and their daughters; 18) David M. Roderick, fomer chairman and CEO of US Steel; 19) golfer Fuzzy Zoeller; 20) Singer Darius Rucker; 21) golfer Craig Stadler; 22) golfer Nancy Lopez; 23) singer Amy Grant, wife of 24) country music singer Vince Gill, who performed two songs during the service. Saint Vincent Magazine
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after her that features walking trails, an environmental education center and other natural features. He proudly attended the grand opening in 2007. Among those who worked tirelessly to plan and create the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve (WPNR) was Bob Demangone, C’92, who earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting and is now a vice president of Arnold Palmer Enterprises in Latrobe. Palmer’s daughter, Amy Saunders, also served on the Saint Vincent College Board of Directors. She and her sister, Peg Palmer Wears, along with other family members, Robert Saunders II, Jerry Palmer, Demangone and long-time friend Doc Giffin serve on the board of the WPNR. A frequent campus visitor throughout his life, the golfing legend attended concerts, lectures, plays or special events. More recently, he attended a benefit recital on campus by internationally-acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma who was honored as the inaugural recipient of the Fred Rogers Legacy Award on May 23, 2014. Palmer greeted Yo-Yo Ma after the concert and thanked him for coming to Latrobe to perform. He also had an opportunity to greet Joanne Rogers, the widow of his childhood neighbor and classmate, Fred Rogers. The Citation for the Honorary Doctoral Degree presented in 1996 noted that “Arnie is many things to many people . . . world-famous golf immortal and sportsman, highly successful business executive, generous and creative philanthropist, prominent advertising spokesperson, skilled aviator, talented golf course designer and consultant, devoted husband, father and grandfather, good neighbor, friend and a man with a down-to-earth common touch that has made him one of the most popular and accessible public figures in history.”
Fall 2016
Volleyball A Lifelong Commitment FOR Coach Sue Hozak
By Kathryn Klawinski
F
or some, sports are a childhood pastime. For Coach Sue Hozak, her sport, volleyball, is a lifelong commitment.
Above, volleyball Coach Sue Hozak on the sidelines and, following her 600th career coaching victory, all at Saint Vincent, with volleyball alumnae Sharon White, left, and Colleen Ruefle, center, who were on the very first volleyball team at Saint Vincent.
Hozak came to Saint Vincent College in 1985 when the women’s volleyball program was only beginning and has been the head coach ever since. The chance was an extraordinary one that Hozak could not turn down. At the time, she was working elsewhere while coaching a high school team and knew that the chance to start a collegiate team from scratch was never going to come again. Hozak herself played volleyball during her college career at Waynesburg where she competed in three consecutive NAIA national championships. Prior to college, she was a part of a team from Norwin High School that won three consecutive state championships. Her history and love of volleyball inspired her to take a chance on this new program. This year, her 32nd season, she recorded her 600th career victory with a 3-1 win at La Roche College. She is just the 14th active NCAA Division III coach to reach 600 career wins. What began as a part-time coaching job that provided a unique opportunity to continue her involvement in the sport turned into fulltime opportunities. Though she has filled multiple positions along the way, Hozak gained responsibilities and in 2013, became the associate athletic director, working alongside Rev. Myron Kirsh, O.S.B. This position, she said, offers a different and more versatile perspective. “I get to work with all sports in some capacity. Everything from scheduling gym time to making sure student athletes are eligible to day to day management—I interact with the players and coaches not just from volleyball, but from all 22 sports.” While the novice might believe that talent is the most significant factor in determining a team’s success, the veteran Hozak knows that talent alone cannot make for the best team. Though talent is important, Hozak also looks for something else. “Personality and drive of the student-athletes are some of the things I look for. Coaches need players who are willing to put the work in because skills can always be formed and developed. Cooperation between players and between the players and coaches is needed, especially in a team sport. The desire to improve is essential, because even great players can always be better.” Stephanie Benkowski, C’01, played under Hozak from 1997-2000 and is now the head coach of both volleyball and women’s lacrosse, as well as the senior women’s administrator at Waynesburg University. Benkowski decribes Hozak as hard-working, but caring. “She puts in many hours behind closed doors to watch film on her team or scout other teams. She is hard on the players, but she wants to have each player meet an expectation that she has set for
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her. She molded me into the coach I now am because she took the time to help me develop and show me the different methods of coaching. I am very thankful for everything she has done for me and my career.” And working to have great teams, through improving the student-athletes’ attitudes and abilities, is one of Hozak’s greatest accomplishments. The honors received throughout her career emphasize the impact she has had as a coach at Saint Vincent. She was named the American Mideast Conference North Division Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2005; NAIA/AVCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year and Keystone-Empire Conference Coach of the Year in 1994; NAIA District 18 Coach of the Year in 1990, 1992, and 1993; and KECC Coach of the Year in 1994. Another former player, Sara Pockstaller, C’06, who currently teaches eighth grade in Connellsville and is an assistant volleyball coach at Waynesburg, also credits Hozak for her coaching career. “Coach Hozak is determined and focused. When you step in that gym, you know you have a job to do. She teaches you so much about the game, that by the time our class was seniors, she was there to guide us, and not dictate every play we made. Coach Hozak made me love volleyball more than I thought I could. She also prepared me to go into coaching as soon as I left college. She believed in me when no one did sometimes, and that is something I will forever be grateful to her for.” As the coach for Bearcat volleyball, Hozak led her team to the NAIA National Volleyball Championship Tournament in 1994 after winning the NAIA Northeast Region Champion-
ship. She coached the Bearcats to two consecutive ECAC Division II Championships, in 2006 and 2007. She also coached the 2009 semifinalist team and the 2010 finalist teams in the ECAC Division III. “Saint Vincent was the place for me. Working here allowed me to raise a family and to grow professionally—it’s the best place for me,” she said of her time with the college. And as for how the 2016 team is looking—“Every year we have high goals and aspire to be our best. We have a lot of young talent developing, so we are looking forward to the year ahead.” Pictured below following the match in which Coach Sue Hozak recorded her 600th career win are front, from left, Emily Vaughan, a senior from Fleetwood and Emily Samara, a senior from Olney, Maryland. In row two, from left, are Hannah Glasheen, a freshman from Hudson, New Hampshire; Nina Beatrice, a sophomore from Derry; Olivia London, a junior from Pittsburgh; Meghan Taylor, a sophomore from Moon Township and Sydni Massinger, a sophomore from Pompano Beach, Florida. In row three, from left, are Marisa O’Dell, a sophomore from Vienna, Ohio; Danielle Wassick, a sophomore from Morgantown; Rachel Vanetta, a freshman from New Kensington, Colleen Ruefle, a member of the first volleyball team at Saint Vincent; Coach Hozak; Sarah Wozniak, a freshman from Uniontown; Courtney Meyer, a junior from Derry; Kayla Stockenus, a senior from Berlin; Madison Cooper, a freshman from Ruffsdale and Marley Braunlich, a sophomore from Pittsburgh. Assistant coach is Scott Wisneski of Derry.
TO MAKE A GIFT TO SUPPORT ATHLETICS, VISIT: HTTPS://SSL.CHARITYWEB.NET/STVINCENT/. DROP-DOWN MENU ALLOWS DONORS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN GENERAL ATHLETICS OR A SPECIFIC SPORT. Saint Vincent Magazine
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Loss of a Legend: Coach Dodo Canterna
By John M. Elliott, C’63
On a beautiful sunny western Pennsylvania morning Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki’s June 25, 2016, eloquent homily resonated throughout Saint Vincent’s Basilica, embracing and epitomizing the life of Oland “Dodo” Canterna, who served Saint Vincent and its Benedictine values for over 60 years. Emerson’s observation that all institutions are “the lengthened shadow of great men” was personified by Dodo’s exemplary service as Saint Vincent’s varsity basketball and baseball coach, athletic director, teacher, mentor, community leader, mayor of Latrobe, chairman of its Airport Authority and friend to thousands who will always identify him with Saint Vincent. In addition to being Saint Vincent’s ambassador, Dodo was a life’s coach, who stayed in touch with his players and always made us feel special, because he genuinely cared about us and our families. He was always there for us and challenged us to live in the doing and responsible spirit of Saint Vincent’s founding Archabbot Bonafice Wimmer’s motto: “Forward, Always Forward, Everywhere Forward.” My son, Jack, was an outstanding baseball player at Georgetown. When I mentioned to Dodo that Pitt was playing at Georgetown, he asked what time the game was. He then called to say that he would be visiting his family in northern Virginia, and would meet me at the game. It was clear to me that Coach made an extra effort to be there for me and my family. Georgetown won the game, but Coach Canterna stole the day. He quickly struck an energizing dialogue with Georgetown’s charismatic Coach Larry Geracioti. They shared many common and affirmative relationships and experiences throughout America’s professional and collegiate athletic communities, and their proud Italian heritages. Larry then asked Dodo to attend Georgetown’s baseball awards dinner that evening. After he shared Coach Canterna’s athletic pedigree with the Georgetown audience—Hall of Fame for baseball and basketball at Pitt; Triple-A Boston Braves farm team with Hank Aaron, Del Crandall, Johnny Logan, Joe Adcock and Eddie Matthews, he asked Dodo to speak. He did, and got a standing ovation after sharing his life’s values of hard work, family and playing to win, with respect for all. After an injury cut short his major league career, Coach Canterna began his storied career at Saint Vincent in 1953, where he coached championship basketball and baseball teams. His Saint Vincent teams played tough schedules: West Virginia, Duquesne, Pitt, Youngstown, Saint Francis, Saint Vincent Magazine
and all of the strong competition throughout western Pennsylvania. One of my fondest memories was Saint Vincent winning the 1963 West Penn Conference Championship by beating Westminster 2-1, after losing the first game 2-1. You don’t see many 2-1 double headers. These were wellplayed games, attended by the Benedictine community and the student body. Tom Goetz, who with Father Jerome Rupprecht, is one of the greatest pitchers in Saint Vincent history, won the second game in relief, after losing the first. We always knew Saint Vincent could win with Tom on the mound. He was a warrior who always wanted the ball, in an era of no pitch counts. Our third-base coach, Father Canice Welsh’s will to win significantly contributed to this championship season. Father Myron Kirsch, O.S.B., who pitched for Dodo, remembered him as “a great game-day coach, whose calm demeanor masked his intense will to win.” Center fielder Jim Wasicki, the Conference’s most valuable player, remembered Dodo as “a player’s coach, who believed in his players. We always thought that we would win, whoever we played.” Catcher Frank Vukmanic, the Conference’s Rookie of the Year, remembered Dodo as a leader “who made us play hard and stressed the academics that our 1963 team personified—teachers, engineers, bankers, economists, lawyers, public servants and a nationally recognized poet, Jim Ragan. Coach encouraged all of us, and stayed in touch over the years. We were all honored to be on his life’s team.” “Dodo was an inspiration to me personally and to all on both the basketball and baseball teams,” said James Ragan, C’66, D’90. “I believe his own background in sports played a major role in inspiring in us the ambition that we could achieve our life-dreams beyond the roles we played as aspiring athletes. He cared not only about stressing quality and performance in your playing abilities, but also in your academics. He was interested in molding the complete person, not just an athlete on the baseball diamond or on the basketball court, but also to be a student of life, in the classroom or in social dealings with classmates. We were all fortunate to be mentored by him in our most formative years of personal development.” Saint Vincent has, and will have, great coaches, players and teams. Those of us who played for Coach Canterna will always hold him in our hearts, as a special force for good. He always inspired us to do our best on the field, in the classroom and throughout our lives. God bless him, his loving wife Shirley, their family and Saint Vincent. 28
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‘An Excellent Coach, But Even Better Man’ By Jim Wirth C’63 and Regis Simasek, C’63 The recent passing of our coach and good friend Dodo Canterna has prompted us to reflect upon his life and coaching career at Saint Vincent. His positive impact upon our lives as former basketball players and the lives of countless Saint Vincent athletes and students is both impressive and significant especially when compared with the egocentric “win at all costs” attitude of many of the current crop of collegiate coaches. He was, above all, a true gentleman who cared about his players and established lifelong friendships with them. Dodo was an excellent coach, but an even better man. Dodo initiated the Saint Vincent basketball program in 1953 with what would today be considered non-scholarship or walk-on players. The team struggled for a few years before completing the 1955-56 season with a record of 16-3 and being voted the George Mikan Award as the most improved team in the nation. Prominent members of that team included Harry Folk, Bernie Peterson (later a UPI All-American), Tom Loughran, Paul Sucevic and Willie Varner. The schedule, at the time was difficult, including opponents such as Youngstown, Steubenville, St. Bonaventure, Saint Francis of Loretto, Morehead State and Westminster. In the years that followed, the success of the ‘55-’56 team was not matched, but Dodo continued to succeed with a lineup that seldom included a player taller than 6’3”. At least six or seven players of size who might have helped considerably, became casualties of the Saint Vincent academic regimen. The schedule continued to be difficult with regular appearances by opponents which included Duquesne (No. 6 in the country at the time), Saint Francis of Loretto, Youngstown, Steubenville, St. Bonaventure (No. 2 in the country at the time), Mount Saint Mary’s, Gannon and Westminster (No. 1 small college team in the country at the time). Notable players during this era included: Jack Kalbfus (UPI All-American), Paul Peterson, Tony Thomas, Bob Belan, Fred Reeping, Joe Sosnak, Mike Mickinak, Dave Berkmyre, Ken Plichta, Ken Sweder, Wally Hobart, Larry Conley, John Pranaitis, Tim O’Shea, Denny Berrier, Jim DiMuzio and Tony Saint Vincent Magazine
Yerep. Some of the great memories from our seasons at Saint Vincent would include: 1) Defeating Saint Francis at the Jaffa Mosque in our sophomore year. Perhaps the only time this ever happened. (1960-61 season) 2) Defeating a nationally-ranked Mount Saint Mary’s team at home during the 1960-61 season. 3) Playing to a packed house at Sportsman’s Hall against the No. 1-ranked small college team in the nation (Westminster). Our valiant effort came up short in the last minute. (196162 season) 4) Finishing second in the West Penn Conference. (1961-62 season, behind Westminster.) 5) Defeating Duquesne in a preseason scrimmage before a large student crowd at home prior to the start of the 1962-63 season. (Our excitement was short-lived when our only big man was declared ineligible three days before our season opener.) 6) Watching Dave Berkmyre, a senior leader, throw a pass out of bounds with three seconds to play, down one against a good Carnegie Tech (now CMU) team. Then watching in amazement as Dave intercepted Tech’s in-bounds pass and scored the winning basket at the buzzer. Each of the above-mentioned players would attest to Dodo’s mentoring and coaching skills. He was not only our coach, but also our mentor, our friend, our teacher, at times our confidante and surely one of the most respected and influential people in our lives. We would be remiss if we did not mention Dodo’s wonderful wife, Shirley, and their loving family, and the great role models they have been in their service to the Saint Vincent, Latrobe and Westmoreland County communities. May Coach’s soul rest in the peace of God and may his family receive God’s blessing and comfort.
John M. Elliott, an honors graduate of Saint Vincent and Georgetown University Law Center, was captain of Saint Vincent’s 1963 West Penn Conference varsity baseball team. He is chairman and CEO of the Elliott Greenleaf law firm with offices throughout Pennsylvania and Delaware. He communicated with several former players for his article, including Jim Wasicki, C’64, a banker; Tom Goetz, C’64, a teacher; and Frank Vukmanic, C’66, an economist. Jim Wirth, C’63, a banker, and Regis Simasek, C’63 a certified public accountant, were both co-captains of the Saint Vincent basketball team. 29
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Wanichko Returns As Women’s XC Coach The Saint Vincent College Athletic Department has announced former Bearcat standout Kevin Wanichko as its new head coach for the women’s cross country and women’s track and field programs. Wanichko, a 2012 graduate of Saint Vincent, takes over the full-time duties at his alma mater after guiding fellow Presidents’ Athletic Conference member Chatham University for the past two seasons. During his time at Chatham, Wanichko saw an increase to the women’s roster size and started the first men’s cross country/track and field teams in 2015-16. Under Wanichko’s guidance, Chatham’s track and field program had many highlighted performances. The program had its first PAC Champion in 2015, as Jesse Hinkle claimed the individual title in the women’s javelin. During the 2016 indoor track and field season they saw Ariel Gray win a conference title in the long jump. Gray eclipsed the old indoor conference record to become the new conference record holder. Gray became Chatham University’s first ECAC medalist with her fifth-place finish
in the 2016 Indoor ECAC Championship and would go on to earn All-Region honors. In the 2016 outdoor season he guided Hinkle to her second consecutive Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship in javelin. Also in the 2016 season, Hinkle and Gray were both named to the USTFCCCA All-Region Team. Prior to Chatham, Coach Wanichko spent two years as a volunteer assistant at Saint Vincent, while continuing his education in pursuit of his master’s degree in sports management for California University of Pennsylvania. During his two seasons at SVC, he helped train the team to back-to-back PAC cross country conference championships. During those two seasons he helped train All-American runner Chansler Poole. As a student-athlete at SVC, Wanichko excelled as a four-year competitor in both cross country and track for the Bearcats. During his cross country and track career, he won several championships, which included the 2011 PAC Individual Cross Country Championship. During his collegiate career, the SVC men’s cross country team won team titles in both 2010 and 2011. He also claimed individual track titles. Wanichko was also a five-time ECAC medalist and an All-Region runner during the 2011 cross country season. At the time of graduation, he held five school records (1500, 3000, 5000, 4x400 and 4x800).
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The King at
Saint Vincent ALUMNI FRIENDS
&
One of the many occasions when golfing legend Arnold Palmer, “The King,” visited Saint Vincent was in 1986 when he became a spokesperson for Sears-Roebuck apparel and brought a professional camera crew to campus for two days to shoot photos of him in sport coats and raincoats that were published in a national promotional brochure that had a circulation of 18 million. Many alumni and friends were proud to see Leander and Placid halls in the background of many of these shots. Have an encounter with Arnie on campus? Email us at svmagazine@stvincent.edu.
Coming Soon! Local Alumni Bearcat Lunch
SVC at the Nutcracker
November 11, Noon, Metten Room
December 9th
Greensburg Area Alumni Lunch
GOLD Latrobe Holiday Happy Hour
November 15, Noon, Giannilli’s II
Founders Day November 17
December 13, 5-7 p.m.
Teutonia Mannerchor
GOLD Pittsburgh Holiday Happy Hour
Local Alumni Bearcat Lunch
Greensburg Area Alumni Lunch
Alumni Holiday Luncheon December 1, Noon
December 9, Noon, Metten Room
Rivertowne North Shore December 14, 5-7 p.m.
(Contact the Alumni Office closer to the date if a gathering site is still to be determined.)
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December 20, Noon, Giannilli’s II
ALUMNI OFFICE • 300 FRASER PURCHASE ROAD • LATROBE • PA • 15650-2690 • 724-805-2568 • ALUMNI@STVINCENT.EDU
Saint Vincent Alumnus/Alumnae Achievement Awardees Twelve alumni have been designated as Alumni of Distinction, and were honored at a reception and dinner on September 23, during the annual Alumni Homecoming weekend. Two were designated recent Alumni of Distinction. ALUMNI OF DISTINCTION JAMES A. CHERUBINI, C’75 MARYANN CHERUBINI, C’99
are residents of Greensburg, and have three children, Leann, Jacqueline and James. Together, they belong to Saint Bruno Roman Catholic Church, where James serves on its finance council and Maryann on its pastoral council and is a lector. They are both eucharistic ministers, members of the RCIA team and the funeral choir. The Cherubinis are Oblates of Saint Benedict at Saint Vincent Archabbey, and have served as members of and past co-chairs of the Saint Vincent Summer Theatre Gala Committee, members of the Easter Ball Committee and Phonathon volunteer team. They belong to the Alumni Committee at Westmoreland County Community College, where they both received the Distinguished Alumni Award, and where they established the James A. and MaryAnn Cherubini Endowed Scholarship, which is awarded to a student
planning to attend Saint Vincent. They also have endowed scholarships at Saint Vincent College and Saint Vincent Seminary. They volunteer with the Saint Benedict Education Foundation, which raises funds for the international Benedictine university in Rome, Sant’ Anselmo, and belong to the South Greensburg Lions Club, where James has served as president. James Cherubini earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting and finance at Saint Vincent and a master of business science degree in management at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is retired as manager of the Greater Greensburg Sewage Authority. He is president of the Alta Vista Condo Association, member and vice president of the Hempfield Township Municipal Authority, board member and past chairman of the Westmoreland County Blind Association. He serves on the Saint Vincent Class of 1975 Scholarship Committee. MaryAnn Cherubini earned a bachelor of arts degree in computing and information science from Saint Vincent, where she was a member of the Alpha Sigma Lambda honor society. She has also served as a volunteer for Triangle Meals on Wheels. RICHARD DICLAUDIO, C’81 of Oakmont is president and chief executive officer of Blue Tip
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Energy Management, LLC. He earned a bachelor of science degree in finance and economics, and has graduate credits in business studies at Duquesne University and Baldwin Wallace University. A member of the Saint Vincent College Board of Directors and the Saint Vincent Seminary Board of Regents, he has 30 years business management and leadership experience, the last 23 years in all phases of private equity investing, focused primarily in the energy industry. He is also heavily involved with Church activities. He is an Opus Dei cooperator in Shadyside, a secular oratorian at the Pittsbutgh Oratory, was founding president and board chair of the Pittsburgh Chapter of Legatus, and a member of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Serra Club that prays for and supports vocations. He is active in the pro-life movement, along with his wife, Carole. They have two children, Alex and Christen. WALTER B. HOBART JR., C’66, of Bowie, Maryland, earned a bachelor of arts degree in economics. He is retired as director of administration, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Arlington, Virginia. His professional interests revolved around duties at employers as diverse as the U.S. Navy, the Library of Congress, the Federal Avia32
tion Administration and the Airports. Personal interests revolved around coaching and officiating youth sports, as well as in playing in basketball, softball and volleyball leagues. He served as president of the sophomore class at Saint Vincent, was vice president of the Monogram Club, varsity basketball team co-captain, a 1963 West Penn Conference honorable mention, was 1966 Review Athlete of the Year, and 1966 West Penn Conference second team selection. The same year he was NAIA District 18 Honorable Mention. He is also a Saint Vincent Letterman of Distinction. Married to Catherine, they are the parents of two children, Jennifer and Barry. BROTHER ANTHONY KIRSCH, O.S.B., P’61, C’66, of Nicktown, earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy. He also attended Saint Vincent Seminary and Seminário dos Estigmatinos, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. He made his simple profession of vows on July 2, 1964, at Saint Vincent Archabbey, and solemn profession of vows on July 11, 1967, at Saint Benedict Priory, Brazil. Presently, subprior of the monastic community, he has also served as socius of novices. He was assigned to Saint Benedict Priory in Brazil in 1967. He served as director of the retreat house, prior Fall 2016
of Saint Benedict Priory, head of maintenance and subprior of Saint Benedict Priory. He returned to Saint Vincent Archabbey in 2000, where, in addition to the role of subprior, he has served as a facilities management assistant at Saint Vincent College, guestmaster, assistant novice master and engineer in the fire department. In 2003 he was named building manager for monastery maintenance and in 2008 he was named guestmaster for special events. He served as interim director of Saint Vincent Cemetery in 2013-2014, then was named consultant. DR. MICHAEL P. MCCARTHY, C’61, of Carlsbad, California, earned a bachelor of arts degree in biology. He earned his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1965. A retired surgeon, he was a Navy captain and is professor emeritus at the UCSD Medical School. He received the Teacher of the Year Award in 1992 from the UCSD Medical School. Prior to his retirement he was chairman of urology at San Diego Naval Hospital from 1972 to 1987. He is past president of the Society of Government Urologists. He was co-captain of the football team in 1959 and 1960. He was also involved with intramural basketball. He is active in his parish, Saint Patrick’s, and founded and continues to help run its soup kitchen. He is also the author of a book, Bull in the
Ring. Married to Alice, they have five children, Sean, Tara, Mallary, Michael and Brendan. DR. CAREY MCMONAGLE, C’70, of Uniontown, is a physician in internal medicine with Preferred Primary Care Physicians. He earned a bachelor of science degree in biology and graduated in 1974 from Hahnemann Medical School. He served his internship and residency at Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh. At Saint Vincent he was class secretary, and active in intramural sports. He serves as medical director of the Community Bereavement Group and has a leadership role on the medical staff at Uniontown Hospital, where he has been a trustee for 23 years and chairman for three years, and chairs the capital campaign. His professional interest centers on caring for the health of the geriatric population. He is married to Suzanne. FRANCIS E. PIPAK JR., C’71, of Pittsburgh earned a bachelor of arts degree in economics from Saint Vincent and a J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law. He is now a partner with Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick and Raspanti, LLP and chair of the firm’s risk management and workers’ compensation practice group. He is listed
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in Best Lawyers in America® and in the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers®. A member of the American Bar Association and its tort and insurance practice section, and the Pennsylvania Bar Association and its workers’ compensation section, he is also a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association where he is a past chair of the workers’ compensation section. He is a member and past-president of Saint Vincent Alumni Council, member and pastpresident of Saint Vincent Law Society and a member of the Bearcat Open Committee. He is also a Level III ski instructor and certified as a member of Professional Ski Instructors of America. At Saint Vincent he was active as a prefect, member of the Orientation Committee, phonathon participant and served as an admission counselor. He and his wife, Michelle, live in Pittsburgh. He is the son of the late Frank and Sophie Pipak. TIMOTHY RYAN, C’81, of Pittsburgh, is an attorney and chief executive officer at Eckert Seamans in Pittsburgh. He earned a bachelor of science degree in political science and serves on the Board of Directors of Saint Vincent College, chairing its student affairs committee and serving on the executive committee. He earned a juris doctorate from Duquesne University School of Law in 1984. Under his 33
leadership, Eckert Seamans has added more than 75 attorneys in four offices in a five-year span. His practice has focused primarily on intellectual property litigation and business tort disputes. He has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® (2007-2015), was selected for inclusion in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® and was named Best Lawyers’ 2014 and 2016 Lawyer of the Year for patent litigation and securities litigation. He has received numerous other awards. He is a board member of the Pennsylvania Economy League, the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce and Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts and a member of the Saint Thomas More Society. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Allegheny County Bar Association, the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, and is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Courts of Appeals for the Federal, Third and District of Columbia Courts and the United States Court of Federal Claims. He is married to Sherry and has two sons, Christian and Connor and a daughter, Jordan. DR. G. ALAN YEASTED, C’70, of Pittsburgh, earned a bachelor of arts degree in biology, then studied at the University of Pittsburgh (Continued on page 34) Fall 2016
Saint Vincent Alumnus/Alumnae Achievement Awardees (Continued from page 33)
School of Medicine, graduating in 1974. He served a post-graduate internship and residency at Mercy Hospital. In the past he has served as clinical instructor, clinical assistant professor, and assistant professor of medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh; assistant director of Employee Health Service, Presbyterian University Hospital, Pittsburgh; medical director of Consolidated Enterprises, Bethel Park. He has been active with the Allegheny County Medical Society, and has served on the medical staff and board of directors of Saint Clair Hospital, where he was also chairman of the Department of Medicine. He received the Physician Recognition Award from Saint Clair Hospital and was an Honored Physician member of the Minutemen of the University of Pittsburgh.
He continues on staff at Saint Clair Hospital, as well as at UPMC Presbyterian and Montefiore hospitals, Pittsburgh. He is active in his parish, Saint Louise de Marillac, and at Seton-La Salle High School, where he was on the advisory board. Married to JoEllen, they are the parents of Rachel Reilly, Dr. Claire Holekamp, and Ethan, Owen and Dr. Christian Yeasted. RECENT ALUMNI OF DISTINCTION Two recent graduates have been named by Saint Vincent College as Recent Alumni of Distinction. AMANDA NEWCOMER, C’04, of Latrobe, received a bachelor of arts degree in communication. She presently serves as director of office operations for the National Fraternity of Kappa Delta Rho Inc., in Greensburg. This involves
helping to manage 1,600 undergraduate Kappa Delta Rho brothers and more than 27,000 alumni brothers. She has volunteered with the American Cancer Society and its Cancer Action Network, where she serves as Pennsylvania State Lead Ambassador. She is a member of the Fraternity Communication Association and has served on its annual planning committee as well as its program committee. She has received the Capitol Dome Award, the Outstanding ACT! Lead Award, the 2008 American Cancer Society Westmoreland County Volunteer of the Year Award and two Pennsylvania Division Heart of Relay awards. An avid runner, she has completed seven half marathons. RYAN RETTER, C’08, of New Kensington, earned a bachelor of science degree in business management, and has also completed the Dale Carnegie 12-Week
Leadership Program, Pittsburgh; and earned a lean manager certification from the Fisher College of Business from the Ohio State University, Columbus, in 2016. He presently serves as manager of continuous improvement for ATI Flat Rolled Products, Brackenridge, where he has been employed since 2009. At ATI, he has also served as leader, lean manufacturing, GOES Business Unit and Vandergrift Sheet Finishing; lean manufacturing leader, Grain Oriented Electrical Steel Business Unit, and supply chain analyst. He is active in the Saint Vincent College Alumni Council, presently serving as vice president, and is president of the Alex G. McKenna Business Alumni Association. He also volunteers with Make A Wish.
Eight Named To Athletic Hall Of Fame Saint Vincent College inducted eight individuals into its Athletic Hall of Fame this fall. JACKIE CAPIZZI ANSELL, C’92, of Cockeysville, Maryland, earned a bachelor of science degree in finance, with honors. She was recruited to play basketball at Saint Vincent by the late Kristen Zawacki. She served
as team captain in 1992 and finished her career with 500 points and 200 rebounds. She held the school record for most blocked shots in a single game when she graduated. She was named to Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities. She is the mother of four children. JEFF ANSELL, C’90, of Cockeysville, Maryland, earned a bachelor of science degree in political science, with highest hon-
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ors. He is senior vice president and group executive of Stanley Black & Decker, Towson, Maryland. He was baseball team captain for three years and ended his career with a .391 batting average and 98.7 percent career fielding percentage. As a catcher he had a 78 percent put-out rate, and caught 34
more games than anyone in school history at the time of his graduation. He also served as class president from 1988 to 1990. He is the father of four children. CARA BISKUP, C’00, of Manor, majored in business management, and earned a master of business administration degree Fall 2016
Eight Named To Athletic Hall Of Fame from Duquesne University in 2004. She is information technology project manager for FirstEnergy Corp., Greensburg. One of her roles is preparing employees to use a new technology or process that will make FirstEnergy more efficient and productive. She served as captain of the Saint Vincent Volleyball Team. She was named four times to the all-conference team, was twice named to the allregion team. She was twice named an NAIA National Scholar Athlete. Biskup was a member of the Delta Mu Delta Honor Society. She was named to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. She is a member of Saint Barbara Church, Harrison City and is married to Keith Biskup. They have four children, Dominick, Mia, Leo and Nico. GREGORY EHALT, C’70, of Murrysville, earned a bachelor of arts degree in accounting. He is a realtor with Century 21 American Heritage Realty. He has been a sales representative for Armoloy of Western Pennsylvania, Bobcat of Pittsburgh, and owner and president of Allegheny Valley Supply, New Kensington. He has served as a regional manager, sales supervisor and sales representative for Hancor Inc., Findlay, Ohio, where he was Regional Manager of the Year, and was a field auditor for
Commercial Credit Corporation, Baltimore. At Saint Vincent he was captain of the wrestling team coached by Tom Harbert. He is married to Patty and has two daughters, Rachel Abbett and Rebecca Svetina. DOMINICK MASOCCO, C’61, of Summerville, South Carolina, earned a bachelor of arts degree in history. A standout on the Saint Vincent football team, he also played varsity baseball and basketball. Masocco spent three years in education following graduation, then completed a master of science degree in psychology from the University of Buffalo in 1968. He has served as a clinical psychologist working in a state psychiatric hospital, a clinical director at a county outpatient mental health center and a part-time clinical psychologist at a federal job corps center. He has volunteered in Kairos Prison Ministry, served as a team leader for a soup kitchen in Charleston, South Carolina, and helped establish a treatment program and safe home for abused children. He also participated in the Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C., in 1963. He is married to Gail, and they have three children, Alicia, Julianne and Matthew, and two grandsons. THOMAS MASTERS, C’67, of New Castle, is a finan-
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cial advisor with Perod & Masters Financial. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in economics and was a three-year letterman on the varsity baseball team. He was a member of the Monogram Club and also played intramural sports. Masters attended the Securities Institute at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, in 2001, and is a member of the New Castle Library Board, the Civil Service Commission and Saint Vincent de Paul Parish. He is active with the Catholic Youth Organization sports programming and education. Married to Louise, he has two children, Dori and Thomas. KAREN SZCZEPANSKI OLUVIC, C’95, of Cranberry Township, earned a bachelor of arts degree in accounting from Saint Vincent, and a master’s degree in accounting from Millsaps College. She works as a special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Pittsburgh and is married to Chris Oluvic. She was a four-year member of the cross country team, and served as its captain. She qualified for nationals three times and was a three-time Academic All-American, finishing in the Top 5 in Districts for three years. She received the William Rafferty Award in 1995, the year she graduated 35
with high honors. She also participated in intramural sports. MARK OWENS, C’87 of Amarillo, Texas, earned a degree in business computer systems analysis. He was a four-year member of the basketball team, and was named an NAIA Academic All-American in 1987. He earned a master of business administration degree from the University of Seattle in 2000. His education led him to a career in information systems and technology, where he has worked as a programmer, systems analyst, and project manager for Westinghouse and then Bechtel. He was deputy site manager for the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll supporting the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Test Site, was the deputy site manager at the Hay Point coal terminal expansion project in Queensland, Australia, and then site manager at Wa’ad Al Shamaal building a new city in the northern province of Saudi Arabia. He is currently a technical advisor at Pantex, the nation’s primary site for the assembly and disassembly of nuclear weapons in Amarillo. He is active with Knights of Columbus, and has also served as a youth basketball coach and Habitat for Humanity volunteer. He is married to Margaret, and has two children, Brandon and Ashley. Fall 2016
Drew Meeker, Officer Candidate
Whorral, C’05, Featured In Magazine Matthew Whorral, C’05, was recently featured in ‘Careers and the disABLED’ magazine. This publication and its parent company sponsor national career expos annually. Whorral attended one in 2006, which helped him network with various federal agencies in the D.C. metro area. That experience led to his job at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which he has held for the past nine years. “I’m humbled by this opportunity and happy to share an example of how a degree from Saint Vincent opens doors,” he said.
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Volunteer to help our Alumni Recruitment Network spread the word about Saint Vincent in your area. For information call Mary Ann Dunlap at 724-805-2568 or email: alumni@stvincent.edu.
Drew C. Meeker of Aliquippa, C’16, who earned a bachelor of arts degree in criminology, law and society with a minor in psychology, has been accepted to the United States Marines Officer Candidate School. After she completes her training, she will attend the basic school for six months and be assigned a job within the Marine Corps and then serve four active and four non-active years. She then plans to apply to the FBI to become an agent.
Chloe Schmid A Marketing Specialist Chloe M. Schmid, C’16, of Pittsburgh said she found the tools for success at Saint
Vincent and accepted a fulltime position as a sales and marketing specialist with Stanley Black and Decker. Schmid “will be working as a sales and marketing specialist for them in Lowe’s stores in the Pittsburgh territory,” she said, and hopes to become a marketing manager within a few years. “I really like the culture of the company,” she said. “They are very upbeat and have a sincere interest in the environment and community service.” “I look forward to my training and learning more about the products at Stanley Black and Decker University,” she added.
Abram Sorek Family Makes Gift The family of the late Abram Sorek, a former student at Saint Vincent, presented a $10,000 gift from The Abram Sorek Fund of The Erie Community Foundation to President Brother Norman W. Hipps, O.S.B., right. Making the presentation were, from left, Sorek’s father, Michael Sorek; brother, Gavin Sorek; and mother, Ann Giannelli. The gift was made possible by the Second Annual Abram Sorek Memorial Race hosted by the family. The funds will benefit the Saint Vincent College varsity lacrosse program. Abram Sorek died on April 13, 2014 of accidental causes. A graduate of Erie Day School, Mercyhurst Prep and Mercyhurst North East, he earned a bachelor of arts degree in communication from Saint Vincent where he also played lacrosse.
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Citrone Family Commuter Center Dedication Held The Citrone Family Commuter Center in Saint Vincent College’s Placid Hall was dedicated August 4. A generous gift from Robert K. “Rob” and Cindy Citrone enabled Saint Vincent to extensively renovate this space in one of the oldest buildings on campus. The Citrone Family Commuter Center provides commuter students with a space to study, rest, dine and recreate. The center has a kitchenette, flat-screen television, billiards table and comfortable furniture as well as an office for Student Life and Campus Ministry for programming to enhance the commuter students’ experience. The donation was made in honor of Robert L. Citrone, P’59, C’63, of Mechanicsburg, and his wife, Francine. The space also honors the memory of his two brothers, the late Peter Citrone, M.D., P’49, C’53, of Fox Chapel, a general surgeon and chief of surgery at West Penn Hospital, who died in 2010, and the late Eugene F. Citrone, P’54, C’58, of Cranberry Town-
The Citrone Family Commuter Center in Saint Vincent College’s Placid Hall was dedicated this summer and honors the Citrone family. Pictured with Brother Norman Hipps, O.S.B., president, left, are, from left, Mickey Citrone; Robert L. Citrone, Shirley Citrone and Father Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B., executive vice president. ship, who founded Dynaspan and was president and chief executive officer of Process Plants Corp. Robert L. Cintrone served as general manager at Diebold Corp., a leading manufacturer of banking equipment, and later became vice president of sales, services and support in six states. He was honored with the Prep Alumni of Distinction Award in June 2015. “Through their father’s love of Saint
Vincent, Rob and his brothers also developed that same affection,” said Father Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B., executive vice president. “Cindy and Rob extend that affection and support to Pittsburgh, western Pennsylvania and beyond. They continue their presence with their role as members of the Pittsburgh Steelers Ownership Group. They also support many charities and Saint Vincent is proud to be partner and friend to the next generation of the Citrone family.” Attending the dedication of the Citrone Family Commuter Center in Placid Hall this summer were, from left, Brother Norman W. Hipps, O.S.B., president; Rob Citrone; Cindy Citrone; Robert L. Citrone, P’59, C’63; Francine Citrone; Gabriela Citrone and Nick Citrone and Father Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B., executive vice president.
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Class News 1950s Alfred J. Sagrati, C’56, and his wife, Suzanne, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. The party included their 10 children, 25 grandchildren, and 3 greatgrandchildren. Daniel F. Rafferty, P’56, C’60, and his wife, Bonnie, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary recently. They were married on July 2, 1966.
1960s James D. Bendel, C’60, announces that his daughter,
Allison Arendas, C’98, is the Head of Valley Lower School in Ligonier. She is pictured with son Nate.
J. Patrick Conroy, C’64, and his wife, Mary, Ann celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They were married on August 13, 1966 at Saint John the Evangelist Church, Latrobe. On July 2, 2016, Louise and Bill Ramos, C’64, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, with their four sons, their wives and
ten grandchildren. Louise and Bill are enjoying retirement and Bill continues to recruit for Saint Vincent in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York.
W. Richard Howe, C’67, associate dean for administration and planning, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, has retired after 45 years.
1970s William A. DiCuccio, M.D., C’70, was honored by U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly with a 3rd District Community Champion Award at the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where he is medical director. He and his wife, Marge, started the “Hope Project” in Villa Hermosa in the Dominican Republic. Through the project, a local church was expanded and repaired and a grade school was built for 400 students. Hope Project drilled a well and built a water purification plant that produces 4,000 gallons of water per hour. The project also built a medical clinic.
Michael A. Lawrence, C’70, retired from Geico on February 1 after 40 years and 6 months. He continues to serve as chair of Ethics Committee for the CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters) Society.
Ronald D. Firment, C’71, is happily retired and a grandfather of three wonderful children, Nathaniel, Muriel and Claire. Richard W. Perhacs, C’71, a shareholder at Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, P.C., was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2017 Best Lawyers in America®
Saint Vincent Magazine
list. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation: over 79,000 leading attorneys globally are eligible to vote on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world. Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, P.C. has provided quality legal services to business, governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, insurance companies, financial institutions, individuals and families for more than 55 years. Perhacs was selected for Labor Law—Management for the third consecutive year and for Employment Law—Management for the second consecutive year. He has counseled both local government and business employers on labor and employment law issues for over 35 years. Perhacs represents more than a dozen public school systems, and authored “Labor Relations for School Leaders: A Practical Guide to Labor Contracts, Negotiations, Strikes and Grievances,”a book that leads school board members and administrators through an array of labor relations situations.
Guy J. Bellaver, C’72, was commissioned by a community group to honor volunteerism. His sculpture entitled “reflections,” has been installed and dedicated in the newly created Volunteer Plaza, along the Riverwalk in Saint Charles, Illinois. http://bellaverstudios. com/news/
1980s Brian Smith, C’80, and R.T. Walker, C 89, have been selected as “Who’s Who in Energy” 2015-2016.
Michael A. Cook, D.O., C’84, presented an abstract at the annual meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and 38
Molecular Imaging on June 13. The title of the abstract was “Initiation of a radium-223 dichloride treatment program: early lessons learned.”
Richard Robert Rossi, C’84, S’91, won the 2015 IL-ACDA Choral Composition Contest with his setting of O Sacrum Convivium (O sacred Banquet) which is now published with Santa Barbara Music Publishing in its Distinctive Music for the Advanced Choir. Most recently, he published a collection of service music settings with the Calvin Institute of Sacred Music (GIA Publications) entitled Psalms of Praise. Additionally, Rossi published several new compositions with Colla Voce including two Shakespeare settings from a commission entitled Spring and Winter. These are two of six Shakespeare settings Rossi has with Colla Voce. Rossi also has a new setting of Christina Rossetti’s text, Love Came Down at Christmas, scored for SATB choir, harp and
Benedictine Scholarships Rev. Louis Sedlacko, O.S.B., Scholarship Fund Established by David R. Pavlock and the family and friends of Reverend Louis Sedlacko in 2009 to support students studying in math and science.
Donate in memory of a beloved monk:
Call 724-805-2948
Fall 2016
string orchestra. Colla Voce also named Rossi as Composer of the Month in September 2013. His compositions are featured throughout the country and abroad in concerts and choral reading sessions including most recently his setting of Sigh No More Ladies, in July 2016 at the CA-ACDA with Jonathan Talberg’s session entitled Poetry and Music, Finding Our Collective Voice. Rossi was selected out of more than 2000 composers to be featured alongside two major English composers, Vaughan Williams and Charles Parry. He continues his work as director of orchestral and choral activities at Eastern Illinois University since 2000 (https:// www.eiu.edu/music/personnel. php?id=rrrossi), Organist at First Presbyterian Church in Champaign, Illinois, since 1998, he is an active clinician, adjudicator, performer on piano, voice, organ, harpsichord and in his “free time” composes music both for commissions and several publishers.
Don Ammon, C’86, and Kris Veenis, C’03, co-wrote, Summerlings, which won a grant from Steel Town Indie for feature length screenplay. The movie, to be directed by award -winning director, Melissa Martin, is currently in pre-production. Ammon was an adjunct faculty member at Saint Vincent in the Communication Department from 2000 to 2005. Veenis was his student, who, after graduating went to Pittsburgh Filmmakers. Ammon gave Veenis a short story he had written in high school and Veenis suggested they develop it into a screenplay, After winning an award for best feature length, the pair started a production company, Sulfur Creek Productions. They have a website named for their production company.
Atty. Richard S. Morrison, C’86, was named Deputy Secretary for Active and Abandoned Mine Operations.
Lt. Col. Conrad E. Witalis, C’89, retired from the Air Force reserve in Pittsburgh after 25 years of military service. During his service as an instructor pilot, he flew to more than 50 countries and deployed to the Middle East five times. Currently, he is a first officer for United Airlines flying the Boeing 737 based in Cleveland.
1990s Christopher M. Berdnik, C’93, is the business manager at The Centennial School District, Warminster.
Shawn S. Holup, C’98, is the dean of students and athletic director at Bishop Canevin High School.
Justin J. Stevenson, C’98, recently earned his doctorate in English at Duquesne University.
Gennaro A. “Jerry” Marsico, J.D., C.F.P., C’99, coauthored a book, Replacing Your Paycheck. Marsico is a vice president, investments with the Spanos Group of Raymond James specializing in helping clients with retirement and estate planning. After graduation from Saint Vincent, he received his law degree from Duquesne University.
Saint Vincent Magazine
2000s Michael J. Roche, C’00, was ordained a priest, and is currently at Saint Gregory Roman Catholic Church, Zelienople, and Saint Matthias Parish, Evans City. Mandy Welty Zalich, C’02, executive director of CASA of Westmoreland, Inc. and Sherrie Dunlap, C’09, director of development of CASA of Westmoreland, Inc. presented the workshop they created titled, “How to think BIG when you’re small,” at The National CASA Association Conference in Washington, D.C. Their interactive workshop taught attendees how to analyze their organization and how to create a capacity-building and resource development plan. The hour-and-a-half workshop also focused on best practices as well as mobilizing key stakeholders and partners to advance the mission of their organization and how even a small staff and resources can have big results.
Kris Veenis, C’03, (see article under 1980s with Don Ammon, C’86). Michael J. Urick, Ph.D., C’04, assistant professor and graduate director of the master of science in management program (MSMOE) at Saint Vincent, was named the Institute for Supply Management’s Person of the Year in the education and learning category at the group’s May conference.
Tiffany Milan Russell, D.C., C’06, opened a chiropractic practice in Waynesboro, Franklin County. The Chiropractic Edge website is: thechiroedge.com
2010s Dr. Blake A. Housler, C’11, has joined Allegheny Eye Care, Kane.
Engagements Mary M. Hahn, C’08, to Brandon C. LeDonne. Tiffany Harris, C’08, to Pedro Reyes.
Joel A. Parknavy, C’10, to Chelsea Nelson. A spring 2017 wedding is planned. Michael J. Hauser, C’10, to Bobbi-Lynn Brooks, C’13. The wedding will be held at Saint Vincent Basilica in 2016.
Nicole M. Matich, C’10, to Steven Beckett. The couple plans to wed in November. Lindsay E. Pomykala, C’11, to Jason N. Kleinwaks.
Brad A. Burkardt, C’13, to Rachel DeFelice. A 2016 wedding is planned.
Jordan L. Mateer, C’14, to Alexander J. Zupanovich, C’14. Their wedding will be held at Lingrow Farm, Leechburg, in 2016.
Dr. John C. Wohar, C’04, has joined the internal medicine practice of Heritage Valley Medical Group, Beaver.
Joshua M. Kilmer, C’15, to Catherine M. Palmer. Following a November wedding at Saint Catharine Church, Columbus, the couple will reside in San Diego.
Andrew D. Jeffers, D.M.D., C’06,
Erin C. Kuncher, G’15, to
has joined the Bedford dental office of Dr. James J. Seitz as an associate.
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Matthew K. Sellers. They will exchanged wedding vows in the summer of 2016.
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Deaths
Marriages
Births
Frank D’Emilio, P’43, C’51, on
Sherry A. Whalen, C’92, and
April 17.
Tom Raineri on July 24, 2016.
Charles G. Manoli, Sr., L.H.D., P’45, C’51, H’05, on August 13.
Angela N. Lesh, C’02, and
Fred B. “Sam” Trescher, Jr., P’45, C 51, on February 4, 2015. John R. Peluso, Sr., P’47, in 2015.
Franklin E. Altany, M.D., C’48, on May 8.
Charles H. Johnston, Jr., C’48, on January 18.
Harry G. Felix, P49, on May 2. Joseph P. Hamilton, P’51, C55,
John “Jack” Aaron Boosel to Katrina “Katie” Boosel, C’04, S’07, and her husband, Jason Boosel, on June 9. Jack joins big sisters, Chloe, 4, and Brigid, almost 2. Alumnus and faculty member Father Brian
Sydney Marie Baker to Laura Fedor Baker, C’07, and her husband, David J. Baker, C’08, on June 16.
Adam R. Dupler on June 20, 2015 on the beach at Amelia Island, Florida. Following a honeymoon in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, the newlyweds are at home in Jacksonville, Florida.
D. Boosel, O.S.B., C’96, S’02, is their uncle.
on July 2.
Msgr. Stephen A. McCarren, C’52, S 55, on August 3. Ferdinand F. Bosco, C’53, on October 15, 2015. Arianna Grace Hess to Kayla Palyas Hess, C’10, and her
Donald J. Flowers, P’55, on July 7, 2015.
husband, Bob Hess, on July 9.
Floyd B. Gaskin, P’55, on May
Condolences
5.
David Buben, Ph.D., C’64, on July 19.
Thomas Robinson, C’68, on May 10.
John R. Abbott, C’70, on
Gerard T. Manoli, C’80, Mrs. Anita L. Manol, H’51, Charles G. Manoli Jr., C’77, and Hugh D. Manoli, C’84, on the loss of their
Riley Christine Cobrando to
Camille Florendo Cobrando, C’06, and her husband, Rick Cobrando, on February 7. She joins big brother, Jackson Cobrando, 3.
wife, daughter-in-law, and sister-in-law, respectively, Christine Manoli, age 57, on July 26, following a brief illness, and on the loss of their father and husband,
November 2, 2015.
Terry L. Johnson, C’73, on May 23.
Ferrold E. Devericks, C’77, on
Charles G. Manoli Sr., L.H.D., P’45, C’51, H’05,
January 17.
Christopher J. Gavin, C’77, on
on August 13.
October 1, 2015.
Dr. Robert DePasquale, C’75, professor of business,
Mary Ann Price Zebrowski, C’86, on January 27.
on the loss of his mother, Antoinette DePasquale, on June 23.
Robert J. Koribanic, Jr., C’89, on September 8, 2015.
Coach Oland “Dodo” Canterna, on June 17.
Liam Matthew Coates to Jamie Dunlap Coates, C’06, and her husband, Matthew Coates, on May 31.
Saint Vincent Magazine
Nicholas S. Sciullo, Bearcat Best student, on the loss of his brother, Max Sciullo, as a result of an automobile accident.
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Sarah E. O’Connor, C’06, and Timothy J. Kepes on July 2 at Saint James Catholic Church in Pittsburgh. Bearcats in attendance included bridesmaid Sherrie Dunlap, C’09; brother of the bride
Daniel O’Connor, C’16; Julie Slaughter, C’06; Sarah (Keehnle) Chverchko, C’06; Jamie (Dunlap) Coates, C’06; Mary Ann Dunlap, C’12, G’15; Stacy Thompson, C’06; Andrew Walz, C’06, G’12; and Aliesha (Pocratsky) Walz, C’07. Courtney M. Ryan, Ph.D., C’06, and Matthew K. Minerd, C’06,
on April 30 at Saint Vincent Basilica with Father Boniface Hicks, O.S.B., S’03, as principal celebrant. Concelebrants,
Fall 2016
Eric Daniel Cook, C’09, and Chelsey Marie Hennemuth, C’10, on October 3, 2015 at Saint Vincent Basilica with
Father Thomas Curry, O.S.B., S’02, as celebrant. Alumni among the wedding party included: Jaymie Connor, C’10,
Briana Binnie, C’11, Corey Roslonski, C’09, and Adam Yingling, C’09.
pictured above, included
Brother Canice McMullen, O.S.B.; Rev. Justin Nolan, O.S.B., P’47, C’52, S’55; Rev. Matthew Lambert, O.S.B., S’16; Rev. Edward Mazich, O.S.B., S’98; Rev. Jean Luc Zadroga, O.S.B., S’00, C’13; Rev. Pio Adamonis, O.S.B.; Rev. Donald Raila, O.S.B., S’83; Rev. Jeremiah Lange, O.S.B., S’13; Rev. Patrick Cronauer, O.S.B., P73; Rev. Nathanael Polinski, O.S.B., S’12; Rev. Thomas Acklin, O.S.B., S’78; Rev. Chad Ficorilli, O.S.B., C’73, S’79; Rev. John Paul Heiser, O.S.B., S’14; Rev. Vernon Holtz, O.S.B., C 58, S’62; Rev. Isaac Haywiser, O.S.B., C’09, S’15; Rev. Paschal Morlino, O.S.B., Rev. Stephen Concordia, O.S.B., and Rev. Cyprian Constantine, O.S.B., S’77.
2007, Jason Maxwell, Steven
Davidovich; Greg Walsh, C’08; Jarrod Weaver; James Boland; Dina Gaudio Bianco, Bradd Picone, and with the Class of 2008 Samantha Scanga Walsh, C’08; and Tammy Terlecki.
Hannah C. Duffy, C’09, and David J. Bellone on December 5 at Saint Vincent Basilica with
Father Jean-Luc Zadroga, O.S.B., S’00, C’13, officiating. Katie M. Showalter, C’10, served as maid of honor. The wedding party is pictured below.
Amanda S. Fultz, C’09, and Jim Hespenheide on January 9 at Saint Vincent Basilica with
Father Brian D. Boosel, O.S.B., C’96, S’02, officiating. Michael J. Hauser, C’10, and Bobbi Lynn Brooks, C’13, on July 2 at Saint Vincent Basilica with Father Jean-Luc Zadroga, O.S.B., S’00, C’13, as celebrant.
Brittany Caracci, C’11, and Joseph Cassettari on October 10, 2015 at Saint Jude Catholic Church. The couple resides in Greensboro, North Carolina. Allyson M. Perry, C’11, and Richard Morris on August 8, 2015 in Saint Ladislaus Church, Harrison. The couple honeymooned in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Nicholas A. Urban, C’11, and Katelyn N. Orslene, C’12, on June 25 at Saint Vincent
Alexandra Brunory Kozak, C’07, and Nicholas J. Kozak, C’07, (right) on May 7 at Armstrong Farms, Sarver. Alumni shown in the wedding photo, below, are, from the Class of
MARY, MOTHER OF MERCY MAUSOLEUM CHAPEL The Mary Mother of Mercy Mausoleum Chapel serves as a sanctuary, for prayer and remembrance of family members, alumni of Saint Vincent Prep, College and Seminary, Oblates, parishioners and friends from throughout the region. “Coming Home” to Saint Vincent includes remembrance in the daily prayers and Masses of the Benedictine Community.
Saint Vincent Cemetery 724-805-2651 www.saintvincentcemetery.com Dennis Garman, Manager
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Thomas M. Gibson, C’13, and Leslie Schade on January 2 at Saint Vincent Basilica with Father Jonathan Wisneski and
Basilica with Father Jean-Luc C. Zadroga, O.S.B, S’00, C’13, as celebrant.
Father Thomas Hart, O.S.B., S’88, officiating.
Danielle N. Burge, C’11,
and John Renda, C’11, at Saint Vincent Basilica on June 4 with Father Vincent E. Zidek, O.S.B., C’85, S’91, as celebrant.
Melissa M. Mason, C’13, and Keith A. Miller on June 11 at Saint Vincent Basilica with
Father Brian Boosel, O.S.B., C’96, S’02, officiating.
Sarah K. Dillon, C’12, and Erik J. Fichter, C’12, on July 25, 2015 at Saint Vincent Basilica. Alumni in the wedding party included:
Anna Fiano, C’12; Paul Kubeja, C’12; Kevin Kirschbaum, C’12; Michael Hustava, C’12, and Zachary L. Galasso, C’12.
are both currently employed at the Ford Motor Company Research and Engineering Center in Dearborn, Michigan.
Rachel Jo Horne, C’12, (below) and Timothy Robert Smith, C’13 on October 24 at Saint
Cailin Prunty, C’12, and Johnathan M. Herczyk, C’12,
Vincent Archabbey Basilica with Father Vincent Zidek, O.S.B., C’85, S’91, presiding. Alumni in the wedding party included Angela C. Gartner, C’12, and Andrew F. Harvey, C’12. Reception was held at the Ligonier Country Club. The couple is planning a European honeymoon. Mr. and Mrs. Smith
on July 17, 2015 at Saint Vincent Basilica. Sister of the bride, Susan E. Prunty, C’11, was maid of honor.
Sigg, C’14; Alan Jaspert, C’13; Nicole Harris, C’14; Matt Jaspert, C’14; Melissa Oreski, C’15; Derek Lingafelt, C’14; John Sigg, C’13; Shane Smith, C’11, G’13; Megan (Fitzgerald) Sigg, C’13; Tommy Johnson, C’12; Jessica Salandro, C’11; Aaron Seckar, C’11; Kim (Yanicko) Seckar, C’11; Eric Harvey, C’10; Mike Arabia, C’10; Stephanie Fitzgerald, C’11; and Andrew Sigg C 17.
David J. Tiberi, C’13, and Cara Dunn on July 16 at Saint Vincent Basilica with Monsignor Michael W. Matusak, P 67, S’75 as celebrant.
Sarah Elisabeth Weber, C’13, and Matthew J. Mator on June 4 at Saint Vincent Basilica.
Shawnna L. Edwards, C’14, and Andrew C. Weiss on May 28 at Saint Vincent Basilica with Father Jean-Luc Zadroga, O.S.B. , S’00, C’13, as celebrant.
Maggie Scherer, C’12, and Michael Hustava, C’12, were married on July 8, 2016 at Saint Louise de Marillac Parish, Pittsburgh, and were joined by many friends from Saint Vincent. Father Vincent Zidek, O.S.B., C’85, S’91, was the celebrant. Reception was at Crowne Plaza Suites, Pittsburgh South.
GUARDIAN SOCIETY
Megan Fitzgerald, C’13, and John Sigg, C’13, at Saint Vincent Basilica on May 14. SVC alumni in attendance: (pictured, top, from left)
• Guardian Society members are loyal alumni and friends who have remembered Saint Vincent College in their estate planning through bequests, insurance policies, trusts or annuities. • Their stewardship guarantees a quality education to Saint Vincent students of the future. Make your gift last an eternity!
Anthony Sigg, C’15; Kathleen
FOR INFORMATION CALL 724-805-2949.
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Fall 2016
LORETTA SCALZITTI, C’83, FEELS DEEP CONNECTIONS TO SAINT VINCENT
L
oretta Scalzitti was a continuing education student and graduated in August 1983 just before women were officially admitted to Saint Vincent. But her first connection to the college began with Father Alphonse Meier, O.S.B., who assisted with Sunday Mass at Ascension Church in Jeannette. She was influenced by his words, his moral theology and his confidence in life. She did not know it then but it was the Rule of Saint Benedict unfolding and having an impact on who she was and how it would fit into her life. “Later in my working career I realized women could not achieve what men could without a degree,” she said. “A former boss whose ethics and ideals I admired graduated from Saint Vincent Prep and Saint Vincent College. It was through his suggestion that I began taking accounting classes at Saint Vincent. I needed a school that had a value system, and I appreciated the ethics of the Benedictine tradition and the closeness and warmth the Benedictines had with the students.” She called balancing full-time work and family obligations “a challenge, but hard work and Benedictine inspiration helped me along the way.” Upon graduation, her involvement with the college moved to a new role, one of volunteer. As a member of the Alumni Council, Scalzitti has been a consistent volunteer in countless projects, including co-chairing the Annual Fund for two years. She attends numerous events, whether it is the Easter Ball, the Theatre Gala, Homecoming or a Summer Theatre production. Because she was present on campus so much as a volunteer, she began considering a scholarship for future students and remembers precisely the moment when she decided to follow up on that thought. “Bill Isler, C’68, spoke at a Development Committee meeting and said, ‘we have to treat all of our alumni
equally because we never know where our next dollar is coming from. It may be the time to donate is just not right at the moment, but there will come a time when it will be right.’ That was the beginning for me.” Scalzitti’s father, Amato, grew up in the Abruzzi region of Italy with little, but learned how to share and give to others. He passed these values on to his family. “He helped me realize the importance of giving,” Scalzitti said. “These values were instilled in me and along with the people I met at Saint Vincent, helped me understand who I am and that compassion in life is essential.” She established the Loretta Scalzitti Scholarship in honor of her mother, Zenobia (Noble) Grace Scalzitti, who was an advocate for education. This spring she was pleased to learn her scholarship was awarded to a 2016 graduate. “Receiving a thankyou note was a rewarding experience.” “I would encourage anyone with an interest in creating a scholarship to do so. The process is easy.” —Jim Bendel
MAKE A DIFFERENCE, MAKE A FUTURE Contact the Office of Institutional Advancement 724-805-2949 www.stvincent.edu/studentsfirst
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 110 Mailed from Zip Code 15650
Saint Vincent College Quality Education in the Benedictine Tradition
300 Fraser Purchase Road Latrobe, PA 15650-2690 www.stvincent.edu
ARNOLD PALMER AT THE WINNIE PALMER NATURE RESERVE AT SAINT VINCENT COLLEGE. ARNIE’S ARMY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION IS WRITING THE NEXT CHAPTER OF ARNOLD PALMER’S LEGACY: WWW.ARNIESARMY.ORG