IN MEMORIAM

June 7, 2022-February 20, 2023

Alumni

Henry Baumann '61

Theresa Smyth '67

Burke

Teresa DeMuro '61

Brian Hanslik '97

Rebecca Kilgore '01

John Kimball '63

Scott Kyle '86

Ernest Lair '67

Cheryl Powis '67

McGuirk

James Ponzo '65

Tim Recht '72

Margaret White '65 Robinson

Kathleen Buchholz '67

Santana

Stephen Slattery '62

Bob Stefanski ‘63

Jack White '69

Dan Zierk '73

Family & Friends

Grandparents visit Senior Students

Grandparents play a special role in the lives of our students. That was clear by the smiles on everyone's faces during our Grandparents' Day for seniors in October. Thank you to all who joined us for breakfast, Mass, and tours with their students.

Grandparents’ Day will again be held during the morning at St. Francis High School on April 14, 2023, for the Class of 2026. More event information and registration details will be shared by email.

St. Francis Society Reception

During Catholic Schools Week, members of the St. Francis Society (the leadership giving society that recognizes donors who make annual gifts of $1,500 or more to the school) were invited to a recognition reception and an opportunity to meet new school leadership. President Phil Kerr shared a State of the School update.

Day of Giving 2022 GOAL SURPASSED Thank You!

We are humbled and truly grateful for the support we witnessed from our school community during our SFHS Day of Giving on October 4 and in the days following.

We received $250,895 in donationsINCREDIBLE!

We reached and surpassed our goal of $250,000 because of your support and dedication to our students and school. Thank you!

Benefactor Profile: Kathy Stenquist '61 Hartwig & Dan Verbeck '61

Kathy Stenquist ‘61 Hartwig and Dan Verbeck ’61 have known each other since their grade school days at Sacred Heart School in Lombard. They kept in touch over the years and reconnected at their SFHS reunion in 2019. They were married on December 31, 2020.

Kathy retired from Kraft Foods after 23 years as a legal secretary. Dan spent his career in journalism. In 1968, he began a lifelong career in radio and covered breaking news in the Kansas City area from 1974 to 2014. Dan has been honored by the Missouri Broadcasters’ Association, The Associated Press, and United Press International. He is also in the Hall of Fame of Kansas City Media Professionals.

What were some of your first impressions of SFHS and what are they now?

When the school opened in 1957, I remember entering on wooden planks over mud since only the classrooms, washrooms, and main office were ready. We had half-days so the builders could complete the work before winter.

There was no cafeteria, no gym, chapel, or extracurricular activities. The girls classrooms were in the north wing, and the boys in the south wing. The only science classroom was in the boys wing.

Today, we are amazed at the size of the school. It seems to be twice the square footage with the addition of a second gym, theatre, and a “wing” with totally equipped science classrooms, not just one. The school is now co-educational, with 700 boys and girls learning together with computers. And painted parking spots!

When and why did you begin to support the school financially?

Giving fulfilled a very personal need to help someone who, if given the chance, could achieve their dreams. Fortunately, we discovered the tax benefits of using our 401(k) required minimum distributions to make qualified charitable donations to SFHS. It's a win-win situation: we get a tax break, and a student receives a scholarship to learn at a first-class high school that’s preparing them to succeed in college and life.

Loughman Family Tennis Center

What do you hope the impact of your support will be?

We want SFHS to continue to exist and to grow and educate young people who will have the chance to attend a good college and then go out and do good in the world. SFHS is an important part of “us” and who we are today. We want to give back to the school that enabled us to grow and earn a decent living. It makes us feel good to help those who need a helping hand.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about giving to St. Francis High School?

If and when you can, do it! However much or little you can donate. Your reward is being part of a proven, topnotch success story in the excellent education of deserving future leaders. SFHS is more than a good high school - it's exceptional.

SFHS is delighted to share that Dan & Julie Loughman, parents of Emily '14, Caroline '16, and Will '24, have made a $400,000 naming gift toward our new SFHS tennis court facility, replacing the existing courts. The facility will be named the Loughman Family Tennis Center upon the planned completion of the project in early July 2023. The project includes a new court surface, a new fence, windscreens, and signage.

"St. Francis has long been an excellent school and an asset to our local communities,” said Julie Loughman. “Over the past 15 years it has upgraded its educational resources, technology, and facilities to give its students and faculty an environment in which to thrive. We are so grateful that our three children have had the opportunity to receive the excellent education, community support, and personal attention offered here.”

Looking forward, Julie added, “We hope that this investment builds on St. Francis' reputation as a premier high school and benefits the student body by improving the home of its tennis teams and enhancing its P.E. classes.”

"The SFHS Tennis program is one of the school’s largest, as are the tennis summer camps. Tom Castronovo, Varsity Tennis Head Coach, said, "On behalf of our entire coaching staff and in speaking for all our players past, present, and future, we are thrilled and so thankful to the Loughman family for their generosity as well as the support of the St. Francis High School Board of Directors for making this new tennis court facility a reality."

The SFHS community thanks the Loughman family for their generous naming gift! For more information about the Loughman Family Tennis Center, including inquiries into naming opportunities for dedicated courts at the facility, please contact Steve Nache, Vice President for Advancement, at snache@sfhscollegeprep.org or (630) 668-5800 x1220.

Inaugural Hall of Honor Recognizes Alumni

The inaugural SFHS Hall of Honor was celebrated at a dinner reception during our 2022 Homecoming weekend in September in the Spyglass Athletic Center.

The Hall of Honor recognizes alumni for their achievements while they were right here on campus as SFHS students. We also honored our 2022 Distinguished Alumni award recipients during the event – individuals who are recognized for their accomplishments following their graduation from SFHS. Congratulations to all the inductees!

Hall of Honor Individuals

Kim Novicki '75 White – Director of Theatre

Peg Kopec - Girls Volleyball Coach

Maria Krug ‘80 Coles - Swimming State Champion

Bob Hudetz ’80 – Wrestling State Champion

Hall of Honor Teams

1968 FOOTBALL TEAMSUBURBAN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

Charles L. Beaton '69, James Bollweg '70, Daniel Budi '69, William Cullerton '69, Rich Doria '71, Jack English '70*, James Frederick '70, Dan Hansen ‘71, Greg Garvin '70*, Mike Grassi '70, Rick Kammes '71, John Kevil '69, Gus Kimball '70, Tom Knorring '69, Tom Kozenski '69, James Krejci '69, Stewart Larsen '69, Tom Martin '69, Timothy McCabe '69*, Bob McGrath '70*, Dennis Morris '69, James Mulligan '70, Chris Murphy '70, James Mushett '70, Michael Nevitt '69, John Nordloh '71, George Olson '69, Jack O'Malley '69, Guy Oppedisano '69, Donald Oppedisano '70, Keith Pecina '71, Michael Prinzi '69, Rick Sandberg '69, Michael Schmidt '70, David Tidmarsh '69, Patrick Virtue '69, Steve Welch '70, Ed Wysocki '69, Terry Yarbrough '69*, Thomas Zibton '70

*Deceased

1988 Girls Volleyball Teamstate Champions

Catherine DeZutel '91 Baldouf, Angela Eder '90 Duhownik, Joan McCarthy '91 Fitzgerald, Beth Nahumyk '89 Herrmann, Stacey Kammes '89, Marianne Kohley '89 Mac Adam, Nikki Kozak '90 McCall, Catie Lotarski '91 Miller, Jeanne Pautlitz '92 Obrochta, Sara Skryd '92 Palin, Laura Horvath ’92 Tuerck, Colleen Boyle '90 Watt

2022 Distinguished Alumni

Colleen Carroll ’87 Clark Amy Cleveland '89 Verbeke

2022 Spartan Classic

The 2022 Spartan Classic was held at Cantigny Golf Club in Wheaton in September. This sold-out event is a true community gathering of alumni, parents, and friends. Through the efforts of our golfers, sponsors, and volunteers, $167,326 was raised for tuition assistance. Thank you to Golf Committee Co-Chairs

Mike Ambrust ’88 and Todd Shaw ’89 for another successful outing!

Ensuring our Future Auction 2023

It was another record-breaking year for the annual SFHS Ensuring our Future Auction on March 4! With more than 400 registered attendees, we raised $552,771 overall, including $85,200 for Fund-A-Cause.*

Thank you to everyone who supported this year’s auction, all of our volunteers, Auction Chair Lynn Gilroy, and Décor Chair Lori Connelly.

*Totals as of the time of publication