A magazine for alumni, parents, students, faculty and friends of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School Vol. 7, No. 1 Fall 2010
news PIAA DISTRICT 12
Catholic League Champions
PR E S I D E N T ’ S L E T T E R
I
Dear Friends of the Prep, “I am about to do something new.” These are the
words of the prophet Isaiah welcoming us to
consider the constant attitude of God’s creative
spirit. Every morning when I begin my day here
at the Prep, I hear these words, “I am about to do
something new,” not my words but the words spoken each day by our Prep students. Classrooms, sports venues, stages, performance spaces, mock courts, media of all kinds! These are all places where our students express themselves in new languages, verbal, artistic, and physical. A recent presentation at a Prep faculty in-service event encouraged us to assist our students in the use of thinking tools that foster understanding and creativity. In this issue of Prep News our
Fr. Bur celebrates Mass out on the Prep plaza prior to the first Faculty Meeting of the school year.
featured entrepreneurs, perhaps even explicitly, used these four thinking tools as they created something new: distinguishing identity from the other, identifying systems of wholes and parts, recognizing relationships, and discovering perspectives. These are simple tools, our presenters asserted, for use beneficially by thinkers of all ages from the youngest children to the most erudite doctoral student. It is by these tools that Prep students can reach at least two of our general Jesuit high school goals for our graduates at graduation: openness to growth and intellectual competency. Even though our Prep entrepreneurs featured in this issue so often cite courage, confidence and determination as sources of their success, I have no doubt that thinking skills offered a power of analysis that complements and enhances their self-assurance and secures their practice of openness and competency. God’s spirit longs for more entrepreneurial men and women who will explore with courage and hope new responses to our human needs for better solutions to such problems as those of education, energy, poverty and health. God’s spirit, too, sustains us faculty and staff here at the Prep as we give our students experiences that build both confidence and thoughtful insight. Enjoy reading here about our graduates who epitomize these qualities of openness to growth and intellectual competence. And may we together continually enjoy hearing God’s voice, in words spoken especially in Jesus Christ, “I am about to do something new.” Sincerely,
Rev. George W. Bur, S.J. ’59 President
inside: F E AT U R E S TO RY
editor’s note: Dear Friends,
Prep Entrepreneurs ....................... 8 Well, another calendar year has rolled around and we are preparing
SECTIONS
for Advent and Christmas. It is my favorite time of the year and a
News .............................................. 2 New Faces ...................................... 2
great time to be at the Prep. Special thank you to the Mothers’ Club for their festive decorations in the foyer!
Mother-Son Luncheon .................. 3 Spirit Week/Mixer ......................... 4
This issue focuses on a few entrepreneurs among the Prep alumni
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels ................ 5
ranks. While they are a very small sampling, these five men are
Sports ......................................... 6-7
wonderful examples of men who took a risk and created careers.
Student Profile ............................ 12 Faculty Profile ............................. 13
In talking with each of them, I was struck by something. When asked, how did the Prep prepare you to start your own company, each
Reunion Weekend ...................... 16
Bill (right) with classmate Jason Zazyczny ’90, SJP Director of Admission, during Reunion Weekend 2010.
of them spoke on the same themes: intellectual curiosity, determination
President’s Club Dinner ............... 18
and exposure to people from across the Delaware Valley. In each profile, you will find the specific answers
Class Notes .................................. 22
from each person but I was impressed to find out that no matter the era (meaning different presidents,
Perspectives ................................. 28
principals, faculty members, etc.), the basic tenets of a Prep education remain the same. Also in these pages, we celebrate the Prep soccer team’s Catholic League championship. It was the fulfillment of
Rev. George W. Bur, S.J. ’59 Michael Gomez Albert J. Zimmerman ’73 Rev. Bruce A. Maivelett, S.J. Timothy O’Shaughnessy
President Principal Director of Development Director of Ignatian Identity Chief Financial Officer
a 40-year goal for Jim Murray ’59. However, that championship doesn’t change the affection or character of a man, who for 40 years developed outstanding men who remain loyal to him no matter how many championships he had won or lost. Great story: Mark Thomas ’90 left work in DC at 3:30 in order to arrive at Archbishop Ryan for the championship game and was among at least several dozen alumni in the crowd for the game.
editor Bill Avington ’90
Director, Marketing and Communications
On a side note, the championship game was a fantastic celebration. More than 300 students cheered the team on and “respectfully” stormed the field after the game. For all who were there, it will remain a great memory.
designer Maridel McCloskey
McCloskey Designs
class notes editor Angie Falcone
Class Notes Editor
editorial staff Ceal Biello, Beth Missett, Nancy Moule, Charles Schrier ’06, Al Zimmerman ’73
Finally, in this issue is a piece by Rob Gerhardt ’95. Rob’s a photographer who has received much acclaim for his work with the Karen People of Burma. I encourage you to read the article and then go to Rob’s Website (http://robertgerhardt.com/) for more photos. As always, I am grateful that you have taken the time to open up The Prep News and give us a read. Your input is always valued.
photography David DeBalko, Andrew McCloskey ’88, Brendan Murphy ’01, Frank Raffa
Bill Avington ’90 writers Bill Avington ’90, Susie Cook, Robert Gerhardt ’95, Charles Schrier ’06
web editor Brendan Murphy ’01
The Prep News is published twice a year. Please send comments or contributions to: Attn: Editor The Prep News St Joseph’s Preparatory School 1733 Girard Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19130 or e-mail to: afalcone@sjprep.org For additional information, check our website www.sjprep.org/prepnews Cover photos by Andrew McCloskey ’88 and Frank Raffa
With classmates Jim DeMarco ’90, Rob Irwin ’90 and Chris Farley ’90 at Reunion Weekend.
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NEW FACES JOIN PREP FACULTY/STAFF The new members of the Prep faculty and staff for 2010-11 are: [Standing] Peter O’Connell ’06 (ASC, Religious Studies), Br. Bob Carson, S.J. (Mission and Ministry), Matt Boccuti ’06 (ASC, Science), Kevin Kearney ’06 (ASC, English), Gabe Infante (Manager of Student Activities, Football Coach), Charlie Schrier ’06 (ASC, Alumni/Development), Joe Kapusnick ’06 (ASC, History), Stephen Prybella ’02 (Economics) and Matt Schwartz ’02 (Music). [Sitting] David Gullotti ’06 (ASC, Mission and Ministry), Ronan Kelly (Science), Marielle Bietz (Religion), Lisann Castagno (Math) and Jaime Ball (Art).
OPEN HOUSE SMASHING SUCCESS The 2010 Open House, held on Sunday, November 7, was a huge success with a record 631 families, visiting and touring the school. Of that number, 325 were families of eighth graders, 278 of seventh graders, 20 sixth graders, two fifth graders and one fourth-grade family. In addition, five families of current high schoolers were in attendance. A special thank you goes to the Admissions team for organizing the event and to the students, faculty and staff volunteers who offered presentations and tours. In addition, the entire Prep community spread the word for the event by displaying lawn signs [pictured] throughout the Delaware Valley.
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GESU SCHOOL Prep President Rev. George W. Bur, S.J. ’59 [right] describes his work with the Saint Joseph’s University’s Ignatian College Connections program (ICC) during Gesu School’s 13th Annual Symposium on Transforming Inner-City Education, Closing the College Gap: What Can Universities, Schools and Communities Do? Each year, the ICC helps 25-30 non-traditional students who graduated from schools in Philadelphia and Camden
Professor of Political Science at the University of
prepare for college. The complete symposium transcript
Pennsylvania; Semaj, Gesu School’s Student Council
and audio recording are available online at
President, Richard D. Kahlenberg, Senior Fellow at the
www.gesuschool.org/2010symposiumrecap.htm.
Century Foundation and author of Rewarding Strivers:
Fr. Bur [third from left] and the rest of the symposium
Helping Low-Income Students Succeed in College; John
panelists: [pictured left to right] Dr. Wanda D. Bigham,
Bridgeland, President & CEO of Civic Enterprises and
former Assistant General Secretary for Schools, Colleges,
author of The Silent Epidemic; Taahira, Gesu School 8th
and Universities for the United Methodist Church;
Grader; and Christine S. Beck, President/CEO of Gesu
Eric J. Furda, Dean of Admissions for the University of
School and SJP trustee.
Pennsylvania; Symposium Moderator Dr. John J. DiIulio, Jr.,
THE PREP NEWS
Event co-chairs Eileen Kennedy, Marybeth Taras, Melissa McGrath with guest speaker Tom Burgoyne ’83 (AKA the Phillie Phanatic), Kathleen Burgoyne and Mothers’ Club moderator Ceal Biello
Tom Burgoyne’s mother Kathleen practices the “Phanatic whammy”
MOTHER-SON
Communion Luncheon
More than 1,000 mothers and sons attended the annual Mother-Son Communion Luncheon, held on Sunday, October 3. Prep President Rev. George W. Bur, S.J. ’59 celebrated Mass and then Tom Burgoyne ’83, AKA the Phillie Phanatic, was the keynote speaker. Special thanks go to event co-chairs Eileen Kennedy, Melissa McGrath and Marybeth Taras for organizing a wonderful event.
FALL 2010
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“BEST OF NORTH PHILLY PIZZA CONTEST”
Monday Thursday
Friday
The Student Council sponsored the first Spirit Week, leading up to the football game against La Salle on Saturday, October 30.
Monday: Clash Day, students, faculty and staff were encouraged to wear plaids, stripes, and loud colors.
Spirit Week Tuesday: Clone Day, everyone was encouraged to wear a blue sports coat, white shirt, crimson tie and khakis.
2010
Wednesday: After-school dodge ball competition between classes. Winning class faced the faculty.
Thursday: Prep Pride Day, all students, faculty and staff were encouraged to wear a shirt that displayed their sport or club or just their Prep Pride.
Friday: Seniors wore Halloween costumes while all others were encouraged to wear black. After school there was a spirit festival in the Fieldhouse.
HALLOWEEN MIXER
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THE PREP NEWS
FALL 2010
5
Catholic League Champions THE
FALL SEASON WAS HIGHLIGHTED BY THE
PERFORMANCE OF THE SOCCER TEAM, WHICH WON
CATHOLIC LEAGUE TITLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE 40-YEAR HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM AND THE PIAA DISTRICT 12 CHAMPIONSHIP. THE
Pat Kardish ’11 scored two goals in the CL championship [photo] and recorded a hat trick in the district title game. Jim Murray ’59, the longtime coach who instituted the sport in 1970, celebrated the victory with his team [photo]. The following Preppers have earned spots on the all-Catholic soccer team: (first team) Joe Adams '11 and J.T. Mauer '11, (second team) Ed McCartney '11, (third team) Dan Bradley '11, Nick Bruno '11 and Kardish.
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sp ort s usp pd ort ate s
Kneeling [l-r]: Zach Melnick ’12, Mac Ryan ’13, Ken Taras ’13, Jim O’Brien ’62 (moderator) Standing [l-r]: Will Gallagher ’05 (assistant), Greg Devine ’11, John Leighton ’11, Fenton Fitzpatrick ’11, Kieran Ryan ’12, Vince Sirianni ’12 Christian Patragnoni (head coach).
SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS THE
GOLF TEAM WON ITS SECOND TITLE IN THREE YEARS WITH A WIN OVER LA SALLE.
Seven Preppers (John Leighton '11, Greg Devine '11, Vince Sirianni '12, Zach Melnick '12, Kieran Ryan '12, Ken Taras '13 and Will Flood '13) were named to the all-Catholic Standing [l-r]: Kevin Kearney ’06 (assistant), Fran Kelly ’11, Colin Sawyer ’12, Brian Wolff ’11, Matt Winterle’12, Maguire Herriman ’12, Paul Gennaro ’12, Owen Glatts ’12, Terence Murphy ’11. Bottom row,[l-r]: Stephen Prybella ’02 (assistant), Mike Quinn ’99 (assistant), Rafael Donoso ’12, Curt Cockenberg ’71 (head coach). Mark Casale ’11 with his parents Mark and Karen during Senior Night festivities.
team [photo above].
THE CROSS COUNTRY SOUTHERN DIVISION
TEAM WON THE TITLE. At the District 12 cross
country meet Owen Glatz '12 finished third and Brian Wolff '11 finished sixth and both qualified for the State Championship. Also the team ran at the Catholic League Championships and finished fourth with Glatz, Wolff and Paul Gennaro '12 earning first-team, all-Catholic honors while Colin Sawyer '12 made the second team and Rafael Donoso '12, an exchange student from South America, earned honorable mention [photo, top left].
THE
FOOTBALL TEAM, UNDER FIRST YEAR HEAD COACH GABE INFANTE, FINISHED SECOND IN THE CATHOLIC LEAGUE RED DIVISION. At its game against La Salle, the two schools combined to raise $7,500 for the Kelly Rooney Foundation to support breast cancer research [photo, bottom left]. The following players earned all-Catholic honors: (first team) Luke Hutkin '12 (OL), Skyler Mornhinweg '12 (QB), Jeff Heath '11 (MP), Guy Cook '11 (DL), Eric Medes '12 (LB); (second team) Pat Kueny '11 (C), Mark Casale '11 (RB), Dan Sherry '13 (P), Heath (LB) and Michael DeFeo '10 (B). President Rev. George Bur, S.J. ’59, Prep Hawk, Obie O’Brien (Kelly Rooney’s father), Sean Rooney ’80, Haley Rooney and Principal Michael Gomez at halftime of Prep–La Salle game.
FALL 2010
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Pr e p E n t r e pr e ne u r s
JAY DEVINE ’79 FOUNDING PARTNER, DEVINE + POWERS
“
We felt like if we did the right thing, business would follow.”
– Jay Devine on the founding of Devine + Powers
JAY DEVINE ’79
IS A
PR
MAN.
HIS
JOB IS TO ENHANCE,
REPAIR OR RESTORE A CLIENT’S REPUTATION BUT IN SUMMING UP HE AND PARTNER TO START A
PR
VINCE POWERS’
DESIRE
FIRM, THE WORDS SOUND PERFECT. Develop a
Devine + Powers hired several senior PR experts, people with years of experience in their particular areas. They then targeted several niches: consumer, B to B, tourism to build on Philadelphia’s visitors boom; and now social media. The company now includes 12 employees and last year grew by 24% in the height of the great recession. They specialize in public relations, issues management (think crisis communications) and social media.
company that was honest with clients and provide to them experienced veteran PR minds. Not surprisingly, the model has led to a successful firm that is among the country’s fastest
Devine, a 1983 graduate of Georgetown University, first went to work at PR firms in Washington, D.C. In 1989, he was lured home to the Philadelphia area by an offer from area PR guru Brian Tierney. “I was surprised to find a firm in Philly that matched those I had worked for in D.C.,” Devine says.
Devine, who is in a long line of Preppers (father Mike is class of ’47, Uncle Dick is from class of ’45 and four brothers: Mike ’76, Matt ’80, Rob ’82 and Dave ’83), believes that his education at the Prep gave him the skills needed to run his own business. “I learned many things that I am grateful for including excellent analytical skills and intellectual curiosity,” he says. “The Prep introduced me to different subjects as well as a diversity of people and ideas from all over the area. There is never a sameness about it. That is an important skill in our business because I am always meeting new clients and learning about their needs and their fields.”
He stayed with Tierney for 14 years and through many incarnations of the company, eventually becoming the head of a PR group of 35 employees. In 2003, he and Powers, who ran the consumer group for the company, decided to open their own firm.
He also points to high expectations. “At the Prep, we were always pushed to perform at a high level and strive for excellence,” Devine says. “That was at the core of the school and it’s at the core of our business. We hold ourselves to that same very high standard.”
“My job had become too administrative,” Devine says. “I wanted to get back to finding communications answers for clients’ problems.”
And Devine understands the value of being a “Man for and With Others.” In addition to numerous pro bono clients, Devine is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Neumann University, is a former president and still a member of the National Adoption Center’s board of directors, and is a director of the Philadelphia Charity Ball and the Brent Celek Take Flight Foundation. “I learned that the more you give the more you will get back,” he says.
growing independent PR firms and was recently recognized as one of Philadelphia’s “Best Places to Work.”
He and Powers had a model to follow: avoid the “bait and switch” sales tactics that other firms were employing. That is, avoid the model of selling experience and then providing clients with less experienced people running the day to day interactions.
– Bill Avington ’90
“We went out and talked to clients at length and that was the biggest frustration that they shared with us,” he says, adding that company’s model of “Expertise. Every time” gave them “something unique to offer.”
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ROBERT VOGELBACHER ’00 PRESIDENT, MEN DURING
HIS
PREP
OF
STEEL REBAR FABRICATORS
DAYS, MANY
PEOPLE WOULD NOT HAVE PEGGED
ROBERT VOGELBACHER ’00 TO BECOME THE OWNER OF A STEEL REBAR MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
After all, he was headed for the U.S. Naval Academy where he would major in English, not exactly a blueprint for someone looking for a career in the steel rebar business. Nevertheless, that is exactly where Vogelbacher finds himself. He is the President of Men of Steel Rebar Fabricators, a company he began shortly after graduating from the Naval Academy in 2004. It was something that came about as Vogelbacher worked for his dad in a general contracting business. “I realized that no one in the industry was doing steel rebar from the beginning to end of the process,” says Vogelbacher. “For a concrete contractor, rebar is a difficult material. I saw the possibility of starting a company that would provide the concrete contractor with everything they would need for a rebar project.”
Steel rebar is used in virtually everything made out of concrete. It acts as the skeleton, providing shape and strength. Men of Steel does all of the work on the rebar, from engineering to fabricating to delivering, project managing and even installation. “There are companies that do some of the levels involved in producing the rebar but very few who do it all,” Vogelbacher says. “We pulled all of the aspects of the process, every service and product that the contractors need and provide it in one place. That has been our niche.” For the most part, Men of Steel works in the New York City market, where there are several mid-to-high rise concrete building projects. Men of Steel operates out of offices in Edgewater Park, N.J. The company began with serious “quick, on-the-job education,” says Vogelbacher, who also benefitted from his father-in-law’s expertise in the wholesale rebar business. But Vogelbacher himself had no experience with this very intricate material. Somehow, though, all of his training led to this. At the Prep, Vogelbacher rowed and led Kairos, in addition to playing basketball for three years. He says both the Prep and the Naval Academy prepared him well for operating his own business.
“I am able to get my point across, both verbal and written” he says. “I can state my opinion and take a position and defend that position. Those skills have helped me tremendously in business.”In addition to the steel rebar, Vogelbacher operates a solar business and a hardware store out of their South Jersey location. All of it adds up to knowing the value of hard work. “When we started, we went through the construction blue book and called people and then we called them again,” he says. “Then we went to see people and broke down doors. I was surprised to learn that people aren’t as good at that as you might think.” In addition, he learned another skill that makes him a good business man—morality. “I try to be honorable in business,” says Vogelbacher, who recently became engaged to his longtime girlfriend Kristen Carlin. “That might not always be the way to make a lot of fast money but it has paid dividends. It has helped us build a reputation. We always try to make a fair and moral decision, we have respect for our clients, our competition and our employees and we will do whatever it takes to meet deadlines and be good partners on a project. That has helped us tremendously.” – Bill Avington ’90
FALL 2010
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TOM O’CONNOR ’89 & JIM MCHUGH ’89 PARTNERS, APEX MEDICAL, INC. IT IS NO SURPRISE TO ANYONE THAT CLASSMATES JIM MCHUGH AND TOM O’CONNOR WENT INTO BUSINESS TOGETHER. In fact, they started their first company while still in college when, in the summer of 1991, they founded PCS (Poor College Students) to provide jack-of-all-trades work, everything from driveway sealing to pool cleaning. “Anything that people wanted us to do we did,” McHugh says laughing. “I heard my entire life, ‘you’ve got to work for yourself.’” McHugh took that literally, helping to start seven companies, including Apex with O’Connor. They incorporated the company in 1994 after some advice from Tom’s father, a neurosurgeon. “One day, my dad was talking about his need for custom-made devices for neurosurgery,” says O’Connor. “No one was doing that at the time. There was a void in the market.” O’Connor provided the ingenuity for the company while McHugh provided the business sense. Their first days featured a lot of listening, an important aspect of the company still today. “We went around to prominent neurosurgeons and tried to identify their needs,” says O’Connor, who is the Director of Product Development at Apex. “We want to understand their challenges and provide them a product that optimizes their abilities.” The company is best known for Apex Arachnoid Knives, a disposable version of the instruments used by neurosurgeons to operate on the delicate middle membrane that surrounds the entire central nervous system. The knives are disposable but highly engineered. O’Connor jokes that they are “over engineered” but that is part of what sets Apex apart. “We work directly with the end user and try to exceed their expectations so they never have a problem,” says McHugh. “We never want there to be a problem. Apex far exceeds anything else available.” O’Connor agrees. “You build a reputation and you want people to know that what you have is special,” he says. “People will pay a premium for that.” While some might scoff at a business model that doesn’t skimp on costs, both agree that skimping is non-negotiable. “We are dealing with an area of catastrophic failure,
so we want our product to perform perfectly every time,” O’Connor says. “It’s not even debated,” McHugh adds. Both men have leaned upon the experiences of their fathers. McHugh’s dad, George ’47, started AGF Manufacturing after working for large firms his entire life. “He wanted to take the positives of working for a big firm but none of the negatives,” McHugh says of his father. “He taught me to give the customers exactly what they want and that profit isn’t the first thing to think about.’” It is another piece of his father’s advice that leads to Apex’s fundamental tenet. “He used to say, ‘if you sell someone a good product, that person will buy more. But, if you sell a bad product, not only will that person not buy again, they will tell others not to buy it.” Apex has been built upon hard work and adaptability. O’Connor has no engineering or medical background (he was a European history and German literature major at Penn) but has learned the business through immersion. “I had to get out of my comfort zone and understand what is important to those who will use the product,” he says. That theory is echoed by McHugh, who majored in business and finance at Fairfield University. “To answer customer needs, you need to get out there with the customer,” he says. And the men both learned the goal of doing your best at all times during their years at the Prep. “The Jesuits taught me to do my best for the purpose of doing my best,” McHugh says. “You do it because it is right.” O’Connor points to high expectations set by Prep teachers. “You are given expectations when you arrive and are motivated to meet or exceed them during your four years,” he says. “The Prep was hard but that was the way we liked it. It was a challenge.” And neither man has shied from a challenge. Perhaps that’s why they work so well together. “We’re selling something that makes a difference and that makes it all worthwhile,” O’Connor says. McHugh agrees: “If you don’t believe in what you are making, then why bother?” – Bill Avington ’90
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THE PREP NEWS
TIM SPELL ’02 OWNER, VOFFICEWARE & NONPROFITCMS.ORG
AS A CHILD, TIM SPELL ’02 LOVED VIDEO GAMES. HIS DREAM THOUGH THAT DREAM WASN’T EXACTLY REALIZED, THE ROOTS HIMSELF RUN DEEP.
WAS TO START HIS OWN VIDEO GAME DESIGN FIRM.
“I always knew that I wanted to do something on my own, something in which I could take ownership,” he says.
According to Spell, Johar handles most of the technical side while Spell deals with the business end. The company now makes $500,000 in sales, has 150 clients on their list and just hired their first two employees (another salesperson and someone to handle search engine optimization). The company also utilizes a team of developers overseas (programmers in Russia, designers in India and a virtual assistant named Amy in the Philippines).
After graduating from the George Washington University in 2006, Spell went to work at KPMG, an accounting firm but did web design work on the side. A few months later, after seeking a partnership with Kunal Johar, a classmate from GW, his new company landed a major client. “It started off as part time,” says Spell, “but the side work snowballed into having a lot of clients. Then we got a large client and that allowed me to do it full time.” Spell and Johar started vOfficeware, a software development company that created everything from custom web applications to iPhone and Droid apps to accounting systems. It was originally set to create virtual offices for law firms but the broad reach of the company didn’t allow them to find traction as a business. They needed a niche. Being in Washington, D.C., where a large number of nonprofits operate, it seemed natural to focus on nonprofits and Nonprofitcms.org was born.
OF OWNING HIS OWN COMPANY AND WORKING FOR
Besides the C++ computer science class that he had at the Prep, Spell says that he learned leadership skills and how to portray himself thanks to his experience on the crew team. He also credits the Prep for his communication skills and says those skills are “the number one thing that I learned that was the most important going forward. Communicating efficiently and effectively is essential for running your own business.” For those looking to start their own company, Spell gives these words of advice: “there are so many ups and downs in doing anything. Never give up…keep going, no matter what you decide to do.” – Bill Avington ’90
“The whole reason it started was we were referred a nonprofit web design project,” says Spell. “We thought it was a shoo-in but we didn’t get the project. It was then that we realized that we needed to change our brand and become the company that nonprofits would go to for anything web related.”
I always knew that I wanted to do something on my own, something in which I could take ownership.”
“
As their name alludes, the company’s main focus is creating content management systems. However, they do all aspects of IT work. “It’s hard for these organizations to find companies who specialize in nonprofit technology,” says Spell. “There’s not a lot of people who are doing what we are doing.
FALL 2010
– Tim Spell ’02
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s t u d e n t pr of il e
ANDREW DIERKES ’11 “You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.” – DESMOND TUTU Andrew Dierkes ’11 knows all about the benefits of family. As one of seven children, he has learned so many valuable skills that have helped him through life. Recently, when asked to hypothetically sell himself to a college admissions director, Dierkes invoked his family, saying “I have had an interesting experience at home and have learned how to live in a small community: communicating, managing my time and schedule, and I think these are skills to take with me to the next level.” Although very much a part of the Prep community now, Andrew had a very different beginning than many other Prep students. He was homeschooled through eighth grade and embraces his experience, crediting his homeschooling for truly opening up the world of music to him. One of the requirements in the Dierkes family curriculum was to play the piano. At the age of eight, Andrew picked up the violin, which he now considers to be his “main instrument.” He is also proficient at playing the organ, having taken lessons twice a month for the past few years, and now does so at many Prep masses. Andrew hopes to continue to play music in college as he pursues an education in medicine, perhaps with nursing and/or eventually medical school. Andrew stands apart from his Prep brothers in another way—the Prep was not his first choice. He began his high school career at Monsignor Bonner High School, transferring to the Prep in his sophomore year. He wasted no time in becoming a major asset to its community. “I actually did better academically in my first year here than I did at Bonner,” he says. The classroom was not the only place he succeeded; Dierkes brought his musical talents to both the Christus Choir (vocals) and the Prep Open House (violin). He feels lucky to have had Dr. Stew Barbera ’86 as his counselor because he assisted Andrew’s transition and was able to help him with any questions. Near the end of his first year at the Prep, Andrew received information about an exchange student program run by the American Field Service (AFS) and immediately became interested. After much discussion with his parents, family, and the AFS coordinator, Andrew’s family became one of the first at the Prep to participate in the exchange program, hosting Jorge Alfaro from Santiago, Chile,
[Above] Milewski , right, with fellow 40-year veteran Jim O’Brien ’62 (English) [Right] Milewski teaching in new bio lab
for the first semester of Andrew’s junior year. Last summer, Andrew went to Santiago to live with Jorge and attended San Ignacio el Bosque for seven weeks, an experience that opened his eyes to a new world and made him cherish his Jesuit education. “It was neat that I went from one Jesuit school to another,” Andrew said. “‘AMDG’ was written everywhere, and it showed how universal the Jesuit culture is.” Right now, the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown University, and Case Western Reserve University are his top choices for their nursing programs. Many applications inquire about an experience that has influenced the applicant in some way. For Andrew Dierkes, that should not be too difficult. – Charles Schrier ’06
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THE PREP NEWS
fa c u lt y pr of il e
JOHN MILEWSKI “The hardest part about being a teacher [at the Prep] is the treadmill – you’re running all day setting up labs and preparing for class,” says long-time science teacher John Milewski. “It never lets up, but it keeps me trim,” he adds with a smile. If you think the Prep’s relentless schedule discourages or weighs down Milewski, think again. Having recently been recognized at the annual Honors Convocation for his 41 years of service, he joins a special group of teachers who have been instructing Prep students since 1970 or before. He says it is the students that keep him coming back year after year. “There are no students in the world like Prep students, and they are the reason I have been here for as long as I have,” Milewski says. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Milewski is a graduate of North Catholic High School and LaSalle University. He then journeyed over 5,000 miles away from home to the University of Hawaii, where he received his Masters degree in Marine Biology, which, he says, is the area of science he feels the most passion. “I love the ocean,” he says, “it is nature at its best, the birthplace of life.” It is at the University of Hawaii where he fell in love with teaching, as well, instructing a General Science Lab for freshmen students during his graduate studies at the university. Upon graduation from UH, Milewski joined the Peace Corps, opting to teach multiple subjects on the small island of Tonga, where he served for two years. After his time in the Peace Corps, Milewski was hired at the Prep, beginning his tenure here at the same time as English teacher Jim O’Brien ’62 and Rev. J. Vincent Taggart, S.J., the beloved history teacher and Prep ambassador, who passed away in 1996. Throughout his Prep career, Milewski has remained true to his education, enlightening freshmen and sophomores to the wonders of Biology. Additionally, in 1975, he taught the first section of Marine Ecology, which has since evolved and today is a popular component of the Biology Elective course for juniors and seniors. For 25 years, Milewski also dedicated his time to instruction of Advanced Placement (AP) Biology, but has recently passed on those duties to Brian Martin ’95. John Milewski’s dedication to and love for St. Joe’s Prep and its students is rivaled by few, and his inspired science lessons stretch across four decades of young men. With so many years of experience under his belt, Milewski says with conviction, “I wouldn’t want to teach anywhere else.” The Prep and its students sure are grateful for that. – Charles Schrier ’06
FALL 2010
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s t u d e n t pr of il e
PAT KARDISH ’11 On a journey to Tohatchi, New Mexico, on a service trip this past July, the group saw many sacred things. They saw something sacred, for instance, in an old and wizened Navajo shepherdess who had no teeth and turquoise eyes. She lived far away from anything, in the center of Earth, in a stack of sticks, her shelter a brown speck under the blue dome of Navajo sky. Hunched and barefoot, she held a rosary and walked a guest to her stable to show her twenty sheep. It was a sacred thing. It was a sacred thing, too, when senior Pat Kardish saw a field from the car window as they first drove into the dusty hamlet where they’d live and work for the next eight days. Now, in the English Department office, Pat recalls that moment. “I remember when we first entered the Tohatchi mission, and I saw that field--how wide it was, all that dirt.” The group later noticed that this baseball field, forgotten, had lost its basepaths. The adjoining playground was overgrown with weeds. Is there anything sadder? Sometimes on the trip they’d see kids outside, but the heat—and a beautiful, ancient culture afflicted by poverty, obesity and alcoholism—kept them in most of the time. It’s been five months since I first met Pat at the Philadelphia airport for that trip, and just two weeks since he scored the winning goal in the Philadelphia Catholic League Championship. In our conversation, he returns to that field in particular. “I thought, ‘I wonder if we can play on that.’” He smiles like he always does. “Do you remember those cactus
from Pat Kardish, and ended with Kardish duping a defender,
needles? Do you remember how the wind would blow and the
then the goalie.
needles would rise up and sting us? Do you remember how we’d come home covered in dirt and sweat?” Pat grins as he fires off these questions whose answers we both know. It went something like this: after a day’s work, nine of us would walk down a gravel road with some stray dogs to a field on the edge of town, on the edge of our world. We’d divide into teams. We’d dribble and pass. Some Navajo kids would watch us from behind a chain-linked fence. Or they, like me, would just sort of watch Pat Kardish dash and fly under shards of blue-orange sky, scoring and passing and kicking up all that brown dust, all those cactus needles, the ones that would make the three cheap balls we bought at the Gallup Walmartright off Route 66 go flat.
There was one minute and 37 seconds left when heaven met earth. The win proved to be the biggest of Coach Jim Murray’s life. “When I saw Pat get the ball, I said, ‘you know, this could be it. This could be the winning shot, the winning goal.’ And it was.” Murray, the school’s soccer sage smiles, his eyes staring at the soda machine, at the walls, at the air, at 1971 when he started the Prep soccer program, at those 544 wins since. “Winning the Catholic League Championship is certainly the culmination of a lot of effort of all our alumni,” Murray, a 1959 Prep grad, adds. Eventually the team would lose to Central Dauphin in the P.I.A.A. playoffs. The season was nonetheless karmic.
We’d scream. We’d laugh. We’d walk home. Brendan Sullivan ’92 is one of Murray’s most esteemed alumni,
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We didn’t know then what we do now, that in a few months,
a Prep history teacher who this season became Murray’s
Pat Kardish would do one of the most sacred things in Prep
assistant coach. Sullivan is an all-time Prep soccer great who
soccer history. This time, on a cold November night, on a lush
Murray says in the same breath as Justin Ceccarelli ’89, Jimmy
green field under those big white lights at Archbishop Ryan
Wallace ’81, and Joe Diviny ’76. According to Sullivan, Pat, who
High School, hundreds of fans—including no small tribe of Prep
scored eight goals as a junior and 22 as a senior, developed
soccer alumni—would watch him dash and fly and score that
more poise and peace in his game this season. “Pat matured
winning goal in what had been a 1-1 game with Archbishop
greatly as a player this year,” says Sullivan, who played
Wood. The play began threading itself together 50 yards away
professionally after college. “Near the midpoint of the season,
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NOW YOU CAN SHOP he started to simplify his game. He ceased being so frenetic. Not
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rushing allowed him a wider scope in terms of his field vision and really slowed the game down for him.” Nothing seemed slow in the moment Pat scored. Sullivan’s comment about Pat’s peace is an ironic one in light of the crazy speed and insane movement of Pat’s winning goal, the one that unburdened the soccer community here after 17 title-game appearances without a win. There was the pile-on. The crowd stormed the field. The players doused Coach Murray in Gatorade, then hoisted him onto their shoulders. Pandemonium. The jubilance and the thrill, the relief and incredulity—these were all palpable on that green field this past November, as poignant as cactus needles in July in little Tohatchi, New Mexico. Which is where Pat’s story has to return, because it may be where Pat’s growth into someone new began. “The Navajo trip,” Pat tells me, “was the best trip I’ve ever taken. It introduced me to a new lifestyle. I needed to see how the Navajo have a lot of trouble in their land.” Often, Pat—who moved from Alabama to Bucks County right after eight grade—stayed longer to help Calvin, our friend and Navajo carpenter. Calvin worked slowly and never moved frenetically. Together, Pat and Calvin finished the roof of a hogan, the name for a traditional Navajo dwelling place. “Nailing those boards to that roof was painful,” Pat says. “But I liked the symmetry and precision of it all,” he adds. Pat is also the kicker for the football team and spends his autumn days dashing to practices for both sports. As our trip came to an end, we cleaned up our things and said goodbye. We said goodbye to Tina, whose roof was the one we fixed, who taught us about hard times and how the gods speak to us in the changing skies. We said goodbye to Calvin, who taught us how to fix a roof and, beyond that, how to build a community. We said goodbye to our Jesuit friend, Fr. Bob, who showed us how to be at selfless service for our neighbor, like the
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old shepherdess with turquoise eyes who led me to her sheep. Then, with Pat Kardish in the front seat, we left. We passed our soccer field, the sandlot Pat saw and then baptized with his
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footwork and laughter. There were some Navajo kids playing on it. Much like the Prep’s soccer season, this was no small resurrection, some green in brown, a sacred thing. – Susie Cook
FALL 2010
for the latest in Prep apparel and keepsakes. Every item carried in the store is now available online. So save a trip to 18th and Girard and do your shopping from home.
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Class of
1985
1965
1970 1975
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1980
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Reunion Weekend
2010
2005
1990
FALL 2010
2000 1995
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Members of the Class of 1973 with Fr. Bur: [l-r] Frank McCusker, Joe McElwee, Al Zimmerman, Armand Della Porta and Jerry Maginnis
President’s Club
Music teacher Matt Schwartz ’02 (saxophone) with Evan Westcott ’12 (piano)
DINNER
Board chairman John McConnell ’70 presents brief remarks
Rich and Mimi Devine, Prep Fund cabinet chairs for parents of 2011, with Principal Michael Gomez
Classmates from the Class of 1950 John McBrearty and Michael Robinson, their wives Marianne and Rosemary with Beth Missett, Director of Hawktion and Special Events
Mothers’ Club Chair Madeleine Farrell [second from left] with her brother Joe Fox [far right] and their spouses Christopher [far left] and Susan [second from right] Two members of the 2009-10 Prep Fund Cabinet Kevin Maloney ’00 [far left] and Mark Meehan ’75 [second from right] with Prep President Rev. George W. Bur, S.J. ’59 [middle], Ceal Biello, Director of the Prep Fund, and Al Zimmerman ’73, Director of Development
Lee Casaccio ’70 with Athletic Director Jim Murray ’59
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f r o m t he a r c hi v e
1919 PROMOTION FOR BASKETBALL GAME St. Joseph's Prep 26 - (Roman) Catholic High 20 St. Joseph's Gymnasium 25 January 1919 Drawn by Clem McGovern ’19 Donated by Betty Flynn, Wife of Joseph Flynn '50 and Daughter of Charles B. Laughlin '19, Captain of the 1918-19 Squad
1911-1912 FACULTY 1911-1912 Posed on East Side of Church of Gesu
1970s REV. GEORGE MURRY, SJ & REV. ANTHONY MCHALE, SJ Former residents of Jesuit Hall
1922 PHILADELPHIA WARD MAP, 1922 Before high school building along Thompson Street was opened
These photos are some of many housed in the Prep’s new archive center, which is managed by history teacher Bill Conners ’80. If you have any Prep photos, memorabilia or other items (pennants, yearbooks, pins, etc.), contact him at wconners@sjprep.org.
FALL 2010
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MAGUIRES TOUR SCIENCE LABS This fall, James Maguire, founder of Philadelphia Insurance Company, was the keynote speaker at the annual Honors Convocation, relating his “keys to success” to the students. Afterwards, Mr. Maguire, his wife Frances and daughter Susie toured the new science labs. Here they are pictured with President Rev. George W. Bur, S.J. ’59, science chair Barbara Brown and chemistry teacher Joe Feighan. Brown and Feighan were the main designers of the new labs. [l-r] Feighan, Frances and Jim Maguire, Brown, Fr. Bur, Susie Maguire
Hawktion 2011:
Saturday, April 30 http:// hawktion.sjprep.org
Volunteers Needed Donations Being Accepted Sponsorship Opportunities Available 215-978-1004
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Save the Date This year’s honoree will be
Monday, May 16, 2011 Philadelphia Cricket Club
Leo Carlin ’55
http://prepclassic.sjprep.org
Reunion FALL 2010
Weekend
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1930s
Rev. Stephen Garrity, S.J. ’57 is working in pastoral care with senior Jesuits at The Jesuit Center in Wernersville.
Earl Martin ’38 was the guest of honor on the occasion of his 90th birthday at a family reunion in Villas, NJ this past summer. Attendees included his daughter, Bernadette Ruggles and her husband Mark, Earl’s sister, Regina Herman, who is 95. Earl, a retired attorney, lives in California, but spends his summers at his vacation home in Bethany Beach, DE.
Anthony Stevens-Arroyo ’58 writes an online column for the Washington Post and Newsweek under the title “Catholic America.” He also serves on the Monroe County board that makes grant awards to social services in the area. He has lived in Stroudsburg with his wife since retirement in 2007 as Professor Emeritus at Brooklyn College.
1940s
Rev. George Bur, S.J. ’59, Prep President, offered the opening prayer at a ceremony in front of Independence Hall to celebrate the Fourth of July “Welcome America” festivities earlier this year.
Thomas Harrington ’43 was honored by the Football Alumni Association at the annual Hawk Huddle which was held in October at the Prep. Tom received the Ank Scanlan Award for his many years of dedication to Prep football. Rev. William Byron, S.J. ’45, former Prep President, has authored a new book, Next Generation Leadership, a “toolkit for those in their teens, twenties and thirties who want to be successful leaders.” Rev. Francis Reese, S.J. ’45 celebrated his 50th Anniversary as a priest and is in his 13th year of Hispanic rural ministry in the mountains of western North Carolina. He continues to work with the Spiritual Exercises with several lay groups and individuals.
1950s John Gahran ’50 reports that he shot his age, 76, in golf on 7/20/09, just one day before his birthday. Dr. John Lane ’50, called a “renowned Catholic Doctor” by The Catholic Standard and Times, has retired after a long career, most recently as part of a group practice in Penndel. Dr. Lane was a member of the Philadelphia guild of the Catholic Medical Association and a former president and a past national president of the group. Rev. Joseph Feeney, S.J. ’52 delivered a paper on Gerard Manley Hopkins at an international conference in Spokane, Wash., in July, 2010. He began his 40th year of teaching English at Saint Joseph’s University (punctuated by teaching at Georgetown, Santa Clara, and Seattle University) this fall. He tells us he enjoys teaching as much as the first day he started! Most Reverend Robert Maginnis ‘52 officially retired from administrative responsibilities last summer. Throughout his 49 years as a priest, 14 of them as an auxiliary bishop, he touched the lives of thousands across the Archdiocese. Leo Carlin ’55 was part of the Philadelphia Eagles’ celebration of the 1960 NFL Championship team, the year he started parttime with the team. “I am absolutely thrilled to have surpassed 50 seasons in professional football. I owe a great deal of thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles organization for honoring the team and me on this memorable occasion.” (Picture) Rev. Anthony Bellesorte ’57 has been appointed general manager of the Abbey of New Clairvaux in Vina, Calif.
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Joseph Clark ’59 is President/CEO of CCM Services, Inc. in San Diego, Calif. The company provides over 1,000 e-learning courses in financial, risk and compliance for Global Professionals. Courses are certified for credits by NASBA, the Professional Risk Managers International Association and the Global Association of Risk Professionals. Exam Prep courses for several certifications are also available. The other valuable service is the “Hood Robbin” hotline where companies can provide an independent, cost effective process for whistleblowers to report waste, fraud and abuse. Dr. Edward Szuszczewicz ’59, who is married with four children and nine grandchildren, keeps busy professionally with two start-up businesses, a small R & D and international technology transfer consulting company and a small spin-off S-corporation developing the product form of a patent-pending technology. He is also engaged at George Mason University as an Affiliate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy where he is developing an initiative he calls “A Forum on Physics in Medicine” with objectives focused on creating a new generation of practicing physicians and medical researchers. He’s been a dedicated jogger since sophomore track at the Prep and is an ardent amateur photographer.
1960s William McNulty ’60, who was employed in the title insurance business for 37 years including 24 years self-employed, is retired and living in Virginia Beach, VA. He is proud to announce the birth of his fourth grandchild, but first granddaughter, Jade Hyunchung Virella. Eugene Norrett ’61 will be retiring from Fab Owners Association at the end of this year. In his over 40 year career in semiconductors, he has held senior management positions with Motorola Semiconductors, Gartner Group and Amkor Technology, a high-tech semiconductor product manufacturer that includes Intel and IBM among its primary customers. He and his wife Linda have two children and four grandchildren. They live in Lincoln, Calif., but plan to move to the Phoenix, Ariz., area after retiring. Dr. Anthony Carbo ’62 is now retired, after most recently serving Director of Taylor Hospital’s Department of Emergency Medicine. He and his wife Lucille live in Media. Joseph Toto ’63, who recently launched JRT Consulting, LLC, is a senior-level Human Resources and Business Leader who retired from Becton Dickinson and Company in 2010 as Director of Leadership Development and Learning. Joe’s experience spans 35 years of broad based management,
consulting and coaching with several large scale global organizations including Roche, Rhone-Poulenc (currently Sanofi-Aventis), Betz Labs (currently par of GE) and Sperry Univac (currently Unisys). Andrew Coates ’65 and his wife Anne recently opened a law practice in Glenside. Coates & Coates, PC specializes in elder law, wills, trusts, estate planning and estate administration. Dr. John McPhilemy ’65, physician for the Philadelphia 76ers, was given the National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association’s award for Team Physician of the Year for 2010. Dr. McPhilemy is part of the Philadelphia Orthopedic Group. Dr. Thomas Sutula ’67 was the recipient of the William G. Lennox Award for 2009 for pioneering research into mechanisms underlying seizure activity in the brain. Sutula, professor and chair of neurology at the medical school of the University of WisconsinMadison, received the lifetime achievement award during the December 2009 annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society in Boston. Dr. Sutula is cofounder and chief technical officer of NeuroGenomeX, Inc.
1970s John Devine ’70 and his wife Linda celebrated their daughter’s wedding in June. They then took a driving vacation, visiting the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Canton, Ohio), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Cleveland, Ohio), Henry Ford Museum (Dearborn, Mich.), spent three nights in Chicago and toured the Notre Dame campus in South Bend, IN. They spend every Easter in Key West, FL and plan of taking a seven-day cruise to the Western Caribbean in January. Francis Lipiecki ’70 recently was appointed Vice President of Engineering at Draths Corp., a bio tech, clean tech start-up firm. Gerard Sena ’70 is employed as a Brokerage Manager at Crump Life Insurance Services. He and his wife Linda perform with a Polish Folkdance Group and an International Folkdance Group. Gerald McHugh, Esq. ’72, an attorney with the law firm of Raynes McCarty, has been appointed Chairman of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Rev. Richard Malloy, S.J. ’73, a Chaplain and Professor of Anthropology at Chestnut Hill College, spent the summer as the chaplain at Yellowstone National Park. He celebrated three masses per weekend at locations throughout the massive park. Joseph Scott ’73 has been named President and CEO of Liberty Health, an integrated health care system with two hospitals located in Hudson Co., N.J. Joe and his wife Gail reside in Jersey City, N.J. Br. David Betz, S.M. ’75 was recently appointed the local area coordinator for the Marianist Brothers and priests in the St. Louis area. He continues to work at St. Patrick Center as a mental health case manager for veterans who are homeless and have substance abuse and mental health issues. Rev. Msgr. Paul DiGirolamo ’75, pastor of Old St. Mary’s Parish in Society Hill, has been appointed judicial vicar of the Archdiocesan Metropolitan Tribunal by Cardinal Justin Rigali. Msgr. DiGirolamo has been assistant judicial vicar since 1992. He succeeds Bishop-elect Michael Fitzpatrick.
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Michael Scullin, Esq. ’75 recently was named a Fellow at the Institute for Corean-American Studies, Inc. (ICAS). Michael is Counsel to McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP and Honorary Counsel of France in Philadelphia and Wilmington. Philip DiPrimio ’76 is a Vice President and Wealth Advisor at Morgan Stanley in West Chester. He and his wife Rosemary and their two children live in Glen Mills. Larry Dougherty ’78, Temple’s associate athletic director, was named the president of the College Sports Information Directors of America and received the organization’s 25-year service award at its convention. Jay Devine ’79, Founding Partner of Devine & Powers and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Neumann University, and his wife Bridget live in Wayne with their two children, JP (12) and Meg (10).
1980s Robert D’Anjolell ’80 is happy to report that his son Robert is in the freshman class at the Prep. His other son Michael is currently in eighth grade at St. Aloysius Academy where he plays football. Rob is an assistant coach along with Tim Irvine ’87 and head coach Leo Carlin ’81. His daughters Tina and Abby are in fifth and second grades. Rev. Joseph Farrell ’80 has been named Pastor of St. Leo Parish in Northeast Philadelphia. Bernard Kitzinger ’80 is Executive Vice President of Business Development, CableNet Services, Inc., a leading fulfillment services provider for Comcast Cable. He and his wife Michelle reside in Washington Township, N.J., with their three children. James Arimond ’81 recently began his fifth year teaching at YMCA Triad North Alternative Program in Sarasota, Fla. Triad is a program which allows students who have been expelled from Sarasota’s public schools to continue their education and remedy their behavior issues. Jim is certified in Florida to teach Social Science, Math and Science. Dr. Martin Herman ’82 was named a top doctor for orthopedic surgery by Philadelphia Magazine in its annual listing of the best physicians in the Philadelphia area. The magazine determined the most accomplished doctors in specific specialties by a poll of area physicians. Dr. Herman is a staff physician at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and associate professor in orthopedic surgery at Drexel University’s School of Medicine.
Cdr. Robert Hardegen, USN ’84 is congratulated on his graduation from the National Defense University, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, by his father, Bob Hardegen ’61 and his Professor, Dr. Charles Cunningham, Lt. Gen, USAF (retired) ‘59. (Picture) Joseph Cunningham ’85, a realtor with Remax in Northeast Philadelphia, and his wife Tara live in Philadelphia with their four boys Matt, Joey, Nick and Aidan. Michael Garry ’85, managing member of Yardley Wealth Management, LLC in Newtown, has been named a 2010 Five Star Wealth Manager by Philadelphia Magazine and was listed in their November issue. Dr. Joseph Iocono ’85 has been appointed Chief of the Division of Pediatric Surgery for Kentucky Children’s Hospital. He is an associate professor of surgery in the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and is also Director of the Pediatric Trauma Program and Associate Director of the Minimally Invasive Surgery Center for University of Kentucky HealthCare. Matthew MacDonald ’85 is proud to report that his son Joseph recently graduated with the Prep’s Class of 2010 as a member of the National Honor Society and the football program. Joseph is pursuing a biomedical engineering degree at the University of Pittsburgh. Sean Gabaree ’86 is in his fourth year of teaching social studies/history at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland. Scott Grande ’86 was recently promoted to Assistant Vice President of Banking Operations Manager at Firstrust Bank. In his new position, he supervises the operations and compliance of nine branches in Bucks County and Northeast Philadelphia. He has also recently become President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Philadelphia. Paul Jaskot, Esq. ’86, a partner in Reed Smith LLP, has been appointed the new practice group leader of the firm’s U.S. Corporate & Securities Group (C&S). Paul served as deputy practice group leader of C&S since 2007. Paul and his wife Annamaria live in Bryn Mawr with their two daughters Sara and Julianna. (Picture)
John Kitzinger ’82 is with the FBI in Philadelphia and was recently promoted to Supervisory Special Agent, Violent Crimes Task Force. His foreign assignments included deployment to Baghdad, Iraq in 2005.
Brandon Brown ’87 has been consulting since the mid-90’s in the areas of technical assistance and capacity building of youth-centered non-profits in Philadelphia and around the country.
Craig Eiser ’83 is employed as a mechanical engineer in Delaware County and lives with his wife and three children in Cochranville.
Dominic Comeratore ’88, who started his acting career with the Cape and Sword Drama Society, was recently cast in a production of “Renovations.” The play, based on the book by John Marchese called Renovations: A Father and Son Rebuilt a house and rediscover Each Other, was performed at The Blank Theatre Company in Los Angeles, Calif. Dominic played the role of John, a burned-out magazine writer as he attempts to re-connect with his construction worker father by renovating a house near his hometown of Scranton. Dominic has an extensive resume of work including theater, film, and television and lives in Santa Monica, Calif.
Rev. Philip Florio, S.J. ’83 was recently appointed the new director of campus ministry at Fordham University after serving as Director/Chaplain at the Newman Campus Ministry Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Before that, he was chaplain and assistant to the vice president of student life at Saint Joseph’s University and director of campus ministry at the University of Scranton.
FALL 2010
Antony Braithwaite ’89 starred in Montgomery Theater’s production of “Moonlight and Magnolias,” which ran this past summer. He was nominated for two Barrymore Awards, one for Outstanding Leading Actor in a Play (Sam in “Fully Committed” at the Montgomery Theater) and with Jim Stanek for Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical (“The Story of My Life,” at Act 2 Playhouse). Tony won the Barrymore Award in October for best ensemble for his work on “The Story of My Life.” He recently directed the Cape and Sword Drama Society’s production of the hit Broadway show “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.” Anthony Ciotti ’89 completed a Masters Degree from Touro University in Emergency and Disaster Management (Summa cum Laude) in late 2008. He is currently serving in Afghanistan with the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) working Health Sector Development until March 2011. He and his wife Janene, who were married in the fall of last year, have recently become the proud parents of a son.
1990s Frank Costa ’90 is employed at Oak Financial Partners in Marlton, N.J., as a Financial Advisor and Employee Benefit Specialist. He and his wife Monique reside in Mullica Hill, NJ with their two sons Frank, Jr. and Nicholas. Christian DiCicco, Esq. ’90 has opened a highly personalized law practice specializing in consumer bankruptcy. He can be reached at www.MyPhillyBankruptcyLawyer.com. Michael Friedman ’90 and Greg Konow ’90 are the Creators of “The Super Man.” The show, now in its second season, won the Audience Award at the 2010 ITV Festival. Both Mike and Greg also star in the show. Robert Campbell ’91, owner and founder of Alliance Solutions Group, was recognized on the 2010 INC 500/5000 list of fastest growing companies in the United States. Bob works to prepare communities, the military and emergency responders for the full-spectrum of disasters. He and his wife Amy continue to be engaged in global mission work. Kevin McGowan ’91 recently ran the successful reelection campaign of Congressman Mike Simpson of Idaho. After the election Kevin moved back to Philadelphia and has taken a job as a commercial real estate broker with Newmark Knight Frank Smith Mack in Wayne. Gerard Stefan ’93 was appointed a business member of the 2010 Hero Thrill Show which was held on September 18 at the Wells Fargo (formerly Wachovia) Center. The Hero Thrill Show is an honorable Philadelphia tradition since 1954; its mission is to raise money to pay the college tuition for the children of Police and Firefighters who are killed in the line of duty. Jerry’s association with the Fraternal Order of Police includes providing memorials at no cost to the families of fallen police officers, in alignment with his family company’s (Lifestone by Stefan) Catholic tradition of giving back to those who protect and serve.
Richard Dankanis ’95 is owner of Dank Brothers Construction. He and his wife Meredith live in Havertown with their daughter Ryan Elisabeth and their new son Cooper John who was born in May. Justin DiDomenico ’95 is President of Building Blocks Behavior Consultation, Inc., an agency that provides services to children with autism. He is also an adjunct professor teaching graduate students at Saint Joseph’s University. He and his wife Leanne live in Swedesboro, N.J. Robert Gerhardt ’95 has posted the first photographs from his new photo reportage “Brooklyn Masjid” on his website. The photographs document all the aspects of the community center and the mosque, from prayer times, to the school that is run on the weekends, to following the various sport groups for the children and the various children’s activities. This year-long photo documentary will be updated throughout the year on his website. Brendan Marzano ’95 is employed as a sales representative for Republic Services, Inc., a leader in the Waste and Recycling Removal world. He, his wife Julie and their daughter Nadia live in Springfield. Christopher Pohlig ’95 is a superintendent for the Whiting-Turner Contracting Company. He recently finished a multi-use stadium for Loyola University in Baltimore. He lives in Maryland with his wife Mary and children Ian, 7 and Guinevere, 4. Maj. James Tobin ’96 has been in the Air Force for 10 years and was recently appointed to a program called the AFPAK Hands Program. He will assist the AFG government build an acquisition program. Daniel Annarelli ’97 is the History Department Chair at Loyola Preparatory High School in Los Angeles, Calif., where he teaches AP European and World History and is also the JV Baseball coach. In July, he was the tour guide for a group of students traveling throughout Italy. Philip Doherty ’97 and James McCafferty ’97 recently purchased McCloskey’s Tavern on Cricket Avenue in Ardmore. McCloskey’s, the oldest Irish Pub on the Main Line, features live music on Friday nights and Quizzo on Saturday nights hosted by Ed Scanlon ’96.
American Childhood Gone, Well, Wrong which is published by Harper Perennial. Justin Pizzi ’97, a reporter and producer for NBC 10 in Philadelphia, won an Emmy at the 2010 MidAtlantic Emmy Awards in the category of “Human Interest Program/Special” for his segment “Be a 10 in 10 Weeks.”
Matthew Faber ’00 was recently married and lives in West Chester, Ohio. He is pursuing a law degree at Northern Kentucky University and will graduate in 2011.
Dr. Sean Waldron ’97 recently finished his residency in orthopedic surgery at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He is currently working on a one-year fellowship in pediatric orthopedic surgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital which concludes in July 2011. He has accepted a faculty position as a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans, La., which will start in the fall of 2011.
Joseph Mirarchi ’00, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2003 and received an M.S. in Library and Information Science from Drexel University in 2007. He worked as a legal and jack-of-all-trades librarian for Penn and the Free Library of Philadelphia before starting law school at Rutgers University (Camden). He is a Staff Editor of the Rutgers Law Journal and will graduate in 2012.
Steven Walsh ’97 has been named the men’s and women’s cross country/track coach at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va.
Christopher Ryan, S.J. ’00 moved to Worcester, Mass., in August 2009 to teach at the Nativity School of Worcester. He’s in the second of three years in this assignment as a Jesuit regent; he currently teaches junior high religion, social studies and Spanish. Last April, he completed the Boston Marathon in under three hours. He has been a Jesuit for six years, having entered the Society just after graduating from Dartmouth College in 2004.
Brian Conley ’98 has been named the new Head Rowing Coach at Lehigh University. Howard Brown ’99, Will Dennis ’01 and Liz McDonald (MMA ’01), all Cape and Sword alums, starred in the comedy production “Everybody Loves Opal” at the Montgomery Theatre in the fall. The show was directed by Tony Braithwaite ’89 with assistant director Patrick Dooley ’10, also a Cape and Sword alum. Also, Brown recently starred as boxing champ Jack Dempsey in the play “Molumby’s Millions” at the Centre Theatre in Norristown. Anthony Giampetro ’87 was also part of the cast. Brian Callahan ’99 won an Emmy Award as producer of the best morning newscast in Washington, D.C. for his work on WRC-TV’s “News4 Today.” Joseph Kadlec, Esq. ’99 is an associate in the Corporate Practice Group and also assists the Securities Litigation Practice Group at WilmerHale, a law firm in Washington, D.C. In both his corporate practice and securities litigation work, Joe represents clients with regard to accounting and auditing compliance standards involving the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board as well as domestic and international registration requirements. Christopher Panna ’99 is now teaching at the International School of Port of Spain in Trinidad & Tobago after three years living in Paraguay.
2000s Francis Cattie ’00 graduated from Penn State University with a B.A. in Crime Law and Justice. He is currently employed with Lower Moreland Township as a police officer.
Lt. Timothy Donahue ’97 (Battalion surgeon), Maj. Thomas McAvoy ’96 (Civil Affairs Officer), and Capt. Colin Graham ’02 (Logistics Officer) were forward deployed with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, an infantry battalion from Camp Pendleton, CA, to Garmsir District, Helmand Province in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from April - November 2010. (Picture) Jason Mulgrew ’97, who writes a popular blog “Everything Is Wrong With Me: 30, Bipolar and Hungry” with more than 200 million hits since its inception and was named one of People magazine’s “50 Hottest Bachelors in 2005,” has released a book Everything is Wrong With Me: A Memoir Of An
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Memorial Day weekend city to shore ride has grown to include over 80 riders drawn from students, alumni and friends of the Prep. (Picture)
Michael Day ’00 and John McConnell ’00 received the San Miguel Febres Cordero award from San Miguel School of Camden for their continuing support of the school through their annual XBA bike ride. The
Michael Barker ’01 was named to the Board of Directors for The Center for Autism, the oldest autism treatment facility in the country. Ned DelGuercio ’01, Robert Duff ’06 and Mike Nucci ’06 were selected to represent the USA at the World Rowing Championships in New Zealand. Ned was coxswain of the men’s 8, Robert was a member of the men’s lightweight 8 and Mike was a member of the men’s lightweight pair without coxswain. Justin Hopkins ’02 returned to Philadelphia after finishing two successful opera engagements in Europe. The production of Macbeth with Le Theatre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels was named Best Production of the Year in Europe by Opernwelt, a leading German opera magazine. Justin has been contracted with Opera Company of Philadelphia to sing Friar Laurence in their production of Romeo et Juliette. The production will take place in February, 2011 at the Academy of Music. Edward Keels ’02 is the owner of Loose Leaf Concepts, an advertising agency doing everything from branding and logo creation to marketing materials and website design. Ed works with a variety of clients, locally, nationally and even globally. He got his start working at Alta Communications, now The Karma Agency, a top public relations firm in Philadelphia. John Cooper ’03, a high school math teacher in North Carolina, was selected Teacher of the Month. He and his fiancé Holly will be getting married in December, 2011. John Infanti ’03 who works as a producer at WPXI, the NBC affiliate in Pittsburgh, received an Emmy award at the 2010 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards in September in the category of “Outstanding Spot News Reporting” for his coverage of the G 20 Protests last fall in Pittsburgh. He was recognized earlier this year for this work when he received the Edward R. Murrow award for “Breaking News Coverage.”
THE PREP NEWS
Jerry Sullivan ’03 received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Temple University this past spring. Mark Rubbo ’04, who was the lead compositor for the team on the HBO Series “Bored to Death,” received an Emmy Award in the category Outstanding Main Title Design. Mark, who worked at Curious Pictures, is now employed at Click3X in New York. You can see some of his work at www.markrubbo.com. Matthew Behounek ’05 graduated from the University of Delaware in 2009 with a degree in finance and is currently employed by Prudential Financial Services. Juan Cave ’05 will be finishing his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology in the spring of 2011. He plans on attending graduate school, pursuing a masters’ degree in prosthetics and orthotics. Currently he is conducting research in the applied physiology department at Georgia Tech where he is working with cats studying their muscle activity and forces exerted over different walking paths (narrow, wide and normal). It is their hope that with this data, they will better understand how different muscles interact with each other along with the forces necessary to maintain stability. 2010 was his last season of Track and Field for the Georgia Tech team but he will still train to compete independently in the spring.
Christopher Gannon ’07 was busy this last summer completing the Leadership Development and Assessment Course (LDAC), the 29-day ROTC capstone training for Army cadets entering this final year before commissioning as a second lieutenant. LDAC takes place every year at Fort Lewis, Washington, and serves to assess the training cadets have received over the past three years in ROTC. Chris, who is a senior at Fordham University, acts as a company commander at NYC Army ROTC. He plans on commissioning in the spring as a Military Intelligence officer in either the Army Reserve or National Guard. Matthew Iacoviello ’08, who transferred from Syracuse University to Saint Joseph’s University in the fall, was an integral part of the Prep’s Development Office for the spring semester. Matt helped with design, updating alumni profiles, reunions, and Hawktion. He is majoring in Classics and Food Marketing at St. Joe’s. Andrew Goebel ’09 started off his sophomore year at DeSales University by being cast as Morris in the season opener for the Main Stage Production of “The Dark at the Top of the Stairs.”
Christopher Gosnell ’09 is a sophomore student at Philadelphia University. He was selected as a recipient of the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust Scholarship and has been inducted into the Alpha Lambda Delta National Honors Society. He is an active member in the Campus Activity Board and The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Chris will be a Residence Assistant while continuing his studies in engineering. Pat McGlone ’10, Lou Lombardi ’11 and John McGrorty ’11 represented the United States at the World Rowing Championships in Prague in August. McGlone and Lombardi won gold medals as part of the Junior Men’s 8 while McGrorty was in the Junior Men’s 4 w/ coxswain that placed fifth at the World Championship, the first time that the men’s four had made the final. Louis Porreca ‘10, [photo below, standing, second from left] a freshman biology major at the University of Scranton, was awarded a Presidential Scholarship by the University. The scholarships are awarded to incoming freshmen with outstanding records in their high school and community involvement. The scholarship covers four years of full tuition provided that the student maintains at least a 3.25 grade point average.
Brenden Connolly ’05 has returned to the United States after teaching English for a year in Changsha, China. He taught at Yali Middle School and spent his free time traveling around China, as well as, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Colin Curtin ’05 was recently named the Director of Basketball Operations for the Niagara University Men’s Basketball Program. Colin graduated from Niagara University in 2009 with a degree in Sports Management. He was actively involved as a manager of the men’s program all four years. Andrew Kennedy ’05 has recently married and is living in Wayne where he works at Boyd Tamney Cross, a mid-size, full service marketing communications firm. Matthew McCabe ’05 has been nominated by President Barack Obama to the Board of the Corporation for National and Community Service. McCabe is currently participating in Teach For America where for the past year he served as a teacher at George B. Swift Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois. John Hendrickson ’06 has been hired to be a music journalist for The Denver Post. John, a 2010 graduate of Penn State University, received numerous writing awards during his four years at Penn State, and previously worked for the Post as a summer intern in 2009. Nelson Russom ’06 and Perry Russom ’07, both Syracuse University baseball players, were named AllAmericans by the National Club Baseball Association this past July. Kyle Sweeney ’06 graduated from the University of Maryland where he worked for four years as a student manager for the men’s basketball team. He now is studying for an M.S. in Athletic Coaching Education at West Virginia University and serves as a Grad Assistant for their men’s basketball team. Joseph D’Orazio ’07, a senior offensive lineman at the University of Pennsylvania, was named to the preseason All-American third team. He is the only Ivy League player on the list.
FALL 2010
ALUMNI/FATHER-SON
Communion Breakfast Sunday, February 27 (SNOW
DATE:
March 6)
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Maj. Brian Reed ’85 AWARD WINNERS:
Jim Murray ’59 (Alumnus of the Year) Sr. Kate Woody, G.N.S.H. (Schnorr Service Award)
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BIRTHS Olivia Blake to Aliza and Mark Thomas '90 [1]
1
2
3
Thomas Maximus to Christina and Thomas Marsden '90 Kevin Louis to Kim and Brian Martin '95 Axel Lee to Kaitlin and Robert McElhenney '95 Cooper John to Meredith and Richard Dankanis '95 Nadia to Julie and Brendan Marzano '95 [2] Grace Theresa to Amber and Sean Killeen '98 [3] Kaylee to Erin and Michael DeHoratius '00
WEDDINGS 1
3
JFrank Felici '73 and Colleen Farrell Anthony Ciotti '89 and Janene Bisceglie Nevin McGinley '95 and Marissa McGlone Mark Glanzmann '96 and Bridget Crowther [1] Sean Waldron '97 and Christine Scott Peter Castagna '99 and Meghan McCafferty Gregory Camaratta '00 and Michelle Sandole Philip Gerhardt '00 and Lisa Boettrich Harry Egner '01 and Melissa Sousa
2
Colin Gorman '01and Molly Kerns Robert Kennedy '01 and Emily Hodges Charles Strowhouer '02 and Sara Johnson [2] Ryan Cobb '03 and Radhika Ahluwalia [3]
4
Michael McHugh '04 and Annalee Moyer [4] Andrew Kennedy '05 and Christine Long [5]
5
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THE PREP NEWS
REST IN PEACE James B. McKearney ’33
Rev. James P. Bradley, S.J. ’45
John J. Zdunczyk ’53
Rev. James D. Campbell, O.P. ’38
John J. Connell ’47
Eugene R. Hewitt ’56
William F. Martin ’38
James J. McLaughlin ’47
Philip H. Toutkoushian ’56
M. J. O'Donoghue ’38
Henry C. Bittner ’49
John J. Towey ’57
Francis X. Buchy ’40
James J. Harkins ’49
Kenneth J. Duckworth ’58
Nicholas J. Carroll ’41
Richard S. Kolecki ’51
Arthur R. Shuman ’58
Stanley A. Bodalski ’42
Francis J. Sirch ’51
Thomas J. McCormac ’61
Kevin B. O'Malley ’42
Ronald J. Quain ’52
James M. Cartlidge ’65
Thomas J. Ryan ’42
Forrest J. Toutkoushian ’52
Raymond V. Civatte ’65
Donald M. Collins ’43
Gregory F. Conron ’53
Martin T. McKenzie ’73
This list reflects all alumni deaths that we have been notified of as of November 12, 2010.
Tell Us Your News... We are interested in what you are doing. Please fill out this form and mail it to: The Prep News, 1733 Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. 19130 or e-mail afalcone@sjprep.org
Name:
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News:
FALL 2010
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Perspectives Hand Made Prosthetic Leg, Mae Tao Clinic, Mae Sot, Thailand, 2006
ROBERT GERHARDT ’95 ABSENCE TO TRAVEL TO
NEW YORK CITY. IN 2005, HE TOOK A LEAVE OF DOCUMENT THE LIVES OF THE KAREN. THIS IS HIS STORY.
IS A PHOTOGRAPHER IN
BURMA AND
Every morning, in my Bronx apartment in New York City, as I go
homeland exists within modern-day Burma. But the Karen are
to retrieve the milk for my first cup of coffee, I am greeted with
fighting a 62-year long civil war against the brutal Burmese
the sight of a fridge covered with various drawings, collages,
junta who rules the country where their homeland lies. I had
little notes and photographs both by and of my two daughters.
first heard about the Mae Tao Clinic—and the Karen—through
Among the familial momentos however, there is one photo-
a brief snippet on NPR in the summer of 2005. After finding
graph that to anyone else might seem out of place: a black and
the clinic's website, I began a correspondence with Dr. Cynthia,
white photograph of a smiling man with bright eyes and a big
the director of the clinic and a refugee herself. That led to my
smile on his face, as he sits at a table in small café with a small
asking if I could come visit and make some photographs. I then
pitcher of water in front of him. And as my eyes look at the
bought an airline ticket, took a leave of absence from work,
photography, the events of February and March of 2006 come
and made preparations to travel for a month to a village in a
flooding back, just like they have done every day since I
country I had never been to, where I knew no one and didn’t
returned to the U.S.
speak the language. While I realized there was a good chance that I had no real idea of what I was walking into, what I saw
The man's name is Maung Maung Tinn, and he is half Karen
and photographed over those four weeks will never leave me.
and half Burmese. He was my guide and translator for the four weeks that I spent in and around the small town of Mae Sot,
My work there, which has become my traveling exhibition Life
which lies on the Moei River on the boundary between Thailand
on the Border: The Karen People of Burma, has shaped the way
and Burma. I had traveled to Mae Sot by an eight-hour,
that I see everything from my children to New York to the world
overnight bus trip, following a seventeen and a half hour flight
at large. In short, no matter how bad things are at my end of
from New York, to photograph the Mae Tao Clinic and the lives
the line, there are people with much more severe problems
of the Karen People. The Karen are an ethnic minority whose
than I could ever comprehend.
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THE PREP NEWS
For example, the 24-year-old young woman I met my first day at the clinic who had lost both of her legs below the knee to a landmine planted by the Burmese army in the remains of her destroyed village in order to discourage the residents from coming back. Or the roughly 200 people living in the Mae Sot trash dump, who make their living by trying to collect what they can from the trash to resell. The pungency of the dump, the smoke, the rotting garbage and the stagnant water I can smell even now as I am writing this. The people live there because it is still a better situation than their homeland where they are chased by the Burmese army and it remains safer from deportation than other sections of Mae Sot because the smell is so bad the Thai police won’t go in to kick them out.
But what can I do to change any of this? After all, I am just a photographer. I wander with my cameras and a few rolls of film and document what I see. Every time that I exhibit the photographs, talk to students at the colleges and universities that are showing the work, and answer the questions of those who approach me, I am still stunned by the fact that my photographs not only truly affect those who see them, but also drive many to find out more about the Karen and their situation, or even to go so far as to donate to the Mae Tao Clinic.
So maybe being a "Man for Others" has a much more complex meaning than I ever thought, and service can mean many different things - including being a photographer, whose photographs can motivate viewers to get involved. As one man with a camera I may not be able to do much alone, but if my photographs can inspire broader involvement and compassion, then I have done something. And at the end of the day, I think that is Karen Girl living in the Mae Sot Trash Dump, Mae Sot, Thailand, 2006
FALL 2010
greatest thing photography can do.
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