SLUH Magazine

MAGAZINE WINTER 2023-24

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

GRATITUDE

FEATURES:

Dick Wehner

Andrew Moffett '24 (pictured)

Fr. Thomas Michel, SJ '59

PRAYER FOR GENEROSITY

Lord, teach me to be generous, to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to look for any reward, save that of knowing that I do your will. Amen.

Dear SLUH Community,

GRATITUDE

The Wellspring of Generosity

Moon

by Tim Browdy

(courtesy of Sisyphus)

St. Ignatius begins the Spiritual Exercises, his famous compilation of meditations, prayers and contemplative practices, with gratitude. Later, he concludes it with generosity. When we practice being grateful, we realize just how gifted and blessed we are, often without feeling worthy or deserving. From this growing realization comes a powerful desire to be generous, “to give and not to count the cost.” Thus, generosity is the inevitable consequence of the conscious and active practice of gratitude.*

St. Ignatius emphasized that deeds are more important than words, and so, generosity reveals itself best in what we do for others, more than in what we say. Most often, it is the small daily acts of kindness and generosity, putting others before ourselves, that have a greater and deeper impact than the occasional grand gesture.*

One of the earliest prayers I learned as a freshman at St. Paul’s Jesuit High School in Winnipeg, Canada was the Prayer for Generosity — a prayer that for many of you is synonymous with your own formation. This hallmark prayer is also synonymous with St. Ignatius and even the blessed Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, a Jesuit who many believe is the father of the modern Society of Jesus; however, it was, in fact, penned by the venerable Fr. Jacques Sevin, SJ, a French Jesuit best known for his spread of Scouting in France.

When I’m asked why SLUH is so successful in keeping alumni, parents and benefactors involved, I know it is the core of our Ignatian tradition and a cultural trait woven into our school heritage. It is the reason why Anna Backer donated our current campus one century ago. It’s why our faculty and staff approach their work emotionally engaged, with a selfless spirit, and why our Jr. Bills are driven to learn and lead by a higher purpose. Every day, members of our school community practice gratitude, and in response, they are moved to act, to assist, to advance the common good.

Thank you for the many ways you further our strong legacy of generosity and allow our Jesuit mission to thrive.

AMDG,

Alan Carruthers President

* www.jesuitinstitute.org

Light

'24

Andrew Moffett ‘24

U. HIGHLIGHTS

32 The New Jr. Bill Store

Kevin Komos '81, Jake Jacobs '81 and Megan Browdy

34 Generosity in Service

Kevin Komos '81

36 To the Moon and Back

Kathleen and Bill Murphy ‘56

40 Alumni Trailblazers Darryl Getter ‘83

Kenneth Watson ‘65 ADVANCING

46 Appreciating — and Preserving — God’s Creation

Barbara and Terry Donohue ‘63

New Endowed Fund to Strengthen Environmental Science Program

48 First Endowed Fund for Athletics Established Charles Jellinek

50 A Touching Tribute George Morris

53 Ignatian Reflection Generosity: A Loving Response

54 Enduring Legacy of Generosity

Anna and George Backer 1869

56 Upcoming Events & Reunions

57 Backer Memorial Centennial and Open House

IN EVERY ISSUE

41 Summer @ SLUH

42 Noteworthy

45 Requiescat in Pace

49 CASHBAH

ON THE COVER:

poses

‘24.

Fr. Tom Michel, SJ ‘59 (pictured bottom row, third from left) with new Jesuit novices in 1969 (photo courtesy of Jesuit Archives & Research Center).

SLUH TODAY

AROUND THE HALLS

10 Students Named National Merit Semifinalists

Ten seniors were named National Merit Semifinalists, earning distinction among the top 0.5 percent of students in Missouri. They include: Michael Bergen, Patrick Busch, Patrick Corley, Thomas Finan, Matthew Musial, Luke Stoff, Liam Strittmatter, Lucas Strohmeyer, Shawn Travers and Andrew Winkeler.

Jr. Bills Enjoy Enhancements

to Fr. Hagan Rec Room

This school year, students have enjoyed many new enhancements to the Fr. Hagan Rec Room, including refurbished pool, foosball and shuffleboard tables, as well as the addition of pingpong tables, board games and, of course, a mini-ball (aka ‘wall ball’) court. The Rec Room, named after Marty Hagan, SJ, a legendary figure who taught at SLUH for more than 50 years and famously knew every student by name, also features new couches and tables to help create an environment where students can study, socialize or relax.

Spirit Week: Jr. Bills vs. STLPD

As a part of Spirit Week organized by Student Council, members of the St. Louis Police Department challenged SLUH students to a game of softball in the athletics stadium. Despite the officers bringing their A-game and outscoring

the Jr. Bills 17-9, the real winner in this friendly competition was the sportsmanship forged between student and officer.

Bishop McGovern, Archbishop Rozanski Visit Campus

SLUH was grateful to welcome Bishop Michael McGovern of Belleville and Archbishop of the Diocese of St. Louis Mithcell Rozanski to celebrate all-school Masses on the feast days of All Saints Day and the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, respectively.

Faculty Model

Academic Excellence

Several faculty have earned the honor to serve as AP Test Readers this summer: Dan Becvar (AP Calculus), Jennifer Carroll (AP English), Kathleen Dwyer (AP Chemistry), Lindsey Ehret (AP World History), Sean Ferguson (AP U.S. History), Anne Marie Lodholz (AP World History), Tim O’Neill (AP World History) and Don Steingruby (AP Calculus). This is an excellent professional development opportunity with top educators from across the country.

Hall of Fame Teacher

Brian Reeves, choir director, was presented with the Missouri Music Educator Association Hall of Fame Award at the State Conference for his excellence in teaching, as well as his service to all music teachers and students in the state.

Dauphin Players Continues Strong Legacy

In addition to its production of Prodigal Son, the Dauphin Players put on the colorful musical Hairspray, one of the biggest and most technical performances the Schulte Theater has held in years. To account for the ambitious production, two extra weeks were factored into the rehearsal schedule. Hairspray and Prodigal Son both underscored the Dauphin Players' enduring legacy of creating the most vibrant high school theater in the area.

Renowned Russian Journalist Meets with Students

Marina Ovysannikova talked with students over Zoom in December to discuss her role and subsequent exile in protesting the war in Ukraine on Russian state television. Students and faculty listened to Ovysannikova in the Schulte Theater and had the chance to ask questions about her journalist work and activism. Musicians Earn All-State Honors Six students were selected for All-State Orchestra and Band: Gabe Altier ’27, Luke Jarboe ’25, Klaus Jostlein ’26, Andrew Moffet ’24, Adrian Neumann ’25 and Edmund Reske ’27.

Freshman Appears on Jennifer Hudson Show

DeJuan Strickland ‘27 was a special guest on The Jennifer Hudson Show in December to discuss his comic books – Tech Boy and Science Girl – and raise awareness for his philanthropic work in eliminating school lunch debt. At the end of the show, DeJuan was surprised by Hudson with a gift of $5,000 towards his fund.

SLUH Welcomes New Principal

On July 1, 2023, Fr. Matt Stewart, SJ ‘98 assumed the role as the new SLUH Principal. He is the first SLUH alumnus to become principal since Bob Bannister ‘54 (19952002) and the first Jesuit alumnus since Fr. Leo Dressel, SJ ’64 (1979-83).

You may know Fr. Stewart previously taught at Regis University and Saint Louis University, in addition to teaching theology and serving as Director of Campus Ministry at SLUH. But did you also know he enjoys music directing, most recently conducting the SLUH musical Godspell on stage in tails and a top hat? Or that he can do uncanny imitations of Ken Wilson (former Blues play-by-play announcer) and the bell that sounds between classes at SLUH?

Here’s what else you may want to know about this Jr. Billiken who is helping to lead SLUH into the future:

BACKGROUND

HIGH SCHOOL:

SLUH, Class of 1998

COLLEGE(S):

Saint Louis University, B.A., Music 2002; Saint Louis University, M.A., Theology, 2008; Fordham University, M.A., Philosophical Resources, 2014; University of Denver, M.M., Choral Conducting, 2016; Boston College, S.T.L., Liturgical and Sacramental Theology, 2020

ENTERED THE JESUITS:

August 15, 2009, Grand Coteau, Louisiana

ORDINATION:

August 15, 2020, St. Louis, Missouri

SUBJECTS TAUGHT: Theology, Music

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE: University ministry at Regis University

FAMILY: Mom, Linda; Dad, Bob ’69; Brother, John ’02

FAVORITES OF FR. STEWART

PRAYER:

Anima Christi

QUOTE:

“Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” — Gustav Mahler

BOOK:

Rehearsing God’s Just Kingdom by Stephen S. Wilbricht

MOVIE:

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

BAND/SINGER: Paul Simon

SPORTS TEAM: St. Louis Blues

HOBBY: Cooking

FOOD:

Buffalo Wings

HERO:

Michelangelo Buonarroti

CHILDHOOD MEMORY: Traveling with my family on summer vacations

STALEY, AUFFENBERGS

HONORED WITH

SACRED HEART AWARD

SLUH proudly honored past SLUH parents and dedicated volunteers

Martha Staley and Tom and Dale Auffenberg with the Sacred Heart Award at the Mass of the Holy Spirit in the Danis Field House on September 7, 2023.

TOM & DALE AUFFENBERG

Tom and Dale Auffenberg have a long and storied relationship with SLUH and with Jesuit ministries throughout the region. Dale is a former CASHBAH co-chair and Mothers Club President, and Tom was a leader in the Fathers Club. While raising four extraordinary children — Ryan ’99, Greg ’01 Beth and David ’07 — and running a printing company he owned, Tom also served on the SLUH Board of Trustees. Some years later he became a part of the SLUH Advancement team, helping to develop the structures that made the school successful during the Go Forth campaign.

In the mid-2000s, Tom and Dale founded several charitable organizations, including L’Arche St. Louis, the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, Contemplative Leaders in Action for young adults, and Next Chapter, an Ignatian discernment program for midcareer adults looking to give back. Tom is a previous Chair of the Loyola Academy of St. Louis Board, and Dale is currently co-chairing Belize 2020, an effort to support Jesuit ministries in the country of Belize.

Throughout these years Tom and Dale have been wonderful supporters of SLUH, including current service on the Ignatian Identity committee of the Board of Trustees. They have carried the spirit of SLUH as Women and Men for Others into the lives of their children, grandchildren, and the many Ignatian-inspired ministries they have loved and grown.

MARTHA STALEY

Since her son George entered SLUH in 2006, Martha Staley has lovingly, tirelessly and selflessly served the needs of the school community, including Mothers Club (as President), CASHBAH and the Marthas group that supports SLUH families in crisis. Along with Mrs. Carruthers and Mrs. See, she was instrumental in creating Fr. Kellett’s Closet, a free on-campus clothing store that ensures all Jr. Bills, regardless of financial means, can complete and diversify their wardrobe. In addition, she was co-founder and an important coordinator of the Francis Scholars program, which supports Jr. Bills who come to SLUH from the most challenging economic circumstances.

As impressive as her commitment is to these important SLUH programs, her greatest passion is her devotion to her family: her husband Jay and children Daniel, George ’10, Thomas ’14, Chris ’19 and Madeleine.

ABOVE (from left): Dale and Tom Auffenberg, Martha and Jay Staley, and Alan Carruthers.

HIGHLIGHTS SPORTS

BY CHRIS MUSKOPF ‘91

BOWLING

After finishing in 15th place for the first half of the season, the Jr. Bills currently sit in 3rd place for the second half.

Brian Loretta ‘26 leads the Jr. Bills with an average of 183, which ranks T-14 in the league.

CROSS COUNTRY

Claimed 20th consecutive MCC Championship, with Charlie Murray ‘24 finishing as the individual champion. Ran a spectacular race with a 37-second spread between our top five runners to capture the district championship.

Qualified as a team for the MSHSAA Championships for the 31st consecutive season.

Landed in 3rd place as a team at the MSHSAA Class 5 Championships.

All-State runners were Jackson Miller ‘27 (6th place) and Charlie Murray ‘24 (18th place).

Miller’s performance at the MSHSAA Championships set

the school record in a 5K race (15:17.6) and was the highest finish for a freshman boy in the large school division at the MSHSAA Championships since 1989.

ESPORTS (FALL)

The Rocket League team completed the regular season with an undefeated record.

The Overwatch team qualified for, but did not medal in, the state tournament.

FOOTBALL

Seven wins this fall ties the most wins in a season since 2015. Two postseason wins ties the most in a season since 2011.

The team scored the 3rdmost points in a game in the history of the program in the district quarterfinal versus Hazelwood West.

Quarterback Marco Sansone ‘24 set two season passing records, tied a season passing record and combined with receiver Zach Allen ‘26 to establish

the record for longest passing touchdown in program history. Ryan Wingo ‘24 set the record for career touchdown receptions and recorded the 2nd-longest punt return touchdown in program history. Wingo competed on the West team in the All-American Bowl that aired in early January on NBC. SLUH varsity football coach, Adam Cruz ‘10, was on the sidelines with Ryan as a coach on the staff for the West team.

SOCCER

Recorded 20 victories for the 3rd consecutive season.

Claimed the top spot in the Jr. Billiken Classic this season.

The team has been invited to participate in the inaugural versions of the St. Louis Champions League in 2024.

Senior Grant Locker was named to the United Soccer Coaches Association All-American Team, competed in the High School All-American Game

The following updates are as of February 1, 2024. Please check @SLUHAthletics on X and sluh.org/athletics for current news, scores and updates.

Athletic Director

in South Carolina, and was recognized by the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame as a Bob Kehoe Future Soccer Star.

SWIM & DIVE

Recorded a 12-0 record in dual and tri-meets, including Coach Ehret’s 100th victory in her career as SLUH head coach.

Attained 13th consecutive MCC Championship.

Landed as the 2nd place team at the MSHSAA Class 2 Championships.

Had swimmers garner All-State honors by finishing in the top eight in each of three relays and five individual events at the MSHSAA Championships.

Earned additional points at the MSHSAA Championships with

swimmers finishing between 9th and 16th in seven events.

Five swimmers combined to set two school records:

• Ben Chumley ‘25 and Evan Zimmerman ‘25 partnered with Andrew Hopkins ‘27 and Henry Unger ‘24 to establish a new school record in the 200 Medley Relay with a time of 1:34.64; and

• Charlie Hill ‘25 recorded a school record time of 4:38.59 in the 500 freestyle.

FALL SPORTS POSTSEASON ACCOLADES

Our fall sports of cross country, football, soccer and swim/dive combined to land 17 student-athletes on academic all-state teams.

Across the four sports, 19 student-athletes were designated as All-State.

10 student-athletes who represented SLUH in competition in the fall earned All-Metro distinction.

WINTER SPORTS POSTSEASON TIMETABLE

In addition to defeating DeSmet for the first time since 2018, the BasketBills’ most significant win of the winter, thus far, occurred on January 23 at #2 ranked Webster Groves. The Jr. Bills wrapped up regular season play with senior night against St. John Vianney on February 16 and are competing in the district tournament during the first week of March at Lindbergh.

Varsity ice hockey closed out the regular season as the #4 seed in the Challenge Cup postseason division. The playoffs commenced on February 1 and concluded with the semifinals on the last weekend of February and the Challenge Cup final at the Centene Center on March 1.

The RacquetBills concluded their regular season in the middle of

February, followed by competing in the state tournament on the weekend of February 23-24 and the national championships taking place in St. Louis beginning on February 28.

The RifleBills competed in the Missouri Championships in Webb City on January 21, placing second and third in the Precision Division, with the 2nd place team’s score qualifying them for the Precision National Championships in Ohio in July and the 3rd place team’s score qualifying them for the Precision Regionals in April.

Under the leadership of first year head coach, Espen Conley ‘11, the wrestling team recorded double digit wins in dual matches this season and had Braden Peel ‘24 become the first SLUH wrestler since 2010 to compete in his weight class championship match at the Eric Lewis Invitational at MICDS. The Jr. Bills wrestlers traveled to Lafayette High School for the district tournament on February 16-17.

CLASS OF 2024 COLLEGE SIGNEES

• Josh Bertram

Lacrosse (William Jewell)

• Sean Boyd

Lacrosse (Hampton)

• Archie Carruthers

Football (Kansas)

• Brendan Cunningham Soccer (Butler)

• Andrew DuMont

Baseball (Tennessee)

• Joe Harris

Football (Princeton)

• Charlie Isom-McCall Baseball (Lindenwood)

• Hunter Mueller

Inline Hockey (Lindenwood)

• Dom Novotny

Throws (Truman State)

• Jacobi Oliphant

Football/Track (Oklahoma State)

• Marco Sansone

Football (Bucknell)

• John Smith

Football (Illinois College)

• Eddie Stewart

Soccer (Cornell)

• Ryan Wingo

Football (Texas)

• Kyle Wright Football (DePauw)

“This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”

Eight students from the Outdoor Adventure Club (OAC) traveled to southern Utah last summer for a 12-day backpacking trip. Destinations included the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park. “It was an epic adventure that was memorable for all,” says Patrick Zarrick ‘77, OAC moderator who was one of three trip chaperones.

(Photos by Mr. Zarrick.)

2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR

22 OUTBOUND PROGRAMS

17 COUNTRIES

84 STUDENTS FROM

10 COUNTRIES HOSTED BY SLUH IN 14 INBOUND PROGRAMS

"A VERY REWARDING EXPERIENCE"

Global Education Program Impacts Jr. Bills, as well as Visiting Students

SLUH continues to serve as a model for Global Education in the Jesuits Schools Network, with a growing number of opportunities available for Jr. Bills — but what is it like for international students who visit SLUH?

A few of them share their perspectives on their experience:

“It was a significant trip for me because I finally got to visit a country I've read so much about in books and always dreamed of seeing. The whole experience was fantastic, and I felt welcomed by the people and fascinated by the culture.

It also helped me realize that people all over the world are pretty similar. Even though we come from different cultures, we all want similar things and have similar worries. It taught me that we need to do what we think is right without caring that much about what other people think.”

ILLIA SVINTSYTSKYI Zespol Szkol Jezuitow (Kyiv, Ukraine)

“I was completely amazed by the kindness of every student and teacher at SLUH and their happiness and dedication in every class. During my experience, I was inspired by a sense of independence and learned to be more productive. One of my favorite memories was the last day with the Cross Country team. It was awesome because they all clapped for me to say goodbye. Although I was sad to be leaving, I was very happy with my experience at SLUH.”

ANDRES PABUENCE

Colegio San Pedro Claver (Bucaramanga, Colombia)

пожаловать

NEW GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS FORGED

“It was one of the best months of my life — meeting wonderful people and spending time with them in different ways, and also sightseeing and learning about the U.S. culture. The most valuable lesson I learned was to talk to as many people as possible and not to be afraid to talk to someone I didn't know.

My experience showed me how many different traditions there are around the world. I experienced many exciting and unforgettable moments. But the moment that I associate most with this trip is participation in the Running of the Bills. I will never forget it.”

MACIEJ WOJCIK

Kostka High (Krakow, Poland)

"This exchange program was a very rewarding experience. One of the things at SLUH that caught my attention the most was the service opportunities the school offers to its students. I liked how service opportunities focused on not only generating change at the local level, but also at a global scale.

Another thing that amazed me was the number of clubs, affinity groups and activities the school offers. I think that is what helps SLUH create a sense of community and makes students have a lot of appreciation and pride for their school. I could see this in the many times I went to sporting events (some of the best memories I have!).

What I treasure the most are the new people I met that I was able to call friends, with whom I spent a wonderful time in St. Louis. Every so often I reminisce about those times and I get nostalgic. It truly makes me want to travel to St. Louis to visit them one day!”

DOMINGO CALLEJA

Colegio San Ignacio El Bosque (Santiago, Chile)

SLUH has partnered with the Baltic Center and Qalam Center to allow students studying Russian and Arabic III, respectively, to have a language immersion experience this summer despite the ongoing conflicts that have disrupted the school programs in Russia and Egypt. The Baltic Center and Qalam Center are both highly respected organizations utilized and trusted by the U.S. State Department to conduct the prestigious National Security Language Initiative for Youth program each year.

“It is a very fortunate and encouraging situation for both programs,” says Rob Chura, SLUH Director of Global Education. ”We are very excited about the possibilities for this summer and in the future with these new partnerships secured.”

The Russian program will begin in Vilnius, Lithuania with a brief visit to a Jesuit partner school in Vilnius, and then continue to Riga, Latvia for the remaining 12 days. While in Riga, the Jr. Bills will be a part of an intensive Russian immersion program with daily lessons and homestays with native Russian-speaking families in Riga.

The summer program for students studying Arabic will be held in Rabat, Morocco, where the Jr. Bills will be a part of a similar two-week intensive Arabic immersion program with daily lessons and homestays with native Arabic-speaking families.

Students from Chile (Domingo Calleja, bottom row on the left)

2024 SENIOR PROJECT: BY THE NUMBERS

258 SENIORS PARTICIPATED

45 LOCAL SITES

5 INTERNATIONAL SITES (FRANCE, GUATEMALA, MEXICO, POLAND AND TAIWAN)

1

MISSION TO BUILD

CHRIST'S KINGDOM

Men for Others

Since 1971, SLUH seniors have challenged and immersed themselves in service to marginalized members of the metropolitan community and beyond during the month of January. This service immersion experience, known as Senior Project, is a requirement for graduation. Members of the Class of 2024 continued a strong tradition of service this January as they learned and grew through their generous labors.

"Today our prime educational objective must be to form Men and Women for Others; men and women who will live not for themselves but for God and his Christ — for the God-man who lived and died for all the world; men and women who cannot even conceive of love of God which does not include love for the least of their neighbors; men and women completely convinced that love of God which does not issue in justice for others is a farce."

– FR. PEDRO ARRUPE, SJ Superior General of the Society of Jesus (1965-81)

in Action

TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES, NEW PERSPECTIVES

“One of the biggest challenges I faced was comforting the students after one of their classmates passed away. While this was the hardest thing that I’ve had to put my head around, that is the time that God was the most present. All of the love the children showed towards each other was truly remarkable. I learned a lot from them and truly felt like it was easier to see God when I was helping those in need. It taught me a lot more patience and understanding. It taught me that it is your choice to see God because if you look hard enough, you can see what He has in store for you and what He wants you to do.”

– HENRY ERKER ‘24

Miriam School and Learning Center (School for children with learning differences in Webster Groves)

“My experience ranged from fun times with the elderly, including playing aqua volleyball, to far more challenging experiences working in the memory care unit. Through it all, I learned that not only were the residents grateful for how I made an impact on them, but that I was grateful for how they impacted me. Doing service doesn’t just fulfill a need for others, it fills a need in ourselves, a need for love, a need for God — however hard it may be to find sometimes, it fills and transforms us more than anything else can.”

– MILES RITTENHOUSE ’24 Lutheran Senior Services at Mason Pointe in Town and Country

“Ultimately, at the center of the Senior Project is the people — be it downcast, marginalized, or impoverished. Traveling 2,500 miles away from home I learned that Senior Project is way more than about simply being with the marginalized. It’s about extending beyond surface-level connections and learning to love those who are not like you. The last day was the most difficult day of service because I had fallen in love with the people and the place — and I had to say goodbye. Although I said farewell to the challenging way of life, the children’s residences, the streets of Guatemala, the hundreds of smiling faces in the community, and to Esperanza Juvenil and its magnanimous promise and hope, the people and the place will always remain in my heart.”

– TIM BROWDY ’24

Esperanza Juvenil (Boys Hope Girls Hopesponsored school for young girls and boys in need, located in Guatemala City, Guatemala)

SISYPHUS: A

GENEROUS OUTPOURING OF CREATIVITY

Enjoy the fruits of creative labor from our students, faculty and staff in the latest issue of Sisyphus, the SLUH Magazine of Literature and Art, at www.sluh.org/sisyphus. You are bound to find a story, poem, personal essay, drawing, photograph or piece of artwork that amazes you, inspires you, or perhaps makes you happy.

Metallurgy

By Andrew Moffett ‘24

A perspiration glows to fight the black, A river rages bright within the cast.

The seething infant of the industry, A baptism inside a blazing blast.

As molten steel dissociates from slag, And as the ores into the furnace dive, Ferocious flames dissolve impurity

And, purely formed anew, are now alive.

In fire formed, so tempered by the Smith

To steely cool, an alloy without stain

Responding to the hammer and heat, Malleable, obedient to pain.

The freedom giv’n by fire forges men

To build the world, with metal we begin.

4

1

3

4

5

7

Faustian Fellowship

By Carson Leahy ‘24

I see the same fellow over and over

Every time in a new outfit but every time still wholly himself

And every time he utters that same illusory phrase

“What if I offer you something that could change your life forever?”

A serpent-tongued suit smiling with cold conviction

A shadow-stricken merchant offering a boney outstretched hand

A sneering horned imp riding on a shoulder, contract at the ready

Perhaps this time it will be different

Perhaps the paw will stay uncurled

Perhaps the words will ring true

I know that face is too friendly to be trusted

And yet

What if he’s telling the truth?

For a reward so great one can’t help but test one’s luck

You can’t help but change your fate with one inconsequential word

Deal

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ARTIST CREDITS:

A bominable by Leo Hahn '26

2 Smile by Juno Jansen '24

P icasso by Tyler Govero '26

M OAI by Leo Hahn '26

'25

'26

Child by Gavyn McClure '24

8 L avender's Flight by August Russell '24

9 S elf Portrait by August Russell '24

10 M ax Marnatti '26

11 Giant by Madhavan Anbukumar '25 12

Hoehn '27 13

atrick Zarrick '77 14

aniq by Tyler Govero '26

R affish House by Jesse Heater '25

B ob Dylan by Tim Browdy '24

P icasso Moth by Brian Harrigan '26

'26

Iarrived early for my interview in room M107, which is papered with memorabilia from Dick Wehner’s 40 years at SLUH. The room was vacant. A note sat on the podium at the front of the room. “Justin, I stepped away. Back soon.”

Five minutes later a booming voice filled the freshman hall. While it was distant enough that I couldn’t make out the words, the voice was distinct. It awoke long-dormant memories of morning announcements and pep rallies. Every SLUH student since 1984 would recognize that voice.

At 73 years old, Wehner remains a physical presence. He towered over me and gestured grandly at room M107. “How do you like this, Justin?” He shouted. “This is my baby.”

His design style is super-maximalist. Not an inch of bare wall can be seen. My eyes were first attracted to a royal blue shirt pulled over the back of Wehner’s desk chair, with the initials “CZ” emblazoned inside the Superman pentagon. SLUH STUCO printed that shirt in the fall of 2007 to honor the memory of Chris Zandstra, who died of liver cancer during his sophomore year at SLUH. Wehner has printed Zandstra’s obituary on the back of every syllabus since. He cries when Chris’s name comes up. He cries often these days.

“In my classes, I tell the story of Chris Zandstra. Of Coach Tychonievich. Of Mr. Bantle. All these lives that impacted mine, that informed my faith.” He cried. “I bare my soul to these kids. I share my joys, my fears, the times I’ve flown and the times I’ve crashed; getting cut from teams; not making it into my first choice high school. Part of theology is telling your story — the good, the bad and the ugly.”

Students in Wehner’s theology classes become enveloped in his life and memories. He shares personal stories without fear of judgment. His teaching is an emotional effort, and to borrow an idiom from Wehner’s vernacular, he leaves it all on the field every day.

Throughout our conversation, Wehner gestured around the room, giving me leave to scan the museum he had curated. The decor of M107 reflects his many passions.

As in Wehner’s life, in his classroom, faith and athletics intermingle.

Images of the Virgin Mary are carefully displayed throughout. A cardboard cut-out of Pope Francis audits every class from the Northwest corner. A dozen Jr. Bills jerseys and spirit t-shirts hang from the joints in the ceiling. Twenty baseball caps are pinned in a column along the side of the smart board, and photos of St. Louis sports legends are interspersed between portraits of Jesuit priests. As in Wehner’s life, in his classroom, faith and athletics intermingle.

Though he considers himself a religion teacher first, Wehner is better known as St. Louis U. High’s longest-tenured Athletic Director, a position he held for 30 years.

From 1985-2015, Wehner scheduled nearly 10,000 games and attended more than a third of those. He cared for athletes, coaches, referees, parents and fans as a dedicated servant. He mixed barrels of Gatorade, stocked locker rooms with snacks, and gave hugs as needed. He set clear expectations with every incoming freshman class — at athletic events, Jr. Bills would respect the opposing team and their fans; we would conduct ourselves as men of SLUH.

Some of Wehner’s proudest accomplishments at SLUH are the little things he did as AD. He commissioned “3-point Jesus,” a fiberglass crucifix mounted behind the north basket in the Danis Fieldhouse, “because that’s the basket we shoot at in the second half.” He hung a plaque in the Fr. Hagan Rec Room to commemorate the SLUH alumni who had died in Vietnam. He spotted the phrase “Tradition Never Graduates” in a magazine, adopted it and plastered it everywhere.

He was a highly attentive Athletic Director, but attention costs time — time away from his wife and ten children.

“I was gone a lot,” he admitted. “Back then I was flying solo. I would clean out the coolers after soccer games. I’d be here until one in the morning after football games. I missed a lot with ten kids. My biggest fear was that my kids would say, ‘You know, dad, you were there for all those boys from SLUH, but you weren’t there for us.’”

I read that quote back to Kevin Wehner, number six of the ten Wehner children, and Dick’s first-born son. Kevin is now a Theology teacher, coach and Assistant Athletic Director at SLUH — a familiar

"Part of theology is telling your story — the good, the bad and the ugly."

— DICK WEHNER

combination. He empathized with his dad.

“The amount of time dad spent at SLUH was unbelievable, but I never resent him for it, because he raised us there with him,” said Kevin. “Every single Friday and Saturday, my siblings and I would come to SLUH. We would be at the football games, the soccer games, the basketball games. We were within a rope’s distance of Dad while he worked. I’d look over my shoulder as a kid and see him interacting with the student section or the players on the field, and he was just so happy. I wanted to emulate him.”

While SLUH helped raise his kids, Dick Wehner rightly credits his wife Debbie for doing most of the heavy lifting.

“I married a great woman,” said Wehner. “My wife allowed me to live my dream.”

He pounded his desk for emphasis, and he cried. She gave up her job to be a full-time mom. She babysat. She cut coupons. She cooked, she cleaned, she gave rides… She gave Wehner the space to be larger than life in the eyes of thousands of young men.

“It’s hard not to get emotional thinking about how much she did for us,” echoed Kevin. “My mom did everything. As successful as my dad was as an Athletic Director, my mom was just as successful as a mother.”

Together, Debbie and Dick now have 10 children and 24 grandchildren (a 25th is on the way). Five of their ten children have followed Wehner into education. His oldest grandson is a sophomore at SLUH, and another just applied. Fifty years into a career in Catholic education, Wehner is teaching four theology classes, and he feels great — like he could go for another 50.

In short, “I am the richest flipping man in Affton” said Wehner. It’s a phrase his students and colleagues have heard many times, and “it has nothing to do with money.”

He started crying again. This time he called my attention to his tears. He said he wouldn’t mind if I mentioned how much he cried during our conversation, because that’s who he is.

“It’s how I express how blessed I feel,” said Wehner. “Talking to you, I’m reminded that I have lived a damn good life. Here I am at 73 years old and St. Louis U. High still wants me to be here… I’m lucky to still be living my dream. I feel great, but if God would call me home tomorrow, I could say ‘I have lived a wonderful life.’”

"I am the richest flipping man in Affton and it has nothing to do with money."

— DICK WEHNER

Wehner's biggest accomplishment — his family

TOP RIGHT: Football coaching staff, 1984 (from left) Wehner, Paul Martel (head coach) and Gary Kornfeld.

RIGHT: One of Wehner's longstanding traditions — Hawaiian Shirt Fridays during summer school. LEFT: Another Wehner tradition — Looking suave at the annual Paint It Pink basketball game to support the fight against cancer.

Something Greater than Yourself

Andrew Moffett ‘24 Exemplifies Generous Service to Others

BY ANDREW FIGGE ‘24

From his early childhood in Germany to the halls of St. Louis U. High, senior Andrew Moffett has lived out his Catholic faith through his generosity toward others.

Before high school, Moffett grew up all across the country and globe. He was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, but moved to a rural town named Sangerhof, Germany when he was five and attended school on the Ramstein Air Base where his dad worked. While he was often engaged in the intricate culture of Germany, he attended school in English and had limited interactions with the German language. Despite growing up in several different places, Moffett and his family’s Catholic identity remained the center focus of their lives. This pushed his spiritual life deeper and challenged him to be further engaged with his faith.

“As a kid, I believed that religion was real, and I grew up in a place where these things were an important part of my life,” said Moffett. “Instead of asking what you did, it was always the question of who you are and who you will become.”

Following four more years in Germany, Moffett moved to Virginia. Another four years later, he moved yet again to Illinois, where he currently lives. Growing up in a military family instilled a mentality of service in Moffett. From a young age, he saw and understood the meaning of contributing to a greater purpose and helping others.

“My dad always just knew that he wanted to do something to serve the country and to serve something larger than himself,” Moffett said. “The military is just a group of people from all over the country and of different ethnicities and social statuses that come together under one mission: to serve our country. Seeing all these people with one vision to serve really emphasized these ideas in my life from a young age and that there is always

something greater than yourself to serve.”

Moffett attended a public school in Illinois for his last two years of middle school. However, he was very active in his parish St. Claire of Assisi in O’Fallon, Illinois. Having attended public schools his entire life, he had presumed that he would go to a public high school as well. SLUH wasn’t on his radar until he decided to shadow late in his eighth-grade year. After his tour, he decided to attend SLUH because of the Catholic identity and opportunities that he saw. He believed that SLUH would continue to push his faith life in comparison to a public school.

“I chose SLUH over public school because I felt that it was an opportunity that I would have been wrong to pass up,” said Moffett. “I didn’t pick SLUH because of academics

"The military is just a group of people from all over the country and of different ethnicities and social statuses that come together under one mission: to serve our country. Seeing all these people with one vision to serve really emphasized these ideas in my life from a young age and that there is always something greater than yourself to serve.”

— ANDREW MOFFETT '24

or athletics, but SLUH offered resources for spiritual growth that I loved. Humans are body and soul. Public school really only addresses the physical and mental characteristics, and SLUH acknowledges that there is a spiritual component to people as well.”

Upon arriving at SLUH, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Moffett felt slightly out of place. Having come from a large public school in Illinois, he knew very few people. However, with the suggestion from math teacher Mr. Stephen Deves, Moffett decided to join the Pastoral Team and continue exploring his spiritual life at SLUH. While the Pastoral Team largely organizes and plans Masses, retreats and prayer services, it has also allowed Moffett to meet peers similar to him who are curious about their faith life. In addition to participating on the Pastoral Team all four years, he has also been elected as a leader of it his last three years.

In addition to the Pastoral Team, Moffett also joined a variety of other clubs very early during his time at SLUH. He is a member of President Ambassadors, band program, Men for Life, SLUH Historical Society, Sisyphus, Bocce Club and many others. He also played soccer his freshman and junior years, as well as track and field his freshman year.

In addition to the variety of clubs in which he participates,

Andrew Moffett '24 poses inside St. Cecilia's Catholic Church in south St. Louis (left) and outside of St. Cecilia's School (next page, top), where he served for his Senior Project in January. Photos by Nicholas Sanders ‘24.

Moffett also ran for Student Council (StuCo) freshman class president. Following a speech to the entire class, he was elected co-class president with Tim Browdy. He also won class president his junior year, as well as student body vice president his senior year. His role on StuCo includes leading the school and voicing his class’s concerns to StuCo as well as SLUH administration. Moffett devoted his time on StuCo to building and bettering the community at SLUH.

“On StuCo, we are trying to mold the student body into something that all of us can appreciate and be proud to be a part of,” said Moffett. “Our theme this year was to create community, not chaos, and our role in this is fostering a brotherhood in a way that is productive and loving.”

Over his four years at SLUH, Moffett has also been very engaged in service. During his freshman year, he cooked food for the Garfield House alongside other freshmen. During his sophomore year, he helped run a youth soccer camp at SLUH, which provided Moffett with an eye-opening experience. Although service often feels like a sacrifice for others, Moffett was shown a new understanding of service after working at the soccer camp.

“My perspective is that generosity is very relational. It’s very personal working with people and, for me, it doesn’t feel like you are giving something

"My four years at SLUH have emphasized the idea that there's always something greater than yourself to be served.”

as much as you are sharing in something good with others.”

Moffett took these ideas of service further in his junior year, where he served several Saturdays at St. Vincent de Paul soup kitchen in Belleville, Illinois. There, he served food to the hungry and shared meals with them. It was through this experience that he learned about the value of human dignity as well as his love for charity and giving back to others.

“So many times, the homeless are the lepers of modern day, the ghosts of society. Homeless people are stripped of a degree of human dignity, and eating with them brought that back and reinforced the idea that they too are children of God,” Moffett said. “The Sperry-wearing, collared shirt boys of SLUH are the same people as those wearing used jackets and sleeping on sidewalks in the eyes of God.” His newfound outlook on service is something that is often taught at SLUH. Even the daily school prayers reflect the importance of service and charity.

“The core of generosity taught at SLUH is the Prayer for Generosity,” said Moffett. “It’s one that a lot of students have memorized and line for line explains how we can live out a generous life. It really emphasizes that generosity is not a transactional thing. You invest in other people without worrying about the return on investment. You’re loving people without worrying

about being loved back.”

Not only are the ideas of generosity in this one prayer, but it is also prominent in the popular motto of Men for Others. In its purest form, being a Man for Others emphasizes the SLUH willingness to serve others and form men who pursue service during and beyond their time at the school. Part of this preparation for service beyond SLUH is through the Senior Service Project, which occurs every January. During this monthlong service project, seniors work alongside underprivileged communities. Moffett helped to teach at St. Cecilia Catholic School, where he used his four years of Spanish to communicate with students from both English and Spanish backgrounds.

“The idea of being Men for Others is ingrained in the culture of what it means to be Jr. Bills,” said Moffett. “SLUH is service oriented and I’ve had great service experiences in each grade level that have shown me how to be generous by being with other people and sacrificing your time and talent. My four years at SLUH have emphasized the idea that there’s always something greater than yourself to be served.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Andrew Figge ‘24 is a News Editor of the Prep News, Student Ambassador, and a member of the Pastoral Team, Ignatius Business Leaders and Coffee Club. He plans to attend Villanova University and study business, which he wishes to pursue as a profession.

FR. TOM MICHEL, SJ '59: An Instrument of Peace and Understanding

BY JUSTIN SEATON ‘13

Sometime in 1969, a 28-year-old Fr. Thomas Michel, SJ ‘59 sat in his room in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, pouring over the documents of the Second Vatican Council. He was a Catholic priest from St. Louis, teaching English in a country that was nearly 88 percent Muslim. He looked to the most recent church ecumenical council, closed only four years prior, for guidance as he attempted to navigate life in his unfamiliar new home.

In Nostra Aetate (or, the Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions), Fr. Michel found the only council reference to Islam — two short paragraphs, which begin: “The Church regards with esteem also the Muslims…” ”We do?” Thought Fr. Michel. He read on.

“…Since in the course of centuries not a few quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Muslims, this Sacred Synod urges all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding and to preserve as well as to promote together for the benefit of all mankind social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom.”

Fr. Michel’s encounter with this passage was revelatory. “I had never really given it much thought,” says Michel. “I decided then that I would learn about Islam, why the Church regarded its followers with esteem and how to foster peace and understanding between our faithful.”

Thus began what Fr. Michel later called “the project of [his] life” — a project that would form Fr. Thomas Michel SJ, ‘59, into one of the modern world’s foremost experts and most prominent voices on Muslim-Christian relations.

In 1969, “not a few quarrels and hostilities [had already] arisen between Christians and Muslims.” Many more conflicts — namely, violent

WORKING FOR PEACE AROUND THE WORLD

acts of war and terror — would further divide the Muslim and Christian worlds over the next 50 years. And yet, Fr. Michel’s dedication never waned. He would live among the people he sought to connect. He would be an instrument of peace…

…where there was hatred, he would sow love; where there was injury, pardon; where there was doubt, faith; where there was despair, hope; where there was darkness, light; where there was sadness, joy…

It’s December 2023, and Tom (Fr. Michel has asked that I call him Tom) sits in the first pew of the SLUH North American Martyrs Chapel for an on-camera interview. He is 83 years old now. His voice is high and soft. We’re less than a week from Christmas. The students are on break, but construction crews fill the void, working on renovations to the Chapel and north J-wing. Construction equipment begins to pound into the floor beneath us. While the microphone can barely pick up his words over the ruckus, Tom proceeds gently.

Born in Normandy, Missouri in 1941, Tom was the third of four children. His father worked for the U.S. Post Office and his mother was a housewife. They were both devout Catholics. Their parish was Ascension in Normandy, where Tom was baptized, confirmed and later ordained. Following in his older brother’s footsteps, Tom enrolled at St. Louis U. High in 1955.

Tom remembers hitchhiking every day from Normandy to SLUH and back, just as a harsh drilling interrupts his recollection. He pauses to wait for quiet and smiles at the woodwork behind the altar — perhaps considering that his brother Jesuits would’ve been praying in this space every day while he was working in Rome, Iran, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Libya and Qatar. When the machinery quiets, he musters a memory of a group he joined at SLUH called Interfaith Youth.

“This was before the word dialogue was in style,

but that was what we did — we participated in dialogue with non-Christians from all over St. Louis,” says Tom. “I remember those early meetings as a teenager, listening to the Jewish students and the Humanist students, and thinking, ‘these are good people, and they have a lot of things worth saying.’”

Tom credits the SLUH Jesuit faculty for encouraging him to join Interfaith Youth. Years later, when Archbishop Cardinal Ritter sent Tom on assignment to Indonesia, his openness to interfaith dialogue became an essential trait. He fell in love with the people, cultures and religions of Indonesia. After Cardinal Ritter’s death, though, Tom was summoned home. He had two choices: return to St. Louis to serve the Archdiocese or join a religious order and stay abroad.

“All the Catholics I knew there were Jesuits,” says Tom. “So I joined the Jesuits in Indonesia, took vows in Indonesia.”

Tom encountered the above-quoted passage from Nostra Aetate in Indonesia and expressed his interest in Islam to his Indonesian Provincial. One day after joining the Jesuits in 1969, he was sent to study Arabic and Islamic Studies in Lebanon and Egypt.

Eventually, Tom earned his Ph.D. in Islamic Thought from the University of Chicago in 1978. In 1980, Pope John Paul II named Tom the new head of the Vatican Office for Muslim Relations, a post he would hold from 1981-1994.

Tom’s primary role at the Vatican was to serve as an emissary between the Pope and Muslim leaders. Soon after his appointment, the papacy set up an educational exchange agreement between the Gregorian University in Rome and a system of theological colleges in Turkey. As a part of that exchange, Tom would regularly travel

ROME EGYPT

KYRGYZSTAN

Fr. Tom Michel, SJ ‘59 in 1970 (photo courtesy of Jesuit Archives & Research Center)

to Ankara, Konya and Izmir to teach Christianity to Muslim students. Michel guesses that he taught at 16 Turkish Universities over those 14 years. He remembers fondly this period of his life.

“I think of the evenings — the hours and hours I’ve spent in places like Turkey — when my students and colleagues would come over and we would eat millions of sunflower seeds and drink glass after glass of tea,” says Tom. “We would talk about sports, and we’d talk about life in America and Turkey and Indonesia. At some point in the evening, I would be talking about what it meant to me to be a Christian…and at some point, they would be talking to me about what it meant to be a Muslim. I learned a lot in those evenings.”

Exchanges like these became the cornerstone of Tom’s life’s work. He became a bridge between Muslims and Christians, often in places where no other Christians lived. The people of Turkey cared for Tom. He lived in community with them, and they called him “The Monk.” For some, he was the first Christian they had ever met, and yet, they recognized that he was a man of God. In Ankara, they furnished his home; they laundered his clothes; and they left hot meals on his table.

“It was really one of God’s greatest blessings to me to be able to spend so much time with Muslims,” says Tom.

After he left the Vatican in 1994, Tom spent 23 more years traveling, teaching and fostering relationships between Christians and Muslims. In the summer of 2023, at a lecture in Singapore, a middle-aged man whom Tom had met during his travels stood up to speak. “Fr. Michel changed my life,” the man said. “I used to think that Christians couldn’t be saved, but after I got to know Fr. Michel, I realized differently. He helped me see how much we have in common.”

“So many people in a country like the States know about Muslims who have burnt down churches or attacked people,” says Tom. “And of course Muslims have the same idea. They know of all the mosques in America that are being desecrated, Imams being killed and Muslim women being violated. So that’s what they think Christians are like. Helping people of both faiths understand each other better

is worth doing. It’s worth spending a life on.”

Tom did spend nearly 50 years of his life in dialogue with Muslims. Fairly recently, though, he transitioned to a new line of work. He was teaching religious studies at the Georgetown University Campus in Doha, Qatar when he recognized it was time for a change.

“By 2017 I was well into my 70s, and I recognized that the Jesuits needed somebody younger with more energy for the work in Qatar,” says Tom. “Just at that time, the Jesuits were opening this school in Northern Thailand. They were looking around to see where the greatest need was, so they decided to open it not in Bangkok, but in the northern tip of Thailand, where Thailand meets Laos and Myanmar.”

So the Jesuits opened the Xavier Learning Center (XLC) in Chiang-Rai, Thailand. This part of the country is often called the tribal area. The natives of this region are not Thai — they’re Lisu, Mien, Lahu, Palaung, Karen, Akha or Hmong — and they tend to be neglected by the Thai government. They are often subject to prejudice and discrimination in jobs and schools.

Tom and his colleagues at the XLC are attempting to level the playing field by providing a strong education to the tribal people so that they can get good jobs in tourism, education and healthcare. Tom is the only non-native Jesuit at the school, but he’s quite accustomed to being the outsider by now.

Having heard Tom’s story, knowing how many places he has lived and worked, it’s strange to see him sitting on the second floor of the SLUH J-wing. It’s impossible to picture him as a boy. It feels silly to be calling him Tom. After 56 years of travel, do the halls of SLUH not feel more foreign than the streets of Yogyakarta?

“I haven’t been back in a long time,” says Tom at the end of our interview, “but SLUH still feels like home.” The camera shuts off, and one week later, Tom boards a plane to Thailand to continue his work in another of his many homes.

To learn more about Fr. Michel and his work, read his book A Christian View of Islam (available on Amazon) or watch one of his many recorded lectures on YouTube.

IRAN TURKEY INDONESIA THAILAND

This part of Thailand is often called the tribal area. The natives of this region are not Thai — they’re Lisu, Mien, Lahu, Palaung, Karen, Akha or Hmong — and they tend to be neglected by the Thai government.

PAGE 28 AND 31: Xavier Learning Community summer students on retreat in the hills of Chiang Mai take a hike to the local Buddhist temple, commemorating Visakha Bucha Day (an important Buddhist holiday). Some of the Buddhist students were able to pray, while others took in the sights.

U. HIGH LIGHTS

“NOTHING

BY SEAN AGNIEL ‘96

It is alleged, but not verified, that Jake Jacobs ‘81 has been caught skipping tee times to fold clothes and run inventory. This has NOT been verified.

It is alleged that Kevin Komos ‘81 has racked up more frequent flier miles traveling between Portland and St. Louis than Taylor Swift chasing the Chiefs. This has NOT been verified.

The sacrifices of Love are manifold and unique to the lover.

THE NEW JR. BILL STORE

LESS THAN PROVIDENTIAL”

It has been a great privilege for me to work closely with Jake, Kevin, and SLUH parent Megan Browdy as the old SLUH Bookstore, the old SLUH Spirit Shop have been reconceived and grandly reopened on campus as the Jr. Bill Store in August of 2023 and online as shop.sluh.org in November of 2023.

Several years ago Megan stopped me in the hallway in the middle of CASHBAH projects to share a dream she had of breathing new life into the shop, making the experience of finding SLUH gear as inspiring as the experience of SLUH itself. (Plus, I think she was really gunning for some sweet, SLUH branded Lululemon merch…)

This seed of an idea rattled around in my head for some years and was re-awakened shortly after Jake retired as CEO of Footlocker North

America. Over lunch one day, Jake told me about his dream of merging the machinery of capitalism with the inspiration of doing good, of helping students to develop their talents practically while contributing to a larger enterprise.

The former Spirit Shop had been dutifully managed by Food Service Consultants (FSC) since the mid 1990s under the faithful leadership of SLUH legend Kathy Hylla. Following

FROM LEFT: Kevin Komos '81, Megan Browdy and Jake Jacobs '81

Kathy’s retirement, FSC and SLUH decided to transition management back to SLUH (think: Br. Thornton selling gym shirts in the Rec Room).

As Jake, Megan, and I began building a transition plan for recasting the store, it didn’t take long for Jake to recruit his SLUH classmate Kevin Komos — also recently retired as a Vice President of Merchandising at Nike (and before that Gap). These two retail superheroes formed a triumvirate with Megan — who has a pretty impressive eye for buying, it turns out — and formed the nucleus of one of the most innovative and already (!) successful experiments in business-learning entrepreneurship in secondary education today.

The mission of the Jr. Bill Store is to provide a much-desired service for the SLUH community while generating revenue to support needbased financial assistance, and offering a business learning laboratory for students who are involved at various levels of the operation, including: marketing, photography, modeling, product fulfillment, sales recaps, data analysis; and customer service. While the first phase has focused on engagement with students and student families, the long term goal is to increase engagement with alumni and broader SLUH community.

It was serendipitous that the talents, vision and expertise of this group came together at just the time that a critical need emerged for SLUH. The impact of the Jr. Bill Store on need-based financial assistance, and the incredible businesslearning opportunity now enriching the SLUH experience may be nothing less than providential. And most importantly, all of the labor invested represents beautiful expressions of Love.

Sean Agniel ‘96, Vice President of Advancement, is a retail rookie, but already eager to convince you that no meeting is more enthralling than a good monthly sales recap.

JAKE JACOBS ’81: IN HIS OWN WORDS

After earning his undergraduate degree in Economics at Mizzou and his MBA at Saint Louis University, Jake joined The May Department Stores Company and embarked on a successful career in retail. In 1998, he joined Foot Locker Inc. where he worked for more than 20 years and held several leadership positions, including CEO of Footlocker North America.

My four years at SLUH were some of the best years of my life. The school provided a tremendous foundation for both knowledge and personal development. The thing that impressed me the most — and still does today — is how invested all the teachers were in the success of every student.

The best part of my SLUH experience is all the friends and relationships I developed. I still connect with many guys from my class. Two of my 81' classmates (Kevin Komos and Mark Schaeffer) are now involved in developing the Jr. Bill Store concept.

The Jr. Bill Store welcomes volunteers with a range of talents for a wide variety of roles within the store, in support of the website, and in collaboration with the management team. Contact jrbillstore@sluh.org for more information.

Sports have always been a significant part of my life. I played baseball and water polo at SLUH. Participation in team sports fosters teamwork, discipline, hard work and a competitive spirit, all beneficial leadership qualities for an executive. My love for sports was a key factor in pursuing a career in the athletic industry and fueled my passion for sneakers, both personally and professionally. My family is my greatest accomplishment. Family was the backbone of my professional success and supported me throughout my career. SLUH fosters all of the values involved in raising a family. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:13, "Faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

Questions for Jake’s reflection posed by Chase Mason ‘24. Chase is a Jr. Bill Store intern, a Steward Scholar, as well as a Presidential and Admissions Ambassador. He is active in the National Honor Society, Circus Club, Ignatian Business Leaders, and he is on the rugby and cross country teams. Looking ahead, Chase plans to major in economics and/or finance in college, earn an MBA and explore entrepreneurial pursuits.

GENEROSITY IN SERVICE

Kevin Komos ‘81 Brings Creativity, Expertise and Energy to the Jr. Bill Store

Komos recently retired as Vice President of Merchandising at Nike (and previously at Gap). A graduate of Saint Louis University, he has played an integral role in the successful launch of the Jr. Bill Store. He shares his own perspectives in the following Q&A.

What has led you back to SLUH to work on the Jr. Bill Store?

The Jr. Bill Store project marries my passion for running a branded retail business with my desire to foster the SLUH experience for others. Technology has allowed me to primarily participate remotely from my home in Portland, Oregon, while making integral contributions to the project.

What was your experience at SLUH like?

I loved attending SLUH. It provided both the academic foundation and the Ignatian spirituality that have served me throughout my life. It was a lot of coursework balanced with a lot of fun. I feel that same energy when I’m around the current students.

What would you consider to be your greatest achievement in SLUH?

The transformation of the Jr. Bill Store. Seeing the response from students, families and alumni reinforces that we are on a solid path to making a meaningful contribution to SLUH as a brand, an institution and a community.

What clubs/activities did you participate in at SLUH?

Cross Country, Track, Jazz Band, Concert Band, Russian Club, Lit Mag, Yearbook, Senior Homeroom Advisor, Senior Follies

What college did you attend and what did you major in?

Saint Louis University with a double major in Political Science and Russian Language; a minor in Russian and Eastern European Area Studies; and a certificate in Scientific Russian Translation.

How would you describe your journey to becoming an executive for Gap and Nike?

I established basic skills in the compact environment of a Gap retail store that I was able to leverage, continue to develop and refine as my responsibilities broadened across geographies and markets, target customers and functions. As a result, I approach a business from a holistic brand perspective balanced with the specific customer brand experience.

I started in store management, which taught me the skills to manage and lead a team, focus on the customer, and run a business from an operations standpoint. Advancing in the Gap Merchandising function allowed me to develop skills

leading cross-functional teams, develop and execute longer term strategies, and create overall product strategies that encompassed multiple geographies and customer types while adhering to the overall brand ethos. Roles in overall product leadership further developed my ability to help guide and work with creative functions, such as product and graphic design, marketing, stylists and photographers.

Ultimately, at both Gap and Nike, I worked to develop global marketplace product strategies for both brick-and-mortar stores and online storefronts that created a consistent global brand experience while addressing specific market product needs.

What skill should someone have to do what you do?

Ability to see opportunities, develop them into strategies and see them through execution.

What are some things that you have learned in retirement that have made you grateful?

I'm grateful for better understanding that there are multiple authentic paths to understanding truths and concepts. I'm grateful that having more time to spend experiencing the beauty and cycles of our natural world enables me to understand my connectedness to everyone and ground me in the present. I'm grateful that I'm

increasingly aware that each day is a gift and an opportunity to execute your life with grace, regardless of what comes your way.

What would you consider to be your greatest achievement?

My greatest and most unexpected achievement is that I have been successful enough in my career to consistently give back to others, whether that be my family or the communities I have lived in over the years. I'm most proud of the Joseph A. Komos Memorial Scholarship I established at SLUH in memory of my father, Joe Komos '53.

What advice would you give a student who wants to go into business and marketing?

Get involved in a project or business to discover what you enjoy. Participate in different areas of the business to see what excites you. Follow where your passion leads you. I found my career fulfilling because I truly enjoyed what I was doing on a day-to-day basis.

Questions by Christopher Lewis ‘24. An intern for the Jr. Bill Store, Christopher plays soccer, is Co-President of the Ignatian Business Leaders, a member of the National Honor Society, an Admission Ambassador and Rugby team manager. He hopes to major in marketing, finance or communications for his undergraduate degree, then possibly earn an MBA. Christopher has a strong interest in business and entrepreneurship. He says, “I hope to be a business owner or

TO THE MOON AND BACK

Love for SLUH Inspires $3.6 Million Estate Gift from Kathleen and Bill Murphy ‘56

BY BEN DUMONT ‘92

Neil Armstrong accomplished the impossible in 1966 when, after undertaking the first docking with another space vehicle on Gemini VIII, he miraculously overcame a thruster malfunction and near-fatal tumbling of the craft, effecting the first emergency landing of a crewed U.S. space mission with co-pilot David Scott.

Back on planet Earth, Bill Murphy ‘56 was among the Gemini project team members cheering: mission accomplished.

Murphy, like Armstrong, had learned how to overcome adversity, stay humble and maximize his potential throughout his life. He grew up in Holy Family Parish in south city. “We came from a modest background,” his sister Marie recalls. “Our dad was a hard-working man.”

Marie says her brother Bill was “very studious and loved learning. He was always trying out new things.” In eighth grade, he became interested in farming. Then he wanted to become a brother so he spent the summer after grade school in the monastery, but found it was not for him.

“When Bill arrived at SLUH he realized his brain needed more than digging potatoes,” says Marie. “He enjoyed learning Russian [before it was in the curriculum] and became an excellent math student.” He liked recreational

LEFT: Dr. Bill Murphy ‘56 received a photograph of Gemini VI signed by crew members Wally Schirra and Thomas Stafford for his contributions as a Gemini project team member. BELOW: Kathleen and Bill Murphy '56

sports, as well as chess, badminton, fishing and hunting, but “academics was his passion.”

He earned a scholarship at the University of Missouri-Rolla (now Missouri S&T) but unfortunately contracted polio the summer after high school graduation and was unable to attend. He enrolled at Saint Louis University (SLU) the following spring to be closer to home, but it was an excruciating journey to get there.

Unable to walk, he spent a lot of time in bed and sought treatment at St. Anthony’s Hospital in the polio ward. “The physical therapy was extremely painful. He saw the older patients giving up and knew they would never walk again. But Bill was determined,” Marie recalls emotionally. “He was determined to get back on his own two feet.”

With an unrelenting will, Bill overcame his physical ailment. He was able to pull himself up and move about on a leg brace before transitioning to crutches and then a cane. His father retrofitted their car so he could drive with his hands. It was difficult to get around the SLU campus, but he managed to do so. Fr. Paul Reinert, SJ, then the university president, visited Bill during his recovery. “That meant a lot to him,” says Marie.

After graduating from SLU with a B.S. in engineering in three-and-a-half years, Bill looked to his future with a renewed sense of independence and confidence: the sky was the limit.

At an early age, Bill was interested in numbers and equations and formulas — and particularly, how they worked to solve real-world problems. He begged his older sister to buy him a slide rule, a hand-operated mechanical calculator that has long been replaced by computers. After much persuasion, she relented, and the

tool quickly became a prized possession he used throughout school and his career.

Bill went on to earn an M.A. in engineering at SLU and a D.Sc. from Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL). Following school, he began a distinguished career at McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), where he was hired as an electrical engineer and subsequently held such positions as Director of Avionics Technology and Director of Programs, Independent Analysis. He made significant contributions to the Gemini Project and F-15 Eagle on their core teams, and he served as Director of Program Analysis and Investigation for the F-18 Hornet.

“He knew so much about everything,” says Marie.

Her husband, Joe Laski, a retired senior development engineer, concurs: “Bill was the smartest guy I knew.”

Among many professional honors and affiliations, Bill became a leading expert in avionics and was invited to join the NATO Advisory Group for Aerospace Research and Development as a member and lecturer.

Bill, however, wanted something beyond a successful career. He sought to share his vast knowledge with others. While he worked at McDonnell Douglas during the day, he began to teach math classes during the evening at the WUSTL School of Engineering and Applied Science. According to Marie, he even developed new math courses at the school.

“He was an excellent instructor who cared about his students,” says Marie.

In 1993, WUSTL honored Dr. Bill Murphy with a prestigious alumni award for his exceptional work in the fields of aviation, engineering and education. At the end of Bill’s career, he held two patents and was the author of 18 publications.

LEFT: Bill (far left) as a young man; ABOVE: Bill and Kathleen portraits before their wedding.

One of Bill’s favorite songs, according to Marie, was I Made It Through the Rain by Barry Manilow. In the chorus, Manilow sings:

I made it through the rain, I kept my world protected. I made it through the rain, I kept my point of view.

I made it through the rain and found myself respected

By the others who got rained on too and made it through.

Similar to the song, Bill overcame difficult obstacles to achieve remarkable success — and respect — yet he always remained true to who he was: a man of faith, values, humility and heart.

According to Marie, her brother “lived modestly and conservatively.” She says he served as his own financial consultant, making shrewd investments. In retirement, Bill enjoyed traveling with his wife, Kathy, attending Blues games and volunteering at the American Heart Association.

Sadly, Bill suffered from postpolio syndrome in retirement and was on home dialysis the last seven years of his life. Kathy, a nurse with a 30-year career in the recovery room at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital,

cared for Bill and administered dialysis for him. When Bill passed away in 2012, the couple had been married for 50 years.

Kathy knew from the time they had their first date on the Admiral (long-retired boat on the St. Louis riverfront) how much SLUH meant to Bill. Before she died in 2019, Kathy named the school as the primary beneficiary of their estate so a scholarship could be created in Bill's memory. In December 2023, SLUH received a gift of $3.6 million. Similar to Anna Backer, who remembered her deceased husband (George 1869) by funding the creation of the current school campus in 1924, Kathy showed incredible love for her husband by honoring him with a thoughtful, generous gift to benefit future generations.

“Bill always felt strongly about SLUH,” says Kathy’s sister, Janet Mertensmeyer. “He got the best education there.”

The legacy of Dr. Bill Murphy, a self-made man who was extraordinarily selfless, will long be remembered and celebrated with the establishment of the William J. Murphy '56 Presidential Scholarship. The scholarship will provide full tuition assistance to Jr. Bills in financial need each year in perpetuity.

Just as Bill had played an integral role in the Gemini project — quietly behind the scenes through his intellect and ingenuity — his magnanimous spirit will continue to serve as a foundation from which future students can launch their own mission as Men for Others in service For the Greater Glory of God.

To learn how you can create your legacy and impact future generations of Jr. Bills through a planned gift, visit plannedgiving.sluh.org.

PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Presidential Scholarships give young men with potential — but without the economic means — an opportunity to thrive at St. Louis U. High. They are established through a gift of $1,000,000 to the school endowment. With gratitude to our generous benefactors, we proudly recognize the following Presidential Scholarships.

William J. Brennan, SJ Presidential Scholarship

Emnett Family Presidential Scholarship

Melvin & Jane Giles Presidential Scholarship

Heritage Presidential Scholarship

Msgr. Robert McCarthy ‘46 Presidential Scholarship

William J. Murphy ‘56 Presidential Scholarship

Laura and Bernard Schilli Memorial Presidential Scholarship

Fr. Paul Sheridan, SJ Presidential Scholarship

St. Louis Presidential Scholarship

Steward Family Presidential Scholarship

To learn how you can start your own Presidential Scholarship and make an investment in promising young men, contact Linda Domeyer at ldomeyer@sluh.org or (314) 269-2113.

Bill (right) at his retirement party, celebrating an impressive and distinguished career at McDonnell Douglas.

GETTER ‘83 MODELS INVESTING IN ONESELF — FOR OTHERS

BY WILL LINHARES ‘10

Darryl Getter ‘83 learned the secret to a successful life of leadership as a student at St. Louis U. High, when Fr. Paul Stark, SJ told him, “Leadership is an investment of oneself for the success of other people.” It’s advice Getter took to heart.

Since graduating from SLUH, Getter has had an illustrious professional career as a financial economist in Washington D.C., first with the Naval Academy, then the Department of Housing and Development, and finally, for the Congressional Research Service, a branch of the Library of Congress.

“As an economist, it was exciting to work on significant pieces of legislation, particularly the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010,” Getter recalls. He also testified before Congress on the Community Reinvestment Act, a significant piece of banking regulation introduced in July 2022.

Getter’s long career as a public servant remains his proudest accomplishment. “I'm following in the footsteps of my parents,” Getter admits reverently. His father worked for the U.S. Post Office for more than four decades,

KENNETH WATSON ‘65: ALUMNI TRAILBLAZER

Born on April 6, 1947, in St. Louis, Kenneth Watson ‘65 grew up in Blessed Sacrament Parish in North St. Louis. He ran cross country and played football at SLUH before graduating in 1965. Watson became a sergeant in the U.S. Army: 1st Infantry Division, 1st Battalion,

and his mother was a St. Louis Public Schools elementary teacher for more than three decades.

Giving back to the community has long motivated Getter. As a graduate student pursuing his Ph.D. in economics at Washington University in St. Louis, he mentored students in the SLUH Black Student Union. He and former SLUH counselor David Mouldon took the BSU students on annual weekend retreats “to help them grow and give them ideas about how to better connect with the larger school community.”

In his professional work, Getter still draws from his formation at SLUH. “Mr. Ebbie Dunn taught a handful of core concepts, then he related newer concepts back to those initial core concepts. Not only did that give me a solid foundation for calculus and math in college, it taught me how to learn. When the concepts fit together, then I fully grasp the subject matter.”

Getter relies on this approach teaching finance and economics on Capitol Hill, in addition to serving as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland, where he has found great “purpose and fulfillment” teaching finance classes since 2002. “I get to learn by day and share the knowledge with the future econ, business and finance leaders — that's a dream combination.”

When asked about giving his own advice to current SLUH students, Getter reiterates the wisdom imparted to him when he walked the halls as a Jr. Bill. "‘Leadership is an investment of oneself for the success of other people.’ Living by that motto has worked well for me so far.”

26th Infantry, D Company. He earned the Purple Heart for his courage and valor in the Vietnam War. Sadly, Watson died on March 13, 1969 in the Binh Long province in Vietnam. He is buried at Jefferson Barracks Cemetery.

We gratefully honor Watson for his distinguished service to our country. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

Did you know?

The SLUH Alumni Trailblazers honorary list celebrates the achievements of graduates of color. Learn more and nominate an alumnus at www.sluh.org/trailblazers.

NOTEWORTHY

Discover what your fellow alumni are up to below, then explore more class notes at sluh.org/alumni.

John Ferrara ‘81 was named CFO of Catholic Charities St. Louis. With more than two decades of financial leadership experience, Ferrara will play a crucial role in overseeing the financial operations of Catholic Charities.

Dan Kertz '88 was appointed an Associate Circuit Court Judge in the 21st Judicial Circuit in St Louis.

Tom Albus '90, Circuit Court Judge in the 19th Circuit, performed the swearing in ceremony.

Brian Walsh ‘89, formerly a partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, was appointed a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge. Judge Walsh graduated from Duke University (A.B.) and Harvard Law School (J.D.).

Col. James Patrick McDonough, USMC ‘90 currently serves as the Commandant of the U.S. Naval Academy — only the 3rd Marine to ever hold this position. His military career has brought him full circle, as he graduated from the Naval Academy with a degree in Systems Engineering. He served

as a Marine artillery officer in the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Throughout his career he has led Marines and Sailors from the small unit to the division level. As a senior officer he served a tour in the Pentagon, advising military strategy at the highest level. During his military service he earned an advanced degree in Modeling Virtual Environments and Simulation, and he was instrumental in creating an artillery training program that was implemented universally in the military.

Since 2021, he has served as the senior military leader of the Naval Academy responsible for the discipline and military education of 4,000 midshipmen.

Rev. Brian Fallon ‘04, a SLUH 1540 List honoree, was appointed Chaplain at the Catholic Student Center at Washington University in St. Louis. Fr. Fallon continues to serve as the Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

The Class of '73 celebrated their 50th reunion at SLUH on October 13; members of the Class of '73 proudly posed with their soccer state title.

Alumni in the NFL: Tony Adams ‘17 played a key role as safety for the New York Jets this past season, garnering 83 tackles and three interceptions; Michael Niese ‘16, guard for the Detroit Lions, was activated for two games; Dan Isom ‘16, L.A. Rams safety, gained valuable experience on the practice squad; and BJ Wilson ‘17, offensive tackle who signed as a free agent for the Carolina Panthers last year, was drafted by the Houston Roughnecks in the UFL (merger of the XFL and USFL).

Three alumni generously responded to a vocation of ministry in the Catholic Church: Joe Laughlin, SJ ‘17 professed his first vows as a Jesuit, while his brother Tom Laughlin, nSJ ‘13 and Paul Gillam, nSJ ‘19 entered the Jesuit novitiate. These young men continue a strong SLUH alumni legacy that supports religious vocations and builds God’s kingdom.

MEET TIM BANTLE ’95, CEO OF EDDIE BAUER

The competitive, transactional and tech-laden world of international business may seem completely at odds with the raw physicality, interdependence and vulnerability we experience in the world of nature. But in the newest episode of Insignis, we meet Tim Bantle ’95, a one-time wilderness guide and adventurer, now CEO of Seattlebased Eddie Bauer. Tim not only crosses between these worlds, but has made it his vocational and professional mission to hold them together — and he still rides his bike to work everyday.

You don't want to miss his story or insights. Plus, we'll go "down the hall" to meet students and faculty who tell us how both wilderness and business programs are a vibrant part of their formation at SLUH.

Listen to this new episode at sluh.org/insignis

Several SLUH alumni attended the Mass and celebration when Joe Laughlin, SJ ’17 professed his first vows as a Jesuit: (from left) Dan Finucane, SJ ’06, Fr. Matt Stewart, SJ ’98, Joe Laughlin, SJ ’17, Fr. Carl Heumann, SJ ’77 and Fr. Brian Christopher, SJ ’93.

Lt. Col. Paul Herzberg ‘95 (pictured right), a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy who has served five tours of duty in the Marine Corps since 2000, pinned his nephew Matt Herzberg II ‘05 (center) to be a Lt. Col. in the Air Force. Matt’s father is Matt Herzberg ‘85 (left).

Tony Adams ‘17 (left) and Michael Niese ‘16 together after a JetsBuccaneers joint pre-season practice. (Niese is currently on the Lions.)

MIRACLE OF HOPE

BY JOHN HOCK ‘68

Our mission began in 2005 when my wife Marilyn, a nurse, went on her first mission trip. She thought that it would be just one time, but after returning home, she was inspired to assemble a medical team for Honduras. For the next six years, they went from village to village providing assistance to those in need. In 2011, the medical team chose the village of Guanacaste in the region of Intibuca as its adopted village. Guanacaste is in southern Honduras. It is a mountainous region with an elevation of 5,000 feet. The condition of the roads leading to Guanacaste are very poor and rocky. From the airport, it takes us six hours to get there. The Lenca Indians who live there are very warm and kind. They are very isolated, and so they have a form of Spanish that is even difficult for our translators to understand. And as our trucks come upon the entrance to the village, children line the roads to greet us, and fireworks welcome our arrival. The faith-filled community offers us many hugs and prayers of thanksgiving.

I joined the medical team on the 2011 trip and gave basic eye tests and dispensed eyeglasses. But after witnessing a woman washing her clothes in the same runoff creek that the village drew water from, I decided I needed to focus on clean water. Later that year, I met a geologist from Missouri S&T who had been working on water projects with Engineers Without Borders. We discussed the possibility of drilling for water in the mountainous terrain, and he agreed to come to investigate. After multiple visits and site surveys, however, he determined that the area was too rocky and drilling was not an option.

In 2019, through a partnership with Living Waters for the World, an organization that installs water purification systems, we arrived at a solution. The nearby village of San Marcos had access to a water pipeline from a distant spring and a reliable supply of enough water to purify and bottle. We built a purification facility, and it provides clean water for everybody we serve. Our community development work as well as our number of villages have expanded over the years. Now we have four villages we have adopted. We have a sewing center in each and have renovated three churches. In addition, we provide food distribution and funding to build houses, and we are very proud of two St. Vincent de Paul Conferences that we started. In February 2024, we distributed 2,400 pounds of humanitarian goods that included more than 4,000 pieces of clothing, cookware and tools. We thank God for this miracle of hope.

FROM TOP:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: John Hock ‘68 is a retired executive IT specialist who lives in Ballwin, Mo. with his wife, Marilyn.

CLOCKWISE

Repair to a water pump in the village of San Marcos brought some relief for pure water to their village; A typical trip to obtain clean water takes about 4 hours round trip; We hired a seamstress to teach the women of each village to sew; It’s a rare treat to have beans, rice and tortillas!

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

Since July 2023, SLUH has learned of the deaths of the following alumni. Eternal rest grant unto them, oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

Find the complete list at sluh.org/remember.

List compiled 7/1/23-1/20/24

Jerry Albert ’52

Vince Bardot ’80

Raymond Baudendistel ’84

Dick Bauman ’61

Harry Beckenholdt ’58

Carl Beckman Jr. ’61

Ron Bockius ’52

Fr. Hubert Boschert, SJ ’55

Bill Bub ’52

John Cary ’47

Ken Cieslak ’67

Jack Cleary, USAF (Ret.) ’63

Paul Corley ’70

Tony Crippa ’63

Bob Crosby ’46

Mike Curran ’53

James Degnan ’54

Steve Demmitt ’70

Thomas Dernbach ’60

Jim Doussard ’48

Pete Doyle ’58

Leo Dressel ’64

Bob Fischer ’52

Joe Froechtenigt, Ph.D. ’52

Neil George Jr. ’83

Mark Glaude ’72

Tom Gorla ’62

Tim Guelker ’77

Bob Hart ’57

Dave Hartenbach ’52

Pat Hogan, M.D. ’57

George Hudson ’47

J.D. Hughes ’41

Kevin Jones ’84

Tom Jones ’62

Ed Kammer, Jr. ’75

John Kissel, M.D. ’63

Bob Kister ’73

Jim Koehr ’55

Tom Krull ’64

Dan L’Ecuyer ’11

Richard Lohman ’58

Gene Mariani, Ph.D. ’50

Please let us know if you learn of the death of an alumnus or friend of SLUH at alumni@sluh.org.

Bob McCreary Jr. ’69

Bob McGlynn ’44

Jim McKelly ’51

Mike Mohan ’78

Fr. Glenn Mueller, SJ ’59

Tom Mulvihill ’43

Greg Nooney Jr. ’48

Denny O’Connell ’62

David Ortbals, M.D. ’61

John Panhorst ’72

Fr. Dick Perl, SJ ’66

Gus Pfeifer ’52

Jim Pohrer ’52

John Purcell ’67

Fr. Gene Renard, SJ ’47

Rod Rhodes ’67

Steve Robinette ’80

John Rooney Jr. ’67

Richard Rosenkoetter ’63

Bob Roy ’54

Joe Salsich ’69

Rich Sandhofer ’56

Tracy Schreiber, M.D. ’50

Don Shea ’50

Joe Siebels ’69

Jiri Simon ’75

Bob Slojkowski ’52

John Smith ’61

Spencer Stapf ’15

Mark Strothkamp ’89

Robert Suelmann ’47

John Sugrue ’63

Bob Sweney ’45

Bob Tansey Jr. ’58

Jim Thomasson ’62

Brian Troupe ’75

Wally Walukonis ’56

Donald Ware ’52

Jim Westermayer ’52

Warren Wimmer Jr., PhD ’73

Chuck Wolff ’52

Art Zinselmeyer Jr. ’61

MEN FOR OTHERS

Recognizing the many gifts and blessings of all of our deceased alumni, we proudly highlight the following graduates for dedicating their lives in service to others.

Leo Dressel ’64

A lifelong educator, Leo Dressel entered the Society of Jesus in 1965. In addition to serving both as principal at SLUH (1979-83) and president (1990-92), he held several interim positions as Head of School and went on to lead St. Martin’s Episcopal School in Metairie, La., and All Saints Episcopal Day School in Phoenix, Ariz. Dressel retired in 2019 to care for his beloved wife, Jan, and they moved together to the Beatitudes Campus in Phoenix, where they continued to spread their love and sense of community that defined his life.

Rear Adm. James Koehr ’55

After graduating from Saint Louis University in 1959, James Koehr began an illustrious career with the U.S. Navy, initially as an intelligence officer and then as an oceanographer in the fields of meteorology, oceanography and hydrography. He became the first Navy Oceanography specialist to be selected for Rear Admiral (LH) and was inducted into the Naval Oceanography and Meteorology Hall of Fame in 2019. He is survived by his wife, Emma, and four sons, James, John, Bernard and Brian.

Fr. Richard Perl, SJ ’66

Dick Perl entered the Society of Jesus in 1966 and developed a fierce spirit of adventure that led him to minister to the communities of Central America for much of his life, first in Belize and then in Honduras. He also ministered to the Latino immigrant community at St. Anthony Parish in Kansas City. Guided by an unwavering faith, he always maintained a trademark sense of humor and joy even through his struggles with Parkinson’s later in his life. Fr. Perl is a recipient of the Backer Award, the highest SLUH alumni honor.

APPRECIATING — AND PRESERVING — GOD’S CREATION

New Endowed Fund to Strengthen Environmental Science Program

BY BEN DUMONT ‘92

The Apollo Space Program provided some of the first images of our fragile planet as a lone, isolated, beautiful entity, with only a thin layer of soil, water and gasses to nourish its incredible diversity of life.

The Environmental Science program at SLUH aims to “instill a sense of awe, a love for this creation with which we are blessed,” says science teacher Bill Anderson ‘78. Simultaneously, he says the program educates students on “the dire problems facing humanity, including food insecurity, loss of biodiversity, access to water and climate change from a

scientific perspective.”

Thanks to the generosity of Barbara and Terry Donohue ‘63, who are making a planned gift to establish the Donohue Family Fund for Environmental Science, the environmental science program will continue to flourish for future Jr. Bills.

“We are very grateful to the Donohue Family for their support of our Jesuit mission,” says Anderson. “Their gift will help us to continue to graduate students who are good scientists and good citizens, who have a basic understanding of our global systems and, with hope rooted in faith, who

THE IMPORTANCE — AND RELEVANCE — OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Q&A with Michael Hamm ‘70, Michigan State University, C.S. Mott Professor of Sustainable Agriculture - Emeritus

Why is it important for SLUH to have and grow an environmental science program?

In Laudato Si and Laudato Deum, Pope Francis exhorted us to care for the earth and each other. He specifically called out climate change as an existential threat to humanity.

Current and future SLUH students will need to face the reality of our fresh water depletion and contamination, our misuse of the soils that feed us, and a rapidly changing climate in a way that helps them think and act critically within their daily lives.

There is also a need to provide a more in-depth curriculum for those wishing to pursue the field professionally — and the demand for college graduates in this arena continues to grow.

take action to help address the problems and inequities that currently plague us.”

According to Dr. Philip Nahlik, SJ, PhD ’11, a chemistry and visual arts teacher at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo., “A solid foundation in environmental sciences at SLUH is part of our role in answering the call of the Jesuits' Universal Apostolic Preference to ‘collaborate, with Gospel depth, for the protection and renewal of God's Creation.’ The Donohue Family Fund for Environmental Science will help SLUH deepen that commitment and fulfill this urgent mission.”

How could growing endowed funds for environmental science at SLUH be a good long-term investment for the planet?

We have spent the period since the beginning of the industrial revolution both developing wonderful new technologies and ignoring their implications for humans and planet Earth.

The first Earth Day occurred in May of my senior year — which several classmates and I attended at Washington University in St. Louis. That was 54 years ago. In that time our knowledge of the challenges our technological and industrial development have created have been recognized by many — yet we have not done nearly enough to maintain a sustaining earth ecosystem. The challenge is creating an understanding that environmental sustainability and economic development are not incompatible — rather they amplify each other if done well. The next 54 years is going to see a continuing opportunity for young men at SLUH to develop skills and knowledge leading to great careers and a way to live their faith.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AT SLUH: A SNAPSHOT

Environmental science has roots at SLUH dating back to the 1960s and has seen many important developments since then, including:

• In 1998, AP Environmental Science (AP-ES) was formally added to the school curriculum.

• In 2015, SLUH was one of a small handful of schools throughout the world invited to pilot Healing Earth, an interdisciplinary, online textbook studying environmental science through an Ignatian lens. SLUH continues to use Healing Earth as its primary AP-ES textbook.

• In 2016, Environmental STEM, a project-based course that focuses on climate change and projects investigating renewable energy, was added to the school curriculum. The development of the environmental science curriculum has benefited the student learning experience — and the school — in many ways. Examples include:

• The AP-ES class has conducted several audits of the waste produced in the student cafeteria. Their work helped push forward initiatives to improve how student-generated waste was handled.

• AP-ES students were influential in the establishment of the school community garden, which was installed in 2013. Today the garden consists of 24 raised beds and is used by faculty from several disciplines and contributes fresh produce for the Freshman Community Service Project. The native plantings in the garden, enhanced last fall with the addition of raspberries and fruit trees, attract a wide variety of insects and birds.

• Since 2016, Environmental STEM students have conducted 16 weather balloon projects, designing and launching a payload that measures a multitude of data, typically up to an altitude of 100,000 feet. The data collected allows both the Environmental STEM and AP-ES students to better understand the structure and composition of the atmosphere, as well as seasonal variations in the atmosphere.

FROM TOP: The school community garden has featured a beehive; Bill Anderson '78 (left) and Michael Hamm '70 in the SLUH aquaponics lab; weather balloon launch, including its flight path.

SLUH

WATER POLO PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

FIRST SEASON: 1961

FIRST ENDOWED FUND FOR ATHLETICS ESTABLISHED

The SLUH community was saddened to learn of the passing of Charles Jellinek last summer. A former Fathers Club president, Charles was a devoted supporter of his sons Justin ’13, Matt ’15 and Joe ’18 during their time at SLUH, particularly as members of the water polo team. To honor Charles’s memory and his passion for the sport, the Charles B. Jellinek Endowed Fund for Water Polo was created with a $50,000 establishing gift from The Friends and Family of Charles Jellinek. This is the first-ever endowed fund in athletics and will provide resources for this legendary athletic program for generations to come.

Learn more: sluh.org/jellinek

VARSITY PROGRAM RECORD 947-271

22 STATE TITLES (MOST IN MISSOURI) & 11 RUNNER-UPS

37 CONSECUTIVE FINAL FOUR APPEARANCES

CURRENT HEAD COACH: JOHN PENILLA ‘99

JV

PROGRAM RECORD 787-128

26

STATE TITLES & 10 RUNNER-UPS

CURRENT HEAD COACH: PAUL BAUDENDISTEL ‘90

HOME POOL: ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT FOREST PARK

PRESERVING STRONG SCHOOL LEGACY

SLUH is grateful to our generous benefactors for creating the following endowed funds, ensuring hallmark features of our school will thrive for future generations.

• Stephen Aylward '64 Fund for Social Studies

• Tom Becvar Fund for Mathematics

• James Costigan '62 Fund for STEM

• Francis Scholars Fund

• Charles B. Jellinek Endowed Fund for Water Polo

Learn more: sluh.org/endowedfunds

The Jellinek Family (from left): Hannah Capponi and Justin Jellinek ’13, Matt ’15, Joe ’18, Lisa and Charles Jellinek

Saturday, April 6, 2024

Join us for the biggest SLUH party of the year. Support our commitment to need-blind admission and the pursuit of excellence For the Greater Glory of God.

YOU CAN PARTICIPATE!

Get your free bidder number and participate virtually in the auction. Proxy bidding is available for live auction items. You can also make a Fund-A-Jr. Bill gift to help us reach our $1.5 million goal that directly supports need-based financial assistance.

Visit bidpal.net/cashbah2024 or scan the QR code below.

A Touching Tribute

The SLUH community was saddened to learn of the recent passing of George Morris, who served as a Russian teacher at the school from 1965-1997. Following is the eulogy given at his memorial service by one of his former students, Brendan O’Malley ‘94. It is a tribute not only to the good work and enduring service of Mr. Morris, but also a testimony to the formative influence and indelible impact SLUH faculty continue to have on their students.

George W. Morris

April 11, 1935 – October 9, 2023

Eulogy from October 12, 2023, funeral service

My name is Brendan O’Malley. I was a student of Mr. Morris at St. Louis University High School from 1990 to 1994.

A few months before the start of my freshman year of high school in 1990, a form was sent out asking you to choose which foreign language you would like to study. The choices were Spanish, French, Latin, Chinese, and Russian. For no reason other than thinking it sounded interesting, I picked Russian.

We started freshman Russian with the first of a series of Russian teaching books Mr. Morris had authored himself called Litzom k Litzy, or in English, Face to Face.

Within a few months of starting Russian, in the fall of 1990, a group of about 15 Russian students came over to SLUH and spent a month studying side by side with us. This was a chance not only to apply the early Russian we had learned with actual Russians, but it gave us the chance to really experience and get to know people from what felt like another planet at the time, literally just months after the end of the Cold War.

This was an exchange program that Mr. Morris had created himself in partnership with a school in Moscow called Moscow School #23. It involved a group of students coming to St. Louis from Moscow every fall and then the students who had hosted them going to Moscow in the spring to stay with their Russian counterpart host family. Additionally, Mr. Morris arranged for a native Russian teacher to come live in St. Louis and teach at SLUH for a full year every year so that we could be taught not only by Mr. Morris but by a real Russian native speaker.

I look back and think about

how amazing it was that he created all that, by himself. It truly is like an artist at work, making something incredibly meaningful and complex out of nothing and touching so many people’s lives in the process.

In the fall of 1992, it was our class’s turn to participate in the exchange program, and my family took in a girl named Anna Nikolavea, who lived with my family for a month. It’s not an exaggeration to say that she quickly became like a daughter to my mom, who had only two boys — my brother and me — in the house prior.

A few months later, in March 1993, Mr. Morris — with only one other adult, who did not speak a word of Russian — took twenty-three 16- and 17-yearolds, myself included, to Moscow for one month to stay with the families of the same people we had hosted a few months prior.

I still find this hard to believe when I look back on it.

I have two kids of my own and can barely control them in the confines of my own house, but Mr. Morris took 23 teenagers to a not entirely stable country and city of 15 million people, and trusted us as young men to be respectful and to rise to the occasion of being ambassadors for our school and even for our country. And I can say honestly that with only a handful of exceptions (one of them being my totally completely unsupervised 17th birthday party), we all mostly did.

Everyone had a deep respect for Mr. Morris and knew that with the freedom and this amazing opportunity he was giving us also came responsibility. He was different than a lot of teachers we were used to in that it felt like he really viewed us as adults. But in turn, he expected us to act like adults. And we kind of,

mostly, tried to. Most of the time. After high school — and as a result of what I had learned after four years with Mr. Morris — I continued to study Russian in college and spent a full academic year studying in Moscow. I returned again to Russia, a bit older, in 2005 and spent a couple years there as an adult, working at an NGO, all while maintaining a very close friendship with my 1993 Russian exchange partner from School #23, Anna. Anna is still to this day a great friend and even flew from Moscow to San Francisco for my wedding in 2013. We talk almost weekly, still. She specifically asked me to send her love and regards to Mr. Morris’s family, as he had a huge impact on her life as well. There’s a few short memories of Mr. Morris that I wanted to share if you don’t mind, and then I’ll stop talking.

1. Mr. Morris was the first person I knew to use email. He was actively using it in 1990 and I have to assume he was onto it prior to that. I hadn’t even heard of email in 1990, when I was a freshman in high school. And I remember when I started college in 1994, still hardly anyone I knew had heard of email yet either. Mr. Morris was way ahead of his time. But more remarkable to me than that was how he used email and how he got us to use email:

Mr. Morris set up a digital pen pal relationship for each of us with a stranger — a student at our partner school in Moscow — and using his email account, he’d send and receive letters to and from Moscow. We’d type out our email on a floppy disk and

give it to him; he’d work his magic spell and send it off to Moscow and vice versa. He used this knowledge he had — quite ahead of his time — to facilitate and nurture real human connections between his students and people five thousand miles away on the other side of the world. Incredible.

2. In my junior year of high school — about a month before our exchange trip to Russia — our high school put on the musical Grease in which I played one of the two lead roles, Danny Zuko. If you’re not familiar with the story — and sorry for any spoilers for people who have been meaning to see the musical or movie for the last 45 years and haven’t gotten around to it — the show concludes with the innocent, sweet, wholesome character Sandy deciding that to win over Danny, she needs to be more like him and his greaser friends, and to do so, she changes how she looks and acts.

Wanting to support me, Mr. Morris came to the show. On the next day back at school, I asked him how he liked it. He was kind and complimentary and said something along the lines of, “Well, you did a good job, but I just don’t like the message of that show.”

Confused, I asked him what he meant. He said, “Well, I don’t think a woman should have to change who she is to get a man to like her.” Wow. Of course I had no idea at 16 how to process that, so I just thought, “Wow,

that’s a little strange.” But it didn’t take much thinking on it before I realized, “He’s right.” But more importantly, how cool to say something like that to a 16-year-old kid, who is impressionable and growing and learning and who still to this day, 30 years later, remembers it and agrees with it.

3. I had a band in high school and we made an “album” — a cassette tape — that we sold for five dollars. Mr. Morris, when he heard about it, asked to buy two copies: one for himself and his wife, Beth (a huge music fan and musician herself), and one for his daughter, Lisa. I was thrilled when he told me a few weeks later that Lisa had played it over the stereo system at the place she was working at the time and that some customers at the store had even commented on it, saying they liked it. I’m assuming that last part might have been a bit of an embellishment, but it was appreciated nonetheless. He was always supportive of his students.

4. After we got back from our exchange program in Moscow in 1993, Mr. Morris encouraged me to enter a national Russian-speaking contest for high school students. I entered it and, having recently gotten back from a month in Russia with lots of practice and probably a bit of an advantage, well . . . I won the competition.

But what I remember about this most is getting home from school and my dad saying, “There’s a message for you on the answering machine, but it’s entirely in Russian.” It was Mr. Morris calling to tell me that I had won and to congratulate me (entirely in Russian), while in the process making me feel so cool in front of my dad because I actually understood all of it and then could report to him on my little victory.

In preparing to say a few words today, I tried to find some statistics or a ballpark number of how many teachers or professors an average person will have in a normal academic career. Even the most conservative number I could find was “several hundred.”

I’m sure everyone here has had a teacher or two or three — if they were lucky in their lives — whose impact lasted deep into their adulthood and in truly incalculable ways. It really is amazing how much someone can touch your life and affect your life and how all of those things they gave you and taught you and opened your mind to then branch out into other things that affect your life and so forth until you realize that so many things about your life can be traced back to one person. Several times over the years as an adult, I had tried to find Mr. Morris — whom I hadn’t seen since high school — to share with him some of the memories of him that I’ve shared here with you all today and to thank him. But surprisingly, the person who had introduced me to email had very little digital presence and was quite hard to find. I tried reaching out to teachers at SLUH. I tried that

AOL address I still remembered from high school: GWM8780@ aol.com. I tried the ACTR website; I tried his book publisher from the Russian books he wrote; I even tried to message what appeared to be long-dormant Facebook pages. No luck.

But at some point a few years ago, after my family and I moved back to St. Louis, I got seriously determined to find him. And with a little luck, I finally got a lead via a teacher at SLUH and was able to reach him. Last spring, we arranged for me to come pick him up and take him to lunch, and then we went back to his home in St. Charles to chat. Though his memory was fading a bit and he was slower to move than the man I had last seen almost 30 years prior, his wit and razor-sharp intellect were most certainly intact. During our conversation, I was able to share with him many of the same memories I shared today with you and was able to tell him how much he had impacted my life. He listened to me ramble — much like you all have here today — and said, “You’re going to make me cry. But thank you.”

In just the few days since we learned of Mr. Morris passing, I’ve talked to numerous friends from my old Russian class — from our one very small window on his massive teaching career — all of whom said how much he impacted their lives and what a great and unique man he was. I have to assume there are hundreds — if not thousands — more people like me whose lives were forever changed in truly immeasurable ways by Mr. Morris.

So thank you, Mr. Morris. You lived a life of incredible meaning, and you will live on in everyone whose lives you touched so deeply.

GENEROSITY: A LOVING RESPONSE

BY JUSTIN KELLEY, SJ

Generosity is a direct response to an encounter with love. When we feel loved — truly and authentically loved — our inclination is to respond with love, and we understand that exchange to be generosity. Ignatius masterfully articulates this encounter with love in the final movement of the Spiritual Exercises: The Contemplation to Attain Divine Love. In this meditation, the subject recognizes all the gifts he or she has been given, and is left in awe. The only response that Ignatius can imagine is to give it all back to the Giver: Suscipe, domine. “Take, Lord, and receive.”

My colleagues here at St. Louis University High School profoundly humble me through their self-sacrificial love. As a new teacher and coach, I’ve grown to appreciate how much hard work goes unnoticed in a high school. Lesson plans do not fall out of the sky; spreadsheets are not automatically generated; retreats don’t write themselves; practice plans are never born in isolation. When the behind-the-scenes work is done well, it does not come from a place of obligation, rather, of charity.

The passion with which our teachers and coaches operate is, likewise, inspiring. We get excited when students meet or exceed expectations, and — at the risk of sounding melodramatic — hurt when a student falls below his potential. Even disappointment can be an indicator of great love and care.

When I hear the stories from our teachers and coaches about why they chose this vocation, they often recognize a person — a coach, a teacher, a parent or an administrator — who inspired them. In my own life, for example, I was particularly inspired by the Jesuits at Tampa Jesuit High School, who, through their love and zeal for Christ, awakened a depth inside of me such that I wanted to follow their way of life.

Generosity is a loving response to a person. I am so proud to work alongside teachers and administrators who desire to truly give of themselves to our students. Their love has a magnifying effect, and it calls our young men out of themselves and moves them toward others. This is the Gospel. This is the mystery of the Cross and resurrection.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Justin Kelley, SJ is a Jesuit Scholastic who graduated from Tampa Jesuit High School in 2014 and studied English at Ave Maria University. In 2017, after his junior year, he entered the Society of Jesus. After professing vows, Mr. Kelley attended Loyola University in Chicago to complete his English and philosophy degrees. He currently teaches English and theology, works part-time in Campus Ministry, coaches freshmen lacrosse, and assists in the strength and conditioning program.

ENDURING LEGACY OF GENEROSITY

Along with St. Louis and St. Ignatius, Anna and George Backer 1869 are synonymous with St. Louis University High School. Their generosity and love for Jesuit education paved the way, quite literally, for the advent of the current school campus, affectionately referred to as Backer Memorial.

In recognition of their selfless spirit — and in honor of the Backer Memorial Centennial (1924-2024) — we proudly share their stories.

NEW SLUH ARCHIVIST

We are delighted to welcome Abbey Metzler as the new SLUH Archivist. In her new role, Abbey will manage and preserve school documents and artifacts of historical significance, as well as the vast fine art collection.

George Henry Backer, whose parents were German immigrants, was born in St. Louis on June 22, 1850. He received his early education at St. Vincent’s Parochial School and later attended St. Louis Academy (soon to be known as Saint Louis U. High). He eventually graduated from Saint Louis University in 1869 and later pursued post-graduate studies. While in high school, he was interested in athletics, particularly baseball, and he was proud of his strength as an athlete.

On November 16, 1876, George married Anna Fredericka Graenicher, who had come to the U.S. as an infant from her birthplace in Switzerland.

When George’s father, Mathias, retired in 1885 from his local flour merchandising business, Fusz & Backer, George took his place as a partner at the company. That same year, Fusz & Backer bought the Atlantic Mills Flour Company and formed the Regina Flour Mill Company, where George had a successful career and served as the company secretary.

George and Anna Backer resided at 3758 Westminster Place in St. Louis and attended St. Francis Xavier College Church, where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the secretary of the St. Vincent DePaul Society for 25 years. The Backers’ connection to St. Francis Xavier College Church eventually led to their close relationship to the Jesuit order and SLUH.

After George’s death on January 31, 1919, Anna created a memorial to him in the form of St. Louis University High School. This generational gift led the Jesuits to recognize her as a "Founder" of the Society of Jesus by the General Superior in Rome.

GEORGE H. BACKER 1869 (1850-1919)

T he student body poses for the first school year on Oakland Avenue in 1924.

Anna Fredericka Graenicher, born in 1845 in Switzerland, moved to the U.S. as an infant shortly before her father passed away. She was raised by her widowed mother and educated in private schools in St. Louis.

On November 16, 1876, she married George Henry Backer, an 1869 graduate of Saint Louis University, who had made his fortune in milling wheat and who had valuable mining investments as well.

Following George’s death in 1919, Anna was moved by a fiery speech delivered by Rev. Michael J. O'Connor, pastor of St. Francis Xavier College Church, on behalf of a 1920 fundraising campaign. Fr. O'Connor mentioned the desirability of moving the high school division to a different location in order to relieve congestion at the Grand Avenue campus.

After the speech, Anna offered to fund the project in its entirety in memory of her late husband. The gift for construction of the building totaled $400,000 (worth approximately $7,000,000 today) — the largest gift at that point ever received by SLU or by any Catholic institution in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

Six years after the fulfillment of Anna Backer's vision of a Jesuit boys high school fully separate from the university, this foundational benefactor of the school died peacefully in her home on September 12, 1936.

Upon her death, Backer made another gift — approximately $500,000 (worth approximately $11,000,000 today) — to SLUH. This enormous bequest relieved the financial difficulties of the school at the time and constituted the bulk of its endowment for years to come.

FUNDING LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION

Since 1936, when Anna Backer made her historic gift of $500,000 to SLUH, the school endowment has gained an almost mythical reputation. In 2009, contrary to the gargantuan figures some imagined, the SLUH endowment was merely $2.5 million greater than what the school owed in debt.

Today, thanks to a vibrant economy and the success of the Go Forth campaign, it is in a strong position.

The endowment endures as one of the greatest safeguards for the future of SLUH and its commitment to providing needblind admission. However, with a 5.75% Board-approved annual endowment draw, the school continues to rely on annual fundraising to support its robust financial assistance program.

$83M

Current endowment value (as of March 1, 2024)

$164M

Estimated value of endowment needed to cover all direct and indirect aid $470M

Estimated value of endowment needed to cover the cost to educate the entire student body.

ANNA F. BACKER (1845-1936)

UPCOMING EVENTS

CASHBAH Dinner Auction

Saturday, April 6

For details, visit www.sluh.org/cashbah

AMDG Parent Spirituality Session

Wednesday, April 17

For details, visit www.sluh.org/amdg

Mass of Praise and Gratitude

Thursday, April 25 Si Commons

Band and Orchestra Concerts

Tuesday, May 7 Si Commons

Graduation Weekend

Saturday-Sunday, May 25-26

Father-Son Golf Tournament

Saturday, June 15

Norman K. Probstein Golf Course in Forest Park

Fr. Hagan Alumni Cup Golf Tournament

Friday, June 21

Norman K. Probstein Golf Course in Forest Park

For more events and details, visit sluh.org/calendar.

SLUH is creating a permanent display to showcase our storied tradition on our Oakland Avenue campus, beginning in 1924. If you have any items of historical significance — in student life areas such as academics, arts, athletics, co-curriculars, faith formation, global education, service and STEM — please consider donating them to the SLUH Archive.

Send your items to: SLUH Archive

St. Louis University High 4970 Oakland Ave St. Louis, MO, 63110

Or email

shop.sluh.org

CHECK OUT OUR NEW AND IMPROVED JR. BILL STORE.

It features a wide and appealing selection of apparel and gift items. Proceeds from every store purchase benefit need-based scholarship assistance for our families. In addition, the Jr. Bill Store provides an innovative business-learning laboratory for our students.