REMEMBERING JIM GREGORY ’55, OSM ___ 13, 16 ___
THE NEXT GENERATION
The Tradition Continues ___ 11 ___
MAN OF ST. MICHAEL’S
DOUBLE BLUE PICTORIAL
Don Bannan ’66 ___ 20 ___
Welcome, Class of 2020 ___ 18 ___
ALUMNI MAGAZINE
|
SUMMER 2020
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VOLUME 27
Remembering
Turkey Roll 2019
CONTACT DIRECTORY www.stmichaelscollegeschool.com BLUE BANNER ONLINE: www.mybluebanner.com The St. Michael’s College School alumni magazine, Blue Banner, is published twice a year. It reflects the history, accomplishments, and stories of graduates and its purpose is to promote collegiality, respect, and Christian values under the direction of the Basilian Fathers.
BASILIAN FATHERS: www.basilian.org CISAA (ATHLETIC SCHEDULE): www.cisaa.ca TWITTER: www.twitter.com/smcs1852 ADVANCEMENT OFFICE: advancement@smcsmail.com ALUMNI AFFAIRS: alumni@smcsmail.com
PRESIDENT: Fr. Andrew Leung, CSB
ARCHIVES OFFICE: archives@smcsmail.com
EDITOR: Gavin Davidson ’93
BLUE BANNER FEEDBACK: bluebanner@smcsmail.com COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE: md@smcsmail.com
CO-EDITOR: Michael De Pellegrin ’94
TEL: 416-653-3180 (ext. 292)
CONTRIBUTORS: Joe Younder ’56, Kimm Bailey, Stephanie Nicholls, Larry Colle ’69, David Trafford ’79, Rui de Sousa ’88
FAX: 416-653-8789 E-MAIL: info@smcsmail.com • Admissions (ext. 200) • Advancement (ext. 118)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• Alumni Affairs (ext. 273) • Archives (ext. 457)
President’s Message
4
• Arena (ext. 422)
Alumni Association Message
5
• Chief Operating Officer (ext. 239)
Editor’s Letter
6
• Communications (ext. 292)
Letters to the Editor
7
• Facilities (ext. 230)
Around St. Mike’s
9
• Finance (ext. 117)
The Next Generation: The Tradition Continues
11
What Can I Do for You Today? Remembering Jim Gregory ’55, OSM
13
How Jim Gregory ’55, OSM Rescued the Toronto Maple Leafs
16
• President – Fr. Andrew Leung, CSB (ext. 233)
The Association Welcomes a New Round of Alumni
18
• Principal – Mr. Jamie McKinnon (ext. 233)
Man of St. Michael’s: Don Bannan ’66
20
• Vice Principal – Mr. Emile John ’87 (ext. 156)
• Main Reception (ext. 0) • Marketing (ext. 288) • Mporium – School Store (ext. 431)
• Vice Principal – Mr. David Lee ’94 (ext. 179)
Securing Our Future by Giving Back: Alumni Class Challenge
24
Where Are They Now: COVID-19 Response
25
Where Are They Now
28
In Memoriam
30
ON THE COVER:
The Way We Were: There's no place like home!
35
The late Jim Gregory ’55, OSM and wife, Rosalie
• Dean of Students – Mr. Daniel Blaik (ext. 265) Canada Publications Mail Agreement #40006997
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Message from the
PRESIDENT
Dear Alumni, Truly unprecedented times have fallen upon our alumni community and world since March. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many of our lives to a standstill. As many of us hear in the news and others experience first-hand, the virus has cost many lives and damaged many economies. As a community, we pray for all those who are sick and those who have lost loved ones during this pandemic. Our global network of alumni spans 34 countries with over 10,000 graduates. The pages of this Blue Banner along with our school website highlight many of our current and future alumni who have stepped up during the pandemic to support those in need. Whether it be as a volunteer to someone in need in your local neighbourhood or those who have transitioned their business to produce much needed medical supplies, it is outstanding to see the outpouring of support and generosity. Thankfully, it appears as though there is a break in the circle of endless bad news. As Ontario begins to slowly reduce restrictions, we are beginning to show promising signs of a return to what is commonly referenced as a ‘new normal’. Our administration continues to work tirelessly to prepare for the future opening of the school and is committed to implementing the safety measures required to protect our students, faculty, and staff. The students at St. Michael’s College School have created history this year. In partnership with the faculty and the support of our parents, our fine young men quickly transitioned to an online learning programme to finish the academic year. We are not surprised but are genuinely proud of the resilience and commitment they have shown in adapting to this change under very difficult circumstances.
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We continue to be grateful for the passion alumni have for St. Michael’s College School. Understandably, your connection to your beloved alma mater has been disrupted this spring with the cancellation and postponements of several events. Know that we are working hard to reschedule events where possible. We look forward to reuniting with each other at future gatherings and sharing in that doubleblue spirit. Congratulations to the 176 graduates of the Class of 2020. We look forward to celebrating graduation with you in the fall. On behalf of the entire St. Michael’s College School community, we wish you great success and prosperity as you enter the storied ranks of the St. Michael’s College School Alumni Association. Please stay connected with each other and the school - St. Michael’s will always be your home. Have a safe and peaceful summer. Blessings,
Fr. Andrew Leung, CSB President
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Message
during this time. Rest assured the Alumni Association has not been sitting on our hands. We have been working to adjust. Alumni initiatives are being reviewed, with the Archangel’s Den being postponed until Spring 2021. Simultaneously, we are working to see how we can help the most, including holding the online Alumni Information Series. As with all challenges we face, I believe our St. Michael’s College School community will be stronger because we faced it together. Remember we are #SMCSfamily. Display the Winged M with pride. Stay healthy and may God continue to bless us. My fellow alumni, The first two years of my presidency have been filled with numerous unexpected challenges. The one constant I’ve witnessed with St. Michael’s College School is that our alumni constantly rise up to the challenges presented.
John P. O'Neill John P. O’Neill ’86 President, SMCSAA Install your Winged-M window static decal to the inside back windshield and send a picture to Alumni@SMCSmail.com
As I sit down to write this letter, our world remains turned upside down with the devastating effects of COVID-19, with the situation changing daily. These life changes may be temporary or permanent – we really don’t know. St. Michael’s is sometimes looked upon and portrayed as an old-school institute incapable of adapting. Nothing could be further from the truth. One thing we do know - the yellow bricks of our beloved St. Michael’s are still standing because we constantly adapt and continue to lead through thick and thin. The faculty and students have had a successful end to the year after quickly adapting to online learning. The students were required to dress respectably while continuing their school year in their makeshift learning environments. It’s typical of St. Michael’s that students are diligently doing their work at home, while engaging in a variety of side projects such as printing 3D masks, baking, or even fixing their flutes to continue with music lessons. This is how we produce the quality graduates that we do. We will continue to graduate St. Michael’s Men that will make a difference. Alumni are adapting to this new world in their jobs, with their families, and with life in general. Many alumni have stepped up to help those affected by the pandemic (see Where Are They Now: COVID-19 Response, p.25). It was heartbreaking to see so many great St. Michael’s College School events being cancelled, but we all needed to do our part
PAST PRESIDENTS Frank Di Nino ’80 Marc Montemurro ’93 Josh Colle ’92 Romeo Milano ’80 Peter Thurton ’81 Dennis Caponi Jr. ’86 Rob Grossi ’72 Paul Grossi ’69 Daniel Brennan ’70 John McCusker ’57 William Metzler ’65 John Bonvivere ’50 + Michael Duffy ’65, OSM Ross Robertson ’64
William Rosenitsch ’57 Paul Thomson ’65 John G. Walsh ’58 + Frank Thickett ’57 + W. Frank Morneau ’59 Frank Glionna ’53 + George Cormack ’49 + Richard Wakely ’64 + Gordon Ashworth ’45 + G. J. McGoey ’58 + Paul McNamara ’40 + Joseph Primeau ’28 + Dick Foster ’30 +
Please note that the Past Presidents of the Alumni Association are listed in the order in which they served. + Deceased
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EDITOR’S Letter Dear Readers, Happily, it has been no surprise to see the variety of ways and methods in which St. Michael’s Men have been making significant contributions to the battle against COVID-19. Sadly, it has been no surprise to see in recent months (in no way related to the pandemic) the loss of so many more great St. Michael’s Men. For better or for worse, in the words of former Blue Banner editor Joe Younder ’56, “it’s all here”. The latest member of the Order of St. Michael (OSM) to join the ranks of the dearly departed is Jim Gregory ’55, OSM, a St. Michael’s legend in every sense of the word (obituary p.31). He gets the appropriate treatment, with articles by Joe Younder (p.13) and Larry Colle ’69 (p.16) detailing his impact on the world at large and the hockey world in particular. In the previous issue (Blue Banner, Issue 26) we bid adieu to Leonard ‘Red’ Kelly ’46, OSM and The Honourable Justice J. Bryan Shaughnessy ’68, OSM. In Issue 25 it was Dr. John Killoran Wilson ’43, OSM along with Ted Lindsay ’46. Like Mr. Lindsay, this latest issue also records the deaths of distinguished and well-loved members of our community who had not yet been elevated to the ranks of the OSM. Fr. Chris Rupert ’55, SJ (obituary p.31) was a St. Michael’s boarder who thereafter attended the University of St. Michael’s College. Fr. Chris, as he liked to be known, was an accomplished scholar who designed and personally cared for the grounds at the Manresa Renewal Center in Pickering. Actor, director, and playwright, Brian Joseph McKay ’69 (obituary p.32) enjoyed a hugely successful career, which brought him to stages across North America (including Broadway), the United Kingdom, and Japan. He was twice nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for his work in the theatre. On a personal note, I was particularly saddened to learn of the deaths of Don F. Power ’49, (obituary p.33) father of Patrick ’92, and former SMCS teacher Dan Nicholson (obituary p.33). Not only did Dan teach at St. Mike’s while I attended in the 1990s, he was also a teacher at Our Lady of the Assumption (OLA) elementary school when I was a student there in the 1980s. I last saw Dan at the Turkey Roll in November and honestly he looked the same as he did when he was at OLA.
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Likewise, our memories of the departed alumni will remain in place, their role in history secure. But as we continue to lose more and more of our legends, it is of the utmost importance that we create new ones. That is why it is so heartening to see Rui de Sousa ’88, Matthew Lombardi ’06, Flavio Volpe ’94, and others (Where Are They Now: COVID-19 Response p.25) – including current students making face shields from home on the school’s 3D printers (Around St. Mike’s, p.9) making a real difference in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19. It’s also enjoyable to watch the professional success of the many SMCS graduates in the legal profession (Where Are They Now, p.28), the multiple graduating classes responding to the fundraising challenge issued by The Class of ’84 (Securing Our Future by Giving Back: Alumni Class Challenge, p.24), and the many SMCS alumni who have chosen to have their children follow in their footsteps. (The Next Generation: The Tradition Continues p.11) As this issue’s most deserving Man of St. Michael’s (p.20), Donald Bannan ’66, so rightly says: “Take your own personal Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge to the world. Use it to influence your career, your family, church, and community! These are tough times right now and you are being called upon probably more so than ever! Be a giver” Joyous Reading!
Gavin Davidson ’93 Editor
LETTERS to the Editor Dear Editor,
Dear Editor,
I had a very rewarding experience attending the Turkey Roll & Reunion. The most valuable parts of my afternoon and evening were the opportunities for reflection and reminiscing on my days at St. Mike's. In the arena, I drifted back to the night I played goal at the annual staff/student hockey game. It was the first time we, the students, did not lose. The game ended in a 2-2 tie.
On behalf of my mom (Fran), sister (Frances Anne), and me, I just wanted to thank the St. Michael’s community for the well wishes and words of support following the death of my father, Gary Benedet ’57 (obituary, pg. 32). I can't express how important and influential the St. Mike’s community was to and on my dad - from the faculty and staff to the lifelong friendships that were fostered during the most important years of a young man’s life. Over the years we have heard so many amazing stories about this fabulous place that was so much more than a school of academic and athletic excellence. The lessons and values that were taught to my father have been passed down now for two generations. We are grateful for the way St. Mike’s has shaped our entire family.
I got lost in time as I walked the halls and corridors. It was as though I was walking those halls just yesterday. On the second floor, a member of the cleaning staff was working in one of the classrooms. She allowed me in and I sat down in one of the desks. I could not get over that I was sitting at a desk that had not changed in 50 years. I could ‘feel’ myself placing my books into the compartment below the seat and preparing for the lesson about to happen.
Kind Regards,
I walked through the cafeteria and out onto the balcony overlooking the gym. I was able to reflect on a really shy 16-year-old guy, sitting up there with his date, at one of the weekend sock hops.
Joe Benedet
All in all, the visit to St. Mike's was, for me, a pilgrimage, a journey back to sacred places and sacred spaces.
Dear Editor,
Class of 1970 celebrating 50th Reunion at Turkey Roll & Reunion 2019.
Henry Checko ’70 ED’S REPLY: So glad to hear you had a fantastic time at what has always been a wonderful event, Henry. But did you try the porchetta? The 65th Reunion for the Classes of ’54, ’55, and ’56 has been postponed until Friday, October 2, 2020. Wherever possible, information has been sent via mail and/or email. If you have any questions, please call Stephanie Nicholls at 416-653-3180 ext. 273
ED’S REPLY: Many thanks for your kind words, Joe, and condolences on the loss of your father.
Re: Blue Banner Special 2011 Memorial Cup Edition. I am not, nor ever was, an SMCS hockey player (nor was I able to stand up on skates). In my years at SMCS, Mr. David Bauer ’44 taught vocational guidance (for either the religious life or the lay life). Anything other was an avocation. Later, in 1956 or 1957, Fr. Bauer, CSB taught religious knowledge, a Grade 13 non-credit subject. Fr. Bauer taught every action is a prayer. For me such is/was my SMCS education. Michael Mallon ’56 ED’S REPLY: Fr. Bauer is well known to us all, Mr. Bauer, not so much. It must be both interesting and fortunate to have had a window into the man beyond the legend.
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Dear Editor,
He started as the equipment manager with the Majors. Don Cornett ’55 and I were the statisticians for coach Charlie Cerre ’28, OSM, so we really got to know one another.
I think the year was 1952. As SMCS boarders, we were living in Tweedsmuir House, on the first floor. Fr. Gibbons, CSB was our housemaster. Jim Gregory ’55, OSM (obituary p.31) and Dick Duff ’55, OSM were roommates. Every 10 days or so Jim would get a goody box from home, which we all looked forward to. My roommate, Fr. Chris Rupert ’55, SJ, (Ed’s note: Fr. Rupert died after we received this letter, his obituary is on p.31) others, and I would assist Jim with its consumption.
A group of eight of us established a mini tradition. Jim, Stan MacLellan ’55, Pat Young ’55, Leo Murray, Frank Dumsha ’55, Tom Micallef ’55, Leo MacArthur ’55, and I would meet once every summer at Leo’s golf course – for golf and après golf, and to tell stories.
Jim played on the football team. He was a very speedy halfback. His speed led him to the track team. On the team were Jim (100 yards), Leo Murray ’55 (200 yards), me (400 and 800 yards), and Paddy Cushing ’56 (the mile). We were quite formidable and made a habit of winning.
A gentleman, a great guy, a competitor, and a valued friend.
Most everyone is familiar with Jim’s successful and highly accomplished career in hockey, both at the junior and professional levels. He was a manager, a coach, a general manager, and of course, a senior NHL executive.
Jim dated the lovely Rosalie, I can tell you there were many jealous and envious guys in our circle. Jim and Rosalie some time later married and had a wonderful family.
We will all miss Jim. Dick Aubry ’55 ED’S REPLY: Thanks, Dick, for a wonderful letter about a wonderful man.
Tweedsimur House 1954 -
Sunday afternoon TV ho cke
y broadcast.
1967 Memorial Cup - Jim as General Manager
Jim Gregor y - Senior Champ
Leon Murray
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Champ - Intermediate
Tweedsmiur House 1954 - Waiting in line for the phone: Fr. Gerald Lalonde, CSB '56, John Verhoeven '54, Pat Young, Fr. Chris Rupert, Victor Mimeault '54, and Eddie Lynch '55
Pat Cushing - Winn er
of the mile.
SO LONG AND FARE WELL At the conclusion of the current academic year, St. Michael’s bid adieu to longtime librarian, Sandy Gray, and the school’s longest-serving staff member, Frank Trentadue ’84. Trentadue has packed away his double blue attire in favour of the purple and gold of his new home on the west coast. “After being at St. Michael's for so many years, I never thought my exit would come as fast as it did,” says Trentadue, who leaves after 31 years on staff to assume the role of Senior School Assistant Principal at Vancouver College, in September. “My wife and I are looking forward to a new beginning in new surroundings, and all of the natural beauty that this part of the country has to offer.” Frank Trentadue most recently held the position of Director of Student Affairs and prior to that worked as a teacher, guidance counsellor, and director of St. Michael’s International Summer Academy, providing students with various opportunities to study abroad. Active in athletics, Trentadue coached football, hockey, soccer, and track and field, capturing eight provincial high school football championships, including a three-peat from 2006-08. “Frank is forward-thinking, open-minded, direct, and thoughtful - one of the best bosses I've had in my 40-year career,” says departing SMCS librarian, Sandy Gray. “He can balance gut reaction with research or evidence to help chart the best course to address a challenge. Frank embraces change without sacrificing tradition.” Like Trentadue, Mrs. Gray departs St. Michael’s while remaining at the top of her game. Sandy was honoured with an award from the Association of Independent School Librarians (AISL), which is a first for Canadian librarians. The Marky Award is the highest honour offered by AISL. It is given to members who display exemplary service to the association. The AISL represents 700 librarians from across North America, including 42 from Canada, covering approximately two dozen schools. Mrs. Gray joined the SMCS staff in 2008 and retires having evolved and innovated materials and resources along with the design and layout of the Odette Library. INTERMEDIATE SPEAKING COMPETITION Since 1998, the annual Intermediate Speaking Competition has been essential for St. Michael’s College School. In March, Grade 7 and Grade 8 students presented their speeches in front of their peers. Students had the chance to record and produce a video that was shown to the audience during the intermission. Grade 8 students Jake Lee ’24, Roberto Saverino ’24, and Matthew Kmecz ’24 were the three winners of this year’s competition.
Around
ST. MIKE’S
VIRTUAL ATHLETIC BANQUET On May 22, SMCS hosted the annual Athletic Banquet virtually, which was a first for this 60-plus year tradition. The 2020 Virtual Athletic Banquet, themed on overcoming adversity, featured Team Canada athlete, Justyn Knight ’14, as the keynote speaker. More than 70 awards in 25 categories were presented to student-athletes by 28 presenters, including school staff, alumni, professional and amateur athletes (including Olympians past, present, and future), sports broadcasters, and representatives of all major North American professional sports leagues. "Sometimes some things in life just don't go your way and sometimes it is inconvenient. Even though it might be hard and it might not be fair that it is happening to you, you have to put yourself together and find that strength to keep pushing and keep going because there is something that you can celebrate once you pass that finish line in life," says Knight, a Team Canada athlete competing in track and field, who shares a time he felt adversity during a race in 2017 when he won his first NCAA championship. DEBATING GLOBAL TOPICS – MODEL UN In February 2020, the SMCS Model UN team attended a conference at Havergal College. The students spent time learning important and relevant topics such as climate change, immigration, the state of democracy, sanitation in West Africa, and cyber-security in developing nations. SMCS delivered a strong showing with one Best Delegate (1st place), one Outstanding Delegate (second place), and three Honourable Mentions (third place) finishes. CHESS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP On March 2, the Blue Knights chess club hosted the Toronto Secondary School Chess League Team Championship for the fourth consecutive year. The Blue Knights had junior and senior teams competing against more than 100 students from across the GTA.
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HOLODOMOR – THE UKRAINIAN GENOCIDE On March 4, the Holodomor Mobile Classroom, a 40-foot bus, arrived on the SMCS campus as part of a national awareness tour, giving history students the opportunity to learn about the starvation of millions of Ukrainians in 1932–33 as a result of Soviet policies. Students received a deeper understanding of genocide, complementing their study of the Holocaust in Nazi Germany during WWII. Students also watched videos and interactively completed group work on iPads, while engaging in discussions about genocide and its consequences. STEM AND CODING Since the 2018-19 academic year, SMCS has been working with the Logics Academy, a leader in K-12 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, to deliver the programme to intermediate students. This curriculum component is helping better prepare Grade 7 and Grade 8 students for high school in the digital age. The intermediate coding and robotics sessions occur weekly in January and February and students could be seen working in small groups on shared laptops or utilizing the room’s ample space to test out their current projects. STUDENTS MAKING AN IMPACT DURING COVID-19 St. Michael’s students have been helping from the safety of their homes to produce face shield holders, which have been in high demand amongst healthcare professionals and many others during the COVID-19 pandemic. The students, working with instructions from their design technology teacher, Mrs. Shin, have been using the SMCS 3D printers to produce the much needed piece. The three 3D printers and supporting supplies were dropped off to the students’ homes through contactless delivery. The students have completed their first batch of 120 face shield holders.
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SERVING THE COMMUNITY DURING THE PANDEMIC Nicholas Gaetano ’22 began to volunteer for Meals on Wheels during March Break, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. He has continued to give back and make a difference to the community. Gaetano underwent training and began volunteering every Sunday. He would start at 11 a.m. delivering hot meals to his assigned clients. Safety during this time has been a concern and Meals on Wheels has responded by providing masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer for the volunteers. The delivery methods have also been adjusted to accommodate physical distancing. WELLNESS EDUCATION FOR THE WHOLE PERSON In the middle of a worldwide health emergency, the Basilian educational model of Teach me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge has become more important. The SMCS student wellness, athletics, and spiritual life staff have compiled important online resources within the SMCS website to support students and their families while continuing to teach and care for the whole person: the mind, the body, and the spirit. DONATIONS BENEFIT THOSE IN NEED Although the school campus has been temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there have still been many things to do, including figuring out how to deal with the cafeteria fridges and freezers full of food. The idea came to SMCS President, Fr. Leung, CSB and Chief Operating Officer, Greg Hook ’80 to donate the food to St. Basil’s Parish in support of its Out of the Cold program. Out of the Cold was founded in 1987 by former faculty members Sr. Susan Moran, OLM, OSM and Fr. John Murphy, CSB, OSM, along with several SMCS students. The donated food was served almost immediately to those in need. During the pandemic users of the program have increased by more than 50 per cent.
THE NEXT GENERATION: The Tradition Continues THE BANNAN FAMILY - Luke Bannan will be following in the footsteps of brothers, Matt ’00, Jack ’20, and father, Don Bannan ’66 who provides the following: “I am thrilled and so proud of my son Luke who will be attending Grade 9 at St. Mike’s in September. He is so excited and will bring the Bannan enthusiasm and appreciation to the school! Keep an eye on him, as I am confident his efforts will make St. Mike’s proud too! Who knows, he may not be the last!”
THE CALLAGHAN FAMILY - Harry Callaghan will be attending St. Mike’s for Grade 9. His father, John ’81 provides his thoughts on the occasion: “Harry is looking forward to joining the St. Mike’s community. His older brother, Charlie (2016-18), attended in Grade 9 and Grade 10, but left to play in the OHL. Charlie speaks very highly of his years at the school and his best friends continue to be his classmates from SMCS. We look forward to Harry having the same experience at St. Mike’s.”
THE DACAMBRA FAMILY – Jacob starts Grade 7 at St. Mike’s in September, joining brother, Lucas ’22, and following in the footsteps of father, Mark ’93, who provides his thoughts: "Past, present, and future - SMCS has played an important role in our family and we are all very proud to be part of the tradition!”
THE FAVERO FAMILY - Peter and Leo will be attending St. Michael’s College School for Grade 7. They, along with their father, Dr. Oliver Favero ’86, send greetings to the St. Mike’s community: “Excited about being St. Mike's Men and future alumni.” (ED’S NOTE: We were saddened to learn of Dr. Favero’s death shortly after receiving this message. His obituary can be found on p. 33.)
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THE GRANIC FAMILY – Luka starts Grade 9 at St. Michael’s in September, reports his father, Ivan Granic ’96: “It's great being able to continue the St. Michael's legacy with Luka. It's like coming home again.”
THE SHERIDAN FAMILY - Ryan will be joining St. Michael’s for Grade 9, and Kyle for Grade 7, following in the footsteps of Chris Sheridan ’81, who is both joyful and reflective: “I was thrilled to learn that my boys, Ryan and Kyle, would be continuing the family legacy at St. Mike’s. Walking through the halls of SMCS this past fall (after many, many years), I was struck by how much had changed – the facilities are simply fantastic! However, touring the old part of the school and speaking with staff and students was a walk down memory lane, reinforcing how crucial a role SMCS played in my formative years. This is something I think many do not fully comprehend until long after graduation. I am thankful for my boys to be part of this legacy and look forward to them becoming St. Michael’s Men. From the smiles on their faces when they found out the good news, I know they are very excited too!”
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THE SOJA FAMILY – Zach will be starting Grade 7 at St. Michael’s in September, making father, Rob Soja ’94 very happy: “I attended St. Michael’s for my OAC year. It was a year I will always remember. Cynthia and I are both thrilled that Zach will start at St. Mike’s next year.”
THE VESZ FAMILY - Matthew and Trevor, sons of Tom Vesz ’80, will be walking the yellow-brick halls starting in Grade 9. Tom is thrilled the tradition will continue: “The years I spent at St. Michael’s were of tremendous value to me and served as a strong framework for my future endeavours. I remember fondly the friendships made, the academic challenges met, and the spiritual foundations laid that have benefited me ever since. Now, 40 years after my graduation, I look forward with tremendous excitement and pride to my twin sons, Matthew and Trevor, having the opportunity to experience, and grow in, the same traditions.”
What Can I Do For You Today? Remembering Jim Gregory ’55, OSM Joe Younder ’56
“What can I do for you today?” or “How can I help you?” If you were with your significant other, he would quickly say, “has he told you lately... how beautiful you are?” Such words were the lifelong mantra of one James Michael Gregory, so eloquently expressed by his son David on November 2, 2020, at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, Jim’s and wife Rosalie’s long-time parish. Jim, a Dunnville, Ontario native, arrived at St. Mike’s in 1953 to enter Grade 12 and take up residence in Tweedsmuir House - boarding along with brothers Les Duff ’54, Dick ’55, OSM and Murray Costello ’53, and Billy Dineen ’52. “Jim was one of the great guys who, all his life, would go out of his way to help you,” relates Dick. Bob Pallante ’59 echoes Lou Angotti’s ’57 comments of “little Jimmy shooting a good game of pool and regularly beating the likes of Tom Micallef ’55 and Gerry Cheevers ’59”. Although Jim’s influential role in hockey was not the focus of David’s eulogy, it is a fact that while playing for the Kerry Blues football team, and running track, Jim tried out twice for the Jr. B club and was cut both times by Fr. Ted Flanagan ’32, CSB. It was here too at St. Mike’s that a young Mr. Dave Bauer ’44 saw some potential in Jim and offered him a job with the Midget team. Their relationship eventually led to Jim being hired by Stafford Smythe in 1959 to work in the Leafs’ amateur farm system.
Joe Younder with Jim at the NHL Offices in 2005 St. Michael's College School Majors' trainer, late 50s
As they say, the rest is history: helping Bob Davidson recruit draft prospects, maintaining ties with St. Mike’s that saw them win the Memorial Cup in 1960-61, to, in 1969, at the age of 33, replacing Punch Imlach as the Leafs’ General Manager. Jim was a success and one of the first NHL managers to recognize Europe as a talent pool for the NHL. For the next decade, the Leafs made the Jim and David, Christmas Day '84 playoffs eight times. Director of Central Scouting, Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007, and recipient of the Order of St. Michael (OSM) in 2012, Mr. Gregory, as many were inclined to call him, did it all while remaining a man of integrity, loyalty, and generosity. What about Jim Gregory the father, the husband, the grandfather, the brother, the uncle, the colleague, and the friend?
Christmas Day 1971 with nephew Blair and niece Leslie
“I am truly indebted to Fr. Bauer and Stafford who put me on the hockey path,” Jim said in a 2007 Blue Banner article. It was a remembered act of kindness that Jim passed on to others throughout his life.
“My sisters and I would tell you that to have him as our father was a truly great thing. You knew you were loved. He was our dad. He taught us generosity, because he lived it; he taught us respect and caring, because he lived it,” eulogized David.
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matter who it was. To Jim, everybody was equally important. He was received by all with welcoming hearts and open arms.
Jim with daughters Andrea and Maureen and son David, Christmas in Haliburton 1978
Susan Snow, Jim’s Executive Assistant since 1993, writes, “Jim was a mentor and father figure, a dream boss. He possessed those pleasant, kind, and compassionate qualities that fellow colleagues embraced. His Hockey Hall of Fame induction is a testament to his concern for others and contribution to the game he loved. Moreover, he embodied those Catholic teachings of helping the less fortunate by putting smiles on the faces of those who had lost hope. I will miss him.”
There’s more. Rosalie’s sister, Rita, and her husband, Charlie Pemberton, have 60 years of memories. “Jim was caring, thoughtful, and generous to the max. He never came for a visit without prizes for autistic kids’ charity auctions or a trunk full of baseball hats, jackets, and NHL memorabilia to be given away,” reminisces Charlie. “Family dinners - his favourite meal being pasta (the thinner the noodle the better), Haliburton cottage gatherings, barbecuing, and being there for others in sickness and in health, were enjoyable constants in Jim’s life. It was a known fact that, when a friend or family member was ill, Jim would offer to get them appointments with the many specialists he knew from hockey.”
L-R, Daughter Maureen, Sister-in-law Rita, Lake Simcoe '80
DEEDS TRULY DO SPEAK Then, there’s the story of David’s sons, Kade and Lyle, being taken by their grandpa to a game in Pittsburgh. When Jim drove into the parking lot, the attendant had a big smile on his face, and immediately directed Jim to the best parking spot. When he walked into the building, the guys on the arena floor, preparing the ice, thanked him for coming. Happy to see him, they all came up and gave Jim a hug. The amazing thing was he got the same reaction from the CEO, the general manager, the coaches, and everyone in the arena. It didn’t
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L-R Rosalie, Jack Kentish '55, Jim in Costa Rica 2007, and their driver
Tom Larscheid, retired colour commentator for the Vancouver Canucks from 1977-2010, speaks of their 50-plus-year friendship. “When Jim coached the Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League. He often talked about his experiences at St. Mike's, which really laid the groundwork for his career in hockey. Jim loved every aspect of the game. To mention all of Jim's accomplishments within the hockey world would take forever. His induction into the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame says it all. He always knew how to have fun and enjoy life. I learned so much from him both professionally and personally. He was loved and respected by everyone. Jim was one of a kind and I consider myself very lucky to have had him as my best friend for more than 50 years. I have so many wonderful memories to hold onto thanks to Jim, his wonderful wife, Rosalie, and children, David, Andrea, Valarie, and Maureen. Jim was the best.” Mike Murphy, Senior VP of NHL Hockey Operations relates, “Jim was a kind, generous man, a role model who cared about people. He often put friends and family ahead of himself. He loved the game of hockey like very few people love it. Besides supporting his former players if they were in need, he also, in recent years, worked with NHL on-ice officials who he knew
word against anyone and put the feelings of others before himself no matter how he was hurting.” On a personal note, I remember on June 23, 2011 being with family at the Xcel Energy Center in Minnesota where our grandson, Ryan Murphy, was in the first-round draft. Jim, overseeing the event, waved and walked up the 15 steps to shake our hands. Some things you never forget. No matter where he went, he was greeted with respect and admiration.
Jim's and Rosalie's 60th Wedding Anniversary, May 2019
needed personal support. Jimmy never pounded his chest about helping people. It was just his nature. He treasured his family and grandchildren and bragged about their success. When I first joined NHL Hockey Operations, he held my hand and guided me through the difficulties of the hockey business until I had learned enough that I could walk on my own. I miss Jim everyday. God bless him.” Kimm Bailey, Gina Cramarossa, and Stephanie Nicholls, of the St. Michael’s College School Office of Advancement write: “We had many dealings with Mr. Gregory over the years. He was a special gentleman, truly a friend to all he met. Jim was very devoted to his family, often sharing accomplishments of his grandchildren or the plans he and Rosalie, his beloved wife, had for the weekend or an upcoming trip. Jim was a proud alumnus, donor, and supporter and often could be seen attending events or coming to St. Michael's unannounced to say hello. He was active among his classmates and enjoyed planning and attending the Class of 1955 reunions. He never spoke a bad
There’s no doubt the Gregorys embraced a loving extended family dynamic. “My mom’s three sisters did not have children, so my aunts and uncles treated us like we were their own kids. Norma and the late Lorne Melara, Rita and Charles Pemberton, and the late Elaine and Joseph Melara were special family to us. In fact, when they all met with Jim’s family in Dunnville, it was like royalty arriving and we were like kings and queens coming to visit,” Dave remembers.
Jim with daughter Valerie, Christmas 2000
It doesn’t take long to see there’s a pattern here. When you were around Jim, he made you feel like what you needed was the most important thing he was dealing with. This is something that very few people possess. But he did it his entire life every day, even though he considered it a life in which he “never worked a day”. Jim Gregory the man, the husband, the father, the brother, the grandfather, the uncle, the colleague, the hockey guy, the friend - it’s all here.
Top L-R: Bob Clancy '51, Peter Grossi '54, Jack Dockery '53, Frank Turano '53 Bottom L-R: Bob Savage '57, Bob Pallante '59, Tom Micallef '57, Jim Gregory, OSM, Dave Keon '60, OSM, Bob McKnight '57, Cesare Maniago '59, Gene Cuccia '52, OSM
In the many emails I exchanged with David one stands out, in which he concluded, much like his father: “Just let me know what I can do for you, whatever you want.”
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HOW JIM GREGORY ’55, OSM Rescued the Toronto Maple Leafs Larry Colle ’69
Jim, you were a true hero for all St. Mike’s alumni for all you did for the Maple Leafs and the Majors before them. You brought fun and enjoyment back for all Toronto hockey fans everywhere. We will always be grateful. The Toronto Maple Leafs had just been blown out four games to zero in an April 1969 playoff series by the Boston Bruins. Punch Imlach was fired moments after Game 4, marking the end of a 10-year reign that saw him win four Stanley Cups. But it was an exciting time for St. Mike’s students and alumni everywhere as we heard the news on the radio soon after: 33-yearold Jim Gregory was selected by Leafs president Stafford Smythe to be the new Leafs GM. 1967 Memorial Cup Winners, Jim Gregory, GM, second from the right
It was a bold move. The Leafs were on a downward spiral. Under Punch and short-sighted ownership, they had traded their young players or lost most of their deep farm system with ill-advised cash sales. And in the disastrous 1967 expansion draft, fading veterans were protected over future stars. From 1967 to 1969, powerhouses Montreal and Boston had stockpiled draft picks and young talent. On top of all these disadvantages, Jim realized when he took over that most of the players’ contracts had run out. The Leafs’ farm system at this time was one of the barest in the NHL, behind even the expansion teams that had joined the league only two years earlier in 1967.
1964 Memorial Cup, Jim as coach
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St. Michael's College School Majors' trainer, late 50s
After he was selected to be GM, one of Jim Gregory’s first public appearances was at the St. Mike’s Athletic Banquet in May 1969. I was there. During the banquet, Jim turned the event on its head by announcing at the podium that he would turn the proceedings into a ‘Meet the Press’ format and that the students could pepper him with questions. I took him up on the offer and reeled off all the number one draft picks accumulated by the Canadians and Bruins. How could we compete with that, I asked. Jim was bemused, first complimenting me for my hockey knowledge then adding the Leafs would have to move fast and work smarter to keep up with these NHL powerhouses. Afterwards, I followed him out and asked about acquiring Ron Ward, the first trade he had made as GM. Jim was shockingly candid. He did not think Ward would make the team and again thanked me for my interest. During Jim’s 10-year reign he had to deal with an unstable Leafs ownership situation. After Stafford Smythe and Harold Ballard ousted John Bassett and gained total control of the Leafs the two were subjects of federal tax charges. Tragically, Smythe soon died and Ballard gained control of the team even as he went to federal prison. But Ballard had to take out huge loans with Toronto Dominion Bank to buy the team and although the Leafs were ostensibly one of the NHL’s top teams they were deeply in debt. Ballard also had to deal with high interest rates for his loans that peaked at 18 per cent in 1981. Ballard would severely cut corners by giving his hockey operations less funds. Tower yearbook graduation picture
This is what faced Jim Gregory for ten years, including making do with one of the league’s smaller scouting departments. Despite this, Jim built up the Leafs on three separate occasions during his tenure. Inheriting a bare bones roster from Punch Imlach in 1969, it took Jim four years to rebuild the team. He had St. Mike’s alumnus Johnny McLellan (1946-47) as coach. Jim developed and drafted Darryl Sittler, Errol Thompson, Rick Kehoe, and George Jim Gregory, General Manager of Ferguson. He added St. Michael's College School Majors - 1961 Hall of Famers Jacque Plante and Bernie Parent in trades, also acquiring Bobby Baun and Jim Harrison. He assembled one of the best young defenses in the league, featuring Jim McKenney, Jim Dorey, Brian Glennie, Brad Selwood, Ricky Ley, and Mike Pelyk. But then the World Hockey Association (WHA) came along and Ballard wouldn’t and couldn’t pay key players to keep them from jumping. The Leafs plummeted, forcing Jim to re-invent the roster once again over the next four years. Jim started with three number one draft picks in 1973. He drafted Lanny McDonald and Ian Turnbull. He hired the legendary Red Kelly ’46, OSM to be their innovative coach. He was the first GM to turn to Europe in a major way, acquiring Borje Salming and Inge Hammarstrom as free agents. He traded for Doug Favell and added toughness in the legendary Dave Photo with Bill Hay, 2007 ‘Tiger’ Williams. But the Leafs were Hockey Hall of Fame Induction outgunned and outmuscled by the Philadelphia Flyers in their showdown playoff series, despite Red Kelly’s pyramid power antics and underrated coaching prowess. It didn’t help that the NHL looked the other way and did little to control the Flyers brutal tactics. During this period Ballard wouldn’t keep Paul Henderson from jumping to the nascent WHA. Ballard also balked at re-signing
Leafs captain Dave Keon ’60, OSM in 1975, which led to a 40-year rupture between the Leafs icon and the organization. He wouldn’t pay Rick Kehoe, who ended up being traded, and balked when Jim again tried to turn to Sweden to 1964 Toronto Marlies Memorial Cup Reunion sign emerging young stars Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson. Instead, those two went to the WHA to join Bobby Hull and the Winnipeg Jets. From 1977-79, working with a totally out of the box coaching hire in Roger Neilson, Gregory once again moulded a new unit. Neilson guided one of the Leafs all-time toughest and defensively responsible teams. Those squads featured Sittler and MacDonald, but 1964 Memorial Cup, 50th Anniversary also Dan Maloney - one of the most feared wingers of that period - who was acquired by Gregory via trade. Jim also drafted John Anderson and Randy Carlyle. The team was backstopped by the acrobatic Mike Palmateer. Jim’s crowning achievement was the seven-game playoff series in 1978 that saw the Leafs outhit and defeat the emerging superpower New York Islanders. After Jim’s exciting 10-year period the Leafs went into a 13-year swoon until finally rescued by Doug Gilmour. Jim had been inexplicably let go by the erratic and mercurial Ballard in 1979. He then joined the NHL executive suite for the next four decades. But Jim not once said a bad word about Ballard in public or private, even though the owner never told Jim he had been fired, leaving him to find out via the media and other hockey executives. Jim Gregory richly deserved enshrinement in the Hockey Hall of Fame if only for what he accomplished as Leafs GM in spite of all the obstacles thrown his way.
St. Michael's College School Majors' trainer, late 50s
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THE ASSOCIATION Welcomes a New Round of Alumni
st. michael’s c
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Graduating Class 2019-2020 ollege school
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Man of St. Michael’s:
DON BANNAN ’ 66 It was down to the wire for Don Bannan and his brother Doug ’66 – going on sixty years ago now. The twins, with their hearts set on going to De La Salle, wrote entrance exams both there and at St. Mike’s. Don was awarded a scholarship to De La Salle, and Doug to St. Mike’s. However, when the canny Basilians realized what was happening, they quickly also extended a scholarship offer to Don. The rest, as they say, is history. "I have absolutely no regrets, it was a good move all around for me and for St. Mike's," says Don. “The more I think about it, the more I realize what a profound influence St. Mike’s had on who I am. This is especially true when it comes to my love of teaching and giving to others.” Reflecting on his life since high school, Don sees the continuing influence of St. Mike’s not just in himself, but also in the personalities and achievements of his children. The same is true for the larger St. Mike’s family. “I see it through the many students I have recommended to St. Mike’s. And I see it through the many teachers I still run into,” Don states. “And now, 60 years later, I will get to see it in my son, Luke, who starts Grade 9 in September.” Luke will be the Bannan’s fifth to walk the hallowed yellow halls. Don and Doug blazed the trail in the 1960s, setting a high standard along the way. Thirty years later, in 1991, Doug’s son Brian ’96 pulled on the blue blazer for the first time. He was joined in 1995, his OCA year, by Don’s son Matt ’00. Don Bannan in Grade 13 A little more than 20 years later, Don’s son Jack ’20 renewed the family tradition, starting Grade 9 in 2016. Just as Jack waves goodbye, Luke ’24 waves hello. “Crazy, eh?” says Don. “The Blue Banner actually did a story about Brian, who was diagnosed with cancer, and my son Matt. They ran the New York Marathon together, raising around $60,000 for the cancer centre at the Sloane Ketteri
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Hospital in New York. Better still, they finished in a time of 3:17 – remarkable for two guys who hadn’t run a marathon in their lives except one preliminary in Toronto! My feeling is St. Mike’s had a little to do with their discipline and determination.” Discipline and determination also played a role in Don being able to enjoy not just one, but two successful careers - in vastly different fields. “St. Mike’s taught me goodness and knowledge yes, but most of all self-discipline,” he reflects. Don first made his mark in education - serving as a teacher, principal, and Superintendent of Education. His first job as a principal, at age 27 no less, was just down the road at Holy Rosary. “When they asked me to go I Doug and Don at Doug's 50th wedding anniversary. still had to ask where it was,” Don laughs. “I had my all-time favourite student Francesco ‘Frenchie’ Bazzocchi ’83 there. He was as special then as he was as a coach and teacher at St. Mike’s.” After a few more principal gigs, Don went on to “do the superintendent stuff ”, which he loved because he “had a team of principals upon whom I could impart my values.”
Simultaneously, Don found the time to remain involved with the school in a number of ways. He was on the first Building Fund committee with Jack Daley ’66 and served on the alumni committee with Paul Thomson ’65. He is also a frequent volunteer at Turkey Roll and Homecoming. Don not only meets often with alumni, but also with prospective St. Mike’s students, acting as a sort of unofficial gatekeeper. “On a yearly basis many parents come to me and ask if I can refer their child to St. Mike’s,” he explains. “I interview the candidate and refer the ones I feel will be successful.” It seems that Don is destined to always be the educator, even though he is no longer actually an educator, having retired in 2000. When his window closed on a career in education, another window opened – literally. Don spent the next 17 years as an executive with Ridley Windows and Doors.
Don with Michael Klubal and Karen Leonard at the Blue Blue Benefit & Lottery
Team values and the value of a team are also things Don learned at St. Mike’s – things that were essential to his success as an educator and an executive. He remembers not just the championships won – in football and hockey – but the “muddy cold football practices until the sun went down.” There’s that self-discipline making its mark. “I sweated my butt off doing football drills under the likes of Fr. Volpe ’48, CSB, OSM, Wayne O’Reilly, and Mike Lavelle ’54,” he recalls.
L to R: Stan MacLellan '55, Ron Clarkin '75, Dominic Montemurro '78, John P. O'Neill '86, Vilis Miklasevics '66, Carlo De Pellegrin '66, OSM, Don Bannan, Paul Bottoni '66, Alex Lauber '16, and Fr. John Malo '66, CSB at the 2019 Grade 12 Blessing & Commissioning Mass
Don also remembers many of his classmates almost 60 years later. Then again the reunions probably help with that. “At our 50th reunion we had more than 30 students and six teachers present,” he exclaims. “What does that say?” Ah the teachers. Most of all, Don remembers the teachers Fr. Carruthers, CSB (“humble and unassuming, but so kind. I couldn't roll my R's in French but he sure tried”) Fr. Hibberd ’58, CSB, OSM (“Such an example of goodness. And he didn't know Latin until he started teaching.”) Dan Prendergast, OSM (“He would come to my schools to recruit students and he would say 'Donnie only the good ones, ok?’”) Hugh McDougall, OSM (“Doug and I would try to drive him crazy.”). “Teachers were such a big part of the school, you knew they cared and they still do today,” Don says before reciting a list seeming to contain every teacher he had at St. Mike’s. “Paul ‘Digger’ Dignan ’59, Jack Fenn ’54, OSM, Fr. Munnelly, CSB, Rev. Paul Sheehan ’49, Fr. ‘Fitz’ Fitzpatrick, CSB, OSM, Fr. Volpe ’48, CSB, OSM, Fr. Ted Sullivan, CSB, Neil Smith ’46 , Fr. Ted Flanagan, CSB, Pat Fremeau ’56, Wayne O’Reilly, and Michael Lavelle ’54.” He loved them all, but none as much as Joe Younder ’56. “Don’t tell him he was my fave, but Joe always showed sincere interest. He followed my teaching career and always asked about Matt’s hockey career,” Don says. “About four years ago I received a package in the mail which was an essay I had written for Joe in his English class. I told him ‘no way this was too good for me’. That essay was written more than 50 years ago.”
Jack and Luke at Shadow Day.
“I well remember the Bannan twins, Don and Doug. They were engaged students are longtime contributors to St. Mike's,” says Joe Younder (who was not informed of his favoured status). “Don was in my English class and if memory serves me right was a good student. Both were polite young men, cooperative, and played an active roll in the social and academic life of the school. It's difficult to talk of one Bannan without mentioning both. They are great people who are still involved with the school. I have a few more essays yet to be sent!”
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Don’s essay lives on, like the lessons and values learned in high school. But Don hasn’t just been implanting the values of St. Mike’s in teams of principals, he has been living them his whole life. Like another recent Man of St. Michael’s, Lou Odette ’69, Don has long been dedicated to easing the problems of homelessness. He also volunteers at Sunnybrook Veterans Centre. And then there is of course the coaching, but Don gets as much enjoyment out of that as anyone.
Don welcoming golfers to 2018 Annual Golf Tournament
His baby though, is the St. Michael’s College School Annual Golf Tournament. Don has served as chair of the Golf Committee for 15 years. Although he shuns the praise, saying the success of the tournament is down to the efforts of the Advancement Office, Don has made his mark in a number of ways, including allowing students to compete and participate in the happenings around the course.
“They usually win,” he complains in jest. “The St. Michael's College School Annual Golf Tournament is a special event, raising thousands of dollars over the years for those in need. Equally importantly, it is an opportunity to interact with staff, students, friends, and alumni – including in the past NHL greats such as Red Kelly ’46, OSM, Dick Duff ’55, OSM, and Frank Mahovlich ’57, OSM. It also allows us to present our students – on the golf team, in the drumline, and those hosting at the doors and on the course - to an audience!” “For many years, Don has been a dedicated volunteer at the annual golf tournament. He was also very helpful in organizing the 50th anniversary for our Class of ’66,” says classmate Carlo De Pellegrin ’66, Don and Frank Mahovlich ’57, OSM OSM. “Don is a fun-loving at the 2019 Golf Tournament guy, an extremely loyal friend to many, and a long-term supporter of the school. He cares deeply about St. Mike’s and is undoubtedly one of its strongest ambassadors.”
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As with most things St. Mike’s, the golf tournament is a team effort. And Don’s efforts are certainly appreciated by Kimm Bailey, Gina Cramarossa, and Stephanie Nicholls, of the St. Michael’s College School Office of Advancement.
Don with brothers Frank Rosar '66 (left) and Ed Rosar '65 at The 2017 Turkey Roll & Reunion
“Don has always been a very proud alumnus and supporter of events,” the ladies wrote in an email to the Blue Banner. “He lends a helping hand volunteering for Turkey Roll and Homecoming, and assists with locating lost alumni. As the chairperson of the golf tournament, he and his committee have raised more than $250,000 over the last decade for the school’s endowment. We truly value his kind and positive spirit and especially enjoy when he stops by the office when dropping off his son, Jack. He often sends pictures to the Advancement Department of the alumni he meets.” Chairing the golf tournament, meeting with alumni, interviewing prospective students, helping with a wide and electric variety of events and fundraising initiatives, there is really nothing Donald Bannan will not do to help his beloved St. Michael’s. “St. Mike’s is a special place where everyone has the opportunity to find their role and be respected. We are all honoured and privileged to have attended. Parents, teachers, administrators, and students work together to make St. Mike’s a happy and secure place,” says Bannan, before adding a call to alumni. “Alumni should also get involved by attending special events like Homecoming, Christmas in the Courtyard, The Big Blue Benefit & Lottery, and Turkey Roll, or by joining a committee. There is lots of room on our golf committee.”
“My high school years have certainly helped me in my life and my career, even if sometimes you don't realize it until you're gone! Most of all, I learned the value of compassion, which is intertwined in all my actions,” Don says in bringing the interview to a close. “To the graduates, I say take your own personal Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge to the world. Use it to influence your career, your family, church, and community! These are tough times right now and you are being called upon probably more so than ever! Be a giver!!!!” Spoken like a true Man of St. Michael’s. Take a bow, Don, you’ve earned it.
Christmas 2019, L to R: Jack, Luke, and Don, and Brian, Doug with Doug's grandchildren Vivian and Theodore
DONALD BANNAN’S FAVOURITE ST. MIKE’S MEMORIES • Fr. Sheedy, CSB calling my brother and I to his office to tell us one more fight and we were done! • Sharing stories at Jacks (the shop across the street) after school. • Seeing guys starting Grade 9 never to return. Fr. Whelan, CSB? • The amazing gravy with the 15-cent burgers and fries. • We wrote a religion exam on the day Kennedy was assassinated and I remember everyone so upset. Top: Doug / Bottom: Don
• My friend who stuttered badly releasing a litany of f-bombs without a single stutter.
Don's son, Matt '00, daughter Meredith, and granddaughter Sloan
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SECURING OUR FUTURE by Giving Back: Alumni Class Challenge
It all started when five classmates decided to challenge their fellow members to demonstrate ‘Goodness’ by creating the Class of 1984 Bursary as a way to pay it forward. Once this bursary was established, the class issued the Alumni Class Challenge, asking: “Is your Class up to the Class of ’84 Challenge?” To date, nine classes have responded to the challenge of raising $25,000 over five years to establish their own class bursary, including the Class of 1955.
All donations to a class bursary are invested in perpetuity and the interest gained is awarded to a student. As the principal grows, so can the amount awarded, or additional student awards can be given. The Advancement Office can help in starting a bursary as well as connecting with classmates. “In 2015, I contacted a handful of graduating classmates and suggested a 50th year reunion,” said Carlo De Pellegrin ’66, OSM. “We got started and before I knew it we had doubled our number of volunteers. The experience was terrific and provided the spark to establish the bursary. The boys of the ’60s became men of the 21st century. We have always known that we have a history with a couple of hundred brothers who experienced the Basilian education that linked us together forever.” Visit smcsgive.com, and look for the logo below to see if your class has responded to the challenge or learn how to start your class bursary, like the Class of 1993.
“Those of us who were boarders traditionally have very tight relationships,” said Stan MacLellan ’55. “Not only have we established our class bursary, we have been meeting every five years since our 50th anniversary.”
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“Inspired by the Class of ’84, the idea to establish a Class of ’93 Bursary was first discussed over dinner with a bunch of classmates,” relates Marc Montemurro ’93. “The conversation centered on rising tuition rates, and the realization that many of the members at dinner that night would not have been able to attend SMCS if the tuition was what it is now. We discussed how lucky we felt to have attended the school, and we all felt that we benefited from the experience of a St. Mike’s education. We wanted to give back in a way that would help the next generation of students. The Bursary was started to help ensure that no deserving boy is turned away due to financial constraints.”
WHERE ARE THEY NOW:
COVID-19 Response
more sophisticated cousin, the BiPAP, I signed up to help on the COVID-19 wards if and when needed. We are using these devices in cases when a ventilator may not be yet required, but some kind of respiratory support is clearly needed. Photo credit: Doug Nicholson, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Rui de Sousa ’88 provides us with this dispatch COVID-19: Tales from the Other Side We shut down the Sunnybrook sleep lab in mid-March, as soon as the Ontario and Canadian governments started to declare emergency procedures. Sleep labs are at higher risk for spreading this virus because some of our tests involve aerosol generating procedures, namely the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) tests. Since then, we have gone to a skeleton crew, while still seeing some patients, new and old, via telemedicine. Like everything new, there is always a learning curve, and not all patients are familiar or comfortable with computers, much less with video conferencing. But we do our best to work through these technical challenges and manage our patients. All hospitals in Ontario are limiting the number of visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic to help keep patients and staff safe. There just aren’t as many patients here physically as before the outbreak. Some staff are being re-deployed throughout the hospital, to support the true frontline heroes of this pandemic. We are staffing different posts, screening at hospital entrances, limiting visitors, and providing directions to the sick and injured. We are also transporting some patients to different parts of the hospital. We are distributing surgical masks (the non-N95 masks) to all staff at various distribution posts throughout the hospital. Some are also supporting non-COVID-19 patients with their daily care. All of these efforts are to help free up and support staff working directly with COVID-19. Early on, as with many healthcare organizations, Sunnybrook adopted a position of ‘hope for the best, but prepare for the worst’. We moved quickly to postpone most elective procedures and moved non-critical patients, with the goal of maximizing the institutional reserve capacity. We began receiving daily (sometimes hourly) updates on general preparedness. Personal protective equipment (PPE), especially the N95 masks and visors/face shields, were inventoried and allocated to areas that expected high use, and refresher training was quickly implemented. The hospital also put forth a questionnaire to query all staff on additional skills that may be needed to fight this virus, in a worst-case, all-handson-deck scenario. Having years of experience with CPAP and its
But this pandemic isn’t just about physical health; it also takes a toll on mental and emotional health. The stress of commuting to the hospital every day, on public transit, mingling with strangers and surfaces that increase your chance of bringing this threat home, can be overwhelming. Many of us in healthcare, including some of my colleagues and friends, have moved out of our homes and into garages, spare rooms, or second homes. We now spend weeks away from our loved ones, spouses, children, friends, and family. If we have to go home, it is often with a mask on our face and with minimal physical contact. I have seen friends break down because their usual social supports have been eroded. Social distancing at work, with the very people that could have given us the most support, slowly chips away at all of us. We go ‘home’ to an empty building… and those are the lucky ones. Insomnia is common. Fear is ever present, especially in the quiet evenings spent alone. Fear of the unknown (for much is unknown), but also fear of the known (for what we do know about COVID-19 is truly scary). No, it isn’t all doom and gloom, but when you are in the trenches, all you see is mud. And yet there is hope. And there are triumphs. In the midst of all the heartbreak, we are united, as a world community, in unprecedented ways. Many of the greatest medical and scientific minds are all focused on a treatment or vaccine. Some of the most sophisticated healthcare and pharmacological companies ever assembled are working toward the same goal. Manufacturing companies, unrelated to medicine, have retooled to lend support and equipment in this fight. So many individuals have contributed, either through sewing one mask at a time, or donating lunches to overworked doctors, nurses, and other frontline staff… right down to you. You. It may sometimes feel like you are simply sitting at home and ‘doing nothing’, but trust me, you are doing much more than you could ever believe. You are making a huge impact by staying at home. You are contributing to this fight by taking away the ammunition this virus needs. So, the take-home lesson is: please take care and stay safe. Keep this virus at a minimum in the wild. Keep the numbers of sick well below our current capacity. And when this is all over, just give me three or four days straight to catch up on some sleep. God bless, Rui de Sousa ’88
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Using their Insig Health software platform, David Del Balso ’13 and Matthew Mazzuca ’12 used their virtual clinic, Tia Health, which has over 150 doctors across Canada. Tia Health offers the ability for video chat, phone consultations, and secure messaging supported with an online portal featuring an electronic triage form, digital booking, reminders, charting, and more. With the COVID-19 pandemic taxing the country’s medical system, many doctors and medical professionals are forced to look for alternate ways to offer patient support. Certain provinces later opened medical coverage to include telehealth and virtual care. Their growth helped them secure a strategic partnership with WELL Health along with a $6 million investment. The deal will allow Insig the ability to scale its technology rapidly across Canada. Matthew Lombardi ’06 co-founded GroceryHero, a technology platform hosted at getgroceryhero.com that matches front line medical workers with a volunteer grocery shopper in their neighbourhood via algorithmic postal code matching. The idea for the not-for-profit came about when Matthew found out from a friend, an ER doctor on the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19, that grocery delivery services were badly oversubscribed and medical workers were avoiding going inside grocery stores for fear of exposing the public. In its first week, GroceryHero was promoted by the deputy prime minister of Canada, Ontario’s minister of health, and the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa. As of April 5, it had more than 2500 signups and had made more than 300 matches of frontline medical workers with a volunteer shopper in neighbourhoods across the country.
Andrew Moretti ’04, President of RFP Design Group Inc., a Mississaugabased company that designs, manufactures, and installs custom furniture and furnishings, transformed their 50,000 square-foot production facility into one that makes protective face masks. Moretti and his team were trained on how to sew and within a few short days, RFP Design Group Inc. became Canada Mask Supply, producing 10,000 masks per day in its initial runs. The masks are made for essential service workers, consumers, and various industries outside of health care. Canada Mask Supply has more than 40 signed contracts with companies around the world, with enough material in stock to produce more than two million masks. Julian De Santi ’03 and Anthony Scilipoti ’90 spent April 25 grocery shopping and delivering more than 1000 lbs. of food to the Daily Bread Food Bank with money raised from their colleagues at Veritas Investment Research. Special thanks go to Joseph Primucci ’03, who provided his company van to deliver the food. Phil Gerretsen ’94 works at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Heath and Toronto General Hospital, primarily as a geriatric psychiatrist for hospitalized patients with dementia and other severe mental illnesses, such as mood and anxiety disorders and schizophrenia. “As health professionals, we have to protect these patients from the COVID-19 virus because they are at the highest risk of becoming critically ill or dying because of their age and underlying medical illnesses,” says Gerretsen. John Sinopoli ’94 was behind a new coalition of some of Toronto’s top restaurants that banded together to lobby all levels of government for immediate help to stave off an economic disaster of the highest proportion brought about by COVID-19. Some of the restaurants that signed on with the group under the banner SaveHospitality.ca include Oliver Bonacini Hospitality, Oyster Boy, City Betty, La Palma, and Constantine
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Flavio Volpe ’94, in his role as president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, was key to facilitating the retooling of automotive parts factories to make vital healthcare equipment. The discussions were underway even before automakers on both sides of the Atlantic began shutting down factories in response to the rapidly escalating COVID-19 crisis. The key challenge was establishing agreements with medical companies that allowed devices to be produced at a much larger scale amid a surge in global demand.
Romeo Milano ’80, principal at Safetech Environmental, reports that his company was deemed to provide an essential service under the Government of Ontario's recent definition. Along with assisting insurance companies and restoration contractors on floods and building fires, Safetech is currently involved in some projects where there have been confirmed outbreaks of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities.
“If this was a Canada-only crisis, we could solve it in short order. But we’re calling the same companies as the U.S. and Germany. The stuff we need has never been in this kind of demand,” said Volpe, who criss-crossed the province to help firms retool to build vital gear. “There are a lot of skills in our industry and a lot of willingness to help. We can make most of these things here, and where we can help, we absolutely will.”
“Canadian companies need to keep building our own capacity. We need to look after ourselves. We need to be self-sufficient,” said Premier Doug Ford on an April 7 visit to the Woodbridge Group’s manufacturing facility in Vaughan, where he received the first batch of personal protective equipment produced in Ontario. “Woodbridge, together with the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, has been working at an unprecedented pace to retool their factories and get the required approvals to manufacture masks for our frontline workers.”
Romeo commends the men and women of Safetech who are out there participating in this site work and stresses that the company’s people are highly trained and perform appropriate protective measures and personal hygiene. Technicians oversee the cleaning and disinfecting of buildings (performed by contractors) and perform thorough visual inspections and surface testing to ensure that these sites are safe for occupation.
“I was thrilled to see firsthand the fruition of their hard work and look forward to them ramping up production to meet the demands of Ontario and other parts of the country,” the premier said. “As the world faces a global shortage of medical equipment, Ontario-based companies have stepped up in a big way in order to ensure our frontline workers are protected against COVID-19. Their hard work is a true testament to what Ontarians are capable of when we band together.”
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW “I graduated from St. Mike’s in 1961 after five terrific years with exceptional teachers – Fr. Penny, CSB, Fr. Bauer ’44, CSB, Fr. Fitzpatrick, CSB, OSM, Fr. O’Brien, CSB, Fr. Kelly, CSB, and a great group of priest ‘wannabees’, including Mike Quealey ’51 and Joe Dietrich ’52. After graduation from St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto, I went on to work with the Ministry of Northern Affairs and then National Parks Services in Ottawa. I then moved to the Department of Mines and Natural Resources in Manitoba. In 1969 I headed off to the West Indies for two years with Cuso, a Canadian international development organization that connects communities around the world with skilled Canadians to help fight poverty and inequality. While in Manitoba, I married a wonderful young Mennonite woman, Gisela, in a wedding conducted by Fr. Edmond Torecki, SJ in First Mennonite Church, Winnipeg. Bishop Flahiff was in Winnipeg at the time and he gave permission for this to happen – thanks go to John XXIII and Vatican II! I spent a couple of years at the University of British Columbia taking a Master’s degree after my return to Canada, then 30 years with Parks Canada, until retiring in 2001. With three happily married children and six grandchildren, life doesn’t get much better - and I owe a great deal to my education at St. Mike’s. Those five years remain a highlight.”
Nolan ’08 and Elisa MacMillan welcomed their first daughter, Camilla Ann MacMillan, on November 21, 2019.
Matt ’05 and Brittany Montemurro welcomed their first son, Beau Potter Montemurro, on January 2, 2020.
Joe O’Brien ’61, Halifax, NS
David ’03 and Amanda Santi welcomed Eleonora on March 17, 2020. Big sister, Cecilia, is very excited.
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Michael Byers ’03 of Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP was recognized as a Future Star in Benchmark Litigation’s Canada 2020 Guide. Paul ’99 and Tanya Santi welcomed their son, Jack, on April 6, 2020.
Clarke Tedesco ’00 of Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP was also recognized as a Future Star in Benchmark Litigation’s 2019 and 2020 Canada guides. He was named to the Benchmark Litigation Top 40 & Under list in 2019. In November 2018, Clarke won the Lexpert Rising Star Award.
The Class of 1998 was represented on January 3, 2020 when members gathered for their annual skate at St. Michael's College School Arena.
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IN MEMORIAM Richard Thurston Laprairie ’45 requested no funeral and instructed mourners to send flowers to a friend or a donation to Camp Oochigeas in support of childhood cancer. "Mostly forgotten, now definitely gone!" Richard was a member of the ‘Lap’ LaPrairie clan under the love of his mother, Beatrice Kelly. The clan consisted of Richard, Jules ’42, Leon ’43, Paul ’46, Clifford ’48, Carl ’49, George ’53, Rosemary (deceased), Jacqueline, their spouses, and numerous nieces and nephews over three generations. Richard's clan would like to thank his lovely caregivers: Fely, Rosel, Noemi, Flordeliza, and Sumathy for their dedication to Richard over the past few years. Martin Flood ’48 died after a brief illness, on March 6, 2020, at the age of 89. Known as Marty, he was part of the group from St. Vincent de Paul Parish who made up a large part of the St. Mike’s student body back in the 1940s. Names such as George Scholes ’46, Paul Dopp ’48, Walter Clune ’49, Joe DeCourcy ’49, Walter ‘Wally’ Wolotchiuk ’51, and many others, filled the seats in the old downtown Toronto school - a trend that followed into the 1950s. Interested in various sports, Marty played lacrosse in his younger days and hockey up to his late 30s. As a football referee for a number of years, Martin was often seen on the St. Mike’s field officiating games. Marty enjoyed a successful sales career in various Ontario locations with companies such as Swifts Canada, Dominion Sash, and Simplex Timing Devices, and a long and leisurely retirement with wife, Ruth. Predeceased by his sister, Kathleen, Martin leaves brothers Peter and Harry ’57, as well as other members of his extended family, all of whom grieve his loss. Don F. Power ’49 died at sunrise on September 16, 2018. Born October 1, 1930, the son of Frederick Joseph and Olive Mary, Don left peacefully for the Maple Leaf Gardens in the sky. He cherished 48 years of marriage to the love of
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his life, Betty, and 70-plus-years of rink time with Jack Sheedy, Joe Ratchford ’49, Gerry Benteau, June Bonvivere (wife of the late John ’50), Corinne Bambridge (Mr. Power’s Executive Assistant), Dr. Bob Brock ’65, OSM, Dr. Don Killiger, and Don Park, plus all the old timers. Brother of Fred ’47, and uncle of Doug, Don was the beloved father, mentor, and hero of Patrick ’92, Ann-Marie, and Denise, and proud Papa of Lauren and Jake Power, and Abigail and Aidan deBray. Don was a most wonderful man whose humble spirit, love, and smile touched every soul in a room. Don lived his 88 years to the fullest with a few key priorities: family before everything; laugh and dream big; love bigger; play hockey; eat apple pie; and never ever give up. The family would like to thank North York General Hospital, Dr. Bruce Topp, and Dr. Bob for their tremendous care. Biaggio Joseph ‘Bill’ Letterio ’51 died peacefully, surrounded by his family, on January 17, 2019, at North York General Hospital, in his 86th year. Beloved husband of Velma for 58 years, Bill was the loving father of Don, Bill, George, Elizabeth, and Linda. Cherished Nonno of Michael, Heather, Denise, Holly, Jesse, Blaise, Rocco, Mary Elizabeth, Stephen, George, Danielle, Andrew, Allison, and John Paul, Bill was the great-grandfather of Eleanor, Fionn, and Aiden. Bill was a well-known lawyer in Toronto for 60 years. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel for his dedicated work in the Italian community, including with Italian Immigrant Aid and as Past President of the Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association. Bill was a loving, giving, caring, and sharing individual who will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Charles Henry Macoun ’52 died peacefully, on January 27, just a few hours short of his 88th birthday, in London, Ontario. He will be remembered as a very caring and charismatic person who always had time for all. The Macoun household was a revolving door of friends dropping in for an impromptu chat about last night's hockey game or barbeques and fun around the family pool... just because.
Family was first and foremost with Charlie and that was a constant throughout his life. The boys could count on dad being in the crowd, be it a ball diamond or a hockey arena and they always looked for a nod during warm-up. Charlie was very proud of his three sons and the paths they have all chosen in life. He would express his pride at every opportunity, taking great joy in celebrating their successes. Besides friends and family, Charlie's next great passion was hockey. This passion started with his boys, as a fan and supporter, leading to him becoming president of the Newmarket Minor Hockey Association and, in later years, part of the group that founded the Newmarket 87’s Jr. A team (formerly the Newmarket Hurricanes). He also held several positions within the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) through the years, including time as an OHA director, and chairman of the board of governors of the Ontario Hockey League. Charlie, was honoured for his dedication to the OHA when he received the Gold Stick award in 2003. Joe McKeown ’53, age 86, left this world on March 20, 2020 to be with his Lord. He was an amazing man: husband, father, grandfather, mentor, businessman, volunteer, friend, and neighbour. Joe was positive, thoughtful, and kind. He lived his Catholic faith. Joe was born in Toronto on October 4, 1933, and early on learned many life lessons from delivering newspapers. A University of Toronto graduate, he had a long and successful career at Upjohn Pharmaceuticals. In 1966, Joe and his young family moved from Toronto to Vancouver and settled in Dunbar, where he became a well-respected member of Immaculate Conception Parish and a humble, friendly, and positive neighbour for many years. After retirement, Joe settled down to a relaxed pace of life, living every day like a Saturday. Joe is survived by Winnie, his wife and best friend of 59 years, siblings, Frank '50, Gerald '56, and Rosemarie, children, Brian, Marylee, Joanne, Danny, Suzanne, and Patrick, and five grandchildren. The family thanks the staff at Youville Residence for taking great care of Joe.
Jim Gregory ’55, OSM died peacefully, at home with his family, on October 30, 2019, in his 84th year. Loving husband of 60 years to Rosalie, Jim was the beloved father of Andrea, David, Valerie, and Maureen, and cherished Grampa to Remington, Katherine, Greyson, Lyle, Kade, Greg, Erik ’13, Rachel, Eric, Christopher, Valerie, Nicholas, and Pamela, and great-grandfather to Ben and Wes. Sadly missed brother of Gary, Rosemary, Sharon, Patrick, and Cheri, Jim was predeceased by his sister, Gloria, and brother, Raymond. Brother-in-law to Rosalie’s sisters, Norma and Rita, and the predeceased Elaine, Jim was also predeceased by his parents Henry and Pearl, and his in-laws, Louis and Laura Bruno. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the St. Michael's College School Jim Gregory ’55 Bursary. Fr. Chris Rupert ’55, SJ, died on October 16, 2019, in supportive care at Lakeridge Hospital, in Oshawa. He was 82 years old and a Jesuit for 60 years. Born in Belleville, Ontario, he was the son of Thomas Harry Rupert and Regina Mary Harrison, and the brother of Roy ’57 and Angus ’65. A St. Michael’s boarder, who thereafter attended the University of St. Michael’s College, Fr. Chris, as he liked to be known, remained in contact with many of his high school classmates until his passing. Ordained a priest in 1975, Fr. Rupert received a doctoral degree in theology through the Toronto School of Theology at the University of Toronto. He taught at Wheeling Jesuit College in West Virginia and at Lakehead University. Fr. Chris designed formation courses for deacons and laity in both the Hamilton and Toronto dioceses. He was an avid researcher into the many forms of prayer and published extensively. Fr. Rupert loved doing pastoral ministry and served with zeal in many parishes – St. Andrew’s (Thunder Bay), Holy Rosary (Guelph), St. Joseph the Worker (Oshawa), and Holy Spirit (Scarborough). Fr. Chris also helped in many other parishes, was chaplain for the Knights of Columbus in Scarborough and in Durham Region, and designed and personally cared for the grounds at the Manresa Renewal Center in Pickering. In June of 2019, he suffered a debilitating stroke, which ended his pastoral ministry and his gardening. Fr. Chris was much loved by his family, many friends, and the Jesuits.
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Gary Benedet ’57 died on October 20, 2019, at Huntsville Memorial Hospital. He was the beloved husband of Frances, and much loved father of Fanny and Joseph. Gary will be fondly remembered by his grandchildren, Cole, Shaw, B.J., Zach, Jack, and Henry, and his great grandchildren, Layla, Bronson, Mason, Jason, Olivia, and Eliza. He will be missed by his siblings Dolores and Paul, his many friends, neighbours, and other relatives. Gary was an avid Maple Leafs fan and his friends and foes will miss their discussions about hockey games. In keeping with Gary’s wishes, cremation has taken place. Vito D'Attolico ’62 died on February 18, 2020, at the age of 77. He was loved and cherished by many people including his wife Elizabeth, his daughters, Rosemarie and Angela, his grandchildren, Benjamin, Sophia, and Abigail, and his siblings, Maria, Nicloa, and Joe ’70. Born in Modugno, Bari, Italy, in 1942, he immigrated to Canada in 1955 with his parents and siblings. Nicola ‘Nick’ Ciavarella ’63 of Vancouver, B.C., died on December 22, 2019. Born September 23, 1943, Nick was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1998. With courage and optimism, he was able to live a full and satisfying life. Nick was born in San Marco in Lamis, Foggia, Italy. He came to Toronto at age seven and embraced Canadian culture while maintaining his Italian roots. He went to St. Peter's Elementary School, St. Michael's College School, where he was president of the Student Council in 1962-63, the University of Windsor, and the University of British Columbia. He moved to Vancouver in the late 60s and became a psychology instructor at the new Langara College. Nick often visited his family in Toronto and had many passions. He learned Italian, sang in the Italian Choir, gave public lectures, supported and contributed to the Italian Cultural Centre of Vancouver, wrote prose and poetry, and was a self-taught recorder and guitar player. Nick is survived by his wife Gail, son Giulio, adopted son Matteo, sister Anne Mauro, brother John ’64, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins, all of whom were dear to him. Nick’s family will miss him dearly.
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David Thomas King ’65, a Renaissance man with a wicked sense of humour and a loving heart, died peacefully, at home, on March 2, 2020, in his 74th year, with his best friend and forever love, Deborah, by his side. David was a retired building official with the City of Mississauga change to who considered himself considered himself fortunate to work with a diverse range of people over many years. At work and elsewhere, he was always happy to share his vast knowledge with those who sought his counsel. Predeceased by his parents, Verna and Thomas, David was the cherished husband of Deborah and the beloved, devoted father of Christopher. David will be deeply missed, but forever in his family’s hearts. It gives his family great solace that he is at peace and has been reunited with his much-loved Bulldog, Winston. As David was an avid gardener, the family will host a celebration of life, at a later date, in the garden that David enjoyed and nurtured with such care for more than 35 years. The family would like to thank David's long-time family physician, Dr. Stephen Lo, for going above and beyond in his dedication and support over the years. John ‘Jack’ Daley ’66 passed away in the early hours of February 28, 2020 after a short, but courageous battle with cancer. Predeceased by his parents, John and Marie, Jack leaves behind his loving wife of 48 years, Carolyn, and their children, Jennifer, Matthew, and Elizabeth. Jack was the loving and doting Pop-Pop of Nathanael, Jonah, Thomasin, Noah, Sophie, Henry, and Lauren. He is also survived by his sisters, Cathy Daley and Anne Charters-Klaver. Jack's career in publishing and advertising took his family from Toronto, across Eastern Canada, and back to Ontario again, finally settling in Windsor-Essex. He was a well-respected colleague and mentor to many. He will be dearly missed, especially by his family, whose time with him was cut too short.
Brian Joseph McKay ’69, actor, director, playwright, mentor, father, and friend died on February 6, 2020, just hours shy of his 70th birthday, at Greenwood Court long-term care facility, in Stratford, Ontario. Brian fought valiantly these past years against an aggressive neurological disorder known as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Brian never let his ailment define him. As always, he remained the passionate, larger than life personality that everyone blessed to know him adored. Brian enjoyed a hugely successful career, which brought him to stages across North America (including Broadway), the United Kingdom, and Japan. His soaring voice was a staple on CBC Television over the decades, including a production of his own one-man show ‘Come By The Hills’, which earned him one of his two ACTRA Awards nominations for Best Variety Performance in Television. He also won for the CBC production, ‘Clowns’. He was twice nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for his work in the theatre. He performed with and directed some of the biggest names in theatre and television in North America and was privileged to consider these people friends. Apart from performing and directing, Brian was an avid teacher. A true veteran of Canadian theatre, one of his greatest passions was nurturing young talent and helping the industry grow. Brian's desire to nourish was not restricted to the theatre. His was a personality that constantly recognized and thanked people for their efforts no matter their discipline or position. Joseph ‘Joe’ Rafferty ’69, born to, and predeceased by, Joseph and Kathleen on May 5, 1951, in Dublin, Ireland, left this world behind on March 23, 2018 at the age of 66. Joe was a jack-of-all-trades. Once a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, he was also an actor, model, radio DJ, emergency medical technician, private investigator, and telecommunications guru. His children thought of him as a human encyclopaedia. He loved to read and was well versed on many topics. Joe, who referred to himself as ‘the Master of B.S.’, had a charisma that could draw anyone into conversation. Joe enjoyed playing guitar and loved music. Some of his favourites
included John Denver, The Eagles, Gordon Lightfoot, and The Beatles. He also loved dabbling in photography, and learning about anything related to WWI and WWII. Joe was a comical man, was very animated, and loved to tell stories. He had a way of brightening a room without even trying. You could always count on him for anything, especially if you needed a flashlight or a pair of needle nose pliers. Joe is survived by his ‘Wild and Crazy Rafferty Circus’, which includes his wife of 40 years, Lee, his children, Alexandra, Carey, Lauren, and David, and his lively bunch of grandchildren, as well as his sister, Annette, and nephew, Matt Lewers. Lastly, he leaves behind his faithful and loyal dogs, Gus and Elle. Ludvik Jakopin ’76 was called peacefully by God at Hamilton General Hospital, on June 28, 2019. Born January 13, 1958, Ludvik was a loving husband, dad, son, brother, uncle, son-in-law, brother-in-law, teacher, mentor, friend, and example of perseverance. Ludvik was the brother-in-law of Joseph Mauko ’90, and uncle of Stan ’89, Andre ’92, and Mark Intihar ’95, and John Jakopin ’94. The family would like to thank the incredible staff at Hamilton General Hospital, Cardiac Care Unit for their exceptional care.
Oliver Favero ’86, beloved son, husband, father and brother, died on April 25, 2020 at the age of 52. Dr. Favero was the the cherished son of Adele and Renato (predeceased), beloved husband of Rosa Lio, and loving father of Peter Renato ’26 and Leo Serafino ’26, and loved uncle of Sarah, Ryan, and Lisa, Oliver will be forever remembered by his sister Sonia and holds a special place in the hearts of his mother-in-law, Cristina and his brother's in law and sister's in law Mike, Emilia, Liliana, and Domenic. He was a great Zio to Annamaria, Cristina, Carina, Micaela, Joseph, Fenton, and Cormac. A tribute and celebration of his life will be held at a later date, when it is safe to do so.
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John Wassenaar ’92 died on October 14, 2019, after a battle with cancer. John leaves behind his parents, Dr. Willem Wassenaar and Rosemary WassenaarOstrowski, brothers, Christopher ’90 and Daniel '95, sister, Dr. Catherine, and stepmother, Dr. Hsiao-Ming Jung. John was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in the spring of 2013. He relentlessly fought the disease throughout many surgeries and dozens of rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, all the while pursuing his passion for stock trading. Not to be deterred by his initial cancer diagnosis, John completed his third exam for the Certified Market Technician designation while receiving a chemotherapy infusion. John grew up in the Leaside neighbourhood and graduated from St. Michael's College School. He went on to become an American Division One collegiate scholarship track and field athlete, distinguishing himself academically by obtaining a perfect score on the senior investment exam during his graduating year at the Wallace E. Carroll School of Management at Boston College. John was a trader with Virtu Financial, formerly known as ITG Financial. John previously held trading positions in Toronto, New York, Connecticut, and Bermuda, during a career with Investors Bank and Trust, CF Global, National Bank Financial, and Olympia Capital International. When he was not stalking the trading floor, you could find John out on a fishing charter somewhere warm or cheering on his nieces and nephews in their latest adventures.
Daniel ‘Dan’ Salvatore Nicholson died with his children by his side, on April 28, 2020, after suffering a catastrophic stroke. Born March 3, 1949, he is survived by his loving family, Sheila, Philip ’06, Andrew ’07, and Stephen ’07, as well as his mother and brother, many in-laws, nephews, and nieces. Dan was well known due to his many interests. He taught for 17 years at Our Lady of the Assumption elementary school and 14 years at St. Michael's College School, and was still in contact with many former students and colleagues. He spent many hours at both schools coaching teams and organizing extra-curricular activities. He was also involved in working at hockey camps and in refereeing hockey games for several organizations. After retiring from teaching, he began a second career doing photography for different leagues, as well as special occasions for friends. Dan's passion for sports led him to develop many long friendships in the memorabilia world and he derived much pleasure in travelling to trade shows and to many different sports-related events. He was an avid Maple Leafs and Blue Jays fan and enjoyed traveling to both minor and major league games. Over the past decade, he went on many organized baseball tours, getting to all but one major league park, as well as to spring training games in Florida, where he made new lifelong friends. Dan was a truly wonderful person and will be very much missed by many people, especially his family. Due to current circumstances there was a private service attended by his immediate family.
PLEASE ALSO REMEMBER FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF THE ST. MICHAEL’S COMMUNITY
Alfredo Fernandes, father of Manuel ’84; Ermanno Cieri, father of Adrian ’84; Mary Duff, wife of Les ’54; Antonija Filipovic, mother of Leonardo ’82 and Tomislav ’90; Rocco Mario Di Donato, father of Pat ’75 and Nick ’76, OSM, and grandfather of Justin ’08 and Luca ’11; Antonio Lamanna, grandfather of Ryan Fazl ’22; Louise Marie Pantaleo, mother of Jim ’79 and Nick ’76; Maurice Bradley, grandfather of Benjamin ’23; Mary Dri, wife of Ricardo ’81 and mother of Victor ’09 and Gordon ’11; Jean Bayley, mother of Mark ’81, Nicholas ’82, Andrew ’84, and Chris ’85, and grandmother of Spencer ’12, Adam ’19, Christopher ’20, and Michael ’21; Ann Marie Smith, wife of Jason, former SMCS Director of Facilities, mother of Grant (2014-17) and Ryan (2014-17); Brenda Dejak, wife of Frank ’73; Jackie Kratz, long time supporter of the SMCS Buzzers and mother of former SMCS science teacher Brent ’76; Lorne Melara, brother-in-law of Rosalie and the late Jim Gregory ’55, OSM; Edidio Masci, grandfather of Joseph ’19 and Matteo Arcadi ’21; Fred Collins, grandfather of Christopher ’12 and Kenneth (2012), and Mitchell Mehling ’12; Carmen Melfi, grandfather of Evan Lucchese ’22; Mykola Swyntuch, father-in-law of George Shust, former faculty member; Thomas Harasti, father of Peter ’94; Giuseppe Tersigni, grandfather of Christopher ’08 and Nicholas ’11; Rosemary Fischer, mother of David Fischer, Director of Admissions; Evelyn Douglas, grandmother of William Dale ’24.
Fr. Alphonse de Valk, CSB died peacefully at Scarborough General Hospital on April 16, 2020. Fr. Alphonse was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on March 27, 1932. He was predeceased by his parents Martien and Christina Lutkie, and by his brothers Matthew, Charles, Neil, and Peter. He is survived by his sisters-in-law, Mary Joan and Patricia. He entered the Congregation of St. Basil and was professed in 1962. After studies in Toronto at the University of St. Michael’s College and St. Basil’s Seminary, he was ordained a priest in 1965. Subsequently, his priestly ministry was mostly as a teacher at St. Thomas More College (Saskatoon) and St. Joseph’s College (Edmonton). Fr. Alphonse was very active with Campaign Life and was editor of Catholic Insight magazine. In 1985 he was assigned to live at Soulerin House at St. Michael’s College School. In November 2018, Fr. Alphonse moved to the Basilian Fathers’ retirement community at Presentation Manor in Scarborough.
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THE WAY WE WERE: There's no place like home! Dave Trafford ’79 It's the week after Christmas and all through the rink There are signs of the season and that hockey bag stink.
Back on the rink, the two anthem lines Glide into position at centre ice.
And where would we be without our Convenors Thanks brothers Duby! Chief Puck and Chief Keener!
The dressing room's got a smell of its own. One deep breath reminds you "There's no place like home!"
The face off! The puck drop. The game's under way! The passes are sloppy. It's typical play.
All friends in shinny, this ice-hockey crew. No matter the team, we wear double blue.
It's uniquely odiferous, a bit musty and wet, A tinge of Febreze and a hint of old sweat.
We need a goal. We're counting on Fred. But delusions of breakaways dance in his head.
For more than a century at St. Michael's College. It's been about goodness, discipline, knowledge.
We stretch into our jerseys and sweat tying our laces. We grunt and we groan and put on our game faces.
He dippsies. He dangles. He plans where to stick it. He's eyeing a spot Be-tween the wickets.
In this empty old barn, there are no fans to cheer. But we really don't care as long as there's beer.
Just then Chris Reynolds announces to all. "My athletic support is three sizes too small!"
He's got his head up. His stick’s on the ice. It's SHOOT, AIM, and READY! Freddy fires it wide.
Raise one for the game. Have another, there’s plenty. Have one for the team! And here's to the 20s!
Without missing a beat, Bingham seizes his chance. "It would fit better Chris, without your hand in your pants."
A scramble ensues! The play isn't dead Until Krevs shoots the puck into his own net.
The air fills with trash talk and the calling of names, Bad jokes and needling - it's all in the game.
The action crescendos at a journeyman's pace Under Hall of Fame banners. It's the game's rightful place
We snap up our buckles and buckle our snaps We stick our ‘mouph gargs intuh err yapsh’.
For decades they've played here - it's been a long time. Each all-stars and legends in their own minds.
The zamboni driver is lively and quick. He leaves a clean sheet of ice as a gift.
There's Larry, and Larry and there's Larry Gerry We've got Jimmys and Johns and ONE guy named Cengarle.
We step on the rink and wish everyone luck. Except for poor ol' Coop, who just hears "you suck!"
There are Daveys and Willies and sometimes a Byron (since traded for pucks and a plastic orange pylon.)
The boos from the crowd are unvarnished reminders Kenny has struggled to stay out of the minors.
The cages are tended by Tom, Tim, and Steve. From time to time Joel and John Gariepy.
He faces tough questions in locker room scrums His answer's rehearsed - always the same one.
There's Ferrigan, Murphy, Kielty, and Quinn, O'Sullivan, Walsh, McDonough, and Flynn.
"You can't blame me. I'm a first round draft pick. I just can't score goals with this back-checking stick"
There's John Ferracuti, and there's Sal Mannella, Ferraro, Tedesco - all good Irish fellas.
Chris Bingham ’83 Marco Berardi ’84 Steve Budaci ’83 Nick Cardinale ’84 Licio Cengarle ’64 Tim Crowley ’73 Bill Currie ’59 Mario De Piero Bob Dubniak ’65 Peter Dubniak ’78 John Ferracuti ’55 Paul Ferraro ’66 John Ferrigan ’56 Pat Flynn ’77 John Gariepy ’57 Peter Grossi ’54 Joe Haffey ’73 Dan Haffey ’77 Paul Hansen Bob Henderson ’58 Frank Kielty ’54 Paul Krevs ’82 Joe LeMoine ’52 Larry MacNeil ’62 Sal Mannella ’77 Jim McDonough ’77 Jamie McKinnon Fred Merlocco ’67 Bill Morrison ’67 Mike Nasello ’74 Tim O'Sullivan Greg Paolini Tom Peets ’64 Reg Quinn, OSM Chris Reynolds ’79 Len Robinson ’57 Ken Sharpe ’60 Robert Tedesco ’68 Dave Trafford ’79 Rob Tunney ’81 John Walsh ’73 Brian Wilson ’72 + John Wilson ’81
Oldtimers, Group Picture 1974
1989 Annual Christmas Dinner
2010 - Paul Ferarro, Robert Tedesco, Fred Merlocco, Paul Conner, Peter Dubniak
Snoopy Tournament 1989
Tournament at University of Michigan, Dearborne Campus 1995 (L-R) Bill Currie, Brian Anderson (1973-76), Frank Kielty, John Ferrigan
