The Magazine of St. John's - Fall 2011

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FA LL 2011

Archbishop Philip Matthew Hannan ’31 May 20, 1913 – September 29, 2011


Dear St. John’s Community,

Scarlet & Grey VOL. XXIII • NO. 1 • FALL 2011

St. John’s College High School President

Jeffrey W. Mancabelli Principal

Bro. Michael Andrejko fsc Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Michael R. Esten Director of Development

Mark Gibbs ’96 Director of Communications

Stephanie Parrish ’03 Director of Annual Giving

Deborah D. DuPont Events Coordinator

Geri O’Boyle Database Coordinator

Lori Martin Editor

Stephanie Parrish ’03 Contributing Editor Cara M. McCandless Art Director

Frank Sheehan, Nascent Graphics St. John’s College High School 2607 Military Road, NW Chevy Chase, DC 20015 www.gostjohns.org Alumni and Development Office 202.364.0229 fax: 202.363.5091 www.gostjohns.org sparrish@stjohnschs.org

As the President of St. John’s, I have the privilege and pleasure to engage in our mission in the company of a wide array of constituents: Christian Brothers, trustees, parents of students and graduates, faculty and staff, and of course our students. I enjoy juggling all of my responsibilities, but the part of the work I truly cherish is meeting with and learning from the living history of St. John’s, our alumni. Throughout the course of a year, I come in contact with numerous graduates at various stages in their lives. These interactions take place during one-on-one meetings, athletic competitions, class reunions, or other alumni events. I particularly enjoy in-depth conversations about their careers, families, and memories of their St. John’s days. This past month I had the opportunity to join Joe Tumulty ’35 for lunch. Joe and his wife, Alice, have been married for 68 years and live in Silver Spring, Maryland. Joe has six children, fifteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. As a member of the Class of 1935, Joe belongs to an honored group of our oldest living alumni and a long-time supporter of St. John’s. I spent the better part of two hours in conversation with Joe. He still stays connected with classmates and other friends from the classes of 1934, 1938, 1939 and 1940. I enjoyed listening to Joe recount his days as a student at 1225 Vermont Avenue. He shared many great stories, including his success as best competitive drill cadet in the 1934 short order drill competition and marching in President Roosevelt’s Inaugural parade. Joe expressed a deep fondness towards the Christian Brothers and his alma mater. One specific question I asked Joe was, “What do you believe St. John’s did for you?” He remembers a very caring community that instilled a strong work ethic, self-confidence, and values modeled by the Christian Brothers. He believes that his time at St. John’s prepared him for the opportunities and challenges he would face as a young man. While many changes have occurred since Joe graduated, the core values of a St. John’s education have remained the same. Through the collaboration between Christian Brothers and lay educators, we continue the extraordinary level of care combined with an uncompromising commitment to Catholic values, discipline, and leadership, which has sustained our Lasallian mission for 160 years. These core values have laid the foundation for our students to succeed and make a difference in our world.

Best Regards,

Mr. Jeffrey W. Mancabelli President


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Opening Minds Students Explore the Seas and Stars ......................................2 Seeing the World In a Different Light ....................................2 Growing in Spirit Through Reflection and Service .............................................................4 Roman Holiday ........................................................................5 ECO Club Cleans Up on Campus — and Beyond.................6 The One-on-One Approach ...................................................6 5

Unlocking Talents Student Artists Find a Place to Shine ....................................7 St. John’s Hits All the Right Notes.........................................7 Running for a Reason ..............................................................8 College Athletes ......................................................................9 17

Ladies and Champs! ..............................................................10

Building Leaders Called to Serve.......................................................................11 JROTC McGovern Rifles Drill Team: SJC’s Tradition of Excellence ................................................12 Brother Timothy Dean, FSC 1931–2011 ..............................12 7 16

Joe Robert ’70 and Former SJC Board Chair Dr. John Convey Honored By NCEA ..................................13 Mark Gibbs and Baseball Championship ............................14 Congratulations to St. John’s Class of 2011..........................16

Archbishop Philip M. Hannan ’31 ......................17 Class Notes ......................................................................20 St. John’s Photo Gallery...........................................22 The SJC of the Future ..............................................23 Condolences ...................................................................24

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St. John’s students participating in ecology restoration project where they hatched American Shad in the biology lab, and then released them into the Potomac River.

Students Explore the Seas and Stars On October 5 and 7, students enrolled in St. John’s new Marine Biology class boarded the historic Chesapeake buyboats Half Shell and Mildred Belle and headed out on the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers for a day of hands-on education. Approximately 100 students participated in the shipboard program run by Living Classrooms, a local non-profit organization. “We’re focusing on increasing the hands-on experiences for our students and incorporating more technology into the science curriculum,” said Marine Biology teacher and Science Department Chair Emily Boyer. “This trip is one way that we’re making that happen.” During the program, students gained firsthand knowledge of aquatic life as they trolled for fish and identified them; collected plankton and studied them under a video microscope; and dissected live oysters. They also conducted water quality tests and learned more about natural resources and ecosystems of the Chesapeake Bay. The Marine Biology course is a new addition to the science curriculum this fall, along with a full-year course in Astronomy, which previously had been offered as a halfyear course. “More seniors are electing to take a fourth2 Scarlet&Grey  Fall 2011

year science class,” said Ms. Boyer. Since last year, St. John’s has doubled the number of sections of AP Biology and Anatomy and Physiology to meet student demand. The new Astronomy and Marine Biology courses give seniors the choice of another physical science elective and life science elective, outside of the AP and Honors classes. Approximately 180 students are enrolled in eight sections of Astronomy and Marine Biology. In Astronomy, students begin the year by learning about what ancient civilizations observed about the skies and the Copernican Revolution. During the first semester, they will examine the solar system and space exploration within the solar system. For the second semester, students will explore topics such as stellar evolution, black holes, the big bang, and other aspects of cosmology. Throughout the course, students will explore how physics is used in astronomy through experiments, demonstrations, and simulations that illustrate gravitation, orbits, black holes, electromagnetic waves, spectroscopy, and weather systems. Astronomy teacher Dave Hovan is making plans for students to tour the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center next spring. In the spring, the Marine Biology students will be part of an American Shad release run by Living Classrooms in partnership with several local non-profits and government agencies. This hands-on program for students seeks to restore the American Shad population, which is declining up and down the Eastern seaboard due to overfishing and pollution. Last year, St. John’s Environmental Science class participated in the program, which provided fertilized Shad eggs to nearly 50 schools in Maryland, Virginia, and DC. Students cared for the eggs by monitoring water quality and watched the eggs hatch over the course of a week. On April 30, St. John’s students brought the Shad fry (babies) to the banks of the Potomac and released them into the river. Ms. Boyer is excited for her Marine Biology students to participate in the program next spring. “The Shad release is a neat way to connect students to a local issue and also have them participate in a restoration of a species, which is a rare thing to do.”

Seeing the World In a Different Light Spending spring break in a tropical location is a dream for many young adults, but few imagine the kind of life-changing trip made by St. John’s students last March. During a week-long service trip to Nicaragua, seven St. John’s students and four faculty members experienced firsthand what


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life is like in a third world country. The group began the week at the Instituto Pedagógico, a De La Salle school in the capital city of Managua, and then traveled across bumpy dirt roads and steep trails, often on foot or by donkey, to spend time in the remote villages and schools in the central region of Nicaragua. “The whole idea behind this trip is that you don’t go down to build or to take care of people, but just to be with them and to totally immerse in their culture,” said Brother Michael Andrejko, St. John’s principal, who made the journey to Nicaragua. “Our students come back more conscious of their social responsibility and the plight of the poor. They are energized to go out and help other people.” Students also have an opportunity to reflect on what is important in life, as they interact with communities that have no access to technology, communication, or formal education. “It’s amazing to be around a culture that lives like they have everything, when they really have nothing at all,” said St. John’s senior Jessica Uy.

“  It’s amazing to be around a culture that lives like they have everything, when they really have nothing at all.” This unique immersion opportunity was made possible through St. John’s connection to Christian Brother Pat Duffy, FSC, who serves as Superintendent of Catholic schools for the Apostolic Vicariate of Bluefields in Nicaragua, and oversees more than 300 one-room school houses. Bro. Pat is well-known in the region and introduced the St. John’s group to school children, village residents and their customs. St. John’s students had the opportunity to join villagers for a community meal and a liturgical service. They also participated in another local tradition, an exchange of talent shows. “We warned our students ahead of time that they were going to be expected to perform some skits, so their preparation went on for months before we arrived.,” said Bro. Mike. “The shows are a huge deal because, in many of the places we visit, they have never seen Americans before.” The faces of St. John’s students were more familiar to the students at the Instituto Pedagógico in Managua, who recently had begun a new language exchange program with St. John’s Heritage Spanish and AP Spanish classes. Through this program, students from both

St. John’s students engaging in our language exchange program where they participate in live, online conversation with students in Managua, Nicaragua.

schools sign on to Skype and engage in face-to-face conversations to practice their Spanish- and English-speaking skills, respectively. St. John’s Spanish teacher Ms. Carolina Covarrubias initiated the program and worked with teachers in Managua to develop lesson plans for the online exchanges. Both the language exchange program and the Nicaraguan service trip will be offered again this school year. St. John’s plans to increase the number of students on the trip from 7 to 10. Five male and five female students will be selected for the trip by lottery. Students are responsible for paying for their airfare and St. John’s will raise funds to cover the remaining expenses. Last year, a generous gift from the Men of St. John’s made it possible for our students and faculty to go on this life-changing journey.

“  I went 2,000 miles to serve them, but they did much more to serve me and teach me.” In addition, the St. John’s community raised $16,522 to help support the training of teachers in the central and eastern part of Nicaragua. For senior Jessica Uy, the gift she received from the people of Nicaragua was no less valuable. “I went 2000 miles to serve them, but they did much more to serve me and teach me,” said Uy. “I now see the world in a different light.” St. John’s College High School  3


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k e y no t e S p e a k e r

M a r t h a O’C onne l l E x e c u t i v e Dire c t or C ol l e ge s t h at C h a nge L i v e s

Oc t ob e r 2 9 t h   9 a m – 2 p m Ed uc at ion a l s e ss ion s un t il 1 1 : 45 a m a nd C ol l e ge Fa ir f rom no on – 2 p m

Growing in Spirit Through Reflection and Service As a Lasallian school, St. John’s encourages students to open their minds not only to new ideas, but also to God and His plan for their lives. St. John’s students have countless opportunities for prayer, reflection, and service on campus; however, for many students, the most meaningful spiritual experiences take place off campus through St. John’s retreat program and Christian Service program. Sharing God’s Time  Every September, groups of St. John’s freshmen gather for day-long retreats at the Archdiocese of Washington Retreat House. The Freshman Retreat carries the theme “Our Journey,” so as students reflect on the high school years to come, they consider questions such as “Who can I depend on in difficult times?” and “What is God’s plan for my life?” During talks by faculty and peer ministers, freshmen learn that the highs and lows of high school are a journey toward adulthood and adult faith—a journey that they make with the support of classmates, family, teachers, and their faith in God. 4 Scarlet&Grey  Fall 2011

Although participation in St. John’s retreat program is optional, about 90 percent of students choose to attend their class retreat. During the Sophomore and Junior Retreats, students reflect on their personal and spiritual growth once again. The Sophomore Retreat is a one-day retreat that focuses on the importance of trust in one’s relationships with God and others. Juniors attend an overnight retreat at the Bishop Claggett Retreat Center in Buckeystown, MD, where they consider moral issues and the consequences of life’s choices. Peer ministers serve as leaders for the freshmen, sophomore, and junior retreats, as well as role models for the entire student body. Each year, Campus Ministry selects 30 rising seniors to serve as peer ministers for the next school year, based on a competitive application and interview process. “Peer ministers demonstrate the ideal St. John’s student, so that classmates can look to them and say ‘This is what I should do, this is how I should act,’” said Ms. Katie Kernich, Campus Minister. “They are mentors who will reach out to younger classmates and help them through the year.” This year, the peer ministers who led a Freshman Retreat gave a special talk based on the letter of intent they wrote when they applied to St. John’s as an incoming freshman. “They talked about the goals they achieved, but also about expectations that they had as an eighth grader that were totally different than what actually happened,” said Ms. Kernich. For many seniors, the capstone to their St. John’s education is the four-day Kairos Retreat, which takes place at the Loyola Retreat House in Southern Maryland. The Kairos Retreat is a student-led program that was developed by Jesuits thirty years ago, but has been adopted by non-Jesuit schools around the world. “Kairos” is a Greek word meaning “God’s time” and this retreat gives students exactly that— time to strengthen their relationship with God through prayer, reflection, and participation in the Sacraments. During the retreat, students examine God’s role in their lives and the way they experience God through their relationship with others. “Each retreat builds on the one before it,” said Ms. Kernich. “The Kairos retreat is an intense experience that allows for more self-reflection and growth, and gives students a chance to become closer with their classmates.” Living our Lasallian Values As St. John’s helps students discover and develop their talents, it also expects students to share these talents


Opening Minds

in Chicago, IL; Charleston, SC; Vanceburg, KY; New York City, and most recently in Nicaragua. “The service program is an excellent complement to the St. John’s curriculum,” explained Campus Minister, Mr. Walz. “The students are learning the theory in class and then providing the service to the larger community. Each time a student participates in a service program, it is a wonderful opportunity for students to give back to their community and learn more about themselves.”

Roman Holiday

St. John’s peer ministers welcome the class of 2015 at Freshman Orientation.

with others through acts of Christian service. Prior to graduation, all St. John’s students complete at least 90 hours of community service. Because a student’s family and faith are so deeply connected, freshmen begin by performing 10 hours of service for a family member. Sophomores complete 20 hours of direct service acting as part of their worship community. To fulfill this requirement, St. John’s students have assisted with liturgical ministry, performed in the choir, helped with church food drives, spent time with elderly members of the church, and served as a teacher’s aide in the religious education program. “All our service is hands-on service, so that students can interact with the people they are serving and form an intentional relationship,” said Ms. Kernich. The junior year requires the biggest commitment of time, as students spend 40 hours directly serving poor or marginalized members of the local community. Seniors complete their service requirements by performing 20 hours of service to a community of their choice, usually a community they served during their sophomore or junior year. St. John’s students have become active with a variety of local service programs, such as KidPower, which provides afterschool programs for disadvantaged youth in the District of Columbia, and We Are Family, which delivers groceries to the elderly. Campus Ministry also organizes several afterschool service trips and three week-long trips each year, which gives students the opportunity to serve alongside their classmates. St. John’s students have been involved with service projects

by Jackie Rafferty ’11, The Sabre The St. John’s Modern and Foreign Languages, Art and History Departments offered an exciting opportunity for their students— the chance to go abroad to Italy over Spring Break. About 40 St. John’s students accompanied Ms. Melin, Mr. Hammond, Mr. McCarthy, and Mr. Gasser. They visited the cities of Rome, Assisi, and Florence. These places are rich with sights that the students have been learning about all year. St. John’s students holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa on their Spring However, students who have Break trip to Italy. taken these classes in previous years were also allowed to go. These students were able to immerse themselves deeper in the material about which they already have knowledge. They visited many famous places, including the Coliseum and the Sistine Chapel. To use one of Ms. Melin’s favorite phrases, the students felt as if they were “learning by accident,” and many art history students explained how the trip has helped them better prepare for the AP Exam. The Latin students also benefitted from the trip. Junior Ed Aronson states, “I learned more about the Roman history.” He and other students believed that this furthered their Latin studies. Aronson’s favorite part of the trip was seeing the Fountain of Poseidon and the body of St. Claire. He continued by suggesting, “Students should return next year. It was really fun and it helped us a lot.” It was a win-win trip: a fun experience accompanied by a learning experience. Students were more than able to get a hands-on education all while still having free time to grab lunch at trendy bistros and learn about the European culture. St. John’s College High School

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ECO Club Cleans Up on Campus — and Beyond Homeroom is always a busy time, as students discuss yesterday’s activities and today’s assignments. In one homeroom, however, the hot topics are usually bottle recycling and trash reduction. Quite surprising—until you discover that this homeroom is the meeting place of St. John’s ECO Club. The ECO Club was formed in 2008 by students who had a passion for the environment and for making St. John’s a more eco-friendly school. As its popularity grew, the ECO Club was assigned to a special homeroom, moderated by Ms. Emily Boyer, Science Department Chair. One of the club’s primary goals is to encourage and improve recycling efforts at St. John’s. ECO Club members collect bottles, paper and other recyclable materials on campus, and educate their classmates about good recycling and trash disposal practices. The club also motivates teachers to adopt environmentally-friendly practices, such as reducing paper usage, by recognizing an ECO Teacher of the Month. To celebrate Earth Day and get more students involved in caring for the environment, the ECO Club organizes Earth Week, several days of environmentally-themed, afterschool events. During last year’s Earth Week, students visited the Rock Creek Park Nature Center; cleaned up and removed 6

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invasive species in Rock Creek Park; and attended screenings of the movies Gorillas in the Mist, The Story of Stuff, the Lorax and National Geographic’s Human Footprint. Many students also purchased the ECO Club’s organic cotton t-shirts, featuring a design by students Melissa Eloshway and Sophia Baker, and wore the t-shirts for a special dress-down day. “The club has enthusiastic students who make it fun,” said Boyer. “The ECO Club leads to a lot of environmental awareness, and I think it’s going to lead to real change at the school,” said Boyer.

usical

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Opening Minds

The One-on-One Approach For 34 years, Dr. Raymond Nighan has taught thousands of students about Plato, Aristotle, Darwin, and Shakespeare. Alumni from 1977 until today vividly remember and can recount their class with Dr. Nighan. In addition to teaching his Honors British Literature class, and AP English, Dr. Nighan opened the St. John’s Writing Center. The St. John’s Writing Center was created based on the English Department’s belief that many students would benefit from a one-on-one approach to learning techniques, research, thesis and writing skills. The St. John’s Writing Center is open to all students and anyone is welcome to make an appointment with Dr. Nighan before, during, and after school. Dr. Nighan’s hope is that the Writing Center grows to include peer tutoring in addition to teacher tutoring. “Our upperclassmen have the ability to offer so much to the younger students, “ said Dr. Nighan. “It would be great to expand and have more underclassmen students to offer a service that would teach upperclassmen to edit and review. It would also offer an additional opportunity for underclassmen to interact with upperclassmen.” “The St. John’s Writing Center has been spreading through word of mouth so far, “ explained Dr. Nighan. “I have had so many students come to the writing center and see their grades improve and produce high quality writing after some tutoring. It’s inspiring for me and for the students.”


Unlocking Talents

Student Artists Find a Place to Shine Senior Maisey McCune never expected to see her painting displayed behind Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s desk, but that’s exactly what happened after Maisey was recognized as the second place winner in the 30th National Congressional Art Competition. Entries by Maisey, third place winner Lorraine Cook, and six other St. John’s student artists were selected for summer art exhibitions at locations across the District of Columbia, including the DC Chamber of Commerce, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the Wohlfarth Galleries, and the District Offices of Congresswoman Norton. The winning pieces of art by Maisey and Lorraine were chosen from a pool of 380 artwork submissions by local students in grades 8 through 12. “I took an art class to have fun and surprised myself by how well I did,” said Maisey, who was awarded a scholarship to a two-week summer program at the Corcoran College of Art and Design. The fact that St. John’s students earned two of the top three awards is not surprising, considering the growing interest in the fine arts at St. John’s. This year, 243 students are enrolled in elective courses in fine arts, according to Tiffany Mills, Fine Arts Department Chair. The department offers courses in design, drawing, painting, sculpture and ceramics, as well as three Advanced Placement classes to help students expand their portfolio and prepare for collegelevel work in the fine arts. To help students gain exposure for their work and confidence in their emerging artistic skills, St. John’s fine arts faculty encourages students to participate in the Congressional Arts Competition and other arts events, including St. John’s own annual Gallery Night. Last February, a full auditorium of students, parents, faculty and staff gathered for the 2nd annual Arts Gallery Night, which featured about 500 pieces of student artwork. The evening also included performances by the St. John’s Jazz Ensemble, the induction of 23 new National Honor Society Members, and a presentation by keynote speaker, Ms. Sherri Fisher. A Baltimore-based painter, Ms. Fisher is an exhibition specialist for the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, as well as a part-time sculptor/decorator for Charm City Cakes, the focus of the nationally-televised show Ace of Cakes. The highlight of Gallery Night was the presentation of six student art awards, especially the coveted Donatelli Art award. The Donatelli Award, named for Ann and Lou Do-

natelli, SJC ‘ 52, is presented to an upper-level art student for outstanding involvement, service and commitment to art at St. John’s. This year, St. John’s selected two winners, sisters Alexandra and Sophie Colevas, SJC ‘11. Many St. John’s graduates have gone on to pursue higher education in the fine arts and have earned admission into prestigious schools such as the Savannah College of Art and Design and Parsons School for Design in New York City. Two graduates, Victor Ware ’07 and Celie Yann ’09, who both studied at the Corcoran College of Art and Design, returned to St. John’s last spring to serve as judges at Gallery Night.

St. John’s Hits All the Right Notes Last spring, St. John’s musicians brought their magic to Disney and came home with several impressive awards. Four of St. John’s performing arts ensembles performed at Festival Disney, which took place March 3–7, 2011, at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL. St. John’s talented musicians participated in a competitive adjudication with dozens of other high school and middle school ensembles and earned the awards listed below. • Wind Ensemble

–– Superior Rating

–– Best in Class Award

–– Silver Mickey Award

–– Outstanding Soloist—Kevin Nuckolls

• String Ensemble

–– Excellent Rating

–– Outstanding Soloist—Kristin Jones St. John’s College High School  7


Unlocking Talents

• Vocal Resonance

– Superior Rating

– Best in Class Award

– Gold Mickey Award

• Jazz Ensemble

– Superior Rating

– Best in Class Award

– Gold Mickey Award

The Best in Class award is given in each division, which is determined by school size. It is only awarded when there are two or more schools participating in a particular division. The Bronze, Silver, and Gold Mickey Awards are given as overall awards, and reflect the highest scores across all divisions. The Disney performers were not the only groups to bring home top marks. Last April, St. John’s Symphonic Band and Chamber Choir participated in the Festival of Music in Virginia Beach, VA. The Symphonic Band earned an Excellent Rating and First Place in Division AA and the Chamber Choir also received an Excellent Rating. For students, an out-of-town adjudication is a chance to have fun at destinations like Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, or Busch Gardens! The true purpose of these trips, however, is the opportunity to receive impartial feedback from distinguished experts, allowing St. John’s students to strengthen their musical skills and grow in confidence as performers. “The idea is to do something out of this area where the judges have never heard of your school and have no expectations. Then you give them an idea of what your music program can do,” said Ken Hammann, Chair of St. John’s Performing Arts Department. “At Disney, they brought in Dr. Johnnie Vinson, a world-renowned composer and conductor, and our students had the opportunity to work with him on stage and get immediate feedback.” St. John’s musical groups also participate in the fall adjudication for Catholic schools in the Washington metropolitan area, which provides students with another type of valuable feedback. “At the Catholic school adjudication, you get something that the other festivals don’t do, which is a sight reading test,” said Hammann. “That is advantageous for our students because they really have to hone their musical skills to perform a piece they don’t know.”

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Running for a Reason by Aaron Stock ’12, The Sabre On September 29, 2011 St. John’s held the Annual Carl Waclawik Student/Faculty 5k run. The event takes place every September in honor of former top SJC cross country runner Carl Waclawik. Carl tragically passed away in his sleep November of his sophomore year. The event commemorates Carl’s life and celebrates his passion for running. Students, faculty and administrators participate in the run on the hilly three-mile course through Rock Creek Park. Each group tries to prove to the other that it has superior stamina. Afterwards, everyone gathers around friends. They drink some refreshments, cool off, and tell each other about their ups and downs during the run. It’s one of the more prominent gatherings of the SJC community, and a good reminder that we are all among a very supportive community. At the end of the race, it is less about who won and who lost; and more about sharing in the exhilarating experience of running in honor of Carl. One former student’s passion for running brings the community together each year. We are all grateful for the opportunity to take an afternoon to remember what’s really important about St. John’s and that is community.

St. John’s musicians are busy preparing for 2011 Catholic school adjudication, which will take place on Saturday, December 3, 2011. In the spring, they will take their show on the road once again. The Wind Ensemble and Competition Jazz Ensemble will be traveling to St. Louis to participate in the Heritage Festival on April 27–28, 2012. The String Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Chamber Choir will be performing at the North American Music Festival at Hershey Park on May 4–5, 2012. And the Vocal Resonance members will be singing at the Festival of Gold in New York City on April 27–28, 2012.


Unlocking Talents

College Athletes The following is a list of 2010 and 2011 St. John’s graduates who have gone on to play college sports: BASEBALL 2011 • Bobby Boyd, West Virginia University • Joe Camp, Concord University • Bo Flowers, Morehouse College • Nick Howard, University of Virginia • Justin Korenblatt, LaSalle Univeristy • Nate Meiners, Randolph Macon University • Nick Papillo, University of Scranton • Brady Schmitt, University of South Carolina at Aiken 2010 • Hayden Athey, Immaculata University • Mike Bowie, George Mason University • Drew Farber, University of North Carolina-Wilmington • Charles Flowers, Citadel University • Daniel Johnstone, Skidmore College • Kyle Kirsch, University of Delaware • Eric Meleney, Marshall University • Jason Papillo, Susquehanna University BOYS BASKETBALL 2011 • Julian DeBose, Rice University 2010 • Norman Pope, Concordia College • Denzel Primus-Devonish, Pace University • Derrick Thomas, Drexel University

GIRLS BASKETBALL 2011 • Melissa Echols, Florida Institute of Technology • Mariah Jones, Colgate University • Lindsay Williams, Mount St. Mary’s University 2010 • Marissa Brock, Harvard University • Joelle Davidson, Cornell University • Nicola Zimmer, Dartmouth College FOOTBALL 2011 • Wayne Burden, Savannah State University • Kris Drummond, Savannah State University • Andrew Konieczka, Shenandoah University • Kevin McReynolds, University of California, Los Angeles • Danny Wright, Georgetown University 2010 • Brandon Baylor, University at Albany • Charles Brown, South Carolina State University • Andre Monroe, University of Maryland • Matt Elsasser, Salisbury University • DeAnte Williams, Norfolk State University • Chris Williamson, Syracuse University

BOYS LACROSSE 2011 • Max Frietch, College of Wooster 2010 • Denis English, St. Louis University • Josh Kriz, Catholic University • Nick Johnson, Chesnut Hill College GIRLS SOCCER 2010 • Rosie Brinckerhoff, University of Delaware • Molly Carter, Mount St. Mary’s University • Deja Walker, University of Wisconsin at Madison • Elisa Otero, Randolph College • Gabriela Duarte, Lynn University SWIM & DIVE 2010 • Joanna Ladas, Catholic University TENNIS 2010 • Leah Garrison, LaSalle University • Saida Bennou, Virginia Wesleyan University TRACK 2010 • Alexandria Oliver, University of California, Los Angeles VOLLEYBALL 2010 • Maya Louis, University of Hartford

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Unlocking Talents

Students who are not part of St. John’s travelling ensembles have the opportunity to perform at oncampus events, such as the Winter and Spring Concert s and athletic events. St. John’s has more than a dozen performing arts groups, ranging from audition-only groups like Vocal Resonance (Honors Choir) to large groups such as Concert Band and Regimental Band. All freshmen band students are required to participate in Regimental Band, which performs at JROTC Inspections and football games. Mr. Hammann is proud that St. John’s academic and extracurricular performing arts programs have been recognized with numerous awards and believes that the programs are preparing students for future opportunities in music. About five years ago, Hammann developed a new music theory course to help students with the placement exams for undergraduate music programs. “Many of our music department graduates continue with music in college and beyond,” said Hammann. “And sometimes the ones you never expect to continue are the ones that go far.”

Ladies and Champs! The St. John’s basketball team had an unbelievable 2010–2011 season. The 12-girl squad finished up its season with a 30-2 overall record, ranked number three in the The Washington Post standings, and ranked 22nd nationally by USA Today. Head Coach Jonathan Scribner was named WCAC Coach of the Year. The season gained momentum when the team defeated McNamara 69-59 on Sunday, February 27 in the first semifinal. Five of St. John’s players scored in double figures to help secure the win. St. John’s was confident going into the WCAC Championship game against Good Counsel after beating The Falcons twice during the season, once on a last-second shot and once by a score of 74-69. St. John’s also defeated Good Counsel 62-52 in the WCAC Championship played at American University’s Bender Arena. The championship win was the first WCAC championship since 2004 and brings St. John’s to an overall fi ve league wins in 20 years. Securing the win in the WCAC Championship, allowed the team to compete in the City Title game against H.D. Woodson on March 7, 2011. St. John’s supported our team by providing the presentation of colors by the St. John’s Color Guard and the singing of the national anthem by our Olivia Morreale ’14.

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For the first two quarters, H.D. Woodson, appearing in its sixth straight City Title game and 12th overall, took the lead. As quoted by The Washington Post, St. John’s “…players admitted that the big stage affected them, but they quickly rallied in the third quarter, proving why they were among the elite teams in the area with a deep bench.” St. John’s defeated H.D. Woodson 59-44 in the Abe Pollin D.C. City Title Game played at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. The 2011 Abe Pollin D.C. Title win marks St. John’s 4th City Title win in women’s basketball in 20 years.


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Called to Serve St. John’s remembers SGM Michael J. Hackett, an inspiring teacher for the school’s Junior ROTC program, and his dedicated service to the school and his country. Michael J. Hackett, Jr., a veteran of World War II and the Korean War and former JROTC instructor at St. John’s College High School, passed away on January 16 at age 90. Hackett, who served in both the Marines and the Army Reserve, inspired generations of young men and future service members during his 38 years at St. John’s. “I’ll always remember him for his sense of discipline and honor that he helped inspire in us all, whether we realized it then or not,” said José Luis Rodríguez, 1968 graduate of St. John’s. A Washington native, Hackett enlisted in the US Marines Reserve in 1938 and completed basic training at Quantico, VA, and Lakehurst, NJ. He was one of the original members of the First Marine Division and the First Marine Combat Engineer Battalion, which were formed in February 1941. During World War II, he participated in the landings at Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester, and while with the First Marine Regiment, as part of the 6th Army, he fought in New Guinea. During the Korean War, he again served with the First Division and received a Purple Heart for combat action in Wonson, North Korea. Upon returning to the states as a Marine Corps Sergeant in 1951, Hackett answered yet another call to serve, but in a much different way. When his wife Kitty encouraged him to respond to a newspaper advertisement seeking an instructor for a “local military school,” Hackett reluctantly agreed. Hackett discussed the position with Brother David Cassion, then principal of St. John’s College High School, and agreed to teach at the school for just one year, as he had other plans for his future. As Hackett came to know and admire the Christian Brothers of St. John’s, he changed his plans for the future and even changed his branch of service. Because St. John’s JROTC program is Army-based, Hackett left the Marines in 1953 and joined the Army Reserve. He

remained at St. John’s for 38 years, teaching military history, tactics, and leadership. “My father’s contribution to St. John’s was his ability to convey a consistent message of integrity, loyalty, devotion to God, duty, and country to thousands of Junior ROTC cadets,” said John Hackett, son of SGM Hackett. Former students remember Hackett for his steely gaze and rapid speech, but most of all for his determination to help each St. John’s Cadet achieve his full potential. In the St. John’s 150th Anniversary Book, Hackett is quoted: “It does not matter if you are a private, as long as you are the best private you can be.” “He was fair and disciplined and insisted on the same from his cadets. During the four years I was at St. John’s, he helped me through his example on my path to manhood,” said Tom Quinn, a 1960 graduate of St. John’s. For many years, Hackett also served as the moderator of the St. John’s drill team, which was named the McGovern Rifles, after Robert and Jerome McGovern, St. John’s alumni who were killed in Korea in 1951. Under Hackett’s direction, the team competed locally and nationally and won several awards. Each summer, Hackett served 80 to 90 days of active duty in the Army Reserve. During this time, he supported training at the National War College, as well as a program jointly sponsored by the Army Reserve and the Civil Air Patrol to teach students to fly. For his work with the Army Reserve, he was awarded the US Army Meritorious Service Medal in 1973. He retired from the Army Reserve as a Sergeant Major in 1980. Hackett also attained high honors outside of the military. Due to his dedication to the work and mission of the Christian Brothers, SGM Hackett was honored with the designation Affiliated Member of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (AFSC). This affiliation is the highest and rarest honor bestowed by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, recognizing individuals who have participated in an extraordinary degree in the life and work of the De La Salle Christian Brothers. St. John’s bestowed two additional honors on SGM Hackett. The school awarded him the President’s Medal and St. John’s College High School

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created the “Iron Mike” Award, which is presented each year to an outstanding student in St. John’s JROTC program. In addition, his first class of cadets from 60 years ago recently established a perpetual scholarship in SGM Hackett’s name. A member of that class, retired Air Force General Michael Carns, called him “a great American” and noted he had “devoted his entire working life serving St. John’s College and molding the character of thousands of youngsters, as he did us.” Following his retirement from St. John’s in 1989, Hackett traveled to various places, including Hawaii, Greece, Poland, Fiji, Guadalcanal, and Australia, which had special meaning to him. “Like many Marines in the First Division, my father had a lifelong devotion to the Australian people, because of how they took care of the Marines and made them feel at home during the year they spent there after the Guadalcanal campaign,” said John Hackett. Hackett was active in the First Marine Division Association, the American Legion, and the Humane Society, and spent time with his wife Catherine (Kitty) Farrell Hackett until her death in 1992. Hackett is also survived by his three sons Michael, Peter, and John and seven grandchildren.

JROTC McGovern Rifles Drill Team: SJC’s Tradition of Excellence by Collin Olufemi ’11 and Zack Tanner ’11, The Sabre One of the great traditions of St. John’s is the McGovern Rifles Drill Team. It is the oldest JROTC drill team in the nation and is known for excellence. Throughout the years, it has brought honor and pride to St. John’s. The drill team is named in honor of the McGovern brothers who graduated from St. John’s and earned a Congressional Medal of Honor and a Silver Star while giving their lives in service of their country in Korea. Those medals are proudly exhibited in the Scaggs’ Conference Center. Drill Team is an elite team of the most dedicated cadets who participate in four to five different competitions throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The team is divided into five separate outfits: Regulation Unarmed, Regulation Armed, Exhibition Unarmed, Exhibition Armed, and Inspection. The team practices twice a week engaging in quizzes on basic JROTC knowledge and practicing military movements. Drill Team is headed by Army Instructor, Master Sergeant Rick Tieman, and Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Reginald Smith. 12 Scarlet&Grey  Fall 2011

Master Sergeant Tieman discussed the 2010–11 teams stating, “We’re about fifty percent freshmen this year and that’s what we want. It gives the freshman time to grow and mature for the future.” He concluded, “I love our drill team and I love our heritage. It’s awesome being the oldest and one of the most elite of drill teams.” Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Smith commented on what Drill Team is to him: “Drill Team is all about brotherhood, where we keep each other accountable for our uniform as well as our conduct. We train hard. We prepare well. We are strict so that in the future our lives will be disciplined.” When walking through SJC’s 27th Street Entrance be certain to note all of the trophies that have been brought into SJC over the years via the JROTC program and how many of those trophies belong to the St. John’s McGovern Rifle Drill Team.

Brother Timothy Dean, FSC 1931–2011 Brother Timothy Dean, FSC, a Christian brother for 61 years and valued member of the St. John’s community since 1962, passed away on Friday, June 24, 2011. He served the St. John’s community in teaching, administrative and moderator roles. He was the Mothers’ Club Moderator from 1962–1971


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and was the last Christian Brother to hold the title of Commandant of the Cadet Corps. During this time, Brother Timothy established himself as a no-nonsense, but fair, disciplinarian who cared deeply about the students who were entrusted to him. He was born Francis William Dean on June 10, 1931, and entered the Brothers of the Christian Schools on February 1, 1951. Brother Timothy served at seven different Catholic schools and held a vast array of positions over the career of his religious life, including teacher, principal, assistant principal, commandant of cadets, and assistant superintendent of schools. These positions earned Brother Timothy the respect and esteem that many of his colleagues and Brothers hold for him. Words like steadfast, loyal, and hard working come foremost in the mind of many a Lasallian educator when they hear the name of Brother Timothy Dean. “Tim believed in those who were entrusted to his care and believed deeply about being a Brother of the Christian Schools,” said Bro. Michael Andrejko, FSC, Principal of St. John’s. “That is why he called others to greatness and challenged them to step outside of themselves and become a part of something much larger.” Brother Timothy was also very well known for the leadership he exhibited on various administrative assignments, such as his service as chairman of numerous visiting committees to schools seeking accreditation through Middle States Association of Secondary Schools. He also served as Sub-Director of Novices. Since 2004, Brother Timothy had enjoyed the status of Senior Brother in residence at Saint Gabriel’s Hall where he served as the Lasallian Mission Animator and worked to instill a strong sense of Lasallian Mission among the diverse staff of the St. Gabriel’s System.

Joe Robert ’70 and Former SJC Board Chair Dr. John Convey Honored By NCEA The National Catholic Educational Association honored Joe Robert ’70 and Former Board Chair Dr. John Convey during the 21st Annual Seton Awards Ceremony on October 3rd at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center. The NCEA established the Ann Seton Award to honor individuals whose work and philanthropy have impacted Catholic education in particular and/or U.S. education and the nation’s youth in general. The aim is to inspire others to follow in their footsteps to strengthen and sustain Catholic education for future generations.

Above: From Left: Reverend Monsignor John J. Enzler ‘65, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Guest of NCEA, Joseph E. Robert Jr. ‘70, Jeffery W. Mancabelli, James V. Kimsey ‘57 Right: From Left: James V Kimsey ‘57, NCEA St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award Winner, Mary Margaret Sheridan ‘12, Karen M. Ristau, Ed.D., President of NCEA

Those familiar with the efforts of Joe Robert and Dr. Convey on behalf of St. John’s know how deserving these two are. St. John’s state of the art science center bears Joe Robert’s name in honor of his generosity to the school. Beyond St. John’s, Robert’s philanthropy has been extensive. In 1990, he founded Fight For Children, Inc., a Washington-based philanthropic organization whose mission is to promote, create and invest in K-12 educational opportunities. The FFC has raised more than $310 million to fulfill its mission. Further, Robert served as chair for both the Washington Scholarship Fund and the Comprehensive Campaign at Children’s National Medical Center where his efforts are honored by the Joseph E. Robert, Jr. Center for Surgical Care. Dr. Convey, former St. John’s trustee, was awarded the 2011 President’s Award. Dr. Convey is the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Professor of Education and former Provost of the Catholic University of America. He has spent his career focusing on research and strategic planning for Catholic schools. Over the past 28 years, he conducted studies in over 20 archdioceses and dioceses. In total he has authored, co-authored or edited eight books. Previously he received the C. Albert Koob Award from the National Catholic Educational Association for outstanding national service to Catholic schools. St. John’s College High School  13


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Left: St. John’s, 2011 WCAC Baseball Champs. Right: Mark (middle) with brother, Kevin (left), and dad, Ed (right).

A Legacy of Leadership As a standout player on the St. John’s baseball team, Mark Gibbs ’96 racked numerous awards and honors, including WCAC Player of the Year and Gatorade Player of the Year. In his fifth year as the Varsity Baseball Head Coach for the Cadets, Gibbs added a new item to his lengthy list of accomplishments: 2011 WCAC Tournament Champions. “I am so proud of Coach Gibbs and his numerous accomplishments with the baseball program. Through his own experience at St. John’s, Coach Gibbs learned that success was something you achieve through hard work, discipline and commitment,” said St. John’s President, Jeff Mancabelli. “It is inspiring to witness Coach Gibbs instilling in his players the same core values he was taught in the classroom and on the field.” On May 14, St. John’s defeated Dematha, 10-3, in the final game of the best-of-three Championship Series. After a 10-6 season in the stacked WCAC conference (22-9 overall record), St. John’s entered the tournament as a fifth seed, but upset higher-seeded teams from Bishop O’Connell and Good Counsel to advance to the Championship Series. With help from a fourth-inning grand slam by shortstop Nick Howard, the Cadets won the decisive game of the series and clinched their first WCAC title in six years. A Winning Tradition The championship title carries on the winning tradition of St. John’s and the Gibbs family, which has been part 14 Scarlet&Grey  Fall 2011

of quite a few successes on the St. John’s baseball diamond. Coach Gibbs’ father and former St. John’s coach, Ed Gibbs ’67, earned his first Catholic League title as a player in 1966 and then returned to St. John’s as an assistant baseball coach when his oldest son, Kevin Gibbs ’92, began playing baseball for St. John’s. Although championships were elusive during the early 1990’s, Ed Gibbs had the joy of watching Kevin become a two-time WCAC Player of the Year. Kevin is now the Assistant Coach, Hitting, for the St. John’s team. In the fall of 1992, Mark Gibbs became a St. John’s student and his father Ed became the Varsity Baseball Head Coach the next spring. Together, the father and son were part of three regular season first-place teams and reached the WCAC tournament finals three times. Mark went on to earn a degree in Business from George Mason University, where he was a four-year starter at shortstop. After college, Mark signed with the Baltimore Orioles and spent three years in the organization, getting as high as the Double A Bowie Baysox. “It’s a pretty special and rare treat for a father to have coached his son for four years and then see him go off to play in college and play professionally,” said Ed Gibbs. Then Mark returned to St. John’s in 2004 as an assistant coach, working with his father to continue the family’s legacy of leadership. The father-son team coached St. John’s players to two first-place seasons and a WCAC Championship. Then in 2006, Mark took over as Head Baseball Coach, eager to grow the successful program his father put in place.


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“I always wanted to make sure I left the team to someone who has as much or more commitment to the program than I did,” said Ed Gibbs. “I was just thrilled when Mark expressed an interest in taking over as head coach, because he had opportunities to coach at the college level.” “Since Coach Gibbs took over 5 years ago, he has done an outstanding job in continuing the tradition of excellence in the baseball program,” said St. John’s Athletic Director, Tom Veith. “All of his dedication and hard work paid off as he watched his team defeat DeMatha for the WCAC championship. We are so proud of Mark, his staff and all of his players.” Team First Despite his individual achievements as a player, Coach Mark Gibbs has always understood the importance of teamwork and he shares that view with his team during every practice and game. Coach Gibbs expects each of his players to know and pursue six fundamental goals of St. John’s baseball, which include principles such as “Team First” and “Win Every Inning.” Coach Gibbs’ abilities as a leader and his passion for coaching have helped the Cadets achieve team success and extend their reputation as one of the premier baseball programs in the region. Under Coach Gibbs’ leadership, the St. John’s baseball program achieved a record of 106-33 and produced two regular season first-place teams over the past five years. The 2011 Tournament Championship is particularly meaningful, because the team faced adversity during the year, including injuries to key players and some unexpected losses. Following the tough losses, Coach Gibbs and his coaching staff encouraged their players with positive messages and assured them that they possessed all the components needed to bring home a championship. According to Ed Gibbs, the accomplishments and adversity that Coach Gibbs experienced as a high school, college, and minor league player have made him wellequipped to inspire his young players. “At every level, Mark experienced both the highs and the lows,” said Ed Gibbs. “One thing he always tells players is ‘I know what you’re going through when you have a bad time because, believe me, I have been there too.’ ” Taking Players to the Next Level Because he experienced the rigors of college and minor league baseball programs, Coach Gibbs is also equipped

to prepare players for life after St. John’s. “The kids don’t realize it, but the off-season workouts and 6 a.m. winter workouts are all things designed to help them mature and prepare for the demanding schedule that a college coach requires.” Among Coach Gibbs most impressive accomplishments is the fact that he has helped put dozens of players into college baseball, including a few who have been drafted by minor league teams. “No parent or player understands just how many hours of his personal time Mark puts into calling coaches for St. John’s players and other players too,” said Ed Gibbs, who explained that it is common for Mark to get calls from players on competing WCAC teams, asking him to make calls to college coaches on their behalf. “Mark does it because he cares about kids. Seven members of the 2011 championship team will be beginning college baseball programs this year. Based on the experience of other graduates of Coach Gibbs’ program, they have a bright baseball future ahead of them. As for Coach Gibbs, he is in the midst of fall baseball training, looking forward to another successful spring season. “He doesn’t have as many wins as me—yet,” Ed Gibbs said lightheartedly. “But what he has done really leaves me in awe. He has this great passion for what he does and he just does it so well.” St. John’s College High School  15


Building Leaders

Congratulations to St. John’s Class of 2011 • • • •

100 % college acceptance including 7 Ivy League schools Completed 24,000 hours of community service $20 million in scholarships over 4 years Notable acceptances – Brown – Columbia – Cornell – Harvard – University of Pennsylvania – Princeton – Yale – University of Chicago – Duke – Georgetown – MIT

“After four years of academic training and spiritual

nourishment, we have become a complete package with strong faith and sharpened intellect grounded in Lasallian moral principles.”

— Yacob Yonas, St. John’s 2011 Valedictorian, Princeton University

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Remembering an Extraordinary Life ‘

A RC HBISHOP P HILIP M. H A N NA N 31

I

n 1931, a St. John’s Cadet made a decision that would affect the lives of millions. As graduation approached, the senior student surprised his family with the announcement that instead of taking the entrance exam for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he would enter the seminary to become a priest. During the next 80 years, this extraordinary cadet would serve as a priest—as well as a newspaper editor, paratroop chaplain, Second Vatican Council delegate, refugee worker, friend of the U.S. President, advocate for the poor and elderly, television broadcaster and an archbishop. For that young cadet was retired Archbishop of New Orleans Philip M. Hannan, a St. John’s Alum and a man who embodied our Lasallian values of faith, achievement, leadership, and service to the community. On September 29, the anniversary of his appointment as Archbishop of New Orleans, Archbishop Hannan died at the age of 98. Funeral services for the archbishop took place on October 6 at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans and were attended by St. John’s President Jeff Mancabelli, along with 18 Catholic bishops, 300 priests, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, civic leaders from the city of New Orleans, and members of the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. Although he had served in New Orleans since 1965, Hannan was a native of Washington, DC, and spent many years here as a student, priest and bishop. The Archbishop was born on May 20, 1913, to Patrick Hannan, an Irish immigrant, and Lillian Hannan, a fourth-generation Washingtonian. He attended Immaculate Conception grade school and then entered high school at St. John’s. As a St. John’s student, Archbishop Hannan was a leader in the classroom and in athletic activities. As a senior, he was the captain of the winning cadet company. After graduation, he began his college studies at

St. John’s College High School

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St. Charles College in Catonsville, MD, and then continued at the Sulpician Seminary (known now as Theological College) affiliated with The Catholic University in Washington. He earned a master’s degree and later a doctorate in canon law Archbishop Philip M. Hannan senior from The Catholic University. picture from 1931 year book. Archbishop Hannan also studied as a seminarian at the North American College in Rome, where he was ordained on December 8, 1939. He remained in Rome until the summer of 1940, when the seminarians were ordered to leave by the U.S. State Department because of the growing conflict in Europe. He returned to Washington and celebrated his first solemn Mass in the United States on June 16, 1940, at St. Matthew’s Cathedral. Although Archbishop Hannan had decided against a career in the military as a young man, he put his St. John’s JROTC training to use when he volunteered as a wartime paratroop chaplain in 1942. During World War II, he was assigned to the 505th Parachute Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. After his first official jump, he was appointed “jump master” to a small group of new paratroopers and became known as the “Jumping Padre.” Archbishop Hannan ministered to soldiers during the Battle of the Bulge and helped liberate starving prisoners in the Wöbbelin concentration camp in Germany. When Archbishop Hannan was honorably discharged from the Army in 1946, he held the rank of major. He returned once again to his hometown of Washington, where he would remain for nearly 20 years. During this time, he served as an assistant pastor at St. Mary’s Church, chancellor to the Archdiocese of Washington, and then was named Titular Bishop of Hieropolis and auxiliary to Archbishop Patrick O’Brien. He was consecrated on August 28, 1956, in St. Patrick’s Cathedral by Cardinal Amleto Cicognani. At the banquet to celebrate his elevation to bishop, he received a note from President Dwight D. Eisenhower. “In war, you united the values of patriotism and religion through your distinguished service as a paratroop chaplain,” President Eisenhower wrote. “In peace, still a vigorous exponent of these same values, you also help your fellow citizens of all faiths in the enrichment of our cultural heritage and in the recognition of our civic responsibilities.” 18 Scarlet&Grey  Fall 2011

During his years in Washington, Archbishop Hannan helped launch the Catholic Standard newspaper and served as its editor for the next 14 years. As Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, he returned to his alma mater to officiate at the dedication of the new St. John’s gymnasium on October 15, 1961. He also became friends with a young Massachusetts Congressman named John F. Kennedy. In his memoirs, Archbishop Hannan said that Kennedy frequently consulted with him about how the Church would respond to various policies. When President Kennedy was assassinated, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy asked then-Bishop Hannan to deliver the eulogy at St. Matthew’s Cathedral. He also delivered a eulogy for Senator Robert F. Kennedy following his assassination in 1968 and graveside prayers for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in 1994. When the archbishop received the news of President Kennedy’s assassination, he was in Rome participating in the second session of Vatican Council II. Archbishop Hannan participated in all four sessions of Vatican Council II and gave two addresses to the council fathers on “The Role of Laity” and “Nuclear Warfare.” On September 29, 1965, during the final session of Vatican Council II, he was named as the 11th Archbishop of New Orleans. Archbishop Hannan was installed in St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans and then immediately turned to the task of visiting and supporting families who had been displaced by Hurricane Betsy, which had flooded and damaged areas of the city just weeks before his arrival. Throughout the next 45 years, Archbishop Hannan would continue to make the poor, elderly and marginalized citizens of New Orleans a priority of his ministry. His social work accomplishments include the creation of a 2,780 unit housing complex for the elderly, the largest such program in any diocese. He oversaw the development of the Social Apostolate program, which provided educational, recreational and social activities in the community. He also brought federal and non-profit food bank programs to New Orleans and established a hospice program for AIDS patients Archbishop Hannan revitalized and expanded the city’s Catholic Charities, which became a national leader in the support and resettlement of Vietnamese refugees following the fall of South Vietnam in 1975. The archbishop traveled to refugee camps and appointed nuns, priests and seminarians to serve the thousands of refugees who arrived in New Orleans.


Archbishop Hannan also stood up for civil rights and the rights of the unborn. When New Orleans’ public swimming pools developed mysterious problems—meaning they could not be opened for blacks and whites to swim together—the archbishop opened the swimming pool at Notre Dame Seminary to all children attending the archdiocese’s Summer Witness camps. He was a vocal pro-life advocate, who challenged Catholic political candidates to politicians and policies that supported access to abortion. The highlight of Archbishop Hannan’s episcopacy was Pope John Paul II’s visit to New Orleans in September 1987, a visit which the archbishop had urged the Holy Father to make on several occasions. Archbishop Hannan joined the Pope for the celebration of an outdoor Mass at the University of New Orleans. The following year, Archbishop Hannan reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 and submitted his resignation. He then served as president of WLAE-TV, a public television station he founded in the early 1980’s. The archbishop co-hosted “Focus,” a weekly half-hour religious news program, which addressed topics such as the role of religion and faith in countries around the world. When Hurricane Katrina flooded

Pope John Paul II’s pictured with Archbishop Hannan during the Pope’s visit to New Orleans.

New Orleans in 2005, the 92-year-old archbishop spent 5 days alone in the Focus studios to protect it from looters, and then drove through flooded roads to give emotional support to first responders in the city. Upon his death, Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond stated “Archbishop Hannan in every way was a good shepherd of the church who was modeled after Christ, not just for Catholics of New Orleans but for the whole community.” St. John’s is proud to call Archbishop Hannan a member of our community and continues to honor his example of service and faith through the Archbishop Philip M. Hannan ’31 Dinner and Scholarship Fund.

BROTHERS of the christian schools

w w w. b r o t h e r s v o c at i o n . o r g LIVE SIMPLY • TEACH PASSIONATELY • PRAY DEEPLY • STAND WITH THE POOR

St. John’s College High School  19


Class Notes 1944

1958

1977

Mike Dowe now lives in Houston, Texas and works as Chief Scientist of Raytheon Ktech. Before moving to Texas, he retired as CEO from a defense research company. He credits academics for getting him into RPI and later into West Point.

Several members of the Class of 1958 attended their 50th Reunion a few years ago and enjoyed it so much that they have continued to try and meet regularly. This group of 19 former grads has been able to meet at least 6 times. The last gathering included our current SJC President Jeff Mancabelli and new Vice President Michael Esten who shared all of the new and exciting changes that are and will be taking place at the school. In attendance were Alex Atzert, Richard Barrazotto, John Beall, John Boehm, Bob Borsari, Bob Evinger, Fausto Falcone, Jim Fowler, Bob Gibson, Stew Lingley, Pete Maroulis, Mike McCarthy, Bob McCleary, Joe McMahon, Jim Molloy, Jim Schaeffer, Lou Ritchie, Joe Tropea, and Brother Edward Adams, FSC.

Chip Armstrong now has a freshman, Jacqueline ’15, who is in the same homeroom with DC Chief Justice Lee Satterfield’s ’76 daughter Rachel ’15. His son John ’11 is a freshman at Drexel College of Engineering.

Al Weaver with grandson Corey Humburg s’04

1948 Al Weaver and grandson Corey Humburg ’04 share a love for water skiing. Unfortunately, Al had to quit this fun sport a few years ago due to illness. His grandson’s efforts made it possible for Al to water ski with him once again this past winter while visiting him in Acapulco. At the age of 80 Corey stated that seeing his grandfather water ski again was “Truly Unbelievable!”

1951 Henry (Mickey) Borger was recently reelected President of Fish of Laurel, an all-volunteer, non-profit service organization which operates Elizabeth House. Fish has been helping the poor of the Laurel area for more than 30 years through emergency aid to the poor. More than 400 volunteers carry out the work of Fish. Fish activities are supported by money and food donations from churches, individuals, businesses and government agencies. 20

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1959 George Hodgkiss lives in Browntown, VA with his wife Jackie. They have 5 children, 14 grandchildren and 4 greatgrandchildren. Since retiring from Bell Atlantic in 1993 George operates a recording studio in his home. He records such bluegrass legends as Bill Emerson, Wayne Taylor, Emory Lester, Tony Rice, Jimmy Gaudreau, Bill Yates and many others. He is still playing his trombone in local groups.

1960 Robert A. Bieder, Jr. retired a Captain from the United States Army in 2002. In the earlier part of his military career he also served with the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War.

1980 1964 On Labor Day, John Kling joined classmates Tim Dowd, Bob Walker, Jimmy DoGeorge and Jimmy Wolf at Dowd’s Annual Pig Roast. “We had a great time,” said Kling. Proceeds went to burn victims.

1966 John Michael retired from the Federal Government after 40 years of service in 2005. In recent years he has been certified as an open water scuba diver and lifeguard.

1970 Jim Ducibella retired from the Virginian-Pilot newspaper in 2008 after 27 years. He was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. His second book “King of Clubs: The Great Golf Marathon of 1938” will be published in 2012.

1975 Michael Gotsch was elected to another six-year term as Judge of the St. Joseph County Circuit Court in November. The Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence named him Judge of the Year and he received the Spirit of Giving Award from the local family and children’s center.

Thomas Gotsch is the Director of Portfolio Operations in the Investment Office for the University of Notre Dame.

1981 Michael F. Duggan, an assistant in the Department of Collections Management at the U.S. Supreme Court Library and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, has been selected as the 2011–2012 Supreme Court fellow assigned to the Supreme Court of the United States.

1982 Wallace (Wally) Ward a disabled service veteran has team up with another disabled service vet and they now train disabled veterans on coping with the civilian world. They help them transition and train them in various business skills. They also continue to mentor them until they are able to find employment.

1983 Kern M. Jackson is the director of the African American Studies program and assistant professor of English and Folklorist at the University of South Alabama in Mobile.


Class Notes 1990

2001

2003

2006

On September 9, 2010 Deacon Brandon Bredice Justice, S.F.O., M.A. and his wife Erin welcomed their 5th child Maximilian Aloysius, named after Nicholas Aloysius Curtin ’90. He joins brothers Conor, Luke, Oliver and sister Isabella.

In the tradition of SJC, two alumni meet when one was asked to hire the other; they are Michael L. Chambers, II and Kern M. Jackson’83 and upon meeting discovered that Kern graduated from SJC the same year Michael was born. Without knowing each other they both have been living lives that are dedicated to leadership, achievement and service to the community. They both work on helping students across Alabama in making sure that they are well prepared for college and persist to degree attainment. Michael is the programs coordinator and SES program manager for the Alabama Humanities Foundation in Birmingham. (See Jackson info under 1983)

Stephanie Beard and David Parrish were married in Taneytown, Maryland on September 11, 2010.

Congratulations to Robin Garcia for getting her B.S. in Marine Science/Biology at the University of Miami. Good luck to her as she is working on her M.S. in Marine Biology at the College of Charleston.

1992 Brandon Higgins passed the CPA exam and works for Ernest & Young in Phoenix, AZ.

Elizabeth Wilson

1993 Chris Wilson and his wife and son, William, welcomed Elizabeth Morgan Wilson into their family. She was born on March 26, 2011 and weighed 6lb 5 oz. She is quite the little personality. A picture of her favorite person, our son, William, now 2.5 years old was in Scarlet & Gray about 2 years ago.

Grace Love

Congratulations to Chris Love and his wife Jenny on the birth of their daughter Grace Elizabeth on July 15, 2011.

Michael McCarthy is a Judge Associate in the United States Marine Corps and was recently appointed special assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of California.

Michael Borger was presented with the Joseph J. Gunn Alumni Medal from Manhattan College at convocation in May 2011. The medal is awarded by the Alumni Society to a graduating senior who consistently demonstrated character, maturity, and leadership in extracurricular activities, cocurricular activities on and off-campus, as well as strong academic achievement throughout his undergraduate years.

2008 Ian Winters attends the University of Richmond and is going to study abroad in Barcelona next semester.

Matthew Borger

2004

1999 Alezandra Russell has started a non-profit organization called Urban Light. It provides educational opportunities, social and health services and a positive environment for personal development to teenage boys victimized in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

2007

Newlyweds Monica Manco and John Quinn III

2002 Monica Manco and John Quinn III of Philadelphia, were married in Ocean Pines, Maryland. They met at The Catholic University of America while attendings school there. Several SJC alums were also in attendance at the wedding.

On July 30, 2010 LTJG G. Matthew Borger took command of the USCGC ALBACORE which is at homeport in Virginia Beach, VA. Before taking command of the ALBACORE, he served on the cutter DILIGENCE. Matthew graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 2008 with high honors.

Pictured at the Yellow Ribbon Fund 2011 “Rockin’ for the Troops” gala are, left to right, Bob Talbot ’55, YRF Director of Mentoring; Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal ’72, USA, (ret.), YRF Board of Directors; Ed Quinn ’59, YRF Board of Directors; Phil Brach ’85; Lou Donatelli ’52, YRF Board of Directors; Kevin Quinn ’82; and Rick Brown ’66.

St. John’s College High School

21


St. John’s Photo Gallery

Class of 1961 Reunion

Coach Gallagher 90th Birthday

Coach Gallagher 90th Birthday

Class of 1951 Reunion

2010 Young Alumni Mass and Brunch

Coach Gallagher 90th Birthday

Coach Gallagher 90th Birthday

22 Scarlet&Grey  Fall 2011


St. John’s Photo Gallery

2011 Doc Scalessa Golf Tournament

The 2011 Doc Scalessa Tournament was once again a rousing success. Through sponsors and donators the Golf Committee, led by John Magnolia ’66 and Ron Serabian ’69, was able to raise over $25,000 for the Doc Scalessa Scholarship Fund. The proceeds of the Scholarship, which was established in 1984 in honor of Dr. Francis Scalessa, goes to deserving students in the form of financial aid.

2011 Sports Hall of Fame Above, left : Jeff Mancabelli, Marie Marshall, Terri Marshall (Grayson Marshall ‘84, mother and sister accepting on his behalf) Above, right : St. John’s 1977 basketball team. Right : from left to right: Jeff Mancabelli, Paul Castro ‘86, Clay Fitzgerald ‘78, Bruce Bach ‘59, Ray O’Brien ‘69, Mike Brant ‘65, Mike Ritter ‘67, Jeff Palumbo ‘00.

St. John’s College High School  23


Raise our Colors ANNUAL FUND

St. John’s is Pleased to Announce the Parent Council for 2011–2012 SJC Parents ROC Campaign Class of 2012 Co-Chairs Amy Lewis and Courtney Lodico Class of 2013 Co-Chairs Ann Calvaresi-Barr and David Barr Julie Kirtz and Major Garrett Class of 2014 Co-Chairs Jim Waller and Carline Dawson Class of 2015 Co-Chairs Michael and Ellen Miller

We are grateful for our Co-Chairs and their class committees, for donating their time and energy to this important endeavor that ensures the faculty, coaches and advisors have the resources to provide the programs and activities that make a St. John’s education so special. The Raise Our Colors Annual Fund provides essential revenue to support the education and activities of all St. John’s students. Last year over 50% of the parents contributed to the ROC, and our goal is to have 90% of the parents participate in this important campaign. The ROC Annual Fund campaign runs through June 30th. For further information please contact Annual Fund Director Debby Dupont at 202.364.0229 or ddupont@stjohnschs.org.


Renovated cafeteria and library viewed from Oregon Ave. entrance

Welcome to the Future St. John’s

L Aerial of renovated cafeteria and library

Cassidy Commons Dining Hall

Fitzpatrick Library

ife on campus has been busy over the summer months and there is more to come throughout the year. Almost two years ago St. John’s created a master plan outlining the future needs and goals for the school. The master plan ensures that as St. John’s builds for the future, we prioritize our projects and maximize the use of space on our 30-acre campus. New construction and renovations are nothing new to St. John’s. Since 1999, we have renovated or built a new facility every year. In fact, over the past ten years, St. John’s has undertaken more than $20 million of new construction and facilities renovation. The James V. Kimsey Science and Technology Center, Quinn Computer Center, Gallagher and Roth Gymnasiums, Donatelli Art Studios, Smith Football Field, Gibbs Baseball Field, Quinn Turf Field, Multi-Media Classrooms, and Campus-wide Wireless Internet Access are just a few examples of our continuous support. This past June, St. John’s continued with our master plan and began a 14-month construction phase that will conclude in August 2012. Construction began by providing a complete facelift to the 27th Street entrance facade with new pillars, lighting, signage and a heated vestibule for students. We installed new air-conditioning in the auditorium. In addition, we are in the process of updating the heating throughout the entire school with new boilers. The Fernandez stadium was finished, which offers additional seating and handicap accessibility. Finally, the band room, Schaefer Admissions Office and Vaghi Dining Room received enhancements. The cafeteria and library expansion is the next very exciting phase in the master plan. Construction will begin in December. As you see in the renderings, this expansion involves adding additional square footage to the library and cafeteria, a new outside terrace for the library, relocating the school store and creating a new entrance in the rear of the campus. St. John’s is also expanding and renovating the Fitzpatrick Library to include 21st century research tools and technology. The library will also have a new large terrace with plenty of space for study groups, homework and reading. Through a generous lead gift by 1970 alumnus Kevin Cassidy, the Cassidy Commons Dining Hall will not just be a lunch spot, but a place for students to relax and come together with classmates. The commons will serve both breakfast and lunch and be open to the students from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Cassidy Commons will also feature a renovated patio and several high-definition monitors featuring SJC news and sports. In addition, the renovated school store will be located just outside Cassidy Commons featuring books, supplies, Under Armour SJC gear and much more.

St. John’s College High School  25


Condolences Our deceased alumni, faculty, and friends are enrolled as perpetual members of the St. La Salle Auxiliary. Th e Christian Brothers and the entire St. John’s community offer their prayers and condolences to the families and friends of those who have passed.

ALUMNI 1933 1933 1934 1937 1938 1938 1939 1939 1939 1940 1942 1943 1947 1948 1948 1948

Michael Anselmo William Brown Robert Griffin John Hepburn Robert Grissett Gerald Eakle Raymond Anselmo Robert Boyle James Lynagh John McNeill Ludwood Ramos John Barbour John Crosby William Riley Hugo Schiattareggia Anthony Arduini

1949 1949 1949 1949 1950 1950 1951 1951 1951 1952 1953 1953 1953 1954 1955 1955

Frank Blanch Samuel Fields Bernard Gardiner CharlesHohman Paul Brown John Miller George Weast Eugene McMahon Michael Finan Gerald Stilwell Michael Bowman James Politz David Willingham, Eugene Williams John Simms James Branson Ferry

1955 1956 1956 1956 1956 1957 1958 1958 1958 1959 1959 1960 1961 1961 1961 1963

George Hohmeier Benjamin Overton Richard Kreis Alfred Scileppi Simon McHugh Charles Peckham James Dwyer Richard Heid Michael Miles John Lingg Norman Sugrue Richard Bray Melville Cox Michael Wallace John Salb William Walsh

1964 1966 1966 1967 1969 1970 1971 1971 1972 1976 1977 1982 1983 2003

Ronald Wright Gerard Marks Anthony Borda Carl Cox Matthew Dillon James Brogan Atilla Antal Darron Yeldell Kevin Murphy John Gholl Bobby Boyd Kevin Swaim Alberto Quiroga Marcus Durham

FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF ST. JOHN’S • Anselmo, Michael ’33, father

• Hackett, Michael Michael, former

• Ashe, Edward P., Father of

• Hawthorne, Fannie J. J.,

of Michael ’60 and Richard ’69 Edward P. Ashe, Jr. ’78.

• Brown, William ’33, brother

of the late David ’39, uncle of Alfred ’61, uncle of Wayne ’67

• Buchbinder, Paul, father of Benjamin ’08

• Cecil, Benjamin James,, son of Joseph and Judith Friedman; Brother of Andrew Cecil ’10

• Brother Timothy Dean,

F.S.C. — Former Faculty from 1962 to 1971

• Fennell, Celester, Mother

of Diane Howell (St. John’s Faculty/Staff ); grandmother of Erica Howell ’11

• Flores, Josefina, mother of

Andrew ’09 and Austin ’11

• Gardiner, Bernard ’49, father

of Douglas ’74 and William ’80

26

Scarlet&Grey

Fall 2011

faculty

Grandmother of Michael Morsell ’14

• Holloway, John John, father of

John ’69, Charles ’70, Peter ’73 and grandfather of Patrick Marshall ’12

• Houston, Jayden Charles (infant) son of Charles Houston ’02

• Kenealy, Megan Megan, wife of

Kevin Kenealy ’75; sister-inlaw of Michael Kenealy ’70, Thomas V. Kenealy ’66, and William Kenealy ’64; aunt to Shea Kenealy ’06

• Knoff, Patricia Patricia, mother of

Kathy Zmuda (St. John’s Faculty/Staff ); mother-inlaw to Robert L. Zmuda ’75; Grandmother to Christin Zmuda ’02; Richard Zmuda ’07; Robert L. Zmuda ’05; Shawn Zmuda ’11

• Kranking, James D. D., Father

of James A. Kranking ’71, grandfather of Stephen, Timothy, Cara and Emily ’12; brother-in-law of Daniel F. Kuhn, Sr. ’39; uncle of Daniel F. Kuhn, Jr. ’69, Stephen W. Kuhn ’70, Gerard A. Kuhn ’76 and Patrick J. Kuhn ’78.

• Lemon, David David, father of David ’07

• Lynagh, James ’39 ’39, son of

the late James ’14 and brother of John ’53

• Morris, Robert Robert, Father of

Charles H. Kendall ’67; Father-in-law of Martha Kendall (Faculty/Staff San Miguel)

• O’Boyle, Kathleen Kathleen, Aunt of

Ryan Sanford ’12 and Conor O’Boyle ’08; former spouse of Seamus O’Boyle ’75.

• Palumbo, Paul Paul, grandfather

of Johnathan Palumbo ’97 and Jeffrey Palumbo ’00; Father of Jonathan Palumbo (San Miguel Staff )

• Royals, Thomas omas, father of

Thomas ’72 and grandfather of Bryan Wright ’05; Past President for Men of St. John’s 1972–73

• Ruppert, Antoinette S. S.,

wife of late Carl A. Ruppert, mother of Carl A. Ruppert ’68; Christopher Ruppert ’69; Craig Ruppert ’71

• Salb, Jr., John ’61 ’61, son of the

late John Salb, Sr. ’33; father of Matthew ’86; John K ’87; William ’89; Thomas G. ’94; and Anne ’97

• Schiattareggia, Hugo ’48 ’48, grandfather of Anthony Conte ’11

• Scileppi, Alfred ’56 ’56, father of Patrick ’86

• Willingham, David ’53 ’53, brother of the late Lawrence ’59


M R. JEFFREY M ANCABELLI INVITES THE C LASSES OF 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011 TO A C HRISTMAS BREAK M ASS & BRUNCH SUNDAY DECEMBER 18TH M ASS – 11:30 AM BRUNCH – NOON K INDLY RSVP TO G ERRI O’BOYLE AT GOBOYLE @ STJOHNS-CHS.ORG OR 202-364-0229 P LEASE VISIT THE OFFICIAL ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE H IGH SCHOOL FACEBOOK PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION


Honoring B. Thomas Fr ana, Jr. ’65

John d. Magnolia ’66

Tom & Edie Schaefer

Thursday, November 10th Columbia Country Club  Chev y Chase, MD Cocktails at 6 pm  R ecogition Dinner at 7:30 pm All Proceeds of This Event Will Go Toward The Archbishop Philip M. Hannan ’31 Endowed Scholarship Fund Banquet Sponsored by Vion Corporation and Magnolia Plumbing


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