Scarlet & Grey - Winter 2015

WINTER 2015

Coach Joe Gallagher '39 APRIL 26, 1921 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

Scarlet & Grey Winter 2015

3 Life at St. John’s 7 A History of the Cadet Corps 12 Sports at St. John’s 20 Alumni Action 25 Remembering Coach Gallagher 32 Photo Gallery 38 Class Notes 40 Condolences

From the President

Scarlet & Grey VOL. XXVII • NO. 1 • WINTER 2015

St. John’s College High School President

Jeffrey Mancabelli Principal

Bro. Michael Andrejko, FSC Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Michael Esten Director of Development

Mark Gibbs ’96 Director of Communications

Kathy Howe Associate Director of Development

Tom Veith Director of Special Events

Maddie Freburger Database Manager

Lori Martin Editor

Kathy Howe Contributors Aubrey Andre Pat Haley Photography

Dear St. John’s Community, As we conclude a successful fall semester and look ahead to the excitement of spring campus events, it is hard to believe that we are starting 2015 without our dear friend and loyal Cadet, Joseph M. Gallagher, Sr. ’39. He was an extraordinary athlete, teacher and coach, who devoted 45 years of faithful service to St. John’s and touched so many lives during his tenure. His enduring legacy is one of dedication, honor and compassion, and while his achievements were many, his mission had one focus: to teach young boys to become confident, capable, service-oriented young men.

We are grateful to have had such a talented, honorable man influencing St. John’s students for almost half a century. We miss him deeply, but his spirit lives on in each of us who had the privilege to call him teacher and friend.

The past year was remarkable for the significant number of alumni that returned to SJC to participate in activities such as class reunions, sporting events, including the Homecoming Fifth Quarter, and the Thanksgiving Eve Party. More and more alumni are catching the fever and rocking the red in support of St. John’s. For an updated list of events, please check the alumni section of the St. John’s website.

On the subject of upcoming events, on Nov. 6, the St. John’s community will gather at the JW Marriott on Pennsylvania Avenue to celebrate the centennial of our JROTC program by presenting the President’s Medal to four individuals who exemplify outstanding leadership: Vice Admiral Manson Brown ’74 (Ret.), Monsignor John Enzler ’65, General Stanley McChrystal ’72 (Ret.) and KPMG Global Chairman John Veihmeyer ’73.

The unprecedented magnitude of this event ensures that it will be the largest gathering of alumni ever assembled in one place. This will be a moment to acknowledge the McGovern Brothers and St. John’s iconic Command Sgt. Majors Hackett, Fisher and McConnell, as well as to raise funds for the Hall of Honor, so there will be a permanent location in the school that commemorates the Cadet Corps at St. John’s. I hope many of you will be able to join in this celebration. Please visit www.stjohnschs.org/cadetcentennial to view the save-the-date video.

More information will be sent in the spring.

There are many stories in this issue that exemplify the Lasallian spirit and demonstrate the success of our alumni and students. I trust you will find inspiration throughout these pages.

Sincerely,

Lawrence French Kathy Howe Kat Kyne Art Director

Frank Sheehan St. John’s College High School 2607 Military Road, NW Chevy Chase, DC 20015 www.stjohnschs.org Alumni and Development Office 202.364.0229 | F: 202.363.5091 khowe@stjohnschs.org

Mr. Jeffrey W. Mancabelli President

Life at St. John’s

Board of Trustees Welcomes Two New Members Bro. Anthony Baginski, FSC, is the director of academic technology and coordinator of the 1:1 iPad program at Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, PA. He has served in the education field for more than 15 years, working with middle school, high school and college students. He also took on the role of principal for two years at Saint Bernard High School in Uncasville, CT. Baginski earned master’s degrees in business administration and computer science from the University of Illinois, and he will receive a master’s degree in theology from La Salle University this summer. He is also pursuing a doctoral degree in educational technology through Duquesne University. Before joining the Christian Brothers, Baginski was an active duty officer in the Coast Guard for 11 years.

He served on ships on both coasts and developed an information system used to track training for the Coast Guard’s 40,000 service men and women.

John Poole ’71 is the president and chief operating officer of Daycon Products Company, Inc., where he has also held the positions of vice president of finance and operations and controller. He has served on advisory councils for Daycon and committees for industry associations, and he is a long-standing member of the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Poole earned bachelor’s degrees in both finance and economics from the University of Maryland and became a certified public accountant in 1979. For the past several years, he has served as president of his family association, which tracks the descendants of John and Priscilla Poole. Their log cabin, built in the 1700s, still exists in Poolesville today under the care of the Historic Medley District. The family association holds annual reunions and maintains the family genealogy, which is published every 10 years.

Above: Faculty members Tom Sipowicz (left), Laura Turowski and Karl Danso were honored for their service to the St. John’s community.

Right: Science Department Chair Brian McCarthy presented a department award to Kelli Brookshire ’16.

Academic Convocation Honors Students, Teachers On Sept. 24, the St. John’s community came together at the annual Academic Convocation to honor teachers and students for their achievements during the 2013-2014 school year.

Certificates of Achievement with Distinction were awarded to 245 sophomores, juniors and seniors for receiving a 3.6 GPA with no grade lower than a B for the 2013-2014 school year. Of that group, 62 students also received the San Miguel Febres Cordero Award for earning straight As. Each academic department also presented individual awards to outstanding students in the classes of 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Four students were presented with special awards for their academic work. Max Wade ’15 received the Dartmouth Book Award, Will Golding ’15 received the George Washington University Medal, Rachel Alexander ’15 received the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Award and Maggie Wood ’15 received the Wellesley Book Award.

St. John’s also recognized three teachers for their service to the school. English teacher Karl Danso and Head Librarian Laura Turowski were chosen by their peers to receive the Gasser Award, presented each year to two teachers who serve as Christian role models for the students and support the school’s philosophy and objectives. Coordinator of Mission and Ministry Tom Sipowicz received the Distinguished Lasallian Educator Award, presented annually to a teacher who embodies the Lasallian ideals.

In addition to the awards presentation, the Academic Convocation included a ceremony welcoming five seniors and 117 juniors to St. John’s Archbishop Hannan Chapter of the National Honor Society.

St. John’s College High School 3

DECEMBER 4-6, 2014

Life at St. John’s

4,000 Visitors In One Day – How the St. John’s Community Comes Together To Host the Admissions Open House On Oct. 26, approximately 4,000 people flooded the halls at St. John’s during a three-hour time span. They were here to attend the Admissions Open House, an annual event that welcomes prospective students and families to campus to learn more about the school and get a sense of the community spirit that is such an important part of the St. John’s experience.

There is no better example of that community spirit than this event. On a Sunday, hundreds of student and parent volunteers give up their day to join St. John’s teachers, coaches and staff at this event. Although the event typically runs from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., volunteers arrive at 9 a.m. and often stay past 3 p.m. to help prepare campus for school the next day.

Students give individual tours of campus to each family in attendance, sharing their own personal experience with the school. They also staff tables representing the more than 40 clubs and activities St. John’s offers its students. The SJC faculty and staff give presentations throughout the day and each department has multiple representatives available to speak with prospective students and parents about St. John’s curriculum, technology and specialized programs. The Admissions Office in particular spends months planning the day and organizing all of the volunteer efforts required to keep the event running smoothly. Coaches from every sport are present to speak with athletes about their programs and about St. John’s great athletic tradition.

St. John’s parent organizations also provide a tremendous amount of support for the Open House. Members of the Mothers’ Club and Men of St. John’s volunteer at numerous events throughout the school year; however, at Open House they provide not only manpower, but also a personal perspective on the school that they can share with visiting families.

Members of the Mothers’ Club serve as ambassadors of the school at Open 6 Scarlet & Grey Winter 2015

St. John’s welcomed approximately 4,000 visitors to campus during this year’s Open House.

House, which is directly in line with their mission is to “support the school, administration and student body in the spiritual, academic, ethical, charitable, athletic and artistic development of young men and women and to foster the excellent standards of the school.” Since 1928, its members have assisted the school as needed, and at Open House they serve as greeters, register attendees, provide general information and answer questions about the parent experience. There’s even a mother on each shuttle bus from the satellite parking lots to answer questions before attendees arrive on campus!

“One of the greatest treasures we have within the Mothers’ Club is people’s willingness to give of their time, their creativity and their enthusiasm to exemplify all that makes SJC a family, and not just a school. More than 75 of our mothers welcomed the attendees and shared their own personal experiences. As always, we appreciate the support of all of our volunteers and feel confident that their efforts will encourage these families to join SJC and become the Class of 2019!” said Audrey Greening, Mothers’ Club president.

The Men of St. John’s, established in 1947, is composed of fathers and other male relatives of St. John’s students, and their mission is simple: they “make good things happen.” At Open House, they fulfill this mission by providing logistical support throughout the day. MOSJ members drive the shuttle buses, manage

parking and keep people flowing through the school, primarily for the continuous chapel information sessions, the day’s most popular event. These men handle any logistical situation that arises during the day in order to allow the SJC faculty and staff to focus solely on providing a meaningful experience for prospective families.

“I think our most important job at Open House, and at other SJC events, is to welcome people. The Men of St. John’s are often the first people these visitors meet, and we want to let these families know they are already part of the St. John’s community from the very first moment they set foot on campus. It also gives us a chance to share with them how we feel about the community and culture of the school,” said Riaz Latifullah ’74, Men of St. John’s president.

Both organizations have a long tradition of supporting the school, and many parents continue to help at Open House and other events long after their children have graduated. “Without these parent volunteers, this level of success for our Open House would not be possible,” said St. John’s President Jeff Mancabelli. “They are truly the best ambassadors for visiting families - they know the school well, and they understand what is involved in selecting the best school for their child.

By sharing their own experiences, they can help these prospective parents and students discover why St. John’s is the right fit for them.”

ST. JOHN’S CADET CORPS A BRIEF HISTORY

St. John’s College High School 7

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or 100 years, St. John’s Cadet Corps has been forging young people into leaders. The school’s military program has provided training to generations of cadets who have gone on to become leaders in business, philanthropy, the clergy and the armed forces. The Cadet Corps’ commitment to honor, integrity and excellence forms an essential part of St. John’s foundation.

Military training was first introduced to the school’s curriculum through the efforts of Bro. Elzear Alfred, FSC, who obtained permission to build a military program at St. John’s in 1915. Under Section 55-C of the National Defense Act of 1916, government aid was established to offer military instruction at 100 schools across the country. St. John’s was chosen as the first private school to participate in Washington, DC, and was one of only four Catholic schools among the initial participants.

Army officers were assigned to supervise these programs at each school, and Major John Dapray became St. John’s first professor of military science and tactics on Dec. 30, 1915.

Gonzaga later joined the program and shared Dapray’s services with St. John’s. Upon accepting this detail, Dapray praised St. John’s in a letter to the adjutant general of the U.S. Army. “I have personally examined into the status of St. John’s College and the conditions under which instruction in military

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science and tactics will be conducted there, and I believe that the institution will prove to be a valuable asset to the Federal Government in the matter of progressive and needed military instruction of students.”

Initially, the program was called the Royal Officers’ Training Corps of St. John’s College and enrolled 180 boys. Its stated purpose was to prepare students for entrance to the military academies or for direct appointments in the armed forces.

From its inception, the Cadet Corps was recognized as an outstanding military unit, receiving the War Department’s highest ranking year after year upon their annual inspection.

In 1946, inspectors from the War Department recommended that the Cadet Corps be recognized as a Junior Reserved Officers Training Corps (JROTC).

The program was mandatory for all St. John’s students for more than 75 years. The first cadets were divided into three companies and led by a staff of student officers. The highestranking student position was cadet commander, and the young men chosen for that role served as leaders for the entire student body. The title was later changed to cadet colonel, and Emory Turner ’20 became the first of many to hold that important position at St. John’s. As the school revamped its curriculum and expanded its student body, the corps swelled to five companies. It was reorganized into a regiment in 1934, and then increased to a three battalion-sized corps when St. John’s moved to the Military Road campus in 1959. Today the Cadet Corps is organized into two battalions and the Regimental Band.

The cadet uniform has been a touchstone for generations of St. John’s alumni. The first uniform was adopted in February 1916, and it made its public debut at the city’s Flag Day Parade that June. The cadets continued to wear the basic military uniform until 1922. In 1923, the school adopted a new uniform in “West Point grey,” which was changed to the “scarlet and grey” uniform in 1929. That uniform remained active until 1979, when it was changed to Army green. In 2013, the Department of the Army rolled out a new look for all JROTC programs, which is based on the Army’s dress blue uniforms. St. John’s current cadets keep up the tradition of wearing their uniform every school day, even though the national JROTC program only requires students to wear their uniform one day each week.

Within the Cadet Corps are a number of specialized groups. The corps held its first internal rifle competition in 1917, sponsored by the National Rifle Association, and the rifle team has remained a competitive presence throughout the years. St. John’s honor guard made its first appearance in 1919 at the Pan American Mass at St. Patrick’s Church on Thanksgiving Day. Today the Cadet Corps includes a color guard, drill team, rifle team and Raiders team.

The Regimental Band is another important part of St. John’s military program. Initially organized as a drum and bugle corps, these musicians made their first public appearance in the inauguration parade for President Woodrow Wilson in 1917; their performance was so well received that is started a tradition of

Save the date!

On Nov. 6, St. John’s will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its Cadet Corps.

This special event is expected to be the largest gathering of alumni in school history. To learn more, visit www.stjohnschs. org/cadetcentennial.

St. John’s attendance at presidential inaugurations. The regiment most recently appeared at the 55th inauguration for President George W. Bush in 2005. The full marching band was established in 1934, and today that musical tradition continues with St. John’s newest students.

St. John’s military instructors have a long tradition of excellence and have served as strong role models for their cadets. The War Department proposed the removal of the Army officers from the Washington, DC, schools in 1925, but a persuasive letter from Bro. Alfred to President Calvin Coolidge held off their removal until 1951. The Defense Department finally withdrew its officers that year, and since then St. John’s has maintained its military instructors independently. Today the program is run by CSM John McConnell (Ret.) of the U.S. Army.

Thousands of St. John’s cadets have gone on to serve in the armed forces. During World War II alone, more than 2,000 St. John’s graduates fought for their country; 21 of those cadets made the ultimate sacrifice in that conflict. The Cadet Corps is also distinguished by the high number of graduates who have attended the nation’s service academies. In 1960, three former cadets were among the first graduating class at the U.S. Air Force Academy. That same year, 17 St. John’s graduates were enrolled at West Point, the largest number from any one high school in the country.

In 1991, St. John’s made the decision to become coeducational and to make the JROTC program elective. As girls were welcomed to the school, they were also welcomed into the Cadet Corps. It wasn’t long before the school saw its first female Cadet Colonel, Lindsey Wilkes LoPresti ’98.

Today, approximately 25 percent of the student body participates in JROTC. St. John’s military program continues to motivate students to become better citizens and to develop self-confidence and discipline, helping to build a new generation of leaders who will make a difference at St. John’s and beyond.

St. John’s College High School 11

Sports at St. John’s

Fall 2014 Sports In Review The football team opened the 2014 season with a huge statement game, traveling to Florida to take on IMG Academy, a team ranked #1 during the 2014 season that finished with a 10-1 record. The Cadets dominated the Ascenders from the outset, securing the “Under Armour Bowl” shield by forcing multiple turnovers and winning the game 35-2. After starting off 4-0, the Cadets had three consecutive games go into overtime: SJC defeated O’Connell, but lost to eventual WCAC champion DeMatha and #1 ranked Good Counsel. The Cadet defense finished the season ranked #1 in the WCAC, three players earned All-Met honors and 10 earned All-WCAC honors.

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Under the guidance of WCAC Coach of the Year Corey Samperton, in her first season with the Cadets, St. John’s field hockey team had one of their best seasons to date. Lead by first-team all-WCAC members Rachel Egan ’15 and Allie Heyl ’17, the Cadets faced off against the area’s best programs, proving they could play with the best and putting the program on the map. One of the season’s most memorable moments was defeating local powerhouse, and long-time rival, Holy Cross in the WCAC semifinals to advance to the WCAC championship for the first time in school history. After a hard-fought 2-1 game, the Cadets took home the second place trophy, with their eyes on playing for the championship again in 2015.

Cross country finished their season with a strong showing at the Maryland/ DC private school championships, where most individuals on the team ran season-best times. In September, competing as the only high school team in the event, SJC’s runners finished 33rd out of the 347 teams that completed the 200-mile DC Ragnar Relay. The girls’ varsity team also brought home a third place plaque during September’s Landon Invitational. Both the boys and girls joined forces with Rock Creek Conservancy in Novem-

ber for an afternoon of service work in Rock Creek Park. Helping take care of the park, where they run nearly every day during the season, made the work particularly rewarding.

The girls’ soccer team, led by WCAC Player of the Year Sammie Scaffidi ’15, finished fifth in the WCAC standings and was runner-up for the DC state championship. Highlights of the year include a close win against Maret in the DC state semifinals, as well as the incredible effort left on the field in the DC championship game against NCS. The volleyball team, with an almost entirely new roster from last season, finished their 2014 season with their second-consecutive DC state championship, sweeping Maret in the final round.

St. John’s is the only team to have won the DC state title for volleyball, now in its second year.

Boys’ soccer focused on building a foundation for sustained success and team camaraderie under first-year coach Jason Herrick. Kevin Sawyer ’15 capped a strong career at SJC by earning first team all-WCAC honors. One of the season’s highlights was an upset 1-0 win over O’Connell in front of a lively SJC home crowd. After an impressive 8-0 win over Carroll in a WCAC tournament play-in game, the season ultimately ended in a loss to Paul VI in the quarterfinals.

Girls’ tennis continued their winning tradition, capturing a fourth-consecutive WCAC title, their eighth in nine years.

The Cadets finished the season 8-1, undefeated yet again in conference play.

St. John’s crew had a strong and productive season. The boys’ varsity had its highest finish ever at the Head of the Potomac regatta, finishing in second place and just missing out on its first gold medal. The team improved both their technical capacity and their strength and conditioning. Overall, the improvements made in all boat categories at the four fall regattas have helped prepare the team well for its more competitive spring racing season.

Sports at St. John’s

St. John’s College High School 13

Sports at St. John’s

fall 2014 ATHLETIC HONORS INDIVIDUAL

• Lena Washington ’15 (Volleyball) All-Tournament at Raider Rumble, DCSAA Most Valuable Player, Most Outstanding Player for the DCSAA Tournament

ALL-MET

First Team • Eric Assoua ’15 (Football) • Sammie Scaffidi ’15 (Soccer) Honorable Mention • Rachel Alexander ’15 (Soccer) • Terrell Hall ’16 (Football) • Ayron Monroe ’15 (Football) • Lena Washington ’15 (Volleyball)

ALL-WCAC

Coach of the Year • Corey Samperton (Field Hockey) Player of the Year • Sammie Scaffidi ’15 (Soccer) First Team • Eric Assoua ’15 (Football) • Rachel Egan ’15 (Field Hockey) • Terrell Hall ’16 (Football) • Allie Heyl ’17 (Field Hockey) • Will Jackson ’15 (Football) • Ayron Monroe ’15 (Football) • Kevin Sawyer ’15 (Soccer) • Sammie Scaffidi ’15 (Soccer) • Lena Washington ’15 (Volleyball) • Scotty Washington ’15 (Football) Second Team • Rachel Alexander ’15 (Soccer) • Omar Garcia ’15 (Football) • Noel Hijazi ’16 (Football) • Carly Latessa ’16 (Field Hockey) • Nick Manolatos ’16 (Soccer) • Mitch Mona ’15 (Football) • Ashley Ventura ’17 (Soccer) • Gena Witt ’17 (Field Hockey)

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Ayron Monroe ’15 was selected to play in the 2015 Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl, hosted by the Marine Corps Recruiting Command. The bowl was held in Carson, CA, on Jan. 4.

Third Team • Rebecca Frye ’18 (Volleyball) • Aaron Hansford ’16 (Football) • Daniel Jeffrey ’16 (Football) Honorable Mention • Karen Aye ’15 (Soccer) • Kelli Brookshire ’16 (Volleyball) • Makela Davidson ’15 (Soccer) • John Dour ’16 (Soccer) • Jasmine Graves ’15 (Field Hockey) • William Greening ’16 (Soccer) • Josie Iapalucci ’15 (Volleyball) • Xavier Johnson ’15 (Volleyball) • Rory Latifullah ’18 (Soccer) • K.P. Rurka ’16 (Field Hockey) • Maggie Scott ’16 (Field Hockey) • Grace Walsh ’18 (Soccer) • Katie Wright ’16 (Field Hockey)

Equestrian Team Takes the Reins This fall, the equestrian team competed in two horse shows with the Interschool Horse Show Series (ISHS) in the Junior Varsity Division; this is only St. John’s second year competing in the ISHS. In October, Antoinette Centanni ’17 and Amalia Grobbel ’18 rode at Oatlands Stable in Brookeville, MD. In November, both riders showed at Nothing Fancy Farm in Poolesville, MD. Centanni placed at both shows.

Sports at St. John’s

BOBBY HORSEY HEAD BOYS’ LACROSSE COACH SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER

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t St. John’s, Bobby Horsey focuses on development – developing his players as head coach of the boys’ lacrosse program, and developing his students as a social studies teacher. On the field and in the classroom, Horsey emphasizes preparation, planning and progression to the next level, lessons that will serve his students and athletes well.

Horsey has enjoyed a stellar athletic career. Growing up in West Chester, PA, he excelled in basketball, football and lacrosse at West Chester East High School. He was selected as an All-American for lacrosse and received a scholarship to Loyola College (now Loyola University), where he started as a freshman and helped his team make the NCAA Final Four. As a senior, Horsey captained the team and received the Mohler Award, presented to the university’s most outstanding male athlete.

While completing his degree in elementary education, Horsey began interning at McDonogh School. He spent two years there as a substitute teacher and teacher’s assistant in the lower school, then went on to teach seventh-grade history and coach multiple sports over the next four years. After moving to Washington, DC, Horsey joined the faculty at

Landon School, where he taught fourth grade and served as an assistant coach for the boys’ varsity lacrosse team.

Six years later, Horsey was ready to take the next step. He moved on to St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, where he served as associate director of admissions, head boys’ lacrosse coach and director of the boys’ lacrosse camp. He also stayed involved in student life as associate director of the International Student Program and moderator of the Lion’s Den spirit club.

Throughout his career, Horsey has also coached for club teams and run lacrosse camps and clinics. For the last eight years, he’s been involved with Performance Lacrosse, a club team for public school athletes; Horsey was one of the organization’s first coaches, and he currently works with their eighth-grade team. Lacrosse is one of the fastest-growing youth sports, and there aren’t enough coaches to keep up with the demand. It’s important to Horsey that the sport continues to grow, so Performance Lacrosse also runs adult clinics to help recruit and train new coaches.

In addition to teaching and coaching, Horsey played professional lacrosse for 10 years. He spent seven seasons with Major League Lacrosse and five seasons with the National Lacrosse League. He also represented his country on the US men’s national indoor lacrosse team and played in the 2007 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Last spring, Horsey accepted a position as St. John’s head boys’ lacrosse coach. He also teaches US History for sophomores and US Government for juniors and seniors, and he’s enjoyed the new challenges of working with upperclassmen and incorporating the iPad program into his curriculum. “I try to make it a good mix of cooperative learning and college preparation. I really enjoy how fun and interactive it is to connect with the students through the iPad technology.” His career has given him the opportunity to work with students across a variety of age ranges, which he said has helped him as both a teacher and coach. “The most important thing is getting to know the whole child, whether that’s a 10-year-old or a teenager. It has given me a wide range of experience with their development and made me a more diverse teacher and coach.”

Teaching in the classroom and working with his players during the offseason has laid a good foundation for the team’s success this spring, and Horsey looks forward to continuing to develop his team as the year goes on. “It’s never been about wins and losses for me, but about player development. It’s about helping the kids get the same experiences that I had through the sport. It really opened up a lot of doors for me and expanded my horizons.”

St. John’s College High School 15

Sports at St. John’s

Lena Washington

Amari Carter

From left: Zach Hahn, Andrew Martin, Riley Owens, Maggie Williams, Nate Williams, Gerald Flood and Mitch Mona

From left: Ryan Wanner, A.J. Lee, Brian Tagoe and Brett Simon

St. John’s Cadets Commit to College Athletics This fall, the Class of 2015 had 13 members sign letters of intent to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. St. John’s is proud of these outstanding student-athletes from the baseball, basketball, lacrosse and volleyball programs. Congratulations to:

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• Amari Carter (Basketball) – Pennsylvania State University • Gerald Flood (Lacrosse) – Hobart and William Smith Colleges • Zach Hahn (Lacrosse) – Belmont Abbey College • A.J. Lee (Baseball) – University of Maryland • Andrew Martin (Lacrosse) – Limestone College • Mitch Mona (Lacrosse) – United States Naval Academy

• Riley Owens (Lacrosse) – Wagner College • Brett Simon (Baseball) – La Salle University • Brian Tagoe (Baseball) – La Salle University • Ryan Wanner (Baseball) – La Salle University • Maggie Williams (Lacrosse) – High Point University • Nate Williams (Lacrosse) – University of Delaware • Lena Washington (Volleyball) Hampton University

Sports at St. John’s

Volleyball Repeats as DCSAA Champions In the fall of 2013, St. John’s volleyball won the inaugural DC state championship, sweeping Sidwell Friends School in the finals. However, repeating as champions in 2014 would be no easy task, as the Cadets had to replace many of the past season’s starting lineup. Early in the season, a young and inexperienced team with injuries to key players experienced some growing pains. That adversity would prove to be an asset to the team in the long run, as it allowed young players to gain valuable experience.

As the season unfolded, the team began to find its identity. In November, the team was healthy and ready to compete at the DC state championship tournament. With Jeanne Westney ’16

returning from injury, stellar contributions from Lena Washington ’15 and improved play from Kelli Brookshire ’16 and Rebecca Frye ’18, the team was finally able to reach its true potential.

The Cadets entered the DC State Athletic Association tournament as the #5 seed. After wins against Cesar Chavez Public Charter School and Georgetown Day School, St. John’s was faced with a matchup against #1 overall seed and heavy favorite Washington International School (WIS). SJC stunned the tournament favorites, sweeping WIS 25-19, 25-1, 25-13 to advance to the finals and earning a chance to defend their title.

In the finals, the Cadets controlled the play from the outset, sweeping Maret School 25-13, 25-15, 25-11.

Washington was outstanding, compiling 13 kills, seven blocks and 11 digs

on her way to earning tournament MVP. Westney also offered significant contributions with 10 kills and six blocks.

“The regular season was frustrating for everyone, (but) the girls kept coming to practice every day and working hard,” said Head Coach Bill Pribac. “It was nice to see everything come together for them and for them to finish the season with a championship.”

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Sports at St. John’s

COREY SAMPERTON HEAD FIELD HOCKEY COACH ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS

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his fall, new Head Field Hockey Coach Corey Samperton kicked off her career at St. John’s with a bang. She led her team to the WCAC championship for the first time in school history, an amazing success for the program. They ended the season with a record of 10-6-1, eight players received All-WCAC honors and Samperton was selected as WCAC Coach of the Year.

“The season was unbelievable. There was such a high energy from the moment I got here, and that carried through the season. They exceeded every challenge I put in front of them, and it was just amazing to be a part of this team.”

Although Samperton has only been coaching for six years, she has a lifetime of experience in athletics. A Washington, DC, native, she attended Stone Ridge from kindergarten through eighth grade. During that time she became involved with a wide variety of sports, including ice hockey, soccer and figure skating. She started playing lacrosse in second grade and field hockey in fifth grade, and as she got older those sports became her primary focus.

Samperton attended Georgetown Visitation for her first three years of high school and transferred to St. Stephen’s

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and St. Agnes School for her final year. Both have strong field hockey and girls’ lacrosse programs, and Samperton said she benefited from the competitive level of play and experienced coaching staffs at both schools.

She received a full scholarship to play lacrosse for Notre Dame University. Samperton started as both a freshman and sophomore, but a back injury sidelined her for the last two years.

She chose to give up her scholarship and focused on her major, film and television, but still stayed involved with the sport.

After graduation, she moved to Chicago and worked in radio, film and television for three years. Although she enjoyed the work, she knew it wasn’t going to be her long-term career. Samperton moved back to the DC area in 2008 to be near her family, where she planned to begin a career in education.

That year she took on her first coaching position, filling in with the Jackals, a field hockey club team, and working with their U14 and U16 teams. She enjoyed the experience so much that she stayed on for the entire season. At the same time, Samperton began coaching the STARS, a club lacrosse team for girls in grades 6-8. In 2009, she was offered a part-time position as the assistant athletic director at Holy Cross. By her second year, Samperton was a full-time employee, co-coach for the lacrosse team and a volunteer coach for the field hockey program.

“I had a passion for coaching, and you learn that hands on. I never thought that I would love coaching, after playing for so long, but I really loved being on the field and talking through the game. And I think that if you love what you do, you become good at it.”

In June 2014, she joined St. John’s as the administrative assistant for student affairs, head field hockey coach and JV girls’ lacrosse coach. Samperton attributes the fall’s success to her players, who spent last summer working out with St. John’s performance trainers twice a week and attending additional voluntary practices to hone their skills.

Next year’s team looks to be just as strong, and Samperton looks forward to showing the WCAC what they can do. She said her expectation from the beginning of this season was for the team to win a WCAC championship, and that’s the same expectation she has for next year. “My philosophy is that if you put in the hard work and dedication, you can achieve anything. These girls have had a taste of success, and they’ve set a new standard for our program.

We have so much to build upon, and I really am excited to see what we do next year.”

Sports at St. John’s

Girls’ Tennis Continues Championship Streak St. John’s girls’ tennis knows what success feels like. They have now won four consecutive WCAC titles and eight overall in the past nine years. A model of competitive greatness, the Cadets dominated the 2014 WCAC championship event, compiling 43 points to seal the victory. Bishop O’Connell and Holy Cross finished second and third with 19 and 15 points, respectively.

The Cadets rolled through the competition in the regular season, finishing WCAC play with a record of 8-0, all of the victories in dominating fashion.

SJC’s lone blemish on the year came in an out-of-conference loss to National Cathedral School (6-3).

Entering the WCAC championship event at Olney Manor Recreational Park, the Cadets were focused on the task at hand. So focused, in fact, that when

Milan Graves ’15 and Chloe Henderson ’16 won their #2 doubles event, guaranteeing a fourth-straight conference title, there was no celebration.

The competitors were ready for their next match.

“It was a tactic to keep us hungry.

We’ve been so successful that I wanted us to keep that edge,” Head Coach Merritt Johnson told The Washington Post. “I didn’t want them to get complacent.”

St. John’s would not settle for complacency. The Cadets took five of the six singles final matches and one of the two doubles final matches in which they competed.

For Stephanie Miller ’15 and the rest of the senior class, capping off their career at St. John’s with a championship was a special moment. “It’s been stressful because we’re the team that is always expected to win,” said Miller.

“But it meant a lot to win (the WCAC

championship) all four years, because it was never given to us. It took us coming together as a team and building team chemistry, so it was special to finish with four championships under the belt.”

St. John’s College High School 19

Alumni Action

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6 1. The 1964 Football Team 2. Kevin Plank’ 90 3. Dave Obal ‘73, Michelle Deville ‘94, Kevin Ricca ‘94, Peter Haley, Jon Desler ‘90, Coach Marie Williams and Patti Hite 4. Kevin Ricca ‘94 5. Michelle Deville ‘94 6. Jon Desler ’90

20 Scarlet & Grey Winter 2015

Alumni Action

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Athletic Hall of Fame Welcomes the Class of 2014

7. Dave Obal ‘73 8. Bobby Jones ’71 wasn’t able to attend the ceremony, but his sister, Patti Hite, and cousin, Pat Ricker ’77, spoke on his behalf. They are pictured with St. John’s President Jeff Mancabelli. 9. The 1989 Football Team 10. Coach Marie Williams 11. Peter Haley spoke on behalf of his father, Peter Haley ‘76, who was inducted posthumously.

On Nov. 7, St. John’s Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed seven individuals and two teams to the ranks of the school’s elite athletes.

The 2014 inductees included six former Cadets, one coach and two football teams. The school was proud to welcome Bobby Jones ’71, Dave Obal ’73, Peter Haley ’76, Jon Desler ’90, Michelle Deville ’94, Kevin Ricca ’94, Marie Williams and both the 1964 and 1989 football teams to the Athletic Hall of Fame and to celebrate their accomplishments, both at St. John’s and beyond.

For a full listing of the Athletic Hall of Fame members, visit www.stjohnschs.org/halloffame.

St. John’s College High School 21

Alumni Action

On Sept. 6, the Class of 1986 gathered at St. John’s first home football game to dedicate the Maj. Clifford L. Patterson, Jr. ’86 Scholarship.

Cadets At Large:

The Class of 1986 In 2014, St. John’s Class of 1986 organized a remarkable contribution to the school in the name of their late classmate, Maj. Clifford L. Patterson, Jr. In the past year, they approached St. John’s with a plan to dedicate a scholarship and a permanent touchstone on campus in Patterson’s honor. The school welcomed the idea and helped guide the project.

Together, the class raised enough funds to create a fully endowed scholarship and awarded it to the very first recipient, Devante Brooks ’16, last spring for the 2014-15 school year.

Patterson graduated from St. John’s in excellent academic and athletic standing.

He demonstrated leadership as a captain of the football team and a member of JROTC, where his military career began.

He was recognized as a Distinguished Military Graduate at Howard University, and he rose to the rank of major when he was assigned to serve in the Pentagon.

Then, Patterson and 124 other people 22 Scarlet & Grey Winter 2015

died in the Pentagon during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. He left behind his wife, Col. Tamatha Patterson, and his two sons, Cody and Leon. He was 33 years old. Patterson dedicated his life to honor, brotherhood and service, which all began with his time at St. John’s.

“What are we doing for Cliff?” Every class reunion included this question.

The school initially honored Patterson by hosting his family at the Regimental Ball in 2001, which was dedicated to Patterson’s memory, but class president Mike Tropea recognized his classmates’ desire to create a permanent memorial.

As a school with a rich military history and many alumni who have served their country, memorializing a particular Cadet would require the initiative of his classmates, family and friends. Led by the Class of 1986, and with the support of St. John’s development staff, an alumni committee was created.

“People got real about it [a scholarship], it was no longer a rogue idea. It

had a home,” explained Tropea. The committee prioritized the development of an endowment in Patterson’s name.

The Maj. Clifford L. Patterson, Jr. ’86 Scholarship was born. More than 40 classmates contributed to the endowment, and they have all pledged to continue

The Class of 1986 also installed a touchstone in Patterson’s honor at the players’ entrance to Fernandez Stadium.

Alumni Action

their contributions over the years. “Everybody participated, set goals with deadlines and surpassed expectations,” said Tropea. “It was a group effort from the core nucleus of the diverse Class of 1986.

It demonstrated what it means to be a Cadet.” The scholarship will be awarded to a deserving sophomore who has demonstrated academic excellence and leadership in a team sport, with preference given to a member of JROTC. The committee awarded the first scholarship to Brooks, an outstanding student, a member of the JROTC program and a varsity football player who has already committed to the University of Tennessee. He received the award at the JROTC’s Pass and Review Ceremony in May, and Brooks will continue to receive the scholarship for the remainder of his St. John’s career.

On Sept. 6, the Class of 1986 held a mini-reunion at the first home football game. They held a dedication ceremony before the contest, during which a game football was presented to Patterson’s son and the color guard from Howard University presented the colors. Thirtyfour classmates wore red polos with a logo honoring Patterson that includes the Pentagon, St. John’s colors and the number 42, which was his SJC football jersey number. The touchstone, imprinted with the number 42, stands at the players’ entrance to Fernandez Stadium.

“We’re not finished yet,” said Keith O’Donnell ’86. “The process of developing the endowment fund provided two specific, long-term goals. First, the plan is to increase the value of the scholarship each year, doubling if not tripling the current value, calculating up to be one of the largest scholarship offerings at St. John’s. Next, this process and the desire to memorialize Cliff grew into a need to permanently memorialize all Cadets that have served. Why honor just Cliff ? Why not honor all of our servicemen?” During the process of creating this endowment for Patterson, O’Donnell recognized a need for St. John’s, a school with a strong military history, to have a visible, permanent memorial for those Cadets who have made

Top left and right: Cliff Patterson ’86 was a member of St. John’s Cadet Corps and a captain of the varsity football team. Bottom: St. John’s was honored to have Patterson’s family attend the dedication. From left: Renee Montgomery, Sandra Wheeler Patterson, Marcus Patterson, Tamatha Patterson and Benjamin Cody Patterson.

the ultimate sacrifice. In addition to the endowment, the Class of 1986 has made it a long-term goal to recognize those Cadets who have served our country.

Supporting the larger goal of military recognition at St. John’s is important to the Class of 1986 because it was important to Patterson.

In organizing the scholarship and creating future plans in Patterson’s name, graduates from the Class of 1986 reconnected with one another, with the school and with the memory of their friend and classmate. “Cliff was a connector. He could float in between groups. He touched people. He welcomed you with an infectious smile,” remembered O’Donnell.

“The greatest tribute to Cliff is the number and diversity of the classmates who reconnected to remember him.”

“No words can express how grateful I am to the Class of 1986 for implementing a permanent memorial in honor of my late husband,” said Tamatha Patterson. “I am very thankful that Cliff’s high school peers thought enough of him to organize and execute such a wonderful expression of love. The memorial made me realize the impact Cliff had on so many lives. Those who had the pleasure of meeting Cliff knew that he was a hardworking, dependable and loving person with a warm spirit. I am thrilled that his memory will forever be a part of the St. John community. I hope it serves as an inspiration to all and sparks each person to a higher calling of excellence and service. God Bless the Class of 1986 and St. John’s College High School.”

St. John’s College High School 23

Alumni Action

John Magnolia ’66 (second from left) has been a sponsor and player in each of the first three Dillon tournaments. He is pictured with Bob Folliard, Jon DeBuchanne and Joe Wolf.

Matt Dillon Golf Tournament Supports Cadet Athletics On Sept. 7, St. John’s alumni came together for the third annual Matt Dillon Golf Tournament at Ocean City Golf Club in Berlin, MD. The tournament was established to honor Matt Dillon ’69, who passed away in 2011, as well as to help reunite St. John’s alumni with friends, family and teammates. Dil-

Ron Serabian ’69 (second from left) is a Dillon committee member and sponsor, and this year he hosted Sunday brunch for all of the golfers. He is pictured with Alfi Bruno ’70, Joe McNamara ’70 and Pete McNamara ’74.

lon was a strong supporter of the SJC football and baseball programs, and the proceeds from this event are donated back to the school to support these teams. This year’s event raised $9,000 for the Cadet football program and $6,000 for St. John’s baseball program.

“The Matt Dillon Golf Tournament is a perfect example of the commitment St. John’s alumni have to the school and to each other. The effort put forth

by this committee to keep the memory of Matt Dillon alive is a testament to the strength of the lifelong friendships formed here. The St. John’s baseball program is proud to be associated with such a great endeavor,” said Mark Gibbs ’96, head coach for St. John’s varsity baseball team.

The 2015 tournament will be held during the weekend of Sept. 11-13.

For more information, visit www.mattdillongolf.com.

De La Salle Legacy Society St. John’s is blessed by the philanthropy of its alumni, families and friends. Their generosity ensures that the school remains a leader in Catholic education while also providing for St. John’s future through a robust endowment and state-of-the-art facilities.

“My husband and I are grateful that our sons were able to attend St. John’s College High School and be educated in the Lasallian tradition. I want to make it possible for other families to choose St. John’s and enable their children to have the same opportunities in the future.”

–Mary Ellen Hrutka, PhD Parent 1991 and 1995, Trustee 2004-13 The De La Salle Legacy Society secures St. John’s future through planned gifts and provides another option for charitable giving. The most common type of planned gift is a bequest, but there are other opportunities that can provide income to you or to your loved ones, as well as capital gains and estate tax relief.

If you are interested in learning more about charitable trust gift annuities, retained life estates or pooled income funds, please contact Tom Veith, associate director of development, at tveith@stjohnschs.org or 202-364-0229, ext. 1078.

24 Scarlet & Grey Winter 2015

Celebrating the Life of a Legend

Coach Joe Gallagher '39

Joe Gallagher 1921–2014

J

oseph M. Gallagher, Sr. ’39 is a legend at St. John’s College High School. He was an exceptional athlete, a devoted teacher, a brilliant coach and a compassionate man who touched the minds and hearts of his students, athletes and coaches for 45 years. With his death on Sept. 15, 2014, the St. John’s community mourns the loss of an icon and remembers the man behind the legend.

Gallagher was born in Philadelphia, PA, in 1921. His father died just eight months later, and his mother decided to move back to Washington, DC, to be near her family.

He attended grade school at St. Stephen’s in Foggy Bottom and then chose to study at St. John’s because he wanted to be part of the school’s military program. He flourished at St. John’s, where he was a standout athlete.

On the football team, Gallagher played quarterback and safety.

He was a two-time team captain, and he received all-league honors as a sophomore and junior and All-Met honors as a senior. Coming into his senior year, St. John’s had lost to Gonzaga for seven consecutive years. In 1938, the teams met at Griffith Stadium in front of a crowd of 28,000 fans. Gallagher scored a touchdown and intercepted a desperation pass in the game’s final minutes to seal the Cadets’ 15-12 victory. He broke his ankle making the interception, and Gonzaga Coach Orel Mitchell came to St. John’s locker room after the contest to present the game ball to the “injured hero.”

Gallagher started for the varsity basketball team during each of his four years at St. John’s. He earned All-Met honors as a

James Anderson '66 I played JV football and basketball, but chose to focus on the latter. I was a well-respected basketball player on the streets of DC, as I was used to playing against many of the urban legends of that time. However, the first time I tried out for the varsity I was cut by Coach Gallagher. I was stunned. I felt that I was better than most of my St. John’s peers, and I probably attributed that outcome to Joe’s unfamiliarity with urban black players. Joe later shared with me that his goal was to get me to change my habits: to stop playing one-on-one street ball and focus on improving my team ball skills. And, he was absolutely right. To this day I respect him for confronting me with my shortcoming.

During my senior year, St. John’s played Mackin High School, which included two All-American players: Tom Little and Austin Carr. Austin went on to a storied career at Notre Dame and later as a pro. I ended up blocking Austin’s shot as he had a breakaway layup and we won the game. The Washington Post’s headline called it a “Fantastic block.” But what I remember most is the joy on Joe’s face as the students stormed the court. Joe hugged me and said, “I knew you would find a way to win the game for us.” It was one of his greatest wins. In retrospect, I like to think that I gave Joe something in return for the faith he had in me as a student-scholar and as a student-athlete. Joe would be so proud today, to see one of his own as a university president.

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junior and senior. During his final season, Gallagher led St. John’s to the Catholic league championship. He was named Most Valuable Player for the Star Metropolitan Tournament and recognized as an All-Tournament Player in the Eastern Catholic Tournament.

He was offered scholarships to Notre Dame, Georgetown and George Washington University. Gallagher chose George Washington, where he was a star on their basketball team and earned membership in the university’s Hall of Fame.

In his junior year of college, Gallagher enlisted in the Marine Corps. He served in the Pacific Theater during World War II and ended his military career as a captain.

His first coaching experience came with the Maui Marine Corps in 1945 – Gallagher had found his calling.

In 1946, Gallagher returned to St. John’s as a history teacher and football and basketball coach at the invitation of his former coach, Gene Augusterfer ’31. He later stepped down as head football coach and took on the role of athletic director, all the while continuing as head of the SJC basketball program.

He remained at St. John’s until his retirement in 1991.

From 1946 until 1967, Gallagher served as St. John’s head varsity football coach. His program boasted 171 wins, 11 league championships and eight city titles. He also served as St. John’s head varsity basketball coach from 1946

Joe Gallagher 1921–2014

until 1991. His final record was 870-292, and his teams earned 12 league championships and one city title. He was asked to coach the Capital City Classic three times and also served as head coach for the East Team in the McDonald’s All-American Game. During his career, Gallagher was honored as Washington Metropolitan Area Coach of the Year seven times and as Washington Catholic League Coach of the Year seven times.

Although he may be best known for his athletic roles, Gallagher also taught history throughout his time at St. John’s. He enjoyed teaching, and though he was a nononsense instructor, he forged lifelong connections with his students. One of his greatest pleasures was reading the many letters he received from his former students and players. “For 45 years, he got up and went to a job that he loved – and that was equally coaching and teaching. The greatest satisfaction he had was seeing his students and athletes become success stories later on in life,” said his son, Jay Gallagher ’74.

As both a student and faculty member, Gallagher formed deep bonds with the Christian Brothers. In fact, his son Andrew Mark Gallagher ’80 is named for Bro. Andrew and Bro. Mark, both longtime St. John’s instructors. He famously joked that while the Christian Brothers preached poverty, they wanted him to practice it. However, even though he received several offers to coach at the collegiate level during his career, Gallagher always made the choice to stay at St. John’s.

Gallagher With wife, Doris, in 1978.

Bob Talbot '55 Coach Joe Gallagher was St. John’s athletics, and my dream was to be a part of his program. I thought the 1954-55 season was one of his finest coaching successes. The football team played in Miami on a Saturday night and returned on Sunday. That Monday was the first day of basketball tryouts and practice. We had one week before the opening game. We were very new to varsity competition and what Joe expected from us, but we won that opening game against Tech 54-51.

As the season progressed, we were putting together a pretty good record (7-1). The loss was to W&L prior to Christmas break. We won seven of our next nine games, including a 20-point win over W&L. We were ranked in the top five and then we were upset by Gonzaga. We won the next eight games, including the W&L tournament and the Catholic League championship with a 17-point win over Gonzaga.

With a record of 18-6, we were selected to play in the Knights of Columbus tournament at Maryland. St. John’s won the first two rounds and lost in the final by two points to St. Ann’s of NYC. Coach Gallagher and our team had overcome the obstacles – a late start, a week of practice prior to the first game, defensive adjustments mid-season – to win two tournaments and finish as runner-up in the tournament.

It was a magical year for me. My dream of playing for Coach Gallagher came true. After the season, Joe talked to the seniors and advised me to go Catholic University to play for Coach Miggs Reilly. I followed his advice and will be forever grateful.

Coley O'Brien '65 I first met Coach Joe Gallagher in March 1962 outside the locker room at Rogers High School in Newport, RI. I was a freshman at the local Christian Brothers school, De La Salle Academy. St John’s College High School was participating in the Eastern States Catholic Invitational Tournament (ESCIT) that year in Newport. Jack Allen, the coach at De La Salle, knew Coach Gallagher and told him that my father was being transferred to the Pentagon. Coach Gallagher called and invited me to the tournament to talk to me about enrolling at St John’s when the family moved to Washington that summer. I wasn’t familiar with St. John’s, but after watching his talented Cadet team play basketball that afternoon and listening to Coach Gallagher promote St. John’s, I knew I was headed to Military Road in the fall.

One year later I was driving back to Newport with Coach Gallagher and Jay Calabrese in Lee Joy’s Cadillac to play in that same ESCIT basketball tournament.

The previous fall, our football team had won the city championship by beating Eastern High School 21-7 at RFK Stadium before 50,000 fans. My first year at St. John’s was, indeed, as exciting as Coach Gallagher had predicted.

There were so many more highs than lows under Coach Gallagher at St. John’s, including our undefeated city champion football team in 1964. His phone call in March 1962 changed my life. It gave me the opportunity to play at an outstanding high school for a Hall of Fame coach, teacher and role model, and I’ll be forever grateful.

St. John’s College High School 27

Joe Gallagher 1921–2014

Mark Pitchford '77 I was privileged to play three seasons for Coach Gallagher. The last of those, 1976-77, may have been the finest in his decades-long career. That season, Coach took what would become an SJC Hall of Fame squad to the pinnacle of local, national and international success. We won the Catholic League and DC city titles, we won a tournament in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, we were national Catholic champs and we were ranked No. 10 nationally. But I think what we and he cherished the most was beating our arch-nemesis DeMatha three times that season!

Among a multitude of memories from my three years playing for coach, two stand out. One was when a State Department representative visited the gym before our trip to Santo Domingo. The gentleman spoke broken English with a heavy Spanish accent. As he and Coach Gallagher struggled to communicate, coach screamed at him (as if he were deaf rather than a non-English speaker) “But I don’t speak Spanish...” The team was barely able to keep it together. My other memory was a technical foul that Coach Gallagher received at a critical point in the Knights of Columbus championship game against Gene Banks and his West Philly team. Let’s just say it wasn’t well-timed, but it was so Coach Gallagher. He just couldn’t let his boys get steamrolled by the “zebras.”

It’s not an overstatement to say that I enjoy the life and family that I do today because of the tutelage, mentoring and guidance of Coach Gallagher. Though it pains me to know he’s no longer with us, all I have to do is think “But I don’t speak Spanish...” and a smile crosses my face. Coach, I miss you, but I know you’re finally getting all the calls now.

Jorge Garayta '67 “If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself” was one of your sayings. I am glad that you did take care of not only yourself, but also thousands of others, and me.

The first time we spoke was after my freshman basketball season in 1964.

“Garayta, hey, do you want to work at my basketball camp this summer?” I was thrilled that MR. GALLAGHER knew my name. I accepted immediately! That conversation started a lifelong relationship. I made the varsity junior year. You went from Mr. Gallagher to COACH. I learned basketball from you, but also lots about discipline and life. Through your words and deeds, I learned what it meant to lose and to get up and try again.

After La Salle College, you hired me as an SJC freshman basketball coach.

You became JOE. I worked with you in some coaching capacity for the next 15 years. Working for you was like playing for you: not easy, but a very positive experience. Through you, I learned how to deal with parents and others. Those interactions served me well in life when I went into business.

We remained friends through the rest of your 93 years. You were always there for advice and for a lot of fun. We had great times and laughs, but being in that basketball office after practices and listening to you was like getting a Ph.D. in life. Thanks for living so long and so well, and for being such an important part of my life and my family’s life.

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He also mentored many coaches during his career. One of his most significant relationships was with Morgan Wootten, another coaching legend. Wootten started out coaching at St. Joe’s Orphanage, which is where Gallagher took note of his abilities. When a position opened up as a JV football and basketball coach in 1953, Gallagher offered Wootten the job. In his third year at St. John’s, Wootten took Gallagher’s advice and taught his first history class. “He gave me my start. He was the reason I became a teacher and a coach, because I admired him so much. I would never have accomplished any of the things I accomplished – I probably would have gone on to become a lawyer! That’s the kind of impact he had on my life,” Wootten shared.

When Wootten left St. John’s to coach basketball and football at DeMatha and serve as their athletic director, it started one of the DC area’s greatest rivalries. They were fierce competitors on the field and court, but they were also great friends who played golf and took their families on vacation together. “Joe was such a great role model for me, not just as a coach, teacher and business partner, but also as a husband. I’d go to him for advice and guidance, and he always had all the right answers. He was a tremendous inspiration,” Wootten said.

They were also business partners who started the first basketball day camp together in 1961. They started out with 24 kids at St. John’s the first year, and over the years it grew to include hundreds of players. Gallagher and Wootten ran the camp together until the early 1980s.

Joe Cardaci ’49 was another coach whose life Gallagher impacted. Cardaci entered St. John’s as a student in 1946, Gallagher’s first year working at the school. He played basketball for Gallagher, and he also played on the SJC baseball team Gallagher helped resurrect. In 1955 Cardaci returned to campus for an alumni basketball game, and he told Gallagher he’d soon be leaving the military and was looking for a job. In February, he got the call: Wootten was leaving St. John’s, and Gallagher wanted Cardaci to take his place. According to Cardaci, saying yes was a “no-brainer.”

In 1956, Cardaci started his first year as a full-time teacher and basketball, football and baseball coach. He left St. John’s to become Good Counsel’s first football and baseball coach in 1960, but Gallagher remained one of Cardaci’s mentors and the two men and their families stayed good friends throughout their lives. “In retrospect, the four best years I had were at St. John’s. He was first my teacher and my coach; then he became my mentor; and later, lastly and most importantly, he became my neighbor and my friend.”

St. John’s honored Gallagher many times during his outstanding career. In 1966 he received the President’s

Joe Gallagher 1921–2014

Tim Daly '61 and Don Roth '61 “We always called him Joe.” The recent passing of Coach Joe Gallagher causes a personal sadness, but also brings to mind many pleasant memories of our four years at St John’s. In the classroom, where he was an outstanding teacher, he was always Mr. Gallagher.

On the football field or basketball court, he was always Joe. First names only – player to coach and coach to player. This helped create a relationship that did not rely solely upon rigid discipline, but rather instilled a trust and mutual confidence between coach and player. We wanted his respect and worked hard to gain and maintain it. Thinking back to these years – we were the Class of 1961 – memories of coaches return easily. Mssrs. Dubofsky, Cardacci, Hawkins, Wootten and others are all remembered on a first-name basis and with great respect. This is the result of the sense of trust and confidence that Joe encouraged among his coaches and players.

We believe this sense of shared confidence he helped instill is one of Joe’s outstanding accomplishments as a coach. Another measure of a great coach is the success that his assistant coaches achieved in their coaching careers and lives. The accomplishments of Mush, Joe, Ralph, Morgan and others truly measures the greatness of the coach “we all called Joe.” Our personal condolences to the Gallagher family. The St. John’s community, and we personally have lost a truly great friend. We will miss you, Joe.

Grayson Marshall, Jr. '84 Coming to an all-boys military school three hours by bus and subway to be different from the others was my plan. Something I never would have done if I would not have met Coach Joe Gallagher at a metropolitan-area basketball camp pursuing a passion and a love for the game. So can I capture in words the impact a silver-haired man had on my life? I will do my best.

Coach Gallagher was an icon with a warm heart and a tenacious desire to see the best in every young man that was placed in his path. A coach, mentor, teacher, father and friend, he had the ability to be all of them in any single interaction. He was caring and yet firm, he was humble and yet confident, he understood legacy and epitomized it. He personally made sure that every aspect of my pursuit of a successful life went far beyond the gym floor. Every day was a chance to see what he was all about. A man who had basketball tenure, IQ and acumen and could have done this at any level decided to stay true to his alma mater and to the city of Washington, DC. He left an indelible impression on everyone that met him.

There is no level of recognition that would be able to truly represent the impact he had on my life and so many others, but being able to give something in writing documents his legacy, just like his life did. Thank you, sir, for giving us the opportunity to be in the movie “The Incredible Life of Joe Gallagher.” It was the role of a lifetime, and you played it like no one else could. God bless you.

St. John’s College High School 29

Joe Gallagher 1921–2014

Paul DeStefano, St. John's Teacher and Coach My professional relationship with Joe Gallagher began in 1979, when I became the athletic director/teacher/basketball coach at Mackin Catholic High School. The Catholic league meetings were a tremendous learning experience for me – listening and taking in every word of advice that Joe, Morgan Wootten (DeMatha) and Maus Collins (Carroll) shared with the other athletic directors and coaches. Joe was the leader, and he, along with Morgan and Maus, were responsible for creating and maintaining the prestige, integrity and prominence of the Catholic league.

Joe took a liking to me right away – maybe because we were neighbors, or maybe because we were both trying to beat DeMatha. Although he was an adversary on the court, I really remember Joe as a friend, neighbor and mentor. Joe and Doris lived around the corner from me, and our families were parishioners at St. Bernadette’s. Joe always went out of his way to say hi to my family. I will always remember Joe stopping his car on his way home from St. John’s to tell me about the “three-stack offense” he came up with to use against DeMatha. It took about 20 minutes to explain in the middle of the street. I’m sure you know that it worked to perfection in the game.

As a mentor, I can’t begin to tell you how much I learned from Joe. Before my teams played St. John’s, I always would read his booklet, “Winning High School Basketball,” to try to figure out what the “silver fox” had in store for us. Joe had a basketball IQ that was second to none. It was a great honor and privilege to coach at St. John’s for so many years and be a part of the tradition of excellence established by Joe Gallagher.

Medal, the school’s highest honor, and he was presented with the Most Distinguished Alumnus Medal at his retirement in 1991. Gallagher was a member of St. John’s first induction class for the Athletic Hall of Fame; to date he has coached 80 percent of its members.

Gallagher was also recognized by the greater athletic community. In 2008, he received the Morgan Wootten Lifetime Achievement Award, given annually to one boys’ and one girls’ high school coach by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2012 Gallagher was inducted into the Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2014 Wootten was on hand to present his friend with the Washington DC Touchdown Club’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Even after his retirement, Gallagher’s legacy remained unmatched at St. John’s. He nurtured his relationships with his classmates, students and players, and he continued to receive letters and calls from them regularly

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until his death. Upon his retirement, St. John’s honored Gallagher again with the dedication of Gallagher Gymnasium.

Jay said his father was especially touched that the school included a photo of his late wife, Doris, who played an important role in his success.

Although Coach Gallagher is gone, his legend will live on at St. John’s for many generations to come. He’ll be remembered as a dapper dresser, a terrible driver, a good listener, a terrific dancer and the life of every party. Most importantly, he’ll be remembered as the teacher, coach, mentor and friend who made a lasting impact on everyone around him.

“He was special. He touched lives, and he made a difference in so many lives. That’s what a teacher and a coach does, and Joe literally touched thousands and thousands of lives. I’m just another one of those lives that he touched,” Wootten said.

th e Cad et Co rps Centen n ial A Celebratio n o f Lead ersh i p 1915 –2015 F r i day, N ov e m b e r 6, 2015 JW M a r r i ot t 1331 P e nn sy lva n i a Av e n u e , NW Wa s h i n g to n , D C Celebration Chairs: Kevin ’82 and Jane Quinn

Centennial Co-Chairs: Jim Kernan ’70 and Michael Borger ’07 This historic event will commemorate the founding of St. John’s Cadet Corps in 1915 and celebrate 100 years of leaders forged by this program. It is expected to be the largest gathering of St. John’s alumni in history.

President’s Medal Recipients

Vice Admiral Manson Brown ’74 (Ret.)

General Stanley McChrystal ’72 (Ret.)

Monsignor John Enzler ’65 Mr. John Veihmeyer ’73

To watch the video and find more information about this special event, visit our website at www.stjohnschs.org/cadetcentennial or contact the Alumni and Development Office at 202-364-0229.

Photo Gallery

Class of 1959

Class of 1969

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Photo Gallery

Class of 1974

Class of 1979

St. John’s College High School 33

Photo Gallery

Class of 1984

Class of 1989

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Photo Gallery

Class of 1994

Class of 1999

St. John’s College High School 35

Photo Gallery

Class of 2004

The undefeated 1964 football team gathered at Homecoming to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their epic season.

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Photo Gallery

Homecoming Football Alumni Reunion – Oct. 18, 2014

St. John’s College High School 37

Class Notes

We want to hear from you!

Do you have news to share with the St. John’s community? We want to hear from you! Submit your class notes and pictures to classnotes@stjohnschs.org.

1950

Donald Brannon, who served in the

Korean War, recently went on a “revisit” trip as part of a program sponsored by the Korean government to thank veterans.

While on this trip, he found a special connection to St. John’s. “We visited the DMZ and all the command posts, etc. They also took us to the Korean War Veterans Memorial in honor of those who died there. Enclosed is a picture of the District of Columbia plaque and the Honor Guard that is there 24/7. You can see the names of both Jerome and Robert McGovern on the plaque.”

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1961

John Trainor was inducted into the Green

Terror Sports Hall of Fame, sponsored by the McDaniel College Alumni Association, which honors former athletes who have acquired prominence in their chosen fields and who also have made contributions to society. John started as a linebacker in football his freshman year and lettered all four years.

He was a member of the Mason-Dixon (’61, ’62, and ’63) and Middle-Atlantic (’62 and ’63) conference championship football teams. He was named Defensive Lineman of the Year in 1964 and 1965, and he earned a Little All-American honorable mention in 1965 for his performance as linebacker.

While in naval flight school after his graduation from WMC (now McDaniel), Trainor played a full college schedule with the Pensacola Goshawks. During his service as a Marine Corps Naval Aviator during the Vietnam conflict, he flew more than 800 medevac missions and was awarded 40 Air Medals and a Distinguished Flying Cross.

His squadron was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. He spent his vacations as an assistant football coach at Rhodes College in 1975 and 1976 and, with his wife Margaret, served on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Memphis for a dozen years. A retired FedEx pilot with 31 years flying all over the world, Trainor spends his time with a good book, working out at the gym, volunteering twice a month at the VA Hospital and shooting one of his 45s at the range, when he isn’t polishing or putting miles on his Harley.

1965 In addition to expanding his firm to Australia and Singapore, Bob Shea has established a strategic partnership with The Pacific Institute where he is a senior advisor.

He invites anyone interested in developing a special gift on the occasion of the class’s 50th reunion to share their thoughts and ideas at robert@sheaconsulting.com.

1976

Len Lucchi was elected to a two-year term as president of the Maryland Government Relations Association, the trade group of Annapolis lobbyists. He is a partner in

the law firm of O’Malley, Miles, Nylen & Gilmore, P.A., in Calverton, MD. Previously, he served a two-year term as president of the Greater Bowie Chamber of Commerce.

1978

In October, Tom Graham was inducted into the University of Tampa Athletic Hall of Fame. A goalkeeper for the men’s soccer team, Graham was a threeyear starter and a four-year letterman for the Spartans. He was the top goalkeeper for the 1981 team, which captured the school’s first national championship, and he was the first in school history to have a save percentage of .868 and a goals against average of .64. He is currently ranked second in career victories with 34, and he is ranked seventh for saved shots at 158. He lost only two games during his career at Tampa and won 19 games, a single-season record for the university. Graham recorded 95 saves in 1981, which ranks second in school history for the most saves in a single season.

1981

J. Mark Coulson was selected as a

US magistrate judge for the US District Court for the District of Maryland, effective Aug. 1.

James Malloy was promoted to rear admiral (RDML) in June and is now the deputy director of operations at US Central Command in Tampa, FL. This November, Karl Racine became the first-ever elected attorney general for Washington, DC.

1986

From Paul Rivas: “I am currently living in Sydney, Australia, (a minute’s walk to the beautiful crystal-clear waters of Cronulla Beach) and employed with Teachers Mutual Bank as an IT director. I completed my EMBA with the University of Sydney in 2009, I will complete my PhD in business at the University of Sydney in 2015, and I work as a part-time lecturer/teaching assistant at the school of business. I now hold an Australian/US dual citizenship, I am

Class Notes

2013

In June, shortstop Errol Robinson played in the College World Series for the University of Mississippi. There he faced off against fellow Cadet Nick Howard ’11 and the Virginia Cavaliers.

Nick Suarez is taking full advan-

Paul Rivas ’86 and his daughters

a proud father of two beautiful daughters, and I love to SURF when I can at some of Sydney’s amazing beaches. I have been living down under for 10 years and I am a true Aussie now.”

2000

Jeff Palumbo is now the recruiting

coordinator for East Carolina University’s baseball program.

2008

tage of study abroad opportunities at Elon University, where he is currently a sophomore. During the summer, Suarez traveled to Malawi.

He joined “Naturally Malawi” to create more educationally friendly classrooms, worked with children in a foster home and helped construct an orphanage. In January 2015, Nick headed to Costa Rica for a month-long program that included working on a farm reserve, helping village families in Sierpe and addressing issues of sustainability.

Top right: Members of the Class of 1955 attended classmate Charley Montalbano’s gig at JV Restaurant in Falls Church on Dec. 14.

From left: Charley Montalbano, Lou Fisher, Bill Holden and Biff Henley.

Erica Hart recently started a new job as

Bottom right: On Aug. 29, Dave Freitag ’69 and his brother, Bill ’79, attended the St. John’s football game at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. They also met up with fellow SJC grad David Queen ’78 and DeMatha grad Tony Washington at the game.

This summer, Nick Howard ’11 pitched for the Dayton Dragons, the single A minor league affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.

the casting coordinator at ABC Primetime Casting in New York City. This summer, she was featured in a photo shoot with actor Kevin Spacey for The Hollywood Reporter. The Kevin Spacey Foundation awards grants and scholarships to aspiring performing artists; Hart won a grant in 2013 to make a short film about a soldier returning from war.

2012

This December, Morgan Whyte advanced to the finals of the 50 freestyle event at the 2014 AT&T Winter National Championships. Whyte swims for the University of Delaware, where she holds the record in this event with a time of 22.70 and is the first swimmer in school history to make the finals at nationals. She also had a strong showing in the 50 freestyle at the Long Course Time Trials, finishing in third place and missing a qualifying time by just .26 seconds. She was named Colonial Athletic Association Women’s Swimmer of the Week in December.

This June, St. John’s baseball program had three former players drafted by Major League Baseball teams.

Following an appearance in the College World Series with the University of Virginia, Nick Howard ’11 was chosen by the Cincinnati Reds with the 19th pick of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft.

He spent the summer pitching for the

Dayton Dragons, the Reds’ single A affiliate, and was also selected to play in the prestigious Arizona Fall League, where he was an All-Star.

Bobby Boyd ’11 (West Virginia University) was drafted by the Houston Astros with the first pick of the eighth round. Garrett Pearson ’14 was chosen by the Baltimore Orioles in the 34th round.

St. John’s College High School 39

Condolences Our deceased alumni, faculty and friends are enrolled as perpetual members of the St. La Salle Auxiliary.

The Christian Brothers and the entire St. John’s community offer their prayers and condolences to the families and friends of those who have passed. (Includes notices received through Dec. 31, 2014.)

Alumni • • • • • • • • •

1934 1939 1939 1939 1948 1949 1950 1950 1951

Theodore Bosma Charles Batchelder Joseph Gallagher John Hewitt James Riley Stephen Lertora Vincent Callahan William Mattingly Edmund Shea

• • • • • • • • •

1953 1955 1955 1956 1957 1957 1959 1960 1968

John Ryan Charles Clements Alexander Hunt Maurice Sheehan David Carter Dennis Clark William Bridgeman Michael Anselmo Maurice Horan

• • • • • • •

1971 1973 1977 1980 1983 2002 2010

Michael Boyland Guy Tegler Greg Walsh William Burnette James Giganti Donald Reed Jabari Simmons

Family and Friends of St. John’s • Anselmo, Michael ’60, son

• •

•

•

• •

• • • •

of Michael Anselmo ’33 (deceased) and brother of Richard Anselmo ’69 Boyd, Robert Jr., father of Bobby Boyd ’11 Callahan, Vincent Jr.’ 50, father of Vincent Callahan ’73 and brother of Daniel Callahan ’48 Carrillo, Elsa, mother of Jose Carrillo ’83 and Miguel Carrillo ’91; grandmother of Jose Carrillo ’18 Conley, Michelle, mother of Denver Conley ’08, Brooke Conley ’08, Brendan Conley ’11 and Forrest Conley ’13 Dent, Alice, wife of Richard Dent ’54 DeVol, James, father of Anthony DeVol ’80, Robert DeVol ’82 and Kevin DeVol ’85; grandfather of James DeVol ’16 Dunn, Mary, mother of Daniel Dunn ’94 Eckenrode, Bro. Robert FSC, former SJC faculty Gallagher, Joseph Sr. ’39, father of Jay Gallagher ’74 and Mark Gallagher ’80 Gerner, Gregory, father of Andrew Gerner ’07

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• Giganti, James ’83, brother

•

• • •

•

•

of Vincent Giganti ’71, Robert Giganti ’72 (deceased), Brian Giganti ’74, Paul Giganti ’76, Mark Giganti ’80, John Giganti ’84 and Joseph Giganti ’90; uncle of Vincent Giganti ’04 Giganti, Patricia, mother of Vincent Giganti ’71, Robert Giganti ’72 (deceased), Brian Giganti ’74, Paul Giganti ’76, Mark Giganti ’80, James Giganti ’83 (deceased), John Giganti ’84 and Joseph Giganti ’90; grandmother of Vincent Giganti ’04 Gonella, Ashton, mother of Geoffrey Gonella ’86 Gotsch, George, father of Michael Gotsch ’75 and Thomas Gotsch ’80 Haislmaier, Florence, former SJC Mothers’ Club President (79-80); mother of Edmund Haislmaier ’76, Frederick Haislmaier ’80 and Andrew Haislmaier ’85 Hannan, Mary, wife of Timothy Hannan ’71; sisterin-law of John Hannan ’66, Steve Hannan ’68, Philip Hannan ’72 and Denis Hannan ’74 Jackson, Sylvia, mother of Alfred Jackson ’83

• MacCarthy, Anna, mother • • • •

• •

•

•

• •

of Patrick MacCarthy ’67 and Michael MacCarthy ’70 Mannina, Susan, mother of Christopher Mannina ’02 Martin, Francis, brother of George Martin ’54 Masi, Margaret, mother of Christopher Masi ’66 and Gregory Masi ’70 McGregor, Mary Grace, former SJC faculty; wife of William McGregor (deceased), former SJC faculty; mother of James McGregor ’77 Nugent, Virginia, mother of James Nugent ’75 and Brian Nugent ’78 O’Brien, Lillian, wife of Patrick O’Brien ’50; sisterin-law of Thomas O’Brien ’76 and Paul O’Brien ’56 O’Neill, Marcella, mother of John O’Neill ’74 and grandmother of Matthew O’Neill ’10 Patton, William, father of William Patton ’72 and Patrick Patton ’75; grandfather of Spencer Patton ’08, Victoria Patton ’11 and Olivia Patton ’13 Richards, Maxine, wife of Blair Richards ’41 Riley, James ’48, brother of John Riley ’46 (deceased)

Mary Grace McGregor served as executive assistant to St. John’s presidents from 1969 to 2002. “Grace McGregor was a true gift to St. John’s. She was a consummate professional, and all who came to know her knew how much she loved the school,” said St. John’s President Jeff Mancabelli.

• Ritter, James, father of Michael Ritter ’67

• Robinson, Amaya, sister of Kayla Robinson ’16

• Salah, Anton, father of • •

• • •

Michael Salah ’02 and Brian Salah ’03 Samperton, John, grandfather of Corey Samperton, SJC faculty Schempp, Leonard, father of Leonard Schempp ’65, Michael Schempp ’67, Patrick Schempp ’69 and Terrence Schempp ’73 Stojanac, Nevenka, mother of Zorica Stojanac, Adrianna Catering/SJC Staff Whitley, James Sr., father of James Whitley ’88 Wicker, Geralyn, mother of Stephen Wicker ’80

This year, St. John’s will welcome back classes ending in zero or five for their class reunions!

Spring Reunions: Class of 1965 50th Reunion – June 4-5, 2015.

Fall reunion dates will be released this spring.

Visit www.stjohnschs.org/reunions for the most up-to-date information!

St. John’s College High School 2607 Military Rd., NW Chevy Chase, DC 20015

Re n d i ti on s Gol f Cou r se CALL 202-364-0229 FOR MORE INFORMATION