S T. S EBASTIAN’S SPRING / SUMMER 2021
MAGAZINE
2020-2021 Board of Trustees Seán Cardinal O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap. Chairman William L. Burke, III P’95,’97,’00,’04, GP’23 Executive Officer, Headmaster James L. Elcock ’77, P’08 President Patrick J. Hegarty ’89, P’23 Vice President Kathleen A. Murphy P’21 Secretary David M. Calabro ’78, P’16 Treasurer Members: Rev. John M. Borders, III P’03 Casey M. Condron ’94, P’23,’24 Timothy J. Connelly P’17,’19 Barbara E. Connolly P’10,’12,’17 John G. Cox P’22,’25 Catherine C. Daniel P’15,’18,’20 Timothy P. Doherty ’87 P’17 Rev. Michael E. Drea Stephen M. DuFour P’14,’18,’21 William B. Evans ’77, P’17 Dana W. Fulham P’14,’24 John W. Hueber ’71 Kathleen F. Ix P’22 Susanne C. Joyce P’20,’23,’26 Carolyn M. Lemone P’16,’18 Shawn D. Martin P’17,’18,’19 Peter J. McLaughlin ’55, GP,’13,’19,’24 John E. McNamara ’81, P’14,’18 James F. Mooney, III P’18 Michael P. Muldowney P’12,’16,’22 Mark L. O’Friel ’79 John A. Piccione ’76 Randall P. Seidl P’17,’19 Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P. Troy L. Stanfield P’21 Kurt R. Steinkrauss ’91, P’19 Brian S. Strachan P’11,’14 Mary L. Supple P’09,’10,’15 Stephen P. Ward ’96, P’24,’25 Andrew A. Wasynczuk P’14,’17 Laurel A. Mullen P’19,’21 President, Guild of St. Irene Michael R. Frisoli P’17,’19,’21,’22,’26 President, Men’s Association Charles M. Haley ’92 President, Alumni Association Trustees Emeriti: David F. Gately ’73 J. Brad Griffith ’58, GP’19,’23
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
S T. S EBASTIAN’S M AGAZINE
FEATURES
Assistant Headmaster Michael P. Nerbonne
IN EVERY ISSUE
12 Commencement 2021
2
Headmaster’s Letter
St. Sebastian’s graduates 63 students
3
Around Campus
36 Continuity & Community
32
Event Highlights
34
Hockey Project Update
50
Fine Arts
52
Winter Sports
56
Spring Sports
60
Alumni Updates
63
Class Notes
69
In Memoriam
The Chapel Speaking Program provides our students with a vital platform to reflect during this challenging school year
40 Thank you, Mr. Cornish
David Cornish, Director of Grades 7 & 8 and English and Classics teacher, retires
44 Man on a Mission
J.B. Dowd ’86 fights cancer while working as part of Moderna’s quality assurance team to deliver its COVID-19 vaccine
Headmaster William L. Burke, III P’95,’97,’00,’04, GP’23
Director of Advancement Richard F. Arms P’14
Editor & Designer Christine Y. Robertson, Director of Communications Principal Photographer Brett Crawford, Visual Media Coordinator Contributor Michaela Chapman, Communications Associate Editorial Advisor Michael Deschenes, Director of Library & Information Services
St. Sebastian’s Magazine is published three times a year by the Communications Office. Correspondence concerning the magazine should be sent to: communications@stsebs.org St. Sebastian’s School 1191 Greendale Avenue Needham, MA 02492 781.449.5200 www.stsebs.org
36
Juan Oliva ’21 delivers his Chapel Speech
44
J.B. Dowd ’86
St. Sebastian’s School Mission Statement A Catholic independent school, St. Sebastian’s seeks to engage young men in the pursuit of truth through faith and reason. By embracing Gospel values in an inclusive, nurturing community and by inspiring intellectual excellence in a structured liberal arts curriculum, St. Sebastian’s strives to empower students for success in college and in life. The ideal St. Sebastian’s graduate will be a moral and just person, a gentleman of courage, honor, and wisdom, a life-long learner who continues to grow in his capacity to know, to love, and to serve God and neighbor.
ON THE COVER: Members of the Class of 2021 process to the Commencement Ceremony on the West Campus fields on June 10.
From the desk of the headmaster W illia m L . Bu r k e III
You have respectfully, deeply listened to one another. Return was our year’s theme, but it may well have been Unity, our theme in 2011, as the truth that we are one has been felt and honored in powerfully beautiful ways from long before Labor Day through well past Commencement. In this time of great national and global strife and stark division, we have doubled down on discerning and celebrating all that unites us as children made in the image and likeness of our gracious and loving God. Ours is a School of tremendous viewpoint diversity, and St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) has written our charge: We must love them both, those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject, for both labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in finding it. In our classroom discussions, Chapel speeches, formal meetings, and informal conversations, those who lean to the right, those who lean to the left, and those who drive it down the middle dare to share and care to listen, and we grow exponentially in knowledge and respect and unity and love. A free exchange of ideas reigns supreme; it’s a beautiful thing. I am in awe of God’s grace, of our students’ loving brotherhood, of our parents’ sacred partnership, of our faculty’s total devotion, of our staff’s selfless service, of our board’s excellent leadership, of our alumni’s loyal engagement, of our friends’ loving commitment, and of the tremendous generosity of spirit of all. By any measure, we have enjoyed a fabulously successful year. I thank God and every one of you from the depths of my soul for making your most grateful School an ever stronger, ever better, ever more loving place. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! May we connect soon and often, and may God continue to bless you and your loved ones every sacred step of the way. With love and gratitude,
William L. Burke III Headmaster
2 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
AROUND CAMPUS
News & Notes from Our School Community
WINTER / SPRING 2020
| 3
AROUND CAMPUS
Arrow Debaters Excel in Virtual Format
D
uring the second half of the school year, the St. Sebastian’s Debate Team participated in five virtual tournaments hosted by St. Sebastian’s, the Hopkins School, Northfield Mount Hermon, the Winsor School, and the Groton School. Arrow debaters demonstrated the art of persuasion at each of the competitions, coming away with prizes, including first place wins, for their outstanding individual and team performances in both the Novice and Advanced Divisions. Congratulations to each of these students, as well as the entire team, for continuing to grow and excel as debaters in this virtual format.
Thaddeus Kennedy ’17 Gives Civics Lesson
The following Arrows earned Individual Speaking Prizes and/or Team Prizes for their performances as members of St. Sebastian’s Debate Team in recent tournaments. TOP ROW: Four students received awards in multiple tournaments—Alessandro Barbiellini ’21, James Joyce ’24, Jack Flynn ’22, and Gianluca Centola ’24. BOTTOM ROW: Seven students were also recognized in both the Novice and Advanced Divisions—John Chisholm ’22, Will McInerney ’22, Maxwell Surprenant ’22, Connor Dumouchel ’23, Noah Janchar ’23, Eddie Ryan ’23, and Raif Boit ’24.
On March 9, Thaddeus Kennedy ’17, a senior at Harvard University, gave a presentation to the Class of 2021 on the history of The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution and its relevance in today’s political climate. Before the meeting began, each member of the Class of 2021 received a pocket copy of The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America, donated by Brian Burns ’53. Kennedy is the president and founder of the Harvard Undergraduate Constitutional Law Society. He will follow Burns’ legacy at Harvard Law School this fall.
The 2021 Poetry Out Loud competition at St. Sebastian’s looked different from years past, but many Warrior Poets were undaunted in their pursuit of glory. A field of 23 competitors delivered recitations of their chosen poems over Zoom in early February. Faculty judges Jeff Riemann, Erin O’Luanaigh, Greg Calabro and Dean Adams made the difficult decision to narrow the field to five finalists: Alessandro Barbiellini ’21, Ben Garrity ’23, Daniel Gillis ’24, Colin Lapus ’21 and Max Samulka ’21. The finalists delivered powerful recitations in person on February 4. Samulka earned the title of school champion with his successful recitation of “Sign for my Father, Who Stressed the Bunt” by David Bottoms and went on to represent St. Sebastian’s at the virtual regional competition broadcast on March 7.
4 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
AROUND CAMPUS
20th Annual Freshman Writing Night The 20th annual Freshman Writing Night was held in Ward Hall on May 4. Begun in 2002, the event marks the publication of Freshman Voices, a collection of written work done in the Freshman Writing classes, and honors Jack Birmingham ’59, P’84, GP’14,’17 former Board President and inspiration for the Writing Program at St. Sebastian’s. Freshman Writing is taken in addition to the Freshman English class, giving the 9th graders an in-depth opportunity to develop as writers. Eight students were selected by their peers to read a piece that they wrote this year in their Freshman Writing class. Parents of the readers were in attendance and the rest of the class and their families watched the reading via livestream. After the reading, Raif Boit was announced as this year’s winner of the Jack Birmingham Freshman Writing Award and the first eight copies of Freshman Voices were distributed.
The following students were selected by their peers to read a piece that they wrote this year in their Freshman Writing class—FRONT ROW: Ronan Massenburg, Gianluca Centola, Jonathan Demosthene; BACK ROW: Sophomore Tommy McAuliffe, Adric Denis, Raif Boit, Ben Goffredo, and Matt Cataldo.
Celebrating Black History Month
M
eyer Chambers shared a story about his various encounters with Sister Thea Bowman and her amazing legacy during the Black History Month Assembly on February 26. Born a Methodist in Yazoo City, Mississippi, Sister Thea fell in love with the Catholic Church as a child, converting at age nine, and at age 15, joining the Franciscan Sister of the Perpetual Adoration. She dedicated her
life to spreading the joy of the Gospel and promoting cultural awareness and racial reconciliation. Chambers noted that when he met her as a young graduate student at Xavier University, he knew he was in the presence of something great, and as it turns out, he’d met a Roman Catholic Saint in the making. A video clip was then shared of Sister Thea addressing the U.S. Bishops shortly before her death in 1989. She explained what it meant to be AfricanAmerican and Catholic and enlightened the bishops on African-American history and spirituality. Headmaster Bill Burke closed out the program with remarks about Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. and his now famous letter from a Birmingham jail in 1963. He shared some of the powerful words from that letter, encouraging all students to read it. “Black history is our history because we are one and we have so much to learn from one another,” observed Headmaster Burke. “And our nation is far from healed. And we have to believe that Dr. Martin Luther King and Sister Thea Bowman had the right answers. It’s about cooperating with grace. It’s about gospel values being human values. It’s about doing the right thing. It’s about achieving peace through peace, and it’s about promoting antiviolence.”
“Black history is our history because we are one and we have so much to learn from one another.” —Headmaster Bill Burke SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 5
AROUND CAMPUS
Finance Academy Speaker Series
Dr. Chris Hahm P’22,’25 Sheds Light on the Asian-American Experience
Two current parents delivered fantastic virtual presentations to members of the Finance Academy, providing insight into the world of finance.
s a follow-up to our Unity Day program in the fall, which focused on the Black Experience at St. Sebastian’s, we held a second Unity Day program on May 21, highlighting the Asian experience in America. We were beyond blessed to have Dr. Chris Hahm P’22,’25 address us from Ward Hall and have her presentation livestreamed to students and faculty gathered in classrooms. Dr. Hahm, Chair and professor of the Research Department at the Boston University School of Social Work, is the first Asian-American Headmaster Burke with Dr. Chris Hahm. to be promoted to full professor at BU School of Social Work. Her work bridges epidemiology, theory building, and intervention development in order to better understand the causes of depression, self-harm and suicidal behaviors among Asian-American women. This important research is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health grants. Dr. Hahm, a leading local and national leader in the movement to support Asian-Americans and to promote a more diverse and just society, shared alarming statistics and stories about the fear and trauma Asian-Americans have suffered during the pandemic and throughout the past 150 years in this country. She used specific examples of major and micro aggressions and slurs to explain the terribly negative and most damaging experiences of many Asian-Americans. Hahm memorably asserted that “inaction is action” and encouraged students not to remain silent, but to speak up and tell someone if they see something that is unacceptable. Afterward, students broke into discussion groups, led by members of our senior class, and reconvened for a powerful Q&A session with Dr. Hahm. Special thanks to MPA seniors, Lolo Garcia-Marxuach and Jonathan JonesBooker, who helped us put our very successful Unity Day program together. We were left feeling much more deeply connected to our Asian-American brothers and sisters. Truly, we are one, and we need to take good care of one another.
On February 2, Steven Flynn P’22, Senior Director of Russell Investments, spoke about his role as an outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) for institutions such as corporations, hospitals, municipalities, schools and charitable foundations. Currently serving as OCIO for 15 organizations across the eastern U.S., he provided a glimpse into his thought processes as he develops customized investment portfolios and investment plans for clients. Using real world portfolio examples and hockey team metaphors, Flynn demonstrated the concepts of diversification and correlation.
On March 4, Shaun Pandit P’21, CEO and Director of EarlyBird Power, talked about his background in financial markets, specifically energy and commodity options trading. With 14 years of experience in the Electricity and Natural Gas markets, Pandit uses his expertise to help commercial, industrial, and institutional customers find the best rates and reliable service. Giving students a basic overview of various concepts, Pandit used specific stocks to illustrate how options trading works. During a question and answer period he touched on several other topics, including the future of renewable sources of power and how climate change affects the Energy market.
6 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
A
Arrows Ace National Latin Exam Five St. Sebastian’s students— Sebastian Culleton ’26, Liam Cunjak ’25, Michael DeMatteo ’26, Eamon McCarthy ’26, and Michael Rohatgi ’26—earned perfect scores on the 2021 National Latin Exam. Taken annually throughout the United States and many other countries such as Italy, Spain, Japan, Germany, and Zimbabwe, the National Latin Exam challenges students with questions focused on translation, Latin grammar, English derivatives, and Roman culture and history. Their performances place them among the top 1% of all the Latin students taking the National Latin Exam throughout the world!
AROUND CAMPUS
Undergraduate & College Book Awards
CLASS OF 2021 Alumni-Senior Breakfast The traditional Alumni-Senior Breakfast was held on the West Campus fields on June 3, bringing the graduating class together with members of the Alumni Board, as well as alumni parents and alumni grandparents of graduates. Following an opening blessing by Fr. Paris and a breakfast buffet, Board President Jim Elcock ’77 addressed the seniors, reminding them that “Arrows look out for Arrows.” Elcock also took the opportunity to thank outgoing Alumni Board President, Charles Haley ’92, for his outstanding three-year term as president. Haley welcomed the Class of 2021 to the alumni ranks and announced the Class of 2021 Class Agents. Headmaster Burke reminded the seniors to slow down and savor every moment during their final week at St. Sebastian’s. All things at St. Sebastian’s begin and end with prayer, and so Fr. Arens blessed the Class of 2021 as they took their final steps towards graduation.
The following students were presented with awards recognizing their academic achievements during the Undergraduate Awards Assembly on May 26.
COLLEGE BOOK AWARDS: Brown University Colin C. Boland
Dartmouth College Charles S. DeMatteo
Alexander S. Hartman
Harvard Club of Boston
Trinity University, Dublin
John T. Flynn, Cooper B. McCann
Paul F. White
College of the Holy Cross
University of Virginia
Brendan A. Melley, Kevin S. Wakakuwa
Richard C. Walsh
The University of Notre Dame
Villanova University
Ryan N. Kazmouz
Matthew S. Choi
Saint Anselm College
Williams College
Thomas C. Cronin
Kevin E. Cummings
Saint Michael’s College
Yale University
Matthew T. Noone, Timothy R. Souza
Aidan C. McCarthy
St. Lawrence University Thomas M. Scordino
MEMORIAL & SCHOOL AWARDS: Alizadeh Most Improved Student Award Samuel F. Ix
Bausch and Lomb Science Award Charles S. DeMatteo
John P. Birmingham, Jr. Writing Award Raif S. Boit
The Catholic Citizenship Award Ryan P. Albertson, Matthew T. Noone
Chapel Speech Awards Grade 11: Michael T. Cataldo, Andrew J. Hahm, Brian W. Luppy; Grade 10: Thomas E. Devlin, Theodore H. Gleba, Edward T. Ryan; Grade 9: Jack C. Condron, Rui Do Rosario; Grade 8: Jack M. Knight; Grade 7: Jack T. Kelleher, Joseph P. Martin
TOP: Board President Jim Elcock chats with members of the Class of 2021. BOTTOM: Each senior receives a mug with an inspirational saying about arrows.
Suffolk University
Frank J. Hennessey, Jr. Award Ryan P. Albertson, John T. Flynn, John G. Hentschel, Matthew T. Noone, Joseph T. Santosuosso, Thomas M. Scordino, Paul F. White
Robert J. Joyce, Jr. Award Timothy R. Souza
William P. Judge Award Declan H. Carroll, Benjamin P. Merrill
William P. Judge Scholarship Aidan C. McCarthy
Jason Keating Award Joseph P. Martin
James P.B. McDonough Award John T. Flynn
Men with Positive Attitudes Award Gary J. McCall
Kevin T. Mutch Award
Joseph Compagnone Memorial Award
Jayden J. Grier
Andrew J. Hahm, Cole J. Szeman
Gandolfo Language Award
The President’s Lifetime Achievement Award
Thomas C. Cronin, Charles S. DeMatteo, John T. Flynn, Aidan C. McCarthy
Maxwell C. Surprenant
Grace S. & Raymond M. Vorce, Sr. Award
Kevin Ghelli Award
Michael C. Connelly, Charles S. DeMatteo, Kevin S. Wakakuwa
Cooper B. McCann, Liam C. Muldowney
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 7
AROUND CAMPUS
Robotics Team Faces Challenge on Its Own Field
Guest Speakers Inspire Engineering Club
Due to the hard work of volunteers in the FIRST Robotics organization, the robotics teams in Massachusetts were able to compete in a modified competition season. Rather than battle on the same field with allies and opposition competing for the same space and resources, each team competed remotely on its own field and submit video of its performance. The primary method of scoring points in this year’s challenge was to collect 4” diameter rings from the field floor and shoot them into openings of varying height. The team set for itself two primary goals for the season: 1) have an accurate shooting mechanism, and 2) develop a reliable autonomous program. The team achieved both of its goals— the shooting mechanism proved to be 80-90% accurate into the most difficult opening and the autonomous proved to be approximately 75% reliable!
The Engineering Club virtually hosted two fantastic guest speakers this spring.
A member of the Robotics Team makes adjustments to the robot.
Unfortunately, as is often the case, what seemed like it would be an easy final piece to the robot—getting the rings from the floor up to the shooter— proved to be the most difficult task! The team eventually made this happen, but not in time to help them qualify for the State Championships. Kudos to all of the students who came out during this challenging year, whether it was to build a piece of the competition robot or to simply begin learning the basics of building or programming.
Seniors Honored at 2021 MPA Banquet Seniors and their parents joined in the celebration at the Men with Positive Attitudes Banquet on May 27, while underclassmen members watched via livestream. The program included an opening prayer from Fr. John Arens, welcome remarks from next year’s MPA president, Gary McCall ’22, a violin solo by Seniors members of the MPA at the banquet. Christian Casiano ’21 and a video highlighting the next year’s club officers introduced by Brendan Melley ’22. Faculty members Aturo Adkins ’14, Ryan Moore, and Jeffrey Riemann shared notes written by family, friends and faculty from each senior’s memory box and gifts were given by next year’s officers to the seniors. The Class of 2021 members in attendance were recognized individually by Assistant Headmaster Michael Nerbonne and new members were welcomed by Troy McCall ’23. Headmaster Burke shared a few words and closed the evening with prayer. 8 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
On March 31, members heard from Gaurav Rohatgi, Life Sciences Lead and Director of Innovation Consulting at EPAM Continuum, a named inventor on over 15 patents and applications, and a father of two Arrows, Matthew ’23 and Michael ’26. Rohatgi shared how his Catholic faith provides reliable guidance in technologically and ethically complex situations. He also spoke about various products he helped invent, such as the Omnipod, an insulin management system that provides more freedom for people living with diabetes. On April 29, Dr. Joyce Wong, a professor of Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering at Boston University, and the PresidentElect at the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), addressed the club. Wong introduced students to her work as a Biomedical Engineer and gave them various examples of projects she is working on, including the elastic vascular patch to treat tears in the heart. She emphasized how her travel experiences and learning in different places and from different people allowed her to expand her point of view and ultimately led to her profession.
AROUND CAMPUS
Serving Our Neighbors Integral to the St. Sebastian’s mission, our
Service Program lives the order of the day of loving God, working hard, and taking good care of one another. Even from a distance, our students and families found ways to serve our neighbors!
Feed Haiti Packathon The Class of 2024 took part in a Feed Haiti Packathon on April 1, working in teams to assemble 30,000 servings of rice, beans, and vitamins in one afternoon! The packets were shipped to Milot, a remote, northern region of Haiti, where much of the population is facing extreme food insecurity and famine. CRUDEM, the organization running the event, oversees Hôpital Sacré Coeur, the largest private hospital in Milot. Due to the pandemic, international aid has been severely limited, so CRUDEM seeks to create one million meals in 2021. The packathon at St. Sebastian’s was the first of the Feed Haiti Packathon events put on by the organization. Special thanks to Danny Gillis ’24 and his family for bringing this project to St. Sebastian’s.
Virtual Chop-A-Thon On March 4, St. Sebastian’s hosted a virtual edition of the Chop-A-Thon, our annual father-son service project to benefit the Pine Street Inn, the largest resource for the homeless in New England. During the event, Scottie Wait, Director of Corporate Engagement at the Pine Street Inn, gave a virtual tour of both the men’s and women’s facility in Boston as well as one of their transitional living residences. Despite not being able to slice and dice together in person, Arrows fathers and sons made a big impact through contributions of gift cards, fresh fruits and vegetables and other food items. Special thanks to Men’s Association President, Mike Frisoli P’17,’19,’21,’22,’26, and Director of Service Programs, John Eaton for keeping this annual tradition going!
Innovative T-Shirt Fundraiser As their Senior Service Project, Ben Kaczmarek ’21 and Jimmy Freehill ’21 from the Advanced Photography class worked in collaboration with the Innovation Lab to create an original silkscreen t-shirt design featuring Headmaster Burke. The t-shirts were sold to students on the last day of classes to raise money for the non-profit Harlem Lacrosse.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 9
Photography students print an enlarged version of a photograph and reassemble it like a puzzle outside the Art Building.
A GLIMPSE
along Greendale Avenue
Students help Fr. Paris celebrate his 94th birthday with cupcakes.
10 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
Isaiah Stanfield ’21 shares his Senior Service Project experience with his classmates.
Paul Panetta and Eric Ludwig, members of our maintenance crew, teach basic automotive skills to members of the Life Skills Science Club.
Arrows compete in a game of ultimate frisbee on Red & Black Day.
Freshmen participate in the annual Henry IV Acting Competition.
Faculty and staff select a book from An Unlikely Story mobile bookstore— an appreciation gift provided by the Guild of St. Irene.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 11
COMMENCEMENT 2021
Congratulations, Class of 2021!
12 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
COMMENCEMENT 2021
St. Sebastian’s School graduated 63 students at its 77TH COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES on Thursday, June 10, 2021, in a ceremony on the West Campus fields. The morning’s celebrations included awards, speeches and the conferral of diplomas to the outstanding Class of 2021.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 13
COMMENCEMENT 2021
CLASS OF 2021 MATRICULATION Connor P. Arcara Thomas A. Armstrong
University of Wisconsin–Madison Bucknell University
Colm M. Kearney Daniel Y. Ko
Clemson University Northeastern University
Harvard College
Colin M. Lapus
Birmingham City University
Scott L. Behman
Indiana University–Bloomington
Jacob R. Lavoie
Gap Year
Timothy J. Blue
Skidmore College
Michael R. Lee
Providence College
Alessandro G. Barbiellini
Villanova University
John P. Bresnahan
Providence College
John E. Mahoney
Christian A. Casiano
Furman University
Braeden P. McCabe
University of Massachusetts–Amherst
Cameron M. Collins
Providence College (Gap Year)
Nolan T. McGovern
The Ohio State University
Matthew T. Devlin
Villanova University
Nicholas J. Merageas
Sean E. Duffy
University of Miami
Thomas J. Messineo
Ryan J. DuFour Brendan K. Dumas Lyndel T. Erold Seamus C. Foley James E. Freehill III Samuel J. Frisoli Carlos M. Garcia–Marxuach Henry L. Gennari
University of Notre Dame Gap Year
Christopher R. Mullen Aidan G. Mulvey
College of the Holy Cross Gap Year College of the Holy Cross Vanderbilt University
Brown University
Conor T. Mynahan
Colby College
Union College
Derek J. O’Donnell
Indiana University–Bloomington
University of Denver Tufts University University of Southern California Boston College
Juan P. Oliva Aaron N. Pace Joseph D. Pandit Will D. Perri
Northwestern University Skidmore College Santa Clara University Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Colby College
Michael C. Phelps
Trinity College
Declan J. Gray
Providence College
Steven A. Purpura
Northeastern University
Joseph M. Hamilton III
Providence College
Timothy J. Ragnoni
William D. Goldman
Louis T. Hansen Joseph G. Harney, Jr.
Gap Year
Samuel J. Randall Mark F. Rice
University of Notre Dame Northeastern University Lake Forest College Babson College
Aidan J. Harrington
Boston College
Edward D. Harrington
Boston College
Max O. Samulka
Georgetown University
James Madison University
Reed T. Shachoy
Cornell University
Brett T. Hogan John M. Hornyak Cameron A. Howell David E. Jones Jonathan D. M. Jones–Booker Benen C. Kaczmarek Yves Kayihura
14 |
University of Michigan
Lucas D. Rioux
Clemson University
Isaiah P. Stanfield
University of Virginia
Boston College
Gabriel A. Twohig
Harvard College
Clemson University
Nicholas J. Vallace
Boston College
George Washington University Colby College University of Hartford
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
Paul B. Vallace Mark T. Wilson
University of Wisconsin–Madison College of the Holy Cross
COMMENCEMENT 2021
Baccalaureate Mass On June 9, 2021, the eve of St. Sebastian’s Commencement, graduates and their parents, along with members of the administration and faculty, gathered in the West Campus Center for the Baccalaureate Mass. It was a beautiful celebration in honor of our graduates. During the Mass, seniors were presented with awards recognizing their talents and contributions to St. Sebastian’s. Class of 2021 mothers with three or more sons who have graduated from St. Sebastian’s were also recognized. Cum Laude Society
Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award
Alessandro G. Barbiellini, Ryan J. DuFour, William D. Goldman, Edward D. Harrington, Daniel Y. Ko, Nolan T. McGovern, Aidan G. Mulvey, Conor T. Mynahan, Juan P. Oliva, Samuel J. Randall, Timothy J. Ragnoni, Max O. Samulka, Gabriel A. Twohig
Ryan J. DuFour, Max O. Samulka
Chapel Speech Award Braeden P. McCabe, Juan P. Oliva, Timothy J. Ragnoni, Gabriel A. Twohig
Outstanding Leadership, Service and Commitment to the Debate Team Alessandro G. Barbiellini
ISL Award of Excellence
Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award Seamus C. Foley, Samuel J. Frisoli
Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence Christian A. Casiano
Mothers’ Medals Marcie Behman P’13, ’16, ’19, ’21 Patti DuFour P’14, ’18, ’21 Diane O’Donnell P’17, ’19, ’21 Kathy Pace P’15, ’18, ’21 Liz Ragnoni P’16, ’17, ’21 Euri Twohig P’18, ’19, ’21 Andrea Vallace P’15, ’17, ’21, ’21
Nicholas J. Vallace
LEFT: Sgt. Justin Hodgkin of the United States Marine Corps with Christian Casiano, Ryan DuFour, Sam Frisoli, Seamus Foley and Max Samulka. RIGHT: Jack Mahoney receives the Letterman Award, one of several athletic awards acknowledged during the Mass.
FIVE-YEAR
Matriculation #’s 5
Colleges to which or more students have matriculated over the past years
5
Boston College ..............................36 Providence College .......................22 College of the Holy Cross .............. 21 University of Notre Dame .. ..........17 Harvard College ............................13 Northeastern University ..............12 Villanova University .....................11 Wake Forest University ................10 Duke University ..............................7 Univ. of Wisconsin (Madison) ......6 Dartmouth College .........................5 Georgetown University ..................5 Lehigh University............................5 Middlebury College ........................5 Northwestern University ...............5
LEFT: Fr. Arens and Fr. Paris celebrate the Baccalaureate Mass. RIGHT: Headmaster Burke presents flowers to Kathy Pace P’15,’18,’21, a recipient of the Mother’s Medal. SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 15
COMMENCEMENT 2021
Commencement Awards
The Headmaster’s Award Presented to the graduate who has achieved the highest cumulative grade point average Gabriel A. Twohig
Pursuit of Excellence in the Discipline Awards
Spanish
Greek
Brett T. Hogan
Paul B. Vallace, Mark T. Wilson
Presented to individuals selected by the faculty
Drama
Computer Science
Alessandro G. Barbiellini, Cameron A. Howell, Daniel Y. Ko
Gabriel A. Twohig
English Literature Alessandro G. Barbiellini, Gabriel A. Twohig
Music
Latin
Photography
Colin M. Lapus
Nolan T. McGovern
Aaron N. Pace, Reed T. Shachoy
History
Mathematics
Conor T. Mynahan, Will D. Perri, Max O. Samulka
Religion Alessandro G. Barbiellini, Gabriel A. Twohig
English Writing William D. Goldman, Joseph D. Pandit
Alessandro G. Barbiellini, Aidan G. Mulvey, Gabriel A. Twohig
Physics Alessandro G. Barbiellini, Gabriel A. Twohig
Chemistry Daniel Y. Ko
Biology Timothy J. Ragnoni
Special Medals Awarded to individuals who, during their high school years, have achieved the highest grade point average in required and advanced courses in the respective disciplines Humberto Cardinal Medeiros Memorial Medal for Modern Languages Gabriel A. Twohig
Rev. Msgr. Joseph A. Beatty Memorial Medal for English Alessandro G. Barbiellini, Max O. Samulka
Rev. Msgr. John F.X. Harney Memorial Medal for Religion Max O. Samulka, Gabriel A. Twohig
Rev. Msgr. Charles D. McInnis Memorial Medal for History Connor P. Arcara, Conor T. Mynahan
Paul A. Ablondi ’57 Memorial Medal for Mathematics Alessandro G. Barbiellini
John A. and Kathleen T. Nerbonne Memorial Medal for Classics Max O. Samulka
St. Sebastian Medal for Science Samuel J. Randall
St. Sebastian Medal for Fine Arts Award recipients Aidan Mulvey ’21 and Juan Oliva ’21 show off their diplomas following the Commencement ceremony.
16 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
Benen C. Kaczmarek, Reed T. Shachoy
The St. Sebastian’s Scholar with Distinction Award Presented to the graduates who have received a yearly average of A- or higher in every course every year Alessandro G. Barbiellini, Aidan G. Mulvey, Conor T. Mynahan, Juan P. Oliva, Samuel J. Randall, Gabriel A. Twohig
The St. Sebastian’s Scholar Award Presented to the graduates who have received a yearly average of B or higher in every course every year Ryan J. DuFour, Carlos M. GarciaMarxuach, William D. Goldman, Edward D. Harrington, Daniel Y. Ko, Nolan T. McGovern, Thomas J. Messineo, Timothy J. Ragnoni, Max O. Samulka, Nicholas J. Vallace, Paul B. Vallace, Mark T. Wilson
The Sr. Evelyn C. Barrett, O.P. Scholarship Award Presented to that senior who, in the opinion of the Faculty, most exemplifies in body, mind, and soul the spirit of St. Sebastian’s School Jonathan D. Jones-Booker
The Robert S. Gilligan Award Presented to a senior who best exemplifies the qualities of courage, determination, and perseverance Timothy J. Ragnoni
The Cardinal Cushing Memorial Medal for Student Service Presented to a senior for exemplary service to the School Colin M. Lapus
COMMENCEMENT 2021
The Joseph P. MacDonald Award Presented each year by the Student Council, in conjunction with the School community, to a member of the St. Sebastian’s family for outstanding service to the School John J. Doherty ’62
The Reverend Charles K. Riepe Medallion Presented by the Assistant Headmaster, in consultation with the administration and faculty, to the members of the graduating class who have shown true leadership in exemplifying the virtues of faith and honor for which the School stands Alessandro G. Barbiellini, Gabriel A. Twohig
The Founder’s Medal Presented to the member of the Senior Class whose character, leadership, and fortitude most closely reflect the ideals that inspired William Cardinal O’Connell to found this School in the name of St. Sebastian Juan P. Oliva
The Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Medal Presented each year to a senior for exemplary initiative, creativity, and perseverance in advancing the mission of the School Conor T. Mynahan
The Alumni Award Presented to a senior, selected by the faculty, who possesses strength of mind, body, and character; who displays outstanding attitude, effort, and achievement; has innate commitment to excellence in all endeavors; and who has made many and varied contributions to St. Sebastian’s School Edward D. Harrington
TOP: Jack Doherty ’62, P’86,’87, GP’17,’25, long-time Business Manager, accepts the Joseph P. MacDonald Award at his final Commencement before retiring. BOTTOM: Headmaster Burke leads the Class of 2021 out of Martin Hall.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 17
COMMENCEMENT 2021
HEADMASTER’S ADDRESS
My Whole Soul Is in It BY WILLIAM L. BURKE III
J
ack Clark, longtime eminently successful men’s rugby coach at UCal Berkeley and a highly regarded motivational speaker, encourages adoption of a sixword mantra, which we have been singing here of late: Grateful for everything...entitled to nothing. Gratitude precedes happiness and humility is the ground of truth. We’re grateful for the gift of life. We’re grateful for our faith in God. We’re grateful for our bodies and minds and spirits. We’re grateful for membership in the St. Sebastian’s School family. We’re grateful for our School’s clear, important mission, for our unified, focused board of trustees, for our kind, generous donors, for our gifted, devoted faculty, for our talented, dedicated staff, for our loyal, engaged alumni, for our bright, promising students—with a special focus this morning on you 63 genetically unrepeatable gifts from God in the great Class of 2021—and, we’re grateful for your strong, loving families with whom we engage in sacred partnership in advancement of our common goal: helping each of you become ever more fully all God wants you to be. Grateful for everything...entitled to nothing. May it be forever thus. St. Sebastian’s is the best thing that ever happened to me...St. Sebastian’s is the best place on earth. We heard you gentlemen utter these very words and make similar proclamations in your Chapel speeches this year. And time after time after time, you have sung the praises of your loving parents—your primary educators—who give and give and give and keep on giving—who have nurtured you and held you and fed you and bathed you and clothed you and taught you and supported you and encouraged you and truly, deeply, freely, fully eternally loved, loved, loved you without condition and beyond all telling. And your grandparents, and aunts and uncles, and siblings, and cousins have been right there with them, loving you to greatness. Your devoted family has prayed for you and paid for you, making possible your cherished St. Sebastian’s education. This is your big day, but it’s their big day, too. Please rise, locate your parents and other family members and express your heartfelt gratitude. Last week, when sharing my thoughts and feelings about Mr. David Cornish, our outstanding veteran teacher of Classics and English, I cited this passage:
18 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
On January 1, 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, he said: “I never in my life, felt more certain that I was doing right than I do in signing this paper...If my name ever goes into history it will be for this act, and my whole soul is in it.” My whole soul is in it. These six words sum up the total commitment and eternal devotion of Mr. Cornish and the essence of the ideal St. Sebastian’s educator. Not a job but a God-centered, student-centered mission, the fulfillment of promises made at Admissions Open House: Your son will be known and loved and called to greatness by great people. He will be engaged in the pursuit of truth through faith and reason. He will be prepared for admission to and success in the most excellent, more appropriate college for him. It is our hope and expectation that he will continue to pursue the truth through faith and reason in college and beyond, that he will be engaged in meaningful work which helps make our world become ever stronger, better, and more loving, that he will take his vocation very seriously, and for most it will be as husbands and fathers, and we want him to go to heaven, and everything—everything—we do at this School is done with that sense of ultimate purpose ever before us. My whole soul is in it. There is no half-way. We are all in or not in at all, and you can’t fake love. You gentlemen and your parents know that you have been taught and coached and guided and challenged and supported by teachers and coaches and advisors and moderators who know you and love you and freely and fully devote the very best parts of themselves to you. Please rise, turn and face your mentors and express your appreciation.
COMMENCEMENT 2021
It’s all a gift. This glorious day of Commencement, every person, every moment, every object—pure gifts from our gracious and loving God, the giver of all good gifts. We praise you, Lord, for your great goodness. We thank you, Lord, for your countless blessings. We beg you, Lord, to keep us forever open to your love, to fill us with hope, and to strengthen our faith. Back in September, when I delivered the opening address on our year’s theme of Return, I concluded with these words: We devoutly hope for success as individuals and as a St. Sebastian’s family. As we call one another to ever rising peaks of excellence in body, mind, and spirit, and as we battle the diseases of racism and COVID-19, may we love God, work hard, and take good care of one another every sacred step of the way… Let us be fully present to every graced moment—all lit up with eternal rays. Gentlemen, we had high hopes for the year. My question is: How did it go? Grateful for everything...entitled to nothing...my whole soul is in it. As I have said many times, for us it is, was, and ever shall be fundamental. We are a mission-driven School grounded in the belief that St. Sebastian’s exists for the glory of God and for our students and their families. The rest of us are here to serve, and what a joy and an honor it is to do so! Under the outstanding leadership of Mr. Michael Nerbonne, Mr. Brendan Sullivan, our department chairs, and our faculty and staff, we proved most proficient in distance teaching and learning last spring, when the whole world shut down. Classes met on time, work was graded, and our structured liberal arts curriculum was advanced spectacularly well. As many a happy parent shared: We never missed a beat, but we all knew then, and we certainly know now, that inperson learning is far superior to that which is distant.
As spring turned to summer, we focused our energies on—and never wavered from—this firm commitment: If inperson education could be achieved, it will be achieved at St. Sebastian’s School. We will return. Love will find a way. As always, our job was to live our mission: the pursuit of truth through faith and reason—that is, to cooperate with the grace of God and to engage our minds on gaining the very best scientific knowledge and medical advice. We prayed and we stayed committed to learning. We engaged with our board of trustees, we surveyed our students and parents, and we met with our faculty and staff. Every constituency had a voice. We are one. Love will find a way. And what great leadership we received! The board of trustees, under the direction of our great President, Mr. Jim Elcock led the way and our administrative team, and especially Mr. Nerbonne, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Doherty, and Ms. Joyce, threw their hearts and souls into the complex and taxing effort through the long hot summer months, through our opening in September, and throughout the entire year. And what great teamwork we enjoyed! Our selfless faculty and staff devoted themselves to providing you with the best possible experience. And did our seniors ever rise to the occasion. Leading Debate and music and other clubs and sparking athletic teams through the fall and winter and this spring, when every team enjoyed a winning season. And your parents—as ever—worked with us and supported us wondrously. Dean of Students, Mr. Sullivan, an outstanding biology teacher and a medically oriented lover of all things scientific, seems to have been born for this moment. As I like to say, he has been our General Patton, and my favorite General Patton quotation is: “Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way.” And what great relationships Mr. Sullivan and Ms. Joyce and Mr. Nerbonne have developed with Dr. Ed Ryan, father of Eddie Ryan of our Class of 2023 and Director of Global Infectious
LEFT: Seniors Sam Randall, Joe Pandit, Daniel Ko, and Cam Howell following the Commencement ceremony; RIGHT: Scotty Behman ‘21 shakes Headmaster Burke’s hand as he accepts his diploma.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 19
COMMENCEMENT 2021
Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The number and quality of the conversations our leaders have enjoyed with Dr. Ryan and the knowledge and confidence we all have gained from him can never be quantified, nor will we ever be able to thank him enough. God bless you, Dr. Ryan! Yes, Return has proven a most appropriate theme. We could return to campus, and we did return to campus because we forever turn and return to the two most powerful forces in the universe: God and people of good will through whom our Lord works. And we turn and return to holy scripture: “Let us examine and probe our ways and let us return to the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:40) Oh, do I love that one. Let us. How nice and gentle, warm and inviting. Let us is a suggestion, not a command but an exhortation. Religion and matters of faith cannot, must not be imposed, but only proposed. Examine and probe speak of depth, a word Mr. Nerbonne uses in celebrating the profound truth of our curriculum. Mr. Stefan Cressotti, who coined the slogan, “Be Arrow minded, not narrow-minded,” recently expressed this sentiment: “We have been modeling introspection and reflection for years, and the Chapel speeches this year reveal that our students have embraced the practice and made it their own.” As he always seems to be, Mr. Cressotti is right on target here. You gentlemen put out into the deep with the best of them, evincing the truth celebrated in Psalm 42: “Deep calls to deep.” In your Corporate Chapel address, one of you shared the image of a stone mason, who, after many long, hard hours and seemingly endless days of painstakingly hard labor on the crowning piece atop a majestically high Cathedral, was asked why he worked so hard. After all, who would ever see it? Who would ever know what he had accomplished? “God will see it, and I will know it,” he answered. God will see it. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13) God will see it. I will know it. Anything worth doing is worth doing well. We do well to take pride in our work, to hold ourselves to a higher standard than anyone else will hold us to, to examine and probe the depths of our being, to be searingly honest with ourselves about ourselves, and so earn self-esteem, and live lives of love and service in this world and eternal joy in the next. God will see it, and I will know it. My whole soul is in it. Yes, you have proven yourselves introspective and reflective in your speeches, and you have beautifully lived and advanced our order of the day: Love God, work hard, and take good care of one another. 20 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
Here is a medley of ten statements, which you have shared in your Chapel speeches this year: We are committed to each other and to the School. We wish nothing but the best for one another. The Brotherhood is not limited to students. We have people on our side. Everyone wants you to succeed. The flame for love of learning was lit. Never be afraid to turn to faith. Open up to a teacher...ask a friend...ask me. I learned the value of being patient: don’t be too quick to judge. I learned what it means to be a good man. Clearly, you gentlemen love one another, and you love your School. There is nothing superficial about you. Go deep or go home has become your way. You don’t play small; you engage it all, as if to say faith and reason are always in season. We promised that you would be known and loved. The more you know, the more you love, and we know more because you gentlemen have dared to share more, and you have respectfully, deeply listened to one another. We have devoted much time and attention to race relations this year, and we will continue to do so. We stand in loving solidarity with our sisters and brothers of every race and ethnicity in our School family, in our country, and in our world.
COMMENCEMENT 2021
“Clearly, you gentlemen love one another, and you love your School. There is nothing superficial about you. Go deep or go home has become your way. You don’t play small; you engage it all, as if to say faith and reason are always in season.” Except the Lord build the house They labor in vain that build it. (Psalm 127) I have come to know and greatly respect a brilliant law professor named Helen Alvare, who wrote two beautiful sentences that I just have to share with you. Here they are: The adage the more you know the more you love has been especially helpful to us in our struggle against racism in all of its forms. Our Black, Brown, Asian, Pacific Islanders, and people of all colors have dared to share and we have cared to listen, and we strive in earnest to grow ever more loving, ever more nurturing, ever more inclusive. We believe that there is no race or ethnicity better or worse than another, that all humans are gifts from God created in the image and likeness of God, that we are made for and we crave love, freedom, goodness, unity, and peace— gifts from God, who is love, and that white supremacy is a misguided, false, unjust, divisive, and dangerous myth. There is no truth in it. And we believe that the goal of unity in diversity, which we devoutly hope to achieve, can only be achieved through the engagement of faith and reason and not through secular legislation alone. Leo Tolstoy surely agrees, as he asserts: Christ revealed to humanity those things which their best selves already knew: that people are equal because the same spirit lives in all of them...Equality cannot be reached, as some people think, only by civil measures. It can be reached only by love of God and people, and this love can be reached, not by civil measures, but only as the result of spiritual learning. So, as you gentlemen go off to college, you may find yourselves in classrooms and in social circles in which the zeal for spiritual learning is sorely lacking or non-existent. Double down on spiritual learning nonetheless. Don’t leave God on the sidelines. We’ll never build a safe, equitable, just, and unified world without Him.
It is clear to me that the more I pray fervently for others, the more I learn to co-suffer with others, the more I am making the only kind of progress that counts in this life: learning to love. It teaches me also to affirm others’ radical equality with me. I agree with her. We are one. “What hurts the victim most is not the cruelty of the oppressor but the silence of the bystander,” writes Elie Wiesel, who survived Nazi concentration camps. You gentlemen are well prepared to be alert to the needs of others and to be poised and ready to come to their defense, for each of you is and forever shall be the ideal St. Sebastian’s graduate: A moral and just person, a gentleman of courage, honor, and wisdom, a life-long learner who continues to grow in his capacity to know, to love, and to serve God and neighbor. And you know the truth that your neighbor is every person on the planet, especially the one who needs you most. We have such tremendous faith in your success because we have such tremendous faith in you because we know you. The more you know the more you love Grateful for everything...entitled to nothing Love will find a way God will see it and I will know it My whole soul is in it Good-bye now, our noble Arrows. Know that we love you and that we will forever. Return to us often in sorrow or in joy and we’ll be right here waiting for you with hearts and arms wide open. May God bless you and keep you. Go now in peace. Shalom! SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 21
COMMENCEMENT 2021
BOARD PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS
The Arrows Brotherhood BY JAMES L. ELCOCK ’77, P’08
G
erald Peters, Jay Driscoll, and Dr. David Barlow. Those three individuals were a big part of my graduation ceremony almost 45 years ago. Gerry was our class valedictorian, Jay was our salutatorian and Dr. Barlow, Class of 1960, was our commencement speaker. I never would have thought almost 45 years ago that I would one day have the honor and the privilege to address the great Class of 2021 and find myself thinking about my own graduation ceremony. So, gentlemen, with the full expectation that one of you will one day stand in my shoes and you’ll need an opening for brief commencement remarks, take note and remember Gabriel Twohig, Alessandro Barbiellini and General Joseph Dunford—if you remember nothing else. Who knows? Years from now when you’re grabbing something quick to eat at Hazel’s or Christo’s and you run into General Dunford, you will be able to go up to him, introduce yourself and say, “I remember you. You spoke at our commencement.” On behalf of my fellow trustees, we can’t thank you or congratulate you enough for what you have done in our school’s history. With much uncertainty and true trepidation, the trustees strongly encouraged and supported Headmaster Burke and his team in bringing all the boys back last September and to have in-person learning supported by virtual learning, as necessary. Thanks to your parents, your teachers, the administration, your coaches, but most of all you, who showed up every day, St. Sebastian’s became the talk of the ISL. Not only did our school survive, but we thrived. You worked very hard in the classroom, you competed on the field and on the ice. Debate, robotics, ceramics, photography, the music ensemble, and community service never took a day off—you didn’t skip a beat. With this year’s applications at or near an all-time high, one can certainly credit your class for setting the example. The underclassmen took notice and happily followed your lead, as well as many new families in the area who wanted something special knowing good things were happening here on campus. I remember a call from Mr. Burke on a Sunday morning in early September that there was a gathering on Saturday night that involved some St. Sebastian’s students—mostly sophomores and juniors—but many other students from
22 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
other ISL schools in the area. The worry was that this was a good example of what Dr. Fauci would label as a “super spreader event.” Immediately, your school president, Scott Behman, your senior class president, Joey Pandit, and many of you sitting in front of me, were able to identify the 12 or so young Arrows who attended the party and, by the start of school the following Monday morning, all those boys were accounted for and agreed to self-quarantine for the safety of their fellow classmates and for the school. You clearly were not going to miss your senior year! The great Class of 2021... 63 seniors strong. You know each other better than you think. Let me remind you, and those sitting amongst you, what a tight family we are here at St. Sebastian’s: • You come from 30 different cities and towns... a very wide geography. • Four of you are legacies: Reed Shachoy’s dad, Chris, graduated in the Class of 1983; Chris Mullen’s dad, Jay, graduated in 1978; Matthew Devlin’s dad, Brian, was a 1981 graduate; and Joey Harney’s dad, Joe, was in the Class of 1992. • We have one grandparent legacy; Michael Lee’s grandfather, Andy McAuliffe, was a graduate of the Class of 1948. • You leave behind 13 younger siblings. • 31 older brothers have gone before you. • For five mothers, it’s your third and last son to graduate. • Two moms have their fourth and last son graduating. • With regards to next year, your class has 11 recruited athletes, and you are attending colleges or universities from California to Maine.
COMMENCEMENT 2021
•
•
In terms of accomplishments in the classroom, four of you were recognized in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program, 13 members of the senior class have been inducted into the Cum Laude Society. Together, you contributed to our School’s countless service hours to the community: 920 breakfasts served at The Paulist Center; 1,100 homework assignments completed at Pope John Paul Academy. The list could go on and on, but you have made our school proud.
Gentlemen, you have fully immersed yourselves in all that we have asked of you. But today, that comes to an end, and you enter a new phase of your relationship with St. Sebastian’s. You need to know that this relationship will last a lifetime. Trust me when I tell you that your fellow classmates—as you look to your left and to your right, in front of you and behind you—will be your friends forever. Some of your fellow classmates may be your future doctor, your lawyer, a teacher, a four-star general or even a brotherin-law. The brotherhood will last forever. As I think about concluding my remarks today, I want to pause for a moment and acknowledge two giants within our school community who will be retiring upon today’s graduation. Our business manager, Jack Doherty, Class of 1962, and Mr. David Cornish. These two gentlemen are the epitome of all the good things happening at St. Sebastian’s. They have left an indelible mark upon us and our community. We wish them well in their retirement.
And, finally, I like to conclude each commencement with a few lyrics from a country song that I think are appropriate for the moment. With our commencement speaker and all that has been happening in the world—particularly in the last few weeks—I find myself thinking of the young police officer in Worcester who lost his life last week saving a young man from drowning. I’d like to share with you a few lines from Zac Brown: Well it’s funny how it’s the little things in life that mean the most. Not where you live or what you drive or the price tag on your clothes. There’s no dollar sign on a piece of mind this I’ve come to know. I thank God for my life. And for the stars and stripes. May freedom forever fly, let it ring. Salute the ones who died. The ones that give their lives, so we don’t have to sacrifice. All the things we love. To the great Class of 2021, may God Bless You and Congratulations.
The Arrows legacy continues as proud alumni join their sons/grandson prior to Commencement (from left): Jay ’78 and Christopher ’21 Mullen, Brian ’81 and Matthew ’21 Devlin, Reed ’21 and Chris ’83 Shachoy, Joseph ’21 and Joe ’92 Harney, and grandfather Andy McAuliffe ’48 with Michael Lee ’21.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 23
COMMENCEMENT 2021
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Service & Leadership BY GENERAL JOSEPH F. DUNFORD JR. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
M
r. Burke, ladies and gentlemen … you would expect me to say it, but it’s an absolute honor to be with you this morning. And most importantly, to the St. Sebastian’s Class of 2021 … Good Morning! I know today culminates a busy few weeks of recognizing your accomplishments and celebrating this milestone in your lives. I’m sure you’re feeling pretty good at this point, and you should be. Over the past few years, you have achieved a great deal in and out of the classroom. You have established a solid foundation of life-long learning. And, you have developed meaningful relationships that will be with you for the rest of your lives. But while those of you graduating today should be proud of what you have accomplished, I’m also sure you recognize that you didn’t get here by yourselves. First, you had the support of your families, and in particular your parents. Turn around and look at them while you express your appreciation. You know, even as a proud B.C. High graduate, I have to admit that St. Sebastian’s is a particularly special place. And I’m sure that my fellow Eagle, Mr. Brendan Sullivan, agrees. Recently, I had a chance to talk to a number of this year’s graduates and I was genuinely struck by how positive they were about their experience at St. Sebastian’s. I also watched them interact with the leadership here at the school. And as I watched, it was clear to me that Mr. Burke has kept the promise he makes to each incoming class and their parents because what I saw in that interaction was young men who were known, who were loved, and who were called to greatness. What I observed was a testament to the faculty and staff. They have worked hard to teach, coach, and mentor the Class of 2021, and perhaps most importantly, the faculty and staff have shown this year’s class of Arrows what right looks like in life. And in confronting the challenges of COVID, they have shown you how to adapt and overcome adversity. Class of 2021, I’d ask you to recognize them once more. This morning, there may be one or two of you in the graduating class who aren’t particularly focused on the ceremony. Your mind may be wandering to your summer plans or pondering your transition to college. A few, no names mentioned, may be reliving the last minutes of the big game against Belmont Hill. So, with that in mind, my challenge this morning is to say something that will capture your attention and something
24 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
that you will find relevant. That’s my mission this morning— Marines take accomplishing the mission seriously, and I’m going to accomplish my mission by sharing a few thoughts about leadership and service. In reality, I’m going to simply offer personal reflections to reinforce a message delivered many times here at St. Sebastian’s. And Class of 2021, you’re going to accomplish your mission by staying with me for just a few minutes. Deal? I chose to talk about leadership and service this morning because I believe we should expect leadership and service from men who will leave here today and forever be proud to call themselves Arrows in the tradition of St. Sebastian. We should expect leadership and service from graduates of a school with a mission to produce life-long learners who continue to grow in their capacity to know, to love, and to serve God and neighbor. And we should expect leadership and service from graduates of a truly world class high school. St. Sebastian’s is a gift each of you has been given … and with that gift comes certain expectations and responsibilities. While you may not know what you’ll be doing a few years from now, and you may not even have decided on your major in college, as a St. Sebastian’s graduate, there is an expectation that throughout life you will find a way to lead. There is an expectation that you will find a way to serve a cause greater than yourself … and there is an expectation that you will demonstrate a willingness and a passion to serve others. In my leadership journey, I always found inspiration in the stories of individuals who epitomized the qualities I sought to develop. I suspect all of you can quickly identify people who have inspired you—some with whom you have had a personal relationship, others you may have read about. Over the last several years, you have been exposed to an extraordinary example of character, leadership, commitment, and selfless
COMMENCEMENT 2021
service in the story of St. Sebastian. Of course, he is the patron saint of your school and of athletes … but, as someone who served in the armed forces, he is also my patron saint. As everyone here knows, St. Sebastian was a leader who took great personal risk bearing witness to his faith and he ultimately sacrificed his life by speaking out in defense of fellow Christians. But in my experience, you don’t have to open the history books or look to saints to find examples of inspiring leaders. I’ve actually had the privilege of serving with a number of men and women who embodied the qualities and characteristics of great servant leaders. Two weeks ago, when I met several members of this year’s class and had the opportunity to talk to them about their experience at St. Seb’s and their futures, I was reminded of a leader who has inspired me. I’d like to introduce you to Matt Lynch … Matt had a lot in common with many of you. He was the product of a family with a deep tradition of service and faith. His family also placed a high priority on education. His brother and dad served as United States Marines and they both went on to distinguished careers in the FBI. Matt was smart, athletic, and personable. He attended a very competitive high school in Long Island, NY, where he excelled in the classroom. He also broke several records as a swimmer and tied the all-time record for home runs as the catcher on the varsity baseball team. His academic and athletic prowess led to offers at many Division 1 schools … and he accepted a scholarship at Duke University where he continued to set the pace for those around him. Matt was a natural leader whose talent was complemented by strength of character and a great sense of humor. Like so many in this year’s class of Arrows, Matt had a positive influence on his peers and brought out the best in his teammates and the other people around him. After graduating from Duke in 2001, Matt decided to serve our country and he was commissioned as a Marine Corps Officer.
INTRODUCTION OF
General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. by Headmaster William Burke III
Joseph Francis Dunford, Jr. is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general, who, from October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2019, served as the 19th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation’s highest-ranking and most senior military officer, and the principal military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council. Prior to becoming Chairman, General Dunford served as the 36th Commandant of the Marine Corps. He previously served as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from 2010 to 2012 and was Commander, International Security Assistance Forces-Afghanistan from February 2013 to August 2014. A native of Boston and an alumnus of Boston College High School, General Dunford graduated from St. Michael’s College and was commissioned in 1977. He has served as an infantry officer at all levels, to include command of the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, and command of the 5th Marine Regiment during Operation Iraqi Freedom. A graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School, Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School, and the U.S. Army War College, General Dunford has also earned master’s degrees in Government from Georgetown University and in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. I came to know and greatly admire General Dunford and his wonderful wife, Ellyn, at a recent dinner party hosted by Scotty Behman’s mother, Marcie. As you will soon discover, intelligence, energy, integrity, eloquence, humility, wisdom, courage, grace, honor, gravitas, and ten thousand other strengths are our speaker’s. We are beyond grateful to General Dunford for his heroic service to our country—the best country on earth—and we are so very blessed to have him with us.
Colm Kearney ‘21 gives his classmate a congratulatory fist bump.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 25
COMMENCEMENT 2021
Matt was one of my Marines during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was one of the first Marines across the Iraq border in March of 2003. In the fall of 2003, after being deployed for 9 months, he returned to California with no expectation that he would be back in Iraq. But in the spring of 2004, while Matt’s unit was still back in California, many other units from our command were back in Iraq and taking heavy casualties. Matt was one of a few lieutenants who volunteered to join another unit in Iraq that needed leaders. A few months later, after his second combat deployment in less than 18 months, Matt returned to the United States for a well-deserved leave period and a family reunion. Before he departed on leave, he went to visit the Marines from his first deployment; they were now headed back to Iraq, but he found they didn’t have a lieutenant. Matt immediately volunteered 26 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
to take them back. When he called home, his family was very disappointed that he wasn’t going to make the reunion. In truth, Matt was also very disappointed. In the course of the call, his dad said: “Matt, you’ve been over to Iraq twice, why don’t you take a break.” Matt responded: “Dad, those are my friends and my Marines. I have learned a lot. I know I can help them accomplish the mission and bring them home safely. I have to go back, they need me. It’s the right thing to do.” And so, Matt returned to Iraq. In Matt’s words, you may hear the echo of Isaiah who wrote: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying who shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said: here I am, send me!” At that moment, Matt Lynch thought: If I don’t take care of these Marines, who will?
COMMENCEMENT 2021
By every account, Matt was a source of great inspiration to his Marines. Matt Lynch’s Marines would do anything for him. They loved him because he led by example, because he was a man of character, because he was a student of his profession and competent, and because they knew he would do anything for them. In November 2004, Matt was killed in Ramadi, Iraq while leading his Marines under the most challenging circumstances, but because of his leadership, over 30 other young marines returned home to their families and today enjoy rewarding and productive lives. Arrows … future leaders … you may find it hard to identify with such extraordinary examples as St. Sebastian or Matt Lynch. It’s unlikely that your faith will require as much from you as it did St. Sebastian. And few, if any of you, will be called to serve on active duty in the U.S. Military or be in a position to make the ultimate sacrifice for the nation and your subordinates. But I didn’t remind you of St. Sebastian or share the story of Matt Lynch because of how they died. I chose to talk about them because of how they lived. It was their character, their commitment to something greater than themselves, and their willingness to serve others that we should remember and strive to emulate. Being a servant leader of character can take many forms. It’s not just something that you will demonstrate at some great moment in the future. Servant leadership is what you do every day. It’s what you do as a son, as a brother, and as a friend. Next fall, you’ll have an opportunity to demonstrate your values and servant leadership in the classroom, in the dorm, and on the playing field. In the coming years, you’ll have additional opportunities as captains of industry, educators, professional athletes, or government officials. And I hope when you lead, you remember St. Sebastian and the story of Matt Lynch if only you remember that when you’re a leader it’s not about you. And on this point we can also draw inspiration from the words of Christ in the Gospel of Mark when he said: “for even the son of man didn’t come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Class of 2021, let me close by making a simple request. Regardless of where life takes you, commit to being a part of something bigger than yourself. Take care and serve those around you. And as you depart St. Sebastian’s, go forth with the courage of your convictions. And in the end, perhaps inspired by the story of Matt Lynch, or the example of the leaders here at St. Sebastian’s, or one of many Arrows that have preceded you, be leaders of consequence. Thank you again for the opportunity to join you on this special day. God bless you all in your future endeavors and semper fidelis.
“Regardless of where life takes you, commit to being a part of something bigger than yourself. Take care and serve those around you. And as you depart St. Sebastian’s, go forth with the courage of your convictions.”
OPPOSITE: An aerial view of Commencement as the graduates and faculty process across the West Campus fields. TOP: Benen Kaczmarek ‘21 gives a thumbs up as he exits the ceremony; BOTTOM: Assistant Dean of Students Dan Burke ‘97 embraces Lyndel Erold ‘21.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 27
COMMENCEMENT 2021
VALEDICTORY ADDRESS
Be Virtuous BY GABRIEL A. TWOHIG '21
M
r. Burke, Mr. Nerbonne, Mr. Elcock, Fr. Arens, General Dunford, members of the Board of Trustees, members of the faculty, guests, family, and fellow members of the Class of 2021: First off, I want to congratulate my fellow classmates for their many achievements, great and small, and for all their effort and hard work over the past several years. Our journey together was not always smooth and easy, and so I applaud you all for making it to the top of the climb. Today, I stand here before you, my fellow St. Sebastian’s Arrows, to wish you farewell. Although this moment marks the end of our journey as St. Sebastian’s students, it also signals the beginning of a new stage in our lives, when we will branch out onto new paths. To build off of a metaphor Headmaster Burke once told me, our lives our like rivers. These past several years have kept us together on the same large river of St. Sebastian’s School, but after today our river will branch off into dozens of smaller streams. And even though we will follow different paths, we should all aim for the same ultimate destination: Heaven, eternal happiness, peace, and rest with God. And so, as we prepare to disperse onto different journeys, I want to send you off with a few tools to help you navigate along the way with the hope that at the end of our lives we will all find our way to the correct river, the river that will take our ships straight to the gates of Heaven. So what kind of advice will allow you to navigate steadily towards Heaven? One word: virtue. Virtue, as St. Thomas Aquinas and Aristotle explain it, is the habitual disposition towards the good. When we lead virtuous lives, we are happier and keep ourselves on a steady course towards Heaven. And so, I see no better way of sending you off than by exhorting you to be virtuous. I will begin with a virtue I applaud you all for showcasing during your time at St. Sebastian’s. This virtue is loyalty. I remember standing with scores of students during the Sebs-BB&N night game with Henry’s Corner decked in all white, rowdy, energetic, and eager. I remember storming the cross-country match during Homecoming in a crowd of other students to cheer on Henry Gennari as he finished his race. I remember feeling exhilarated every time I saw the enormous crowd of Arrows supporting me while I played on the soccer field. Truly, all of you have demonstrated a very strong loyalty to this school and to your fellow classmates, for which you should be commended. Take this same loyalty
28 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
with you on your next journeys. Be loyal to your country, to your current and future families, to your friends, to your jobs, and most especially to God by following His commandments. Be faithful to others just as you were faithful to this school. Now this next virtue is very fitting for the occasion. The virtue is gratitude. Until we were conceived, every single one of us was once nothing. God fashioned each of us and gave us life. If you cannot think of anything to be grateful for, be grateful for your own existence; be grateful to God who freely chose to give you the gift of life, the gift of your body and soul. I hope, however, that you recognize many more things to be grateful for, the first being this school. We have had the privilege of learning and studying under many outstanding faculty and administrators, such as Headmaster Burke and Mr. Nerbonne; we have been able to develop physically under excellent coaches; we have been given the chance of strengthening our faith through mass, benediction, adoration, and our great chaplain, Fr. Arens. I have found that some of my happiest moments in my life have occurred when I am grateful. A grateful heart allows one to accept whatever comes in life with patience and ease. At times God will allow us to suffer, to undergo pain and sorrow, all in an effort to make us better, holier people. And it is gratitude for the small things in life that allows us to endure these trials and come out from them better than before. And so, with gratitude in mind and on behalf of the Class of 2021, I would like to thank the entire St. Sebastian’s community: all the faculty, the administrators, the coaches, the mentors, the maintenance crew, the cooks, and all the rest who
COMMENCEMENT 2021
“When we lead virtuous lives, we are happier and keep ourselves on a steady course towards Heaven. And so, I see no better way of sending you off than by exhorting you to be virtuous.” have sacrificed and given much for our benefit. Let us not forget our families as well. I want to thank my father and mother who were and still are two of my greatest guiding lights in this world; they have loved and directed me both in times of joy and in times of tribulation. I want to thank my two brothers, Michael and Rafael, for being great role models and for helping me develop in virtue and grow closer to God. Finally, I would like to thank you, my fellow Arrows of the Class of 2021, for all the good you have done, directly and indirectly, that has caused me to become a better person. When you set off today, remember to be grateful for all the good in your life and especially for God your creator. As you sail along whatever path God has set for you, you would not be human if you did not get lost. I am here to tell you that you will suffer; you will face hardship. As Archbishop Fulton Sheen says, “Heaven is on a hill, hence we cannot coast into it; we have to climb.” That is the bad news. The good news is that you are not alone. There is a reason the Catholic Church professes the idea of grace or God’s unconditional love for us. Without grace none of us would be able to navigate the dangerous waters of this world. However, grace is a twoway street, for while God is the one who sends it to us, we must open our hearts and receive it. This idea of grace brings me to my final virtue: charity. Being a Theological Virtue, we can only become charitable through the gift of grace. Moreover, when I say charity, I do not simply mean donating a large sum of money to the poor. Allow St. Paul to elucidate the meaning of charity: “Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely; is not puffed up; Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-6). Also remember God’s two greatest commandments: first, “thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind” and second, “thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matthew 22:37, 22:39). If you take anything from this speech, remember this: to love, to be charitable to one another, is the greatest thing we can do as humans. Think about how you love yourself.
Every single one of us wishes the best for ourselves, and we exert a great deal of energy for our own benefit each day simply because it is easy and natural. In many ways a healthy love for yourself is good and wholesome. However, what I am calling you to do is to take this same love and apply it to those around you. Sacrifice, give, help, and be charitable for others just as you would for yourself. If you ever need to be reminded of what true charity looks like, take a good look at a crucifix. Jesus nailed to the cross is the greatest example of charity you will ever witness. This is part of the reason why we glorify Jesus, why He sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, and why St. Paul says, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth” (Philippians 2:10). Thus, I sincerely desire that all of you open your hearts, receive God’s grace, and grow in charity. For it is charity that will guide your ship to Heaven; it is charity that will support you as you stand in judgement before God; and it is charity that all the angels and saints will praise when you are together with them in Heaven. And so, with charity in mind, I wish you, my fellow Arrows, all the best in the years to come. I pray that God, in His infinite love and mercy, will grant you the grace to lead good, holy, virtuous lives, and that through this grace God will reunite us all in Heaven where we will gaze upon the beauty and glory of the Beatific Vision in everlasting joy and peace. Amen. Thank you and God bless you all.
Assistant Headmaster Mike Nerbonne and Michael Phelps ’21 share a laugh as graduates are congratulated by faculty following the ceremony.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 29
COMMENCEMENT 2021
SALUTATORY ADDRESS
Marked, Chosen & Loved BY ALESSANDRO G. BARBIELLINI ‘21 We Were Marked, We Were Chosen, We Were Loved… And Now, We Are Sent Out.
M
r. Burke, Mr. Nerbonne, Mr. Elcock, General Dunford, Father Arens, members of the Board of Trustees, members of the faculty, guests, family and fellow members of the Class of 2021… I find it difficult to encapsulate my journey at St. Sebastian’s into one speech. As I began to think of the countless memories I have made here, they begin to flood my mind with an indescribable spectrum of feelings and emotions. To relive and retell all of these experiences would be, without a doubt, a tremendous task and, therefore, will be an activity that I will reserve for reunions and phone calls with fellow Arrows long after our time here. Yet, in every experience that I can recall, there are two underlying sentiments that have persisted. One was the already familiar sense of belonging; the other was a sense of purpose, which unexpectedly was never my own but was something that was always greater than myself. The first sentiment—that of belonging—is one that all of us here can easily attest to. It manifests itself in the relationships between students—the Brotherhood—and the relationships between students and teachers and the rest of the St. Sebastian’s community. It is through this feeling of belonging that we came to understand the love of St. Sebastian’s and reciprocate and share it with others in the community. The second sentiment—that of purpose—is one that is more subtle. It might have never manifested itself in a tangible way, but it existed in the simple truth that our initial encounters with St. Sebastian’s and eventual acceptance into the Sebs community were not mere coincidences but were instead a series of deliberate events facilitated by those who first introduced us to Sebs, the St. Sebastian’s admissions office, and, lastly and most fundamentally, God. Even before we knew it ourselves, the guiding hand of God had marked and chosen us for St. Sebastian’s and made it possible through those who welcomed us into the Sebs community. At the beginning of what I would later learn would be my St. Sebastian’s journey, I was uncertain. I had applied to several schools, each promising a different type of future and student body. However, out of the many, St. Sebastian’s stood out. Unlike the other institutions I applied to, this school encouraged its students to examine their education through a
30 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
lens of faith and reason. It guaranteed a brotherhood of some kind. And lastly, its headmaster had promised my family that he had intentions to send me to Heaven—a tall order indeed. Needless to say, my initial interest in St. Sebastian’s had grown into an eagerness to learn more about the community. Yet, there was still some hesitation on my part. Could everything that was promised by St. Sebastian’s be true? It seemed unlikely. But even if it was all true, would I be a good fit for the school? Was it my calling? Would I belong? Luckily for me, a sign would come in a most unexpected way. After attending a curriculum night hosted by St. Sebastian’s the previous night, my family and I spent the next morning at a small bagel shop discussing all that we had witnessed. In the middle of our conversation, a man politely interrupted us. “Excuse me,” he asked, “Were you talking about St. Sebastian’s?” When we said yes, he continued, “Well, I just wanted to tell you that St. Sebastian’s is a great school.” Pleasantly surprised, my family and I asked if he was an alumnus. To our shock, he told us he wasn’t; he had just heard good things about the school. From that day forward, I realized that I, like the random man I met, was somehow marked with a notable impression of St. Sebastian’s. We both had been witnesses to the goodness of St. Sebastian’s and were fully aware of its unique and extraordinary mission. But little did I know at that time, that encounter with the man was God’s way of revealing to me that I was not only marked by St. Sebastian’s but marked by Him to become an Arrow. Today, we find ourselves here because, at some point, we were purposefully marked by and marked for St. Sebastian’s. Within the months leading up to the deadline of my application, I fully devoted myself to the drafting and
COMMENCEMENT 2021
reworking of essays, dreaming of a St. Sebastian’s acceptance. But that dream was plagued with seeds of doubt. If what I had seen at open houses and curriculum nights was true, would I actually have a shot at being chosen? As with any lingering question, I tried to answer this one myself, playing out a series of mostly favorable outcomes. Yet, even while trying to answer my own question, I realized the futility of my task. My attempts to read the future would always be fruitless endeavors. After watching me struggle with the possibilities of my admissions decision, my mother suggested that we pray a novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. At first, it was difficult to understand how prayer could answer my initial question of whether or not I would be chosen by St. Sebastian’s. But with time, I came to realize that my prayers sought less for an answer but more for something or someone to place my trust in. Ultimately, the choice of my acceptance was not a decision for me to decide upon, but it was a choice reserved for St. Sebastian’s, and still, in a grander sense, for God. Every night, when my mother and I would gather together and pray the novena, we would hope for a St. Sebastian’s acceptance, but we would pray more fervently for God to guide me to the place where I belonged. So when I received a letter in the mail informing me of my St. Sebastian’s acceptance, I rejoiced, not only because St. Sebastian’s had chosen me, but because God had chosen me to attend St. Sebastian’s. Today, we celebrate that choice—our acceptance. We thank God that He purposefully chose us to be Arrows and that, through Him, we were accepted into the Sebs community. For the next six years, I knew it was my mission to fully participate in the St. Sebastian’s community. However, throughout my journey as a student, I learned that my participation was not necessarily an active endeavor: it was first passive. In order to take part in the community, I needed to belong, and in order to belong, I needed to be loved. And so, I was loved. First, by my brothers in the Class of 2021. Then, by the faculty and staff who supported me along my Sebs journey. Next, by my brothers in the grades above and below me. And finally, by the rest of the community, which included the parents and friends of fellow Arrows. As I stand before all of you today, I can say with certainty that I have witnessed the loving community that St. Sebastian’s promised me six years ago. I saw it on my first day during orientation. I felt it when Henry’s Corner violently shook with a fiery passion at the first hockey game I attended. I heard it in the applause after the conclusion of a play put on by the Drama Club. I listened to it when Mr. Nerbonne advised me. I was molded by it when I took my H block ceramics class with Mrs. Ellis. I marveled at it when Mr. Palmaccio showed my class a remarkable proof. I evoked it
with music under the guidance of Mr. Grohmann. I discussed it with Father Arens during late-evening conversations in the foyer. I joked about it with Rob and Robin, our security guards, long after school ended. I was even remedied by it in the health office with Mrs. Joyce. No matter where I looked, I found love, was loved, and was called to reciprocate that love. And it is this love that brings all of us here today. As members of the St. Sebastian’s community, we were loved from when we first entered all the way until now and into eternity. Once in, never out. But, after all of this, after our ceremonies, our parties, and our final goodbyes, what comes next? It is evident that with these celebrations and activities, we are being sent out into a community far bigger than the one we have come to know so intimately. But what comes next? What is our new mission? There is a temptation to simply move on. To take what St. Sebastian’s has bestowed upon us and to stow it away solely for reminiscing. But, after all we have witnessed, that decision feels insufficient and almost alien. After we have been marked, chosen, and loved by St. Sebastian’s are we not sent out to accomplish something greater? When I think about this question, the man who approached my family and me in the bagel shop comes to mind. As someone who did not attend St. Sebastian’s, he was neither chosen to be a part of the Sebs community nor loved in the same way we have been throughout our time as students. Yet, somehow, this man felt compelled to share the goodness he had witnessed with my family and me. Because he was marked by the goodness of St. Sebastian’s, he desired to share it with others. So it follows that we should endeavor to do the same and even more. Because God purposefully marked and chose us to be Arrows and because we have been loved with the sole reason being that we were Arrows, we are called to not only preach the goodness of St. Sebastian’s but to live it. Now, our vocation for how to live after Sebs becomes clear. Since we were marked, chosen, and loved first by God through the community of St. Sebastian’s, we are sent as witnesses to share that love and community with the whole world. Finally, I would like to take this time to thank a few people who have made my St. Sebastian’s journey possible. First, to my mom and dad, thank you for sending me to Sebs and for all the sacrifices you have made to ensure that I would be able to have the best education one could ask for. Although sometimes it may seem like I do not appreciate all that you have done for me, please know that I am forever grateful to you. To my sister, thank you for being a companion along my high school journey. Without you, it would have been much more difficult. Lastly, to my grandparents, thank you for being the first ones to empower yourselves through education. If it were not for you, I would not have found myself here today.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 31
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
GRANDPARENTS & SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY
LEFT: Mike Frisoli addresses the crowd at the reception. RIGHT: Michael Muldowney and Bob Reardon exchange a celebratory fist bump at the final hole.
HEADMASTER SCHOLARSHIP GOLF TOURNAMENT On May 17, more than 115 St. Sebastian’s parents, parents of alumni, alumni, and friends participated in St. Sebastian’s Headmaster Scholarship Golf Tournament at Dedham Golf and Polo Club. The outing successfully raised funds for the Headmaster Scholarship which provides financial assistance to St. Sebastian’s students. Blessed with a beautiful day, the golfers enjoyed a wonderful afternoon on the course. During an outdoor reception, participants heard from Headmaster Bill Burke and our Men’s Association President Mike Frisoli P’17,’19,’21,’22,’26, who did a fabulous job planning and organizing this event along with fellow Golf Chair Mike Muldowney P’12,’16,’22. Thank you to all our sponsors and participants for their generous support of the tournament.
More than 150 Arrow grandparents and family members tuned in from afar for our virtual Grandparents & Special Friends Day on April 27. Thank you to our co-chairs, Darice Merageas P’21,’24 and Meredith Shachoy P’21,’25, for their participation and all the St. Sebastian’s moms who donned their aprons in spirit. During the program, Fr. John Arens and Headmaster Bill Burke shared messages of hope and encouragement, grandfather Jim Donovan GP’19, ’22, shared his thoughts about the School, our student speaker Alessandro Barbiellini ’21 spoke about his grandparents and special friends, and resident musicians, Eddie Zhang ’24 and St. Sebastian’s Jazz/Pop Ensemble, entertained us with their performances. Participants also had the opportunity to join Fr. Arens for a virtual Grandparents & Special Friends Day Mass, continuing the tradition of attending Mass with their grandsons when they visit campus each spring.
GUILD OF ST. IRENE FASHION SHOW The Guild of St. Irene held its annual Closing Event & Fashion Show on the evening of May 19. Senior moms gathered for cocktails and dinner on the Class of 2017 Terrace, while the moms from all other classes watched the fun and light-hearted event via Zoom. The Fashion Show video featured 25 senior moms dressed in their St. Seb’s swag as they sashayed down their home and campus “runways,” with special appearances from their senior boys. During the event, those mothers whose youngest Arrows would be graduating this year were honored with their St. Sebastian’s necklace. The evening was a great opportunity to thank this year’s Guild President, Laurel Mullen P’19,’21, for her energy and hard work over the course of the year and to celebrate the Class of 2021 moms and their sons!
32 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
A Special Celebration for the Class of 2021 Parents
A
fter spending most of the year apart or behind masks, the Class of 2021 parents met in person on Sunday, June 6, for the traditional Senior Parent Dinner. Held under a tent on the West Campus fields, the event was both a welcome opportunity to celebrate the Class of 2021 and to be together on campus as a group one last time before their sons’ graduation from St. Sebastian’s. Fellow senior parents Laurel Mullen P’19,’21 and Mike Frisoli P’17,’19,’21,’22,’26 gave year-end reports on the Guild of St. Irene and Men’s Association activities before presenting Headmaster Bill Burke with checks to show how much each group raised for St. Sebastian’s this past year. Despite the pandemic, the Guild and Men’s Association worked their magic and successfully rallied the parent community to come together for a Virtual Christmas Auction and the Headmaster’s Scholarship Golf Tournament, raising a combined $671,894 for financial aid. Headmaster Burke spoke to the group about the unique leadership role their boys played in setting examples for all the underclassmen during this unusual school year. He gave a heartfelt and emotional description of his 31-year tradition of writing a letter to each senior prior to graduation and how important it is for the graduates to know they leave an imprint and will always be a part of the School. He also thanked the parents for their extraordinary support of both the Annual Fund and the Class of 2021 Brotherhood Fund, which will provide financial aid to future Arrows. The Senior Class Gift also includes naming the current faculty room the “Class of 2021 Room.” We are forever grateful to the parents of the Class of 2021 for their tremendous generosity to St. Sebastian’s.
TOP ROW: Parents enjoy catching up during the reception; Guild President Laurel Mullen P’19,’21 gives a year-end report; MIDDLE: Remarks from Headmaster Burke draw applause from the senior parents; BOTTOM: Members of the Senior Class Gift Committee gather in Martin Hall.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 33
HENRY T. LANE RINK IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
S
t. Sebastian’s hockey has been one of the cornerstones of our athletic program since the first team took to the ice in 1943, just two years after the School was established. From the outset, our teams have been strong and Arrows Hockey is recognized as a top hockey program in one of the most competitive leagues in the country. Improvements have been made to our Henry T. Lane Rink since it was built in 1996, but it is time to breathe new life into the facility. With this in mind, we embarked on the Henry T. Lane Rink Improvement Project, a multifaceted initiative to revitalize the facility for skaters and spectators, improve skater safety and honor the Arrows Hockey legacy. Following a generous lead gift and the commitment and support of 42 friends of Arrows Hockey, as of June 30, 2021, $1,253,174 has been raised in gifts and pledges toward our goal of $2.5 million. One of the highlights of the project is a new ice level warming room, centered behind the net on the east end of the 34 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
rink. In addition to providing families, alumni and guests a space to warm up in between periods, it will feature muraled walls with photographs and plaques celebrating the rich heritage and history of Arrows Hockey and the achievements of many teams and individuals. Over 500 players spanning eight decades have laced up their skates for the black and red, sharing an unbreakable bond as brothers of the Arrows Hockey family. Our teams and players have won league and New England Championships and numerous individual awards. St. Sebastian’s prepared hundreds of players for outstanding careers in college hockey, at the professional level and
in the Olympic ranks. Many of these accomplishments will be displayed within the new warming room. This will offer a lasting legacy of our hockey program and provide inspiration for future Arrows. Whether playing for the team or cheering from the stands, Arrows Hockey has always been a source of great pride for St. Sebastian’s. The Henry T. Lane Rink Project will ensure our hockey players have the best experience possible and will elevate the fan experience for the legions of students, alumni, parents, and faculty that pack Henry’s Corner for home games.
“St. Sebastian’s has a history of helping students develop in the sport they love. Continuing this tradition requires advancement and progress. Investing to upgrade the rink facilities will provide the hockey program with a building that energizes the players and makes the entire St. Seb’s community proud.” —Parent of Arrows hockey alumnus
PROJECT SCOPE • New state-of-the-art boards and glass shielding system with flexible glass to improve player safety
• New permanent bleachers and viewing platforms to improve the experience for spectators and fans
• New pipes and concrete rink floor, replacing the current • • • • • •
sand floor, to allow flexibility for use as multi-functional space during the off-season New main level warming room decorated with muraled walls highlighting Arrows Hockey history, player and team achievements West wall improvements featuring the St. Sebastian’s logo, a new scoreboard and banner display East wall improvements featuring a new scoreboard and banner display and prominent display of the American flag New skate-proof interlocking floor tile throughout the rink Restroom renovation upgrade Painting to brighten the interior walls of the rink
Potential additional work:
50% raised towards
$2.5 MILLION GOAL
• Expansion of the second level overlook viewing area with
•
seamless glass spanning the length between the goal lines, giving St. Sebastian’s spectators a much improved view of the game Exterior improvements to the rink façade featuring prominent St. Sebastian’s School branding
(as of June 30, 2021)
Campaign Committee John J. Doherty ’62, P’86,’87, GP’17,’25 Timothy P. Doherty ’87, P’17 James L. Elcock ’77, P’08 Michael J. Grier ’93, P‘22 Noah P. Hanifin ’15 Joseph G. Harney ’92, P’21,’24 Joseph A. Hulbig ’92 Stephen P. Maskell ’74, P’09 Peter J. McLaughlin ’55, GP’13,’19,‘24 John A. Murphy P’17,’20 John B. Sullivan, Jr. ’66, P’00 Joseph L. Tansey, Jr. ’69, P’03 In Formation
OPPOSITE: East wall improvements feature a new warming room decorated with muraled walls of Arrows Hockey history; ABOVE: A view of the west wall from the new bleachers.
To learn more about the Henry T. Lane Rink Improvement Project, please visit stsebs.org/rinkproject or contact Rich Arms at 781-247-0116 or Lesley Day at 781-247-0120.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 35
Continuity and
Community Every school day at St. Sebastian’s begins with three students delivering carefully written, fully reviewed Chapel Speeches. In a year that has been anything but typical, this fundamental staple of the St. Sebastian’s experience continued without skipping a beat. Maintaining this most important practice, despite the many challenges presented by the pandemic, provided our students a vital platform to reflect, while providing an invaluable sense of continuity and community.
36 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
O
ur long-standing public speaking tradition was launched in the 1980s by Headmaster Charles Riepe, upon the excellent suggestion of Karen Birmingham P’84, GP’14,’17. The signature St. Sebastian’s School Chapel Speech calls upon every student to write and deliver a speech in his weekly grade level service in the Chapel. Soon after Headmaster Bill Burke arrived in 1990, the practice of having the Seniors deliver their speeches on Monday mornings in Corporate Chapel—in the Church in front of the entire School community rather than just their classmates—was implemented. Over the years, tweaks and enhancements have made the program ever stronger, but the experience has largely stayed the same. This integral component of the St. Sebastian’s liberal arts curriculum provided a structure that proved to be key when the pandemic arrived on our doorstep. From the first morning of distance learning on March 30, 2020, senior Chapel Speeches were streamed on our website at the start of the school day, with students and faculty and parents and frequently grandparents and other family members tuning in from their homes or offices. Continuing this daily ritual under the extraordinary circumstances of the lockdown brought a sense of order and comfort during a time filled with uncertainty and isolation. When St. Sebastian’s reopened to in-person learning in the fall, the need for physical distancing did not stop the steady rhythm of Chapel Speeches at the beginning of each day. Although it was not possible to gather in the Church or in the Chapel, new solutions were devised thanks to creative use of space and technology. Seniors gathered as a class in the wrestling room for Corporate Chapel, while their speeches were broadcast to homerooms throughout campus. “Delivering the Senior Chapel Speech is a rite of passage for every St. Sebastian’s student,” shared Jim Ferguson, 12th grade Chapel Speech moderator. “It’s their moment to speak in front of the entire student body and faculty and I know the seniors appreciated the opportunity to speak ‘live’ in front of their classmates.”
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 37
LEFT TO RIGHT: Rui Do Rosario ’24, Liam Field ’24, TJ Ragnoni ’21, Lucas Cox ’25 and Eddie Ryan ’23 deliver their Chapel Speeches.
Members of the 7th Grade assembled in Ward Hall with Assistant Headmaster Michael Nerbonne to deliver their first Chapel Speeches. In a year when students needed to social distance and wear masks, this time spent together in one place has been a true blessing for our newest Arrows. “This weekly gathering where they can safely see their classmates, and briefly shed their mask to share something personal, has made it possible for them to get know each other better,” observed 7th grade advisor Tom Harrington. Students in grades 8-11 gave their speeches in the Chapel, with only Headmaster Burke, Fr. Arens, Meyer Chambers and the faculty advisor present, as their classmates watched and listened from their homerooms. Even though the students in these
grades were not all together in the Chapel, they were listening, and the speakers were being heard. As no visitors were allowed on campus, parents across all grades watched their sons’ speeches through the livestream, with extended family and friends being able to tune in as well. For many grandparents who were separated from their grandchildren by distance or COVID-19 protocols, this was a special moment. While the logistics around delivery of speeches needed to be adjusted for reasons of safety, the basic components of the Chapel Speaking Program, and its many benefits, remained unchanged. Students engaged in the
“I am convinced that this has been the best year of speeches in the history of the school, and clearly that has been because of the pandemic. The boys have all been forced to become more reflective, more introspective than ever before, and they’ve all discovered the urgency of finding silver linings in adversity.” —Stefan Cressotti 38 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
same process to craft their speeches, giving them the opportunity to apply lessons learned through our highly esteemed St. Sebastian’s Writing Program. Faculty advisors continued to meet individually with students to review and rehearse their speeches and provide detailed written evaluations afterwards. Whether in front of a mostly virtual crowd or a live audience of their classmates, students developed confidence in public speaking as they brought their written words to life. For students in grades 8-12, Headmaster Burke offered feedback in the same way he always has, delivering remarks immediately after having heard every student deliver his Chapel Speech. “I recapitulate to students the parts of their speeches that really struck me, often sharing reflections from scripture or poetry,” shared Headmaster Burke. “It really is my classroom, and that was especially true this year.” Since many of the boys have been speaking to an almost empty Chapel, the headmaster’s commentary has been particularly precious. “Bill’s extemporaneous analysis and photographic recall has always been
impressive, but this year it’s even more important for each boy to feel that he has been heard, and Bill has certainly heard them,” noted Stefan Cressotti, who not only served as advisor for the 10th grade but also took on the task of streaming every Chapel Speech for the students who were distance learning. Assistant Headmaster Mike Nerbonne continued the same tradition for the 7th graders, playing back to each student how his words landed on him. These live recaps have also been notably meaningful for the parents and other family members as they listened from home. The results of the Chapel Speaking Program are often spectacular, but this year there was a special quality to the speeches. Many boys naturally chose to focus on the pandemic, but even speeches on topics that are timeless— hobbies, injuries, pets, travel—made glancing allusions to the history we were living through. There was a new sense of appreciation and gratitude for relationships—missing or mourning a grandparent, bonding with siblings unexpectedly home from college—and simple joys such as walks in nature
that are often taken for granted. “I am convinced that this has been the best year of speeches in the history of the school, and clearly that has been because of the pandemic,” observed Cressotti. “The boys have all been forced to become more reflective, more introspective than ever before, and they’ve all discovered the urgency of finding silver linings in adversity.” The collective sense of trust and respect amongst our students has been built up over time, making it comfortable for them to speak about a vast array of topics, from lighthearted to profound—and as they get older, they tend to go deeper. This year, in particular, revealed the therapeutic value of delivering a Chapel Speech. Clearly, the boys have used this opportunity to not only share their passions and joys, but also to lay bare their vulnerabilities, and this has undoubtedly been invaluable to them
as individuals, but also as classes of brothers. As Headmaster Burke often tells the students, “The more you know, the more you love, and we know more about each other, because you dare to share more about each other and you dare to share with each other because together you’ve built this vessel of safety where not only is it okay to go deep, you feel compelled to do so. These are my brothers. I can share this with them. I can help myself and them at the same time.” The Chapel Speaking Program has long been recognized for building better writers and speakers, and that, of course, will never change, but the pandemic has affirmed its greatest power: to build community. Each of our 384 students shared some part of himself, creating a web of stories that connected them to one another and helped them get through a time in their lives that forever changed us and the world.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 39
W
Thank you,
Mr. Cornish David Cornish—Director of Grades 7 & 8 and English and Classics teacher—retired this spring following a remarkable 47-year career in education, including 21 years of service to St. Sebastian’s.
40 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
hether writing lessons on his blackboard, coaching from the sidelines, or offering sage guidance, David Cornish has been dedicated to helping students flourish both inside and outside the classroom. A highly respected teacher, coach, and advisor, he has set thousands of our youngest Arrows on the right path, helping them to grow into better learners and young men. Prior to launching his teaching career, Cornish, a Harvard graduate, served in the Marine Corps for two years and earned his master’s in education from Boston College. In September 1974, he joined the faculty at the Dexter School where he taught and coached boys in grades 7 and 8 for 26 years. Cornish had gotten to know Bill Burke while they watched their sons play football on opposing teams and when an opening in the English Department at St. Sebastian’s became available in 2000, he decided he was ready for a change. An expert in middle school boys, Cornish made a seamless transition to St. Sebastian’s. His focus remained on educating students in grades 7 and 8. He taught English as well as Latin over the years, and in 2006 assumed a leadership position as Director of Grades 7 & 8. Outside of the classroom, he built deeper connections with his students by coaching them in football and baseball and serving as moderator of The Dart, the middle school newspaper. He also served as Secretary of the Cum Laude Society and an advisor to many students over the years. Being able to watch his advisees develop all the way through senior year at St. Sebastian’s brought him great joy—a big change from Dexter, which at the time he left the school, ended in 8th grade. Cornish was a demanding teacher, setting the stage for the academic rigors at St. Sebastian’s, but always with the same purpose—to help each student achieve success. “During their first day of class in September, I share with my English students two overall intentions for the year—to help them learn to read literature with greater understanding and appreciation and to help them improve their writing both in terms of accuracy and style,” shared Cornish. “I then tell them that my hope was that they would leave for summer vacation the next June confident that they were better readers and writers.” Cornish’s valuable lessons in grammar and essay writing, along with his thorough and thoughtful feedback on each paper and test, helped each of his students reach this goal.
Cornish instilled a sense of discipline in his 7th and 8th grade charges that prepared them well for their high school years. From taking better notes, to writing down every assignment and handing in homework on time, he kept students focused and on track, encouraging them when they were struggling and always making himself available for extra help. He made it a priority to get to know each student and was eager to celebrate their successes in all aspects of their St. Sebastian’s experience, listening to every Chapel Speech and attending as many sports games as he could. When the world turned upside down during the pandemic, Cornish had to trade in his blackboard for video conferencing. Although teaching remotely presented many challenges, he never wavered in his commitment to his students, effectively replicating his classroom routine and lessons from afar. In April 2021, Cornish was able to return to campus and close out his teaching career in person, receiving an enthusiastic homecoming from his students. Thank you, Mr. Cornish, for always modeling and demanding the best virtues. We treasure the many years we were blessed with your presence and remain forever grateful for all you have done to make St. Sebastian’s a better place.
PRAISE FROM DAVID’S COLLEAGUES: “I had heard of David Cornish long before I met or worked with him. He was already a legend in the New England independent school world when I began teaching at St. Sebastian’s. After I arrived here, I was blessed to teach and work with David’s former students from Dexter. When I would suggest a slightly different approach with their Latin studies, they would defend their own way of doing things, telling me with great confidence, ‘That’s how Mr. Cornish taught us.’ Years later, working with David after he became a member of our faculty, I had the opportunity to see with my own eyes the myriad reasons for his students’ love, respect, and even reverence. A consummate educator, a dedicated school man, David embodied for me the very best of the independent school tradition of knowing, loving, and taking good care of every boy in the School.” —Michael Nerbonne, Assistant Headmaster “David has been a model for me and for all of his colleagues for the last 20 plus years. The way he approaches every day at St. Sebastian’s reminds us what is most important—our students. David always, always, always put the welfare of the boys first. He models thoughtfulness, scholarship, empathy. He treats everyone he encounters with respect and kindness. His impact on St. Sebastian’s—and on the many students and teachers he has inspired—will endure for many years.” —Chris Lynch, Chair of the English Department “I speak for all of David’s colleagues of today and yesterday in proclaiming the truth that it has been a truly great honor to have served with him, to have learned from him, to have been inspired by him. And how I wish that I could recount even a fraction of the many wonderful things I have caught students, parents, and colleagues saying about him behind his back. A loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, friend, soul mate, and Marine Corps veteran, Mr. Cornish has lived the creed: ‘Let me serve them all my days and never count the cost,’ and do we ever love him for it.”
Headmaster Burke gives David a handshake following remarks about the beloved educator at the closing faculty dinner.
—Headmaster Bill Burke
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 41
TRIBUTES FROM MR. CORNISH’S STUDENTS: “Mr. Cornish was a taskmaster, but also a loving, patient father figure and friend. He saw in each of us the potential within our young minds and was striving to get us ready for our futures. We were boys, and his goal was to put us on a path to becoming men—coincidentally, the theme of nearly all the books we read together in English class. His precision, his unrelenting focus, and his work ethic soon became what I loved best about Mr. Cornish. But it was during the pandemic months when I appreciated him the most. When it would have been easy to give up or wallow, Mr. Cornish and his ways kept us from giving in. He made things normal in a time that was anything but, and never let us get lost in our worry or fear of what was happening all around us.” —Jack Knight ’25
“Whether it was the daily check-ins to make sure I was on top of my studies, congratulating me after a big team win for hockey or congratulating me after scoring my first varsity goal, Mr. Cornish is someone that has been a tremendous support for me during middle school and high school, a key time in my life. He challenged me to work hard in the classroom and push myself to the furthest of my academic potential. I am beyond grateful for his remarkable commitment to my success and development at St. Sebastian’s.”
“I honestly do not know where to start when it comes to reflecting on my years as an advisee of Mr. Cornish. The countless acts of kindness that stems from a passion of teaching is a rarity, and my Dad and I often say how a teacher like Mr. Cornish only comes once in a lifetime... Mr. Cornish not only serves as someone to go to when in need of academic help or advice, but he also genuinely wants the best for all his students.”
—Michael Cataldo ’22 “Throughout my 10 years of schooling, never have I had an English teacher more dedicated than Mr. Cornish. When a portion of his year was entirely online, never once did he fail to educate and enthrall us. He’s always made sure to improve our writing, be it through new tools or imperfections to avoid.”
“Mr. Cornish helped me grow as both a student and as a person. He taught me the value of putting in the necessary time and hard work and that these two things are an integral part of success both in school and in life. I’m so grateful that I had him as a teacher, and even though our time together is ending, the memories and lessons will stick with me forever.”
—Seth Janchar ’26
—Nolan Dunphy ’26
—Tim Browne ’22
TOP LEFT: David with his wife, Cee-Cee, at a school event in Ward Hall. BOTTOM LEFT: David catches up with a student as they walk across campus. RIGHT: Students get back to work after surprising Mr. Cornish with a party upon his return to in-person teaching in April.
42 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
TOP ROW: Morris’s sons, Nathan ’90, Tim ’85, and Jamie ’87 and his grandson, Charlie ’18; The Kittler Family gathers around the dedication plaque; BOTTOM ROW: Headmaster Burke delivers a heartfelt eulogy during the Memorial Mass; items left behind by the legendary dean, from a noise maker to a tomato plant, reflect his character; Ann Kittler stands outside the Dean of Students’ Office, newly dedicated in her husband’s honor, with Fr. John Arens.
Dedication & Memorial Mass Honor the Legacy of Morris Kittler
O
n Saturday, June 12, members of the St. Sebastian’s community and the family and friends of Morris Kittler P’85,’87,’90, GP’18, gathered on campus to celebrate his life. The day began with a dedication of the Dean of Students’ Office, held in loving memory of Kittler, who served as a teacher and the Dean of Students at St. Sebastian’s from 1969-2006. Father John Arens started the dedication off with a few words and a prayer. The new Dean of Students’ Office plaque was then unveiled by wife Ann Kittler and Father Arens. Also in attendance were Kittler’s sons, Jamie ’87, Nathan ’90, and Tim ’85 and other family members. The plaque reads, “Dean of Students’ Office; In Loving Memory of Morris H. Kittler P’85,’87,’90, GP’18, Legendary Dean of Students 1969-2006; Beloved teacher, mentor, brother,
husband, father, grandfather, friend; He helped our boys become men of faith and honor.” Headmaster Bill Burke touched upon the great character, love, and passion Kittler had for his job and the students, while showing a few items left behind by the legendary dean, which included a colorcoded calendar, a tomato plant, and an old noisemaker. Following the office dedication, a Memorial Mass was held in the West Campus Center, led by Father Arens and attended by family, friends, current and former faculty and staff members and alumni. Headmaster Burke then gave a heartfelt speech, delving deeper into the life of Dean Kittler, honoring the beloved man and praising him for his many years of dedication to the school. Afterwards, a luncheon reception was held on the West Campus field.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 43
Man on a
MISSION BY CHRISTINE Y. ROBERTSON
44 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
We can never really know what’s around the next corner, and we can’t prevent it from coming—but we can control our response. In the span of just a few weeks, J.B. Dowd ’86, Associate Director of Supply Chain Quality at Moderna, was suddenly facing not just one, but two foes: a cancer diagnosis and a pandemic. As his world—and the world at large—changed in unimaginable ways, he kept moving forward with faith and determination to battle his own health challenges while fighting the COVID-19 virus to help others.
D
owd joined the world-class team at Moderna in January 2019, just a year before the pandemic began to unfold. Recruited for his extensive experience in clinical operations and quality assurance (QA), he was brought on board the biotechnology company’s QA department, supporting clinical packaging and labeling. Having spent the majority of his career working in medical devices at Boston Scientific, as well as stints in pharmaceuticals, biotech and other regulated industries, Dowd was drawn to working for Moderna because of its mission—to deliver on the promise of mRNA science to create a new generation of transformative medicines for patients. “I needed to be a part of a company driven by a bigger cause,” shared Dowd. “Moderna’s mission was not only impressive, it was also potentially creating a whole new platform of medicines that would change the way we treated disease in the future.” In Dowd’s first year at Moderna, he had the opportunity to grow alongside the company as he learned the ropes. “If the pandemic had come one year earlier, it would have been an even greater challenge,” he noted. “Timing was everything.” When it comes to cancer treatment, the same sentiment holds true—timing is everything—especially when the worldwide spread of a new infectious disease
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 45
LEFT: In his role at Moderna, J.B. helped to ensure the quality of the packaging and label of its COVID-19 vaccine; RIGHT: J.B. gives two thumbs up following his prostate cancer surgery at Mass General Hospital; OPPOSITE: J.B. wearing PPE while working at a Moderna facility.
is on the horizon. In November 2019, Dowd was diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer after taking a test for a life insurance policy. Through his work at Boston Scientific and from his father, a urologist who served as the President of the American Urological Association, he knew all too well what he was up against. Although his dad, Joe, had passed away in 1999, he still had many friends in the field of urology. Dowd tapped into that strong network of resources and on December 18, 2019, he had surgery. Only a few weeks later, after Dowd returned to work in January 2020, his team at Moderna began to hear about the impending pandemic. “I remember sitting down with one of our vice presidents and talking about how this is different, potentially more contagious than anything we’ve seen in a long time,” recalled Dowd. “Our scientists recognized this was something we had an obligation to tackle and we were well-designed to do it, having already proven our capabilities on a smaller scale.” Dowd watched in awe as teams of Moderna’s brilliant scientists began to take 12-hour shifts, working day and night to develop a potential vaccine before most of the world even knew the virus was coming. In preparation for the growing tidal wave, Moderna developed a strong corporate understanding of how its 46 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
employees would continue to operate while keeping safe once COVID-19 hit their doorstep. In March, when Massachusetts went into lockdown, Dowd and his team were ready to collaborate screen to screen rather than desk to desk, working remotely as much as possible. Those who needed to be in the facility took every precaution, wearing full PPE. “We were all on a mission and no one wanted to be pulled from the game due to illness.” Drawing another analogy from his athletic experiences at St. Sebastian’s, Dowd noted that “everything can change once you get on the field and you have to figure out a way to innovate as a team to meet a goal. If you can adapt and adjust, rather than be caught from behind, you can be victorious.” Ironically, the pandemic provided the opportunity for Dowd to adjust his lifestyle in order to improve his odds against the cancer. “I knew going into my illness that I needed to take this on; there was no room for melancholy. There’s only controlling what you can control and doing it in the most upbeat
and positive way.” His wife, Tiffany, also found herself working from home, with all her frequent travel for her job coming to a sudden stop. This turned out to be a true blessing as she supported Dowd in his recovery and became an amazing vegan chef when he switched to a completely plant-based diet. These efforts, combined with tremendous medical care, contributed to the success of his treatment and made it possible for him to continue to work. As the virus spread like wildfire, Dowd’s role at Moderna focused on what needed to be done to deliver the vaccine. In addition to supporting clinical study activities, he worked with strategic partners and Moderna’s team to prepare for the final drug product release. “I remember thinking we had to get the design of the carton and label just right because this particular vaccine was going to be seen on the nightly news,” shared Dowd. Shaped by a well-rounded liberal arts education at St. Sebastian’s, followed by Boston College, Dowd understood the importance of being able to
“Everyone had a job to do to ensure that we were releasing our product with all quality confirmed, almost like mission control in NASA. It was one of those moments in my career that I will look back on and realize I was a part of something that was way, way bigger than me.”
communicate and collaborate well with his colleagues who performed many different functions under these extraordinary circumstances. The son of two doctors, Dowd had often wondered how he could fill his parents’ shoes—where would he make his mark? Before becoming a urologist, Dowd’s father fought in the South Pacific in World War II, and his mother was a physician in an era when women were rarely professionals. Although Dowd was not on the front lines, he found himself playing a role in the fight against a different kind of enemy along with many others he considers heroes— health care workers and the people in service and retail industries who kept showing up every day to do their jobs. “It felt like a wartime experience, where factories changed and John and Jane America were contributing their part to the effort to support their fellow mankind,” observed Dowd. In the final months of her life, Dowd’s mother was witness to his relentless dedication to getting the vaccine out into the world so it could
save lives. Although her son was not able to visit her in the nursing home during much of that time, as a physician, she understood what was happening and was so proud of him and Moderna. Just two weeks after Dowd’s mother passed away, on December 18, 2020, Moderna was granted emergency use authorization (EUA) of mRNA-1273, its vaccine against COVID-19, in individuals 18 years of age or older. December 18 was a long day that started early in the morning and didn’t end until nearly 24 hours later as Dowd and his team went through their final checklist. They had been preparing for this moment and were ready to launch their plan to release the first authorized doses to the U. S. Government. “Everyone had a job to do to ensure that we were releasing our product with all quality confirmed, almost like mission control in NASA,” recalls Dowd. “It was one of those moments in my career that I will look back on and realize I was a part of something that was way, way bigger than me.” Dowd had two phones in his pockets that day, one for work and another for personal use. As the news about the FDA’s EUA approval of Moderna’s vaccine was broadcasted, Dowd’s phones began to buzz. One congratulatory text after another came pouring in from family, friends and colleagues, messages he cherished later when he was finally able to stop and read them. It was also a year to the
day after his prostate cancer surgery. “One year before, I’m fighting for my life and a year later, I’m in the fight for everybody’s lives,” noted Dowd. In the weeks and months that followed, Moderna continued to work to manufacture and distribute the vaccine across the country and the world. Whether it was watching people excitedly flow in and out of Gillette Stadium when he took his mother-inlaw and sister-in-law to be vaccinated or being thanked by a total stranger when he wore his Moderna fleece to pick up his wife at the airport, Dowd felt incredibly gratified to know that he has played even a small part in making a big difference. Throughout this extraordinary journey, as he balanced his personal and professional lives, Dowd leaned on his faith in God for strength and encouragement. “Faith was the word that came to mind when I thought, ‘Focus on what’s in your control and don’t worry about the things that are outside of your control because it’s all going to be okay,’” shared Dowd. “That definitely goes back to my time at St. Sebastian’s, and as an alumnus, it’s a message I’ve heard clearly conveyed by Bill Burke.” Dowd’s faith reminds him that he is not alone, that he is part of a larger whole, and there is no question he has used this as a driving motivation in his mission to beat his own cancer while fighting a global pandemic.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 47
THE WEEKLY SHOW The Burke and Cressotti brothers face off in a game of Pictionary. Jack Flynn ’22 takes a walk in the wilderness. Mr. Wilbur demonstrates his mastery of Kung-Fu. Along with corny jokes, riveting interviews and zany commercials, these are just a few of the segments from the Weekly Show that have brought laughter and joy to the St. Sebastian’s community.
A
student-run initiative, the Weekly Show was launched this year by the Communications Club. Typically, the club produces the morning announcements, broadcast live at the start of each school day from the AV Room under the guidance of faculty moderator Paul Rossini. Due to schedule adjustments because of the pandemic, there was no room in the school day for this fun tradition in 2020-21. The club members, many of them seniors, were determined to do something, and after some brainstorming, the idea for the Weekly Show was born. The initial concept for the show, suggested by Colin Lapus ’21, was 48 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
simple, consisting of school news and sports updates, combined with some short segments. The first episode aired on the School’s Microsoft Teams platform in mid-December, featuring an interview with Manager Mike from the Needham General Store. By the second episode, Aidan Harrington ’21 and James Joyce ’24 took on the role of co-hosts—a natural fit for the duo who frequently read the morning announcements the previous year. Their presence gave the program some structure, opening with jokes and closing with commentary. Over the following weeks, the tone of the show morphed from formal to funny and the quality and content grew stronger. Within a few episodes, the
Communications Club hit their stride and the Weekly Show became a full creative production. Each Sunday, a core group—Colin, James, Christian Casiano ’21, Aidan Mulvey ’21, and Jack Flynn ’22—met over FaceTime for a couple of hours to throw around ideas and come up with an outline for that week’s show. Ideas were refined and participants lined up on Monday, and by Tuesday the filming would begin. Along with several regulars, including Jack and Ben Goffredo ’24, members of the faculty and administration willingly agreed to take on a role in a segment, and students, especially middle schoolers, were eager to be recruited for small parts. Other club members helped to pull the
cameras. Every Thursday before school, James and Aidan recorded the opening and closing segments, switching up the location each week, and Jim Rest, Chair of the Math Department, would pop-in to lend his personality for the voiceover at the top of the show. Creating each episode of the Weekly Show was a true team effort. From writing, to filming and editing, the core group worked together to pull it off each week, collaborating to maximize their individual talents. Several hours were invested in the video editing stage, producing impressive results given that some of them were learning as they went. “Some weeks it’s been crazy, but we all pitch in with filming and editing to make it work. Especially given the scale, I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish,” shared Colin. With parts of the show unscripted and faculty and students breaking out of their comfort zone to take on acting roles, the Communications Club never knew exactly how each episode would turn out. Fortunately, the participants consistently came through in front of the camera. The crowning achievement was the Pictionary episode, with Headmaster Burke making a dramatic appearance to Avengers music to “save the day.” There were many other smashing successes along the way, including a hilarious parody on the Senior Service project. It helped to have some good actors in the club; Jack, in particular, excelled at improvisation, whether he was exploring the basement of the academic building or critiquing the Turkey Dinner prepared by Chef Fuller. In a year where many clubs were limited in what they could do, including drama and music, the Weekly Show has filled a void, giving students a fun way to apply their talents, explore new interests and build friendships. The feedback from the viewers has been very positive, with students and faculty looking forward to watching each week’s episode to see what surprises were in store. “The Weekly Show came along at the perfect time for the school, and for us,” observed Aidan Mulvey. Thank you to the Communications Club for lifting up our community with a steady stream of funny sketches and memorable moments. We can’t wait to see what you come up with next year!
OPPOSITE: The team behind the Weekly Show—Aidan Mulvey ’21, Jack Flynn ’22, Colin Lapus ’21, James Joyce ’24, Christian Casiano ’21 and Aidan Harrington ’21. 1ST ROW: Aidan and James tape an opening segment of the Weekly Show; 2ND ROW: Quinn Mulvey ’26 tags along with the maintenance crew; Game show host Jack Flynn ’22 welcomes surprise guest Headmaster Burke, along with his son and faculty member, Matt; 3RD ROW: The Latin teachers take a walk down memory lane in a segment on the history of their band, Geeki Romani. 4TH ROW: Mr. Nerbonne gives directions as a senior cleans his car during a spoof on the Senior Service Project; Mr. Wilbur demonstrates his Kung Fu skills with a split on a lab table.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 49
FINE FINE ARTS ARTS
FINE ARTS
SHOWCASE On May 24, members of the community, including students, faculty and family members, were invited to view the very first exhibition of art to be held in Martin Hall and enjoy live music performed by the Jazz Band on the Class of 2017 Courtyard. The fantastic display showcased the thesis projects in photography by our senior photo students, as well as ceramics and other art projects by our fine art students. The Jazz Band entertained the crowd with a range of songs, from the classic “Build Me Up Buttercup,” and James Bond theme song “Live and Let Die,” to the current hit, “Don’t Start Now,” by Dua Lipa.
50 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
FINE ARTS
Playing with
Perspective
These photographs were taken by AP Photography students as part of their concentrated projects for their final AP portfolios.
“People face struggles that put a weight on their shoulders. Our pets do not see these struggles. Being around my dog, Marley, has allowed me to remove myself even if just for a moment, from my own struggles.” —Brendan Dumas ’21
“Every year, for the past 17 years, my family would take a picture of my sister, dad, and I walking on the beach. I wanted to connect my nostalgic memories of childhood with places important to me. I began to shoot images of old places that had deep meaning to me, then added images from my past over these pictures.” —Michael Phelps ’21
“Over the past year, what most people call reality has been flipped in one way or another. This pandemic has changed all of our lives greatly, and thrown us into a loop. I did my best to try and portray this in my pictures, making people question themselves and what they are seeing.” —Joseph Harney ’21 SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 51
WINTER SPORTS Varsity Hockey BY COACH SEAN MCCANN
There is no doubt that our lives have changed in 2020 and everything we have come to know and love about the hockey season was altered. But to watch our players adapt and thrive under extreme conditions and to see the families remain positive during the pandemic made this season special. We were finally given the green light to start practices and schedule games in late November. Unfortunately, our first opponent was forced to cancel in midDecember and we were obliged to halt practices for 10 days in early January. One week of practice suddenly turned to five before we saw our first action. This provided us with an opportunity to bring players up to gain some great experience, but it also tested our senior class, especially the captains. Thomas Messineo ’21 and Brendan Dumas ’21 were elected captains because of who they are, not who they are going to be, and we couldn’t 52 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
have asked for better leaders during this difficult season. Both are uber competitive players who love the game and their teammates. They impacted every game we played whether it was offensively, defensively or physically. They brought a positive attitude and excitement to the rink every day that was contagious. It was amazing to see this group push themselves yet enjoy every aspect of what we did. When we were finally able to play, the potential in this group turned into production. Cam Collins ’21 and Jake Lavoie ’21 showed why they are two of the fastest players in the ISL, constantly pressuring teams in the offensive zone while catching opponents on the back check. Ted Harrington ’21 demonstrated to the younger guys what it means to solidify the middle of the ice by always being in the right position while creating scoring chances for his line mates. Joey Harney ’21 anchored our D core and provided great offensive instincts from the blue line. Coach/manager Sean Duffy ’21 never missed a day and always had great insight to share. He made game day easy and enjoyable while Brady McCabe
’21 and Ryan Gallant ’22 provided needed assistance on game days. The beginning of our season was a home and away series against Belmont Hill. Collins had a hat trick and Will Elias ’22 scored a breakaway goal to guarantee the win in the first game while Dumas and Mike Callow ’22 had two goals and an assist each to complete the sweep. Ryan Kazmouz ’22 won both games with a 92% save percentage. The second series was versus a strong Thayer team. Down 5-2 late in the second Tim Delay ’22 netted two goals to close the gap, but an overtime goal resulted in our only loss of the season. The next day Seb’s took full control en route to a 7-2 victory. Strong performances by Jack Harney ’24 and Aiden Connors ’24 helped keep Thayer off the scoreboard. The next two weekends were against Governor’s and Rivers. At Governor’s, Jayden Grier ’22 and Nolan Joyce ’23 scored outstanding goals to claim a 3-2 OT win on Friday. Mike Cataldo ’22 had one goal and one assist on Saturday to win 3-0 with Matthew Choi ’22 getting
WINTER SPORTS
his first start in a shutout performance. The following weekend Jack Toomey ’22 netted his first goal and Gavin Walsh ’22 played outstanding to defeat Rivers 3-0 on Friday while the next day Will Smith ’24 had a monster game recording four goals to complete a 5-2 win. In the final weekend, the Arrows faced Milton with Isaac Mitchell ’24
scoring his first goal and Brendan Gorman ’22 contributing two. Pelle Russo ’24 finished the game in net to lead the team to a 7-1 victory. The last game of the season against Rivers went into a shootout with Seb’s winning 5-4 to finish the season with a 9-1 record. Our seniors will leave a huge hole in the lineup, achieving an overall record
of 68-27-2 over the past four years. More importantly they have left the younger players with an incredible impression of what it means to be an Arrow! The team would also like to thank Eric Jeremiah ’17 for returning to be an assistant coach and providing great leadership and energy to the team.
LEFT: Senior captains Brendan Dumas (left) and Thomas Messineo celebrate a goal during a game against Thayer on February 13, 2021; RIGHT: Cameron Collins ‘21 gains control of the puck during a game against Belmont Hill on January 22, 2021.
Squash BY COACH BEN BROWN
To say it was a strange season would be an understatement. As with many things this past year, there was a lot that was different and out of our control. However, the players always made the best of it. Even though we had restrictions during practices, everyone showed up with a positive attitude every day, and it made what could have been a completely lost season seem almost normal at times. We were lucky to have two interscholastic matches this season— both against a perennially strong Belmont Hill team. Although we did not
come out with a victory, we played them closer than we have in many years. Faculty coaches Ben Brown, Andrew Conway ’06, and Matt Donovan ’13 reprised their roles from last year. The squash program did not graduate any seniors last year, and fortunately, there was a strong core of current seniors who were ready to lead the team: Will Goldman, Nolan McGovern, Aidan Mulvey, Conor Mynahan, Juan Oliva, TJ Ragnoni, and Max Samulka. All these young men have played for us for many years, and they have won important matches for us along the way. I am sorry that their senior season did not turn out as anyone would have hoped a year ago, but I am glad for the run that they have been on at Seb’s overall.
TJ Ragnoni ’21 lines up a forehand shot during a match at Belmont Hill on February 13, 2021.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 53
WINTER SPORTS
Varsity Basketball BY COACH DAVID HINMAN
When our season began, we had no idea how the year would play out. What became clear was that while playing in masks and following numerous COVID protocols were not easy, our guys were just happy to be in the gym playing the game they love so much. Our season did not unfold perfectly, but when we played our final game on March 6, we completed the season practicing 46 times and playing 14 games. Our success getting on the court was a direct result of our community being so dedicated to the health and safety of everyone at our school. For that, we all should be extremely proud. The season will be remembered for three games. After losing our opening two contests to Belmont Hill by double digits each time, we got one more shot at them in January and won a thrilling 73-72 contest. Trevor Mullin ’23 scored a team high 28, and on that night, Lyndel Erold ’21 was the best player on the court at both ends. The second great moment came the day after a tough home loss to Milton Academy. Not only did we face traveling to Milton the next day, but we had lost Lyndel to a season ending shoulder injury, and fellow starter Zion Simmons ’23 would not play due to an ankle injury. CoCaptain Ben Kaczmarek ’21 drew the task of guarding Northwestern commit Casey Simmons, who had scored 30 points the night before, and held him to just 12 points as we battled our way to a gritty 50-36 victory. Finally, we closed out the year by celebrating senior day in the West Campus Center. It was fitting that our four seniors who were active for the game all hit threes, and Kaczmarek scored a career-high 28 points to cap of his remarkable career 54 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
TOP LEFT: Captain Ben Kaczmarek ’21 drives to the basket while guarded by a Pingree player on March 6, 2021. TOP RIGHT: Ryan DuFour ’21 takes a shot while closely defended during the final game of the season. BOTTOM: Lyndel Erold ’21 takes a jump shot over Nobles’ defense on January 9, 2021.
in a St. Sebastian’s uniform. For his efforts and leadership, Ben Kaczmarek was the recipient of The Father Gilmartin Award. The strength of the team was in our senior group of Ryan DuFour ’21, Lyndel Erold ’21, Co-Captain Lolo Garcia-Marxuach ’21, Brett Hogan ’21, Co-Captain Ben Kaczmarek ’21, and Isaiah Stanfield ’21. This group led us well all year long. They were successful because they accepted their roles and put the team first. During the final
month of the season our team united at a higher level and the credit goes to our senior leadership on and off the court. Despite the departure of this group, the future of St. Sebastian’s basketball is bright as the team will return nine talented underclassmen: Tommy Cronin ’22, Braedan Donovan ’22, Sam Hinman ’22, Mark Newell ’22, Alex Purpura ’22, Jahki Deloach ’23, Troy McCall ’23, Trevor Mullin ’23, and Zion Simmons ’23.
WINTER SPORTS
LEFT: Reed Shachoy ’21 rounds the gate in his final Giant Slalom race. RIGHT: Henry DuBose ‘24 tucks as he approaches the finish line.
Varsity Skiing BY COACH OLIVIA UHLMAN
The Arrows Ski Team completed another successful ski season, facing challenges and restrictions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic with grace. Skiers embraced the changes with a positive attitude, and demonstrated great sportsmanship, zeal, and teamwork in their approach to training and racing. Special thanks to families and upperclassmen with licenses for getting everyone to the mountain. Arrows skiers and their families were extremely understanding of their increased responsibilities, and rather than lament what they were missing, they appreciated their time on the mountain. Weather-wise it was one of the best seasons in recent memory— with ample natural snowfall and mild temperatures that made for enjoyable practices and races. It was bittersweet since only a limited portion of the team was able to take advantage of the fresh snow each week at Nashoba Valley!
What the boys missed out on in terms of team bonding, given the lack of long bus rides, they more than made up for with their spirit of sportsmanship on the hill. Blue Hills Alpine Race Director Mark Casale was an accommodating partner to St. Sebastian’s and created a training course for each practice. Led by Captain Cotter Walsh ’22, the team would inspect the course together, going through it slowly before racing to know what to expect. Upperclassmen helped teach new, younger members how to do this, pointing out tricky turns, ruts, or icy patches that warranted extra attention. As Coach Uhlman and Coach Moriarty timed and recorded practice runs, individuals would eagerly wait to hear their time and determine if they improved since the last one, or just to see if they beat their friend! There was a light-hearted sense of camaraderie and friendly competition that drove skiers to push themselves. Sometimes upperclassmen would stand at the bottom of the knoll to watch their teammates and give specific feedback on form and timing. They set a great example of how to be a good teammate!
Usually the entire team (essentially a combined Varsity and Junior Varsity squad) travels to Nashoba Valley weekly to race, but due to limits in the race field only seven or eight skiers could attend each week. Coaches were pleased to find that this did not affect the effort put in during practices. Skiers still gave it their all and were grateful for a chance to be outside enjoying beautiful winter afternoons with their peers. Though the returning Varsity skiers, including senior Reed Shachoy ’21, were more regular race participants, the juniors and even a few new members of the team were able to make it to one or two races as well, getting a glimpse of the hectic but exhilarating energy of race day! We expect to have a large team again next winter and hope everyone gets that experience. It will be great to have so many returning members to show the ropes to new additions, and seasoned veterans Cotter Walsh ’22 and Tommy Proia ’22 are sure to be great co-captains. Thank you to parents, and faculty from the Health Services and Athletics Department for all your help in making this season a successful one.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 55
SPRING SPORTS
SPRING SPORTS Varsity Baseball BY COACH THOMAS PIACENZA
The 2021 Varsity Baseball Arrows will be remembered for their resilience, grit, and love for the game of baseball. Led by co-captains Aidan Harrington and Jake Lavoie, and fellow seniors Jack Mahoney, Chris Mullen, and Sean Duffy, we finished with a 13-3 record after playing a modified ISL schedule. We were unsure of what our season would look like, but we were determined to accomplish our team goals: improve every day, compete every day, respect the game and our opponents, and leave the program and coach on our roster accomplished those things this season. Although we were unable to complete a full ISL schedule, we had a tough opponent each weekend and battled in every game. Every player contributed to our success and it seemed like each game a different player came up with the big hit or pitch that we needed. This was a fun group to coach because 56 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
of how much they loved each other and how hard they worked. Our afternoons were filled with competitive drills, intra-squad scrimmages, and tons of laughs—these young men brought the energy from our first day of tryouts to the final out of our last game. They got to work well before practice started and continued to hone their skills after practice ended. We outscored our opponents 114-52, hit for a team batting average of .330, and pitched as a staff to a 2.02 earned run average.
The varsity Arrows return 13 talented players for next season and will undoubtedly build on our success this season. The team will be led by co-captains Joey Sylvester ’22 and Jack Toomey ’22. We would like to thank our seniors for leading this team admirably through a lost season and the uncertainty of the spring schedule. They set the tone for our returners and leave behind an incredible legacy.
Senior members of the team, Chris Mullen, Co-Captain Aidan Harrington, Co-Captain Jake Lavoie, and Jack Mahoney, with Coach Tommy Piacenza (missing: Sean Duffy).
SPRING SPORTS
Varsity Golf BY COACH TOM HARRINGTON
For many of us, golf was an escape to normalcy last summer when so much around us had to shut down. The golfers of St. Sebastian’s kept their games sharp in the hopes of competing again in the 2021 season. We are so thankful to the people who worked so hard to give us as close to a normal season as possible. It was the first season in the post Jim Sullivan era, and the three senior captains Mark Wilson, Juan Oliva, and Ryan DuFour, looked to share the sage wisdom, sportsmanship, competitiveness, and passion for the game that Coach Sullivan instilled in them with the newcomers. It was their leadership, advice, and experience in competitive golf that led us to an 11-2 record this season. Wilson had a strong year against the league’s best players. In an exciting moment against Milton Academy, he made an impressive up and down for birdie from a tough lie to tie the 8th hole and keep the match even heading into 9. He then birdied 9 to win the hole and the match against his future teammate at Holy Cross. DuFour was Mr. Clutch and had ice in his veins. Nothing phased him. He always seemed to make clutch putts when the pressure was highest. Oliva has been with the team since the 8th grade and is an outstanding leader, player, and teammate. He had a strong year against the league’s top players and is also the recipient of the James D. Sullivan Award, given to the player who possesses the qualities of commitment, teamwork, and outstanding attitude in the sport of golf. Among the new faces this year was senior Nolan McGovern who had a team high of 9 personal wins. Matt Williams ’22 recorded the lowest score of the season when he shot a 31 (-5) at Nashawtuc Country Club in a tri
TOP LEFT: Mark Wilson ‘21 sets his ball on the green at Brookmeadow Country Club on April 26, 2021; BOTTOM LEFT: Ryan DuFour ‘21 tees off from a hole at Needham Golf Club on May 13, 2021. RIGHT: Juan Oliva ‘21 chips onto the green during the match on May 13.
match against Belmont Hill and Rivers. Gavin Walsh ’22 joined the team a few weeks into the season from an injury, but immediately made an impact with his solid play and positive energy to keep the team smiling and having fun. Thomas Scordino ’22 was an impactful player who was undefeated in his matches, sometimes securing the 4th and decisive win in a match. Sam Hinman ’22 was incredibly successful this season with his smooth swing and never fret attitude that led to his 8 personal wins. Junior Richie Wilz missed a good chunk of the season to an injury but remained an amazing teammate. He rejoined the team later on and continued to hit “bombs” off the tee that would have made Phil Mickelson proud.
Ryan Fay ’23 was a welcomed addition to the team. He is a tremendous player who posted an impressive 8-0-1 record playing against some of the league’s best, all while having the most fun. For freshman Matt Sullivan and 8th grader Charlie Hinman, they did not play as much as they would have hoped but were both undefeated in the matches they played. The future is certainly bright for both of them on the varsity golf team. Next year’s captains, Gavin Walsh and Matt Williams, will look to lead this solid core group of golfers to another successful season where we will compete with the highest level of passion and sportsmanship that make St. Sebastian’s Golf what it is.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 57
SPRING SPORTS
Varsity Lacrosse BY COACH ADAM WHITE
At the beginning of the season, we didn’t know what kind of schedule we would have, but we knew we wanted to get better every day. And we did! We played four scrimmages (all of them wins, including a victory over #1 in the nation Taft) and twelve games, notching an 8-4 record in the ISL. Without a locker room and with limited face-to-face opportunities, we had to find other ways to build team chemistry. Our seniors led the way with positivity and great energy every practice. Our thirteen 2021’s are all exemplary young men who showed everyone how to compete with dignity and grace. For many of these seniors, they were thrust into leadership
positions without that crucial year of apprenticeship as juniors. We asked them to play and behave like savvy veterans even if they’d never started an ISL game before. Every day, every practice, they answered the call. When we think about this squad, we’ll think about how much we laughed. These guys loved cracking jokes. Every team meeting. Every post-practice gathering. Halftimes. Timeouts. You name it. With the Friday/Saturday competition format, we had four practices a week, so we started playing intrasquad scrimmages every Monday, and these contests grew to be just as hotly contested as the games on the weekends. This was a resilient bunch! After tough losses to Belmont Hill early in the season and after going down 8-1 in the final game of the season, again to Belmont Hill, the boys could have
folded. They could have given up. But not this crew. They came roaring back and made it yet another thrilling game. And after losing a tough game to Thayer on a Friday (in which we outshot our opponents 54-27), the boys responded with a huge win on Saturday at Thayer, winning 18-9. We also earned big victories over Rivers, Nobles, and Governor’s—all traditional ISL powerhouses. We said we wanted to get better all season, and we did on the field, but what most impressed the coaches was this team’s willingness to become better men. They had a lot of fun, they enjoyed many wins, endured a few losses—and did everything with class. We couldn’t be prouder of this team. The seniors had to rebuild the culture from scratch, and they did just that. These are Arrows we’ll remember forever.
LEFT: Timothy Blue ’21 controls the ball as teammate Tommy Armstrong ’21 looks on during a game against Tabor on May 22, 2021; RIGHT: Sam Frisoli ’21 takes a pass on a fast break.
58 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
SPRING SPORTS
Varsity Tennis BY COACH BRIAN RICHTER
The Varsity Tennis team managed to complete tryouts before March Break, something we’ve never done before. Were universal forces with a penchant for irony at work when our first two scheduled matches were snowed and then rained out? Go figure. In any event, the tennis team finished a successful season, ending with a 6-3 record that included two wins over Belmont Hill, another first for our team. Although we were unable to play all the schools in the league, we faced strong teams and welcomed that competition. While our record is more than satisfactory, we will especially remember the 2021 team for its unrelenting spirit as it faced some of the best teams in the ISL. Individual players consistently came back from deficits to make close, if not win, what initially appeared to be likely losses. The team’s two meetings with Nobles capture this never-say-die spirit. In our first, a scrimmage, we took only two of fifteen sets, yet in the team meeting after the match, the players voiced their belief that “we can beat these guys.” The team got its chance mid-season when we had to fill a Saturday that precipitously opened. Rematch on. And though we didn’t win, the match was as close as any can get: the last singles player on the courts split sets, but succumbed in the deciding supertiebreak for the final 3-4 outcome. More often than not, though, players came out with W’s, and the only thing more satisfying than those wins in the eyes of the coaching staff was the team’s exemplary sportsmanship. We have only three returning letter winners: John Hayes ’23 and Timmy Weiss ’23 and Charlie DeMatteo ’22. Charlie was a unanimous selection to be captain in 2022.
We will miss our graduating players next year, an outstanding group of young men. The team was thoughtfully and ably led by team Captain Lolo Garcia-Marxuach and included Will Goldman, Conor Mynahan, Derek O’Donnell, and Aidan Mulvey. Finally, Will Goldman is our initial recipient of the Henry T. Lane Award for tennis. Will earned his first Varsity letter in his freshman year and has shown, throughout his four years, what sportsmanship and a team-first attitude look like. Congratulations, Will.
WINTER & SPRING ATHLETIC AWARDS FR. DANIEL J. GILMARTIN AWARD Given by the coaches to the St. Sebastian’s basketball player who possesses the qualities of commitment, teamwork and outstanding attitude.
Ben Kaczmarek JACK DOHERTY AWARD Presented to the member of the St. Sebastian’s varsity hockey team whose commitment to excellence and devotion to the game has repeatedly been evidenced by aggressive and spirited play and selfless contribution to the total team effort.
Cam Collins, Thomas Messineo PAUL LEPLEY AWARD Presented by the coaches to the players who show the qualities of commitment, teamwork, and dedication to the sport of baseball at St. Sebastian's School.
Aidan Harrington
JAMES D. SULLIVAN AWARD Presented to a golfer who exemplifies sacrifice for the good of the team, team spirit, and a most positive attitude in the face of disappointment.
Juan Oliva
HENRY T. LANE AWARD Given by the coaches to the St. Sebastian’s tennis player whose love for tennis, commitment to sportsmanship, and dedication to team best contributes to the success of the Varsity Tennis Program.
Will Goldman
ATHLETIC COMMITMENT AWARD Presented to members of the senior class who have participated in interscholastic athletics each season from their sophomore through senior year.
Alessandro Barbiellini, Scott Behman, Sean Duffy, Daniel Ko, TJ Ragnoni, and Paul Vallace
LETTERMAN AWARD TOP: Captain Lolo Garcia-Marxuach ’21 serves the ball during a match against Belmont Hill on April 24, 2021; BOTTOM: Conor Mynahan ’21 returns the ball during the Belmont Hill match.
Presented to members of the Senior Class who have earned a Varsity Letter in each season from their sophomore through senior years.
Jack Mahoney, Juan Oliva, and Nick Vallace SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 59
ALUMNI UPDATES
Alumni Reunite on the Links On May 21, St. Sebastian’s held the 2021 Alumni Golf Outing at South Shore Country Club. A record 132 alumni embraced the opportunity to be together and hit the links on a beautiful, sunny day. This was the largest alumni event held in person since the pandemic began and with the recently reduced COVID restrictions, it felt especially wonderful to have so many members of our St. Sebastian’s family gathered in one place. Classes from 1966 through 2019 were represented, connecting Arrows from across the decades. Congratulations to the winning foursome: Rick ’02 and Andrew ’04 Baker and Tucker ’08 and Robbie ’10 Donahoe. During the luncheon following golf, Headmaster Bill Burke provided an update on the past year at St. Sebastian’s, noting the important role the alumni community plays in supporting our School’s mission. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make the outing a huge success.
60 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
ALUMNI UPDATES
TOP ROW: It was a family affair for the 2021 Alumni Golf Outing Champions, Robbie Donahoe ’10, Tucker Donahoe ’08, Rick Baker ’02, and Andrew Baker ’04; Alumni Association President Charles Haley ’92 addresses a record 130 alumni golfers on the first tee at South Shore Country Club. MIDDLE ROW: Marty Galligan ’73 and David Gately ’73 make their way up the fairway; Mark Murphy ’78, Tom Flannery ’77, and John Lewis ’78 enjoy their time at the reception following the round; Brothers Gerry ’90 and Brian ’00 Collins joined Pat Martin ’99 and John Haydon ’00 on the 5th tee. BOTTOM ROW: The Class of 2016 was well represented, landing one on the green from the deep stuff! Mike Mullowney, Mike Mackintire, Pete Mullin, and Frank Mahoney all made their first appearance at the Alumni Golf Outing; Michael McManama ’74, incoming Alumni Association President Peter Galligan ’74, Peter McManama ’76, and Chris Doherty ’74 are all smiles after holing out a birdie!
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 61
ALUMNI UPDATES
REUNION
2021
SEPTEMBER 24 & 25 Calling all
0’s & 5’s, 1’s & 6’s! Join us in person for this historic combined Reunion celebrating 28 classes of St. Sebastian’s alumni!
Register online at:
www.stsebs.org/reunion Registration deadline: September 10
62 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
CLASS NOTES
CLASS NOTES
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 63
1965 baseball team
CLASS NOTES WHAT’S
NEW?
Keep your classmates up to date on your accomplishments, family members, travels, or anything else new in your life. Send us photos, too!
Submit class notes and photos online at:
stsebs.org/classnotes Deadline for next issue:
DECEMBER 1, 2021 Photos will be published based on quality and available space. Please be sure to send the highest quality image possible and identify everyone in the photo.
1952
Dr. James Fay reports: “Been in lock down in Thailand for over a year. Now waiting to get inoculated so I can travel back to the States when this is over.”
behalf of the organization. Golf For All is a nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of all people with disabilities or who are experiencing hardships, by providing free accessibility to the game of golf.
1956
1969
1960
1970
Class agent Peter Ablondi shares that all members are anxiously looking forward to our Fall Class Reunion— and without masks!!
David Barlow writes: “Beverly and I will celebrate our 55th wedding anniversary in August and have two grandsons at St. Sebastian’s— Harrison, Class of ’23, and Colby, Class of ’25.” (see photo)
1962
In May, Fred Corcoran, Executive Director of Golf for All, accepted the Charles River Center’s Maria McTernan Leadership Award, on
Jack McKeon shares: “Enjoyed the lake life on Winnipesaukee, but not the cold! SueAnn and I have relocated to South Carolina.”
Gael Coakley shares that his granddaughter, Anna Claire Groudine (Annie), was born on June 11, 2021, at 7 lbs 2 oz. She is the daughter of Brian and Claire (Coakley) Groudine. (see photo)
1974
Kevin O’Malley reports: “I’m living in Groton, MA. Therese and I have five kids as we celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary in February; the two oldest are BC grads, both
’62
’60 David ’60 and Beverly Barlow celebrate 55 years of marriage in August. n Fred Corcoran ’62 with his family.
64 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
CLASS NOTES
nurses in Boston. Our son, Patrick, is a 2019 graduate of St. Anselm College and is currently in the Navy SEAL program in Coronado, CA. Our daughter, Rose, is also a St. Anselm grad, living in Sitka, Alaska, on a oneyear Jesuit Volunteer Mission. Our son, Joe, will be attending St. Anselm College this fall and is planning on playing baseball. Looking forward to re-connecting with many of my fellow classmates for our twiceyearly dinners now that COVID is in the rear-view mirror. Shout out to Mike McManama for organizing these dinners, they’re a lot of fun as we stroll down memory lane or should I say Farlow Road?”
1979
Peter Rockett, Founder, Rockett Strategy Group, received the 2021 Boston Business Journal F. Gorham Brigham Lifetime Achievement Award at their July 14th CFO of the Year Awards ceremony. The BBJ’s CFO of the Year honors top chief financial officers from companies in the Greater Boston region whose work and commitment has helped their companies and organizations survive and thrive—particularly in these challenging times. Prior to running his own consulting firm, Rockett was the senior financial executive at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce for more than a decade, and held a similar role for CPA firm Wolf and Co. He’s also twice been the national treasurer for FEI and president of the Treasurer’s Club of Boston and served as the class treasurer at BC, a member of the finance committee of the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley and a local officer for the Navy SEAL Foundation.
’70
’68
’84
’70 1970 classmates Ed Walsh, Ted Curtin, Fred Daly, Joe Duffey and Joe Abely get together for dinner on July 20; n 1968 classmates reunite on Cape Cod in mid-June. LEFT: Jack Murphy, Paul Maloof and Dave Barry. RIGHT: Paul with Jim Dunn; n Gael Coakley ’70 shares a sweet image of his granddaughter, Annie, born in June; n Class of 1984 Gathering: Gene Ciofli, Joe Dunn (host), Marty Kane, Steve Grande, Doug Angelone, Brian Murphy, and John Danca.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 65
ARROWS CLASS NOTES
CONNECT
Looking for an internship, industry contacts, first job, next job, or career advice? The Arrows Connect network is the place to start. Arrows Connect is our own networking directory connecting members of the St. Sebastian’s community to each other. Your profile has already been set up by the Alumni Office. Just upload your LinkedIn profile to the site, answer a few short questions and your profile will be complete. As a member of Arrows Connect, you can access an extensive directory of professionals, find qualified candidates to hire, post job offerings, volunteer to be a mentor, and more.
1971 classmates enjoy a day of golf at the Woods Hole Golf Club. From left: Gleason Gallagher, Mark Bergin, Mark McCue, Bob Maloney, John Hueber, Richie Hoy and Tom Whalen.
THE CLASS OF 1971 kicked off their yearlong 50th Reunion celebration with a series of golf outings at Woods Hole Golf Club, the St. Sebastian’s Alumni Golf Outing at South Shore Country Club, and the Wayland Golf Club over the weekend of May 22, 2021. A special thanks to Bob Maloney ’71 for hosting the group at Woods Hole, the brothers Quirk (Tom & Bob) for accommodating them at Wayland and to Jay Harney ’71 and owner Mario for arranging the Saturday night dinner at the Boca Bella in Auburndale. Bob Hennessy was recognized with the “Coming the Longest Distance” Award, the “Best Memory” Award went to Brian Hickey, and Tom Whalen received the “Have I Told You This One Award.” All are looking forward to the in-person Reunion in September.
’94
Register today to make the most of your St. Sebastian’s network!
arrowsconnect.org
David Slattery ’94 with his wife, CJ, daughter Mia, and son Aidan.
66 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
CLASS NOTES
1982
Chris Kennedy writes: “I enjoyed an outstanding June day of golf, swim, BBQ and laughs with Arrow classmates. Looking forward to carrying the momentum to our 40th reunion in 2022.”
and migration. Created through a unique collaboration of artists, land and housing activists, the series was part of Tribeca’s Juneteenth Programming. Randy is a screenwriter and director and serves as Chair of the Screenwriting Department at New York Film Academy.
1988
1992
Jim Redmond writes: “After 11 great years in Columbus, OH, the family is moving back home to Boston in July 2021. We found a house in Needham which will make homecoming games a lot easier to attend!”
1990
Brian Faherty appeared in an episode of “FBI: Most Wanted” on CBS on May 18. He shared about the episode, “I portray a Peewee Soccer Ref who gets into it with an irate soccer mom.”
1994
MINE, an animated series co-written and co-directed by Randy Dottin, premiered at Tribeca Film Festival 2021. Set in the near future, this five-part series takes place in Beau Voda, a utopian world where the lifesource—a miraculous healing water—suddenly disappears. MINE looks to explore many of the themes of our modern world, including, climate justice, scarcity, individualism,
Timothy Foley reports: “In January, I was promoted to be the first CEO in the 75-year history of the Building & Realty Institute, a real estate trade association in Westchester County, NY, and was also appointed to the Board of Directors for the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation. Westchester Magazine named me one their 48 “Power Players” for 2021 in the June 2021 issue. Most impressive of all, however,
after several losing seasons coaching basketball for my son’s elementary school team, we did NOT have a losing season in 2020-2021! (Please note -- boys’ basketball was canceled by the school due to the pandemic, but we’ll take it.)” David Slattery shares: “We were blessed to finish our adoption and bring our daughter, Mia Slattery, back from South Korea in December 2019, right before COVID hit and shut the world down. My wife and I were also surprised to end up with promotions in the middle of COVID. I am now a Chief Engineer and Senior Principal at the MITRE Corp and working out of the Tampa, FL offices. We are looking forward to 2021 and the world opening back up to travel with the expanded family.”
1997
Jeff London writes: “After 17 years with 6one7 Productions, I have taken a new role in nightlife with Big Night Entertainment Group. I will be the VIP manager of Big Night Live. Hope to see some of you out on the town!”
STAY CONNECTED Follow us on Instagram @StSebastiansSchool Like us on Facebook /Stsebs Follow us on Twitter @StSebsNeedham Connect with us on LinkedIn St. Sebastian’s School Alumni, connect with us by joining our Facebook Group! Search “St. Sebastian’s School Alumni” or use the url www.facebook.com/groups/stsebastiansschoolalumni
’49 From Nonantum Hill to Needham…Murray Regan ’49 visited campus in April and found his photo in Arrows Hall.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 67
CLASS NOTES
’00
’97
’06
’02
Madison, new daughter of Jason Spiegel ’97, with her big sister, Vivi. n Keira, daughter of Andrew Kelley ’00. n Matt Fleming ’02 with his wife, Mariah.
Jason Spiegel shares: “My wife, Jill, and I welcomed our second little girl, Madison Mae Spiegel, on March 10, 2021. Everyone is doing great! Brady, Lexi and Vivi are all so excited to have a new little sister. Hope everyone in the St. Seb’s community is doing well and staying safe.” (see photo)
2000
Andrew Kelley shares: “My wife and I welcomed our daughter Keira Tilva Kelley to the world in January. Keira is thriving and Alina (2) is a great big sister!” (see photo)
2002
Matt Fleming writes: “My wife Mariah and I are expecting our first kid in December... and are building our first house at the same time. Race to see which one happens first!” (see photo)
2018
Michael Bollas shares: “I am working a Sales and Marketing internship at a Data Privacy company called Ketch out of San Francisco, CA. Also, I am a rising senior at the College of the Holy Cross with a double major in Economics and Music.”
68 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
HOMECOMING
10.16.21 Bring the entire family to cheer on the Arrows varsity football and soccer teams!
stsebs.org/homecoming
IN MEMORIAM Pierre A. Boulanger ’56
Pierre passed away at the age of 82 on March 8, 2021. Pierre immigrated to the U.S. from France as an infant. While at St. Sebastian’s, his favorite subject was French (naturally) and he had talent for both tennis and basketball. Pierre attended Boston College for management. He served for three years in U.S. Army Special Troops, 8th U.S. Army, completed his enlistment and began a 30+ year career with Sears as a management trainee in Cambridge, MA. He held positions in the Boston area stores as a customer relations manager, merchandise manager, operations manager, regional merchandise manager and retiring as a general manager. Pierre was predeceased by his wife Joan in 2011. He leaves his children Danielle and John; grandchildren Bryan, Chloe, and Claire; brother Paul; and his companion and friend for the past six years, Judy.
William M. Burke ’56
William passed away at the age of 82 on February 21, 2021. While at St. Sebastian’s School, William did especially well in Trigonometry and Physics. He was a member of the Debating Society, the Varsity CYO team and the Intramural Basketball team. After graduation, William went onto Holy Cross, and the University of Vermont School of Medicine. He completed an Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Kentucky Medical Center and continued his training to specialize in Addiction Medicine. For many years he was a professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and then went on to work at United Health Care in Westborough. William also distinguished himself in the United States Army, serving as doctor in Vietnam. For his service he was awarded the Bronze Star. William is predeceased by his brothers-in-law, William O’Connor ’56 and cousin William A. Burke ’54. He is survived by his sisters, Ellen, Austine, and Celine, nieces, a nephew and was a much beloved granduncle.
We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of the graduates and friends of St. Sebastian’s School whose deaths are reported with sorrow.
Thomas M. Connelly, Jr. ’56
Thomas passed away on February 14, 2021. The Arrow yearbook described Thomas as one of the most enjoyable figures of his graduating class. He had great talent for baseball and in the winter would lend his talents to basketball. After graduating from St. Sebastian’s, Thomas attended Boston College and the University of Vermont. He was passionate about baseball and proud of his family. Thomas is survived by his sister Mary, sister-in-law Mary, nephew Brian ’89, nieces Katie and Liz, and many who were friends since childhood.
Joseph A. Doucet ’61
Joe passed away at the age of 77 on January 22, 2021. While at St. Sebastian’s, he was a big part of the football team as well as the Altar Society and Debating Society. After graduating, he studied Physics at Georgetown University. He then headed to Nigeria to serve in the Peace Corps. Joe earned his master’s in education at the University of Michigan in 1969 and began teaching Physics at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk, CT. In 1974, he earned a degree in Computer Science from Hatfield University while spending a year in the UK on a Fulbright exchange. In 1977, he started working as a Nuclear Physicist at Schlumberger Doll Research (SDR) labs in Ridgefield where his endless enthusiasm for science and technology served the company until his retirement in 2004. Joe is survived by his wife of 51 years, Alison; children Katie and Mike; grandchildren Charlotte, Harris, Olivia, and Lucas; and sisters Marianne and Joni.
SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 69
IN MEMORIAM
John J. Gazzola ’50
John passed away at the age of 88 on April 26, 2021. While at St. Sebastian’s, he was a member of the choir for all four years and participated in JV basketball and baseball. After graduation, he went on to attend St. John’s Seminary in Brighton for one year as well as two years at Boston College. He served in the United States Army, attended Officer’s Candidate School, and was stationed in Germany. John graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology in 1957 with a degree in Architectural Engineering. He was president of the Painting and Decorating Contractors of Boston, a member of the International Brotherhood of Painters, and was affiliated with many other organizations related to his profession. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; children Mary, James, and John Jr.; and grandchildren Patricia and John.
Mark J. LaPaglia ’80
Mark passed away at the age of 60 on June 13, 2021. While at St. Sebastian’s, he was described as one of the most popular and personable members of his class. He excelled in football and was awarded the title of captain. He was also involved in student government and was elected school president. Following St. Sebastian’s, he continued his education at Springfield College, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business management. He is survived by his wife Yvonne; children Charles, Ryan, and James; and siblings Wayne, Angelo, and Valerie.
Thomas J. MacDonough ’57
Tom passed away on July 17, 2021. While at St. Sebastian’s, he possessed a natural talent in languages but also was quite proficient in history, religion and math. Tom is a graduate of Georgetown Foreign Service (BFS) program as well as Boston University where he obtained his MA degree in History. After graduation, Tom taught at Norwood Senior High School for 38 years and held the position of Chair of History/ Social Sciences Department for many years at the time of his retirement in 2003. In addition, Tom was Adjunct
70 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
Professor of History and Asian studies in Northeastern University’s evening college program for 35 years. After his retirement, he taught history at the Dana Hall School in Wellesley for two years. He is survived by his brothers Richard and Kenneth, longtime friend and companion Ronald, and many loving nieces and nephews.
John F. Maloney ’70
Jack passed away at the age of 68 on May 26, 2021. While at St. Sebastian’s, he helped lead the varsity football team to an undefeated season as a lineman in the fall of 1969 and was a frequent contributor to The Walrus. One of eight brothers to attend St. Sebastian’s, his yearbook states “It is the great families like the Maloney clan that make St. Sebastian’s the school it is.” John attended the College of the Holy Cross and had a long and successful career as a systems analyst and director for the company now known as Verizon. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Gretchen, a former faculty member at St. Sebastian’s; daughters Marie and Elizabeth; grandchildren Jack, Colin and Fiona; and siblings James ’66, Katherine, Mark ’68, Robert ’71, Andrew ’73, Paul ’74, Donald ’75, Alan ’79, and Ellen. He also leaves many nieces, nephews, great nieces, a great nephew, and dear friends.
Eugene F. McAuliffe ’67
Eugene passed away at the age of 72 on July 6, 2021. While at St. Sebastian’s, Gene was described as light-hearted and full of good humor and a faithful and diligent student. He was a member of the basketball and golf teams. After graduating, Gene attended Boston College and was later awarded his Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University. He has enjoyed a long and successful career in law in the Boston area. He served as an Assistant under District Attorney of Suffolk County Garrett Byrne and later went into private practice. Gene is survived by his siblings Carol, Robert, Elizabeth, Richard and the late Bill ’68. Gene was a loving and sentimental uncle to seven nephews and two nieces and several greatnephews and nieces.
IN MEMORIAM
John G. Mulvihill ’75
John passed away at the age of 63 on March 6, 2021. While at St. Sebastian’s, he was a member of the football and track teams, dramatics, yearbook, photography club and student council. John received a BS in chemistry from Holy Cross in 1979 and completed his education with his MBA at Babson College. He worked at Sun Life Financial for over 30 years as a vice president in the real estate department. John was an avid reader and had many interests including history and chemistry. He is survived by his wife Veronica, and children Erin, Paul, and Daniel.
James M. Oates III ’65
Jamie passed away on April 14, 2021. While at St. Sebastian’s, he was ranked among the top students of his class and was a member of the honor society. He took part in intramural football and basketball. After graduating from Boston University in 1969, he served as a volunteer in the Peace Corps, helping rural farmers in India. Inspired by the potters in India, he started learning the craft of pottery at Mudflat School of Pottery upon his return home and earned a Master of Art Education from Massachusetts College of Art in 1976. Pottery became his lifelong passion and artistic pursuit. In the 1980s, he opened Mainely Pottery on Route One in Belfast, ME, with his wife Jeanette, launching what became a flourishing business representing the work of over 30 Maine potters. Jamie is predeceased by his brothers, Dan ’66 and Kevin. He is survived by his wife Jeannette, and siblings Kati, Larry, and Patrick.
Allan Praught ’54
Allan passed away at the age of 83 on January 30, 2021. While at St. Sebastian’s, he played many sports, including varsity football, JV baseball and intramural basketball. He also was class secretary and was a part of the choir and debate club. Socially, he was described as one of the real leaders of his class. Allan went on to graduate from Notre Dame University, and Suffolk Law School. After passing the bar, he worked tirelessly as a Probate and Estate attorney. Allan will be remembered for his kindness, wit, humility, and generosity. He loved the ocean and gardening, and being with friends
and family. Allan is survived by his wife, Priscilla; her children Mark, Kurt, Eric, Karl, Edward, Neil and Lisa; brother Norman ’57, and many nieces and nephews, including Norman Jr. ’89.
Ambrose J. Redmond III ’75
Jay passed away at the age of 62 on February 10, 2021. While at St. Sebastian’s School, he was a part of the intramural soccer team. He graduated from Boston College in the School of Management. He retired as a Senior Account Executive of MetLife. His first wife Eleanor, and his uncle, Bob Connors ’54 predeceased him. He is survived by his wife Margaret; children Katie, Jamie, and Drew; mother Marilyn, siblings Gregory, Kerin and Kathleen; and 34 cousins, including Rob ’74 and Terry ’75 Connors.
Kevin M. Sullivan ’82
Kevin passed away at the age of 56 on April 9, 2021. While at St. Sebastian’s, Kevin was always involved in campus activities. He was a member of the JV Hockey, Varsity Cross Country, and baseball teams. An avid life-long learner, Kevin’s diverse career spanned technology, real estate, insurance, investment, and law. He is predeceased by his father, Daniel, Jr. ’46. He is survived by his children Michael and Katherine; and siblings Ann Marie, Janet, Kathleen, Carolyn, and Daniel III ’84.
Daniel F. McNeill Former faculty member Daniel passed away at the age of 85 on March 12, 2021. He served as a French teacher at St. Sebastian’s from 1966 to 1973. He believed in the potential of all his students and was passionate about helping them achieve it. He also served as a Cross Country coach. An avid runner himself since the 1970s, he ran several miles daily for most of his life and was running still at the very end. He was a philosophical thinker with a wry wit and a lifelong learner. He spoke or read several languages including French, Spanish, Italian, Latin and Greek, and had recently been teaching himself Russian. Dan loved to travel and like many Bostonians, was an avid fan of his local sports teams. He is survived by his wife Mallie; daughters Lydia and Rebecca; and grandchild Cassius. SPRING / SUMMER 2021
| 71
IN MEMORIAM
ALUMNI RELATIVES & FRIENDS Gretchen Ablondi February 5, 2021 Mother of Bill ’73 Jon Callahan May 1, 2021 Father of Timothy ’84 Ann Marie Coffey January 23, 2021 Mother of Sean ’07 and Ryan ’10 Sarah Danca February 26, 2021 Mother of John ’84 Marjorie Delaney January 27, 2021 Mother of Chris ’81 Marjorie Ferren May 4, 2021 Grandmother of Christopher ’11 and Andrew ’14, and mother-in-law of Mark Warner ’81 Gloria Flahive February 22, 2021 Grandmother of Connor ’11 and Tyler Wiik ’15, and wife of past Grandparents Annual Fund Chair Charles William C. Flanagan March 27, 2021 Grandfather of John Farley ’19 and Ronan Massenburg ’24 Harvey Harrison February 7, 2021 Father of Martin ’91 Catherine Joyce February 26, 2021 Grandmother of Connor ’20, Nolan ’23 and Gavin ’26, and mother-inlaw of Trustee Susanne Joyce
72 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
Mary Krueger March 25, 2021 Grandmother of Matthew ’15 and Timothy ’21 Blue Mary Martha Tonra Lee May 8, 2021 Mother of Jim ’80 and Wally ’84 Irma Jean O’Donoghue April 27, 2021 Wife of Kevin ’53, and sister-in-law of Edward ’57 Harry Richard March 1, 2021 Father of Derek ’89 Dr. Barbara Rockett April 13, 2021 Mother of Francis ’76, Peter ’79, William ’81, Grandmother of Morgan ’14, and cousin of Dr. Russell Masterson ’51 June Sgarzi March 10, 2021 Grandmother of Louis Hansen ’21 Norman J. Shachoy February 7, 2021 Father of Chris ’83, and grandfather of Reed ’21 and Conrad ’25 Marquis Simmons July 10, 2021 Brother of Isaiah ’26 and Zion ’23 William J. Sullivan January 31, 2021 Father of Sean ’06 John “Jack” A. Winchenbaugh May 17, 2021 Father of Michael ’84
This listing contains deaths reported before July 20 , 2021. To see a complete listing of alumni who have passed away within the past 12 months please go to www.stsebs.org/inmemoriam. To report a death of a St. Sebastian’s alumnus or relative to the Advancement Office, please contact Kelsey Kane at kelsey_kane@stsebs.org.
Looking Forward,
Giving Back
From his first day as a 7th grader in the fall of 1986, Dave Cuzzi ’92 felt welcomed into the St. Sebastian’s community. His parents, Joe and Martie Cuzzi—a salesman and an administrative assistant from Waltham—were committed to ensuring Dave and his brother, Mike ’94, received the best education possible. Drawn to St. Sebastian’s by its academic reputation, they prioritized their finances and made sacrifices so their sons could attend the School. Dave truly loved his days as an Arrow. He made close friendships with his classmates and teammates that have lasted to this day. Guided by excellent teachers, he was challenged academically, especially grateful for the emphasis the School placed on writing. His coaches served as great mentors, further helping to shape his character. “St. Sebastian’s really has so much to do with who I am today,” credited Dave. When the economy took a turn for the worse in the late eighties, the Cuzzis’ jobs were negatively impacted, and they found themselves struggling to pay the tuition. Dave’s father paid a visit to the Business Office, and the first thing Jack Doherty said to him was: “Mr. Cuzzi, your boys are going to graduate from St Sebastian’s. So let’s just make sure we’re clear on that right away.” Hugely relieved, but determined to pay his way, Joe worked out a favorable long-term payment plan with Jack so that both of his sons could graduate from St. Sebastian’s. Forever grateful for the kindness shown to his family, Dave and his wife, Christina, were thrilled to be able to give back by making a bequest to St. Sebastian’s. “When we were doing our estate planning, we thought about all the places that have had big impacts on who we are as individuals and as a family and St. Sebastian’s was among those places,” shared Dave. As an alumnus, he continues to feel the strong
sense of community, a sentiment now shared by Christina when Dave gets together with his classmates or comes back to campus for events. “Academics are important, but the sense of community at St. Sebastian’s is really powerful,” noted Christina. “Our whole family always feels so welcome. I wish I had gone here!” As members of the Monsignor Charles D. McInnis Society, the Cuzzis join a growing number of alumni, parents and grandparents who have chosen to support the School through their estate planning. By providing a legacy gift, they will help build the endowment, making a St. Sebastian’s education more accessible for future generations of Arrows through financial aid.
For more information about gift planning and including St. Sebastian’s in your estate plans, contact James Barron P’16,’19 in the Office of Planned Giving at 781.247.0158 or james_barron@stsebs.org or visit plannedgiving.stsebs.org.
Monsignor Charles D. McInnis Society
1191 Greendale Avenue Needham, Massachusetts 02492
Seniors follow along with their bow ties as Headmaster Burke provides step-by-step instructions, taking part in what has become a favorite Commencement Week tradition.
Nonprofit Org. US Postage PAID Boston, MA Permit No. 19943
