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S T. S E BAST IAN’S M AGAZINE
2017-2018 Board of Trustees Seán Cardinal O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap., Chairman William L. Burke, III P’95,’97,’00,’04 Executive Officer, Headmaster James L. Elcock ’77, P’08 President Patrick J. Hegarty ’89, P’23 Vice President David M. Calabro ’78, P’16 Treasurer Devin C. Condron ’92 Assistant Treasurer Members: Barbara E. Connolly P’10,’12,’17 Rev. Michael E. Drea Kevin F. Driscoll ’72, P’05,’09 John W. Hueber ’71 Ross M. Jones P’16,’17 Susanne C. Joyce P’20,’23 Carolyn M. Lemone P’16,’18 Shawn Martin P’17,’18,’19 Wesley D. Mateo ’03 Peter J. McLaughlin ’55, GP’13,’19 John E. McNamara ’81, P’14,’18 James F. Mooney, III P’18 Kathleen A. Murphy P’21 Mark L. O’Friel ’79 Robert M. Reardon P’15 Kristin E. Reed P’15,’17 John A. Sebastian P’18 Randall P. Seidl P’17,’19 Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P. Troy L. Stanfield P’21 Kurt R. Steinkrauss ’91, P’19 Mary L. Supple P’09,’10,’15 Stephen P. Ward ’96 Andrew Wasynczuk P’14,’17 Cara Real P’13,’19 President, Guild of St. Irene Michael P. Muldowney P’12,’16,’22 President, Men’s Association Timothy P. Doherty ’87, P’17 President, Alumni Association Trustees Emeriti: James A. Cotter, Jr. ’57 David F. Gately ’73 J. Brad Griffith ’58, GP’19,’23
FALL 2017
S T. S E BAST IAN’S M AGAZINE
FEATURES
Assistant Headmaster Michael P. Nerbonne
IN EVERY ISSUE
18 Our Year of Spirit
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Headmaster’s Letter
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Around Campus
Headmaster Burke’s remarks on “Spirit,” the one-word theme for the academic year
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Campaign Update
23
New Trustees
36
Event Highlights
38
Fine Arts
40
Fall Sports
a Mission
46
Alumni Events
Will ’18 and Todd Coyne make a difference through Operation Breakfast
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Class Notes
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In Memoriam
24 Making Magic in the Classroom
Math teacher Donna Atwood celebrates 25 years of teaching at St. Sebastian’s
28 A Road Trip with
32 Setting the Bar High
Headmaster William L. Burke, III P’95,’97,’00,’04
A tribute to Dr. George Bernier ’52, the first Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Director of Development Richard F. Arms P’14
Editor & Designer Christine Y. Robertson, Director of Communications Principal Photographer Joey Spadoni, Digital Media Coordinator Contributors Michaela Chapman, Communications Associate Ed Davis ’65, P’88,’90 Alumni Office, Director of Planned Giving 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
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Math teacher Donna Atwood
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St. Sebastian’s School 1191 Greendale Avenue Needham, MA 02492 781.449.5200 www.stsebs.org George Bernier ’52
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: Blessed with Spirit: The First 75 Years of St. Sebastian’s School is nestled among eight decades of The Arrow yearbook. Learn how to purchase this beautiful new book on page 14.
F rom
the desk
of the headmaster
W i l l i a m L. B u r k e III
SPIRIT What a spectacular AROUND CAMPUS photo! Uplifted and propelled by so many of his spirited Arrow brothers, star runner, High Honors scholar, champion debater, and fabulous Class President, Patrick McDonald ’20, pushes through pain and on to glory. This graced moment, captured by our gifted photographer, Joey Spadoni, celebrates the goodness, beauty, truth, wonder, and joy of our beloved St. Sebastian’s School. We struggle, to be sure, but we struggle not alone. In this year of Spirit, we have been inspired by the earnest efforts and high achievements of our students in the classroom, in the athletic realm, in the arts, in extracurricular programs, and in service to others. We have been stirred and edified by a host of visitors, including Navy Seal, Jon Fussell, opera singing prodigy, Laura Bretan, and our visionary founder’s grandnephew, Ed Kirk ’62. We have honored Donna Atwood, one of our truly great teachers, we have made tremendous progress on the comprehensive West Campus Center construction project and endowment fundraising components of our Spirit & People Campaign, and we have published Blessed with Spirit – The first 75 years of St. Sebastian’s School. This issue of St. Sebastian’s Magazine treats you to photos and copy of all of the above and more, including alumni news and stories. I hope that you will enjoy this magazine and that you will visit your School soon and often. We’ll be here with hearts and arms wide open, ready to greet you and thrilled to provide you with the grand tour of our evolving campus. I thank you, once again, for all that you do to advance our most important mission. May God continue to bless you and your families every sacred step of the way. With love and gratitude,
William L. Burke III Headmaster
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News & Notes from Our School Community FALL 2017
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The Debate Team Shines at Fall Tournaments
Lieutenant Commander Jon Fussell gives an insider’s perspective on being a Navy SEAL.
A Story of Courage & Faith
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ach summer, the entire school community reads the same book, typically an inspiring true story about an individual or group of people. This year’s All School Read, Fearless, chronicles the life of Adam Brown, a country boy from Arkansas who turned his life around and overcame seemingly insurmountable challenges to become a Navy SEAL. The New York Times Bestseller, written by Eric Blehm, gives an honest and emotional account of Adam’s journey, touching on his roles as warrior, father, son, patriot, and friend. On March 17, 2010, Adam, a member of SEAL Team SIX, was killed during a mission in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan. He was described by all those who knew him as fearless. On September 11, 2017—the 16th Anniversary of 9/11—the School community had the opportunity to hear from a fellow US Navy SEAL, retired Lieutenant Commander Jon Fussell, during St. Sebastian’s annual Summer Reading Assembly. Trustee Michael Muldowney P’12,’16,’22, Commander Fussell’s friend, introduced the retired SEAL, highlighting his impressive career in the Special Operations world. A highly decorated officer who led hundreds of combat missions in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, Fussell shared his background and spoke about becoming a Navy SEAL. Although Commander Fussell never had the opportunity to work closely with Adam Brown, he did know him and told the students a few stories about his competitiveness, loyalty, and pride in being a SEAL. Commander Fussell emphasized three main points he wanted each student to remember from his speech: “Be a teammate first, build out a network of mentors, and never lose sight of the big picture.” Thank you, Commander Fussell, for your service and for sharing your words of wisdom with our community. 4 |
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
On October 8, 2017, St. Sebastian’s hosted our annual Parliamentary Extemporaneous Invitational Debate Tournament for students in both novice and advanced divisions. Nineteen Independent Schools and over 200 students and faculty participated in the Tournament, making this one of our largest tournaments ever. Jack-Patrick Milbury ’19 won a Speaker’s Prize in the Advanced Division and Patrick McDonald ’20 earned a Speaker’s Prize in the Novice Division. The following Sunday, October 15, 2017, 18 members of the Debate Team traveled to Phillips Andover Academy to participate in their annual tournament along with ten other schools. James Esperne ’19 won an Individual Speaking Prize for placing 2nd out of 48 debaters in the Advanced Division.
Assistant Headmaster Michael Nerbonne with prize-winning debaters Patrick McDonald ’20 and Jack-Patrick Miilbury ’19 (top) and James Esperne ’19 (bottom).
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Alumni Share Knowledge & Insight As part of the Finance Academy’s speaker series, club members had the opportunity to hear from two alumni about their experiences in the world of business and finance. On October 12, Jordan Perry ’11, who graduated from Villanova in 2015, spoke about his recent entrepreneurial endeavor “SimpMe.” The web-based service provides individuals with analogies derived from popular interests to explain concepts. Partners include a number of schools and companies that use the platform to educate their students and employees, with the goal of increasing understanding rather than focusing on rote learning. The Finance Academy members were delighted to connect with a recent St. Sebastian’s alumnus who has real world experience launching and running a business. On November 8, 2017, Trustee Mark O’Friel ’79 made a presentation to the Finance Academy about investment strategies, focusing in particular on the advantages of arbitrage. An actively involved alumnus of Harvard College, O’Friel has a wealth of experience in the finance industry, including a stint in Japan where he directed Morgan Stanley’s Equity Division. Currently, he serves as the Managing Partner of MOF Capital. O’Friel’s presentation helped Finance Academy members understand the concept and value of arbitrage as a low-risk-high-reward strategy.
Trustee Mark O’Friel ’79, Managing Partner of MOF Capital, speaks to members of the Finance Academy in Ward Hall.
Opera singer Laura Bretan sings for the School community on December 1.
Opera Singer Brings Arrows to Their Feet The St. Sebastian’s community was blessed to hear Laura Bretan sing in St. Bartholomew’s Church on December 1. Laura, a fifteen-yearold opera-singing sensation, came in sixth place on the “America’s Got Talent” television show. Her stunning voice held everyone in the Church spellbound, with the students erupting into applause after each piece. Laura ended by performing her new single, “O Holy Night,” which she sang in New York City during the Rockefeller Center tree lighting. Thank you to Michael Muldowney P’12,’16,’22, Men’s Association President, for arranging the performance.
The Junior Class Explores Our Nation’s Capital The Class of 2019 headed to Washington, D.C., over Veterans Day weekend for the junior class trip, an annual tradition that began in 1983. The first day in the Capital included a visit to Arlington National Cemetery, where class officers J.P. Milbury and Patrick Barron participated in a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Other highlights of the trip included a night tour of the monuments, and visits to several of the city’s iconic museums and landmarks, including the Holocaust Museum, the Library of Congress and the Capitol Building. The Newseum, with its interactive exhibits, was an overwhelming class favorite.
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Arrows Participate in SDLC Conference in Anaheim
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58 Students Inducted into
the National Honor Society On October 26, 58 students were inducted into the Sr. Evelyn C. Barrett, O.P. Chapter of the National Honor Society. The National Honor Society recognizes and inspires scholarship, service, leadership and character.
CLASS OF 2018
rom November 30 through December 2, three of our students—Emmanuel Messele ’19, Justin Charles ’19, and Chinedu Okwerekwu ’19—traveled to California to attend the Student Diversity Leadership Conference, part Chinedu Okwerekwu ’19, Emmanuel Messele ’19 and Justin Charles ’19 at of the annual People of Color Conference the SDLC Conference in Anaheim, CA. sponsored by NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools). The three students, accompanied by faculty members Terrell Diggs ’09 and Thomas Moriarty, represented St. Sebastian’s amongst 300 other independent schools who participated in the multicultural, multiracial gathering of upper school students. Led by a diverse team of trained adult and peer facilitators, the sessions focused on self-reflecting, forming allies, and building community. “The conference allowed us to meet a diverse group of people from different cultures, backgrounds and walks of life,” shared Justin. “It was one of the best experiences of my life and I hope that as many people as possible take the chance to experience SDLC for themselves.”
Julio Castelo David C. Labow
CLASS OF 2019 Patrick J. Barron Connor J. Bertsch Peter J. Blake Justin V. Charles Alex D. Cherry Bradley W. Coughlin Michael D. Dailey Andrew E. Dorsey Ted P. Duffy John R. Dumouchel James M. Esperne John P. Farley Joseph E. Fiore William J. Frisoli Jack S. Gallagher Andrew C. Giacchetto Liam J. Gorman Ryan W. Heffernan William R. Hentschel Theodore J. Hoppe Jack G. Hynes Stepan N. Kapreilian Andrew Y. Ko Nathaniel T. Kocho Jack R. LeBlanc Thomas J. Lyons III Joseph G. Maalouf Alfred S. Martin II
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Owen P. Martin William A. McCarthy III Steven D. McCool Emmanuel W. Messele Andrew F. Michienzi Jack-Patrick Milbury John B. Moffatt Ryan E. Mullen Brendan M. Murphy Timothy L. Noone Ellis P. O’Donnell Joseph R. O’Donnell Keun Woo Oh Chinedu C. Okwerekwu Anthony A. Perez Brian C. Piatelli Jared H. Price Nolan M. Prince John H. Randall Zachary S. Salvatore Wyatt B. Schlaht William R. Seidl Robert T. Smith Ryan J. Steinkrauss Cole C. Tremblay Rafael G. Twohig Miguel J. Vega, Jr. Griffin C. Wagner
ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
A Merry Musical Program Before breaking for the holidays on December 15, the St. Sebastian’s community celebrated the season with a festive and spiritual Christmas program that joined both scripture and song. From traditional holiday hymns to upbeat holiday tunes, the School community was entertained by outstanding performances from the St. Sebastian’s Schola, Jazz Ensemble, Rock Band and Chamber Ensemble. This was the first time the Chamber Ensemble, a new addition to St. Sebastian’s music program, performed together for an audience and their rendition of “Somewhere in My Memory” from the movie, Home Alone, did not disappoint.
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New Faces on Campus St. Sebastian’s is pleased to welcome its newest faculty and staff members, a talented group who are already making an impact in the classrooms and on the School community.
Christopher Brinkhaus ’92 Director of Alumni Programs
Chris joined the Alumni Office in March 2017. He lives in Needham with his wife, Jana, and two daughters, Karolina and Kathryn. Chris graduated from Providence College in 1996 with a B.S. in Business Management. With a background in sales, his previous employment has been as a territory sales representative for Patterson Dental, a CNS Senior Sales Specialist for UCB Pharma in Boston, an account executive for Hewlett-Packard, and as a Senior Corporate Trust Administrator at State Street Bank and Trust Company. Chris has also worked as a Project Manager for his family’s construction company, Heinz Brinkhaus and Son’s, in Needham.
Reenie Murphy
Ryan Patrico Faculty, Religion
Ryan joins the St. Sebastian’s faculty after completing his doctorate in the history department of Yale University. His dissertation explored the response of Catholic nuns to the Protestant Reformation in Germany. Before graduate school, he worked in New York City as an editor at the journal First Things. In 2008, he graduated from Brown University with a bachelor’s degree in history. Ryan is proud to hail from Plattsburg, MO, a small town north of Kansas City. In addition to teaching Scripture & Ethics in the Religion Department, he enjoys coaching soccer and baseball. Ryan and his wife Andrea, a Wellesley native, have two young daughters, Rosalie and Grace.
Michael Petro ’13 Faculty, Spanish
After graduating from St. Sebastian’s, Mike attended Brown University and completed his studies last year with a B.A. in Anthropology and Latin American and Caribbean Studies. His work focused on engaged and applied scholarship on migration and homelessness, leading to work with homeless arts, advocacy, and education groups and international refugee and education organizations. He also served as a member of the Brown-RISD Catholic Pastoral Council, and remains an active member of his home parish in Norwood. He spends his summers teaching English, literature, and culture at the Sommerschule Wust in Wust-Fischbeck, Germany. In addition to teaching Spanish, Mike manages the Freshman Chapel Speaking program, coaches Freshman Football, and will be serving as an Assistant Director for the winter drama program.
Director of Parent Programs, Development
Reenie and her husband, Jay, live in Newton and have three children, Brendan ‘07, Katie and Madeline. Most recently, Reenie was the Accounts and Human Resource Manager at St. Ignatius Church in Chestnut Hill. Prior to St. Ignatius, she was the Coordinator of Boards and Commissions for the City of Newton. Reenie also was elected to the Newton School Committee in 2004 and served for eight years. She holds an M.B.A. from Suffolk University and a B.A. from Canisius College.
#ArrowsPride With feeds from our social medial channels and links to photo galleries, videos, news, our school and athletic calendars, our digital dashboard is the perfect way to stay connected to what’s happening on campus.
Bookmark this page today! www.stsebs.org/arrowspride
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AP Scholar Awards The following students and recent graduates earned AP Scholar Awards from the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) Program. Roughly 20% of the 2.1 million students worldwide who took AP Exams at the end of the 2016-17 school year performed at a sufficient level to earn this recognition.
National Scholar (scoring 4 or higher on all AP exams taken, with an average score of at least 4 on 8 or more of these exams.) Liam J. Duggan ’17 Andrew M. Elcock ’17
Scholar with Distinction
Mastering the Rhythm of The Bard In early December, two events gave students the opportunity to showcase their delivery of works by William Shakespeare. During the Shakespeare Competition on December 5, students demonstrated their acting prowess and memorization skills in front of faculty judges. Alessandro Barbiellini ’21 was declared the winner for grades 9-12 and will represent St. Sebastian’s at the regional semi-finals at Mt. Ida College in early February for the chance to compete in the National Shakespeare Competition. Aidan McCarthy ’22 was the middle school winner. On December 7, the sophomore English classes gathered for the fifth annual Macbeth Competition. The boys competed for the prize of being the witchiest weird sister, the most ghostly poor player, or the greatest gory-locked Banquo. In the end, the faculty judges awarded Quin Feeney, Wes Stanton, and Tom Messineo the first prize in the group category for their portrayal of the weird sisters’ prophecy to Banquo and Macbeth in Act I, Scene III, and Andy Duong the prize for best actor for his portrayal of the Sergeant in Act I, Scene II. Fun was had by all.
Seven Students Recognized as National Scholars The following seniors have been named as Commended Students by the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program: Royce Abel, Harrison Carlson, William Coyne, Ryan Curran, Nicholas Howell, Robert Lordi, and Martin White. Recognized for their exceptional academic promise, these students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.6 million students who entered the 2018 competition by taking the 2016 PSAT. Congratulations to these seven Arrows on this tremendous academic achievement!
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ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
(scoring 3 or higher on at least 5 exams, with an average score of at least 3.5) Samuel P. Cullen ’17 John H. DeMatteo ’18 Liam J. Duggan ’17 Andrew M. Elcock ’17 William P. Evans ’17 Michael K. Finucane ’17 Richard P. Gallo ’17 Tyler J. Goldman ’17 Samuel H. Gordon ’17 Michael A. Hartman ’17 Joseph R. Hunt ’17 Cole F. Jarczyk ’17
Luke N. Jones ’17 Stephen C. Karol ’17 Kyle P. McCarthy ’17 Kevin M. Moore ’17 Patrick M. Mulrenan ’17 Cameron W. Mulvey ’17 Jake T. O’Neil ’17 Michael P. Ragnoni ’17 Cameron A. Rivera ’17 Stewart M. Smith ’17 Christopher P. Vallace ’17
Scholar with Honor (scoring 3 or higher on at least 4 exams, with an average score of at least 3.25) Luke A. Diggins ’18 Thomas E. Olson ’18 James P. Orscheln ’17
Peter S. Rowe ’17 Michael D. Twohig ’18 Martin P. White ’18
Scholar (scoring 3 or higher on at least 3 exams) Royce D. Abel ’18 Harrison P. Carlson ’18 Michael F. Connolly ’17 William F. Coyne ’18 Brian C. Craven ’18 James D. Dietrich ’17 Ethan P. Fidalgo ’17 William P. Fox ’18 Christopher B. Hailer ’17
Henry M. Kapples ’18 Thaddeus J. Kennedy ’17 Jackson S. McKeigue ’17 Michael J. Milbury ’18 Bryan P. O’Donnell ’17 John D. Petro ’17 John C. Piatelli ’17 Patrick J. Ryan ’18 Thomas S. Wasynczuk ’17
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Serving Our Neighbors
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ntegral 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. From collecting backpacks to making blankets, below are just a few of the many ways our students have served our neighbors recently.
National Honor Society Hosts Two Successful Drives
Backpack Drive for San Miguel The Classes of 2019 and 2020 gathered in August to fill over 60 backpacks with school supplies for students at the San Miguel School in Providence, RI. All of the items, including the backpacks, were donated by St. Sebastian’s families to ease the financial hardship faced by our brothers at San Miguel. In early September, volunteers from the classes of 2019 and 2020 visited San Miguel to deliver the fully stocked backpacks. Special thanks to Mary Beth Persons P’20 for her excellent leadership of this project, and the many students and parents who contributed.
The National Honor Society sponsored St. Sebastian’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive and Christmas Warmth Drive to benefit Catholic Charities. Both drives were a huge success due to the generosity of the St. Sebastian’s community, helping to restock shelves for those in need of food in the days following Thanksgiving and keeping our neighbors warm with donations of hundreds of gloves, hats, scarves and socks.
The Big Blanket Hug Project On November 14, 2017, over thirty members of St. Sebastian’s eighth grade class participated in the Big Blanket Hug Project sponsored by Maxwell Surprenant ’22 and the Catching Joy Foundation. Along with students from the San Miguel School and Ursuline Academy, the boys made 35 blankets which were donated to Fr. Bill’s Place and Mainspring in Quincy and Brockton.
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7th Grade Orientation at Hale Reservation.
A GLIMPSE
Prospective families receive a tour of campus at dusk during the Admissions Open House on October 19.
along Greendale Avenue
Students and faculty compete in the Monster Mile on Halloween. Faculty member Jim Rest sniffs one of the submissions for the Cookie Contest.
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Student volunteers welcome families from the AV Studio during Open House.
Mousetrap cars are lined up and ready to race down the Science corridor.
On a beautiful fall day, boys enjoy a moment outside in between classes.
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Founder’s Day 2017 ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2017, the School community gathered to celebrate St. Sebastian’s Founder’s Day. The new Arrows tradition was launched the previous September as part of our year-long 75th Anniversary celebration. Marking the first ever day of classes on September 29, 1941, the 2nd annual Founder’s Day provided our students and faculty with the opportunity to reflect on St. Sebastian’s rich past and to honor our founder, Cardinal William O’Connell.
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ABOVE: Ed Kirk’62, grandnephew of St. Sebastian’s founder, Cardinal William O’Connell, delivers the keynote speech during the 2nd annual Founder’s Day on September 29, 2017. OPPOSITE: A portrait of the Cardinal, believed to have been taken around the time he founded St. Sebastian’s in 1941, was recently gifted to the School by Kirk.
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ounder’s Day 2017 began with an address from Ed Kirk ’62, grandnephew of Cardinal O’Connell, and brother of our inaugural Founder’s Day speaker, Senator Paul Kirk ’56. As he spoke to students and faculty in St. Bartholomew Church, Kirk shared some thoughts about the man who established our School 76 years ago, at the age of 82. “You have seen Cardinal O’Connell casting a flinty eye on you from his picture in Ward Hall, but if you would bear with me for a while, I would like to share with you some of the highlights of his life and accomplishments prior to that time when he founded St. Sebastian’s.” Kirk spoke about his great uncle’s career, from entering the seminary as a young man at the North American College in Rome in 1881 to his death as Cardinal Archbishop of Boston in 1944. He told many stories about the Cardinal, including memories from his own childhood, giving a sense of our founder’s personality, passions, ambitions and talents, from his love of Rome and his patronage of the arts to his skills as an administrator and strong sense of patriotism. Kirk expanded upon Cardinal O’Connell’s clear and bold vision of
what he believed was needed in the Archdiocese of Boston and how he brought about substantial changes in the Catholic community. “He was not going to limit his role of archbishop to the spiritual needs of his flock,” shared Kirk about his great uncle. “He intended to better their lives, as individuals, and as families, and as communities and as Americans.” The list of accomplishments during the Cardinal’s tenure is impressive; the number of priests serving the faithful increased from 598 to 1,582; the number of parishes in the archdiocese increased from 1,567 to 5,469; the Archdiocese was operating three large Catholic hospitals; and the list goes on. “But I surmise if the Cardinal were to return today,” said Kirk, “I think that of all his accomplishments, he might very well say that his most real and lasting legacy is YOU; you and like Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s Long Gray line, all those who have preceded you at St. Sebastian’s and gone out into the world with the heart and compassion of the unnamed Samaritan and the courage of young Sebastian.” Following Kirk’s inspirational speech, the students divided into small groups to take part in the next phase of the Founder’s Day celebration: a short writing assignment, prompting them to consider what they would found if given the opportunity. The students had a chance to brainstorm and ultimately share their ideas with each other in Ward Hall before enjoying a special luncheon together. Happy 76th Birthday, St. Sebastian’s!
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“The Cardinal chose to give you as your patron, a model and an example of courage, that virtue which makes all other virtues possible.” —Ed Kirk ’62
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Blessed with Spirit The perfect addition to your coffee table Blessed with Spirit: The First 75 Years of St. Sebastian’s School tells the remarkable story of St. Sebastian’s, one of eternal purpose, crystal clear vision, and dramatic transformation. Richly illustrated with photographs from our archives and enriched by recollections and testimonials, this beautiful coffee table book is a treasure trove that will be cherished by every member of our St. Sebastian’s family. Limited edition book; available for $45, plus shipping and handling. Purchase your copy today at: www.stsebs.org/book
A Bird’s Eye View
of the West Campus Center
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n a brisk December afternoon, as the vibrant sun casts shadows in the snow, a bird’s eye view provides perspective. While the statue of our patron saint serves as a reminder of the School’s founding values, he also stands at the crossroads of progress and improvement that will ensure the School’s continued success. The $55 million Spirit & People Campaign, approved by the Board of Trustees in January 2016, has two distinct components: $31 million to fund construction of the West Campus Center, a project that will greatly enhance our athletic facilities and provide much-needed space for performing arts, college counseling, archives and administrative offices; and $24 million to increase the School’s endowment. As of year-end 2017, the Campaign Committee, led by Co-Chairs Jack Connors GP’20,’23 and Bill O’Malley P’09,’10,’13 and Board President Jim Elcock ’77, P’08, has raised $35.5 million toward these ambitious and important goals. As the aerial image evinces, much has been accomplished since construction began in May 2017. Bowdoin Construction, the general contractor, anticipates that steel installation will be completed by March. During summer 2018, the 49,000 sq. ft. addition and the 29,000 sq. ft. of renovated space will be joined, the Class of 2017 Courtyard will be constructed between the old and new structures, and the lower baseball/soccer field, currently serving as a construction staging area, will be rebuilt. Construction will be completed and ready for students when they arrive in September. While the West Campus Center project is quite visible to all, raising $24 million in new endowment funds is equally important. Several donors have initiated named endowment funds for financial aid or have added to existing endowment funds. We have also received several planned gifts designated for endowment. A strong endowment will bolster our financial resources for generations of future Arrows and the dedicated faculty who serve them. We are beyond grateful to the many trustees, parents, grandparents, past parents, alumni, and friends who have given so generously to the Spirit & People Campaign to date, and we look forward to sharing our thrilling plans with all members of our St. Sebastian’s family.
Please go to www.stsebs.org/spirtandpeople to view more photos of the West Campus Center project and learn more about the Spirit & People Campaign and potential naming opportunities.
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OUR YEAR OF
SPIRIT BY HEADMASTER WILLIAM L. BURKE III
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ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE
On September 18, 2017, Headmaster Bill Burke delivered his opening remarks for the academic year during Corporate Chapel, focusing on the year’s one-word theme: Spirit. The tradition began twenty years ago, in September 1997, with the word Respect and ever since, Headmaster Burke has launched each school year with an inspirational speech to introduce the theme.
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t. Thomas Aquinas reminds us that “every good thing we have comes from God as pure gift.” I will never be able to thank God enough for the pure gift of the Spirit and the People of St. Sebastian’s School. A few years ago, one of your fathers recommended Fearless to me. I devoured the book, shared it with friends and colleagues, and, as we all know, ultimately selected it as our All School Read. As we were about to begin our endof-the-year faculty meeting in June, I found myself reviewing highlighted passages in the book, and my eyes fell on this sentence that Adam Brown had written to his young children: “I’m not afraid of anything that might happen to me on this Earth because I know no matter what, nothing can take my spirit from me.” The word Spirit shot straight through my heart and proclaimed itself as this year’s theme. Spirit tends to behave in this manner, catching us unawares, having its way with us, stirring us, taking us deep, lifting us higher than we can go—if we but let it. Jesus tells us: “The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). St. Paul adds: “the concern of the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). As the end of His earthly life draws nigh, our Lord encourages his disciples in these words: “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my
name—He will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you” (John 14:26). Spirit is a person, the Holy Spirit— the third person of the Blessed Trinity. How often we recite these words: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…” And how often in this Church and in our Chapel we hear Father John utter this phrase: “Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.” Spirit with a lower case “s” is defined as the non-physical part of a person which is the seat of emotions and character; the soul…true self—capable of surviving physical death or separation. And listen to this string of spirit’s synonyms: courage…energy… enthusiasm… essence…heart…will… life… mood… morale… resolve… backbone… grit… guts… sparkle… spunk. Who doesn’t want to possess those qualities? Who doesn’t want to have others say of him or her: “That person has a great spirit!” The letter of the law and the spirit of the law...generosity of spirit…a giving spirit…a kind spirit…a loving spirit…I’ll be with you in spirit…peace be with you, and with your spirit…Academic Rigor;
Spiritual Depth. Though we see and hear and so easily utter such phrases all the time, that for which they stand is far from easy to grasp. In truth, the theme of Spirit challenges us. It’s a mystery of breath and breeze and bliss eternal. Its essence invisible; its power indescribable. It’s so much bigger than we are, so far beyond space and time. So high above us and so deep within us, as St. Albert the Great proclaims in these words: “To ascend to God means nothing else than to enter into oneself. And, indeed, he who enters into the secret place of his own soul passes beyond himself, and does in very truth ascend to God.” Now there’s a heavy concept for us! Yes, we’re challenging ourselves with the theme of Spirit, but if Adam Brown can fight through a sea of troubles, including recovery from addiction and the loss of his dominant eye and the loss of the full use of his dominant hand, shouldn’t we be able to stretch ourselves to grow in our understanding of and commitment to Spirit? The word inspire is a form of the word spirit. We all know what it means to be inspired by another, to draw inspiration from a person who fills us with hope and confidence and resolve, helping us perform better, making us
“Spirit tends to behave in this manner, catching us unawares, having its way with us, stirring us, taking us deep, lifting us higher than we can go—if we but let it.” FALL 2017
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want to be better. Let us be inspired by Adam Brown and Jon Fussell and their brothers and sisters in arms. We learn that after Adam died, his wife, Kelley, found and read for the first time a letter her husband had written some nine years earlier. Here’s an excerpt: Nathan holds a part of my heart that is unexplainable, and that I did not know existed until he came into our lives…may he always know that the greatest man on Earth is Jesus Christ, may we always show him that. I am so blessed it makes my blood burn with a completeness and happiness I have never had. You are so precious. Although I miss you so deeply, the Word says, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.” With Love Through Eternity, Adam We know how strong Adam’s faith was, and we know how committed he was to working on his recovery, and 20 |
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we know how much he loved his wife. When craving became too much for him, he knew that he could reach out to Kelley and tell her that the drug was calling his name, and she would spring to action, urge him to go to Austin, his friend and fellow Navy Seal, who knew his story, and assure him that she was on her way, rushing to his side. As we often share here, no matter how dire the straits in which we find ourselves, we always and forever have access to the two most powerful forces in the universe: God and people of good will through whom our Lord works. Adam accessed both forces, and we must ever do so as well. No one does it alone. We’re immensely proud of and tremendously inspired by Adam’s courageous life and heroic recovery, but we know full well that he and everyone he loves devoutly wished that he had never tried drugs, as we read: “While the wars waged on, Adam quietly continued to fight the personal battle that had begun the first time he’d smoked crack some eight years earlier. His faith, family, and determination had kept him drug free for almost five years,
but his body and brain had been altered by the drug and they would seek that pleasure forever.” Taking drugs, altering your body and brain forever, is clearly neither prudent nor necessary. It is choosing to take on an excruciatingly painful and debilitating, life-long handicap. Anyone who encourages you to try drugs does not have your mind’s or your body’s or your soul’s best interest at heart. Believe me. Adam Brown’s fearlessness and insistence that no force could ever take his spirit from him calls to mind the spirit celebrated in the Book of Daniel. When these three guys named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego got themselves in big trouble for loving God and refusing to worship the gods favored by Nebuchadnezzer, the pagan king of Babylon, the ruler threatens to burn them alive. Here’s what they have to say: “…Oh Nebuchadnezzer, we do not need to defend ourselves, before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king.
“...the Spirit lives forever deep within our true heart’s core and soars in airy lightness high above the heavens. The Spirit never dies.” But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18). If you want to know how the good guys make out, open the Old Testament to the Book of Daniel Chapter 3, verses 19 through 30. No threat of torture and death could ever rob them of their spirit. They stand their ground, calling to mind the words of Saint Catherine of Siena: “No one can trouble the soul founded on virtue, or deprive it of the hope of heaven.” The history of our faith is replete with such stories of true courage and unwavering resolve in the face of death. Around the year 165, a little more than a hundred years before our patron, St. Sebastian, was martyred for his faith, a Roman prefect named Rusticus ordered a Christian philosopher and scholar of Plato named Justin and six of his students to sacrifice to the Roman gods. When they refused, he sentenced them to be scourged and beheaded. As the horrible process was about to begin, St. Justin gave what I consider to be the best pre-game talk in the history of the world. He said, “They can kill us, but they can’t do us any real harm.” Oh, to have and to live such faith! Justin and his students had embraced the truth that St. Augustine was to declare some two hundred years later: “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” In 2005, my wife and I were blessed to spend three weeks in China. Our itinerary had the communist government’s eyes on it with exception of the three Sundays, when we went off script to attend Mass. Outside a Church in Chengdu that had been used as a
hospital during the Cultural Revolution and later restored as a worship site, we met a 25-year-old Chinese law student, who had become a Catholic five years earlier. We learned that he had grown up with no faith and that neither his parents nor any relative in the history of his family as far as he could tell had ever been in any way religious. It seemed that his faith had simply arisen from within in the way that the Galapagos Islands rose from the sea. His faith has strengthened mine. Chairman Mao, who came to power in 1949, and his henchmen could spew their evil venom all they wanted. They could imprison and torture and kill millions of their own people in the interest of advancing their godless, morally bankrupt system, but strive as they might to stamp out religion, to put to an end the worship of our gracious and loving God, neither they nor any person could ever kill the Spirit, for the Spirit lives forever deep within our true heart’s core and soars in airy lightness high above the heavens. The Spirit never dies. Henri Nouwen shares, “The way God’s spirit manifests itself most convincingly is through its fruits: ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness, and selfcontrol’ (Galatians 5:22). These fruits speak for themselves. It is therefore always better to raise the question ‘How can I grow in the Spirit?’ than the question: ‘How can I make others believe in the Spirit?’ What we live is more important than what we say, because the right way of living always leads to the right way of speaking.” Jesus offers these assuring words to his disciples “Do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what
you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Matthew 10:19&20). May we harden not our hearts and be not strident but ever open to God’s Spirit. This summer after watching the Disney movie, Moana, with my family, I received a gift of the Spirit, through my six-year-old grandson, Jackson, who approached me earnestly and oh, so sweetly, saying, “Papi, here’s something you can tell your students.” And he shared Moana’s song: “I’m everything I’ve learned and more. Still it calls me. And the call isn’t out there at all; it’s inside you.” What Jackson heard sung, he heard as truth, vital truth, urgent truth, truth he wanted to share with me, so I could share it with you. It’s a beautiful thing. I pray that such good and true and beautiful instincts gushing in and rushing through his pure, pure heart may never be cultured out of him or out of you or out of any of us. Harden not our hearts. Let it go. Let it flow. Here are some messages I love: The Spirit unifies. Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. We are one. For I believe that deep within, we all crave unity. Saint John Paul II pronounced: “There is only one community and it consists of all people.” C.S. Lewis, in his introduction to Mere Christianity, writes, “Hostility has come more from the borderline people … men not exactly obedient to any communion. This I find curiously consoling. It is at her centre, where her truest children dwell, that each communion is really closest to every other in spirit, if not in doctrine. And this suggests at the centre of each there is something, or a Someone, who against all divergences of belief, all differences of temperament, all memories of mutual persecution, speaks with the same voice.” St. Paul famously asserts, “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit” (1 Cor 12:13). FALL 2017
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The Spirit is all about unification. The opposite of unification is fragmentation, which sadly seems to be on the rise in our country and in our world. Aaron Kheriaty, Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Medical Ethics at the University of California Irvine Medical School, writes, “Rising rates of suicide, drug abuse, and depression can all be traced to increased social fragmentation…A few years ago, a man in his thirties took his own life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge (as more than fifteen hundred other people have done since the bridge was built). After his death, his psychiatrist went with the medical examiner to the man’s apartment, where they found his diary. The last entry, written just hours before he died, said, ‘I’m going to walk to the bridge. If one person smiles at me on the way, I will not jump.’” I read that piece and recalled these words of St. Francis: “The deeds you do may be the only sermon that some people will hear today.” And I thought of this plea made by St. Therese of Lisieux: “Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all with love.”
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And I thought of one of my heroes, Peggy McDonough, who, six years ago, lost her only child, James, a true Arrow from our Class of 2005, to an accident. Every day, Peggy prays and strives to live these words: “Lord, let me be a channel of your goodness to everyone I meet today.” And I thought of Travis Roy, who, from his wheelchair, encouraged us not to avoid the handicapped when we encounter them, but, rather, to connect with them as the true brothers and sisters they are. Nod, smile, say hello. We need God and we need one another. We struggle, to be sure, but we struggle not alone. May we unify and stand together, and may we never desecrate the ground on which we stand by bringing harm to another. Mr. Brendan Sullivan and Mr. Deschenes and I were privileged to listen to dynamic speaker and New York Times bestselling author, Wes Moore, this summer, when he addressed us at a conference in Baltimore. Mr. Moore is a moral and ethical giant and a truly great guy, but, like all of us, he did some things earlier in his life of which he is not proud. Looking back on his errors, he shared, “I hurt people who loved me, so I could impress people who could not have cared less about me.”
Believe me, gentlemen, if others cheer you on as you hurt another, those people care not a whit for your soul, your true self, the essence of the man you are and the man you are called to be and the man you want to be. Align yourselves, rather, with those who inspire the better angels of your nature and become ever more fully one of those guys yourself. It costs you nothing, and it gets you and others everything. As we remind one another all the time, each of us has to make a fundamental choice. We can live for ourselves alone and be miserable, or we can live for the Lord and others and be joyful. May we ever be a community of Spirit and so of unity and not of fragmentation, for truly we are one, together, Arrows forever. May the river, the fountain, the light, the beauty, the truth, and the goodness of God’s Spirit run through us all every sacred moment of this day and of this year and of all our years. We ask this each in his and her own way, and I do so in the name of the Father in Whom we live and move and have our being, and of the Son, the way, and the truth, and the life, and of the Holy Spirit at work in our weakness. Amen.
Welcome to Our New Trustees St. Sebastian’s is very fortunate to have an exceptional group of parents, alumni, and friends of the School who give generously of their time and share their wisdom as members of the Board of Trustees. We are pleased to welcome the five new members joining our board.
Shawn Martin P’17,’18,’19 Shawn and his wife, Susan, live in Westwood. They currently have two sons at St. Sebastian’s, Owen ’19 and Cam ’18. Their son, Ryan, graduated in June 2017 and is attending Villanova with his sister, Emma. Shawn is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Partner at Convexity Capital Management, a Boston-based institutional investment management firm founded in 2005. Previously, he served as a Fixed Income Portfolio Manager at the Harvard Management Company, which manages the investments for Harvard University’s endowment. Shawn received a B.S. from Babson College and his MBA from the University of Chicago. He also serves on the Board of Advisors at Cramer Productions Inc. Peter McLaughlin ’55, GP’13,’19 Peter ’55 and his wife, Marion, live in Chestnut Hill. A graduate of Boston College, Peter also holds an MBA from Northeastern University and is a Certified Public Accountant. He has consistently been involved as an alumnus and grandparent at St. Sebastian’s, serving as a member of the Alumni Association Board and Chair of the Grandparents’ Fund for several years. Peter is a Fellow in the Office of the President of Boston College. His 15-year tenure at BC has included fundraising at the principal gift level, alumni leadership roles and, for the past ten years, Chair of the Board of St. Columbkille School, a lab school for BC.
Kathleen Murphy P’21 Kathleen and her husband, George Hornyak, live in Wellesley. Their son, Jack, is in the Class of 2021. Kathleen is President of Personal Investing at Fidelity Investments, which provides a full range of investment and financial planning services to millions of individual investors, including wealth management, retirement planning, and brokerage. She is also responsible for all of the firm’s brand and advertising programs. Kathleen sits on the Board of Governors of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the Board of Directors of the Markle Foundation, and serves as Vice Chair of the National Football Foundation Board of Directors. Kathleen has repeatedly been named one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in American Business” by Fortune magazine. Troy Stanfield P’21 Troy and his wife, Kim, live in Needham. Their son, Isaiah, is in the Class of 2021. They also have two daughters, Gabrielle at the University of Virginia and Michaela at Winsor, where Kim sits on the Board of Trustees. Troy is Managing Partner at Stanfield Capital, a Private Equity Firm focused on investment opportunities in the lower middle market. He has fifteen years of private equity experience with a concentration on consumer products and retail brands. Prior to founding Stanfield Capital in 2014, Troy was a Partner at Castanea Partners, a firm he joined at its launch in 2002. Troy holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.S. degree in Commerce with concentrations in Finance and Management from the University of Virginia. He is the Treasurer on the Board of Elders of Grace Chapel. Cara Real P’13, ’19 President, Guild of St. Irene Cara and her husband, Shaun, live in Canton. They have two sons, John ’13 and Matthew ’19. John graduated from Boston College in May 2017 and is currently working as a Junior Associate at Colliers International in Boston. Cara has been a very active volunteer for the Guild of St. Irene, especially for the Christmas Auction. Most recently, Cara worked as a major gifts officer for the Italian Home for Children, a non-profit organization which helps children and families with emotional, behavioral, and educational challenges. She currently serves on the Italian Home’s Board of Directors.
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Making Magic in the Classroom Math teacher Donna Atwood celebrates 25 years of teaching at St. Sebastian’s BY CHRISTINE Y. ROBERTSON
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When Donna Atwood joined the Math Department in the fall of 1992, St. Sebastian’s gained a loving educator, trusted colleague and loyal friend. For more than 25 years, she has touched the lives of her students and fellow faculty members, fulfilling her calling as teacher in a community where God, family and job are inextricably entwined.
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twood was exactly what Math Department Chair Jim Sullivan was looking for when seeking a teacher to fill the open position. Sullivan, who began his tenure two years earlier as Headmaster Bill Burke’s first hire, set his sights on finding a competent, warm, nurturing teacher with both the ability and desire to teach the lower grades as well as the upperclassmen. “In every way, Donna has exceeded those needs, as history has proved,” recalls Sullivan of his first hire. Discovering the available position at St. Sebastian’s was providential for Atwood, who had just been laid off from her teaching job at Needham High School; her husband, Phil, was also unemployed at the time. “I have always felt that it is because of God’s grace that the job opening which brought me to St. Sebastian’s occurred at a time when my family was in need,” said Atwood. At the time she applied, she happened to be working as a math tutor at a learning center run by Fran Fleming, whose brother, Joe Tomasello ’63, brotherin-law, Jack Doherty ’62 and nephews, Jed ’86 and Tim ’87, were all Arrows alumni. Fran gladly wrote a letter of recommendation for Atwood, who brought with her 14 years of teaching experience, having also taught in the Westwood and Medfield public schools. The grounds of St. Sebastian’s were already familiar to Atwood, who spent her childhood years attending St. Bartholomew School, which previously occupied the same location. St. Bartholomew Parish is where she and her three sons received the sacraments of First Holy Communion, Reconciliation, and
Confirmation, and where all three boys were baptized. Now she would be walking some of the same hallways and sitting in the same pews, but this time as a teacher. From day one, working at St. Sebastian’s just felt right to Atwood: “I recall a conversation Jim Sullivan and I had during my first year at St. Sebastian’s when he remarked on how wonderful it is to work in a school where one can pray openly and where you love to come to work each day.” A year later, Atwood’s oldest son, Mike ’97 began attending as a 9th grader, followed by Chris ’99 and then Brendan ‘01. Her sister, Nancy Sanderson, who eventually became the front office face of the School, sent her boys, Mike ’10 and Ryan ’12, as well. In addition to working with Nancy since the fall of 2006, Ryan is now her colleague in the Math Department, science teacher David Thomas married her niece, Maura, and this past fall, David and Maura became parents to their daughter, Greta. “So I am the bossy older sister to Nancy, Auntie Donna to David and Ryan, and Great Auntie Donna to little Greta. How lucky am I that my ‘family at work’ actually includes my real family!” Atwood’s colleagues have become an extension of her family. Some of these teachers have been working alongside her for the past quarter-century, including Jim Sullivan and Jim Rest, the two chairs of the Math Department during her time at St. Sebastian’s. “I so enjoy having conversations with friends whose ages range from early twenties to nineties,” shared Atwood. “I don’t think you will ever find a better group of teachers than here at St. Sebastian’s.”
TOP: Donna Atwood with members of the Math Club in 1994. BOTTOM: Atwood offers guidance to a student during the 2005-06 school year.
The feelings of love and respect Atwood has for her colleagues is mutual. “Donna is detailed, energetic, enthusiastic, fun and determined that everything she works on is first rate,” shared Rest. Math teacher Carla Callini concurred, “Donna is the ultimate colleague, always there for her peers and supportive of her students. The amount of time she invests in her students is amazing.” Atwood is indeed a relentless worker, dedicated to creating a positive and productive learning environment for her students. Soon after she arrived at St. Sebastian’s in 1992, the Math Lab was formed, creating a designated FALL 2017
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many virtues. Atwood’s son, Mike, also shared touching remarks on behalf of his brothers, including this tribute from her middle son, Chris:
Donna Atwood gathers at the Faculty Trustee Dinner on November 10, 2017, with members of her family, including her sons Brendan ‘01 and Mike ’97 and her husband, Phil.
space for students to seek extra help with math outside regular classroom hours. From the beginning of this hallmark program, Atwood has been available before, during and after school to guide her charges through challenging lessons and to help them hone their skills. “Her commitment and involvement in the Math Lab was key to making it a great resource for our students,” said Sullivan. The Math Lab is just one example of Atwood’s contributions as a member of the Math Department.
“Forty years is a very long time to be ‘doing the same thing’ for certain, but it is because of the magic that can occur in a classroom that I have always looked forward to another year in my profession.” —Donna Atwood 26 |
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Whether it’s running the Math Club for grades 7 and 8, organizing math contests or suggesting revisions to the curriculum, she is always looking for fresh ways to keep students engaged. The consummate professional, she has never stopped growing and learning herself, whether through professional courses, conferences, workshops or brainstorming with colleagues. Atwood’s efforts extend well beyond the classroom. As moderator of the Student Council, she has organized many favorite events for the student body over the years. From the semiformal and Red and Black Day to field trips and “donut days,” her goal is to make the Arrows’ experience memorable and fun. Her willingness to go the extra mile is apparent in everything she does, whether it’s sitting on the Teaching Committee, meeting with advisees or attending plays, musical performances and games. On the evening of November 10, 2017, faculty and trustees gathered in Ward Hall to honor Atwood for her 25 years of teaching at St. Sebastian’s. Math Department Chair Jim Rest delivered a genuine speech about his long-time colleague, extolling her
Whether you talk to Mom’s family or friends or to students she taught decades ago, you’ll find one repeated thread: she cares… deeply. It’s not a superficial sort of caring. It’s genuine. It’s lasting. She cares whether or not her students learn... and strives, daily, to help all of them to grasp new ideas. She cares immensely about the people around her—treating each and every person as individuals worthy of understanding. She cares profoundly about fostering a community built on shared sense of respect and kindness. Her care is not one directional—it inspires those near her to care for others too. This is Mom’s gift. This is her love in action. When it was Atwood’s turn at the podium, she took the opportunity to thank the many faculty members who were influential in her children’s education. “So many of you in this room played critical roles in their development as students, athletes, leaders, and in building their character,” shared Atwood. Along with her family, including her three sons, five grandchildren and husband of 45 years, Phil, Atwood counts the St. Sebastian’s community among her blessings. Now in her 26th year at St. Sebastian’s—and 40th year in the classroom—Atwood expressed her deep appreciation for this great School and the opportunity to spend the majority of her career teaching here. “Forty years is a very long time to be ‘doing the same thing’ for certain, but it is because of the magic that can occur in a classroom that I have always looked forward to another year in my profession.” Thank you, Donna, for the many years you have given to St. Sebastian’s, and hopefully many more years to come. We are so very blessed to have you as part of our community.
Summer Workshops in Writing & Science Two sessions for Summer 2018:
July 9–20 & July 23–August 3 stsebs.org/workshops
These two distinct workshops, run by our experienced St. Sebastian’s faculty, are an enriching learning opportunity for students looking for a challenging and fun summer experience.
Open to all boys entering grades 5–9
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WITH A MISSION BY CHRISTINE Y. ROBERTSON
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n June 17, 2017, Will Coyne ’18 and his father, Todd, set out across the country on an inspiring adventure. The father and son team were on a mission to provide those affected by natural disasters with the most important meal of the day. Indeed, this was no ordinary road trip; this was Operation Breakfast. Over the following weeks, they travelled from Missouri to Utah, feeding individuals directly impacted by floods and fires, as well as first responders and volunteers, and lifting their spirits along the way. Embracing St. Sebastian’s Order of the Day, “to love God, work hard and take good care of one another,” Will was already deeply committed to service before embarking on this cross country journey. The inspiration for Operation Breakfast came from his volunteer experiences at AstraZeneca Hope Lodge, where, over the past five years, he has been cooking and serving meals for cancer patients and their caregivers alongside Todd, who retired from AstraZeneca last February. In recent years, Will has invited friends from St. Sebastian’s to join him in preparing and serving the meal and took charge of organizing the logistics, including securing a donation from the local Roche Bros. to purchase the food. For Will, the most powerful part of the whole experience was the conversations that came out of sharing a meal with the patients. Last winter, Will began to think about how he could expand upon the idea of cooking a meal for people who are experiencing tough times. He reached out to several different people, from John Eaton, the Director of the Service Program at St. Sebastian’s, to Fire Chief Condon in Needham, and gained valuable insight from each conversation. The mission and the method became clear—to help people impacted by natural disasters by serving breakfast, the most economical and simplest meal to serve.
Decisions were made and tasks assigned as Will brainstormed about Operation Breakfast with his parents around the dining room table. One by one, things fell into place: Will’s cousin, a lawyer, educated him about the Good Samaritan Law; Todd and Will became ServSafe certified; Will’s aunt, an accountant, helped set up a small business account; Will created the logo, a website and social media accounts; and a GoFundMe page was established, helping to raise $8,000. “I was amazed by the commitment people made before we had even done anything,” shared Will. The Coynes invested in a new laptop and camera so that Will could document their efforts. Setting up the first stop proved to be the biggest challenge; the timing and location of disasters can’t be predicted, and there is a protocol that takes place, with FEMA going in first, followed by state and then local organizations. “We learned how important it was to have someone on the ground, a connection who can help coordinate and is committed to what you are doing,” said Todd. Missouri’s lead contact for the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) was incredibly supportive and after two months of leg work, the Coynes finally secured their first destination: Van Buren, MO. Three days after getting the news, Will and Todd packed a rented pick-up truck with a portable griddle, tents,
tables and chairs, and hit the road. “The first time we loaded it, Will took a picture, and thank goodness he did, because that’s what we referred back to each time we repacked the truck,” noted Todd. Along the way, they picked up a 19 foot camper trailer to serve as their sleeping quarters.
TOP: The pick-up truck, strategically loaded with equipment and supplies for Operation Breakfast. BOTTOM: Todd and Will ’18 Coyne in their driveway in Needham before departing for their road trip.
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Will and Todd arrived in Van Buren on June 21, almost two months after the small town of 800 people had suffered a devastating flood, destroying many homes and almost all the businesses. With the help of Pastor Dave from the Assembly of God Church, the Coynes set up Operation Breakfast in the community center parking lot the next morning and served their first customer at 7am. “It was an awesome feeling and a relief when we started the griddle that first morning and all the burners fired,” said Will. The two short order cooks served the same menu each day: a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, home fries and orange juice and coffee. The people of Van Buren were very thankful, but it was about much more than the food. Operation Breakfast provided a break from the recovery efforts, a chance for members of the community to relax and have conversations with the Coynes and with each other, staying long after they’d finished eating. Pastor Dave expressed that the timing was 30 |
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perfect. The many great organizations supporting the town in the immediate weeks after the flood had since left, and Operation Breakfast provided a muchneeded morale boost. After a few days in Van Buren, the Coynes headed to West Plains, MO, a much larger town of 12,000 residents, where the floods especially impacted the lower income community. With the help of the pastor at the First Baptist Church, they set up outside the food bank, serving breakfast for two days. The Coynes served more meals there than anywhere else, but connecting with this larger community proved to be more challenging. “I originally had this plan to go to as many places as possible and feed as many people as we could,” shared Will. “But after West Plains, I realized how ineffective that was in achieving the purpose of Operation Breakfast. That does a really good job of getting people the food, but this was not about feeding people who were starving.” Determined to serve a community impacted by a different type of natural disaster, the final leg of the trip brought Will and Todd to Panguitch Lake, Utah, where a human-caused fire had forced the evacuation of more than 1,500 people and burned over 71,000 acres in a month’s time. Over the course of two days, Operation Breakfast served
breakfast to the people affected by the fire as well as the firefighters and medics, this time organizing the logistics through the fire chief. The fire was 75% contained when the Coynes arrived and Will recalls talking to a man named JD who had just lost his house the day before. “I thought of the quote that I often hear from Mr. Burke: ‘Grief shared is grief divided, joy shared is joy multiplied.’ I couldn’t help JD, or even really cheer him up, but I could let him talk and I could see the grief divided part in that. It was a big learning experience for me.” The firefighters and medics who gathered around the tables were from all over the country. For two weeks, they had been eating powdered food, living in one-person tents and working every day from 6am to 8pm. Operation Breakfast not only provided these exhausted first responders with their first taste of solid food in weeks, but also a mental and physical break. “The trip could not have ended on a better note,” shared Will. Three months later, on November 16, 2017, Will had the opportunity to speak about Operation Breakfast at Chelsea Academy, a Catholic independent school in Front Royal, VA. The invitation was extended by Greg Lynch ‘00, former faculty member at
St. Sebastian’s, who is the Director of Development at Chelsea Academy and had played a pivotal role in recruiting Will as an Arrow after meeting him at a lacrosse camp. Will’s presentation, including the moving documentaries he created at each location, held the students’ attention for 45 minutes, demonstrating his passion for Operation Breakfast, as well as his entrepreneurial skills in founding and managing such an initiative. Will considers Operation Breakfast to be a continuation of the values he’s learned at St. Sebastian’s. When the Coynes were on the road, people would often wonder why this young man and his dad from New England were serving them a free hot meal, no questions asked. Will’s response was simple, yet effective, sharing his school’s motto, “Love God, work hard, and take good care of one another.” Their remarkable cross country mission proved to be a life-changing experience for both Will and Todd, one they hope to repeat in the near future. Wherever Operation Breakfast takes them next, we know they’ll be serving a plate full of grace.
To learn more about Operation Breakfast and view videos, visit www.operationbreakfast.com.
CLOCKWISE: Pastor Dave enjoys his first bite of an egg sandwich; A red shed on its side serves as an example of the destruction caused by the flooding in Van Buren, MO; Operation Breakfast sets up outside the fire station in Panguitch Lake, UT; Todd and Will with Chief Dave Etter (center); Firefighters and medics enjoy the fresh breakfast and a moment to relax.
“I could hear firefighters talking about the food. It was the first solid food they’d had in two weeks, they had been working every day from 6am to 8pm and living in one-person tents. Operation Breakfast literally gave them a mental and physical break.” —Will Coyne ’18 FALL 2017
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A Tribute to Dr. George Bernier ’52
Setting the Bar BY JOEY SPADONI
T
High
his past fall, St. Sebastian’s received a truly special gift to its archives from Mary Jane Bernier, widow of George Bernier ’52. Along with other pieces of memorabilia—a letterman jacket, a few editions of The Walrus from the early 1950’s—Mary Jane donated large-scale original cartoons created by George. These incredible illustrations, depicting students, their priestly mentors and school events, are a priceless addition to our collection, helping to tell our School’s story. This unique contribution to St. Sebastian’s archives inspired a deeper look into George Bernier—what was he like as a student during his days on Nonantum Hill and who did he become? Our investigation uncovered an exceptional Arrow whose talents included much more than his finesse with a pencil. Indeed, he was the first graduate to receive the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award, established by Monsignor Flanigan in January 1961. As time would tell, the School’s second headmaster made a wise choice in selecting George as the first recipient. 32 |
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Cartoons created by George Bernier ’52, featured in issues of The Walrus, include (top to bottom, left to right): the 1952-53 basketball season; artwork of a soldier featured above Fr. Flanigan’s Christmas message in December 1951; a promotion for the 1949 Minstrel Show; the 1950-51 Debate Team; and a depiction of spring sports at the beginning of the 1950 season. FALL 2017
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An honor student and three-letter athlete during his tenure at St. Sebastian’s, George was very involved in the life of the School. He served as a class officer, was a member of the Altar Society and played football, basketball, and baseball. Although a serious knee injury during the 1949 season ended his football career, he did not let the setback interfere with his favorite sport— basketball. He was awarded membership on the New England Prep School Championship Basketball Team and played alongside the likes of captain Jim Brosnahan ’52 and Brian Burns ’53. Also an excellent writer, George won The Boston Globe’s award for the best sports story in any high school newspaper. In addition to his aptitude for putting words together artistically, George produced phenomenal artwork that made him a standout among his classmates. As the cartoonist for The Walrus and The Arrow, his wit and creativity were apparent in every sketch. His talents did not go unnoticed; twice the winner of The Boston Globe’s Schoolboy Cartoonist Award, George was invited to meet with The Globe’s staff cartoonist. At the time of their meeting, George was considering a career as a cartoonist and asked the professional about his
“We asked our dad once why he became a doctor. He used to say that the priests at St. Sebastian’s thought he had the right mentality for it, that he didn’t get flustered, and that it would be a good combination of his talents.” —Dr. Elizabeth Lamont
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George (2nd from right) with his teammates—Bill Wallace, Bill Cosgrove, Steve Kett, captain Jim Brosnahan and Brian Burns—on the 1951-52 basketball team.
job. The Globe staff member cautioned George, warning him that being a cartoonist requires discovering the most vulnerable part of another in order to make fun of them. Faced with a decision of spending his life ridiculing others as a cartoonist or devoting his life to helping them, George chose the latter. He turned down a scholarship from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, to pursue a career as a doctor. George recounted to his two children, George Bernier III and Dr. Elizabeth Lamont, that it was in fact his mentors on The Hill that encouraged him to consider medicine. “We asked him once why he became a doctor,” remembered Elizabeth. “He used to say that the priests at St. Sebastian’s thought he had the right mentality for it, that he didn’t get flustered, and that it would be a good combination of his talents.” Following St. Sebastian’s, George attended Boston College and was a member of the Order of the Cross and Crown, as well as the editor of BC’s literary magazine, The Stylus. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1956 and proceeded to Harvard Medical School, where he was twice elected president of his class, and ultimately named the permanent class president. Although firmly entrenched in a career in medicine, George continued to express his
creativity. He was Art Editor of the Harvard Medical School Yearbook, as well as a member of The Stork Club, the Boylston Medical Society and the Aesculapian Club. Upon graduating from Harvard Medical School in 1960, George received the Harvard Medical School Alumni Association Award and accepted an internship at University Hospitals of Cleveland, Ohio. Monsignor Flanigan was so impressed by George’s academic excellence and professional promise that he proudly named him St. Sebastian’s first ever Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. In Cleveland, George met his soulmate, Mary Jane, who was a nurse there at the time. “He was such a kind person,” shared Mary Jane. “He really cared about people, and he really cared about education.” George was an excellent physician, but he was also a brilliant educator. After training in hematology and oncology, he joined the medical faculty of Case Western Reserve University. He went on to hold several academic and hospital positions, including Chair of the Department of Medicine at Dartmouth Medical School, Dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). While at the University of Pittsburgh, George promoted the development of a
George’s children, George III and Elizabeth, stand behind their mother, Mary Jane, who holds a cherished portrait of her husband.
new curriculum for medical education. Implemented in 1992, the Physicians in Two Thousand (P.I.T.T.) curriculum was designed around patient-focused and problem-based material to enhance students’ ability to deal with the explosion of medical knowledge and to make them better thinking and more caring physicians. The initiative was highly successful. The first class
under the new curriculum passed the national medical board examination at a staggering 97 percent pass rate versus the 90 percent national average. The medical school began attracting top potential students; their applications jumped from 6,000 a year to 10,000. “The students loved it,” remarked Mary Jane. “That was one of his major achievements.”
As Dean at UTMB, George introduced the concept of problem-based learning, and instituted the White Coat Ceremony—a chance for alumni to meet with members of the current student body—a wonderful tradition that continues today. In 2000, he was appointed to the newly created White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Under his leadership, the first candidates for the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program for Women were sponsored, and an annual Teaching Achievement Award for the Integrated Medical Curriculum was established. These are just a few of the many contributions he made to the field of medicine. Throughout his career as a doctor, George never lost his creative spark. He loved to paint with watercolors and draw, and took adult-education art classes to learn silk-screening. He used his talent to make his family’s annual Christmas card each holiday season. George had the powerful advantage of being able to tap into both hemispheres of the brain, switching with ease from analytical tasks to more creative endeavors. In addition to being a gifted physician, a devoted educator, and a talented artist, George was also a loving father and person. He gave so much of himself to those around him. “He was always there for us,” remembers his son, George III. From a young age, George excelled in almost everything he did, but he never let the accolades go to his head. “When he passed away and I got the condolence letters from people I didn’t know, residents or students,” shared Mary Jane, “it was apparent that everybody saw his goodness, and that he was always trying to help others. I was so touched that what we knew of him was also out in the world.” George’s professional and personal achievements, along with his dedication and generosity, typified what it means to be an Arrow. Thank you, Dr. Bernier, for setting the bar high as the first Distinguished Alumnus of the Year.
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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS Boston Business Breakfast
From left: Rob and Tina Souza P’22, Headmaster Bill Burke, and Kimberly and Troy Stanfield P’21.
Headmaster’s Leadership Reception The Headmaster’s Leadership Reception on September 21, 2017, brought together more than 200 current parents, parents of alumni, grandparents, alumni and friends to honor and celebrate Leadership donors for their tremendous, continued support of St. Sebastian’s School.
Alumni, current parents, parents of alumni, and friends of St. Sebastian’s School gathered at the Boston College Club for the 22nd annual Boston Business Breakfast on November 21, 2017. Kathleen Murphy P’21, President of Personal Investing at Fidelity, delivered the morning’s keynote address. Kathleen Murphy P’21, President of Murphy, named by Personal Investing at Fidelity. Fortune magazine as one of the 50 most powerful women in business, shared her thoughts on the evolution of financial services and offered valuable insights from her vantage point at Fidelity.
A Night at the Boston Pops On December 8, members of the Board of Visitors enjoyed a festive evening at the Boston Pops with Headmaster Bill Burke and his wife, Patty, and Board of Trustees’ President Jim Elcock ’77, P’08 and his wife, Kathleen. This was an inaugural holiday gathering for the Board of Visitors, a group of supporters who have made significant contributions to the life and growth of the School.
HOMECOMING 2017 On October 14, Arrows fans of all ages flocked to campus to cheer on the varsity football and soccer teams.
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From left: Karen Birmingham P’84. GP’14,‘17, Nancy Gibson P’05, Headmaster Bill Burke, Craig Gibson P’05, Ned and Kate Hentz P’12, Patty Burke and Kathleen Elcock P‘08.
A Festive Evening of Fundraising
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ore than 400 parents and other members of the St. Sebastian’s community attended the annual Christmas Auction & Dinner at the Fairmont Copley Plaza on Saturday, December 2, 2017. It was a festive evening that brought everyone together at this beautiful venue in support of St. Sebastian’s. The evening featured a silent and live auction that showcased hundreds of items ranging from a St. Sebastian’s paddleboard to sports experiences and premier vacation getaways. Bidding went long into the night, with funds going to support the School and its community, as well as the Fine Arts Program. Donors placed bids from their phones for Silent and Premium Board Items.
St. Sebastian’s would like to thank all those who contributed to making this evening a tremendous success, from the donors, sponsors and advertisers to those who attended and bid. We are especially grateful to the more than 100 mothers who gave their time, talents, and resources as part of the Guild of St. Irene Auction Committee. A special thank you goes out to this year’s Auction Co-Chairs Lynn Giacchetto P’19 and Susan Martin P’17,’18,’19, and Guild of St. Irene President Cara Real P’13,’19. Thank you as well to Men’s Association President Michael Muldowney P’12,’16,’22 and Premium Board Auctioneer, Dan Fulham P’14,’23. The event was a wonderful opportunity for parents to gather and kick off the holiday season.
TOP ROW: The Fairmont Copley Plaza, all decked out for the holiday season; Guild of St. Irene President Cara Real P’13,‘19 (center) with Auction Co-Chairs Lynn Giacchetto P’19 and Susan Martin P’17,’18,’19; Headmaster Bill Burke at the podium; BOTTOM ROW: A St. Sebastian’s Vespa is auctioned off as part of the Live Auction; Dan Fulham P’14,‘23 promotes Premium Board items; John and Cathy Daniel P’15,’18,’20 and Debra and Dean Crandall P’20.
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RECENT WORKS FROM
ARROWS ARTISTS From painting and ceramics to photography, St. Sebastian’s students have been busy in the art studio and darkroom, producing a wide variety of creative and colorful works.
Photograph by Brendan McKenzie ’18; Ted Duffy ’19, holding the annual Christmas card featuring his artwork, with art teacher Deirdre Rynne Annan; one of a series of masks created by Mudia Onaiwu ’18; self-portrait by Jonathan Pace ’18; photo collage by Colin Kehoe ’18.
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Baskerville The Slings & Arrows Players of St. Sebastian’s School presented Baskerville, Ken Ludwig’s reinterpretation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic, The Hound of the Baskervilles, on November 3 and 4, 2017. With AJ Santosuosso ’18 and Thomas Olson ’18 leading the way, playing Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson respectively, all of our Arrows did a fantastic job bringing the story to life! Director Mark Rogers used a projector as part of the set in order to help the audience imagine the environment for the play. The students showed off their acting prowess by demonstrating an adept use of a number of different accents, including British, German, and even Southern. The acting, stage design, wardrobe, and sound were all tremendous.
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FALL SPORTS
Varsity Football BY COACH DAN BURKE
In Coach Souza’s 40th season at the helm, the 2017 St. Sebastian’s Football team played as all of his teams have played: as a courageous, honorable, resilient, tough band of brothers. Anyone who played against the Arrows or who watched them play could attest to that fact and knows that the 2-6 record does not tell the whole story of this team. Led by captains Brian Craven ’18 and Brendan McKenzie ’18, the Arrows fought hard from start to finish in each game, representing St. Sebastian’s and their families well and making Coach Souza and the rest of the coaching staff incredibly proud. The opening game against Milton Academy was a great representation
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of how the season was to go for the Arrows. Already down some players due to preseason injuries, the Arrows would lose other key players in the game. Undaunted by this adversity, the Arrows defense did not yield an offensive touchdown to Milton Academy in regulation, but still trailed 13-7 in the final seconds of the game. While some might have lost hope at that point, the Arrows defense did not, as Peter Blake ’19 recovered a fumbled snap by Milton with 35 seconds left deep in their territory. Seconds later, when Billy Seidl ’19 found Alex Cherry ’19 in the end zone, it seemed that Arrows had scraped out a win. Unfortunately, the extra point was called no good, apparently missing by the narrowest of margins, sending the game into overtime. After Milton scored and converted their two point conversion, Seidl found Cherry
again for the Arrows in their overtime possession. The two point conversion attempt failed for the Arrows, however, resulting in 21-19 loss. Game two for the Arrows, their first against the newest member of the ISL, Tabor Academy, began inauspiciously. In the third offensive play of the game, starting quarterback Billy Seidl went down with a high ankle sprain, an injury that would sideline him for four games. Again, though, the injuries and adversity did not dampen the competitive spirit of the Arrows whose “next man up” attitude was tested far too often throughout the season. Freshman quarterback Michael Phelps stepped in for Seidl and, on his second snap of varsity action, threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Alex Cherry. Phelps would go on to finish the day completing 10 of 12 passes for 157 yards and four touchdowns: two to
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Cherry and one each to Brian Craven ’18 and Will Frisoli ’19. The Arrows also added touchdowns on runs by brothers Brendan ’18 and Luke ’20 McKenzie and by Hugh McLaughlin ’20, resulting in a 48-18 victory. Now 1-1, the Arrows entered their toughest four-game stretch of the season, as three out of four of the opponents would go on to represent the ISL in NEPSAC Bowl games. First, the Arrows traveled to BB&N to take on a team that would go on to finish 7-1 in the ISL. The Arrows, despite playing without multiple injured starters, fought valiantly and had opportunities to win the game but fell short, losing 20-14. Then in a Homecoming contest against Governor’s, despite committing six turnovers in the game, the Arrows hung into the game until late, eventually losing 27-14 to a Governor’s team that would go on to finish 6-2. Following two tough losses, the Arrows then hosted eventual ISL and NEPSAC champions Lawrence Academy. Despite still being undermanned, the Arrows competed
valiantly, scoring first in the game but eventually wearing down against the larger opponent and losing 35-7. Finally, in this stretch the Arrows hosted Brooks. After a tough start that left them trailing 21-7, the Arrows displayed the resilience they had shown all season long. Billy Seidl, in his first game back from injury, threw touchdown passes to Billy Daniel ’18 and Harry Carlson ’18, who both made highlight reel catches and to Alex Cherry, turning a game that could have been a blowout into a 35-26 loss. Despite their 1-4 record heading into the game, the Arrows were not willing to concede anything until the final seconds to a Brooks team that finished the season 6-2 and went on to play in a NEPSAC bowl. Game seven for the Arrows pitted them against rival Belmont Hill. The Arrows once again proved their resilience and competitiveness until the last seconds of the game, but once again came up short of victory. Trailing 21-14 late in the fourth quarter, Billy
Seidl threw a touchdown pass to Alex Cherry. After the point after attempt failed, the Arrows trailed 21-20 and could have easily hung their heads and accepted defeat. Instead, the defense fought to get the ball back in the offense’s hands to try to eke out the victory. Marching deep into Belmont Hill’s territory, the Arrows looked poised to win the game until a Belmont defender intercepted a pass to end the game 21-20. Going into their final game against Thayer Academy, who was 6-1 and looking to earn a berth into a NEPSAC bowl with a win, the Arrows looked to play spoiler and more importantly to send their senior leaders off with a win. The senior class was vital to the positive attitude of the team in the face of adversity and defeat throughout the season and deserved a proper tribute in their final game. Once again, though, the chances of that happening seemed bleak early when Thayer scored three times in the first quarter on their way to a 21-7 lead. The Arrows mounted
OPPOSITE: The seniors on the football team gather together at the start of the season. LEFT: The offensive line prepares to win in the trenches during a game against our rival, Belmont Hill. RIGHT: Alex Cherry ’19 climbs the ladder to secure a clutch catch.
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FALL SPORTS
FALL ATHLETIC AWARDS The following student-athletes were recognized for their performance during the fall season at an Athletic Awards Assembly on November 30.
FOOTBALL All League ISL Jonathan Pace ’18, Brian Craven ’18, Alex Cherry ’19
Honorable Mention William Daniel ’18, Mudia Onaiwu ’18, Brendan McKenzie ’18
Ennis Award Presented to a senior who displays the qualities of commitment, teamwork, and dedication to the football program. Wilson MacPherson ’18 and Jack Browne ’18
Big Hit Award Presented to the player who makes a positive impact on our opponents. Brian Craven ’18
Boston Herald All-Scholastic Jonathan Pace ’18
SOCCER First Team ISL Soree Kaba ’18
Honorable Mention Will Kiley ’18, Peter Kilmartin ’18
Peter Kerr Award Presented to the soccer player who displays sportsmanship, dedication, and commitment to the soccer program. Tim Kiley ’18
NEPSAC Senior All-Star Game Soree Kaba ’18
Goodband Award Voted upon by ISL Coaches Mario Oliva ’18
CROSS COUNTRY Honorable Mention Patrick McDonald ’20
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Ball-hawking captain Brian Craven ’18, jumps the receiver’s route to make the interception.
a balanced run and pass attack in response, though, highlighted by a touchdown run from Brendan McKenzie and three touchdown passes from Billy Seidl to Billy Daniel ’18 and two more from Seidl to Alex Cherry. The “never say die” Arrows finished the season with a thrilling 42-35 win in which they racked up 446 yards of offense. The senior leaders kept a 2-6 team battling each week as if they were fighting for a championship and motivated the team to play very well against the league’s best. Football is a game of inches in which the deciding
factor in a game can be a lucky bounce one way or another. Had the bounces gone the Arrows’ way more often, the record would have been more impressive. What would not have changed, though, was the way that the Arrows competed and gelled as a team. No record can convey the tremendous leadership, toughness, positive attitude, and camaraderie of the 2017 Arrows. The 2018 senior class will be missed, but their underclassmen teammates will still feel the power of their example and contributions to the team in the years to come.
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Varsity Soccer BY COACH RICHARD CONNOLLY
Remember, remember, the second week of November. To borrow from the 2006 film V for Vendetta, this refrain will surely make members of the 2017 Arrows soccer team, and our fans, smile with a sense of wistful nostalgia. You see, that week the Seb’s Eleven defeated, on the road no less, both Roxbury Latin, who subsequently were kept out of the New England tournament, and Thayer, a scrappy side looking to make some lasting, positive memory of their own. Against RL, captain Soree Kaba ’18 scored a penalty kick to go up 1-0, and fellow captain Will Kiley ’18 saved a penalty kick in the waning minutes to preserve the shutout. At Thayer, Chris Sebastian ’18 scored perhaps the year’s prettiest goal in the third minute, and the stout Seb’s
defense, led by Tim Kiley ’18, Peter Julien ’18 and Will Adams ’22, kept the Tigers at bay to preserve the week-long clean sheet. Seven ISL schools—almost half the 16-school league—made the New England tournament, which consists of two divisions of eight teams, and when you include our season-opener with Worcester Academy, half the teams we played made the postseason. Our schedule, as the boys would say, is a grind. We finished with a 4-8-4 (W-L-D) record, putting us in 11th place. As you will see, though, a couple different bounces, or a faster game clock, would have resulted in a muchimproved record, so despite earning just 16 points, the team battled in every game and we continue to enter every season with the goal of making the post-season and, one day, claiming the ISL throne. At Worcester, a team that would go on to lose just two games, the second coming in the Class A semi-final, the
Arrows were dealt a 3-0 loss. Hosting Nobles a week later, Seb’s went up early on a Justin Charles ’19 goal, but the Bulldogs battled back to win the Route 128 Derby, 2-1. Next, Rivers came to Needham, and behind two goals from Kaba, Seb’s earned a 2-2 tie against a Red Wings side that would go on to the New England quarterfinals. We next played BB&N in Lancaster, MA, under the lights in a league-wide Showcase in front of dozens of college coaches, but despite the impressive play of our boys, the Knights conquered, 1-0. With a 0-3-1 record in September, we turned our eyes to October, hoping the foliage might brighten our luck. At Governor’s, two goals from Colin Kehoe ’18, the second of which was assisted by— and really, almost scored by—goaltender Will Kiley ’18, helped secure the 2-1 win. Facing perennial New England powerhouse Milton, your Arrows stood tall and earned one of those scoreless draws that feels like a win.
Captain Will Kiley ’18 snatches the ball out of the air during an opponent’s corner kick.
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FALL SPORTS
LEFT: Captain Peter Kilmartin ’18 heads the ball up field to his teammates. RIGHT: Captain Soree Kaba ’18 holds off a defender as he continues up the field.
Brooks next visited Greendale Avenue, and the undefeated Class B and ISL champions proved their worth, taking a 4-0 win back to North Andover. On Homecoming, we looked to defend last year’s victory over Belmont Hill, but the Sextons, who would go on to the Class A quarterfinals, steered their way to a 2-0 victory. At Lawrence, a team having a similarly see-saw-esque season, the Spartans quickly took a 2-0 lead, but in a great display of resiliency from the Arrows Eleven, with eight minutes left Kehoe ’18 found the goal and with the clock basically expired (the refs keep time on the field) Paul Scemama ’18 headed home a rebound off a corner kick to salvage the draw. Next up was Middlesex, a Class B semi-finalist and the ISL runner-up, whom Seb’s held scoreless until the 86th minute (we play 90) when a Zebra snuck a bouncing ball in the net, handing Seb’s what, as you will see, 44 |
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was only the third-cruelest defeat in the final few weeks. To wit, St. Mark’s, another New England quarter-finalist, scored in the 87th minute off the foot of their ISL Player of the Year to show the Arrows what the Lions coach sympathetically called “a really tough way to lose a game.” At St. George’s, whose home field plays like something you might find in the Scottish Isles, captain Peter Kilmartin ’18 sent a laser to the back of the goal late in the game to earn the 1-1 draw with the Dragons. In November, we first hosted Tabor, and your Arrows got goals from Mario Oliva ’18, who scored a banger from 30 yards out, and Ellis O’Donnell ’19, who scorched a worm-burner from the top of the box that found the side netting, en route to a 2-1 win. To complete the “trifecta of torture,” we surrendered a goal in the 88th minute as host Groton stole a victory on their way to a berth in the New England tournament.
Of course, having suffered a third loss in such a fashion made the aforementioned second week of November that much sweeter, and the coaches couldn’t be happier that this 2017 Arrows Soccer Team can remember going out as resolute winners. Soree Kaba ’18 earned All-ISL honors and was selected to play in the New England Senior All-Star game. Peter Kilmartin ’18 and Will Kiley ’18 received All-ISL honorable mention. Mario Oliva ’18 was given by league coaches the Goodband Award, for persevering in the face of adversity; it’s an especially important award because it’s not given out each year. Tim Kiley ’18 was given by the Seb’s coaches the Kerr Award, for dedication and commitment to the program. Captains elect for 2018 are Pat Barron ’19 and Jared Price ’19. See you out there.
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Varsity Cross Country ANTHONY PEREZ ’19 & PAT MCDONALD ’20
Coaches and runners agree that cross country is by no means easy. The meets, for one, are unlike the contests of any other sport; the competitors spend the majority of the race running along a wooded path, virtually devoid of people aside from other runners. Besides the danger of becoming lost—a very real possibility—this isolation removes an athlete from the support that constantly being in the presence of cheering fans will offer. Thus, cross country puts the burden of pushing oneself solely on the competitor, not the energy of fans or even encouragement from coaches. That being said, the St. Sebastian’s cross country team battled its way through humbling losses and hard-fought wins to a record of 6-9 this year, putting 2017 among the best seasons the Arrows have had in recent memory. Such a season bodes well for the future, though this year’s success largely lends itself to the efforts and leadership of five seniors who will not be here next fall. Royce Abel, a key contributor for the Arrows since joining the school community his sophomore year, led by example, whether at practice, meets, or anywhere else. Henry Kapples, a soccer player during much of his St. Seb’s career, joined the cross country team this fall and ran hard, improving his initial time on the Arrows’ home course, Caryl Park, by nearly five minutes. Despite being plagued by recurring injuries throughout the season, Thomas Olson persevered and remained a competitive runner. Daniel Borah was a consistent finisher in the 3-spot for the Arrows. A cross country runner since middle school, Borah’s
efforts over that span helped shape the valuable competitor he was this fall. Finally, Marty White led the team as senior captain for the 2017 season. A regular 2-spot finisher and spectacular leader, he was elected for good reason, always pushing the team to succeed and setting an example for the younger runners in doing so. All five seniors made their own unique, valuable contributions to the team this season. The Arrows began the year with an out-of-league race versus Lexington Christian Academy before launching into a formidable ISL schedule. After taking losses from three league powers—St. Mark’s, Belmont Hill, and Middlesex— they earned their first league win against Nobles. This marked the first time the Seb’s harriers have beaten Nobles in at least five years. Losses to Tabor, Roxbury Latin, Rivers, and others followed before St. Seb’s swept an entire meet, defeating three ISL opponents in Governor’s, Lawrence, and St. George’s. A meet at Groton followed in which the Arrows lost to their hosts but outpaced BB&N and Brooks.
Among the most memorable moments of the season was the Homecoming race in which Patrick McDonald ’20 set the new St. Sebastian’s home course record. Though the Arrows ultimately lost to Thayer that day, the race serves as an accurate model for the rest of the season; hard work went into the race and, despite small numbers, the team showed up to compete. At every race, the runners were prepared to work their hardest and while it would sometimes result in defeat, the team came away with personal victories time and time again. With such a small team, it became essential for every runner to perform at the peak of their ability, and the growth that came as the season progressed was not measured by a winning percentage against other teams, but in the form of meeting smaller goals that each person placed for himself or his teammate. Valor defined this cross country season and will continue to do so next year as the team is led by captains Patrick McDonald ’20 and Anthony Perez ’19.
Anthony Perez ’19, Daniel Borah ’18, and captain Marty White’18, burst off the starting line.
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ALUMNI EVENTS
1967
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ALUMNI EVENTS
A Special Homecoming
on the Gridiron
The 1967 Football Team Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Their Undefeated Season
H
omecoming 2017 brought alumni, students, parents and faculty to campus on October 14 to cheer on the Arrows in football and soccer. The morning kicked off on an extra special note as members of the 1967 football team gathered for a breakfast reception to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their undefeated season. Thirteen members of the squad, from the classes of 1968, 1969 and 1970, participated in the festivities, along with Laura McAuliffe, widow of Bill McAuliffe ’68, and family members of deceased head coach Henry O’Brien. During the reception, Paul Maloof ’68, captain of the 1967 football team,
reminisced about this glorious chapter in St. Sebastian’s athletic history and paid tribute to Coach O’Brien for the foundation he provided, leaving a lasting impact on Maloof and his teammates. The team presented O’Brien’s family with an autographed football signed by all of the players who were in attendance, as well as a framed copy of an article that appeared in the Boston Herald Traveler on November 10, 1967, covering the Arrows’ thrilling season on the gridiron. Prior to the start of the football and soccer games, the 1967 football team proudly lined up on the field at the 50-yard line as Marlon Matthews ’14 sang the National Anthem—a fantastic moment for these Arrows as St. Sebastian’s fans, including alumni spanning the decades, watched from the sidelines. “It always strikes me how quickly time passes,” shared Maloof. “To come back after 50 years was larger than life.” The 1968 classmates in attendance hope to keep the spirit going as they approach their 50th Reunion in May.
TOP: Coach Henry O’Brien gives directions to Paul Costello ’68 during the 1967 football season. BOTTOM LEFT: Fifty years later, Paul (far left) and his teammates, Joe Duffey ’70 and Mark Brennan ’70, gather on the fifty-yard line before the Homecoming game on October 14, sporting their new shirts created in honor of the team’s 50th anniversary. BOTTOM RIGHT: Captain of the 1967 football team, Paul Maloof ’68, hands Coach O’Brien’s daughter, Sara, a framed picture of the team and a football autographed by the alumni team members. FALL 2017
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Alumni Dinner 2017
Jim Dunn ’68 honored with the Alumni Service Award
TOP ROW: Headmaster Bill Burke, Jim Dunn ’68, Tim Doherty ’87, P’17. President of the Alumni Association, and Jim Elcock ’77,P’08 gather around the St. Sebastian’s chair given to Dunn; Charlotte Dunn, Owen Dunn ‘09, Shirley Tracy-Dunn P’09, Jim Dunn ’68, P’09, Patrick Tracy ’70, Philip Tracy ’67, and Daniel Tracy ’79; BOTTOM ROW: Jack Doherty ’07, Brendan Sullivan, Casey Cronin ’09, Steve Maskell ’74, P’09; Paul Viano ’62 and Joe Tansey ’69, P’09; Dan Burke ’97, Ike Chukwu ’13, Michael Hoff ’13, John Real ’13, and Austin Franchi ’12.
S
t. Sebastian’s hosted its annual Alumni Reception on October 26, welcoming nearly 100 Arrows back to campus. This coming year marks the Class of 1968’s 50th Reunion, and in recognition for all that Jim Dunn ’68 has done for our school, he was presented with the 2017 Alumni Service Award. Since his graduation day in June 1968, Jim has served as Class Agent. Known as “Big Red” by his classmates, he has been the keeper of the flame for the Class over the past half-century. During his time on The Hill, Jim was very active, participating in intramural football, French Club, Altar Society, and 48 |
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The Arrow yearbook, as well as serving as a student representative and playing on the varsity basketball team under the tutelage of Fr. Gilmartin. Jim graduated from Boston College in 1972, and Suffolk Law School in 1976. After law school, he began work in the banking industry and has been the Vice President of Dedham Savings Bank since 2012. Jim married into a family that was no stranger to St. Sebastian’s when he was wed to Shirley Tracy in 1986; Shirley’s three brothers, Phillip ’67, Patrick ’70, and Daniel ’79, all graduated as Arrows. Their son, Owen, is a member of the Class of 2009. They also have a daughter, Charlotte.
The night began with alumni enjoying conversation over drinks and hors d’oeuvres in Ward Hall. Alumni Association President Tim Doherty ’87 welcomed everyone and Headmaster Bill Burke shared his own reflections on Jim, referencing Jim’s many contributions to the St. Sebastian’s community. Finally, Jim took the podium to address the crowd, sharing a few stories about his time as an Arrow. Thank you, Jim Dunn, for everything you have done for the St. Sebastian’s family. Congratulations on being this year’s Alumni Service Award recipient.
ALUMNI EVENTS
REUNION
2018 MAY 18 & 19 If you are a member of a St. Sebastian’s class ending in 3 or 8, mark your calendar for Reunion weekend. If you would like to be involved in the Reunion planning, please contact your class agent. We can’t wait to see you in May!
Register online at:
www.stsebs.org/reunion Sign up by March 15 and save $10 on the Clambake.
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ALUMNI EVENTS
ARROWS’ GATHERINGS On November 13, a large group of Arrows, past parents and grandparents who live and work in the Capital area gathered at the Key Bridge Marriott for the Washington, D.C., Alumni Reception. Following a presentation from Headmaster Burke, alumni enjoyed an ice cream social with members of the Class of 2019 who were in the midst of their annual Junior Class Trip to the Capital. Tyler Wiik ’15 and Jackson McKeigue ’17, both currently studying at Georgetown University, spoke about their college experiences and how St. Sebastian’s played a role in preparing them for higher education. The following evening, November 14, the annual New York Reception was hosted at the Yale Club by Vin Gandolfo ’73 and Mark O’Friel ’79. The well-attended event was a great opportunity for former classmates to catch up and hear about what’s happening at St. Sebastian’s. Certainly, Arrows pride is alive and well along the East Coast!
DC & NYC Receptions
Alumni Sports Day
In keeping with the Thanksgiving-week tradition, the St. Sebastian’s School Alumni Office hosted its annual Alumni Sports Day on November 25. Alumni returned to campus for a great day of athletic competition and camaraderie on the football field, hockey rink and basketball court.
Yearbook Reception While home from college for Thanksgiving break, the Class of 2017 returned to St. Sebastian’s on November 22, 2017, for the annual Yearbook Reception. Our most recent alumni received their yearbooks, as well as a special book containing all of their Corporate Chapel speeches. After a lunch spent reminiscing with old classmates and catching up with faculty, last year’s seniors were presented with their Class of 2017 plaque, which will join the 72 other plaques of years past lining Alumni Hall.
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Have you joined
ARROWS
CONNECT?
Arrows Connect is our exciting new networking platform for the St. Sebastian’s community. Joining is easy; you can even log in with your LinkedIn or Facebook accounts. Become a part of this amazing network of Arrows you can tap into anytime, from anywhere!
Connect with classmates Be a mentor Expand your network Advance your career
Register today to take advantage of St. Sebastian’s Career Advisory Network! 60 |
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www.arrowsconnect.org
“I believe in giving back.”—Joe Abely ’70
A
s his father drove him from their home in Dedham and up Nonantum Hill in September 1965, Joe Abely ’70, a newly accepted eighth grader, had no idea of the huge impact this new venture would have on his life. Little did he realize that the classmate and faculty friendships that he would soon make at St. Sebastian’s would positively impact him for a lifetime. To this day, Joe has numerous St. Sebastian’s memories. He recalls the two-hour nightly T ride back to Dedham and the “tricky” problem of getting back to the Newton area to spend time with his friends. He recalls
how Father Barrett sternly motivated him academically and Dan Archabal ’64 did it in a gentler, more mentoring manner. Joe and Dan have remained friends and get together yearly to reminisce about St. Sebastian’s and life in the financial world. Joe proudly states that he “believes in St. Sebastian’s.” This belief and the lifetime connections that he has made with so many members of the St. Sebastian’s family have prompted Joe to make a very generous bequest to the School. “I believe in giving back,” Joe states, and his track record proves it. After a successful career culminating as President and Chief Executive Officer
of LoJack Corporation, Joe became President of the Carroll Center for the Blind, retiring recently. He still serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for the national Braille Press. Joe’s passion and love for St. Sebastian’s is contagious. He is a very active member of the “Great Class of ’70” who will be celebrating 50 years at their next Reunion in 2020. He is a regular at alumni events. An Arrow through and through, Joe lives by the St. Sebastian’s motto of “Love God, work hard and take good care of one another.” Thanks Joe, for your leadership, generosity and support.
For more information about gift planning and including St. Sebastian’s in your estate plans, contact Ed Davis ’65 in the Office of Planned Giving at 781.247.0158 or ed_davis@stsebs.org or visit plannedgiving.stsebs.org.
Monsignor Charles D. McInnis Society
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Students cheer on their fellow Arrow during the 2nd annual Founder’s Day (see pg. 12).