Xavier Magazine: Summer 2023

SUMMER 2023

Jack Raslowsky

President

Kim Smith

Headmaster

Shawna Gallagher Vega, APR Vice President for Communications and Marketing

Editor, Xavier Magazine

Contributors

Jeanette Alvarez

Nick Barone ’16

Ralph Dinielli

Harisch Studio

Troy House P’25

Eric Krebs ’17

Mychal Pagan

Nirvaan Pal ’25

Mark Wyville

Photography

Michael Marmora

Design

Erbach Communications Group

How to Reach Us

Xavier Magazine

30 West 16th Street New York, NY 10011

Email: news@xavierhs.org

Class Notes: classnotes@xavierhs.org

Xavier’s Mission

Founded in 1847, Xavier High School

is an academically rigorous, Catholic, Jesuit, college preparatory school in New York City that educates intelligent, motivated young men of diverse backgrounds and means. Xavier teaches students to take responsibility for their lives, to lead with integrity, to act justly in service of others, to pursue excellence in every endeavor and to deepen their relationship with God. Ultimately, Xavier forms young men who will go forth to transform the world for God’s greater glory.

On the Cover

Eight Sons of Xavier currently serving in the FDNY or NYPD—Ifeanyi Emeh ’17, Thomas Leonard ’03, Brian Geissler ’92, Liam O’Hara ’04, Pat Steffens ’88 P’11 ’12 ’16 ’20, Jordan Castro ’97, Sean Finnerty ’00, and William Gallagher ’95—represented their hundreds of brothers serving the city during a visit to 16th Street in March.

On the Back Cover Francis Courant ’23 works to solve an equation in a calculus class taught by Dean of Faculty Evan Bernstein ’04.

2. Letter from the President

3. News from 16th Street

10. The Bravest and Finest

18. The Guru

34. Class Notes

64. Back Story

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22. The Transformation of 5L

Lasting Legacies: The 2023 Hall of Fame Class

Pride in Who We Are

Dear Parents, Friends and Sons of Xavier:

Reading this edition of Xavier Magazine, I found myself overwhelmed with pride. Pride in who we are. Pride in what we do. Pride in how the mission of Xavier is given life on 16th Street in, for and by our students. Pride in how that mission is given life beyond 16th Street in, for and by our alumni and their families. Each page is great. Every story a chance to encounter God at work in us and in the world. Stories of the goodness of humanity even in the midst of difficulty and struggle. Stories as close to home as Manhattan and as far away as Warsaw. I am delighted to share this magazine with you.

Xavier Magazine has several purposes. We want to share the good news of Xavier. We want to keep the community connected and informed. Most of all we want to advance the mission by educating and encouraging, by sharing stories of the mission alive in our community. Those stories abound. They are

examples to inspire us all. In any magazine we can offer but a glimpse of the breadth and depth of Xavier, but what a glimpse this is!

The story of Xavier’s Sons in the New York Fire and Police Departments is a moving testament to public service. These are thoughtful, smart, dedicated public servants. The city is better and stronger

the longest article ever to appear in Xavier Magazine. Shawna Gallagher Vega did an outstanding job crafting the article from many interviews. The profile of Michael Sheehan ’69 and the wonderful adventure of his life is another compelling piece of her writing.

From News from 16th Street to Class Notes, we see the wonder and goodness of God made real in teachers and students, fathers and sons and their families. We celebrate the arts (writing operas, acting on Broadway, the art teaching of two distinguished alums and their mentor); we explore new disciplines in new spaces; we celebrate promotions as we recognize Xavier’s newest generals, Bernard Harrington ’93 and Vance Kuhner ’90 P’24. (Both proudly returned to Xavier for their promotion ceremonies.) We share news of Jim Young ’89 and his great work in Poland supporting Ukrainian refugees. We celebrate milestones, and we remember our dead.

I hope you will read each and every word of the magazine, and as you do, I hope you feel the pride in Xavier that I feel. Pride made real in the lives you, the Sons of Xavier, live. Our mission statement closes with the words, “Ultimately, Xavier forms young men who will go forth to transform the world for God’s greater glory.” The stories in this magazine make that very clear. To God be the glory.

because of them. The men highlighted in these pages are but a glimpse of the many Sons of Xavier in law enforcement—FBI, Secret Service, DEA, ATF, Treasury, Port Authority and police jurisdictions across the country. And there are the firemen, EMTs, paramedics and others in public service beyond the borders of the city. This feature is a tribute to them all. This may well be

Keep living the mission. Keep writing your story. Your story will always be part of the Xavier story. Continue to share those stories with us. I hope to see you on the Xavier Summer Tour. Happy summer. Be assured of my prayers.

Jack Raslowsky President

“I hope you will read each and every word of the magazine, and as you do, I hope you feel the pride in Xavier that I feel. Pride made real in the lives you, the Sons of Xavier, live.”

News from 16th Street

Traversing the globe during school breaks has become something of a Xavier tradition. Over the past several months, students have toured Europe and Costa Rica, skied in Colorado, played rugby in Ireland, and served communities in need in Camden, New Jersey, Pine Ridge, South Dakota, and the Dominican Republic. Above, students on the Europe trip pose near the

Ha’penny Bridge over the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland.

News and Notes

Ron Robinson, who began his tenure as Xavier’s director of music last summer, has been commissioned to write an opera for the Opera Theatre of St. Louis (OTSL) New Works Collective. Every production at OTSL is sung in English and accompanied by the Grammy Award-winning St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. “Opera Theatre of St. Louis has a tradition of commissioning new works from underrepresented composers and librettists,” said Robinson, who also serves as an adjunct faculty member at New York University. “Being part of this legacy is a great honor and an opportunity to create something beautiful for both opera enthusiasts and those new to the art form.”

While on sabbatical last year, history teacher and former headmaster Mike LiVigni P’21 finished a novel, The Lurium Wars: The Soul of Seta. “This is the first in a series of books I will write, at minimum a trilogy. The novel is in the fantasy genre, and I focus on descriptive detail, world-building, and the exploration of cultures. I compare my work to authors such as Raymond R. Feist, Stephen Donaldson, and Patrick Rothfuss,” LiVigni said. He is in the final editing stages and hopes to find an agent to pitch the book to publishers.

Former Xavier basketball coach Koby Altman, now president of basketball operations for

the Cleveland Cavaliers, spoke to juniors and seniors on December 5.

Assistant Dean of Students Alex Simeone earned his Master of Science in Teaching degree from Fordham University’s Graduate School of Education in December.

Varsity basketball coach Joe McGrane P’20 celebrated his 400th career victory with a win over Cardinal Spellman on January 18. A 2015 inductee into the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) Hall of Fame, McGrane now ranks among the top 10 winningest basketball coaches in the history of the CHSAA.

1. Joe McGrane P’20, center, celebrated his 400th career win alongside his wife, Mary McGrane P’20, and Assistant Director of Athletics Dominic DeFalco ’10. 2. Former Xavier basketball coach Koby Altman, fourth from left, visited Xavier in December. 3. The Regiment debuted its new Drum Corps during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in March.

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Director of Music Ron Robinson (seen here teaching one of his instrumental music classes) has been commissioned to write an original opera in his native St. Louis, Missouri.

Xavier dedicated “Friends in the Lord: Ignatius, Francis, and Peter,” an oil on canvas by Michael Tunney, S.J., on January 19. The painting, which resides on the fifth floor of Fernandez-Duminuco Hall, was commissioned in honor of Xavier’s 175th anniversary. “In his Spiritual Exercises St. Ignatius Loyola invites us to imagine scenes from Scripture, apply our senses to them, and place ourselves into the narratives,” Fr. Tunney shared in a description of the canvas. “Now extend this creative contemplation to our own day and time: What if Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556), Francis Xavier (1506-1552), and Peter Faber (1506-1546), the original three Jesuit companions, were all together in high school? And what might they look like as contemporary Xavier High School students? These questions provided the point of departure for this work.”

Xavier swept Regis in the schools’ annual basketball tripleheader on January 27. Close to 1,000 people filled the Xavier gym throughout the evening as the Knights emerged victorious in the freshman, junior varsity, and varsity games.

On January 30, Vice President for Communications and Marketing Shawna Gallagher Vega and Assistant Director of Communications Nick Barone ’16 gave a presentation about branding campaigns at the CASE-NAIS Independent Schools Conference.

The varsity swim team took home the CHSAA B division title on February 12.

Campus minister and religion teacher Jim Hederman, S.J. offered two popular events

during Lent—three nights of learning about Ignatian spirituality at Brooklyn’s Holy Name of Jesus Church on March 13, 14, and 15, and an evening reflection for parents on March 30.

Paris is in Harlem, a movie starring fine arts department chair Nicole DiMarco and featuring multiple Xavier alumni and staff members, was screened at the Dolby Theater in Midtown on March 10.

Led by Senior Army Instructor Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Kelly, USA (Ret.) and Cadet Colonel Matthew Lane ’23, members of the Xavier Regiment marched up Fifth Avenue during the 262nd New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 17. The parade marked the public debut of a new Regimental Drum Corps, the brainchild of Frank Dorritie ’64. “Performing in the Xavier Regimental Drums

1. Conner Fraser ’23 during the Xavier-Regis tripleheader in January. 2. Rich Duffell P’93 ’99, a 2023 inductee into the CHSAA Hall of Fame. 3. Part of the Xavier contingent in attendance at an Ignatian Solidarity Network event honoring Jack Raslowsky in May.

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connects current cadets to a tradition that harkens back over 100 years at 16th Street. The mission remains the same: to supply a solid marching pulse for the Regiment’s appearances,” Dorritie said. “In the eyes of the public, the Regiment will always be the face of Xavier, and the drums its heartbeat.”

On March 30, Vice President for Advancement Shane Lavin ’03 served as a speaker at the 2023 Advancement Academy Webinar for Futures in Education, a program of the Catholic Foundation for Brooklyn and Queens.

The Ignatian Solidarity Network honored President Jack Raslowsky with the 2023 Robert M. Holstein Faith Doing Justice

Award at its annual award event, Ignite: A Celebration of Justice, on May 10. The Holstein Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a significant commitment to leadership for social justice grounded in the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

The CHSAA inducted longtime baseball and basketball coach Rich Duffell P’93 ’99 into its Hall of Fame on May 18. “Coach Duffell is not only a Hall of Fame coach, but most importantly, he is a Hall of Fame person,” said Athletic Director Andrew Gheraldi. “For over 30 years, he has had a profound impact on hundreds of Sons of Xavier on the diamond, in the classroom, and on the court. This honor is long overdue.”

I truly feel like I have a sense of belonging on 16th Street. The opportunities I’ve had at Xavier have helped me grow in ways I never thought I would be able to. The ability to meet and befriend people with all types of backgrounds and cultures is a blessing. Each opportunity I have at Xavier helps me be a true man for others.”

– Patrick McCann ’23

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4. A guest admires “Friends in the Lord: Ignatius, Francis, and Peter,” an oil on canvas by Michael Tunney, S.J., during its dedication in January.

RequiredReading

As the heart of the humanities, English education boasts lofty goals: the development of effective selfexpression, the encouragement of curiosity, the expansion of worldviews. At Xavier, students from English 9 through a vast array of senior electives engage with texts that further those objectives. “Each book in the English curriculum is carefully chosen to challenge our students in their critical thinking while fostering in them a lifelong love for reading. In the Jesuit tradition, we balance the foundational, canonical works of Western literature with more contemporary and diverse voices so that we can teach our students, above all, to be human and to recognize God’s grace in all things,” said English department chair Aidan Byrne. “During their four years at Xavier, our students learn to see themselves in the text, be it in Shakespeare’s complicated heroes or Ellison’s Invisible Man, and they appreciate these books for their life lessons just as much as for their craft. This appreciation for the universality of the literature and their understanding of themes and technique is best shown in their own writing.”

Things Fall Apart

I believe that Things Fall Apart is an important book to read as Achebe’s novel is able to inform readers about his rich African culture while conveying an underlying message about life. Achebe goes in depth to illustrate how one must properly treat others and how people are affected by societal pressures, which are frequent issues seen today.

—Ayden Heron ’25

Home

Morrison exposed me to the challenges of race, identity, and belonging in this book. She invited me to think about the experiences of those whom society has labeled invisible. I personally think anyone who wants to understand the human experience and the ongoing fight for justice and dignity in America must read this book.

—Hanoi Nelson ’25

Invisible Man

Invisible Man creates an interesting and unique dichotomy between feeling noticed and feeling invisible and called out to me as I often feel invisible to the constructs of our world, but this book changed a negative connotation into a positive one.

—Finn Sweeney ’23

Death of a Salesman

Death of a Salesman explores the human condition as it dives into the inner workings of Willy Loman and his family. The reader is provided with a compelling critique of the American Dream and the pursuit of success in a capitalist society. Miller’s play has enthralled readers such as myself for decades, and it will enthrall them for many more years to come.

—Luca

Radovic ’24

The Great Gatsby

Gatsby is an in-depth analysis of individual characters who all create and protect their social identity. I liked how we could go beyond the text and explore social dynamics and divides.

—Jack Minogue ’24

The Things They Carried

I enjoyed reading The Things They Carried because I’ve always wondered why certain soldiers are affected by war more than others. My mother is a psychologist, and in the past, she told me about certain patients she has spoken with—some of them being veterans. She told me how stressful it is for someone to fight in a war and then to just be dropped back into their lives, expected to pick up right where they left off. This novel has allowed me to see firsthand how soldiers are affected by war.

—Michael McGreal ’23

Interpreter of Maladies

Interpreter of Maladies is a collection of nine short stories by an American author of Indian origin, Jhumpa Lahiri. One short story that particularly stood out was “A Temporary Matter.” I enjoyed this story because it showed me the intimacy and sensitivity of a relationship and how when you’re willing to communicate and be vulnerable, you can overcome great grief.

—Ratu Delano Navoti ’24

A Man Called Ove

A Man Called Ove tells the story of a grumpy man who shows the importance of family and helping others. The character Ove is the best thing about the book because of his unique personality and willingness to help other people. He matures because of his neighbors and makes new friends in the last years of his life, which makes a beautifully well-written book.

—Lucas Leung ’26

Macbeth

Macbeth, otherwise known as the Scottish play, is one of many tragedies written by William Shakespeare. The reason this play stood out to me was because earlier in the year, the Xavier Dramatics Society put on a production of Macbeth, and going through the monologues and asides while breaking down the language made the play much more enjoyable. It also gave me a deeper understanding of the way Shakespeare wrote, and sparked my interest in his other works, even after we finished the book.

—Matthew Mistretta ’24

The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath is a brutal and unflinching look at the oppressive systems of American capitalism during the Great Depression. A heartbreaking story of the average man’s plight, tragedy, and suffering, Steinbeck’s incredibly detailed descriptions of the harsh settings and rather curt tone express the plight of the migrants perfectly as they trek across the country.

—Henry Max ’24

The Bravest Finest &

By SHAWNA GALLAGHER VEGA

Generations of Xavier’s Sons have put life and limb on the line for their fellow New Yorkers, inspired, most say, by the Jesuit call to be men for others. Today, those who number among New York’s Bravest and Finest draw courage from those who came before them, and from those who gave their lives for their city—men like Jimmy Riches ’89 and James Coyle ’93, firefighters lost at the World Trade Center on 9/11.

Their work has never been more complicated, but arguably never more important.

t all goes back to Xavier’s focus on leadership and sacrifice. If those are your north stars, you’ll naturally gravitate towards a career of service,” NYPD Deputy Chief Joseph Seminara ’99 said of the long Xavier-FDNY-NYPD connection. “From the moment I walked through the doors on 16th Street, I realized I was part of something bigger than myself.”

Over the course of his career, Seminara has served in a variety of assignments, from patrol to intelligence to leadership. Counterterrorism investigations have sent him

to Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Canada, and Australia, but he often draws on lessons learned in Tijuana in the summer of 1998, when he and several classmates built a school and installed drainage systems on Xavier’s first-ever Companions of St. Francis Xavier trip. “As a student at Xavier, the men for others mindset permeates everything you do,” he said. “The school’s constant emphasis on service and sacrifice made me the person I am today.”

Countless Sons of Xavier serving in the FDNY and NYPD expressed similar sentiments.

“What is learned and experienced at Xavier in terms of both the education and prioritization of service aligns seamlessly with the mission of the FDNY. There is a kind of unique understanding of empathy that is taught at Xavier through programs like Kairos, CFX, and others, which I believe also drives a lot of Xavier alums to work as first responders,” said Firefighter Frank Nugent ’15, who graduated from the FDNY Academy last summer. “Aside from the values of service, integrity, and compassion that Xavier instilled, there was a great amount that I learned

from the sports that I played as well. I didn’t realize how much teamwork was involved in firefighting before I entered the service, but the Academy and firehouse made it very clear how needed every person and their role is in every situation that we face.”

NYPD Lieutenant Jordan Castro ’97, a 17-year veteran of the force, echoed Nugent. “At Xavier, you are called to serve,” he said. “You develop all these tremendously useful attributes and grow into a formidable person able to take on all that life throws your way. As a cop, you go into the belly of the beast. Whether it’s a shots-fired call or a violent, emotionally disturbed person, that confidence in oneself enables you to run into it, with a clear mind, and resolve it as swiftly as possible. You ignore the dangers to ensure that others don’t fall victim to it. With smarts, courage, empathy, compassion, and faith in God, you have all the tools necessary to become a police officer. Xavier cultivates all of that in young men, and that’s why the transition to a career in law enforcement is so intuitive.”

As a senior at Xavier, NYPD Sergeant Sean Finnerty ’00 came to a deeply personal understanding of what it means to be other-

A brotherhood within a brotherhood, Xavier men in the FDNY and NYPD have long felt an instant camaraderie. Interagency banter abounds, but the bonds of service and sacrifice run deep.

centered. In the summer of 1999, he was diagnosed with cancer, and his doctor warned that extensive treatments would likely prevent him from graduating on time. “The administration, teachers, and fellow students made sure they did everything possible to make my senior year as smooth as possible, taking into account what I had accomplished in my first three years. Coach McGrane went above and beyond by placing me on the varsity [basketball] roster, knowing I could not physically try out or play during the season. My experience senior year really showed me what it is to help other people in their time of need,” said Finnerty, who assists his fellow employees each day through his labor relations role. “I believe that gave me the drive to want to help others.”

NYPD Deputy Inspector William

Gallagher ’95, a 23-year veteran of the force, said he still feels the impact of his teachers at Xavier, particularly his debate coaches John McGoldrick, Marc Roselli, S.J., and the late Vincent Butler, S.J. “I am extremely grateful and very proud to be a Xavier alum,” he said. “I have always felt tremendous gratitude to my parents for making the decision to send me to Xavier.”

Chief Matthew Pontillo ’84, who as the NYPD’s Chief of Risk Management is the department’s highest-ranking Xavier alumnus, has been on the job since 1986. He’s watched the city evolve and encountered plenty of Sons of Xavier, including former Police Commissioner Dermot Shea ’86 and his brother, Jimmy Shea ’79, whom Pontillo succeeded as commander of the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Seminara at One Police Plaza

“It all goes back to Xavier’s focus on leadership and sacrifice. If those are your north stars, you’ll naturally gravitate towards a career of service.”

—NYPD Deputy Chief Joseph Seminara ’99

Droves of Xavier alumni in the FDNY and NYPD said they felt driven to serve by the memory of those who gave their lives for the city on 9/11, like Kevin Dowdell; by those who sacrificed so much to help the city recover, like Pat Steffens; and by their 10 Xavier brothers whose lives were cut short at the World Trade Center.

Almost to a man, Pontillo said, his fellow alumni share essential characteristics.

“The Xavier alumni I know in the department share a commitment to service and a belief in the greater good. Xavier builds young men who are incisive, worldly, and resilient,” he said. “Xavier graduates have made significant contributions to the department and the city as a whole.”

Alumni of a certain era point to another nearly universal inspiration for their FDNY and NYPD service: September 11, 2001.

Few have a deeper connection to 9/11 than Firefighter James Dowdell ’02. He was days into his senior year at Xavier when his father, FDNY Lieutenant Kevin Dowdell P’01 ’02, ran into the South Tower of the World Trade Center and never came home.

His older brother, Patrick ’01, had always wanted to go to West Point. (He eventually graduated from the Military Academy in 2006.) James had always wanted to be a fireman, just like his dad.

“After my father died, it just kind of solidified what we wanted to do,” James Dowdell said. “We really were focused on

staying that course.”

Throughout the turbulent months following 9/11, Dowdell said he took refuge at Xavier—a place where he saw service to others made real, and where his father had been so proud to send his sons.

“He took immense pride in the fact that he worked really hard and sent his boys to Xavier,” Dowdell recalled of his dad, who operated a hardwood flooring business on the side to support his family. “He would come meet us in the city after school on Fridays. We’d take advantage of being in the city. He loved that.”

Dowdell joined the FDNY in January 2006 and now works at his father’s old firehouse, Rescue 2 in Brooklyn. He is proud to follow in his footsteps, which he now understands with greater clarity.

“Your goal as a fireman is to show up and improve someone’s worst day,” he said. “It’s our job to go there blindly, help put out the fire, make sure everyone’s out safely, protect as much life and property as possible. The worst part, and I saw it firsthand, is how much it can affect your family in a negative way if things don’t work out.”

After 9/11, NYPD Lieutenant Patrick

Steffens ’88 P’11 ’12 ’16 ’20 gave a particularly tragic form of service to his city when he was assigned to the temporary morgue at the corner of Vesey and West Streets. “We were trying to identify bodies that came into our tent so we could give families some closure,” recalled Steffens, who is now the Counterterrorism Lieutenant for Patrol Borough Brooklyn North. He drew on lessons he learned from his family and at Xavier for strength. “I was taught by my parents and encouraged by them to always help someone in need, and after attending Xavier, the motto that still lives with me today is to be a man for others.”

Droves of Xavier alumni in the FDNY and NYPD said they felt driven to serve by the memory of those who gave their lives for the city, like Kevin Dowdell; those who sacrificed so much to help the city recover, like Steffens; and by their 10 Xavier brothers whose lives were cut short at the World Trade Center.

“Like many people my age, that Tuesday morning was a life-altering moment,” Seminara said. “Xavier prepared us as young men to serve if needed, and 9/11 was the call to action. Many of us decided that day to become cops and firefighters. Many of my

brothers took it a step further and joined the military. Some of them never came home. We should thank God every day that these brave men existed, and we must never forget their sacrifice. I am honored and humbled to have walked the same halls as them.”

Firefighter Thomas Leonard ’03, who comes from a long line of teachers, police officers, and members of the military, felt a similar call to action. “I was a junior at Xavier on September 11. There were so many Xavier families directly affected by the event,” he remembered. “We looked up to those people who had given everything that day and in the following months and years. In one way or another that experience had a huge impact on all of us. I wanted to be part of the solution in some way down the road.”

Liam O’Hara ’04, a detective with the NYPD’s Human Trafficking Squad, added:

“I was a sophomore at Xavier on the morning of September 11, 2001. Before that, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do with my life. That day, watching everything unfold, I felt totally helpless. I wanted to go down to Ground Zero that day and do something, anything … but I was 15 years old. There was nothing I could do. I didn’t know I’d end up as a cop, but I knew I never wanted to feel helpless like that again.”

Seven years later, O’Hara, who has law enforcement in his blood (his grandfather, Thomas O’Hara ’43 P’69, served in the NYPD in the 1940s before moving on to a career with the FBI), became a police officer.

“Xavier itself didn’t necessarily lead to me becoming a cop, but it helped instill in me a

sense of pride in the city,” he said. “When you go to Xavier, you’re part of a tradition that goes back to before the Civil War. Xavier has been a New York institution through wars, terrorist attacks, riots, natural disasters, crime waves, and pandemics. It has stood the test of time. When you receive your diploma at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, you’re a part of that, and you always will be.”

Today, the men and women of the FDNY and NYPD work at a complicated crossroads in the history of New York City. COVID-19, anti-police protests, and rising crime have made the last three years exceptionally difficult for both agencies.

Ifeanyi Emeh ’17, an NYPD patrol officer in Brooklyn, became interested in a law

Firefighter James Dowdell ’02 at Xavier

enforcement career during the protests that followed the 2020 death of George Floyd. “There was rising tension between the community and our local law enforcement. I want to build trust within my community and change the narrative by being on the front line,” Emeh said. “At Xavier, I was taught to be inclusive and how to engage with people from many different walks of life. These beliefs have shaped me into the officer I am now.”

“The most difficult thing that police officers contend with, aside from the physical danger, is the erosion of public trust that comes anytime an officer anywhere in the country violates their oath. This sets all of us back and undermines public and officer safety,” said Matthew Pontillo, who as the NYPD’s chief risk and compliance officer is charged with identifying risks to the department. “Policing is nothing like

when you are able to make a difference in someone’s life all the more meaningful.”

Making a difference has sustained Liam O’Hara in his challenging work with the Human Trafficking Squad, a city-wide unit that primarily investigates sex trafficking. Most of his cases involve minors.

Frank Nugent infuses similar lessons into his work with the FDNY. “What truly sticks with me in my life and career right now,” he said, “are the core values that Xavier taught me: working in service of others and being compassionate toward the needs of all people, even those who are different from you or you don’t agree with.”

Their veteran colleagues, while battlehardened, remain hopeful that their sincere efforts will help rebuild the city—and public trust in their efforts.

what you may see on television or video, whether good or bad. The truth is much more complicated. Police officers do a very difficult job and make many sacrifices in their lives doing that job. We often have to deal with people who are experiencing the worst possible moment of their lives. Many people in this city have only the police to turn to in times of crisis or need. Police officers, who are fallible, are then inserted into that dynamic mix. These challenges and uncertainty make those moments

“We don’t just investigate trafficking, build cases, and make arrests—although that is a big, and important, part of it,” said O’Hara, who often refers to himself as a social worker with a gun. “We also connect the victims with the resources that they need. We have gotten victims immigration visas, housing, jobs, helped them get into new schools or programs. ... I once drove a victim and her social worker to the hospital so she could receive a surgery that she had actually needed for many years. Prior to working with her, she had no health insurance and no support network to help her undergo this huge procedure. This was after I had arrested her trafficker. Even though we had already indicted and collared the trafficker, we were still a part of her life. I was really proud to have helped her with more than just the criminal investigation.

“I can’t complain about my life or my career, but the last few years have been … weird,” O’Hara continued. “It’s hard to pour

“ There is a kind of unique understanding of empathy that is taught at Xavier through programs like Kairos, CFX, and others, which I believe also drives a lot of Xavier alums to work as first responders.”

—Firefighter Frank Nugent ’15

your blood, sweat, and tears into doing what you think is the right thing, and then turn around and hear from politicians or the media or even people you know that actually, you are the problem. But it’s also been good, in a way. Are cops necessary? Of course we are. There is no functioning democracy on Earth that doesn’t have a body of citizens dedicated to enforcing the laws that allow it to function in the first place. Does that mean cops are always right? Not even close. All of the hyperbole and hyperventilating aside, I think the recent national conversation on the role of police in society has forced us to reevaluate our priorities, and change direction a bit. This is a good thing.”

Jordan Castro, author of the police novels Smoke and Mirrors: Police Dreams and The Great Silent Roar, agreed that “the most rewarding part of the job is when you truly break through, make a human connection, and make someone’s life just a little bit better, even if it’s temporary. To bring a smile to someone’s face when they are in the midst of a crisis is rewarding. Yes, it’s a cliché. And I get that. But we are human and crave human connections that are impactful. If the goal is to be closer to God, and follow in the steps of Christ, nothing accomplishes that more than serving people in need and sometimes saving people in need.”

Castro’s first novel in particular was motivated by a desire to reveal the sacrifices police make to safeguard the city.

“We desperately needed some positive depictions of cops. The tide had turned against us, almost seismically, and being anticop became very fashionable in society,” he said. “To be able to humanize the police and introduce myself to the public as an author, a husband, a father, and an intellectual (and Xavier graduate!) with something unique to share with the world was a tremendous source of pride.”

As they continue to make their way through the challenges of the age, Sons of Xavier in the FDNY and NYPD rely on their unique bond with their colleagues—and each other.

“When I first got on the FDNY, my dad told me how much I’d like the brotherhood and camaraderie of the FDNY. This is true, and it is the best part of the job,” said FDNY Lieutenant Adam Lynch ’97, whose father also served in the department. “But I had already experienced that brotherhood and camaraderie at Xavier, especially logging long hours at practice, going to football camp, traveling on the subway back to Breezy Point, and around the world with the rugby teams.

There was that shared feeling of going into battle and being in the trenches with each other.”

Thomas Leonard, who has worked alongside several Xavier alumni throughout his career, said that sense of brotherhood and camaraderie is one of the most meaningful parts of his work.

“There is a community aspect to the job, and we all want the best for each other in our careers—but I think we are always rooting a little bit harder for other Xavier guys,” he said. “The relationships and the bonds you build at work with other firefighters is as rewarding as anything the FDNY offers. There is a true sense of community and tradition.”

“The Xavier brotherhood in both the NYPD and FDNY is strong. I’ll never get tired of running into a fellow Knight on the street, at a meeting, or in a precinct or firehouse,” added Joseph Seminara. “We can spot each other from a mile away. There is an unspoken bond, an immediate friendship, and a deep mutual respect. I’m proud of every one of my brothers who decided to enter these dangerous professions and truly be men for others.”

Shawna Gallagher Vega is Xavier’s Vice President for Communications and Marketing. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Boston College.

“Xavier itself didn’t necessarily lead to me becoming a cop, but it helped instill in me a sense of pride in the city. When you go to Xavier, you’re part of a tradition that goes back to before the Civil War. Xavier has been a New York institution through wars, terrorist attacks, riots, natural disasters, crime waves, and pandemics. It has stood the test of time. When you receive your diploma at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, you’re a part of that, and you always will be.”

—Detective Liam O’Hara ’04

The Guru

By SHAWNA GALLAGHER VEGA

Nearly 60 years after he began taming his stutter through speech and debate at Xavier, Michael Sheehan ’69 is back on 16th Street delivering a master class in communication. The man Fast Company once called “one of the world’s top communications specialists, the go-to guy for anyone trying to make a point in public” is holding court before 236 juniors, coaching them on eye contact, verbal emphasis, stance, and gestures—just like he does for top CEOs, authors, actors, athletes, politicians, even presidents.

Presidents, Vice Presidents, First Ladies, Cabinet secretaries, governors, mayors, and members of Congress than any other communications consultant in the country. And politics is just part of his work at Sheehan Associates, his eponymous communications firm, which provides guidance to top corporations, financial institutions, tech companies, foundations, universities, and myriad other organizations around the world.

“It’s as interesting and challenging as anything else, but the stuff that gets all the attention is the political work because it’s the

He peppers his presentation with photos and clips of his famous clients—President Biden and former Presidents Clinton and Obama among them—noting the strengths of each, making them relatable. He knows his subject. Since 1988, Sheehan has been the man behind the curtain coaching every Presidential and Vice Presidential debate series as well as the principal speakers at the Democratic National Convention. He has advised more

one that’s the most visible,” Sheehan said. “It’s also the one for me that’s the most interesting, not only because of my interest in public policy, but because you get feedback real fast.”

As he considers the extraordinary path his life has taken, Sheehan is quick to quote Kierkegaard: “Life can only be understood looking backwards; the tragedy is it must be lived

going forward.”

When the communications guru first arrived at Xavier in 1965, his speech was marked by a severe stutter. He learned to control it first through speech and debate, then drama, which along with tennis consumed most of his free time in high school.

During his sophomore and junior years, alongside his partner, Bob Cummins ’69, and the team’s captain, Bruce Owens ’68, Sheehan took home the New York state speech and debate championship. In his senior year, after

Left: Sheehan, right, in a production of Hamlet during his senior year at Xavier. Below: His senior yearbook photo.

Sheehan has advised more Presidents, Vice Presidents, First Ladies, Cabinet secretaries, governors, mayors, and members of Congress than any other communications consultant in the country. And politics is just part of his work.

“we had conquered all the speech and debate hills there were to conquer,” he turned his attention to drama, which later became his chief extracurricular activity at Georgetown.

Sheehan rattles off the names of teachers, coaches, and counselors who loom large in his memory—Leo Paquin P’64, Pat Rooney, John Finnegan, Joseph Rafter, Peter Neary, S.J., James Curry, S.J., Russell Sloun, S.J. The memory of Jim Dinneen, S.J. still brings a tear to his eye. “I think he was as close to a saint as anyone I ever met,” he recalled.

Xavier helped him grow in curiosity and confidence, and so did the city. “Because I was born and raised in NYC,” he mused, “physically, everything else was smaller. No matter where I went, it wasn’t bigger, louder, than proportionally what I grew up with. The wonderful thing was I was never intimidated anywhere I went, even overseas. If you can make your way through Greenwich Village, you can make your way through anything in the world.”

In the fall of 1969, Sheehan arrived at Georgetown—one of 23 Xavier graduates to matriculate that year. “We were so well prepared,” he said, “because of what we went through intellectually, academically, and socially at Xavier.”

He excelled at Georgetown’s prestigious School of Foreign Service and earned a spot at Georgetown Law four years later. All according to plan.

Sheehan filled his days on the Hilltop with drama. He starred in school plays; wrote, directed, and starred in a musical at a local dinner theater (“I was earning the astounding sum of $75 a week”); and as a senior, he worked part-time as an assistant to the director of public relations at Ford’s Theatre.

The company manager of Godspell, the show appearing at Ford’s Theatre at the time, urged Sheehan to consider a different path. He gave the college senior an application to the Yale School of Drama along with the $15 application fee.

Sheehan soon felt his law school plan

unraveling. In April 1973, he traveled to New Haven for an interview and learned he had been accepted to the Ivy League school—with a financial aid package to boot. No longer able to envision himself as a lawyer, he took a risk, declined his spot at Georgetown Law, and enrolled at Yale. His classmates at the storied School of Drama would include Meryl Streep, Sigourney Weaver, and playwright Chris Durang.

In his third year of studies at Yale, when his stutter “came roaring back,” he finally availed himself of speech therapy offered through the Yale Health Service. Mentoring young people with stutters (members of “the club,” in his parlance) became one of Sheehan’s passions. In recent years, he’s served on the board of the American Institute of Stuttering.

After Yale, Sheehan moved back to Washington, where he became associate producer at the nonprofit Folger Theatre Group. “We were very good,” he said of his colleagues, who performed works of Shakespeare, new plays, and even took a show to Broadway for a short time.

Within a few years, though, he began to feel burned out. “I was finally learning that when they said nonprofit,” he quipped, “they were serious about it.” In 1981, as he pondered his next move, he decided to bide his time doing communications consulting work, just as his actor friends in New York waited tables or drove taxis.

Just a year and a half earlier, he had begun serving as the Folger’s Congressional liaison, successfully pitching Congress for support for the theater’s maintenance. “Suddenly I started to get these calls: ‘My boss has to give this speech, and she’s not very good at it. You must know something about this,’” he recalled of his interactions with Congressional staffers. “Since they just gave us all this money, I said, ‘Uh, sure. Glad to help out.’”

His foray into communications coaching, then a nascent career path, came at an opportune time. The era of 24-hour cable

Sheehan working with President Bill Clinton.

television had just arrived with the emergence of CNN in 1980, followed by the expansion of C-SPAN to 24-hour programming in 1982. Politicians who had never given televised speeches suddenly had to be ready for prime time.

New York Magazine article about Sheehan’s work with then-Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. Numerous Democratic insiders, Heilemann reported, had credited “the Sheehan effect” for Geithner’s marked improvement in his public presentation.

Sheehan is on retainer with the Democratic National Committee and spends considerable time working with the White House. According to Politico, “he was one of the most frequent guests at the White House in 2021 who didn’t work for the administration or play in the U.S. Marine Band.”

“[Coaching] got more interesting, and admittedly a little more lucrative,” Sheehan said. “And in ’84, it just sort of took off.”

That year, the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee put him on retainer, hiring him to train 45 members of the House for TV interviews and speeches. That led to work with the Senate, and since 1988, coaching at the highest level of American politics (and overseas as well), including Inaugural Addresses, States of the Union, prime-time addresses, and press conferences for the Obama, Clinton, and Biden administrations. This year’s State of the Union marked his 19th as a consultant.

“Sheehan’s reputation is so stellar that even his competitors can’t help but sing his praises,” John Heilemann wrote in a 2009

Today, Sheehan is on retainer with the Democratic National Committee and spends considerable time working with the White House. According to Politico, “he was one of the most frequent guests at the White House in 2021 who didn’t work for the administration or play in the U.S. Marine Band.”

His relationship with President Biden stretches back more than two decades, and their shared experience battling stutters—as well as their similar backgrounds, sense of compassion, and well-tested resilience—has added a deep level of trust to their high-stakes collaboration.

While Sheehan recovered from a serious illness in August 2003, “the first person to call me was Joe Biden,” he recalled. “He gave me encouragement.”

Five months later, Sheehan returned to work full-time, convinced more than ever of the power of communication.

Sheehan is reflective as he approaches his 55th Xavier reunion, and exceptionally so after his recent meeting with Xavier students. He urged them never to fear a bold step forward, particularly in a new and unexpected direction. Even now, Sheehan credits the fearlessness with which he has approached his life and work to Xavier—“the rigor, the confidence, and the love, especially from Fr. Dinneen.”

In addition to his career successes, Sheehan is especially proud of his family. He and his wife, Riki, a former Capitol Hill staffer, recently celebrated their 40th anniversary. They have two sons—Ben, author of the Amazon bestseller OMG WTF Does the Constitution Actually Say?, and Jonathan, a top aide to Delaware Governor John Carney.

Sheehan converted to Judaism to raise his sons in the faith more than 20 years ago, but he remains deeply grateful for the lessons of his Catholic upbringing.

“I will say it to my passing day, the eight years of Jesuit education I had—four at Xavier, and four at Georgetown—just made all the difference.”

Sheehan at the White House with President Barack Obama, Jon Favreau, and David Axelrod; with President Joe Biden.

Transformation THE

OF 5L

By ERIC KREBS

’17

Art teacher Sean McDonough ’03 in a new studio on 5L

Aschool is made of three things: its spirit, the underlying mission and philosophy that guide it; its community, the faculty, staff, students, and alumni who give it life; and its physical plant, the bricks, beams, and boards that comprise a place for the community to call home.

In the 176 years since its founding, Xavier’s physical plant has undergone many transformations. It has migrated across Lower Manhattan, grown entire new buildings, new floors, and new classrooms. Amenities now taken for granted were once revolutionary additions: electricity, air conditioning, the internet.

As the world has changed, Xavier has changed with it. On January 26, Xavier unveiled its latest evolution: a remodeled and renewed 5L. The new space includes a “super classroom” outfitted with wall-mounted monitors and mobile desks; an additional lab with 3D printers, new computers, drones, high-end sensors, and programmable microcontrollers; a new student common space; a renovated office for student counseling; and two expanded and rejuvenated art studios. Altogether, the floor is fit for a new age of Xavier education, embracing the arts and technology alike.

Denise Iacovone, who has taught fine arts at Xavier since 1989, had always envisioned a greater role—and space—for the arts on 16th Street. Iacovone came to Xavier through her husband and artistic

collaborator, Rocco Iacovone ’62, who founded the Blue Knight Band and taught music at Xavier from 1987 to 2007. “When we got to Xavier, the arts were very small,” said Iacovone. “We set out to make a college prep curriculum … that it would be such a high-level department that people would be attracted to Xavier.” Over the course of three decades, that vision has materialized.

In 2016, the arrival of Fernandez-Duminuco Hall brought with it a new band room, which features a professional recording studio, multiple sound-proof practice rooms, and smaller ensemble rooms for group rehearsal beyond class. Rocco Iacovone’s longtime wish was finally fulfilled, as the music program moved from the far hinterlands of 1D to a more central location on 2F.

Seven years later, Denise Iacovone saw her half of the dream realized, too.

For William Maloney ’01, who has taught art and design at Xavier since 2017 after joining the admissions staff in 2014, the new space on 5L has allowed students to dive into their craft like never before. “We have a lot more room, and more kids are stopping in to work on their projects independently,” said Maloney. “We have space for storage for students’ own personal artwork, so they can just go in, take the canvas out of their drawer, and set themselves up. We have the pallets, we have the brushes, and they know the protocol for cleaning up after themselves, too.”

Denise Iacovone guides Art 2 students in an observational drawing exercise.

With the expanded studios on 5L, there is no longer a competition for workspace, and the time students commit to their projects can go far beyond the time allotted in their schedules. “The guys can manage their time, so they’ll come in at the end of their lunch period and paint for 20 minutes and just put a little bit of extra work on their stuff,” said Maloney. “It’s a little hub of creativity and guys working not just on the assignments, but their own personal work. It’s awesome.”

For Osiris Alvarado Lemoine ’24, the renovated art studios have improved what was already his favorite subject. “It definitely feels more modern than before. You can fit more people, and it’s more comfortable,” he said. Alvarado Lemoine, who is currently enrolled in Art 3 with Maloney and plans to take AP Art with Sean McDonough ’03 in his senior year, wants to study graphic design in college. “I learned art at Xavier,” he said. “Before, I didn’t really experiment much beyond colored pencils.”

As much as Alvarado Lemoine enjoys the projects he’s completed in art class (scratch-board self-portraits were his favorite), he loves the community of collaboration, learning, and bonding that spaces like the art studios provide. “[During COVID-19] Art 1 was remote, and I felt like I wasn’t getting the full experience,” he said. “I like going to school, feeling the atmosphere, and building relationships with my teachers.”

Though art class no longer requires a Zoom login, the new studios have allowed the department to continue integrating technology into the classroom.

“It attracts young people when they see things that are very modern and cool, but we teach classical skills that Michelangelo practiced. The precepts that we’re teaching are centuries old; we’re not inventing anything,” said Iacovone. “But as you teach generation after generation, the teacher has to find ways to get new thinkers to understand old precepts.”

For one, photographing and projecting materials on classroom monitors allows the class to engage in closer examination and constructive critique of students’ artwork (obviating the need to poke pin-holes in students’ projects). Even cell phones—once verboten— can help in the art studio, allowing students to get up-close looks at the paintings and artists being taught. “The teaching is essentially

Members of the Xavier community gather at the blessing and dedication of 5L in January.

“It’s a little hub of creativity and guys working not just on the assignments, but their own personal work. It’s awesome.”

—William Maloney ’01

the same in the sense that we encourage experimentation, encourage critical thinking … but you have to speak to your audience,” said Iacovone. “The one good thing that came out of the pandemic is that we had to learn to use technology. It’s an evolution.”

circle in a large group and have good conversations, as well as break down into smaller groups,” said Drennan. “The new space allows us to have those conversations, whether about the technologies themselves, design issues, build issues, or the larger ethical impacts of engineering problems that are out there.”

“It’s unlike any other class I’ve taken at Xavier,” said Iden Ottmann ’23, who will be studying mechanical engineering at Northeastern University this fall. “The classroom is really fun. A lot of our classes are discussion-based, and the desks allow us to create a circle.”

But technology is not only a tool in the Xavier classroom; it is also a subject of study in and of itself.

When Patrick Drennan P’16’s senior science elective, Engineering Principles and Design, moved from the Kane building to 5L in January, the new location opened up a world of pedagogical opportunity. Drennan’s class, which in its first year boasted more than 60 seniors across three sections, focuses on tackling real-world projects and problems through a collaborative application of engineering concepts. “With the monitors around and mobile desks, we’re able to go into a

Among other projects, Drennan’s class has built miniature electric cars, analyzed the impact of solar panels on New York’s electric grid and natural environment, and built a bridge made of popsicle sticks (which, when tested, was able to support a whopping 290 pounds). The curriculum of Drennan’s class is, fundamentally, about technology: its designs, applications, and impacts. But beyond the curriculum, Drennan sees the classroom as a technology in and of itself, and one that is changing fast. And with new spaces like 5L, the Xavier classroom—and the learning it facilitates—can keep pace with the world around it.

“We’re moving in the direction that computers will be used to

For Osiris Alvarado Lemoine ’24, the renovated art studios have improved what was already his favorite subject. “It definitely feels more modern than before. You can fit more people, and it’s more comfortable,” he said.

Students stroll down a rejuvenated 5L hallway.

assist in teaching pretty much every topic. If you look at big data, ChatGPT, or AI, I think these are great opportunities,” said Drennan. “We need to use these tools to better understand the world around us because they’re not going away. The genie is out of the bottle.”

Computer science and technology department chair Michael Chiafulio P’23—who was instrumental in the development of the Gannon STEAM Room in Fernandez-Duminuco Hall and the new STEAM lab on 5L—agreed. “I’ve been teaching technology for 23 years, and it’s been really validating to see the world and the skillsbased economy move in this direction,” he said. “If we didn’t invest in that, we’d be missing the boat.”

Altogether, the new space on 5L furthers Xavier’s commitment to arts, technology, and, above all, Jesuit education. “It’s about cura personalis,” said Maloney, referring to the Jesuit ideal of educating the entire person, with all their idiosyncrasies, challenges, and talents. “Every artist is different, so it’s really about meeting them where they are, finding what kind of artist they will be, and bringing that out of them. One kid is going to do a photorealistic drawing of a still-life, and another will do an abstract painting, but both kids are still making art.”

“I listened to a Jesuit give a homily in the basement chapel of the Sagrada Familia once. And in that homily, Casey Beaumier, S.J.

talked about the relationship between the foundations of traditions and peaks of creativity that is captured well in that church and in our Church,” said Kim Smith, Xavier’s headmaster. “Art is a means by which we seek new forms of expression, forms that help us continue to improve our ability to communicate about the wonders of God. We are lucky at Xavier, like at the Sagrada Familia, to have ourselves firmly rooted and ever-seeking. Our expanded space reminds us of that. I am eager to see what new ideas and revelations our Sons of Xavier discover there.”

“We teach classical skills that Michelangelo practiced. The precepts that we’re teaching are centuries old; we’re not inventing anything. But as you teach generation after generation, the teacher has to find ways to get new thinkers to understand old precepts.”

—Denise Iacovone

Eric Krebs ’17 is a graduate of Yale University. He is a writer and economic researcher.

Luca Secor ’23

Lasting Legacies

The 2023 Hall of Fame Class

Jim Haybyrne ’62 CHAIRMAN, STRATEGIC THINKING GROUP

Xavier boasts many extraordinary alumni. Jim Haybyrne has embodied the principle of being a man for others throughout his entire life. He has led a remarkable life as a Peace Corps volunteer in India, a decorated Air Force captain, an educator, a partner in a global management consulting firm, and the founder of his own global business strategy consultancy. Throughout each phase of his busy career, he consistently dedicated his time, talent, and resources towards improving the lives of others. Jim and his wife Penny’s philanthropic endeavors include the establishment of the Sons of Xavier Center on 16th Street and significant contributions to St. Mary’s Basilica in Alexandria, Virginia. Jim’s life epitomizes Xavier’s “man for others” ideology.

—Thomas Ryan ’62

As Xavier commemorated its 125th anniversary in 1972, school leaders established the Hall of Fame to acknowledge individuals who have made indelible marks in the service of God, their fellow men, their country, and their local community.

The Xavier Hall of Fame encompasses a distinguished group of professionals, including educators, physicians, attorneys, bishops, Congressmen, a Supreme Court Justice, Pulitzer Prize winners, and a recipient of the Medal of Honor. The 12 newest members will be inducted this October, with the Hall of Fame Dinner scheduled for October 27 at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers.

Below and on the pages that follow, those who nominated this year’s inductees to the Hall of Fame pay homage to their extraordinary accomplishments and their impact on Xavier’s legacy.

Ken Ng ’80

RETIRED CEO, ASIA/PACIFIC

“The voyage of the best ship is a zigzag line of a hundred tacks” is how one would describe Ken’s peripatetic life. Ken grew up in humble circumstances in the Lower East Side, overcame them, and became a highly successful and sought-after global businessman. This was achieved because Ken was never complacent, choosing to deviate from any kind of set career path to pursue new challenges in multiple industries—from computers to consumer products, and even electronics—in multiple countries.

What has been steady, however, is his devotion to his faith and family; this course has been unfailingly true. The bedrock of his devotion was inculcated during his four years at Xavier, where Ken was influenced by Fr. Mike Flynn, S.J., and later cemented by his wife, Lucy, and their children, Chris, Samantha, and Jonathan. Together, they have tried to make the world a better place—whether that was through setting up Bible study classes to spread the word of God, trekking 100 kilometers (several times) to raise money for charitable organizations, and mentoring new business startups to be upstanding corporate citizens.

—Paul Ching ’80

Armando Núñez ’78 GLOBAL MEDIA EXECUTIVE

I first met Armando nine years ago when we were both on Fordham University’s Board of Trustees. Once he heard about Cristo Rey New York, he became the school’s biggest fan. He arranged for seven of the students to work at CBS in New York and then did the same for Verbum Dei, the Cristo Rey school in Los Angeles. Armando’s selflessness and unwavering commitment to social justice make him a class act and a true man for others who Jesuit high schools dream of producing. He is someone who is dedicated to helping those in need and making a positive impact on the world around them. As a Son of Xavier, Armando’s legacy is one of generosity and dedication to the greater good.

—Joseph Parkes, S.J.

Rocco Iacovone ’62 FORMER DIRECTOR OF BAND, XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL

Rocco dedicated himself wholeheartedly to nurturing nascent talent in hundreds of students, many of whom had never played an instrument. Anyone who ever attended a band concert or a Christmas concert came away impressed by the expertise and professionalism of the students. Under Rocco’s loving guidance, his students had achieved such a level of competence that he was able to take his charges to such far-flung places as Mexico, New Orleans, and Alaska. I have a CD recording of one of those concerts. One could be forgiven for thinking he was listening to a group of professional musicians. I am sure I’m speaking for the faculty and the students in saying that Rocco created an institution that we could be very proud of.

—Brian Moroney

Dr. Thomas McGinn ’78

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, COMMONSPIRIT HEALTH; PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE, BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

Tom has been a mentor for many people, including me. The first time I ever met him was when I was in college, and he was volunteering with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in a very poor neighborhood in Chicago. I’d heard about this Xavier grad from my brother Steve, who was also a big fan of Tom. It was the first, though not last, time that I was able to witness Tom’s capacity to combine excellence with real compassion.

Such capacity is impressive and he does this by maintaining a kind spirit and working really hard. For example, during the pandemic he hosted virtual conferences with colleagues. He invited any who wanted to attend. At the time I was in a small practice, and like many of us felt untethered as we were dealing with this new COVID menace. Those conferences helped me not just with great information but with real collegiality and kinship.

—Dr. James Morgan ’82 P’12

Paul Gannon ’75 PARTNER EMERITUS, THE BAUPOST GROUP, LLC

I’ve known Paul for more than 50 years. His success in business and life has not changed him from the person he was on the playgrounds of Stuyvesant Town or in Xavier’s classrooms. He lives his life in the Jesuit tradition of service to others. He is a dedicated husband and devoted father. His generosity has benefited Xavier with the creation of the Gannon STEAM Room and he supports many good causes—including the promotion of civil discourse as board chair of WBUR (Boston’s NPR news station). Paul is generous with his time, mentoring young entrepreneurs to help them pursue the American Dream and achieve the success he has. His humility, generosity, and integrity are an inspiration to all who know him and are why we’re proud to call him a fellow Son of Xavier.

—Bill McKiernan ’74

Anthony Aracich, S.J.†

MODERN AND CLASSICAL LANGUAGES TEACHER, PASTOR

Fr. Aracich was a true man for others, not only teaching a wide range of languages at Xavier and other Jesuit schools over his long career, but also molding and leading young men to realize their full potential and believe in themselves. All the while, he trained them to constantly discern their vocation and hear God’s call—not just in their choice of a career, but in the daily need for them to apply their talents to the service of others. He challenged his students and we remained his beloved students forever. He tempered his toughness with humor. He was a tough, but compassionate teacher who brought out the best in people and was quick to chastise those who did not live up to their potential. He was also kind and understanding, and an active, consoling force when family or personal challenges occurred.

—John Frank ’71

Dr. Thomas Draper ’44† PEDIATRICIAN

Throughout his long, extraordinary medical career, Tom Draper was a true man for others, committing himself to pediatric care and community health, particularly in his adopted home of Newtown, Connecticut. He believed deeply in each person’s right to access quality healthcare and continued to serve others well into his 90s, helping to coordinate Newtown’s COVID-19 vaccine clinics in 2021. A loyal Son of Xavier, Tom also gave generously to his alma mater for decades. He was a regular presence at Xavier alumni events, particularly the Golden Knights Luncheon. He was so proud to represent the 75th reunion class during Commencement at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in 2019. So many of us at Xavier were proud to know him.

—Shawna Gallagher Vega

John Maloney ’42† SOCIAL WORKER

I believe my father exemplified the highest ideals of a Jesuit education. In his chosen profession as a social worker, he offered guidance and support to members of street gangs, orphans, children from broken homes, juvenile delinquents, those who are developmentally disabled, the handicapped and the elderly. He once had the honor to sit next to Pope Francis at St. Patrick’s Cathedral during Vesper services. As I watched him with the Pope, I realized that his entire life had led to that moment. John Maloney is a true man for all seasons; seasons of love, faith, and service to others.

—Patty Maloney-Titland

Bill McGarry, S.J. ’45† MISSIONARY

Someone once described Bill McGarry to me “as one of the great men of the Society of Jesus,” and I agreed completely as soon as we began corresponding in 2015. Bill transformed countless lives during his 73 years as a Jesuit, spending 20 of those years in Micronesia and eventually serving as president of the Jesuit Conference of East Asia (work that took him to Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, and Australia). At the end of his life, Bill’s health issues prevented him from speaking much, but I so appreciated the words of wisdom that would often arrive in my inbox. He was funny, kind, incisive, and forward-thinking. Since he won’t be able to give his own Hall of Fame speech, I thought I would share the essence of Bill straight from one of those missives, in which he wrote of urging students “to never stop learning, to learn to have a strong desire to be a servant, one who sees all human beings as dignified children of God—with a determination to work for the underdog.”

—Shawna Gallagher Vega

Thomas O’Gorman, S.J. ’50† MISSIONARY

Tom O’Gorman had a true missionary spirit. As a novice, he was eager to be sent to the Philippines, where he was originally assigned for philosophy studies. He ended up teaching several generations of young Filipino and other Asian Jesuits at the Loyola House of Studies on the Ateneo de Manila campus. The contributions of Xavier Jesuits to the Philippines helped grow and sustain a vibrant church and build a nation. The work of Tom O’Gorman and his 33 Xavier brothers—who numbered among the 411 New York Jesuits who labored in the Philippines—will long be remembered.

—Jack Raslowsky

Hubert Treacy ’32† SPECIAL AGENT, FBI

Hubert Treacy was the epitome of a true New Yorker and exemplified the highest ideals of Xavier High School. The Rockaway native attended Xavier, Fordham University, and Georgetown University. He became an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve and an attorney. Treacy was a member of the Knights of Columbus as well as the Ancient Order of Hibernians. In 1941, he became a special agent of the FBI. On March 13, 1942, in Abingdon, Virginia, he was killed while attempting to arrest two U.S. Army deserters. He was not quite 30 years old and had recently married. In his brief 29 years on Earth, he accomplished a great deal serving all that matters—God and country.

—Thomas Pickard ’68

Sons of Xavier

Danny Dolan ’21 and Greg Dolan ’89 P’21

1947

Dick Ryan lives in Palm Desert, California. “Although I miss New York, where I toiled as a lawyer for 60 years, I am happy as a clam out here,” he writes. “Last April I returned to the Masters (following the two-year COVID hiatus) for the 56th time.”

1948

Anton Stifter writes that he is “still enjoying being on the blade side of the grass.”

Tom Lamberti and his wife, Eileen, were honored at the 2023 Fordham Founder’s Dinner on March 20. Lamberti is a proud Fordham alumnus and member of the university’s President’s Council. He and Eileen have supported numerous initiatives at Fordham over the years, including the Elizabeth A. Johnson Endowed Scholarship for women in theology as well as the vocal group Highbridge Voices, which performed at the dinner and has an ongoing partnership with Fordham’s Center for Community Engaged Learning. Last year, the Highbridge Voices also honored the Lambertis.

1949

Dr. Bill O’Brien is well and would welcome contact from his Xavier friends. He can be reached at bill@pobspace.com

Dr. Tom O’Brien and his wife, Nancy, attended December’s 175th Anniversary Gala, where they were the senior attendees. They continue to stay busy and enjoy their growing family, including their newest great-grandson, Sullivan (Sully) Thomas.

1950

Dr. Edward Reynolds is enjoying retirement after a 43-year career as a dentist in Pearl River, New York, and three years in the U.S. Air Force. He spends his time with his wife, eight children, and 19 grandchildren who are scattered across the country.

1951

On March 22, Bob Kramer presented a lecture at the New York Browning Society titled “Who is Really the Pied Piper?” It concerned Robert Browning’s poem, “The Pied Piper of Hamelin,” and the origins of the story in German history and legend.

1952

Tom Conniff P’83 ’84 attended the 175th Anniversary Gala on December 3 with his wife, Margaret P’83 ’84, and sons Peter ’83 and Chris ’84. They were delighted to see Paul Orsi ’83 and his wife, Isabelle, there. Twentyfive years ago, the Conniffs sold their Bay Ridge home to Paul and Isabelle. “We were delighted to know that the Orsi family still resides at the old homestead,” Conniff writes. “Three Xavier families have resided in the home—the Conniffs, the Orsis, and the Bennetts (RIP Jack Bennett ’44). As Jack Raslowsky is fond of saying, ‘Another Xavier story.’”

Dr. Chester Schmidt lives in Gibson Island, Maryland. He enjoyed participating in Xavier’s Junior Career Day in March.

1953

Tom Bonomo and his wife, Lorrie, have moved to an independent living facility in Bridgeport, Connecticut. “We are now very close to my daughter and her husband, who live in Fairfield,” he writes. “My granddaughter lives close by with her husband and two of my great-grandchildren. My grandson lives here, too, with his wife and daughter.” Bonomo welcomes hearing from his classmates at tjbonomo@yahoo.com.

1955

Joseph Ingersoll writes, “Dr. Ronnie Lofaro, one of my closest friends at Xavier, was proud of his jump shot, modeled after his hero, Philadelphia Warriors forward Paul Arizin. I guess Ron never lost his admiration, as in September 2021 he sent me a picture of him and Paul taken 43 years after

Ron’s graduation from Xavier. I hadn’t seen Ron since sometime in the 1970s. In reconnecting after almost 50 years, Ron spoke of his amazement at reaching 83 years old but of declining health over the last five to seven years. He must have known he didn’t have long as he passed away in June 2022. I appreciated hearing from him.”

1956

As they do every other week, 11 members of the Class of 1956 enjoyed camaraderie via Zoom on February 1. Dr. Frank Heelan reports, “From Florida to California, from a Chile port to the Northeast (New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania), from Colorado to Iowa, these retired gentlemen exchanged humorous, sagacious, and poignant discernments of the world in which we live.” Alumni and professions represented included Charlie Ferrara (bank vice president), Tony Cusumano (science department chair), Dr. John Casko (dentist/ professor), Heelan (superintendent of schools), Frank Perroni (medical salesperson), Kevin Donohue (nursing home owner), Lou

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1. Dick Ryan ’47.

2. Anton Stifter ’48.

3. Eileen and Tom Lamberti ’48 at the 2023 Fordham Founder’s Dinner. Fordham President Tania Tetlow, left, and incoming Fordham board chair Armando Núñez ’78, right, joined the celebrations.

4. Dr. Tom O’Brien ’49’s youngest greatgrandson, Sullivan Thomas.

5. The late Dr. Ronnie Lofaro ’55 with former Philadelphia Warriors forward Paul Arizin.

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Cumming (bank executive vice president), Gerry Seitz (attorney), Nick D’Agostino (president of D’Agostino Foods), Jack McDermott (Marine lieutenant colonel), and Mike Burke (Marine lieutenant colonel).

“These retirement days give me ample time to participate in local/community endeavors and political discourse with our elected politicians. I’d say ‘representatives’ but they are more often than not tone-deaf to their constituents,” writes Lou Cumming. “For my activity, which includes authoring municipal code enhancements, I was elected the 2015 Honorary Mayor of Pacific Beach, a beach suburb community of San Diego, California. Keeps me mentally agile and young at heart with time to

enjoy our nine grandkids, the issue of our four kids and their BFFs, the youngest of whom is now 48 and the oldest being 57. I also join a dozen +/- SOX classmates every other week on a Zoom gathering where our world is dissected and cured of its ills with a Catholic foundation.”

1957

Joseph Juhasz lives in Boulder, Colorado. “Made it to 85 years of age on January 30!” he writes. “Am doing fine, everything considered—this not being the easiest of times.”

Fr. Tim Tighe, CSP celebrated his 54th anniversary as a Paulist priest on February 22.

1958

Stephen Koch and his wife, Jean, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on May 18. They have two daughters, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. The entire family will cruise to Bermuda in July.

Bob Vecchioti lives in Peterborough, New Hampshire. “I will miss the monthly chats with my friend and fellow rifleman John Corrado,” he writes. “Rest in peace!”

1960

Several members of the Class of 1960 traveled to New York for the 175th Anniversary Gala on December 3, 2022. The festivities kicked off with lunch in Greenwich Village on Friday, December 2, attended by Bob Albracht, Barbara Albracht (Bob’s sister), Richard Bory, Colin Capello, Jim Cuddihy, Roger LoMenzo, Len Musmeci, Bob Oliver, and Bob Scavullo. The next evening, Albracht, Bory, Cuddihy, and Scavullo were joined by Mike Dowd, Doug Fraser, and Roger Kirwan at the gala at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers.

Bob Galastro lives in Tennessee. “Always proud to be part of the Xavier brotherhood,” he writes.

Jim Malone and his wife, Connie Fredericks-Malone, live in Canandaigua, New York. An exhibition of part of their collection of African American photographs and portraits, “Fierce Determination: Moving Forward with Grace and Dignity,” headlined Canandaigua’s Wood Library during Black History Month. Local

and national news outlets featured the exhibition.

Dick Seif reports that his son, Rick, has been promoted from Rear Admiral (Lower Half) to Rear Admiral. He assumed the position of Commander Submarine Force Pacific (COMSUBPAC) in June.

In May 2022, Boston College presented an honorary degree to Patrick T. Stokes, a 1964 graduate of the university, former BC board chair, and former president, CEO, and chair of Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.

Gene Tonry attended Gonzaga University and Manhattan College, where he earned a master’s degree. After careers in academia and public service, he joined his sister’s start-up company, helping to grow Pacific Interpreters into a national provider of over-the-phone interpreter services. Tonry and his wife, Christine, have lived in Oregon since 1977. They have two grown children, Andrew, director of a nonprofit community group, and Claire, partner in a Seattle law firm.

1962

Phil Ambrosini has been tutoring mathematics and statistics parttime at Lake Sumter State College, a satellite campus of the University of Central Florida. “It has been rewarding dealing with college-age students and a great way to keep the mind sharp,” he writes.

In October 2022, Georgetown College honored Dr. Hugh Cloke, an emeritus Georgetown dean, with the completion of a capital campaign to endow the Hubert J. Cloke Directorship in American

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1. Members of the Class of 1956 during one of their biweekly Zoom gatherings.

2. Members of the Class of 1960 at the 175th Anniversary Gala.

3. Fr. Tim Tighe, CSP ’57.

4. Larry Earley ’62 and Dr. Hugh Cloke ’62 at Cloke’s home in Silver Spring, Maryland, last July.

WELCOMING THE STRANGER

JIM YOUNG ’89

BY SHAWNA GALLAGHER VEGA

Twenty-seven years ago, Jim Young ’89 arrived in Warsaw on a 20-month assignment with accounting giant KPMG, hoping to stay a few years before moving on to Australia. As is often the case, life had other plans. The Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn native still lives in the Polish capital, where he’s found himself at the center of a historic humanitarian effort over the past year.

Since February 2022, when Russia launched its brutal invasion of Ukraine, Warsaw has welcomed more than 5 million refugees fleeing the war. The Polish government estimated that its citizens have hosted 1.6 million Ukrainian refugees in their homes at some point since then. Young, his wife, Magda, and his children, Julia, Maja, and Liam, count themselves among those hospitable Poles.

“It was as simple as seeing people in need and having the capacity to help them. There never was a question of if we do something, but what,” said Young, who opened his family’s large bed and breakfast property to refugees fleeing west from Ukraine. “Within a few days of the start of the war, we opened our camp and spread the word

through our social media channels and to others who were organizing accommodations for refugees. Shortly after, we were at full winter capacity of roughly 90 people, some staying a short time before they moved on to final destinations, and many staying until May [2022].”

The Fordham graduate is quick to credit family, friends, and other individuals who generously donated $40,000 to help his family feed and care for the refugees they housed. Later, when the Youngs received $24,000 from the Polish government for their work hosting Ukrainians, they donated it to a fundraising campaign for refugees at the American School of Warsaw (ASW), where Young serves as finance and operations director and Maja and Liam are students. (Julia, his oldest, is a student at Boston University.)

After the Russian invasion, ASW swiftly mobilized efforts to meet the needs of Ukrainians in their midst. The ongoing #ASWforUkraine fundraising campaign invited people around the world to donate money to the school’s humanitarian efforts, and a core group of students allocated

donations to refugee centers, orphanages, and organizations for the disabled. Since then, members of the school community have opened their homes to more than 300 Ukrainians, prepared more than 4,000 meals, sent more than 11,000 boxes of supplies to refugees, and raised $384,000 U.S. dollars in donations. Students, parents, and staff continue to volunteer at the #ASWforUkraine Center, which provides meals, humanitarian aid, workshops, and much more to those in need.

“Every day I see how powerful a community that cares and works together can be—and how that community can have a profound impact on others,” said Young, who left a top finance role at Ogilvy & Mather Poland to join ASW in 2017. “ASW has a long history of service learning which is part of who we are, just like Xavier. It has been wonderful to work in an environment that aligns with my core values.”

Young noted that as the war in Ukraine rages on, outside donations have slowed, and many are still in need (to learn more about the #ASWforUkraine campaign, visit go.rallyup.com/aswforukraine). The

#ASWforUkraine Center continues to feed between 800 and 1,000 refugees each week. And more than a year after the invasion, Young and his family still host one refugee family—and they will assist for as long as they are needed.

“I have always been very proud of Xavier and its students’ and alumni’s commitment to serving others,” he said. “And I am proud we are doing our part to support the many women and children displaced from their homes in Ukraine.”

“IT WAS AS SIMPLE AS SEEING PEOPLE IN NEED AND HAVING THE CAPACITY TO HELP THEM. THERE NEVER WAS A QUESTION OF IF WE DO SOMETHING, BUT WHAT.”

Jim Young ’89

Ukrainian refugee children at Jim Young’s bed and breakfast property in Poland in early 2022.

Studies. He taught in the program for 38 years.

Last year Larry Earley, with nominations from friends and North Carolina State Senator Dan Blue, was inducted into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to the State of North Carolina. Among his accomplishments are his books, Looking for Long Leaf and The Work Boats of Core Sound, 20 years as a writer and editor of Wildlife in North Carolina magazine, and his photographic work, which can be viewed at lawrenceearley.photoshelter.com.

Rocco Iacovone and former Director of Music Jerry Neuhoff joined forces to perform at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn in January. Both are part of a musicians union initiative called “Music for the Soul,” which takes them to monthly concerts at city hospitals throughout the five boroughs.

Tom Ryan writes that he and his wife, Ann Marie, enjoyed time on the beach with Phil and Rosemary Ambrosini after this February’s Naples reception.

1963

John Dalessio is a structural engineer of record for the Oratory at the Shrine of St. Joseph in Stirling, New Jersey. The Oratory, which is meant to be a place of prayer and meditation, houses a nearly 100-year-old mosaic of the life of St. Joseph. The roof structure is a reciprocal frame—a rare structure used in the country.

Rick Geffken recently returned from a research trip to England, where he was escorted on a private guided tour of the Houses of Parliament by MP Barry Gardiner. Geffken was searching for information about Monmouth County, New Jersey’s founding English families and a one-time slave of William Penn for a new book.

For the past 20 years, Gregory Scime has directed an international music festival in Assisi, Italy. The program has presented hundreds of concerts featuring all genres of music—opera, jazz, spirituals, classical, and a special emphasis on sacred music. The festival choir has performed numerous times at the Vatican and the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi. The dates for the 2023 festival are July 10-27.

1964

Dr. Francis J. Bremer, retired professor emeritus of history at Millersville University of Pennsylvania, continues to write and deliver lectures on 17th-century Anglo-American history. His most recent book is One Small Candle: The Plymouth Puritans and the Beginning of English New England (2020). He is working on a history of women in the shaping of Puritanism and other projects.

Last September, Bob Donnelly and his brother, Andy Donnelly ’60, visited Milwaukee’s National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum to ensure the induction of a Xavier legend. “The Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum agreed to induct the bobblehead of Fr. Jim Keenan,” Bob Donnelly writes. “Joe Fisher deserves some of the credit for making the ultimate sacrifice by allowing us to use his personal Fr. Jim bobblehead for the induction ceremony. Fr. Jim has now taken his much-deserved place of honor on a shelf between two popes.”

Dr. Andy Manganaro writes that he is now the chief medical officer of an international company

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1. Rocco Iacovone ’62 and Jerry Neuhoff performing at Kings County Hospital.

2. Ann Marie and Tom Ryan ’62 with Rosemary and Phil Ambrosini ’62.

3. Rick Geffken ’63 with Barry Gardiner, a British Member of Parliament.

4. Andy Donnelly ’60 and Bob Donnelly ’64.

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after more than 30 years as a cardiothoracic/vascular surgeon. He recently remarried 22 years after losing his wife of 20 years. He still enjoys racing his vintage sports cars and flying aerobatics in his open cockpit biplane, and he’s considering going back to school to continue his study of philosophy and physics.

Dr. Richard Monahan writes that he is beginning to retire from his clinical psychology practice, working only from a home office with existing patients.

Thomas Swift lives in Naples, Florida. He reports that his grandson, Aidan McPhillips, graduated from LaSalle Institute in Troy, New York, as JROTC lieutenant colonel and now attends Norwich University on an ROTC scholarship.

1965

J.P. Robinson writes that he is deeply grateful to his wife, Cathy, for her care as he recovered from multiple back surgeries, a staph infection, and other complications in 2021.

Peter Hansen finished construction of his new home in Asunción, Paraguay, last year, and he looks forward to celebrating his 60th reunion in 2025.

1966

Raymond Dittrich writes that his grandson, Alexander Sterancsak, received his commission into the United States Marine Corps on June 17. Alex graduated from Sacred Heart University in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in May with a master’s degree in cybersecurity. He previously earned an undergraduate degree in cybersecurity from Sacred Heart and joined the Marines in 2021.

Andy Mihalick and his wife, Kathy, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on January 16, 2021, with a small dinner party with their children and grandchildren. In May 2022, the Mihalicks spent a great day enjoying fine wines with Andy’s classmate, Dan Mantle, at Napa Valley’s Lava Cap Winery, where Mantle is national sales manager.

Vince Panzera reports that 2022 was “a seminal year for the Panzeras—a 45-year wedding anniversary and 45 years in North Texas. We live close to our two children and six grandkids.” He retired as a managing director at Higginbotham after 52 years in financial services. He fills his time with “some travel, some gardening, and lots of golf.”

1967

Dan O’Neill reports that his family is completing the New York Jesuit

high school circuit. His son Dan is a 1994 Regis graduate and elder grandson Kellen just finished his freshman year at Fordham Prep.

Deacon Francis Orlando celebrated the 34th anniversary of his ordination to the diaconate in June.

On March 30, Bill Strasser was sworn in as the 125th president of the Bergen County Bar Association at the Hasbrouck Heights Hilton in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey.

1968

Neil Healy and Mathew J. Mari finished 32 episodes of their podcast, A View from Mulberry Street (available on YouTube), and have begun a second year of recording.

James Keane is happy to report that his new poetry chapbook, Small Wonders, has been published. Keane offers poems he hopes will serve as invitations for readers, in their own fashion, to recognize, celebrate, and, above all, share in the simple, heartfelt humanity in all of us, the small wonders of this world.

1969

Will Yozaites and his wife, Terry, moved to Middletown, New Jersey, where they are close to their three daughters and seven grandchildren. In addition to spending time at his

grandchildren’s athletic events and school functions, Yozaites enjoys playing golf and umpiring.

1970

The college conference room at Fordham College at Lincoln Center has been named the Grimes Conference Room after Bob Grimes, S.J. in recognition of his leadership of the college as dean for 20 years.

Stephen Jones lives in New York City and works as a contract proofreader and editor. Two of his poems appeared in the June 2022 edition of The Muse–An International Journal of Poetry His work has previously appeared in The New York Times (three times), several literary journals, and an overseas collection from Venice, Italy.

Donald Loar is the president of the Early-Bird Rotary Club of Warrensburg, Missouri. The club serves the local area of Warrensburg, including the University of Central Missouri and Whiteman Air Force Base.

1971

Anthony Flood published Christ, Capital and Liberty: A Polemic in 2019 and Philosophy After Christ: Thinking God’s Thoughts After Him in 2022.

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1. Dan Mantle ’66 and Andy Mihalick ’66. 2. Bob Grimes, S.J. ’70.

John Frank acted in two plays this spring. He played the dean of Stanford Medical School in Let Me Down Easy, a play by Anna Deavere Smith; the production took place in February at Oakton College in Chicago. He also played the town haberdasher in Inherit the Wind at Theater D in Deerfield, Illinois, in April.

Eric Hoffmeyer and his wife, Bridget, continue to enjoy Kentucky and wish their Xavier family the best. Hoffmeyer is still building, fixing, machining, and welding.

On June 24, 2022, John Schader and his family celebrated the life of his father, Herbert Schader, a World War II veteran who died on December 6, 2021. He was buried with military honors at Massachusetts National Cemetery.

Patrick Sullivan has a private investigator license in Virginia. He owns his own firm, Finnerty Sullivan Group LLC - Security Consulting and Investigations.

1972

Daniel Carlucci is retired in North Carolina. He is very proud of the many accomplishments of his Xavier classmates.

Tom Flynn has been a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty/ Greenwich for many years, licensed in Connecticut and New York. He recently moved his business to Compass/Greenwich. Compass has been in business for 10 years and opened in Connecticut five years ago. The company has become the number one residential real estate brokerage in America (and a Fortune 500 company), surpassing companies that have been operating for decades, employing 30,000 agents.

1973

In 2022, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin appointed Scott Cameron to the state’s Water Control Board. “It’s a great volunteer opportunity to oversee all Clean Water Act regulations in Virginia to protect our natural

resources and public health,” Cameron writes. “I am particularly concerned with the stampede to clearcut our forests to build solar photovoltaic farms.”

In 2017, Joe LaRose retired from the NYPD after 37 years of service. In 2021, he moved to The Villages in Florida.

Bob Maguire writes that he recently enjoyed a meal at Parkside Restaurant in Queens with Bob Milea, Charlie Butera, and Neal Miranda. He enjoyed spending time with Butera and Miranda at Okeechobee Steakhouse in Florida as well.

Ray McCarthy and his wife, Kathy, live in Yonkers, where they are enjoying retirement, two grandchildren, jigsaw puzzles, and walking for health.

Michael Montelongo lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. He is president and chief executive officer of GRC Advisory Services, LLC, a private firm specializing in board governance matters. Last year, he was featured by Egon Zehnder, the world’s preeminent leadership advisory firm, in a Q&A series celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.

Chris Roman writes that he is busier than ever as director of external affairs for Las Vegas Recycling, Inc., and as a consultant to other business clients and charitable entities. He welcomes any Son of Xavier to Las Vegas.

Marc Roselli, S.J. writes: “My four years at Xavier High School were a very special time for learning and personal development, not only in terms of the academic and the intellectual, but also with regard to the personal and spiritual aspects of life. It was at Xavier that I came to understand my calling to religious life. The intellectual goals were always there, but also very much in our sight was our personal, human, and spiritual development. The example and dedication of all our teachers, Jesuit and lay, guided

us in the goal of leadership and service. It was during my four years at Xavier High School that I began the discernment of my vocation to the Society of Jesus. I was also blessed to have had the opportunity to teach at Xavier for seven years during the 1990s and to serve as Director of Campus Ministry. They are years I will always cherish, having the opportunity to give back to my alma mater in the faith formation of her students. Xavier will always hold a very special and important place in my heart where I discovered my vocation and met so many people, both teachers and students, who inspired and encouraged me in my vocation to service as a Jesuit priest.” Fr. Roselli recently celebrated Mass at Lincoln Hall in Lincolndale, New York, where Ed Kowalski ’76 serves as human resources director. Founded in 1863 to serve orphaned children, Lincoln Hall has served unaccompanied minors who have crossed the border since the early 2000s. “That program has continued to grow where it now provides educational, vocational, medical, and family reunification services for over 100 kids, some of whom have walked from Venezuela,” Kowalski writes. “Through Lincoln Hall’s vocational education programs, back in 2015, the Lincoln Hall kids were asked by the Archdiocese to build the altar that Pope Francis used to celebrate Mass at Madison Square Garden. The altar was returned to Lincoln Hall where it remains in our Chapel. … I was talking to Jim Keenan about the fact that the unaccompanied minors were requesting and, frankly, needing religious services. As only Keenan can do, he put me in touch with Fr. Marc Roselli, S.J., who came to Lincoln Hall [on March 18] and celebrated Mass for these kids! It was hard not to be moved by what I witnessed. Marc became the first Jesuit to use that altar since the Pope.”

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1. John Frank ’71.

2. Tom Flynn ’72.

3. Bob Milea ’73, Charlie Butera ’73, Neal Miranda ’73, and Bob Maguire ’73.

4. Marc Roselli, S.J. ’73.

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THE MOST LOYAL OF SONS

GARDY JOACHIM ’95, AUSTIN NASTA ’14, JULIAN NAVARRO ’19, AND MARLON HOSANG ’87

BY NICK BARONE ’16

Xavier’s impact on the lives of its loyal Sons extends far beyond a four-year journey on 16th Street. This is made clear by the unwavering commitment of Marlon Hosang ’87, Gardy Joachim ’95, Austin Nasta ’14, and Julian Navarro ’19, all of whom have answered the call to return to Xavier and serve as class chairs.

In that role, these four men have galvanized support for Xavier by encouraging fellow Sons to participate in alumni events like the Beefsteak Dinner, in annual fundraising efforts and events, and by advocating for Xavier in whatever ways they can.

“The possibilities are endless when it comes to individuals who share a strong foundation in anything. To be able to share laughs, ideas, and good and bad stories with more than 250 people who shared a similar foundational experience can be infinitely life-affirming,” Nasta said of the class chairs program. “Chris Stevens ’83 always used to say, ‘Your degree is only worth as much as the most recent graduates,’ so I believe we should do all that is in our power to boost that value.”

The class chairs program has also served as a source of support for the four, connecting them to the greater alumni community and offering a source of kinship that has been particularly valuable for each of them.

“In many ways, the best parts about being a class chair are the same best parts of being a Xavier graduate in the first place,” said Navarro. “It’s about the community we all share, the kinship that draws lines between people from the Class of 2019 to the Class of 2014, to the Class of 1995, and so on. I feel like the last few years have been rough for lots of folks—especially emerging from the pandemic. I’ve had to take time off from school in all this, and the greatest support and wisdom and the greatest kindnesses I’ve received have been from the men I’m proud to call my brothers. Being in the position to stay connected has been a real pleasure.”

took on a full-time job.

A chance walk by Xavier one evening led to an encounter with the late Ned Coughlin, S.J. ’62, then Xavier’s headmaster, who later helped Hosang return to Xavier.

dedicated to carrying that spirit forward in all they do.

To learn more about the class chairs program or to volunteer, contact

“As cliché as it sounds, I wouldn’t be where I am today without the love I received from teachers, classmates, and friends I met while at Xavier,” said Hosang. “Staying connected, in service to my classmates and the Xavier community, is a small recompense for the gift that was given to me.”

For Joachim, being a class chair is an opportunity to make an impact on someone else’s life—just as his classmates made an impact on his.

“I can see myself having three different Xavier experiences so far,” said Nasta. “I did well in the track and field program and in the classroom, and it prepared me well for college. When I was earning my master’s at St. John’s and working as an alumni fellow in the Admissions Office, Xavier set me up for the professional world. Now—just as an involved alumnus—I believe I am preparing and bettering myself for the rest of my life.”

Off the heels of a full year of alumni events, the four men look forward to continuing their support for Xavier and her loyal Sons in the months and years beyond.

For Hosang, his Xavier experience was life-changing, and it’s the support from fellow Sons and the rest of the Xavier community that encourages him to give back to the school however he can.

Although a member of the Class of 1987, Hosang began his high school career as a member of the Class of 1986. After a family crisis caused him to withdraw from Xavier during the fall of his junior year, he

“When I read my yearbook soon after graduation, I took pleasure in reading my classmates’ comments,” said Joachim. “These weren’t generic ‘good luck in life’ comments. They were detailed recaps of good and not-so-good times. More importantly, it made me realize I had shared four years of my life with a diverse group of solid individuals. It was at that point I recognized I can have an impact on someone’s life.”

Ultimately, these four men embody the spirit of Xavier and are

“The pride and the renewing strength that comes with something as simple as running into an old classmate on Fifth Avenue, or out at night, and the joy that comes with spending time with everyone you shared memories with allows us to reconnect with a part of our identity,” said Navarro. “It’s a reconnection that can strengthen us and allow us to move forward in our lives, helping each other out.”

Nick Barone ’16 is Xavier’s Assistant Director of Communications. He is a graduate of the University of Scranton.

Tom Nugent ’09, Director of Annual Giving, at nugentt@ xavierhs.org.

Victor Vallo is the new music director/conductor of the Auburn Chamber Orchestra in Auburn, New York. The ensemble has been in existence for 36 years and performs three to four concerts a year. Vallo is also the conductor of the Syracuse Chamber Orchestra and teaches music as an adjunct professor at Le Moyne College in Syracuse.

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Jeanne Billings writes, “In February of 2022, my husband Bill Billings suffered an aortic dissection requiring a 12-hour surgery, resulting in a stroke, followed by six-and-a-half weeks in the ICU. Bill is now in a rehabilitation center in Dobbs Ferry. He is off the ventilator but it is a very long road. We ask for your prayers. Bill very much enjoyed attending Xavier events and seeing his classmates. Should you like to send Bill a note you can do so by sending to: William Billings, Esq., 35 Parkview Avenue, Apt. 2L, Bronxville, NY 10708. I will share them with Bill and know he will appreciate them very much.”

On December 31, 2022, Frank Bilski retired from his human resources role at Intertek. He is devoting his time to helping rescue dogs at Husky House.

Paul Brickfield marked 30 years as a private criminal defense lawyer in Northern New Jersey this year and continues in full-time practice. His

wife, Nancy, their two sons, and their spouses are also attorneys.

After graduating from Xavier, Mike Bunner earned degrees in electrical engineering, mathematics, and computer science. In 1979 he married his wife, Carol. The couple now has two grown children. Bunner has been employed in various industries over the years, having worked on the computer navigation systems for the Trident missile and the space shuttle, the data collection systems for airborne warning and control systems, and computerized security operations in the Middle East. He currently works as a Cyber Security SME for J&J Corporate. “I enjoy what I’m doing, but I am planning to retire in January 2027, when I’ll be 70,” he writes. “As music was and still is a passion of mine, I’ve somehow managed to find the time to be the bass player in a rock band, where the ages range from 25 up to me at 66.”

Kevin McLaughlin earned the David Brady Award at Merrill Lynch in September 2022. The award is named for a New Yorkbased financial advisor who died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. He was highly respected for his client-first ethos and giving back to the community. The award that bears his name was created in his memory in 2007 and seeks to honor individuals nationally within the Wealth Management Division.

Deacon Frank Morano and his wife, Rita, are enjoying retirement in Central Florida. Rita spends much of her time guiding 331 students through various stages of their faith journeys and sacramental preparation, while Frank provides spiritual guidance to all involved in the program as well as some administrative direction to Rita, the program’s coordinator.

In February, Mike Nardolilli served as a judge at the Spong Moot Court Tournament at Virginia’s College of William and Mary.

Philip Whalen wishes to thank his classmates, Jim Keenan, S.J., Ken Boller, S.J., and Jack Raslowsky for their support following the sudden death of his daughter, Lindsey Marie. “Their care and support has been a tremendous lift for me, my wife, and daughter Jenna,” he writes. “Thank you!”

1975

In January, John Kirk, Ken Colangelo, Steve Vincent, Patrick Whalen, James Palumbo, and Charles Arcodia met up for dinner at Peter Luger’s in Williamsburg.

1976

“After 15 years of teaching at NYU (my grad school alma mater) and many years of commuting to NYC, I have now retired from teaching in person,” Frank Apicella writes. “Teaching remote-only sections these days!”

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1. Victor Vallo ’73.

2. Mike Bunner ’74.

3. Deacon Frank Morano ’74 and his wife, Rita.

4. Mike Nardolilli ’74.

In July 2020, Gordon Beattie retired from Bell Labs/AT&T Labs after 33 years as a member of the technical staff/systems engineer. He and his wife, Nancy, raised three sons in New Jersey. They celebrated their 40th anniversary on June 18. “In 2020, we moved onto 20 acres of farmland in Suwannee County, Florida, and are active at St. Francis Xavier Church in Live Oak. I help with technical needs around the parish, am active in the Knights of Columbus, and led the parish meetings on the Synodal process. Nancy is the volunteer music director, participates in Bible study, and with the Council of Catholic Women,” he writes. “I am still an active amateur radio operator (W2TTT) and am happily employed by VIAVI Solutions in their chief technology office as a senior principal research scientist-engineer focused on 5G, 6G, non-terrestrial networks, and mission-critical communications. In 2023, I expect to be granted my 160th U.S. Patent. Every day, I give thanks to God, my parents, and the faculty and staff of Xavier for the values and lessons learned in those four precious years spent on 16th Street. God bless and keep marching!”

Kevin Moynahan and his wife, Jane, live in Manzanita on the Oregon Coast. Moynahan is semi-retired after working for many years for the Army Corps of Engineers and various law enforcement agencies.

Walter Zampella retired from federal service in November 2022. He and his wife, Hildy, have moved to Sarasota, Florida.

1977

Longtime friends from the Class of 1977—Ed Crocoll, Michael Gargiulo, Rene Mack, Luis Morales, Frank Piscitelli, Stefano Rosic, James Wartski, George Yocher, and Dr. John Young—met in Washington, D.C. for President’s Day Weekend. Members of the group came from as far away as California, Florida, and North Carolina to celebrate their 50 years of brotherhood as Sons of Xavier.

Francis Mark Cimperman P’10 recently retired from finance and now lives in Westport, Connecticut. His son, Chris ’10, is a working actor living in Los Angeles.

Anthony Sarro wound his medical billing company down over the last three years from 26 employees to two (him and an administrator). He now consults in RCM (medical billing) and clinical and medical financial data analytics. He also manages rental properties, travels, and plays bass, saxophone, and

harmonica. “Freeing up some time has me exercising more and eating better,” he writes. “I’m staging myself for phase three, I suppose, and I’m looking for ways to give back—perhaps some volunteering. Hope all is well with my Xavier brethren.”

Joe Sexton, longtime reporter and editor at The New York Times and ProPublica, published his first book, The Lost Sons of Omaha, with Scribner on May 9. “Joe Sexton is one of the truly great reporters working today,” according to Bob Woodward.

’76

2.

’77

1.

1. Nancy and Gordon Beattie ’76.

2. Michael Gargiulo ’77, Dr. John Young ’77, Frank Piscitelli ’77, James Wartski ’77, George Yocher ’77, Rene Mack ’77, Ed Crocoll ’77, and Stefano Rosic ’77.

3. Gargiulo, Rosic, Luis Morales ’77, and Young.

3. ’77

1978

Craig Eaton P’12 previously served as chair of Brooklyn Community Board 10, chair of the Brooklyn GOP, and is now a co-host of the highly-rated Cats at Night radio show on 77 WABC. The show, which features John Catsimatidis, airs Tuesdays at 5 p.m.

1979

Eduardo Sarduy has lived in Delaware for 13 years. He has been working for BI/Geo Group for nearly four years.

1980

In January, Vincent Balardi was named a partner at the law firm Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP. On May 28, 2022, Balardi, Vin Handal, and Jim Keenan. S.J. gathered at Kathryn Balardi’s wedding reception. Fr. Keenan was the celebrant, and the Xavier men were classmates throughout their time at Xavier, Fordham University, and Fordham Law, and have remained close ever since.

Mike Barbieri P’10 is a principal partner in a premium vodka imported from Italy called TRUE Vodka. TRUE Vodka is the official

vodka of the New York Mets and Citi Field and is featured in many Italian restaurants such as Da Umberto, Fresco by Scotto, Antica Pesa, and Marea, and in steakhouses such as Ben and Jack’s and Mark Joseph’s.

Al Durrell writes that several members of the Class of 1980, along with Fr. Keenan, met for dinner recently at Chadwick’s in Bay Ridge. Durrell and his classmates have gathered on a number of occasions for gettogethers across the states, including Xavier’s Washington, D.C. Reception last December.

Jim Zerilli recently celebrated his 36th anniversary with JPMorgan Chase. He works in the regulatory change management department.

1981

After a nationwide search, Neil Brickfield was recently named executive director of the Pinellas County (Florida) Housing Authority. The housing authority provides safe, affordable housing for more than 8,000 people each day.

Bob Mackey recently celebrated his 40th season as a basketball coach, 33 of them at Christ the King High School in Middle Village, New York. In 2018, USA Today named him the All-USA girls basketball coach of the year.

John Wood has worked for the same company, Telos Corporation, since 1990.

1982

Keith Farrell sends a shout-out to the Xavier warriors of ’81-’82.

John Polis is a partner and chief operating officer with Star Mountain Capital, a specialized investment management firm focused on investing in U.S. businesses with $10 million to $150 million in revenues.

Michael Tartaglia is managing partner at Strategic Tax Planners, which has offices in Manhattan and Brooklyn (and soon in Staten Island).

1983

Greg Brecht reports that a few members of the Class of 1983 gathered for “an off-site Beefsteak/

kayak weekend” in May 2022. “Hoping more ’83 classmates can make it going forward,” he writes.

After ending a 30-plus year career on Wall Street, Rich Lanning recently launched a senior care placement agent franchise, Assisted Living Locators of Greater Essex County and Northwest New Jersey. Lanning attributes his successful launch to assistance provided by his classmate Jim McEleney, who owns the franchise consulting firm FranNet of Greater Tampa Bay. “Jim provided outstanding guidance throughout the process, from evaluating franchise business models that matched my personal, financial, and business objectives through to the day I opened my business,” Lanning writes.

1984

The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency recently appointed Michael Maher as his faculty representative to the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and as the U.S. Naval War College’s George H. W. Bush Chair of National Intelligence.

1. Vin Handal ’80, Jim Keenan, S.J., and Vincent Balardi ’80 at the wedding of Balardi’s daughter, Kathryn. 2. Al Durrell ’80, Lieutenant General John Toolan, Jr., USMC (Ret.) ’72, and Steven George ’80 at the 2022 Washington, D.C. Reception. 3. Members of the Class of 1983 during a weekend getaway.

2.

’80

BEEFSTEAK DINNER

’97, John Murillo ’97, Jason Otaño ’97, Michael Magette ’97, and Alex Anastasiades ’97 P’24. 6. Greg Lettieri ’00, Alexander Dabagh ’00, Arthur Curcuru ’00, Andrew Di Veglio ’00, and John Edmonds ’00. 7. Gerardo Rincon ’02, Ian Johnson ’02, Kenneth Francis ’02, Danny Perez ’02, and Robinson Ko ’02. 8. Pat Cusanelli ’84 with Chris Stevens ’83. 9. Gaetano Saladino ’08 with Greg Cerchione ’10. 10. Liam Coles ’15, Adam Lyons ’15, and Teddy Boateng ’15.

P’26, Anthony

1. Colin Capello ’60, Kenneth Madden ’78, Dr. Franklin Caesar ’72 P’00, Jerry McKinney P’92 ’94, Dak Armstrong ’99, and Paul Scariano ’90 P’19 ’21 ’23 ’25.

2. Dr. Richie Pisano ’62, Ed Grant ’62, Joe Librizzi ’62, and Bob Karlovits ’62. 3. Peter Costiglio ’66 P’90 with Jim Keenan, S.J. 4. Giovanni Bernie ’19, Jim Hederman, S.J., Kevin Daly ’17, and Luca Romeo ’17.

5. Pedro Oliver ’97

Saporito

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6. 7. 8.

4. 9.

10.

Juan Pinera lives in Hollywood, Florida. He earned his doctorate in business administration in July 2021.

1985

John Bivona has retired from the FBI after 26 years of service.

1986

Michael Bongiorno lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife Sarah and three wonderful daughters, Alessandra, Juliana, and Elenora. An award-winning architect, Bongiorno is the managing principal and design director of the Ohio practice of AECOM, a global design services firm. Living out Xavier’s call to be a man for others, he dedicates his time outside of his work to the community, chairing the Board of Trustees of the Greater Columbus Arts Council and serving on the Board of Trustees of the Columbus College of Art & Design.

Mark Jannone, Pierre Lenis, and Jorge Jorge welcome all of their Xavier brothers to join them at their monthly social in Miami. Interested alumni should contact Jannone at mark.jannone@gmail.com.

Mark Mulvanerty is the founder and president of Personalis Advisors, LLC, a boutique executive search and coaching firm. Leveraging more than 25 years of executive search experience, Mulvanerty serves as a strategic business partner to corporate boards and C-Suites leading high-profile, missioncritical board director and executive search engagements across a wide aperture of industries from the Fortune 500 to nonprofit organizations, family-owned businesses, and private equity backed entities. He is a trusted coach and speaker on career guidance, balance, and transitions.

1987

In 2021, Peter Heidt received the Ameriprise Client Service Award. The award represents an elite group of Ameriprise advisers recognized as leaders for their commitment to making a difference in the lives of their clients.

Marlon Hosang recently celebrated 15 years as principal of PS 64 on the Lower East Side. His son, Maxwell, plans to attend HAP this summer as he prepares to enter the Class of 2028. Max’s 12U youth hockey team, the Pelham Pelicans, finished the season with a record of 71-11-3, including the following banners: Silver Stick West Chester Regional 12U AA Champions, EJEPL 12U Diamond Champions, and NYSAHA 12U State Champions.

1988

Fernando Romero recently joined TelevisaUnivision as senior vice president of digital advertising sales. TelevisaUnivision is the world’s leading Spanish-language media and content company. In this role, Romero oversees national ad sales revenue across TelevisaUnivision’s digital, streaming, branded social, experiential, and digital audio properties.

1989

Peter Minardi is an intervention specialist and basketball coach at Olentangy Liberty High School in Powell, Ohio. He writes that he is an empty nester with his wife, Carmie, now that their daughter, Savannah, attends an occupational

Thomas Petito has been promoted to crime gun intelligence supervisor at the Newark Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

1. Mark Jannone ’86, Pierre Lenis ’86, and Jorge Jorge ’86.

2. Max Hosang, son of Marlon Hosang ’87.

3. Chris Spataro ’89, center, in a production of Little House on the Prairie, the Musical

2. ’87

3. ’89

1. ’86

therapy school in Dayton, and their son, Andrew, attends West Virginia University.

Chris Spataro recently played the role of Nels Oleson in Little House on the Prairie, the Musical. It was his sixth performance at Premier Arts in Elkhart, Indiana, over the last dozen years. For his day job, Spataro presides over a court with criminal and civil jurisdiction in Elkhart County.

1990

Dr. Michael Baston became president and CEO of Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio, in July 2022. He previously served as president of Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York.

In November 2022, Francis Creighton took over as the new president and CEO of the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, a trade association in Washington, D.C.

Chris Febles published his debut novel, Richie the Caseworker, on November 22, 2022. The novel is about a Yankees fan turned homeless services worker.

In November 2022, Vance Kuhner, USAR P’24 was promoted to the rank of brigadier general.

1991

Food and Wine named Dan Petroski one of its 2022 Drinks Innovators of the Year, calling him “Napa’s iconoclast.” Petroski owns Massican Winery.

1992

Shane Leigh recently began a new position with the Nassau County Supreme Court.

Steven Lopez recently began his 17th year with the Corcoran Group in New York City.

Robert Ryan’s daughter, Victoria, graduated from Fontbonne Hall as valedictorian of the Class of 2022. She now studies government at Georgetown University.

Daniel Santos started a new position at Park & Battery as vice president of creative services in October 2022.

1993

In late 2020, Dan Castle earned his master of philosophy degree at the University of Pennsylvania. He has been working as a graduate teaching assistant in the organizational dynamics program since early 2021. He published his first book, A Modern Day Parable: Reflections on Faith, Love and Life, in 2022. Fragments of his time on 16th Street are evident throughout.

In August 2022, Bernard Harrington, USA, was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. He also assumed command of the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Christian Lee joined the Coast Guard Foundation’s Board of Trustees in January.

1994

After 20+ years as an individual contributor in software sales, Alex Paz took on an executive leadership role as a global VP at Workhuman, an HR software-asservice firm focused on helping companies answer the human need to be recognized, developed, and celebrated. His team is focused on serving high-growth companies in the 250-2,500 employee size range. He welcomes fellow Sons of Xavier to connect with him on LinkedIn.

In February, the Culinary Institute of America appointed Bill Reidy as its vice president of advancement. In this role, he will spearhead the college’s philanthropic initiatives, helping to ensure that the college continues to provide a worldclass education for the future leaders of the food, beverage, and hospitality industries. He will also oversee the college’s alumni office. He brings nearly a quarter of a century of experience leading successful advancement initiatives for institutions, including Sacred Heart University.

July 11, 2023

JERSEY SHORE RECEPTION

July 13, 2023 POINT LOOKOUT RECEPTION

July 20, 2023 QUOGUE RECEPTION

August 24, 2023

CAPE COD RECEPTION

August 26, 2023

ADMISSIONS OPEN HOUSE

October 21, 2023

HALL OF FAME DINNER

October 27, 2023

2022 Rockaway Reception

CELEBRATE XAVIER SCHOLARSHIP GALA

March 31, 2023 • Gotham Hall

and Thelonious Bennett ’26. 7. Myriam and Pierre Nicolas P’22 ’25. 8. Andrew Gheraldi and Ema Gaubaite. 9. Myrita Pindar and A. Ross Wollen ’61. 10. Sean Hagerty, S.J. ’02, Kim Smith, and Dennis Baker, S.J.

1. Gene Schafer P’25 and Jane King P’25. 2. Bettina Teodoro P’26 and Will Iwaschuk P’26. 3. CJ Marlin ’23, the gala’s senior speaker. 4. Mario Powell, S.J., Jim DeAngelo, Jennifer Liguori P’24, Rebecca Raslowsky, Eugene Flinn, Ty Greenberg, and Jack Raslowsky. 5. Joseph Puglisi P’18 ’25 and Chiara Scandone P’18 ’25. 6. Theodore Kelley ’26, CJ Marlin ’23, Peter Angelo ’25, Director of Music Ron Robinson,

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4.

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6. 7.

8. 9.

10.

1995

Matt Meehan Scalzo was recently appointed the director of mission at Christian Brothers Academy, a Catholic, all-boys preparatory school in Lincroft, New Jersey.

Lieutenant Colonel Geoff Cole, USA and his wife left Korea in June 2019. They now reside in Arlington, Virginia, while he works in the Pentagon with other Sons of Xavier.

1996

In 2021, Jason Almonte was promoted to director for large bank licensing of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) with the U.S. Treasury Department. Almonte has worked for the OCC since 2007, except for his time with the Financial Risk Advisory Practice of KPMG, LLP from 2014 to 2016. He works out of the OCC’s New York office in Midtown and resides in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn.

Captain Tim Sommella, USCG, is the prospective commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun—the 10th ship in the National Security Cutter class. The 418-foot ship is currently under construction in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and scheduled to be commissioned in Baltimore, Maryland, at the end of August. The ship and crew will return to the homeport of Charleston, South Carolina, later this fall.

Dr. Kwame Ohemeng and his family were featured in the July/ August 2022 issue of Better Homes and Gardens. The centerpiece of their living room is an original artwork by Jamel Robinson ’97 titled “Just Before Dawn.”

1997

In May 2023, Rev. Jared Brogan earned his licentiate in sacred theology degree in sacramental and liturgical theology at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois.

After a decade at TT Club Mutual Insurance, John Murillo began a new role at Tokio Marine in Newport, New Jersey, as an ocean marine cargo underwriter. He recently donated six 14-inchlong ponytails to Wigs for Kids after more than two years of growing his hair out. This is his second hair donation since 2015.

1998

Dr. Charles Larkin lives in Sligo, Ireland. He serves as director of research at the Institute for Policy Research, University of Bath, with affiliations at Trinity College Dublin and Johns Hopkins University. He was appointed chair of the Governing Body/ Board of Trustees of Technological University Dublin, the first and largest technological university in Ireland, as of January 1. He also serves as secretary and a member of the Board of Trustees of Accounting Technicians Ireland, advising on postsecondary

education strategy resulting in the recent joint government approval of an all-island, UK-Ireland degree-level apprenticeship in accountancy. Last September, he presented to the 77th United Nations General Assembly Science Summit in New York on Ireland’s digital health strategy and innovations.

2000

Mike Benigno and his wife, Ellen, are enjoying life in Rockaway, Queens with their 3-year-old daughter, Leah Angeline.

2002

Marcin Kurzatkowski was elevated to partner at Russo & Gould in January.

San Iswara was recently named the head of acquisition and product strategy at Rockefeller Capital Management. He lives in Midtown East with his wife, Rebecca, and their two sons, Winston and Wyatt.

Michael O’Brien earned a master’s degree in journalism and works for a digital marketing start-up in New York City. His fiancée, Megan, also works in marketing.

Timothy Turbiak lives in Ballston Spa, New York, with his wife and two kids. He was elected to the Ballston Spa CSD Board of Education, where he is serving a three-year term.

2003

Chris Silvestri recently took his daughter, Mia Joelle, to her first hockey game at Madison Square Garden, where they watched the New York Rangers beat the Los Angeles Kings. After the game, they met Sam Rosen—the announcer for the Rangers—and Dancing Larry, a staple of the Garden who dances during the last timeout in the third period.

Major David del CuadroZimmerman, USA writes that he recently completed an assignment as a brigade operations officer and was selected for an Army fellowship, working at the Office of Management and Budget as a defense legislative analyst.

2004

Dr. Jonathan DePierro was recently promoted to associate professor of psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine in New York. His first book, which focuses on factors that support resilience in difficult times, will be published in September by Cambridge University Press.

John Romeo Gomes is living in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he and his husband, Dr. James McGinn, founded the Lighthouse Foundation ACNJ, a nonprofit organization that focuses on local humanist causes. They and their three St. Bernards would like to wish the entire Xavier community all the best.

1. John Murillo ’97. 2. Dr. Charles Larkin ’98, right, with Maynooth University professor Martin Curley. 3. Mike Benigno ’00 and his daughter, Leah Angeline. 4. Chris Silvestri ’03 and his daughter, Mia Joelle. 5. Dr. Jonathan DePierro ’04.

1. ’97 ’00

3. ’03

4.

5. ’04

2. ’98

2005

In January, Eric Saa and his wife, Sarah, set off for a trip around the world. Their first stop was Antarctica. They later had a blast exploring Patagonia. If you wish to follow their travels, follow them on Instagram @thesaabbatical

2006

Mike Patti attended this year’s Beefsteak Dinner with fellow members of the Class of 2006. He runs a real estate sales team that markets properties in New York City, the Hamptons, South Florida, Southern California, and now Europe. He is launching a sustainable real estate investment fund this year, as well as a nonprofit focused on eliminating pollution on a global scale. Patti invites fellow Sons to reach out via email at mdjpatti@gmail.com

2007

Seamus Campbell graduated from The George Washington University with a master’s degree in political management in 2021.

Michael Chiaia now resides in Falls Church, Virginia, where he closed on a house in January.

In August, Dr. Anthony Porcelli began a new role as senior assistant dean at the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Studies at Hofstra University.

2008

Tom Reilly recently joined the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office as an assistant district attorney in the Major Economic Crimes Bureau.

Vincent Lopes earned a spot on the FDNY’s hockey team for the 20222023 season.

2009

Kevin Bridy recently began a new career at Workday, an enterprise management cloud and software company.

Nicholas Pope, USMC, was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in November 2021. He was deployed to Norway for NATO training and then to Lithuania in response to the war in Ukraine in the spring of 2022, when his fluency in Czech and Russian proved useful. He brought back a Lithuanian Jesuit publication for his family.

2010

Patrick Nilsen graduated from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia in May and now works at J.P. Morgan in investment banking.

Chris Corrado is a staff software engineer with Johnson & Johnson MedTech in Providence, Rhode Island. He is in his eighth year with the company.

2011

Christopher Edgell works as the packing manager at Astor Wine & Spirits, which was recently sold to its employees as part of an employee stock ownership program. Edgell was interviewed by FOX 5 New York after the sale. “So yes, technically, I am now a co-owner of the legendary NYC wine store, occasionally visited by faculty and alumni,” he writes.

Sean Lee is teaching middle school social studies at a Catholic school in Seattle, Washington.

Patrick Steffens and his colleague were presented with co-member of the year awards for the United Way of New York City’s Young Leaders Council at the 2022 Moonlight Masquerade. The two set a New York City chapter record in fundraising to help some of the city’s most vulnerable communities on the path to self-sufficiency.

2012

Dr. Nicholas Primiano recently graduated from Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and started his residency as a doctor, specializing in radiology at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. Prior to attending medical school, Primiano

3.

1. Sarah and Eric Saa ’05.

2. Christopher Edgell ’11.

3. Dr. Nicholas Primiano ’12.

graduated from Columbia University with a bachelor’s in biomedical engineering and a master’s in bioethics.

John Cortese recently founded Tripiamo—a newly-formed startup that is the first comprehensive online travel guide that teaches the fundamentals of driving in foreign countries.

Daniel Donahue recently joined his mother, Nadine, and sister, Courtney, in their home health care business, Grace Private Nursing. Grace Private Nursing is a home health care agency dedicated to providing excellent home care options for loved ones. After a thorough assessment of the patient’s needs, a comprehensive plan of care, which will recommend specific steps to be taken to optimize health and wellbeing, is implemented. Donahue invites friends to learn more at GracePrivateNursing.com.

2013

John Chiaia concluded his time at Mount Saint Mary College, where he worked as the assistant director of residence life, last summer. He is now a New York City high school counselor, assisting students with social/ emotional and college/career developments. He graduated from St. Bonaventure University with his master’s in school counseling in December 2022.

2014

Aidan Hughes recently completed his first year as a public diplomacy officer at the Irish Consulate. In September 2022, he had the pleasure of meeting An Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin during his visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week.

Michael Flynn teamed up with classmates Jake Nicholson and James Amodeo to move the Emerging Xavier Leaders (EXL) alumni group forward. EXL seeks to connect young leaders throughout various industries and professions from classes over the last 20 years. Programming is open to all constituent groups within the Xavier community. “We are looking forward to our next program. Through EXL, members will have an opportunity to contribute to Xavier’s mission and gain access to networking and professional development,” Flynn writes. “The 2014 Class would also like to congratulate Jake Nicholson ’14 on his engagement to Jillian Caristo.”

Captain Patrick Walsh, USA, and First Lieutenant Nick Velez, USA are stationed at Fort Gordon, Georgia, where they visited with Lieutenant Colonel Roy Campbell, USA (Ret.), Xavier’s former Senior Army Instructor, in February. “They both graduated from West Point as well and lifted weights

together both as Raiders at Xavier and at the Military Academy. Now they are still lifting tons of weights together here at Fort Gordon,” Campbell said after his visit. “Both of them are strong and healthy and faithful Army Officers, and it was a great joy to buy them breakfast.”

2015

Anthony Chillo recently started medical school at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University.

Matthew Rienzi moved to Rhode Island with his fiancée, Caitlyn. He recently joined the baseball coaching staff at nationally-ranked Roger Williams University. He was also promoted to director of baseball operations and retains his coaching position with the Ocean State Waves of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.

Brandon Efap runs the commercial real estate division at Investment Property Realty Group (IPRG). The company is optimized for broker and firm efficiency.

2016

At the TCS New York City Marathon in November 2022, Alberto Mena earned 18th place overall and first place among New York City runners after running a 2:23:10 full marathon.

4. ’16

1. ’14

2. ’14

3. ’15

1. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin and Aidan Hughes ’14.

2. First Lieutenant Nick Velez, USA ’14, Lieutenant Colonel Roy Campbell, USA (Ret.), and Captain Patrick Walsh, USA ’14.

3. Anthony Chillo ’15.

4. Alberto Mena ’16.

After five years of service as a Coast Guard Reserve enlisted man, Ensign Paul Gargiulo, USCGR graduated from the Coast Guard Reserve Officer Candidate Indoctrination Program in New London, Connecticut. He returned to New York Law School in fall 2022 to finish his final year of legal studies.

2017

In February, Isaiah Blake moderated “Brother to Brother: A Forum on the Black Masculine Body,” a panel discussion at Lincoln Center.

Sader Matar graduated from UCLA in 2022. He is a delegate intern at the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations in New York.

Kraig Puccia graduated from Fordham University with bachelor’s degrees in history and Italian studies in 2021. The following year, he earned his master’s degree in modern world history, focusing on economic developments around the world during the time of the New Deal. He just finished his first year at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University. This summer, he will attend a study abroad seminar at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa to learn about international law and economics. Upon returning home to New York City, he will work with

the Veterans Advocacy Project— serving veterans in civil, VA, and Department of Defense suits.

Joshua Vazquez is a middle school teacher pursuing a graduate degree in ESL Education. “I hope to have the same impact on my students that my teachers had on me during my four years at Xavier,” he writes.

2018

In 2022, Tom Knight graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.

Andrew Salmieri writes that he recently accepted an offer to work as an analyst for the New York City Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget.

Clark Sevcik graduated from the City College of New York in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a psychology minor. He currently works as a medical technologist in New York City. “I’d like to thank Xavier for molding me into the man I am today,” he writes.

After graduating from Fairfield University, Timothy CusackMcPartlin was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps at the 9/11 Memorial in August 2022. He currently attends The Basic School

and will start his flight training in Pensacola in July.

Thomas Treussard was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserves, where he serves as an officer in the Ordnance Corps, in September 2022. He is an associate partner at Callahan & Westmoreland, a retained search and talent advisory firm.

2019

Joe Schlafer’s band, Hero, just released its first song, “Sidekick.” The song is available on all streaming platforms.

Senior Airman Michael O’Hagan, USAF Security Forces, is stationed in Spangdahlem, Germany, after a year’s tour in the Republic of Korea. “Xavier JROTC led me to enlist in the USAF,” he writes. “The USAF is a true brotherhood. Thanks to Colonel Campbell, Sergeant Adams, and Sergeant Atherton for their leadership at Xavier.”

2020

In June 2022, Omar Richardson began a new position as congressional intern to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (now the Democratic Leader).

Anthony Bruno just completed his junior year at Penn State, where he serves as president of the Asset

2.

3. ’18

1. Ensign Paul Gargiulo, USCGR ’16.

2. Clark Sevcik ’18.

3. Second Lieutenant Timothy CusackMcPartlin ’18, second from right, with family members and Jim Hederman, S.J.

4. Senior Airman Michael O’Hagan, USAF ’19 with his brother, Charles O’Hagan, USAF ’13.

’18 ’13 & ’19

’16

52 XAVIER MAGAZINE

ACHIEVING A DREAM

MALIK FISHER ’17

BY ERIC KREBS ’17

“A tree gives glory to God by being a tree,” wrote the 20th-century theologian Thomas Merton. Pines, oaks, willows, these things cannot stray from their selfevident, God-given purpose: to stand tall and cast shade.

But, for people, the path to actualization—to one’s “true self”— is not so obvious. “Our vocation is not simply to be,” Merton wrote, “but to work together with God in the creation of our own life, our own identity, our own destiny.”

When he was 7 years old, Malik Fisher ’17 found himself, for the first time, on a football field.

He took to the game immediately, and when it came time to graduate from the Brooklyn Titans, Fisher followed in the footsteps of his coach Bill Solomon’s son, Tre Solomon ’14, from Bed-Stuy to 16th Street. After four years with the Xavier Knights, Fisher was recruited to play NCAA Division I football at Villanova University. From there, he graduated from the NCAA to the New Orleans Saints training camp as a free agent. His ultimate goal: a draft ticket to the NFL.

Training camp ended, and Fisher’s ticket never came. At 23, his lifelong dream came to what seemed to be an end. “At Xavier, at Villanova, with my family at home, I’m the

football player,” said Fisher. “Then, being removed from that space … it was a big learning experience.”

In June of 2022, Fisher returned home to Brooklyn. He began working for a sports management company, helping college athletes secure “image and likeness” deals. He also took up work with his father, Rawle, delivering and installing home appliances.

It was there, on a job with his father, when Fisher received a call that would revive his dream—and change his life. A representative from the XFL, a junior-league companion to the NFL, had seen his highlight reel from training camp. He wanted Fisher to play for the league.

“I felt like I hadn’t become the best player—and the best person— that I could possibly be,” said Fisher. “Football has been such an instrumental part of who I am as a person. I just couldn’t let it go.”

Fisher accepted the offer. But, having signed a contract with the XFL’s Washington Defenders starting in January, one major roadblock remained in his path: a tear in the labrum of his left shoulder. The recovery would be difficult, but Fisher knew that if he wanted to continue his football career, to really give it his all, he could have

nothing holding him back.

With less than six months to go from sling to stadium, Fisher got to work. He enrolled in physical therapy at MOTION Sports Medicine, working with physical therapist Kevin Murtagh ’09, a fellow Xavier alum. “One of the first things I determined about Malik from meeting him was that he had a plan,” said Murtagh. “He has a drive, and he puts that out there.”

After physical therapy, Fisher would travel to Pier 40 at Hudson River Park, where, rain or shine, he’d run drills on his own. After that, he’d travel back downtown to 16th Street for weight training in Xavier’s weight room, just as he had done during his college breaks. “I had reached out to Xavier and asked if there was any way I could come in, and they were more than willing to help,” said Fisher.

In the weight room, Fisher interacted with many current Xavier athletes. “Malik is kind of a legend,” says Ratu Delano Navoti ’24, a varsity Knight with college football prospects who, like Fisher, had to come back from an injury. “He just offered his number and was like, if you ever need help, reach out. He’s really been one of my mentors.”

For Fisher, the encouragement was mutual. “Showing up at

Xavier, being able to consistently go somewhere and see familiar faces, that was big for me,” he said. “I was at an in-between. I was training for something but wasn’t there yet, so I didn’t have a team around me. You can get lost.”

Toward the end of his months of training, Fisher took to finishing his workouts with one last exercise. “I started building a habit of doing meditations and affirmations. I’d let my mind freely move and really open up,” said Fisher.

Through meditation, Fisher realized the value of the challenge he faced, the pain and beauty of self-actualization. “At Xavier, I used to joke around with Mr. Raslowsky. He called me the happiest man in America because I always walked around with a smile,” he said. “I just try to think deeply and appreciate things, to see the silver lining.”

Now several months into his XFL career, Fisher looks back on his months of grueling recovery positively. “The journey and the work I put in to get here was the biggest stage of my growing journey. When I was in limbo, when I wasn’t playing, I learned the most about myself. I was able to challenge myself, to prove something that I couldn’t before,” he said. “It gave me the opportunity to look deeper inside myself.”

“ THE JOURNEY AND THE WORK I PUT IN TO GET HERE WAS THE BIGGEST STAGE OF MY GROWING JOURNEY.”

Management Group (AMG). AMG is a student-run derivative paper portfolio fund that allows students of all backgrounds to learn and refine the knowledge and skills necessary to obtain internships and full-time positions on Wall Street and at other financial institutions.

Emmet Gregory just finished his third year of a six-year medical school program in Dublin, Ireland. “Emmet wanted to pursue a premed degree but when he was admitted to the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland he knew he had to jump at the opportunity,” writes his mom, Kristin. “The school is very demanding, but Emmet is happy pursuing his dream and surrounded by a group of interesting and supportive students from around the world.” Gregory would like to specialize in neurology and welcomes the chance to network with alumni over the summer. He can be reached at robertgregory20@rcsi.ie.

2021

Rugby alumni from the Class of 2021—Robert Betsais (Fairfield University), Damian Huggins (Syracuse University), Gerry Lanning (Iona University), Nolan McCaffrey (Iona University), and Dilyn McHugh (Northeastern University)—reunited on the pitch in the spring of 2022, competing in a 7s tournament at Stony Brook University. “All the boys credit the rugby experience they had at Xavier with allowing them to play at the next level,” writes Betsais’ mom, Courtney Nash.

Last summer, Samuel Goldenstein studied abroad at Estonia’s Tallinn University of Technology, where he took classes such as “Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States” and “Cybersecurity and the Baltic Region.”

2022

Nick Bruno just finished his freshman year at Penn State, where

he plays rugby and won rookie of the year honors. He attributes his college success to Coach Norris, Coach Bailey, Coach Sweeney, and Coach DeFalco.

Leonardo Mannino recently finished his freshman year at Fordham University, where he studies in the Gabelli School of Business. He is a member of Fordham’s rugby team.

Giuseppe Quatela thanks Xavier for the best four years of his life. “I will take all the lessons I have learned with me every step of the way and never forget the brothers who shaped my experience,” he writes. “Keep marching!”

Antonios Drossos writes that he now works with Frostline Air and Building Solutions— an HVAC service and mechanical company that specializes in commercial buildings and provides state-of-the-art mechanical solutions to its clients.

1. Emmet Gregory ’20.

2. Robert Betsais ’21, Damian Huggins ’21, Gerry Lanning ’21, Nolan McCaffrey ’21, and Dilyn McHugh ’21.

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME

BY SHAWNA GALLAGHER VEGA

After furthering their love of basketball on 16th Street, three young Sons of Xavier went on to share a unique experience— managing teams at the highest level of college hoops.

Earlier this year, Anthony Flynn ’19 concluded his time managing the Villanova Wildcats, assisting the storied basketball team with all practices, games, and events over the course of his four years in Pennsylvania. “My time working for the team has taught me so many invaluable skills that I know will help me in all of life’s endeavors,”

said Flynn, who earned his degree in economics in May and now works as an analyst at JPMorgan Chase. “The relationships I have fostered and the experiences I have had over the last four years have been extremely rewarding and something that I will always hold dear.”

For Joe McGrane ’20 and Danny Dolan ’21, who have basketball in their blood (their fathers, Joe McGrane P’20 and Greg Dolan ’89 P’21, are Xavier’s legendary longtime coaches), their experience managing college

teams has added additional layers to their understanding of the game.

“I wanted to become a college basketball manager, as I am hoping to be involved with basketball in some form after I graduate,” said Dolan, who manages the Ramblers at Loyola University Chicago. “My experience has been amazing. I have learned so much about how a Division I college basketball program runs. I have gotten to go on so many amazing trips, and have gotten to meet great people throughout the country.”

“The decision to become a student manager for the men’s basketball team at Marquette has provided me with a great opportunity to get involved in collegiate athletics,” added McGrane, whose Golden Eagles won the Big East Tournament this spring. “The job demands a high level of commitment and dedication, but the incredible relationships I’ve developed over the years and the experiences of contributing to such a storied program have made it worthwhile.”

1. Anthony Flynn ’19, left, cheering on the Villanova Wildcats. 2. Danny Dolan ’21 managing the Loyola Chicago Ramblers.

3. Joe McGrane ’20 at Madison Square Garden after the Marquette Golden Eagles won the Big East Tournament in March.

3.

Photo courtesy of Sideline Photos (Greg Carroccio)

Engagements

Michael O’Brien ’02 got engaged to Megan Fullagar in Miami on February 26, 2022. Their wedding will take place on September 16, 2023, in Brooklyn.

Kevin Bridy ’09 recently got engaged to his fiancée, Sarah Pullin.

Jake Nicholson ’14 is engaged to Jillian Caristo.

Weddings

Michael Seewald ’86 married Elizabeth Drumm at St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox Church on

East 10th Street on June 11, 2022. Suzy and Alan Antaki ’87 joined the wedding celebrations at the Queens County Farm.

Fidel Santiago ’04 married Sara Sullivan in New York City on August 13, 2022. Michael Malkin ’04 was his best man, and Vincent Margiotta ’04 and Michael Leopoldi ’04 were groomsmen.

Daniel J. Martinez ’05 married Ciara O’Grady on September 24, 2021.

Michael Chiaia married Lindy Froebel in College Station, Texas, on April 29. They enjoyed a

honeymoon on the Amalfi Coast in Italy.

Tim Mastro ’07 married Emma MacLean at Springfield Country Club in Pennsylvania on August 6, 2022. The couple met as tour guides at the University of Delaware and now live in Wilmington, Delaware, with their dog, Rose.

In August 2022, John Maiocco ’12 married his wife, Morgan, surrounded by plenty of members of the Xavier community, including Vincent Biagi, S.J. ’67, who officiated the ceremony.

Births

Joseph Fama ’75 and his wife, Nancy, welcomed their fourth and fifth grandchildren, girls named Sofia and Pierce, in 2022.

Lou Bonica ’76 and his wife, Gerri, welcomed their first granddaughter, Shea Marie Coury, on February 7.

Nevio Murljacic ’77 welcomed his first grandchildren, twins named Margaret and Patrick, on January 30.

Jimmy Ryan ’92 and his wife, Anna, welcomed a son, James Francis IV, in Charleston, South Carolina, on January 25.

Morgan and John Maiocco ’12 with the Xavier contingent at their wedding

Nathan David Sorrentino, son of Neil Sorrentino ’02

Annabelle Faith Koch, daughter of John Koch ’96

Emma MacLean and Tim Mastro ’07

John C. Fernandez ’95 welcomed a son, Harrison William, on February 9.

John Koch ’96 and his wife, Amie, welcomed their fourth child, Annabelle Faith, on February 15.

Badr Astiphan ’99 and his wife, Loredana, welcomed a daughter, Serafina, on December 9, 2021 in Berkeley, California.

Teig Lynster ’01 and his wife, Maureen, welcomed their first child, Nora Quinn, on November 26, 2022.

Neil Sorrentino ’02 and his wife, Kimberly, celebrated the birth of their son, Nathan David, on February 22.

Peter Faherty ’03 and his wife, Stacey, welcomed a son, Callan, on March 1.

Patrick Sezen ’04 and his wife, Caroline, welcomed their first child, Brooke Setenay Elizabeth, on November 3, 2020.

William Lembo ’05, his wife, Danielle, and daughter Lucy welcomed Theodore William in 2022.

Reid Sessa ’06, his wife Caitlin, and sons William and Colin welcomed Grant Joseph in October 2022.

Kevin Fox ’08, his wife, Audrey, and daughter, Vera Mae, welcomed their daughter and sister, Sadie Grace, on November 2, 2022.

Jonathan Wlazlowski ’08, his wife, Emily, and son, Luke, welcomed twins, Adelaide Irene and Finnegan Zdzislaw, to their family on February 17.

Billy Malewich ’12 and his wife welcomed their son, Ryan Daniel, on December 21, 2022.

Thomas Roemer ’12 and his wife, Genna, welcomed a daughter, Claire Marie, on November 6, 2022.

Brooke Setenay Elizabeth Sezen, daughter of Patrick Sezen ’04

Claire Marie Roemer, daughter of Thomas Roemer ’12

Kevin Fox ’08 with his wife, Audrey, and daughters Vera Mae and Sadie Grace

James Francis Ryan IV, son of Jimmy Ryan ’92

Caitlin and Reid Sessa ’06 with sons Grant Joseph, William, and Colin

Alumni Business SPOTLIGHT

Piccolo Angolo

Pete

Migliorini ’90

Greenwich Village

In the heart of Greenwich Village lies the quaint Piccolo Angolo, a decades-old Italian restaurant founded by the family of Pete Migliorini ’90. Now the owner and head chef, Migliorini runs the restaurant with his sister.

His father, Renato, and uncle, Costanzo, the grandfather of Luca Evans ’23, immigrated to the United States from Italy with extensive restaurant experience. After owning and operating establishments in the Financial District, they opened Piccolo Angolo, fulfilling their lifelong dream of owning a restaurant in Greenwich Village.

The restaurant is known for such mouth-watering dishes as meatballs, lobster cannelloni, trofei al pesto, and chicken francese.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant persevered by shifting to takeout-only service before transitioning to outdoor seating and eventually back to indoor dining. Despite the challenges, the restaurant managed to stay open and continue serving its loyal customers.

After three decades in business, the Italian restaurant continues to thrive—a testament to the family’s passion and dedication to serving the community.

Zozimus

Tom Lee ’92 Boston

Tommy Lee and his partners founded 451 Marketing in 2004, seeking to create a client-centric agency that anticipates and responds to changing consumer behavior. The team recognized the need to stay ahead of the curve and drew inspiration from Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, reflected in their original name.

They later rebranded as Zozimus, inspired by Roald Dahl’s made-up word in The Big Friendly Giant. It’s the stuff dreams are made of.

Zozimus is a data-driven digital marketing agency that blends creative, science and

Earlier this year, we asked alumni business owners to share their stories with Xavier Magazine. Here’s a sampling of submissions from Sons of Xavier.

technology in a way that enables the agency to be more efficient and impactful over shorter periods of time, while yielding dramatically higher results for its clients.

Zozimus helps its clients build brands and campaigns that make people feel something, building loyalty and driving them to action. The team does it with an understanding of how to build a brand, make it stick in people’s minds, and remain relevant so that its clients are there when their audiences need them.

ensured that their customers had access to the products they needed to keep food on the shelves. Despite a significant downturn in business during the initial days of the pandemic, they managed to retain all of their employees and went above and beyond to keep their ship afloat.

LareDiaz

Dennis Vargas ’84 and Eric Diaz

Philadelphia and New York City

In 1886, brothers Simon Clavin, who owned a livery business of horse drawn carriages, and Michael Clavin, who owned an undertaking business, formed Clavin Funeral Home.

A. Oliveri & Sons, Inc., a multi-generational family business, has been a staple in the food industry since its founding more than a century ago. The DePalma family’s involvement began in 1965, and today they are the sole owners of the business.

A. Oliveri and Sons specializes in the provision of flour and a variety of other ingredients to bakeries, pastry shops, pasta manufacturers, bagel stores, brick oven pizzerias and juice and smoothie locations throughout the Tri-State region, Philadelphia, and Scranton. They take pride in their service to loyal customers of up to 60 years.

The family is heavily involved in the day-to-day running of the business, with Sciancalepore overseeing the operations and logistics and Nick coordinating sales and marketing. Nick’s father, Ignatius, steers the ship from a supervisory position.

As with most family-owned businesses, the COVID-19 pandemic presented its share of obstacles. Despite the challenges, Oliveri & Sons remained operational and

Dennis Vargas ’84 and Eric Diaz ’84 Dennis Vargas and Eric Diaz became friends at Xavier but lost touch after graduating. In 2004, the two reconnected through the Xavier alumni network. Since then, they have been a constant source of support and camaraderie for each other.

Diaz recognized an unmet need in the Latino business community—access to resources and information to start or grow a business, purchase or lease property, and secure financing. In response in 2016, he established LareDiaz—a commercial real estate and finance law firm dedicated to bridging the gap that separates Latino entrepreneurs and small businesses from the information they need to succeed in the Philadelphia and New York City metro areas. Vargas joined the team soon after.

LareDiaz’s practice includes commercial real estate acquisition, disposition, leasing, and debt and equity finance. The company provides direct, practical solutions to accomplish business goals by bringing the experience and a network of professionals Diaz has developed over 20 years to get the deal done.

Together, with the growing LareDiaz team, their vision and mission is to bring fresh ideas informed by decades of experience to the business people they serve through a nationwide network of interconnected law offices to enable them to achieve their business goals.

Matthew Clavin ’04 and Stephen Clavin ’08 carry on the family legacy as the fifth generation of Clavins to run the funeral home in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Their services extend to funeral arrangements held in churches, houses of worship, and within the funeral home itself.

As caretakers of a somber and unpredictable profession, the two are always prepared to lend a helping hand to those in need—especially during the most unprecedented times.

Throughout the pandemic, like most funeral professionals, the Clavins found themselves grappling with the risk of endangering themselves during the limited gatherings they hosted. Despite this, they pushed themselves to their limits as the death toll soared and as they were forced to adapt swiftly to evolving circumstances for eight long months.

With their attention required 24/7, the two recognized they were stronger together. Exhaustion was a great concern, so the two did their best to give each other time off from the funeral home to spend time with family and clear their heads.

The Clavins recognize the emotional toll their work can have on grieving families and make it their priority to stay grounded and focused to provide the most effective support possible. Ultimately, their dedication and presence make a meaningful difference in the lives of those they serve.

A. Oliveri & Sons, Inc.

Nick DePalma ’83, Ignatius DePalma P’83, and John Sciancalepore P’08 North Bergen, New Jersey

Nick DePalma ’83 and John Sciancalepore P’08

’84

Clavin Funeral Home Matthew Clavin ’04 and Stephen Clavin ’08 Brooklyn

Stephen Clavin ’08, Peter Clavin P’04 ’08, and Matthew Clavin ’04

In Memoriam

Alumni

Joe “Buddy” O’Neill ’41, 4/24/22

Paul Butler ’44, 11/29/21

Dr. Thomas Draper ’44, brother of David Draper ’49†, 1/9/23

Vincent Grey ’45, 3/10/19

Thomas McCarthy ’45, 1/27/23

Joseph Roche, S.J. ’45, 11/27/22

Thomas Facelle ’46, 7/30/21

William Fitzpatrick ’46, 7/12/22

Thomas Robertazzi ’46, 12/17/21

Thomas Orso ’48, 2/5/19

John Beglan ’49, brother of Joseph Beglan ’52, 12/28/22

Louis Lopez ’49, 8/20/22

Kenneth McGinity ’49, brother of Leo McGinity ’45, 12/18/21

Alexander Gross ’50, 9/11/21

Robert Riese ’50, 2/7/22

James Alford ’51, 1/16/22

Joseph Kraft ’51 P’04, father of James Kraft ’04 and brother of John Kraft ’54†, 7/28/22

Victor Melone ’51, 2/4/22

Vincent Coghlan ’52, 3/16/23

Thomas D. Carver ’53, 1/10/23

Robert Delfino ’53, 6/2/22

William Rogers ’53, 11/18/21

John Kraft ’54, brother of Joseph Kraft ’51† and uncle of James Kraft ’04, 6/27/22

Andrew Lawler ’54, 12/8/22

Edward McGuinness ’54, 5/8/2 2

James Galvin ’55, 2/17/22

Dr. Ronald J. Lofaro ’55, 6/26/22

John Mellert ’55, 12/22/22

Joseph Basta ’56, 1/1/23

Michael Butler ’56, 12/22/22

Basil Castrovinci ’56, 1/21/20

Hon. Anthony G. DiFalco ’56, 4/9/22

James J. Hanley ’56, 2/4/23

Paul Mulcahy ’56, 2/19/21

Robert Smith ’56, 1/25/23

Paul White ’56, 11/5/22

Dr. John McGrade ’57, 1/21/23

Andrew J. Mulrain ’57, 3/13/22

John Corrado ’58, brother of Martin Corrado ’63, 1/9/23

Anthony H. Dragoni, Jr. ’58, 3/6/23

John Kilkeary ’58, 1/24/22

Dr. Noel Testa ’58, 6/29/22

Neil Doran ’59, 4/11/22

Richard Hornack ’59, 9/8/22

John Horgan ’60, brother of Paul Horgan, S.J. ’55† and Andrew Horgan ’58†, 5/12/22

Thomas McCarthy ’61, 7/22/21

Donald Klein ’62, 9/16/22

Nicholas LaRosa ’62, 6/28/22

John Meehan ’62, 10/14/22

Guy Warnken ’62, 6/9/22

John VanCamp ’63, 6/9/19

Michael Yates ’63, 9/26/22

George Campion ’64, brother of Thomas Campion ’53, Dr. Robert Campion ’57 P’87, and uncle of Dr. David Campion ’87, 11/14/22

Joseph Cleary ’65, 11/27/22

Claudio Gonzalez ’65, 12/2/22

Robert Ford ’66, 8/21/22

James Crisafulli ’67, 10/4/22

Denis Grampone ’67, 11/14/21

Stephen Carney ’70, 12/13/21

Robert McGuire ’70, 8/10/22

Theodore Poppe ’70, 2/12/22

George T. Szymczak ’72, 2/25/23

Kevin Tattam ’72, brother of Timothy Tattam ’76 and son of the late Aloysius C. Tattam ’44 P’72 ’76, 11/23/22

Kevin Corridan ’73, 4/16/20

Robert Ezersky ’73, 4/18/22

Joseph Vidulich ’74, 8/14/22

Edward Piderit ’76, brother of Fred Piderit, III ’60, John Piderit, S.J. ’61, Francis Piderit ’70, and Thomas Piderit ’77, 10/4/22

Donald F. Ryan, Jr. ’78, brother of Joseph Ryan ’82 P’19 ’21 and Michael Ryan ’90 and uncle of Stephen Ryan ’19 and Thomas Ryan ’21, 4/7/22

James Skelly ’81, brother of John Skelly ’80, 9/9/22

Wayne Quacinella ’83, 7/7/21

Andrew Corrigan ’84, 5/21/22

Robert “Bob” Granato ’86, 6/24/21

William McPadden ’86, 12/16/20

David Dybdal ’87, brother of Craig Dybdal ’91, 3/5/22

Steven Zatorski ’87, 8/11/22

Justin Porto ’88, 10/25/22

Dominic Busnelli ’92, 4/4/22

Vatchpol “Paulie” Srinuan ’92, 5/3/22

Robert Gallagher ’94, 11/26/22

Louis Niles ’00, 11/23/22

Dariusz Soszynski ’06, brother of Daniel Soszynski ’07, 4/2/22

Parents

Marietta Tridente P’66, mother of Conrad Tridente ’66, 10/12/22

Sam Tridente P’66, father of Conrad Tridente ’66, 10/7/22

Lieba Fernandez P’72, mother of Mike Fernandez ’72, 4/19/23

Marilyn Connors P’74, mother of John Connors, Jr. ’74 and aunt of John Wynne ’80, 6/8/22

Mary Elizabeth Bambury P’75 ’83, wife of Joseph A. Bambury, Jr. ’49 P’75 ’83† and mother of Joseph A. Bambury, III ’75 and Justin F. Bambury ’83, 2/23/23

Eleanor Apicella P’76, mother of Frank Apicella ’76, 5/23/22

Ann Loesch P’78, mother of Brian Loesch ’78, 3/22/22

Maria Porras P’79 ’80, mother of Dr. Cornelio Porras ’79 and Fernando Porras ’80, 3/18/23

Patricia Ann Carlin P’80, mother of Tom Carlin ’80 and grandmother of Brennan Carlin ’23, 5/17/22

Joseph Scognamiglio P’80, father of Neil Scognamiglio ’80, 4/19/22

Patricia Tolkin P’80 ’82 ’85 ’87, mother of Douglas Tolkin ’80, Christopher Tolkin ’82, Michael Tolkin ’85, and Matthew Tolkin ’87, 12/3/22

Daniel Maher P’80 ’83, father of Richard Maher ’80 and Patrick Maher ’83, 1/23/23

Eva Anna Dianiska P’81, mother of Andrew Dianiska ’81, 11/7/21

John Wood P’81, father of John Wood ’81, 8/20/22

Roseann Genco P’82, mother of Robert Genco ’82, 9/6/22

Regina Cranston P’83, mother of Michael Cranston ’83 and grandmother of Ryan Woerner ’06, Timothy Crockett ’08, Matthew Crockett ’13, and Kevin Crockett ’14, 11/25/22

Dolores Daudelin P’84 ’85 ’87, mother of Quentin Daudelin ’84, Douglas Daudelin ’85, and Bart Daudelin ’87 and grandmother of Isaac Daudelin ’20, John Daudelin ’20, and Thomas Daudelin ’20, 8/9/22

Herbert Imbornoni P’85 ’87, father of John Imbornoni ’85 and Richard Imbornoni ’87, 2/6/23

Giovanni Di Salvo P’88, father of Anthony Di Salvo ’88 and grandfather of Giovanni Di Salvo ’23, 9/27/22

Charles Conduah P’89, father of Emmanuel Conduah ’89, 10/31/22

Francis Newall P’89 ’95, father of Peter Newall ’89 and Michael Newall ’95, 1/27/23

John Glynn P’90, father of Michael Glynn ’90, 4/13/22

Patricia Ryan P’92, mother of James Ryan ’92, 10/14/22

Patricia Bisso P’93 ’95, mother of Louis Bisso, III ’93 and Scott Bisso ’95, 10/21/21

Joanne Pellegrino P’94, mother of Joseph Pierce ’94, 11/24/22

Juliette Cole P’95, mother of LTC Geoffrey Cole, USA ’95, 5/12/22

Ernest Lund P’96, father of Andrew Lund ’96 and uncle of Michael Casella ’82 and Joseph Casella ’83, 11/24/22

Florence Lund P’96, mother of Andrew Lund ’96 and sister of Michael Casella ’82 and Joseph Casella ’83, 2/15/23

Joseph Shabouk P’97 ’01, father of Joseph Shabouk ’97 and George Shabouk ’01, 12/18/21

Edward Hagerty P’02, father of Edward Hagerty, III ’02 and Sean Hagerty, S.J. ’02, 1/15/23

P. Kevin Faherty P’03, father of Peter L. Faherty, ’03, 2/26/23

Susan Bentley P’05, mother of Salim Lewis, 12/2/22

Robert Furey P’07, father of Matthew Furey ’07, 3/14/23

Jacob Klein P’12, father of Joseph Klein ’12, 6/16/22

Thomas Freeman P’12 ’23, brother of Roger Freeman ’73 and father of John Freeman ’12 and Louis Freeman ’23, 1/3/23

Thomas “Harry” Hibbits

P’16, father of Liam Hibbits ’16, 10/16/22

Elaine D’Alessandro P’21, mother of Michael Fernandez ’21, sister of Xavier staff member

Carmela Barbieri P’10, sister-inlaw of Michael Barbieri ’80 P’10, and aunt of Peter Barbieri ’10, 2/25/23

Daniel Purtill P’21, father of John Purtill ’21, 2/11/23

Latisha Wilson P’23, mother of Ryan Brown ’23, 11/22/22

Spouses

Paula Cohen-Martin, wife of Paul Martin ’82, 2/24/22

Wayne Dompierre, wife of COL

Robert Albracht, USA (Ret.) ’60, 7/15/22

Gail Morda, wife of Frank Morda ’60, 9/25/22

Jane Padgett, wife of Kenneth Padgett ’62, 9/4/22

Lynn Phelan, wife of Robert Phelan ’62, 5/14/22

Linda Signorini, wife of John Signorini ’62, 12/2/22

Faculty/Family

Anthony Braccia, brother of Michael Braccia ’93, 8/7/22

Rodolfo “Rudy” Casals, S.J., Xavier faculty member, 20112013; Xavier trustee, 2022, 8/2/22

Rose Mary Devaney, former assistant to the headmaster, 8/31/22

Maria Remiszewski, mother of former staff member Melissa Cassidy, 7/8/22

Cecelia Syvertsen, mother of longtime Xavier faculty member John McGoldrick, 4/16/22

William Walsh, S.J., Xavier faculty member, 1961-1964, 10/7/22

David White, S.J., Xavier faculty member, 1972-2002, 5/26/22

Children

Gregory O’Donnell, son of Roger O’Donnell ’60, 3/17/22

Dr. Thomas Draper ’44

Dr. Thomas Draper, Jr. ’44 died at his home in Newtown, Connecticut, on January 9. He was 96 years old. The son of Thomas Frazer Draper and Ann Griffin, Draper was born in Queens Village on October 15, 1926. After his graduation from Xavier, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and proudly served his country as a 1st Class Seaman during World War II. He subsequently earned a bachelor’s degree at Fordham University (where his roommate was future Xavier history teacher and Hall of Famer Joe Caruso), a medical degree at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, and a master of public health degree at Yale University. Draper completed his pediatric residency at Johns Hopkins University/Baltimore City Hospital and served as chief pediatric resident at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse.

Draper cared for generations of families in Connecticut. He served as a member of the medical staff at Danbury Hospital for more than 60 years, serving as chief of pediatric ambulatory care (1971-1991), chairman of the pediatric department (1980-1982), and president of the medical staff (1991-1994). With his passion for public health, he also served as director of community medicine at Danbury Hospital (1991-2005) and director of health for Newtown (1965-1998), continuing to work as a medical advisor until his death. In addition, he worked for the City of Danbury Department of Health for more than 45 years as director of health (1971-1974), director of communicable disease services (1975-2008), and medical advisor (2008-2017). In 2008, he became the medical advisor to the Connecticut Institute for Communities (CIFC), where he helped establish the community health center now known as CIFC Health and went on to serve as medical director for several years.

Draper also served as the school physician in Newtown for many years, becoming a regular presence at Newtown High School football games, ready to care for any injury.

He is survived by his children, Kathleen Mount, Mary Maloney, Dr. Joan Draper, Martha Odell, Donna Draper, Rosemary Gallant, and Joseph Draper; 21 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife of nearly 69 years, Patricia Gafney Draper, the sister of Leo Gafney ’53; an infant son, Thomas III; and two of his granddaughters.

Joseph Roche, S.J. ’45

Joseph Roche, S.J. ’45 died at the Jesuit Health and Wellness Center in Quezon City, Philippines, on November 28, 2022. He was 94 years old.

Born in Brooklyn on June 14, 1928, Fr. Roche joined the Society of Jesus on September 7, 1945 and was ordained a priest on June 21, 1958. After ordination, he earned a doctorate at Louvain University in Belgium and completed post-graduate studies at Fordham University.

He was first assigned to the Philippine Province for his philosophy studies, introducing him to the nation where he would spend most of his life and have an extraordinary impact on Catholic education. Fr. Roche spent more than 40 years teaching in the Ateneo de Manila University’s philosophy and theology departments, the Loyola School of Theology, and the Mother of Life Catechetical Institute. He was one of the first professors to teach philosophy in Tagalog, the national language.

“Fr. Roche taught generations of Ateneo undergraduate and graduate students,” an obituary published by the Ateneo de Manila read. “He generously founded FIRE [the Formation Institute for Religion Educators] in 1979 in order to offer opportunities for graduate education that would help religion teachers and catechists be of better service to their students, the church, and Philippine society. To all his students and alumni, he is most of all a brilliant and incisive teacher who believed in the importance of a relevant theological and religious education. He challenged students to be their best and was a beloved mentor to many teachers today whom he motivated to think, write, and teach rigorously and passionately.”

In recognition of Fr. Roche’s distinguished service to the church, Pope Benedict XVI bestowed upon him the “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” (“For Church and Pope”) award in 2006.

The Courage to Perform

By NIRVAAN PAL ’25

I can’t think of a time when the arts weren’t present in my life. The striking of piano keys, the vibrant canvases, and the sharp, intense footsteps of dance have always surrounded me, making my life just a bit more colorful. Being a first-generation American, art has always been a way for my family to pass down tradition and what is meaningful for us. While pop or country wasn’t standard in our house, Hindifilm songs have always rung through the hallways of every apartment we’ve called our home. Being an American meant bringing my art with me, so I made it my mission to always have it in my life.

I found theater, specifically, at 7. I had never stepped on a stage, but something about acting and putting on the mask of performance eased all my anxieties. It came so naturally, in fact, that I never experienced stage fright, even during my actual performances. Being able to ring my voice out on stage, move my feet in a creative shuffle, and contort my face to every scene was comforting, and after I entered the professional world, earning Broadway, TV, and voiceover credits, I was certain theater was the path was for me.

This brings me to freshman year. I found Xavier had an impressive arts roster. This and seeing the play announcements as soon as school started brought me much joy in knowing that I too could join in the fun. I remember submitting my audition for the fall play, Everybody, and being brought in for the callback. I wasn’t expecting anything major (it was my first play, of course), but when Ms. DiMarco, my director and Xavier’s acting teacher, offered me the lead role, I was ecstatic. But learning that I would be the lead in the play was not only an exciting experience; it was an intimidating one. I thought: What if I mess up? What if I’m not good enough? What if I am not what I seem?

I would learn that Xavier rehearsals were tough, to say the least. Ironically, I also came in making the biggest rookie mistake, which was not knowing my lines. Thankfully, I received constant help from my directors and castmates, who were always willing to support me, but I was still so nervous and frightened about going out on that stage. Stage fright had never been an issue for me, but it suddenly became the biggest obstacle in my life. After a stressful tech week, I was positive I would crash and burn on stage. I was so stuck in my own thoughts that I had withdrawn from all that was going on around me. This was my challenge. How could I go out on stage on opening night when I felt like I had no idea what I was doing? It seemed hopeless, and I was sure nothing else could be so nerve-wracking.

I knew, however, that fear could not be my answer. Courage had to be instead. Being an actor, I’ve always been taught to push my boundaries. Playing characters on stage is not always comfortable, but no matter what I was going through, I knew I could not let my castmates down. Xavier helped me realize that the easy way (not performing, in this case) was not the path for me. And Xavier has continued to teach me that lesson in myriad ways. During my time here, my teachers, friends, and castmates have set high expectations for me, and in turn I’ve set high expectations for myself. My guidance counselor, Mrs. Valinoti, also guided me and helped me realize that my fears could not define my performance. It’s because of people like her that I became comfortable overcoming my fears. Truly, Xavier taught me what it meant to be there for my fellow students and castmates. Like a quarterback is to football, the principal is to a school, or a head chef is to a kitchen, the lead is always expected to be a leader, which is what Xavier has shown me.

On opening night, the show did, in fact, go on. While I made mistakes, with my own share of mishaps and line flubs, I left the show knowing an even more important truth. No challenge was too big for me at Xavier or anywhere.

Nirvaan Pal ’25 is a rising junior from Hoboken, New Jersey, where he graduated from Hoboken Catholic Academy. He made his Broadway debut in School of Rock at age 10 and now stars in Nickelodeon’s The Twisted Timeline of Sammy and Raj

From the Archives

1893

For much of its history, Xavier has been known for the strength of its theater program. In the early 1890s, one of the school’s most popular productions was Plautus’ The Two Captives (Duo Captivi), with performances repeated by popular demand in both English and Latin in the two-story, 700seat college theater.

In October 1893, students at the College of St. Francis Xavier took the show on the road (in Latin this time) to the World’s Fair in Chicago, where it earned the praise of The Chicago Daily Tribune.

“Considering the work of the students from New York as nothing more pretentious than that of the amateur, it is highly commendable,” the paper noted. “The long, swinging hexameters of Plautus were faultlessly memorized, and the young players revealed strong dramatic grasp.”