Xavier Alumnews: August 2009

A LU M N E W S O F X AV I E R H I G H S C H O O L

It’s all about

SERVICE

AUGUST 2009

In this Issue

Cpt. Patrick Dowdell ’01 in Iraq

2 Meet Xavier’s New President In July 2009, Xavier was proud to welcome its 33rd president, Mr. Jack Raslowsky. The Xavier community bid farewell to Fr. Dan Gatti, S.J. ’59 who spoke at the commencement ceremony for the Class of 2009.

Mark Mongelluzzo with Gerry Knapp ’59

16 Rubgy Team Goes Far Xavier sports guru Tom O’ Hara ’69 spins the tale of the 2009 Xavier Rugby team that almost made it all the way.

22 We need to Share this Story Alumnews is pleased to announce the start of an ongoing effort to collect the first-person writing of Xavier graduates returning from their deployments. Inside contributors include Cpt. Patrick Dowdell US Army ’01, Maj. Doug LeVien US Army ’90, Elias Wahesh ’92, former US Army Major, and Elizabeth Doherty, the sister of LCpl. Michael Glover ’97.

14

D E PA R T M E N T S 1 4 5 12

President’s Message From the Headmaster News from the Quad From the Advancement Office

August 2009 Vol. 12 No. 2

XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL John R. Raslowsky President Michael LiVigni Headmaster

Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations Joseph F. Gorski Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations Mark A. Mongelluzzo, Esq. Director of Annual Giving and Planned Giving Michael L. Benigno ’00 Managing Editor of Alumnews Director of Alumni Relations and Public Information Loual Puliafito ’00 Director of Emerging Alumni Constituencies and Web Communications Helene Strong Parents’ Association Coordinator

30 New Faces at Xavier 36 Class Notes 38 Mileposts

16

The Board of Trustees at the 2009 Commencement Ceremony

Barbara Ciulla Advancement Office Manager Norma Piecyk Administrative Assistant to the President and to the VP for Advancement

Contributing Writers Lt. Col. Roy Campbell Elizabeth Doherty Pat Dowdell ’01 Benjamin Hamm Maj. Doug LeVien ’90 Tom O’Hara ’69 Elias Wahesh ’92

Photography Denise Coleman P ’10 Davis Studios Alumnews, the Xavier High School magazine, is published three times a year by Xavier High School.

Correspondence and address changes should be mailed to: Alumnews Managing Editor Xavier High School 30 West 16th Street New York, NY 10011-6302 Or by email to benignom@xavierhs.org

The Xavier Rugby Team

20

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Greetings from the New President

Dear Alumni, Parents and Friends, It is with great humility that I begin my work as Xavier’s 33rd president. I am thrilled to be at Xavier and honored to count many of my predecessors as friends. It was nearly twenty-five years ago that Fr. Bill Wood invited me to work at Xavier High School in Micronesia. (In reality, Bill sent me to Micronesia. My not being a Jesuit did not interfere with Bill’s ability to send me halfway around the world! Fr. Wood said go. I went.) Fr. Jim Keenan and I spent over a dozen years working together at St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City. They were delightful years in every way. Fr. Ken Boller has been a trusted mentor during my years working with the Society and Frs. Pat Sullivan and Dan Gatti are valued colleagues. I am especially pleased to be following Fr. Gatti as president. He led Xavier with distinction for the last twelve years, the longest tenure of any of our presidents.

He led with great care for the men of Xavier and their families and with great fidelity to our mission. I look forward to building on the work of my predecessors, in partnership with you and our staff, to continue Xavier’s great service to the Church and society.

As I write this letter, Sonia Sotomayor has just been confirmed as the nation’s first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice. She joins our distinguished alumnus, the Honorable Antonin Scalia ’53, on the bench on the nation’s highest court. Whatever political and philosophical differences may exist between the two, I am struck by the powerful story Catholic education has played in their lives. For both justices, their Catholic high school experiences in New York City played a very significant role in their growth and development.

Spellman (Justice Sotomayor’s alma mater) like Xavier was, and is, rooted in the firm belief that God is incarnate in our world.“The world,” in the words of the Jesuit poet Gerard Manley Hopkins,“is charged with the grandeur of God.”This belief that God in all God’s goodness is present in our world, walks with us and invites us into service of the Kingdom is the foundation of all that we do at Xavier.

For both justices, and generations of others, Catholic education in New York City has been the story of opportunities. Opportunities provided by high standards, great faith and the holy desires that emerge from both. Xavier continues to present countless opportunities for the young men entrusted to our care. The 1000 students that comprise our student body this year reflect the breadth and depth of New York City in their diversity and the experiences they bring to 16th Street. For each of them we will provide a challenging academic program, great care and the opportunity to grow into men who will embody the values and virtues that are essential in our world—love, justice, hope, loyalty, hard work and excellence. The list is long and the goals ambitious. But what is a Jesuit education if not ambitious?

I look forward to sharing this work with you.

My prayers, God’s blessings,

John R. Raslowsky President

AUGUST 2009

— ALUMNEWS

1

Jack Raslowsky with Fr. Gatti at the presidential announcement, June 2009

John Raslowsky II Named Xavier’s 33rd President Extensive Experience in Jesuit Education Made Raslowsky an Ideal Candidate On June 12, 2009, Xavier High School announced with pride the name of its 33rd president, John R. Raslowsky II, who began his term on July 1st when Rev. Daniel J. Gatti, S.J. ’59 stepped down after a 12-year tenure.

Mr. Raslowsky, an experienced educator and administrator, brings to Xavier exceptionally strong educational leadership skills and more than 20 years of intensive involvement in Jesuit education. His association with the Society of Jesus has been extensive, beginning as a student at St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City (1975-1979); then at St. Peter’s Prep as a teacher, moderator, coach, and principal (1985-2003), and finally as an assistant in the New York Provincial’s Office (2003-2007). His in-depth understanding of, and commitment to the teachings of St. Ignatius Loyola, made him an ideal selection as Xavier’s next president.

2

ALUMNEWS

—AUGUST 2009

For the past two years, Jack, as he is known, has been the superintendent of schools in Hoboken, New Jersey, an educational system with 2,500 students at six schools. In this position, his focus and leadership has resulted in a reinvention of expectations for the district, as well as some remarkable progress.

Under his leadership, the District’s high school was recognized for its dramatic improvement by New Jersey Monthly and the U.S. News and World Report.

Prior to that, he worked in various capacities in the office of the New York Province of the Society of Jesus, including serving as the Provincial’s Assistant for Secondary Education, as well as his Assistant for Lay Faith Formation. In these positions, he had vital roles in addressing mission, clarifying identity issues, and in ensuring effective governance. Raslowsky was the Provincial’s personal designee as a member of each board of the

Mr. Raslowsky speaks with Xavier faculty members Mr. Chris Napolitano and Mrs. Margaret Gonzalez

Province’s seven high schools and three province-sponsored middle schools. He also sat on the boards of other Jesuit apostolates of the Society in New York City and Buffalo.

John Raslowsky will be Xavier’s 33rd president and the first layman to lead Xavier. While this may be a milestone, it is an event that the Jesuits and their lay collaborators in this Province and in Jesuit education across the country have prepared for some time. Knowing that the society was “graying” and that vocations were decreasing, Jesuit leadership throughout the nation over the past thirty years set forth on a mission of igniting the Ignatian flame among the Jesuit laity. He is among the authors of What Makes a Jesuit School Jesuit, and now joins the two other high school lay presidents in the New York Province and

the ten from the 52 Jesuit high schools throughout the country.

Mr. Raslowsky’s academic preparation includes an undergraduate degree in zoology from the University of Vermont and a master of education in administration from Harvard University. Next spring he anticipates receiving a master’s degree in systematic theology from Seton Hall University’s Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology.

In his announcement, Richard T. Nolan, Jr., Esq. ’83, chair of Xavier’s Board of Trustees, stated “it is with great confidence and enthusiasm that the Board of Trustees welcomes Jack as Xavier’s 33rd President. We are confident that he possesses the educational skill and experience, the understanding of and commitment to the charism of the

Society of Jesus, and the authenticity of formation in Ignatian spirituality that the Board believes are essential in Xavier’s next President.

“We see Jack’s educational leadership experience as a most compelling attribute. He’s a proven leader of Jesuit educational institutions, with real world hands-on experience that ranges from teacher, retreat leader, coach, and department chair to principal, trustee, board chairman, and superintendent of schools. It is with strong conviction that we believe he is the leader Xavier needs to achieve even higher levels of performance and success as it seeks to prepare the young men of today and tomorrow for service to our Country, our City and our Catholic faith. “

The Xavier school community’s plans for the presidential introduction include an installation Ceremony and Mass at the Mass of the Holy Spirit on September 11, 2009, and introductions to alumni at a number of events during the fall, as well as on an expanded round of regional receptions set to take place throughout the 2009-2010 academic year.

AUGUST 2009

— ALUMNEWS

3

FROM THE HEADMASTER

Xavier’s JROTC Today Dear Xavier Alumni and Friends: One of the things I am most proud of at Xavier is the growing dedication of our students to serving others. As a hallmark of Jesuit education, placing oneself at the service of others is central to what we teach students at Xavier. There are many different ways that our students are taught this ideal, but one way in particular is unique to Xavier—the JROTC Regiment.

The Regiment fosters the principle of leadership and service, which leads to many of our graduates choosing a life of service to our nation as a member of the armed services.

At Xavier open house events I am often called upon by visitors to explain how the teachings of the Church and the Society of Jesus can be reconciled with the philosophy and teaching of the armed services. At first thought it would seem that this is not the easiest of questions to answer, but after reading the mission and philosophy of the JROTC program, what becomes apparent is that at its core the program exists to teach students self-discipline, leadership and morality. All of these traits go to the heart of what we hope a Xavier education will provide. These characteristics seem to have great resonance with our incoming students and their families as participation in the Regiment continues to grow, with 40% of the student body voluntarily joining.

The JROTC program is a vehicle that enables Xavier to teach students leadership that is grounded in morality and faith. It is one more avenue for students to feel a part of something greater than themselves. By fostering self-discipline through programs such as the JROTC we continue to teach our students that even the most minor choices can have consequences. Above all the JROTC program, like so many other things we do here on 16th Street, teaches our students the value of placing their gifts and talents at the service of others. None of these actions are inconsistent with the goals of Xavier High School, nor are they inconsistent with the teachings of the Church.

Every year several of our graduating seniors will go on to the service academies, enter an ROTC program or join a branch of the armed services directly. These young men are applauded and supported by our community and greeted with great pride when they return to visit Xavier. When I get the chance to talk to a Xavier graduate who is serving as a soldier, airman, or sailor I am always impressed and touched to hear and see the pride they take in the service they render to us all. Although military service is not for all, at Xavier it is embraced as one more way to be at service to others and, ultimately, to God. We are lucky to have such a rich military history at Xavier, and the program continues to evolve year after year. Our military staff and all of our faculty and staff aim to engage our young men to the fullest extent while helping to shape a graduate committed to excellence, leadership, service and the ideals outlined in the “Graduate at Graduation,” which has provided guidance for Jesuit institutions across the country. At Xavier, we hold the highest expectations for our young men, and I would like to thank each of our supporters for the generosity that enable us continue providing the means for our students to meet those expectations.

4

ALUMNEWS

—AUGUST 2009

MIKE LiVIGNI Headmaster

Martin F. Hayes, Esq. ’66, D’Agostino III ’79, Nicholas J. D’Agostino, Jr. ’56, Nicholas J., Mr. Don Steffens

News from the

Quad

IN BRIEF: The 25th Annual Xavier Golf Outing took place at the Westchester Hills Golf Club…

The Class of 2013 is set to arrive for classes in September…

The Xavier Business Council capped off a successful inaugural year…

The Parents’ Association hosted a FUNdraiser themed Hawaiian Knights!…

The Block X Awards recognized Xavier’s finest…

Major renovations are taking place in the Church of St. Francis Xavier…

Father Gatti finished his 12-year term as president and addressed graduating seniors…

Back by demand, Tom O’Hara ’69 spins a dramatic Xavier Rugby tale!…

25 Years of Xavier Golf On May 19th, the Westchester Hills Golf Club played host to the 25th Annual Xavier Golf Outing.

Before the shotgun start, the registration booth welcomed alumni and friends by handing out welcome bags and course assignments. After brunch, two of our popular competitions from past years continued— a putting contest & the JetBlue Challenge.

The addition of the putting contest and the JetBlue Challenge two years ago has given the tournament a new level of enjoyment. The winning putt came from Peter Colao ’74. At the end of the tournament, the second round of the JetBlue Challenge began with the four players who qualified during play by reaching closest to the pin. Dennis Sullivan, Carmine Esposito ’84, Vincent Birbiglia ’58 and Bob Devine ’57 teed off against one another to see who would make the 155yd hole-in-one shot.

Congratulations to Dennis Sullivan were he was the closet out of our four competitors!

Carmine Esposito ’84, Gilbert Santaliz ’84, Christopher J. Nolan ’84

Awards Low Gross: 76 Dennis Sullivan Low Net: 70 Anthony Dragoni Low Allaway: 73 Nicholas Panarella JetBlue Challenge Winner: Dennis Sullivan

The Westchester Hills Golf Club

AUGUST 2009

— ALUMNEWS

5

News from the Quad

The Xavier Experience Continues with the Class of 2013 The incoming freshman class of 2013 is another intelligent and large one. 280 young men from the New York City area will be joining us as Xavier students for the first time this September. In a time when many Catholic high schools are concerned about enrollment, Xavier continues to attract some of the most intelligent and hardest-working young men in New York City. The tradition of Jesuit excellence continues!

Xavier remains an attractive option for many students and their families from Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island. As usual, the majority of the incoming class is from Brooklyn (30%), Queens (25%), and Manhattan (19%), but we continue to see more students from Staten Island (11%) choosing Xavier as well. Also, 17 students from the Bronx will be attending Xavier in the fall, as will seven from Westchester County, both of which are significant increases from those areas in relation to recent years. Our largest “feeder schools” for the incoming class are St. Francis De Sales and M.S. 23— Scholar’s Academy in Rockaway,

Queens; St. Joseph Hill Academy in Staten Island; and St. Saviour, Good Shepherd, St. Anselm and St. Patrick in Brooklyn.

Of particular interest this year is the rise of freshmen students from nonCatholic schools (public, private, or independent schools). Over 30% of the Class of 2013 will be joining us from a non-Catholic middle or elementary school, a 9% increase from only six years ago, and a 4% jump from last year. The Admissions Office is attuned to the fact that as Catholic grammar schools in the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens continue to struggle, we will have to focus much of our attention and recruiting efforts to students from public, private, and independent middle schools.

Our best recruiters are you, the alumni. When we ask the question, “How did you hear about us?” in a survey distributed at our open houses, the most frequent responses are “Word of Mouth” or “Friend, Neighbor, or Alumni.” Encouraging the young men in your neighborhoods, communities and parishes to apply to Xavier is the

By Benjamin Hamm

easiest way for you to help us ensure that our student body is comprised of intelligent, focused and diverse young men. As always, if you would like to help the Admissions Office with recruiting efforts in your neighborhood, please contact the school. We would love to work in partnership with our most loyal supporters to ensure that the legacy of Jesuit excellence continues!

Ben Hamm has served as Director of Admissions since 2007.

Business Council Events Mark the End of a Successful Year The Xavier Business Council (XBC) concluded its first year of organization with a Real Estate Forum in the Meditz Family Library/Learning Center on March 25, 2009 and a summer social on July 9th. Over 50 alumni and friends of Xavier participated, listened to distinguished alumni in the real estate industry Tom Cannon ’71 (Flag Wharf Inc.), Dan Denihan ’65 (Tenth Avenue Holdings), and Vincent Giffuni ’61 (Merit Operating Corp). The panel discussed geographic trends and the outlook for both residential and commercial real estate and was moderated

by Joe Genovesi ’78 (Studley Brokerage) and Co-Chair of the Business Council.

The next XBC event, set for the evening of Thursday, October 15th at Xavier, will focus on Xavier’s long,

6

ALUMNEWS

—AUGUST 2009

proud tradition of alumni serving in the Military. Featured speakers will include Rear Admiral Thomas Steffens ’65 US Navy Ret. Tom spent his entire career as part of the SEALS, with his last assignment as Head of the Navy’s Anti-Terrorism Command.

This is a complimentary event open to all alumni and friends of Xavier. The

XBC would particularly like to invite those alumni active or retired military personnel to participate or attend.

Please reserve as early as possible to xbc@xavierhs.org. You may also email the XBC to register your current contact information to be used for future announcements of events. In addition, you may join the XBC on LinkedIn.

News from the Quad

Hawaiian Knights On Friday, May 8, 2009, Xavier parents and friends joined together to raise money for the school at the Parents’ Association’s FUNdraiser, “Hawaiian Knights.” More than 350 people enjoyed the bright, colorful, tropical decorations as they bid on great silent auction items, bought raffle tickets, and cheered on the ponies. The Parents’ Association is very grateful for the super support in difficult times that enabled us to raise money for school operations.

As always, the proceeds are used to provide the best possible environment and resources for our sons.

—Helene Strong Parents’ Association Coordinator

Fr. Gatti greeting Xavier parents.

The “Polynesian Pearl” booth volunteers!

Helene Strong congratulates the Mauna Loa Moola winner

To volunteer your time at an upcoming Xavier Parents’ Association event, contact Helene Strong at 212-924-7900 x.1654!

AUGUST 2009

— ALUMNEWS

7

News from the Quad

Block X Awards for Xavier’s Finest

The Rev. Thomas L. Matthews, S.J. Award and the Gerard J. Werckle Trophy

On May 12th, in the longstanding Xavier tradition, students, scholars and athletes were presented with Block X awards to recognize outstanding achievement in Xavier’s many extracurricular clubs and activities.

Members of the Xavier community gathered in the Church of St. Francis Xavier to honor the students from the range of four years of academic studies who were being awarded.

The names of honorees will be added to the many Block X awards displayed outside of the Headmaster’s Office in Xavier’s Lynch Building. Over the past year, a number of alumni have visited the school, recalling Block X ceremonies of the past, which were typically celebrated with a banquet style dinner. While that custom evolved some time ago, the Block X ceremony still stands as a major milestone, culminating a year of excellence and dedication among our students as they continue the pursuit of a well-rounded Xavier education.

8

ALUMNEWS

—AUGUST 2009

AWA R D E E S I N C LU D E D : Basketball (Rev. Thomas L. Matthews, S.J. Award) Bowling Boxing Club Cartooning and Illustration Chess Club Color Guard Cross-Country (Rev. Joseph W. O’Donovan, S.J. Award) Dramatics Film Club Football (Rev. Edward Herlihy, S.J. Trophy) (Roger McTiernan Scholarship Award) Golf Club Hockey Lexicon Military History (Walter Settle Memorial Award) NYSHS Photography Club Raiders Review Rifle Team Rugby Saber Guard

(Nigel Milton Award)

Soccer Stage Crew Student Council Student Events Swimming

(Rev. Gerard F. Knoepfel, S.J. Award)

Tennis Track Wrestling X-Squad Yearbook

(John J. “Pat” Rooney Award) [Indoor] (James J. Walsh Award) (Rev. Russell J. Sloun, S.J. Award)

The Triple “C” Award from the State Attorney General Office The Office of the State Comptroller Award by the State of New York The Office of the City Comptroller Award by the City of New York The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association Statewide Scholarship Award The Kassenbrock Brothers Memorial Scholarship Fund Award The Rev. William T. Wood, S.J. Award The Rev. John F. O’Shea Award The Francis X. Bambury Award The Leo F. Paquin Award The Sean Lugano Scholarship Award The Rev. Peter Arabia, S.J. Memorial “Man for Others” Award The Gerard J. Werckle Award The Rev. Edward J. Spinello, S.J. Award The Bernard M. Moynahan Award

Christopher Coyne ’09 Frank Finn ’09 Steven Garger ’10 Michael Cunningham ’09 Raju Srinivasan ’09 Giancarlo Rindone ’09 Jordan Elie-Vieux ’09 Nicholas Pope ’09 Michael McManus ’09 Seamus Kelly ’09 John Wilson ’10 Christopher Duffy ’09 Michael Biagioni ’09 Joseph Gilhooly ’11 Conor Casey ’09 Ryan T. McCarthy ’09 Stephan D’Urso ’09 Jonathan Messina ’09 Jack Raisch ’11 Francesco Piccione ’09 Chelien Brown ’09 Shane Lonergan ’09 Mario Dell’Aguzzo ’09 Seamus Kelly ’09 Paolo Chioni ’09 Matthew Cassara ’09 Edward Sullivan ’11 Robert Rumely ’09 Keith Zoufaly ’09 Christopher Coyne ’09 Dominic Brockway ’09 Jeremy Garcia ’09 Ryan Furlong ’09 Jeremiah Hanson ’09 Thomas Klosinski ’10 Jose Miranda ’09 Andrew Murano ’10 Edwin Flores ’09 Robert Furatero ’10 William Lorenzo ’11 Christopher Duffy ’09 George Adams ’09 Michael D’Amato ’09 Stephen D’Amato ’09 Peter Xavier ’09 John Young ’09 Michael Cunningham ’09 Brent Scardapane ’12 Christopher Mattina ’11 Sean Carley ’10 Thomas McNoble ’09 Patrick Coleman ’10 James Leonardi ’10 Peter Kouretsos ’09 Nicholas Pope ’09 Seamus Kelly ’09

News from the Quad

The Church of St. Francis Xavier

By Patrick Brewis

Moving Forward in Renewal, Renovation and Restoration As a Xavier High School Alum, you surely have spent time sitting, praying and worshipping in the historic Church of St. Francis Xavier. Perhaps during a moment or two of fidgeting you found yourself looking around the Church.

What did you see?

Perhaps it was the lush artwork of the prominent church artist William Lamprecht that caught your eye?

Lamprecht painted the nearly life-sized 14 Stations of the Cross murals, the 14 angel medallions on the ceiling (each depicting a cherub holding a snow white banner telling of St. Francis Xavier’s virtues), and the magnetic and stunning “Apotheosis of St. Francis Xavier” medallion above the main altar. Or perhaps you were drawn to the statues standing guard, the majestic marble columns, the vibrant stained glass or the magnificent high altar or reredos? All are rich archi-

Fortunately, we are moving forward in renewal, renovation and restoration. Recently the exterior of the church was “sealed” as a first step allowing us to begin work on the interior of the church. Plans have been carefully implemented to ensure that the glory and grandeur of our home is not lost and forgotten, but that it lives on for future generations of Xavier students as well as parishoners.

In the meanwhile, during construction, while sitting on folding metal chairs in the Xavier gym and making our way to the make-shift altar for communion, we find ourselves fidgeting and looking…

What do we see now?

Perhaps the scoreboard that signaled many a victory for the Knights, the stage where many plays have been performed, or how the Xavier colors are reflected in

Stations of the Cross painting in the Church of St. Francis Xavier before and after restoration

tectural details designed by the famous architect Patrick C. Keely. Sadly, both Lamprecht’s and Keely’s work have been obscured by many decades of fundamental neglect.

The Church has not been painted in more than 70 years. The plaster is decaying and all the murals show signs of water damage. You may also have noticed how hot the church might have been in September or how cold in December and how dark the church was—even with all the lights on!

the banners placed near the make-shift altar? The banners remind us that Mass is in the gym because of an $11.5M renovation and restoration now under way in the church.

When the renovation and restoration is completed and the church is re-dedicated in the spring of next year…

What do we all hope to see?

With your help, all artwork will be restored and air-conditioning will finally become a reality. New heating

The St. Francis Xavier Apotheosis Medallion

units, upgraded electricity, modern and historic lighting and a new sound system will be installed. The pipe organ that has not been heard in years because of disrepair will be refurbished and the 24-ton high altar, or reredos, has been moved forward 12 feet to make room for a new sacristy and a new baptismal font.

Since Xavier himself is the reason for both school and church, how fitting therefore that Father Daniel Gatti, S.J., and the Board of Trustees of the High School have made possible the restoration of the St. Francis Xavier Apotheosis Medallion with a 5-year pledge totaling $100,000.

Generations of Xavier students have built memories upon their experiences in the Church of St. Francis Xavier, and if you are interested in donating to the church, your support would be appreciated. In addition, please feel free to share your special memories of the Church of St. Francis Xavier for us to include in our bulletin and website, and, of course, come and visit. We ought to be back in the Church in September and much of the work will be completed

by Christmas.

For further information contact Patrick Brewis, Capital Campaign Director at 212.627.2100 ext. 206 or visit www.sfxavier.org/movingforward.

AUGUST 2009

— ALUMNEWS

9

Fr. Daniel J. Gatti, S.J. ’59

Saying Goodbye,but Leaving a Legacy Fr. Gatti with students in Hurtado Hall

Fr. Gatti celebrating a football victory with Coach Stevens

Fr. Gatti awarding Mr. Michael Tolkin ’85, Rugby head coach

In June, bidding farewell to alumni, supporters, and members of the Xavier community, Fr. Daniel Gatti, S.J. ’59 stepped down as Xavier’s president after the longest tenure of any president to date.

Fr. Gatti was Xavier’s 33rd president and the fifth alumnus to hold the position. His term of 12 years closed with the celebration of his 50-year reunion from Xavier as well as the 50th year since he joined the Jesuits.

Fr. Gatti’s indelible mark is all around Xavier, whether attributed or not. In the spring of 1998, two major gifts from the Lynch and Slevin families made possible the first round of major facility renovations under his administration. The third and fourth floor hallways of the Kane building were fit with new lockers, and both the school gymnasium and the Commons received new floors. In addition to other improvements to the school’s four buildings, the band room was modernized and an extensive, 10

ALUMNEWS

—AUGUST 2009

organized archive room was established to properly preserve items and literature that tell the story of Xavier’s long history.

Fr. Gatti even personally refinished wooden handrails throughout the Lynch building, as well as furniture in several school offices.

More recently, under Fr.Gatti’s lead, major work to the façade of the 15th and 16th Street buildings ensured that three of the school’s oldest buildings would remain structurally sound for the perpetual future.

The impact of Fr. Gatti’s presidency will be to be felt long into the future.

Rallying the support and guidance of alumni, donors and fellow Jesuits, Fr. Gatti has played a crucial role in planning a permanent athletic practice field on the grounds of Mount Manresa Jesuit Retreat House, in Staten Island.

Xavier’s JROTC regiment has also grown to the highest level of participation since the program became optional in 1972, and Fr. Gatti’s presence at many

regimental activities and competitions as well as his constant advocacy for the program has in no small part contributed to the program’s renaissance.

Under Fr. Gatti’s leadership, Xavier’s annual fund grew from $1.2 million in 1998 to a high of $2.5 million in 2008.

Xavier’s endowment grew from $10.7 million to a high of $27 million in the same time period. In addition, by the end of his term, more graduates from more parts of the country were coming back to the school or attending alumni functions than ever before.

Fr. Gatti will be taking a year-long sabbatical, during which time he will attend a theological renewal program in California. His other plans include traveling to Portugal and continuing several writing projects.

Xavier—“The little miracle on 16th Street,” as he calls it—will be indebted to Fr. Gatti’s efforts and love as he continues on to his future assignments.

In preparing to step down after 12 years as Xavier’s president, Fr. Gatti addressed the school community in early June. By sharing his letter here, he wishes to extend his thankfulness to Xavier alumni, parents and friends for their unwavering support and dedication during his tenure.

June 4, 2009 Dear Members of the Administration, Faculty and Staff,

Speaking at the 2009 Commencement Ceremony

I have been deeply honored to serve Xavier as president for the past 12 years. The school, its programs and its faculty have grown in significant ways, and yet there is always more to be done, new challenges to be addressed, and a future to be envisioned and shaped. Change and development are constitutive of life, and so Xavier, standing firmly on 162 years of history and tradition, must chart a course to enhance its strengths and be bold enough to break new ground to provide the best possible programs and facilities to accomplish its educational mission, collaborate with its brother apostolates and remain attentive to the reality and needs of its locality and neighbors. This is our Jesuit way of proceeding.

Though I depart with some regret and disappointment that major initiatives remain unfinished, I take comfort in the fact that they were identified and pursued, rather than avoided or neglected. Sons of Xavier, truly, keep marching!

I am indebted to many, and to name a few: the three Headmasters with whom I’ve served (Dave Ciancimino, S.J. ’77, Joe Gerics and Mike LiVigni); Joe Gorski and his entire development staff; Ken Sidlowski and his staff; Frank Leahy, Norma Piecyk; past Chairmen of the Board, Frank Morison ’58, Steve Vincent ’75, Gene Rainis ’58 and Tom Conniff ’52; past Trustees and Committee members; hard working, selfsacrificing, devoted faculty and counselors; countless loyal alumni benefactors and dedicated parents.

As Xavier’s fifth alumnus-president, while in office I have had the unique privilege of celebrating a double anniversary this year: my 50th year since graduation and my 50th year as a member of the Society of Jesus. No, I don’t in any way feel “golden,” just a bit “olden!” I thank God for this double joy in my life, and that it coincidently provides me with a fitting time to step down.

In one sense the farewells have already been said, the parties given and the gifts gratefully received—last year! I would now only add a paraphrase of General MacArthur’s famous “old soldiers never die, they just fade away” speech: ‘I now close my presidency and just fade away, a grateful president who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Good bye.’

Yes, I look forward to my sabbatical year, and I pray God’s continued blessings on each of you, and upon our community of faith, learning and service: Xavier High School.

Mr. Rocco Iacovone ’62, Fr. Gatti, and MSG James Jones

AUGUST 2009

— ALUMNEWS

11

Xavier and the Economy

JOE GORSKI Vice President for Advancement

12

ALUMNEWS

—AUGUST 2009

As all of you are by now aware, the impact of the ongoing economic recession has negatively affected colleges and independent high schools alike during fiscal 2009. Xavier has been similarly affected. Many of our students’ families and many alumni have found themselves in reduced circumstances, many suffering investment losses and others job losses. These conditions increase the financial needs of our students and their families while at the same time causing reductions in both annual funds raised and decreases in investment earnings from our endowment.

The good news is that we are in a financially sound position. While we closed the 2009 Annual Fund below our budgeted goal of $2.0 million at $1,904,000, the results were still the third most successful annual fund performance in the history of the school. That performance, added to increases in tuition collected because of additional students in the building, kept us on track to a balanced budget for the year. Our endowment, down 31.6% in calendar year 2008 to a low of $17,523,000 from its high of just under $26,000,000 in June 2008, has rebounded to just under $20,000,000 (including a withdrawal of slightly more than $1,000,000 which was used for financial aid, professional development and facility improvements).

Thanks to each and every one of you who contributed to our annual fundraising initiatives in fiscal 2009, Xavier remains in fine financial shape.

Looking ahead to the 2009-2010 school year, Xavier has taken steps to insure our continued financial good health. Departmental budgets have been held to levels no greater than those from our just-completed school year and in several instances have been reduced.

The tuition and fees increase was held to less than 5% for the upcoming year ($550). Our student population continues to be strong with 278 registrants for the incoming freshman class and a total projected student count of approximately 978 expected in the building

in September. However, withdrawals from the endowment are calculated using the “Yale” formula, based on a rolling base of three years. Money for financial aid will still be available, but if the stock market does not improve there could be less money available in upcoming years. As the total operating budget was constructed, the finance committee and the business office recommended to the Board cutting back the 5% salary increases that had been agreed upon for the final year of a three-year agreement to 1.5%. Faculty, administration and staff, after being apprised of the initiative at a school-wide meeting, supported it without reservation. All other benefits, including health and pension plans, remain the same as they have been in recent years.

With these plans in effect, we expect Xavier’s annual budget for the upcoming year to once again be balanced. To insure that balanced budget, it is important that the Annual Fund reach its goal next year. The Annual Fund at Xavier provides roughly 14% of the operating expenses at Xavier High School each year. The Advancement Office has set a goal for fiscal 2010 of $1,950,000 or a 1% increase over the dollar total achieved in fiscal 2009. To reach that goal we will once again need the help of alumni, parents (current and graduate) and friends.

In 2009, it was especially gratifying to realize that many of the school’s constituents who had not given in recent years, had, in this great time of need, rejoined our efforts. It was wonderful to see the number of donors who increased their gifts, both large and small, to help those less fortunate than themselves.

It was equally inspiring to see donors, whose companies eliminated matching gifts in 2009, make up the lost matches with their own increased gifts or realize that some donors who had lost their jobs in the downturn of the economy still managed to make sacrificial gifts to Xavier. Thank you for your continued generosity and support. We could not do it without you.

Patience and Perseverance Prevail in the 2009 Annual Fund

MARK A. MONGELLUZZO, ESQ. Director of Annual Giving

“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.”

—John Quincy Adams

On a trip to Boston and environs in July, my family and I visited Peacefield in Quincy, MA where John and Abigail Adams and their children, most notably son John Quincy, lived most of their lives.

It is a place that tells the story of the first great American dynasty as well as the country they helped create and sustain.

The Adams story is an inspiring one, wrought with courage, hardship, love, loss, arrogance, and unparalleled perseverance. John Adams, the patriarch, signer of the Declaration and Washington’s first successor as President; Abigail, the strong-willed other half of America’s first “power couple;” and John Quincy, the “golden boy” who served his country as Minister to Russia and the Court of St. James, Secretary of State, President and Congressman. “Quincy” had remarkable perseverance: rather than retire following his defeat to Andrew Jackson in his 1828 reelection bid, JQA instead ran for and was elected to, Congress. As JQA once himself noted, “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” What followed was the greatest second act in American history. Adams spent the rest of his life furthering the cause of liberty as an outspoken abolitionist. No other president before or since ever had such a remarkable post-presidential impact.

I always find it interesting to learn how great people in history faced the challenges of their times. It strengthens my outlook on life—for I am a firm believer that the past holds inspiration and even advice—and helps put the present in perspective. Being reminded again of the great Adams story this July helped me to put the 2009 Annual Fund into perspective.

My first week at Xavier, in October 2008, the Dow Jones closed at 8,378— down 60% from the year before—and the Annual Fund was running more than 20% behind from the previous year. All indications were that fiscal 2009 would be extremely challenging for fundraising.

Still, I took solace in what I had been told was a great community of alumni, parents and friends who, through their generosity, had time and again secured the blessings of the Xavier tradition.

While it was apparent that many in the Xavier community had suffered from the economic downturn, it was also evident that the Xavier family was strong enough to weather the storm.

After months of waiting patiently for a significant increase in donations, suddenly, between March and May, $455,000 came pouring into the Fund; then another $534,000 by the end of June! In the end, the Annual Fund totaled just over $1,904,000, slightly off our goal of $2,000,000, but unprecedented given the times.

As Fr. Gatti reminded us in the last issue of Alumnews, Xavier’s history is rooted in perseverance: “…Xavier High School came within a hair’s breadth of disappearing, just five months after Fr. John Larkin, S.J. opened its doors at 40 Elizabeth St., in …1847 New York” [when] “on the Saturday evening of January 22, 1848…a devastating fire reduced the church and school to ruins… Remarkably, classes were held on Tuesday, a mere three days after the fire.” Larkin found a way for Xavier to continue!

Ironically, just one month after the Xavier fire—on February 21, 1848— John Quincy Adams collapsed on the floor of the United States Congress; he died two days later. He was mourned as a great patriot, son of the Revolution, and shining example American perseverance.

That same perseverance—so prevalent in 1848 America—is still alive on 16th Street. Xavier remains proud and strong because of the willingness of every generation of alumni, parents and friends to persevere through all of life’s challenges, and to give generously to ensure that the great Xavier tradition endures. The result? The great dynasty that is our Xavier story!

Onward Sons of Xavier!

AUGUST 2009

— ALUMNEWS

13

Were You There? This Season’s Alumni Events…

Boston The Boston area alumni reception took place April 16th at the Boston College Club, drawing about 15 graduates and several guests, including recent graduates Brendan Roche ’08, Matt Pynn ’06, and John Giachetta ’08.

Volunteer The Xavier Volunteer Reception took place June 16th in the Commons. The event recognized parents, graduate parents and other supporters who donated their time to help organize alumni and parents events throughout the school year.

Cathie Gearity P’10, ’05, ’03, Gina DeSciara P’12, Beth Connors P’11, Mary Ann Lorenzo P’11

Parent volunteers enjoying the evening

14

ALUMNEWS

—AUGUST 2009

Barbara Ciulla and Norma Piecyk, advancement office staff

Alumni, staff and friends surround Frank Leahy ’41

Winter Park

Florida A series of Florida alumni receptions took place during the last week of February and the first week of March 2009. Joe Gorski, vice president for advancement and alumni relations traveled with Fr. Gatti to visit graduates and their guests at a number of Florida cities. Special thanks to the graduates that hosted or sponsored the receptions!

Miami

Marco Island

West Palm

Ft. Lauderdale

Stuart/Palm City

AUGUST 2009

— ALUMNEWS

15

“Rugby is a wonderful show: Sean Kelly ’10 tackles a Gonzaga College High School opponent

The Outlaws

Ride Again

By Tom O’Hara ’69 Xavier Sports Guru

It should have been a storybook ending for Joe Drennan ’08.

After suffering a serious eye injury in the summer before his senior year, Joe could only sit by as the football team on which he was to have been a starting lineman went 11-1 and captured the 2007 division championship. He was supposed to play forward on Xavier’s rugby team the following spring, too, and his eye eventually healed to the point where his doctor said that Joe could play again, but his parents and coaches were understandably cautious.

And so Joe mostly stood on the sideline as The Team Formerly Known as the Outlaws also enjoyed one of their best seasons ever. (Back when each Xavier sport was allowed to choose its own nickname, the rugby team voted to call themselves the Outlaws, after a rock band of that era—or so they told their coach.)

That 2008 squad lost just one match during the regular season—in Dublin against storied Blackrock College. After 16

ALUMNEWS

—AUGUST 2009

taking the Metropolitan New York Rugby Football Union (“Met Union”) high school title, the 16th Street Kids moved on to West Point, where they won the Northeast U.S. High School Championship.

Joe’s moment—as dramatic as it was unexpected—came two weeks later in Pittsburgh at the USA Rugby National High School Championships.

Indiana powerhouse Penn High School had managed to tie the Knights at the end of regulation time in their first-round match, and under the International Rugby Board’s convoluted regulations governing tiebreakers in U-19 tournament play, each team designated five players to take a kick at goal. Two from each side were successful; they were still tied.

IRB rules called for each squad to now designate five new players for second round of kicks, and that’s when Joe trotted out onto the pitch. Xavier’s entire rugby season hung in the balance as the kid who had missed his last football sea-

son and most of the rugby season prepared to take his first-ever kick at goal.

With his teammates, coaches and the rest of the Xavier faithful looking on, hearts in their throats, Joe stepped back, took a deep breath, and then drilled the ball through the uprights.

Unfortunately, none of Joe’s four teammates could match Joe’s feat, while two Penn players did. The ref awarded the match to the Indiana team.

Then Xavier associate head coach (and dean of faculty) Joe Sweeney ’85, had another look at the tournament rules. The second round of kicking was supposed to have been sudden death.

Xavier should have been declared the winner when Joe Drennan made the kick of his life. Inexplicably, his decision was upheld on appeal by USA Rugby, the sport’s national governing body.

Joe Drennan had come through for Xavier in the biggest match of the season, but it was Penn who would move on to the semi-finals, while the Knights,

dance, opera and, suddenly, the blood of a killing.”

—Sir Richard Burton Former Welsh rugby player-turned-thespian

Brendan Murphy ’10 and Sean Carley ’10 fight for possession

who had been a favorite to repeat as national champions, were instead consigned to the loser’s bracket. Even though they could now finish no higher than fifth, Xavier’s coaches and players put their anger and bitter disappointment aside, regrouped and won their remaining matches to finish 2-1.

Six months later, as another championship football season came to a close, Xavier’s returning rugby vets turned their attention to the business of avenging Joe Drennan and the other graduating seniors who had been robbed of their shot at the national title. Less than 48 hours after they had played on television in the Turkey Bowl, junior Sean Kelly ’10 (That’s “Seamus’s Better Brother” to you) led nine of his teammates back into battle at the 50th Annual New York Sevens Tournament, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious seven-a-side rugby competition.

Kelly & company steamrolled a Pennsylvania club and a Maryland high

school on their way to the final against La Chasse Galerie of Québec. To the astonishment of the hundreds of rugby players and fans on Randall’s Island that day, the 16th Street Kids shut out the tournament favorites 21-0 to win the U-19 division title. The boys were back in town.

Throughout December the kids practiced on their own, but when formal training began after Christmas vacation, they found that their coaches had been busy in the off-season. For most of its history, Xavier Rugby had fielded just two sides—the illustrious A Team and the legendary Killer B’s. In 2008, a U-15 team had been introduced so that the freshmen and sophomores could gain more game experience. But now the coaches had another problem: how to guarantee playing time for all those underclassmen when they moved up to the varsity. There is, after all, no platooning in rugby, and very limited substitution.

And so it was decreed that, for the first time ever, Xavier would field four rugby teams: freshmen, junior varsity, and two separate varsity squads. “Varsity I” would play in the Met Union’s High School Division I. “Varsity II” would play Division II teams. In just two years, Xavier Rugby had more than doubled in size, from 45 to some 105 players, or approximately one in every nine Xavier students.

The 2009 edition of The Team Formerly Known as the Outlaws picked right up where their predecessors had left off. Ranked #2 in the nation by Rugby magazine in the pre-season, Xavier was as advertised. After dismantling Union (NJ) RFC 49-0 in the season opener, the Knights headed south to Washington D.C. where they handed 6-0 Gonzaga College High School its first defeat of the season, 34-20.

Back in New York, it soon became apparent that the gap between Xavier and its league opponents had only widened since last year. After defeating AUGUST 2009

— ALUMNEWS

17

Keio Academy 74-0 on the road, the Knights returned home to host their toughest Met Union adversary, Greenwich High School. This was a rebuilding year for the Cardinals, however, and it showed. Xavier 48, Greenwich 10.

Now came the hard part of the regular season. In recent years, as Xavier has come to dominate the Met Union, it is no longer a question of whether the Knights will make the postseason, but rather how they will perform against the national powers they encounter there.

For that reason, head coach Mike Tolkin ‘85 and his staff have used the team’s annual Easter tour as an opportunity to seek out the toughest available opposition, both here and abroad.

Two years ago, the 16th Street Road Warriors traveled to southern France.

Last year it was Ireland. This spring, they returned to a region Xavier first visited in 1978, back when the Knights were the Outlaws: Northern California.

Northern California is, as it was back then, a rugby stronghold, and Coach Tolkin scheduled three of the region’s top teams: defending national champion Jesuit High School, 2005 national champion Elsie Allen High School, and Rugby Super League champion San Francisco Golden Gate’s U-19 side. On the eve of their departure for the West Coast, Xavier’s coaches admitted that there was a real possibility their squad could come out on the short end of all three matches. That was not important, they said, as long as the tour prepared their team for the grueling playoffs ahead.

Not to worry. In one of the epic chapters of Xavier Rugby’s 34-year history, the Kids from 16th Street met and defeated all three teams in the space of just five days, winning each match by a greater point margin than the one before: 22-20, 49-12 and 55-10. This extraordinary feat caused a stir throughout the U.S. rugby community and was covered at length in the national rugby media.

Back home in New York, the undefeated Knights dispatched the rest of their league opponents to take the Met Union crown. Then it was back to West Point for the Northeastern Rugby Union High School Championships. Xavier has won the Northeastern U.S, title every year since the Eastern U.S. High School Championships were divided into the present day Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regional tournaments in 2003, and this year was perhaps the Knights’ most dominant performance ever, as they defeated Boston College High School, Fairfield Prep and archrival Greenwich by the combined score of 143-12.

The USA Rugby National High School Championships were held in Pittsburgh for the second straight year, and the Knights again faced a strong Indiana team—Brownsburg High School—in the opening round, but the Knights were determined that it would not be déjà vu all over again. And it wasn’t. The

Chris Tellone ’09, Seamus Kelly ’09, Rinaldo Riboul ’09, and Chris Petri ’10 celebrate a hard-fought victory

Greg Voight ’09 adds a conversion kick

18

ALUMNEWS

—AUGUST 2009

Hoosiers outweighed the New Yorkers, but the city kids ran the big farm boys into the ground. Final score: 43-0, Xavier.

So far, so good, but the Knights were not yet through paying for the referee’s mistake at last year’s Nationals. Under yet another USA Rugby rule, tournament seedings are determined by how each region’s representative finished at the previous year’s tournament. Xavier was again the Northeast U.S. representative, and because the Knights had “lost” in the first round in 2008 and finished fifth, they were seeded fifth in 2009.

Never mind that Rugby magazine had ranked Xavier second only to Jesuit before the season, or that the 16th Street Kids had gone on to upset the defending national champions just the month before. The seedings should have been set up so that if the teams stayed unbeaten, they would meet in the championship match on Saturday.

Instead, #5 Xavier would meet #1 Jesuit in the semi-finals late Friday afternoon.

Furthermore, unlike the final, which was 70 minutes long (two 35-minute halves), matches in the tournament’s first two rounds were limited to 45 minutes.

Neither team was going to wear the other down, as the supremely fit Xavier squad had done to so many opponents over the years. The brevity of this semifinal match between two opponents of this caliber also meant that the first team to make a mistake could quickly find itself in serious difficulty.

Alas, that team was Xavier. The game was closer than the 27-5 score would indicate. Two blown calls cost Xavier at least 8 points, and Jesuit scored its last 7 points as time ran out. But the Knights fell behind 10-0 early on and pressed too hard, resulting in uncharacteristically sloppy passing and mental errors on defense—mistakes for which the defending champions made our kids pay.

To their credit, our coaches and players refused to make excuses. The Marauders were the superior team that day and

deserved their victory.

Although the 16th Street Kids were deeply disappointed by the loss to Jesuit, they pulled themselves together, came back out the next day and punished Gonzaga 24-0 to take 3rd place in the tournament. That’s key because should The Team Formerly Known as the Outlaws make it back to the Nationals next year, they will be seeded third rather than fifth.

To the 2009 Xavier Rugby Knights: congratulations on a terrific season!

As for the rest of you… are you ready for some football?!

Tom O’Hara ’69 is a former player and coach and has been writing about Xavier football since 2004.

To subscribe to Mr. O’Hara’s epic e-newsletter, Xavier Football & Rugby Alumni News (It’s free!), e-mail him at kiddsback@aol.com

The team celebrates its 10th straight East Coast/Northeast Rugby Union Championship at West Point

AUGUST 2009

— ALUMNEWS

19

Excellence on Display at St. Patrick’s The 2009 Graduates Exuded Class at Xavier’s Commencement

The procession into St. Patrick’s Cathedral An excerpt from Fr. Gatti’s Commencement Address, June 11, 2009.

THE PEWS WERE FILLED WITH GRADUATES, friends and family members, and the mighty bronze doors were opened, while Xavier faculty, staff and administration sat behind the marble altar at St. Patrick’s Cathedral for Xavier’s 166th Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2009.

For both graduates and those assembled, the night is a formal celebration of four years of hard work and commitment to Xavier’s mission. The ceremony, held June 11, 2009, provided the chance to laud the accomplishments of members of the graduating class, recognizing students who have distinguished themselves in academic, spiritual, athletic and regimental areas.

Seniors David Wong and Matthew Pellerzi received special honors and addressed those gathered as valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively.

Wong graduated with a four-year cumulative average of 95.98, while Pellerzi earned a four-year average of 95.50. Both young men spoke eloquently and represented their class with excellence.

Rev. Daniel J. Gatti, S.J., ’59 delivered the commencement address, as he spoke just three weeks before finishing his tenure as Xavier’s longest-serving president. Fr. Gatti, who celebrated the 50th anniversary of his Xavier graduation and of his entering the Jesuits, inspired the young graduates present that night as he spoke on the lives of several of his own Xavier classmates, and their accomplishments over the course of the decades since they left 16th Street.

In addition, several faculty and staff members received Bene Merenti awards recognizing 20 years of service to Xavier, including Mrs. Denise Conway, Ms. Angela DeVita, Mrs. Norma Piecyk, Mrs. Denise Iacovone, Mr. John McGoldrick and Mr. Jerome McKinney.

20

ALUMNEWS

—AUGUST 2009

…I look forward to presenting you with your diplomas, as I know you look forward to receiving them. Each is signed by Mr. LiVigni and me; our signatures attest to the reality that each of you has fulfilled the educational requirements of both the State of New York and Xavier High School.

But within those signatures are hidden both a home and a prayer—the hope that you forever remain a loyal Son of Xavier, and the prayer that god continue to bless you throughout your adult life.

In the past 12 years I have signed slightly over 2,500 diplomas; yours are my last, and therefore special to me. …Jim Riordan was Colonel of the Regiment and brilliant in Math. He went to college and later earned a PhD in Economics. For the last thirty years or so he’s worked for A.I.D., the Agency for International Development. He’s fluent in Spanish; spent many years in South and Central America, working with poor native peoples and bringing their hand-crafted products to North American markets. He’s currently working in Albania, homeland to Mother Teresa, assisting in the economic development of struggling people there.

The Class of 2009 awaits diplomas

Fr. Gatti and Mr. LiVigni present Giancarlo Rindone with the Col. Donald G. Cook, USMC ’52 Medal

Anthony Scunziano was a tough-asnails kid from the Lower East Side, actually, a member of Hell’s Angels. Coaches at Xavier wanted him to play football, but he never tried out for the team. They saw he was bright, first honors most of the time. What they didn’t see or know was that he already had a heavy burden of extracurriculars.

Every day, before and after school, he would help his mother by carrying the big bundles of clothing she would have to take home to work on, then return them to her place of work in the garment district the next day.

This was to supplement her husband’s meager wages, working as a plumber in Brooklyn. Tony also went to college, then to medical school, followed by a residency in cardiac surgery. Along the way he married, had five children, and along with his wife picked up a couple of black belts in karate. Later in life he switched specialties and became an orthopedic surgeon.

Faced with a severe problem in his own neck, he underwent surgery one day in Florida; the surgeon was his friend. The surgery didn’t go well; he woke up later than he expected to; he noticed something wasn’t right right away; he couldn’t move his left arm or shoulder. He called for the nurse. She couldn’t or wouldn’t explain what had happened. He called for the

surgeon. The surgeon came in and with tears explained that he had tried to do a good job on the cervical vertebrae, had been a little aggressive and had nicked a nerve. He went on to say how sorry he was, that he had insurance, and that Tony should at least sue him. Tony looked him straight in the eye and said, “you’re my friend; why would I want to sue you? I’m not going to sue you.” And he didn’t. After many months of therapy, Tony regained limited use of his left side, but had to limit his full practice of medicine.

Kevin Lawler was a fine athlete and had a long commute from Suffern, NY, in to school. He starred in Cross Country, Track and Baseball. He married happily and became a teacher and a good coach.

Some twenty years ago he was diagnosed with MS, Multiple Sclerosis. He lives in a nursing home now, and for the last nineand-a-half years has been confined to a wheelchair. I visited him three weeks ago for his birthday. I brought him the class gifts we received at Reunion and we shared a lot of memories and had a lot of laughs.

His mind is fine, his sense of humor is keen; there is energy in his voice and hope in his heart. He too is tenacious! He asked a lot of questions about Xavier, and before I left—to catch up with you at your senior

Fr. Gatti delivering the commencement address

prom—he asked me a favor. I said sure.

He said ask your students to pray for all the researchers working on MS and other diseases, that they find a cure, and prevent an awful lot of people from getting the disease I have.

Men of the Class of 2009, these three classmates of mine would not have the great men they are were it not for their Xavier education; I would be my life on it.

Men of the Class of 2009, be another Jim Riordan in your own way and work for justice! Be another Tony Scunziano in your own way and forgive those who harm or offend you! And be another Kevin Lawler in your own way and have faith and hope and cheerfulness even when you’ve been dealt a tough deck in life!

And come the 50th anniversary of your graduation, may tales be told of you by one of your own class; of how well you struggled, how well you lived, now for yourselves but for others. And in that telling, all shall know that Sons of Xavier are strong and true, faithful to Maroon and Blue! God bless you always!

For a complete list of graduate awardees, please visit www.xavierhsalumni.org/gradawards.

AUGUST 2009

— ALUMNEWS

21

It’s all about

SERVICE

The Sharing This Story Project

Reflection plays a crucial role in life at Xavier.

As soon as young students enter the building to start their freshman year, Xavier strives hard to give them to the tools, the spirit, and the education they need to exit as conscientious, inquisitive men.

Juniors who return from Kairos retreats are challenged with finding ways to effectively share their experiences with others—classmates, friends, family, loved ones who either were simply were not present on their retreat or cannot not easily imagine their sons confronting mature issues or asking “big questions,” nevertheless helping others to confront those issues or find answers to those questions.

The Xavier man does not stop questioning the world around him upon graduation, but instead continues searching for and embracing meaning in his life. But in perhaps no other area is reflection and communication more crucial right now than among servicemen and women in the United States Military.

Xavier graduates have served in every major war throughout the 20th century, and their lives have been intertwined with American history.

In recognition of Xavier’s longstanding military tradition, Alumnews is pleased to announce the start of the Sharing This Story project, an initiative to collect the first-person, personal stories of Xavier graduates returning from their deployments and to provide a forum for those individuals to reflect on and share their experiences both abroad and upon returning home.

On the following pages, three Xavier graduates, and one sister of a Xavier graduate write in their own words. In addition, Lt. Col. Roy Campbell, Xavier’s Senior Army Instructor, writes on the current Xavier regiment.

They have been frank and honest, and have trusted us with accounts of how they understand—and how they sometimes continue to struggle to understand—their experiences.

A comprehensive collection of these essays will be gathered and published in print and digitally, and will also be preserved in the school’s archives. I would like to invite other graduates servicemen and family members to contact the school and help continue the project. By sharing your stories, you will share with the Xavier community a continuing illustration of Xavier’s strengths on the grounds of spirit and honor.

Thank you, Liz, Pat, Eli, Roy and Doug for your trust, and thank you for your strength and service.

MICHAEL BENIGNO ’00 Director of Alumni Relations

AUGUST 2009

— ALUMNEWS

23

Our Selfless Service

By Elias Wahesh ’92

When I was asked to share my combat experience with Alumnews, I was hesitant. I left the Army in 2007, after ten years of service and five combat deployments, and I never thought much about how often I shared my military experience with others. After some reflection, I realized that I was not completely comfortable sharing my experience. I feared upsetting people by discussing uncomfortable topics, such as those related to violence. Additionally, I was conflicted about discussing, what I can only describe as, the evil I observed in our enemies.

However, despite the horrors of war, I observed a great amount of good. I witnessed the best in people; I witnessed ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things; I witnessed sacrifice, selfless service, and love for our fellow man. I believe extraordinary times call for extraordinary people and I met many extraordinary people during my military service.

These are a few experiences I would like to share: In the week following the September 11th attacks I met with a young lieutenant, Russell Rippetoe, to tell him he had been invited to attend the selection program for the 75th Ranger Regiment. This was a choice assignment for any officer and as such the invitation was difficult to attain. I told him this was an incredible time to be a Ranger, because if any unit were to be called to action, the Rangers would be first.

(For those who were not in the military prior to 9-11: back then, soldiers wanted to deploy to combat. Those who experienced Somalia, Desert Storm, Panama, and Grenada were greatly admired) Russ was excited, but he told me something that I had not heard from lieutenant in his position—that the high probability of experiencing combat scared him. I was a bit taken back by his honesty. Russ deployed twice with 3rd Ranger Battalion and was killed by a suicide bomber on April 3rd, 2003 when he ran to assist a pregnant Iraqi woman screaming for help. He, more than anyone I knew, understood the hazard of his profession, accepted the fear that resides with all soldiers, and courageously gave his life for others.

Regiment in 2004, I witness much of the same courage and selfless service. In a fierce firefight, I observed four young mortar-men freeze from a dead sprint because of the intense machine gun fire impacting around our position. Their sergeant immediately sprinted into the gunfire, then called to them “let’s go...get on the gun”. I remember seeing the lead Ranger take a deep breath, tilt his head down and charged toward the fight. They put the mortar in action and helped quell the attack. They all could have stayed behind cover to keep themselves safe, but the sergeant’s audacity and courage inspired them to act—not for themselves, but for others. I should note that I witnessed the same courage displayed by howitzer crews in the 82nd Airborne during rocket attacks.

After an ambush in an Afghan valley, the Air Force controller working with me lost his left eye when our vehicle was hit by an RPG. He was on a stretcher waiting for an air evacuation when I found him. He saw me and said “Sorry sir, I have to go. Please take care of the guys. I don’t want to leave. Please take care of the guys.” A few moments later he insisted on walking to the helicopter, so the unit could hold on to the stretcher in case there were more casualties.

This is just one of many more examples of soldiers giving of themselves for the good of others.

I believe war is evil, however it is an amazing thing to witness young men and woman so readily risk their lives for something greater then themselves—to see good prevail over evil. Our servicemen sacrifice themselves to give Iraqis and Afghans the chance for a better life. They sacrifice themselves to disrupt terrorist efforts to attack our homeland. They sacrifice themselves for the man or woman next to them on the battlefield. Every time I witnessed an extreme situation, I witnessed people concerned more for others than themselves.

I thank God that there are still so many brave men and women who give of themselves for good of others. I have lost many friends in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past few years. When I think of them, I reflect on John 5:13, that “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”.

Elias Wahesh ’92 is a former Army Major who served with the 82nd Airborne Division and the 75th Ranger Regiment in both Iraq and Afghanistan. His awards include two Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, Master Parachutist Badge, and Ranger Tab. Elias is currently an IT Strategy Consultant for Accenture.

24

ALUMNEWS

— AUGUST 2009

On Quiet Heroism

By Capt. Patrick Dowdell ’01

Throughout my life I have known real heroes; people who are willing to put their lives on the line for a common good whether it is to save a life or to help another; people who are selfless, inspiring, tough, and courageous. However, the way I learned about the bravery displayed by these people is through the stories and conversations of others. I have not met a hero based solely on the fact that they themselves claim to be one. I feel this is due mostly to the fact that these people are either uncomfortable talking about their experience or are too humble to talk about their own actions. The idea that “real men” do not share their emotions or talk about tough times is something that many grow up with, and to be completely honest, I have adopted myself over the past seven years.

Growing up, I was somewhat unaware of what my father really did for a living. I knew he was a New York City fireman, but I never conceived what that really entailed. I understood his job was to help people, but it wasn’t until later that I was told of some of the courageous acts that earned him both medals and the respect of his peers. Looking back, I am amazed at his ability to separate what he saw at work from his role as a husband and father at home. After he was killed in the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, I found myself surrounded by his comrades who took me in as one of their own as we worked in the recovery efforts at Ground Zero. At eighteenyears-old, this was an eye opening experience and forced me to grow up. It taught me a lot about what it takes to be a man and drive on when times get tough. While working with them we didn’t talk about what we saw, we didn’t cry, we basically shut off our emotions and focused on getting the job done. At the time, I was applying for acceptance into West Point and was told that being able to handle working at Ground Zero would help if I was deployed to a war zone, and it did.

Since I was denied entry into West Point after graduating from Xavier in 2001, it became my goal to reapply while attending Iona College. The events of 9/11 only strengthened my desire to serve in the Army and gave me the motivation to graduate. While I was at West Point I was privileged to be mentored by several combat veterans who had already served in Iraq and Afghanistan. They gave me insight into what it takes to be a leader by sharing some of their

experiences from their deployments. The reality of what we would face after graduation became real when an announcement that a graduate had been killed in action was made during lunch, followed by a moment of silence. These came too often, but my class graduated on May 27, 2006 ready for whatever we would face in the near future.

I deployed to Iraq in March 2008 for a 12 month deployment. Throughout this time I served as a Platoon Leader, responsible for a 25 man combat patrol team in Baghdad. We served in several capacities ranging from helping the local population with their electricity and sewage issues, to conducting raids to capture suspected terrorists in our area of operation. When my Battalion lost a soldier, I could see how it affected others in the unit just as it had affected the firemen and their families after 9/11. This, along with other traumatic experiences where a soldier is placed in extreme danger, can resurface after returning from a deployment. Instead of dwelling on this experience, many soldiers tend to try and forget. W. H. R. Rivers, the famous anthropologist, describes this as “the attempt to banish from the mind distressing memories of warfare or painful affective states which have come into being as a result of their war experience.”

Upon returning, I found myself only talking about my deployment when asked and focusing on the good experiences I had while deployed. I speak about handing out soccer balls to the local children or a funny occurrence that happened. I think that many soldiers are uncomfortable sharing the difficult experiences with those who were not there, and they feel, therefore probably would not understand. In my experience, this is similar in many dangerous jobs. I am not saying that this is right, but if I have learned anything it is that everyone handles challenging times in their own way. I talk about my deployment to other soldiers both to reminisce and to share knowledge that may help them during their next deployment overseas.

I’m not against sharing stories about my time in Iraq, but when I think about it, I don’t offer the stories either. Perhaps the best way to gain this information is to simply ask a veteran to share their experiences so they are not forgotten.

Having seen real heroes in action with my own eyes, I can only say that I am proud of their service, and the least we can do is continue to support them as they protect us, both home and abroad.

James Dowdell ’02, Patrick’s brother, is now a firefighter at Ladder 174. James and his mother, Rose Ellen, recently attended a scholarship reception at Xavier in gratitude of the scholarship established in memory of Lt. Kevin Dowdell.

26

ALUMNEWS

— AUGUST 2009

Teamwork and Leadership

By Lt. Col. Doug LeVien US Army ’90

In the 19 years since I graduated from Xavier, I have visited and served in more than 30 countries, having been assigned to infantry, mountain, and airborne divisions in South Korea and Iraq, receiving training around the world in various specializations, and representing the United States and NATO at D-Day and Battle of the Bulge anniversaries in Europe.

Throughout my career, and especially during my most recent deployment to Afghanistan, my Xavier education has followed me.

Xavier’s philosophy of encouraging critical thought and evaluation that teaches ‘how to think, rather than what to think’ are invaluable learned skill sets. These skills are essential to the U.S. military’s counterinsurgency campaign in Afghanistan that involves political, military, economic, cultural, social, religious, and information operations focused on winning the ‘hearts and minds’ of the population.

As a logistics officer for NATO’s Joint Forces Command in the Netherlands, I have been in Afghanistan since the fall of 2008, working at the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) headquarters in Kabul. My job has been to coordinate convoy movements and security efforts along Afghanistan’s Main Supply Routes to ensure the freedom of movement of security forces and humanitarian organizations throughout the country.

As a result of the efforts of my team, there was a substantial decrease in insurgent attacks against convoys on Afghanistan’s highways in January 2009, and all of the United Nations’ World Food Program convoys, which included over 700 trucks carrying enough wheat to feed more than 1 million people for a month, arrived safely at their destinations without the loss of any trucks or cargo.

In the higher outlook, I am proud to say that we were responsible for setting the conditions for successful freedom of movement for the 41 ISAF nations and over 52,000 international soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines working to make Afghanistan an insurgent and terrorist-free country.

While at Xavier, I was a cadet in Xavier’s JROTC program, which taught me the importance of teamwork and leadership and provided opportunities to build character and confidence that have influenced my role as a mentor, coach, and teacher to younger soldiers.

During a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq that began in 2005, I served with a task force charged with improving speed and security on ground and air routes used to move critical supplies to military bases throughout Iraq.

I also lent technical expertise to a project that established a NATO-supported Iraqi Training, Education, and Doctrine Center that provided logistical training for Iraqi military forces and civilian contractors. It was with great pride and humility that I accepted the Bronze Star for my work.

I can most definitely see parallels between the outreach efforts of my alma mater and the efforts that I have been involved in to promote peace in war-torn areas. Xavier’s example of building and partnering in a caring, respectful, and multicultural community is a value that the U.S. Military and NATO’s International Security Assistance Force are currently conducting with Afghanistan’s national army and police. Building trust and confidence and overcoming cultural differences improve cooperation and coordination required for a successful future.

Doug LeVien’s promotion to Lt. Col. Took place August 20 at a ceremony held in Philadelphia, Pa. AUGUST 2009

— ALUMNEWS

27

Something Bigger than Himself Liz Doherty

When LCpl. Michael Glover ’97 was killed in action in August 2006, his family set out to share his sense of sacrifice and to tell his story. Liz Doherty, Michael’s sister, reflects on keeping his legacy alive.

On August 16, 2006 Xavier High School lost one of their Alumni. Lance Corporal Michael Dennis Glover ’97 was killed while serving his country in Al Anbar, Iraq.

My parents lost their only son and I my little brother.

The aftermath of this loss was a daily struggle of putting back together a shattered family. You go on the best you can and put the pieces back together but nothing fits the way it did before. After losing Michael I became intent on sharing the story of his life. I believe Michael was in a state of grace during the last few years of his life. Michael chose a life of service during a time when our country was prospering. He turned away from the safety and comforts America offered and chose to leave for a land full of War and Human Suffering. He did this so that the number of Americans grieving a loved one due to War or Terrorism stays small. That was Michael’s goal and he gave his life for it. I wanted to focus on how proud he was to stand up for his country but mostly how he came to realize that he was compelled to live for something bigger than himself. By sharing his story, I hoped to inspire others to find their strength and courage to face their life challenges along with making time to serve others in need.

Losing a loved one to War is a burden a family cannot face alone. Once the shock of the way Michael’s life ended, my ability to publicly honor my brother faltered. Xavier High School is where Michael’s best friendships were formed and cemented. So strong were these friendships that they never wavered from boyhood to manhood. His Xavier brothers Adam Lynch ’97 and Martin Tubridy ’97, along with our cousin Mary Hayden that have provided enormous comfort and support by forming the Friends of Mike Glover Organization. Through this organization so many people have been able to outwardly show their respect and love for Michael and his sacrifice. The Friends of Mike Glover have established a scholarship in his name to be awarded annually to a student at Xavier High School. The Friends of Mike Glover have raised funds for the scholarship through two events held in Xavier’s Gymnasium. The organization has also created numerous web pages where donations are accepted and T-Shirts and Bumper Stickers are sold. Xavier has further recognized Michael’s Sacrifice by creating the LCpl. Michael Glover ’97 Medal, which

will be awarded annually during graduation ceremonies to a Xavier senior that best defines Mike’s selfless characteristics. The gratitude by his family for everyone who has helped persevere his legacy; family, friends, Xavier, Marines, and strangers is immense and we carry every tribute and remembrance in our hearts.

The Scholarship in Michael’s name will serve as a reminder of the need for men like him. It will keep his story alive for generations of Xavier’s “Men for Others” to learn from. The good of what will come from something so tragic will be immeasurable.

Out of the numerous memorials and fundraisers held in Mike’s honor, The Friends of Mike Glover events truly capture Michael’s spirit & love of family and friends.

It is horrible to lose someone you love and who was so vital to your world due to something so hard to understand and still so unbelievable. During those moments of frustration and grief, thoughts of walking into Xavier’s Gymnasium on what would have been Michael’s thirtieth birthday, with the balloons that spelled out Michael’s name, pictures of him and his big grin and the support of all his friends help to make those hard moments without him more bearable.

The Friends of Mike Glover have not only extended to Michael the respect he deserves for being a great patriot of this country but more importantly a loved and outstanding human being.

Shortly after Michael died I read a quote in Newsweek that has stayed with me: “Nations go to war over ideas and politics, but minds can change and politics may shift. What is constant is the essential humanity of the warrior, and the pain of those left behind, who reach for hands they can no longer touch and listen for voices they can no longer hear.”

There was no doubt or hesitation on Michael’s part on what he chose to do with his life. He wrote to me from Iraq of a Muslim saying that helped him keep things in perspective. “Al huna du Allah.” It means “It’s God’s Way.” Michael took the time to search his soul and listened to what he felt he needed to do while on this earth. He had faith and trust in God’s Way. Thank you Adam Lynch, Martin Tubridy and my dear cousin Mary Hayden along with all the Friends of Mike Glover for helping to keep our Warriors Spirit alive and forever with us! May his Spirit and strength assist us in trusting God’s Way.

Visit the Friends of Michael Glover website at www.friendsofmikeglover.com.

AUGUST 2009

— ALUMNEWS

29

Xavier Today

By Lt. Col. Roy Campbell

Xavier’s Ignatian identity as a Jesuit institution of secondary higher education hinges directly on the study and practice of spiritual warfare. One might argue that Xavier’s historical identity as “that military school in Manhattan” builds upon this Jesuit legacy by offering the study of military warfare to today’s students as well.

Spiritual warfare? Military warfare?

Where is the commonality?

Both concepts use strikingly similar vocabulary— armor, enemy, and weaponry, to name only a few common words. (Indeed, early American Protestant hymnography utilized extensive martial language in works such as “Onward Christian Soldiers” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” quite liberally.) As General Douglas MacArthur famously remarked in his Farewell Address to the Corps of Cadets at West Point in 1962, the soldier above all prays for peace because he knows the abject horrors of war.

What role, then, should the study of military history play in 21st Century Xavier pedagogy? Even though some marvel at “why we are still throwing rocks and stones at each other to resolve our differences today,” two millennia after the Resurrection of Christ, the mournful reality is that worldly peace does not appear to be right around the corner. Thus, it behooves us to provide a broad orientation for Xavier students on the role of military society in both the past and the future of Western Civilization.

Today’s students have a keen interest in understanding the reasons for our current involvement in the Middle East. Additionally, many Xavier men have a fascination with the current tactics and advanced weaponry of world armies. (Perhaps it stems from their exposure to popular video games or to the Discovery Channel!) Other students question the very need for a Department of Defense.

Clearly, there are fertile grounds for solidly reflective education in the midst of such a variety of student concerns!

Xavier students hear presentations in class from soldiers from a variety of conflicts, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq. Students admire such men and honor their sacrifices during thoughtful and respectful question and answer periods.

Xavier graduates such as John Walsh ’39, and George Constantine ’02 are only a few of the many visitors (American, French, British, and Russian) who have addressed the Military History Club in recent years.

Such contacts and experiences help to ground our students with a sense of perspective on military affairs.

When today’s graduates are serving in leading positions in business, government, and the various professions, they will recognize that the military establishment, while not without its own share of human corruption and failure, stands as a bulwark to preserve our posterity under God and country against those who would threaten our way of life as a free people.

After the onset of the Volunteer Army in the early 1970s, the military intellectual class had begun to lament a perceived disconnect between our military society and the larger American society that it serves.

Some suggest that the problem of civil-military relations has reached a crisis stage in Administrations and in U.S. Congresses in which only a very few persons have actually worn the uniform of our country.

In the not so distant past, Xavier graduates pursued military careers in substantial numbers, and Xavier’s ranks of highly decorated servicemen from all branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine) “stand for all the world to see!”

Graduates continue to volunteer for military service today, and their contributions are of the highest caliber and bring great credit upon themselves, their families, Xavier, and the nation.

Xavier graduates rectify civil-military relations problems within their own spheres of influence, largely due to their exposure to a level-headed approach to the challenges and dynamics of international relations and military affairs, an appreciation gained in the hallowed halls on 16th Street.

Lt. Col. Roy Campbell serves as Senior Army Instructor of Xavier’s JROTC Regiment.

30

ALUMNEWS

— AUGUST 2009

New Faces at Xavier It’s another year, and there is another new set of faces here at Xavier! Alumnews began profiling new staff members in the February 2008 issue, and the initial piece received lots of positive feedback.

The faculty and staff at Xavier have the most contact with our students, and it is important for our alumni to be introduced to them. Here, six new members of the Xavier community respond to questions in their own words, giving a look into their individual perspective of life on 16th Street.

AUGUST 2009

— ALUMNEWS

31

Jessica Garcia Mathematics

Jennifer Velazquez Mathematics

Mark Mongelluzzo, Esq. Director of Annual Giving

Hometown: Pueblo, Colorado

Hometown: Queens, New York

Hometown: Bayside, New York

High School you graduated from: Pueblo Central High School

High School you graduated from: St. John’s Prep.

College(s) you graduated from and degree: Manhattan College, Secondary Education/Mathematics

College(s) you graduated from and degree: St. John’s University

High School you graduated from: Holy Cross High School in Flushing, Queens

Favorite TV show: The Simpsons Favorite food: Cooked oatmeal with bananas and peanut butter Best book you’ve ever read: Jonathan Livingston Seagull

by Richard Bach Thing that annoys you most: Negativity or dishonesty What type of music do you listen to: Whatever makes my soul feel good Something you can’t live without: Communication Favorite spot in NYC: Gaelic Park in the Bronx on 239th Street and Broadway Favorite summer activity: Playing soccer in the evening Worst job that you’ve ever had: Kitchen Assistant (over-worked and under paid!)

Do you collect anything: Unique socks Habit you’re trying to break: Sleeping in on the weekends What you do the minute you get home: Change out of my work attire Favorite movie: It’s a toss up between Drop Dead Fred or Little Monsters Favorite Quote: “I have no Special talents.

I am only passionately curious.”

— Albert Einstein 32

ALUMNEWS

—AUGUST 2009

Favorite TV show: Sex and the City, The Cosby Show Favorite food: Mom’s home cooking Best book you’ve ever read: Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts What type of music do you listen to: Mostly R&B Something you can’t live without: My sister and parents

College(s) you graduated from and degree: Yale, BA in History; Boston University, JD Favorite TV show: Tie: “Fox Business News” and Antiques Road Show Favorite food: Broccoli Rabe Best book you’ve ever read: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens— Mrs. Haversham rocks! I want a piece of that cake!

Favorite summer activity: Tanning at the beach with my best friend

Most embarrassing situation: Failing the bar exam…and then receiving a letter 10 days later notifying me that I passed! The Bar Examiners made a mistake

Worst job that you’ve ever had: Cashier at Orange Julius (yuck!)

Thing that annoys you most: People who walk slowly

Hidden talent: Singing

Something you can’t live without: My wife and two children

Favorite spot in NYC: The Brooklyn promenade

Do you collect anything: Pens What you do the minute you get home: Change into something more comfortable Favorite movie: Brown Sugar Favorite Quote: “You will remember the things you did for a while, but you will remember the people you did them with forever.”

Favorite spot in NYC: The promenade of the Brooklyn Bridge on a cool Spring day Favorite summer activity: Floating aimlessly in the ocean at Atlantic beach/visiting historical sites Worst job that you’ve ever had: As an attorney, attending heated court conferences Favorite Quote: “The only thing that’s new is the history you don’t know” —President Harry S. Truman

Gregory Norris Science and Religious Education

Kacey Bush English

Mrs. Veronica Alverson Headmaster’s Office

Hometown: Durban, South Africa

Hometown: I don’t really have a hometown! Growing up, my family moved a lot. Home is wherever my family is living at the time.

Hometown: New York City

High School you graduated from: St Henry’s Marist Brothers College College(s) you graduated from and degree: University of Kwa Zulu Natal (South Africa), B. Ed Honours Secondary Science Favorite TV show: House Favorite food: South African Chicken Balti Curry Best book you’ve ever read: Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum Most embarrassing situation: Hugging a complete stranger who I thought was my mother when I was about 6 years old Something you can’t live without: Rugby Favorite spot in NYC: Watching the sun go down on the West Side Favorite summer activity: Going to the beach

High School you graduated from: Manalapan High School (Manalapan, NJ) College(s) you graduated from and degree: Syracuse University, BA in English and Secondary Education (double major)

College(s) you graduated from and degree: Pace University and NYU Favorite food: Soft shell crabs and lobster Thing that annoys you most: Rude and ignorant people

Favorite food: Anything that involves cheese

What type of music do you listen to: All kinds, but I’m a big Springsteen fan

Best book: I definitely don’t have one favorite book. I really believe that words mean different things to you at different points in your life. However, two books that have really resonated with me are To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Beloved by Toni Morrison.

Something you can’t live without: My family

Thing that annoys you most: Ignorance Favorite spot in NYC: Central Park, especially in the spring.

Worst job that you’ve ever had: Waiting tables

Favorite Movies: Shawshank Redemption, Evening, and The Departed

Hidden talent: I can sing and dance

Hobbies: Drawing and painting

Favorite movie: Shawshank Redemption or The Mission

Favorite summer activity: The beach is my favorite place in world. I spend as much time as I can at the beach during the summer!

Favorite Quote: “I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the unknown.’

And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.’”

—Marie Louise Haskins

High School you graduated from: St. Michael’s Academy

Favorite spot in NYC: Soho; it’s my home. I was born and raised in NYC and still live on the same street Favorite summer activity: Sitting on the beach, tanning and water skiing Worst job that you’ve ever had: Working at a beach club down the shore and being stung by bees everyday Do you collect anything: Shoes and clothes Habit you’re trying to break: Buying shoes and clothes!

Favorite movie: The Godfather Favorite Quote: “Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.”

AUGUST 2009

— ALUMNEWS

33

Reunion Gala 2009

1 9 5 9

1 9 4 6 − 1 9 4 7

5 0 +

On May 1st and 2nd members of all classes ending with 4s and 9s celebrated their Xavier reunion at events in the school and throughout the city. The events ranged from a casual but well-attended event at M.J. Armstrong’s Pub for the Class of 2004 to an elegant event for the Golden Class of 1959, celebrating their 50th reunion on the Friday night of that weekend.

On Saturday, over 350 graduates and their guests came back to the school for an afternoon of school tours and 34

ALUMNEWS

—AUGUST 2009

1 9 4 9

1 9 6 9

1 9 6 4

1 9 7 4

1 9 7 9

1 9 8 4

1 9 8 9

1 9 9 4

1 9 9 9

cocktail receptions before enjoying a wonderful dinner.

Several classes did especially well with their reunion year giving goals, including the Class of ’59, which raised $79,830.00.

The Advancement Office wishes to extend its congratulations and gratitude to all the reunion classes who helped make this year’s reunion weekend very special.

AUGUST 2009

— ALUMNEWS

35

Class Notes 1940 Daniel Stevens has published two books: Stories for the Future and Letter to Lincoln after retiring from a career as a school superintendent and professor of Education/Psychology at C.W. Post College.

1952 Robert Robertazzi and his wife, Elaine, have retired from their business after 33 years. Frank Sherry and his wife, Barbara, toured the islands of Java and Bali prior to their son’s wedding in December 2008.

1947 Harold Brauner joined other 1947 grads for a Christmas dinner celebration.

Joe Farrell and wife Joan will be celebrating their 58th wedding anniversary in July. William Golterman was honored by the Staten Island Rotary Club for his 50 years of service to rotary.

1957 Ray Madonna and Bob DiAiso are coordinating the painting of a portrait of Vietnam war hero Colonel John Ripley USMC.

1948 Daniel Fitzgerald is pleased to announce the publication of his third novel, titled Donovan’s Dilemma.

1949 John J. O’Neill, a proud father of five and grandfather of seventeen, writes that “all is well.”

1950 Allan Ahearne has retired from veterinary practice and has moved to Cooperstown, NY where he enjoys his time playing golf, tennis, and sailing.

Allan would love to hear from classmates at Allanjdvm@stny.rr.com. Robert Ficke was honored at the N.H. State Convention of the Knights of Columbus for his many years of service as state membership director. Hank Lavery recently welcomed his newest grandchild, Carrigan Jean, into the family.

1951 Neil Hickey splits the year between Cape Cod and Jupiter, FL. He would love to hear from classmates at neilhickey20@yahoo.com. Kevin McFadden teaches part-time in the Life and Elderhostel program at Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh, NY. James A. Walsh had his first crime novel, Death Comes for the Provost.

For more information, see www.johntkwalsh.net.

36

ALUMNEWS

— AUGUST 2009

1958 John Corrado has been designated as a life fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Charlie Crawford and his wife Eileen have relocated to their newly completed home on Cape Cod. 1959 Lawrence Daly writes: “After 25 years in the US Army and 10 years consulting and training in Project Management, I am living my college dream of teaching at a Jesuit high school—Brebeuf Jesuit Prep, in Indiana. Michael Toner led his Holy Cross Alumni Swimmer Teammates as he came in second in his age group in the 44th annual Traversata dello Stretto swim competition.

1961 Joseph F. Franlin and his wife, Judy, have relocated to New Hope, PA while Joe continues to serve as a senior advisor in a company he co-founded called Newstar.

1963 Thomas Nipper and daughter, Karen, both medical doctors, did a two-week medical mission in Peru, performing orthopedic operations on poor people from the Andes Mountain region.

1964 Paul McLoughlin’s show featuring interviews of business book authors called McLoughlin At Work can be heard on Webtackradio.net

1965 Robert H. Posteraro joined the Department of Clinic Administration and Rehabilitation Counseling at Texas Tech University, where he will be teaching practice management and developing a course in biomedical informatics. Peter Hansen retired from the World Bank in 2007 and now lives in Paraguay.

1967 William Strasser was recently appointed Director of the Saddle River Valley Bank based in Saddle River, NJ. 1968 Fred Koechley has completed a six-year term on the Board of Directors of the United Service Organizations. James Mantle is the program coordinator for the Brenda Pillaes Asthma Education Program at Long Island University.

1969 Greg Belli and Robert O’Grady had their own mini reunion over St. Patrick’s Day. Casey Rogers writes: “My wife and I have moved to Honolulu where I am the Chief of Ophthalmology for the Pacific Islands Health Care System for the Department of Veterans Affairs.”

1972 Charles Dupont writes: “the tank is old and worn but still going forward.”

Charles is beginning his 19th year with the San Diego City Public Works Department and lives in the Anza Borrego Desert region. Anthony Piantieri recently visited Xavier to drop off a copy of his first book, Pont Max: Summer Sojourns in the Rome of the Popes. Part travelogue, part tourists guidebook, the book provides a pedestrian history of Rome, a world of art, architecture, and men of genius—sinners and saints, pontiffs and prince—that defined an age.

His book can be purchased at www.deckardpress.com or at Strand Bookstore.

Class Notes

From left: Robert Burns ’74 with his wife, Rose, James Weatherall ’74, with his wife, Dr. Maureen Weatherall.

James Weatherall ’74 recently wrote Alumnews to congratulate his classmate, Robert Burns ’74 after Robert received his second master’s degree from the School of Systems and Enterprises at the Stevens Institute of Technology on May 21, 2009. James wrote: “My wife has a senior executive role in the Stevens Administration, as VP for University Enrollment and Administration, and we live on the Stevens campus in Hoboken, NJ. Bob and I reconnected at our 35th Reunion at Xavier in late April, and we had a great time with our wives talking over dinner about those good old times. When the discussion turned to more recent events, and then the topic of Stevens came up, we soon realized that it was indeed a small world, and that we would be seeing each other again at Commencement only a month later!”

1973 Edward Zampella married former Xavier cheerleader Deborah Carroll thirty years ago, and the couple has three children.

1974 Chris Akhermes is an executive director for CBS Studios International in Los Angeles and would love to hear from other alums in the area.

Tim Moriarty, a support contractor for the Department of Homeland Security, has been able to reconnect with fellow Xavier classmates on the networking website facebook.com.

1975 William “Chip” Stokes celebrated his 10th year as Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and will be a deputy at the church’s general convention in July.

1976 Manny Barros is a senior engineering manager with Raytheon in Largo, FL. Edward McKeown, a manager at Canal Insurance Company in Charlotte, recently published a book entitled the Sha’Daa Anthology.

1978 David Velazquez was promoted to Assistant Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the state of New Jersey.

1984 James Curley is happy to report that he and his wife have traveled to China to adopt two daughters.

1986 Mark Mulvanerty was promoted to Senior Client Partner at Korn/Ferry International and was selected as one of the “40 under 40” awardees by the Philadelphia Business Journal.

1987 David Campion received tenure at Lewis & Clark College and will be spending the upcoming year in Hong Kong as a Fulbright Scholar.

1988 Frank Arlia is a real estate broker for Manhattan properties focusing on construction, management and mortgages.

1990 Richard A. Grani lives in Miami with his wife and three children.

Patrick O’Connell is now residing in Los Alamitos, CA with wife Lauri and their three children.

1996 Marc Sigismondo has been a member of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball organization for the past four years.

1997 B. Gregory Onza has been extensively volunteering in his free time.

1998 Joseph Minucci completed his 4th year as a federal agent for the Department of Homeland Security and was recently promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

2000 Jamie Keane works for Merrill Lynch.

2002 Eric Fischler works for the MTA in Manhattan.

2003 Christopher Orlando is currently deployed in Iraq as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

2004 Patrick Sezen is entering his second year at Suffolk Law School. Stephen T. Umschreif graduated cum laude with a BBA degree and an MBA Degree in public accounting from Pace University, as well as a minor in law in May 2009.

2005 Angelo Bonvino graduated from Iona College. Jeffrey Concerto graduated cum laude from the School of Communications at the University of Miami and was awarded Most Outstanding Student in the Motion Picture Division. Jacob Fountain graduated from the Citadel on May 9th.

William Lembo is on active duty with the US Army Airborne that will be deployed in the later summer for Afghanistan. Carol Muraco graduated from St. Joseph’s University. Eric Saa attended Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration as part of the Congressional Youth Leaders. Andrew Virga, a graduate of SUNY Buffalo, says “hi” to all his Xavier buddies.

2006 John DeMarinis, a third year student at St. Johns University, is interning with Met Life Co. this summer.

2007 Kevin Kenefick studied abroad this past spring at the University of Wollongong in New South Wales, Australia.

AUGUST 2009

— ALUMNEWS

37

Mileposts IN MEMORIAM

Malcolm James Fraser ’48 died on May 29, 2009. Mr. Fraser worked as a research scientist for Westinghouse Research Laboratories in two Pennsylvania plants and was part of a three-man team that developed superconducting wire. He went on to serve as vice president of technology at Copperweld Steel Corporation, held numerous patents and built plants and equipment throughout his career. His wife, Rose-Marie, wrote “’Mac’ always spoke highly of the priests and brothers who taught him at Xavier. He often mentioned the hours of ‘Jug’ that he had to serve—until Xavier once won a particular sports event against your highly regarded adversary, and the Headmaster declared all standing “Jug” hours forgiven! He was proud of the years he spent at Xavier and the discipline he was taught, which gave him a great respect for the Jesuits.”

DEATHS Alumni

Family

Valentine Meehan ’26, February 5, 2009

Joseph A. McVay ’51, December 20, 2008

Rudolph A. Blas ’30, July 15, 2006

Edward Brent ’52, December 21, 2008

John Ravel ’30, August 31, 2008

John F. Buckley ’52, December 25, 2008

Gerard J. Zopf ’33, July 16, 2008

Russell F. Schuck ‘52, August 25, 2005

John H. Galbraith ’35, March 17, 2009

Alan J. Griffith ’54, April 22, 2009

Harold Masem ’36, January 26, 2008

Emmanuel J. Murgola ’54, February 5, 2009

Daniel J. O’Connell ’36, January 5, 2009

Joseph Aquila ’55, October 6, 2005

Charles A Hofmann, Sr. ’37, November 19, 2008

John Koenig ’60, July 28, 2008

Henry Cooney ’38, November 1, 2007

Stephen Stelter ’64, December 23, 2007

Frank Tully ’38, August 10, 2008 Louis R. Ford, Jr. ’39, February 7, 2008

Anthony S. Salerno ’65, November 16, 2008

William H. Burgess ’41, December 30, 2008

Robert Rainieri ’68, May 21, 2007

Edward Lantier ’41, June 9, 2007

Frank Careri ’69, December 27, 2008

John Austin Powers ’44, May 23, 2009

Lawrence Rice ’72, February 8, 2009

Frank Geoghegan ’45, December 10, 2008

Carlos O. Llorente ’74, February 13, 2007

Michael Ingenito ’46, March 19, 2007

Charles A. Hofmann, Jr. ’75, March 21, 2009

Frank McCann ’47, February 12, 2007

Juan G. Diaz, February 26, 2007

Malcolm James Fraser ’48, May 29, 2009

Robert F. Munsen ’99, August 2, 2007

Anthony H. Adamovic ’51, October 24, 2007 John Robert Delaney ’51, March 25, 2009 Thomas Halikias ’51, February 8, 2009 Peter Hanigan, Jr. ’51, October 11, 2008 Eugene T. Johner ’51, February 7, 2009

Thomas Alexander, father of Jermaine ’05, Dwayne ’07, and Christopher ’08, April 30, 2009 Anne R. Aldridge, mother-in-law of Kevin McLaughlin ’74, June 8, 2009 Alice Buckley, mother of James ’81 and Patrick ’82, April 20, 2009 Nancy Callahan, mother of Timothy ’03, April 5, 2009 Augustine Casella, mother of Michael ’82 and Joseph ’83, January 12, 2009 Antonio D’Alessio, father of Sean ’06, March 4, 2009 Louis J. DeGennaro, mother of Mark ’76, November 30, 2008 Madaline Gadaleta, mother of Dominick ’78 and grandmother of Anthony ’03, February 11, 2009 Bernadine Gannon, mother of Joseph ’64 and Paul ’75, March 24, 2009 Laura J. Healey, mother of Brett ’00, March 25, 2009 Camille Hogan, mother of William ’81, December 23, 2007

38

ALUMNEWS

— AUGUST 2009

BIRTHS Friends Eva Krajlev, mother of Kevin ’11, March 27, 2009 Donald F. Maguire, father of Robert ’91 and James ’94, June 8, 2009 Barbara Murray, sister of Robert Robotti ’71, March 21, 2009 James O’Toole, father of Timothy ’65 and Michael ’67, May 6, 2009 Kathleen Riconda, wife of Harry ’45, former Xavier faculty, June 3, 2009 Claire Rollins, wife of Paul ’50, August 21, 2006 Michael F. Romo, father of Michael ’80 and Raphael ’82, February 10, 2009

Theresa Caliendo, mother of Philip, Xavier faculty, February 8, 2009

Matthew Robert Maguire, January 29, 2007 Kerry Hagan and Robert D. Maguire ’91

Joseph G. Gerics, father of Joseph Gerics, former Headmaster, April 13, 2009

WEDDINGS

Edward J. Heavey, SJ, former Prefect of Discipline at Xavier, March 25, 2009

Matthew T. Strong ’99 and Jennifer Callinan, July 2, 2009

Joan Nyahay, mother of Regina Valinoti, Xavier faculty, January 22, 2009

John Brenkovich ’87 and Stacie Jordan, November 7, 2008

Edmund Sweeney ’84 and Lesley Belden, May 16, 2009

Margaret S. O’Shaughnessy, sister of Bridget Galvin, former Xavier faculty, February 1, 2008 Linda Salvati, former Xavier librarian, November 10, 2008

Cecelia Roche, wife of Maurice ’44, April 12, 2009 Catherine F. Smith, mother of Michael ’76, April 9, 2007 Anthony Summa, father of Don ’79, March 30, 2009 Joan M. Venino, wife of Thomas ’45, March 8, 2009

Tim Williamson ’00 and Christine Burns were married June 6, 2009 at St. Ignatius Church on the campus of Boston College. The couple then went to Italy for their honeymoon.

AUGUST 2009

— ALUMNEWS

39

Already a member of the Xavier Online Community?

Then log onto Xavier’s Facebook Fan Page School news • discussion boards • event photos • upcoming events

Xavier’s Facebook fan page was launched in the Spring of 2009 to enable the popular social networking site to act as a gathering place for Xavier alumni.

To set up a new account on Facebook, simply go online to www.facebook.com and create an account. Once you log in, use the search tool to find “Xavier High School,” then click the icon with the school seal marked “Xavier High School Alumni Facebook Page” and hit “Become a Fan.” Since its launch, over 500 Xavier alumni have become fans of the page and have been linked to one another.

40

ALUMNEWS

—AUGUST 2009

Explore your legacy.

New This Month...

To read these articles, please go to: www.xavierhsalumni.org

Use Your IRA to Help Others If you are 70 years and six months of age or older,

Then click on “Planned Giving Advice”

we hope you’ll take advantage of this gift that lets you witness the benefits of your generosity.

Giving In Tough Times Can Provide More for Your Heirs and Cut Taxes Americans today are anxious about their money.

Their stock values are falling and their 401(k) plans are so low that it’s hard to open the quarterly statements. It may be the wrong time to think about charitable giving—or is it?

What to Do After a Loved One Dies The death of a close relative is one of the most heartbreaking and difficult events you can experience. In a time such as this, we hope this list will help you navigate the important financial decisions you’ll need to make in the first month.

For more information please contact us: Joseph Gorski 212.924.7900 ext. 1539 or gorskij@xavierhs.org Loual Puliafito 212.924.7900 ext. 1611 or puliatiol@xavierhs.org

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID

30 West 16th Street New York, NY 10011-6302

Alumnews Calendar

Manchester, NH Permit No. 206

Xavier Society and Loyola Associates Reception September 23, 2009 Maroon and Blue Day September 25, 2009 President’s Council Reception September 30, 2009 President’s Council Dinner October 8, 2009 Westchester area Alumni Reception October 22, 2009 Xavier High School Open House October 24, 2009 Parents Phonathon October 26-28, 2009 Chicago area Alumni Reception October 28, 2009 Northern New Jersey area alumni Reception November 19, 2009

Turkey Bowl Football Rally and Young Alumni Reception November 25, 2009 Philadelphia area Alumni Reception December 1, 2009 Washington, D.C. area Alumni Reception December 2, 2009 Beefsteak Dinner January 22, 2010 Xavier High School Open House January 30, 2010 West Coast area Alumni Receptions February 1-4, 2010 Florida Alumni Receptions February 25– March 5, 2010 Career Day March 22, 2010