Spring 2023 Union Magazine: Shaping Lives

De La Salle

FROM PRESIDENT

Dear De La Salle Community:

Rarely does an interaction with an alumnus go by when he doesn’t tell me about the impact De La Salle High School made on his life. This near-universal truth is something that I believe our Founder would be proud of. Lasallian Catholic education is rooted in relationships and the belief that each young person is someone to be loved, guided, and instructed. St. John Baptist de La Salle said, “The miracles of God’s Providence take place every day” (Founder’s address to the first teachers) because “God expects you to touch hearts” (Med 139.3). Indeed that is what our faculty, staff, and coaches have been doing since 1965.

In this edition of Union, you will witness some stories of what I hope you have felt: De La Salle shapes lives. The best part of this story, if you ask me, is that our alumni, alumni parents, and friends end up shaping other lives, too. This ripple effect is precisely what we hope happens – the gifts we are freely given, particularly by God, should, in turn, be freely given to others. The stories you read are a fraction of the beautiful fabric that has been woven together on Winton Drive; of how lives have been shaped for the better.

It also continues to be an exciting time. Our Strategic Plan is in its final stages, and I am excited to share our plan for the next five years. Our curriculum is expanding and spreading across seven periods. Our students continue to innovate with new programs and clubs, and our donors continue to meet the moment by digging deeper and freeing their wallets so that we can give the very best to the young men entrusted to our care. Our work has never been done alone, and we stand proudly because of the giants who have come before us and on whose shoulders we stand. To the many of you who are those giants, thank you!

De La Salle High School is a special place because of the people who are a part of this magnificent enterprise. We never take for granted that we move and work on very hallowed grounds, and I am humbled to serve this institution and each of you. May the stories you read inspire you to share your own story with us. Email DLSCommunications@dlshs.org to share what you are up to, who shaped your life, or whose lives you have shaped.

In the meantime, be assured of our prayers for you and your family. And thank you for keeping us in your prayers so that we continue to shape lives for countless years to come.

Warmly,

David J. Holquin President

The School Seal

The school seal is an important part of the identity of De La Salle High School. The symbols used to make up the seal have particular meanings that reflect the values and purpose of the school. In the center of the seal is the Chi Rho (Kye Row). This is the Greek abbreviation of the title “Christ.” The first two letters of the word Christos or “Christ” are “Chi” and “Rho,” represented in the Greek alphabet as a capital “X” and “P.” The fleur-de-lis, with “lis” meaning lily in French, reminds us of our French origins with Saint John Baptist de La Salle. The lamp is a symbol of knowledge, reminding us of our primary purpose as a school — education. The section of broken chain represents freedom — freedom from ignorance. The chain surrounding the seal signifies strength and unity. “Les Hommes de Foi” is French for “Men of Faith.”

De La Salle UNION

MAGAZINE |

SPRING 2023

In This Issue

Content

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Victor Baker ’92, BoardChair

Steve Abreu ‘83, ViceChair

David Depolo AP ‘12, ‘13

Blas Guerrero AP ‘21

Denny Hintz AP ’94, ‘96

Joan MacDonald

Br. Michael Meister, FSC

Glenda Morris AP ‘14

Margie Morris AP ‘14

Mike Niedermeyer AP ‘06

Matt Noonan AP ‘01, ‘09, ‘10

Marilyn Paquette

Darrell Williams AP ‘11

PRESIDENT’S CABINET

David J. Holquin President

Joe Aliotti

SeniorStafffortheOfficeofthe President

Dr. Heather Alumbaugh

Vice President forAcademic Life

Mark Chiarucci

Vice President forAdvancement

Chris Garavaglia

Vice President for Finance

Leo Lopoz ’94 Vice President forAthletics

Spencer Shively Vice President for Mission and Student Life

Andrew Berkes, Mark Chiarucci, Rich Davi, Michelle Erickson, Erin Hallissy, David Holquin, Tim Roberts ’88, Ida Tolentino, Karla Wiese

Photos

Cincinnati Bengals, David Bernal

Photography, De La Salle High School, Tod Fierner, Saint Mary’s Athletics, Slava Blazer Photography, and Studio One Photography

Design

Marsha Sanchez

Comments, questions, news?

Editors: Rich Davi and Michelle Erickson

Contact: Rich Davi (davir@dlshs.org) or Michelle Erickson (ericksonm@dlshs.org)

Produced by Office of Advancement, De La Salle High School 1130 Winton Drive, Concord, CA 94518 Tel: (925) 288-8100 | Fax: (925) 686-3474 dlshs.org

About the Union Magazine

The De La Salle “Union” is a bond of unity for the extended De La Salle family — alumni, parents, alumni parents and the many friends who make up our school’s growing family. Read the Union online at dlshs.org/union.

Below: This photo of members of the Concert Choir was taken at the Annual Christmas Concert in 2022. From left to right: Emilio Roque, Manfredo Giammona, Kayven Upadhyay, Daniel Crossett, Brandon Betz, and Angelo Recacho.

Pointed in the RIGHT Direction

Evolving the Premiere Learning Experience

Learning is not learning if it remains static. Questions change as knowledge changes. That is why De La Salle actively seeks ways to evolve and optimize its curriculum – to meet both the changing needs of students and the world beyond high school.

In recent years there have been significant curriculum redesigns and course updates within multiple departments. For instance, the Religious Studies Department has placed an emphasis on projects and interdisciplinary learning opportunities. The Visual and Performing Arts Department has added semester elective courses so that it can offer students, who may not have had access to a well-funded and robust arts education before attending De La Salle, both fundamentals and flexibility to grow as art learners.

The English Department evaluates courses to provide more choices that appeal to student interest. This year, it is offering its second interdisciplinary course co-taught by both English and Social Studies teachers: Literature, Conflict,andtheHumanExperience.At the same time, De La Salle has built a fabrication studio to optimize interdisciplinary learning and making, and has also established a Computer Science program.

Now – following multiple years of research, as well as data analysis from various student surveys, the school’s recent accreditation process (2022), and guidance from De La Salle’s Strategic Plan – the Curriculum Innovation Committee has identified the skills that students need by the time they graduate. Equally important, it has created a curriculum roadmap to cultivate these skills. It plans to execute these changes in three phases, providing equitable access for all students.

Critical Competencies

Communication Literacy

Oral, written, digital, graphic, reading, non-verbal, listening

Sophisticated Thinking

New ideas, analytical thinking, ability to form judgments and hypotheses, cognitive flexibility, informed media literacy, problem-solving

With the college admission process continuing to broadly and rapidly change in the post-pandemic world, De La Salle students will be uniquely equipped to demonstrate scope and rigor in their academic course selection. This is something that is now just as attractive, if not more attractive, than their GPA for college acceptance. “Changes in SAT/ACT testing policies in recent years have led to a greater focus on the applicant’s high school academic record,” says Lisa Sciacca, Co-Director of College Counseling. “Colleges and universities want to see that students are taking a wide range of college prep courses, and they are challenging themselves with advanced coursework, especially in areas of interest.”

So what will a premier learning experience look like in 2023 and beyond, as our Strategic Plan calls for? It will start with an academic schedule that is spread across seven periods for sophomores and freshmen. Moving to a seven-period day will directly meet student requests for more choices. It also allows for additional and expanded classes that tap into teachers’ strengths and create rich and engaging curricula that help students be successful learners.

Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors are already set to take advantage of the curriculum changes for the next school year. Recently, during course registration, they were given more space to select courses based on their interest. They could sign up for more Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER) classes like Weight Training, Fitness, and Sports Medicine. There was also more room to fit in classes like Robotics, EADD (Engineering, Architecture, Drafting, and Design), Instrumental Music, and Music Theory, as well as classes like Screenwriting, AP Human Geography, AP Art History, and AP European History. They also had the opportunity to take advantage of additional sections for Psychology and Leadership.

At the same time, multiple sections of Study Hall were added for students who need a little break in the middle of the day or who need help to get themselves organized.

“The new targeted classes are a real opportunity for our students to build out their academic acumen, their academic interests, and think about how they learn as students,” explains Dr. Heather Alumbaugh, Vice President for Academic Life. “We want to help and encourage our students to go for the perfect combination of interest and reach. We want to see them reaching for something that may be a challenge for them but also be motivated by their interest.”

Phase Two and Phase Three of the Curriculum Innovation Committee’s plan will be shared at the appropriate time.

Teamwork

Self-Directed Learning

Personal & Social Responsibility

Trust-building, gaining consensus, collaboration, mutual decision-making, goaldriven, credit-sharing

Self-regulation, personal investment, persistence, resilience, self-reflection, evaluation

Empathy, bias awareness, respect for multiple perspectives, global awareness, inclusivity, moral discernment, ethical action

A Tale of Two Fans

Aaron Nakano

Most people who attend a De La Salle football game are there because they know (or knew) a De La Salle student, they were once a De La Salle student themselves, or they are directly connected to the school through employment or in some other close way.

That was not the case for Aaron Nakano. A Bay Area resident, Aaron grew up playing high school football at El Camino in South San Francisco. Still, he didn’t hear about De La Salle until the latter part of the famous 151-game win streak under legendary Spartan coach, Bob Ladouceur. Curious, he decided to make the drive from his home on the San Francisco Peninsula to see for himself what the fuss was about.

One game was all it took. Aaron instantly became enamored with not just the concept of the “perfect effort,” but also the people he met, and the sense of Brotherhood that he witnessed. The experience turned him into one of the most loyal and long-term De La Salle football fans to ever grace Owen Owens Field. Aaron did not miss a single home game for 20 years. He also traveled to many of De La Salle’s away games too.

Over the years, Aaron’s admiration for De La Salle students, parents, and teachers only continued to grow. So did his friendships. He could always be found, during home games, in the spectator stands at the 20-yard line, sitting in the 10th row. He was invariably flanked by De La Salle friends like former parents, Thomas and Betty Clogher, and De La Salle Chemistry teacher Viki Acquistapace and her husband Tom. Similarly, he could often be seen enjoying pre or post-game refreshments at nearby Rocco’s Ristorante Pizzeria.

In short, De La Salle became a big part of Aaron’s life, despite him never having a family member or friend attend the school. He believed in De La Salle – in its values and what it stands for – and he wanted to be a part of the De La Salle experience through osmosis.

Sadly, Aaron died suddenly on November 11, 2022, from a heart attack. He passed on the same day that De La Salle won the NCS Open Division Semis against James Logan. It was the first and only De La Salle home football game that he would miss. He was 67 years old.

Aaron is survived by his sisters, Lois and Phyllis.

De La Salle’s mission is well-known and well-documented. The school’s sole purpose is to prepare young people for life and college through a liberal arts Lasallian education. It achieves this by promoting a vital faith life, sponsoring strong academic programs, offering a wide range of student activities, and hiring a dedicated faculty, administration, and staff. The result is a lasting impact that reverberates among its student population long after graduation.

However, De La Salle’s ability to shape lives also stretches beyond those with a personal or on-campus experience.

Havasu Bob

It is not uncommon for De La Salle President, David Holquin, to attend athletic away games once or twice a year. He uses the opportunity to reconnect with alumni and other members of the ever-expanding De La Salle community. That was certainly the case when he traveled to San Diego to watch De La Salle’s football team successfully face off against Cathedral Catholic last September.

It was at this game that David was introduced to Bob Barrett, aka “Havasu” Bob. Like Aaron, Bob became a huge fan of De La Salle after reading about its football team. Only for him, a former high school football center and defensive tackle (and South Dakota High School State Champion), this happened 35 years ago – long before De La Salle’s record-breaking winning streak. At that time, De La Salle was featured in a USAToday top 20 high school football list. Bob, who was in high school, recalls marveling at how a little school in Concord, Calif. could be included in a list of U.S. powerhouses.

Since that day, Bob has actively followed De La Salle’s football program from afar. Early on, he watched the school rise in the football rankings, and then, later, during the streak, he found out what made the school’s program so special; a focus on the process instead of the result. “You do things the right way, for the right purpose,” Bob explains. “Sport is educational. Your athletes are learning how to improve. That translates to everything in life.”

Every year, Bob looks at De La Salle’s football schedule in the hope of going to a game. However, until last year, he had only seen one game in person – and that was a decade ago when he visited California for business. However, after a move from Minnesota to Lake Havasu, Ariz. in 2021, Bob thought there might be new opportunities. That proved to be the case last fall. It was an easy decision for him to make the 300-mile drive from Lake Havasu to San Diego to see De La Salle’s varsity team score a 28-20 victory against Cathedral Catholic. Similar to Aaron’s experience, Bob immediately felt welcomed in the De La Salle visitor section, even though he knew no one at De La Salle. It was how he met De La Salle’s Parent Association Vice President, Veronica Blanco, and how he was ultimately introduced to David Holquin (pictured below).

The Lasting Impact of De La Salle Teachers

Humanizing, engaging, and life-changing. These are just some of the words that our alumni use to describe their experience at De La Salle. Yet, despite their varying verb and adjective choices, there is a common thread woven within their accounts of Winton Drive. That thread is the impact that De La Salle teachers have had on their lives throughout high school and beyond.

The following pages offer a sampling of stories, spanning nearly three decades. These personal accounts provide a window into what makes De La Salle so special: the mission to guide and instruct from a place of love. The ability to educate the whole student. They demonstrate how De La Salle teachers are deeply committed to their students. How they genuinely care about student well-being and success, and how they work diligently to provide the type of support students need to become the best version of themselves. In short, they showcase just a few of the many ways that De La Salle teachers positively shape the lives of students.

Dr. Michael Rubino III ‘84 President,CEO&PsychotherapistatRubinoCounseling, PleasantHill,Calif.

“Patti Stauch, the director of Company, gave me a place to belong in spite of a neurological disability that made it difficult to cast me in shows –particularly musicals where there was often a lot of dancing. Instead of making me feel like I was too much of a problem, Patti always found a role for me. She was even able to include me in part of a dance routine. She always made Company feel like a family and home for all of us and she definitely made it feel like a family to me by going the extra mile.

In my senior year, when I was deciding where I should attend college, it was my English teacher, Anne Koch, who took me aside. She told me she knew all the schools I had been accepted to and that she thought I should go to UC Berkeley. She said I needed to see how the real world worked. It was her opinion that Berkeley was the perfect school for me and she was right. At the time, I had no idea how many different types of people there are, or how to get along with people who have very different world views than I did.”

“It was her opinion that Berkeley was the perfect school for me, and she was right.”

Anne Koch’s college advice to Dr. Michael Rubino lll ‘84

Michael Rubino lll

Tobin Bradley ‘92 DeputyAssistantSecretary,U.S.DepartmentofState

“While many know Bob Ladouceur as a great coach on the football field, they may not know what an impactful teacher he was in the classroom. He once told me, ‘Toby, you are a human doing, not a human being.’ It was during a junior seminar class. My classmates agreed that my emphasis on my achievements rather than what qualities I brought as a friend, classmate, and human being was all wrong. My world fell apart. I thought awards and accolades were all everyone valued. I didn’t know where that left me. The truth was, I was burning out. I couldn’t keep everyone happy fast enough. I thought about taking my own life. I’m not sure where I’d be –if I’d be – if he hadn’t said that. I think I would have become something unrecognizable from who I was when I started, something inauthentic, something miserable.

I believe that statement led me to take risks to find that authenticity. I stopped doing/achieving for a while. I studied abroad in Africa. I came out of the closet. When I emerged, I was stronger for it. I began to achieve again, but on my terms balancing professional and personal endeavors. I’ve already gone back to thank Mr. Ladouceur, and many of the teachers like Patti Stauch, Rudy Schulze, Gerald “Jerry” Horan, Brothers Jerome, Cecil, and Jack who were so instrumental in helping me become the human being I am today. If I were to see them again, I will reaffirm how much they meant to me and my classmates. From organizing democratic elections in Iraq to writing for, and briefing, two Presidents in the Oval Office to composing an original musical, I’d tell them stories of how I channeled their teachings when I needed them most. I’d introduce them to my partner of 25 years and ask them about their families and personal hopes. For those of them that are no longer with us, I regret that I didn’t tell them more often. I am heartened that they can still hear these stories in our prayers of thanks, and we can still honor them by carrying their teachings with us and passing them on to others.”

Tom Coughlan ‘97 ExecutiveDirectorofLasallianChristianBrothersFoundation(LCBF), Napa,Calif.

“Back in 1993, I must have been on the bubble of whether or not I would be admitted into my Math Honors class. It took me no time at all to realize the pace and rigor of the class was so far beyond what I was prepared for. I was in a class with future engineers and scientists! As a result, I spent most of my lunchtimes in Mr. Hirsch’s classroom getting the extra help I needed to keep up.

For the rest of my academic life, I never worked as hard as I did in that class… to earn a C+. Mr. Hirsch didn’t lower his expectations, but he did make himself available for extra help and support. The lesson I learned is that there are simply no shortcuts to achievement. This lesson can be universally applied to most professions.

I was lucky to have Mr. Hirsch for both my sophomore and junior years, as well as the head varsity water polo coach. There are no magic words or silver bullets of motivation that he imparted that I can recall. Any quip like that would just trivialize the depth of the impact he’s made in terms of being a role model as a Lasallian educator; always present, steadying, dedicated, action-more-than-words, faithful, consistent, authentic, and family-oriented. I am now fortunate to consider Scott a friend as well as a mentor.”

“Toby, you are a human doing, not a human being.”

Bob Ladouceur to Tobin Bradley ‘92

Christopher J. Carey ‘03 Publichighschooleducator,communitycollegeprofessor,aspiringadministrator, and doctoral candidate in international/multicultural education.

“The faculty and staff of De La Salle embody the Lasallian motto of “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve.”It isn’t a carefully worded mission statement published for the mere appeasement of accreditation; it is a personal calling to which all those who work on Winton Drive have dedicated their life’s work in service to others through the medium of education. They accept us and all of our imperfections with unconditional love while empowering us to always give a perfect effort as we grow in mind, body, and spirit.

I’ll never forget the time Mrs. Adrian took the time to counsel me about my (at times) combative relationship with my parents. I confided in her as one would a trusted friend. Or how Mr. Murin validated my experience as an Eagle Scout through his insightful commentary on my persuasive essay about the practice of flag-burning. To this day, I’ve kept it as part of my student work portfolio, alongside my current doctoral research.

I also remember how Mr. Dyer would engage me for who I was (a die-hard 49ers fan who liked to banter back and forth) and less as the academic underachiever that was in his sophomore Biology class. How Mr. Nolan and Mr. Zorad got me to fully embrace the unique opportunity to serve as both participant and leader at Kairos (Live the 4th!). How I walked into Mr. Lopez’s US History class the morning of September 11, 2001, and how he was vulnerable and open with us about how he, a native of New York City, was processing the inexplicable horror of that day and how he helped us process our own emotions.”

Brendan Clogher ‘06

Co-ExecutiveProducerofMyAdventureswithSuperman(whichisslatedto premiereonCartoonNetworklaterthisyear).

“David Cunningham is the first Art teacher I had who taught me the basics of animation. He showed me that art was more than just drawing pretty pictures; it is a medium for storytelling. He also taught me to embrace my ambitions and break free of my comfort zones – something that is vital for a successful career in animation. Without him, I would have never pursued my career in art or animation.

Mr. Cunningham’s class taught me the discipline for improving as an artist and David himself taught me the discipline for improving as a person. When I was his student, it was the early 2000s. At that time, most young men had a lot to learn about accepting those who were different. In particular those in the LGBTQ community. I remember hanging out in Mr. Cunningham’s classroom with some of my friends. (He allowed us to use his classroom after school as a drawing space.) I was flipping through a recent art zine and, being kind of a jerk, I was making fun of the art I didn’t like by saying ‘this drawing looks gay.’ Hearing this, Mr. Cunningham immediately swooped in and reprimanded me. He did it calmly and explained that the way I was using the word ‘gay’ was derogatory and could be harmful to those who heard me say it.

I think about this interaction every day of my life, and I am so grateful for it. This was the first time someone had corrected a personal bias of mine in a way that I understood. It made me realize that I had blind spots to the experiences of others. And some of those experiences I would truly never be able to understand. The best I can hope to do is listen, and trust in what others tell me. It is in this trusting and listening that I believe the foundation of empathy lies. And it is how I have learned to grow as a person, deepening my understanding of the world.”

“David taught me the discipline for improving as a person.”

Brendan Clogher ‘06

Alex Taylor ‘10 SeniorConsultant,CGI,Phoenix,Ariz.

“De La Salle changed my life but it was Ms. Stevenson who had a big impact on me, from my freshman year until my senior year. She always gave me advice and never held back with what she thought was right or the right path for me.

Her Classics of Horror class also opened my eyes to a different style of learning. She made it exciting and gave me the tools I needed to excel in college. I thank her for her solid advice and the continuous love she showed me and my friends.”

“Ms. Stevenson never held back with what she thought was right or the

Through Service, Philanthropy, and Altruism

De La Salle has always sought to challenge its students to serve others and deepen their sense of responsibility for humanity’s future. Service is an underwritten aspect of a Lasallian education that goes back to our founding father, Saint John Baptist de la Salle. As such, it is a driving principle for De La Salle’s Service Leadership program. However, it also permeates more broadly across all grades and all departments through service learning.

At their core, De La Salle’s service learning projects are designed to help students develop a sense of social and personal responsibility. To increase their understanding of the conditions that warrant service, and to challenge them to recognize their potential as agents of social change. It is a learning process that happens through the example of others and the understanding that giving comes in many different ways, shapes, and forms.

The hope is that, by the time of graduation, students will be inspired to embrace a lifelong commitment to service. That they are willing to put their time, money, and God-given talents toward helping others.

De La Salle students have, on average, dedicated over 50,000 hours to service and raised close to $30,000 each year for local, national, and international causes. This year, they are on track to do the same thing.

In addition to annual fundraisers, like Laps for Life, the De La Salle Toy Drive, Cereal Drive, and the Jim Olwell Memorial Duck Race, entire classes and athletic teams have given their time and energy to raise awareness and meet the needs of the less fortunate. The next two pages feature just a few of the ways they are doing this for the 2022-23 school year.

Sampling of Athletic and Class Service Projects

Soccer

Cross Country

Lacrosse

English 1

• Students donated 80 pairs of cleats to the Diablo Rotary Club for kids in Africa.

• Team members participated in Special Olympics training with the East Bay Buffaloes.

• Students spent three hours volunteering at the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano.

• Students loaded holiday food baskets and wrapped gifts onto trucks for the Knights of Columbus.

• Students donated 50 pairs of shoes to One World Running.

• Students provided over 100 Thanksgiving turkeys and 100 volunteer hours at the St. Vincent de Paul branch at St. Francis Assisi.

• Students donated non-perishable food items for the Gael Pantry at Saint Mary’s College, as well as desserts for their Gael Pantry Solidarity Supper in March. The project was done in conjunction with learning about hunger and food insecurity from Richard Wright’s “Black Boy”. The project culminated with a personal reflection essay.

Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER)

Religious Studies

Honors Biology

Social Studies

• Students collected “Fresh Start” hygiene kits for St. Anthony’s Foundation in San Francisco, De La Salle’s Ven a Ver Immersion program, and the Monument Crisis Center.

• Cereal donations were given to St. David’s Pantry in Richmond in conjunction with learning about the importance of a nutritious breakfast.

• Religious Studies 1: In addition to the annual Toy Drive (see next page), juniors are involved in an immersion program in the Tenderloin.

• Religious Studies 3: Juniors are creating lesson plans about a particular Catholic school teaching principle or social justice issue for students at De La Salle Academy.

• Students have been doing fieldwork and completing research projects with Save Mount Diablo.

• World History: Freshmen are writing letters to Lasallian students in India and will write a reflection this spring.

• World History: Mr. Curry’s third and fourth period classes collected donations for Doctors Without Borders in response to learning about the Turkey-Syria earthquake and how it has impacted medical care for thousands of people. Between the two classes, students raised over $200.

Economics

World Languages

• Seniors will take part in an online simulation on poverty, work, bill, government fees, and housing. They will research poverty levels in Contra Costa County and government programs that address those issues and will make contact with local organizations that provide service in the area.

• AP Spanish: Juniors and seniors are writing letters in Spanish to Amnesty International regarding the exploitation of children around the world, particularly in Spanish-speaking countries.

he History of De La Salle’s Annual Service Events

Spartan Charity Challenge

The oldest fundraiser, the Spartan Charity Challenge, began in 1998 as a way to embrace almsgiving during Lent. Now in its 25th year, the fundraiser calls on students to help and hold up those who are in need. To date, the drive has donated over $247,000 to many worthy causes. This year’s recipients include relief efforts for the earthquake that hit the Turkey-Syria border in February; Lasallian ministries in Eritrea, Africa; the Monument Crisis Center; and the De La Salle Brotherhood Fund, which exists to help students when their family is going through a financially hard time.

The Jim Olwell ‘76 Memorial Duck Race

This fundraiser honors Mr. Jim Olwell, a beloved Math teacher, coach, and former student who battled cancer twice before passing in 2017. Students purchase rubber ducks, then see which one will “swim” across the pool first. All proceeds go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). The money raised helps fund research and also supports individuals and families who are diagnosed with blood cancer.

Laps for Life

Laps For Life is a powerful, positive event focused on changing the conversation about teenage mental health and preventing teen suicide. The event was created in the wake of the heartbreaking loss of De La Salle student, Tyler Bunn. Over the past 12 years, this project has contributed more than $15,000 to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Contra Costa County Crisis Center, BeingWellCa, and Bring Change 2 Mind.

Toy Drive

For over two decades, during the Christmas season, De La Salle has collected toys for children in need. Literally, hundreds of toys are delivered each year to local organizations like Running with Love, Oakland Catholic Worker, De La Salle Academy, and Bay Area Crisis Nursery. In 2022, the school was also able to raise an additional $3,772 in cash and online donations.

Cereal Drive

Created in 2002, De La Salle’s Cereal Drive supports the Monument Crisis Center in its mission to provide food to hungry families. This year, the school community donated 1,600 boxes of cereal, as well as nearly $1,800 to the cause.

The Lasallian Youth Club A NEW ERA

It is hard to say when the Lasallian Youth Club started at De La Salle. Some say it was two decades ago. Others say more. What is agreed upon is that, until now, it has always been predominantly focused on service.

When De La Salle High School first opened on September 7, 1965, there were certainly early signs that community service would play a role in the lives of De La Salle students. Father LaSalle Hallissey, himself a member of De La Salle’s first graduating class in 1969, distinctly recalls how he and other students helped prepare unused classrooms at Most Precious Blood School while De La Salle was being constructed. Similarly, he remembers how this same group of students came together the following year to help move desks, supplies, and other equipment into the 100 and 200 wings.

“Service is part of our Lasallian culture and the service tradition was always there,” says Father LaSalle. “For instance, sometime in the first semester of my senior year, the Mt. Diablo School District came to De La Salle and asked Brother Norman to help them. They were not able to recruit enough of their own senior boys to be counselors for their sixth grade outdoor education camps. Brother Norman spoke to De La Salle seniors and several of us accepted the challenge and went twice to be counselors at the outdoor education camp in Pescadero, Calif.”

Since then, the phrase “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve” has become an essential charism of a Lasallian school, even though the phrase itself was only adopted in 1998 after it was discovered hanging over the entrance of a remote Lasallian school in Kushpur, Pakistan. More importantly, it has been embraced as a core value at De La Salle and is embodied every year through the many charitable acts of our students (see previous page).

Now, under the guidance of Brother Iñigo Riola, the Lasallian Youth Club is embarking upon a new chapter – one that expands its mission to also include De La Salle’s other two core values (faith and community). The goal is to enrich and deepen the faith experiences of Lasallian Youth members, while also fostering a spirit of community and a desire to be of service to those in need. In this effort, Brother Riola sees himself as a guide, while the students themselves take ownership and lead. This enables students to develop skills and capacities in such a way that they drive their social, emotional, physical, mental, and intellectual growth.

Still in its infancy, the new directive for De La Salle’s Lasallian Youth Club is already starting to come to fruition. The club has already connected with other Lasallian Youth Clubs within the San Francisco New Orleans (SFNO) District as it seeks out community. It even partnered with one of them, Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento, on a project for De La Salle Academy. Together, members from the two clubs organized a one-day retreat for De La Salle Academy’s middle school students.

In addition, De La Salle’s Lasallian Youth Club recently did a book drive for St. Jaime Hilario School in the Philippines. Their goal was to collect as many nonfiction novels for their elementary and secondary students as possible as a way to help facilitate a love of reading. Through the generosity of the community, they were able to collect 147 books for St. Jaime Hilario. The club also partnered with Service Leadership to collect 506 diapers and 57 jackets and beanies for Bay Area Crisis Nursery and Contra Costa Foster Friends.

For now, the faith component is predominantly taking place at meetings. The club has gone back to basics in as much that it starts every meeting with a prayer service, followed by faith sharing based on a gospel reading. However, it is the hope of the group to broaden their work to include the promotion of faith among other students in the future.

Andrew Berkes Campus Minister for Faith and Retreats

Andrew Berkes is well-known and much loved at De La Salle. And for good reason. He is thoughtful, quick with a compliment, and will go out of his way to help anyone that asks. In the classroom, Andrew spent 15 years positively influencing the lives of more than 2,000 Spartans. Now, following the retirement of Roger and Mary Hassett, Andrew is embarking on a new chapter at De La Salle – this time as Campus Minister for Faith and Retreats. We caught up with him to learn a little more about what makes him tick.

What piece of advice would you offer anyone who asks? “Todovaaestarbien.”Thislinelooselytranslatesto“everything willbeallright.”Itisinthechorusofoneofmyfavoritesongsby DannyGokey.Itremindsme(andhopefullyothers)thatGodreallyis incontrolandHehasn’tletusdownyetandHe’snotgoingtostart now.Everythingwillbeallright.

What is the best compliment someone can give you? IthinkthebestcomplimentIcouldgetistohavesomeonetellme thatafterspendingsometimewithme,theyfeelbetter.Thatismy hope–tohelpeachpersonIcomeintocontactwithfeelalittle betterthantheydidbefore.

Where are you the happiest? IamhappiestwhenIamathome,surroundedbymyfamily.We don’tevenhavetobedoinganythingincrediblyexciting.Justbeing togetherwiththemiswhenIamhappiest.

What is the one thing that you would fix about the world if you could wave a magic wand?

IfIhadamagicwand,Iwouldwaveittoencouragethosepeoplein theworldwhohavesomuchmoneythattheydon’tknowwhatto dowithittogivetothosewhodon’thaveenoughtosurvive.Then maybewecangetclosertoJesus’mandatetotakecareof“the least of these.”

What is something interesting about you that few know? Fewpeopleknowthatbothmyfatherandmyfather-in-laware immigrantstothiscountry.Theirexperienceshavegreatlyimpacted

thewayIseetheworldandthewayIseemyroleinthisworld. Unlessyouknowmeandknowmystory,youmostlikelywouldnot know this.

What is your most treasured object and why?

Intermsofatangibleobject,Iwouldsaythe“crown”frommy wedding.This“crown”isactuallyagoldnecklacewithacrossonit thatIreceivedatmywedding.IntheweddingritethatIparticipated in,this“crown”isactuallythesymbolusedtoshowyouaremarried –moresothanaring.Otherwise,Iwouldsaymymosttreasured “object”ismyfamily.Theymeaneverythingtomeandarealways attheforefrontofmymind.

What is something one of your parents said that you will never forget?

RightbeforemyJuniorProminhighschool,myfathertoldme thatIhavealotofpeoplelookinguptome.Becauseofthat,I hadtobeverycarefulinthethingsthatIsaidanddid.Andthat conversationisforeveringrainedinmymind.

What would you happily fail at?

Ipersonallydonotenjoyfailure,yetitispartoflife.IfIplannedan amazing(atleastamazinginmyhead)activityforaretreatandit failed,Iwouldmosteasilyacceptthat.Ithinkbeinginnovativeand effectivewillinevitablyincludefailurealongtheway,andIamOK with that.

What makes you feel like a kid again?

OneoftheexperiencesIconsistentlyhaveinthisnewrolethat bringsmebacktomychildhoodisgoingonretreatsand,more specifically,beinginsmallgroups.Someofmybestmemoriesofmy highschooldaysarewhenIwouldgoonaretreat.NowthatIam directingthem,Igetachancetoenterintothatmomentagainand itbringsmerightbacktomychildhood.

What brings you joy at De La Salle?

IwouldhavetosaymycolleagueshereatDeLaSalledefinitely bringmejoy.OnanygivendaythatIamoncampus,Icanfindat leastonepersonwhowillbrightenmyday.Andthebestpartis thatit’snotalwaysthesamepeoplewhodoit.Therearesomany differentpeopleonthiscampuswholiftmeup,makemelaugh,or justbringasmiletomyface.

A Effort

What tells the story of a successful coach or athletic program? Is it the wins and losses, or is it the foundation that a program is built on? At De La Salle High School, it could be argued that it has more to do with the foundation. This foundation directly impacts the successes, both on and off the field.

The foundational approach of many sports programs at De La Salle can be traced back to Coach Bob Ladouceur. “Coach Lad” built one of the most successful high school football programs, not to mention one of the most successful athletic programs in the country, on the belief that “winning is important [...]. But winning is an outcome of doing so many things correctly.” Ladouceur was famously quoted for saying, “Nobody expects you to play perfect, that’s impossible. But what we expect, and what you should expect from each other, is a perfect effort.”

“I’ve never seen someone who has really good habits fail. That doesn’t mean they don’t have failures and they don’t confront failure, but I’ve never coached a young man, who overcomes obstacles, treats people well, works hard, and challenges himself to be the best that he can, really struggle in life.”

Justin Alumbaugh ‘98

Spartans Shaping Lives Through Coaching

To this day, many of De La Salle’s athletic programs continue to enjoy a high level of success using Ladouceur’s philosophy. Similarly, many Spartans have made significant impacts on the playing field. These accomplishments have come in many forms; team championships, individual awards, and national recognition. Yet, many would not have been possible without the support, dedication, drive, and motivation of our hardworking De La Salle coaches.

This coaching legacy now stretches out to other schools and other sports, as Spartans guide athletes at all levels in the sports world. Some hold head coaching positions at the high school or collegiate level, while others are paving their way toward head coaching positions at the professional level. Then there are those who continue to give back and shape the lives of current De La Salle student-athletes

Four Spartans Take Their Teams to High School State Championships

During the 2022 high school football season, four De La Salle alumni head coaches guided their teams to a state championship game. Three represented the best of football in California and the fourth was the 5A champion in Arizona. One thing that holds true for all four of these men is that they all played for Bob Ladouceur.

Justin Alumbaugh ‘98 took over as De La Salle’s head football coach in 2013 and continues to shape the football program around the learnings that Ladouceur ingrained in him as a player in the late 90s. “We talk to the players all the time and tell them we are a product of our habits,” said Alumbaugh. “I’ve never seen someone who has really good habits fail. That doesn’t mean they don’t have failures and they don’t confront failure, but I’ve never coached a young man, who overcomes obstacles, treats people well, works hard, and challenges himself to be the best that he can, really struggle in life.”

This season, Justin guided the Spartans to their 30th straight North Coast Section championship, a Northern California State title, and a trip to the CIF Division 1-A State Championship game, marking the eighth time in nine seasons that he’s led De La Salle to the state championship game.

Class of 1993 graduate Patrick Walsh guided the Serra High School squad to the California Open Division Championship game, where they lost to St. John Bosco. During Walsh’s 23 seasons as Serra’s head coach, he’s collected 184 victories, led the Padres to a state championship (2017), and participated in the state championship game five of the past six seasons.

For his part, Vic Galli ‘83 led Pittsburg High School to the CIF Division I-AA State Championship game, where the Pirates fell to Liberty High School of Bakersfield. After a short time on staff at De La Salle in the 90s, both as a junior varsity and freshman head coach, Vic moved over to Pittsburg where he has been the head coach for the past 21 seasons – only retiring after the 2022 campaign.

In Arizona, Eddy Zubey ‘95 finished off his 2022 season with a victory, guiding Higley High School to the Arizona Division 5A State Championship. Zubey has been the head coach at Higley High School for 17 seasons, and the 2022 state championship was his first as a coach and the first ever for the school. But what Eddy is most proud

of is the fact that he was able to coach and share this title with his two boys; Andrew a safety and Daniel a tight end.

“For personal reasons, winning a state championship was very special because I had both of my own boys on the team and playing,” said Zubey. “To have this experience for the first time WITH both my boys on the team was a feeling I cannot describe. I was lucky enough to win a few championships at De La Salle (never lost a game at any level), but winning the state championship this year as a head coach was amazing.”

It was during Walsh’s final season as a player in 1992, that De La Salle embarked on one of the most remarkable records in sports when the Spartans’ football team won 151 straight games. It was a winning streak that both Zubey and Alumbaugh were also part of; with both Spartans never losing a game during their entire time at De La Salle. Coincidentally three of the men also returned to coach at De La Salle. Galli, who played for Ladouceur in the early years, returned to the school to coach and learn under Coach Lad’s guidance, where he helped coach Zubey and Walsh during their freshman and junior varsity years. Walsh first coached at De La Salle before moving to Serra, and Alumbaugh learned under Lad as an assistant coach before taking over the program.

“There is a blueprint of success if you build a community that’s dedicated, and Lad gave us that blueprint,” said Alumbaugh. “If you build a community that’s driven and motivated and has a common goal, the outcome is going to be good. We’ve been successful because we focus on the program by building community through accountability, toughness, and respect. So, I’m not surprised to see any of the success that those programs have had.”

The more recent success of these four men can also be linked back to their time at De La Salle as students. “Being a Spartan is a way of life,” said Zubey. “It embodies a lot of attributes that lead to success. Hard work, never quitting, striving for perfection, learning to trust and love others, and being willing to seek out help when needed. These are some of the things that I learned and took away from my time at De La Salle.”

Of course, their stories are not alone. There are a number of alums who are motivating student-athletes at the high school level today. Spartan standout Damon Jenkins ‘03 just completed his first season as the head coach at Kerman High School where he led the Lions to a 7-5 record in 2022. It will be interesting to follow his career in the years to come.

Eddy Zubey ‘95

Spartans Paving the Way at the Professional, Collegiate, and High School Level Football

De La Salle alums are also sprinkled into the professional and collegiate ranks. Brian Callahan ‘01 just completed his 14th season in the NFL and fourth as the Offensive Coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals. Like those before him, Brian credits De La Salle for laying the groundwork for his life as a coach. “My time and experience at De La Salle is the foundation of my entire career,” said Callahan. “Learning what it meant to be a great teammate, to commit to something greater than oneself, to love and work FOR each other to reach goals.”

“I learned what sacrifice and real hard work looked like – I learned how to compete with everything I had,” he continues. “I lean on the lessons from De La Salle every day. I’ve used them with our players currently, I reference Coach Lad on multiple different occasions to our offense. There are traits that championship teams share that carry across all levels and all sports – I learned them all as a Spartan. They have only been confirmed on my coaching journey through three Super Bowl appearances.”

After helping the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance in 2022 and an AFC Championship appearance in 2023, Callahan is in line to become a future head coach in the NFL. Callahan understands that coaching in the professional ranks is very different from coaching at the high school level. “Professional sports is a different atmosphere and an avenue to shape the lives of players,” said Callahan. “It’s a business and there are livelihoods at stake. However, the foundation of coaching is the same at every level. Players need to know how much you care about them, how invested you are in them as people, and they have to trust you to put them in the best positions to be successful.”

When reflecting on his time at De La Salle, Callahan recalls the people that made the most impact on his life and the desire to lead others through coaching. “Outside of my parents, there is no group of people who have had a bigger impact on me as a person and a professional. Coach Lad and Coach Eidson provided incredible mentorship as a young man, they shaped a large part of who I am today. Patrick Walsh is one of the core mentors I’ve had in my life – he coached me when he was an assistant at De La Salle and gave me my first job with him at Serra. Coach Panella had the most immediate impact on me as my position coach and it’s a relationship I still maintain to this day. And as silly as it sounds, I have a copy of Coach Lad’s book in my office. I am incredibly proud to be a Spartan.”

Others who have benefited from learning from the “De La Salle way” include Tosh Lupoi ‘02, who was on staff at Alabama for a pair of national championships, and is now the Defensive Coordinator at the University of Oregon, and Nick Holtz ‘02 who currently serves as the Passing Game Coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars, after spending three seasons as the Offensive Coordinator at UNLV.

Basketball

When compared to the football program, the De La Salle basketball coaching tree got off to a late start. However, it is really picking up steam. Currently, 12 Spartans hold coaching positions at the pro, college, and high school levels.

Justin Joyner ‘06, a member of the 2006 De La Salle state championship team, is in his sixth season at Saint Mary’s College and first as the Associate Head Coach. This season, Justin helped lead the Gaels to a five-seed in the 2023 NCAA Basketball Tournament, after posting a 25-7 regular season record. During his time with the Saint Mary’s program, the Gaels have posted a 143-50 overall record, advancing to the post-season five times, including three NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and two National Invitational Tournament (NIT) appearances.

We asked Justin how De La Salle helped prepare him for his current role, “As a coach you are a mentor, a leader, an example, and a servant. The mission of De La Salle, “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve,” SPRING

Brian Callahan ‘01

Justin Joyner ‘06

is something that has really fueled the way I’ve lived my life. As coaches, it is our duty to pour into these young men everything we can so that we can give them the best chance at success. It really is a servant’s mentality, it’s all about the players.”

Brothers Gus Argenal ‘99 and Justin Argenal ‘04 are also making an impact at the collegiate level. Gus has been coaching college basketball for 20 years and is in his second season as an assistant coach at the University of Arkansas. The Razorbacks earned an eight-seed in the 2023 NCAA Basketball Tournament, after posting an Elite 8 finish in 2021. In addition to his time at Arkansas, Gus has coached at Cal State Fullerton (2019-21), the University of Nevada, Reno (2017-19), Cal State East Bay (2013-17) where he was the head coach, Rice (2012-13), UC Davis (2011-12), and Chico State (2008-11). Gus’ brother, and former De La Salle head basketball coach (2016-21), Justin, recently finished his second season as the head coach of Dominican University in San Rafael.

Other basketball alumni coaches include Zach Payne ‘09, who finished his fourth season as an Assistant Coach at the University of Montana, Sean O’Donnell ‘17, who is the Director of Basketball Operations at UC Irvine, and Holden Wright ‘17, who is a Graduate Assistant at Saint Mary’s College.

De La Salle Hall of Famer Brent Barry ‘90 serves as the Vice President for Basketball Operations with the San Antonio Spurs and General Manager of the Austin Spurs, the NBA G-League affiliate of the Spurs. Greg St. Jean ‘08 (Dallas Mavericks) and Beau Levesque ‘09 (Los Angeles Clippers) are working their way up through the NBA ranks, and both are part of teams that are in playoff contention in the Western Division of the NBA. Greg is now in his second season as an

assistant coach with the Mavericks. He has also worked for the Lakers and the Kings in the NBA as well as had four seasons as an assistant coach at St. John’s University. Levesque is working with his second NBA team and is nearing the end of the second season as a player development coach for the Clippers. He also worked two seasons in the same role with the Brooklyn Nets, after breaking into the coaching arena with St. John’s University in 2016.

Many of these former basketball players learned the sport under the tutelage of Frank Allocco, who led the Spartans for 18 seasons, from 1997-2015. During his time as De La Salle’s head coach, Allocco led the Spartans to 17 league championships, three NorCal titles, and two state championships (2000 and 2006), while seeing 60 players move on to play college basketball.

Joyner, who was one of those players to move on to the collegiate level, had this to say about Coach Allocco’s leadership, “At De La Salle, I was blessed to be around some special leaders. For me, the influence of Coach Allocco was as important as any influence I’ve had in my life. As a coach, he taught me how to be a better player on the floor. As a leader, he empowered us to give everything we had for the betterment of the greater good. It’s all about the team. And most importantly, as a mentor, he taught us that how you do anything is how you do everything. The way we compete on the floor is the way we will compete in life. How we show up for our team on the floor will mirror how we show up for our team in life.”

Baseball, Soccer, and Golf

Other Spartans are making an impact at the professional and college level in sports like baseball, soccer, and golf.

In the baseball arena, Brenton Del Chairo ‘97 and Mike Brdar ‘12 are coaching at the highest level. Del Chairo is now in his seventh season with the Milwaukee Brewers, and second as the team’s hitting coordinator, while Brdar enters his first year as the hitting coach for the Detroit Tigers. Mike Sansoe ‘01, Bryan Byrne ‘02, and Anthony Aliotti ‘06 continue to work in the scouting departments for the Pirates, Nationals, and Athletics, respectively.

Scott Hardy ‘94, whose son Will is a current sophomore at De La Salle, has made a name for himself in the college golf scene, where he has been the head coach of the Saint Mary’s golf team since 2002. In his 21 seasons in Moraga, he’s been named the West Coast Conference Coach of the Year eight times and led the Gaels to the NCAA Regionals 10 times with two NCAA Championship appearances.

In soccer, a pair of De La Salle Hall of Famers are assistant coaches for the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer. Adin Brown ‘96 is now the goalkeeper coach for the club and Chris Wondolowski ‘01 is an assistant coach. Both are in their first season in these roles.

Alumbaugh had one more thing to add about Lad’s influence on him, which can also be applied to all the De La Salle alums who are currently coaching or who have been a coach, “When Lad was talking me into becoming a coach, he told me a very simple thing, ‘Coaching is a very noble profession if you do it right. If you’re not just chasing wins, it’s a real noble profession.’ I wake up every day and I feel like what I’m doing is having an impact on people’s lives. Because of that, it has an impact on my life and I feel good about what I’m doing and, like Lad said, it feels noble.”

Pat Walsh ‘92 with Fr. LaSalle ‘69

De La Salle Giving Week Brings Joy to the Community

For the past four years, De La Salle has celebrated De La Salle Giving Day; a day dedicated to celebrating our school and supporting the needs of our students. It has been a day for our De La Salle community to rally together and help bridge the gap of more than $2,800 per student between tuition and what a De La Salle education actually costs.

At the heart of our school is our mission to provide a quality education to underserved students. One in three students at De La Salle receives needs-based tuition assistance. Yet, increases in tuition have resulted in a greater need for tuition assistance. This year alone, we provided over $4 million to De La Salle families. Similarly, increased investments in resources for our faculty, and the ever-growing co-curricular programming for our students are also top funding priorities so that we can keep innovating and educating our future leaders.

This is why, this past fall, De La Salle grew Giving Day to GivingWeek. It allowed us to share all the wonderful ways that community support greatly impacts our students. Each day during De La Salle Giving Week, we focused on the JOY on campus – the joy of being a Student, the joy of Guiding as a faculty member, the joy in participating in Athletics, the joy of receiving tuition assistance. And our community responded in an incredible way.

Needless to say, this puts us in a great position of strength. However, we must not get complacent and lose sight of the fact that the need is still very great. Moving forward, we want to continue to make the gift of a Lasallian Catholic education available to students. Contact Vice President for Advancement, Mark Chiarucci at (925) 288-8106 or chiaruccim@dlshs.org to learn more about how your gifts can make a tremendous impact on our school and students.

Thank you to our community who make investing in the school and our young men a philanthropic priority throughout the year.

Did you miss our communications during De La Salle Giving Week? Check out dlshs.org/givingweek for all the updates and links to videos and be sure to update your contact information with us by emailing chiaruccim@dlshs.org so you don’t miss our effort in the fall!

ThankDonorsYou

Together, more than $453,000 was raised to benefit our students, a new record for De La Salle and the Annual Fund!

De La Salle’s Financial Report

The June 30, 2022 financial statement audit was completed in the Fall of 2022. De La Salle continues to be a high performer among its peers. Operational and financial strength remained strong in 2022 despite a challenging economy. This was primarily due to the generous contributions of donors, fiscal and operational stewardship, and the dedication of faculty, staff, and students.

$24,903,985 Total revenues, gains (losses) and other

Expenses

In 2022, De La Salle embarked on a two-year process to enhance compensation for faculty, staff, and coaches, to support both the retention and recruitment of dedicated Lasallian educators, as well as to keep up with the increased cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition, these increases help bring De La Salle more in line with peer institutions.

Fundraising

Annual Fund Support

Our community is responding to the Advancement Team’s request for support of our Annual Fund which is critical to all of our programs. We cannot meet the needs of today without the support of many. More than $2 million was donated to De La Salle in FY22. The philanthropic support of our alumni, parents, and friends continues to make a significant impact on the lives of our students each and every day.

Other Financial Highlights from FY22

• Has provided resources to enable the increase in curriculum offerings to meet the needs and development of all students. (See story on page 2 “Premiere Learning Experience”)

• Awarded $4.2 million in financial aid to meet the needs of one in three students.

• Continues to invest in the De La Salle Learning Center, which continues to be a beacon for our young men. On average, more than 100 students utilize the facility each day.

Focus on Endowment and Financial Aid

Sponsorship

The Many Stories Behind

High-quality education comes with high operational expenses. As many know, current tuition doesn’t cover the entire cost of educating a student at De La Salle. When you also factor in our pledge to make a Lasallian education accessible to families whose financial resources are limited, it is clear why our school seeks out additional ways to help bridge its monetary gap.

The most significant financial impact comes from our donors. Through the support of alumni, parents, grandparents, alumni parents, faculty, staff, and friends, De La Salle has been able to provide the resources needed for each student to nurture his talents on his personal journey toward becoming a ManofFaith,Integrity,andScholarship in the spirit of St. John Baptist de La Salle.

Like the educational needs that they satisfy, donations make their way to De La Salle in many shapes and sizes – from cash gifts and pledges to the Annual Fund and legacy giving through our various named endowments, capital projects, and everything in between. The truth is no amount of giving is too small because, cumulatively, all donations help us fulfill our mission and keep tuition affordable. What follows are just four examples of how donations are currently changing the lives of our students.

Maurice Jones-Drew: Paying it Forward

Maurice Jones-Drew ‘03 found success on the football field at De La Salle as part of its record 151-game winning streak, including his four touchdowns in a nationally televised upset of Long Beach Poly. He went on to become a UCLA All-American running back and an NFL player with a nine-season career and three NFL Pro Bowl appearances.

These days, Maurice can be found on the NFL Network, where he has been a long-time color analyst covering the Los Angeles Rams. However, you will also find him on Winton Drive’s Owen Owens Field, during football season, coaching De La Salle student-athletes throughout the week.

He believes a key to his success is the Brotherhood that he experienced at De La Salle. “You learn to navigate that path of how to respect other people, whatever their experience was,” he explains. “The experience I got at De La Salle – the opportunity I got there – helped me become the person I am today.”

It is a sense of Brotherhood that has propelled him to not only give back on the De La Salle football field but to also support students by establishing a named family fund for financial aid. His hope is to interact with students and get them ready for college through a foundation within De La Salle’s Spartan Success program, which was created more than 25 years ago as a specialized academic program to help incoming freshmen find their personal success in the areas of Math, Study Skills, and English.

“The plan is to push students toward college so they can see a different environment. For me, it’s always about the next step,” he said. only helps students through their four years of high school but also sets them up to navigate the next 40 years after De La Salle.”

Maurice believes in the Spartan Success program so much that he is also taking an active role in mentoring the recipients, as well as other De La Salle students. He continues to engage the community and works with teachers to stay informed about when a student may need additional support and attention. It is an approach that is greatly appreciated by faculty on campus, including varsity head coach Justin Alumbaugh ‘98.

“Maurice is one of the great success stories that our school has had; his involvement with our student-athletes has been a true blessing,” said Alumbaugh. “His energy, perspective, and love for the school are palpable, and his willingness to give back is a true embodiment of what it means to be a Spartan.”

Behind De La Salle Donors

Vituity Cares Fund: Empowering the Underrepresented

Vituity Cares is a charitable foundation focused on improving the health of underserved communities in the United States. The foundation works in and with local communities to ensure a more equitable future for all by providing tuition assistance to support low-income scholars interested in pursuing careers in the science or healthcare space. It is Vituity’s belief that the people who have experience with inequities are the ones best equipped to build solutions.

With that in mind, Vituity recently partnered with De La Salle to assist young men interested in science and a Catholic Lasallian education. It comes at a time when there are disturbing disparities between health and healthcare among individuals due to race, socioeconomic status, and other discriminatory factors. As such, Vituity’s partnership with De La Salle has the potential to be a multiplier effect. Something that cannot be overstated.

“Our mission is to foster the next generation of healthcare professionals, particularly from underrepresented ethnic groups,” explains Theo Koury, MD AP ‘18, a doctor at John Muir Medical Center and President of Vituity Cares Foundation. “I know the superior education that De La Salle provides and, more importantly, the culture and mission of providing opportunities and support to young men through a Lasallian education. Our program provides $4,000 per year to a minority/under-represented student who wants to attend De La Salle and demonstrate an interest in the healthcare profession.”

Owens Family: Memorializing a Legacy

The Owens family continues to leave its mark on De La Salle. Nearly a half-century ago, our Winton Drive football field was named after the father of six of our alumni: Owen Owens Jr. ‘74, Sean Owens ‘77, Patrick Owens ‘78, Terrance Owens ‘80, Kevin Owens ‘82, and Shannon Owens ‘87. It was a tribute to Owen Owens Sr. who was passionate about De La Salle football.

The Owens family’s impact on De La Salle goes back to 1974 when the Spartan football program was first established. Owen Owens Sr. was instrumental in getting the program off the ground. Owen Jr. stated, “It was not only doing something to help support a new program, but a matter of civic pride for him. The field, the stands, all of it. It is a little unfathomable what he helped build.”

Now, in memory of Sean, Patrick, and Terrance, who have each sadly passed, the family has endowed a permanent Owens Family Fund to provide financial aid to students enrolled at De La Salle. “The idea of doing something to remember our brothers and being able to help a family in need?” said Owen. “I couldn’t think of a more wonderful way to pay tribute to them.”

The Owens Family Fund, and its investment proceeds, will be used to assist De La Salle students with a financial need for tuition.

TJ and Terron Ward: Maximizing Youth Potential

While their De La Salle careers could be considered legendary, it is the WardBoy Project that TJ ‘04 and Terron Ward ‘10 created with their family in 2017 that could prove to be the most impactful. Committed to enhancing the lives of Bay Area youth by helping them achieve their life goals and become leaders in their community, the foundation emphasizes the importance of good decision-making, positive mental and physical health, and consistent confidence.

“We want to afford kids that chance to maximize their potential, so everything that we do is to help the youth evolve into the best young adult that they can possibly be,” says TJ. “Since the Foundation (originally the TJ Ward Foundation in 2014) has been established we have impacted hundreds of kids.”

Following their retirement from the NFL, the brothers have been able to dedicate more time to the Project as well as develop a new vision of how to move forward. This vision includes more mentorship and programming, like the WARD program which stands for Willingness to Achieve the Reward of one’s Desires. The WARD program focuses on academics, leadership, life skills, and a mentor/mentee program. Volunteers meet with the youngsters 4-5 times a month to develop life skills. The Foundation has also worked on a Symposium to reach a larger audience that will include speakers that will touch on a variety of topics.

However, the WardBoy Project is not only supporting the youth of the Bay Area through its programming. It has also established a Named Family Fund at De La Salle to provide assistance to families in need. “It is important for us to give back; to give underserved kids that opportunity to have the same experience that we had,” says Terron. “You come here, and 9 out of 10 [students] are going to leave a better person.”

“The best way you can serve the community is to bring up the young people that live in that community,” says TJ. “There are people that are less fortunate and we have a community of service and you see these families that struggle and we want to be in God’s image and likeness. We are here to help others.”

If you’re interested in supporting one of De La Salle’s existing endowment programs or creating your own named fund, please reach out to Mark Chiarucci, Vice President for Advancement, at chiaruccim@dlshs.org.

Terron ‘10, Terrel, and TJ ‘04 Ward

Leaving a

Roche Family Sets an Example for Others to Follow

David ’84 and Veronica Roche have been supporters of De La Salle for more than three decades, well before their son, Shane ’21 attended the school. The Roche family has continued their generosity to De La Salle with the inclusion of a legacy provision for De La Salle in their Living Trust.

When David reflects back on his time at De La Salle, he recalls that the school prepared him for college in many ways. Academically, he recalls sitting in one of his college courses and realized, “I have already done that at De La Salle.” It gave him comfort knowing that the school prepared him well. “Maybe it took a bit longer to realize, but the impact that the faculty had on me lives on.” That impact happened in many ways; “something as simple as learning how to construct an effective essay,” as English teacher Jack O’Leary taught him so many years ago, has stayed with him forever.

As De La Salle enters its 57th year in existence, the school now has more than 225 alumni who have had a son (or multiple sons) attend the school. The word “Legacy” is used many ways here on campus. The legacy the faculty and staff have laid, but also the legacy that now runs through many of the De La Salle families.

Now a Principal at Apex Securities & Asset Management in Brentwood, Calif., David continues to stay involved at De La Salle, attending sporting events or participating in the Brother Maris Golf Tournament. His connection became even deeper when his son Shane attended the school. It was important for David and Veronica that Shane attend De La Salle because of the quality education, as well as knowing firsthand how the school would prepare him for life after high school, both in and out of the classroom. One of his fondest memories with Shane came from the Father/Son Retreat experience. It was a very personal and maturing experience for both. “It got us out of our comfort zones” as they had many meaningful conversations as father and son. “It allowed us to become even closer.” Shane now attends Saint Mary’s College, where his Christian Brothers education continues.

As David reflects back on his son’s experience at De La Salle, he says he “knew that Shane was happy, simply because he wanted to be at school, and always wanted to be there early.” It might seem simple, but it showed David how much Shane enjoyed his four years on campus.

“When you realize that you have been blessed, you want to be able to do all you can to afford others the opportunities that you had,” states David. “I still had a connection to the school, it shouldn’t be when you leave, you leave.” David recalls George Sabbagha, former Dean of Students, helping the students whenever he could with equipment, money for a meal, whatever was needed. “He was always there to help, which stays true to the mission of the Christian Brothers.”

For the Roche family, this legacy is even more meaningful, as David not only saw his son graduate two years ago, but he also has in place a legacy that he will leave with the school through his Living Trust. David states, “it doesn’t have to be a massive number, I would tell my Spartan friends, do what you are comfortable doing; what you are able to do. By including De La Salle in our Living Trust, it was a simple process, and one that I hope will make an impact for years to come. We all have an estate, whether it is big or small. Working with a trusted advisor benefits you and your family, with the added impact of supporting future generations of Spartans.”

ESTATE PLANNING

Estate planning helps ensure that your wishes are carried out and that your family is cared for. It’s an essential and necessary part of your end-of-life plan. Once you have taken care of your needs and your family, there is an opportunity to make an impact and change the lives of Spartans for years and years to come through a gift in your will or trust. It is simple to include a planned gift to De La Salle in your will or trust documents: “I give and bequeath _________________ (amount/percent) of my estate to De La Salle High School, a corporation organized and existing under the California Nonprofit Corporation Law, headquartered at 1130 Winton Drive, Concord, CA 94518.” To learn more about how you can Leave Your Legacy at De La Salle through a gift in your estate, will, or trust, contact Mark Chiarcucci at (925) 288-8106 or chiaruccim@dlshs.org.

Like Father, Like Son(s)

The doors to De La Salle High School opened in September of 1965 with just two academic wings. The first graduating class of the school, the class of 1969, had a total of just 98 students, compared to today’s average of 240 students. Yet, after 57 years of activity on campus and 54 graduating classes, De La Salle now has a whopping 10,626 active alumni worldwide.

Spartan alumni typically remain committed to the school they attended during the end of their adolescent years. They donate both their time and treasure to ensure that the opportunities they received are available to the young men who follow in their footsteps. For some, this also means watching their sons matriculate through the same high school they did. They see it as an important step in their families’ faith and life journey. Currently, 70 students, from 62 families, are second-generation Spartans at De La Salle.

Through the years, 233 alums have had at least one son attend De La Salle. Although, for many, multiple children walked the same halls that they did years ago. In total, 325 second-generation students have continued their family’s legacy on Winton Drive. Now, with the school closing in on its sixth decade of existence, it shouldn’t be long before the first, third-generation student follows in the footsteps of his grandfather.

We hope you enjoy a few short stories from some of the school’s multi-generational families, as they describe why De La Salle means so much to them.

From Dalton Brown ‘94, father of Dominic ‘23 and Samuel ‘26

“De La Salle is not just the high school my sons attend, it’s a family they were born into. They grew up attending De La Salle events with no doubt in their minds that they would soon be participating in those events. Their biggest transition may have been calling the person they always knew as Leo, Mr. Lopoz.

I remember when my oldest, Dominic, was born. Among many other feelings, there was a great sense of pride and joy that he may have the opportunity to attend De La Salle and share some of the amazing experiences I did. I too grew up with my eye on De La Salle, but it was still foreign to me until I showed up on Winton Drive in 1990. It quickly became home. I still remember those first few days of freshman football and the brothers I made, and still have today. This is the place that shaped a goofy 14-year-old into the man I am today. Yes, there have been other influences in my life, but I can say without a doubt that the teachers and coaches at De La Salle helped me shape what is now my moral compass

and work ethic. I see what the last four years have done for my oldest and am amazed that 28 years later they have done the same for him. I also see how quickly it takes shape with the changes my freshman son has made in just seven months as a Spartan.

They have both had bumps, just as I did, but this family they were born into was there for them and they have, and will, help them come back stronger. I look back at the devastation experienced by my son when cut from the freshman basketball team and the life lesson he turned into a paper about adversity and growth for Mr. Pelster’s English class junior year. I also look at the dedication he then put into water polo, which became his path and has helped him secure his ongoing education through a commitment to play Division 1 at the University of Santa Barbara.

Sam’s adversity came in a different form when he lost his freshman baseball season before it began with a torn UCL. Again, the De La Salle family was there in the way his teammates have rallied around him and the care the unbelievable staff and parents of his teammates have shown for him. His Spartan story is still in its first chapter, but I know with the support system and family around him on Winton Drive, it will be a great one.

Ours is just one of many stories of families with legacies coming through De La Salle. I am always amazed when I am at an event and see the number of alums that now have their sons attending; knowing their sons will receive the same education, care, support, and love that they did.”

Nicholas Gums Sr. ‘99, father of Nicholas ‘25

“When I graduated in 1999, I had no idea what God had in store for me and my future. I had no idea what career I would choose or where I would be 24 years later, but here I am. My family and I live in the East Bay and I have worked in the financial services industry for the past 19 years. I am a husband to my beautiful wife Kate and father of three great kids; Nicholas Jr. (16), Natalie (10), and Nathan (5). I can say, without a doubt, that graduating from De La Salle helped mold me into the man I have become. I wanted to continue that same tradition and provide a quality education for Nick Jr. and his siblings.

Nick Jr. is enjoying his sophomore year at De La Salle, where he is a member of several clubs and is finishing up his first year of Mock Trial. As a student at De La Salle, I learned about responsibility, accountability, and being a man of integrity; and as a student-athlete, I learned about discipline, hard work, and brotherhood. I am happy to see how well Nick Jr. is doing in school academically, and I am also very excited to see what the next two years will bring and the continued success that I know he will have in the future. He is a great big brother and friend and he has a heart of gold. He is setting the bar pretty high for his siblings, whom both hope to become graduates of De La Salle and Carondelet in the

Roy Dimalanta ’90, father of Nicholas ‘22 and Mitchell ‘25

“Looking back on my time at De La Salle, it’s interesting to think that when I graduated in 1990, it had only been in existence for a short 25 years. Four years earlier, it also wasn’t my first choice for high school. Rather, it was a logical choice because I had been a product of a small Catholic school in a small neighboring town. Luckily, my parents recognized in me a kid who needed further spiritual and emotional guidance at that stage of my life, and I thank them for the gift of an impactful high school education.

Upon entering De La Salle, the impact on me was immediate. Despite being one of 200+ boys that fall of 1986, I felt like the teachers got to know me very quickly. I wasn’t simply a number. Teachers connected with me on a level that made me feel like I was an interesting person to them. They got to know who my friends were, and what sports and academic interests I had, and they catered to my learning style. The teachers made me laugh, and I felt like I belonged to a thing much bigger than me. And this continued throughout my high school years.

I was taught how to persevere when times were tough (two years of football and three years of wrestling at De La Salle will bring out real character). Strong friendships were formed – both with my contemporaries and teachers – as well as with many kids, many of whom I wouldn’t have thought I’d have anything in common with (and they would later say the same thing). If there were two lifelong lessons I took away as a student, one would be the importance of respect for others who may have different outlooks or opinions. The other – and most cherishable part of De La Salle was and will always be – the privilege of being able to say I am part of the Brotherhood, a connective tissue and lasting bond with any and all Lasallian students and teachers throughout the world.

Knowing this, it was important to my wife and me that we consider De La Salle as the environment for our sons’ transformations into adulthood. For us, besides a name, a lasting gift we wanted to provide our sons was an educational environment where strong values of respect, collegiality, and teamwork were taught and modeled every day. We sought a place where they would be mindfully guided and cared for – spiritually, and emotionally – in all aspects of high school. De La Salle, we strongly believe, is the environment where they could become better versions of themselves. To date, my wife and I still hear stories from Nick (class of ‘22), and Mitch (‘25), about the joyful and memorable classroom and team moments they experienced. Such conversations serve as wonderful reminders my sons have (and continue to receive) the gift of the De La Salle Brotherhood, a gift founded on the same values once taught to me, and a gift they can one day possibly pass on.”

Michael

“In 1958, Wilhelmus (Bill) van der Klugt and Elizabeth (Bep) van der Lans immigrated to the United States from the Netherlands. Meeting in Lodi, Calif., the two were married and began a family. Bill and Bep were raised in modest families and were devoted Catholics. They knew the importance of quality education as well as the importance of raising their three children in the Catholic faith. After a few years at St. Catherine’s in Martinez, the couple had to decide where their kids were to attend high school. They learned about De La Salle and Carondelet from friends, and though the cost would be a stretch for the family, decided to enroll John and, three and four years later, Doreen and Mike. Little did they know what they were entering into with the Brotherhood/Sisterhood at these two schools.

Bill would be seen on a daily basis at the school watching the three participate in athletics. The weather was never a deterrent. Bep would manage carpools to and from the schools with other families and spend countless nights correcting grammar in papers. (I wish I had her editing this piece. Sorry mom, most of it stuck.) The comradery the three siblings experienced on the playing fields/courts was what Bill and Bep saw, but the bonding during the school days, retreats, and off-campus activities was only known to each of the kids.

As one of those kids, the entire experience at De La Salle is beyond what words can describe. The dedication of the instructors and supporting staff, to countless hours donated by the volunteers that support the school day in and day out is amazing. The vision of De La Salle and Carondelet is to develop young men and women who will enter the schools to learn and leave to serve. This vision laid the groundwork for each of our futures. John became a peace officer, Doreen a paraprofessional and now a school administrative assistant (at St. Catherine’s), and Michael a public accountant. All leading lives serving the community.

With the opportunities, Bill and Bep gave to their children and the experiences they each had, there was no doubt the next generation of “VanderKlugts” would be attending De La Salle/Carondelet. Between the three of us (I married a graduate of Carondelet, Sheri HardtVanderKlugt), we’ve had NINE children who have now graduated from the schools (two who have married or are about to marry a Cardondelet graduate) and gone on to college.

The De La Salle and Carondelet Brothers, Sisters, educators, administrators, and community have instilled the importance of dedication, hard work, and faith into each of us. The drive for academic and athletic achievement helps us live out the Lord’s hope that we utilize the gifts He has given us and to share such gifts with those around us. I continue to enjoy supporting the De La Salle community as a White Coat to help ensure that those students who have followed me and my children have the opportunity to experience the joy and Brotherhood/Sisterhood that we have all benefited from and daily strive to pass on to others.

To the De La Salle and Carondelet Community, thanks for all you have done, and I look forward to many more years of involvement and service.”

VanderKlugt ‘87, brother of John ‘83, father of Matthew ‘15, Michaela (CHS ‘17), and Nathan ‘22, and uncle of Nicholaas ‘11, Christopher ‘16, and Robert ‘21

Scott Hugo’05

ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR

TheDe La Salle Alumni Association, along with the entire De La Salle community, is proud to honor Scott Hugo, class of 2005, as the 2023 De La Salle Distinguished Alumnus of the Year.

Scott embodies the teachings of Saint John Baptist de La Salle. His dedication to the entire Bay Area through his legal work, his philanthropy, and his personal ethics exemplify what it means to live a life of faith, integrity, and scholarship.

Scott arrived at Winton Drive in the fall of 2000 and spent the next four years taking in everything that De La Salle had to offer. He left no stone unturned, excelling in academics, leadership programs (including the National Honor Society), as well as football and rugby. At graduation, he was the clear choice for De La Salle’s General Excellence Award –the highest and most distinguished award granted by our school.

After graduating from De La Salle, Scott went on to study at UCLA where he excelled both on and off the Bruins’ rugby pitch. He was awarded one of the world’s most prestigious international scholarships: a Rhodes Scholarship to attend Oxford University in England where he studied International Relations. Upon his return to the U.S., Scott attended Harvard Law School and Harvard Kennedy School where he developed his community leadership skills in social justice. He was also a co-instructor of graduate-level public policy courses focusing on Housing and Ethics at Mills College.

‘‘We each have to fight for a better world. ‘‘

Today, Scott serves in the Oakland City Attorney’s Office as a housing justice attorney. Prior to that, he was an attorney with the Neighborhood Law Corps fighting for social, economic, and environmental justice for Oakland residents. Scott has also served on several boards including the Terrance Kelly Foundation, which was created after the tragic death of fellow Spartan, Terrance Kelly ‘04, to provide aid and services to underserved and vulnerable communities.

Scott continues to remain deeply connected to De La Salle. He regularly attends sporting events, visits with faculty, works with our leadership team, and even speaks at events to promote the

In Scott’s Own Words

Describe some of the ways you were challenged at De La Salle.

Ms. Stevenson taught me how, through editing, we refine the raw material of our writing. We chip away at the flaws and at the excess, over and over, until the final form is revealed. I have tried to honor that art, editing hundreds of essays and legal briefs – both my own and others’ – to reveal their form and their power.

Ms. Acquistapace’s Honors Biology class underscored that there is no substitute for preparation. How could I ever forget the meticulously detailed chapter outlines we created, or taking test after test after test? The lesson: if I did not prepare, I would not succeed. Period. Countless times, that commitment to preparation has been the deciding factor in my career.

Mr. Hirsch taught me to be wary of taking the easy way out and to not evade the trials I would encounter, but instead find the strength to see them through. He taught me that there is no substitute for hard work and perseverance.

Coach Ladouceur challenged me to be responsible, both to myself and to the team. The purpose of our commitment cards was to be someone that your teammates could count on. Long after my last football game as a Spartan, I have carried that commitment into my work. I try each day to be the best teammate I can be to my colleagues, and the best advocate I can be for Oakland residents – to be someone who can be counted on. Part of that is the commitment to give a perfect effort, pushing myself beyond what I thought was possible. A perfect effort means that I can be proud of what I give, even if the outcome is not in my control.

What has kept you on the path of social justice, equality, and fighting for those without a voice?

Mr. Fitzgerald first introduced me in my sophomore Religious Studies class to the Catholic Social Justice tradition and Liberation Theology. The Catholic Social Justice tradition taught me that we cannot choose to ignore the injustices in the world, but that our faith must be faith in action and in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who suffer. It is a faith that calls us to ease the unjustifiable suffering in the world in the ways that we can.

school’s commitment to making a De La Salle education accessible to all boys, no matter their circumstances.

“There are three virtues I associate with Scott Hugo: humility, intellectual and spiritual brilliance, and gratitude,” says Alexandra Stevenson, De La Salle’s English Department Chair. “Scott is one of the most significant and gifted young men to come through my classroom. Despite his enormous academic talent, he was and remains a deeply humble man. Scott exudes brilliance in all his endeavors, including his ongoing effort to make this world a better place.”

Because of my teachers, coaches, and mentors at De La Salle, I have tried to share in the suffering of others, to stand up for the ideal of justice, and to center my heart in all that I do. That focus on love and connection has been the North Star in my fight for justice. It is easy in law and policy for issues to quickly become abstract, but ultimately they impact people with tremendous force – for good or for ill. The cases to enforce tenants’ right to safe, healthy, dignified housing, or to defend community members’ right to clean air, have all been centered in the people at the heart of the injustice. They are why I fight. To stand alongside tenants fighting for their homes, or a grandmother fighting back against a polluting company so that her grandchildren can safely breathe is the greatest honor I could ever ask for.

What did you learn from your time at De La Salle, that you would like to pass on to this year’s graduating class?

Because of Coach Ladouceur, I read a book called The Last Campaign and learned about Bobby Kennedy’s Day of Affirmation speech in South Africa. Kennedy’s warning guided me as I navigated the opportunities after De La Salle: For the fortunate amongst us, the fourth danger is comfort; the temptation to follow the easy and familiar path of personal ambition and financial success so grandly spread before those who have the privilege of an education. But that is not the road history has marked out for us. Kennedy instead underscored the responsibility – and the opportunity – we each have to fight for a better world: Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.

Any final words?

I shared at graduation back in 2005 that “in our memories, in our dreams, and in the fulfillment of our life’s work will we know the safe harbor that was offered here.” I was wrong about a lot of things as an 18-year old (!) – I had so much to learn about the world and myself, and I still do – but that was something I got right. Almost two decades later, De La Salle continues to be a source of strength, community, and service for me.

De La Salle Alumni Reunions and Events

Alumni Affinity Reunion Recap

The Christmas break is always a great opportunity for De La Salle alumni, who are back in town, to visit campus and engage in student life. This past Christmas it was even sweeter because alumni were able to take part in three De La Salle sports competitions:

On Christmas Eve, more than 30 alumni rugby players came out to Owen Owens Field to take on the current varsity team in a game of touch. A number of our rugby alumni have gone on to play at the collegiate level and they were not shy about encouraging current Spartan students to check out the colleges and universities of their choice.

On December 30th, our wrestling program hosted its annual showcase match featuring some of the best teams in California. It was fantastic to have our alumni grapplers fill the stands and scream instructions on how to take down opponents!

De La Salle’s Alumni Affinity Events continue to grow and it’s a great opportunity to relive the glory days while supporting current Spartans.

On December 22nd, alumni, spanning four decades, played in an alumni versus alumni basketball game. Afterward, everyone gathered in the Ladouceur Athletic Performance Center Hall of Fame Lobby for post-game hospitality. The De La Salle Alumni Basketball Day is one of our most attended events, with families and kids rooting their favorite Spartans on to victory.

Spartans’ Night at the Colombo Club

For the last decade, the Alumni Association has hosted this annual dinner at the legendary Colombo Club in Oakland. The evening provides an opportunity for Spartans from all over the San Francisco Bay Area to gather for a meal, reconnect with old friends, and stay engaged with De La Salle.

On February 16th, alumni spanning six different decades attended. David Holquin, President of De La Salle High School, offered school updates as well as an overview of what our curriculum and campus will look like in a few short years. Terry Eidson shared details about his new role at De La Salle, where he works closely with our Bishop Cummins Scholarship Program, and where he will be spending the majority of his time moving forward.

The Colombo Club is one of the largest social clubs in America founded by Italian pioneers in Oakland just west of the Caldecott Tunnel. The Spartans’ Night Colombo Club event was the brainchild of Sid Thompson, who is a former parent (Bradford ’88) and grandparent (David Ogburn ’13, Blake Ogburn ’15, Luke Ogburn ‘18).

The original vision behind the gathering was to create a legacy event, now that De La Salle is multi-generational. As such, the event has become a great opportunity for alumni and their fathers, who miss out on the De La Salle community once their sons have graduated, to reunite.

The Colombo Club dinner continues to grow and we hope you will join us next year and bring your dad or someone who was instrumental in making your De La Salle experience a reality.

What’s Happening ALUMNI

Steve Zavattero ‘84 (A)

Steve has been named the new Executive Director of the San Francisco Art Dealers Association (SFADA). As the former Co-Owner/Director of the San Francisco Contemporary Art Gallery Marx & Zavattero, and Co-Founder of Startup Art Fair, he is very grateful for the opportunity to professionally rejoin the thriving Bay Area art ecosystem. Steve looks forward to activating dynamic experiences for SFADA’s Membership and fostering more awareness of the vibrant range of its member galleries to a wider group of potential collectors, curators, supporters and art enthusiasts.

Michael Steinbach ‘95 (B)

In 2021 Michael became a producer for The Muppets Studio and produced his first Television Special for Disney+, MuppetsHauntedMansion. The Halloween special mashup of two icons (Disney IPs of The Haunted Mansion and the Muppets) was a great success and he was awarded a Producers Guild Award and nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Fiction Special. In total, MuppetsHauntedMansion received four Emmy nominations and won an Emmy for Outstanding Art Direction and Scenic Design. In 2022 Michael produced 10 episodes of a new TV show, TheMuppetsMayhem. It will launch on Disney+ at a yet-to-be-announced date in 2023.

Tom Coughlan ‘97

Congratulations to Tom who was recently named Executive Director of Lasallian Christian Brothers Foundation (LCBF) in Napa, Calif. Tom previously served as president of Saint Michael’s High School in Santa Fe, N.M. LCBF raises funds for scholarships for underserved students to attend SFNO schools, as well as for the care and support of the SFNO Brothers who educate and serve them.

Brenton Del Chairo ‘97 (C)

Brenton, 43, begins his seventh season with the Brewers and his second as hitting coordinator after spending two seasons (2020-21) as assistant hitting coordinator. He joined the organization in 2016 as a hitting coach with the Arizona Brewers, a role he continued through the 2021 season in addition to his duties as assistant hitting coordinator. Prior to joining the Brewers, Del Chiaro spent nine seasons (2008-16) with the Los Angeles Angels organization. He also spent time with the Major League team as a bullpen catcher in 2007 after his retirement following a seven-year playing career in the Angels system (2001-07). Brenton resides in Claremont, California with his wife, Lindsay, and their two children, Beckett and Cora.

Noah Merl ‘01 (D)

In January 2023, Noah started his own private therapy practice, combining his past experience as a collegiate and professional soccer player with the last 10 years as a practicing psychotherapist. Noah is now providing therapy and mental skills services to athletes and performers throughout California via virtual appointments through “Athletic Acumen.” He says it is a welcome change to be working with the athlete population again after previously working at Kaiser Permanente in Mental Health and Addiction Medicine for seven years. Noah is enjoying the freedom of his own business and lives in Alameda with his wife Kelsey, their children Sierra (8), Easton (5), and Payton (2), and Australian Shepherd Donovan (12).

Nate Appel ‘10

Nate recently moved to the Windy City (Chicago) and is loving the atmosphere there! While he is not quite a Bulls fan yet, he is really enjoying the new environment, food scene, and city life. He’s also still enjoying a rewarding and fulfilling role at Google as a Legal Investigations Manager. In this role, he utilizes what he learned at De La Salle, Chico State (Bachelors), and USD (Masters) on a weekly basis. He directly manages a team of 10+ individuals, provides coaching/mentorship, and assists with career development. He also helps out with responding to domestic criminal

legal requests for user data (e.g. search warrants) and participates in an on-call after-hours pager rotation, where he responds to emergency law enforcement requests (e.g. he provides information to officials when a hiker goes missing to help locate them).

Dr. John “Jeep” Baggett ‘11 (E)

John is a biochemist with expertise in scientific communication, data visualization, and data analysis. He completed his Biochemistry PhD at the University of Nevada, Reno in 2021. In graduate school, John did quite a bit of bioinformatics work and scientific communications (seminars, lectures, and conference presenting). Now he uses these skills in his role at Gryphon, which he joined in 2022. For instance, in March, John presented to members of the CDC and other government agencies in Washington DC. Jeep is an avid outdoorsman, gardener, and cook. You will often find him in the kitchen creating meals with ingredients he produced and harvested himself.

TJ Brassil ‘12

Clayton resident and 2012 De La Salle grad, TJ was recently awarded a 2021-22 Sports Emmy Award for his work as an Associate Producer for NBC Sports at the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games. The award was for Outstanding Interactive Experience – Event Coverage at the Games of the XXXII OLYMPIAD working on a show called Tokyo Gold hosted by Rich Eisen which streamed on Peacock. He says the Tokyo Games assignment, “Was an intense and hectic 20 days, but it was one of the most fun and gratifying experiences of my professional life.” After graduating from the University of Oregon, TJ got a job at the Pac-12 Networks, working his way up to a producer there. He has been producing a show titled TheITFactory for the past two years for Pac-12 Networks with lead football analyst Yogi Roth as host.

Kevin Koenig ‘14 (F)

Kevin recently finished all of the certification exams needed to become board certified in prosthetics and orthotics. He finished residencies last fall and continued on with Gillette Children’s afterward.

He is currently scheduled to present his residency research project at two national conferences in the next few months. He also got married last fall in Minnesota.

Eric Morgan ‘15

Eric made a move to Colorado in 2022. He is a

Max Schmidtbauer ‘18 (G)

Max recently started his PhD at Colorado State University, advised by Dr. Punya Nachappa. He will be investigating the differences in pest and predator insects, soil microbiome, and cannabinoid content with regard to the organic vs. conventional cultivation of hemp. He has also

“What’s Happening” Needs You!

Have you recently started a new job? Or perhaps you are newlywed or had a new baby? If there is something new and exciting happening in your

SpartanSports

Fall and Winter Sports Updates

Six De La Salle athletic programs have completed their season for this school year. Of those, the Spartans have captured four North Coast Section championships. In addition, four varsity teams moved on to compete for state championships, including football water polo, basketball, and wrestling.

Individually, cross country had a third-place finisher at the NCS Championships and a top-10 runner at the CIF State Championships, and 42 De La Salle student-athletes received All-East Bay Athletic League (EBAL) honors. Below is a recap for each of the six fall and winter sports seasons at De La Salle High School.

Fall Sports

Football – The 2022 De La Salle football season concluded with a 10-4 overall record. The Spartans captured their 30th consecutive NCS championship, defeating Pittsburg (30-23) in the Open Division championship game. De La Salle then avenged back-toback losses to Folsom, with a 17-14 win in the 2022 CIF NorCal State Championship game. The Spartans’ season ended with a hard-fought loss to Lincoln (San Diego), 33-28, in the 2022 CIF State Division I-AA Championship game. Fourteen players from the 2022 roster earned All-EBAL recognition. Cooper Flanagan ‘23 was named the CoDefensive MVP, while Stef Bakiev ‘23, Spencer Brien ‘23, Charles Greer ‘23, Johnathan Guerrero ‘24, Joey Manzone ‘23, Journey McKoy ‘23, Cooper Powers ‘23, and Derek Thompson ‘23 were first-team selections. Earning second-team honors were: Dylan Greeson ‘23, Drew Cunningham ‘24, Jaden Jefferson ‘26, Tommy Rainsford ‘23, and Grant Wells ‘23. In addition, as of print time, seven student-athletes had signed National Letter of Intent (NLI) agreements to continue football at the collegiate level.

Water Polo

2022 season with an overall record of 21-7. Along the way, the Spartans posted a 7-0 East Bay Athletic League record to capture the league title. De La Salle then won the NCS Open Division Championship for the second straight season, defeating Miramonte (12-8) in the championship game. Next up was the CIF NorCal Water Polo Championships, where De La Salle defeated Jesuit (17-11) in the quarterfinals, before falling to Bellarmine (16-14) in

the regional semifinals. Five Spartans earned All-EBAL First-Team honors: Dominic Brown ‘23, Jay Hubbard ‘24, Tyler Layman ‘23, Carsten Peters ‘23, and Jack Richards ‘23. Four of these same student-athletes have also signed NLI agreements for college next year.

Cross Country – The De La Salle cross country season included a fifth-place finish at the EBAL Championships and a ninth-place finish in the NCS Division II Cross Country Championships. Individually, Trey Caldwell ‘25 had a great end to his season; finishing second at the EBAL Championship (earning all-league honors), third at the NCS Championships, and ninth at the CIF State Championships. After the State Meet, Trey turned his attention to the regional and national competition, where he finished eighth, out of 180 runners, at the Champs Sports Western Regional to qualify for the national meet. In doing so, he became just the fourth runner from De La Salle to earn the right to compete at the national level. Trey finished 30th overall at the 2022 Champs Sports National Cross Country Championships.

Winter Sports

Basketball – The De La Salle basketball program posted a 19-6 record during its regular season and earned the No. 2 seed in the NCS Open Division Championship, where the team defeated Salesian (55-49) in the semifinals, before falling to Dougherty Valley in the championship game. However, the defeat did not end the Spartans’ season, as De La Salle earned the No. 5 seed in the Northern California regional bracket. After posting a come-from-behind win over Archbishop Mitty (46-44), De La Salle battled top-seeded Modesto Christian in the Northern California regional semifinals. It was an extremely close game but, unfortunately, they fell to the San Joaquin Section Champion, 57-56. Three Spartans earned all-league honors. Alec Blair ‘25 was a first-team selection, Billy Haggerty ‘23 earned second-team honors, and Evan Wells ‘23 was awarded honorable mention.

Soccer – In a season that included 23 games, the De La Salle varsity soccer program posted a 13-9-1 overall record and saw the season end in the quarterfinals of the NCS Division I Playoffs. Six Spartans earned All-EBAL honors. Lucas Pfister ‘23 (defender) was a First-Team All-EBAL honoree, Matthew Rajecki ‘25 (midfielder) earned second-team honors, while Cooper Kennedy ‘23 (forward), Hudson Merritt ‘23 (forward), Leo Bravo ‘23 (midfielder), and Mateo Marchis ‘23 (defense) were honorable mention selections.

Wrestling – The De La Salle wrestling team continued its dominance over the section by capturing both the NCS Duals and NCS Team Championships. In between those victories, the program also won the EBAL Championship, which catapulted 14 De La Salle wrestlers to the NCS Championships. Of the 14 Spartans, nine earned First-Team All-EBAL honors and two were second-team and honorable mention awardees. In total, 13 De La Salle athletes finished in the top three of their weight class at the EBAL Championships. At NCS, Gavin Fernandez ‘23, Manuel Martir ‘24, Atri Feizi ‘23, and TJ Arvizu ‘24 won their weight classes, helping De La Salle capture its 12th overall, and eighth straight NCS Team Championship. Along with the four NCS individual champions and Carlos Vasquez ‘24 (126), De La Salle had five competitors advance to the CIF State meet. The Spartans collected 30.5 points at state, finishing 25th in California for the 2022-23 season. Fernandez, who finished fifth at state in the 152-pound weight class, has also signed an NLI agreement with Cal Poly for the fall.

The spring sports season is nearly complete. Please visit the De La Salle Athletics website at www.DLSSpartans.org for season and championship information for the spring season.

In Memoriam

Mark McKinnon ‘69

(July 18, 1951 - December 1, 2022)

De La Salle recently learned of the passing of Mark McKinnon ‘69, a legendary teacher who dedicated his life’s work to mentoring students at De La Salle and, later, college students at Butte Community College. Mark was not only part of the first graduating class of De La Salle, but was also the school’s inaugural Athlete of the Year. Following college, Mark returned to De La Salle where he taught English and coached baseball for many years.

A gentle giant, Mark walked with gentleness and grace through the world and inspired many to center kindness and compassion in their lives. He also taught thousands of students to become powerful thinkers and writers and to see their inner strength and greatness. Mark is survived by his true love Wendy, his children Sarah and Travis, and his grandchildren Desmond and Oisin.

Mike Wolf

(April 12, 1939 - January 28, 2023)

Mike Wolf was a parent and grandparent to six De La Salle alums, sons Patrick ’80, Thomas ’82, Joseph ’86, Francis ’90 (dec.) and grandsons Louis ’04 and Nico Roth ’23, and father to Carondelet alumnae Gina Roth ’85. Mike was a dedicated supporter of the De La Salle community and its mission to provide a Catholic education. He sacrificed countless hours behind the scenes volunteering with De La Salle’s Crab Feeds, Fall Festivals, and the Parents Association, beginning in 1976. Mike was a guaranteed fixture at every event that was designed to ensure the future of De La Salle and its ability to teach young men faith, integrity, and scholarship.

Sheryl Bacharach, mother of Brian Bacharach ‘02 and Kevin Bacharach ‘03

Angela Backman, mother of Mark Backman ‘91

Michael Billeci ‘85

Virgil Bolin, father of Michael Bolin ‘82 and Brian Bolin ‘83

Gary Borrelli, grandfather of Dominic Borrelli ‘21

Gordon Buckmaster, father of Don Buckmaster ‘90

Margaret “Peggy” Burton, mother of Brian Burton ‘04

Jack Cardoza, father of Matthew Cardoza ‘08

Sheila Ann Cushing, grandmother of Cade Cushing ‘22

Gerard Daly, grandfather of Tristan Daly ‘20, Sofia Daly CHS ‘17, and Olivia Daly CHS ‘23

Patricia D’Atri, mother of Anthony D’Atri ‘81

Patricia Ann Dickson, mother of Thomas Dickson ‘87 and Timothy Dickson ‘94 and grandmother of Kyle Dickson ‘19 and Kevin Dickson ‘20

Anthony Farley, father of Michael Farley ‘81 and Richard Farley ‘82

Stella Ferguson, mother of faculty member Kelly Gardner and grandmother of William Gardner ‘12

Jackie Gagliardi, mother of Joe Gagliardi ’86 and Dominic Gagliardi ’91 and grandmother of Nicholas Roth ’23

Ronald Giblin, father of James Giblin ‘77

Erma Glanzman, grandmother of Brian Evola ‘09

Alfred Hoffmeister, father of Philip Hoffmeister ‘89, grandfather of Jonathan Hoffmeister ‘20, Matthew Hoffmeister ‘22, and Erick Hoffmeister ‘26

Peggy Hutcheson, mother of Scott Hutcheson ‘89 and Lisa (Hutcheson) Odem CHS ‘86

Marjorie Livingston, grandmother of Connor Livingston ‘19

Kimberly Luna, mother of Andrew Luna ‘11

John D. Mattos, father of Michael O’Guinn ‘04

Louise Maynard, grandmother of James Carrier ‘07

Mark McKinnon ‘69

Barbara Middleton, mother of Mitchell Middleton ‘79

Catherine Moloney, mother of Timothy Moloney ‘77

Aaron Nakano, friend of De La Salle

Jack O’Donnell, grandfather of Sean O’Donnell ‘17 and Ryan Donley ‘17

Jack Pochini, grandparent of Dominic Aliano ‘10

Steven J. Roullier ‘75

Sandro Sandri, grandparent of Thomas Sandri ‘12 and Kevin Sandri ‘15

Robert Whitlow, grandfather of Nicholas Whitlow ‘15

Reg and Jeannie Whittington, grandparents of Daniel Ghelfi ‘07 and in-laws to Michael Ghelfi ‘77.

Shirley Wible, mother of Paul Wible ‘78 and John Wible ‘82

Bradley Wiggins ‘86, brother of Christopher Wiggins ‘85, Blake Wiggins ‘87, Frank Wiggins ‘90, and Michael Wiggins ‘98

Mike Wolf, father of current parent Gina Roth CHS ‘85, Shon Wolf, Patrick Wolf ‘80, Thomas Wolf ‘82, Joseph Wolf ‘86, and Francis Wolf ‘90 (dec.) and grandfather of Louis ’04 and Nicholas Roth ‘23

Angie Zigenis, friend of De La Salle

Anthony Zumbo, grandparent of Anthony Zumbo ’06, Michael Zumbo ‘14, and Matthew Zumbo ‘16, and father-in-law of Michael Salvemini ‘87

De La Salle

Dates Remember 2023

Sunday, April 23 Dads and Grads Casino Night De La Salle Campus

Tuesday, April 25 College Preview Night for Juniors & Parents Zoom

Monday, May 1 Class of 2027 Welcome Night De La Salle Campus

Saturday, May 6 De La Salle Auction De La Salle Campus

Friday, May 19 Baccalaureate Mass and Reception De La Salle Campus

Sunday, May 21 Graduation, Class of 2023 De La Salle Campus

Monday, June 12 Brother Maris Golf Tournament Round Hill Country Club

Saturday, August 5 Grand Reunion (classes ending in 3 & 8) De La Salle/Carondelet Campuses

Wednesday, August 16 First Day of Classes for 2023-24 De La Salle Campus

Thursday, August 31 Back-to-School Night De La Salle Campus

Thursday, September 14 (tentative) Taste of De La Salle De La Salle Campus

Friday, September 29 Homecoming Game De La Salle Campus

Sunday, October 1 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Hofmann Student Center

Monday, October 16 De La Salle Golf Classic Diablo Country Club

Sunday, November 5 Open House De La Salle Campus