Logos: The Magazine of Northwest Catholic HIgh School, Spring-Summer 2011 by Michelle Murphy

Spring - summer 2011

NWC Recently Said Goodbye to Four Iconic Members of the School Family

Above left: Walter Stosuy, 1937-2010 Above right: Sister Dolores Staub, O.P., 1918-2010

Above left: June Mullen, 1925-2010 Above right: Rev. Tom Goekler, 1941-2010

ALSO INSIDE: • Fall ‘10 and Winter ‘11 Sports • Alumni News: Weddings, Bib Babies and More • 50th Anniversary News

le t te r fro m t he PRINCIPA L/CHi ef A dm inis tr ator

Dear Friends, What an historic time we are in at Northwest Catholic HS. We are celebrating 50 years of excellent Catholic education in the school “where you know that you belong.” The members of the Class of 2014, who are our sophomore class, have the distinction of being the 50th freshman class to enroll at NWC. This is an honor that carries with it the task of living up to the past and standing on the shoulders of the thousands of graduates who have preceded them, but it also provides them with the challenge to be the best 21st century Catholic school graduates they can be. Exciting times to be sure! Sadly, our cover story for this issue relates the recent loss of several iconic figures from the 50-year history. We are saddened by these losses but we also know that these great servants of young people who dedicated their lives to educating great young people are in a better place and are watching over all of us. Without our school’s many heroes we would not be the great institution that we are. We celebrate the lives of a few heroes in this issue, but in truth there are so many more because together we all strive to create the community of NWC. All of you who are so generous with your treasure make this possible. The scholarship dollars are tremendously important as we continue to nurture a diverse community, and the funds donated for our 50th Anniversary projects or to the Northwest Catholic Fund make the programs possible and allow us to have the most up-to-date facility that we can. We appreciate the sacrifice that you have made to sustain a school that we hope is a beacon of hope in a world weary of war, poverty, and strife. Our graduates, you, have helped make that difference to date, and the students who follow you will continue that tradition. We hope that many of you will be able to attend the exciting 50th Anniversary events that we have planned. Your legacy over the decades will be honored this year and into the future. Please mark your calendars and check our web site often (www.northwestcatholic.org) for the latest news about a great school that you make happen.

Sincerely,

Margaret R. Williamson Principal/Chief Administrator

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Contents S P R I N G /S UMMER 2 0 11

features

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@ Send us your e-mail address! Help us cut down on paper and postage, while still keeping you posted about NWC news. Send to jleary@nwcath.org.

LEgends Lost NWC Recently Said Goodbye to Four Iconic Members of the School Family • Sister Dolores Staub, OP • Walter Stosuy • Fr. Thomas Goekler • June Mullen

NWC Is First Private School in the U.S. to Launch Unified Theater

50th Anniversary News • Mass • Immaculée Ilibagiza Lecture and Book Signing • Gala Dinner Dance • Building Projects • "Most Influential Teacher" Tributes

Depar tments 12 NEWS FROM 29 WAMPANOAG 20 ADVANCEMENT NEWS 26 SPORTS NEWS 33 ALUMNI NEWS

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LOGOS The Greek word or logos (pronounced lo-gaas) is defined as “word” or “meaning.” St. John’s Gospel opens: “In the beginning was Logos (the Word), and Logos was with God, and Logos was God.” The phrase “Word (Logos) of God,” found in John 1:1 and elsewhere, shows God’s desire and ability to “speak” to the human. The Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs (the founding Order of Northwest Catholic) have been noted for their effective ability to preach the word. The mission of the Dominicans is to provide intellectual formation, social communication, and service through word and action. Our publication, Logos, conveys our mission and values through this medium of the word.

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YEARS

DID you identify anyone in these

Logos is published twice a year by the Communications Department of Northwest Catholic High School. Please send comments or suggestions to:

photos?

Michelle M. Murphy Director of Communications Northwest Catholic High School 29 Wampanoag Drive, West Hartford, CT 06117 860.236.4221 x133 mmurphy@nwcath.org

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Editor:

Michelle M. Murphy

Principal/Chief Administrator: Margaret Williamson 10 9

Photography:

ArtRich, Bob Battaglia, Daniel Geelan, MD, Jane Leary, Matt Leidemer, Michelle M. Murphy, NOWECA staff, Northwest Passages staff, Margaret Williamson

Design:

GO media

Contributors:

Beth Lawton Bartels ’97, Chris Bruff ’03, Amy Griffin Buzzell ’97, David Elpi ’71, The Dominican Sisters of Peace, Chris Garr, Elijah Hilliman ’12, Juliana Jacobellis ’05, Patti Juda, Mike Lenz ’91, Loyola University/MD, Andrew MacPhail ’98, Richard Malone, MD ’72, Anne Marie Tamburro Mennella ’94, Ginny Murphy, Kelly Murray, MD ’83, Sister Doris Regan, OP, Mercedes Roy Riggs ’00, Luisantonio Rosado ’11, Saint Joseph College, Peggy Linehan Skahill ‘66, Stosuy Family, Thanh Truong ’92, Gavin Wentworth ’00, Meghan Terrion Whitehouse ’04

Who’s Who in Vintage Photo Collage from Fall ’10/Winter ’11 Logos Several alums (and one alumni parent) e-mailed us the names of some of the people who appeared in the vintage photo collage on the back cover of the Fall ’10/Winter ’11 issue of Logos. “Thanks for prompting this trip down memory lane,” wrote Judi Czaja McCaffrey ’83. But many people are still unidentified! If you can help with IDs, please e-mail Director of Communications Michelle Murphy (mmurphy@nwcath.org); include the photo number, as well as the name and class year (if available) of the alum. Thanks in advance for your help!

1. LaTanya Dinkins Watkins ’90 (boy unidentified) 2. Angela Allen ’93 (left) and Lauren Schave Ametrano ’92 3. 4. 5. 6. (left to right) Margaret Berges ’92, Sarah Moore Rohrer ’92, Kelly Oliver Kimball ’92 7. (left to right) Dave Laporte ’83, Tony Ackels ’83, Craig Hickey ’83, with Ed Connors ’83 going through window (during Senior retreat)

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8. In the far rear right hand corner, the girl with long dark hair and bangs is believed to be the late Linda Occhineri ’69 (per her sister, Marie Occhineri-Koepke ‘76)

Coming next time in Logos … •

"Anatomy of a Fundraiser: Behind the Scenes of NWC’s Saturday Night Live!" The Fall ‘11/Winter ’12 cover story will take you behind the scenes of the 27th annual SNL, held on Nov. 20, 2010, and show just what is involved in producing this huge – and hugely successful – fundraiser each year.

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The 2010-11 Annual Report. In addition to its print appearance in the Fall/Winter issue, it will also be available on the NWC web site by early November.

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Spring ’11 sports

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Reunion ’11, Golf, and Graduation

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More 50th Anniversary news

9. Retired NWC English teacher Dan Carney (left) and former NWC President Dr. Michael Griffin flanking unidentified students 10. 11. 12. (left to right) Carole Pastula ’83, Kathy Fitzgerald ’83 (or Irene O’Connor ’85?), Eileen Liss ’83

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ne of the hard parts of growing old is saying goodbye, for good, to dear friends.

Northwest Catholic, now turning 50, will naturally start to face this reality much more often as the years go on. In 2010, NWC lost four iconic members of the school family – two men, two women; two religious, two laypeople – whose collective careers spanned the entirety of Northwest Catholic’s history:

• Sister Dolores Staub, the mother of NWC’s music program, was here when the school opened in 1961. • Walter Stosuy, the legendary gym teacher, coach, and athletic director, came the very next year and stayed for 37 more -- until his retirement in 2000 (and even then he was still a quite visible presence at NWC). • Rev. Thomas Goekler, an Archdiocesan priest who became a Maryknoll missionary, was a NWC religion teacher from 1969-84. • And June Mullen, the beloved “Grandma” in the Navin Cafeteria, worked at NWC for 12 years, until just a few weeks before her death this past December. With each of these losses, electronic communication tools – especially NWC’s Facebook fan page and the on-line guest books at www.legacy. com – allowed the Northwest Catholic community to “be there” for the families of those who passed (and for one another), even when physical presence and support was not possible.

And with their passing, each person – Sr. Dolores, Walt, Fr. Tom, and Grandma -- left an invaluable gift to NWC: a reason to pause, in the busyness of everyday life, to reflect on the remarkable impact one individual can have on the history of a place and in the hearts of a community.

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In Memoriam: Sister Dolores Staub, O.P., One of NWC’s “Originals” and Mother of the Music Program

ister Dolores Staub O.P., one of the eight Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs who taught at NWC when it was founded in 1961, passed away on Oct. 23, 2010, at the Dominican Sisters’ Mohun Health Care Center in Columbus, OH. She was 92. A native of Detroit, Sister Dolores worked at Northwest Catholic from 1961-67 and again from 1975-82. According to her religious community, her life was devoted to bringing the joy of music to others, because she saw music as one of God’s great gifts. Indeed, she was considered the “mother” of the music program here: In addition to pulling together a choir for NWC’s dedication service in September 1961 -- just three weeks after the school opened! -- Sister also founded the Glee Club and began the longstanding NWC tradition of outstanding musical productions each Spring. “Thanks to my wonderful experience with the Glee Club, I still get chills up my spine when I hear the Hallelujah chorus,” said Pamela Healey Price ’67 of Billerica, MA. “The Glee Club was the highlight of my years at NWC.” “Sister Dolores, you were an inspiration to so many at a time when darkness surrounded music and theater,” wrote Paul LaRochelle ’65 of New York, NY, in her on-line guest book. “Thank you for being the guiding light who helped us. Music gave us all new light to our lives, which even today I feel. Like a plant that needs sunlight, music was a light that helped us grow.”

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“Sister Dolores gave me the opportunity, my senior year, to join in a small philosophy group at the convent,” recalled Joyce Hogan ’77, of Concord, MA. “We examined and discussed the book, Bread and Wine, with deep spiritual reflections. It was a very special experience that was fascinating to me, to see how she lived and pondered on the greater, bigger questions of life. She was truly remarkable.” Sister Dolores earned a BA in Music from Ohio Dominican University and her MA from The University of Notre Dame. She was Chair of the Music Department at St. Mary of the Springs College (now Ohio Dominican University) from 1958-61 and at Christ the King School from 1982-2002. She also taught music at schools in Michigan and New York. After retiring, she gave private lessons at St. Mary of the Springs Motherhouse before entering Mohun Health Care Center in 2006. Sister Dolores is survived by a sister, Sister Corinne Staub, O.P., and nieces and nephews.

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In Memoriam: Walter Stosuy -- Teacher, Coach, Athletic Director, Friend...

...and a real character! That was the most common reaction to the news that NWC legend Walter Stosuy had passed away on Dec. 8, 2010, at the age of 73, after a long illness. “Even after all these years, I still smile when I think of Walt on the sidelines, in PE class, and particularly in Driver’s Ed,” wrote Richard Hussey ’65 of Nantucket, MA, in Walt’s on-line guest book at legacy.com. “He was a genuine character, and the world will miss him.” Walt Stosuy came to NWC as a physical education teacher in 1962, after graduating from Southern CT Teachers College, where he was a fullback on the ’54 All-State football team. For a short time after college, he also played semi-pro ball for the Ansonia Knights. At NWC, he formed and coached the first football team, remaining at the helm from 1964-79 and again from 1995-98. He compiled an overall record of 82-83-4, and was named Coach of the Year by the Northern CT Chapter of the National Football Foundation in 1974. “Coach Stosuy’s passion as he built a football team from scratch at NWC is a major part of who I am today,” said Geoff Walker ’65, of Philadelphia, PA. “He taught us pride, self-confidence – and I even remember him chasing me around the field a few times.”

Well into his retirement, Walt Stosuy attended as many NWC events as his health permitted; here, he catches up at a Golf Tournament dinner with another retired NWC Athletic Director, Charlie Larson (left) and Mike Klimas ’73.

“When I was in elementary school watching NWC, I was scared to play for Coach Stosuy,” recalled John Dupuis ’79, of Hillsborough, NJ. “After my first practice as a sophomore in 1976, I realized that his toughness was not meanness, but character, a love for his players, and a desire to have each player exceed their expectations.” Walt was equally memorable as the coach of two other teams -- Boys’ Tennis and Softball. “I have such fond memories of him as my softball coach,” said Christine Prince ’96 of Cupertino, CA. “All bluster and hot air, but a real softie deep down. Walter had a way of making you feel worthwhile and equal, while still commanding respect and offering guidance. He … saw potential in me at a time when I couldn’t see it in myself. I will always be grateful for that.” Walt Stosuy and the late Rev. Bradford Colton, NWC’s first principal, remained close friends until Fr. Colton’s death in 2009.

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“He was a gentle giant,” added Kate Bartlett Williams ’98 of Hebron, CT. “I was one of the lucky ones to have him not only as my gym teacher, but as my softball coach. He always called us his ‘chicklets.’ I’m sure he never realized how many people he impacted over his long career.” “Not too many people can say that they had the same gym teacher as their parents (Daniel Forgetta ’66 and Theresa Bourtembourg Forgetta ’66),” said Alisa Forgetta Collins ’96 of Boston, MA. “He had students in his gym classes who didn’t even have gym scheduled at that time. Not too many teachers can say they were bombarded with students wanting to be in their class instead of the caf. Thanks for the memories, Stos – and the three excused gym passes.” And then there was Driver’s Ed. Judy Young Burt ’74 was one of hundreds of students – including many of the Dominican Sisters who taught at NWC in the early years – who learned to drive from Walt Stosuy. “Coach Stosuy taught my Driver’s Ed course in 1973,” remembered Burt, now of Sarasota, FL. “He wanted me to drive into downtown Hartford to pick up something at the sporting goods store on Pratt Street, just across from where the Civic Center was being built. There was no parking available, so he had me pull over next to the construction fence and ‘wait while I just run in and out.’ “Well, needless to say, the motorcycle cop was not too happy when I said I couldn’t move the car because my driving teacher was not in the vehicle with me,” she continued. “He presented Coach with the ticket when he came out! We laughed about that for years to come. He was one of the nicest, kindest people I have ever met. He inspired, and mentored, and cared. He will be greatly missed!”

Walter is survived by his sons Jon and Alan and his daughters Lyn, Beth, and Cara, and their families, as well as his sister Sophie Potter, two sistersin-law, and his dear friend Barbara Fanning Iorillo ’69. There will always be vivid physical reminders of Walter Stosuy at NWC – the plaque commemorating his induction as an Honorary Member of the Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame, for instance, and of course the Stosuy Gym, where his family received guests during a reception after his funeral at the Church of St. Timothy. But the best reminders will be in the “Walt stories” that are told, and retold, with twinkling eyes and broad grins, by the thousands of NWC alums who knew and loved him. “When I started teaching at NWC in 1979, I was as afraid of Walt as his students and players were,” recalled Ed Noonan of Middlebury, CT, who taught English at NWC from 197985. “As I got to know him, it was clear how much he cared and what a big heart he had. He became a good and supportive mentor in both my teaching and coaching careers at NWC. “Walt’s memory will be kept alive by the stories that will be told by all of his colleagues, coaches, players, and students,” he concluded. *** The Stosuy family has established The Walter Stosuy Memorial Scholarship Fund at Northwest Catholic; donations may be made on-line at www. northwestcatholic.org/giveonline (mention Walter Stosuy Fund in Notes section) or mailed to Patricia Walsh, Director of Advancement, NWC, 29 Wampanoag Drive, West Hartford, CT 06117.

His Spirit Lives On Less than a month after Walt Stosuy passed away, his great-grandchild Iliana Ellyn Quinones was born. Coming into the world on Jan. 3, 2011, Ellie was 7lbs., 13 ounces and 20 inches long. She is the daughter of Alixandra Hryniewicki Quinones and her husband, Wilfredo Quinones, and the granddaughter of Ellyn “Lyn” Stosuy and Jim Hryniewicki. She also has a half-brother, Will Quinones, age 4. “Walt’s spirit is part of Ellie’s personality,” said Lyn Stosuy.“She can melt your heart with a smile and knows how to get done what she wants. She is a happy baby, a delight and very much loved. “Alix calls her daughter ‘Noodle,’ and anybody who knew Walter Stosuy knows how much he enjoyed his pasta and giving people their personal nicknames,” Lyn added. “We are sure he is very pleased with the nickname ‘Noodle.’” Speaking for the extended Stosuy family, Lyn shared the following thoughts: “We would like to thank NWC, the alumni and its extended community for their well wishes, kindness, and generosity to our family before, during, and after our beloved patriarch Walter’s passing and the birth of his greatgranddaughter. We also want to extend a very special thanks to all who have donated to the Walter Stosuy Memorial Scholarship fund. Our plan is to raise enough money to make this an endowment fund. God bless!”

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In Memoriam: June Mullen, the “Grandma” of the Navin Cafeteria She was everyone’s “Grandma.” June Anne Mullen, a warm and familiar face in the Navin Cafeteria, passed away on Dec. 12, 2010, after a brief battle with lung cancer. She was 85 years old -- and had worked for more than 60 years for Navin Brothers Food Service, in locations ranging from Rockledge Country Club to South Catholic High School, ultimately landing at NWC in 1998. In fact, she had remained in “her” cashier’s spot in NWC’s cafeteria until October 2010, retiring due only to her illness. Because her departure coincided with her 85th birthday, NWC faculty and staff threw a party in her honor, where she delighted in the good wishes of her colleagues and loved showing off all the NWC “swag” she received as gifts. Born in Hartford, June lived in East Hartford for more than 50 years. She was a communicant of Blessed Sacrament Church. She is survived by three children (Deborah Fritz-Bradeen, Steven Fritz, and Kathleen Doerfler); eight grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; one sister; Paul Fritz, the father of her children; and many nieces and nephews. Her family had requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to NWC in June’s memory. The family also extended special thanks to Navin Brothers and the staff and students of Northwest Catholic for their ongoing thoughts and prayers that were such a joy to Grandma during her illness. In her on-line guest book, NWC Athletic Director Josh Reese ’95 wrote: “Your kindness and daily greetings in the NWC cafeteria were a true welcome to all of the students past and present at NWC. You made a great impression on my life, and your dedication to everyone you encountered will never be forgotten. You were truly loved and surely will be missed.”

At her joint retirement/85th birthday party at NWC in October 2010, June Mullen celebrated with many of her colleagues from Navin Food Service (seated, from left, surrounding June): Tina Ligouri, Jan Sheehan, and Tammy Rhodes. Standing, from left, Christina Sheehan, Pat Allen, Bob Stiles, and Joe Navin ’69.

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In Memoriam: Rev. Thomas Goekler, NWC Religion Teacher and Maryknoll Missionary

ev. Thomas F. Goekler, a NWC Religion teacher from 1969-84 who later became a Maryknoll missionary, died on Nov. 25, 2010, in Guatemala City, Guatemala. He was 69 years old, and had been a priest for 43 years -- the last 11 of which were as a member of the Maryknoll Society of Fathers and Brothers. He died in his sleep of an apparent heart attack at the Casa Juan Gerardi Catholic Worker House. Son of the late Frank J. and Margaret Cox Goekler of New Haven, Fr. Goekler graduated from Notre Dame High School in West Haven and St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield. He earned bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from St. Bernard Seminary in Rochester, NY, and a doctorate in ministry from Hartford Seminary in 1994.

Fr. Goekler is survived by four sisters -- Margaret Marlowe; Frances Goekler-Morneau (his twin), Helen Macauley, and Sister Eleanor Goekler, SMIC -- and their families, as well as hundreds of people he shepherded in Honduras and Guatemala. “In the end, the Tom who at times roared like a lion, went out like a lamb -- in his sleep,” concluded Sr. Doris. “But the values and formation he had developed with so many youngsters continues. He told them: ‘You may not like me right now for demanding so much, but someday you will be grateful.’ And indeed they are.”

Fr. Goekler, known as a champion of the poor and marginalized (especially youth), served for more than 30 years in a number of parishes in the Hartford Archdiocese, including 17 years as the co-pastor of Sacred Heart in Hartford. It was during this time that he taught at South Catholic and Northwest Catholic. In 1991, he was named Director of Youth Programs at St. Michael Parish in Hartford, and in 1994, he founded Amistad Catholic Worker House in New Haven. In 1999, he began his missionary work in Honduras. “Tom was exacting -- as a teacher and in other aspects of his ministry,” said Sister Doris Regan, O.P., who worked with Fr. Goekler both at NWC (when she was Principal) and in Honduras, where she currently works as a missionary and where Fr. Goekler was stationed from 1999-2008. “He was always testing limits -- not just physically, but socially, as well,” she continued. “He could be brusque in his challenges and quite insistent regarding what he perceived as injustice to the poor. Yet, he was also quite humble when called to task. It was not always easy to be a friend of Tom’s, because he inevitably called for more depth regarding social analysis from others.”

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“If you want to solve a problem, go where the problem is.” -- Rev. Thomas Goekler Although Fr. Goekler had not taught at NWC since 1984, he remained connected to the school through his relationships with members of the current community -- including Luis Cotto ’85, his sister Letitia Cotto, and her son Elijah Hilliman ’12, among others. In April 2010, Elijah and two other students -- Luisantonio Rosado ’11 and Jenny Garcia ’11 -- traveled to Guatemala on a mission trip with Ms. Cotto and others to work for a week with Fr. Goekler. Former NWC Principal Sister Doris Regan traveled from Honduras to be with them that week, as well. The Americans helped to complete construction on a chapel, a library/ computer room, a storage center, and a play area for children, according to a letter Fr. Goekler sent to NWC Principal/Chief Administrator Margaret Williamson. “We learned how to build shelves and make our own cement,” said Elijah Hilliman. “It was a great learning experience. Fr. Tom was very passionate, and very strict, because he was concerned for our safety.” “Fr. Tom had a dream that he constantly spoke to me about: he wanted to be able to let children who lived in that neighborhood be able to act like children, because it is a very poor and violent area,” said Luisantonio Rosado. “He wanted to create a safe haven, so they wouldn’t get hurt by simply playing. He also wanted to take kids, teens, and adults out of gang life and give them a good education and a safe place to stay.” In his letter to Mrs. Williamson, Fr. Goekler wrote: “It makes all the difference that your students are seeing the things from the side of the hidden and the poor. It really opens their eyes. I think that the deepest part of the experience was their living together, cooking together, and learning how to celebrate in a cross-cultural experience. The fact that we did not have water for three days didn’t seem to faze them at all. Some groups are stressful. This one was fun.” When they returned, the NWC students documented their experience in a slideshow presentation for their classmates. It demonstrated that, in a way, Fr. Goekler was still teaching NWC students even in the last months of his life. “One of Fr. Goekler’s constant phrases was ‘if you want to solve a problem, go to where the problem is,’” concluded Luisantonio. “This is how he lived his life, and how he wanted to address issues throughout the world.”

For information about other members of the Northwest Catholic community who have passed away recently, please see p. 41.

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NWC Is First Private School in the U.S. to Launch Unified Theater A standing-room-only crowd filled the auditorium at West Hartford’s Intensive Education Academy (IEA) on Fri., Mar. 11, 2011, anxious for the curtain to rise on a unique production: “We’re All in This Together,” a musical revue based on the eponymic song from “High School Musical.” This was more than just an opening night for a new show, however; this was a milestone in Northwest Catholic history, as NWC became the first private school in the country to sponsor a Unified Theater program (www.unifiedtheater.org). Founded in 2003 by West Hartford native Micaela Connery, Unified Theater partners students with and without disabilities in an extracurricular performing arts activity. From its beginnings eight years ago at Conard High School, Unified Theater (UT) has spread to dozens of public schools across the country. It seemed a natural fit for NWC, which has partnered with the Intensive Education Academy on North Main Street on a Unified Volleyball program since March 2009. About 18 NWC students -- led by Hillary Baran ’11, Rachel Bournique ’11, Kate Schuppe ’11, and Emily Stanwick ’13 -eagerly signed up to work on the inaugural UT production, along with a similar number of students from IEA. The NWC faculty advisors were Director of Theater and English teacher Sara Avery, Religion teacher Terrie Giegel Bournique ’84, and Director of Campus Ministry and Spanish teacher Kristi Gillespie. Once a week, the NWC students traveled down the street to collaborate with IEA students on the concept, script, songs, choreography, and even the decoration of the T-shirts the group would wear in the show. Financial assistance from Unified Theater and the Ellen Jeanne Goldfarb Memorial Charitable Trust helped to defray some of the costs.

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“As a leader, it was very rewarding to watch the relationships develop among the groups of students,” said Rachel Bournique. “One of the best experiences was when we taught the participants our group dance number. The final product was not only a dance number, but a group bonding experience.” “In the real world, theater is extremely competitive,” added Kate Schuppe, a veteran of many Dramateurs’ productions during her four years at NWC. “In Unified Theater, there is no competition. No one is separated by ability, and we know people by their names and personalities, not by their disabilities. “Through participation in Unified Theater, I have learned that inclusion is important, because without it, we miss out on the gifts and talents other people can share with us,” she concluded. “Unified Theater reinforces the same values as Northwest Catholic, so it is great that the school can be a part of such a worthy organization.”

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Six NWC Students Are Named Superintendent’s “Summa Scholars” Realizing a long-held desire to recognize superior academic achievement among students in Archdiocese of Hartford high schools, Superintendent of Catholic Schools Dale R. Hoyt this year introduced a brand-new honor: the Superintendent’s “Summa Scholars” award. To be eligible for the award, students needed a gradepoint average of 4.3 or 98% through the first semester of grade 12. Among the four Archdiocesan high schools, 36 students qualified – including six from Northwest Catholic. The students were honored during a ceremony and reception at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield on Mar. 21, 2011, at which former NWC faculty member Dr. Julia McNamara, President of Albertus Magnus College, was the keynote speaker. Each Summa Scholar was invited to name the teacher from a Catholic elementary or secondary school who had been the most influential in the student’s education. These teachers were also honored during the ceremony. The students received bronze medallions engraved with their names, which they were meant to wear during their Commencement ceremony, and their teachers received certificates of recognition.

Northwest Catholic’s “Summa Scholars” are (from left) Alessandra Lamari, Alexandra McKenzie, Rosa Park, Thomas Noll, Sharon Grimshaw, and Sarah Purple.

NWC’s Summa Scholars, and the teachers they selected, are: Sharon Grimshaw of Windsor – Kathleen Thomsen of St. Timothy Middle School

Alessandra Lamari of Rocky Hill – Patricia Juda, NWC English teacher

Alexandra McKenzie of Rocky Hill – Jennifer Montoney, NWC Science teacher

Thomas Noll of Enfield – Charlene Mongillo of St. Bernard’s School, Enfield

Sarah Purple of Avon – James Shugrue, NWC Math teacher

Sung Yun (Rosa) Park of Wethersfield – John Cusson, NWC English teacher and Academic Dean

NWC Principal/Chief Administrator Margaret Williamson (left) and Dr. Julia McNamara, who taught at NWC in the 1960s and is now the President of Albertus Magnus College; during her keynote remarks at the Summa Scholars presentation, Dr. McNamara referred to her years at NWC as some of the happiest in her professional life.

We are very proud of these students for their academic achievement as well as all of the gifts and talents that they have developed and share with the greater NWC community. — Principal/Chief Administrator Margaret Williamson

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NEASC Accreditation Team to Visit NWC in October 2011 For the fifth time in its history, Northwest Catholic will be hosting an accreditation team from the Commission on Independent Schools of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Originally accredited by NEASC in 1971, NWC has been reaccredited every ten years since. The NEASC team – comprising teachers and administrators from other NEASC schools -- will come to NWC for three days in October 2011, and will spend time observing operations and interviewing faculty, staff, and administrators. The visit is actually the final step in a process that began two years ago, with a self-study that involved numerous members of the various constituencies at Northwest Catholic. “This has allowed us to examine who we are, what we do, and how we do it,” said Principal/ Chief Administrator Margaret Williamson. “Everything begins and

ends with the Mission Statement and Statement of Values.” These documents, updated at the beginning of the self-study process, were approved by the School Board. The faculty and staff then spent months surveying parents, alumni, and students regarding various topics and compiled the self- study. The NEASC team will use the self-study to evaluate if NWC does what it purports to do. “The team will also ascertain that the school meets required standards for re-accreditation and will make a recommendation to NEASC,” Mrs. Williamson continued. “In addition, the team will make suggestions and recommendations to the school regarding areas it may seek to improve.” She added that NWC should receive the results of the accreditation visit by January 2012.

Veterans Day Assembly Features Distinguished Military Distinguished military veterans Major General Paul Lefebvre ’71 and Joseph Shugrue visited NWC on Nov. 11, 2010, for a schoolwide Veterans Day assembly. To a hushed audience, the two men shared their remarkable experiences of military service. Gen. Lefebvre, a two-star general, is the Commander of the Marine Corps Special Operations Command at Camp Lejeune, NC (and the uncle of Emily Stanwick ’13). Mr. Shugrue, a World War II fighter pilot and the uncle of NWC Math teacher Jim Shugrue, is retired from a distinguished career in the CIA.

Above: NWC students (from left) Dillon Bowen ’11, Emily Stanwick ’13, Francis Butler ’11, and Brendan McCormick ’11 helped to welcome Major General Paul Lefebvre ’71 and Mr. Joseph Shugrue to the school on Nov. 11.

The walls of the Rice Auditorium were decorated with the names of more than 250 current or retired military personnel from the NWC community, arranged in the shape of a plane.

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Bomb Threat Prompts NWC Evacuation to Hall High School

n the frigid morning of Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010, Northwest Catholic students, faculty, and staff found themselves out on the street, literally – but thanks to a carefully constructed and well-executed Crisis Management Plan, they knew just where to go. Around 10am that morning, NWC was evacuated at the direction of the Hartford Bomb Squad and the West Hartford Police Department, who had been summoned to the school after administrators learned of a threatening note in a school bathroom as well as an unidentified black satchel left in the Stosuy Gym. The law enforcement officials determined that the combination of the note and the satchel was serious enough to warrant the evacuation, prompting Principal/Chief Administrator Margaret Williamson to activate a long-standing Crisis Management Plan. Under that plan, NWC and Hall are one another’s destinations in the event of evacuation. At Hall, NWC students, faculty, and staff sat and talked quietly in the auditorium while awaiting further instruction. Mrs. Williamson kept parents apprised of developments via e-mail and phone messages sent from Hall’s administrative offices.

to think about using such a plan, but it is critical to be prepared.” NWC was cleared for re-entry shortly after noon, once the police and the bomb squad completed a thorough investigation and sweep. After being treated to lunch at Hall, students, teachers, and staff walked back to NWC in time for J period. After-school rehearsals, practices, and games were held as scheduled. “We are grateful for the diligence of the law enforcement and public safety personnel involved,” Mrs. Williamson said. “The hospitality of our neighbors at Hall High was outstanding -certainly above and beyond the call. “And the behavior of the NWC students was excellent, as they cooperated in every way we asked of them and represented themselves, their school, and their families well,” she continued. “In addition, our parents exhibited great control and restraint on what had to have been a nerve-wracking day.” In the days following, teachers and staff paid careful attention to students’ emotions, to ensure that they had processed the event successfully. Although the author of the threatening note was never found, the owner of the orphaned black satchel was located, and the bag was returned to its owner.

“We were extremely pleased with the way our Crisis Management Plan worked,” said Mrs. Williamson. “No one likes

First Honors Every Time Twenty-three members of the Class of ’11 share an extraordinary distinction: They earned First Honors (a minimum 3.67 grade-point average) in every semester at Northwest Catholic! Front row, from left: Brynn Stoecklin, Kate Schuppe, Sarah Purple, Rosa Park, Kathleen O’Hara, Molly Berning, Alessandra Lamari, Francis Butler, Shannon Crawford, Rachel Bournique, Sharon Grimshaw, Cara Seward, Claire Looney, and Alex McKenzie. Back row, from left: John Sullivan, Dillon Bowen, Dan Kowalczyk, Chris Kuhlberg, Danté Jeanfelix, Michael Laffin, and Robby Kunkel. Not pictured: Tommy Gollenberg and Thomas Noll.

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The faces of the leads in “Rumors” – seated, from left, Darci Hughes ’11, Kate Schuppe ’11, and Kate Molloy ’11, and standing, from left, Francis Butler ’11, John Fitzpatrick ’11, and Dan Lusardi ’13 – reveal the confusion unfolding in the NYC townhouse in which the Neil Simon farce is set.The Dramateurs’ Fall play was performed to standing-room-only crowds in the Alice C. Mortensen Theater from Dec. 3-5, 2010.

Former Faculty and Staff Luncheon An unusually large group of Former NWC Faculty and Staff gathered in the Navin Room on Jan. 20, 2011, for their annual reunion luncheon. Seated, from left: Pat Lynch, Mary Fran Hennessy, Angela Coco, Lori Fuller, Mary Louise Roland, Barbara Keenan, Martha Kennedy, and Mitzi Conlon. Standing, from left: Dan Carney, JD Moore, Dennis McCormack, John Shukie, Lee Paquette, Ron Ferri, Spring Gagliardi, Kathleen Gauthier, Carol Schave, Joan Kane, Fay Shea, Mary Lester, and Ruth Wolfson. Director of Constituent Relations Jane Leary is always looking for contact information for other Former Faculty and Staff; she may be reached at jleary@nwcath.org. or 860-236-4221, x131.

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Self-Defense Course at NWC Attracts Large Turnout Nearly three dozen NWC girls took part in a self-defense workshop offered after school on Nov. 15, 2010 – a surprisingly large response, according to the organizers. The brainchild of Director of Campus Ministry Kristi Gillespie, the course was taught by instructors from the Frontline Krav Maga school, which teaches the “Fighting Chance” method of

self-defense, based on the Israeli army’s Krav Maga techniques. Mrs. Gillespie said she – and the instructors – were amazed and pleased by the positive response to the course offering. She added that she’s considering making it an annual event.

Guest Speaker Provides Unique Perspective on DNA Evidence and the Death Penalty Kirk Noble Bloodsworth, the first Death Row inmate in the United States to be exonerated by DNA evidence, was the guest speaker at a schoolwide assembly in January 2011 that was sponsored by the Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry.

shadow of a doubt, via tests of preserved biological material from the scene. Bloodsworth, a former Marine discus champion, was released from prison in June 1993, and he was pardoned by Gov. William Donald Schaefer of Maryland in 1994.

Speaking to a riveted audience in the Rice Auditorium, Bloodsworth told NWC students that he was convicted in 1985 for the rape and murder of nine-year-old Dawn Hamilton in Baltimore County, MD -- a crime he insisted he did not commit. He was placed on Death Row.

Today, Bloodsworth works for The Justice Project, and he has been an ardent supporter of the Innocence Protection Act, which was introduced in Congress in February 2000 and would help states defray the costs of post-conviction DNA testing.

Seven years later, DNA technology -- which was just emerging at the time -- helped to establish his innocence beyond a

“The real-life story that Kirk shares is compelling, and it also teaches how important is it to stand up for what is right,” said Principal/Chief Administrator Margaret Williamson.

This year’s sessions will be held at:

Recruitment for Class of ’16 Is Under Way Incredible as it may seem, the recruitment season for the Class of ’16 is already under way! Continuing a strategy that has been well-received for the past few years, the Admissions Office will once again host a series of Information Sessions in the Greater Hartford region this Fall. These sessions, designed for prospective students and their parents, are meant to provide an overview of NWC’s philosophy and programs, as well as nitty-gritty details about the admissions process itself. Speakers will include administrators, teachers, and current students and their parents, as well as members of the Admissions staff. The sessions will last about an hour, and light refreshments will be served.

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Rocky Hill Marriott (Thurs., Oct. 13, 7pm) Avon Old Farms Hotel (Thurs., Oct. 20, 7pm) Windsor Marriott (Tues., Oct. 25, 7pm)

Seating is limited; register on-line at www.northwestcatholic.org/ infosessions. Prospective students and families are also invited to attend NWC’s Admissions Open House on Sun., Nov. 6, from 1-4pm. Registration is not necessary. The Entrance Exam for the Class of ’16 will be offered at NWC on Sat., Dec. 3, from 8am-12:30pm. Only students who take this test at NWC on this day will be eligible for academic scholarships from NWC. To register to take the exam, students should complete the application available at www.northwestcatholic.org/admissions. Questions? Contact Director of Admissions Nancy Scully Bannon ’73 (nbannon@nwcath.org or 860-236-4221, x124).

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KUDOS TO... The Class of ’13, which collected $2,203 in contributions from the NWC community in the annual Sophomore Class Turkey Drive. The money was given to Foodshare to help underwrite the purchase of turkeys for needy families at Thanksgiving.

David Lawton ’11, who was honored in a December 2010 ceremony for attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. For his Eagle project, David constructed two benches and two wildlife information stands along the Farmington Valley Rails to Trails bike path.

Lee Brown III ’11, who won two scholarships through his church: second place ($1,800) in the United Church Ushers Association of CT Oratorical Contest, and the Connie Wilson Collins scholarship ($1,500) for parish participation.

NWC’s vocal and band musicians, who brought home awards from the prestigious Berklee Jazz Festival in Boston, MA in March 2011 – this was the first time in school history that NWC won awards in both areas. The Jazz Band – led by Daniel Luddy ’03 -- placed

NWC staff who celebrated Christmas this year with a potluck luncheon and, instead of gifts to one another, with donations to “The Town That Cares,” which helps West Hartford residents with basic needs such as food, shelter, and utility costs. This was the second year in a row that the staff chose to do this; the 2010 donation totaled $535.

The ten students in NWC’s Model UN club, who represented the countries of Kenya and Gabon in the CT Model United Nations event held at Hartford Public High School in February 2011. Eight NWC faculty and staff members honored by the Archdiocese of Hartford for years of service, as of June 2010: Scott Fletcher and David Woodford (25 years); Dick Callahan and Kristi Gillespie (20 years); and John Cusson, Beth Lynch Oates ‘94, Josh Reese ’95, and Mike Tyler ’73 (10 years). Four NWC employees honored for milestones in their years of service to Northwest Catholic: Ana Barrett (40 years), Joyce O’Rourke (35 years), Dick Callahan (20 years), and Katy Sibley (15 years).

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third in Division V. The Jazz Choir, led by Daniel Avery ’97, won honorable mention in a demanding division that included performing arts high schools. Three students also won Judges’ Choice awards: Dillon Bowen ’11 (guitar and trumpet), Matt Pranaitis ’12 (trumpet), and John Fitzpatrick ’11 (solo vocals).

Jenny Garcia ‘11, honored in the March 2011 issue of Hartford Magazine for extraordinary community service. She was one of only seven high school students so recognized.

by Lynn Woike Photos by Corley Fleming

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Dana Crory ‘11, who was one of eight “Stars for Kids” honored by the West Hartford Kiwanis Club at its 4th annual awards program

udents who give back

won the State Championship twice during high school and was the 1991 New England Gatorade Player of the Year.

Jenny Garcia

Northwest Catholic High School

Jack Kelly ’14 and Sharon Grimshaw ’11, who won the American Math Contest exam 10 and 12, respectively, in February 2011.

The 29 students inducted into NWC’s chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society in October 2010.

Anand and Ankur Patel

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required Max to d and propose a ions as towns laid on by founding the

East Hartford High School

L O Since G Othe S sixth grade, these twins have been members of

Boy Scout Troop 57, where the focus has always been on giving back to the community. Every year for Memorial Day and Veterans Day, they help place more than 800 flags on

The 91 students – 17 seniors and 74 juniors -- inducted into the National Honor Society at NWC on Dec. 9, 2010. Deacon Jeffrey Sutherland, NWC Science teacher, was the guest speaker. To be invited into membership in NHS, students must maintain a 3.33 grade-point average and must demonstrate exemplary character, leadership, and service to their school, their parish, or their town. NWC Assistant Baseball Coach David Swanson, who was elected to the Berlin High School Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2010. Swanson, NWC’s pitching coach, Emily Surprenant

Miss Porter’s School, Farmington

herAvolunteer work with TAs H Epart Mof AG ZINE O F N O RMiss T H Porter’s W E S Tservice C AT H O L I C club, Emily helped coordinate a book drive to benefit Grace Academy in Hartford. The senior has also taken her community service international with three service project trips – including teaching English and helping to build a classroom

Kristen Ambrose

Glastonbury High School A dancer since she was two-and-a-half, Kristen volunteers as an instructor at the Glastonbury Dance Center. She teaches in the Shared Ability Dance program, is a Unified basketball partner, and serves as a counselor at a summer camp for special needs students. Mentoring

REprinted with permission From Hartford Magazine

on Jan. 28, 2011. A longtime volunteer with the special needs population at the Elmwood Community Center, she also participates in NWC’s “Thursdays in the City” program, through which NWC students meet and mentor children from Hartford.

This senior is involved with all facets of Northwest Catholic’s Campus Ministry department: she helps prepare and serve meals at Hartford’s Manna Community Kitchen, mentors children at the Catholic Worker House, and is a ConnectiKids bilingual tutor for second graders. She’s coordinated fundraisers and baked Christmas cookies for St. Gerard’s Center for Life. Outside of school, Jenny is a member of the Hartford Police Explorers and the Civil Air Patrol. On a mission trip to Guatemala, she helped renovate a chapel.

Advancement news Founders’ Circle Dinner Celebrates Generosity and Excellence

he glow from candlelight and harvestcolored mums reflected the goodwill in the Navin Cafeteria on Oct. 6, 2010, as dozens of Northwest Catholic’s most generous benefactors gathered for the annual Founders’ Circle Dinner. Held to honor this special pool of donors who gave $1,000 or more to the Northwest Catholic Fund in fiscal 2009-10, the dinner is traditionally a celebration of NWC’s aspirations and achievements. At the dinner, Principal/Chief Administrator Margaret Williamson and Director of Advancement Patricia Walsh thanked the 28 new members of the Founders’ Circle, as well as three couples who have been members for at least ten years: Susan and Frank Genovese ’65 and alumni parents Phil and Anne Carpenter and Pete and Doris Thomas.

Rev. Henry C. Frascadore, President of Northwest Catholic from “Your support is significant for the funds 1985-96, and Principal/Chief Administrator Margaret Williamson it provides, but also for the faith that you congratulate Nita Beeman Vitaliano on becoming the seventh demonstrate in the importance of this recipient of the Rev. Henry C. Frascadore Teaching Award. school in the lives of young people,” Mrs. Williamson said. why she was leaving a position in higher education, she humbly stated The Founders’ Circle Dinner is also the venue in which NWC recognizes a teacher for professional excellence, that she felt she could make a difference with high school students bestowing the Dr. Michael S. Griffin and Rev. Henry C. Frascadore that would make them better college students,” said Mrs. Williamson. “I was impressed by that, and have discovered that she was right. Teaching Awards in alternating years. This year, Social Studies teacher Nita Beeman Vitaliano, who just completed her third year at NWC, was chosen for the Fr. Frascadore Award. She is the seventh recipient of this award; past winners are Claudia Hart ’78, John Mirabello, Jim Shugrue, Patti Juda, Joyce O’Rourke, and Kristi Gillespie.

“Most of all,” she continued, “Nita lives the mission of Northwest Catholic, and our students are so fortunate to have her as their advocate, their mentor, and helper, as well as their classroom teacher. I am proud to present the Rev. Henry C. Frascadore Teaching Award to Nita Vitaliano.”

“I clearly remember interviewing this teacher, and when I asked her

Designate NWC for United Way Donations It’s easier than ever to make a gift to the Northwest Catholic Fund! Save a stamp and make your secure, online donation by visiting www.northwestcatholic.org and clicking on the “Give to NWC” button on the home page. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

If you are accustomed to contributing to the United Way, please consider designating NWC as the beneficiary. Use designation code AG0374 for the United Way of Central and Northeastern CT when you complete your pledge form. If your donation comes through a different United Way chapter, consult your United Way representative for the appropriate designation code. Questions? Contact NWC Director of Advancement Patricia Walsh at pwalsh@nwcath.org or 860-236-4221, x138.

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Generous Gifts Help to Enhance Baseball and Softball Fields The NWC softball and baseball fields have become more fan-friendly over the past year or so, thanks to generous contributions from two people – Tom Kelly, Jr. ’82, and Rose Crispino, grandmother of Mac Crispino ’13 and mother-in-law of Jean Matarazzo Crispino ’77. “For many years, we have been accustomed to trying to keep track of innings and the score for both softball and baseball in our heads,” said Principal/Chief Administrator Margaret Williamson, during a brief donor recognition ceremony in October 2010. “Some people are good at that. Others -like me --make lots of new friends because we constantly have to ask people the score,” she added with a laugh. “In addition, for baseball spectators, it has not always been easy to see over the top of the dugout.” The gifts from Mrs. Crispino and Mr. Kelly underwrote the installation of new bleachers behind home plate on the baseball field, and new electronic scoreboards on the softball and baseball fields – the latter of which was dedicated to retired NWC Athletic Director, Coach, and Social Studies teacher John Shukie, at the request of his former player and student.

Retired NWC Athletic Director, Coach, and Social Studies teacher John Shukie (second from left) poses under the new baseball scoreboard with NWC Principal/Chief Administrator Margaret Williamson (far left), benefactor Tom Kelly, Jr. ’82, and Tom’s family: wife Kim, daughter Grace, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kelly, Sr. The scoreboard was donated in Mr. Shukie’s name.

Log in to Northwest Alums On-Line! NWC’s web site has a password-protected portal just for alumni, called Northwest Alums On-Line. It offers alumni a place to share photos, news, links, and other information with more privacy than other social networking sites offer. Also, alumni can update their own biographical data and decide which items to share with others from their class. To log in, contact Jane Leary (jleary@nwcath.org) to obtain a User ID and password.

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Thanks to Generous Donors, NWC to Dedicate New Mirabello Basketball Court Turning 50 is a big deal, no matter how you slice it. For Northwest Catholic, this milestone has provided an excellent reason to reflect upon and celebrate the accomplishments of the past, take stock of the present, and plan strategically for the future. Those future plans include several 50th Anniversary building projects that are designed to renovate and improve key areas of the school campus (see p. 25). They are outlined in a descriptive brochure available from Director of Advancement Patricia Walsh and on the NWC web site (www.northwestcatholic.org/50thprojects). Solicitations for these projects began in January 2010, and the response was excellent. With sufficient contributions in hand, construction on two of the projects -the renovation of the Johnson Gym (including new and more accessible bleachers, painting, and replacement of the 50-year-old floor) and the refurbishment of 17 classrooms (including asbestos abatement and installation of SMART Board technology) -- was scheduled to begin as soon as school ended in June 2011. Upon completion, the new gym floor will be renamed and dedicated as the John Mirabello Basketball Court, in honor of NWC’s longtime Boys’ Basketball Head Coach.

After the Johnson Gym renovations were under way, Principal/Chief Administrator Margaret Williamson presented Coach Mirabello with a piece of “his” courtside bench, inscribed with his signature slogan: MTXE, which stands for Mental Toughness, Extra Effort.

“Coach Mirabello was chosen for this honor because of his extraordinary record and reputation as an outstanding boys’ basketball coach and well-respected NWC teacher for the past 24 years,” said Mrs. Walsh. His record includes four State Championships, 12 regular season Conference Championships, and 14 Tournament Championships. He has a 75% win record (441-148), and he received the Jim Calhoun Award from the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. “He’s a wonderful, faith-filled role model for all of our students -- athletes or not,” continued Mrs. Walsh. “He truly lives out the mission of our school, and demonstrates by example what he hopes the students will grow up to be.” It is not too late to contribute to the John Mirabello Basketball Court Campaign or any of the 50th Anniversary projects, either on-line through NWC’s secure web site (www.northwestcatholic.org/giveonline), or via check made out to NWC. Students commemorated Coach Mirabello’s 400th win, Checks may be sent to Patricia Walsh at NWC, 29 Wampanoag Drive, West on January 2, 2010, by decorating the walls of the Johnson Gym with multiple copies of his face. Hartford, CT 06117. Questions? Contact Mrs. Walsh at pwalsh@nwcath.org.

Double Your Gift to the NWC Fund – Without Spending an Extra Dime! How? Through a Matching Gifts Program that your employer may offer -- in many cases, a company gives the same amount you do, only you get the credit! If you make your gift on-line at www. northwestcatholic.org/giveonline, simply check “yes” on the Matching Gifts question and indicate your employer’s name.

Then contact the human resources or benefits administration departments at your company for more information and the necessary forms. NWC Advancement Assistant Debra Lebel (dlebel@nwcath.org, or 860-236-4221, x139) is always happy to assist with any questions, as well.

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50th Anniversary News Archbishop Mansell to Officiate at 50th Anniversary Mass in September 2011 The yearlong 50th Anniversary celebration will officially begin at NWC on Sat., Sept. 24, 2011, with a 4pm Mass in the Johnson Gym. Hartford Archbishop Henry J. Mansell will officiate at the Liturgy, which will be held exactly 50 years to the day after the school was dedicated. People who can’t attend the Mass in person can tune in from home over the Internet (http://whctv.org/live/96) or, in Connecticut, on cable TV (Comcast channel 96 and U-Verse channel 99). A video tape of the Mass will also be available afterward on www.whctv.org. “I was in the first Northwest Catholic choir,” recalls Elaine Blondin Mello, DM ’65. “I remember Sister Dolores making an announcement over the PA asking that anyone who could sing should come to the Music Room -- she had an instant choir to

whip into shape for (the dedication in 1961). One of the songs was ‘Ecce Sach.Magnus,’ and it began four years of wonderful musical adventure at NWC for me.” Many alums – as well as several retired faculty, staff, and administrators -- plan to attend the 50th Anniversary Mass, which is open to all. A reception with light refreshments will be held in the Navin Cafeteria afterward. To register to attend, visit www. northwestcatholic.org/MassRSVP.

NWC Unveils Community Book, Prepares to Welcome Immaculée Ilibagiza In conjunction with NWC’s yearlong 50th Anniversary celebration, the entire Northwest Catholic community is encouraged to read a stirring book, Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust, by Immaculée Ilibagiza, and to hear the author speak about her experiences in person in October at NWC. Published in 2007, Left to Tell is Immaculée’s haunting tale of the 91 days she spent hiding with seven other women in a cramped bathroom in 1994, while nearly a million Rwandans – including most of her family – were slaughtered during a three-month genocide. During her captivity, Immaculée discovered the power and solace of prayer, which helped her to forge a profound and lasting relationship with God. The book was required Summer reading for all grades at NWC this year, and after completing the book, students were asked to write a one-page letter to the author, asking two questions or making two comments. Homeroom teachers will collect this assignment on the first full day of school and choose the two best to submit to a committee. The committee, in turn, will cull questions and comments from the letters for Immaculée to address when she speaks to the students during a daytime assembly on Oct. 25. Meanwhile, parents and other adults will have the opportunity to hear Immaculée speak on Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, at 7:30 pm, in the Rice Auditorium. Tickets to this extraordinary opportunity are $20 per person ($25 after Oct. 8), and are available on-line at www.northwestcatholic.org/lefttotell, or by calling 860-236-4221 x504. NWC will also host a special, pre-event reception with Immaculée, beginning at 6:30pm; the cost for this event is $50 per person. Ticket price does not include a copy of the book, but books, CDs and DVDs will be sold after the lecture. Left to Tell has sold more than 250,000 copies worldwide and has been made into a documentary. Immaculée has raised more than $150,000 for Rwandan orphans through her Left to Tell Charitable Fund. Immaculée Ilibagiza was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Notre Dame, and Left to Tell was required reading for 6,000 students at Villanova University in 2007-08. For more information about the book or the author, visit www.lefttotell.com.

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ilestones are meant to be celebrated – and that’s what NWC will do throughout the 201112 school year, but especially on Sat., Mar. 31, 2012, at a 50 th Anniversary Gala Dinner Dance at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, CT. Proceeds from the Gala, to which all are invited, will go entirely toward annual and endowed scholarships, so that all students, regardless of means, will have the opportunity to benefit from a Northwest Catholic education. Local media personalities Irene O’Connor ’85 and alumni parent Brad Davis will share the emcee duties for the evening, which will feature live music by “Celebration,” live and silent auctions, and tabletop tributes to 50 different people who personify NWC’s mission and

Planning Committee Seeks Nominations for Gala Tributes

To nominate someone for a Gala Tribute, please complete the on-line form at www. northwestcatholic.org/galatributes. Deadline is Oct. 7, 2011. Questions? Contact Jane Leary, Director of Constituent Relations, at jleary@ nwcath.org or 860-236-4221, x131.

Families, groups of alums, or businesses who wish to support NWC’s mission via a Gala sponsorship (ranging from $1,000 to $25,000) are invited to contact Director of Advancement Patricia Walsh (pwalsh@nwcath.org or 860-2364221, x138). Sponsorship details are also available at www.northwestcatholic.org/ galasponsorships. Tickets to the Gala will go on sale in January 2012.

Golden Calendar of Events

The centerpieces on the tables at NWC’s 50th Anniversary Gala will be more than just pretty; they will also serve as a vehicle for honoring 50 different people from all five decades of the school’s history who have helped to make NWC a remarkable place. Each centerpiece will be a tribute to someone from the NWC community who embodies, personally and/or professionally, the mission, spirit, and Catholic ideals for which Northwest Catholic has always been known. Nominees (and nominators) can come from any one of NWC’s constituencies: alumni; current and alumni parents and grandparents; current and former faculty, staff, and administrators; or friends.

ideals (see sidebar about how to nominate someone for one of these tributes). The honorary co-chairs are Laura Connelly Allen ’65 and Richard Allen, Ned Guillet ’69, and Kathy Collagan Wentworth ’65 and Ned Wentworth ’65.

• Sept. 24, 2011, 4pm -- 50th Anniversary Mass, celebrated in NWC’s Rice Auditorium by Archbishop Henry Mansell. This is exactly 50 years to the day that the school was dedicated. Reception immediately following in the Navin Cafeteria. • Oct. 24, 2011, 7:30 pm -- Rwandan author Immaculée Ilibagiza will speak at NWC about her book, Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust, NWC’s 50th anniversary community book. • Nov. 19, 2011 -- Saturday Night Live with a “golden” twist. • Mar. 31, 2012 -- 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner Dance at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington, to which all are invited. • June 6, 2012 -- NWC Golf Tournament, celebrating two big birthdays: 50 years for NWC, and 35 years for golf tourney.

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Northwest Catholic High School is a Catholic, coeducational, diverse, college preparatory school

Mission Statement

50th Anniversary News

Northwest Catholic High School NWC Embarks on $3.9-Million Building Projects in 1961-2011 Conjunction with 50th Anniversary

Rendering of the proposed new Rev. Bradford Colton entrance atrium.

The planned new entrance, featuring the new Rev. Bradford Colton Memorial Atrium

Planning for NWC’s 50th Anniversary began years ago – in 2008, in fact, when the most recent Master Plan was developed. Using the priorities in that Plan as the starting point, administrators and the School Board identified six significant enhancement projects to be accomplished in honor of the golden jubilee.

improve and enhance our building and position the school for long-term success.

Celebrating the first 50are ambitious,” years;she concluded. “But so is our “Our plans vision for Northwest Catholic! We ask the NWC community Positioning for the next – and beyond! to rise50 to this challenge and help our school fulfill its potential to

“Each generation at Northwest Catholic has helped to ensure that the school continues to thrive,” said Principal/Chief Administrator Margaret Williamson. “Now it’s our turn.” The 50th Anniversary projects, outlined in detail in a brochure available from Director of Advancement Patricia Walsh or at www.northwestcatholic.org/50thprojects, include increasing the endowment; renovating the Rice Auditorium, 17 classrooms, and the Johnson Gym (see story on p. 22 about Mirabello Basketball Court); establishing the Rev. Henry C. Frascadore Center for Performance and Achievement; and reconfiguring the front of the school with a new entrance atrium named for Rev. Bradford Colton. The estimated cost of the 50th Anniversary projects is $3.9 million, and NWC has already received about one-third of this total in gifts and pledges. Fundraising for the remaining amount is ongoing, and there are numerous naming opportunities. For more information about making a pledge or a donation to these projects, contact Mrs. Walsh or Advancement Officer Colby Thresher (cthresher@nwcath.org or 860-236-4221, x156). “We must help NWC continue to provide an outstanding environment for rising generations who will need an excellent education to compete in a technologically demanding, global society,” Mrs. Williamson explained. “These projects will

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provide a sophisticated, rigorous education in the Roman Catholic tradition for the next 50 years – and beyond.”

Which NWC Teacher Had the Biggest Influence on You? In honor of the 50th Anniversary, Logos magazine will be published three times during the 2011-12 school year, rather than just two. The additional issue, which will come out in February 2012, will focus exclusively on the first 50 years of Northwest Catholic’s history. No such issue would be complete, of course, without a retrospective on NWC’s faculty. We’re hoping alums will help bring this story to life! If you’re a graduate of NWC, please take a moment to visit www. northwestcatholic.org/influentialteachers and complete a brief, on-line questionnaire (only 12 questions). Tell us which teacher had the greatest impact on choices you made after leaving Northwest Catholic – and why. You can even attach photos to your response, if you have them! To be included in the 50th Anniversary Edition of Logos, responses must be submitted by Dec. 1, 2011 – but memories from questionnaires that come in after that date may still be used at the 50th Anniversary Gala on Mar. 31, 2012. Thanks in advance for taking a short trip down memory lane to help us pay tribute to the dedicated, intelligent, encouraging teachers who have been the backbone of Northwest Catholic since 1961. Questions? Contact Director of Communications Michelle M. Murphy (mmurphy@ nwcath.org).

N O RT H W E S T C AT H O L I C H I G H S C H O O L

sports news from the desk of joshua reese ’95 Pride, excellence, and a passion for greatness are the key ingredients for success in any athletic program. Throughout this program’s storied history on Wampanoag Drive, tales of greatness run rampant, while discussing both team and individual dominance for nearly 50 years of competition. While some of the names are familiar and passed on easily through oral tradition, “the glue,” as I refer to them, or those who are overlooked behind the scenes, are in my eyes the most important element for outstanding achievement. These “players” in the Northwest dynasty do not run for long touchdowns, make pivotal baskets during a championship run, or ever get a game-winning hit.They do play their “role,” always represent OUR school with great pride, and are our first line of “defense” for every home game. No, you will not find these individuals on an eligibility sheet; you may not even realize that they are there. Ask any Athletic Administrator and they will tell you that they are only as good as the people working behind the scenes. I’m referring to the grounds crew, ticket takers, custodians, public address announcers, and site workers that have made NWC great for some many years. My good buddy “Old Man” Shuks had his group of all-time greats that included the most reliable and loyal of friends in Ron Swanson and Jim Shugrue. Past Tomahawk Presidents and Alumni parents who donated their time,

FOOTb all After an uncharacteristically slow start, Head Coach Mike Tyler’s ’73 group bound together for greatness, winning four of their last five contests and finishing with an overall 4-6 record on the year. Tyler had tremendous praise for “do-everything” Sophomore Nick Gaynor ’13 (MVP, All-State, All-Conference), who led the squad in most offensive and defensive categories. Gaynor was not the only bright spot, as a core of Senior standouts that included Kevin Beakey ’11 (All-Conference), Matt Becker ’11, Ryan Gilmour ’11, Patrick Graham ’11, Alec Lorenzo ’11, Brian McGoldrick ’11, and Ryan Veronesi ’11

care, and love for NWC included Bill Lord, Emile Massicotte, Chris Barrett, Bob Morris, and Jack Tracey. Former and current Faculty also gave Shukie an “assist” as Mary Louise Roland sold tickets while Dave Woodford lent his talents to the “mic” broadcasting Soccer events. Clock Operator extraordinaire Jack Facey manned the table during some of NWC’s most memorable hoop contests. My cast of perennial “All-Stars” leads off with current and alumni parent John Olszewski, who is nothing short of magical in keeping our fields not only functional, but looking fantastic. After four straight months of Winter mess, or a rainstorm that lasts for days, John comes in, saves the day and provides his “touch” just in time. Other heroes you ask? There is no shortage here. Come into OUR school – immaculate floors, clean tables in the café, and a welcoming “feel” only because Bobby Pace and Floyd Wilson are “on it” each and every day. Alumni parent and former Mayor of New London Kevin Cavanagh always makes any NWC visitor feel comfortable with his easygoing presence as Public Address Announcer for football and basketball games. Good ole Mister “B” – alumni parent Bill Baker -- will greet you with his smile as a ticket taker during the Fall, can be seen running the scoreboard throughout the Winter, and rests comfortably doing statistics just near the dugout come Baseball season. NWC athletic trainer Josh Austin tends to every bump and bruise. Beth Casey Boyle ’96, NWC’s Information Technology director and a teacher in the Social Studies department, goes ballistic for every dunk and sweet “dish”

finished their careers on Wampanoag Drive as one of the best in school history. Tyler could not be happier about an abundance of talent returning next season that consists of Gaynor, Wesley Hopkins ’12 (Coaches Award, All-Conference), Maleek Riley ’12 (All-Conference), Marcus Andersen ’12, Tyler Calitri ’12, Anthony Carter ’12, David Blackwell ’12, and Christian Farrell ’12 (8 interceptions on the season). These talents, combined with the skills of Mac Crispino ’13 and PJ Edwards ’13, have excitement running high for the cool weather of Fall and Football to return to “Wamp.”

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announcing “hoop” contests. History “buff” Jen Puskarz, also a member of the NWC Social Studies department, has gotten into the act, calling games this Spring for our local “nine.” Guests can also see the great smile of Adam Gooley ’03 selling tickets, calculating a game “book,” or ensuring safety at the rink. Hungry? Who wouldn’t crack a smile when greeted by current and alumni parents Gail and Mike Riley ‘77 after you pick up a snack at the concession stand? The “gentle giant” Matt Martorelli ’03 oversees all activities as Site Supervisor and makes sure all visitors to NWC have a great experience.There is no end to the list of responsibilities that Sports Information Director James Natale takes on. Answer calls and emails (check); put up flag (check!), write roundup (check!); clean up trash (check); do everything and anything (you get the idea!) All of these individuals have a passion for one thing – and endless love for NWC Green! They will not be mentioned in the daily news, nor will their “stats” be counted amongst the NWC elite. They will continuously serve OUR school with greatness and allow this generation of student athletes, like their predecessors, the chance for success, without any questions asked, and anyone realizing their spot on OUR team. As Logos was going to press, Josh Reese resigned as NWC’s Athletic Director to accept a position in the private sector. NWC is grateful to Josh for all he did, and we wish him well. Matt Martorelli ’03 has been named Interim Athletic Director for the 2011-12 school year.

With a cadre of teammates clearing the way, MVP Nick Gaynor ’13 surges toward the end zone in the Thanksgiving Day game against Plainville.

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sp ort s ne w s

Emily Janusko ’11 gets her stick into position to corral the ball out of her opponent’s reach.

Field Hockey The Alumni wheel of coaches at NWC has been a common force to our Athletic success for nearly 50 years. That Alumni bond could not be stronger than our Field Hockey program that features Head Coach Bill Mullady ’66 and his Assistants Dianna Soucier ’08 and Cara DeAngelis ’05. A below-average record could not dampen spirits, as Mullady praised a group new to the sport with a tremendous amount of athletic ability. Four-year standout Molly Berning ‘11 (MVP, All-Conference, Captain), along with her Senior counterparts of Hillary Baran ’11 (Coaches Award, Captain), Dana Crory ’11, Stephanie Jackie ’11, Emily Janusko ’11, and Kathleen O’Hara ’11 (Captain) represent a fine group of young ladies who were phenomenal ambassadors of our school. Talent is represented in bunches, as Mullady returns Junior sensation Cathleen Collins ’12 along with Kathleen McCormack ’12, Caitlin Spalluto ’12, and Cara Watts ’12. Speedster Kristen Young ’13 and newcomer Madison Mortillaro ’14 add depth to an already dangerous group of skillful returnees.

BOYS’ Soccer Ask anyone about the talent in the CCC West division of Boys’ Soccer, and they will tell you without a doubt that it represents the showcase of CT Soccer elite. Head Coach Terry Phillip understands the obstacles he is up against and continuously put up a driven fight amongst the best our State has to offer. Overmatched and outnumbered, these boys came to play and often were on the wrong side of a 1-goal loss. Led by the outstanding leadership of Alex Mortillaro ’12 (MVP, Captain) and shining star Nick

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MVP and Captain Alexander Mortillaro ’12 takes aim at the ball while teammates Brendan Thompson ’13 and Alexx Dennis ’12 are ready to help execute a drive.

Italia ’12 (All-Conference, Captain), our boys will be tough to beat next Fall. The program says goodbye to Michal Kucharz ’11, Darien Marshall ‘11, and Luisantonio Rosado ’11, who completed their careers against the State’s best. Returning starters Brendan Thompson ’13 (Coaches Award) and next year’s stellar group including Cory Christina ’12, Jack Ferrell ’12, Stephen Kozak ’12, and the skillful Alexx Dennis ’12 will be a formidable foe for any opponent. Scoring sensation Alejandro Tobon ’13, Connor Krikawa ‘13, and “keeper” Evan Fox ‘13 round out a group looking to push into the CIAC Tournament.

Girls’ soccer

find just a single superstar would not do this club justice. Led by Regan Bosnyak ’11 (MVP, All-State, All-Conference, Captain) and Jessica Fontaine ’13 (All-State, All-Conference), the team reached the CIAC Class M Semifinals before bowing out to Lewis Mills. Senior Leaders Julia Mansolillo ’11 (Coaches Award, Captain) and Lizzie Olszewski ’11 (Captain) finish their careers as the best class in school history. Next season – WATCH OUT! Returning stars Catherine Higgins ’13 (2nd Team AllConference), Michelle Medina ’14 (2nd Team All-Conference), and Rebecca Sierejko ’12 (Honorable Mention All-Conference) headline a strong list of skillful talents. Morgan Mencio ’12 (Captain) leads a balanced attack, including EmmaKate Mortillaro ’12, Colleen Riley ’12, Lindsey Koss ’12, Annie Higgins ’13, Emily Kearney ’13, and Freshman standouts Nikki Medina ‘14 and defensive force Maggie Rose ’14.

With a 17-2 (School Record 15 RegularSeason wins) overall record and the school’s first CCC West Division Championship (1st Girls’ Soccer League Title in school history), the Girls’ Soccer season was the highlight of the Fall and had the entire state on notice. Head Coach Todd Sadler (CCC West Coach of the Year) went into “uncharted” territory, as the girls reached a #1 regular -season overall ranking (CT High School Coaches Small Division Poll) at midyear (finished at #4)-- another first for the program. This Jess Fontaine ’13 protects her turf, and the ball, as squad was LOADED teammates Emily Kearney ’13 (left) and Regan Bosnyak ’11 with talent and to flank her in support. T H E M AG A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

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The members of the Cross Country team pose with their coaches and the coveted Blue Dragon trophy, awarded to NWC for its overall second-place finish at the Blue Dragon Invitational in September 2010.

cross Country As Head Coach Scott Fletcher will tell you, the Brian Poirier ’12 (MVP, All-State, All-Conference) show will be heading to a track near you next Fall, and you better get in line to check this young man out! Poirier’s talents amazed the State and his counterparts of Brendan McCormick ’11 (Coaches Award, Captain ), Ryan Geelan ’11 (Captain), Nick Melaragno ’11, Brandon Xing ’11, and John Fitzpatrick ’11 put together a fine Fall Cross Country season. Highlighted by the strong finishes of Anthony Ravosa ’13, Jack Peterson ’12, and newcomer Luke Foran ’14, a push to the head of the CCC West pack is easily expected next Fall. Great times, great fun, and most importantly GREAT people filled the Girls’ Cross Country season. It is very easy to find a wonderful person within the Girls’ Cross Country team, as every one of these young people are fantastic individuals who will go on to great accomplishments. Led by Tri-Captains Allie Lamari ’11 (Captain), Katie Vignati ’11 (Coaches Award, Captain), and Kelly Yorio ’11 (Captain), the girls finished with a overall record of 2-5 against the much bigger and stronger CCC West division. Super-skilled Bitty Lathrop ’13 (MVP) leads a talented group including classmate Haley Derlinga ’13 and the versatile Katherine Schwartz ’12 onto the courses of the CCC next Fall.

Volleyb all Check the State Volleyball Rankings, and two to three teams from the CCC West will always be

represented in the State’s “Top Ten.” Head Coach Pat Douglas ’98 knows what he is up against and continued to fight against the State’s elite all season long. Senior leaders Abby Johnson ’11 (Captain), Brynn Stoecklin ’11 (Captain), Katherine Butler ’11 (Coaches Award), Audrey Carroll ‘11, and Dionne May ’11 were fantastic representatives for the Volleyball program throughout its first years in the CCC. It will be great to see a dominant force of returning players that includes Mary Deneen ’12 (MVP), along with schoolmates Kathryn Beaule ’12, Grace Hallinan ‘12, Logan Lawson ’12, and court leader and the always-spirited Taylor Selig ’12. Athletic phenom Sarah Gillespie ’13 and the extreme toughness of Jacqui Denver ’13 will help the Volleyball program make some noise and the keep the State on notice next season.

Taylor Selig ’12 prepares to receive – and return – the volleyball to her opponents’ side of the court.

Cheerleading The tight-knit group of NWC Cheerleaders "followed their leaders” as the best of friends in Northwest alums, Head Coach Christine Michaud ’97 and her Assistant Tina Flannery Scopetta ’04, came back for yet another fantastic Fall season. Often the forgotten group of NWC stars, these young ladies fought as hard as possible in honing their skills in support of our Football program. Led by the spirited group of captains Taylor Combs ’11 (MVP, Captain), Britney Grant ’11 (Captain), and Melissa Soutar ’11 (Captain), these young ladies showcased the pride of NWC. Seniors Devin Daly ’11 (Coaches Award), Haley Massie ’11, and Teddie Mucha ’11 will be sorely missed, but the returning force of Katherine Velazquez ’12, Arianna Montalvo ’13, Alana Seldon ’13, and Traci Parker ’13 provide a solid core for Northwest next Fall. T H E M AG A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

Three cheerleaders are aloft during an enthusiastic routine at a Fall football game.

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s p ort s ne w s

MVP JC Carr ‘11 beats his opponent in the tap of a jump ball, as Kuran Iverson ’13 awaits the play.

Boys’ B asketb all With a perfect regular season (20-0), one win shy of a school record (25-2 overall), and his 7th appearance in the CIAC State Championship

before a capacity crowd (9500 - largest in CT history to witness a Boys’ Basketball Championship!) at the Mohegan Sun Arena, Head Coach John Mirabello’s dominance in his sport is at an all-time high. Led by the “freakish” skill of Sophomore Kuran Iverson ’13 (CHSCA All-State, New Haven Register All-State, CCC West Player of the Year), Mirabello’s squad captured their second CCC West Division Conference Championship in as many years. Stars in this group were very easy to locate as JC Carr ’11 (MVP, CHSCA All-State, All-Conference, Captain) and his group of Senior “studs,” including Tony Seldon’11 (Coaches Award, Captain), Billy Battaglia ’11 (Captain), and Patrick Graham ’11, were the leaders throughout a memorable final campaign to their careers. Returning scoring force Zach Lewis ’12 (AllConference), sharpshooter Tyler Huffman ’12, and the athletic force of Nick Gaynor ’13 will have Mirabello’s team near the top of the charts and filling a gymnasium near you next Winter season.

doubt, Coach “Karl” was up to his winning ways, finishing with an above .500 record (1110 overall) and yet another spot in the CIAC Tournament. The fantastic leadership of Erin Drusedum ’11 (Captain), Antonina Feola ’11 (Captain), and the courageous Amanda Tronchin ’11 (Captain) paved the way for this year’s success. Herbert returns a powerful squad featuring the inside “powers” of Alyssa Reaves ‘13 (MVP, All Conference) and Alicia Dulaire ’13. Liz Eden ’13 is “instant” offense from everywhere on the floor, while the toughness and fiery competitive edge

Girls’ B asketb all After losing a “starting five” that went on to outstanding collegiate success, no one would have predicted Head Coach Karl Herbert’s 10-11 squad to do much damage. Despite

Captain Antonina Feola ’11 drives past opponents toward the basket.

During a signing ceremony at NWC in February 2011, Regan Bosnyak ’11 formalized her commitment to play Division 1 soccer at Stony Brook University on the North Shore of Long Island. Stony Brook is part of the State University of New York network. The daughter of Elaine Vallo of Newington and Paul Bosnyak, also of Newington, Regan started in the midfield for the three years that she played Varsity. When she was a junior, NWC won the first Girls’ Soccer State Championship in school history, as well as the CCC West championship (the first year in the Conference) and a school-record 18 wins. As a senior, Regan was named All-Conference, All-State, and All-Courant. She is the only student-athlete in the Class of ’11 headed to a D1 college athletics program. Regan Bosnyak ’11 celebrates with NWC Girls’ Soccer Head Coach Todd Sadler and her parents, Elaine Vallo and Paul Bosnyak.

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“It isn’t too often that a player can take a game over with one pass, but Regan was able to do that,” said Head Coach Todd Sadler. “I consider myself lucky to have coached her over the past few years.

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Sp orts n e w s that Jacqui Denver ’13 (Coaches Award) brings to the “table” each game provides much-needed experience and depth. Along with the strengths of Jessica Tyler ’12, Kathleen McCormack ’12, and Logan Lawson ’12, Coach Herbert’s young ladies could be near the top of the rankings as soon as the next Winter season begins.

Ice Hockey Lose 95% of your scoring, assists, and overall point production, and the State will turn away while having very low expectations. Head Coach Don Melanson‘s ’84 group of young skaters could have “turned away,” as well, after a very slow start to their Winter campaign. Instead, a midseason win streak propelled the team once again to the Ingalls Rink at Yale for their 3rd consecutive appearance in the CIAC Division III State Semifinals. Seniors Zach Hunter ’11 (All-State) and Thomas Noll ’11 (Coaches Award) finished their respective careers in the class with the most wins in school history, with a 51-32-8 overall record. A strong nucleus of AllStars including the courageous Greenwood brothers (Matt ’12 (2nd Team All-State, Hobey Baker Award) and Jeff ’13), Tanner Vaughn ’12 (MVP), Brennan Graham ’12 (Captain), A.J. Massaro ’12, Conor Hardy ’12, and Sophomore standout Patrick Melanson ’13 will prove that Yale will be well within reach once again for the Northwest Hockey nation.

Indoor Track Newly appointed Head Indoor Track Coach Patrick Williamson’s ’99 energy in his new appointment was felt throughout the Boys’ and Girls’ Indoor Track team this Winter. Following the foundation that Jeff Przech ’92 built for many years, NWC Indoor Track maintained its rich winning tradition and found itself on the winners’ platform once again. Individual highlights on the Boys’ side were headlined by Brian Poirier’s ’12 (MVP, 1000m All-New England, All-State, and

All-Conference 1000m / SMR) dominant performances at the region, State, and league level. The quickness of the 4x200 team that included Luisantonio Rosado ’11 (Coaches Award, All-New England, AllState, All-Conference), Jared Delane ’13 (All-New England 55m / 4x200, AllState, All-Conference NWC shut out Enfield, 2-0, when they competed outdoors 55m / 300m / on Feb. 18, 2011, during the first-ever Whalers Hockey Fest 4x200), Anthony at Rentschler Field in East Hartford. Carter ’12 (All-New England, All-State, All Conference 4x200 / SMR), and Aaron Wilson ‘12 (All-New England, All-State, All-Conference SMR / 4x200) dominated all opposition. Following up with post-season honors was Jalen Lollar ’12 (All-Conference Long Jump) and Jack Peterson ’12 (All Conference SMR). Senior leaders Ryan These runners (and their coaches) were part of the Boys’ Geelan ’11 (Captain), Indoor Track team that placed second in the Class S State Brendan McCormick Championship Meet – the best finish at a State meet since ’11 (Captain), Matt 1981 (when NWC was State Champ). Carlson ’11, Darien Marshall ’11, Nick Last season, the State of Connecticut was Melaragno ’11, Sean Morris ’11, Chris Sherer treated to the rare talent that Sarah Gillespie ’13 ’11, and Brandon Xing ’11 finished their careers (MVP, All-New England 1000m, All-State, All with great pride. A solid group of returnees make Conference 100m /SMR) possesses. Needless Coach Williamson’s squad a force to be reckoned to say, a “Sophomore Slump” was nowhere to be with in the powerful CCC West. seen as Gillespie was dominant once again. Her counterparts of Gabrielle Giangreco ’13 (Coaches Award, All Conference SMR), Emily Janusko ’11 (All Conference SMR), and Jenna Jordano ’13 (All-Conference SMR) gained much-needed competitive points during meets. The positive leadership that Melissa Martucci ’11 (Captain) and Kelly Yorio ’11 (Captain) brought to the table, combined with the success of Megan Baker ’12 and Bitty Lathrop ’13, proved to be just the ingredients the Girls’ Indoor Track team needed for a successful season.

Swimming

Maggie Gauthier '12 races to the edge of the pool.

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Head Coach Spencer Hartmann will tell you that you only get to coach a talent like Robby Kunkel ’11 (School Record – 100 Butterfly, MVP, All-State 100 Butterfly / 50 Freestyle, All-Conference 100 SPRING/SUMMER 2011

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sp ort s ne w s Butterfly, Captain) once in a lifetime. Kunkel’s accomplishment during his final season in the pool for NWC ranks among the best ever on Wampanoag Drive. The Senior leaders of Francis Butler ’11 (Coaches Award, Captain), Brynn Stoecklin ’11 (Captain), Dana Crory ’11, Tom Gollenberg ’11, and Evan Herron ’11 were just what Hartmann’s young group of talent needed for success. A talented core of Hannah Scobee ’12 (Captain) and Sam Hug ’12 led the team to an overall 5-7 record. The returning group of Super

Sophomores of Gracie Kunkel ’13, Thomas Vignati ‘13 and the brothers McCarthy (Austin ’13, Colin ’13, Ian ’13) should make a strong showing next Winter as the team “dives” into action.

Cheerleading The sound of a “crazy” gym during the Winter season is largely due to the intensity of Head Coach Christine Michaud’s ’98 Cheerleading

group. Led by Senior standouts Melissa Soutar ’11 (MVP, Captain), Britney Grant ’11 (Coaches Award, Captain) and fellow classmates Taylor Combs ’11 (Captain) and Dionne May ’11, this group of talented young ladies provided undying support of the both the Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball teams. Returnees Adrianna Soldevila ’12, Katherine Velazquez ’12, and underclassman Alana Seldon ’13 provide key leadership qualities of a squad that always is “heard from” in every gym they enter!

Alumni Athletes: Where Are They Now? After a stellar four-year career at NWC, which concluded with a perfect regular season (20-0), Jenniqua Bailey ’10 earned a scholarship to Bryant University. At NWC, Jenniqua was a 2-time MVP, 1,000-point scorer, 4-time All-Conference selection and earned first team All-State honors as a senior. For Bryant, Jenniqua appeared in 25 games as a freshman, starting in four of them, which was topped by a career-high 13 points against Army on Jan. 3, 2011. She will look to excel on and off the court and continue the winning traditions for the Bulldogs in her sophomore season. The pioneer of Girls’ Golf at NWC, Mary Beckerman ’10 concluded her career on “Wamp” by becoming the first Girls’ Golfer to earn All-Conference and All-State honors. As a result of her fantastic skill set, Mary took her golf career to Holy Cross where she hopes to help the Crusaders get back to their winning traditions going into her sophomore year. (http://goholycross.com/ sports/w-golf/2010-11/bios/beckerman_ mary_6pux) A four-year starter at NWC, which included bringing NWC to its first State Championship appearance, Mike Bourdon ’07 was drafted in the 41st Round by the Boston Red Sox. At the University of Tampa, Mike appeared in 16 games, starting in 6, while registering his first hit as a Spartan against Florida Tech. Coming into a big junior season, Mike delivered, compiling a .382 batting average including 5 home runs, 4 of which came as a pinch hitter. Mike is a Finance major and anxiously awaits his senior season. (http://www.tampaspartans.com/profile. asp?playerID=639)

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One of the best baseball players ever to come out of NWC, Tom Bourdon ’10 topped off his spectacular 4-year career by winning the first State Championship and being the first player in NWC history to be named All-Conference his entire career. Batting .465 with 6 home runs and 26 RBIs as a senior,Tom was drafted in the 38th Round of the First Year Player Draft by the Boston Red Sox. Tom decided on a Baseball scholarship at the prestigious Boston College of the powerful ACC conference. In his 1st full season as an “Eagle,” Tom started 46 out of 49 games in centerfield and batted .289, which was good for 3rd best on the team. (http:// bceagles.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/ bourdon_tom00.html)

England team. (http://www.ecgulls.com/ roster.aspx?rp_id=4784)

After a great baseball career at NWC, Dillon Desiderato ’09 made the move on to Southern Vermont University, where he appeared in 21 games, starting in 13 of them as a sophomore. Dillon looks to have a big junior year in the spring of ’12. (http://www.svcathletics.com/sports/ bsb/201011/bios/dillon%20desiderato%20 baseball%202011) Son of NWC Hall of Fame Member Mike Eagan Sr. ’74 and brother of two-time All-State defensive end Mike Eagan Jr. ’04, Kevin Eagan ‘08 has dominated all opposition at Endicott College. Throughout his historic career at Endicott, Kevin has started in all 22 games and was named NEFC Boyd Division Defensive Rookie of the Year and twotime NEFC Boyd Division First Team Defensive Lineman. He led the team this past season with 74 tackles, which included a team record 16.5 tackles for loss, while being named to the New England Football Writers Division II/ Division III All New T H E M AG A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

With a remarkable career on the track at Northwest, Kristina Krupa ’08 capped off her senior season by winning the 400m in the Class S Championships. She continued her excellence moving on to Loyola University, where she has helped the Greyhounds break five school records, which include the 300m and four separate Sprint Relay teams. Kristina is headed into senior year majoring in Information Systems as part of their Business Administration program.

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After a great four-year career at NWC, Faith Gilbert ’10 took her exceptional skills, including her “deadly” three-point shot, to DeSales University. At DeSales, Faith played in all 20 games, averaging 12 minutes per game as a freshman and led the Bulldogs shooting 40% from behind the arc. (http://athletics.desales.edu/index. aspx?tab=basketball2&path=wbball) Before graduating from NWC, Alex Iovine ’10 finished as the all-time leader in assists (46 – 2 seasons) and helped the NWC Girls’ Soccer team to a school record 18 wins and a share of the CIAC Class M State Championship. After NWC. Alex earned a scholarship to Manhattan College,where she appeared in all 19 games and started 12 of them in her opening campaign. She is a Business major and looks to keep her winning tradition during her sophomore season. (http://www. gojaspers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_ OEM_ID=12500&ATCLID=204975858) After an epic career on the track at NWC, Eric Kennedy ’10 took his abilities to Bentley University, where he continued to excel. Eric was recognized as the NE-10 Outdoor Track Rookie of the Week. During that time, Eric finished second in 100 meter (11.28 seconds), third in the 200 meter (22.43, which set a personal record) and helped the 4x200 team qualify for the New England Championships with a third-place finish (43.31 seconds). Eric looks to continue his hard work on and off the track and help the Falcons to another successful season. (http://www.westhartfordnews. com/articles/2011/05/11/sports/ doc4dc9ff98e5ac7251062678.txt) After a great four-year career at NWC, which included All-Conference and All-

State as a senior, Sean Leary ’07 worked hard in his four-year career to become one of the four senior captains of the Lacrosse team at Eastern Connecticut State University. Sean had a fantastic career at ECSU including appearances in the “Little East” championship three of his final four seasons and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament his Sophomore year. He even managed to get into the scoring column, as he earned his first career goal in his final career game. (http://www. easternct.edu/athletics/men_lacrosse/lmr-s-leary.htm) After an unbelievable career on the links at NWC, Brendan Lemp ’10 took his talents to Loyola University in Maryland. Brendan won the R.I. Junior Championship (5 & 4), which made him the first player out of The Misquamicut Club to become Junior Champion. Brendan’s achievements also include setting a NWC record by shooting 75 in his junior year at the Division IV match, which qualified him for the New England Championships. A two-time All-State honoree, Brendan joined the powerhouse Greyhounds, who have won three consecutive MAAC titles. (http://sportsblog.projo.com/2009/08/ misquamicuts-br.html) After an outstanding career as a threeyear varsity starter at the point guard for NWC, Jordan Lewis ’10 took his talents to Endicott College in Beverly, MA. One of the greatest passers of all time for the Indians, Jordan was named team MVP both his junior and senior season while grabbing All-State honors his senior season. Jordan played in 27 games including 13 starts where he led the Gulls with assists (81) and second on the team in steals (32). Jordan’s “high” game was a 13-point game in a 69-68 win at Nichols

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College. (http://www.ecgulls.com/roster. aspx?rp_id=5118) As the leading scorer in her junior and senior season at Northwest Catholic, Ally Mullings ’10 capped off an unbelievable career with All-State honors and helped lead the NWC Indians to an undefeated regular season before bowing out to three-time defending champion Hillhouse. At Siena College during her Freshman campaign, Ally appeared in 27 games, starting in 4 of them. In her first appearance of the year, Ally poured in a career-high 13 points and hopes to crack the starting lineup as a Sophomore. (http://www.sienasaints.com/sports/wbaskbl/mtt/mullings_allison00.html) Finishing her career with one of the best records in NWC history (26-1), Uju Nwankwo ’10 went on to the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Finishing her career at NWC averaging 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 blocks, Uju looked to help the Highlanders in the tough Great West Conference. At NJIT, she appeared in 21 games as a freshman with a seasonhigh 12 points against Houston Baptist, where she snagged 10 rebounds for her first career “double-double.” http:// www.njithighlanders.com/roster.aspx?rp_ id=2736 Heading into her senior year at Saint Joseph College, Dianna Soucier ’08 had an unbelievable junior season. She led team in goals and points with 27 and 28 respectively, and she was named team Most Valuable Player. She played and started in all 14 contests this season and looks to continue her dominance on the Lacrosse Field in the spring of 2012. (http://sjcbluejays.com/sports/wlax/201011/bios/soucier_diana_cj40)

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Alumni News As in every school, some people who enroll at NWC as freshmen do not remain here for four years, for a variety of reasons. However, we still consider them part of the NWC family. For record-keeping purposes, NWC has followed the lead of many high schools and colleges in defining “when an alum is an alum.” The policy is that if a student completes one year at NWC, we consider them to be part of the class with which they entered, and will be identified as “a member of the Class of ‘xx” in NWC materials. A person in this category who wishes to be added or removed from our database should contact Director of Constituent Relations Jane Leary at jleary@nwcath.org.

1960s Carey Reber Leeds ’69 writes that her daughter Maureen Clare Leeds graduated from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN in 2010 and is now a member of the Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. Carey’s son, Robert, attends the University of Colorado in Boulder.

1970s Lucinda A. Harris, M.D. ‘72 moved from New York to Scottsdale, AZ, in 2004, where she works for the Mayo Clinic, specializing in gastroenterology. She was recently promoted to Associate Professor in the Mayo Medical School

Maureen Fitzgerald Norton ’73 was one of only ten people (and the first and only woman) to be named a Distinguished Market Intelligence Professional by IBM. She earned this distinction in 2010, after working for IBM for most of her career, most recently on projects similar to those highlighted in IBM’s “smarter Planet” commercials. Maureen earned Bachelor’s and MBA degrees from the University of New Haven and a law degree from the UConn School of Law. She lives with her husband and three children in Avon, CT; her oldest child will begun studies at LSU in September 2011.

By day, he’s Richard Malone, M.D. ’72, an awardwinning pediatrician (his Southern Indiana Pediatrics practice was named National Practice of the Year in 2003 by Physician’s Practice Magazine). But by night, he’s Doc Malone, a blues musician who plays harmonica professionally with Muddy Waters’ son, Big Bill Morganfield. “I became interested in blues music in the early ‘90s and formed my first band, Code Blue, in 2000,” he writes. “Our CD, Code Blue Featuring Bobbie Lancaster, is available through CD Baby and iTunes.” He began working with Big Bill Morganfield in 2009, and they have since played festivals in the US and Europe; they will perform in Toronto this Fall (www.bigbillmorganfield. com). He does about 80 shows a year -- and makes hospital rounds on more than 300 days per year. “I juggle my time well,” he says. Richard’s path toward life as a harmonica-playing pediatrician was circuitous, to say the least. After NWC, he spent two years at Haverford College, but then took two years off to study jazz guitar. He next enrolled at Butler University for a year, but left and went to work as a restaurant manager. “All the time I was playing in a string band with doctors,” he explains. “They persuaded me to go back to school as a pre-med.” In 1981, Richard graduated from Butler with a BS in Chemistry, then earned his medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1985. After residency and additional training, he settled in Bloomington, IN, in 1989, where he now works and lives with his family, which includes his wife, Rene, and his four children: Alex (who just completed his third year at Indiana University School of Medicine), Angie, Clara, and Hank, who will be a freshman at IU in September.

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A l u m ni N e w s Dave Elpi ’71 says that when he graduated from NWC, he knew that college was not for him. A self-described country boy from Granby, he knew that he needed to be outdoors, not in more classrooms, and he got a job with Granby Tree Service. By 1975, his desire to work on bigger and better trees took him to the Pacific Northwest. He settled in Sisters, OR, at the foot of three 9,000-foot mountains, with a 100-mile doorway of unbroken forest. He’s been there ever since, making his living in the lumber business. His company, Sisters Forest Products (www. sistersforestproducts.com), which produces posts, poles, house logs, logs for mills, and firewood, among other things. “I can say with great certainty that the lifelong pursuit of a career you love is priceless and spells great success,” he says. “I have seen nearly every sunrise since I was a kid, and most of the time it was from the side of a mountain somewhere here in the Pacific Northwest. What more could you ask for?” Dave and his wife, Kathy, have two children: Michelle, who’s married and works as a lab technician for the city of Bend, OR, and Travis, who passed away in 2005. He has recently reconnected with some of his old NWC buddies, including Kevin Ryan ’71, Michael Orzech ’71, Greg Ruffy ’71, and Steve Jenson ’71. “We rarely get back to Connecticut, but love to have East Coast family come to Oregon and enjoy the different lifestyle here,” he adds.

Diane Nastri ’74 recently became VP of Sales for XConnect Global Networks, an international telecommunications company that is headquartered in London but has U.S. headquarters in New York. Diane’s children, Joseph and Julie, are in middle school. Russel Youngblood ’76 lives in West Union, SC, where he owns a business and has three children: Joshua, Gabrielle, and Hayden. He earned a degree in Business Administration and Marketing from UConn in 1981. Anthony Giusiano ’77 retired in August 2009 after 26 years of service as a public safety dispatcher for the Hartford Police Department. He now works part-time as a fire dispatcher for the Town of Bloomfield Volunteer Fire Department.

1980s Mary Magauran Smith ’87 is a Senior Alliance Manager for AstraZeneca; in the Fall ‘10/Winter ’11 of Logos, we incorrectly reported that she was a global project manager for i3. We regret the error. Lisa Bazzano Bradfor ’88 and her husband Dan are the proud parents of Ella Grace, 18 months old. Lisa graduated from Spring Hill

College and Memphis State University. She is a speech clinician. Bronzell D. Dinkins ‘89 is Cataloging Assistant in the Trinity College Library.

1990s Matthew Bazzano ’90 is an attorney with Wells Fargo & Company. He and his wife Susan have two children: Joey, 3, and Gianna, 2. The family lives in Eagan, MN. LaTanya Dinkins Watkins ‘90 is a Marketing Specialist at IKON in Glastonbury. Jennifer Guertin Shockley ’91 recently passed the American Physical Therapy Association Neurology Certified Specialist exam. She works with stroke and brain injury patients at Mt. Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital in Hartford. Michael Bazzano ‘93 works as a customer sales representative in Florida. Karen Walker ’98 has moved to Spokane, WA, as a Senior Project Manager with Farm Credit Financial Partners, Inc., the company for which she has worked since graduating from Mount Holyoke College.

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Meghan Myott ’99 recently became engaged to Anthony DeLucia, a mechanical engineer from East Haven, CT; they plan a 2012 wedding on the CT shoreline. Meghan graduated from Loyola University in MD and Tufts Veterinary School, and she completed her residency in Veterinary Internal Medicine at the Animal Medical Center in New York. She will begin work as a board-certified Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist at the Las Vegas (NV) Veterinary Referral Center.

2000s Conor Grew ’03 will soon begin studies for a Global MBA at The George Washington University School of Business in Washington, DC, after working for almost four years as the special assistant to The Honorable Al Gore. Conor is engaged to marry Olivia Schramm on Oct. 29, 2011. Olivia works for the Department of Justice in Washington, DC. Mike Reilly ’04 owns a general contracting company, H2 Contracting, in Marlton, NJ. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where he focused on structural engineering and was a member of the boxing team, Mike worked for a large general contracting firm in Chicago before beginning his own business in March 2010. He serves as an associate board SPRING/SUMMER 2011

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Alumni N e w s member at St. Gregory the Great High School in Chicago.

Kara J. Boucher ’07 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at Stonehill College.

Cara DeAngelis ’05 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at Saint Joseph College.

Laura Jordan ’07 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at Curry College.

Michael Kowalczyk ’05 finished his Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering, and is working for the Federal Highway Administration.

Meghan Kiley ’07 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at Connecticut College.

Stephanie Griebel ’08 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at Saint Joseph College. Nicole Wegrzyn ’06 was one of only four students in the Pharmacy program at Northeastern University invited to be part of a delegation that traveled to Washington, DC, in March 2011 to lobby Congress on pro-patient, pro-pharmacy legislation. She remains active in community service projects, and completed a 26-mile walk in for the benefit of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in September 2010. Emma Carey ’06 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at the University of Connecticut. Stephen Bodell ’07 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at Fairfield University. John O’Hara ’07 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at Fairfield University.

Benjamin Luddy ’07 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at the University of Connecticut. Daniel Martinelli ’07 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at Salve Regina University. Katherine Murphy ’07 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at Manhattan College. Kathleen Spignesi ’07 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at Fairfield University. Gregory Marakovits ’08 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at Springfield College. Travis Lynch ’08 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at Connecticut College.

Angelica Badillo ’09 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at Central Connecticut State University. Shealagh K. Begley ’09 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at the University of Hartford. Jennifer L. Bonee ’09 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at the University of Hartford. Madelyn Filomeno ’09 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at the University of Connecticut. Mitchell Fox ’09 was named to the Spring 2001 Dean’s List at the University of Hartford. Maura Graham ’09 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at the University of Scranton. Bridget Kiley ’09 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at Villanova University. Nicole Milewski ’09 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at Fairfield University.

Danielle Gilmour ’08 was named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at the University of Connecticut.

Army Col. Kelly Murray, M.D. ’83 has just completed a two-year tour as the Hospital Commander at Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital in Ft. Polk, LA. Her next assignment is at the Pentagon, where she will become the Assistant Surgeon General for Force Protection. Kelly was also named the Female Physician Leader of the Year for 2011 by the Department of Defense. A graduate of Drake University with a B.S. in biology, Kelly earned her medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) and completed a residency in Family Medicine.

Still Looking for Vets NWC seeks to create a comprehensive listing of alumni who have served in any branch of the military, at any time. Please send the name, NWC grad year, and brief explanation of the military service to http://nwc-veterans.wikispaces.com/. Thanks to those who have already submitted info.

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Alumni Artists: Where Are They Now? The popularity of the “Alumni Athletes” feature, as well as the stories that surfaced after the “Spotted on Screen” cover story in the Fall ‘10/Winter ’11 issue of Logos, have spurred this new feature focusing on NWC’s alumni artists. Please help us shine the spotlight on NWC alums who have pursued the fine or performing arts in college or beyond! Send updates, plus links to photos, videos, or college web sites, to Beth Lynch Oates ’94, chair of NWC’s Fine and Performing Arts Department (eoates@nwcath.org). Emma Carey ‘06 graduated from UConn with a B.A. in Music/B.S. in Education and a minor in Theater Studies. For the past four years, she has been the Drama Counselor at Camp Eagle Feather in Rocky Hill, CT. Brenna Fitzgerald ’07 graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Theatre Education from Emerson College in Boston. She has many stage credits to her name, including one paid credit, as well as one film. She won Emerson’s EVVY Award for Best Female Performance in a Lead Role for Diane in “The Little Dog Laughed.” Brenna has developed a niche in stage combat; she works in rapier, dagger, broadsword, quarterstaff, unarmed, knife, and cloak. She worked as a TA in Stage Combat II at Emerson, and has fight-choreographed three shows. In the Fall of 2011, she will

begin teaching at Commonwealth School, an independent high school in Boston’s Back Bay, and has also been invited back to Emerson as a paid guest artist for “Robin Hood,” where she will be an actorcombatant and assistant choreographer/ fight captain. Jesse Hoyer ‘07 graduated from Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, MA, where he majored in Industrial Technology with a concentration in Technical Theatre. He planned to work as a technical director and master carpenter at the Barnstormers Theatre in Tamworth, NH, during the Summer of 2011. In the past, he has worked for the Stoneham Theater and the Reagle Musical Theatre of Greater Boston. He has also worked as a Technical Director for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region 1, where he has received four special commendations. Laura Jordan ’07 graduated from Curry College in Milton, MA, with a major in integrated liberal studies and a minor in education and theatre. A member of the Theatre Supervisory Board, Laura has appeared in several Curry College productions, including “Romeo and Juliet,” “Be Careful What You Wish For,” Baby with the Bathwater,” and “Deathbed.” Ben Tomaiuolo ‘07 earned a BFA in Directing from Central Connecticut State

University, where he transferred after three years at Pace University in New York. In NYC, Ben starred as Billy in “Billy Learns About Captain Kirk” at Manhattan Children’s Theatre, and as Mike in “Opheliac’s Anonymous” at Space on White. He also directed the world premiere of “When I’m 64” at the Manhattan Repertory Theatre. At Pace, he directed Oscar Wilde’s “A Florentine Tragedy;” Suzan Lori-Parks’ Pulitzer Prize-winning “Topdog/Underdog;” and the NYC premiere of the CT-based Blunt Objects Theatre’s “Apocalypse Lost.” He is a member of Blunt Objects Theatre and the Desultory Theatre Club, both based in CT. He was recently featured in the Desultory Theatre Club’s production of “CrookieCookie.” Angelica Badillo ‘09 is majoring in theater at Central Connecticut State University. She was most recently seen as Marcy Park in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and as Sallie in “The Kentucky Cycle.” She is the secretary of Dancentral (CCSU’s dance company). Angelica also works as a teaching artist with the Hartford Conservatory and the Hartford Children’s Theatre. She recently wrote and directed “Tanked,” a play about the life of aquatic animals in captivity, which will be reconstructed for a tour of schools in the Fall of 2011.

Connecting with Alums in Religious Life In an ongoing effort to track the varied careers of NWC alumni, as well as to improve NWC’s data base, the Alumni Office would love to hear from NWC graduates who have entered religious life as nuns, priests, brothers, deacons, or ministers. If you fall into this category, please e-mail Director of Constituent Relations Jane Leary (jleary@nwcath.org). Please include the name you had when you graduated from NWC, your grad year, your post-high school education (secular and religious), the name of the order, diocese, or church to which you belong, the number of years in religious life, and your current contact info. This info will be very helpful for a future Logos article, among other things. Thanks in advance for sharing!

Still Time to Order New Alumni Directory NWC’s new Alumni Directory is at the printer and will be mailed later this Fall. If you missed the opportunity to order one, you may still be able to get a copy by calling Publishing Concepts (PCI) at 1-800-982-1590. Supplies are limited. This will likely be the last time NWC produces a hard copy of an alumni directory.

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Alumni N e w s

Weddings

NWC alumni spanning 30 years helped celebrate when Chris Bruff ’03 married Kim MacElhaney on Oct. 16, 2010, in Andover, MA (front row, from left): Keith Gaston, NWC Basketball Coach John Mirabello, Isabella Mirabello, Nicole Della Rocco ‘03, Katie Thorner ‘03, Alison Devine ‘03, Elizabeth Gaston, Jessica Starkey-Bryson ‘03, Kimberly MacElhaney Bruff, Jennie Quinn ‘03, Ryan Sitarz ‘03, Margaret Redden Sitarz ’72. (Back row, from left): David Gaston ‘03, Chris Bruff ‘03, Geoffrey Richardson ‘03, Robert Sitarz. Not pictured: Kathleen Connelly ’12. Chris and Kim graduated in 2007 from the University of Maine, where he was on the basketball team and she was on the hockey team. Kim is now a 6th-grade teacher in Tewskbury, MA, and Chris expects to earn his Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Lesley University in the Summer of 2011. The Bruffs live in North Andover, MA. Juliana Jacobellis ’05 married Christopher Bean, a native of St. Charles, IL, on July 3, 2010 – just weeks after they graduated from The United States Air Force Academy and were commissioned as U.S. Air Force Second Lieutenants. Megan Hunter ’05 was a bridesmaid. Juliana is the only NWC alum to graduate from the Air Force Academy (in which she enrolled after a year at the Air Force Academy Prep School). Christopher is currently in pilot training in Columbus, MS, while Juliana has been assigned to the Electronic Systems Squadron at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, MA, where she will be doing cyber acquisitions and completing a Master’s Degree in Information Technology.

Don’t Be Shy! Send photos and news for the next issue of Logos to Director of Communications Michelle Murphy at mmurphy@nwcath.org

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Thanh Truong ’92 and Danielle Larsh, both of whom work for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, were married on Sept. 18, 2010, in Indianapolis, IN. The celebration included many familiar faces from the NWC football program, where Thanh was an Assistant Coach for 10 years (before relocating to the Midwest): Assistant Coach Mike Lenz ’91 and former Assistant Coach Trevonn Coleman ’92 were groomsmen, and Head Coach Mike Tyler ’73, former Assistant Coach Jeff Soto ’94, and Assistant Coach Scott Rapport were all guests. Other NWC guests included groomsmen Jason D’Amico ’92 and Chris Riley ’92; reader Jonathan Reed ’94; and guests Brian Rec ’92 and Todd Massicotte ’92. Thanh, a graduate of UConn, and Danielle, a graduate of Purdue University, live in Indianapolis.

Amy Griffin ’97, daughter of former NWC President Michael Griffin, Ph.D., and his wife Linda, married Ryan Buzzell at St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church in Hartford on Apr. 9, 2011. Sarah Griffin Casper ’96 was the matron of honor. Guests included Amy Montague Elliott ’94, John Phillips ’06, and NWC librarian Helga Phillips. Amy and Ryan live in Manchester, CT; Ryan is a social worker, and Amy will soon mark her 5th anniversary as a Director at the Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center Foundation. (Previously, she had worked in the Advancement office at NWC.) She expects to complete her MBA at UConn in Spring 2012. Dr. Griffin is now the Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Fall River, MA.

Like us on Facebook! The NWC Alums Fan Page on Facebook gets bigger every day; "like us" and reconnect with old friends.

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Bib Babies

Griffin Wentworth Griffin Patrick Wentworth, born on March 30, 2011, is the newest member of a family with broad and deep ties to NWC. The son of Tiffany and Gavin Wentworth ’00 and the grandson of Kathy Collagan Wentworth ’65 and Ned Wentworth ’65, Griffin is also the nephew of NWC Assistant Girls’ Soccer coach Keelan Wentworth Lefebvre ’02 and Meghan Wentworth ’87 and the great-nephew of several other Wentworth alums. Griffin lives with his parents in Bloomfield; Gavin is the head of Marketing at Wentworth, DeAngelis and Kaufmann, and Tiffany works in the Claims Department at Travelers. In his “spare” time, Gavin teams up with his old friend Tom Spinella ’00 to coach the Packers in the West Hartford Youth Football League.

Cooper Lenz Born on May 19, 2010, Cooper William Lenz is the first child of Jenn and Mike Lenz ’91 – as well as the nephew of the late David Lenz ’87, Rick Lenz III ’86, Stephen Lenz ’94, Patrick Lenz ’97, and Danny Lenz, and the grandson of stalwart NWC supporters and alumni parents Rick and Fay Lenz. Mike, an English teacher at Simsbury High School, is an assistant NWC football coach. He and his family live in West Hartford.

Had a baby? Get a bib! We’d love to include a photo of your baby in a future issue of Logos. Please request your bib from Michelle Murphy (mmurphy@nwcath.org) – and then e-mail her a photo and some details about the baby and your family afterwards. 38 •

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Ariana Mennella Ariana Elisabeth Mennella is the first child for Anna Maria Tamburro Mennella ’94 and her husband, Sal. She was born on June 15, 2010. Anna Maria is a social worker at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, and Sal works in the Public Works Department for the Town of East Hartford. The family lives in Rocky Hill.

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Fin Bartels William Finley Bartels, the first child for Beth Lawton Bartels ’97 and her husband Joe, was born on Dec. 15, 2010. Beth is the Northern Virginia Regional Editor for Patch.com, and Joe is a regulatory attorney for the U.S. Department of Commerce. The family lives in Alexandria,VA. Fin is the grandson of Philip N. Lawton, Jr., ’65, and the nephew of Philip N. Lawton III ’93.

Kathleen Skahill Margaret Linehan Skahill ’66 and her husband John became grandparents for the first time with the birth of Kathleen Theresa Skahill on Sept. 5, 2010. Kathleen is the daughter of Matthew Skahill ’97 and his wife, Maureen, and the goddaughter of Patrick Skahill ’02. Kathleen faced some health challenges during the first few months of her life, and Margaret reports that the prayers of the NWC community buoyed the family during that difficult time. Baby Kathleen and her parents live in Cherry Hill, NJ.

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Sophie Riggs Sophie Mae Riggs was born in November 2010 to Mercedes Roy Riggs ’00 and her husband, Bobby. A graduate of Stanford University and the Santa Clara University School of Law, Mercedes now lives in Vancouver, WA, where she plans to start her own law practice.

Haleigh Whitehouse Born on Apr. 21, 2010, Haleigh Joanne Whitehouse is the first child for Meghan Terrion Whitehouse ‘03 and her husband, Greg, and the first niece for Jill Terrion DaPonte ’01 and Ted Terrion ’10. The Whitehouse family lives in Rhode Island.

Yvette Juda Yvette Shiloh Juda, born on April 20, 2011, tipped the scales at 10lbs, 3ounces and 22 inches long! She is the daughter of Peter and Kristin Juda of West Hartford and the granddaughter of longtime NWC English teacher and Department Chair Patti Juda.

Linnea MacPhail Linnea Mary-Anne MacPhail was almost a Christmas baby! Born on Dec. 17, 2010, Linnea is the daughter of Andrew MacPhail ’98 and his wife, Sherri. Andrew works for Job Corps, teaching on-line high school diploma courses, and he also tutors in the evenings. His wife cares for Linnea and is working on a franchise opportunity with Market America. The family lives in Sprague, CT, just outside Norwich.

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Hannah Barton Hannah DeuPree Barton is the brandnew granddaughter of NWC Science Department Chair Virginia Murphy. Born on March 12, 2011, in Philadelphia, she is the first child of Jeremy and Suzanne Murphy Barton.

Victoria Garr Former NWC Social Studies teacher and Department Chair Christopher Garr, his wife Johanna, and big sister Emma, 4, welcomed Victoria Therese on June 3, 2010. The family lives in Berea, OH, where Chris is a program director for Youth Challenge, a sports and recreation organization for children with physical disabilities in the Greater Cleveland area.

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In Memoriam Northwest Catholic extends its prayers and sympathies to the families of those in our community who passed away between October 1, 2010, and March 31, 2011. To ensure accuracy, we require that In Memoriam notices be accompanied by a newspaper obituary. Please notify Michelle Murphy of any errors or omissions (mmurphy@nwcath.org). Alumni Paul Randazzo ’71 passed away on Oct. 9, 2010. He was 57. Born in Hartford on Sept. 29, 1953, to Elizabeth Franconi Randazzo and the late Sebastian Randazzo, Paul graduated from Norwich University in VT, where he excelled in athletics. He had retired after a career in law enforcement in CT and VT, and was living in High Point, NC, at the time of his death. In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife, Cherie Johnston; his sons Jason Randazzo ’98 and Jonathon Randazzo and their wives; four grandchildren and six step-grandchildren; a brother and two sisters and their spouses; and a host of other relatives. Mary Catherine Harding Russell ’70 passed away on Feb. 26, 2011, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 58 years old. Cathy was born on Nov. 11, 1952, in Hartford, the eldest daughter of the late Robert L. and Mary C. Fitzpatrick Harding. She worked for 22 years for Citizens Bank in New Hampshire (where she raised her family) and in Rocky Hill, earning the bank’s Outstanding Community Service Award as well as Rocky Hill’s Volunteer of the Year Award, in recognition of her work with the Buddy Program at the Cromwell Children’s Home and at a women’s shelter in Middletown. She also served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. James Church in Rocky Hill. In the year and a half before her death, Cathy had been living in Henderson, NV, to be close to her six adoring grandchildren. Those grandchildren – Luke, Molly, Kate, Maggie, Cassidy, and Jillian – survive her, along with her sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Shannon Russell of Henderson and Todd and Michelle Russell of San Diego. She is also survived by three brothers -- Ignatius Harding, OFM of Bolivia; Peter A. Harding and wife Eileen of Rocky Hill;

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and Chuck Harding ’71 and his wife Peggy – and one sister, LuAnn Harding, with whom she shared her homes in NV and CT, as well as several nieces and nephews. Her parents; her brother Robert Harding; and her sons’ father all predeceased her. Karen Colleen Shanahan ’97 passed away on Mar. 15, 2011, at the age of 31. A dedicated elementary school teacher at Nathan Hale School in Enfield, Karen earned her undergraduate degree from Saint Joseph College and her Master’s degree from Central CT State University. She and her beloved son, Justin Shanahan, lived in Poquonock with her mother, Linda Doughney Shanahan. Karen is also survived by her father, James Shanahan of East Hartford; her brothers Sean Shanahan ’95 and Patrick Shanahan; her sisters Kathleen Shanahan and Susan Cyr; and a number of other relatives.

Current Families William J. Brown, grandfather of McKenzie Seldon ’04, Tony Seldon ’11, and Alana Seldon ’13 James Edward Byrne, grandfather of Lauren Callahan ’13 Josephine DiBella, grandmother of Marissa DiBella ’12 David C. Greenwood, Jr., father of Jonathan Greenwood ’01, Matthew Greenwood ’12, and Jeffrey Greenwood ’13 Edward Kachnowski, great-uncle of Will Kachnowski ’11 Deacon Joseph F. Krikawa, grandfather of Katie Krikawa ’10 and Connor Krikawa ’13 John Edward Link, Sr., grandfather of Thaddeus Link ’14

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Conceicao Machado, grandmother of Christopher Sands ’04, Brandon Sands ’08, and Jonathan Sands ’13 Patricia Gorra Meehan, mother of Dillon Meehan ’12; sister-in-law of Lisa Meehan Curran ’71 and Michael Meehan ’72; aunt of Kathryn Curran ’00 and Kelly Curran ‘04 Bertha Muller, grandmother of Brittany Massaro ’07 and AJ Massaro ’12 George R. Nenninger, grandfather of Melissa Nenninger ’14 Bernice M. Phibbs, grandmother of Alexander Phibbs ’12 Evelyn “Evy” Schultz, mother-in-law of John Breton ’86, aunt of Admissions Office assistant Maryann Walsh Lacouture, greataunt of Ed Walsh ’00, Meghan Walsh ’05, Nicole Lacouture ’10, and Allison Lacouture ’13 Charles H. Strid, grandfather of Justin Strid ’10 and Ryan Strid ’12 John A. Watts, III, grandfather of Craig Watts ’09 and Cara Watts ’12

Alumni Families James William Ahern, brother of Mary Ahern Michaud ’72, uncle of Eric Michaud ’94, Christine Michaud ’97, and Patrick Ahern ’01 Martha Barnes, mother of Elizabeth Barnes Ray ’80 and Michael Barnes ’85 John L. Bonee, Esq., father of Diane Bonee Murphy ’67 and Phil Bonee ’72, and grandfather of Jennifer Bonee ’09 William F. Brewer, Jr., father of Terry Brewer ’74, David Brewer ’76, Eileen Brewer-Akin ’76, Jim Brewer ’77, Chris Brewer ’80, Matt Brewer ’81, and the late

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In Memoriam (Continued) Neil Brewer ’73, and father-in-law of Jim Akin ’68 Barbara Louise Bronzino, mother of Michael Bronzino ’80 and Marcy Bronzino Bettencourt ’89 Marjorie M. Buckley, mother of Joan Buckley Matson ’66, Patricia Buckley Merenda ’70, and Diane Buckley Sapia ’73, and motherin-law of Mark Sapia ’75 Carol Betty Ciccaglione, mother of Brian Ciccaglione ‘93 and mother-in-law of Maria Pistritto Ciccaglione ’93 Margaret M. Coffey, aunt of Michael McGuire ’69, Brian McGuire ’71, Timothy McGuire ’73 Patricia McGuire Harrison ’74, and Ellen McGuire Kelly ’78, and great-aunt of Meghan McGuire ’10 William R. Curry, father of Barbara Curry Brimmer ‘67, Tom Curry ’78, and the late Sharon Curry Felt ’66, and father-in-law of Bill Brimmer ’67 Nancy Pierce Driscoll, mother of Nancy Driscoll Martin ’69, and grandmother of Sarah Driscoll ’04 and Rachel Driscoll ’06 Lena Franco, mother of Laura Franco Jeppesen ’67, great-aunt of Kathleen Lombard ’03, Kimberly Lombard ’04, and Kristin Lombard ’08

Michael R. Francoeur, father of Michael Francoeur ’76, Mary-Anne Francoeur Baldassarre ’78, and Edward Francoeur ’82, and grandfather of Kathleen Baldassarre ’09 Carl G. Kevorkian, grandfather of Richard Kevorkian ’07 and Christopher Kevorkian ’08 Daniel Robert Kilty, Ph.D., uncle of Kathleen Dalton ’77, Brian Dalton ’82, Michael Dalton ’85, and Jennifer Dalton Antonia ’86 Paul S. Lombard, grandfather of Kathleen Lombard ’03, Kimberly Lombard ’04, and Kristin Lombard ’08, and uncle of Laura Franco Jeppesen ’67 Adelaide Marciniak, aunt of Courtney DeAngelis ’01, Cara DeAngelis ’05, Kathleen Spignesi ’07, and Jake Spignesi ’09

Jordan Matthew Porco, nephew of Assistant Director of Admissions Cindy Fusco and cousin of Joseph Fusco ’04 and Timothy Fusco ’06 John Domenic Ricciuti, father of Theresa Ricciuti Ganci ’67 Joseph R. Sapia, father of Mark Sapia ’75 and father-in-law of Diane Buckley Sapia ’72 Mary Janice Shangraw, mother of Robert Shangraw ’72, Timothy Shangraw ’73, Michael Shangraw ’76, Vicki Shangraw Kveder, MD ’77, and Kathi Shangraw Cotugno ’81 Marjorie C. Wechsler, grandmother of Lindsay Stewart Bertellotti ’03, Kathryn Stewart ’05, and Robert Stewart ’07 Friends

Marguerite Matson, mother-in-law of Joan Buckley Matson ’66

Anthony Basil, father of Cynthia Basil Howard, Executive Director, Foundation for the Advancement of Catholic Schools

John J. Miggins, uncle of Nancy Scully Bannon ’73, Sally Scully ’77, Jim Scully ’79, and Bill Scully ’80 and uncle of Kerry Bannon ’03

Bahij Joseph Chaho, M.D., father of Marion Barrack and Joseph Chaho of the Maximilian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Foundation

Evelyn Mukjian, mother-in-law of Michael Daly ’75

Remembering Deceased Members of the NWC Community Church tradition holds that November is the month for remembering departed relatives and friends. At Northwest Catholic, we will pray very specially for the deceased at our monthly schoolwide Mass on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011.

We invite you to share with us the names of people for whom you would like us to pray on that day, via an on-line form at www. northwestcatholic.org/AllSouls. These names will also be placed in a basket next to the altar in our chapel for the entire month of November, with our prayers and gratitude for all you do for Northwest Catholic.

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SPRING/SUMMER 2011

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Five Alums – Including a Pair of Sisters – Inducted During Seventh Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony

n a nostalgic ceremony filled with war stories and laughs, NWC’s Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed its seventh class of outstanding alumni athletes on Sat., Mar. 26, 2011. The five new members included a pair of sisters: Susan Rodgers ’84 and Maura Rodgers ’89. (A third sister, Karen Rodgers Miller ’81, was inducted in 2008.) Susan and Maura are the first siblings to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the same year; the other Hall of Fame siblings, inducted in different years, are Mary Cobb Gothers ’80 and Michael Cobb ’77. In addition, the 1987-88 Girls’ Basketball team, which won the first State Championship in school history for that sport, received special recognition during the Hall of Fame dinner and ceremony. The members of the seventh Hall of Fame class, chosen for tremendous athletic achievements, as well as integrity, sportsmanship, and character, are: • Victor Cruse ’67: A Hartford resident, Cruse played basketball, baseball, and football, and was named All-State in football – the first NWC athlete to be named All-State in any sport. He is also a member of the Hall of Fame at Eastern CT State University, where he played football.

• Tom Bisson ’78: An excellent baseball and basketball player, Bisson is one of only 13 members of NWC’s Boys’ Basketball 1,000-point club – an accomplishment he achieved before there was a three-point goal in high school. He lives in Harwinton. • Susan Rodgers ’84: All-State in soccer (50 career goals), AllConference in basketball (353 points during her senior year), and a member of the 1981 State Champion softball team, Rodgers went on to play basketball at St. Anselm College. She lives in Lowell, MA. • Maura Rodgers ’89: Another three-sport athlete, Rodgers played soccer and softball in addition to basketball. A member of the State Champion 1987-88 basketball team, she was named All-State twice and has 1,214 career points – the second-highest all-time scorer in Girls’ Basketball. She played basketball at the University of Hartford, and now lives in West Hartford. “This year’s class embodies all that Northwest Catholic and its Athletic Department have stood for during the past 50 years,” said Athletic Director Josh Reese ’95. “Their commitment to family, success in the classroom, and pride in their school are things that we hope will be emulated by current NWC student-athletes.”

• Ned Guillet ’69: Accomplished on the baseball diamond and the gridiron, Guillet went on to play football at Boston College and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers. He lives in Needham, MA.

The newest inductees in Northwest Catholic’s Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame are (from left): Victor Cruse ’67; Susan Rodgers ’84, Maura Rodgers ’89, and Tom Bisson ’78. Not pictured, but also inducted, was Ned Guillet ’69.

Three members of the 1987-88 Girls’ Basketball team – from left, Stacy Asuncion McBride ’89, Tamekia Redding ’89, and Maura Rodgers ’89 – pose with a photo collage commemorating their State Championship victory, the first in school history for a Girls’ Basketball team. The team received special recognition during the Hall of Fame ceremony and dinner.

Change in Timing for Eighth Annual Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame Induction The eighth annual Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame induction will be postponed from March 2012 until the Fall of 2012, in light of the timing of NWC’s 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner Dance, which is scheduled for Mar. 31, 2012, at the Aqua Turf Club. Nominations for the eighth HOF class will open during the first quarter of 2012. The traditional HOF induction schedule will resume in March 2013, with the ninth annual Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame class.

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In celebration of its rich heritage, and with confidence that it will be sustained, NWC is hosting a 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner Dance on Mar. 31, 2012, at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville. The event will include tributes to 50 different people who embody, personally and professionally, NWCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission and ideals. For details on how to nominate someone for one of these tributes, please see p. 22. Proceeds from the Gala will go entirely toward financial aid, to ensure that all students, regardless of means, will have the opportunity to benefit from the rigorous, faith-based, college prep education for which Northwest Catholic is so well-known and -loved.

March 31, 2012 Aqua Turf Club

Please support this mission by becoming a Gala Sponsor. A limited number of sponsorships will be sold through January 2012. Tickets for the Gala will be available beginning in February 2012. Visit www.northwestcatholic.org/galasponsorships to learn more about the commitment levels and opportunities afforded by Gala sponsorships.

P lantsville , C onnecticut

Thank you for all you do for Northwest Catholic!