noll notes

1950

Barney Tresnowski celebrated his 90th birthday in 2022. He has 7 children, 18 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

1957

William J. Napiwocki, Ph.D. retired after a long career in the Chicago area as a professor and instructor of Latin and Greek to high school and college students, including seminarians.

1959

Colleen Ward writes that she and her husband, Ed, built a home in Dyer in 2022. “Thus I have returned in ‘my twilight’ years to my Hoosier roots, having grown up in Gary, Indiana.”

1961

Mary Knutson Tanis writes that the 2022 election supported her fourth term in Dyer Town Council. “The Class of 1961 enjoyed our Christmas party.”

1962

Louis Hevezi has three children: Dr. Louis William Hevezi, Sue Ann Hevezi Metive, a second grade teacher; and Chris Hevezi, financial director at McDonalds.

1966

Frank Darrington, a Navy veteran who criss crossed the pacific during Vietnam, recently logged some additional miles during his Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C., on Aug. 24. Frank grew up in East Chicago and was a student at Purdue University when he went to a recruiter and chose to join the Navy and Quartermaster as his profession. After Boot Camp, Frank was sent to San Diego for Quartermaster A training before being assigned to the USS Bexar

APA-237, an attack transport ship. After several years of service, Frank was discharged from active duty on November 4, 1970. He had a job waiting for him at the Research Lab with Standard Oil Company. He retired after 31 years of service and then opened a graphic art studio in Munster for 20 years before officially retiring. Frank married Joanna in 1968 while in the Navy. He has two children and three grandchildren. Two of his grandchildren currently live with him. While his children were young, he was an A.A.U. swimming referee. He was a member of the Munster Jaycees and was one of the founding members of VFW 2647, serving as its commander for 18 years. For the years 2019 thru 2021, their VFW was on the All American Team. He is currently the commander of American Legion Post 369.

Frank has been to D.C. but was especially looking forward to his Honor Flight trip and flying with seven of his VFW friends.

Honor Flight Chicago media team contributed to this article.

1970

After a career of service to the Town of Schererville, the last 17 years as town manager, Bob Volkmann has retired. He told The Times it was a “very rewarding career,” adding, “I’ve always enjoyed helping people.”

1972

Diana Bruno Mahan retired in January 2020 after 41 years in various psychiatric RN positions. Diana was widowed suddenly July 26, 2022. Her husband was Lloyd Stephen “Steve” Mahan.

1973

Barbara Tonkovich Zelle made a short term missionary trip to South Africa in the fall. Her team provided eyeglasses to more than 750 people.

1976

In October, David Brainard was named Chief Financial Officer of AFIMAC Global in Cleveland, Ohio.

Dave Dolak, who can often be found talking to students in the BNI classroom, was recently featured in Columbia College (where he teaches) magazine. In the article, Dave shared his passion for creating instruments and how students can put their creativity first in STEM.

1978

On September 22, 2022, Kris Costa-Sakelaris received the Gale M. Phelps Award from the Indiana State Bar Association’s Family & Juvenile Law Section for her exceptional service to the family law legal community and her diligent work to elevate the standard of professionalism in the field. A graduate of St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer who earned her law degree from Valparaiso University, Kris has served as a probation officer and court administrator, a Lake County Superior Court magistrate and an executive director of the Hammond Legal Aid Clinic. She also has served on the Board of Directors of Haven House, a local shelter for victims of domestic violence.

1981

After serving 12 years on the Lake County Council, Dan Dernulc was elected in November to the Indiana State Senate, representing District 1.

1982

Bishop Noll Alum Bob Buchanan ’82 remembers Pope Benedict As Catholics around the world mourned the loss of Pope Emeritus Benedict, one alumnus with connections to the pope grieved the loss on a personal level.

Bob Buchanan ’82, who had met the pope at the Vatican on several occasions, described him as very kind, unassuming and humble. He was funny and gentle, Dr. Buchanan said.

A devout Catholic who serves on the board of directors for the National Catholic Bioethics Center, Buchanan was appointed by Pope Benedict to serve on the international Pontifical Academy for Life. The Academy is made up of about 120 scientists and theologians from around the world who advise the pope on bioethical issues that impact human life and Catholic morality. Buchanan spoke to Bishop Noll graduates about that role during his 2018 commencement address.

Buchanan said there was “a certain gentleness of Benedict,” and he called him “a good shepherd.” Buchanan also remembered the pope’s humor.

“The first time I met him, he said ‘Professor, I heard you are the professor of neurosurgery of Texas. That would be a big job, and he laughed. I said no, just a little bitty corner of Texas.’ ”

Buchanan is the chief of neurosurgery and chief of functional neuroscience at the Seton Brain and Spine Institute in Austin. He also is an associate professor at the University of Texas’ Dell Medical School.

1983

Denise Szanyi Setmayer retired this year from State Farm after 34 years. She is looking forward to her next chapter.

Honorary Fife Street

In recognition and celebration of 125 years as the oldest establishment and family owned business in East Chicago, the City of East Chicago recognized the Fife family and Fife Funeral Home by unveiling Honorary Fife Street this February. BNI alumni in the Fife family include Harold Fife ’28 (deceased); Jim ’53 (deceased); Jim Fife ’75; John Fife ’78; Janice ’80; Tom ’82; Jeanne ’87; and Terry ’92

1985

Eddie Limon and Lisa Hubbard reconnected after 37 years and were married June 4, 2022. Scott Fech officiated the ceremony with many class of 1985 friends in attendance in Austin, Texas.

1986, 1988

Robyn Harkenrider Williams ’86 and Paul Williams ’88 were married in October 1994 and now have three beautiful daughters. Their first is getting married this year.

1999

Nicholas and Jennifer Butler Labas met at Bishop Noll and graduated in 1999. They have three children (all girls) and celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary in October.

1993

Mike Repay, one of three Lake County Commissioners, was elected treasurer of the Association of Indiana Counties and a member of its board of directors. Stepping into the role in November, Repay helps lead the organization that represents all Indiana counties at the Statehouse.

1998

Jennifer Hartmann ’98 was recently named the Assistant Principal of the Year for the South Cook County Region for her work as an assistant principal at Memorial Junior High School in Lansing, Illinois. South Cook County is the largest of the 13 regions represented by the nominees.

Hartmann holds a bachelor’s degree in history and secondary education in addition to two master’s degrees, one in teaching and one in educational leadership. She began her teaching career as a 6th & 7th grade Social Studies Teacher at Rickover Junior High School in Sauk Village, Illinois. While there, she earned her first masters degree and went on to become a founding teacher at Perspectives/IIT Math & Science Academy in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood teaching 6-12th grade Social Studies, SocialEmotional Life Skills, Reading, and Science. She taught a few more years until moving into administration.

Since becoming an administrator, Ms. Hartmann worked as an assistant principal at two Illinois schools before coming full circle in 2021. She was offered a position at Memorial Junior High School, where she was once a junior high school band member herself while attending St. Ann School in Lansing. As a teacher for 16 years and a school administrator for six years, her areas of interest remain social emotional learning and academic interventions.

2006

Dr. Jasmine Saavedra received a promotion at Esperanza Health. She is now lead pediatrician at Esperanza Brighton Park in Chicago. Jasmine is also one of BNI’s newest board members.

2012

Eric Roldan combined his passion for marketing with belief in Catholic education in his new role as assistant director of marketing and enrollment at Big Shoulders Fund Northwest Indiana. The organization supports schools with a demonstrated need that provide a quality, values-based education.

“Even before Big Shoulders Fund, Catholic schools have been a part of my life since preschool,” he said.

“It molded me into the individual I am today, and I have a lot of love, confidence, and gratitude for the education I received. It’s part of who I am, and I’ve always believed in Catholic education.”

2018 alumnae leave lasting impression at Valpo U

Two 2018 BNI alumnae made a big impact at Valparaiso in their four years there. Abbi Damacio, a mechanical engineering major with minors in electrical engineering and Spanish, and Monica Magallanes, a civil engineering major, were co-presidents of Valpo’s chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), a nationwide organization for underrepresented students across the country.

Its goal is to change lives by empowering the Hispanic/Latinx community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support and development.

“It’s really an all-encompassing guide on how to succeed in STEM for people who don’t have those role models in their family,” Magallanes said.

“In SHPE, you’ll learn a lot of different things,” said Damacio. “You can participate in networking and gain the skills you need to succeed all in one place.”

After joining, Magallanes and Damacio became the treasurer and secretary, respectively, and later served as co-presidents of the organization. They say that while the academic and professional support that students find in SHPE is important, the cultural and social impact of the organization is what make it a truly essential resource for students.

The jobs and responsibilities the women took on during their time with SHPE provided them with a variety of skills as they entered the workforce.

Damacio graduated in 2022 with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering, and minors in electrical engineering and Spanish. She worked as an electrical process subject matter expert for General Motors in Warren, Michigan, and was recently promoted to launch lead diagnostician for GM. She troubleshoots electrical issues with model GM cars.

Magallanes also graduated in 2022 with a degree in engineering. Inspired by her father’s career in construction, she is working at HW Lochner, a firm that provides engineering, planning and construction services. Her office focuses on road, bridge and highway design and maintenance projects. She has also taken on a volunteer position as Regional SHPEtina Director for SHPE Region 6.

Magallanes said Bishop Noll prepared her for college by giving her a strong math background, especially in calculus. “I aced my first college math class because of the content we covered in AP Calculus with Mr. Miller. Of course, there were some surprises. I explicitly remember that we covered the entire semester’s worth of physics the first day of Physics class at VU, and I remember laughing and being surprised that there was even more physics content to learn.”

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Magallanes credits her time as a BNI drum major with the leadership experience that gave her a great foundation for being a leader on campus at VU.

“I owe a lot of my college success to the confidence that Mr. Carioto and the marching band program instilled in me … Although I didn’t realize this in high school, Noll’s diversity instilled a layer of confidence in me as well. There were high achieving Hispanic students and Hispanic teachers surrounding me, and they created a sense of belonging and pride that I really missed once I got to college. That feeling is what motivated me to join SHPE, to replicate that feeling on campus.”

Living in the Region inspired her to pursue engineering, she said.

“There is such a vast difference in quality of life within a 45-minute to one-hour drive in any direction. I wondered why certain places were able to thrive while others were dilapidated and run down. Once I discovered that city and transportation design could be a solution to making cities better and more equitable, I knew that's what I needed to study to be able to give back to my community one day.”

Magallanes hopes to inspire others, including her sisters, who are current BNI students, to pursue their passion.

“I was never the smartest student, at BNI or VU, but my passions were what set me apart from the average student and what set me apart once I got to the work force. My sisters are at BNI now and are completely different students than I was, but their passions are leaving a mark there in the same way.”

—Valparaiso University’s Media Department contributed to this article and provided the photo