6 minute read
noll notes
1931
Jere Voight, daughter of Clarence Stephan ’31 writes, “The centennial book arrived a couple of days ago and I want you to know it is stunning. You and your team are to be congratulated on a superb accomplishment. I’ve paged through the entire book; you have to be commended for doing a fine job of highlighting every single class—all 100 of them! And I was so pleased to see my dad’s picture and related stories in the book. That business about the pig is a hoot! I know his grandchildren and great grandchildren will be thrilled to read about their grandad.
Another book has been sent off to my 92-year-old cousin Marilyn Schneider Howat. She and her husband, Bill, are Bishop Noll graduates. They were high school sweethearts and went to the senior prom together but lost touch after graduation. Each married and raised a family and many decades later, after both had been widowed, ran into one another at one of the class reunions. They pretty much picked up where they’d left off and have now been married for a number of years and live in a retirement community in Pennsylvania.
1945
On March 3, 2024, Msgr. Joseph Semancik celebrated his 95th birthday with friends and staff at the Albertine Home. Msgr. Semancik is the oldest living priest in the Diocese of Gary.
1956
Marilyn Giedemann Woidat writes, “I am so grateful as my life was deeply enriched by my Catholic education, especially at Bishop Noll High School. My nursing career was in obstetrics and rewarding to me as a mother and grandmother of 11.”
1959
Carl Veeck served in the military from 1963–66 before receiving an accounting degree from IUN. He worked in public accounting and at Moody Bible Institute. He also worked at Edw. C. Levy Co. in Dearborn, Michigan, for 44 years. He and his wife, Cheryl Barnard, married in 1967 and he is the proud father of 3 and grandfather of 9.
Congratulations to Andy Juscik, who was inducted into the Hammond Sports Hall of Fame in March. Juscik was recognized for his coaching achievements. After a successful career in corporate advertising, he returned to his alma mater as a BNI art teacher and girls basketball coach. He played a key role in the basketball team’s success, contributing to its impressive 23–1 record in the 1989-90 season as an assistant coach. Later, as head coach, he led Bishop Noll to a sectional title in 1997 and secured conference coach of the year honors twice. He later took on the challenge of developing an athletic program at Calumet College of St. Joseph in Hammond, where he served as women’s basketball coach and athletic director.
1962
Rina Rae Vinzani Andrea asks for prayers as she continues to recover from a heart valve surgery in April 2023 and pulmonary embolism in July.
1963
Stephen Frost writes, “Bishop Noll was the best six years of my life. I remember when Brother Conrad called me into his office. ‘Frost, we need your desk for a serious student. You’re out of here.’ ”
1964
Kenntha Gunia taught 33 years at E.C. Roosevelt/E.C. Central. He retired in 2011.
1973
Lucy Furjanic Spencer is enjoying her retirement. She volunteers at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville, Va., and serves on the policy council/VPI board for Orange County Head Start.
1975
Louie Gonzalez retired in 2023 after more than 35 years with Ivy Tech Community College, the last six in which he served as the first chancellor of the college’s merged Lake County campus. Before becoming chancellor, Louie served as assistant dean of students and then president of Ivy Tech’s East Chicago campus. He has served on numerous nonprofit boards in Northwest Indiana and was named a Sagamore of the Wabash for serving as chairman of the Indiana Port Commission.
Ron Saenz writes, “hope everyone from the Class of 1975 is doing well and hoping for a 50-year reunion.”
1980
Deb Szrom Steppe has been appointed by Archbishop Jerome Listecki to be the parish director at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As the lay pastor, Deb is the spiritual and administrative leader of the parish.
1999
Noll business classes welcomed Kate DeRolf as a guest speaker. DeRolf works for the Center for Workforce Innovations and spoke to students about the career resources available to them as high school students.
2002
Officer Steven Kolarczyk received Westville Indiana Police Department’s Life-Saving Award in November for his actions during a vehicle vs. train accident. Thank you, Officer Kolarczyk, for your service to the community.
2020, 2021
Bertha Guzman has worked in the BNI cafeteria for 8 years and is the proud of mom of two Noll alumni. Her son Carlos ’20 currently attends Purdue University (Bertha is pictured with the Purdue Northwest mascot during College Go Week!) and her daughter, Alondra, is a 2021 BNI graduate.
2020
Nora Wragg graduated from Western Illinois University this winter after majoring in musical theater and performing in several college productions. Since graduation, Nora has returned to Bishop Noll to assist Mrs. Kayla Konkle and the Drama Club with its spring production of “Matilda! The Musical” and to teach music classes.
2023
Xavier Zukley received the Anderson-Peterson Family Distinguished Student-Athlete Award this March from the Hammond Sports Hall of Fame for his athletic and academic achievements in high school. Zukley is continuing his athletic career at Aurora University, where he plays on the men’s volleyball team. Brothers Zeke and Zeb, current Noll students, accepted the award on behalf of Xavier, who was competing for his college team at the time.
Louie Gonzalez retired in 2023 after more than 35 years with Ivy Tech Community College, the last six in which he served as the first chancellor of the college’s merged Lake County campus. Before becoming chancellor, Louie served as assistant dean of students and then president of Ivy Tech’s East Chicago campus. He has served on numerous nonprofit boards in Northwest Indiana and was named a Sagamore of the Wabash for serving as chairman of the Indiana Port Commission.
