Irish Ayes - Spring/Summer 2021

SPRING/SUMMER 2021 | VOLUME XLVII | NUMBER 1

“We Did It.” Capping off a Memorable Year

FEATURE STORIES 50 Years of Women at Father Ryan Turning up the Academic STEAM Celebrating Health Care Heroes

w w w. f a t h e r r y a n . o r g

The Big Picture

The Father Ryan Show Choir continues to impress, with every note and in every setting.

Their beautiful performance at the beginning of the 2021 Legacy Gala video set the tone for the evening and captured the spirit of gratitude and love that was felt for all the Health Care Heroes. You can enjoy their talents at fatherryan.org/gala.

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Spring/Summer 2021 | Volume XLVII | Number 1

Board of Trustees Executive Committee

Julie Shaninger Norfleet ’88, Chair Bill Stejskal ’79, Vice Chair Jack Polson, Finance Committee Chair J udy Komisky Orr ’75, Membership Committee Chair

FEATURE

Committee Chairs Carmen Mondelli Lux ’91, Advancement Brett Wesnofske ’88, Facilities

Board Members

Cover Photo: An unusual year ended in Irish style as the Class of 2021 celebrated a Graduation Weekend to remember on the Father Ryan campus (pages 12-15).

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IN THE NEWS STEAM added to curriculum.

New display honors legacy of faith.

Relay for Life and student achievements.

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FEATURE STORY: 50 YEARS OF WOMEN AT FATHER RYAN Reflections on that first year.

Alumnae profiles.

Female teachers and their impact.

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CLASS NOTES

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ATHLETICS Athletics success.

Next Level Irish.

Hockey is for girls.

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EVENTS Legacy Gala.

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GRADUATION Graduation recap.

Bishop Alphonse Smith Teacher of the Year 2021.

In their own words.

Our Salutatorian and Valedictorian.

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SPIRIT OF PHILANTHROPY Donors committed to teaching.

Tom Bauer Rev. Mark Beckman Tommy Bradley ’81 John Bumpus ’78 Brian Callahan Barbara Esteves-Moore Chris Fay Dr. Shindana Feagins Dave Gallagher ’88 David Glascoe Brittney Testerman Griffith ’03 Warner Hassell Judy Hoover William Krueger Dr. Robert Labadie Philip M. Mattingly, Sr. ’69 Pat Nolan ’69 Thomas Turner

Ex-Officio Members Rebecca Hammel, Ph.D. James A. McIntyre Bishop J. Mark Spalding

Life Trustees Thomas G. Connor, Sr. ’60 William H. Farmer ’65 Edward B. Gore J. Terry Hunter Vincent T. Phillips William F. Smith Edward A. Stack

Administration James A. McIntyre, President Paul J. Davis ’81, Principal Connie Steinmetz, Chief Financial Officer Jennifer L. Anton, Academic Dean Joe Crumby ’95, Dean of Students Colleen Maxson, Director of Campus Ministry and Student Life Rev. Mark Simpson, Chaplain Marisol Preston, Director of Admissions Brooke Reusch, Director of Advancement Ann Mullins ’03, Director of Athletics

©2021 FRHS 25882

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In the News spring/summer 2021

Father Ryan to Introduce “STEAM” Program in Fall In a major addition to the school’s academic offerings, Father Ryan will be launching a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) program for 10th-12th graders beginning this fall.

This academic initiative provides hands-on, practical, project-based opportunities for students to explore their interests in STEAM by developing and practicing real-world skills such as problemsolving, collaboration, project-planning, time management, and communication. Projects will include • mechanics and structures • computer graphics

• scientific data and analysis • software engineering • robotics and control technology.

Father Ryan’s STEAM will use personalized, project-based learning experiences and environments to increase students’ capacity through engaged, active, and social problem-solving. The course will take place in a reconfigured computer lab in the Neuhoff Library that will be called the Irish SmartLab. “We are constantly challenging ourselves to develop programs that enhance the academic experience at Father Ryan,” President JIM MCINTYRE said. “The Irish SmartLab will provide fertile soil to inspire new leaders to discover and pursue with passion their ideas, intuition, and creativity.”

Principal PAUL DAVIS ’81 said the Irish SmartLab experiences are all student-led, with faculty members serving as facilitators rather than teachers. “This STEAM initiative builds on Father Ryan’s academic strength and offers even more diverse learning opportunities for our students,” he stated.

In introducing this program, Father Ryan is the only high school in the state partnering with Creative Learning Systems, which was founded in 1987 and serves more than 2.4 million K-12 students in 650 student-led, STEM-focused learning activities across the country.

Academic Dean JENNIFER ANTON led the effort to develop and introduce the program. “Our Irish SmartLab will be an exciting place, where students will work through their ideas and then bring them to life,” she stated.

Nine Seniors Honored by National Merit Scholarship Program Five members of the Father Ryan Class of 2021 have been named National Merit Finalists, and an additional four have been named Commended Scholars by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The total of five Finalists is once again the largest number of any Catholic high school in Tennessee!

The Finalists

The Commended Scholars

MATT CALARCO DARREL CHEN IAN GALLOWAY EMILY PHAN GREY WILDER

SAM DECKBAR MAX DREXLER SAM MCNEILL JAKOB MERKELZ

In making the announcement, Principal Paul Davis ’81 said, “These nine students demonstrate an exceptional level of academic achievement. In addition, they reflect the intellectual strength and commitment of the faculty and all our students to excel at their highest levels. We are proud of these and all of our students, and we look forward to an exceptional future for each of them,” he concluded.

You can read more about each of these impressive individuals at fatherryan.org/nationalmerit.

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A New Display Honors Alumni and Faculty Priests Did you know that Father Ryan has a second class relic on display in the Main Office?

Bishop Spalding Dedicates St. Joseph Statue Last fall, Pope Francis proclaimed a special “Year of Saint Joseph,” beginning on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 2020 and extending to the same feast in 2021, and honoring the Patron of the Universal Church. Father Ryan was ready.

Last summer, a new statue of Saint Joseph was added in one of the courtyard areas of the Academic Building. Bishop Mark Spalding dedicated the statue on a visit in January. Its presence reminds us of Saint Joseph’s importance to our faith and the inspiration of his life.

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The chalice of REV. JOE PAT BREEN ’54 was with him in Rome in 1961 as Father Breen was completing his studies in preparation for his ordination. The chalice (at left) was used by Pope John XXIII in a Mass celebrating the Pope’s birthday, and with his canonization in 2014, this chalice became a second class relic of Saint John XXIII. Now, thanks to the generous support of Father Ryan donors – THE GIACOSA FAMILY, LINDA AND DAVID ’66 BOHAN, and PATTY AND BILL ’65 FARMER – this relic and much more are showcased in a new display, installed this past January.

The display has caught the attention of the campus community and provided connections to the priests who have been integral parts of the Father Ryan community. In addition, it provides a beautiful presentation of these works of our faith and of art that these priests used in furthering the mission of the school. In addition to Father Joe Pat Breen’s chalice and paten, the case includes • • • • • • • •

chalice and paten of MSGR. GEORGE ROHLING ’31 chalice of MSGR. JAMES R. HITCHCOCK ’39, teacher and principal chalice and paten of FATHER BILL FLEMING ’49, teacher and principal chalice and paten of FATHER PHILIP BREEN ’57 chalice and paten of FATHER JAMES BLACK ’64, teacher and academic dean chalice of FATHER CHARLEY GIACOSA, teacher and benefactor chalice of FATHER MARK BECKMAN, teacher, vice principal, and Board of Trust member house cassock and stole of BISHOP DAVID CHOBY ’65.

The case is also the new home for the time capsule from Elliston Place. This was recovered from the old school, and its contents – medals, letters, holy cards – had been on display in a separate case.

President McIntyre said, “We are grateful to have received these powerful symbols of our faith from these teachers and leaders and to have the generous support of our donors.” He went on to say, “they connect us to our history and honor individuals who had and continue to have an impact on our students and this community.”

A One-of-a-Kind Relay for Life Plans for this year’s Relay for Life at Father Ryan High School started slowly because of the COVID-19 pandemic but finished strong, with the event exceeding its goal by more than 60 percent.

“Our goal at the beginning of the year was $100,000,” said MATTHEW DILUCCHIO ’21, Co-Chair of the event.

“And that was a stretch,” added Co-Chair JULIA EIDT ’21 (pictured above right).

The annual Father Ryan Relay for Life event to support the American Cancer Society is the largest, per capita, student-led Relay for Life in the nation, and it raised $214,000 in 2019.

But organizing for the event this year, which usually begins in July, was delayed until September “because we were still trying to figure out this whole pandemic,” said DiLucchio, a parishioner at Holy Family Church in Brentwood.

Because of the pandemic, participation on the day of the event was limited, Eidt noted. Normally, more than 1,000 people participate in the Relay for Life, but this year, on-site attendance was limited to about 300.

The event, and being co-chair, was particularly meaningful for Eidt. She herself is a cancer survivor, having overcome the disease as a child.

“I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in August 2005. I had just turned 2,” said Eidt, a graduate of St. Henry School and a parishioner at St. Henry Church. She went through five rounds of chemotherapy at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. “I was cleared in March 2006. I was in remission until 2010,” she added, and has been cancer-free since.

In the end, the event raised $162,087.14 for cancer research this year. All things considered, it was an enormous success.

Record-Breaking Year for the Band It was an exciting year for the Band, from All-State selections to a National appointment to a Hall of Fame induction to a State title.

Two band members made All-State, and ten made Mid-State this year, the most for Father Ryan since 2008. The group is led by All-State musicians KATE MCDONNELL ’23 and MORGAN MCGAFFIN ’21. The Mid-State honorees are JAKE CONNOR ’21, FAITH GESHWILER ’23, MALLIE HIGGINS ’22, AUBREY HOLLAND ’23, DANIEL JIPSTER ’23, BRIANNA MARSH ’21, BEN STROBEL ’21, and CARMEN WOOD ’23.

In addition to this news, the Band was also informed that their 2013 Winter Drumline performance “Don’t Try This At Home,” which received critical acclaim at the time, was inducted into the Winter Guard International (WGI) Hall of Fame.

Ben Strobel was selected as one of the first 12 members nationwide of WGI’s inaugural Future Leaders Program.

Finally, the Winter Drumline was the 2021 State Champion, and the Winter Winds finished 4th in the World!

In a year that was virtual, these accomplishments were very real. They serve as further testament to the long-running success of the Father Ryan Band program.

Band honorees, left to right from top: McDonnell, McGaffin, Strobel; Connor, Geshwiler, Higgins, Holland, Jipster, Marsh, and Wood.

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Real Performances in a Virtual Year Despite the pandemic and limited attendance, the Purple Masque Players embodied the classic theatre line: the show must go on!

This past fall, the Players performed Tracy Wells’ dramedy One Stoplight Town, a lighthearted, yet touching, look at everyday life in small-town America. Then in April, the Players tuned up their voices for a fun production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Each performance of both productions was streamed live at the times the play was scheduled to be performed originally, and in lieu of tickets, donations were accepted for the Players. With rave reviews, the performances of these classics were a rousing example of the dedication and spirit of the Purple Masque Players.

Four Long-time Faculty Members Retire Four esteemed faculty members are packing up their classrooms, gathering their memories, and embarking on a summer break that for the first time in 25-plus years won’t be followed by a new school year.

English teachers MRS. CAROL BREWER and MRS. DEBRA NEBEL, Science teacher MRS. MARY ALICE MCWATTERS (read her story on page 23), and History and Spanish teacher MR. CHARLEY STEFL decided to make the 2020-2021 school year their last one. In retiring, they put the capstone on more than 100 years of inspired teaching at Father Ryan.

Mrs. Brewer, a part of Oak House, came to Father Ryan in 1991 and has helped students discover the beauty of English Literature and master the intricacies of a good English sentence ever since. Her Master of Arts in Education and English from Ball State University and her Bachelor of Arts in English from Earlham College prepared her to prepare others in everything from grammar to sentence diagraming to the critical thinking that made 6

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them better readers and better authors. She also championed the National Honor Society and its members, bringing outstanding authors such as Pulitzer Prize winner David Maraniss and his son, New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss (left, with Mrs. Brewer and Mr. Davis) to Father Ryan to share thoughts about writing while inspiring students to achieve more. Her talent with the English language also made her a much-in-demand AP reader for the College Board.

Mrs. Nebel loved language and always appreciated the artistry that produced creative writing, which is why the Creative Writing Club at Father Ryan was her true joy.

A graduate of Georgia State University with a degree in English, she taught English at Father Ryan for more than 23 years. For many Father Ryan students who found their voices in the written word, Mrs. Nebel was the one who encouraged those voices, helping students embrace their unique talents.

From Byzantine Studies to Spanish Literature, Mr. Stefl made culture and history the foundations of his classroom work since he started at Father Ryan in 1984.

Whether it was the lyricism of Cuban poets or the history of the Camino de Santiago or the role of the Church in the culture of the Byzantine age, Mr.

Stefl brought a multi-lingual, multi-cultural, and wide-ranging perspective to these studies. This Norwood House mentor, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western Kentucky, also made these studies come to life for students.

He moderated the Spanish Club and arranged for his students to participate in the annual Dia de los Muertos art celebration at Cheekwood (above) to help them better understand the cultures that enliven this community.

The talent, spirit, and commitment of the Father Ryan faculty are longstanding hallmarks of this school; these teachers have brought all of those qualities to this campus. The school joins thousands of graduates in saying thank you to each of these teachers for making their classrooms places where the students were indeed known and loved. These teachers will be known and loved as well. Enjoy retirement.

Saluting the Commitment to Serve the Nation The pandemic has postponed many of the on-campus events that have been hallmarks of the school year, but it did not postpone the school’s celebration of the men and women who serve our nation.

Veterans Day 2020 was celebrated, not with the traditional breakfast and program that draws more than 100 veterans each year, but with a virtual event that provided a warm and meaningful salute.

Father Ryan sent Irish masks and U.S. flag pins to our veterans, inviting them to wear them and send the school a photo for display on Veterans Day. These touching photos became part of a day-long salute on social media to honor their service. In addition, Father Ryan’s English Department Chair RANDY LANCASTER ’83 penned an op-ed about the meaning of service and of Veterans Day itself, which ran in on the special day. And Tennessee Register managing editor Andy Telli told the story of alumni like JOHN BURNS ’44 and CONNIE SUMMERS ’39 in a special feature that also ran nationally in the Catholic press.

One of the highlights of the Veterans Breakfast is the reading of the VFW Voice of Democracy essay from one of our Father Ryan students. Even

without their reading, the essays this year addressed the theme of “Is This the Country Our Founders Envisioned” and once again impressed the judges. STEVEN VANDEN NOVEN ’22 placed first in the District and 3rd in the State and BEN WATSON ’22 and ELLA KOPPERUD ’21 placed 1st and 2nd respectively in the Post competition.

You can enjoy all of these moments – the photos of our veterans, Steven’s essay, Mr. Lancaster’s piece, the Tennessee Register story and more – on the Father Ryan website at fatherryan.org/veterans. A proud and grateful salute to Irish Heroes everywhere.

Two Father Ryan Students Head to Top Military Academies Every year, Father Ryan seniors impress college admissions officers on campuses across the country, and for two of those Irish seniors, the impression earned them exceptional opportunities.

DAVID JOHNSON and ZACH TURNER have accepted military academy appointments.

David (left, at top) will begin studies this fall at the United States Air Force Academy, and Zach will begin his studies at the United States Military Academy at West Point. They become the 33rd and 34th Father Ryan students to accept a military academy appointment since 2000.

A member of Saint Matthew parish and a graduate of Saint Matthew School, David took four AP courses, ran on the Cross Country Team – which finished 2nd in the State this year – competed in Track, was a member of Immaculata House and the Science Olympiad Team. A licensed pilot, he is a Cadet Colonel in the Music City Composite Squadron of Civil Air Patrol. Last fall he received the prestigious General Carl Spaatz Award, only the second member of the local squadron to earn this national award in the 19-year history of the squadron.

Zach (left, at bottom) is a Saint Henry alumnus and parishioner who was captain of his Mentor Group in Trinity House.

He completed three AP courses. In addition, he performed with the Purple Masque Players in the spring musical, played football and lacrosse, was a member of Cum Laude, and was a Student Ambassador.

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Athletics spring/summer 2021

A Winning Season, Sport After Sport

A State title in girls soccer, runner-up finishes in cross country, hockey, boys soccer, and golf, another Final Four for Girls Basketball, a return to the playoffs for football, and a State Champion in wrestling made this a sports year for the record books.

Girls Basketball Storms the Court It was an exciting year for the girls in new Head Coach TONY MCLEOD’S first season at the helm. Victories over Brentwood Academy – at the buzzer – and Ensworth propelled the Irish to the State Final Four for the third time in five years. The shooting was off in their semifinal game against Knoxville Catholic, and the girls were eliminated. Still the season was one to celebrate. In addition, the Irish cheered the latest member of the 1,000 point club when MARY MACKIE ’22 (top) crossed that magic number mid-season.

Wrestling Crowns a Champion No sport presented a bigger challenge during the pandemic than wrestling. The result was fewer matches, limited travel, even the cancellation of the Johnny Drennan ’85 Memorial Wrestling Tournament. PARKER PETERSEN ’21 (above) weathered all of that en route to an undefeated season and a State Championship, pinning his opponent in the final match in less than 30 seconds!

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Girls Soccer Wins State Championship The month of November started off great for the Irish, as the Girls Soccer Team won the TSSAA DII-AA State Championship on November 1, 2020.

On a chilly night at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro, the Lady Irish bested GPS 3-2 in a thrilling victory. The goals came from OLIVIA PRIM ’23, KELLY TUERFF ’21, and BRADIE WEST ’21, while ALISON KIRCHOFF ’22 and JULIETTE ARNOLD ’21 combined to allow only two goals from the opposition.

This State Championship is the fifth in Father Ryan history for the Girls Soccer program, and all championship squads have been coached by TSSAA Hall of Fame Coach ROBIN DIETERICH ’73. Combine this win with his five Boys Soccer State Titles and Coach Dieterich – as tweeted by his son and Nashville Soccer Club player Tanner – now has a championship for every finger on both hands!

Football Returns to Playoffs After a stellar regular season, the Irish Football Team capped their season by making the playoffs, earning a spot versus Memphis University School in November.

While the game resulted in an MUS victory, ending the Irish’s season, there was still much to celebrate this year for the much-improved squad.

Led by quarterback D.C. TABSCOTT and anchored by a strong defense headed by PARKER PETERSEN, COLE BECKER, and DUJUAN SHARP, the Irish scored huge victories against powerhouses like McCallie, Baylor, and Ensworth. Tabscott was also honored by The Tennessean as a Mr. Football finalist. The future is bright for the Irish Football Team, and we cannot wait until kickoff next season.

Irish Senior Ties for 1st in State JACOB GARLAND ’22 and RILEY GRINDSTAFF ’21 represented the Irish Golf Team as individuals in the State Championship in October. Jacob finished 9th overall, but Riley made his first trip to State a memorable one. He birdied his final two holes in regulation to force a sudden-death playoff for the championship, where his birdie putt slid just past the hole, and he finished in 2nd place. Congratulations to both Riley and Jacob on remarkable seasons.

Cross Country Teams Finish 2nd in State The Irish Cross Country Teams – both Boys and Girls – finished Runner-up in the 2020 TSSAA State Championships in November 2020.

Freshman KATIE KNAPP finished on the podium in the top 15, and the team posted times that lifted them to the 2nd place trophy.

On the Boys side, seven of the runners finished with times under 17:30, with four earning a spot on the podium. CIRO ALBAMONT ’22 finished 8th, COLIN KNAPP ’22 13th, DAVID JOHNSON ’21 14th, and WILL STACEY ’21 finished 15th.

Congratulations to all of the runners and coaches on outstanding seasons!

Volleyball Wins 2020 Region Championship The Volleyball Team, led by DII MVP LUCY GREEN ’21, MARILEE HULSE ’21, and JADE ZALESKI ’21 won the Region Championship for 2020. They lost to Baylor in the State, capping an outstanding season for COACH ANN MULLINS ’03 and the team.

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Sophomore Breaking Boundaries on the Ice While Ice Hockey is traditionally a boys sport at most high schools, it is technically a co-ed program, and any girls who wish to compete on a team are able.

KATIE CUMMINGS ’23, a lifelong fan and ice hockey player, is taking advantage of this and, for the second year now, she is an important member of one of the “coolest” teams at Father Ryan.

In addition to Katie’s success on the ice this season, she is excelling in the classroom. She took AP Statistics and French III (high honors), and is a member of the Music Ministry. A St. Bernard alumna, Katie is a member of Norwood House.

A Stellar Season for a Young Hockey Team The Hockey Team, led by first-year Head Coach STEVEN HENRY ’14, took the league by storm in the playoffs, winning four straight games and making a strong push that took them to the Hine Cup Final, where they fell in sudden death overtime 4-3.

In a challenging year, the Hockey Team proved their resilience and showed everyone in Middle Tennessee that they will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

The team went into the season as underdogs, yet they quickly proved their might in a big game against MBA, one that was live-streamed and called by Nashville Predators’ announcers Willy Daunic and Chris Mason. It was viewed by over 28,000 people and proved to be a turning point in the season.

In addition, three senior Irish skaters took the ice in the GNASH All-Star Game, having been voted to the team by coaches from across the league. SVEN OELHAFEN ’21, RYAN PRIM ’21, and GRAYSON SCHENKEL ’21 represented Father Ryan in the rink in the league’s annual end-of-season showcase.

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Twenty-Eight Irish StudentAthletes on to the Next Level Twenty-eight seniors have committed this past year to playing at the college level. Congratulations to our Next Level Irish, shown here, left to right, top to bottom.

LIBBY ALLEN Connecticut State University, gymnastics

RILEY GRINDSTAFF Western Kentucky University, golf

BLAKE BOSTLEMAN Catholic University, football

MAGGIE HOLST St. Bonaventure University, swimming

JACK BROWN Catholic University, football JACQUELINE BRUNET Tennessee Technological University, cross country BROCK CARLSON Tiffin University, track & field

HARRISON KRAUS Roanoke University, soccer MASON MORROW Transylvania University, volleyball

AMARI CHAPMAN Bethel University, football

JUSTIN OLIGE Christian Brothers University, track & field

LUKE CONGER Belhaven University, basketball

PARKER PETERSEN Tulane University, football and wrestling

CHRISTIAN CONTRERAS University of Tennessee, rugby

JOSH PFEIFER University of Mississippi, football

AMANDA CUNNINGHAM Jacksonville University, beach volleyball PARKER ERDMAN University of Mount Union, football ANNABEL FELTNER Sewanee, The University of the South, cross country GRACE FORBES Spring Hill College, cross country EVA GRAHAM Christian Brothers University, golf LUCY GREEN Kennesaw State University, volleyball

CLINT REGEN University of CaliforniaBerkeley, rowing JACKSON RYAN Christian Brothers University, baseball ABBIE SMITH University of Arkansas Little Rock, soccer CHRISTIAN SMITH Eastern Michigan University, football WILL STACEY Sewanee The University of the South, cross country KELLY TUERFF University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, soccer JADE ZALESKI Lipscomb University, volleyball

“These are outstanding athletes and even better people,” Ann Mullins ’03, Director of Athletics and Volleyball Head Coach, said, “who have been leaders in and out of the classroom. We are proud of their accomplishments and eager to see them succeed at the next level.”

We can’t wait to cheer on these athletes next year!

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Celebrating the Class of 2021, Under the Stars and Face to Face From the enveloping cool of a moonlit Baccalaureate night to the bright and warm embrace of a blue-sky Graduation morning, the final celebrations of the Class of 2021 added another album of memories to a remarkable and memorable year.

The crowd came early in the late afternoon sunshine of May 14 for the Baccalaureate Mass, and it was clear from their arrival that something had changed. It wasn’t the location – although Giacosa Stadium was set up and outfitted for a memorable presentation once again. It was something new about everyone’s appearance. For the first time since March of 2020, students, faculty, staff, parents, and guests greeted each other face-to-face.

The city’s announcement that morning to “masks optional” status meant the events took place socially distant but without the distancing aspect of the mask. And the smiles on the faces of everyone spoke to their enthusiasm about seeing so many faces once again.

It was a weekend of long-missed sounds and rich traditions. Bishop J. Mark Spalding led the way onto the field for Baccalaureate Mass with the staff of the school’s founder, Bishop Alphonse Smith, in his hand. The students were attired in the traditional purple, many adorned with the distinctive color cords representing honor status in numerous organizations at Father Ryan.

For one of the few times in the last year, the Father Ryan Singers performed in person, and it was as if the quieter year had stored their voices’ timbre and clarity and beauty for this moment of song. When a number of seniors joined the group for a Communion reflection – “Orphans of God” – they drew a hearty ovation from the audience, something atypical for a Mass but so appropriate in this moment.

Graduation’s sunlit morning on May 15 could not have been more perfect.

The weather brightened everyone’s spirits for a morning to celebrate this class, and their achievements spoke volumes, both from the podium on stage and from the scoreboard itself.

• 223 graduates accepted to 210 different colleges and universities • $34 million awarded in scholarships, a record total • 21,484 service hours performed • State titles earned by Girls Soccer and Winter Drumline Awards were presented in the names of hallowed members of the school’s educational and service legacy – Bishop Smith, Sister Mary John, Msgr. Albert Siener, Fr. Jim Black ’64, Bishop David Choby ’65. Speeches of hope and encouragement and love were delivered, leading to the march across the stage, the diploma presentation, the “Roll Pride” cheer, the cap fling, and the fight song.

It was two days of celebration and a memorable sequence of moments, making graduates of the Class of 2021 and celebrating their and the school’s tradition of Faith, Knowledge, Service.

You can watch both Baccalaureate and Graduation and read about the Class’s award recipients at fatherryan.org/graduation.

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Bishop Alphonse Smith Teacher of the Year 2021 If you wondered how Ryan Nation felt about this year’s Bishop Alphonse Smith Teacher of the Year recipient, you only had to look at the more than 100 comments of love and support posted on social media when longtime teacher BILL BRUNNER ’77 was announced to know that this selection was special.

Mr. Brunner has been a cultivator of the Father Ryan spirit, literally and figuratively, for six decades. After planting the seeds for his career in Catholic education while a student on Elliston Place, Mr. Brunner went on to MTSU, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Economics in 1981 and his Master of Science in Exercise Science in 1989. He came back to Father Ryan to teach Math and to plant more seeds in the minds and hearts of Father Ryan students. Those seeds took root in the classroom and on the baseball field, first as the Head Coach when the team captured the State Championship in 2002, and then as the caretaker of that diamond and all the fields at Father Ryan. The latter love has resulted in his membership in the Sports Turf Manager’s Association and the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association.

That nurturing spirit, his care of this campus, and his concern for the growth of his students as persons and as students in his classes personify the school’s promise that you will be known and you will be loved. Congratulations, Mr. Brunner.

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In Their Words

“Roll Pride, roll Pride roll.” CLASS OF 2021

“I can see the good because I’ve spent the last four years being surrounded by the kindest, most supportive people I know.”

“There are no strangers, there are no outcasts, there are no orphans of God.” FATHER RYAN SINGERS

BELLA BELLANTE ’21 Class Speaker at Baccalaureate

“I feel blessed to part of this family.”

“I challenge you, dear graduates, to be the second ’greatest generation.’”

BISHOP J. MARK SPALDING 14

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BILL BRUNNER ’77 Bishop Alphonse Smith Teacher of the Year

“It is the care that these teachers show for all the students that sets Father Ryan apart.

Even though you have learned a lot from high school, teaching is not over…As you continue your journey in life, you will meet new people, and the most important thing is to make sure they are known and loved by you.”

MATTHEW DILUCCHIO ’21 Class Speaker at Baccalaureate

Close, All the Way to the Finish This year, Father Ryan’s selection of the Valedictorian and Salutatorian for the Class of 2021 went down to the last day. The school leadership had made the decision to wait for the students’ entire Father Ryan academic career to be completed – all eight semesters – before determining the top students, and that meant waiting for the last exam to be completed and graded.

When the results were compiled, the difference between the Valedictorian and the Salutatorian after four years together was close – only .12 points separated them. That outcome and the closeness of their academic records were not surprising. Since entering Christ the King together, EMILY PHAN ’21 and GREY WILDER ’21 have been classmates who excelled in everything they did and shared many a stage together, both on Belmont Boulevard and on Norwood Drive. Congratulations to them both.

Valedictorian 2021: Emily Mai Phan Emily Mai Phan’s final cumulative, weighted GPA at the end of eight semesters of work is a 100.0938. Over her time at Father Ryan, Emily took nine Advanced Placement Courses and was inducted into the National Honor Society, St Vincent de Paul Service Society, the Cum Laude Society, Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society, Junior Classical Honor Society, and the Father Black Honor Society.

Emily was recognized as a National Merit Finalist and received a Cardinal Newman award in recognition of outstanding standardized testing. She was a recipient of the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Award. Emily was recognized for the highest grade in many classes, including AP English Literature, AP Macroeconomics, AP Environmental Science, and AP Calculus BC her senior year. Emily held several leadership roles, including Secretary for the Creative Writing Club, Leader in Irish Service Corps, Member and Leader of the multi-school Youth Advisory Council for the Little Pantry That Could, Co-President of the Cum Laude Society, and Captain of her Trinity House mentor group #38, also known as “Home Depot.”

“Be someone to be proud of.”

At Father Ryan, Emily was a member of the Irish Service Corps, Purple Masque Players, Music Ministry, American Sign Language Club, Creative Writing Club, Chess Club, Latin Club, Lacrosse, and the Dungeons and Dragons Club.

Outside of Father Ryan, Emily volunteers at The Little Pantry That Could and Vacation Bible School at Christ the King.

Emily was accepted to Arizona State University, Belmont University, University of Colorado Boulder, Florida International University, University of Miami, University of San Diego, University of South Florida: Tampa Campus, where she received the National Merit Tradition of Excellence Award, Green & Gold Presidential Award, and Judy Genshaft Global Presidential Scholarship; Tennessee Technological University, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Vanderbilt University, and The College of Wooster.

Emily will attend University of South Florida: Tampa Campus and study Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences.

Salutatorian 2021: Greyson O’Neal Wilder Greyson O’Neal Wilder’s final cumulative, weighted GPA at the end of eight semesters is 99.9677. During his time at Father Ryan, Grey took eight AP Courses and was inducted into the National Honor Society, St. Vincent de Paul Service Society, Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society, La Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica, Thespian Honor Society, and Cum Laude Society.

Grey was recognized as a National Merit Finalist and a Father James A. Black Award for Excellence Finalist. He was awarded the Callahan Family Scholarship and the Kevin Paul Davis Memorial Scholarship. He was recognized for a Perfect Reading Score ACT, Perfect English ACT and attained the highest grade for many of his classes, including AP Psychology and AP Biology this school year. In 2020, the Relay for Life Committee, of which Grey was a member, was recognized with the Pat Flynn Spirit of Relay Award.

“Remember your time here with each other as an anchor, a stabilizing force that will comfort and support you when times get tough.”

Grey has held several leadership roles, including Secretary of the National Honor Society, Class Representative on the Student Council grades 9-11, Mu Alpha Theta Chapter President, Cum Laude Society Co-President, Student Ambassador, and Relay for Life Committee Production Co-Director.

At Father Ryan, Grey was involved with the Purple Masque Players, Ethics Bowl, Student Council, Irish Service Corps, and Relay for Life Committee.

Outside of school Grey is a Room in the Inn Volunteer and head lifeguard at Seven Hills Pool.

Grey was accepted to the following schools: University of TennesseeKnoxville, University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Belmont University, Boston College, Loyola University Chicago, where was accepted into the Interdisciplinary Honors Program and received the National Merit Full Tuition Scholarship; and St. Louis University.

Grey will attend Loyola University Chicago and major in Social Work.

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Do you see yourself?

Over 50 years, Father Ryan's female students have made Father Ryan, Father Ryan. This collage includes a photo from every yearbook since 1971, the first year of women at the school. Do you see someone you know?

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Feature spring/summer 2021

Telling HER Story:

50 Years of Women at Father Ryan

When Cathedral High School, an all-girls diocesan high school in Nashville, closed in the spring of 1970 due to declining enrollment, many female students were left without a school home. Fortuitously for them, the Diocese of Nashville had been planning and talking with the administrations at both Cathedral and Father Ryan, the only all-boys Catholic high school in Nashville, for some time about merging the two schools to form the first coeducational Catholic high school in Nashville. That plan came to fruition in the fall of 1970, and the rest, as they say, is history.

We recently brought together a few of those first women who joined the Father Ryan student body during the 1970-71 school year, along with two longtime teachers who were there that first year, for a Zoom conversation to reminisce and tell stories about their memories of Father Ryan fifty years ago.

Q: What were you feeling when you became part of the first coed class at Father Ryan?

ANN (ARBUCKLE) MANNING ’71: I remember feeling very upset that Cathedral was closing our senior year. It was really scary to think you are coming to this new school with only a handful of girls you knew, and you were going to be with all these boys for the first time.

LENORA (FUSELIER) NASH ’71: I completely agree. I kind of dreaded it. I hated that we were not going to finish our senior year at Cathedral. Plus, I started thinking: am I going to have to wear makeup now?

Look nice every day? At Cathedral, we were just a nice, relaxed group of girls who didn’t need to worry about any of that. So, I was stressed about changing schools, didn’t think I would enjoy it, thought I would be self-conscious. But I tell you, the minute I stepped in the door at Father Ryan all those worries vanished. It just felt so normal and natural. It was the exact opposite of what I feared. All the nervousness and anticipation of the boys not wanting us there or having to look a certain way – all those worries – just went away, and I felt completely welcomed and at home.

PAT (CHRISTMAN) BAILEY ’72: I had a different initial reaction. My brothers were already at Father Ryan, so I saw this as an opportunity to

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lot of them – males and females. I loved my experience there.

MRS. COCKERHAM: Adding on to what Ann said about the competitiveness in the classroom, I found that to be very true. I think the females lifted the academic standards so that the guys’ level was raised at the same time. Bringing the females and males together really helped lift the academic standards of all the students.

PAT: I loved every minute of it. It was exactly what I expected it to be: it was wonderful coming in and wonderful coming out. My brothers were very happy to see me, and I was so happy to be there. I was a sports enthusiast and loved going to Father Ryan games. The teachers were amazing, and I learned so much. It really was such a positive experience for me.

reunite with them. And I was absolutely thrilled to join my former St. Vincent de Paul classmates again as well.

JEANNE (SHARBEL) GOWER ’71: I grew up with five brothers, so being around boys was nothing new to me. I do remember an undercurrent of grumbling from the class of ’70 – not really ’71 – about us females coming on campus.

So I had a little anxiety coming to Father Ryan at first, and I really didn’t want to leave Cathedral – that school was such a safe and loving place for us. But I think most of us Cathedral girls were head-strong enough, we thought we are going to show these guys.

JINX COCKERHAM: The year Cathedral and Father Ryan merged was my first year teaching at Father Ryan. From a teaching standpoint, I did not have to adjust at all. I thought females and males belonged together in a classroom, so that did not bother me one bit. What did bother me was how unprepared the school was to have females join the school. We had no restrooms, we had no female locker rooms – there was just zero preparation in what females needed.

RICHARD CHAMBERS: The semester before the ladies joined the campus was my first semester teaching at Father Ryan, and like Jinx, I remember how the school really was not equipped to handle females joining the school.

I also remember one funny story. All semester,

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the teachers were stressing to the male students: “Starting next year, when you are out in the hallway, watch your language because we are going to have young ladies out here.” And, when next year began, I had young male students who came up to me and said, “Mr. Chambers, the language isn’t really from the guys,” which I just thought was hilarious.

Q: What do you take away from that first year at Father Ryan?

LENORA: I thought it was a wonderful year. I was a cheerleader, and at that time, you were a cheerleader for every sport: football, basketball, wrestling. So all my memories revolve around cheering non-stop at wrestling matches or basketball games, and bringing my books and homework to all the meets to fit in my studying on the bleachers in between games.

JEANNE: You know that place was so welcoming and open. Soon after we arrived on campus, I ran for Class President, and you know what, no one told me not to. The girls were behind me 100 percent encouraging me, so I thought “why not? I’ll do this.” There were four of us running. The votes were split up four ways, and because the votes were so close, they had a run-off between me and Roy Garr. The total count between the two of us came down to one or two votes – that is how close this run-off was – and it wasn’t just the girls voting for me or the boys voting for Roy. In the end, Roy ended up winning, but only by a hair, so that tells you how natural it was to have females on campus and how accepted we were right away.

Q: What Father Ryan teachers do you remember or had an impact on your life?

PAT: Mrs. Cockerham, I have to tell you, you have been such an influence in my life. You taught me shorthand, and to this day I still use it. I remember coming to you my senior year and asking you what I should major in college, and you said, well, that is going to be your decision, but you have mastered so many things in my class like stenography, and thanks to you, I decided to be a business major. I am so glad to be reunited with you through this and have thought about you often through the years.

ANN: Being at an all-girls school for three years, we didn’t have any sports, so just going to the football and basketball games at Father MRS. COCKERHAM: Well, that is so sweet.

Ryan was such a new and exciting experience. Thank you so much. You know, I still use my And in the classroom with all the boys, it was shorthand too, especially when I don’t want so competitive. Everyone wanted to get the best people (namely students) to know what I am grades so you really strove to do your best every writing! day to show them you were not some dumb female. There was a Faces to remember after 50 years. Clockwise from top left (in the Zoom and lot of competitiveness, above) Pat (Christman) Bailey ’72, Jeanne (Sharbel) Gower but I made life-long ’71, Jinx Cockerham, Ann (Arbuckle) Manning ’71, Lenora friends. I still talk to a (Fuselier) Nash ’71, and Richard Chambers.

ANN: I had Ms. [Nancy] Patton for Anatomy and Physiology. I was just thinking about her the other day. She would have spelling bees in Anatomy. You would be standing up in the front of the classroom and have to spell a word in front of the class, and you better get that answer right or you would be sitting down, and no one wanted to sit down. She was a such a wonderful teacher who made her classes so much fun.

LENORA: One teacher I remember well is Pat Langdon. There was this one time, I was talking in class while he was teaching (which it seemed like the females tended to do more than the males), and he made me get up in front of the class and kneel with my arms straight out for 10 minutes. It was so hard. And I was thinking I knew he made the boys do this, but I never thought he would make the girls do this, too. But, I have to say that Algebra II finally stuck in my head after his class!

Q: What does it mean to you to be the first female Golden Grads at Father Ryan?

LENORA: It’s not right! I just can’t believe we are that old. I can say that I am so looking forward to seeing all of my friends once COVID is over. I can’t wait for our reunion where we can visit and reminisce together.

“I am going to cry thinking about being a Golden Grad because now I get to join my daddy and four of my older brothers.”

JEANNE: Mr. [Victor] Forte was top-notch, and Father Ed Johnston, he was an unbelievable mentor and teacher. Mrs. [Betty] Gray was so helpful and supportive, especially when I had an appendectomy, and I was out of school for two weeks. When I came back in class, it was like they were speaking Greek. I didn’t know what was going on. But, Mrs. Gray, she went to bat for me and made herself available to help me get through that class.

Q: When women joined the student body at Father Ryan, did you feel like a trailblazer?

ANN: It is kind of neat to say we were in the first class. My daughter graduated a few years ago, and they do this trivia game at the school now. One of the questions was ’who was the first female to graduate from Father Ryan?’ Well, with my last name being Arbuckle, I was the first one. So, all of Ashley’s friends run up to the front saying “I know, I know!” It is fun to have that little piece of history.

MRS. COCKERHAM: The ’70s were a time when it was not common for females to be out in the workforce. Mothers were staying home. Therefore, with this first group of women to attend Father Ryan, they were creating new opportunities for themselves than what they had seen before. These first couple of classes of female graduates just continued out into the workforce based on what they had seen and experienced at Father Ryan.

Q: What do you think women have added to Father Ryan?

PAT: I would like to say we brought out the best or the better part of the young men. My brothers were certainly taught to open the door for a lady. So maybe their manners were brought to the forefront with ladies being there.

MR. CHAMBERS: I completely agree. Their manners were brought to the forefront at least early on; and I hope it lasted. It was just a better place with the women. It made the experience more complete for the students, the teachers, and certainly the young men.

ANN: For me, it is always exciting when you are the first. But it is also bittersweet. You look at all the people whom you graduated with, and then you see all who you have lost. It used to be all of our parents’ friends who were passing away, but now it is our friends.

JEANNE: I am going to cry thinking about being a Golden Grad because now I get to join my daddy and four of my older brothers. The move from Cathedral to Father Ryan made that possible. Now I am one of them, and I have a sense of gratitude for this blessing.

Q: What are you doing now?

ANN: Throughout the years, my focus has been on healthcare and the newspaper industry. I spent several years as the director of a nonprofit for Vanderbilt. I also worked for the Nashville Banner as an administrative officer. Now I am part owner of a little company that handles contracts with medical clinics. I like to say that Ms. Patton got me interested in the healthcare industry!

PAT: I’m proud to say I am still gainfully employed in a job I love. My brothers and I were blessed to acquire my father’s business, which he started in 1949, called R&R Liquor store on Jefferson Street. And now, we are listed as a Green Book business, were recently interviewed by the Library of Congress, and will be listed as a Green Book business by the Smithsonian Institute.

JEANNE: From an early age I thought I would join a religious order, but the guidance counselor at Father Ryan, Bertie Strobel, saw me as a nurse and directed me to a nursing scholarship at Vanderbilt. While I received the scholarship, I wasn’t able to attend Vanderbilt at that time. However, the thought stayed with me, and I finally enrolled at St. Thomas School of Nursing a few years later, and I found my calling. Eventually, I moved from the St. Thomas School of Nursing to St. Thomas Hospital and have enjoyed a rewarding career in healthcare ever since.

LENORA: I became a medical transcriptionist and worked in doctors’ offices for 15 years, and then veered off and worked in the construction industry for another 20 years. I retired two years ago from Structural Steel, where I worked with project managers on all of the amazing buildings that you see downtown. If you had told me when I was 16 years old that I would end up working in the construction industry with 90% men, and be successful and good at what I do, I wouldn’t have believed you. So I really appreciate the experience I had at Father Ryan, and credit the school for teaching me how to not be so intimidated by men, and more importantly, for giving me confidence in myself.

PAT: I can’t help but believe we brought some balance to Father Ryan.

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Blazing Trails and Breaking Barriers: Margaret (Deckbar) Adam ’74 On August 26, 1970, fifty years after the passage of the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote, 50,000 women marched down New York City streets arm in arm in the Women’s Strike for Equality March. That same month, 884 miles away, another group of women in Nashville made their own statement as they walked down the halls of Father Ryan’s Elliston Place campus for the first time as students and equals at the formerly all-boys school.

Now, just over 100 years since the passage of the 19th Amendment and 50 years since the inclusion of women at Father Ryan, MARGARET (DECKBAR) ADAM ’74, the first female valedictorian, remembers her time at the school and what it felt like to be a trailblazer.

Margaret Adam’s family was very connected in the Nashville Catholic community. Her mother had gone to Cathedral High School and her father to Father Ryan along with several of his siblings. Her uncle was Monsignor DANIEL RICHARDSON ’29 at Assumpton Church, and she had attended Christ the King School for eight years. So when it came to decide where she was going to go to high school, there was no question that Margaret was headed to a Catholic high school.

But, with the announcement that Father Ryan would begin accepting females in the fall of 1970, Margaret and her parents had a big decision to make.

parents were very supportive of what I wanted to do.”

“In our class, we all cared about our grades. That was instilled in us from our parents to our teachers and even in each other ­­– to value our education and the importance of a good education.”

“Both of my parents lobbied for their own school,” recalls Margaret. “But, there was no question for me. I wanted to go to the coed school, and my 20

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She remembers her first day on campus as a mix of exhilaration and nervousness all rolled into one, sensations that were amplified by one encounter she had with a group of senior boys.

“The first day of school, we are traipsing up and down this set of stairs in big throngs of people,” remembers Margaret. “I am petrified being around the upperclassman in what seemed like this huge school, and then I missed one step and slid all the way down the stairs.

A group of senior boys were coming up towards me, and immediately one of the boys yelled ’she’s safe.’ It was such a humiliating yet funny experience. Of course, I was mortified. But I decided if they were making the best of the situation, then I could too.”

little ball of fire, very stern, and very serious about math,” and Mr. James Dedman, an English teacher who inspired a love for writing.

As more females joined the student body, they began making history.

During Margaret’s four years, they had the first female Moina editor, the first female yearbook editor, the first African-American homecoming queen, and thanks to Margaret, the first female valedictorian.

Margaret and several of her female (and male) classmates were fiercely competitive, and it was a tight race senior year to see who would come out on top, but it was Margaret who ultimately became the first female valedictorian.

“In our class, we all cared about our grades. That was instilled in us from our parents to our teachers and even in each other – to value our education and the importance of a good education,” she said. “My parents made a sacrifice to send me there, and I wanted to do well. But I know I didn’t truly appreciate that sacrifice until I had kids.”

After Father Ryan, Margaret attended Vanderbilt University and worked at The Tennessean as a reporter. While there, she was called to testify in court to turn over the name of a source she had for a story. Once again, she was faced with a room full of males, feeling a bit intimidated. But once again, she held her own.

“It didn’t feel like we were fighting for anything; we were just learning how to be women and how to stand up for ourselves.”

According to Margaret, she never felt any negativity from the boys. Yes, the boys outnumbered the girls and some seemed to miss the tradition of being an all-boys school. For the most part, it seemed to Margaret, the boys were very respectful of the women joining the student body because that attitude was expected and taught by the teachers.

“For my four years at Father Ryan, it felt like a unified student body,” Margaret says. “The school spirit is unmatched, and our entire lives revolved around school.”

Falling down the stairs in front of a group of senior boys also taught Margaret an important lesson.

“I’m typically a very shy person, but I had to get up and get going,” says Margaret. “It is a learning process to be accepting of who you are. Even though it was terribly embarrassing, I learned to get up and laugh and move on. Looking back, I’m so grateful how they handled it – it actually helped me quite a bit.”

Throughout her next three years at Father Ryan, more women began enrolling at Father Ryan, and by her senior year, Father Ryan as a coed school felt totally normal. According to Margaret, “once people saw females could not only survive but enjoyed being there, then more girls wanted to come.”

“I remember sitting in the courtroom on the stand just sweating,” Margaret recalls. “I was so young and was sitting there all alone with all of these men.

I kept my mouth shut and it all turned out all right, and then the next day I had a front page story with my byline.”

Today, Margaret lives outside of New Orleans with her family and is proud to send her children to Catholic schools. The Father Ryan tradition continues.

All of Margaret’s siblings attended Father Ryan, and now her nieces and nephews also attend.

Margaret uses her top-notch writing skills, and the spirit of service she gained from her family and Father Ryan as a lead volunteer with CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocates – where she advocates for children through the youth court protective services.

“I’ve been told I write a pretty mean court report, but beyond that, I am grateful for the opportunity and freedom to give back to others,” says Margaret.

Now, almost 50 years since she graduated, Margaret doesn’t think of herself as a torchbearer.

“There might have been stirrings of feminism just because we were the first class of women who attended all four years at Father Ryan. Of course, there were barriers that were broken, such as the first female valedictorian,” she remembers. “But it didn’t feel like we were fighting for anything; we were just learning how to be women and how to stand up for ourselves.”

Learning how to be a woman and to stand up for yourself? Feminists worldwide would be proud.

Margaret had a close-knit group of friends during her high school years, and she remembers fondly teachers such as Father Bill Fleming, French teacher MR. HUMBERT CORSINI ’39, Sister Mary John, who was “a Irish Ayes |

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Carrying on the Tradition: Father Ryan Alumnae Kaleah Belin ’94 and Kate Byrd ’11 While the female members of the Class of 1974 made history as the first to attend all four years at Father Ryan, there are several recent graduates who continue to carry on the tradition of these brave, trailblazing women. We are proud to highlight two graduates who have achieved top leadership positions in typically male-dominated fields.

KALEAH (JONES) BELIN ’94, is Chief Master Sergeant in the Air Force. Being a woman in the military can be hard enough, but the rank of Chief Master Sergeant is reserved for just one percent of all active Air Force military, which equals only 2,633 people. Even more impressive, of those 2,633 who reach Chief Master Sergeant, only 485 are women.

CMSgt Belin began her career in the Air Force at the young age of 17. She joined just three months out of Father Ryan and received her first assignment at Kelly Air Force base in San Antonio in the field of public health, studying preventive medicine. Now, many years later, she is on her 11th assignment at Tinker Air Force base in Oklahoma, where she serves as the superintendent of a medical group that runs the hospital on the base. CMSgt Belin currently serves as the senior enlisted advisor to the Commander of the hospital. She credits her classes with legendary Father Ryan biology teacher Nancy Patton as her inspiration for choosing a science field.

“Ms. Patton was a favorite teacher by far,” says CMSgt Belin. “I remember studying how diseases affect the human body as part of her class, and I believe that provided a foundation for where I am today.”

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Throughout her 27 years in the military, CMSgt Belin has been stationed at bases around the world and stateside, including Turkey, Germany, Korea, Afghanistan, Italy, Texas (twice), Louisiana, Florida, and now Oklahoma. To add to her list of many accomplishments, while CMSgt Belin was stationed in Afghanistan, she was awarded the Bronze Star for her work with the Joint Special Operations Command.

And yet she has still had to fight to have an equal voice.

“When you are the only woman at the table in a male-dominated organization, men do not always respect your input, and may not always understand your true ability,” says CMSgt Belin. “You have to prove yourself before they truly accept you. When they realize, ’oh she got the Bronze Star’, then they accept that I must know what I am doing. Or they realize that I worked with the Special Joint Operations, then they accept that I know how to lead people. I have always had to prove myself.”

It is her experience attending a coed school like Father Ryan in her formative years that CMSgt Belin says helped shape her ability to excel.

“After I graduated from St. Ann’s,” says CMSgt Belin, “I was considering a few private high schools. My parents encouraged me to attend Father Ryan because they believed attending a coeducational high school would prepare me for my career dealing with men and women. Seeing where I am now, I believe that was a good decision, and I’m grateful they encouraged Father Ryan.”

Today, CMSgt Belin is married to Tony, who is also in the Air Force, and they have a beautiful daughter. As with many women, she is trying to be the best mother and wife she can be while still excelling at a demanding job. But she has been pleased with the strides the Air Force is making in terms of gender roles.

According to CMSgt Belin, “There is always going to be unconscious bias in certain aspects of how men and women are treated in the military, but, thankfully, the Air Force leadership is really working on correcting that.”

Embracing Science Another recent Father Ryan graduate familiar with being one of the few women in a male-dominated field is KATE (SHOWERS) BYRD ’11, who works in the space division of MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory, a federallyfunded research and development center.

Kate loved her science and math classes at Father Ryan. While her higher level math classes like Calculus with MR. DOUG BONTRAGER ’81, Trigonometry with MR. BILL BRUNNER ’77 and Physics with COACH MIKE MASCARI ’96 included many female students, she felt more alone and isolated in her bioengineering classes at Clemson University, where she earned her undergraduate degree.

“As leaders, especially in the military, there are hard decisions you have to face, but leaning on my faith has been immensely helpful in making those decisions.”

During her time with the Irish, CMSgt Belin was active in the Culture Club, where she spent time with other students of color sharing their experiences, which was impactful for her, as now she is very active in the AfricanAmerican Heritage Committee in the Air Force.

But one of the biggest lessons CMSgt Belin takes from Father Ryan is the school’s emphasis on the balance that faith brings to one’s life. She fondly remembers the SEARCH retreat, and believes it is her faith that has helped her throughout her many trials in life.

“As leaders, especially in the military, there are hard decisions you have to face, but leaning on my faith has been immensely helpful in making those decisions,” she says.

“I remember one class I attended freshman year. When the teacher called roll, she would look around trying to find the person who raised their hand, but when she called my name, she found me right away,” remembers Kate. “I looked around my class to see how that was possible, and then I realized in my class of 45 students, there were only two females.”

To combat this problem, and to give her an outlet to meet other women in the engineering fields, Kate joined the Clemson chapter of the Society of Women Engineers, which provided networking, homework sessions, resumé sessions, tours of engineering firms, and speakers.

“My teachers and the students at Clemson never made me feel different or out of place, but it was more of me second guessing whether I belonged there among all of these men,” Kate reflected. “For example, for the females in my classes, it was a catastrophic failure if we did not do well on tests. Whereas my male friends wouldn’t care, they would just feel like that is a dumb test. It was not a soul-searching moment for them like it was for my female friends.”

Kate also joined WISE, Women In Science and Engineering, a program run

by Clemson to educate, recruit, and retain underrepresented populations in STEM fields through mentoring, academic coaching, counseling, and academic enrichment. As a student worker there, Kate was assigned to mentor freshman women coming into engineering and science fields.

WISE would offer social activities, tutoring, intramural sports, and most importantly, a safe space on campus to talk about issues these women were facing on campus. Additionally, WISE offered camps and outreach to schools in the rural areas surrounding Clemson.

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with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), recognizes top science, technology, engineering, and math undergraduate and graduate students for their academic excellence, the research projects they undertake, and their contributions to the broader community.

“I’m honored to have been recognized by AIAA. The recognition is reflective of my excellent colleagues at Harvard and MIT Lincoln Laboratory and the collaborative environment that supports the growth and mentorship of those early in their career,” Kate said.

Kate earned the award not only for her engineering prowess, but for her contributions to the community, which includes her work as CEO of Girls Who Build, a non-profit organization that uses hands-on, applied engineering curriculum to inspire girls to pursue STEM careers. It’s a position that combines her love of science, service, and her goal of increasing the number of women in science-related careers.

Just as CMSgt Belin credits Father Ryan for her strong faith, Kate also says Father Ryan inspired her to continue giving back to others.

“Don’t let other people tell you that you can’t do something, especially if it brings you joy.”

It was through Kate’s involvement in the Society of Women Engineers that she learned about MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory. Kate was considering getting her graduate degree immediately after undergrad, but she was heavily recruited by the Lincoln Lab her senior year and moved to Boston after graduating. She has been an associate staff member at the Lab since 2015.

In just her short time at Lincoln Laboratory, she has made a big impact.

Kate has been involved in a variety of projects, including a lowerleg biomechanical measurement system called MoBile (Mobility and Biomechanics Insert for Load Evaluation), which is designed to monitor and prevent musculoskeletal injuries in soldiers. The technology recently won an R&D 100 Award. She also led a hardware team to build a handheld radar that can detect moving objects through obstacles such as walls.

Notably, just last year, she was named one of Aviation Week Network’s 20 Twenties for 2020. Kate was nominated for the award by Harvard University, where she received her MS degree in engineering sciences in 2019, thanks to the Lincoln Scholars tuition assistance program offered by MIT Lincoln Laboratory. The Aviation Week Award, offered in collaboration 24

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“The culture of service that has manifested in my work through WISE and Women Who Build was instilled in me from the beginning: in my home life and from my time at Father Ryan, “says Kate.

“It is that message of ’if you have been given opportunities and have become successful, then you need to give back to others and help them to become successful too.’”

What message do these two successful Father Ryan graduates have for the young women attending Father Ryan today? Their advice is amazingly similar.

“Don’t let other people tell you that you can’t do something, especially if it brings you joy,” Kate says. “You will find others to support you and help you. Take it one day at a time and don’t worry about what other people are doing or saying. You can do it.”

And CMSgt Belin echoes that sentiment. “Michelle Obama said, ’if you don’t speak up, you lose your seat at the table.’ Well, I am usually the only female at the table, and I have learned that you can be your own worst enemy if you don’t speak up because you are shy, or you think others have negative thoughts about you. That is all in your mind. If you get over that and speak up, and make your voice heard without prohibitions, then no one is standing in your way.”

Wise words, indeed.

Mentor, Teacher, Friend: Mrs. Mary Alice McWatters When celebrating the achievements of women at Father Ryan throughout the last 50 years, it is only fitting to celebrate one of the most tenured female teachers teaching at Father Ryan today, MRS. MARY ALICE MCWATTERS. She has served many roles – biology teacher, Chair of the science department, swim team coach, and senior class sponsor – but it is her role as mentor to both her students and fellow teachers that makes her a figure that will be remembered long after she retires at the end of this school year.

Prior to her time at Father Ryan, Mrs. McWatters taught for 14 years in Memphis private schools after graduating from University of Tennessee (where she was one of the only female students in her science classes and where she met her husband, Tom). But striving to be a “really good” teacher continued for Mrs. McWatters even after she had been teaching for more than 10 years. When she joined the faculty at Father Ryan, she had heard how good the biology teachers were, and she wanted to be one of the best as well.

Mrs. McWatters has taught Chemistry and Physics through her many years teaching, but her first love is Biology, which she has taught for the last 29 years. She says she teaches science because her own science teachers were very smart but could not relate to their students. In response, she set out to make science interesting, fun, and connected to the real-world experiences of her students.

“I asked Nancy Patton, a fabulous biology teacher and the first woman layperson to teach at Father Ryan, if I could sit in on one of her classes during my planning period to watch her in action. Of course, she said yes, and I continued to monitor her class for the entire first semester. That semester was instrumental in helping me develop my teaching abilities and how I wanted to relate to my students.”

“I had some science teachers in school who could not explain their way out of a paper bag,” said Mrs. McWatters. “It was not their fault. I don’t think they were ever trained to teach. But, I wanted to be good. I wanted to make science come alive for my students.”

Mrs. Patton’s graciousness made an incredible impact on Mrs. McWatters, and she has tried to pay it forward to other teachers ever since, becoming head of the science department just one year after she arrived at Father Ryan. As department Chair, she has been responsible for attending

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the beach and releasing them into the ocean), helped with reforestation projects, recorded birds’ migration patterns, visited an orphanage (bringing medicines from the U.S.), and attended Mass in Spanish, among other projects. Each was a life-changing experience for all involved where the students were able to witness science “at its best.”

It has been a wonderful 29 years at Father Ryan, but now it is time for Mrs. McWatters to enjoy retirement with her husband, which she hopes includes traveling (once it is safe to do so), taking classes, and spending more time with her sons, MATT ’00 and MARK ’05 and their families, including her adorable grandchildren.

“Retirement is such a conflict for me because Father Ryan is a part of me,” she said. “I remember telling Tom when I first started that I had died and gone to teacher heaven, and that is still true for me today. Father Ryan is such a special place because of the community of outstanding individuals, from the dining hall staff to the leadership team.”

Many thanks for 29 fantastic years, Mrs. McWatters. We will miss you!

“I wanted to be good. I wanted to make science come alive for my students.”

A Touch of Grace

academic monthly meetings, managing the department’s budget, ordering textbooks, running department meetings, interviewing prospective teachers, and observing and mentoring new teachers.

“The experience of being responsible for Father Ryan science teachers has been such an honor for me. The teachers are so talented here. I truly believe we have the best science teachers in Nashville, if not the state,” she said.

It is teaching the students that has made the biggest impact on her.

“EDDIE KRENSON ’72, [former Father Ryan principal], said in a faculty meeting one day, ’When you walk down the halls of Father Ryan, I want you to look at each student you pass in the eye and smile.’ And ever since then, I tried to do just that with my students, because I believe that embodies being known and loved,” she said.

When a student in her class is going through a hard time, Mrs. McWatters is known for sending notes of encouragement or leaving Holy Cards that say “I prayed for you today.”

But, it is not only her words of support that make her a beloved figure at Father Ryan. Her teaching methods make science fun for her students.

To help students learn the numerous, complicated steps to explain the process of cellular respiration, she assigned them to create a song, poem, or story and perform it for the class. One such project included three boys performing the steps as a rock band, complete with choreography and psychedelic pictures on the whiteboard.

“The project was universally loved by the class,” Mrs. McWatters said, “and I was cheered to see many students singing and bobbing their heads to the song created by those boys during the test on cellular respiration.”

In addition to teaching in the classroom, Mrs. McWatters and Mrs. Laura Beasley, a former Father Ryan Spanish teacher, chaperoned several trips throughout the years to Costa Rica for a Science/Spanish immersion trip.

Students participated in turtle patrols (protecting baby turtles hatching on

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There’s a special touch to this issue of Irish Ayes, provided

by Belmont senior GRACE NORFLEET ’17. As Grace completed her studies in graphic design this spring, she collaborated with Burgundy Group here in Nashville to prepare sections of this issue. She also worked with Irish Ayes and Burgundy Group designer Andy Young, who provided mentoring for Grace and a practical perspective on her career plans and her portfolio. The assessment: she’s on a good path to a bright career in graphic design. Thank you, Grace.

Events spring/summer 2021

Meet the Medical Advisory Committee

A Legacy Gala Filled with Heroes

Shindana Feagins, M.D.

John Howington ’81, M.D.

Rob Labadie, M.D.

Rob Mangialardi, M.D.

Mark Marsden, M.D.

Jamie Slandzicki, M.D.

Father Ryan’s Legacy Gala is a time for Ryan Nation to gather to salute those in the community who have had a major impact on the school.

This year, even in the midst of the pandemic, that salute took place in a heroic way.

The 2021 Legacy Gala on February 27 was virtual, but it didn’t stop our community from gathering. Saluting the Health Care Heroes in our community, particularly the members of the Father Ryan Medical Advisory Committee who have been so critical to the school’s response to the pandemic and the development of the campus protocols, the evening included a powerful salute to these heroes. A special video broadcast at Gala told the story of the past year and saluted the more than 100 Health Care Heroes who had been submitted by members of the community. It also featured the stories of alumni physicians HEATHER CARPENTER BARNETT ’95, TYLER DAVIS ’07, and NINA FREDERICKS ’10 and several students whose parents are health care professionals.

Irish-owned catering businesses like TOM MORALES ’72 at TomKats, MADISON DREXLER ’15 at Chef Beanie, and Leland Riggins with Dessert Designs provided the meals. In addition, a group of students manned the phones at the Advancement House at Father Ryan on Gala night (at top left) and talked to donors who called in with gifts.

It was an exceptional night, one that grossed more than $200,000 for Father Ryan, and one that showcased – once again – the unique legacy of this school.

To view the video and the Health Care Heroes who were honored visit fatherryan.org/gala

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A Spirit of

Philant hropy

One of the key components of the Father Ryan Strategic Plan is creating a culture of philanthropy among our community. In each issue of Irish Ayes, we profile individuals who have demonstrated that philanthropic spirit in their own giving to Father Ryan. This issue profiles a couple whose commitment to supporting education, specifically teachers, continues their own belief in the power of education to change lives.

Meet Laura and Skip ’68 Beasley, members of the Father James A. Black ’64 Planned Giving Society.

To read more about planned giving at Father Ryan, visit fatherryan.org/plannedgiving.

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Laura and Skip ’68 Beasley The difference is teaching Hearing about the 35-year flying career that took him to 10 different military stations around the world, countless airfields along the way, and a distance exceeding a million miles, you wouldn’t think that the biggest obstacle for SKIP BEASLEY ’68 when he arrived in Nashville in 1964 was figuring out how to get to Father Ryan.

Yet, as a newcomer to the city and its Catholic community that freshman year, negotiating that 4.1 mile route each morning and afternoon was Skip’s daily challenge.

But what he found inside those hallways and classrooms just minutes from home helped form the career and the life that took him literally around the world.

“The teachers at Father Ryan made the difference in my life,” Skip says. “Many of my classmates will chuckle as I say this, but I really enjoyed being in Sister Mary John’s classroom. I learned to love math from that nun and I respected her educational approach and her toughness. I also respected and appreciated Father [Ed] Arnold.

He was another commanding presence who expected you to study, to be prepared for class, and to excel. It’s because of them and many other teachers at Father Ryan that I became focused on engineering.”

Skip did excel in the classroom, becoming a member of Mu Alpha Theta Math Club, and he played varsity tennis at Father Ryan. But his proudest achievement was earning a four-year Air Force scholarship which he used at Tulane University in New Orleans.

He graduated four years later with a degree in civil engineering and then launched – literally and figuratively – his military career. Over a 21-year+ period he flew fighter jets, everything from the F-4 to the F-16, from bases in Spain, Korea, Turkey, Italy, England, and many more, and he spent 18 of those years as a flight instructor as well. After retiring from that cockpit, he enjoyed a three-year run as the co-owner of a vegetable processing plant here in Middle Tennessee. However, the skies kept calling, so Skip climbed back into the pilot’s seat and flew for FedEx for another 15 years.

“The flying gave me an opportunity to travel the world, and that was an experience I will treasure always,” Skip said, “in large part because that travel took me to Spain, where I met my wife, Laura.”

Father Ryan families will know Laura Beasley well. For more than 25 years she taught Spanish to many an Irish student and was involved in so many activities at the school. “It is because of her experience here and what we saw as parents of Father Ryan students that we decided to become part of the Father James Black ’64 Society,” Skip and Laura said.

MAKING A

DIFFERENCE

As Skip relates, Laura holds her PhD in psychology. But when she was asked to teach Spanish at Father Ryan for a short period of time, she said yes, and she kept saying yes for many years after. “The teachers at Father Ryan continue to make a difference, and Laura is an example of that,” Skip says. “Even though she could have taught at any college in the area, she stayed at Father Ryan because she loved the community, the students, her colleagues, and the experience.”

Skip rattles off the names quickly. “Jim Langdon, Nancy Patton, Sr. Mary John, Father Arnold; they made the difference in my life because they were outstanding teachers. And that caliber of educator remains present at the school today. We saw their dedication and talent in our children’s experiences at Father Ryan as well,” he said. “That’s why we have focused our giving to ensure that this caliber of teaching, and the academic excellence it inspires, continues at this outstanding school.”

YOUR 100% TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIFT

For more information about how you can support Father Ryan through a planned gift, scan the QR Code above to visit fatherryan.org/ plannedgiving or contact Brooke Reusch, Director of Advancement, at reuschb@fatherryan.org.

to the Father Ryan Annual Fund helps us carry out the tradition of Faith, Knowledge, and Service that continues to guide our students today.

To make a gift visit fatherryan.org/giving

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Class Notes spring/summer 2021

A Moment in History The Keyettes included (first row, from left) Lenora Fuselier ’71, Jeanne Sharbel ’71, Earline Zealey ’71, Rosemary Strobel ’72, Angela Jones ’73; (second row) Judy Roddy ’71, Karen Williams ’71, Marta Lenahan ’74, Carla Smith ’71, Adonna Wallace ’73, Rita Pentecost ’72; (third row) Diane Fuselier ’74, Mary Lynn Pogue ’74, Celia Sharbel ’74, Denise Arbuckle ’74, Pat ClenDening ’71; (fourth row) Terri Howse ’72, Kathryn Strobel ’74, Gracie Rohling ’71, and Ann Arbuckle ’71.

When the ladies arrived at Father Ryan in the fall of 1970, they became involved.

Embracing the tradition of service, they became members of the new Keyettes Club, moderated by Mrs. Jinx Cockerham, to provide an avenue for the girls to be active in community service.

How many of these original Keyettes do you recognize?

1963 FATHER MIKE JOHNSTON is now Monsignor Mike Johnston after Bishop Mark Spalding made the announcement at the Chrism Mass in April. He has been an exemplar of faith, a dedicated shepherd of his parishioners, a leader of and for the Diocese of Nashville, and a powerful and tireless voice for Catholic education. Congratulations, MONSIGNOR MICHAEL JOHNSTON! 1982 JOHN KRENSON was named Nashville Catholic Business League’s 2020 Catholic Professional of the Year which recognizes a professional who lives his/her faith at work, home, and in his/her community. John is a deacon at Christ the King and former CEO of Operation Stand Down, a nonprofit resource for veterans in Middle Tennessee that provides wrap-around services to engage, equip, and empower those who have served our country.

1985 SHELLIE (FAJARDO) RICHARDS, CSET Program Manager and Lecturer in the Communication of Science and Technology program at Vanderbilt University, was recognized with a COVID-19 Innovative Teaching Award for giving special attention to student inclusivity, engagement, and well-being. Faculty were nominated by peers and students for creative teaching using multiple technologies, teaching on timely and topical issues, innovative teaching in special contexts, and ultimately keeping students engaged during the pandemic.

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1990 MICHELLE DUKE was promoted to Chief Diversity Officer at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). The broadcaster’s association is the nation’s major radio and television legislative and regulatory trade group. In this new position, Michelle will spearhead NAB’s internal efforts to further equity and inclusion at all levels of the organization and elevate NAB’s external role as a resource to NAB member companies in their efforts to increase and promote industry diversity. She will also continue as president of the NAB Leadership Foundation (NABLF) where she focuses on delivering the Foundation’s mission of providing broadcast training programs that help recruit and strengthen the industry’s human capital, as well as initiatives in support of community service, diversity, and philanthropy.

1995 RACHEL (MCKENZIE) MATHEW received Christ the King’s Distinguished Alumni Award during Catholic Schools Week. Rachel teaches Pre-K at CKS and was named Teacher of the Year at the school in 2015.

1995 COLLEEN (O’CONNELL) LANE is the owner of Colleen Lane Art Advisory in Atlanta and was recently featured in Simply Buckhead magazine.

She works with clients to source artwork that works within their budget and their space.

1996 RACHEL YOUNG lives in Arlington, TN, with sons Robbie and Lake. After receiving a B.A. in English from the University of Richmond, she attended nursing school and is now a Clinical Research Associate, Level 2 (RN, BSN, CCRP) with St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN. 1998 LINDSAY (GILLON) CAGLEY is the new CEO of Challenge Aspen, a Snowmass Village, Colorado-based nonprofit providing year-round adaptive experiences for individuals faced with cognitive or physical disabilities, including service personnel. Lindsay brings more than 15 years of thoughtful and successful work in the outdoor and hospitality industries in numerous mountain resort communities. She received her degree in language and world business from UT and a Strategic Hospitality Leadership Certificate from Cornell University.

2000 COREY PHILLIPS is the new Director of Scouting for North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. Before joining the Wolfpack, Corey spent five years as the Assistant Recruiting Coordinator at Vanderbilt University.

2001 BILLY HALEY was named to the University of Tennessee’s Volunteer 40 Under 40 inaugural class. This alumni program celebrates UT alumni who are 39 or younger and have excelled personally and professionally since completing their degree. Billy is a partner and financial advisor with Compass Advisory Group, a member of the Nashville Region UT Knoxville Alumni Chapter Board, and serves on Father Ryan’s Alumni Board. He and his wife, Lauren, have three children and live in Franklin, TN. 2003 MATTE HALEY is a veterinarian and owner of Haley Veterinary Practice in Lebanon, TN. The practice was voted 2021 Best of Wilson County by readers of The Wilson Post.

2016 GRACE ROLMAN has been appointed Social Media Co-Chair for the Student Bar Association at the University of Cincinnati College of Law for the 2021-2022 school year.

2017 MAUREEN BUCKLEY, a graduate of Clemson University who majored in biomedical engineering, will pursue a Ph.D. in biological engineering at MIT this fall. She is the recipient of the Samuel B. Earle Outstanding Senior Award for the College of Engineering, Computing, and Applied Sciences. The award is given to the most outstanding senior in engineering based on scholarship and character.

2017 CARLIE JAMISON graduated summa cum laude May 8 from Spring Hill College in Mobile AL. She was awarded the Toolen Award as the student with the highest overall GPA. She was also awarded the President’s Scholar Award for the highest GPA in the Commercial Arts Department, the Dorn Award for the varsity athlete with highest GPA, and the female Scholar Athlete Award. As a walk-on to the Badger softball team, Carlie was the right fielder all four years, starting in 100 of their 112 games. She was named Academic All-Conference her first three years.

2017 NICK WOLF had an incredible season on the links for UT Martin. In March he won his first individual championship after a thrilling finish at the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate. Nick was named OVC Male Golfer of the Week twice this season, most recently after tying for first in a field of 75 golfers at the National Intercollegiate.

There he shot a 204 (-12) while leading the field with 18 birdies.

2018 JOE HOOTS ’18, a member of UT Knoxville’s men’s distance medley relay squad, received a bronze medal at the SEC Indoor Track Championship, as the group combined for a time of 9:36.41. The team ranks No. 12 among NCAA Division I programs for the season. This was the first time the Vols won an SEC medal in the event since 2011.

Celebrating Six Decades of Leadership Monsignor Pat Connor ’53 The year 1961 marked the dawn of the race to the moon, a new international spirit of service through the Peace Corps, the energy and vision of Saint John XXIII and Vatican II, and the beginning of a life of pastoral care and diocesan leadership for one of Father Ryan’s most distinguished alumni. That pivotal year marked the ordination of MONSIGNOR PAT CONNOR ’53, and his 60th Anniversary this year gave us the chance to reflect on his long and continued impact on our community.

Msgr. Connor was the Salutatorian of his class, and that intellect and his insights were on regular display during a long career in service to the diocese. He was an associate pastor at Cathedral and at other parishes before he was called to be the principal of Father Ryan High School in 1974. It was a challenging time for the school, just four years into a time of significant enrollment growth brought on by the addition of women to the student body and the appeal of the school to a broader part of Nashville. He responded to that challenge with fiscal and spiritual leadership, placing the school on a firm path and preparing it for decades of achievement and success, in and out of the classroom, by the time he stepped down in 1978. That leadership was on display as he became a Vicar General for the diocese, helping to provide long-term planning alongside his long-standing pastoral care. In addition, he drew on that experience and provided the leadership in the planning and move of Father Ryan High School to our beautiful campus on Norwood Drive.

That love for and commitment to Father Ryan has been a constant. In 2011, in honor of his 50th Anniversary as a priest, then-Fr. Connor and members of the Connor family established the Father Pat Connor ’53 Scholarship at Father Ryan.

The award provides $1,000 for the junior and senior years and is presented to a sophomore who has great character and displays a love of and appreciation for Father Ryan. We congratulate Msgr. Connor on the 60th Anniversary of his ordination, and we thank him for his continued devotion to Father Ryan and our community.

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Births and Weddings spring/summer 2021

Virginia Frances Aucoin

Piper Marie Dempsey

Wyatt James Bontrager

Oscar Martin Elfers

Ashton Lawrence Bridenstine

James Rothwell Hollihan

Campbell Hayes Mabry

Landyn Grace Lynch

Graham Henry Miller

Peter Thomas Mosley

Lucy Kate Scheetz

Daniel Franis Shadoin

Parker Bond Shuford

Leonidas Grey Szabo

Virginia Frances to EMILY (STEWART) ’08 and PATRICK AUCOIN, born in February 2021.

Emily graduated from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in May 2020 and now works as an attorney for the Child in Need of Care Unit at Southeast Louisiana Legal Services. The Aucoins live in New Orleans.

James Rothwell to ELLIE (SCAGLIONE) ’09 and ERIC HOLLIHAN, born on November 4, 2020. The family lives in Nashville.

Landyn Grace to JENNIFER and DYLAN LYNCH ’03, born on September 4, 2020.

Graham Henry to MOLLY (SPINING) ’11 and CHRIS MILLER, Wyatt James to AMBER born on May 7, 2020.

(MCKINNEY) ’09 and PATRICK ’08 BONTRAGER (FACULTY), Peter Thomas to JENNIFER born on October 19, 2020. Wyatt joins (SAALE) ’06 and ANDREW ’06 MOSLEY, born on February 27, 2021. siblings Quinn and Amy. He joins big brother, Henry (3).

Ashton Lawrence to SYDNEY and WILL BRIDENSTINE ’05, born Lucy Kate to LINDSEY (MARTIE) on September 24, 2020. He joins his ’09 and FRANK SCHEETZ, born on December 4, 2020. The family lives brothers, Ollie (5) and Finley (2). in St. Louis, MO. Campbell Hayes to SARAH (CAMPBELL) ’09 and DR. SCOTT Daniel Francis to HEATHER and ROBERT ’00 SHADOIN, born on MABRY, born on January 13, 2021.

June 5, 2020.

Piper Marie to ELLEN (FACULTY) Bond to RACHEL and BRIAN DEMPSEY, born on Parker (GRAHAM) ’09 and ANDY January 28, 2021.

SHUFORD, born on August 18, 2020.

Oscar Martin to ELIZABETH (COYLE) ’02 and JIM ELFERS, Leonidas Grey to DEANNA born November 23, 2020. He joins big (WYCHECK) ’09 and COLE SZABO, born on February 4, 2021. sister, Margie.

Ella Kate to EMILY (HUBBUCH) Elijah Neville to ALICIA (BABIN) ’09 and BLAINE HENDRICKS, ’05 and MATT WILSON, born on November 10, 2020. born on March 21, 2021.

CHLOE (MOIX) ’13 and SETH CAMPBELL ’13 were married on July 18, 2020.

KERRY LINDSTROM ’19 and Eric Wilcox were married on October 17, 2020. The wedding, originally planned for May 30, 2020, was rescheduled due to COVID-19.

Danielle Palumbo and CHARLES RODRIGUEZ ’08 were married on March 7, 2020, at The Cordelle in Nashville. The Rodriguez family calls New Haven, CT home, where Charles is an Assistant Coach for the Yale University Men’s Soccer team.

Danielle and Charles Rodriguez

Derek and Brittany Sandblom

BRITTANY (PICKNEY) ’08 and Captain Derek Sandblom were married on October 24, 2020 at the Destin Bay House in Destin, FL. The wedding party included the bride’s sister, Jennifer (Dison) Dixon ’98 and brothers Jeremy Dison ’90 and Patrick Pickney ’11. Brittany is an Occupational Therapist working at a retirement community for retired military veterans and their spouses. Derek is a pilot in the United States Air Force. The couple is stationed at Hurlburt Field and live in Destin, FL. CAITLIN (MULLOY) ’09 and STEPHEN CURRAN ’10 were married on October 17, 2020 by Father Ryan Chaplain Fr. Mark Simpson at Cathedral of the Incarnation, Nashville, TN.

Caitlin and Stephen Curran

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Garrett and Sarah Short

SARAH HOLMES ’10 and Garrett Short were married on September 12, 2020, at Christ the King Church, attended by her sister Jessica Holmes ’17. Sarah is the daughter of Chris ’81 and Katy (Tivnan) Holmes ’81 and the granddaughter of Sallie (deceased) and Phillip ’53 Holmes.

In Memoriam spring /summer 2021

JONATHAN ANTHONY ’00.

MARY T. “TOMMIE” ARNOLD: Mother of Fred ’81, Lisa ’82, Patrick ’84, and Andrea ’89 Arnold.

JUNE BALDINI: mother of Scherie (Baldini) Piazza ’75, Patti Baldini ’76, and Tammy (Baldini) Carter ’79.

MARY ANN (LONG) BALTZ: Daughter of Leo Long (Hall of Fame Coach, deceased); wife of Thomas Baltz ’64 (deceased); mother of Ann Marie, Theresa (Baltz) Hooten ’91, Rebecca, Tom Baltz ’89, and Leo Baltz; and sister of Larry ’50, Vince ’52, Frank ’54, Theresa, Joe, Louie ’67, and Jack ’69 Long (all deceased).

SISTER MARY GEORGE BARRETT, O.P.: Sister of George Barrett ’45 (deceased).

MARION (BRACKMAN) BARRY: Wife of William Curry Barry, Jr. ’44 (deceased); mother of Buster ’68 (deceased), George “Brazo” ’70, Joe ’73 (Suzie ’78), Phil ’74, Rick ’78, Chip ’84, Angela, Beverly, Ellen Barry, and Leanne (Barry) Reiter; and sister of Bill ’37 and Henry ’38 Brackman, Catherine (Brackman) Tribble, and Claire (Brackman) Keane (all deceased).

PHILIP C. BASS ’65.

PAMELA “PAM” BAUER: Wife of Pat Bauer ’69 and mother of Kelley Bauer ’99, Jennifer Bauer ’00, and Patrick Newell ’03.

C. DAVID BETHURUM: Father of Reid Bethurum ’93 (Coneale ’95) and Jenni (Bethurum) Belsito ’95.

ROBERT J. “JOEY” BISSO ’80.

THERESA BOTTS: Mother of Jan (Botts) Hicks and Eric Botts ’88.

KATHERINE HIGGINS BRODGEN: Sister of Bitsy, Jack, and Tom Higgins ’50.

E. CLARA BROWN: Daughter of Alfred J. Brown, Sr. ’40 (deceased) and sister of Ethel (Brown) Scott, Joe Brown ’72, and Chris Brown ’76.

WILLIAM R. “RIC” BROWN: Father of Erica (Brown) Steakley ’91, Patrick Brown, Megan (Brown) Hartless ’99, Shader Hoffman, Porter Hoffman, and Payson Hoffman.

ED BRUCE: Father of Trey Bruce, AnnMarie (Bruce) Pinhal ’86 (Joey Lee ’86), Ginny Bruce, and William “Beau” Bruce (deceased).

NELSON GRADY CARNEY ‘58.

MARIDEANE “MUFF” CLINE: Mother of Stephen Cline, Ted Cline, and Elizabeth (Cline) Mang ’89.

JAMES “JIM” CONNERS ’42: Brother of Anne (Conners) Broden, John T. Conners, Jr. ’37, and Catherine Conners (all deceased).

MICHAEL W. DOUCHETTE ’73: Father of Daniel Douchette ’01, Erica (Franklin) Miller ’01, Adam Franklin ’02, Benjamin Douchette, Leah Taylor, Michael Douchette, and Samantha Dukes.

RICK DURRETT: Father of Mark (deceased), Majken, and Clint Durrett ’99.

JOHN I. CONNOLLY, JR. ’58: Brother of Dottie (Connolly) Climer, Sister Ignatius, O.P., and Bill Connolly ’66 (deceased).

EDWIN “ED” EMERSON: Father of Blake Emerson ’99, Tyler Emerson ’04, and Kristina Emerson ’07.

DAVID CROSBY: Father of Brian “Mike” Crosby ’02 and David Crosby ’06.

WILLIAM J. “BILL” FAIMON: Father of Tony Faimon (deceased) and Terry Faimon ’85.

JAMES A. “TREY” CURLEY: Son of Jim Curley ’53 and brother of Pat ’82 and Chris ’85 Curley.

CHARLES B. FANCHER, SR.: Father of Charles Fancher, Jr., Mark Fancher, and Adrienne Fancher ’83.

JAMES F. “JIM” CURLEY, SR.: Brother of Mike Curley ’69, Peggy (Curley) Forte, Sister Jeanine Curley, R.S.M., Tommy Curley (deceased), Mary Jean (Curley) Simpson (deceased), and Rose Marie (Curley) Connor (deceased).

MICHAEL D. FIGLIO, SR.: Father of Don Figlio ’77, Mike Figlio ’79 (Robin ’79), Mary Jo Figlio ’80, Chris Figlio ’83, Mia (Figlio) Miller, and Tommy Figlio ’89.

MARGARET and ART DAHLHAUSER: Parents of Douglas (deceased), Greg, Deb (Dahlhauser) Williams, Mary, Steve, Kevin ’78 (deceased), Bryan ’79, Eric ’80 (deceased), Tom (deceased), and Paul ’85 (Glenda Sexton ’85) Dahlhauser.

THOMAS “TOM” DAHLHAUSER: Brother of Douglas (deceased), Greg, Deb (Dahlhauser) Williams, Mary, Steve, Kevin ’78 (deceased), Bryan ’79, Eric ’80 (deceased), and Paul ’85 (Glenda Sexton ’85) Dahlhauser.

SARAH DERRICK: Daughter of Jim Derrick, Jr. ’84 and sister of Lena Derrick ’04, Margaret (Derrick) Nichols ’06, James Derrick III, Tommy Derrick, Kiara Incle, Joshua Ortiz, and Ryan Derrick.

MARGARET DIETERICH: Mother of James Dieterich ’71 and Robin Dieterich ’73.

JOSEPH G. “JODY” DILLON, JR. ’72: Son of Joseph G. Dillon, Sr. ’43 (deceased) and brother of Cassandra (Dillon) Estes, Jeanette (Dillon) Hamlington, and Ed Dillon ’77.

JOYCE DONLON: Wife of Norbert “Chile” Donlon ’39 (deceased) and mother of Pat ’72, Bill ’75, Mark ’80 (Chrissy ’86) Donlon, and Ruth (Donlon) Bowles ’84.

DOROTHY “DOTTIE” DONNELLY: Wife of Charles Donnelly ’46 (deceased).

JAMES W. “JIM” DOOLEY ’63: Brother of Edgar ’57 (deceased), George ’61 (deceased), his twin Jerry ’63, and Robert ’64 Dooley.

THOMAS G. “JERRY” DORTCH ’50: Brother of Ed Dortch ’46 (deceased).

KEVIN FINNERTY ’94.

RUTH W. FRANKLIN: Mother of Andrew ’91 and Scott ’93 Harmon.

MAUREEN GEIST: Mother of Mindy (Geist) Mayer, Rob Geist ’85, Susie (Geist) Wittig ’87, Tommy Geist ’90, and Amy (Geist) Strickland ’91.

JANET GERWER: Mother of Amy Duke (Administration) and Robbie Gerwer.

JOHN L. GORHAM, SR. ’54 (Former Faculty, Coach, and Administrator): Father of John ’82, Marty ’84, Brendan ’89, Whit ’02 Gorham, and Ashley (Gorham) Thompson, and twin brother of Matt Gorham, Jr. ’54 (deceased).

HUBER E. “ED” GREER ’53.

JACQUELINE GREER: Mother of Johannes Greer ’93 (Laura ’95) and sister of Monica (Patton) Virgo ’77.

ERIC M. HAILEY ’92.

JOHN HANSEN: Father of Larry Hansen ’80 (Tiffany ’86), Michael Hansen, Peter Hansen ’83 (Susan ’83), Carolyn (Hansen) Schultz ’88, and Joanne (Hansen) Hall.

CONOR HAYDEN ’03: Brother of Deirdre (Hayden) Fuerst ’05 (Hank ’05).

BONNIE HAYES: Mother of Donnie Jacobs ’85, Brian Dwyer (deceased), Tricia (Dwyer) Craig, Elizabeth (Dwyer) McCormick, Patrick Dwyer, and Jason Dwyer.

R. CHRISTOPHER “CHRIS” HEEREN ’88: Brother of Jeff Heeren ’91.

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In Memoriam spring/summer 2021

JEAN S. HENDRICKS: Mother of Paula (Hendricks) Young ’75, Paul Hendricks ’77, Annie Hendricks ’77, Stan Hendricks ’81, and Lynda (Hendricks) Given.

ROBERT “FLETCHER” HILL, JR. ’58: Brother of Patsy (Hill) Winecoff, Jackie (Hill) Kelly and Phillip Hill ’64.

H. RICHARD HILLER, JR. ’56.

JAMES “JIM” HMIELEWSKI (Former Faculty and Coach): Father of Jennifer and Cory ’07 Hmielewski.

WILLIAM “BILL” HOBBS, JR. ’73: Father of Ellen (Hobbs) Fournier ’96, Brent ’98, Emily ’99, Blair ’02, and Ben ’07 Hobbs.

JOSEPH and MARY LEE HOLLORAN: Parents of Steve Holloran ’71 (deceased), Mark Holloran ’72, Paula (Holloran) Kennedy ’75, Tim Holloran ’80, and Amy (Holloran) Winstead ’84.

SALLIE HOLMES: Wife of Phillip Holmes, Sr. ’53 and mother of Phillip ’77, David ’81, Chris ’81 (Katy ’81), Jeff ’81 (Tammy ’81), and Mark ’82 (Theresa ’82) Holmes, Beth (Holmes) Beacom ’89, and Sallie (Holmes) Brackman ’91 (David ’77).

MARGARET HOLZMER: Mother of Theresa Holzmer, Joe Holzmer ’69, Nancy (Holzmer) Calderon, Nicholas Holzmer, Mary (Holzmer) Peters, and Mike Holzmer ’84.

JOSEPH V. HUGHES 51: Father of Ann (Hughes) Holder ’83 and Chris Hughes ’90, and brother of Leo ’46 (deceased), Jim ’62, and Jack ’62 Hughes, Dorothy (Hughes) LaMarche, and Rosetta (Hughes) Graham.

OLIVE “DOLL” HUNT: Mother of Rev. Mark Hunt ’85, Michael Hunt ’89, and Peggy Hunt; sister of Marie (Connor) Hobbs, Helen (Connor) Williams, Anne Connor (all deceased), and Michael Connor ’61.

BERNELL R. JACKSON ’73.

R. LOUIS JARRELL, JR.: Father of Maxwell and Hallie ’12 Jarrell.

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EDWARD “ED” JOHNSTON (Former Faculty, Alumni Board and Board of Trust): Father of Amy (Johnston) Eubanks ’93 and David Johnston ’96, and brother of John (deceased), Joseph, and Msgr. Michael ’63 Johnston.

ALLINE KANE: Mother of Karen (Kane) Vaughn, Jennifer (Kane) Blair, Johnny Kane, Judith (Kane) McGuire ’85 and Pat Kane ’87.

R. GILBERT KRENSON ’47: Father of Eddie ’72 (Father Ryan Principal, 1988-2000), John ’82, and Jay ’84 Krenson.

GEORGE KUMMER: Father of David ’74 and Kenneth ’77 Kummer.

JEFF LISENBY: Accompanist for the Father Ryan Singers.

CHARLES LUECK: Father of Therese Lueck, Frances (Lueck) Phillips, James ’79, Christopher, Thomas (deceased), and Daniel (deceased) Lueck.

THOMAS G. “TOM” LUKEN, SR. ’60: Father of Tony Pigue, Georgi (Luken) Watson, Annette (Pigue) Hurley, Laurie (Luken) Guarneri, Carol (Pigue) Holmes, Luke Luken ’85, Troy Pigue, and Briana (Luken) Shacklett ’95.

MARY “KELLY” MCCULLOUGH ’82: Sister of Mac ’78 (deceased), Mickey ’79, and Shannon ’80 McCullough, and Erin (McCullough) Williams ’85.

GEORGE REESE ’59: Son of Charles H. Reese, Jr. ’33 (deceased) and brother of Dorothy (Reese) Hawkins (deceased) and Charlie H. Reese III ’57.

JOHN MCGRADY ’72: Brother of Mike McGrady ’69, Delores (McGrady) Parman, and Helen (McGrady) Buckel.

MARJORIE “MARGIE” ROBERTSON: Mother of Clifton ’72, Jerry ’74, Reggie ’78 (Marianne Wrenne ’78), and Kevin ’82 Robertson, Jocelyn (Robertson) Thomas ’76, and Johnetta (Robertson) Walton ’79.

SISTER THOMASETTA MOGAN, RSM: Sister of Joe ’42 (deceased), Edward ’43 (deceased), Tom ’46 (deceased), John ’54 (deceased), Sr. Maristella Mogan, RSM, and Catherine (Mogan) Childs (deceased).

ANN ORSCHELN: Mother of Steven Orscheln, Karen (Orscheln) Guynn, Tom Orscheln, and Wayne Orscheln ’84.

HERMAN L. “PETE” PAGE ’72: Brother of Gary Page ’73 (deceased) and Kurt Page ’81.

MICHAEL J. “MICKEY” PETRONE, JR. ’70: Son of Michael J. Petrone, Sr. ’44 (deceased) and brother of Patricia (Petrone) Richards, Maria (Petrone) Parkerson, Mary Jo (Petrone) Hammer, Nena (Petrone) Howden, Melanie (Petrone) Butler, and Joe Petrone ’76.

PENNY MAREK: Mother of Dawn Merek ’80.

LORRAINE PILLON: Mother of Debi (Pillon) Stewart, Larry Pillon, and Greg Pillon ’82.

LEO F. “FREDDY” MARTIN ’60: Brother of Patricia Clements (deceased), Alice Stephens, and John Martin ’68.

JAMES L. PULLEY (Former Board of Trust): Father of Karl Pulley ’80 and Aurelia Pulley ’82.

PIERRE MASSION: Father of Samuel, Thomas, and Elias Massion ’17.

DENNIS J. “DENNY” MCBRIDE IV: Son of Dennis J. McBride III ’68.

CHARLES “EDDIE” MCCABE ’53: Father of Mike McCabe ’75, E. “Bubba” McCabe ’75, brother of Sissy (McCabe) Lynch and Tim McCabe ’61.

BRIAN MCCARTHY ’79: Brother of Larry ’78, Barry ’80, and Paul ’88 McCarthy.

R. “JACK” QUIRK ’65: Father of Kim Quirk ’87, Kristie Quirk Clunan ’90 (Patrick ’90), Trey Quirk ’93, and Scotty Quirk ’99; and brother of Julia (Quirk) Lawson, Patty (Quirk) Mayo, Tim ’69, Danny ’73, Kevin ’75, Shawn ’78 (deceased), Mary (Quirk) Craven ’78 (Joe ’75), and Martin Quirk (deceased).

NANCY (LOW) RAINES ’90 (Alumni Board): Mother of Abby Raines ’18 and Anna Kate Raines ’20, and sister of Marney (Low) Patterson ’97.

BEN RECHTER: Father of Ben Rechter ’80, Mark Rechter ’81, and Jennifer (Rechter) Paisley.

GERALD “JERRY” ROBINSON ’54.

THERESA ROMINES: Mother of Nichilous Reyes, Bergandy (McGrath) Powers ’13, Destiny Gehring, Johnathan Thomkins, and Joshua Thomkins.

ANTHONY “TONY” ROUSHDI: Father of Alex ’09, Luke ’11, Mark ’15, Grace, and Sarah ’18 Roushdi.

ANN SAPPENFIELD: Mother of John Sappenfield ’82, Kay (Sappenfield) Dodd ’84 (John ’81), Father Mark Sappenfield ’87, Paul Sappenfield ’89, Jill (Sappenfield) Golczynski, and Joanie (Sappenfield) Shaffer.

TONI SAUNDERS: Mother of Ben Saunders ’01 and Sara (Saunders) Smith.

TIMOTHY B. SEUL, SR. ’76: Brother of Bob ’67 (deceased), Walter ’70, Mike ’72, and Joe ’77 (deceased) Seul, Locher “Butch” Bibb, Bobby Bibb, and Sandra (Bibb) Blackwell; and stepson of Locher Bibb ’36 (deceased).

JOSEPH A. “JOE” SHARBEL ’79: Son of Kelly Sharbel, Sr. ’42 (deceased) and brother of Herb ’65, Kelly, Jr. ’66, Nolan ’68, Charlie ’70, Jeanne (Sharbel) Gower ’71, Cecelia ’74, and Cathy ’76 Sharbel.

TOM SHAUGHNESSY ’80: Brother of Bob ’79 and Christopher ’82 Shaughnessy.

EDDIE SHELTON ’73: Son of John T. Shelton ’40 (deceased) and brother of Johnny Shelton ’69 (deceased), Joe Shelton, and Dot (Shelton) Kempf (Ron ’65).

TOM SINGELYN ’92: Brother of Dan Singelyn ’87 and Kristine Singelyn.

GERALD R. “JERRY” STREBEL: Father of Mary Anne (deceased), Bill ’80, Barbie ’82, Dan ’84 (Michelle ’84), and Bryan Strebel.

SANDRA “SAM” TAMBURIN: Sister of Francis Tamburin ’71 (deceased) and Barry Tamburin ’78.

BARBARA TAYLOR: Mother of Michael Taylor ’76 and Valerie (Taylor) Harrison ’78.

ALBERT “AL” THOMAS: Father of Shana Bush (Brad ’84), Brent Thomas ’87 (Laura Zanone ’87), and Michael Shubert.

B. GORDON VAN HOOSER: Father of B.G. Van Hooser ’79, Leanne (Van Hooser) Oldham ’81, Laura (Van Hooser) Overton ’83, and Leslie (Van Hooser) Sperrazza ’88.

GORDON WATHEN: Father of Trevor Wathen ’89.

AMANDA WATSON ’02: Daughter of Gene Watson ’73, and sister of Jackson Watson ’97 and Clint Watson.

(Watson) Estes 75, and Cookie (Watson) Pond; and sister of Polly (Derrick) Curran, Bill Derrick ’48 (deceased), Eddie Derrick ’50 (deceased), Tommy Derrick ’55 (deceased), Jim Derrick ’62, Mike Derrick 68, and Bob Derrick ’72.

CHARLES T. “CHARLIE” WEHBY, SR. ’47: Father of Charlie ’73, Lisa (Wehby) Bruinsma ’74, Patricia (Wehby) Cole ‘76, Joe ’78, Chris ’79, Andy ‘81, and Richard ’85 Wehby; brother of Andy ’37, Al ’50, Edna (Wehby) Sanders, and Imelda (Wehby) Todd (all deceased), Vince Wehby ’54, and Evelyn Kempf.

ANN MARIE (HOSTETTLER) WELLS: Mother of Al Wells, Jr. ’64, Mary Ann (Wells) Bentley, Lillian (Wells) Eaves, Patricia (Wells) Burns, Julia (Wells) Upton, and Kathy (Wells) Paryzek.

LARRY WIRTH ’58: Father of Tim ’82 (Kathy ’82), Lisa (Wirth) Boyd, and Tony ’85 Wirth; brother of Tom Wirth ’61 JERRY ZIMMERLE ’59: Brother of Terri (Zimmerle) Lanius (deceased) and Edwin Zimmerle ’73.

MARY “MONNIE” (DERRICK) WATSON: Mother of Gene Watson 73, Steve Watson 74, Paula

Class Notes, Births, Weddings, and In Memoriam news in this issue reflect information received by May 31, 2021.

Do you have news to share with Ryan Nation? Send it along with photos to alumni@fatherryan.org. Be sure to include new contact information, including mailing address, email, and cell phone.

John Gorham ’54: A Father Ryan Legacy Keeper Leaves Us The memories kept coming back. At meetings of the Athletics Hall of Fame Selection Committee these last two years, one voice could recount the stories of Irish athletes who did the remarkable, who starred for the Irish, who deserved Hall of Fame consideration, even if he had never seen them play.

That voice belonged to JOHN GORHAM ’54, and it drew on stories that had been told to him, ones that had been tightly stored and deeply cherished in that fertile memory bank of his, a bank that kept the legacy alive. That voice is now stilled. Mr. Gorham, the husband of Kathie Gilmore Gorham, the father of John ’82, Marty ’84, Ashley Thompson, Brendan ’89, and Whit ’02 Gorham, and twin brother of Matt Gorham, Jr. ’54 (deceased), died December 29. He was 84.

Mr. Gorham attended Cathedral School and Father Ryan High School. After graduating in 1954, he attended The University of Notre Dame for two years and graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1958. In 1968, John obtained his Master of Education from Middle Tennessee State University. During his summer breaks from Vandy, John began lifeguarding at Belle Meade Country Club, and, eventually, he managed the pool while teaching swim lessons and coaching the swim team. Thus began a dedicated career of service through encouraging young people that would span eight decades.

In 1961, John Gorham and AL DAVIS ’54 founded Davis-Gorham Day Camp, which provided summer recreation as well as life-long lessons and memories to thousands of boys. He returned to Father Ryan as a math teacher in 1971, making an impact on his students as a teacher, coach, and administrator until 2004. His love of the classroom was reflected in his students’ achievements, and his eagerness to face a challenge was reflected in his coaching career.

Mr. Gorham became Head Coach of the Girls Basketball Team in its third year of existence and led the team over the next decade to the top levels of the sport in the region and state. He coached Cross Country, Track & Field, Freshmen Wrestling along with other sports, and became the Athletic Director in 1981. During his tenure, the Irish program won the All-Sports Trophy, presented by The Tennessean, multiple times as the leading sports program in the city.

In 2000, Coach Gorham embraced a new challenge, as one of the first coaches on the Girls Lacrosse team at Father Ryan. He took the helm as Head Coach the following year when the program earned varsity status, and he led the team to back-to-back state titles in 2002 and 2003. Later, he served as an original member of the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame selection committee, and he was selected to the Father Ryan Athletics Hall of Fame himself this past fall.

Principal Paul Davis ’81 expressed his appreciation for John’s presence in the classroom and in his students’ lives. “I had the pleasure of seeing John in the classroom, both when I was a student and when we were faculty members together, and I was always struck by his enthusiasm for teaching,” Mr. Davis said. “You saw it in his eyes, and you heard it in his voice. He loved the classroom setting and the interaction with his students. Very simply, he loved teaching. We lost a true educator whose 70-year relationship with Father Ryan will continue to have an impact,” he concluded.

You can remember Mr. Gorham by making a donation to the Father Ryan High School Tuition Assistance Program, c/o Brooke Reusch, 700 Norwood Dr, Nashville, TN 37204.

Irish Ayes |

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Looking Back

The Biology Teacher Who Grew Excellence in Her Lab: A Salute to Nancy Patton In telling the story of the achievements of our female graduates and the 50th anniversary of Father Ryan going coeducational, one teacher’s name kept being mentioned.

From KALEAH BELIN ’94 (see page 23) to MARY ALICE MCWATTERS (read page 25) to the words of DR. HEATHER CARPENTER BARNETT ’95 during this year’s Legacy Gala, Biology teacher NANCY PATTON is recalled with appreciation, admiration, and respect.

For these individuals and for several generations of Father Ryan students and faculty members, Miss Patton was a model for scientific discipline, an educator of the first order, and a mentor to budding scientists and to new teachers who found her presence encouraging and her teaching memorable. And she was particularly thrilled when her classroom became a home for female students.

In a recent discussion with Irish Ayes, Miss Patton said, “I loved teaching at Father Ryan from the moment I arrived, but the best thing Father Ryan ever did was to admit girls to the student body.”

For her it wasn’t just their presence, it was the opportunity to provide the girls something important. “I enjoyed having them in the Biology lab and teaching them. They had been ignored for too long as scientists and this gave them an outlet that they never had before,” she stated.

Coming to all-boys Father Ryan in 1962 as the first female lay faculty member, Miss Patton carved a new path, and it didn’t take long for the boys to discover that you didn’t mess around in her class. They also learned quickly that she was one of their strongest advocates, emphasizing the importance of striving for excellence to all who entered her laboratory.

And what a laboratory it was. There was dissection of real worms and real frogs, studies of anatomy and genetics, and quizzes that were challenging and instructive. When her classroom wasn’t filled with Biology students, it was frequently the spot for other teachers to sit and learn. To Miss Patton, teaching was a vocation, one she loved, and she was always eager to share her love of education and her experience with those who had that same vocation.

While Miss Patton’s beloved VW Beetle was often spotted in the strangest of parking spaces, courtesy of some brawny and playful students - “the Annex lobby was their favorite spot,” she laughs - her place in the hearts of her students – and their place in hers – was unchanging. She was their champion and their teacher, their model and their counselor. For more than 35 years, she unlocked the secrets of biology, all the while unlocking the potential in her students, male and female alike.

As we celebrate a half-century of achievement by Father Ryan’s female graduates, Irish Ayes salutes and thanks Miss Patton for showing us all how to achieve excellence.

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