Buildings Adapt, Curriculum Changes, But Academic Excellence Continues
FEATU RE STORIES
– Graduation Recap: Congratulations, Class of 2023
– Service Society Renamed to Honor Father Strobel ’61
–A Conversation with Principal Espinosa
Remember the first pep rally of the year? The arrival of Ryan Man. Irish Spirit. Those familiar images were on display as the students embraced this new school year with celebration, dance, cheers, and new pep rally figures. The faces may be different but the spirit remains the same because Tradition Never Graduates at Father Ryan. Go Irish!
Executive Committee
John Bumpus ’78, President and Chair
3 IN THE NEWS
National Merit Honors Five; Graduation, Baccalaureate, Convocation Report; Honors for Yearbook, Relay, and Students.
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FEATURE STORY: OUR ENDURING TRADITION OF KNOWLEDGE
Coaches Who Teach; Inside Dr. Crooke’s Classroom; Yearbook Class Success; Alumni Committed to Teaching; Thank You, Mr. Kent; Campus Tour: Neuhoff Library.
7 ATHLETICS
Spring Successes; State Titles in Track and Field; Twenty-five Next Level Irish; Induction of the Newest Hall of Fame Class.
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ALUMNI NEWS Reunion Recap; Lou Graham ‘56 Alumni Tournament; Class Gatherings.
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CAMPUS NEWS Service Society Renamed in Honor of Father Charles Strobel ‘61; Continued Impact of Willie Brown ‘65 and Jesse Porter ‘64; Meet Principal Frank Espinosa.
25 SPIRIT OF PHILANTHROPY Class of 1978 Launches Major Scholarship.
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CLASS NOTES Alumni News, Births, Weddings, In Memoriam; Looking Back at a Transformative Principal.
To make a gift, visit fatherryan.org/giving YOUR 100% TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIFT to the Father Ryan Annual Fund helps us carry out the Tradition of Faith, Knowledge, Service that continues to guide our students today.
David Glascoe, Vice President
Brian Callahan, Treasurer / Finance and Budget Committee Chair
Brittney (Testerman) Griffith ’03, Secretary
William Stejskal III ’79, Governance and Nominating Committee Chair
Rev. Rhodes Bolster ’11, Priest
Committee Chairs
Philip Mattingly, Sr. ’69, Advancement Committee Chair
Brett Wesnofske ’88, Facilities Committee Chair
Board Members
Tom Bauer
Warner Hassell
William Krueger
Patrick Nolan III ’69
Judy (Komisky) Orr ’75
Tom Turner
Matthew Wright
Ex-Officio Members
Paul J. Davis ’81
Most Rev. J. Mark Spalding
Very Rev. Austin Gilstrap
Dr. Tony Bonta
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
Paul J. Davis ’81, President
Francisco M. Espinosa, Jr., Principal
Connie Steinmetz, Chief Financial Officer
Brooke Reusch, Director of Advancement
Jennifer L. Anton, Academic Dean
Joe Crumby ’95, Dean of Students
Amy Duke, Director of Houses
John Michael Simpson, Director of Campus Ministry and Student Life
Erin (Baltz) Riggs ’00, Director of Enrollment
Ann Mullins ’03, Director of Athletics
After a summer break that seemed all-too-short, once again, Father Ryan students are back for our 99th school year. From classroom science experiments to Dance Team practices to pep rallies, club meetings, House Mentor Groups, and Football Friday nights, the campus is alive again. Alumni have returned for a variety of events, including special participation in our Alumni Speaker Series, and I am delighted every time I get to talk with one of our alumni.
Yes, there are all types of activities taking place on campus today, but there is plenty of planning underway on future events, none bigger than our 100th Celebration. Beginning September 2024, Father Ryan will begin a two-year celebration of the founding of the school, starting with the 100th school year of 2024-2025 and culminating with the graduation of our 100th class, the Class of 2026, in May of that year. Throughout those two years, we will celebrate our Tradition of Faith, Knowledge, Service, in a variety of ways and events across our community. Committees were formed earlier this year, and they have been active in planning the events, including a new, comprehensive alumni directory and a major book about our school’s remarkable history. Look for more information about the 100th after the first of the year.
We began our Alumni Speaker Series last spring and have been delighted with the response. If you would like to be a speaker for the program, sign up for Irish Connect, Father Ryan’s Alumni Networking Platform, and select Alumni Speaker Series as one of your services. Fatherryan.alumnifire.com
Mark your calendar for several alumni events that take place in the coming months.
Veterans Breakfast – November 10 in the Father Ryan Dining Hall
Breakfast with Santa – December 9 on the Father Ryan campus
Young Alumni Luncheon for the Classes of 2020-2023 –December 18 in the Father Ryan Dining Hall
Legacy Gala – January 27, 2024
Irish Easter Egg Hunt – March 23 on the Father Ryan Academic Lawn
I look forward to seeing many of you back on campus wearing your purple and celebrating our Tradition of Faith, Knowledge, Service. Until then, Go Irish!
SARA (CARTER) ATWOOD ’04 Alumni Engagement and Outreach Manager
Senior EVAN JAEGER was honored as a National Merit Semi-Finalist, and VICTORIA BALTZ, MATTHEW SHOREY, GRACE SIZEMORE, and WILL THOMPSON were recognized as National Merit Commended Scholars for 2023 by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. As a SemiFinalist, Evan will advance in the competition for a National Merit Scholarship which will be announced in the spring of 2024.
In making the announcement, President PAUL DAVIS ’81 reflected, “To see these students perform at such a high level is a beautiful example of them using the varied gifts that God has given them to the fullest. Not only are those gifts shared in our classrooms, these students’ gifts are shared in and around our community in many ways. For that, we are thankful,” he stated.
Principal FRANK ESPINOSA said, “When you think about the gravity of this accomplishment, approximately 1.6 million students take the PSAT/NMSQT in their junior year of high school, and of those students, Father Ryan High School has five students receiving National Merit recognition. Of the five, four are recognized as Commended Scholars who scored in the top 3-4% of the PSAT/NMSQT, and one student has qualified as a Semi-Finalist scoring in the top 1% of the 1.6 million junior students who sat for the same exam. This is a wonderful achievement and one that enhances the capacity of our students,” he concluded.
National Merit Scholarship winners of 2023 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join more than 353,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.
In Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies on May 13-14, the Father Ryan community celebrated the Class of 2023 on four years of outstanding accomplishments.
With 54% of the class taking one or more AP courses, more than 12,000 services hours performed, acceptances to 255 unique colleges and universities, and $34.8 million in scholarships, the Class of 2023 has plenty to celebrate. Students are attending 88 colleges and universities across 31 states.
The highlights of the weekend, as always, are the student addresses, delivered at Baccalaureate in the Catignani-Drennan Fieldhouse by KEMI TELA (opposite, top left), who is now a freshman at Yale University, and RYAN BURNS (below left), who is attending University of Tennessee, Knoxville. They mixed laughter and emotion as they recalled teachers and moments from their Father Ryan experience. MARK CIAMPA , this year’s Salutatorian (below right), set the tone at Graduation as he described the unconventional spirit inherent in the Class of 2023 and its desire to
transcend conventional high school groups. Graduating with a 101.2581 weighted GPA, Mark was a member of the National Honor Society, Cum Laude Society, a National Merit Commended Scholar, and an AP scholar with Honor. He served in leadership positions as Co-Leader of Chess Club, President of the Model United Nations and Youth in Government Team, Head Student Ambassador, Peer Mentor, Science Olympiad Team Captain, and Program Director for Boy Scouts of America’s National Youth Leadership Training. He is attending Vanderbilt University and plans to double major in Biological Sciences and Political Science.
The 2023 Valedictorian KATIE CUMMINGS (see below), who is now at the University of Michigan, walked her classmates through defining moments of their Father Ryan journeys, including the Irish Olympics, Friday nights in the Jungle, and prom, while describing the close-knit relationships they formed with teachers and each other.
The Father Ryan community is proud of the remarkable Class of 2023 and looks forward to its future accomplishments unfolding. As Mark and Katie stated in their closing remarks: “Tradition never graduates. Irish for life.”
For KATIE CUMMINGS , our 2023 Valedictorian, the ice is just another place to shine.
Katie grew up fulfilling a standard of excellence in every facet of her life. She thrives in the academic and athletic spheres, all while participating in a number of extracurriculars and leadership roles at Father Ryan.
In her time at Father Ryan, Katie maintained a 101.5424 weighted GPA while becoming a member of the National Honor Society and Cum Laude Society. In addition, she was a National Merit Commended Scholar and was honored as a scholar in the National Hispanic Recognition Program.
But the classroom isn’t her only spot to excel. In addition to studying Political Science at the University of Michigan, she will continue her athletic career as a member of its Division I hockey team.
A challenge like that doesn’t faze Katie, who is
among only a few girls in Father Ryan history to play varsity hockey. Despite balancing seemingly myriad academic tasks and leadership responsibilities at Father Ryan, she thrives in the hockey arena, channeling the same courage and passion that she applies in the classroom setting. From the moment she stepped on the ice, she made an immediate impression on Head Coach STEVEN HENRY ’14, who describes Katie as a fearless player and strong teammate.
“She doesn’t shy away from any challenge,” said Henry. “She jumps right into every situation, both on the ice and off.”
She has inspired a new generation of young female hockey players in greater Nashville, an area where the sport has begun to flourish. GNASH,
the Greater Nashville Area Scholastic Hockey League, has grown from a small-scale local operation into a thriving youth hockey club drawing talented athletes, including female players, to the sport.
Katie has competed at the regional and national levels with GNASH, traveling around the United States to face off against the best in the country. This year, she helped her team to the USA Hockey Girls Tier II 19U National Championship.
As a member of the Father Ryan varsity team, Katie has encouraged fellow female classmates to try something new and join the team. A leader on and off the ice, she aspires to show other girls that hockey is a possibility.
“I’m really happy to see more girls on the JV team,” she said, referring to the rapidly growing female cohort on the squad. “It’s such great progress,” she affirmed.
Hockey has taught Katie valuable lessons and has shaped her into who she is today. “Balancing school, hockey, and family life have helped me develop great time management skills and showed me how to take advantage of every bit of time I have,” she said. “Knowing my priorities in life has helped me to focus my efforts while also enjoying the journey.”
Those priorities included four years as a Student Ambassador, helping prospective students discover Father Ryan and all it has to offer. In addition, she was a member of the Father Black, French, Mu Alpha Theta, and Tri-M Honor Societies, while participating in choir and the French Club.
There is no doubt that her drive, determination, and grit will take her far. In the meantime, she continues to lay the foundation for future female student-athletes to blossom on the ice and in the classroom.
Celebrating Excellence at Convocation. Clockwise from top left: The Class of 2023’s top Academic Achievers; Elliston House leaders Kate McDonnell ’23 and Kailey Nicholson ’24 celebrate another Irish Cup win; Father Fleming Award Finalists, girls; Father Black Award winner Joaquin Panelo ’26; Father Fleming Award Finalists, boys; Kevin Paul Davis Scholarship recipients.
The April Convocation at the Catignani-Drennan Fieldhouse honored students for their academic, athletic, and service achievements over the past four years and saluted athletes and artists for their accomplishments in 2022-2023. In addition, to cap off another exciting House year, the Irish Cup was presented to Elliston House, its third consecutive year to claim the trophy.
The event began with recognition of students who earned membership in the various societies at Father Ryan, including the Cum Laude Society, National Honor Society, Father Black Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, French Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, and St. Vincent de Paul Service Society. More than 150 students earned membership in these societies, which highlight achievement in specific fields, interests, and faith, and are an integral part of Father Ryan’s commitment to service and excellence. Outstanding students were honored for their academic achievements and received awards and scholarships to further their education and future pursuits. Father Ryan identified students who achieved honor roll status and who gained admission into the Cardinal Newman Association, which recognizes those students who have scored 30 or higher on their ACT composite or 1390 or higher on their combined SAT, as well as those who earned perfect scores on sections of these standardized tests. Athletic and fine arts awards followed, highlighting excellence in these various categories. Several special scholarships and awards named for alumni and faculty were presented, highlighted by the announcement of the Father James Black ’64 Award for Excellence, which was won by JOAQUIN PANELO ’26.
It was another example of the breadth of achievement and scholarship present each year on the Father Ryan campus. Congratulations to all these accomplished students.
To view the Convocation, visit fatherryan.org/convocation
It’s always a treat to hear from college representatives when they visit Father Ryan, but it was especially newsworthy when University of Tennessee, Knoxville Chancellor Dr. Donde Plowman, shown below with Academic Dean Jennifer Anton, visited the campus in late August and spoke to our students. What made Dr. Plowman’s visit even more special was the announcement that UTK has created a scholarship endowment exclusively for
Father Ryan graduates that is part of the University’s Tri-Star Scholarship Program. Thanks to Father Ryan alumnus BILLY HALEY ’01 , a proud UTK alumnus as well, for his support in creating this scholarship. Father Ryan is the only private school in Tennessee that participates in the Tri-Star Scholarship Program. For more details and to apply for the scholarship, visit onestop.utk.edu/scholarships/tri-star-scholarship-program/ Go Vols and Go Irish!
A total of 25 Father Ryan seniors are now continuing their athletic careers at 23 different universities nationwide. Congratulations to all of these talented Irish student-athletes!
Football
KAM BAAH-SLAY ’23 , University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
DRAKE CARLSON ’23 , Purdue University
BRYSHON JACKSON ’23 , Bluffton University
AC CROMARTIE ’23 , Oberlin College
STEF PONDER ’23 , University of Tennessee at Martin
GAVIN SMITH ’23 , Fairmont State University
Golf
REAGAN ROBINSON ’23 , Washington University (St. Louis)
Volleyball
SYDNEY BIXBY ’23 , Birmingham Southern University
KYRA PARIS ’23 , Lasell University
Basketball
ARIN NIPP ’23 , Centre College
Hockey
KATIE CUMMINGS ’23 , University of Michigan
J.T. SCHMIDT ’23 , Adrian College
Swimming
GWEN BAKKER ’23 , University of Illinois
ANABELLE DRAGAN ’23 , Bridgewater College
COLLIN HESLIN ’23 , Monmouth College
PARKER LYNCH ’23 , Marshall University
Baseball
CALEB COFFEY ’23 , Spalding University
LAWSON RYAN ’23 , Christian Brothers University
Lacrosse
EVAN CUFFE ’23 , Berry College
JOSEPH JONES ’23 , Depauw University
GRAYSON SHUMATE ’23 , Centre College
Rugby
KRISPIN BRANIFF ’23 , University of Tennessee, Knoxville
GABBY GROVE ’23 , Queens University
MATT OBERLANDER ’23 , University of Tennessee, Knoxville
SARIN ROWLAND ’23 , Lindenwood University
We are so proud of all of our Father Ryan student-athletes, and we can’t wait to watch them continue showcasing their talents!
The spring has the most sports of any of the three athletic seasons, and the Irish teams rewarded the fans for their support with success and state titles across the spring athletic spectrum. To carry this momentum, the start of the Fall 2023 season is showing continued success for the Irish.
Father Ryan Baseball produced an outstanding end-of-season run that took them all the way to the State Playoffs. Father Ryan beat Lipscomb, thanks to a gamesaving catch by JAMES HINSON ’23 that made it to SportsCenter Top 10! The play capped a 12-11 win that took the Irish to the Regional Finals. While the Irish fell to CPA in the championship, they advanced to the State Tournament where they faced McCallie in a best-of-three matchup at home. The Irish rallied to tie the game 4-4 in the 7th but gave up two runs in the 9th to drop the opener. Game two found the Irish trailing 9-0 after five innings, but an 8-run 6th inning closed the gap. However, the Irish couldn’t get over the hump and fell 11-8 to end a remarkable, exciting season.
Father Ryan’s Boys Soccer team climbed up to 3rd in the region standings by the end of the season, thanks to a 3-1-2 record within the district as well as a 4-2-1 overall home record at Giacosa Stadium.
Father Ryan’s Boys Lacrosse team finished 9-7 during the regular season with plenty to celebrate. Five players — EVAN CUFFE ’23, JOEY MAFFEI ’23, VENN STANY ’23, GRAYSON SHUMATE ’23, and WYATT STANY ’25 — were selected to the All-Region Team, and Evan was a first-team AllLeague selection, the only first-team goalie picked. Evan was a four-year starter for the Irish, collecting 502 career saves and a 61% career save percentage during his 1,848 career minutes in goal.
The Father Ryan Girls Lacrosse team posted a 10-7 regular season record and had a pair of players recognized on a regional level, with GRACE MACLAUGHLIN ’23 and MADELEINE ZOOK ’24 earning All-Region Honorable Mention selections.
Father Ryan’s Lady Irish Rugby team picked up its first 15s win in school history with a 27-12 win over Spring Hill which set the table for a solid foundation to build on in the coming rugby seasons!
After a trip to the State Championship in 2022, Boys Rugby 15s produced another strong season that earned them a playoff berth. The team was led by Next Level Irish signees KRISPEN BRANIFF ’23 and MATT OBERLANDER ’23 .
Four players from Father Ryan’s Softball team were selected to the All-Region team: MORGAN LYND ’23, CAROLINE MESERVY ’25, KATE MESERVY ’23, and MAYA STACEY ’23 , with SOPHIE VANDEN NOVEN ’23 selected as an All-Region Honorable Mention.
Father Ryan’s Track and Field team had a record-setting regular season and carried that forward into the State Meet! The Irish won gold medals in the 4x400m relay (CHARLIE BECKER ’24, RYAN MACCLARY ’26, RYAN JONES ’25 , and CARSON SPALDING ’23), and Charlie won both the 110-meter and the 300-meter Hurdles while Ryan Jones won the 400-meter Dash. DRAKE CARLSON ’23 won the shot put and placed second in the discus with many more 2ndplace and 3rd-place finishes from both the boys and girls.
Congratulations to all of our teams for your hard work throughout your respective seasons! Go Irish!
Irish fans are cheering our sports teams on as they prepare for State Tournament play across all sports.
Both the Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams secured first place finishes in the Marshall County Invitational in late September. The Boys Team was led by RYDER ORTNER ’26 in 2nd and SULLY SMITH ’26 in 3rd. On the Girls Team, LYDIA BRUNNER ’27 (left) won the race, setting a new Father Ryan record of 18:37.69. In the Coleman Midgett Invitational in early October, the Irish finished 2nd overall, with MAGGIE SLATTERY ’26 claiming 1st place in the girls race.
Football produced plenty of Irish cheers as the team began the season with big wins over Pope Prep to claim the Bishop’s Cup and Brentwood Academy. A stretch of close losses to MBA, Briarcrest, MUS, and Ensworth, each by a touchdown or less, changed the direction, but the team has played well all season, despite several key injuries, and is gearing up for a strong finish leading into the playoffs. As we went to press, the Irish are at 3-4 for the season.
The Volleyball Team stormed through the end of the season and then parlayed three big wins, the last in five sets over top-seed Lipscomb Academy, to win the Regional Championship. They are the #1 seed for the Middle/East heading into the State Tournament which takes place in mid-October.
The Girls Soccer Team defeated Brentwood Academy and CPA by the same score of 2-0 and wrapped up a 6-2-2 record for September. The team is rounding into its late season form for another run at a State Championship.
The Hockey Team kicked off its season with a pair of wins over Ravenwood and Pope Prep.
The Golfers finished the regular season with wins in their last two September matches headed into Regionals but came up just short of qualifying for State.
Finally, football quarterback JOJO CRUMP ’24 was selected as the Tennessean’s Boys Athlete of the Week and Volleyball players EMILY HOLMES ’24 and KAILEY NICHOLSON ’24 as well as Cross Country runner Maggie Slattery ’26 were each nominated for the Tennessean’s Girls Athlete of the Week, all for their performance in September. Congratulations to all our Irish athletes.
Father Ryan’s athletics legacy is always on display, and on September 7 and 8, Father Ryan celebrated another group whose names are part of that storied history.
The Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023 was inducted in a special ceremony on campus and were presented to Ryan Nation at halftime of our game against Brentwood Academy. A total of six athletes, one contributor, and two teams were added to this prestigious Hall.
MARTY GRAHAM ’54 led his brother Louie Graham ’56, along with Joe McEwen ‘54 and Bill Scheffer ‘54 to the 1953 TSSAA State Championship Golf Team.
RACHEL (DERRICK) JONES ’99 was a leader on the court for the Irish. She guided the Volleyball Team to State Tournament runner-up finishes in her junior and senior years and helped the Basketball Team reach the State Tournament all four years.
BILLY MAY ’02 was a three-time letterman in football and basketball, He led the Irish to the 2002 State Basketball Championship — the fourth in school history — and was named the state’s Mr. Basketball in 2002.
ELLEN MULLINS ’10 became only the second volleyball player in Father Ryan’s illustrious history to start every match for four consecutive seasons, a career that saw the Lady Irish win the State Championship in 2006 and finish as the state runner-up in 2007 and 2008.
WILLIAM WEHBY ’47 was a three-time Monogram Club letterwinner and a 1946 All-State Football Team selection as a Senior.
FRANK WILK ’35 was the only football player in the city of Nashville who was named to the Banner All-Nashville team in both his Junior and Senior seasons.
JIM LANGDON ’54 has made a lasting impact on the lives of thousands in the Father Ryan community as a teacher at the school for 52 years and for close to two decades as a coach.
1964-65 BASKETBALL TEAM went to the State with a 27-1 record. In addition, they made history in January 1965 when they played and beat Pearl High School, the national Black high school champion in the first game played between an all-black school and a predominantly white school.
2002 FATHER RYAN BASEBALL TEAM’S strong pitching and hitting performances secured the school’s first-ever State Championship in baseball.
Join us in saluting these outstanding individuals and teams on their induction to the Hall of Fame Class of 2023! To learn more about this Class and all the Irish Hall of Famers, visit fatherryan.org/hof.
In the late 1950s, Charles Strobel sat in the classrooms of Father Ryan High School on Elliston Place and absorbed the message of Christian love. He followed the example of his teacher, then-Father Jim Zralek, and served those on the margins of the community at places like the Sugar Shack and in the shacks of North Nashville. From here, he launched a life of service.
Now, generations of Father Ryan students will have his example to guide them as they begin their own paths of service.
Beginning with the induction ceremony this spring, the St. Vincent de Paul Service Society becomes the FATHER CHARLES STROBEL ’61 SERVICE SOCIETY. The naming honors the school alumnus, champion of the poor and founder of Room In The Inn – a national model of shelter, care, and support for those without homes to call their ownwho died August 6 of complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was 80 years old.
In making the announcement, Father Ryan President PAUL DAVIS ’81 said the decision to rename this important society began long before Father Strobel’s passing. “Father Strobel was a living part of our community,” he said, “a person whom our students have known and loved for years, just as he knew and loved them. So many students have served at Room In The Inn, have welcomed their guests to the campus on Christmas Eve, and have learned important lessons about serving others in the same ways that Father Strobel learned while he was a student here. We are humbled to honor his spirit with the naming of the society.”
The Father Charles Strobel ’61 Service Society awards students who have served at least 120 hours in their community through the Corporal Works of Mercy. At least 40 of those hours must be with one organization to show a commitment and understanding of that organization over time. Students serve, apply by writing about their service, its meaning, and its challenges, and receive a recommendation from that organization to be accepted into the society.
Born in Nashville in 1943, Father Strobel lived a life of radical service defined by his conviction that society’s highest obligation is to care for its most marginalized members, from those on the street to those on death row. He delivered his call for peace and justice with gentle warmth and an easy smile, drawing to him people of every faith, creed, ethnicity, and perspective in common cause.
The place where so many gathered to make his vision of the beloved community a reality was Room In The Inn, a singular continuum of care for the unhoused that is rooted in hospitality. Father Strobel first conceived of Room In The Inn on a winter evening in 1985 when he looked out the window of the rectory of East Nashville’s Holy Name Catholic Church, where he was the pastor, and saw cars parked in the church lot. Inside those cars were people trying to make it through the bitter cold night.
He invited them in. He then made a pile of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, found enough blankets and pillows for everyone, and gave them use of bathrooms and hot showers. “I knew once they came through the doors that night, they would come back the next night and the night after that,” he later said. “I also knew I wanted them to come back.”
This initial act of kindness became the inspiration for Father Strobel’s larger idea: a city-wide program in which congregations across Nashville would welcome the homeless into their houses of worship and provide them food, shelter, and – most important of all – community.
“I knew once they came through the doors that night, they would come back the next night and the night after that... I also knew I wanted them to come back.”
Father Strobel launched Room In The Inn in early December 1986 with four congregations. Today, Room In The Inn comprises nearly 200 congregations from a wide variety of traditions and more than 7,000 volunteers who shelter nearly 1,500 people from November 1 through March 31 each season.
Father Strobel grew up on 7th Avenue North between Madison and Monroe Streets, a quiet, integrated block of Germantown that was anchored by the Church of the Assumption where he received the Catholic sacraments and said his first Mass after being ordained in January 1970.
He graduated in 1961 from Father Ryan High School where he earned the nickname, “Sunshine.” After four years in the seminary at St. Mary’s College in Kentucky, he received a master’s degree in theology from Catholic University in Washington, DC, in 1969. He also received a master’s in education from Xavier University and an honorary doctorate in divinity from MacMurray College.
After his ordination, Father Strobel served for five years in Knoxville as the Associate Pastor of Immaculate Conception parish. He also taught at Knoxville Catholic High School and was an instructor in the University of Tennessee’s Department of Human Services. While in Knoxville, he opened the city’s office of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the first of many ecumenical initiatives that marked his career. In 1975, he returned to Nashville to serve as pastor of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Donelson. In 1978, he was named the pastor of Holy Name where he served until 1987 when he left to devote himself full time to Room In The Inn.
Father Ryan was privileged to honor him at the 2022 Legacy Gala for his service to the community. Now, that honor extends for generations through the Father Charles Strobel ’61 Service Society at Father Ryan.
At a time when fire hoses and dogs filled Southern streets and a bomb planted in a Black church destroyed four little girls’ lives in Alabama, two Black high schoolers at Father Ryan put on basketball uniforms, went through warm-ups, took the court, and changed the city, the state, and the South.
It was December 3, 1963, and WILLIE BROWN ’65 and JESSE PORTER ’64 (in photo, top right) were not just players of the Father Ryan Basketball team, they were the first Black athletes to integrate sports in Tennessee. Two years later, their familiar story had become part of sports history: the March of Dimes games at Vanderbilt as the first Black athletes to play on the Commodores’ court, two district titles, a regional crown, a 1965 State Tournament berth, and the unforgettable game against Pearl High School in front of 8,300 cheering fans at Municipal Auditorium.
But the lasting impact of a moment like this isn’t just depicted in the numbers on the scoreboard, but rather in how that legacy resonates with the community and how it inspires others, year after year, season after season. In the 60th Anniversary of that historic season, we want to reflect on that impact, and we want to hear from Irish athletes and Irish fans across the generations about how Willie and Jesse influenced them when they attended Father Ryan and how their lives continue to influence them today.
“It gave people of color hope that there could be a better future where their voices are heard and they had a seat at the table,” CHRIS MERIWETHER ’06 said. “It gave Black students access to opportunities that had previously been reserved for their white peers. In my opinion, representation matters. Seeing someone who looks like you and comes from a similar background opens a world of possibilities. This was a watershed moment for Father Ryan because it solidified their position in the country as a leader and a community that would stand for the right things even when the right thing might be hard or unpopular.”
PAUL DOUGLAS ’68 , an Atlanta cardiologist and one of the leaders of the 1967-68 Irish basketball team, speaks warmly of Willie to this day. “Those were simply magical moments at Father Ryan that molded us as young men,” Douglas said. “Willie Brown was an inspiration to our community and demonstrated the courage and fortitude necessary to succeed both athletically and academically in the segregated South. His memory certainly deserves celebration and continues to uplift all of us who had the privilege to have known and loved him.”
“I knew Willie and looked up to him as another Black athlete,” IRA BAXTER ’70 said. “I think his legacy is one of confidence and a can-do attitude. I also think it set the stage for other black athletes to follow knowing they could play based on their talent and not impeded by the color of their skin.”
WILLIE FORT ’68 , another leader of that historic ‘68 team — which also topped Pearl in a heavily-attended match-up (Fort scored 34 points) — said: “My experiences at Father Ryan positively influenced my life and shaped the person I am today. Willie Brown was a role model for me and many others. His calm, confident demeanor was impressive, as well as his superior athletic skills and ability. He deserves the celebration of his very brief life.”
“[Father Ryan] is a family for me,” Meriwether added. “It’s not lost on me that, had it not been for Wille Brown and Jesse Porter’s courage, I may not be where I am today.”
HERASANNA (RICHARDS) SCHOENKNECHT ’11 , who led a panel discussion on Father Ryan’s legacy in Civil Rights as head of the MultiCultural Student Union, said, “Willie Brown’s legacy represents excellence and courage. His contributions have empowered his contemporaries and future generations of Black students to boldly express their excellence in academics, athletics, the arts, and other innovations. Many can look to his example as they find themselves trailblazers in their own right.”
JEREMY DARVIN ’16, All-City football player, State Champion wrestler, and current Irish coach and teacher, saw Willie Brown as his role model, and he sees himself as a role model for today’s students. “Representation does matter,” he said. “It’s important for these students to see me teaching here and the possibilities available to them. Willie Brown and Jesse Porter did that for me, in many ways. They didn’t bring only their athletic talents here; they brought their character and their faith, too. Their stories make me even prouder of my school. I attribute my success in life to my family and to Father Ryan, and I love that I am able to keep this important story alive.”
When FRANK ESPINOSA arrived on campus as the school’s 16th principal, he was struck by the campus’s beauty.
“This is a beautiful campus,” Mr. Espinosa said, “which tells me that there is great care for this place. There are people in this community who care about what we do and care about what we offer, but they also care about each other. I saw their instinct to welcome someone new, with an excitement about what that person can bring to the community.”
Mr. Espinosa was announced as the new principal in the spring after more than 30 years as a teacher and administrator for the Xaverian Brothers at schools in Maryland and in Kentucky. He has spent the last few months packing, unpacking, and preparing for his new city and his new community. In particular, he spent time thinking about what lay ahead.
“The Lord places you where he feels he needs you,” he stated. “I wasn’t looking for a new position, but I felt a call to contribute to a school, to a community that needed a partnership, and in meeting Paul [Davis], I sensed that a partnership with him would be a benefit not just to me but to the entire Father Ryan community.“
Mr. Espinosa has always seen Catholic education as a gift that can make a difference in the trajectory of a child’s life. “Catholic education develops the whole child,” he says, “which makes this a process that requires us to walk that journey with the child. It is such an opportunity to bring Christ to their lives, to help them have hope in this world and in themselves.”
He described Father Ryan as the flagship for Catholic education in the diocese because of what it stands for and because of the excellence it expects from its students. In addition, he sees it as the flagship because of its willingness to respond and adjust to the needs of the community.
“We have rigorous academic programs that challenge our students to aspire to their best,” he states, “and we are committed to holding them to a high standard. In the process, we can help them stretch to do more academically, spiritually, and in service to others.”
Only a few months into this new position, Mr. Espinosa is absorbing the Father Ryan experience, talking to faculty, parents, students, and alumni, and listening…and listening some more. As a lifelong educator and a lifelong learner – he and his wife, Penny, also an educator, read and share articles about their profession with each other daily – he is looking at where Father Ryan and Catholic education need to be 25 years from now.
“What are the needs of our world and how does Father Ryan teach our
students to be problem solvers who meet those needs,” he queries. For him that may be in sustainability, in environmental issues, in communications. “The world will continue to change, and our preparation has to change as well. We have to provide the preparation in the classroom and then help our students figure out how to apply it to improve the world,” he stated.
“You Give Away What You’ve Been Given.”
Ask him what makes him smile about being at Father Ryan and he smiles himself, saying, “the kids.” He’s become a morning fixture at the bridge, greeting students as they come onto campus, helping them start their day, and their faces and smiles help him start his day well.
“I tell these kids, ‘I’ll never let you down,’ and I mean it. I want them to come to me if they are not getting what they need to make this the best experience,” he says. “But that works both ways. I’m a stickler for discipline, and ‘I will never let you down’ also means that I will be quick to tell them when they aren’t dressed correctly or acting appropriately. I will hold these students to a higher standard so that they can take advantage of the gift they’ve been given.”
Get him talking about the courses and the kids on campus, and he really rolls. “I was watching a theater course the other day and to see the talent on display was energizing,” he said, with a chuckle. “They weren’t theater kids, but they were embracing the arts. I love watching the students work in the STEAM program, and I think the broadcast course is outstanding. You combine the traditional courses of Catholic education with an everevolving curriculum, and you can see these kids flourish.”
“There’s great love for this institution, great care for this institution,” he relates. “So many people stand up and say that they feel they need to give back. What a great legacy and what a great comment about the power of the Father Ryan experience.”
The first months are passing, and the “new” principal sheen will rub off quickly, but he’s neither worried nor content. “I learned something powerful from one of the Xaverian Brothers; you give away what you’ve been given. This is a tremendous opportunity for me. Mr. Davis and I are already talking about next semester, next year,” he says. “We’re going to keep moving the glass ceiling on these students, pushing them to excellence so they can always give away the gifts that they have received at Father Ryan.”
For more information about Mr. Espinosa, visit fatherryan.org/leadership.
Caring and dedicated teachers. Eager and curious students. Inviting classrooms and equipment. This is the combination that makes the educational experience special at Father Ryan, producing results that matter – academic success, for certain, but more importantly, minds that are prepared for college and eager to take that next step.
This happens because of relationships formed in the classroom and continued across campus and throughout life.
A Tradition of Knowledge since 1925.
A 2013 study conducted by researchers at Michigan State University found that student-athletes were significantly more likely to be confident in the classroom if they believed their coaches expected high academic performance, not just good enough grades to be eligible for sports. While this study focused on college students and sports, the same connection could be made for high school sports, and it is something our coaches at Father Ryan have known for many years.
The majority of the coaches at Father Ryan are not only accomplished coaches, they are outstanding teachers in the classroom. If you ask any of them what comes first, academics or athletics, the answer is clear from every single one of them: academics.
“I always saw myself as a teacher who coaches,” says Girls Cross Country and Track Coach ROBERT KENT ’74 . Mr. Kent retired from teaching this summer but will continue to coach the Irish. Reflecting on the similarities of his 43-year career in the classroom and on the track, he said, “I employed all the same techniques in the classroom that I did on the track.”
But it isn’t just about academics. All of these coaches believe they are in the business of preparing young men and women to be the best they can be in life.
“It is not about wins and losses,” says Boys and Girls Soccer Coach ROBIN DIETERICH ’73 who has been coaching and teaching at Father Ryan for 40 years. “It is about getting kids to be successful in whatever direction they choose.”
Baseball coach MIKE MASCARI ’96, who has been at Father Ryan for 20 years agrees.
“I don’t see myself as a coach or teacher. I wear many hats, and they are all just as important as the other. I just want to affect our students in a positive way and help them become the best they can be.”
One unique aspect of the Father Ryan coaching staff is the longevity of so many of the coaches, including two – wrestling coach PAT SIMPSON
’74 and Mr. Kent - who have worked at Father Ryan for 44 and 43 years, respectively.
These two coaches have not only developed State Championship athletes, they have also both won the Bishop Alphonse Smith Outstanding Teacher Award. This annual honor is given to a teacher who best embodies the school’s mission “to be an experience of the living Gospel while challenging students to reach their spiritual, academic, and personal potential.” The honoree is recognized for living out the Tradition of Faith, Knowledge, Service in their daily life.
Mr. Simpson, who has taught World History, Geography, Economics, and Native American History throughout his time at Father Ryan, is also a two-time National Wrestling Coach of the Year, 22-time State Champion, and has had great success motivating students to put forth their best efforts on the mat and in the classroom.
“I teach my wrestlers that you can’t win a State Championship if you don’t work harder than the guy you compete against,” shares Mr. Simpson. “Well, the same is true about their work in the classroom. If you don’t work hard on your schoolwork, your grades will show that you didn’t try your best.”
Mr. Simpson works hard to make his classes engaging so the students want to bring their “A” game every day.
Also, Mr. Kent knows something about making classes interesting for the students. During his four-decade-plus career he taught British Literature, English IV, AP Language and Composition, Mythology, and a class on the author J. D. Salinger, and he became known for outlandish stunts that kept his students guessing. The stunts ran the gamut from his famous Easter Egg Hunt to the Slack Tree (where he told students to ask him to “cut them some slack,” and he actually cut off pieces of a “slack tree”) to dumping an entire gallon of water on his head because he wanted his students to know that his classes were never going to be dry.
Some people may think these stunts are excessive or take time away from class, but Mr. Kent has a reason for everything he does. “If you enjoy coming to practice, to class, to work, then you are going to be more productive,” he says. “If you have marginal students in English, but they enjoy coming to class, then they are going to do their best work and they will come close to hitting their potential.”
Plus, these crazy stunts have a way of building unity within the class and making the students feel comfortable both with Mr. Kent as a teacher and with the material. “I hope that if they see making an idiot of myself, then they will feel comfortable opening up during class discussions and in their writing with me.”
Winning State Championships is hard enough for any coach, but to be an outstanding leader in the classroom as well is a tough act for anyone to follow, and yet two other Father Ryan coaches have done just that.
Mr. Dieterich teaches British Literature, and under his leadership, Father Ryan has won five Girls and five Boys Soccer State Titles, so he knows how to bring out the best in his students and athletes. He agrees with his fellow English teacher Mr. Kent; if he wants the students to be interested and engaged, then he has to make class interesting for them.
“How do I take Geoffrey Chaucer and make it fun?,” Mr. Dieterich asks. “I have to find ways to make his work apply to their lives. The same can be said for play on the field. If I were to run the same drills every day the same way, it would be mundane. But, if I change it up slightly so they don’t know what is coming next, then they will give me everything they’ve got. The same goes for the classroom.”
He also points to knowing your students’ abilities and determining the best way to reach them whether they are into athletics or not.
“My British Literature class includes understanding what you are reading and being able to write well,” shares Mr. Dieterich. “Some students may be good at reading literature but not good at putting their thoughts on paper. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, and once I know what they are, then I can help them through any challenging material.”
“It is not about wins and losses, it is about getting kids to be successful in whatever direction they choose.”
He isn’t just talking about athletes. Although he has had numerous ones in his classes, Mr. Dieterich makes a point of getting to know all of his students and their interests, whether it is Chorus, Science Oympiad, or Band.
DOUG BONTRAGER ’81 is a teacher who has won two State Championships and has been runner-up three times; he, too, has won the Bishop Alphonse Smith Outstanding Teacher Award. He has taught at Father Ryan for 36 years and takes a similar approach with his Calculus and Algebra II classes as Mr. Dieterich.
“I make a point of having a positive interaction with each kid every day that is not related to math,” Mr. Bontrager says. “Once I know what they are involved in or interested in – it might be the fall musical or an art class – I ask them how it went and what they are doing next. I ask what they are doing outside of school. I want them to know that I care about all that they are doing at Father Ryan.”
While the classes that Mr. Bontrager teaches, like AP Calculus BC and
AB, may sound intimidating to some, students are still lining up to take his classes and are passing with flying colors. It is telling that most of his AP students who take the AP test after completing one of his courses qualified for college credit, with 95% receiving a 3 or higher on the exam. He is able to coax this type of success out of his students by first setting an example. If he doesn’t know something, he will figure it out. He is a lifelong learner who believes in making school something students look forward to.
Like Mr. Bontrager, Mr. Mascari teaches a traditionally difficult subject, Physics (college prep through AP), which he acknowledges “isn’t easy, and some students walk out loving it and others don’t,” so he makes an effort to get to know his students and develop relationships with them to help them stay motivated when the material gets tough.
“Just knowing that I care about them goes a long way in helping students prepare and do well in my class and on the field,” says Mr. Mascari. “Sometimes kids get it immediately, and sometimes it may take till the fourth quarter, before they realize that the teachers care about them as people, not just students or athletes, the sky is the limit.”
Also like Mr. Bontrager, Mr. Mascari is a former Bishop Alphonse Outstanding Teacher Award recipient whose students qualify for college credit after completing his class with 95% receiving 3 or above on the college exam. With his caring approach, it is easy to see why so many of his students are succeeding at such a high level.
HANNAH HAILEY ’23 says, “I am thankful for Coach Mascari because he never stopped believing in me, no matter how many questions I asked. He is one of the most encouraging and supportive teachers I have ever had throughout my four years of high school.”
Varsity Softball Coach ASHLEE DOYLE echoes what her fellow coaches have said about their motivation techniques in the classroom and the field: it’s the relationships and what a coach can bring to the classroom after the practice fields that make all the difference.
In her College Algebra and Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus classes, Mrs. Doyle spends the first part of the year reading the class to see the best way to motivate her students. It typically revolves around playing games to get their competitive juices flowing and to keep them engaged.
“Each class or set of athletes is different,” shares Mrs. Doyle. “So, I have to decide what is going to push this group to bring out the best of them.”
As one of the “newer” coaches at Father Ryan, Mrs. Doyle has taught at Father Ryan for 17 years. She points to the tradition of excellence handed down by other long-term teacher-coaches that she wants to continue, as well as the support of the athletic department and the administration, a sentiment echoed by all of the coaches.
They are all back again this year to carry on the tradition of athletic excellence, but more importantly to build relationships and prepare the next generation of Father Ryan students for their next step in life, with the hope that these students will love Father Ryan and its community as much as these coaches do.
“Father Ryan’s alumni are amazing and truly love the school and their teams,” says Mr. Bontrager. “They care about these students’ success. So as coaches and teachers, we all feel the weight on our shoulders to do the best we can for the student-athletes and make those who have given so much proud of Father Ryan.”
Remember those classroom experiences from your days on campus? Whether it was the teachers who taught you or the lessons you carried with you, the classroom was the focal point of each school day. So, Irish Ayes is starting a regular series to take you inside those classrooms, giving you a glimpse of what has changed and what has stayed the same about the Father Ryan educational experience.
Unless you are a Father Ryan graduate of the last decade, your science laboratory work may have consisted mostly of learning materials and equations, along with some basic lab skills that were fit into a chemistry or biology class when time allowed.
That isn’t the case anymore thanks to DR. NEELIE CROOKE and her Biotechnology Class. A science elective course for Juniors and Seniors, her laboratory-based class is entirely focused on designing and running experiments and learning how to interpret the results. For anyone interested in a career in science or medical fields or looking to increase their critical thinking skills, this is one of the most comprehensive curriculum options.
From there, students are off to the races, performing experiments during each class and learning how to report on them.
Throughout the year, students have the opportunity to work with DNA, proteins, and antibodies, all while perfecting the sterile technique that is paramount to conducting an experiment without contamination. Some of the complex experiments included using hydrophobic interaction chromatography to isolate green fluorescent protein from bacteria, where students were able to see the protein glowing under a UV light. Another lab involved a fish protein. Students isolated protein from various fish species and ran their samples on a gel. They then stained the gel to see the band patterns in the proteins. These students used their findings to determine how closely related the different sampled fish species are.
Dr. Crooke came to Father Ryan 10 years ago but didn’t start the BioTechnology class until a few years later after she attended a National Science Teachers Association meeting. While at the conference, she met with BioRad - a company she had purchased supplies from previously – and learned they had just released a new BioTech textbook. This new book piqued her interest, as she has her doctorate in BioChemistry from Vanderbilt University. With this new textbook, Dr. Crooke began working on a curriculum which was quickly accepted by the Father Ryan Academic Council, and the BioTechnology class was born.
She’s had students bring their BioTech lab notebook to college and show their professors the work they did in high school, and then get jobs working as a research assistant.
According to Dr. Crooke, “the goal of the class is threefold: to hone students’ laboratory skills so they feel comfortable in a lab environment, to learn how to read and present data in a logical way, and, lastly, to learn how to draw appropriate conclusions from their experiments and troubleshoot any problems that arise.”
Dr. Crooke spends the first weeks of class each year reminding students how to make solutions, what a sterile technique is, how to keep an experiment from becoming contaminated, and how to culture bacteria.
It is the unique and fun experiments along with the real-world experiences that attracts students to this class. One of those experiences is the annual visit to the HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology in Huntsville, Alabama. At this research center, students learn how to isolate DNA from food. In addition, they isolate their own DNA from their cheek cells and use the PCR Alu method, which is a rapid and easy-to-perform “DNA fingerprinting” technique.
But it isn’t all work and no play. Because of the time required for some experiments to incubate, there tends to be some down time too, which Dr. Crooke and her students use wisely.
“We spend so much time together learning, experimenting, and just enjoying each other’s company,” Dr. Crooke shares. “It really is a good environment, and it is wonderful to see each class grow together and appreciate each other.”
It is a sentiment that is shared by all who take BioTechnology. According to ALEXANDER CAIN ’23 , his favorite class he took at Father Ryan was Biotechnology with Dr. Crooke for that very reason. “It was my favorite because of how much fun I had every class,” says Alexander. “I made so many close friendships, and the course content was outstanding and unique. I’ve never experienced a science class with so much hands-on learning. I loved it.”
Dr. Crooke has also received feedback from several graduates about how well the class prepared them for college. She’s had students bring their BioTech lab notebook to college and show their professors
the work they did in high school, and then get jobs working as a research assistant in the lab based solely on their notebooks. She has also heard from a former student who is in nursing school and had to take a microbiology class which included a lab requirement. “This student called me and told me how everyone in her class was confused because they had to take a lab, and no one knew how to complete the assignments,” shares Dr. Crooke. “There wasn’t a TA or anyone to instruct them in the proper lab technique, so everyone was struggling. But not my student, she completed the assignment in an hour and was out of there.”
While only one student will walk away from Dr. Crooke’s Biotechnology class with the “Golden Pipettor Award” for the most experiments successfully completed, it is clear all students who take Biotechnology are winners.
Want to conduct your own DNA experiment like the students in Dr. Crooke’s Biotech class? Try this DNA extraction from strawberries experiment at home with items found around your house!
Materials
• 2 strawberries- fresh or frozen
• ½ cup water
• 2 tsp shampoo, hand soap, or dish soap
• 1 tsp salt
High school students looking for real-world experience often start with jobs such as babysitting, bagging groceries, or working at a pool, but Father Ryan offers a taste of on-the-job-training in an unlikely spot: Yearbook class.
PAULA HARRIS , English teacher and Yearbook advisor at Father Ryan for 17 years, describes her Yearbook class as “a little taste of the real world” where she encourages her students to treat the class as a job where they will learn the skills necessary to be a competent employee in any number of fields while also “building a culture of acceptance, teamwork and creativity.”
• ¾ cup chilled rubbing alcohol (chill it in the freezer)
• 1 quart plastic storage bag
• 2 cups
• Coffee filter
• Rubber band or hair tie
• Wooden coffee stirrer or popsicle stick
Procedure
1. Remove any green parts from the strawberries. Place the strawberries in the quart storage bag. Seal the bag and mash the strawberries for several minutes.
2. In a cup, make the lysis solution:
a. ½ cup of water
b. 1 tsp salt
c. 2 tsp dish detergent
3. Gently mix the lysis solution. Don’t make too many bubbles.
4. Add the lysis solution to the mashed bag of strawberries. Reseal and gently massage the bag to mix for a minute. Try not to make too many bubbles.
5. Put the coffee filter over the cup and secure with a hair tie.
6. Filter half of the strawberry mixture. Change the coffee filter and filter the other half.
7. Slowly add ¾ - 1 cup of ice cold rubbing alcohol to the cup with the strawberry mixture. The DNA will precipitate and rise to the top.
8. Use a wooden coffee stirrer or popsicle stick to spool the white strands of DNA.
Pro Tips from this year’s Biotech students
–We tried this experiment with baby shampoo, regular shampoo, sulfate free shampoo, hand soap, and dish soap. Dish soap was the least effective.
–Add plenty of alcohol. We found that more alcohol yielded more DNA.
The Yearbook has a been a mainstay at Father Ryan for almost a century, The first Yearbook - The Emerald - was published in 1927, and was a source of great pride for the students who attended the all-boys school. Since those early years, several Yearbook advisors have worked to create a successful program, one that has been nationally recognized in prior years. Today, Mrs. Harris and her students focus on improving the quality, writing, layout, and content of the yearbook, so much so that the 20212022 Yearbook staff won the Jostens’ National Yearbook Program of Excellence award, one of only 600 schools to receive the award out of more than 15,000 Jostens school books printed in 2022.
While some may think Yearbook class may only appeal to those students who are interested in journalism or graphic design as a career, Mrs. Harris believes that her Yearbook class teaches valuable lessons to all collegebound students and those looking to build their repertoire of real-world skills. Those skills include meeting deadlines, time management skills, thinking on your feet, professionalism and working in a partnership with people you may not know or even like.
“I tell my students every year, the Father Ryan Yearbook is your social media page; it is a historical record of what Father Ryan was like at a specific time, so I believe it is our job to leave the most accurate record we can,” says Mrs. Harris. “To do that, we must make sure we tell as many stories as possible.”
Therefore, Mrs. Harris and team set a goal each year to make sure every student is featured in the yearbook at least three times. To meet this goal, Yearbook staff members are often required to chase down students in the lunchroom or during break and to strike up conversations with students they have never met. Mrs. Harris is quick to point out that those skills will prove useful when the time comes to interview for a job or attend a networking event.
The Yearbook staff has to be strategic and plan accordingly to make sure they give the adults they interview enough time to complete their request.
“I also tell my students: don’t let your inability to plan create a crisis for someone else,” relays Mrs. Harris. “You can’t barge into a classroom to ask a teacher (or a student) for a quote if you are late for a deadline.”
To make sure her students stay on deadline and ahead of the curve, Mrs. Harris and her student editors (usually Seniors who have taken Yearbook before and are familiar with the process) begin planning for the year in July. During that meeting, they discuss themes and cover ideas so those two big hurdles are completed by the time school starts. In August, Mrs. Harris begins the first month of classes teaching the basics of Yearbook
design and Journalism 101, and then, they start the nitty gritty work of what the page will look like and decide on templates, fonts, and color schemes for the book. After that, they assign partnerships and sections to cover, and then it is up to the editors to run the show. “I have been really blessed the last several years to have such great staffs,” says Mrs. Harris. “Everyone tends to work really well together and enjoy producing a book that they can share with each other and with friends and family. It really is a rewarding experience.”
It is this culture of Yerds - or Yearbook Nerds as they affectionately call themselves - that brings students back multiple years in a row. They want to help the program grow and win more awards.
To continue their upward momentum, Mrs. Harris and her team plan to expand the staff’s graphic design capabilities to go beyond their current set up of templates and to channel their creativity into more inventive ideas for layout and content.
“The editors start out each day asking the team ‘what are your goals for today? And what can I do to help you,’” shares Mrs. Harris. “I want every student on our staff to feel empowered to make suggestions, think outside of the box, and do their best. But, if someone is struggling, then they need to know they are not alone; they will be helped.”
Time management, meeting deadlines, and teamwork - skills every adult needs to know. It appears these Father Ryan Yerds will indeed be ready for the real world.
The first Yearbook - The Emerald - was published in 1927, celebrating the first graduating class, the members of the Class of 1927, who were part of Nashville Catholic School for Boys.
There was no yearbook in 1928 but it returned in 1929, renamed The Panther and honoring the Class of 1929 - the first one to graduate from the campus on Elliston Place.
From 1930-1942, no yearbook was published, the result of the Great Depression and the looming threat of WWII. But The Panther returned with the graduating Class of 1943 and has continued uninterrupted since then.
From 1943-1946, the Father Ryan yearbook covered the four Catholic high schools in Nashville, with sections devoted to Cathedral High, St. Bernard Academy, and St. Cecilia, ostensibly to provide an affordable way for the three all-girls schools to honor their students and graduates. The 1947 edition only included Cathedral, and by 1948, The Panther was entirely a Father Ryan production.
A regular part of those 1943-1945 issues - and an emotional and touching part of the yearbook - was The Panther’s listing and salute to the faculty and alumni who were engaged in the war in Europe and the Pacific, including those who had lost their lives in service to the nation.
Today, the Yearbook lives on as an important record of a moment in time at Father Ryan High School.
The Tradition of Knowledge at Father Ryan is continued by a host of alumni who are teaching at every level and in virtually every state. Most point to their experience at Father Ryanand the influence of that one special teacher - that inspired them to teach. We caught up with four of them to get their thoughts and reflections, as well as with one unforgettable teacher who hopes to mentor many a teacher to come.
MIKE FLECK is beginning his 31st year teaching at Hunters Lane High School in Nashville, TN, and is certified in teaching Math, Chemistry, and Physics. He fondly remembers the bonds he created at Father Ryan in and out of the classroom, many of which contribute to his teaching philosophy today.
“My favorite part of attending Father Ryan High School was the friends I made,” he states.
Mr. Fleck recalls deep friendships that he established during his time at Father Ryan. While some continued to develop from Kindergarten, he also remembers meeting people from other schools and bonding over a newfound sense of shared community.
Mr. Fleck derives several teaching styles and morals from his Father Ryan educators, namely Chemistry teacher GERARDO DELA T. UGARTE , Math teacher SHIRLEY BASSLER, Physics teacher FATHER MELVIN TRACY, and Cross Country coach ROBERT KENT ’74 . “All of these teachers were great, and I still remember those lessons and the ways they taught us,” said Mr. Fleck. He described the particular impact that Mr. Kent had on his experiences, describing the utmost respect he has for his patience, kindness, and influence.
His favorite part of teaching is the uniqueness of each day. “It’s not a boring job; being in a classroom is unique, and there’s no repetition,” he said. He enjoys the difference in subject matter between Math, Physics, and Chemistry, and how each class lends itself to a different experience each day.
When asked what advice he would give to someone who is looking to become an educator, Mr. Fleck honed the idea of patience. “You have to have it, and you can’t let little things bother you.”
REGINA BALES-WILLIAMS is beginning her 23rd year working in education and currently teaches Statistics and Math at McGavock High School, a member school of Metro Nashville PS. Her favorite part of the job is making connections with her students and testing their intellectual limits. “I love pulling things out of my students that they otherwise don’t think they have in them,” she says.
Ms. Bales-Williams recalls the strong sense of community inherent at Father Ryan that ultimately encouraged her to become a teacher, herself. “The teachers there were lifelong learners,” she described, detailing their connections with students and the difference they made in their lives. In her time at Father Ryan, she participated in Peer Tutoring, an activity that helped her realize that she had the power to help others learn.
Her favorite part of attending Father Ryan was her involvement in the sports teams which created a greater sense of community. A third generation Father Ryan graduate, Bales-Williams sought to further her family’s legacy and make the Irish community proud through athletics. Coaches JINX COCKERHAM and PAT SIMPSON ’74 helped her further her athletic talents while also strengthening her interpersonal skills.
“Being a teacher is a very fulfilling career, especially for those who go in to genuinely help kids and have their best interest at heart,” she says. Her time at Father Ryan particularly helped her realize this idea.
MARY CAITLIN SPINING returned to her alma mater to teach American Literature and Rhetoric and Composition just a few years ago.
Her Father Ryan experience was incredibly formative, and within it, she saw the opportunity to help others learn and grow. “Father Ryan was a huge reason why I was inspired to become a teacher,” she says. “Father Ryan gave me so many good teachers, and there were many things I learned during my time here that I wanted to impart to others.”
Ms. Spining’s favorite part of attending Father Ryan was the close-knit community and friendships she developed. She talked fondly about a wedding of a classmate that she attended recently, describing how many of her Father Ryan friends attended, and they all reminisced about their high school. “They’re lifelong bonds we made there.”
The most influential teacher throughout her Father Ryan experience was RANDY LANCASTER ’83 , with whom she currently works. “I loved his British Literature class. He approached learning with authenticity and humor, and I wanted to do well in his class and wanted to learn,” she said. Even after college, she stayed in touch with Mr. Lancaster, illustrating the special student-teacher bond that exists at Father Ryan. Her favorite part of teaching is her students, and she particularly loves the ability to be with them at a formative part of their lives. “They’re making decisions about who they are and their paths,” she said, describing that she gets to be a missionary to bring them closer to the Lord, “an adult who loves, encourages, and prays for them.” She believes that although being a teacher is very challenging and that it is a heavy responsibility to be tasked with the formation of a child’s mind, it is the Lord’s purpose for her.
NORA (BYINGTON) MOULTON always had a passion for teaching pumping through her veins. As a child, she would line up her stuffed animals and teach them, and when she received a reversible chalkboard for her birthday, it all but completed her classroom setup. “Each time my mother took my sister, TERESA (BYINGTON) SAFFORD ’79, and me to the library, I would check out teacher editions, thinking I was really the teacher because I had all of the answers,” said Mrs. Byington-Moulton.
She graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in Mass Com and English Education and has taught a variety of subjects within these disciplines, including 9th grade Lit, Brit Lit, SAT, Journalism, Newspaper, and Yearbook. Her teaching career began in 1986 in Clearwater, FL, and she taught in Pinellas County through 2004. During the summers, she worked as director of scholastic journalism at The Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, running a Writers Camp for high school students who were selected and paid to attend this summer writing program.
One of the highlights of her career involved taking the program to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, establishing and teaching at a Writer’s Camp in Cherokee, NC. When her family moved to the Atlanta area, she taught in Marietta for 12 years before taking a few years off and started back at the Cobb County School District in 2022. She continues to tutor SAT and ACT English through Zoom.
Her Father Ryan education fundamentally changed her path and who she became. “Father Ryan shaped my journey as a person, not just as an educator,” she said, recalling the many teachers from whom she gained knowledge and wisdom. Her favorite part was the community, and all of the friends she made throughout her time there. “I picture my friends as we walked up and down those wooden stairs in the main building on Elliston Place, as we sat in classes together, and as we cheered for our Irish,” she reflects.
“In teaching, there is never a dull moment,” said Mrs. Moulton, shown below on her first day of teaching. “Each year offers a new beginning for both students and teachers, and I love that.“ She credits many of her teaching philosophies to FATHER JAMES BLACK ’64, who was the most influential person during her time at Father Ryan. Although he appeared scary, firm, and strict in the beginning of his Scripture course, all the students grew to appreciate his approach. “I have never pondered this, but as I think about it, I tried to be a teacher like Father Black – someone we knew loved us but was not our best friend; who held us accountable for our learning, and both forgave and helped us when we made mistakes.”
Long-time Father Ryan teachers and brothers JIM ’54 and PAT ’58 LANGDON shared a piece of advice with newly-minted teacher ROBERT KENT ’74 many years ago: “Students are not going to remember much of what you teach them, but they will remember how you treated them.”
For 43 years, Mr. Kent has taken that advice to heart by creating engaging and memorable stunts and lessons to capture the imagination and motivate his students in his English classes and on his Track and Cross Country Teams.
His reason for doing this? “The students never knew what to expect,” Mr. Kent answers. “You can’t learn if you aren’t awake. I will spend however much time necessary to make sure students are awake, paying attention, and motivated to be here.”
While those techniques are disappearing from the campus with Mr. Kent’s retirement, they may find another life. Mr. Kent sees his postretirement work – besides continuing to coach – as mentoring young teachers.
“There is a nationwide shortage of teachers right now,” says Mr. Kent. “I really feel called to do everything I can to encourage young people to consider becoming a teacher. If there are any alumni out there who are contemplating a career in education, I would love to help out in any way I can.”
A big kid at heart himself, Mr. Kent believed what appealed to a kindergartner also appealed to a high schooler. Games and fun were staples of his classroom. He had his students up and moving around, interacting with each other and with him, building class unity and class morale in the process.
“You wouldn’t believe the walls that were torn down,” Mr. Kent says. “If they saw me making a fool of myself, that made them more comfortable with themselves and more comfortable sharing with the group.”
Although he may be known for his fun-loving nature, Mr. Kent was no pushover. He encouraged his students to write as much as possible so they would feel confident in their abilities and was known for not accepting late papers. He always challenged students to rise to meet their potential. He uses the same approach in his coaching as well.
“I tell my teams each year: I love going to the theater, but I hate high school drama, so if there are any performances on my teams this year, you are going to move on,” he shares.
While he sets high expectations and standards, he helps each athlete be the best they can be because he understands how much it takes to be there. When he was a student at Father Ryan, he always wanted to join the Cross Country team, but because he was a slow runner, he was afraid people would laugh at him.
“The only regret I have about high school is that I didn’t run cross country or track,” Mr. Kent shares. “So, now I tell the slowest person on our team, you have more courage than I did. You are out here. Keep trying…don’t give up.”
He uses this approach to build team unity where he emphasizes “the slowest person is just as important as the fastest person, and the fastest is no more important than the slowest” to encourage each runner to become the best they can be.
“I really feel called to do everything I can to encourage young people to consider becoming a teacher.”
His encouragement has helped many runners through the last four decades, including State Champion CHRISTY CSORNA ’99 who credits Mr. Kent with helping her build her drive to succeed.
“Mr. Kent was a huge inspiration for me,” says Csorna. “He always believed in me and recognized my talent before I did. He gave me confidence in myself and my abilities that I never had before.”
Although he is not in the classroom anymore, Mr. Kent is committed to inspiring young people to become teachers. For those looking to pursue that profession, there is no better mentor or role model than Mr. Kent.
Since its addition to the campus, the Neuhoff Library was the place to find a book, to check out a book - literally, to check it out of the library - and a gathering place to study before the school day began.
Today, the Neuhoff Library looks the same on the outside, but its function is changing. Now, classroom and lab space have replaced the stacks of books. However, the updates haven’t changed the importance or the value of the library to today’s Father Ryan students. And one integral symbol of that connection stands at the heart of the school’s focus on a lasting education for its students: the oak doors at the entrance of the Neuhoff Library.
The doors had previously been the entrance to the school building on Elliston Place where the school remained for 62 years from 1929 to 1991. Now, each student who walks through the doors of the library can observe the history that remains present in Father Ryan’s legacy to this day.
“While the Chapel of St. James sits centermost on the campus, the library is an important academic and student-centered space,” Library Media Services Director CHRISTY FOREMAN said. “Having the doors from Elliston Place makes this building very special to alumni and students alike.”
The library’s significance, however, hardly stops at its doors; in fact, the doors welcome Father Ryan students into a wide array of resources available to further their knowledge every day.
Just as the surrounding landmarks on campus have undergone renovations to remain consistent with recent developments in technology, so too has the library seen similar upgrades while still serving its fundamental purpose. The library had previously been a repository for thousands of books; now, digital and multimedia resources — including the Digital Sports Media computer lab — have taken their place.
In 2021, Father Ryan took another step forward with the addition of the Irish SmartLab — becoming the first private high school in Tennessee and the first school in Nashville to have a SmartLab — which is home to the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) I, II, III courses. The Irish SmartLab is a project-based learning environment, fully equipped with advanced tools including 3D printers, recording equipment, robotic kits, and collaborative work spaces. These allow students to pursue a variety of interests, from circuitry, mechanics, and software engineering to sustainability, digital communications, video production, and computer graphics.
“The library signifies the importance of the history and tradition of Father Ryan, the community, and the people who have been and continue to play a part in its growth and culture,” Library Media Student Services Specialist CHERI MCGOWAN said. “You can find items that represent past, present, and future within the library’s walls. From the moment anyone walks through those historical doors, one can’t help but feel the richness and depth of who we are.”
Father Ryan kicked off an action-packed Reunion Weekend 2023 on Friday, June 2, with the LOU GRAHAM ’56 Alumni Golf Tournament, presented by Sunrise Contracting at Harpeth Hills Golf Course. The sold-out event featured 33 teams, and, ultimately, the LSI Team came away victorious (above left). Later in the evening, the All-Alumni Reception welcomed graduates from the classes of 1953 through 2019 back to campus. The attendees enjoyed reconnecting with friends, touring the campus, and looking through yearbooks as they reflected on countless memories from their time at Father Ryan.
The Reunion Weekend festivities continued the next day as the classes ending in ’3 and ’8 celebrated their Class Reunion Parties at various venues throughout Nashville. From Crow’s Nest to Acme Feed & Seed to Father Ryan’s Center for the Arts, these alumni gathered to rejoin their classmates and celebrate the Irish tradition.
The Golden Grad Mass & Brunch on June 4 brought the Reunion Weekend celebrations to a delightful close with the induction of the Class of 1973 into the Golden Grad Society. Bishop J. Mark Spalding and REV. PAT KIBBY ’73 concelebrated Mass in the Center for the Arts, followed by the induction ceremony — where each Golden Grad was presented with a framed
certificate (above) and a Golden Grad lifetime pass — and finally a brunch in which RANDY LANCASTER ’83 performed. The Father Ryan community would like to congratulate these Golden Grads and thank them for their incredible representations of Father Ryan’s mission over the last 50 years!
Father Ryan High School welcomed more than 600 alumni and their children for the second annual Irish Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 1. This exciting event featured bounce houses, face painting, family photos, and balloon art in a fun morning for the whole family.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to see so many of our Irish — and our Junior Irish — back on the campus for such an exciting event,” Alumni Engagement and Outreach Manager SARA (CARTER) ATWOOD ’04 said. “We look forward to hosting our Irish family for many more of these events in the coming years.”
There has always been something about the Class of 1978. Maybe it was the fact that they arrived on campus as Father Ryan began its 50th year. Maybe it was that they celebrated a Football State Title that first fall. Or maybe it’s because this is a caring group of people who have stayed connected.
Whatever the reason, they demonstrated their uniqueness again for their 45th Reunion this spring, creating the Class of 1978 Scholarship Fund and raising more than $300,000 to date to make a Father Ryan education accessible to future generations of students.
For every class that plans a 45th Reunion –whether high school or college – the 45th is the forgotten reunion. It is past the “roundness” of the 40th and it’s so close to the magic of the 50th that many classmates sit it out.
Not Father Ryan’s Class of 1978. Not the Class that made their Senior Gift a donation to the initial Father Ryan Development Fund because of their “deep faith in the future of Father Ryan,” according to the certificate they were presented. Beginning last year, several classmates, recognizing that Tuition Assistance was the challenge for Catholic education, agreed that they should use their 45th as a launching pad for a special fundraising effort.
“My classmate BARRY TAMBURIN [’78] said to me that it was time for the class to give back to Father Ryan,” said JOHN BUMPUS ’78, current President and Chair of the Father Ryan Board of Trustees. “He said that so many of our class were able to attend Father Ryan from 1974-78 because of Tuition Assistance. And we all know that to provide a great education, you need great teachers, and to have them, you need to pay them. Tuition alone doesn’t cover the cost.”
That conversation spurred a gathering that John and his wife, May, hosted in the spring. The meeting brought out more than 20 classmates who discussed the idea and decided to begin the effort. They emphasized that this gift is from the class. “It was never a gift from one or two people,” Bumpus said. “It was important that we respond as a class, as we always have.”
As 1978 classmates and spouses MELISSA (FREEMAN) and EDDIE VAUGHN took the lead, they focused on a key message. “One of the greatest challenges facing our school today is the ability to meet the identified tuition needs of
worthy students and their families,” Melissa says. “Currently, Father Ryan is meeting only 55% of the qualified need, and the fact is that we are losing genuinely great students to other schools that can provide more assistance.”
Eddie explained the challenge and the result. “We knew classmates would respond, whether they simply want to give back to Father Ryan in a lasting way, remember classmates who have gone before us, assist exceptional students in need, or have some additional motivation. So, our committee set a target to raise $150,000 by the 45th with a goal of hitting $250,000 by the 50th. Within 30 days, we exceeded the goal, and we have now raised $307,600.”
Bumpus hopes that the class’s response is an example for other classes to do the same for their 45th. “We all benefited from the generosity of someone else – our parents, a friend, someone in our parish – in order to enjoy a Father Ryan education,” he said. “ PAUL ROHLING ’67 and TOMMY DUCKLO ’67 started this with the Class of 1967 Scholarship at their 50th. We think an initiative like the Class of 1978’s, beginning at the 45th, is a model for all Father Ryan alumni. The response to date tells me that people want to give to Father Ryan and help the next generation.”
What will this Scholarship look like when ’78 celebrates its 50th Reunion in 2028? The class says to just watch; the amount will grow, and the impact will be even bigger, reflecting the class’s leadership, creative thinking, and Irish spirit. And they expect by then that multiple classes will have answered the challenge as they did.
What else would you expect from the Class of 1978?
If you’d like to explore ways that your Father Ryan class could create its own scholarship fund, contact Brooke Reusch, Director of Advancement, at reuschb@fatherryan.org. And if you’d like to support the Class of 1978 Memorial Scholarship, visit fatherryan.org/give/named-scholarships.
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 features a Class who is looking to the future. To read more about the Annual Fund at Father Ryan, visit fatherryan.org/giving
When he was taping the ankles of WILLIE BROWN ’65, BILLY LYNCH ’64, CHAMP HOUNIHAN ’65, DON CRAIGHEAD ’65, ROBERT FORTE ’66, and others in the old locker rooms beneath the stands of the Father Ryan gym on Elliston Place, the NFL Hall of Fame wasn’t even on BOB REESE ’66 ’s radar. Keeping the Irish ready to play was his focus.
That radar changed this spring. After more than 30 years serving at the highest level of the National Football League, Dr. Reese was named a member of the NFL’s Hall of Fame. He received the Award of Excellence from Hall of Fame QB Dan Fouts for his work as an athletic trainer. This comes on top of his induction into the Father Ryan Athletics Hall of Fame this year as part of the historic 1964-1965 Basketball Team.
A 1970 graduate of Purdue University, Dr. Reese went on to Boston College in 1972 becoming the youngest head trainer of a collegiate program. He was hired by the Buffalo Bills in 1972 serving as their assistant athletic trainer for five seasons. For 19 seasons (1977-1996) Reese worked for the
COL. ANTHONY
B. GILL ’58 , USAF (Ret) and high school sweetheart, Angela Welker (SBA ‘58) will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in June.
TOM TENBRUNSEL
’60 has been named “Carl Sandburg Writer for 2023” by the Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara. He has published several books of poetry. The full collection of sparkling photo/poetry can be found online.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s Bobby Wilson Free Fishing Day was on Saturday, June 10. The event is named for alumnus BOBBY WILSON ’72 who retired recently after serving the TWRA for more 40 years!
STEPHEN MEIFERT ’73 became a great-grandfather in 2023.
New York Jets as their head athletic trainer, where his staff earned the inaugural Ed Block NFL Athletic Training Staff of the Year Award in 1985. He was recognized in 1994 by the National Athletic Trainers Association earning the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award that year. An advocate for player health and safety, Dr. Reese directed the first mass pre-draft physical screening of college players and later instituted the NFL Concussion Committee, briefly serving as its secretary (1994-95).
“This year’s group of 17 Assistant Coaches, Athletic Trainers, Equipment Managers, Film/Video Directors, and Public Relations personnel have impacted their Clubs and the game of professional football positively, and this program is a way to recognize that,” Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said. “Each recipient has dedicated decades of time to creating meaningful change for their respective field, their teams, and the National Football League.”
Today, Dr. Reese is a Professor of Psychology at Radford University in Virginia. He earned his Ph.D. from Virginia Tech after receiving his M.A. from Regis University.
TOM KELLY ’78
became Fire Chief for the Riceville Volunteer Fire Department in August 2021 which also runs a 911 Paramedic Level Ambulance. In addition, he is a member of an Accreditation Team for an EMS Program for a local community college. He recently received the A.A.S. Fire Protection Technology Highest Honors and A.A.S. Emergency Management Highest Honors.
CHRIS CORBY ’80 was the honoree at the 2022 Marymount in March gala. Chris started his Camp Marymount journey in the summer of 1976 as a 14-year-old kitchen boy for the boy’s session. Besides memorable off-season projects and excursions during his high school years, he worked in various positions in the ensuing summers until 1985 when he and his wife, Mary, moved to Marymount to begin the transition to be the first lay director for camp.
FATHER GLADSTONE “BUD”
STEVENS ’85 has been appointed Rector of the Theological College of The National Seminary of the Catholic University of America in D.C. starting July 1.
Congratulations to DELANIAH (BORN) BRINGLE ’87 and the rest of the Peg Leg Porker team on being named the Best Barbeque joint in Tennessee by Southern Living!
JENNIFER MURRAY ’87 joined Enhabit Home Health and Hospice as the Volunteer Coordinator for hospice patients.
Alumni on Campus: ANDREW RITTER ’02 was the guest speaker at the Mu Alpha Theta honor society induction ceremony. Those in attendance listened to Andrew speak about his career as a Managing Director at Truxton Trust as he shared the importance of math in his everyday life.
ANN MARIE PACE ’07 directed episodes 404 and 405 of Disney’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, streaming now on Disney+!
DANIELE STEWART ’07 was promoted in January 2023 to Assistant Director at Missouri City Parks and Rec outside of Houston, Texas. She also graduated in May 2023 with her masters degree in Administration/Parks and Recreation/ Management from Clemson University.
SARAH (LANKFORD) TOLER ’08 and several former classmates from 2008 met up for a “Mom’s Beach Trip” in Miramar, FL. This also happens to be their 15th high school reunion year. Pictured here are JULIE (MURPHY) MONDELLI and son Jack; BRITTANY (PICKNEY) SANDBLOM and son Charlie; KATHLEEN (VARALLO) HAYES and son Townes; DANA ARNOW and son Jackson Marcum; Susan (Beavin) George and son Andrew (Susan was Admissions Coordinator at FRHS during 2012-2013 and had three brothers who were Ryan grads); SARAH (LANKFORD) TOLER and daughter Emmeline, and JESSICA LEVINE and son Luke Daniel.
SHELBY (DUBOIS) BAKER ’09 has been married for seven years to Ryan Baker. They live in Northern Cincinnati, Fairfield Township, and have James Ryan Baker (2- 1/2 yrs) and Nora Kate Baker (6 months.) She is a Manager at the NIKE Store there.
ADAM STRATZ ’09 is one of NNSA’s experts in nuclear forensics helping countries overseas thwart the smuggling of this material, but he also made an important discovery about butterflies. While on a research trip to former nuclear weapon proving grounds in the Marshall Islands, he caught a butterfly on a remote Pacific atoll as a sample which turned out to be the world’s first record of butterflies there. The specimen is now on display at the London Natural History Museum.
DR. ANTHONY SIMPSON ’10 is the new principal of Saint Matthew School.
CAMERON BURNETT ’11 received his PhD in Biochemistry from University of California, San Diego, in January 2023. He is a Clinical Research Scientist for Poseida Therapeutics in San Diego. Cameron is engaged to Tatiana Galvez.
FATHER LUKE WILGENBUSCH ’11 , director of Vocations for the Diocese of Nashville, has his first published book. Saved as through Fire, from Emmaus Academic, grew out of Father Wilgenbusch’s theological studies in 2020, and he was encouraged to submit it for publication as a book. In his writing, Father takes St. Thomas Aquinas as his primary guide and identifies and explores the full array of the consequences of sin—both immanent and extrinsic—that purgatory resolves.The book is available for preorder at stpaulcenter.com/emmaus-academic.
CAMERON YUNKER ’11 began a new position as a United States Probation Officer with the U.S. Court’s Middle District of Tennessee. His swearing-in ceremony was on July 31, 2023. Outside of work, he officiates high school and NCAA football for TSSAA and the Gulf South Conference.
SUSAN (STEFFENHAGEN) GRIFFITH ’12 was recently selected to Nashville’s 30 Under 30. For this, she was tasked to fundraise $5,000 between April and August in order to be recognized by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She raised $5,760 organically and was in the top half of her 30 Under 30 class. As a group, they raised well over $300,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. You may see Susan’s face around on Broadway, as she is a part of a circulating billboard honoring the 30 Under 30 class for their incredible achievement.
JACK ROBERTS III ’13 achieved his fellowship in the Society of Actuaries (FSA).
CARLY (BLEDSOE) ATWOOD ’15 purchased the Franklin Bakehouse in downtown Franklin with her family in December of 2022. Franklin Bakehouse bakes daily-made pastries, sourdough bread, bagels, English muffins, cakes, pies, and more.
CLARE (AMES) CRIST ’15 will graduate with her M.Ed. in Special Education in May 2023. She hopes to become an inclusion teacher for Kindergarten students while living in Japan with her husband.
Lt JG BRENT CRIST ’15 graduated from flight school in May of 2022 and has been living in San Diego while completing training to fly the MH-60 Sierra helicopter. Sometime in the summer of 2023, LtJG Crist and his wife are headed to Atsugi, Japan, for his next duty station, and he will continue flying the MH-60 Sierra and be promoted to lieutenant.
JED RAYNES ’15 earned a Master of Science in Business Analytics at Georgetown University McDonough School of Business in December 2022.
QUINN ROBINSON ’15 spoke to the Junior class in the spring of 2023 to spread the legacy and example that his younger sister, Rosie, left behind after she passed away from her battle with cancer.
OLIVIA SCHAPKER ’15 graduated with a Masters of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner from University of Alabama, Birmingham.
ANDREW TRIPLETT ’15 was recently sworn into the Tennessee State Bar before Judge Andra Hedrick at the Davidson County Courthouse on March 2, 2023. He was accompanied by his sponsors and his family, including his grandfather C. ALAN LANCASTER ’57. He is currently working in Birmingham, Alabama, as an attorney for Clark, May, Price, Lawley, Duncan, & Paul, LLC.
TAYLOR VINCENT ’16 is pursuing a masters degree in Athletic Training at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He recently received an Academic Excellence award for a perfect 4.0 in his program.
Phillip M. “Finlay” Caldwell to MATTHEW CALDWELL ’07 and Ali McKenzie, born on April 26, 2021.
Clare Irene to CHRISTINA (BOYD) ’15 and MICHAEL CANONICO ’15 , born on June 29, 2023
Annie Hayes to EMILY (MOSELEY) ’14 and Patrick Carr, born on November 30, 2022.
Lee Phillip to CAITLIN (MULLOY) ’09 and STEPHEN CURRAN ’10, born on June 22, 2023.
Jack Tucker to KATIE (CONWAY) ’04 and Blair Daly, born on June 5, 2023. Jack joins proud, helpful, and loving big sister, Alice Rose (3 1/2)
William Brooks to KRISTI (CATIGNANI) ’14 and Parker Gupton, born on July 19, 2023.
MICHAEL VALENCIA ’18 received his white coat at Vanderbilt’s School of Medicine on Friday, July 21.
Charlotte Ellen to KATIE (WILSON) ’13 and STEVEN HENRY ’14, born on April 8, 2023.
Nicholas to LAURA (MASEK) ’04 and Tyler Klause, born on March 23, 2023.
Leo Robin Lewis Laczko to KATIE LEWIS ’04 and BRIAN LACZKO ’04 on December 5, 2022.
Jameson Porter to KELLIE (MORGAN) ’11 and MATTHEW NEAL ’11 , born on January 4, 2023.
Jude and Rosemary to ERIN (BACHUS) ’07 and Scott Saavedra, born on June 19, 2023.
Oliver James to MADISON (DREXLER) ’15 and MICHAEL SLANDZICKI ’15 , born on March 21, 2023.
Benedict Joseph to Meredith (Sparks) and RYAN HINLO ’17, born on August 10, 2023.
DELANEY HERRMAN ’19 received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and is now a Naval Registered Nurse.
JACKSON LACEY ’19 graduated from the Metro Nashville Fire Academy.
BEKAH TRUSS ’19 is beginning a year of full-time service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest. She will be serving as the Service Learning and Volunteer Coordinator at St. Therese Catholic Academy in Seattle.
’20, a Virginia Military Institute cadet from Nashville, plays the snare drum in the pipe band and will be the drum major for the next academic year.
WILL STACEY ’21 , is now a sophomore at the University of the South (Sewanee). Will continues to be a highly active person while enrolled at Sewanee by training and competing at a high level as a triathlete. He is the leader of the University Catholic organization on campus. But, among all of his responsibilities, Will still finds time to give back to the local Sewanee community as a firefighter. Will earned a coveted spot in the Sewanee Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) located on campus which is primarily made up of students as well as some local community members. The process of becoming a Sewanee firefighter involves a highly competitive rigorous try-out
period during one’s freshman year in which only six people make the squad each year. Will earned a spot on the department, and through continual intensive firefighter training, he has developed many life skills as a result of his experience. The student firefighters are expected to handle fires and be first responders at any level. They drive the fire trucks, they fight fires, they handle all local first responder type calls and emergencies. They are fully committed to the department while having a rotating schedule of being on-call for multiple days/nights at a time. All of these added responsibilities have been worth it for Will, which have not only given him an opportunity to give back to the community, but also a way to establish and develop life-long friendships with his team members. The SVFD has been a blessing for Will, expanding his experiences and relationships in many valuable ways.
REAGAN NASH ’21 is currently a Junior at Sewanee: The University of the South. She is studying abroad in Greece and attending The American College of Greece for four months.
MARYELIZABETH K. CAIN ’22 attends St. Mary’s College at Notre Dame, Indiana. She studies Physics & Mechanical Engineering. She’s a member of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Marching Band and is a women’s choir member.
NATALIE ANDERSON ’22 is a Freshman at St. Mary’s College of Notre Dame. She plays goalie for the Notre Dame Girls Water Polo team. They have gone 12-0 in their league and headed to Nationals in California.
Adriana Garcia and KYLE BURNETT ’13 were married on February 4, 2023, at The Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea in Key West, FL.
Ali McKenzie and MATTHEW CALDWELL ’07 were married August 14, 2022, at Cheekwood in Nashville, TN.
Julie Bellefeuille and DOMENIC CANONICO ’12 were married October 15, 2022, at Blessed Sacrament in Seattle, Washington.
CLAIRE (AMES) ’15 and BRENT CRIST ’15 were married on December 21, 2022, in San Diego, CA.
Raquel Vasquez and DAVIS DEMPSEY ’07 were married on August 12, 2023, in Medellin, Colombia.
Weddings fall 2023
Lauren DuBois and JACKSON DUBOIS ’15 were married on July 15, 2023, at St. Mary of the Seven Sorrows in Nashville, TN.
KATHERINE (RODRIGUEZ) ’12 and BENJAMIN HAYS ’14 were married on September 17, 2022, at Saint Elle in Nashville, TN.
KIMBERLY (CUNNINGHAM) ’16 and Gabriel Heidbreder were married on October 8, 2022, at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville, TN.
CALLIE (HERRMANN) ’13 and Tanner Hess were married on August 6, 2022, at Holy Family Catholic Church.
Sarah Hughes and RICHARD HOWDEN, JR. ’09 were married on April 15, 2023 at The Estate at Cherokee Dock.
HADLEY (BRENNAN) ’16 and JAKE MORGAN ’06 were married on April 30, 2022, at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville, TN.
Anna Whitney and VICTOR POLLACK ’13 were married October 8, 2022, at St. Henry’s Church in Nashville, TN.
MAGGIE (MULLINS) ’15 and ANDREW RECTOR ’15 were married on October 1, 2022, at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville, TN.
MCKENZIE (REDMOND) ’15 and Clay Johnson were married on March 25, 2023, at The White Dove Barn in Murfreesboro, TN. MORGAN THOMSON ’16 and Will Stamps were married on April 26, 2023, at The Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, Arizona.
Class Notes, Births, Weddings, and In Memoriam news in this issue reflect information received by August 31, 2023. Do you have news and photos to share with Ryan Nation? Visit fatherryan.org/alumni/class-notes Be sure to include new contact information, including mailing address, email, and cell phone.
JEANA NOLAN BALTZ, sister of alumni Pat Nolan ’69, Bill Nolan ’72, and Tony Nolan ’73 (deceased).
PATRICIA “PATTY” BEAVIN ’82 , daughter of Forrest “Bill” Beavin ’42 (deceased) and sister of alumni Forrest Beavin ’76 and Paul Beavin ’77 (Mary Ann Miller ’77).
MATTHEW BARRETT BREWER ’09.
KEVIN BRONS ’79, brother of alumni Glen Brons ’72, Janice (Brons) Haggard ’74, Steve Brons ’77, Gary Brons ’78, Troy Brons ’82, Diane (Brons) Butler ’84, and Brian Brons ’88.
CHARLES ABBOTT BURDESHAW, father of alumna Sara “Sunny” (Burdeshaw) Donnelly ’85.
ALICE BARCLAY BURNS , wife of alumnus Thomas J. Burns ’50 (deceased) and mother of alumni Cathy (Burns) Melendez ’79, Jeff Burns ’80, Julie Burns ’81, and Chris Burns ’83.
THOMAS I. CARLTON ’55 .
DAVID W. CHAMPION , father of alumnus David Champion, Jr. ’84.
JENNE’ M. CLENDENING, daughter of alumnus Bob ClenDening ’46 (deceased) and sister of alumni Bob ClenDening ’67, Jim ClenDening ’68, Pat (ClenDening) Stewman ’71, Bill ClenDening ’82, and Mike ClenDening ’87.
FRANK COLVERT ’62 , brother of alumni James ’66 (deceased) and Michael ’69 Colvert.
MONSIGNOR J. PATRICK CONNOR ’53 , brother of alumni Frank ’55, Rick ’57, Tom ’60, and Hank ’65 Connor.
JAMES PATRICK DOLAN, JR. ’66, brother of alumnus Thomas Dolan ’68.
MICHAEL L. DONNELLY ’74, father of alumni Whitney (Donnelly) Holt ’06 and Will Donnelly ’09 (Hannah Harris ’09) and brother of alumni John P. “Bubba” Donnelly ’69, Steve Donnelly ’72, and Paul Donnelly ’83 (deceased).
ROBERT FRANCIS “BOB” DOOLEY ’64, brother of alumni Edgar ’57, George ’61, James ’63 (all deceased) and Jerry ’63 Dooley.
JOHN FRANCIS DOWD III ’77, son of alumnus Jack F. Dowd, Jr. ’48 (deceased) and brother of alumna Janet (Dowd) Crabtree ’81.
IMELDA “JO” ROTTERO EVERHART, mother of alumnae Karen (Everhart) Brown ’73 and Gina (Everhart) Hurt ’78, and sister of alumni Louis Rottero, Jr. ’37 and Gene Rottero ’47 (both deceased).
SAMUEL A. FRANCESCON ’49, father of alumni Steve Francescon ’72, Bobby Francescon ’73, David Francescon ’74, Susie (Francescon) Bateman ’75 (Tommy ’75, deceased), Sam Francescon ’77, Danny Francescon ’79 (Ronnie Dean ’87) Chris Francescon ’81, and Margie (Francescon) Grover ’84; brother of alumni Pete Francescon, Sr. ’41 (deceased) and Victor Francescon, Sr. ’49.
MICHAEL GALLANT, brother of alumnus Matt Gallant ’99.
DONNA KAY GOLSTEYN , mother of alumni Rachel (Sordelet) Shepherd ’02 and Tyler Golsteyn ’11.
PATRICK MICHAEL GUYTON , son of alumnus Michael Guyton ’72.
JULIE ANN HABACKER, mother of alumni Lyle Habacker ’18 and Mason Habacker ’20.
JAMES CORNELIUS “CONNIE” SUMMERS ’39, a lawyer, WWII pilot, artist, civic activist, the last alumnus to have graduated Father Ryan in the 1930s – died June 20, 2023. Born in 1921 in Memphis to the late Charles Kincaid Summers, M.D. and Cecilia Roggenbuck Summers, R.N., he was 102 years of age.
Summers practiced law in Nashville for more than 50 years. At Vanderbilt he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity. He passed the bar examination and was licensed to practice law in 1949 before he had graduated from Vanderbilt School of Law in 1950. As a young lawyer, Mr. Summers worked as an assistant city attorney for the City of Nashville and as an assistant district attorney in Davidson County. He was a hearing examiner for the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Board of Professional Responsibility, president of the Young Lawyers Association of Nashville, served on the board of the Nashville Bar Association, and had been active on committees of the various bar associations.
An outdoorsman, he enjoyed hiking, boating, and joined friends in forming the White Water Canoe Club, which became the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association. Another long-time recreational pursuit was painting in oils, and he participated in weekly studio painting with other artists.
Mr. Summers’ love of flying started as a Naval Aviation Cadet in World War II. After obtaining his wings, he piloted a PBM twin-engine sea plane, served in Saipan, participated in the invasion of Okinawa, and hauled bombs and torpedoes on many missions in the Pacific Theater. He also served as a naval aviator during the Korean War. He held a commercial pilot’s license to pilot multi-engine aircraft, both land and sea. After the Korean War, he continued to fly as a hobby. He became an intelligence officer in the Naval Reserve, retiring in 1969 with the rank of Commander.
Throughout his adult life, Mr. Summers gave time and energy to civic work, especially in the field of mental health. He had been president of the Nashville Mental Health Association, the Tennessee Mental Health Association, the Dede Wallace Mental Health Center, Hickory Hall Day School for Emotionally Disturbed Children, and was chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Committee for the Establishment of Community Mental Health Centers in Tennessee. He was executive director of a Chamber of Commerce committee promoting consolidation of the City of Nashville with Davidson County before their 1962 merger into Metropolitan Government. He served on the Board of Trustees of Montgomery Bell Academy and co-founded the former Family Clinic of Nashville. Mr. Summers also was active on the boards of Catholic Charities, St Patrick’s Shelter, and St. Mary Villa Child Development Center. He was a member of the St. Henry Catholic Church and a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus.
Survivors include his wife, Jean Storlie, and his children from his first marriage to the former Janet Connelley: Steven, Scott, Clint, Lee Ann Ingram; three grandchildren and 10 stepchildren. He was preceded in death by his second wife, Sara Shea Davis, and two siblings.
KAREN HAILEY, wife of alumnus
Jim Hailey ’67 and mother of alumni
Jim Hailey ’85 (deceased), Chris Hailey ’87, and Eric Hailey ’92 (deceased).
RICHARD AND KATHRYN HARDING , parents of alumna Kelly (Harding) Slagle ’95.
STACY MATALYN HATFIELD ’86 .
BEATRICE HOOKER , mother of alumni
Bill Hooker ’68, Edward Hooker ’71, Michael Hooker ’74 (Mary Rotoni Hooker ’74), Janet (Hooker) Roberts ’76, Sarah (Hooker) Wilson ’79 (deceased), Joe Hooker ’83, and Mary Jo (Hooker) Allen ’84.
SAMUEL LAVENDER ’67, father of alumnus Patrick Lavender ’94 and husband of Carolynn Lavender, former Faculty (deceased).
JOE LOFARO ’81 , brother of alumnus Gene Lofaro ’95.
REV. DR. ARROLD N. MARTIN ’71
CHARLES “CHUCK” MCDOWELL ’69
CHARLES STEVEN MCKENZIE, SR. ’71 , brother of alumni Jody McKenzie ’67, Andy McKenzie ’68, Father Bill McKenzie ’72, Deacon Jim McKenzie ’72, and Clay McKenzie ’80.
ANN MCREDMOND, sister of alumni John McRedmond III ’54 (deceased), Thomas McRedmond ’56, and Edward McRedmond ’60 (deceased).
MICHAEL THOMAS MONOHAN ’86, son of Michael Monohan ’64 and brother of Jennifer Monohan ’90.
THOMAS CHARLES MORTON ’06
ROSWELL WILLIAM “BILL” NOURSE III ’79, son of alumnus Roswell Bill Nourse, Jr. ’57 and brother of John Nourse ’84.
MARY CATHERINE PENTECOST, wife of alumnus Joseph Pentecost ’42 (deceased) and mother of alumni Mike Pentecost ’68, Rita (Pentecost) McBee ’72 (deceased), Steve Pentecost ’74, and Jan (Pentecost) Warner ’75 (Brady ’70).
ALICE NELL RILEY, wife of alumnus Pat Riley ’66 (deceased) and mother of Melissa Riley ’92 and Allison Riley ’94.
ANTHONY E. ROTTERO ’74, son of Eugene Rottero ’47 (deceased) and brother of alumni Lisa (Rottero) Greene ’75, Mark Rottero ’79, Andy Rottero ’82, and Patrick Rottero ’86.
LENA BELLE SCOTT, sister of alumnus John Thomas Christy ‘59 (deceased).
HERBERT J. SHARBEL ’65 , father of alumni Ben Sharbel ’99 and Peter Sharbel ’04, son of alumnus Kelly Sharbel ’42 (deceased), and brother of alumni Kelly Sharbel, Jr. ’66 (deceased), Nolan Sharbel ’68, Charlie Sharbel ’70, Jeanne (Sharbel) Gower ’71, Cecilia Sharbel ’74, Cathy Sharbel ’76, and Joe Sharbel ’79 (deceased).
ROBERT VINSON SHARP, father of alumni Kay (Sharp) Suter ’77 (Leonard ’77), Lisa (Sharp) Johnson ’81 (Chris ’81), Teresa (Sharp) Davis ’81 (Paul ’81), and Christopher Alan Sharp ’83 (deceased).
PATRICIA SOFRANKO, mother of alumni Alexandra (Sofranko) Palo ’87 and Jonathan Sofranko ’90.
LORENZY SNELL, JR., father of alumni Wesley Snell ’83 (deceased) and Angela (Snell) Glatt ’85.
FRANK SMITH , father of alumni Frank “Tripp” Smith ’00 and Matthew Smith ’03.
FATHER CHARLES F. STROBEL ’61 , brother of alumnus Jerry Strobel ’58.
KATHERINE BRONN STROBEL , wife of alumnus Gene Strobel ’45 (deceased).
GARY SULLIVAN ’77, brother of alumni Jim Sullivan ’67, Mike Sullivan ’68, Debbie (Sullivan) Oldham ’79 (deceased), and Becky (Sullivan) Singer ’84.
MARY ALICE SULLIVAN, mother of alumni Mickey Sullivan ’67, Leo Sullivan ’72, and Jacky (Sullivan) Lemanski ’75.
JAMES CORNELIUS “CONNIE” SUMMERS ’39.
WANDA TEMPLETON , mother of alumnus Tim Templeton ’69.
STEPHEN TAYLOR ’88 .
LARRY TUCKER ’77.
STEVEN CHARLES WATERMAN , father of alumni Eric Waterman ’94 and Rachel Celeste (Waterman) Smith ’00.
CHRISTINE “TINA” WEBSTER ’74, sister of alumni Joe Webster ’70 and Aggie (Webster) Anderson ’74.
RUSSELL T. WIGGINTON, SR., father of alumni Russell Wigginton, Jr. ’84, Sherrie Wigginton-Walker ’86, and Derek Wigginton ’97.
YEOMAN WILLIAMS ’73 , brother of alumna Melba (Williams) Ellis ’71.
In the fall of 1974, Father Ryan stood at an important crossroads. The school had welcomed female students just four years earlier, spurring growth that strained the physical and financial capacity of the campus. Dramatic changes in the Catholic Church were producing more flux in the community. A new leader was needed to ensure the future of the school.
Thankfully, that leader knew Father Ryan well.
The Salutatorian of his class at Father Ryan and a man of principle, calm, and integrity throughout his 62-year priesthood, REVEREND MONSIGNOR
J. PATRICK CONNOR ’53, (then-Father Connor), took over the leadership of the school as it began its 50th year and guided it in memorable ways during his three-year tenure. He died in June of this year at the age of 88.
His impact on the school was immediate. He brought a new level of financial management to the school’s operation. He established a Board of Trustees and a Development Office which led to the creation of the school’s endowment and annual fund program, and those efforts provided the structure and resources for many of the building expansions of the late 1970s. He oversaw ongoing physical plant renovations, from restoration of the historic front doors to new furniture and equipment in the classrooms, always with an eye on the students’ experiences. A supporter of the arts, he ensured that the fine arts studio had a kiln and the necessary art supplies, and he reinstated the theatre program after a five-year absence.
Most importantly, he championed Irish Pride, encouraging students to be engaged, caring, and involved people of character and faith. When he stepped down in 1977, the school’s student body had grown to more than 1,000, earned more academic honors and college scholarships, claimed multiple State Championships in athletics, and expanded its presence throughout the community through service.
A dozen years later as Vicar General for the diocese, Monsignor Connor was instrumental in the planning, financing, development, and opening of Father Ryan’s campus on Norwood Drive. He coordinated with diocesan and civic leaders to bring about the move of the school to Norwood Drive in 1991. In appreciation for his work to bring about the new campus, Father Ryan dedicated the campus Cloister Building in his honor in December 2006.
In speaking of Monsignor Connor and his impact, Father Ryan President PAUL DAVIS ’81, praised his management and his vision. “During his time as principal and his role as Vicar General, Monsignor Connor left an impact on Father Ryan High School that we enjoy today,” he said. “Through his calm presence, his clear vision for his alma mater, his sound management style, and his concern for the students, alumni, and our faculty and staff, he made Catholic education accessible to more in our community. Father Ryan grew in numbers, but as it did so, Monsignor Connor remained focused on the quality of the education and the distinctive value of Catholic education.”
The Connor family and Monsignor’s many friends led the effort that created the Msgr. Pat Connor ’53 Scholarship in 2011, the 50th anniversary of Monsignor’s ordination. The recipient of this award is chosen by freshmen and sophomore Theology teachers each year in consultation with the Director of Campus Ministry and Student Life and the Chaplain.
Born in Nashville on June 2, 1935, to Eugene and Augusta Connor, Msgr. Connor attended Holy Name School and enrolled at Father Ryan High School.
Arriving on the campus in September of 1949 –Father Ryan’s 25th school year – Monsignor Connor was the first of five brothers to graduate from the school. He was followed by FRANK CONNOR ’55, RICK CONNOR ’57, TOM CONNOR ’60, and HANK CONNOR ’65. He distinguished himself across the campus, writing for the Moina and participating in the Debate Club, the Glee Club, and the STOA honor society.
He enrolled at St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa. After graduation from St. Ambrose, he entered St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland, completing his preparation for his ordination at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville on May 27, 1961. He earned additional degrees from Memphis State University.
He served as Assistant Principal of Bishop Byrne High School in Memphis from 1967-1970 and Principal of Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga from 1970-1974 before his tenure as Principal of Father Ryan High School from 1974-1977. Subsequently, he was named Vicechancellor, Vicar General, and later Chancellor for the diocese. He also served as Episcopal Vicar for the Nashville Deanery and the Bishop’s Delegate for Education.
For his lifetime of service to the diocese, he received the title of Monsignor from Pope Francis on April 17, 2019, an honor that was announced by Bishop J. Mark Spalding.
Memorial contributions may be made to the “Msgr. Pat Connor ’53 Scholarship” at Father Ryan High School, 700 Norwood Dr, Nashville, TN 37204.
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Veterans Breakfast for Alumni Veterans
November 10, 2023
Breakfast with Santa
December 9, 2023
Young Alumni Luncheon
December 18, 2023
45th Annual Legacy Gala
January 27, 2024
Irish Easter Egg Hunt
March 23, 2024
Ryan Nation Night
April 27, 2024
Reunion
May 31-June 2, 2024
