Spring 2022

Central Catholic magazine Spring 2022

Relying on tradition and faith in tim es of change.

Who are those guys anyway?

Friday, August 5, 2022 Glendoveer Golf Course • Noon Shotgun Start Four-person scramble with boxed lunch, followed by the awards dinner.

Cost: $150 per person/$600 per foursome Thank you to our presenting sponsor: Who are these students? Identify the students above, submit your guess, and the winner will be chosen in a random drawing in April.

Contact Sara Wright, Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement with your guess: swright@centralcatholichigh.org or 503.230.1056 ext. 1243.

Congratulations to Katy Wade ‘08 who correctly identified the students (below) in the last issue of the Central Catholic Magazine: Theresa (Wong) Bigler ‘08 and Stephanie (Brandt) Severson ‘08 [bonus: Ben Green ‘09].

THOLIC ALU L CA RA

CEN T

NI M

Brew TOUR

Saturday September 17 For more information or to register, visit: centralcatholichigh.org

There are more opportunities for sponsorship! Contact Sara Wright, Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement, at 503.230.1056 ext. 1243 or swright@centralcatholichigh.org for more details on sponsorship opportunities.

Save the Date!

Marquee Reunions

R E U N I O N S

All Classes of the 1940s Classes of 1942-1949 70-Year Reunion Class of 1952 60-Year Reunion Class of 1962 50-Year Reunion Class of 1972 40-Year Reunion Class of 1982

August 6, 2022 Central Catholic Campus Details coming soon.

Features: On the Cover

Ira Bradie ’23 in his role as The Fiddler in Central Catholic’s production of Fiddler on the Roof.

Photo by Rowan Budlong.

Volume 29 • Number 1 • Spring 2022 Central Catholic Magazine is a publication of Central Catholic High School 2401 SE Stark Street • Portland, Oregon 97214 503.230.1056 • centralcatholichigh.org

Campus Highlights Page 6

Leadership Rev. Msgr. Timothy Murphy ’58, President Emeritus Colin McGinty, President Danyelle Ramsey, Principal Ellie Dir, Vice President of Advancement Board of Directors Bill Winter ’58, Chair Molly Paustian ’85, Vice Chair Harry Hanna ’93, Secretary Dena Dooney ’88 Rev. Jeff Eirvin Tim Fleischmann ’79 Dave Gorretta ’87 Colin McGinty Phil Moran ’76 Connie Ozyjowski Sarah Petrone ’94 Peter Rauch ’95 Jeannie Ray-Timoney Paul Scarlett Jo Willhite, Ex-Officio Publisher/Layout and Design Jolyn Winczewski Director of Scholarships and Publications Contributing Writers Ellie Dir Colleen Newell

Chris McLean ’94 - Music is Life Page 8

Friends of Fine Arts Scholarship Page 11

Editing Team Cindy Hart Alaina Hill Colleen Newell Elaine Payne Sara Wright Contributing Photographers Colleen Newell Central Catholic High School is accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, The Western Catholic Education Association, and The Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Alumni Profile: Ian Montone ’85 Page 12

Notice of non-discrimination as it applies to students and employees at Central Catholic High School:

Central Catholic High School admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all of the rights, privileges, programs, and activities accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school administered programs. Likewise, Central Catholic High School does not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of race, color, national or ethnic origin, or gender.

Alumni News Page 15 Spring 2022 | 1

WELCOME MESSAGE • NEW BOARD MEMBER PROFILES Hidden near the end of Exodus lies the story of Judaism’s first artist, Bezalel. If you’re not careful, you can almost miss him amongst the technical details of woodworking and weaving, but he’s there, a master architect tasked with building the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant.

Bezalel plays a crucial role in the development of Israel’s religious life and culture, and he’s a craftsman - not a priest, not a king, but a craftsman. The Torah describes him as brilliant in mind, experienced in life, inspired by God, and open-hearted to the insights of his colleagues and pupils. Worthy goals for an artist, indeed.

Though historically devalued in the grand scheme of education, the arts (and thus, the artists) have a unique ability to move and inspire, impassion and uplift, and make lasting change in the world. This is not so unbelievable if we remember that God is the original Artist who created His universe to be aesthetically beautiful and visually awesome, who filled it with a spectrum of colors, unique landscapes, habitats, ecosystems, creatures, and human beings. The very fact that artists are drawn to create is a result of God creating us in His image. In this way, art was invented

by God and has a tremendous potential to glorify Him. This March, the Central Catholic Department of Theater staged Fiddler on the Roof. The production, which tells the story of the forced depopulation of a Jewish shtetl in 1905 Russia, was the first in history to surpass 3,000 Broadway performances and has spawned five successful revivals and a popular film. Throughout the first few rehearsals, we spent a lot of time as a cast discussing the responsibility of telling a painful story that doesn’t necessarily belong to us. We lit candles and shared challah bread. We learned together about the significance of Shabbat, the history of Jewish persecution in Tsarist Russia and beyond, and the Yiddish and Hebrew terminology in our text: l’chaim, chuppah, mazel tov, kopek, pogrom.

Nothing could have prepared us, however, for the invasion of Ukraine.

The story we were telling on stage suddenly felt eerily parallel to the experiences of the Ukrainian people at that very moment. A people displaced, a history ravaged. I was so impressed and moved by the beautiful insight and depth of empathy the students brought to the conversation. They grappled with the trauma of others with compassion and a respect well beyond their years. They brought knowledge gained in their Theology classes to the table and were able to contend with and embrace the complex themes of tradition, repression, persecution, and love that inform the musical. This is the power of a Catholic education; Central Catholic students spend four years being taught the value and dignity of every human being. Our community of faith encourages reverence, respect, and concern for others. I trust these students to hold gently the story of the shtetl and its people, to respect and honor those who came before us, who lived and died by their faith. It’s been incredible to watch them tell that story.

Much like the preparation of a musical, on a much more awesome scale, old Bezalel did not build the holy places all by himself. God imbued him with inspiration, and Bezalel rallied the creatives among him! Women and men cut, sawed, hammered, polished, braided, welded, and wove together. They made it happen as a team, each contributing in their own unique, individual ways. This is what makes a true community effort; this is what raises the communal roof upon which we balance.

God calls us in Genesis to be caregivers of creation and creators of culture, to find and follow our calling. As we stomped, danced, and sang about 2 | Central Catholic Magazine

“Tradition!” I was reminded that we are all a part, an integral extension, of God and his work through Bezalel. Our tradition is one of joy, beauty, and theatricality, and we are called to lend our gifts. I am so grateful that the students of Central Catholic Drama have chosen to lend theirs on stage.

Whoever they are in the future (scientist, artist, parent, teacher, or all of the above) I know that their imagination and creation are important to God. We are His creation, and He has crafted us for great things.

Sincerely Yours, Avery Heater Drama Teacher/Director of Theatre

NEW BOARD MEMBER PROFILES Name: Dena Dooney ’88 Occupation: Insurance Consultant Organization: DDI Benefits Inc Description of Organization: A locallyowned employee benefits insurance firm that creates customized employee benefits and health insurance solutions for small and large companies, as well as individuals, families and seniors throughout the Northwest.

Professional Background: With more than 29 years’ experience, has experienced the health insurance and benefits industry from all angles. Worked in the human resources department of large hospitals and spent more than eight years working for a major health insurance company in roles ranging from claims to customer service to account executive. Became an Employee Benefits Consultant 19 years ago.

Education: Santa Clara University: BS Sociology 1992 Central Catholic High School 1988 Residence: Portland, Oregon Central Catholic Connection: Alum and past parent What would you like to see as a legacy of your service to Central Catholic: Continuing and strengthening the Central Catholic tradition of community and belonging Yardstick of Success: When in doubt, be kind.

Mentors: My husband and children: Tim ‘87, Emmett ‘15, and Grace ‘17 Dooney - my greatest teachers Word that Best Describes You: Caring What do you like best about Board of Directors’ work: Making a difference, giving back Person you are most interested in meeting: Eckhart Tolle Pet peeves: Too much scrolling Greatest passion (besides Central Catholic): Inner peace First choice for a new career: Swimming instructor. Daria Crymes (‘89) and I had a swim school in her backyard in high school. It was so rewarding.

Favorite quote: “We’re all just walking each other home” Ram Dass Most influential book: The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle Favorite website: houzz.com Favorite cause: Central Catholic and Children’s Cancer Association Favorite movie: Grease Favorite musician: Steve Winwood Most treasured possession: My new Grundéns rain boots from Englund Marine & Industrial Supply in Astoria, Oregon Favorite vacation destination: Cannon Beach, Oregon Favorite restaurant: Clyde’s Prime Rib Favorite way to spend free time: At the beach with family and friends

NEW BOARD MEMBER PROFILES Name: Phil Moran ’76 Occupation: Law Firm Administrator Organization: Tonkon Torp LLP Description of Organization: Tonkon Torp LLP is a leading business law firm providing legal advice on business and litigation matters.

Tonkon is the third largest law firm in Oregon.

Professional Background: Facility Services Manager at Tonkon Torp LLP for four and a half years and prior to that, Facility and Construction Manager at Stoel Rives LLP, for 34 years.

Education: BA in Political Science from Lewis & Clark College, 1980.

Residence: Southeast Portland, for all my life on SE 40th Avenue.

Central Catholic Connection: I am a 1976 graduate of Central Catholic.

I am one of eight Moran brothers in my family and of our generation to have been graduated from Central in the years from 1964 through 1980.

My daughter, Katherine ’09, and son Anthony ’17 are Central graduates.

Twenty-two of my immediate family’s three generations have graduated from Central Catholic from 1964 to 2020.

What would you like to see as a legacy of your service to Central Catholic? I want to help Central Catholic to be rated as the number one high school in the state of Oregon, to provide for the development of the mind and body of all students, and add a world class athletic facility to its campus, while keeping Central located in the center of the city.

Yardstick of Success: I would consider my measure of success based on the many close and wonderful friendships I have had for many years with all of my high school friends, college mates, extended family, and work colleagues. They have stood by me for so long. I have been there for them.

Mentors: All seven of my brothers and my two sisters.

Word that Best Describes You: Loyal.

Personal Disclosures: I am about to retire and I am very much looking forward to enjoying more time with my family and friends, especially my two grandsons in Colorado. I have a few trips planned in 2022 to help me start the path to retirement.

What do you like best about Board of Directors’ work: This is an unknown, since I have yet to serve on the board. I have served on association and non-profit boards with people who are generous and giving of their time and freely share great ideas and wonderful advice. I very much enjoyed that camaraderie and their great candid advice.

Most important lesson learned serving on the Board of Directors: Unknown. I will attempt to make a forecast, which is that a small group of motivated individuals can make a difference and improve a place that we admire, like Central Catholic.

Person you are most interested in meeting: I’m trying to decide if it is Pope Francis or Joe Biden . . . I haven’t returned their calls yet . . . Who should I call back first?

Pet peeves: Words or actions that demean other people, especially the vulnerable in our community.

Greatest passion (besides Central Catholic): I absolutely love my family and having good times with them while on all sorts of adventures, especially rafting on the rivers of the West.

First choice for a new career: Home builder for homeless people.

Favorite quote: “My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life; to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it.” Ted Kennedy’s eulogy of his brother Robert Kennedy in 1968.

Partialities: My grandsons and my grand nieces and nephews, there is nothing I won’t do for them.

Most influential book: Undaunted Courage by Stephen E. Ambrose, 1996 Favorite website: USGS Current Conditions for Oregon_ Streamflow

🙂

Favorite cause: Oregon Food Bank Favorite movie: The Quiet Man - 1952 starring Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne, and set in Ireland.

Favorite musician: Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead Most treasured possession: Other than my house, my two 14’ Aire whitewater rafts.

Favorite vacation destination: The Rogue River in Southern Oregon Favorite restaurant: Jake’s Famous Crawfish Favorite way to spend free time: Spending my time with my wife, Laura, on a camping trip, raft trip, or just reading a book together.

Name: Peter Rauch ‘95 Occupation: Senior Vice President, Asia Direct Organization: Columbia Sportswear Company Description of Organization: Columbia Sportswear Company is a global leader in designing, sourcing, marketing, and distributing outdoor and active lifestyle apparel, footwear, accessories, and equipment.

Professional Background: Joined Columbia Sportswear Company in January 2008 as Retail Accounting Manager, was promoted to Director of Retail Accounting in April 2010, Senior Financial Controller, EMEA in June 2011, Chief Financial Officer, China in July 2013, and Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer in August 2016. Was promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer in July 2017 and appointed Senior Vice President, Asia Direct in March 2020. Prior to Columbia Sportswear Company, served as Senior Manager Accounting & Reporting for Webtrends from 2006 to 2007 and was an accountant with Deloitte from 1999 to 2006.

Education: Central Catholic High School, 1995 University of Oregon, BS Accounting and Finance Residence: Portland, Oregon Family: Wife, Colby, and daughters, Millie age 11 and Caroline age 13.

Central Catholic Connection: Alum Legacy of Service to Central Catholic: Stewardship of the Central Catholic vision to allow the Rams community to continue to thrive in the years to come.

Yardstick of Success: Personally: The most important measure of success is how you treat other people. Professionally: Helping an organization achieve its goals and enabling the creation of bolder ones.

Word that Best Describes You: Curious Person you are most interested in meeting: Satya Nadella, his intellectual curiosity is inspiring Greatest passion (besides Central Catholic): Being in the outdoors with my friends and family First Choice for a new career: Ski Patroller Favorite quote: “Be where your feet are” Most influential book: Changeable by Stuart Ablon, great tools for being intentional. Yes, I have a tween and a teen at home.

Favorite website: adventure-journal.com and eurasiagroup.net Favorite movie: A Bond or Bourne movie is a good escape Favorite musician: Luke Combs is popular on my list right now Favorite vacation destination: New Zealand Favorite restaurant: Baby Doll Pizza is my daughters’ favorite, gets me one-on-one time over a slice of pizza Favorite way to spend free time: Being in the outdoors with my friends and family

Spring 2022 | 3

ADVANCEMENT

New Endowed Scholarships In the last issue of the Central Catholic Magazine, we listed eight funds which had not quite reached full endowed status. Thanks to our readers, and to one generous donor in particular (who prefers to remain anonymous), all eight are now fully endowed, meaning they have each reached the minimum principal balance of $25,000.

Six of these funds are named scholarships: Kevin Bruer ’70 Memorial Scholarship Mary Catherine Harrington Memorial Scholarship Franklyn L. Kremers ’51 Memorial Scholarship Bill and Mary Mackin Memorial Scholarship John A. Murphy ’66 Memorial Scholarship Student Council Spirit Scholarship The remaining two are Funds which provide operational and programmatic support: Lorenz Family Fund for the Arts Sr. Jerome Zerr, OSB Quasi-Endowed Fund In addition to these eight new funds, we’d like to recognize the men of the Classes of 1962 and 1971, who worked tirelessly, before and during the pandemic, to endow their class funds. The Class of 1962 recently endowed their Legacy Fund, the purpose of which is to support facilities and facility improvements. Ken Bauman and Tony Leineweber rallied their classmates to endow this fund, which incidentally, is only the second Legacy Fund established by a Central Catholic class. (The Class of 1960 was the first.)

The Class of 1971 Endowed Scholarship will support students by providing tuition assistance. With Rick Grbavac leading the charge, and Tom Leslie, Robb Cason, Gerry Tinkle, Mike Kendig, Tom Sunseri, Dan Driscoll, Steve Fordney, Mike Terrell, and Taylor Kendall all working together, they reached their goal in a little over two years.

They, and all their classmates who stepped up with gifts, deserve congratulations for reaching their goal in such a short period of time.

We are also grateful to three Central Catholic families who have established endowed funds. First, the Pinder family (Mark ’74, Matt ’75, Mike ’77, Martin ’80, Marshall ’81, and Mary Beth ‘85, along with numerous Pinder grandchildren and many friends) established the Bob and Joanne Pinder Memorial Scholarship. Thank you also to Mike Cavalli ’59 who, with extended family and friends, has funded the JudyLee Cavalli Memorial Scholarship. Finally, we are grateful to the children and grandchildren of Florence and John Dolan for establishing the John and Florence Dolan Memorial Scholarship.

Altogether, there are thirteen newly endowed funds, all of which will benefit Central Catholic students for generations to come. We are blessed beyond measure!

If you are interested in establishing an endowed fund at Central Catholic High School, contact Ellie Dir, Vice President of Advancement: 503.230.1056 ext. 1258 or edir@centralcatholichigh.org.

4 | Central Catholic Magazine

Field Lights Dedication The most recent major capital improvement to Central Catholic’s campus came during the height of the pandemic lockdown with the installation of new lights on Joey Harrington Field in July 2020. Despite the continued lockdown and with sports canceled or delayed, students were still able to benefit. Beginning in August of that year, coaches and our Health and Wellness faculty began allowing small groups of students to sign up for workouts and practices on the field. The 2020 school year began with classes still fully remote, but it was not unusual to see small groups of fully masked student athletes working out and running drills on Harrington Field long after the sun had set.

However, because of the pandemic, it wasn’t until a cold, rainy night this past November 2021, after classes and sports had fully resumed, that we were finally able to host an official dedication of the new field lights. The event brought supporters of this project, student athletes, coaches, and administrators together to celebrate the new lights and the impact they’ve had on our students. Led by President Colin McGinty and Director of Athletics, Laura Jaeger, with Monsignor Tim Murphy ’58 kicking off the celebration with a prayer, the dedication featured testimonials by coaches and student athletes, representing nearly every sport offered at Central Catholic.

Laura Jaeger recalled, “In the past, our programs would be limited to field time and we would have to travel to off-campus facilities to accommodate our practice needs. The installment of our field lights gave our athletes and students the ability to utilize the field during the evening hours.”

She added, “These new lights are great because of the LED, LightControl technology, which allowed us to pinpoint where on the field the light is directed. This reduces the impact on the neighborhood dramatically, meaning we don’t have to worry about glare or light spilling into our neighbors’ living rooms.”

Closing the program and capping off an evening of celebration of our supporters and of Central Catholic athletics, was a special presentation by Head Varsity Football Coach Steve Pyne to Molly Sanders, mother of Cam Norris ’07 and Trey Norris ’09, thanking her for her support. Laura Jaeger summed up the evening perfectly, saying, “We feel a great deal of gratitude to everyone who helped make these lights a reality.”

PRESIDENTS’ AUCTION MEET THE S T F I G R U O HERE

W

PRESIDENTS’

WORLD

AUCTION

2 23 APR 202

Central Catholic is celebrating the Twenty-Seventh Annual Presidents’ Auction, WHERE OUR GIFTS MEET THE WORLD. It will be a celebration of our students, alumni, and community who are doing amazing things here in Portland and around the world.

We are very excited to bring you our annual Presidents’ Auction in a first-ever hybrid (virtual and in-person options) fashion!

Central Catholic High School • April 23, 2022

COCKTAIL PARTY • 4:30 p.m.

Hors d’oeuvres • Beverages • Live Music (There will be no in-person silent auction bidding*)

SHOW • 6:00 p.m.

Paddle Raise • Live (oral) Auction (The live [oral] auction will only be available to in-person attendees.)

* Online silent auction bidding begins April 11 There are three ways to help support the Presidents’ Auction: Donate Goods and Services: Consider donating gift certificates or items for the online auction! Do you have service or goods to donate or know a business that does? We are looking for gift certificates and unique experiences. Do you have a vacation home or hotel connection? We would be grateful for anything you can contribute.

Advertise your Business: Promote your business or give recognition to your family in the auction program, on the online auction, and during the live event. Ads range from business card-size to full-page in the program.

Be an Auction Sponsor: Help underwrite the auction itself with a sponsorship. Sponsorships include special recognition during the in-person event and online during the livestream and virtual auction.

Sponsors will also receive other promotional and event benefits!

WHERE OUR GIFTS MEET THE WORLD

2022 Raffle

Tickets: $100 each or six for $500 Choose from three prizes:

1

$10,000 in Visa Gift Cards and $15,000 in Travel Vouchers Winner has two (2) years to travel.

2

$25,000 Endowed Central Catholic Scholarship Named by the Raffle Winner

Winner can name an endowed scholarship, benefiting students at Central Catholic for generations to come (School chooses recipients based on award criteria mutually agreed upon by school and raffle winner).

3

$25,000 in Central Catholic Tuition and Fees

Funds will be credited to the selected student’s account and can be used for tuition, fees, and co-curricular fees. Funds cannot be applied to the lunch account. Funds can be rolled over to the next year, but no remaining funds can be distributed upon graduation.

Only 1,500 tickets to be sold Drawing will be held at the Twenty-Seventh Annual Presidents’ Auction on April 23, 2022 at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Need not be present to win! Winner is subject to all Federal and State income taxes based on the market value of the prize awarded.

For more information, to register, or to purchase raffle tickets, visit centralcatholichigh.org. Questions? Email auction@centralcatholichigh.org.

Spring 2022 | 5

CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS

Students pose in front of the Capitol Building during their trip to Washington, D.C. for the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice, a conference that examines social justice issues through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.

The Rams Football team celebrates their win against Tualatin High School in the OSAA 6A State Football Championship on December 3, 2021.

The Rams’ Cross Country teams complete outstanding seasons, with our boys finishing second in state and the girls finishing seventh.

Seniors speak with a representative on December 1, 2021, during our annual Democracy in Action event.

Cast and crew members bring to life the classic film and popular board game, Clue, in their fall drama production.

The Rams’ Varsity Volleyball team finish fourth in state after completing an incredible season and claiming the title as Mt. Hood Conference Champions, with a 16-0 league record.

Student leaders pose for a group picture during the December Search Retreat. After nearly a two-year hiatus, we were able to hold this retreat again at Eagle Fern Camp.

Jerry Gianotti ’52 and grandson Dominic Gianotti ’25 enjoy Grandparents and Special Friends Day at Central Catholic.

6 | Central Catholic Magazine

WEEK OF GIVING

Week of Giving Two years ago, Central Catholic combined our annual Food, Coat, Blanket, and Penny Drive with our Alumni Food Box Drive, calling it the Week of Giving. The impetus for this combined event was to provide opportunities for community members outside of the student body— parents, alumni, staff, and friends of the school—to be involved and give back.

With this expansion, the hope was also to increase participation and therefore create a bigger impact for the local organizations benefiting from donations. The response from the community was outstanding: increased donated items, participation, volunteers, and monetary gifts.

This past December, the Central Catholic community once again stepped up to give back through donations and volunteering, making the annual Week of Giving a huge success.

Throughout that week, our community collected non-perishable food items and packed boxes that went to local St. Vincent de Paul food pantries across Portland. We took in coat and blanket donations to benefit the individuals served by St. André Bessette, and belts and socks for Blanchet House. Lastly, we collected Christmas presents that benefited the individuals and families served by Catholic Charities of Oregon.

All of these donations, along with the countless hours our volunteers spent taking in donations, packing food boxes, and delivering items, has had a tremendous impact on our local community.

Here is a look at the number of donated items during the Week of Giving: • 18,000 pounds of food items • 574 coats • 226 blankets • 126 Giving Tree gifts • 138 belts • 1,355 pairs of socks

Week of Giving Partners We would like to thank the following parishes and organizations for partnering with us in helping the Portland community during the holiday season and beyond: All Saints Blanchet House Catholic Charities Holy Redeemer Holy Trinity St. Anthony St. Agatha St. André Bessette St. Cecilia St. Clare St. Ignatius St. John the Apostle St. John the Baptist St. John Fisher St. Rita St. Rose of Lima St. Vincent de Paul The Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation Vasquez Migrant Camp In-Kind Donor: Dave’s Killer Bread We are immensely grateful to our community for their generosity and willingness to help those in need in our community!

Spring 2022 | 7

ACADEMIC CORNER

Chris McLean ’94 - Music is Life Starting at 6:45 in the morning and ending at nearly 10:00 at night, Chris McLean’s days are long and constantly revolve around music.

Whether it’s teaching, playing, setting up, conducting, or rehearsing music, his schedule is packed nearly every day of the week throughout the school year.

But this busy schedule is nothing new to Chris. As the current Director of Central Catholic’s Music Department and a product of this same program nearly thirty years ago as a student, he’s well accustomed to the demands of a music program.

“Between playing band at 7:00 a.m., Jazz Band somewhere during the day, and working on whatever the next theater show was, I was here from sunup to sundown,” Chris explains, adding with a smile, “same as I am now.”

His long days are reflective of his love for music, coupled with his passion for teaching and helping students to grow and learn. “I wouldn’t want to teach anything else. But music is just the mechanism that gets kids to grow, mature, and become better people.”

Along with the foundation built by numerous teachers before him, Chris’s passion and hard work has helped to grow Central Catholic’s music program to where it is today–a thriving program that fosters both students’ academic and personal growth, setting them on a path to success in college, their careers, and life.

Chris’s passion for music took off while he was a student at Central Catholic. He played in the band all four years and was in the Jazz Band nearly every year in high school. But what really struck his interest while he was a student was getting involved in the theater department.

“My sophomore year, I started doing the lights and sound and sets for the theater, which was being built that year [1992],” Chris shares.

8 | Central Catholic Magazine

“That passion for theater came from having a blank slate…no one had worked on it before, it was completely new.”

This newness and the endless potential are prime reasons Chris enrolled at Central Catholic in the first place, and something he tries to bring to his teaching today. “I chose Central because it wasn’t prescriptive … Rather than having a formula already there, kids are a little more self-directed here_and I enjoy that and try to make sure that the students continue to do that now.”

After graduating from Central Catholic in 1994, Chris went on to attend Portland Community College, completing a year of coursework before transferring to the University of Portland. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics Education and Music Education, and shortly thereafter landed a job at La Salle Catholic College Preparatory, teaching a small band of about 30 students. He spent a few years at La Salle before moving on to pursue his master’s degree.

“I wanted to get a feeling of a large band, so I decided to get my grad degree at the University of North Texas,” he shares.

Chris completed graduate school, got married, and eventually moved back to Portland. He substitute taught for about a year before the music teaching position opened up at Central Catholic. He applied for and got the job, launching into motion his now decade-long career as Central Catholic’s music teacher.

Building the Music Program Starting at Central Catholic in 2009, Chris came into a music program that had a great foundation, built by talented and passionate teachers before him. But even with a great foundation, he immediately saw room for growth, both with the program and the students with whom he would work.

ACADEMIC CORNER One thing he noticed right away was that the ensembles were a bit different. “The morning band was more of a jazz band with very odd instrumentations. We had three or four guitars and four flutes and clarinets.” Despite the odd instrumentation, Chris adapted and shifted his instruction in order to meet the needs of the students and the ensembles.

“One of those years, our jazz band had such odd instrumentation that it wasn’t a jazz band at all—it was a Latin salsa group,” he laughs.

“That was the instrumentation I had: percussionists, guitarists, and trumpets. We played Latin music and did really well with it.”

The success of these groups is reflective of Chris’s approach to teaching, and his focus on students’ success and growth. “You have to bend music to whomever you have in the room at the time and make it work,” he says.

While his adaptation to different instrumentation and ensembles was successful, other external factors proved to be quite challenging. One of the most glaring hurdles at the time was the location of the band room.

The band room was in the basement, classroom B1, where the art rooms are currently located. It was temporarily moved there when the main gym was being built in the 1980s, and it just ended up staying. Those rooms, which used to be the old locker rooms for the Memorial Gym, were not conducive to playing instruments. “The acoustics were atrocious,” Chris remembers. “The ceiling was sloped and it was an echo chamber.”

This center was a huge step in advancing the music program and providing students with the best opportunities for them to grow and learn.

Robust Music Program at Central Catholic The courses offered within the Music Department are designed to serve students of all different levels. From those who have little to no experience to those who play at an advanced level, there are a plethora of opportunities for all students to continue to learn, grow, and be supported.

Central Catholic offers traditional classes that are typically found in most schools with a music program. Band is offered all semesters during zero period (before school), and is for students who play a band instrument and want to explore contemporary wind ensemble music. Honors Jazz Band is for experienced performers of brass, saxophone, or rhythm section instruments, and they perform in multiple concerts outside the classroom setting. Concert Choir is a course that is open to all students as well, and is focused on developing the vocal skills for individual and group singing.

“I wouldn’t want to teach anything else.

But music is just the mechanism that gets kids to grow, mature, and become better people.”

The acoustics impacted how students performed outside of the school. “If we ever took students to competition, they never played right because they weren’t used to playing in a space that absorbed their sound.

They were used to playing in a space that reflected sound back at them, so their sound was stilted and quiet.”

Then there are classes that are more unique to Central Catholic, created with specific skill development and student growth in mind.

The newest class offered is Fundamentals of Making Music, which covers the basic concepts of music. “I came up with this course two years ago,” Chris says. “It’s designed to give an overview of how to play piano, guitar, and drums to students who’ve never had the opportunity to learn those instruments.” This class, which is available to all, makes it possible for students to start learning music at any level.

Chris did his best despite the challenges of the space, but there were times when it inevitably got to him.

Another unique course is Electronic Music Lab, which was started by former music teacher Jack Quinby in the mid-1990s. In this class, students are introduced to electronic music, beats, looping, synthesis, sampling, and composing. There are three different levels of this course, each one building upon knowledge and skills learned in the last.

“I was at a breaking point one day, a year or two before they built the new music room. I was sitting down in the music room and someone was working out in the gym, throwing a medicine ball on the floor right above me,” he remembers.

This class was still around when Chris came in, and he has since made several improvements and updates, noting, “Technology has changed so much in just 20 years. Jack started the class with five old PCs, and taught students how to compose music using computer generated tones.”

He taught in that space for six years, up until the new Gloria Henry Dakin Music Center was completed in 2015. The new music center played a big part in bringing the music program to its full potential.

With great acoustics, ample room for students, instruments, and equipment, multiple practice rooms, and a recording room, Chris was excited that the new space reflected the needs of Central Catholic students. He was able to provide input on the plans, tailoring specific aspects to the students_who are constantly busy throughout the day.

Electronic Music Lab has garnered a lot of interest throughout its time at Central Catholic and is open to any student. “It’s designed for a kid who may not know anything about reading and playing music, but they want to compose and write music and hear their beats.”

“I asked for one of the practice rooms to be used outside of the classroom, so that students could access it when the classroom was locked, or after hours. I also asked for lockers to be on the outside rather than the inside, because students need to get to them at all hours of the day.”

The final course, one that Chris also added during his time teaching here, is called Music Production Lab. Available to all grade levels, this class is designed for the modern instrument players and vocalists and those who are interested in careers in music beyond just playing instruments. It focuses on rehearsing and playing modern music, and covers other topics such as stage performance, music marketing, production, and recording.

Spring 2022 | 9

ACADEMIC CORNER Chris started this class after recognizing a need for focusing on students who are modern instrument players. “When you have a band and you have a bass and guitar, you have music for them, but they typically don’t have too much of a place in concert band literature.”

He continues, “And you have a lot of other students who want to rap, play drums or rock music, so they need a place where they can play and also become a better musician.”

This class has become incredibly popular, and it’s been momentous in its impact on students throughout the years.

“Since this has started, I’ve had more students that graduated from Central and gone on to careers in music, or tangentially related to music, that came from Music Production Class.” It opens students up to a whole world of possibilities within the music industry, and gives them the skills necessary to take those next steps pursuing music.

All of these academic courses are a huge part of what makes Central Catholic’s music program stand out. Classes such as Electronic Music Production and Music Production Lab are what Chris would consider “hidden gems of the Music Department,” and not something that other schools in the area offer.

But it’s not just coursework that fosters a thriving music environment within the school. Like Chris when he was a student at Central Catholic, many find their spark while participating in the theater program. Whether it be through acting, singing, playing music, or working tech, students are able to try new things and broaden their experiences. It’s another avenue for them to try something different and find their passion.

In addition to theater, one of the most well-known and popular musicrelated extracurricular activities within the school is Open Mic Night.

“Open Mic Nights are so phenomenal and I think they’re really unrivaled by any other school,” Chris shares. “Every school does a talent show, but we do four a year; they’re student-led, and truly fantastic.”

Outcomes, Goals, and Student Growth Measuring outcomes for students who go through the music program is a lot less data-driven and much more focused on holistic growth and goals. When asked about the most important outcomes for students, Chris answers right away: to become a better musician. Because of this broad goal, the approach for supporting students in this growth can vary widely. “I’ve never been a teacher that’s had the same lesson plan every year,” he says. “So as the needs of the kids change, then the content also changes to reflect their goals and outcomes.”

He continues, “Sometimes grading means showing up. It means rehearsing and performing in the concert. As long as they’re all working towards making the group better, the sound better, and doing what it takes to do that, then their grade reflects that work.”

Chris’s goal for students is not only to make them better musicians, but for them to be lifelong musicians.

“No matter what they choose to do, or what career they end up pursuing, what I want for them is to have a lifelong love of music and to play and appreciate it for the rest of their lives in some capacity…

And to become better advocates for the arts,” he adds. “I want them to have an experience that took them to a new place, opened up their minds, and made them better students so that later on they can advocate for the arts and continue to appreciate it.”

10 | Central Catholic Magazine

In order to achieve these goals and outcomes, Chris focuses on helping students grow academically, personally, and as a group.

That starts with creating an environment of community support in the classroom, for all students at different levels.

“You have to have an ensemble that has community support, works with each other, and appreciates each other so that the kids that are new feel appreciated and welcomed, and want to work hard to get better,” he says.

While Chris works with students one-on-one and builds relationships to ensure they are continuing to grow and learn and get better, it’s the motivation within the student that will ultimately make them successful.

“A student is going to do well in an ensemble if they respect the ensemble by rehearsing with them, going home and practicing so they can be better,” Chris explains. And not only that, but their passion is what pushes them to be better. “For many students, music is a passion, it’s a language, it’s what they do, who they are. This is their space to be and grow and make friends.”

Music is Fundamental Chris’s passion for music and teaching is what drives his desire to be immersed in it all day long. He believes in the importance of music and how it can form students to be better individuals. It’s a mechanism for growth and parallels how one can navigate life, providing opportunities to learn.

“Music is a team activity where you can’t lose, and you can’t be a bench warmer, and you’re not a starter, but you’re always playing and you have to play the best you possibly can, all the time,” Chris explains. “And so you have to work hard. The payoff is tremendous.

It’s life-changing, makes you better, teaches you how to be in the world, how to communicate with others, and how to work together with others.”

Much like any lessons learned in life, those acquired while in the music program help one to grow and get better.

And for Chris, his own drive to help students grow goes back to his passion for teaching. “Why do we teach?” he poses the question. “It’s to give kids the opportunity to succeed and grow. I wake up and it’s the reason I want to get to school. It’s all about helping kids get better.”

ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP PROFILE

Friends of Fine Arts Scholarship The Friends of Fine Arts (FOFA) was a Central Catholic parent organization active in the mid-1990s through the mid-2000s. Its primary purpose was to ensure that students had a well-rounded experience at Central Catholic, meaning that in addition to a supportive and tightknit school community, rich academic offerings, and successful athletic programs, students would have an enhanced experience of and access to the arts.

Valerie Harrington, (wife of John ’66 and mother to Joey ’97, Michael ’01, and Nick ’03) who led the organization in the late 1990s, remembers selling Italian sodas and espresso drinks during school events to raise money in service to FOFA’s goal of promoting and enhancing the arts at Central Catholic. As she put it, “My inspiration for getting behind this effort was the HEAVY emphasis on athletics in our sons’ lives. I wanted them exposed to the Arts in equal measure.”

Central Catholic parents, Terry and Gayle Pizzuto, Dianne McLean (mother of Chris McLean ’94, chair of Central Catholic’s Fine Arts Department, and Teresa McLean Carlton ’96), and the late Lorraine and Jerry Justis (parents of Cecily ’89 [also deceased], Erica ’92, and Juliet ’94) were the co-founders of FOFA. Terry recalls that at the time his son, Chris Pizzuto ’94, and daughter, Gina Pizzuto Welch ’92, were students at Central Catholic, “The Fred G. Meyer Performing Arts Center (PAC) hadn’t even been built yet. The Band was small, with just a handful of students_and I think they were practicing under the stairs or in a closet somewhere. Something had to be done.”

He recalls selling snacks with other parents in the Snack Shack.

Gayle Pizzuto recalls FOFA raising money at a food booth at Central Catholic’s Oktoberfest event at Holladay Park. She also recalls Central Catholic’s band director at the time, Jack Quinby, as being instrumental in the work of FOFA.

“Jack Quinby was a godsend,” she exclaims. “He encouraged his band students to attend FOFA meetings to advocate for the needs of their program, which they did_and it was a great experience for them. Father Murphy, (now Monsignor Murphy), also lent his support at meetings.”

FOFA members were highly motivated and their positive energy has endured, creating lasting benefits for Central Catholic. One of the crowning achievements of FOFA was establishing a fund which continues to impact students today. This fund had two goals, the first of which was to recognize students through a scholarship award for their outstanding achievement in drama, music, or the visual arts. The second goal was to provide funding through a special restricted fund designated for enrichment activities, including special events or field trips, or other uses as approved by the Fine Arts Department.

One year, funds were used to purchase a new fire-proof curtain for the PAC. In other years, funds were used to purchase art supplies for photography, printmaking, and other art classes offered at Central Catholic, as well as transportation and tickets to a museum exhibit.

With their fundraising efforts, gifts from the community, and one sizable estate gift, the fund reached endowed status in 2000. To date, more than 30 Central Catholic students have benefitted from the Friends of Fine Arts Scholarship while countless others have been impacted by the opportunities made available through the restricted fund.

While FOFA no longer exists as a parent organization at Central Catholic, its impact has remained constant, with an unexpected bonus.

Gayle Pizzuto says, “We met so many great people, some of whom are friends to this day. Best of all, our kids, through their involvement in the arts, made lasting friendships. Those relationships are priceless. The memories they made will last forever.”

Spring 2022 | 11

ALUMNI PROFILE

Ian Montone

Class of 1985

For Ian Montone ‘85, his journey to become a music manager parallels this winding path.

This path to success, while years in the making, took root early in the foundation of his life and has grown through the breadth of his experiences and education. A large part of this foundation, Ian shares, was built during his time at Central Catholic. His ability to think differently, work hard, and explore his interests and passions all took root as a student at Central Catholic and continued to play a significant role in his journey.

Starting from his humble beginnings as a student at Central Catholic, to studying philosophy in college, traveling throughout the world, earning a law degree, and then eventually landing in Los Angeles and building a prolific music management company – his journey is a prime example of an unconventional path towards one’s passion.

Finding His Place at Central Catholic Prior to starting at Central Catholic, Ian’s experiences within educational settings weren’t always the best fit for him. The school environments in which he found himself often proved to be a mismatch for his inquisitive nature.

Today, Ian runs Monotone Inc., a successful artist management company that represents the likes of Jack White, Vampire Weekend, LCD Soundsystem, The Shins, Jonah Hill, and Jamie Foxx, to name just a few.

“I was a kid with a lot of energy, endless questions about the world and how it worked, coupled with a speech impediment (which I resolved through a lot of speech therapy and patient teachers)…

School was a struggle early on,” Ian shares.

The journey in finding one’s passion and purpose is rarely a straightforward path. Often replete with a myriad of twists, detours, and stops along the way, it can lead us in ways in which we’d never imagine.

12 | Central Catholic Magazine

ALUMNI PROFILE As an eighth grader weighing options for where to attend high school, he considered Central Catholic as an opportunity to reset and start new.

“I wanted a fresh start and change,” he explains. “I had gone to three elementary schools prior to Central Catholic – a mix of public and private – all on the west side of Portland. Some had no structure, and others were too regimented and limited for me.”

His parents believed the structure and discipline of Central Catholic would suit him. His older brother, Jay ‘83, had attended Central Catholic, and Ian and his family knew what the school had to offer.

Still, his drive was spurred by his desire to try something different.

“The fact that it was on the other side of town…seemed like an adventure to me,” he adds.

Ian decided to attend Central Catholic and began his freshman year in 1981, just one year after the school had become coed. He was joining a community that had, in itself, a sense of newness and renewed energy, balanced with one of structure and community.

“You became part of something at Central, which I appreciated.

Be that its history, the culture it imbued, the traditions,” Ian explains “There was some permanence to it – a stability which I was seeking whether I knew it or not.”

This fresh start, coupled with a sense of structure and stability, allowed Ian to thrive. He quickly became immersed in the life of the school, pursuing his various interests and expanding his creative experiences.

“I was pretty active. I played soccer and football. I was the editor of the school paper, the Rampart. We also ran an alternative school paper called the Scampart, which was our version of the Harvard Lampoon - and,” he continues, “I was the student body vice president.”

On the academic side, Ian enjoyed his classes and gained formative insight from his teachers. Amongst the many teachers he had, Bill Sprinkle stands out as one of the most impactful.

“Bill Sprinkle’s classes on American history really pushed and challenged,” he recalls. “He wanted you to question whatever paradigms were being presented within the textbooks we would use…That history is based on perspective and who was writing it.”

In addition to his teachers and classes, the diversity of Central Catholic’s student body left an indelible impression on his worldview and perspectives.

“Central pulled students from different parts of Portland,” he explains. “I was exposed to so many people from so many different backgrounds, and that really has informed me and how I see the world.”

With students coming from all over the city, including Ian, who lived on the west side of Portland, there was an inherent sense of community within the school.

“I think we’re all seeking community and family one way or another,” he explains. “Central – because of its teaching staff and size – was able to offer that to me. No one gets lost.”

Perhaps the impact most poignantly woven throughout his life, was the decision itself to attend Central Catholic. He made this decision of his own volition and it carried a lot of importance for him, especially because he had to work hard to be there. “I was on financial aid, working partly during summer vacation, painting hallways, scraping floors with razors,” he recalls.

The resulting responsibility Ian took on pushed him to have ownership in his decision and shift his outlook to be positive. “I didn’t take going to school for granted because it wasn’t free and I knew my parents were making sacrifices.”

That lesson, working hard and not taking things for granted, has become an indispensable one for Ian, steeped throughout every facet of his life.

Beyond 24th and Stark Much like the impetus for his decision to attend Central Catholic, Ian wanted to experience something new and different after high school. He explains, “Central just helped teach me how to think and when it came to choosing different colleges. I just wanted something different.”

He decided to attend Occidental College in Los Angeles and study philosophy. Being in Los Angeles was an eye-opener for Ian, a stark transition compared to the small city feel of Portland. But he loved it, and graduated with a major in Philosophy and minors in both Political Science and Religious Studies–areas of study that would eventually lead him on the path to study law.

After college, he started his pursuit of work in the legal field and got a job at a law firm called Skadden Arps in Los Angeles as a legal assistant. At the time, Skadden Arps had a program in which they would pay for two-thirds of law school for employees who worked there for a designated period of time. Ian, with the value of hard work instilled in him, in part from his time at Central Catholic, was able to get part of his law school paid for as a result of his work at the firm.

Ian had his sights on law school in the near future, but with his intrepid spirit and ever-present desire to explore, he took a year off to travel around the world. During that time, he visited India, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States on a budget of only $2,500, which, he admits, was “pretty insane when I think about it.” He had a goal of traveling for one year, but ended his trip after nine months. “I backpacked, stayed in hostels, worked weird jobs, and stretched it out as much as I could.”

With his global travels now concluded, he went on to pursue his law degree, attending Vermont Law School as well as The University of California, Hastings College of the Law, focusing on environmental law. He graduated and moved to the Washington, DC area to work for a consulting firm called Development Alternatives.

While he was pursuing his career in the legal field, his younger brother, Paul, was working for an independent record label in Portland, called Tim/Kerr Records. Knowing that Ian was an attorney, Paul would call him with legal questions about recording agreements.

Ian, who grew up in a family that loved music, and would constantly listen, analyze, and discuss it, had a light go off in his head. He remembers thinking, “Wait, you can be a lawyer in the music business?”

Spring 2022 |13

ALUMNI PROFILE This realization prompted him to take a leap and pursue a career in the music business. He moved back to Los Angeles and began to build a legal practice as a young music attorney in the mid 1990s.

Carrying the values of determination and creativity with him, he dove in and quickly hit his stride within the music industry.

“I worked as a contract lawyer at a law firm called Munger Tolles, while trying to scrape together a small practice on the side.” He explains, “That small practice became a big practice, and I became a name partner at what became Davis, Shapiro, Levit, Montone, and Hayes – at the time, one of the largest music practices in the country.”

His momentum and success in the industry didn’t stop there. Through his work, Ian met Jack and Meg White, who at the time had a band called the White Stripes. Shortly thereafter he became their lawyer and then their manager. Then, he shifted into building Monotone Inc., a artist management company that he grew into a prolific business and still runs today.

Now, Ian and his team manage a slew of musicians and actors, “ranging from Jack White, The Shins, LCD Soundsystem, Wallows, Vampire Weekend, to Jaime Foxx and Jonah Hill,” he lists.

Ian’s hard work and ability to think differently has benefitted him in running a company of this scale, as the work constantly requires him to be strategic and find creative solutions.

“My job as an artist manager is to manage the careers of very creative people – musicians and actors,” he explains. “And to help them strategize and build and sustain their careers.” And, he continues, “Help turn their ideas into businesses and ideally make people believe in those ideas.”

No day is the same for Ian in his work, which is often determined by what’s happening in the lives and careers of the artist or actor with whom he’s working.

“We more or less sit at the center of what’s going on in their world, whether it’s negotiating record deals, mapping out strategy, setting up tours, getting records made, to helping pick songs – really every aspect of what they do,” Ian says. “On the film side, it’s reading scripts and helping films get made. But really, everything in between for any artist.”

Ian and his wife, Mary Ellen, and son, Luka.

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The variety in his work is one of the main reasons he loves his job, and the creative process is in line with his skillset and passion. “I love artists,” he shares. “I love music. I love the creative process. So it really doesn’t feel like a job.”

Ian’s career is just one of his passions and what fulfills him. Outside of work, he enjoys cooking, reading, traveling, and watching a game– or two–of soccer.

“I love soccer,” he says. “I spend a lot of time watching it. I am part of the ownership group of Venezia F.C. in Italy…and I am Vice President at Luton Town F.C., …who are in the Championship in England…and I’m a season ticket holder for the Portland Timbers. So I pay a lot of attention to all those sides.”

But what he truly cares for and finds grounding in, are the people in his life. “I love spending time with my son and family,” he shares.

“Being a father constantly presents me with a different perspective on life, on what’s important and what’s valuable. Because you learn quickly that time is finite, it goes fast, and it’s really all that we have.

So I’m trying to use it wisely.”

An Enduring Foundation Ian’s journey toward his life as a father, husband, music manager, lawyer, world traveler, and so much more, while seemingly sinuous, has been guided by his character and values. The formation of many of these guiding principles has ties back to when he was a student at Central Catholic.

He looks back on his time at Central Catholic with both fondness and a clearer perspective. He’s gained fundamental insight that he’s carried with him throughout his life.

Ian puts it in perspective: “[Central Catholic] is literally this brick edifice that’s not going anywhere. There’s obviously an ethical grounding to that community and that sticks with you – doing your best to do the right thing.”

Even in the heart of Los Angeles, managing the careers of some of the world’s biggest artists, he remains grounded to his ties with Central Catholic and the invaluable lessons learned and character built during his time as a Ram.

Ian and his client, actor and comedian Jonah Hill.

Ian poses for a photo with musicians Jack White (left) and Paul McCartney (right).

ALUMNI NEWS Dale Torres ’73 wrote in to share the news that his third grandchild, Riley, was born on December 23, 2021. She joins brothers Kieran (10) and Kellan (7).

We were delighted to hear from Gina (Pizzuto) Welch ’92, who let us know that she, her husband Wyatt, and two of their three children, daughter Ella (15), and son Ryan (13), moved to Saucier, Mississippi in June of 2021. Son Aubrey (19) remains in Portland and is working full time at Classic Pianos. Ella and Ryan attend St. Patrick’s Catholic High School in nearby Biloxi. Gina is a licensed real estate agent and continues to work with her Oregon team, albeit remotely from Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. Her husband Wyatt, although retired from the military, continues his work (also remotely) as a civilian employee of the Oregon National Guard as a budget analyst. They love the slower pace of the South and the lifestyle that can be found in a smaller city. Gina is looking forward to traveling to Portland and connecting with her Central Catholic classmates at their 30th reunion this September!

Janelle (Vincent) O’Rourke ’97 graduated with a teaching degree from New Mexico State University in 2002 and then taught elementary school in New Mexico for two years and worked in education in New York City for one year. After taking a year off to travel through Europe, she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2006. She received her master’s degree in Educational Leadership with a minor in Teaching English as a Second Language in 2009. Janelle has been teaching eighth grade Pre-Algebra and Algebra I since 2013. She is also a math coach and leads various educational trainings in Nevada.

She married Mike O’Rourke in 2013 in Las Vegas, and together they have a daughter, Ava Marie (5), and a son, Michael “Mikey” Marc (2).

Megan (Marineau) Aguon ’05 and husband Julian welcomed a daughter, Avery Ann, on January 10, 2022.

Arielle (Bettendorf) Curtis ’07 and husband Peter welcomed a son, Phelps (above), on January 7, 2022. He joins sisters Smith (3) and Lincoln (1).

Chris Pizzuto ’94 reports that he has been working for Multnomah County the past nine years and recently started a new job in the Aging, Disability and Veterans Services division. Chris, who trained as a social worker, described his role as “helping folks navigate the system so they can get their benefits.” Previously, Chris worked with the Multnomah County Health Department as an eligibility specialist. He is married to Tia and is the father of two daughters, Vanessa (20) and Samantha (15).

Theresa (Wong) Bigler ’08 and Jeff Bigler ’08 welcomed a son, George, on September 23, 2021. He joins sister Loretta (2).

Gabriella Pinder Little ’08 and Ryan Little ’08 welcomed a daughter, Evelyn Graciela Maria, on October 11, 2021.

Kelsey Schneider ’08 married Daniel Machuca on August 11, 2021 at Saltwater Farm in Friday Harbor, Washington.

Zachary Pyne ’16 wrote in, sharing that he has recently taken a job at a local startup called FuelCloud, which provides fuel management technology for fleet owners and businesses that use bulk fuel. He started as an intern at the company in 2020, after graduating from the University of Oregon. He was hired full-time in September as a sales rep and has since been promoted to Senior Account Manager, helping to develop the Customer Success Department.

Ellie (Trebelhorn) Kessler ’08 and husband Tim welcomed twins, Henry Richmond and Emma Patricia, on November 17, 2021. They join brother Teddy (2).

Spring 2022 |15

ALUMNI NEWS

2017 grads Malika Washington, Daelyn Newman, Grace Dooney, Rose Anderson, and Anna Puetz (Class of 2014) enjoy great wine and company during the 2021 Women’s Wine Tour.

Some graduates from the Class of 1962 gathered for a weekend of fun with their spouses in late October 2021 in Yachats, Oregon. Pictured, from left to right: Dennis Ellingson, Ray Kelly, John Joyce, Eddie Anglim, Ed DeBiose.

2022 Hall of Fame The Central Catholic High School Hall of Fame recognizes Central Catholic alumni - and other prominent members of the Central Catholic community - who have brought honor to the school through their achievements both during their high school years and after. We honor them in the Hall of Fame every five years with the hope that their achievements will serve as an example for others.

Nominees to the Central Catholic Hall of Fame are considered by a selection committee. Any person or team can be nominated and all qualifying nominations will be considered. Those individuals or teams selected will be honored at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

We need your help! The selection process begins with an invitation to the Central Catholic community to make nominations. To review the criteria, see a list of past inductees, and fill out the nomination form, please visit centralcatholichigh.org/alumni/hall-of-fame. Completed nomination forms are due May 6, 2022.

We appreciate your input! Questions? Contact Sara Wright at swright@centralcatholichigh.org or 503.230.1056 ext. 1243.

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Welcome to the Alumni Association Board Kate (Brown) Evenson ’05 graduated from Marquette University College of Nursing in 2009. She moved back to Portland right after college to be closer to family. She worked as a nurse at St. Vincent Hospital in Portland for 10 years before moving into a clinical role with Abbott Medical. She is married and has two kids: Caroline (7) and Connor (4). Kate enjoys spending time outdoors, especially at the coast with her husband, Andrew, children, and dog, Sadie.

Kate is still very close to several of her friends that she met at Central Catholic and looks forward to getting more involved through the Alumni Board.

Save the Dates Ram Open

August 5, 2022

Reunions

(1940s • 1952 • 1962 • 1972 • 1982) August 6, 2022

Alumni Brew Tour

September 17, 2022

Alumni Oktoberfest Marketplace and Beer Garden September 24, 2022

Alumni Women’s Wine Tour October 8, 2022

More information is available on our website: centralcatholichigh.org/alumni Questions? Contact Sara Wright at swright@centralcatholichigh.org or 503.230.1056 ext. 1243.

IN MEMORY In Memory • Alumni John Frederick von Weiss ’46 July 22, 2021

In Memory • Family of Alumni Jorge Esteban Algeciras September 22, 2021

Daniel Michael Duffy ’51 October 24, 2021

Janet (Doerfler) Altman December 30, 2021

Richard John Maloney ’51 December 19, 2021

Mary Frances Bastasch September 20, 2021

Richard Steve Ciceric ’54 September 16, 2021

William Charles Blaufus October 18, 2021

Harry Mitchell Hanna ’54 November 25, 2021

Mary Wanda Bloom September 14, 2021

William Owen Klein ’54 November 8, 2021

Mary Alice Carroll December 3, 2021

Thomas James Hurley ’56 January 13, 2022

Elizabeth Ann Cebula September 9, 2021

James Sumner Backenstos ’60 January 10, 2022

Violet Ferrero Costanzo December 17, 2021

David Arthur Mariman ’61 January 11, 2022

Gina DeFazio 2021

Thomas Anthony Bridges ’62 December 26, 2021

Robert Edward Dorney August 30, 2021

Thomas James Nolan ’62 February 4, 2022

Douglas Eberwein April 8, 2021

Ronald Dean Rust ’62 November 21, 2021

James Emrick August 26, 2021

Paul Richard Robedeau ’63 November 20, 2021

Gloria L. Fader December 24, 2021

James Patrick Clay ’64 May 29, 2021

Robert C. Farentinos December 28, 2021

Vincent Justin McGilvra ’64 October 13, 2021

Daniel Eugene Feltz October 3, 2021

Robert James Swanberg ’64 January 4, 2022

Mary “Elaine” Garrow November 25, 2021

Timothy Eugene Ryan ’66 December 13, 2021

Joan Loraine Gilbertz December 11, 2021

Stephen Alan Judge ’72 January 20, 2022

Michael Joseph Hainley April 8, 2021

David James Connell ’78 November 2, 2021

Susan Katherine Harold July 27, 2021

Randy George Wosepka ’80 November 29, 2021

Mary Beth Dyer Healy December 21, 2021

James Joseph Blatner ’81 February 23, 2022

Matthew Henningsen November 13, 2021

Kathryn Grace “Kata” Arnerich ’07 December 22, 2021

Barbara Imroth September 6, 2021

Kimberly Ann Jonak December 24, 2021 Patricia Ann Keough June 16, 2021 Robert A. Kreiter August 31, 2021 Robert J. Kuzma December 2, 2021 Kathleen Kelly Lemma October 4, 2021 Lillian Okazaki October 24, 2021 Marilyn Katherine O’Neill December 29, 2021 Mary Carol Pavlakovich December 11, 2021 Shannon Pease Pratt November 26, 2021 Pearl Prevo May 13, 2021 Marguerite Anne Reilly December 6, 2021 Douglas “Dutch” Schellinkhout December 10, 2021 Anne A. Schmidt December 16, 2021 Phyllis Schumacher-Burger December 4, 2021 Lucille Ann Smith January 15, 2020 José Téllez December 24, 2021 Muriel Joan Wah June 11, 2021 Vivienne Katherine Wiese December 27, 2021 Elinor “Ditsy” Zener August 19, 2021 Larry “Coach” McKinney passed away on November 2, 2021. After retirement from Parkrose High School, Larry accepted a position coaching football at Central Catholic High School, where his three sons had attended. He remained active here until his Parkinson’s disease prevented him from continuing. He considered this time coaching the motivated students at Central Catholic to be the best of his life.

Spring 2022 |17

Central Catholic

Non-profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Portland, OR Permit No. 441

HIGH SCHOOL

2401 Southeast Stark Street • Portland, Oregon 97214

Upcoming Events March 21-25 Spring Break

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April

May

June 3

Senior Awards Assembly 9:30 a.m.

3

Baccalaureate Mass 1:00 p.m.

7-8

Noho’s Hawaiian Cafe Restaurant Night* 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

6

Graduation 6:00 p.m.

Hillsboro Stadium

Good Friday - No School

19

Father’s Day

17

Easter Sunday

20

Juneteenth Holiday

23

Presidents’ Auction Where Our Gifts Meet the World 4:30 p.m.

3

Mother Son Brunch

5-6

8

Harlow Restaurant Night* 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Miss Delta Restaurant Night* Noon - 8:00 p.m.

8

Mother’s Day

9

Father Daughter Dance

27

End of the Year Mass

10

Palm Sunday

30

11

Online Silent Auction Begins

Memorial Day Holiday No School

14

Holy Thursday

15

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centralcatholichigh.org

* Restaurant Nights are fundraisers where local restaurants donate a percentage of the sales from that day to Central Catholic High School.

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