Spring 2023

Central Catholic magazine Spring 2023

CENTRAL CATHOLIC YEAR OF THE WOMAN

Celebrating 40 Years of Alumnae

Save the Date: Friday, August 4, 2023 Glendoveer Golf Course • Noon Shotgun Start Four-person scramble with boxed lunch and swag bag followed by the awards dinner.

Cost: $150 per person/$600 per foursome Thank you to our presenting sponsor:

Who are those gals anyway?

Who are these students? Identify the individuals 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.

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

Several wrote in with guesses for “Who are those guys anyway?” from the last issue, but there can only be one winner.

Congratulations to Cecil Jarmer ’73. He correctly guessed his old High-Q team: Cecil Jarmer ’73, Robert Mercer ’73, Eric Heim ’73, and Mike Young ’75.

R E U N I O N S

All Classes of the 1940s Classes of 1942-1949 70-Year Reunion Class of 1953 60-Year Reunion Class of 1963 50-Year Reunion Class of 1973 40-Year Reunion Class of 1983

August 5, 2023 • 3:00-6:00 p.m.

Central Catholic Campus Appetizers | Drinks | Photos | Campus Tours Check the website for updates: centralcatholichigh.org/alumni/reunions

Features: On the Cover

1983 was a groundbreaking year for Central Catholic as 40 years ago, these students proudly left their mark as the first girls to graduate from Central Catholic.

Volume 30 • Number 1 • Winter 2023 Central Catholic Magazine is a publication of Central Catholic High School 2401 SE Stark Street • Portland, Oregon 97214 503.230.1056 • centralcatholichigh.org

40 Years of Alumnae Page 4

Leadership Rev. Msgr. Timothy Murphy ’58, President Emeritus Colin McGinty, President Danyelle Ramsey, Principal Ellie Dir, Vice President of Advancement Board of Directors Molly Paustian ’85, Chair Dena Dooney ’88 Dave Gorretta ’87 Colin McGinty, Ex-Officio Phil Moran ’76 Connie Ozyjowski Sarah Petrone ’94 Peter Rauch ’95 Jeannie Ray-Timoney, Ex-Officio Paul Scarlett Jo Willhite, Ex-Officio

Alumnae Faculty and Staff Page 8

Publisher/Layout and Design Jolyn Winczewski Director of Scholarships and Publications Contributing Writers Ellie Dir Colleen Newell Jasmin Ruiz Sara Wright

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Scholarship Page 10

Editing Team Alaina Hill Colleen Newell Elaine Payne Jasmin Ruiz Sara Wright Contributing Photographers Colleen Newell ID 196800213 © Harperdrewart | Dreamstime.com

Hall of Fame

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.

Page 14

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 21 Spring 2023 | 1

WELCOME MESSAGE

CENTRAL CATHOLIC YEAR OF THE WOMAN

Celebrating 40 Years of Alumnae

This summer, the Class of 1983 will celebrate its 40th reunion. It will be the first 40-year reunion in Central Catholic history in which women are represented as alumni. It was in the fall of 1980 when Central Catholic first opened its doors to young women. That year, they admitted a small group of sophomores and a larger group of freshmen. Over the next few years, the admission rate of males to females would come very close to even, but that first class, the Class of 1983, included only 30 female graduates.

There were a lot of challenges to integrating women into this previously all-male institution. The building itself had to shift to make way for locker rooms, bathrooms, and spaces for activities. And the process of building every team, club, and activity from the ground up required an almost heroic effort on the part of teachers, administrators, and the student body.

Imagine building an entire girls sports program from nothing. So much of the foundation of girls’ sports at Central Catholic was laid by Director of Athletics, Tom Welter, and teacher, Sally Cassidy. Tom integrated the teams into the Metro League [In the early 1980s Central Catholic played in the Metro League] and worked through schedules for fields and gyms. Sally coached varsity volleyball, basketball, and softball. Her commitment to getting these programs off the ground and onto solid footing was a full time job on top of her full time teaching job.

Recruiting for the first girls’ soccer team in 1982-1983, coached by John Garrow (’76), was more of a sign-up than a tryout. Mr. Garrow was both soccer teacher and coach as many of the players had never kicked a soccer ball. When Renée Mack (’83) and her sister Lara (’84) wanted to start a girls’ golf team, they had to lobby not only for enough players to field a team, but also for a coach, a place to practice, uniforms, and transportation. The girls’ golf team would go on to win the state title in 1983, and six additional times! In all, women’s sports have taken 17 State Championships over the past 40 years including in volleyball, softball, track & field, golf, and basketball.

Many of the changes that would become permanent were foreign to the school prior to 1980, like the addition of a traditional cheerleading squad with both boys and girls, coached by Sr. Frances Calhoun, OSF. (Prior to Central Catholic becoming co-ed, cheerleading squads were either all boys or had girls from St. Mary’s Academy or other girls’ high schools.) The cheerleaders–I remember five girls in 1981–were cheering against squads with dozens of participants. While our pyramids may have been smaller, we had the best fans and loudest cheers! At a recent football game I was reminded how far this program has come and the important role it plays in supporting our athletes and fans. And, in the spring of 1984, the school was included for the first time in the city-wide Rose Festival Princess selection. Stephanie Dir (’84), our first princess, would go on to become Queen of Rosaria, a title that Katelyn Callaghan Manning (’05) and Kate Sinnott (’12) would also hold.

Perhaps the biggest legacy of Central Catholic female graduates is that several have returned to teach, counsel, and coach at Central Catholic, including two from my class of 1985, Mary Beth Pinder and Teri Calcagno. Each of these women is the literal reminder of the importance and profound change that women brought to the school.

This spring, a few months before the Class of 1983 gathers for its 40th reunion, the young women in the Class of 2023 will join the 3,105 female graduates of Central Catholic. It is a unique, strong, and proud community of women that has helped to define our current Ramily.

Cheers to all the women of Central Catholic!

Sincerely Yours,

Molly Paustian

Molly Paustian ’85 Central Catholic Board of Directors Chair 2 | Central Catholic Magazine

ADVANCEMENT

Central Catholic HIGH SCHOOL

CANDACE NEWLAND HOLLEY ENDOWMENT FUND Last May, as a way to honor Gina Hill’s mother, Candace Newland Holley, a lifelong educator in Portland and a fierce advocate for children, past parents Gina and Elliott Hill issued a unique challenge to the Central Catholic community: raise $750,000 by December 31, 2022 and they would match that amount, creating a $1.5M endowment for students from St. Andrew Nativity School wanting to attend Central Catholic. With the help of numerous alumni, school families, and friends, we were able to achieve the Hill’s match by the deadline. An anonymous benefactor made an additional $750,000 gift, successfully creating a $2.25M Candace Newland Holley Endowment Fund. We would like to acknowledge the following supporters of this effort and offer our sincere thanks for their generosity on behalf of St. Andrew Nativity and Central Catholic families.

Anonymous (5) Stefan Amling John Atkinson Matthew Ban BDT & Company Brad Berman and Janice Slonecker Berman Michael Best Byron and Amy Biggs Anne, Diogo, Antonio, and Daniela Bolster Matt and Gail Bolte Jeff Bowden Basil and Erica Bullard Christine Carr Jorge Casimiro Brian Clare Thomas and Rachel Cody Aaron and Megan Cooper Cindy Davis DC International Group, Inc. The Honorable Paul and Mary De Muniz

Andy Delaporte and Pam Cornetta Lisa DeNatale Corey Denfeld Trina Denson Eileen and John Donahoe McCallester Dowers Buzz and Catie Ellis EWS Foundation William Farnum Jim Ford Barb Frank Robert and Nancy Garnero Stephen Gomez Dcn. Tom and Mary Jo Gornick Michele and Ryan Gray Jack Haddad, Haddad Apparel Group David Hapeman and Kathleen Fox-Hapeman Pat ’68 and Kelley Harrington Joaquin Hidalgo Elliott and Gina Hill Todd and Courtney Hodnett Stuart Hogue John Holley and Candace Newland-Holley Kristine Hoogs Jeanne and Doug Jackson JGP Wealth Management LLC and The Paustian Family Peter Kallen and Jeff Stuhr Paul and Lynn Kelly Phil Knight David and Cassie Kottkamp Salvatore LaRocca Rob Longo Lyon Family Fund of Hamilton County Community Foundation Maury Maertens ’60 Jesse McCollum Jane and Duncan McDonald Natt ’61 and Karen McDougall Mitch and Susan Menendez Mike Moran ’80 and Susie Hunt Moran

Kerri and Greg Morisey Mountain West Investment Corp.

Msgr. Tim Murphy ’58 Ron Nelson Robert Newland† Jeff Nichols Nike Inc. Dennis and Lisa Van Oossanen Mary Remuzzi Jana Panfilio Tom Perry ’52 Project^ Trip and Darcie Randall Stanley and Leslie Renecker Jim Reynolds Anne and Adam Rohosy Dr. Don Romanaggi Patricia Ross John and Lisa Runyon Paul and Kimberly Schafbuch Darrell and Cathy Schuh Stephen Scott The Sheerin Family Christiana Shi David Siddons Chris Simone Cathy Sparks Eric and Blair Sprunk Donnie Thomas Mark Turner DJ van Hameren Joe Van Haverbeke ’58 Ann VandenBerge Michael Williams Brian and Stephanie Wilson Larry and Julia Wilson Bill Winter ’58 Roland Wolfram and Patricia Zebrowski Iris Yen

Spring 2023 | 3

FEATURE ARTICLE

40 YEARS OF ALUMNAE It was a business decision. Anyone who was at Central Catholic during the late 1970s and early 1980s can tell you about the declining enrollment. From an all-male student body of about 1,000 boys through the 1950s and 1960s, to an enrollment in 1979 of roughly 340 boys, the choice was painfully clear–Central Catholic would go coed or close.

The Decision

Jerry Gianotti ’52, a member of the Central Catholic school board during that time, remembers that different trends, in addition to the concerns around financial sustainability, drove the discussion around going coed. There was the declining enrollment at Central Catholic, but also declining enrollment in the local Catholic elementary schools, which did not bode well for the future.

In addition to limited parking, there was also Central Catholic’s lack of athletic facilities, which was considered a liability since the school’s opening in 1939. This led to a discussion around whether or not to move Central Catholic to a different location. One proposal set forth the idea that the former Marycrest High School campus, a Catholic all-girls school that had closed and then been purchased by Western Chiropractic College, be purchased and the facility at SE 24th and Stark be sold to this college. This idea never gained momentum as the lack of access to the Marycrest campus was an issue. While it lay close to the Banfield Freeway, as well as to two TriMet bus lines, neither bus line was direct. There was also the likelihood that this campus would fill quickly as it could only accommodate 500 students.

The recently shuttered Washington High School, located just a few blocks west of Central Catholic on 14th Avenue and Stark Street, was another possibility that was considered, along with the former Adams High School campus in Northeast Portland. Both were in Central Catholic’s area of operation, both had ample parking, a gym, and playing fields, but Portland Public Schools was not amenable to selling either property.

Jerry recalls that there were also discussions with the other Catholic high schools about the impact the decision to go coed would have on their student bodies; of particular concern was the impact it might have on St. Mary’s Academy.

4 | Central Catholic Magazine

But, as it turned out, these discussions were resolved fairly quickly. On August 23, 1979, at a special meeting called by the Archdiocesan Board of Education, Jerry presented projected enrollment numbers under a coeducational program of 530 in the first year, with 420 boys and 110 girls. This would then increase to a capacity of 600650 after two years. After that, larger facilities would be needed to accommodate an ultimate enrollment of 800. The decision was finalized with a vote by the Archdiocesan Board of Education. Central Catholic would begin admitting girls for the 1980-1981 school year under the leadership of the school’s principal, Fr. Arthur Dernbach ’44.

The Transition

As the school prepared for the transition to coeducation, emotions ran the gamut. Most people were very supportive of the idea of a coed Central Catholic. There was relief that the school would remain open and lots of excitement around all the possibilities that the girls would bring to the student body and school community. Some weren’t happy about the changes, but they were resigned to the fact that it was happening and didn’t actively resist. Others were very unhappy about it.

Renée Mack Baumgartner ‘83 recalled support, as well as resistance during that first year of coeducation. Renée, who transferred to Central Catholic as a sophomore from SMA, ran for junior class president and won, despite the fact there were only 20 girls in the class, and 80 boys. For her senior year, she decided she would run for Student Body President and encountered some opposition from a few members of the Last All-Male Class of Central Catholic, who despite being in the final days of their senior year, were still allowed to vote.

She recalls, “It was like they were thinking, ‘There’s no way we’re gonna let a female be student body president.’ A few of them ripped my ‘Back Mack’ posters down and I ended up losing that election. But my whole thought process was ‘I have to pave the way for the future.

There will be a female student body president at Central Catholic one day.’ And even though this process was hard, you know, you get your feelings hurt, you get your posters ripped down, I just thought that I have to pave the way.”

She also says it didn’t take long before some of those boys were dating the freshmen and sophomore girls and those lifelong friendships

FEATURE ARTICLE and tight bonds so prevalent in the Central Catholic community began to form and solidify.

goes on to say, laughing, “and he told me, ‘you’re going to be one of them.’”

Tom Welter, who at the time taught two math classes and was the full-time Dean of Students and Athletic Director at Central Catholic, recalled that, with the introduction of girls, the school culture had to change.

Mike doesn’t recall if all six boys participated in leading cheers that first year, but Fr. Dernbach’s foresight and firm leadership helped integrate the girls into the student body, strengthening the already strong Central Catholic community.

The playful, sometimes rowdy all-male atmosphere lent itself to what Tom described as “like being in a submarine. Sometimes things got a little inappropriate. These were teen-aged boys and this was their locker room.”

On September 2, 1980, 108 girls (85 freshmen and 23 sophomores) became Rams.

Bob Mathews ’82, a member of the Last All-Male Class of Central Catholic (also known as LAMCOCC), described it as sometimes being a little like Lord of the Flies. “It was definitely survival of the fittest.

I remember laughing, and talking with Fr. Dernbach my senior year and him saying, ‘You know these girls…we haven’t had a good fist fight around here in a long time.’ Fist fights were pretty much a weekly occurrence before the girls showed up.”

Bob also recalls, “…waking up seven seconds before you needed to be at Central when it was all boys. You just pulled on a hooded sweatshirt and you went to school. You may not even have bothered with deodorant. Boy, did that change overnight!”

Mike Stromme ‘82 agreed that the transition necessitated a shift in mindset, a willingness to change, and a letting go of the way things used to be. He recalls that when Central Catholic was all-boys, the cheerleaders were all girls from St. Mary’s Academy (SMA). Many of the SMA girls had gone to grade school with and grown up with the Central Catholic boys. There were strong friendships, some dating from childhood, and not surprisingly, there was some resistance to the idea that the SMA girls would no longer be leading cheers and that Central Catholic freshman and sophomore girls would be cheering for the varsity athletes. The upperclassmen–the Bleacher Bums–in the stands of the Pine Street Palace, were not happy.

In what Mike called a “brilliant administrative decision,” Fr. Dernbach laid down the law.

“No, there will not be cheerleaders from St. Mary’s Academy. All our cheerleaders will be Central Catholic girls. There will be six Central Catholic girls and six Central Catholic boys helping them cheer.” Mike

In addition to the necessary shifts in mindset and school culture, Tom Welter also remembers overseeing the construction that had to occur.

Immediate needs for a transition to coeducation would include, among other things, girls’ restrooms, locker rooms, and athletic equipment.

“We had to remodel the big classroom (where the Athletic Department is now located) called B-3 and make it into a girls’ locker and shower room. And besides that, going coed with grades nine and ten, we had to hire some coaches. Sally Blickle was the first woman coach we hired and what a godsend she was. She interviewed against all the other candidates, but for us to do what we were doing, she was the absolutely perfect person to help us start a girls’ athletic program.”

Building a Girl’s Athletic Program

In the spring of 1980, Sally Blickle Cassidy, a graduate of SMA and a newly minted graduate of the University of Oregon, was hired to assist with the transition to coeducation and importantly, to help start a girls’ athletic program. Prior to the beginning of the school year, she helped shape the facilities remodel process, providing a female perspective on everything from the locker room to sports uniforms.

“Tom Welter included me in the construction of the girls’ locker room,” she remembers. “It was downstairs where Athletics is now located. That was the girls’ locker room. It was teeny. I didn’t design it, but I got to help with my ideas. I got to help with all the girls’ sports uniforms. I got to help with scheduling. And trust me, I was 23, it was my first job, and I was SO excited.

“Tom really listened to my suggestions. I remember that in the locker rooms, initially there were no mirrors for the girls to do their hair or put on makeup. There were just lockers and a shower area. Just little things like that, that girls would need and that guys wouldn’t even think about.

Spring 2023 | 5

FEATURE ARTICLE It was a SMALL locker room. I had my own little office and there were three or four bays of lockers. You walk through and the showers were there in the back, a couple of toilets and some mirrors. That was it.”

In her first year, Sally taught two sections of Algebra, girls PE, and Health, and coached three sports: volleyball, basketball, and softball. She was so busy that by Christmas, she had contracted mononucleosis from working till midnight every night and being overwhelmed with things to do. But, she persisted, and under her leadership, Central Catholic’s girl’s athletic program blossomed.

Despite only budgeting for three girls’ sports that first year, girls’ golf was added in the spring of 1981, thanks to the initiative and persuasive abilities of the Mack sisters, Renée and Lara (Mack Tennant) ’84. That first year, they won the Metro League championship and both sisters were named First team All-Metro players.

Two years later, in the spring of 1983, the girls’ golf team, consisting of Renée, Lara, Tricia Maly (-Birr) ’84, Maureen Brennan ’84, Sally Leineweber (Moeggenberg) ’85, and Maria Galati ’85 won the State Championship. Over the next few years, the lineup of girls’ sports at Central Catholic continued to grow with the addition of girls’ Cross Country, Soccer, Track and Field, and Tennis.

Sally’s memories of that time include some great mentors–and plenty of support–from other faculty and staff, but especially from the parents of the girls.

She continues, “We were in the playoffs and even if I’d had maternity leave, I wouldn’t have taken it. Then, we ended up playing in the state championship at Erv Lind Stadium and that game landed on the same day as graduation.

Stephanie was born on May 17, she was a month old, graduation was in downtown Portland and I was nursing her in left field right before the game.”

“The parental support and commitment were unbelievable. And that, I think, made it. It made it. It was a special, special group of parents and they know who they are. They were taking a big leap of faith right along with the rest of us.”

“

I could talk about those young girls all day. They came in and could have cared less that it had been all boys. They were so excited. They said, ‘Move over. We are here!’

“I think that the parents of these girls, every one of them, they embraced me; they embraced what we were doing. They wanted so badly for this experiment at Central Catholic to work, so badly for their kids to have a good experience.

They were there every step of the way.”

Sally married Paul Cassidy ’75 during her second year at Central Catholic and in 1984 gave birth to her oldest daughter, Stephanie.

It was right around the time that the softball team made the Metro

6 | Central Catholic Magazine

League playoffs and then advanced to State. In those days, there was no maternity leave, and she recalls a playoff game in Hood River that went into extra innings. Little Stephanie was only a week-and-a-half old. She was also hungry and screaming to be fed, so several softball moms stepped up to help Sally, who was nursing on the bus.

Steve Halligan, who taught and coached at Central Catholic for 43 years before his retirement in 2021, recalls being impressed at how powerful and confident some of the girls were when they came into Central Catholic.

“These were confident young women and they brought that confidence with them. The atmosphere in the building went from a goofy kind of death pall, wondering if we were going to be open the following year or not, to a real vibrancy. The girls brought in a lot of vibrancy, a lot of excitement, and for the - Sally Cassidy most part, the boys were excited to have them there. It just turned 180 degrees with that one decision. It was awesome and certainly more fun to have a more vibrant classroom. The boys were actually paying more attention in the classroom, probably because they wanted to impress the girls, so that was certainly better.”

”

Sally concurs. “I could talk about those young girls all day,” she enthused. “They came in and they could have cared less that it had

FEATURE ARTICLE been all boys. They were so excited. They said, ‘Move over. We are here!’ We had leaders in that class, and athletes. If you think about it, their brothers went to Central Catholic, their dads, their uncles, their grandfathers. They were steeped in Central Catholic tradition. They had grown up watching Central Catholic sports. The tradition was already important to them, so for them to actually be a part of it, they were so gung ho! I was so blessed to be with these young girls; they brought so much joy and warmth and compassion. They were just hungry to make a difference.”

The Girls Make an Impact

Sally Cassidy would lay the foundation for an incredible legacy of girls’ sports at Central Catholic. In addition to winning the state title in 1983, the girls’ golf team would take state six additional times. In all, girls have seen countless playoff appearances and won 17 State Championships over the past 40 years, including in Volleyball, Softball, Track & Field, Golf, and Basketball. Since Sally’s time as a teacher and coach, girls at Central Catholic would also begin to participate on the Ski Team, Swim Team, and in the Snowboarding Club. In 2010, Lacrosse became the most recent addition to the roster of girls’ sports at Central Catholic. Cheerleading would evolve from cheering on the sidelines and supporting the male athletes into two distinct teams, cheer and song, supporting both girls’ and boys’ sports.

But, the girls who pioneered the early days of coeducation at Central Catholic were not just talented athletes. In addition to the positive energy they brought, they changed Central Catholic in other ways.

That first year, several girls were elected to class officer positions and Renée was right; it wasn’t long before a girl, Aimee Van Beek (Virnig) ’83 stepped up to fill the vacated student body president role and one year later, Mary Beth Pinder ’85 became the first girl to win election to that office. The girls stepped up to start and lead clubs as well as take on leadership and editorial roles on the Rampart student newspaper and the Scepter yearbook. They held their own academically, becoming salutatorians and valedictorians; Susan Strand (Haou) ’85 was the first girl to earn the honor of salutatorian and one year later, Jennifer Cettina (Maldonado) ’86 became the first girl to be recognized as class valedictorian.

In 1984, Central Catholic became part of Portland’s Rose Festival tradition, and elected its first Rose Festival Princess, Stephanie Dir (Halewyn) ’84 who went on to become Rose Festival Queen. She would be the first of 38 Rose Festival princesses and three Rose Festival

queens, with Katelyn Callaghan (Manning) ’05 and Kate Sinnott ’12 following in her footsteps.

Central Catholic’s Women’s Coalition, a student-driven affinity group, came into being in 2010. While the purpose of this group is to discuss issues pertinent to young women, all students are welcome to participate. This is a very active group of young women leaders who organize workshops, facilitate discussions, and provide resources for students whose individual experiences of womanhood are varied and important. All in all, there are between 40 and 50 active participants in the Central Catholic Women’s Coalition.

Today, girls are fully integrated into the Central Catholic student body and have been for decades. Girls, many of them the daughters and granddaughters of men in those earlier all-male classes, make up almost half of Central Catholic’s student body, and this year, 2023, marks a special anniversary, the 40th anniversary of the first coed graduating class, the Class of 1983. Since 1983, more than 3,000 girls have graduated from Central Catholic and impacted their communities in positive ways, including a significant number who have returned to teach, coach, or counsel at Central Catholic.

“The long term implications, just socially, in the inclusion of women; that whole idea of equity and justice for both genders was so important in the evolution of our school,” mused Halligan. “Above and beyond the business decision that necessitated going coed, that need for gender inclusion translated into our RAMS Program and all those things that are so vital to Central Catholic today, all the different types of diversity you see at the school today. It’s just part of the Central Catholic culture now.”

Renée remembers a time during that first year, when she saw the resistance to girls at Central Catholic start to dissipate. It was a touching gesture of support during a JV volleyball game, and one of her favorite memories from the Pine Street Palace. The football coach, Steve Stanich, had the entire football team come into the gym to watch. They were in their football uniforms, helmets in hand, and she says, “It was in the fall, and these were upperclassmen, the varsity. But they really welcomed, embraced and supported us. They sat together on the right side of the gym, all sweaty from practice and they were SO loud. We all looked at each other. We couldn’t believe it. I think we might have lost the match, but it didn’t matter. It was crazy. And just so magical.”

Spring 2023 | 7

ALUMNAE FACULTY AND STAFF

Top Row: Melissa (Medak) Stupfel ’94, Erin Dooney ’15, Mary Beth Pinder ’85, and Sara (Stores) Stauffer ’01.

Bottom Row: Teri Calcagno ’85, Kara Shea ’15, Stephanie Galati ’16, and Laura Makowski ’91.

ALUMNAE FACULTY AND STAFF Among the thousands of women who have graduated from Central Catholic, there are a select few who have returned to the school to work as teachers, coaches, administrators, and so much more. Their decision to return is often driven by the experiences they had while they were students here and their desire to help current students have those same types of experiences. We are proud to profile some of our women alumni who currently work at Central Catholic, highlight their experiences when they were students, and share the impact they are hoping to have on current students and the school community.

Teri Calcagno ’85

COLLEGE COUNSELOR Teri Calcagno has spent nearly three decades working with high school students, helping them figure out their next steps after graduation. She started out at Central Catholic in 1991 as a college counselor, where she planned group sessions, classroom presentations, meetings with college admissions representatives, and more.

In 2017, Teri left for a few years to spend time caring for her mother while also working remotely for the College Board. She then returned to Central Catholic in 2021 as the school’s college counselor, and notes that returning was like coming back home. To Teri, Central Catholic is a community that continues to give back and she feels like it’s where she’s meant to be.

When speaking about an impactful time as a student at Central Catholic, Teri recalls she was asked about college and her plans after high school. Growing up in a family where nobody attended college, 8 | Central Catholic Magazine

it was the first time that option had been mentioned to her. Central Catholic not only made it sound possible, but it provided her with the tools and guidance to pursue higher education. This path eventually played a role in her becoming a college counselor. Teri hopes to impact her students by continuing to be a person of support, helping them explore all possibilities.

Laura Makowski ’91

THEOLOGY TEACHER Nearly three decades after graduation, Laura Makowski ‘91 found her way back to Central Catholic this year as a Theology teacher. Her path to returning as a teacher was driven by the positive experience she had as a student, as well as her passion and joy for teaching.

Laura returned to teaching after much reflection and a desire to do meaningful work. “I have left the [teaching] profession and come back to it two times in my career…Teaching is more fulfilling to me and I believe has a greater impact on our collective future.”

For Laura, both as a student and now as a teacher, the strong community of Central Catholic has been the most important part of her experience here. “Being surrounded by people who care and show invested interest in the growth of students, faculty, and staff is an environment I am excited to be a part of each day,” she shares.

She hopes to make an impact on her students through academic as well as personal growth. “I try to show all of my students that I am here for their learning, support, and well-being; to teach, but also to be their advocate and champion.”

ALUMNAE FACULTY AND STAFF Melissa (Medak) Stupfel ’94

DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL COUNSELING Melissa (Medak) Stupfel proudly comes from a long line of Central Catholic graduates; her father, uncles, and siblings are all Ram alumni.

Melissa joined the staff of Central Catholic in 2002 as an Academic and Personal Counselor and remained in that role until this past year when she was promoted to Director of School Counseling. This position was created to introduce a comprehensive approach to counseling and the various ways school counselors can impact the entire student population. This includes the introduction of a variety of interventions in addition to the one-on-one relationships counselors currently have with their students.

The introduction of the RAMS program and the school’s commitment to working with students who have different academic needs continue to fuel Melissa’s love of Central Catholic’s community. Additionally, the work surrounding diversity and inclusion is important to her because it allows her to support students from various backgrounds and learning abilities. Melissa’s goal is for students to walk away feeling like they were truly loved and knowing they had access to resources that will enable them to become the best versions of themselves.

Sara (Stores) Stauffer ’01

SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER, DEPARTMENT CHAIR, MODERATOR Sara (Stores) Stauffer was the first in her family to attend Central Catholic, graduating in 2001. After finishing her master’s degree, Sara returned to Central Catholic in 2007 and has been teaching here ever since.

Now a member of the Social Studies Department, Sara notes that she feels lucky and blessed to be a part of this community and that it’s a big reason why she and others keep coming back.

As a student, she was heavily involved in sports, which was one of the most impactful experiences during her time here. Being surrounded by her teammates, striving for something special, and reaching those goals were all experiences that stayed with Sara and are some of her most treasured memories. When thinking about the impact she would like to have on her students, she hopes her students turn out to be openminded, kind, and compassionate individuals.

Erin Dooney ’15

THEOLOGY TEACHER Erin Dooney ‘15 has family roots that run deep within Central Catholic–dating back to the school’s very inception. “Fr. Francis Schaefers, who helped found Central Catholic along with Archbishop Howard,” she explains, “he’s my great-great uncle.” From that initial connection, the Dooney family has grown into a large expansive tree that includes her father, countless uncles, aunts, cousins, and siblings who have all gone through Central Catholic.

For Erin, the large family dynamic and the impact of her experience as a student is what called her back to Central Catholic to teach Theology. That, and a clear calling from God. “As I was praying about coming back to teach at Central Catholic, I knew that God gives me what I need and I usually enjoy it more than what I think I want. So I decided to surrender my career to Him,” she shares. “If I can bring His light and His presence out of people just by correcting a lot of misconceptions about our faith…that’s the least I can do.”

Through her teaching, Erin also hopes to give students the same support and encouragement that she received while she was a student.

“I hope to just see the students and meet them where they are, and recognize how each student comes from different backgrounds,” she explains. “When I was a student, there were specific teachers that helped push me in positive ways, and just encouraged me in that learning process. Being a Theology teacher now, for me, is more about the relationship–and teaching students that it’s a good thing to pursue something that is higher.”

Kara Shea ’15

ASSISTANT TO THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND GAME MANAGER From running all home ticketed games and athletic events such as national signing day, to creating media guides, Kara Shea does it all.

She joined the staff of Central Catholic in 2021 and is the Assistant to the Athletic Director and Game Manager.

As an alum, Kara is all too familiar with the warm, supportive, and embracing community of Central Catholic. This became especially evident during her junior year, when Kara was admitted to an inpatient treatment facility for an eating disorder. Throughout that time, everyone at Central Catholic rallied around her and supported her physically, mentally, spiritually, and academically. It’s that same community that drew her back to Central Catholic. Now, as a part of the school staff, Kara hopes to be a person of support for our students. And of course, she will continue setting up and managing fun athletic events to create meaningful memories for students and the Central Catholic community.

Stephanie Galati ’16

RAMS PROGRAM ASSISTANT Stephanie Galati ‘16 currently works as a one-on-one aid and an instructional assistant in Central Catholic’s RAMS Program. Her return to Central Catholic was prompted by an invitation to come work with RAMS students, and upon learning about the position and those she would be working with, she was sold!

“My sister [Hannah Galati ‘22] is in the RAMS Program, so it was an opportunity for me to be with her and also come back,” she explains.

“And when I found out that I would be working with MB [RAMS Program Coordinator, Mary Beth Pinder ‘85], it was great because MB was my physics teacher once upon a time.”

Her excitement to return and work with her former teachers is a good indication of the positive influence they had on her while she was enrolled as a student. “What was most impactful during my time as a student here was my time with the English Department,” she recalls. “I loved my English teachers here, and it’s been really awesome to be able to work with them.” In addition, she shares, “My time with Coach [David] Blue on the Diversity Committee and my time on the Song Leading Team were among the most formative things that I did and I still draw on them today.”

As for the impact that she hopes to have on students, she’s clear that she wants to support not only students in the RAMS Program, but also their Peer Mentors. “I feel like there’s a lot of growth to be had in the special education community. We have the best Peer Mentors and I want them to understand the gift they give,” Stephanie explains, “I also want to let them know that this doesn’t have to end here.” For those students who are interested in pursuing a career in the special education field, she shares, “Being there as a resource for them is something I’m really passionate about.”

Spring 2023 | 9

Photo 196800213 © Harperdrewart | Dreamstime.com

ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP PROFILE

EQUALITY...FAITH...COMMITMENT...SERVICE...ACTION When Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away in 2020, Judy Litchfield felt it. The loss reverberated; a gut punch.

Ginsburg, throughout the course of her decades-long legal career, had become one of Judy’s personal heroes for her intellect, her decency, and for her groundbreaking legal victories, which, through establishing the principles of equal treatment in the law, liberated both women and men.

She states matter-of-factly, “Justice Ginsburg inspired me. I just admired her heart of wisdom and her religious faith because it was steeped in justice for all.”

“

equality. I went step-by-step and asked the Lord to lead me to where I could best have an impact. That’s my story. It’s kind of simple but it just flowed that way.”

In 2021, during the height of the pandemic and after months of prayerful discernment, Judy established the Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Scholarship at Central Catholic. Each year, the endowed scholarship will be awarded to a rising senior girl with demonstrated financial need, one with an interest in politics or issues of social justice, and who is a member of the Constitution Team and/or enrolled in AP U.S. Government or Street Law classes.

You can’t lose on education.

A past parent of three Central Catholic graduates, Barbara (Litchfield) Hill ’85, Rozalyn (Litchfield) Larson ’87, and Lynn (Litchfield) McFarland ’90; and grandmother of three Central Catholic graduates, Jonathan McFarland ’14, Jacob McFarland ’16, and Julia McFarland ’22; Judy, a lifelong Catholic, has deep roots in the Central Catholic community. These roots–and her faith, coupled with both Ginsburg’s passing and the personal difficulties and isolation of the pandemic–brought forth a period of questioning. She found herself praying about how best to express her gratitude for the many blessings she had been given.

She continues, “A boss of mine once told me, ‘You can’t lose on education.’ It was a mantra of his and he paved the way to my becoming a professional. Having painstakingly put my three daughters through Central Catholic–I was financially at my lowest ebb when I worked for him–and then helping three grandchildren through, I thought about other struggling families. I had the money and the struggling families in mind.

“Also, my daughters have often told me, ‘It’s because of my training at Central Catholic that I’ve been able to do my jobs, succeed at them, and rise in my career or profession.’

“I found myself thinking,” she recalls, “Are all these gifts of the Lord for me or were they mine to share? And the second thought was, “Could I part with the money required to [establish a scholarship]?”

”

Judy, commenting on the self-discipline of Justice Ginsburg, stated that Central Catholic had fostered that virtue in her daughters and grandchildren.

“I remember when my grandson, Jonathan, signed up for the Central Catholic football team, the coach asked, ‘Are you interested or committed?’ There’s a difference.

Committed self-discipline, the kind Justice Ginsburg had, means you care about yourself. It starts with an educated mind and a courageous heart. That’s why she is a role model, because you can have all the virtues you want; but unless you have the self-discipline to make them a fact, they’re not very useful.”

Central Catholic is grateful to Judy Litchfield for her faith and her commitment to justice, but especially for her generosity and foresight in establishing the Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Scholarship. The current school year, 2022-2023, is the first year this scholarship was awarded. Like Judy Litchfield, and like Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, its impact will continue to reverberate for students at Central Catholic and throughout the broader community.

If you would like more information on how to create an endowed fund at Central Catholic, please contact Ellie Dir, Vice President of Advancement at 503.230.1056, ext. 1258.

Her answer to both questions? A resounding “YES!” Slowly but surely, Judy was led to the idea that maybe she should consider establishing a scholarship at Central Catholic as a way of giving back. She’d never done anything like that, or even thought about it. But, she wanted to cooperate with the Gospel’s call to share with others, and was inspired by Ginsburg’s commitment to equality and human rights.

“The kind of justice that grounded Justice Ginsburg’s work on the Supreme Court is more of a verb than a noun. It requires action,” she thought.

“It came to me that if the knots of unjust laws could be untied one step at a time, then justice would prevail. I think we saw that from Justice Ginsburg. She devoted her whole law career to gender

Judy Litchfield, founder of the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Endowed Scholarship stands with her daughters, all graduates of Central Catholic.

L to R: Barbara Litchfield Hill ’85, Judy Litchfield, Lynn Litchfield McFarland ’90, and Rozalyn Litchfield Larson ’87.

Spring 2023 |11

CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS

Students pose for a picture in front of the White House during their trip to the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in Washington, D.C. This is the second year in a row that Central Catholic has sent a group to this event.

Graham Chandler ’25 dribbles the ball on a breakaway during a match against Barlow High School. The Rams boys’ soccer team finished their season ranked second in their conference and advanced to the third round of playoffs.

William Francis ’23, Madina Keita ’24, and Iona Lugton ’23 perform in the fall drama production, The Importance of Being Earnest.

Students in Central Catholic’s Latinx Student Union process down the halls, caroling in celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12, 2022.

Anyssa Santangelo ’25 performs during the first Open Mic Night of the school year, on October 14, 2022.

A team of students works together to answer questions during Battle of Brilliance, an annual trivia competition put on by Student Activities during the last week of November.

Students warmly welcome guests to campus on Grandparents and Special Friends Day 2022.

Scarlett Thomas ’23 speaks with a representative during our annual Democracy in Action event on December 2, 2022.

12 | Central Catholic Magazine

WEEK OF GIVING

WEEK OF GIVING ‘Twas the season of generosity and giving for our Central Catholic Ramily this past Christmas season! Our students, alumni, and parents gathered once again to help those in need in our community through our annual Week of Giving. It was a whirlwind week of doing good, from food collection, box packing, and pantry deliveries, to collections of coats, blankets, socks, and shoes.

The week started off with our community donating over 9,000 nonperishable food items! It was a flurry of activity for our volunteers, who sorted, packed, and delivered the food to our local St. Vincent de Paul pantries. This process requires a huge volunteer effort and we are grateful for the students, parents, and alumni who stepped up during the Week of Giving. We talked with one volunteer, alumnus and former Central Catholic parent, Pat Laskowski ’73, who has faithfully volunteered with the food box drive the past few years.

“I went to Central as did all of our kids, [Grace ’09, Mike ’11, Peter ’12, Sean ’15, and Kevin ’15] and Grace worked here for a few years.

We have a number of nieces and nephews that went to CC and consequently, had a stretch where we had someone in the family graduating for about ten-plus years in a row,” Pat shares. “Through our interactions at Central Catholic, we have met some of the most generous and giving people on this earth. These folks have generously and lovingly given to others and to us. People have not only helped us but have done it so graciously that they make you feel like you are doing them a favor by accepting their generosity. Well, you know what they say, if you hang around with THOSE kinds of people too long, you start acting like them. That’s probably what happened to us. So we help where we can and it is one of the values that we try to pass on to our kids. That is why we are so pleased with CC’s dedication to service and their participation in things like the Week of Giving.”

The need was greater than ever this year, and our community stepped up to fill the need by providing 9,400 food items for 427 families served by our local food pantries! St. Vincent de Paul coordinates many of these pantries, including the one at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. We spoke about the impact of donating food with Mark Pinder ’74, who has volunteered with the food pantry and food drives

for over 20 years (four of which he served as Conference President at St. Rose).

“I really learned about helping people in need from my time at Central Catholic,” Mark explains. “We had a class called Social Concerns taught by–you guessed it–Msgr. Murphy! We went out to places like St. Francis and Mt. St. Joseph and worked with people in need, people in memory care. You learn to start doing for others when you are young. We now (at St. Rose) are getting current Central Catholic students to come help.”

He continues, “Now we are a St. Vincent de Paul pantry at St. Rose, but for thirty years we have had our own food drive at St. Rose, usually the Saturday before Thanksgiving. We use this drive to restock our pantry and deliver Christmas boxes. We are not a walk-up service throughout the year, but emergency calls go through St. Vincent de Paul and are assigned to us. During the pandemic, we were only doing three to five calls a month, but things are really getting back to what they used to be at about ten calls a month. We also provide service to the Hollywood East Apartments where we provide thirty clients a week with three big bags of groceries. When our supplies from the Oregon Food Bank are not enough, we supplement by going out shopping for what we need with donations from our parishioners and others. Last year, we delivered 7,500 pounds of food to 2,800 clients.

Food donations–like from the Week of Giving–help us to supply more food so Christmas is a little easier on families and they can use their resources for other things. It gives our families that bit of ease for their holiday time together.”

In addition to the thousands of food items our community donated, we collected 500 coats and 100 blankets, which will benefit the individuals served by St. André Bessette, 500 socks, shoes, and boots that will go to the people served by Blanchet House, and provided Catholic Charities with 200 Christmas gifts for the families they serve.

We offer our deepest gratitude to all of our students, families, alumni, and community members for generously providing their time and resources to help our local community in need during the holiday season!

Spring 2023 | 13

HALL OF FAME Athletic Inductees Martenne Bettendorf ’12

Martenne Bettendorf played Varsity Volleyball all four years at Central Catholic, leading the team to three State Championships.

She was an All-American and a unanimous Oregon State Player of the year in 2011. Martenne went on to play for the University of Oregon where she was an AVCA All-American and PAC-12 First Team All-Conference. After college, she played professional volleyball in Azerbaijan, Germany, Switzerland, and France.

2022 HALL OF FAME This past October, Central Catholic proudly inducted into its Hall of Fame 13 new members who have brought honor to the school through their achievements while at Central Catholic and beyond.

The Hall of Fame began in 1995 with the intent to honor significant athletic achievements within our Central Catholic community and it has since expanded to also include civic and service achievements. Every five years we honor alumni and other prominent members of the Central Catholic community through induction into the Hall of Fame with the hope that their achievements will serve as an example for others.

Congratulations to our newest inductees!

2022 Hall of Fame Inductees Martenne Bettendorf ’12 Kaitlin Inglesby ’10 Brennan Scarlett ’11 2005 Boys XC Team Pat Harrington ’68 Tony Leineweber ’62 Capt. Richard Mallon ’60 Ian Montone ’85 Michael Rosenbaum ’68 Steve Halligan The Heller Family and the David Heller Foundation Jane Murphy Scott Williams ’87

Kaitlin Inglesby ’10

Kaitlin Inglesby was the star pitcher on Central Catholic’s Varsity Softball Team all four years, leading the Rams to Mt. Hood Conference Championships for three of those years. Kaitlin was twice named Oregon State Player of the Year, was the Gatorade Player of the year, the UnderArmour AllAmerican award recipient, and received many other awards. She went on to play for the University of Washington during which time the Huskies won four NCAA Regionals. Additionally, she was a two-time All-American and played in the Women’s College World Series.

Brennan Scarlett ’11

Brennan Scarlett was one of the most recruited high school football players to graduate from Central Catholic. Brennan received offers from 18 colleges and went on to play for the University of California at Berkeley, for Stanford University, and then played professional football for the Houston Texans and the Miami Dolphins. Recognizing the impact his supportive community had on his success, he started the Big Yard Foundation to help young people who may not have the same opportunities through literacy, creativity, and physical wellness.

Top Photo: Newly inducted Hall of Famer, Martenne Bettendorf ’12, with her presenter, former Central Catholic volleyball coach and art teacher, Rick Lorenz.

Middle Photo: Sara (Stores) Stauffer ’01, and Hall of Fame inductee Kaitlin Inglesby ’10 enjoy catching up at the Hall of Fame Induction ceremony.

Bottom Photo: Brennan Scarlett ’11, new member of the Hall of Fame shown here with football coach Steve Pyne, is honored for his athletic accomplishments.

14 | Central Catholic Magazine

HALL OF FAME Tony Leineweber ‘62

2005 Boys Cross Country Team

The seven members of the 2005 Boys Cross Country Team; Kenny Klotz ’06, Taylor Morgan ’08, Kevin O’Malley ’07, Samot Turina ’09, Nick Turner ’07, Luke Wiltshire ’07, and Sam Wotipka ’07 worked as a team to earn the Cross Country State title in 2005, setting the state record of 23 points which still stands today. Hard work, great chemistry, and excellent coaching made this team special! At least five members of this team would continue their running careers at the collegiate level. Kenny ran for the Oregon Ducks, Kevin for the University of San Diego, Taylor at the University of Arizona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Samot at Gonzaga, and Luke for the University of San Francisco. Today, these young men are building families and pursuing careers.

Civic Achievement Inductees

Pat Harrington ’68

Pat Harrington graduated from Central Catholic as a three-sport athlete and Senior Class President. He went on to attend the University of Oregon and then the graduate school at the University of Notre Dame.

After completing his education, Pat spent the next decade as Executive Director of the Portland Center for the Performing Arts before becoming Managing Principal of BORA Architecture & Interiors. While there, he was responsible for elevating the firm, growing its business, and was instrumental in BORA receiving numerous awards while overseeing countless projects–including Central Catholic’s Monsignor Tim Murphy Center and many prestigious art centers in Portland and beyond.

Top Photo: Members of Central Catholic’s State Championship Cross Country Team; (from left to right) Kenny Klotz ’06, Sam Wotipka ‘07, Nick Turner ’07, Coach Dave Frank, Taylor Morgan ’08, Luke Wiltshire ’07, and Kevin O’Malley ’07; reunite for their team’s induction into the Central Catholic Hall of Fame.

(Not pictured: Samot Turina ’09.)

Lower Photo: Pat Harrington ’68 (right) was presented with his Hall of Fame plaque by his children; Sophie ‘16, Charlie ‘10, McKenzie ‘08, and Isabelle ‘14.

Tony Leineweber was a member of the first honors class at Central Catholic as well as Student Body President. He has been a staunch champion for and supporter of Central Catholic since he graduated. Tony has held executive positions at Market Transport, Ltd., Crown Pacific, and the Portland State University Foundation. Always serving, he held integral positions on numerous committees and boards, including the Central Catholic Board of Directors, and served as Central Catholic’s President from 2015-2017. Tony continues his spirit of service by volunteering, not only for Central Catholic, but for Loaves and Fishes, Meals on Wheels, and the Rotary Club, to name just a few.

Captain Richard Mallon ’60† Capt. Richard Mallon, Jr. was a man of integrity, loyalty, and faith; beloved by all who knew him. As a dedicated servant, he made the ultimate sacrifice for his country when he was killed in combat while serving in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. Rich began his life of service at a young age, entering the seminary at Mt. Angel during his freshman year of high school.

Although his calling did not lead to the priesthood, the process instilled in him the spiritual, mental, and physical grounding that ultimately guided him to his military career in the Air Force..

Rich was a leader and athlete at Central Catholic before attending the University of Portland and joining the ROTC program. After graduation, he enlisted in the Air Force, and quickly rose through the ranks to become a captain. He was a highly skilled pilot, flying complicated combat missions. Halfway through his second tour of duty during the Vietnam war, his plane was shot down in 1970 and he was listed as MIA for 18 years until his remains were found and returned to Portland. Captain Mallon received the Air Medal, Purple Heart, and Flying Cross among many other prestigious awards.

Top Photo: Tony Leineweber ’62, a new member of the Central Catholic Hall of Fame, enjoys the induction ceremony with son John ’99 and John’s three children, Sam, Holly, and Henry.

Lower Photo: Capt. Richard Mallon ’60, is posthumously inducted into the Central Catholic Hall of Fame, after high school friend Joe Kremers ’58 and cousin Pat Parisi ’56 nominated him for this honor.

Spring 2023 | 15

HALL OF FAME Ian Montone ‘85

Ian Montone was a student leader and athlete at Central Catholic. After graduating he attended Occidental College and eventually law school at the Vermont Law School and UC Hastings College of Law. Initially planning on a career in international development, he followed his passion for music and over time built a highly successful career in entertainment law through his artist management firm, Monotone, Inc. For over two decades, Ian has managed some of the most prolific musicians and actors in the entertainment industry.

He continues to make a tremendous impact on the music culture and industry of our country, all while maintaining a high-level of ethics and values in his work. He has amassed an impressive list of clients including Jack White, Jonah Hill, The Shins, Vampire Weekend, LCD Soundsystem, and Jamie Foxx, to name just a few.

Michael Rosenbaum ‘68

Mike Rosenbaum was a studentathlete and leader, selected to Boys State and Boys Nation.

He received a full scholarship to Harvard University, and was a finalist for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship competition. After graduating from Columbia Law School in 1975, Mike became Chairman of the Ninth Circuit American Bar Association Committee on state legislation, founded the Rosenbaum Law Group, and remains a member in good standing with the State Bar Association for both Oregon and Washington and for the US District Court for the District of Oregon and the Ninth Circuit Court. He continues to practice law and make an impact through service and leadership in various non-profit organizations throughout Oregon.

Top Photo: Ian Montone ’85, accompanied by son Luka, was presented his Hall of Fame plaque by classmate and friend John Weber ‘85.

Lower Photo: Brothers as well as fellow Rams, Dennis Rosenbaum ’70 and Mike Rosenbaum ’68 enjoy the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Dennis presented Mike’s award to him.

16 | Central Catholic Magazine

Coach/Faculty/Staff Inductee Steve Halligan

Steve Halligan spent his entire 43-year professional career at Central Catholic, teaching generations of students to become critical thinkers. He coached numerous sports, including boys basketball with a State Championship win in 1994. Steve is honored for challenging his students to think critically and for encouraging them to become active, informed citizens with the confidence to share their views.

Students who had Steve Halligan as a teacher left Central Catholic with a deeper understanding of what it means to live in a democratic society. He has been a caring mentor for new teachers and a catalyst for expanding the Advanced Placement (AP) Program, adding AP US History and AP Government and Politics to the curriculum. Steve has been enjoying retirement with his wife, Terry, and his children, Carli ’98 and Tony ’02 since 2019.

Service Inductees The Heller Family and The David Heller Foundation for Healthy Teen Hearts

The David Heller Foundation was established after David Heller ’07 died at age 17. The Heller family created the foundation to honor David’s legacy. Born of a tragedy; a traumatic, early death of a beloved son and brother from an undiagnosed heart condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, today, the foundation serves thousands of teenage athletes, saving lives through cardiac screenings. The foundation has also donated 250 Automated External Defibrillators (AED), life-saving, portable devices designed to treat people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, which has benefited hundreds of citizens in small towns and schools across Oregon. Additionally, through its scholarship program, more than 40 high school seniors from around the state have benefitted from more than $40,000 in scholarship awards. We honor David’s parents, Bev and Jeff Heller; and his siblings, Heidi, Anna ’08, and Darren ’13, for their advocacy and work through the foundation.

Top Photo: Long-time coach and teacher Steve Halligan was presented his Hall of Fame award by Director of Admissions, Paul O’Malley, filling in for colleague Geoff Stuckart, who was unable to attend the induction Ceremony.

Lower Photo: Past parent, Bernie Walsh ‘77 (center) presented the Hall of Fame Award to Darren Heller ’13 (left) and his sister Anna Heller ’08 who were representing the Heller Family for its work with the David Heller Foundation for Healthy Teen Hearts.

HALL OF FAME Jane Murphy

Jane Murphy has been a devoted Ram in every way for nearly 30 years. Throughout her time at Central Catholic, she has held various roles including teacher, administrator, and several positions in athletics. Jane is a loyal fan, going to nearly every sporting event and attending every auction since our very first, which she helped start 28 years ago. Jane’s role in the Ramily deepened even more when her two children enrolled at Central Catholic. Brian Barkdoll ‘07 and Kara Barkdoll ‘11 were involved as student-athletes and leaders, and Jane actively supported them in all their endeavors. She has perhaps provided the highest number of Central Catholic volunteer hours in history! Jane’s dedication to Central Catholic is unmatched, even in retirement. You can still see her with her pom-poms at nearly every athletic event and substitute teaching in the school when she is needed.

The Williams family was well-represented for Scott Williams’ induction into the Hall of Fame. From left to right, brother and sister-in-law Glenn and Melinda Williams, Scott, wife Cinnamon, granddaughter Lyric, daughter Alyce, and nephew Anthony.

E. Scott Williams ’87

Scott Williams has made a huge impact on Central Catholic’s community for over 20 years by helping to create a more inclusive community for our students. After earning a bachelor of science degree in sociology and a master’s degree in social work, he returned to Central Catholic around 2001. Throughout his 20plus years of engagement within the school, Scott has helped hundreds of students through his mentorship and advocacy, while also working to create safe spaces, leading tough conversations, and helping to found and support the Black Student Union. Scott also works closely with faculty and staff to deepen their understanding and support.

His involvement and impact within the school community set Central Catholic on a trajectory of truly becoming a more inclusive, equitable, and supportive place for all.

Bud Dietrich ’62 and Joe Kremers ’58 and Pat Parisi ’56 Heidi Leineweber catch up nominated their friend Capt Richard at the Hall of Fame Mallon ’60 for the Hall of Fame and were Induction ceremony. pleased to see him honored at the Ceremony.

Hall of Fame honoree Ian Montone ’85 and his proud parents, Pat and Ken, captured in a photo for posterity.

Brennan Scarlett ’11 embraces his friend and coach, Steve Pyne.

Top Photo: Bill Winter ’58 presents Jane Murphy with her Hall of Fame plaque, honoring her for her countless volunteer hours on behalf of Central Catholic.

Lower Photo: Central Catholic basketball coach and counselor David Blue (right) congratulates Scott Williams ’87 for his 20-plus years of service to Central Catholic and for his induction into the Hall of Fame.

Billy Ladd ’85 and Steve Halligan enjoy time Monsignor Tim Murphy ’58 with Steve’s granddaughter Kadin Halligan and Chris Onslow ’59 catch (daughter of Tony ’02) at the Hall of Fame. up after the ceremony.

Spring 2023 | 17

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP CAMPAIGN

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ENDOWED

Scholarship The Alumni Association recently launched a new campaign aimed at engaging our younger alumni and raising money for the Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship.

The Central Catholic Alumni Association Scholarship has been in existance for over 40 years and was first awarded in the early 1980s. At that time, proceeds from alumni fundraisers and events directly funded awards that were given to a handful of incoming freshmen. It wasn’t until 20 years later, in 2004, that the decision was made to endow this scholarship so that it could continue to help fund students’ education in perpetuity. Using remaining funds raised by the Alumni Association, the Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship was created with the goal of providing scholarships to incoming freshmen. To date, this scholarship has been awarded to 115 Central Catholic students.

Help Us Grow the Impact

Our goal for this campaign is to engage Central Catholic alumni, grow the endowed scholarship fund, and help build a legacy for future Rams so they can enjoy the same education and experiences that our alumni did as students.

Every Gift Matters

We hope to grow the Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship with contributions of all sizes. Gifts don't have to be huge to make a huge difference; donations of $20 or even $5 will make a positive impact on our future Rams! With its growth, we can help more future Rams become the best version of themselves.

Throughout this campaign, there will be several matches and class challenges to help leverage class giving. Please join us in impacting the lives of future students, growing diversity, and building knowledge, faith, and character.

Our goal is for 500 alumni to make donations to this scholarship over the next 12 months.

Thank you to all who are helping us reach this goal!

To donate, scan the QR code or go to the Central Catholic website under Alumni. Questions? Contact Sara Wright, Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement at swright@centralcatholichigh.org or John Leineweber ’99, Alumni Board Chair at john@503distilling.com.

18 | Central Catholic Magazine

AFFINITY LUNCHEON

Back row, L to R: Alumni who attended the lunch and shared advice with current students included Rosalind Hughes-Smith ’83, Kendra Hughes ’84 (hidden), Scott Williams ’87, Kevin Tyner ’02, Gary Strachan ’70, Jalen Ladd ’13, Wesley Guy ’11.

Front Row, L to R: Amantha Hood ’13, DeAndre Smith ’17, Jazmyn Thomas ’15, Victor Covington ’13 and Billy Ladd ’85.

AFFINITY LUNCHEONS: BLACK ALUMNI AND STUDENT LUNCHEON More than ten years ago, Central Catholic’s first BIPOC Student Affinity Organization, Black Students United, (formerly African American Students United) was formed under the guidance of Scott Williams ‘87; Williams was later joined by David Blue, who was hired in 2015 as Central Catholic’s Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

On Thursday, February 9, their efforts, and the efforts of those early members were celebrated when Central Catholic hosted our inaugural Black Alumni and Student Luncheon. This was the first in a series of Alumni lunches with BIPOC Student Affinity Luncheons here at Central Catholic.

Student Affinity Organizations at Central Catholic are student-driven and provide opportunities for students to support their peers, share their stories in a safe environment, learn about their cultural backgrounds and history, and have conversations pertinent to their experiences as high school students in the 21st century. Some of our SAO’s include

Gary Strachan ’70 shares his story with his fellow alumni and current students at the Black Alumni and Student Luncheon.

Black Students United, Asian Desi Pacific Islander Student Union, Latinx Student Union and the Indigenous Student Union, and many more.

The luncheon provided our current students, faculty, staff, and alumni an opportunity to gather in fellowship and kinship, connect with one another, and bond over common experiences had at Central Catholic. The event concluded with our alumni sharing their accumulated wisdom on topics ranging from career to friendships and life for today’s students.

The luncheon was an incredible opportunity for both our students and our alumni to witness the ways in which their voices and experiences are continuing to make a difference in our community. We are so grateful for everyone who was able to join us for this luncheon!

We are looking forward to hosting our next Affinity Luncheon on May 12 with the Asian Desi Pacific Island and Arab alumni and students.

Kendra Hughes ‘84, currently the Preschool Partnerships Coordinator for the Northwest Regional Education Service District shares her career path with students.

Billy Ladd ’85, in his talk with current students emphasized the importance of building a network of people who will support you in your career and life.

Spring 2023 | 19

PRESIDENTS’ DINNER AND AUCTION

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Central Catholic is celebrating its Twenty-Eighth Annual Presidents’ Dinner and Auction, Rewind Rams, on April 29, 2023! It will be a celebration of the upcoming 40th anniversary of our first co-ed graduating class and the ways in which women have positively shaped our community.

Join us at our in-person event on April 29, 2023 at Central Catholic.

4:30 p.m. | Cocktail Party

Hors d’Oeuvres • Drinks • Music (There will be no in-person silent auction bidding)

6:00 p.m. | Dinner

Buffet Dinner • Dessert Bar

Register Now:

6:30 p.m. | Fundraiser

Paddle Raise • Live (oral) Auction

8:30 p.m. | After Party Drinks • Music

To purchase tickets or for more information visit: centralcatholichigh.org.

Join our Online Silent Auction

Online Raffles

Noon, April 17, 2023 - Noon, May 1, 2023

Noon, April 17, 2023 - Noon, April 26, 2023

Step 1: Register as a new bidder or log in to your Greater Giving account from a previous year

Golden Tickets: $100 each Winner will have their choice of one item from the Live Auction (Only 100 tickets sold)

Step 2: Bid on the packages you enjoy!

Cardinal Tickets: $100 each Winner will receive a $5,000 Tuition Credit for the 2023-2024 School Year (Only 100 tickets sold)

Auction proceeds provide much needed tuition assistance for our current Central Catholic Students.

20 | Central Catholic Magazine

ALUMNI NEWS • IN MEMORY Jim Schlotfeldt ’81 is President and CEO of First Federal, which is based in McMinnville and operates in Yamhill County. Recently, his bank was declared the winner in the Medium Category (annual revenue between $10 million and $50 million) of the Portland Business Journal’s Corporate Philanthropy Awards. Speaking to the Portland Business Journal, Jim commented, “We’re a mutual savings and loan, so we’re owned by our depositors. That, in large part, drives our community focus. There’s only maybe fifteen banks headquartered in Oregon anymore, so we have local leadership that is close to the community.” Jim and his wife Kathy are the parents of two daughters, Erika ’11 and Nicole ’13.

Congratulations to Jim and the employees of First Federal!

In Memory • Alumni

Donald Glen Dorres ’45 | August 21, 2022 Eugene Antonio Crucchiola ’46 | March 9, 2022 Richard Saunders Van Dyke ’48 | September 17, 2022 James Richard “Dick” Dougherty ’51 | September 10, 2022 Gerald Joseph Van Hoomissen ’52 | September 6, 2022 Richard Henry Dehen ’55 | January 18, 2023 Michael George Akre ’57 | November 4, 2022 David Lee Hattrick ’57 | June 2, 2022 Peter Burl Parkison ’57 | December 28, 2022 Gerhard “Gary” Kather ’58 | June 19, 2022 Thomas Jacob Yager ’59 | August 16, 2022 John Robert Flynn ’60 | December 12, 2022 Charles Andrew Yager ’60 | August 12, 2022 John Dennis “Denny” Vaughn ’61 | April 22, 2021

Arianna (Nassib) Fouad ’08 and husband Rafik welcomed a daughter, Martina Maria, on July 11, 2022. She joins sister Chiara (2).

Philip Joseph Baron ’63 | July 7, 2021 James Richard Spring ’64 | December 6, 2022 Warren Paul Stolle ’64 | September 10, 2022 Kent Duane Vaughters ’65 | October 19, 2022 Daniel Okrasinski ’66 | November 13, 2022 Ronald Joseph Denis ’68 | March 8, 2019 Lance Joseph Kludt ’75 | October 16, 2022 John Balfour Cleaveland ’93 | December 19, 2022

Abby Welter ’08 married Brian Lancaster at Oaks Pioneer Church in Portland, Oregon on January 15, 2022.

Robert Altieri ’10 was recently spotted in Lakewood Theatre Company’s production of Elf The Musical, which was directed by Central Catholic’s former Director of Theater Tom Graff!

Robert made a quick return to the mainstage after his last venture in Lakewood’s production of The Kiss. He has performed around the Portland area since 2016. Those six years have been highlighted by roles such as Beadle Bamford in Sweeney Todd, Max in Lend me a Tenor, and his cameo as Steve in the West End production of Heathers the Musical. Off stage, he is a Construction Project Manager and competitive bowler.

Marian (Miller) Graham ’93 | October 29, 2022

In Memory • Family of Alumni

Robert Charles Barr | May 5, 2022 Jim Nick Calabrese | November 30, 2022 William Timothy Dugan | September 30, 2022 John Gorman | November 22, 2022 Dianne Lena McLean | December 12, 2022 Troy “David” Mork | September 30, 2022 Jeanne Frances Pashley | January 9, 2023 Yvonne Marianne Polich | September 14, 2022 Frances Tsuruko Toyooka | October 4, 2022 Spring 2023 |21

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Upcoming Events March

April

27-31 Spring Break - No School

* 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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May

June

2-3

Noho’s Hawaiian Cafe Restaurant Night*

12

Asian Desi Pacific Islander and Arab Affinity Luncheon

Good Friday

14

Mother’s Day

9

Easter Sunday

26

End of the Year Mass

12

Nico’s Ice Cream/ Nico’s Cantina Restaurant Night*

29

Memorial Day Holiday No School

16

Mother Son Brunch

17

Online Silent Auction Begins

26

Mother Daughter Brunch 7:00 a.m.

29

Twenty-Eighth Annual Presidents’ Dinner and Auction Rewind Rams 4:30 p.m.

2

Palm Sunday

3-7

Holy Week - No School

6

Holy Thursday

7

9

Senior Awards Assembly and Reception 11:45 a.m.

9

Baccalaureate Mass 2:35 p.m.

12

Graduation 6:00 p.m.

Hillsboro Stadium

18

Father’s Day

19

Juneteenth Holiday No School

CENTRAL CATHOLIC YEAR OF THE WOMAN

Celebrating 40 Years of Alumnae

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