Cheverus Today Summer 2023

t od ay summer 2023

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2022–2023

Peter B. LaMontagne ’84, P’14, ’17, ’21, ’25 & ’25 Chair

Nathan M. Brawn ’02, Vice Chair

Rev. John T. “Jack” Butler, S.J.

Michael J. Cianchette ’02

Amber R. Collins ’04

Rev. Brian J. Conley, S.J., Superior of the Jesuits of Maine

Margaret Florentine

Marco Giancotti P’16, ’18, ’21

Shawn Hawthorne ’02, Treasurer

Catherine Hyde P’20, Secretary

Carl J. “CJ” LeFevre ’89, P’20, P’23

Timothy J. McGonagle ’92

Heather T. MacGillivray ’08

Rev. John Mulreany, S.J.

Rev. Cyril P. Opeil, S.J.

Rev. Robert J. Pecoraro, S.J., President

John Richardson ’09

Jonathan E. Smith ’86, P’10, ’12, ’14

Scott Smith ’90

Stephen Train ’86, P’16, ’19

James A. Ward ’63

Rev. John C. Wronski, S.J.

ADMINISTRATION

Rev. Robert J. Pecoraro, S.J., President

Michael S. Komich, Senior Vice President for Finance and Operations

John J. Moran, Ed.D., Principal

Randolph H. Shaw, Vice President for Institutional Advancement

CHEVERUS TODAY

Published by The Office of Institutional Advancement

Editor: Jeannette N. Wycoff, Director of Communications wycoff@cheverus.org

Cheverus High School

267 Ocean Avenue Portland, ME 04103-5707

207.774.6238 www.cheverus.org

Readers, please direct all correspondence or address changes to: alumni@cheverus.org

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Rev. Robert J. Pecoraro, S.J.

Jeannette N. Wycoff

Marguerite St. Clare

PHOTOGRAPHY

Sean Baker

Dave Bates

Tige Cunningham

Jeannette N. Wycoff

DESIGN AND LAYOUT

Think Design

In an effort to care for our common home: If you receive a magazine for a family member no longer living at this address, please help us update our records. Contact advancement@cheverus.org.

On the cover: In February, a group of students traveled to Italy for a week-long exchange. Students stayed with host families from Leone XIII, the Jesuit school in Milan. During the cultural immersion, students visited significant cultural sites across the city such as the Duomo and the Basilica of St. Ambrose, pictured here.

Inside cover: During Catholic School Week, the World Language Club hosted Karaoke Night to support Maine Needs, a grassroots donation center that supports the basic needs of Mainers. The evening was a wonderful community event that brought together soloists, Spanish classes, and sports teams to sing their favorite tunes to support a good cause.

Dear Cheverus Community,

The end of the school year is always a special time at Cheverus. We host graduation festivities for our seniors and invite our Golden Grads home, to celebrate their 50th reunion. Shortly after graduation, we welcome freshmen and transfer students, embarking on their Cheverus journey.

The cycle is constant. The Cheverus story continues.

The Class of 2023 bridged the pre and – gratefully – post-pandemic era. This group of young men and women developed a remarkable ability to balance both their spiritual and academic lives in the midst of trying times. Balance is critical in life because whether we want to accept it or not, life is constantly changing. We are continually reminded of the impermanence that exists in life. However, as Paul tells us in his letter to the Corinthians, some things endure: “Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

When we welcomed back the Class of 1973 – in record numbers – the bonds between classmates was apparent. The love sown among these men half a century ago emerged in beaming smiles and hearty laughs – even a rousing cheer for Cheverus. The sense of community was strong and this class chose to focus their support on strengthening the legacy of Cheverus, establishing a scholarship to ensure that a Cheverus education is accessible to the next generation of alumni, while honoring the memory of their classmates who have died.

It is a privilege to witness our community flourish, filled with faith, hope, and love. Whether it is at graduation, a milestone reunion, the Gala, in the classroom, on the stage, or in the ice rink – celebrating another state championship – the spirit is at work in this community every day.

As a Jesuit school we are called to bring light to the world. As our graduation speaker Kevin Haley ’87 said, we must “be Cheverus every day.” We must have fidelity to the claims of our relationships, look at the world with new eyes, nurture community, and make a difference in creating a hope-filled world. This is how the Cheverus story continues. Every day.

For Cheverus,

Fr. Robert J. Pecoraro, S.J. President

GIRLS HOCKEY: A Championship Team

Talk to anyone who loves the game and they will tell you, there is something special about playing hockey. Maybe it is the sheer amount of time spent with your teammates in the locker room putting on layers of padding and protective gear. Maybe it is the grit required to go hurtling around a tight enclosure of ice on metal blades. Or the unique experience of showing up at the rink on a freezing winter morning for a pre-dawn practice.

Whatever that special something is, one thing is certain: hockey isn’t a selfish sport. There’s no way that a championship team can be carried on the backs of a few star players, something the talented young women of our 2023 girls state championship team will quickly tell you. “No one wants to be the best, we want to be the best for our team,” observed junior Lily Johnson.

Girls hockey has a young but already impressive tradition at Cheverus. The program has come a long way from its first season as a scrappy, startup in 2005 to this year’s third state championship win. There is a common thread of determination, generosity, and heart that has remained strong from the very beginning. Players and family members describe a special “magic” permeating the early seasons that culminated in the Stags’ first title in 2010.

But there was nothing magical about the effort it took to get that first team on the ice. While a core group of experienced players scrambled to convince their classmates to give hockey a try, there was a hardworking group behind the scenes making sure they had everything they needed to play. With well-organized support from the parents, an assortment of equipment donated by families and players from the boys’ team, support from Purple & Gold, and the generosity of local businesses it was possible to piece together the gear needed for that inaugural season. Truly a community effort!

Celebrating improvements defined those early years. Wins and losses were not as important as some of the personal victories. Whether it was the first time someone completed a pass, scored a goal – or even just stopped without crashing into the boards! – it was an inclusive program that inspired an incredible community of support around it. And while the team certainly benefitted from the talent of some extraordinary, experienced players, it was also a place where beginners could try their hand at a new sport.

Julie Smith Curran ’10, outgoing Cheverus Alumni Council president, was one of those novice players, joining the 2010 championship team her senior year. She can vividly recall the surreal experience of her first goal. The team was already up by a substantial amount, she emphasized, when coach put her in and teammate Grace Fitzpatrick ’10 fed her the puck which bounced off her stick and into the net. “My teammates all came barreling toward me and the parents in the stand just erupted,” she recounts. Neither the players nor fans of the opposing team could have possibly imagined how special that goal was for the whole team!

Players past and present describe the life-long friendships, character building, increased confidence, and sense of pride they gained in being part of something

...the players all agree that, win or lose, they still feel grateful for being able to do something they love with some of their best friends.

bigger than themselves. This legacy connects 16 years of players and continues to develop under the leadership of Coach Scott Rousseau. Coach Rousseau has been with Cheverus since 2016 and led the girls to their third state title this year. He will be the first to tell you that he can be tough and his expectations are high. His players back up that assessment. “His tough personality is him loving us,” they emphasize, “he knows how discipline can make us better.” What they take away is a lesson that is never easily learned: that a person isn’t defined by their mistakes.

Coach Rousseau believes in holding each accountable to their capabilities. Hockey, more than many sports,

If you ask what makes him most proud of this team, Coach Rousseau will tell you that it is the way they cope with a loss. “We’ll figure it out” is a phrase his players hear from him often, and that is just what they do. Trusting each other, they make space for those disappointed feelings, reflect on what they need to improve, and then show up to practice and put in the work. “Part of the reason we are so strong is we are devoted to succeeding for one another,” observed junior Brynn McKenney. And besides, the players all agree that, win or lose, they still feel grateful for being able to do something they love with some of their best friends. Play in the moment and live in the momentit’s all a matter of perspective!

depends on a team of differently gifted individuals, he explains. For every star shooter, there also has to be that player that can boost morale at the most difficult times. “Trying to do everything never works,” he points out. “Everyone focuses on their role and everyone’s role is equally important.” The team is quick to recognize and celebrate these different gifts in each other. “This team works so well together,” notes Assistant Coach Elizabeth Woodcock, “they have the best teamwork in the state!”

Resilient. Determined. Passionate. Devoted. Family.

These are some of the words the players use to describe their team. “I couldn’t hope for better role models for my daughters,” says Coach Rousseau. These young leaders play hard, enjoy themselves, and put everything they have into reaching their goals. With team spirit like this, they can’t help but succeed. We can’t wait to see what you do next year – go Stags!

class of 2023

After an unusually wet spring, hopes were high that the rain would hold off and the members of the Class of 2023 would stand on the steps of Merrill Auditorium for their class photo, as so many graduates have done before them. A half hour before the ceremony began, under gray skies, the 87 members of the class scurried up Myrtle Street, sharing giddy waves with friends and family – and the iconic class photo was captured. A predictable moment in a highly unpredictable high school career of the Class of 2023.

The four years this class spent at Cheverus bookended a global pandemic. While their experience at Cheverus was unique, the graduation ceremony emphasized what did not change during a time of global disruption: Cheverus’ unwavering commitment to educating the whole person and the call to live the mission beyond Ocean Avenue.

Outstanding Senior and All-Around Student Annabelle Brooks underscored what it means to be a Cheverian in her speech, saying that this title, “carries a lot of weight and demands responsibility.” She continued, “When I think about Cheverus, what first comes to mind is how it’s a place where you can begin to discover yourself,

your passions, and what you think you might want to do with your future. It’s a place that celebrates learning and achieving and finding out what you’re excited about.”

In his valedictory address, Class President and Valedictorian Reagan Bossong spoke of the values instilled in him at Cheverus: purpose, wisdom, and character. He called on his classmates to carry these values with them, “By holding true to these values while holding on to connections where we touch the lives of others and allow them to touch ours, our vision and our love will not only change the world but make a world of change.”

Later in the ceremony, Magis Award winner, member of the Cheverus Athletic Hall of Fame, member of the Class of 1987, and parent to two alumni, Portland Police Officer Kevin Haley ’87 addressed the graduates and echoed the importance of carrying what they learned during their four years beyond Cheverus. He challenged graduates to “be Cheverus every day.” Haley concluded, “I wish nothing but the best for you. Follow your dreams and never give up on them. I’m here to tell you Cheverus will always be here for you, whatever you need at any time. The doors never close. Trust me. I’m an example of this for sure. The world is waiting for you.”

“Be Cheverus every day”

50 y ears g olden graduat e s

1973–2023

The Class of 1973 Golden Grad reunion was one for the record books.

The first weekend in June included a golf outing at Toddy Brook, Stag Night at Bruno's, a memorial Mass at Loyola Chapel celebrated by school President Fr. Robert Pecoraro, S.J., and a class dinner at The Harraseeket Inn in Freeport. The reunion culminated with the conferral of the golden diplomas at graduation.

Thirty-nine members of the class attended at least one event during the weekend, the largest number of attendees at any Golden Grad reunion!

This class also set a new fundraising record, raising $101,000, which will establish the Class of 1973 Legacy Scholarship. Originally proposed and spearheaded by Golden Grad Vincent Ciampi, the scholarship will support students with financial need who are children or grandchildren of Cheverus alumni. The scholarship honors the memories of deceased classmates Mark Allen, Joseph Anders, Mark Coyne, Daniel Marshall, John Peter Martin, John Pio, Mark Roy, and Peter Sparta.

The weekend was a huge success due to the tremendous efforts of the Class Reunion Committee: Vince Ciampi, Mark Cloutier, Shag Crawford, John Douphinette, Joe Mazzone, John Napolitano, and Ray Veroneau.

2023 Athletic Hall of Fame

On the second to last day of March, the 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place at Keegan Gymnasium. Richie Ashley ’97 was introduced by his classmate Adam Peters ’97; John Wolfgram was introduced by Mike Vance; Pete Kimener ’63 was introduced by Jack Dawson ’52; and the 1961 state championship basketball team was introduced by John Kerry ’62 and Tige Curran ’59.

Richie Ashley said in his acceptance speech, “To be mentioned in the same breath as these inductees is humbling.” Ashley joined his brother Sean ’86 and his father Richard ’55 as a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame.

There was a common theme reiterated by each of the inductees about the lasting impact Cheverus has on individuals beyond athletics. Pete Kimener said he wanted to “repay and give back a gift” he received as a Cheverus student and told a story about an assignment he received from then-scholastic Fr. Joseph Devlin, S.J. ’53 on what it means to be happy. Kimener said while the assignment was difficult, he believed the answer to Fr. Devlin's question is the gift he took from his Cheverus education and what makes him happy is, “doing what God wants me to do.”

Coach Wolfgram spoke of both the people and “excellence with integrity” as critical components of his success as a coach at Cheverus.

John Kerry recognized the “many things Cheverus has done for young people.” He spoke of the “nucleus of excellent athletes” the 1961 championship team possessed and that this team won for the “right reasons: to do our team well, our school well, and families well.”

1961 State Championship Basketball Team

Members pictured L to R: John Kerry ’62, John Cimino ’61, Jim Hamilton ’61

Richie Ashley ’97

Coach John Wolfgram

Pete Kimener ’63

Fr. Nadal, a companion and trusted confidant of St. Ignatius said “We [Jesuits] are not monks. The world is our cloister! The world is our home!” This call remains true today as much as it did in the early days of the Society. With a network that stretches across the globe, developing global citizens is a critical component of Jesuit education.

The World

This past February marked an important milestone in solidifying the Cheverus commitment to cultivating a global worldview, when 15 students and three chaperones, including Cheverus President Fr. Robert Pecoraro, S.J., completed an exchange with Istituto Leone XIII, a Jesuit secondary school in Milan, Italy.

The relationship between Leone and Cheverus began in 2019 when Fr. Sean Hagerty, S.J. – then a scholastic teaching Theology– brought a group of Cheverus students to an international leadership conference at Mount St. Mary’s College in Derbyshire, England. There, Hagerty met Prof. Paolo Tenconi, head of global programs at the 1,100-student school in the heart of Milan.

Through a series of conversations, an international exchange program was established, with five students from Leone attending Cheverus during the fall semester of 2021 and plans for a group of students to go to Milan in early 2022. An uptick in COVID-19 concerns disrupted those plans, but 11 Cheverus families were able to host students in April 2022 and four students came to Maine for a semester-long exchange in the fall of 2022. This past February marked the completion of the exchange, with Cheverus students traveling to Milan to stay with Italian host families.

Prof. Tenconi began the school week with a brief lesson on the ancient history of Milan and how the different rulers of Milan left fingerprints on the city and its people. He encouraged the Cheverus students to experience his city with all five senses.

Prof. Giulia Magnano, a science teacher at Leone, was a gracious host with a robust itinerary for the students and accompanied the group every step of the way. And there were many steps – the group walked on average eight miles each day – visiting the most important cultural sites in Milan, including a tour of the terraces of the flamboyant Italian gothic Duomo, the Basilica of Saint Ambrose (the patron saint of Milan and beekeepers), Santa Maria della Grazie, the Brera museum (the original home to the Jesuits in the city until their suppression in 1773), and San Fedele church, the current home to Milanese Jesuits, near the famous opera house La Scala. Fr. Guido Rota, S.J. gave the group a tour of San Fedele and connected the church’s architecture to Ignatian Spirituality.

In addition, students traveled to the home of the Italian Renaissance with a day trip by train to Florence. Students walked the narrow, charming streets that led to the magnificent cathedral at the heart of the city and viewed treasured artwork at the Uffizzi. The Italian

Is Our Home

Renaissance that students had studied in Ms. Curran’s sophomore history class came to life as they saw the grandeur of Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise on the baptistry, Botticcelli’s Primavera and Birth of Venus, Michelangelo’s Annunciation, and da Vinci’s Holy Family with their own eyes.

The exchange was a watershed experience for senior Lila Ashburn, “It was so interesting to learn more about the history of Milan, but not necessarily as a tourist. Having real people who have lived in and were raised in Milan show us Italy through their eyes was really educational…now I feel compelled to learn even more about other cultures.” Ashburn hopes to spend some time studying abroad in college.

“This immersion trip taught me a lot about the difference between other cultures and how important it is to learn outside the classroom through experience”

This exchange with a Jesuit network school establishes connections and relationships around the globe, living out Fr. Nadal's call for the world to be our home.

Youssouf Receives QuestBridge Scholarship, Named Grad to Watch

This spring, Cheverus senior Dagan Youssouf was named one of the top ten high school graduates to watch by the Portland Press Herald. Earlier this year, she was awarded the prestigious QuestBridge Match Scholarship, a full, four-year scholarship, and will attend Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH in the fall.

There were more than 17,900 QuestBridge applicants this year and Youssouf was one of just 1,755 finalists who matched with one of the 48 QuestBridge colleges. She is only the third QuestBridge recipient at Cheverus.

New Alumni Council Members

In addition to being an outstanding student, Youssouf is a co-president of the Civil Rights Team and is a member of the Environmental Action Club and Model U.N. This fall she attended the Ignatian Family Teachin for Justice in Washington, DC. She volunteers in her community at Partners for World Health, Maine Medical Center, King Middle School, and the Islamic Society of Portland.

“My time here at Cheverus has afforded me some unique opportunities, and I am grateful for that.”

Yousseff is planning to major in neuroscience and is considering a pre-med track at Dartmouth. She is the daughter of Filsan Abdi Nour and Mohamed Youssouf Farah.

At the June Alumni Council meeting, John Concannon ’98 was appointed incoming president and Jason Jendrasko ’02 was appointed incoming vice president. Two former council presidents concluded their time on the council, Julie Smith Curran ’10 and John O'Brien ’84.

2023–2024

Alumni Council

Alana Barrera ’04

Mary Baskerville ’05

Amelia Burnes ’12

John Concannon ’98

Gerard Connolly ’71

Jason Jendrasko ’02

Mary Kelly ’11

Julia Lambert ’14

Emily Louis ’10

Anya McCarthy ’11

Kate O'Brion ’01

Joey Smith ’14

Michael Turner ’87

Josh Veroneau ’16

Class Agents

Charles A. Lane ’56

James W. Dunn ’57

Robert A. Frates ’57

John M. Kerry ’62

James Crocker ’68

John M. Flaherty ’70

Gerard J. Connolly ’71

Rickey M. Wright ’72

Ray Veroneau ’73

Eric Giguere ’85

Michael Turner ’87

Matt Rogers ’87

Robert T. Hayden ’89

Peter J. Molloy ’91

Nathaniel F. Runge ’92

Tim McGonagle ’92

Benjamin J. Schulz ’95

Michael Harnonis ’96

Patrick L. Maloney ’97

Gregory A. White ’98

Josh Wood ’00

Kate O'Brion ’01

Shawn L. Hawthorne ’02

Jason Jendrasko ’02

Luke Lemanski ’03

Amber R. Collins ’04

Alana Barrera ’04

Mary E. Baskerville ’05

Mary-Elizabeth Gervais ’05

John W. Harvey ’05

Rebecca L. Krier ’05

William T. Ridge ’06

Matthew L. Arey ’07

Mary E. Smola ’08

John A. Richardson ’09

Julie A. Curran ’10

Ariana L. Spang ’10

Anya McCarthy ’11

Mary C. Nee ’11

Amelia Copp ’12

Julia B. Lambert ’14

Joseph K. Smith ’14

Josh Veroneau ’16

Emily Haley ’18

Richard Joyce ’19

Nico Nason '22

If you are interested in learning more about the Alumni Council or serving as a class agent, please contact Director of Alumni Relations Will Tuttle at tuttle@cheverus.org.

John Concannon ’98

2023 CHEVERUS GALA

The Cheverus Gala was hosted on Saturday, May 20 in the Keegan Gymnasium. President Fr. Robert Pecoraro, S.J. and Board Chair Peter LaMontagne ’84, P’14, ’17, ’21, ’25 & ’25 welcomed everyone to the special event. The delightful evening featured student speaker Tyler Chen ’23 and faculty member Maureen Curran-Swanson. Senior Annabelle Brooks closed the evening with a musical performance.

Inside cover: the Cheverus Drama Society told a tale as old as time when they presented the musical “Beauty and the Beast” this spring.