Issuu

SPIRIT Saint Columbkille Alumni News 25 Arlington Street Brighton, MA 02135 www.stcps.org/alumni

Saint Columbkille Honors Distinguished Alumni James (‘49E) & Mary Lou Jacobs Saint Columbkille Partnership School and the Saint Columbkille Alumni AssociaCon are pleased to honor James (‘49E) and Mary Lou Jacobs with the 2018 DisCnguished Alumni Award at this year’s Come Home to Columb event on Saturday, June 9, 2018. Jim and Mary Lou have been long-standing members of the Saint Columbkille community and their contribuCons are both generous and everlasCng. “Jim and his wife Mary Lou have been the heart and soul of Saint Columbkille for decades,” says Head of School Dr. William Gartside. “When the school was in dire straights, they stuck with it and rallied others. No other couple did more for this school and we will be eternally grateful.” As acCve parCcipants at St. Columbkille Parish and the school, the Jacobs enjoyed parCcipaCng in community events and said these were the best years of their lives. For more than 25 years, they had at least one child enrolled at Saint Columbkille. Jim’s mother, Dorothy Dolan Jacobs, also graduated from the school in the class of 1920. Jim le[ Saint Columbkille in 1949 a[er grade 8 and went on to BC High School and Northeastern University, then married Mary Lou in 1959. He served on the St. Columbkille Parish Council, volunteered with various local sports groups, and as served as a Trustee for mulCple local organizaCons. He is sCll an acCve member of the St. Columbkille School Alumni AssociaCon. Jim joined the Saint Columbkille Board of Directors in 2007 and sCll serves on the FaciliCes Commi`ee.

Mary Lou graduated from Emmanuel College in 1958 and taught 7th and 8th grade math at Saint Columbkille for one trimester in 1988. She also started the Saint Columbkille School Bowling League at Sammy White's Bowling Alley and was very involved in the parish girl’s so[ball team. Mary Lou and her friends also started the school’s popular Field Day in 1980. The Jacobs’ eight children and their 16 grandchildren are excited to celebrate Jim and Mary Lou at the Come Home to Columb event this year. Having grown up in Brighton, their children understand how important the Saint Columbkille community is to them. “We are thrilled to honor our parents,” said Jim and Mary Lou’s eight children. “They deﬁnitely deserve it.”

James and Mary Lou Jacobs and their children and grandchildren

Come Home to Columb 2018 – Saturday, June 9

Join fellow alumni from all class years to celebrate James (’49E) and Mary Lou Jacobs and the class of 1968. For more informaCon, visit stcps.org/2018reunion.

Spirit – Spring 2018 Message from the Head of School The last year has been filled with excitement and joy at Saint Columbkille Partnership School. Our partnership with Boston College is strong and thriving, we have expanded our arts programs to give students a wellrounded experience, and our rigorous educaCon conCnues to be rooted in strong Catholic values. We are blessed with increasing enrollment for the 11th year in a row and welcomed 431 students to the school in September. We have added a second class to the 7th grade and worked diligently to redesign the middle school curriculum to reflect current best pracCces. If you’re interested in seeing the great things going on, we would be happy to schedule a tour and show you around. Thank you for your conCnued support and dedicaCon to our school. With your generosity, Saint Columbkille is able to provide an educaCon rooted in Gospel teaching and commièd to Catholic educaConal and religious tradiCons. In GraCtude, William Gartside, Ed.D

Alumni AssociaAon Oﬃcers 2017-2018 Academic Year President

John M. Izzo ‘80E jizzo@forsyth.org Secretary Jen Geaney Lynch ‘90E geaneyj@hotmail.com Advancement Council Chair Jack KeaCng ’63 jkpk@comcast.net

Vice President

Kelly McGrath ‘89 kelly9175@gmail.com Treasurer Maureen McGrail ‘69 purell321@aol.com

CommiJee Chairs Reunions & Events Chair

Kelly McGrath ‘89 kelly9175@gmail.com

CommunicaAons Chair

Mary Earls ‘65 mary.earls@yahoo.com

A Message from Alumni AssociaCon President John M. Izzo ‘80E As the incoming President of the Alumni AssociaCon, it commitment to the school. This year’s Annual Alumni is my pleasure to share our spring newsleèr. As a Scholarship was awarded to five stellar Saint former student, the lessons I learned here are an Columbkille students at a ceremony in early October. integral part of who I am. As a parent of recent alumni, it is wonderful to see how their Cme at the school has Over the past two years, many of you have posiCvely influenced the adults they are rapidly reconnected with Saint Col’s at our annual event becoming. “Come Home to Columb” in June. Mark Saturday June 9, 2018 on your calendars for this fesCve event. We Of course, none of these things would be possible look forward to honoring the class of 1968 and Jim and without the support of our alumni. Through your Mary Lou Jacobs as this year’s disCnguished alumni. conCnued generosity, we work to ensure that the Saint Columbkille experience is available to all Sincerely Yours, students. During the past few years, the Alumni Board has been pleased to award alumni-funded scholarships in honor of our beloved Mary Boyle and Mary Ba`les. Last June, we were delighted to honor alumnus Conrad Bletzer and his wife Paula for their Creless John M. Izzo, Class of ‘80E

Spirit – Spring 2018

In Memoriam

The following are names of alumni who the Alumni AssociaCon has learned have passed away. A complete list has not been published since 2014. We apologize for any duplicaCons or omissions. Please contact Mary Earls at mary.earls@yahoo.com if you would like to include a name in the next issue of SPIRIT. The list is also published on our website at hJp://stcps.org/alumni-newsleJers/. 1937 Mary (Baia) Donlon 1962 William “Buddy” Frawley 1938 George Drinkwater 1962 Melvin Reed 1941 Albert LaRosee 1962 Thomas “Tommy” McCauley 1941 Lillian M. (O'Toole) Thompson 1963 William Goode 1943 Ralph Hickey 1964 Joseph G. McBride 1943 Lawrence Conroy 1965 Priscilla (Skrabut) Trudell 1943 Gabriella (Flaherty) O’Leary 1965 Stephen Ball 1946 Sister Dorothy McCarthy 1967 John F. Burke 1947 Barbara Melia Josoma 1967 Patrick Buckely 1947 Marie Prior 1967 Paul Buckley 1948 Reverend John McCormick 1967 Peter Canty 1948 Irene (Troy) Davison 1967 Dennis Cody 1949 John P. Clancy 1967 John Collins 1949 James Taèn 1967 Rita (Mullen) Eckard 1949 Claire (Mahoney) Schopen 1967 Thomas Ferguson 1950 Paul J. Sheehan Jr. 1967 Margaret (Moan) LeLacheur 1950 John E. McBride Jr. 1967 Michael Luchiaò 1950 Mary L. Lahey 1967 George Marina 1951 William James Higgins 1967 Pa`y Mauchan 1952 Mary L. (Ridge) Douceè 1967 Joseph Pepe 1952 Florence Sheehan 1967 Thomas Pesaturo 1952 Anne “Nancy” Lennon 1967 Thomas Phillips 1953 Paul Connaughton 1967 Anne Ryan 1954 Andrew “Grumpy” Casey 1967 Robert Sullivan 1954 Sister Margo Shea 1967 Thomas Tempesta 1954 Katherine “Kay” Boyle McNeill 1967 Linda Sureè 1955 Catherine (Sullivan) Byrne 1967 John Wright 1955 Virginia (Boylen) Gray 1971 Norine Josoma Quinn 1956 Elizabeth (Shea) Almeida 1971 Ron Yee 1956 William Daniel Donovan 1971 William Gincauskis 1957 Jean Knibbs 1977 Paul J. Markham 1957 Sister Joan Rea 1980 Paul Kunerth 1957 Mary Ellen Ryan 1982E Tracy (Reynolds) Sheehan 1957 Carol (Moloney) Marques 1985 Karen Thomas 1958 Cornelius O'Neill 1987 Dina BeninaC 1959 Richard McGovern 1988 Pete Walsh 1961 James DiBiasi 1995E Sean W. Moore 1962 Brendan V. Callanan 2000E Derek Sureè

Spirit – Spring 2018 Annual Alumni Scholarship in Honor of Alumnus Conrad Bletzer, Class of ’47 By Mary Earls (‘65) Connie, as many of us know him, and Paula, were completely involved while their children a`ended Saint Columbkille. For many years, Paula chaired the Home and School AssociaCon with Conrad by her side. They are generous Brighton community members and conCnue to provide their support to Saint Columbkille. More than 200 people celebrated the Bletzer’s and their generosity on June 12, 2017 with a Mass with Father Sullivan and Father Fitzpatrick at St. Columbkille Church. A beauCful tent with delicious food was set up on the school plaza for the fesCviCes. Conrad gave a wonderful thank-you speech and encouraged us to keep us the good work! We were thrilled that this event raised more than $15,000 for the Annual Alumni Scholarship. A big thank you to Kelly McGrath (‘89) and John Izzo (‘80E), who Crelessly planned and organized this magniﬁcent event.

The Ross Family: Paying It Forward by George E. Ross (‘58E)

My grandfather George F. Ross le[ Scotland in 1898 and came to Brighton in 1921. He married Delia Melia (from Ireland) at St. Columbkille Church, a[er George (a Protestant) agreed to raise their children Catholic. They had eight children, one of whom was my father, George A. Ross. He met his future wife and my mother, Agnes Cleary, during their 12 years at the school. A[er graduaCng from Northeastern University and joining the Army Air Corps for World War II, George married Agnes in 1942 at St. Columbkille Church. In 1950, my family moved into the new Faneuil Street Housing Project, with my father working for the Post Office Department. I am the oldest of their four children and aènded Saint Columbkille School for eight years (class of 1958) before we moved to Milton. At that point, the Ross family had aènded Saint Columbkille School for 37 cumulaCve years! A[er aènding Boston College High School, I graduated from Tu[s University in 1967 and then Boston University School of Law in 1970. I look back with fond memories of living in the Faneuil projects and being taught by the Sisters of Saint Joseph. They were formaCve years for my parents, my brother and myself. Saint Columbkille provides a strong academic foundaCon that propels its graduates to addiConal academic achievement and career progress. I am especially pleased to be able to support the conCnued vitality and success of Saint Columbkille through a student sponsorship, so that another child can have the same memorable and influenCal experience that my family George Ross with his father and younger brother had. in the Faneuil Street Housing Project

Spirit – Spring 2018 Class of 1968 Celebrates 50th Reunion

SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, June 9, 2018

The class of 1968 celebrates their 50th reunion as part of this year’s Come Home to Columb event. Kick oﬀ the evening with Come Home to Columb fesCviCes including school tours, Mass and a cocktail party at Saint Columbkille. Then enjoy a private dinner at the Stockyard with members of the class of 1968. To register visit stcps.org/2018reunion. For more informaCon, please contact: Dan Cence (Class President) dan@sprocketexpress.com or 508-809-4422 Donna Colleu Lowre (Class Vice President) rev.donnadia@gmail.com or 802-222-7867

Introducing the 1901 Giving Society Saint Columbkille is proud to introduce the 1901 Giving Society, to celebrate disCnguished alumni who give as part of their estate planning. Harkening back to the founding year of the school, the 1901 Giving Society honors generous alumni for years to come. Leaving a lasCng legacy to Saint Columbkille provides opportuniCes for future generaCons of graduates and a chance for them to have an enriching and challenging academic experience. For more informaCon, contact Kate Ward at kward@stcps.org.

Our Next Alumni NewsleJer

Next year, in addiCon to a paper newsle`er, we will be creaCng electronic newsle`ers with recent and upcoming news for our alumni. Please send your email address to alumni@stcps.org to be included on the distribuCon list.

Grandparents Day Loyola Academy

We’re proud of our recent Loyola Academy graduates and their choices for high school. Below is a sampling of schools they a`end. •  Arlington Catholic High School •  Boston College High School •  Catholic Memorial High School •  Cristo Rey High School •  Newton Country Day School •  Saint Joseph’s Preparatory High School •  Ursuline Academy •  Worcester Academy

Memorial Gi`s

Memorial gi[s made in honor of a loved one are gratefully accepted and thoughrully acknowledged to families of the deceased. For more informaCon, please call Kate Ward at 617-254-3110 x.147.

On Friday, October 6, more than 150 grandparents and special elders joined us at Saint Columbkille Partnership School to spend the morning with their students. They parCcipated in a welcome and prayer service on the plaza, followed by Cme in the classrooms with their students.

Spirit – Spring 2018

Saint Columbkille Class Reunions Class of 1962 56th Reunion: Thursday, May 17

Enjoy a fun acCvity at STCPS with elementary students starCng at 11 a.m., followed by lunch at The Corrib Pub at 1 p.m. For more informaCon, contact Jim Downey at jdowney@downeycocpa.com.

Class of 1988 30th Reunion: Saturday, June 9

Following Come Home to Columb, join fellow 80s graduates for a fun evening (locaCon TBD). For more informaCon, contact Kelly McGrath at kelly9175@gmail.com.

Spirit is a publicaCon of Saint Columbkille Partnership School. Please contact Kate Ward at 617-254-3110 x.147 or kward@stcps.org if you wish to get involved, submit news or simply reconnect with former classmates. We apologize for any errors included in this newsle`er, and encourage you to let us know if you spot any incorrect informaCon.

______________________________________

Stay in Touch!

Saint Columbkille Alumni AssociaCon

@saintcols

@saintcolsalumni

Your Gi` is Important

Alumni support is a key ingredient of our success. Your gi[ demonstrates appreciaCon for your St. Col’s experience and ensures that the same high-quality educaCon in a caring community is available to a new generaCon. Please consider using the enclosed envelope to show your support or donate online at www.stcps.org/donate2.

Class of 1967 Reunion

On Saturday, November 11, 2017, the class of 1967 kicked oﬀ their reunion with a Mass at St. Columbkille Church, followed by a tour of Saint Columbkille Partnership School. The tour included a stop at the gym, which hasn’t changed in 50 years. The evening concluded with a wonderful dinner at The Stockyard. Many thanks to Frank Lovell and his commi`ee for organizing a great night.