XAVIER Magazine 2021-22

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Magazine

HouliDays A Life Marked By Love, Laughter & Passion

CREATIVE PURPOSE

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l e t t e r

f r o m t h e Headmaster

Dear members of the Xavier community, The past two years have challenged all of us in ways that many of us could not have imagined.

The coronavirus has impacted all of us in everyday ways and has led to great change not only in our society but here at Xavier. Our ability to adapt and change to the times is what has continued to make Xavier a shining light in Middletown and across the state of Connecticut.

The amazing people here at Xavier, especially our faculty, have taken on an immense challenge in educating young men in a world that almost seems to change weekly. Our coaches and club moderators have adapted and adjusted how we run athletic programs and afterschool activities to provide the safest environment possible. Our facilities staff and custodians have adapted to new cleaning methods and rules. Our business office has adapted to the changing family financial structure and has found new and creative ways to provide need-based financial aid to those families that require a little extra help.

The one thing that has not changed is our mission at Xavier. We have never wavered from our belief that Xavier fosters the spiritual, academic and physical growth of our students, and to continually challenge them to use their God-given talents in service to others.

ADMINISTRATION Mr. David Eustis, Headmaster Mr. Brendan Donohue, Principal Mr. Nicholas Cerreta ’01, Dean Of Students Mr. Kyle St. George, Academic Dean Mr. Eustis and Mr. Donohue are also on the Board of Directors.

This past summer, we invested significantly in our physical plant by replacing the original boilers from 1963.

Moving ahead, we will next address the controls system of moving heat through

the building, upgrading our air-handling systems, and replacing some aging rooftop air conditioning units. We also continually update our technology, safety and security features of the building.

As many of you know, beloved Brother J. Robert Houlihan, C.F.X., passed away last July. The outpouring of support for “Houli” through our social media sites has been overwhelming. In the near future, we will be announcing the development of the Brother Houlihan Innovation Lab here at Xavier. A comprehensive construction project is in the works that will open up three classrooms into one state-of-the-art learning space to enhance our program offerings in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. When finished, the lab will stand as a fitting legacy to a man who spent 44 years at Xavier dedicating his life to our mission.

This past October saw the reemergence of the Mercy/Xavier Walkathon. After 23 years, the two schools came back together for a wonderful day of walking, food and fun. Mercy and Xavier each generated over $120,000 in funds to be put back into the schools. The ultra-successful Xavier Alumni Golf Classic in early September raised more than $120,000 of needed financial aid support for our families.

I continue to thank all of you for your support of Xavier, and ask that you keep us in your prayers as we move through this year and beyond. We are a part of this great Falcon family and I hope you come see us at school, a game, concert or play in the very near future!

God Bless you all.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2021-2022 Atty. Mark Ryan ’81, Chair Mr. William Rotatori, Vice Chair Atty. Richard Carella ’84 Rev. David Choquette ’90 Mrs. Ellen Ciampi Dr. Jacob Conca Mr. James Coughlin ’84

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Mr. Ronald Cozean ’81 Atty. Brian Farrell ’86 Mr. Jack Gastler ’74 Mr. Bernard Hallums ’81 Mr. Scott Jenkins ’85 Mr. George V. Keithan, Jr. ’81 Rev. Peter J. Langevin

Brother Richard Lunny, C.F.X. Deacon Kevin McCormack Mr. William McKenna ’88 Mr. Neil Mitchill ’93 Mr. Peter Mondani ’75 Mr. Jeffrey Muzio ’84 Mr. William Nadeau, Jr. ’94 Mr. Michael Picard ’83

Sincerely,

Dave Eustis Xavier High School Headmaster

The Road Taken

f e at u re s

Every student arrives at Xavier with his own goals and passions.

But what happens after? How far do students chase those dreams?

In this magazine, we decided to see where those passions have taken some of our alumni and how Xavier helped pave the way. Pages 8-36

Xavier High School 181 Randolph Road Middletown, CT 06457 860-346-7735 XavierHighSchool.org EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Matthew Conyers MANAGING EDITOR Jeff Otterbein ’72 WRITERS Matthew Conyers Jeff Otterbein ’72 COPY EDITORS Donna Jaskot Kathy Lee Brother Thomas Ryan, C.F.X. PHOTOGRAPHY Eve Papa, IntegrityImages@aol.com Yolanda Christine Photography

Up Close & Personal: As a photojournalist who covers protests around the world, Aaron Leroux ’97 has had a front row seat to history.

Pages 10-11 Field Of Dreams: In Greenville, S.C., Bobby Stachura ’09 dreams of one day making it to the big leagues as a team trainer for the Boston Red Sox. Page 18

A Great Clip: Nearly 50 years ago, Thomas Arico ’69 decided to join the family business. He didn’t know it would land him smack in the middle of a rock n’ roll story and give him a career he loves.

Page 21 Service Bound: Throughout a long and distinguished career serving and

protecting people, Frank Pace ’92 has always worked to make the world a safer place.

Pages 28-29 Thrill Ride: From Lake Compounce to China, Matthew Robbins ’12 has traveled all over the world working on roller coasters and living a life he could have never predicted.

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➤

The Xavier community lost two legends in 2021: Brother Houlihan, C.F. X , and former student leader and coach, Seth Spector ’93. They came from different backgrounds and different eras, but each lived the ideals and values that represent Xavier and everything it has always strived to be as a school and a community.

Pages 22-27 Seth Spector

Jeff Otterbein ’72

PASSIONATE PURSUITS

GRAPHIC DESIGN Cheryl Gioielli, www.Gioielli-Design.com

Aerospace Engineering. Sports Media. Sailing. It does not matter what the interest may be, each of our highlighted student leaders shares one important similarity. Whatever they focused on at Xavier, they have remained committed to who they are as a person and a student. Pages 38-45

(Husband: Edmond Gioielli ’72) (Son: Nicolas Gioielli ’19)

TWITTER: School: @XavierHighCT; Athletics: @athleticsXHS; Headmaster: @DaveEustis FACEBOOK: facebook.com/XavierHighCT INSTAGRAM: School: @XavierHighCT; Athletics: @XavierHighSports WEBSITES: School: www.XavierHighSchool.org Athletics: www.XavierFalcons.com

8-9. Brother John Blaschik ’73 12-13. Marc Masselli ’69 14-15. George Keithan ’81 16. Chris Gavigan ’92 17. Anthony Brown ’75 19. Shorney Douet ’15 20. Jay Vernali ’73 30. Scott Thompson ’10 31. Joe Russo ’67 32. Tim Dumas ’72 33. Robert Coleman ’97 34. Torrie Vaught ’98 35. Frank Rudini 36. Chris Tripler ’86

IN TRIBUTE

Matthew Conyers

STAY CONNECTED

And More…

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38. Mitchell Wollen ’22 39. Kevin Gilhuly ’22 40. Sam Rector ’22 41. Vincent Salamone ’23

X AV I E R T O D AY

A Closer Look At The Year

46-47. School News

This school year, Xavier has looked to its past to help influence its future.

Whether it was the longawaited return of the WalkA-Thon or the reinvestment in an old Xaverian value, the school has embraced the next chapter on Randolph Road and beyond.

Pages 46-59

48. The New Athletic Director: Dan DeConti ’01

42. Damian Bianchi ’22 43. Isaac Gonzalez ’22 44. Justin Patenaude ’22 45. Nicholas Cusano ’22

49. Athletic News 50-51. Graduation 2021 52-53. Walk-A-Thon 2021 54. Annual Report 55. Alumni Golf Classic/ Alumni Briefs 56-57. Xavier History 58. Value Of The Year 59. A Student’s Perspective

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Jeff Otterbein ’72, left, Matthew Conyers, right

Editors’ Letter

w e l c om e t o 21 XAVIER M aga z i n e 20 22 The day started in, of all places, a beauty salon.

It ended, roughly five hours later, on a barstool.

For the last four years, Jeff Otterbein ’72 and I, two former newspaper writers blessed with a “second career” at Xavier, have remained committed to one core mission in the communications department – if there is a Xavier story, we’re going to do our best to chase it and give it the proper spotlight.

If we had a slogan, it would be this: Have a Xavier story? We’ll travel.

And we have – traveling down state and up (and sometimes further), to give the Xavier experience a voice.

Take the aforementioned day.

The first interview started at 9 a.m. in Cromwell at The Cut Above, the home of Thomas Arico ’69 for more than 20 years.

A few hours, and more than a few Rock N’ Roll stories later from the onetime stylist of Def Leppard Thomas Arico ’69, we were about 70 miles to the west in Canaan, listening to Chris Tripler ’86 explain how he went from studying forest life with the Cary Institute to opening his own brewery a few miles away from the same forest.

Since Jeff and I came aboard in 2018, and 2017, there have been many hours spent listening to alumni talk about life after Xavier, and how they have used their talents and gifts in the world.

In fact, there have been so many days like this, that it got us thinking – how far (in a literal sense) have Xavier graduates gone to pursue their passions.

The simple answer? Far. From the minute the first graduating class drove away from Randolph Road to last spring when the Class of 2021 left her after four years unlike any other in school history, Xavier has helped foster thousands of dreams and goals. And over the last 59 years, that network of former Falcons has taken the lessons gathered in Middletown and gone on to do some truly amazing things in virtually every career imaginable.

You likely all know the success stories of some of our athletes, such as Jeff Bagwell ’86, Phil Murphy ’75 and Tim Boyle ’13, but did you know the Homeland Security Administrator of Hawaii was a 1992 graduate?

And speaking of traveling to where the story is, Aaron Leroux ’97 has done just that in many corners of the world as a photojournalist.

If there is anything we have learned as storytellers the last few years, it is this – no dream is too small, too crazy, or too unreachable when you have the support systems and the foundation that is built at Xavier High School.

It’s remarkably obvious. Xavier is special.

You see it in the nearly 10,000 graduates. You see it in the faculty and coaches and staff. And you see it so clearly in the students.

That may all sound like a cliché, but so be it. It’s a reality.

At Xavier, you’re not only challenged, but you’re inspired and pushed to chase your passions. And that push is why we have focused the bulk of the magazine on one central theme:

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Using Your ifts Pursuing Your 6

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P assions

Over the next 54 pages, you will read stories about graduates from every era, including one from the first class, 1967, and what they’ve gone on to do using the Xavier tools that have been passed down from generation to generation. And you’ll read about the current leaders of the school and how they have already positioned themselves to chase their own goals.

This theme also brings with it special meaning and seems right for this particular time in Xavier history.

In July 2021, the Xavier community lost, quite simply, an icon.

Brother J. Robert Houlihan, C.F.X., was a pillar of the Xavier High School way, and the face of Xavier for so many.

As a new hire in 2017, and a non-alum, I never met Brother Houlihan, but through your stories, and your words, I have come to realize that Brother Houlihan represented everything that will always make Xavier different.

COMPASSION … HUMILITY … ZEAL … TRUST … PASSION. These are traits every Xavier man aspires to possess, and the values they hope to develop and nurture at Xavier. And in Brother Houlihan there was no better example, no better representation of the power of servant leadership.

He was Xavier.

A few months earlier, before we said goodbye to Brother Houlihan, Xavier lost another ambassador of everything we hope to be at Xavier: Seth Spector.

Again, I didn’t know Seth, but I know his stories, and I know those who were impacted by Seth’s kindness and his heart.

He was also Xavier.

The passion Brother Houlihan and Seth Spector had for Xavier and everything they did in their life is why we found it fitting to put them at the center of this issue.

In many ways, Brother Houlihan and Seth Spector make up the heart of this issue.

In their stories, told through those that they impacted, Seth and Brother Houlihan leave behind a powerful reminder of what can happen when you follow your passions and use your gifts.

As writers, and members of the Xavier community, Jeff and I are honored to tell these stories – your stories. We’re lucky.

So yes, we will travel to carnivals and Christmas tree farms, and anywhere else a Xavier man, a Xavier leader, decides to pursue his passion because you never know where a gift may lead you.

Thank you. We hope you enjoy the Xavier Magazine.

Matthew Conyers Director of Communications Jeff Otterbein ’72 Associate Director of Communications

“is gift you have received, give as a gift.”

The Xavier High School mission is to “foster the spiritual, academic, and physical growth of its students and challenge them to use their God-given talents in service to others.”

FOLLOW YOUR PASSION. We all have our unique talents, and the process of finding them and using them will differ. For some it might come easy.

For others it might take time.

From 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 we find these words: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.”

It was said years ago that Xavier graduates had gone on to many careers, from doctors to clergy members, and that our alums could take care of people from cradle to grave.

That has not changed, only deepened. We are now closing in on 10,000 alumni, and their God-given talents have led to just about every career imaginable. On the following pages we write about some of the paths our alumni have taken as they followed their passion.

Xavier Alumni Careers: Alphabet Soup actor, actuarial analyst, A aAccountant, d m i s s i o n s d i r e c t o r, a e r o s p a c e engineer, airline pi lot, air traf f ic controller, anesthesiologist, architect, artist, athletic director, attorney, author

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Bail commissioner, baker, bank vice president, baseball manager, baseball player, basketball coach, biotech business developer, border control agent, boxer, builder, butcher

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Chaplain, chemical engineer, chief execut ive of f icer, chief operat i ng officer, Christmas tree farmer, clinical psychologist, coffee roaster, computer consultant, construction manager, counselor, CPA, crew coach, critical care pharmacist, culinary director

dent i st , de te c t ive , D dDao ci rt yo rfa, rdmer, e ve l o pm e nt d i r e c t o r, director/corporate strategy, director/ digital strategy, dry cleaner

Electrician, elevator mechanic, enE gineer, entrepreneur, EMS director, emergency physician, English teacher, executive director

Film editor, financial advisor, fire F fighter, first lieutenant, first selectman,

food service manager, football coach, football player, forensic specialist, fraud consultant, funeral director

director/supply chain, golfer, G gGlobal r a nt s of f ic er, g r aph ic de si g ner, groundskeeper, guidance director

Hair stylist, health/safety manager, H histor y professor, histor y teacher, h o c k e y p l a ye r, h o m e bu i l d i n g contractor, homeland security agent, human resources manager

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Illustrator, internal logistics/patient transport manager, investment banker, IT supervisor

J Jeweler, journalist K Key account specialist

a b o r a t o r y m a n a g e r, l a n d s c a p e L Larchitect, law enforcement officer,

lawyer, lieutenant, linebacker, loan officer, lobbyist,

Mail carrier, manufacturing engineer, M master sergeant, math teacher, meat

cutter, mecha nic, medic, mi litar y analyst, minister, movie photographer, musician

technician, nurse practitioner, N Nuclear nursing home administrator surgeon, owner/hair salon, O Orthopedic owner/plumbing business P a r k s a n d r e c r e a t i o n d i r e c t o r, P phlebotomist, photographer, pianist,

pi lot, pla nner, policema n, priest, process produc t desig n eng i neer, psychotherapist, public accountant, public relations manager

assurance manager, quality Q Quality engineer manager, quarterback car driver, radio morning host, R Race railroad conductor, rancher, realtor,

reg istere d nu rs e , remote s ensi ng scientist, restoration ecologist

director, school principal, science S Sales teacher, senior vice president, service technician, software engineer, sous chef, special tactics officer, store owner, surveyor, systems engineer

a c h e r, t e l e c o m / I T c o n s u lt a nt , T Te television director, title IX investigator, trooper first class, trust administrator

U User experience design architect coordinator, veterinaria n, V vVenues ice cha irma n, v ice president, voiceover artist

r e h o u s e s u p e r v i s o r, w e l l n e s s W Wa c u r r i c u l u m c o o r d i n a t o r, w r i t e r, wrestler, wrestling coach

Y Youth minister

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John Blaschik ’73

Redemption Road

John Blaschik ’73 Leads A Life Of Prayer, Contemplation And Reflection.

He Once Led A Life Of Denial, Desertion And Destruction

J

ohn Blaschik ’73 spoke at a men’s retreat in June 2015.

“My job this afternoon,” he told those gathered, “is to share my journey of Adoration with you. Your job is to stay awake.”

It would have been difficult not to stay awake.

The end of his talk, which filled 10 pages: “I needed to hit a telephone pole to quiet me down enough to consider God’s call. You don’t need a telephone pole; you can use this retreat to hear Him. By turning your adoration toward our Heavenly Father, your faith will save you. Our help is in the name of the Lord. Amen.”

In bet ween the beginning and end of that talk we find a twice-divorced a lcoholic who admittedly was not a good father, had two DU I c h a r ge s , and served time in prison. We find a man who at 27 b e c a me First Selectman of East Haddam, once sitting in the Oval Office with the President of the United States talking about small town government issues, and later became Deputy Fire Marshal for the State of Connecticut.

We find a man who was drifting to the bottom only to be raised up.

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“I’ve been to the White House – that was good for the ego,” he told the crowd that day. “And I’ve been to prison – that was good for the soul.”

Today he is Brother M. John Blaschik, whose Profession of First Vows, a three-year process, was completed Feb. 24, 2020. His Final Vows will be in 2023. Blaschik is at Our Lady of the Holy Cross Abbey in Berryville, VA, a Roman Catholic monastery of the Cistercian Order, following the Rule of St. Benedict.

He arises each day at 3:30 a.m., which years earlier might have been the time he’d gone to bed. His beard at one time was as long as his story. His main meal is vegetarian (fish on Sundays) and taken in silence. He leads a life of prayer, contemplation and reflection. He once led a life of denial, desertion and destruction.

The monks at Holy Cross Abbey have work assignments each day, true to St. Benedicts’s rule of “Ora et Labora,” prayer and work. Blaschik could find himself outside on the grounds mowing, clearing trees, and weeding, or inside the bakery, known for its fruitcakes and creamed honey. And there’s always those 40,000-plus books to help catalog in the library.

In late 2019 he had a visit from longtime friend, Bill Robbins ’73.

“He still has the same personality; he’s still fun … and he’s very serious about his calling now,” Robbins said shortly after that visit. “He’s still the same friend, the same buddy.”

But hardly the same person.

Li fe cha nged for Blaschi k i n September 2009. He was arrested for a DUI and lost his license. Yet three months later he drove a few miles to

“I’ve been to the White House – that was good for the ego. And I’ve been to prison – that was good for the soul.”

a local bar. On the way back he hit a telephone pole, left the car there, started walking home in the snow, fell and hit his head, bloodying his clothes. He was a mess. At the time he was deputy fire marshal.

“The next morning I was empty,” he recalled in his talk.

“My world, as I had constructed it, had collapsed. I knew the job was gone. I was still worried about what others would think and say. At the time I didn’t know anything about 12step programs, particularly that the first step is the need to surrender, but I had made a decision that I couldn’t do this anymore and I needed help. So I called a counselor I had from EAP (Employee Assistance Program) and asked to be put in a residential rehab. I was sent to a facility out of state that worked with police and fire service.

“Losing my license back in September wasn’t enough for me to hear God’s plea. So He upped the stakes in the form of an arrest involving the accident.”

That led to a forced retirement and newspaper stories, the kind you don’t want.

That first night in rehab, Blaschik sat on his bed and felt hopeless. Yet he found enough strength to ask God for help.

He recalled a feeling of “perfect warmth filling me” and started attending Mass. He spent Christmas and New Year’s in rehab before getting out in January of 2010.

Back home, he was driven to be different, but he had no car.

He’d walk to Mass and people would ask him how far it was. A mile and a half or about 35-40 minutes is how he’d answer in the beginning, but later he’d say about seven to nine decades of the Rosary. He went back to speak to those in rehab three months after he got out, and just days before he would start serving time in prison for driving drunk with a suspended license and hitting that telephone pole.

In prison he attended as many religious group sessions as he could and credits Sister Mary, who ran the ministry, for helping him. She gave him books by some monks on centering prayers.

He wrote down a prayer about desire, written by a monk named Thomas Merton. Little did he know at the time, he said, that prayer would change his life.

Wh e n h e g ot out of jail, he continued to go to church, to 12-step meetings, and to read. He would travel to Gethsemani

Abbey in Kentucky, where Merton had once lived, seven times in the next two years. At 56, though, he was too old to become a monk there. He also had been visiting St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Mass., which also had a cutoff age that eliminated him. It was there that he found out that Holy Cross Abbey in Virginia took older candidates.

He has had time now to work on his relationship with his children. He’s a grandfather, too, but in his first two years of formation he had no internet or telephone access so could only see them in pictures.

His is a life with few distractions. All those years removed from Xavier, the former fire marshal has reconstructed his life, which basically had burnt to the ground.

“Besides the good pre-college education, Xavier provided a foundation for life, a foundation that, although I turned away from that teaching and God’s call to do my own thing, was solid enough to weather the storm and bring me back,” Br. Blaschik said by email.

When he sent back answers to some questions and after he had shared the text of that 2015 speech, he said, “I first thought, if this brings one person to the monastic life, it was worth it.

But actually, if it brings one soul back to God, whatever his or her vocation in life, IT’S WORTH IT.” He had bared his soul.

Asked if there was anything else he’d like to convey, Br. Blaschik said, “I could share volumes more on my mistakes and attempt to provide you with some brotherly advice. Having said that, please allow me to use our Xavier motto to do that in five words: In Christ, Be A Man.” X

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Aaron Leroux ’97

A A

Eye Witness

It’s Up Close, Personal, Sometimes Dangerous, But Aaron Leroux ’97 Is Dedicated To Getting The Right Shot 10

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aron Leroux ’97 was living in San Francisco in 2008 and working a couple of jobs. At the end of the day he’d take his camera around the city and take photos.

“The more I did it, the more I realized it was the best part of my day, but it took me a while to commit to it,” Leroux said. “I loved it and found it fascinating, and then I found photojournalism, and that seemed to be a way forward for me. “ T h e c a m e r a a n d p h o to jo u r n a l i s m i n pa r t icu la r a re a w ay to engage i n t he world. I always wanted to be in the mix of things. Life always felt like something

that was happening over the horizon, and photojournalism was a passport to go plop yourself into situations, to meet people, to talk to people, to engage in their world, and that was fascinating to me.”

Life is no longer over the horizon for Leroux; it has been up close and personal, and even dangerous. He has thrown himself into the middle of protests around the world, taking photos that illustrate the struggles of humanity. He has been in Hong Kong as people protested against the Chinese Communist Party. He has been in Los Angeles for protests surrounding the killing of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police. He has been in France for protests that involved issues such as taxation, wealth and equality, and quality of life.

He’s had guns pointed at him by police, been arrested, seen and felt much too much tear gas. And shed some tears by the very nature of what he has witnessed. It takes a while to process all that.

He came to the world of protests by accident.

He was in Portland, Ore. doing some timelapse photography in 2011 when he wandered into an “Occupy Wall Street” protest.

“It kind of happened around me … and then the police rolled in,” Leroux said.

The forceful reaction, the number of police, took him aback.

“It put a hook in me to understand how power worked in the world and why,” Leroux said. “Why could the banks call in the police on protesters, but the citizens of the country had no ability to call in the police on the banks that lifted a trillion dollars out of the world economy?

“So that’s how I ended up shooting protests; they are kind of the open wound of all the things happening in different societies.

Protests are the real eruption of things not working, and people in the street, and how does power react to that. Well, it doesn’t like to be challenged. I found it interesting and intellectually engaging. I got into it and couldn’t stop.”

That curiosity and wanting to make a difference was nurtured at Xavier.

“Xavier changed my life completely,” Leroux said. “To this day my parents and I agree it was one of best decisions we ever made.

The intellectual atmosphere was thrilling, the books we were reading and discussions we were having … and the emphasis on leadership and what it meant to be a leader, and what it meant to be part of a community, that has never left me.

“And I had such amazing teachers at Xavier. hanging around. They got to talking, and in I was not the easiest student in the world. 2018 they were married.

It is not by accident I found myself in a job So now he has responsibility for more than where I don’t have a boss and I’m not part of himself. How does that play into his thinking a structure. I kind of chafe at those things, when he wades into danger? and I had great teachers at Xavier who saw “The Hong Kongers are a vibrant, boisterous t hat obsti nac y people; they i n me a nd fed will not be it. It got me into tread on,” trouble more Leroux said. than once. But “ My w i fe is of combining that aspect of my personality with the same mind. She is a cardiac nurse, and responsibility and leadership, and layering she was a protester … the reason I married her onto it ideas and philosophy, that all came is she saw me clearly, she understood who I from Xavier.” am and why I am doing the things I am doing.

Leroux was on the track teams at Xavier She supports me in it. She worries, I worry, but and then at Towson University in Maryland, you can’t let it stop you.” from which he received a degree in sociology.

Leroux, who is using his God-given talents “That brought everything together,” Leroux, in service to others, was asked what advice an outstanding high jumper, said of a Xavier he might give a Xavier student searching for track and field program that won multiple his talent. state indoor and outdoor titles while he was “I would say a couple of things,” Leroux said. here. “Coach Michalski just catalyzed all of “Let your curiosity lead you. Whatever stokes it … you’re out here to be good people, to do the fire in your belly, go ahead and let it lead you right thing, to be disciplined, to not give up, to even if it’s scary, even if people around you endure and push and support each other. All don’t understand or try to dissuade you. Hold those lessons came out in track. He is such onto your curiosity, and persevere. an amazing teacher and leader; he was using “I’ve found in my adult life that I didn’t track as a method for building character. We realize the extent to which people, in all kinds all bought into it. We all signed on all the way. of endeavors, whether it’s work or exercise Character, academics, athletics, that was or diet or anything, tend to give up too early, the hierarchy.” not give things time to mature and develop.

Like any photographer, Leroux will leave Follow your curiosity and hang in there.” it to the individual as to what they see in a Leroux is co-author of The Nature of Water, photo. Yet there is an overarching message. described as “250 pages of photos, artifacts, “I want my photos and my voice to be of artwork, and human stories, making the service,” Leroux said. “To come back from struggle of the citizens of Hong Kong real.” another country and say, ‘Pay attention to Leroux and his partner on the book launched these people. They are just like us’ … The a scholarship fund to help Hong Kongers protests in France, in the U.S., in Hong Kong … attend Canadian universities. You can also we are them and they are us. There really are see much more of his work at facebook.com/ some basic elements of common humanity, of AaronGuyLerouxPhotography. X people wanting to be free, and people wanting to push authority off their shoulders. We can have police and have our disagreements, but you don’t get to rule us in this way.”

Leroux met his wife Ceci at – where else - a protest. She is from Hong Kong and was part of the Umbrella Movement protests in 2014 and 2015. One day, after the streets had been cleared and journalists had left, he was still

“I want my photos and my voice to be of service.”

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Mark Masselli ’69

A Shot In The Arm A b o ut 5 0 Ye a r s A g o T h e C o m mu n it y H e a lt h C e nt e r Needed A Boost To Stay Afloat.

Who Knew Then It Would Be The Same Leader As We Fight COVID

In

its nearly 50-year existence, the Community Health Center in Middletown has faced many challenges.

O n e o f t h e f i r s t c a m e e a rly o n wh e n Mark Masselli ’69 was operating out of a second-floor apartment on College Street in Middletown in the early ’70s with hallways too narrow to meet code. The place was shut down, but the dream, that healthcare is a right and not a privilege, lived on. Through t he generosit y of va r ious people i n t he community it was soon back up and running … and growing into what has become a multifaceted operation throughout the country.

And then came COVID early in 2020. CHC would end up doing 660,000 COVID tests for the state, eventually being asked to set up the only mass vaccination sites in the state in early 2021. The first one was at the former air strip at Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford. Then came vaccination sites at Wesleyan University, and at malls in Danbury and Stamford.

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“We’d do 550,000 vaccinations as Connecticut’s largest provider,” Masselli said.

“LA set up two days before us; I think we were the second mass vaccination site in the country. We had never run a mass vaccination site, but in the seven days from the day the governor [Ned Lamont] asked if we’d do this, we were open on a huge runway that had no electricity, no water. It required us to bring in trailers, 100 people to run it, the logistics, bathrooms, lighting … it was literally 20 hours a day every day for that one week, but we opened. And it was a success. Then the others opened, but that first one was quite remarkable.”

A late February 2021 article in the New York Times on mass vaccinations efforts highlighted the work being done by the Community Health Center.

“It came at the right time; we’re 49 years old, and you’re sort of always maturing,” Masselli said. “Could we have done this 10 years ago. I don’t know. The reality is we did something that I think none of us thought we could do. What do you do when there’s a conflict? You stand up and do the best you can.”

All the while Masselli was overwhelmed by all those who work for the Community Health Center. About 1,000 additional people were brought in to help.

Young people were thrown into leadership roles at pop-up clinics, and Masselli watched as they excelled. “Wow,” he said as he thought back to that. Many workers talked about the meaning in the job, about their desire to help others.

“I know this is a trite saying, but you hire people who are smarter than you are,” Masselli said. “We had a lot going on and you can only do that if you have a team that is talented and passionate about the work they do.”

That goes beyond his dedicated leadership team, ex tending deep into the organization.

In the spring of 2020 when COVID testing was so prevalent, other parts of the operation did not stop. They only became more intense.

“We have a Denver office, a Newport Beach, Calif., office … programs in all 50 states, and not only did we do all of these but our Weitzman Institute had 15,000 people as part of our oneyear educational program during the pandemic,” M assel l i sa id. “So w e set up t he f i rst l iv e, virtual conversation and educational platform in April 2020 and ran dozens and dozens of educational series to primary care providers all over the country and people who run health care practices. Our school for medical assistants grew; we’re in 19 states. Our e-consult program, which provides specialty care for providers who are serving underserved populations, grew from 600,000 to a million people we were caring for.”

The reality is that COVID is a wily enemy, as variants emerge. When asked what COVID revealed about the U.S. medical system, Masselli did not hesitate on this mid-August day as the numbers were climbing in Connecticut in large part because of the Delta variant.

21 22 PURSUING YOUR PASSIONS

“It’s broken,” he said. “There will be groups and there were groups ... brave nurses, front-line staff who did and will sacrifice and do anything, but I am calling for a 100,000-member vaccine corps. Think about it. The richest and most expensive health care system in world. We’re nine months into giving vaccines and barely 50 percent of the countr y is fully vaccinated … that is almost criminal. That is not a public health success story. We might want to think it is, but it is not. The science around the vaccine has been great, but not the distribution model.”

One thing COV ID did do was make telehealth part of the industry. “ It lo w ered reg u lator y ba r r iers on telehealth so we could have clinicians live i n Pen nsylva n ia a nd prov ide c a r e h e r e … it o pe n ed up t h e d oo r s to telehealth,” Masselli said. “Going forward we’ll see this mix: In person, i n home, mon itor i ng elect r on ica l ly, telehealth encounters.”

A s t h e Co m mu n it y H e a lt h Ce nte r nears its 50 th anniversar y in May of 2022, Masselli thinks back to when he operated out of that old house on College Street, long since torn down. Could he have predicted what this would become?

“I always tell people, when you’re 20 you really believe you can conquer the world and so my vision was probably exactly what played out, but one year later I didn’t think we could last another day,” Masselli said. “We had been shut down because our hallways were too narrow, all of our volunteers left, we had no money. No location, no volunteers, no money.”

Yet support came. “ T h e o p po r t u n it y to d o a l l t h i s i s the function of a lot of local people,” Masselli said.

He rattled off a host of names, ranging from Larry McHugh, president of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, to Joe and Kathy Talevi, who 25 years ago gave the Com mu n it y Hea lth center $100,000 and whose sons are Xavier graduates.

“I think this is unique about Middletown; it’s true of the Chamber of Commerce, it’s true of Xavier, there’s a community that cares for each other, whose oars are in the water for each other to be successful. The Larrys, the Joes, they want you to be successful. They’re out there to help you, not looking for anything. I don’t think if I were in any other community with money I could do what we did here with no money because

we had this broad support … a whole array of people from this community.”

McHugh was a physical education teacher and football coach at Xavier for 20 years. But he also taught another course, one that sticks in Masselli’s mind more than 50 years later. The New York Times was brought into class, and news and issues of the day were discussed.

“Not many probably think a physical education teacher would be engaging you in social discourse, which brought out feelings that people had about the world we lived in that they probably h ad ne v er sh a r ed be for e,” M a ssel l i remem bers. “ T he Vietna m Wa r was don’t do your job. If you participate and going on, there were civil rights issues, make those decisions we’ll be a far better so many hot topics. organization. “ T h is w a s t he t y pe of d iscou r se a “Let me tell you; that has taken time high school should be about and Xavier to learn. When you’re 20, it’s ‘I got this,’ b r o u ght a bo ut . Yo u w a nt to h av e a but I think as the maturity comes you social discourse, a conversation with recognize that. Giving a voice to people ea c h o t h e r, t r y to has been the proudest “I think this is unique understand each accomplishment because o t h e r, t r y t o g iv e we have to figure out how about Middletown; it’s meaning to the to make work meaningful true of the Chamber world in which t o p e o p l e . We ’ r e n o t of Commerce, it’s true we live. A nd you perfect here, but we strive of Xavier, there’s a k n o w, a p h y s i c s to make people feel they community that cares quiz doesn’t really have a voice here and a do that for you … for stake in the operation. I for each other, whose me that course was worry a bit because we oars are in the water very meaningful in continue to grow and how for each other to be terms of not judging do you keep making this successful.” a book by its cover meaningful for folks.” a nd the va lue of T he inter v iew v ia learning from each Zoom ended. The mileother. I learned early a-minute pace would not on not to categorize because Masselli sa id, people.” we figured COV I D was When asked a seven-round fight and what he was most now we know it’s much proud of during m or e t h a n t h at a s y e t h is long ca reer, it another wave, this one Mark Masselli, all came back to Omicron, stalked us. X founder, president, one word: people.

CEO of the Community It’s the people the Health Center Community Health Center ser ves. It’s the people that populate the organization.

“The success of the health center is that we have given people who actually a r e w ic k ed ly s m a r t a v oice a n d a n opportunity to be heard,” Masselli said.

“The secret sauce of the Health Center is that we learn … the security guard, the person who answers the phone, the people who do the difficult work of the Health Center. You find that you have a rich organization if you can unlock that.

It is key to success. As I remind people, I’m happy to make every decision in the world, but they will be wrong because I w w w.XavierHighSchool.org

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George V. Keithan, Jr. ’81

Engineering Solutions Accepting All Challenges, Caring For People And The World Around Us

“We have to leave this place better than we found it, but we are going the wrong way. We’re not doing the right thing, and if we do not slow it up we’re going to crash, and we’re going to affect everybody.”

GEORGE V. KEITHAN, JR., FOUNDER OF CONSULTING ENGINEERING SERVICES

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George V. Keithan, Jr. ’81 remembers the early days of starting his own company and working out of his house.

“After three to four months in the basement I got to move up to the living room, and that was a big promotion,” Keithan said.

That company, Consulting Engineering S e r v i c e s , n ow h a s i t s h e a d qu ar te r s in Middletown and branch offices in five other states, operating in the Boston and New York markets as well as in Florida, Texas and Montana. CES specializes in electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, and LEED and Net Zero design, engineering and commissioning systems for both residential and commercial sectors.

CES has grown from one employee, Keithan, to 120-plus employees across six states.

After about nine years of working for others after graduating from the University of New Haven in 1985, Keithan went on his own.

“I took that big leap of faith,” Keithan remembers.

He and his wife Mary had two young children at the time, one 4 years old and the other 6 months old.

“It was risky,” Keithan said. “I had confidence I could make it work, but I still had to learn a lot after I made that decision. I’ve always worked very hard, and I think my tenacity has been a key factor to growing CES.” He remembers working seven days a week, 12, 14, 16 hours a day, whatever it took.

Keithan was always trying to build his client base. Before you knew it, the company had outgrown the living room and in 1995 moved into an office above a carpet store in Clinton.

Soon thereafter, the company built and established its headquarters in Middletown, followed by a Massachusetts office nearly a decade later.

“We’ve always had the mindset that a branch office can only start if the manager came from the Middletown office because we want to always carry the culture with us,” Keithan said.

“Good, bad or indifferent, it’s our culture.”

A half a decade after the Massachusetts office opened its doors, New York City followed, establishing a substantial presence in the region. The strength of the company relies

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21 22 PURSUING YOUR PASSIONS

on this consistent forward progression and thoughtful growth, inviting possibilities along the way.

Keithan doesn’t hesitate when asked what that culture is.

“The culture absolutely is family,” Keithan said. “We care about the kids, significant others, husband and wives … we care about taking care of our employees. We are in the business of engineering; we are not an engineering business. So the culture has been to take care of the staff. The reality is we only prosper with the hard efforts of our staff. We don’t sell widgets. We sell hours. We sell people’s brainpower. So, we instill a foundation for growth in a supportive environment where everyone can explore their passions and realize their full potential. We never want to lose that culture.”

As we tour the Middletown facilities, we see multiple break rooms, an outdoor patio for company festivities with a solar canopy, and signs adorning doors that celebrate the number of years that an employee has worked at the company. There are plenty of 10s and 15s and 25s on those doors.

We also see multiple solar panels on company property, something important to Keithan on the personal and professional level. He and his wife live in Killingworth in a New England-style farmhouse home set on 14 acres, some of the land designated for growing organic vegetables.

“I credit my wife Mary,” Keithan said. “She has always been concerned about the environment, an example of this interest is our organic vegetable garden. I didn’t know much about that, but over time in listening and learning, and then being in the position to be able to do something from a facilities point of view, it started to kick in more and more.”

They took their house to a whole other level, far beyond just solar panels.

“We have to leave this place better than we found it, but we are going the wrong way,” Keithan said. “We’re not doing the right thing, and if we do not slow it up we’re going to crash, and we’re going to affect everybody. Mary and I wanted to lead by example. Do something that has not been done before.”

T he Keithans have the f irs t Net Zero E n e r g y an d L E E D Pl a t i nu m h o m e e ve r built in Connecticut. And their Middletown headquarters has more than 200 solar panels, offsetting about 50 percent of the total energy consumed during a work day.

“You have to put your money where your mouth is,” Keithan said.

T hat ’s jus t one way Keithan , and the company, does that . He also ser ves on the Xavier Board of Directors, bringing his expertise to the buildings and grounds. He and Mary have an endowed scholarship fund at Xavier.

The annual CES golf tournament raises scholarship money for both Xavier and Mercy students. The George V. Keithan, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund is in memory of his father, a former Middletown police officer who spent his

later years working with his son at CES. George Jr. and his brother went to Xavier; their three sisters went to Mercy. George Sr. died in 2009.

“He was Mr. K around here and ever yone loved Mr. K . ,” Keithan said. “He was so proud to be here, and he would be very proud of the tournam e nt h e lp ing X av i e r an d Mercy students.”

The Middletown office has massive food drives with the Salvation Army, adopts families during the holidays, and participates in the purchasing of backpacks for students in need. Over the years CES has donated more than 100,000 food items to the Salvation Army. Other branch offices get involved with charitable causes of their own choice. There are internships, so others might come to love a field that has led to so much for Keithan.

“We need to be caring,” Keithan said. “That’s always been the culture. Certainly for myself Xavier has been one of the drivers of this. Let’s try to make others better; let’s try to help. My mom would always say it’s better to give than to receive. So if you can, you should.”

Keithan grew up Catholic, attended St. John’s School and was an altar boy. It was who his family was. But all of it really started to click as he was heading into his senior year at Xavier. “ X LI was a game - changer for me,” he remembers all these years later.

XLI is the Xavier Leadership Institute, a multiday event for rising seniors that celebrated its 50th year in August.

“I realized that no matter the background, we were all the same in many ways with similar concerns,” Keithan said. “We’re all just growing up and have a lot in common. If we can go together, we are going to be stronger together. It’s one of the things I say here a lot. We are better together than we are apart, and that comes from XLI. It came from me understanding that a group of people together with good intent can be a strong force, and that was Xavier. And I left with a band of brothers. We’ve been fortunate because Mark Ryan has kept us together, and we are still in communication all the time.”

Ryan is the chairman of the Xavier Board of Directors. Ron Cozean and Bernie Hallums, also 1981 grads, serve on the board with Ryan and Keithan. Multiple members of that class play in the annual Xavier Alumni Golf Classic, which raises money for financial aid.

Shortly after starting out, CES was asked to work on a large private residence in Greenwich.

Next door were some famous neighbors, future President Donald Trump and his then-wife Ivana. This referral from an industry friend resulted in five years of engineering work for

the budding company and opened up a sector of work that contributes considerably to the accomplishments of CES today.

“So very early on we started to do unique estate residential projects that I had never thought about doing, but that has turned into a major portion of our business even today,” Keithan said. “We are all over the place, Hawaii, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Hamptons, Maine, doing projects as big as a 100,000-square foot homes. We’ve also modified some big penthouses in New York City.”

A diverse portfolio has been a driving factor behind the success of CES, and the company has maintained both high-end residential and public/commercial project work. One of the first big commercial projects, and successes, for Keithan and CES was the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford. Today, the CES por t folio consists of public and private schools, college and universities, public safety complexes, community centers, hospitals and more.

I n var i o u s p l a c e s i n t h e M i d d l e tow n headquarters are framed horseshoes, unearthed from the farmland on which the facility was built to honor and respect the history of what once was Brookside Dairy.

Now all these years later, a big CES challenge involved a farm of another kind.

“Someone came to us and wanted to do a direct interconnect with the utility grid in a big solar farm … 5,000 solar modules connecting with high voltage gear into the grid.”

Keithan laughs. “OK, nearly 30 years in and this was a first!” But true to form, Keithan and the company met the challenge.

“Clients may ask for something trick y, but we are undaunted by the challenge,” Keithan said. X

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Christopher Gavigan ’92

NO STRESS From the Honest Co. To Prima, Ch r istopher Gav iga n ’92 Is Focused On Wellness

The Honest Co. went public on May 5. Late that month Prima raised $9.2 million in a seed-plus funding round to support product development and operations.

Stress, says Gavigan, is wreaking havoc on our bodies and our world, “and 75-90 percent hristopher Gav igan ’92 spent much of his youth in Clinton on a piece of of doctor’s visits are stress-related. There property connected to woodland and water, is underlying stress causing the disease or calling it a transformative place to grow up. His the illness.”

Prima believes that destigmatizing the hemp grandfather was extremely focused on a healthy lifestyle, and Christopher watched and admired, plant and embracing its ancient wisdom can help combat stress. taking it all in.

“We’ve fallen away from all things natural,” “It has been intuitive and natural for me to Gavigan said. “It’s a sad reality, and we have want to be a serious and critical thinker in all things regarding health and the environment,” to u nderst a nd we a re not sepa r ate f rom Gavigan said. “So those two worlds, health and nature. And in order to repair ourselves we the environment, were always a mission and have to repair and focus time on the natural environment and the planet.” purpose-driven desire for me.”

When Gavigan was at Xavier, he was a That led him to becoming the CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World, then co-founder homeroom rep, a soccer captain, in the investors with actress Jessica Alba of the Honest Co., a club, president of the Peace and Justice club, wellness brand; and most recently founder of and on the liturgy committee. You get the sense Prima, another well-being brand, this one “an there was a foreshadowing of an entrepreneur with a cause. uprising rooted in hemp, heart and science.”

“These are all building blocks and formative ex per iences, a nd t hey help put you on a path to keep you focused and steadfast, and emotionally grounded, and hopefully drive a life of leadership and conviction,” Gavigan said.

“Xavier was a great place for me, deeply helpful.

It wasn’t about me only; the world is much bigger than me. Your core values, caring deeply, and service orientation are some of the most significant parts of living a life of impact.”

G av iga n is ma r r ied to ac t ress Jessic a Capshaw, who had a 10-year stint on Grey’s Anatomy. They have four children. Since Jessica is the daughter of actress Kate Capshaw and the stepdaughter of director Stephen Spielberg, we had to ask Gavigan which Spielberg film is his favorite.

“I think E.T. is the most transformative “We have to because I remember seeing it with my parents as understand we a young kid, but I think Minority Report is the most underappreciated,” Gavigan said. are not separate When Gavigan’s two older children were from nature. And younger, they had a personal showing of E.T. from the director himself. in order to repair “He is a great guy, one of my favorite people, ourselves we have one of the kindest and most curious, and clearly a creative genius and legend,” Gavigan said. “But to repair and focus he is a true family man. His guardianship and time on the natural stewardship of this family is really admirable.”

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environment and the planet.”

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So how does Gavigan handle stress? He’s eaten a plant-based diet for 25 years, drinks half his body weight in water a day, gets outside as often as he can for a morning walk and an evening walk, and puts up boundaries against negative situations and people. In other words it’s about choices.

And how does he balance work and family?

“Li fe is not a ba la nci ng ac t,” Gav iga n said. “It’s a compromise, so when you are compromising you are making a choice, and you are not choosing something within that choice you make. So especially for the children, when I show up, when I prioritize them, I show up in a very focused, intentional, quality-overquantity way.”

Now 47, Gavigan talked about reconfiguring the time spent working vs. the time spent with his family. So in the spring Christopher and Jessica bought a house in Bedford, NY, moving there in June. They traded West Coast for East Coast.

“In a phase where COVID was asking all of us to reconsider and reimagine and reconceive what our normal is, we came to understand that we wanted something a bit more slow, a bit more connected to nature,” Gavigan said. “The west side of LA can be a grind, and the congestion ... it was too much at this point so we opted out and chose to do things differently.”

They found a piece of property with an old house, stables, and about 20 acres. Back to nature.

Prima is a B Corporation, defined as meeting “the highest verified standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.” That was important to Gavigan.

He can’t watch over every detail, though, so how does a company stay away from caring only about money while making money?

“Businesses typically have the values and principals and standards of their founders,” Gavigan said. “If you are not a deeply passionate and value-based human you will go down the slippery slope of greed and make choices that are not built for your consumers, that are not built for the planet, that are not built for future generations.

“I believe I can adhere to being of service to others and the good of the planet, so that service orientation allows me to understand the more I give the more I will get.”

Back to those Xavier roots.

“Xavier for me was a powerful place to unpack and discover that deep sense of purpose and the cherished aspect of relationship,” Gavigan said. “No matter what you do or where you go or what you seek to accomplish in life, if you can’t manage and uphold and be trusted in a relationship, then you are going to have a tough time.” X

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nthony Brown ’75 knew at a young age that football could get him a college scholarship. He also knew the importance of an education.

“My mother was serious about books so I had to be from a young age,” Brown said from his home in Tampa, Fla. “You read first, then you play.

Homework first, then you go outside.”

Brown scored 44 points in the final game of the 1974 season for Xavier.

He rushed for six touchdowns and had four two-point conversions as that team finished 10-0 and No. 1 in the state. He got a scholarship to Boston College, and after graduation he began a long and successful career in the insurance industry for many companies, including The Hartford, USF&G, St. Paul, and Travelers.

As impressive as his statistics might have been in football, so too were the ones he compiled in the business world. He started as an underwriter for The Hartford and by the time he left the company 15 years later for USF&G in Florida he was an assistant manager of the largest underwriting department at The Hartford. After a few years at USF&G the company was looking for someone to be in charge of a new technology product. He got the job and took with him one assistant from his former department.

They had no customers, no business, and built it up to $3.5 million. St. Paul Companies acquired USF&G in the late ’90s, then Travelers purchased St. Paul.

“That unit I started with one person … when I left Travelers in 2017 we had 52 employees and did about $70 million worth of business,” Brown said. He recently finished his career at Axa XL in an area that specialized in entertainment and amusement.

Brown followed Greg Woods in the ’70s as the next great Xavier running back. He was a sophomore when Woods was a senior. Both were part of the teams that set a state record by winning 34 consecutive games from 1970-1973. Brown scored 23 TDs as a senior on that unbeaten ’74 team.

“Brown’s the best runner we’ve ever had here ,” t he n -X avier football coach Larry McHugh said in 1974. “And we’ve had some good ones, including Greg Woods. Anthony has Greg’s speed, and toughness inside, and he has a little better outside mobility. Greg would run over a man in the secondary ... Anthony gives him a move, and he’s gone.”

McHugh helped Brown get to where he did in life.

“Best coach I ever had. Period. Including Pee Wees before I got to Xavier and college after that,” Brown said. “He ran a high school program sort of like a professional program with film study, and once the season started we didn’t hit much. Our physical play was reserved for the game. He was a real professional, ahead of his time.

“What we did work on was technique and studying our opponent prior to the game. And he had the ability to approach each individual player differently. Some people responded to getting yelled at a little bit and him getting up in your face. For some, he recognized that was not the most effective way to deal with them.

“I’m not really that type of guy where you get up in my face.

He would just talk to me. Every Monday morning I’d meet him in his office, and we’d talk about the next opponent. He’d tell me what I needed to do, what was going to be important, who the key players were, and from there I’d study film. The guys razzed me a little bit because I never got the screaming and yelling that some would.”

When Brown thinks of that 1974 season, he calls it a great season. “But I wouldn’t start there. You have to go back to the year before when we were chasing the state record for consecutive wins. We broke it but then lost a game so it made the 1974 season, as seniors, something we were focusing on. We really wanted to be focused and accomplish the unbeaten season we didn’t get as juniors in 1973.”

They got it by scoring 370 points and allowing just 50 in 1974. Brown was All-State and a Parade All-American. Quarterback Jim Hofher and wide receiver Clint Gaffney were All-State.

Xavier opened the 1974 season vs. defending state champion Derby, which had won 20 consecutive games. The Falcons, down 7-0 at the half, won 27-7 before about 8,000 people at Palmer Field in Middletown. Fans started arriving at 5 p.m. for the 7:30 game, according to newspaper reports.

Brown rushed for 148 yards, including a 48-yard TD. In the final game of the ’74 season Xavier beat St. Paul of Bristol 64-4. Brown scored six touchdowns and ran for four two-point conversions for 44 points. He had 167 yards on 17 carries, scoring f ive TDs in the first half and one early in the third quarter before leaving to a standing ovation.

College recruiters left and right were contacting Xavier players. By October 1974, 13 of the Associated Press Top 20 schools had contacted Brown, including Ohio State (1), Michigan (3), Southern Cal (6) and Notre Dame (7).

“Xavier gave me the exposure I needed,” Brown said. “I needed a scholarship to go to college, to afford it, and Xavier put me in place to play the best teams in the state. And the other thing, Xavier took away any concerns about academics. I was an honors student.”

Fitting Brown’s personality, he had a college plan. He wanted a good academic school. He sought to play Division I football but not necessarily a major power. He wanted to be in a large city and not a small college town.

BC fit the criteria.

Brown had knee and shoulder surgery at BC but did end up rushing for 1,346 yards his final three seasons, including 748 as a senior in 1978.

Brown’s wife Valerie is a cousin of another former great Xavier football player, Amari Spievey. Anthony and Valerie have two sons, Adwin and Amiri. Adwin is an actor who has been in the Netflix show called “You” among other things. Amiri, like his father a very good high school football player, is a musician.

Brown’s brother Carl is a musician. Anthony wrote a song called “Change” with Carl performing the piece, and also doing the arrangements and production. The song speaks to police violence against Blacks. “It’s time for a change, you know you feel it in your heart. Let’s work together, let’s make a brand new start.” X

Anthony Brown ’75

INSURANCE POLICY

Anthony Brown ’75 Was One Of Xavier’s Greatest Running Backs, But That Never Stopped Him From Building A Plan For Life After Football

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Bobby Stachura ’09 captain in 2010, and then in college at Lasell in Newton, Mass., where he was a four-year starter who hit .313 in his career.

“It has helped me understand what needs to be done,” Stachura said. “Everything we do here you have to anticipate what is going on … if you don’t have the anticipation or understanding of the game it’s a little challenging.

“Knowing what these guys go through helps me understand a little better how I need to treat them ... by no means have I played a professional season, but I have an understanding of what they go through. It’s a vigorous season; you play pretty much every day. And there are expectations to perform at a high level. So if I am not doing my job, I am putting these guys at a disadvantage, and I want these guys to go to Portland [ Dou ble A] a nd Worcester [Triple A] and hopefully get to Fenway Park.”

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ost, i f not a l l, of Bobby Stachura’s family on his mom and dad’s side rooted for the Red Sox. Somehow, and he’s not exactly sure how or why, he became a Yankee fan. But his job has done what his family could not: make him a Red Sox fan.

Stachura ’09 is the trainer for the Greenville Drive, the High A affiliate of the Red Sox in Greenville, S.C. Stachura’s goal is to one day do the same job at the major league level in Boston. “ K n o w i n g h o w g r e at t h i s o r g a n i z at i o n is, and the appreciation I have for everything they’ve done for me, I’ve turned,” Stachura said.

It’s not that he’ll forget his favorite Yankee of all-time, who died of ALS.

It’s the same path he wants to take, getting back to New England, where he grew up and resides. He and his wife Nicole bought a home in Scituate, Mass., in 2020. They met at the University of R hode Island, where he began his career as a trainer. But he’s either in

MAJOR LEAGUE G ALS

Fort Myers for spring training or in Greenville or on the road with the club for about eight months of the year. Even in his offseason, in the rough time frame from October through January, he might get a call to go to Fort Myers to help a player or head to Boston’s Latin American Academy in Santa Domingo.

All of it is done with Boston in sight. Fluor Field in Greenville is a tease, and a beautiful one at that.

Built in 2006 it has a mini Green Monster with seats as well as seats in Pesky’s Porch. Yet it is still miles away, figuratively and literally.

Greenville Is His Base For Now, “ I t k e e p s m e m o t i v at e d t o g e t b e t t e r at m y “ Lou Geh r ig had a n oppor tu nit y to play because Wa l ly P ipp wa nted a n of f day.

But Home Plate Is In Boston profession and have that goal to get to Fenway From that day for ward he played 2,1 30 … it kicks me in the butt if I get lazy,” Stachura straight games,” Stachura said. “In those games said. “Hey, if you do not perform you won’t be there and hopefully Fenway will he struggled with injuries and illnesses but never be my second home. … You have to grind through the season, and you’re here for wanted a day off. He woke up day in and day out everyone else, not yourself, so my job is a selfless job, and I do take pride in that.” with an opportunity to play baseball, and he didn’t Some of who he is to this day was reinforced at Xavier. want anyone to take that away from him. To me, he had the true meaning of grit and determination.

“Xavier is a fantastic school,” Stachura said. “My father and two uncles went there, so it was great to follow in their footsteps.”

“I try to emulate him in that way, where he became a problem solver and did everything he could to play, even with his horrible ailments. He didn’t stop playing until he had to. The way he carried himself and his life is what keeps me going in terms of baseball and where I want to be with my career.”

Stachura is one of the first to the park and one of the last to leave. His job is about maintenance, injury prevention, treatment, and rehab.

His uncle Stan ’68 played football for Larry McHugh. His uncle Ed ’71 and father Robert ’75 were part of Bob Michalski’s outstanding track programs.

“Xavier helps you to prepare to be a professional … wherever life takes you, it puts you in the position to understand what is going on and to better yourself to be the best that you can be,” Stachura said. “Xavier has high standards for its students, and I don’t know if I would be in the position I am today without that leadership and those expectations at such a young age.”

“I get in about five or so hours before the game,” Stachura said. “The guys come in and get their stuff done, whether it’s pitchers with arm care or positional players in terms of general body wear and tear. Once the game starts I’m in the dugout waiting to see. Hopefully nothing happens. My job typically is the less I do the better off our team is health-wise, so it’s not a job where you want to be busy.”

But, of course, he is busy. It’s just the nature of the game.

Stachura has a feel for what the players go through.

He played baseball at X av ier, where he was a

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21 22 PURSUING YOUR PASSIONS

“It keeps me motivated to get better at my profession and have that goal to get to Fenway … it kicks me in the butt if I get lazy.”

One of those leaders was longtime Guidance Director and baseball coa c h R i c h M a g n e r, wh o played the game at the high school, college and minor league levels. “ I w a s f o r t u n at e t o h a v e Rich Magner as my coach,” Stachura said. “He’s a guy I always looked up to and i d o l i zed i n te r m s o f h o w he car ried himself in his jo b a n d i n b a s e b a l l , a n d k n o w i n g h i s c a r e e r, it ’s something you look up to.” X

Shorney Douet ’15

&

DESIRE DETERMINATION From Happy Valley To South Beach, Shorney Douet ’15 Has Carried With Him The Values He Learned Playing Xavier Football eight years after he suited up MORE than for his last Xavier football game,

Shorney Douet ’15 not only carries with him the lessons of the team – he wears them.

On one of Douet’s wrist remains the bracelets that were front and center during his time at Xavier. One reads: Everything you got.

The other: What you give is what you get.

“I don’t take them off,” Douet said. “I’m still a proud alumni – so Xavier is always with me.

It is what really started this football dream.

I appreciate all the values I learned from everyone during that time.”

Douet’s football dream has taken him all around the country and even across the ocean to London in the 2021 NFL season as an equipment intern for the Miami Dolphins.

He has been on the sidelines in Happy Valley and stood next to some of the game’s biggest names. But at every stop and through every obstacle, those principles he learned back on Randolph Road have traveled with him, keeping him motivated to continue chasing his dream of working in the National Football League, which he has now achieved.

“Coach [Sean] Marinan always preached never be late; improve every day; and always compete in everything you do,” Douet said. “Bouncing around to different places I hear them preach the same thing.”

Since graduating in the spring of 2015, Douet has done his share of bouncing around to different football outposts across the country.

And he’s always maintained the same mindset.

“I’m going to do whatever I can to get my foot in the door,” Douet said. “I’m just a hard worker and I’m very persistent. Once I find something I’m really interested in, I want to learn about it more and more.”

Since 2018 when he was an intern with the Kansas City Chiefs, Douet has worked with the Orange Bowl Committee, the University of Oregon football team, Penn State football and the Dolphins. At each stop, he does the work that goes unnoticed. He gathers team uniforms, he sets up lockers, he charges iPads, he gets cleats, and he does the laundry.

“A couple weeks after I left Oregon, I got a position working equipment for Penn State Football,” Douet said.

“I’m willing to do whatever to help us win,” Over the years, Douet has followed a simple Douet said. process: work hard and make connections.

Douet says on an average game day with Wherever he goes, he wants to leave an impression the same way his Xavier coaches the Dolphins he works nearly 20-hour days. taught him.

During training camp it is 100-hour weeks.

“I want to do everything, I know I can’t but “At night, I fall asleep like a baby – I’m out like I’m interested in everything,” Douet said. “I’m a light,” Douet said. always talking to everyone.”

Yet, he would not change In 2019, Douet worked three anything. This is his dream. different football camps for After playing two years of “I have learned aspiring players in Miami, football at Allegheny College, Dallas and New Jersey. When Douet decided to transfer to be persistent he made the trip to Miami, to Penn State and leave his he knew that was where he and t o no t t ak e wanted to be. pl ay ing d ays b ehind. But despite the decision to stop no for an answer. “I went to t he D olphins’ playing competitively he never facility and I just fell in love lost his passion for the game.

There is always with the Dolphins and the During his ju nior yea r at of Florida, so I made it another way to do state Penn State, his desire to land my goal to come back, and a su mmer i nternship at a something in life. I eventually did.” Douet said. top tier college program led connections Douet made him to send over 60 emails to When there’s a will, The during his time with Kansas programs across the country.

City, Oregon and Penn State there’s a way.”

“I was going to do whatever I have paid off, helping him could do to get my foot in the constantly network. But it door,” Douet said. is the relationships that he Eventually, one of the top 10 programs in made at Xavier that continue to leave the biggest impact. college football replied. It was Oregon.

“I have learned to be persistent and to not take A few years ago when COVID first hit no for an answer. There’s always another way and Douet was at home with his family in to do something in life,” Douet said. “When Glastonbury, his Xavier days helped inspire him to keep following his passion for the there’s a will, there’s a way.” game. During his time at home and waiting The Ducks could not pay him, but it did to see if the Dolphins were going to hire not matter. him, Douet and former teammates, Eric Morin ’16 and Austin Hurwitz ’16 met up with Douet had his opportunity, and soon enough him for conditioning. He also took out those he was on a flight to Oregon. old wristbands.

“I just really had to bet on myself and make “I basically needed every little bit of motivation sure I got the most out of this experience. I to just keep going,” Douet said. knew an opportunity like this might never come around again,” Douet said.

As always, Xavier and football was there right when he needed it most.

The work in Eugene only stoked the flame.

“Xavier really taught me to be disciplined in When Douet returned to Penn State to finish a lot of situations in life, and to never quit,” his political science degree, he was determined Douet said. X to work with the Nittany Lions. And he did. w w w.XavierHighSchool.org

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Jay Vernali ’73

W

hen pianist Jay Vernali ’73 was about 25 years old, he moved to Nashville and played at a supper club from 9:30 at night until 2:30 in the morning for $25. There was a bouncer up front and a casino in the back.

The “ultimate honky tonk,” Vernali says.

Then he had a “lightbulb moment.” Someone asked him if he did any recording.

“Wait a minute,” he said. “I’m playing in this honky tonk dive for $25 and this guy wants to pay me $50 for about two hours work. That’s how I started.”

Vernali produced demos for those trying to get a record sold and ultimately a record deal.

In comes country music legend Garth Brooks to the story. It was the late ’80s, and country was starting to boom.

“I was working with a songwriter named Kent Maxson from Oklahoma, and he said, ‘Hey, I’ve got this kid who’s pretty good and looks like he might be getting a record deal. I want to bring him over.’

Nashville Player Before Heading To Music Row, Vernali Got His Start On Keyboards At The St. Sebastian’s Festival Jay attended Wesleyan for a year [“I thought I was going be a lawyer, and that ended quickly”] and then the Hartt School of Music in Hartford. That didn’t last too long, either.

“I got a call to go on a gig in St. Thomas, and I never went back to school,” Vernali said.

That call came from jazz singer Kitty Kathryn of Middletown.

“ My first road trip;

I was 19. I got on a plane with Kitty, her two kids and a chihuahua to St. Thomas for a month.”

‘OK, I said, let’s record him,’ and that’s what we did. Probably a year later he’s a superstar.”

For about 30 years Vernali has had a recording studio on Music Row in Nashville. He’s never stopped playing; even during the pandemic in January he had a gig four nights a week. He’s never been afraid to start something new. About six years ago he started renting his apartment in the recording studio to vacationers, and about 270 nights a year were booked. He noticed the vacation rental market starting to take off in Na shv i l le a nd wa s tired of renting it out long term. Though C OV I D -19 p u t a temporary stop to that part of the business, it is back up now and has done well. He also opens up his studio for music-themed experiences in groups of about 20. COVID’s tentacles got that, too, for a while.

Vernali got his start on keyboards during the annual St. Sebastian’s Festival in Middletown that was led by his grandfather Sal Vinci. Sal’s son Sam took him up on the bandstand when Jay was about 11, and the keyboard player just gravitated toward the music business with a small pit stop.

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“My first road trip; I was 19. I got on a plane with Kitty, her two kids and a chihuahua to St. Thomas for a month,” Vernali said. “We played the Frenchman’s Reef Resort.”

Vernali has worked with many big names, from Brooks and Trisha Yearwood to Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers, Rick Derringer, and Jewel to name a few. He plays multiple nights a week at Skull’s Rainbow Room, a top jazz club that first opened its doors in Nashville in 1948.

He can play just about any type of music, but jazz is his favorite.

Pre-pandemic he also was a rehearsal pianist for the Nashville Ballet and a music minister at one Black church and an organist at another. That work started to come back in the summer, too.

His is a business of connections, and he has made a bunch.

“A guy sat in with us one night; he wasn’t great, and the band wanted him off stage,” Vernali said.

“I said no. He called me a month later and said a church is looking for an organist.”

There seems little that Vernali won’t try. And that in part stems from Xavier.

“Work ethic,” he answered when asked what Xavier did for him. “The work ethic is everything, and that’s what I see lacking in today’s world.”

He says he is the ultimate definition of selfemployed. So let’s step back and take stock of that

21 22 PURSUING YOUR PASSIONS

work ethic: he produces and records, he regularly plays the piano, he rents an apartment, he owns a recording studio, he holds group party outings, he plays at churches, he plays at ballet rehearsals.

He’s also worked to help preserve Nashville’s Music Row, which he says is being destroyed by condominium development.

“It was very organic and not planned,” Vernali said of his career. “I didn’t come to Nashville to take over studio work; that wasn’t even in my plans … I just wanted to play. I wanted to be a session player on records, of course. Who wouldn’t? Right now our session rate is $450 for three hours. It’s a lucrative business, but a million people are trying to do that. It didn’t work out being a top session player, but I decided

if you can’t fight city hall build your own. And I started recording, first in a basement, and bought more and more gear over the years, and it just grew into a business.”

He also has created music for four Hallmark Channel movies, including the wildly successful “Christmas at Graceland” starring country vocalist Kelly Pickler.

“I do a cool version of Elvis’ ‘I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You’ with Kelly,” Vernali said. “My musical partner/violinist Jonathan Yudkin had done previous work with the director and that was our in.”

Producing … playing … he loves it all. With apologies to the Righteous Brothers, he has never lost that lovin’ feeling for music. X

Cut

Thomas Arico ’69

A

Above

Thomas Arico’s Life As A Stylist Has Provided Him With A Lifetime Of Memories, Including One Wild Stint With Two Of The Biggest Bands Of The ’80s In his 50 years as a hairdresser, Thomas Arico ’69 has never lost sight of why he gets up and goes to work every day.

From his first job in Kensington, where he worked fresh out of Hartford’s Creative School of Hair Dressing, to his current shop in Cromwell, The Cut Above, it has always been the same reason.

“It is the people, and making them happy,” Arico said.

Since he graduated from Xavier and joined the family trade in the early ’70s, Arico has loved being a hairdresser. And he’s got the stories to prove it. But whether it is cutting the hair of customers he has known for 30 years or styling the lavish mane of Def Leppard’s lead singer Joe Elliott, the man they call Rico has tried to carry with him the lessons he learned from his grandfather, his parents and Xavier.

“It is all sort of the culmination of the Xavier saying – ‘Be a man, and do the right thing,’” Arico said. “As hokey as some people might think it sounds – those things will follow you and help you through all of it. I really do believe that.”

Growing up in the late ’50s and early ’60s, Arico didn’t know exactly what he wanted to do, but he knew he liked the feeling he got when was in his grandfather Anthony’s barber shop in Middletown.

“To quiet us, my grandfather would put us in the chair with a hot towel,” Arico said. “I remember just lying there and listening to the conversations and the going-ons. … It was something that made me feel better.”

“

I’m cutting [Joey Tempest’s] hair, and I go ‘you know Def Leppard is a very good band.’ He turns and looks at me and he goes ‘Yeah, but I’m the lead singer of Europe.

”

When time came for him to choose his profession, Arico thought back to that feeling and the respect people had for his grandfather. His father also cut hair before working at Pratt & Whitney.

“I always looked at my grandfather as someone who was respected by the people,” Arico said. “I used to go to the barber shop with my father and clean the floor.”

Arico’s grandfather died cutting hair in his shop after suffering a massive heart attack, but the memories from childhood, like the stockpile of tootsie pops, and the different characters that came into the shop lived on. And a few years after Xavier, Arico decided to follow the same path with a slight twist.

“I was like ‘Wait a minute, guys hair doesn’t look involved,’ so I went to hairdressing school instead,” Arico said. “I figured I would be able to cut men’s hair anyway, but at that time barber school didn’t teach you how to do women’s hair.”

Arico went to classes, traveled to shows in New York and Canada, and did everything he could to stay up on the latest haircuts.

S o on e nough , he was d eve l op ing a clientele, which has stayed with him to this day. He has customers that visit him from New York , New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

“It was just a business, but it ends up being like a family because they wouldn’t go anywhere else,” Arico said.

After a few years bouncing back and forth at shops of different friends, he opened his own business, The Cut Above, in 1977. His first location was on Washington Street (he also had a place in Cheshire for five years).

He would stay at the Middletown spot until 2000 when he moved a town over in Cromwell, where the business still resides.

Early on, Arico found out he had a knack for talking to customers and finding out what they wanted.

“Sometimes it is really hard to pull it out of them, but your success with them is really about knowing who they are, how they live, where they go, what they do and what they like – most what they like,” Arico said. “If you know what they like, it is a little easier.”

Arico credits Xavier with making him comfortable talking with people.

“I think I learned that self-confidence at Xavier,” Arico said. “They really instilled in you that you could take whatever you learn and use it to be successful.”

In the ’80s, that confidence came in handy.

With his reputation growing as a stylist, Arico got a request from his friend and client Ed Bruder, a sound engineer from Hamden, who worked for music producer Mutt Lange.

Def Leppard and Europe were looking for someone to cut their hair for a few stops on their Hysteria Tour and they had seen what Arico had done with Bruder’s long hair.

S o o n e n o u gh , t h e h aird r e s s e r f ro m Connecticut was hitting the road for Great Woods Amphitheatre in Mansfield, Mass. (now called the Xfinity Center) to prepare Europe and Def Leppard for their show on the Hysteria Tour of 1988.

It was a meeting he will always remember fondly. But it wasn’t without one little hiccup. When it time came to meet the bands, he got lead singers Joe Elliott (Def Leppard) and Joey Tempest (Europe), mixed up.

“I’m cutting [Joey Tempest’s] hair, and I go ‘You know Def Leppard is a very good band.’ He turns and looks at me and he goes, yeah, but I’m the lead singer of Europe,’” Arico said.

He laughs about it today. The gaffe didn’t matter. The bands loved Arico and brought him back for shows at the Meadowlands, the Worcester Centrum, and Madison Square Garden.

“The biggest one was Madison Square Garden because as a kid I went to Madison Square Garden to see the Rolling Stones and we didn’t get in,” Arico said.

This time, he got to watch from the stage.

After those four shows, Arico never worked with the bands again, but what remained was a lifetime of memories. He would later receive a wedding invitation to Elliott’s wedding (he didn’t go), Christmas cards and a condolence letter from Elliott when Arico’s father passed away.

For Arico, it all serves as another reminder of why he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather and father.

“To make someone happy and get paid for it is what keeps you going, and all hairdressers would tell you that,” Arico said. X w w w.XavierHighSchool.org

21

BUILDING

Brother J. Robert Houlihan, C.F.X., Lived A Life

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21 22 XAVERIAN VALUES

A LEGACY

Of Compassion, Dedication, Love And Laughter

w w w.XavierHighSchool.org

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Brother J. Robert Houlihan, C.F.X., 1931-2021

Memories Of “Houli” Xavier and Mercy have had many deep connections through the years, maybe none more so than MYARC, a program for the mentally and physically challenged that Brother J. Robert Houlihan, C.F.X., started 50 years ago with students from each school as volunteers.

Brother Houlihan was honored with Xavier’s highest award, the Theodore James Ryken Award, and Mercy’s highest honor, the Catherine McAuley Award. For his decades of service to the Norwich Diocese, Brother Houlihan also was the recipient of the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice award, the highest the Pope grants to non-clergy.

It is common for yearbooks to be dedicated to someone, but what is not common is that four Xavier yearbooks were dedicated to Brother Houlihan.

He was a teacher. He was a coach. He was a moderator. At one point he filmed football games for coaches Larry McHugh and Tony Jaskot ’69. He sold candy bars at games, collected cans and bottles around the Xavier campus, all with the mission of raising funds for MYARC. He took care of the grounds at Xavier. Brother Houlihan spent 44 years at Xavier, 38 of them teaching freshman physical science.

He d ied Ju ly 19, 2021 just shy of his 90th birthday.

A FEW REMEMBRANCES: From Linda Charpentier, whose Xavier career spanned 45 years, from 1974-2019.

She taught in the science department with Brother Houlihan.

“Brother Houlihan not only enjoyed teaching science but practicing it himsel f, carefull y collecting and logging his own data. I recall how astounded I was when, having learned I was i nte re ste d i n conducting an energy a u d i t o f t h e X av i e r school build ing , he shared with me his meticulously logged degree-day records, along with other weather data, over the course of so many years.

“Back in the ’80s, when I shared my completed energy audit with the U.S. Department of Energy instructors (via a course at Providence College), they were impressed with our efficiency and asked if our school building had one of those new-fangled Honeywell

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XAVIER M ag a z i n e 20

automated thermostat systems installed on our heating system. I explained that we had our own system of starting up and shutting down the boilers at the appropriate times, a system we affectionately called ‘Houli.’ They were perplexed, but I just smiled, knowing we had a one-of-a-kind gem!”

From Maura Silbo, Merc y ’87, whose daughter Maggie ’18 also participated in MYARC for one year under the direction of Brother Houlihan.

“Volunteering at MYARC was one of the best parts of high school for me and for my daughter.

I was so happy to reconnect with Brother Houlihan when my daughter and I attended a Mercy Open House. He was at the MYARC table and was exactl y the same high spirited, energetic, friendly and talkative person I remembered leading the Tuesday afternoon square dancing program at Xavier in the mid-’80s.

“Some of my favorite MYARC memories were celebrating holidays with the clients. We held an annual Christmas party on a Sunday and went shopping at Caldor’s in Middletown after school that Friday. Brother gave us a list to buy each client a gift. Then we went back to Xavier to wrap the gifts, decorate and have pizza. Brother

21 22 XAVERIAN VALUES

Houlihan also held an end-of-year banquet including awards for the Mercy and Xavier seniors. He made the program fun for the clients and for the students.

“He was such a special person who provided a wonderful program for special needs clients in the greater Middletown area. He had such a passion for the program, and clients looked so forward to coming every week. Brother Houlihan inspired my friend Amy to pursue a career working with special needs clients. She is still in that field over 30 years later.”

A portion of a eulogy given by Brother Robert J. Green, C.F.X., Director of Xaverian House in Danvers, Mass., and a former teacher and administrator at Xavier High School.

“

”

Brother Houlihan inspired my friend Amy to pursue a career working with special needs clients. She is still in that field over 30 years later.

– Maura Silbo, Mercy ’87

“… His classroom always had an array of flowers and other plants to augment work in the curriculum, although a marijuana plant surreptitiously once planted there was the cause of considerable fraternal teasing in the Brothers’ House.

“Speaking of plants , the sprawling Xavier campus provided an activity unavailable to Houli in New York City. More than one power mower was used, sometimes at breakneck speeds, to trim the fields and hills of the

campus, occasionally destroying Brother Larry Nyhan’s vegetable and raspberry garden, or he managed to mire the mower in the mud of one of the streams. And then there were the ‘Mulch Wars,’ when Houli and Brother Tom Klar disagreed on landscaping options. Over the years, the school established ‘Houli Days’ during which students, faculty and staff tried to perform some of the landscaping work previously done by Brother Bob. “Living with Bob Houlihan was as you’d imagine it to be: not particularly quiet and monastic, but welcoming, and marked by energy and laughter and disagreements and discussions.”

A portion of talks and testimonials given over the years on Brother Houlihan by Brother Thomas Ryan, C.F.X., a current Xavier teacher.

“In 1966 Houli started his own program for the handicapped at Cardinal Hayes [in the Bronx , NY ]. Despite the fact that the Brothers withdrew from Hayes in 1970 – the congregation needed Brother s to staff our own high schools opened in the 1960s l i k e X av i e r – h e would drive from Middletown to the South Bronx two

Sundays a month for the next 41 years, from 1970-2011, in order to maintain his connection with the program he developed and loved so much.”

He started the MYARC program soon after arriving at Xavier and would do anything for it.

“Ever y evening while the other brothers watched TV or went to prepare lessons, Houli headed for the white school truck. Light or dark, rain or shine, hot or cold, he would make the rounds of the school property, and by some almost supernatural radar he and the truck would drive a direct beeline to every scrap of trash or can or bottle that an unthinking student tossed to the ground during the day.

The trash went into the dumpster, the bottles and cans to the basement where they would join the daily haul from both Xavier and Mercy.

Then, a solitary figure sitting on a stool by the basement sink, he would wash out each can and bottle, approximately 170,000 a year, and then bag them to be taken to the redemption center for the nickel refund. Over the years he raised thousands of dollars in bottle and can refunds to help cover the operating expenses of MYARC.”

From Lisa Christensen, Director of Adult Recreation at MARC. She worked with Brother Houlihan in the MYARC program for more than 20 years. When his health and memory were failing and he was living in Danvers, Mass., she would visit him and made a book of photos so he’d always remember his Middletown days. The title: “Brother J. Robert Houlihan, C.F.X. Director of Organized Confusion.” Whether it was organized confusion or organized chaos, that is how Brother referred to his science labs and MYARC.

“It wasn’t always pretty, it wasn’t always perfect, but it was always good … He was so passionate.

He loved the MYARC program and what it offered our individuals. For someone to sell candy bars and wash out soda cans and give that money to MYARC, that is pretty special. He loved our individuals and all the students who came out to volunteer, and he had his finger on those volunteers. If he didn’t like something he’d tell you. He was a special guy. I have a lot of fond memories and can still hear his voice resonating in my head. He is someone you just don’t forget. Always on the move. High energy.

Good man.”

And now back to Brother Ryan for the final words: “Houli and I sat together at the same dinner table in our residence for more than a dozen years. To say that Houli was an effervescent and loquacious human being is an understatement.

I sometimes felt I had joined a cloistered communit y where I had taken a vow of silence. To try and insert a word he re and the re in dinner conversation was sometimes an exercise in futility.

“However, my favorite table recollection: When a Brother at another table would also be waxing eloquent about a topic or opinion that Houli could not stomach, he would turn to me and say quietly, and sometimes not so quietly, his favorite retort: “Bull---- reigns supreme.” d

“

One of the XLI workshop themes each year is the word ‘legacy,’ someone leaving a gift to others. I think Brother Houlihan’s legacy to the Xavier family will be an extraordinary part of the history of Xavier High School.

”

– Brother Thomas Ryan, C.F.X.

w w w.XavierHighSchool.org

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Seth Spector ’93

J

LIVING WITH

Mr. Seth Spector Health/Physical Education

rowing up, Dave Shuck ’00 did not miss much when it c a m e t o h i s c o u s i n , S e t h Spector ’93.

Football games, track meets, award banquets.

If Spector, a member of the Xavier football and track and field teams, was competing or in the spotlight, Shuck needed to be there.

“Seth was my hero – Seth w a s w h a t I a s p i r e d t o b e ,” Shuck said.

W it h h i s c o m b i n at i o n o f a t h l e t i c i s m a n d m a t u r i t y, Spector was easy to admire. He scored touchdowns, he broke

26

oy!

No Matter What Came At Him, Seth Spector ’93 Approached Everything With A Zeal For Life

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records, and he did it all with a smile on his face.

He was the perfect role m od e l f o r so m eo n e loo k i ng to do the same thing in high school, but it wasn’t until the cousins beca me adu lts that S pec to r beco m e so m e t h i n g much greater.

Diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease, a devastating neurodegenerative condition that causes the breakdown of nerve cells in the brain, Spector became an inspiration to not just Shuck , but to ever yone he knew. “ I n t h e fa ce o f a dv e r s it y, he showed an indescribable courageousness and nobility,” S h u c k s a i d . “ Yo u c o u l d n ’ t convince him he got a bum deal in life. To his last days, he was joyful and he was positive. It was how he chose to live his life that makes his story beyond inspirational.”

S p e c t o r, wh o r e t u r n e d t o Xavier as a coach and teacher in 2005, died in Februar y 2021 after living with the fatal d i se a se f o r a bo ut 1 1 y e a r s .

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But despite his physical a nd menta l a bilities deteriorating over time, Spector never changed.

He stayed true t o h i msel f.

“Some people ca n go th rough l i fe c y n ica l or bitter, but that was never Seth – not in the least,” Shuck said. “He chose to go through life with joy.”

With Huntington’s Disease, that is easier said than done.

Huntington’s is a progressive d isease t hat w orsens o v er time and affects ever y facet of life, including the simplest things you learn at the earliest age: walking, speaking and s w a l lo w i ng. A n d at the end, Spector dealt with it all. But he fought like he did as an athlete, always ready for the challenge ahead. “ T h e y s ay wh e n t h e f i r s t sig ns of Hu nt i ng ton’s come o n t h at y o u h av e a 1 0-y e a r countdow n, and Seth was in his 11th year, which is extremely ra re,” S huck sa id . “ It w as a testament to the fact that he was a fighter and he loved his life, and he loved his family. He loved all of us. He had a joy for life and a zest for life.”

That spirit has always been part of Spector’s personality. He lost his father at a young age.

From the moment he arrived at Xavier in 1989 to his coaching days to his final years, Spector was the definition of resiliency.

Faced with any challenge, he refused to break.

“If you think about where he came from and his beginnings and his background, he is a su ccess sto r y i n e v e r y w ay from what he rose up from,” Shuck said. “He was not going to be denied. His work ethic was inspirational.”

Spector embraced his time at Xavier. And it showed. By the time he graduated in the spring of 1993, he was a Student Activities Council Vice President, had a high GPA, and was a leader for the football and track and field teams. “ I k n e w h e w a s a s pec i a l y ou ng ma n t he m i nute he w a l k e d i nt o t h e b u i l d i n g,” former Athletic Director and

close friend Tony Jaskot ’69 said. “He was a take-charge kind of kid.”

Jaskot and Spector shared a close bond. The two connected as coach a nd ath lete on the football field, but it q uick ly became more. Jaskot looked out for him early on at Xavier, then Spector was there for Jaskot as a friend later in life.

At his retirement party in 20 1 9, Jask ot ca l led S pector his “role model.” Spector, who h a d m o v e d t o F l o r i d a w it h his mother, made the trip to Middletown.

“He was a son to me,” Jaskot s a i d . “ I a lw ay s f e lt I w a s a second father to him and he made me feel that way. … He was part of our family.”

W h e n S p e c t o r a r r i v e d at Xavier as a freshman, he knew no one at the school. He was co m mut i n g e v e r y d ay f r o m New London.

When he left, his name was hard to miss. It was everywhere, i n c lu d i n g t h e r ec o r d boo k s a s a ta le nted w id e r ece iv e r and sprinter. “ H e h a d a c h i l d-l i k e l o v e for spor ts,” Jaskot said. “He loved playing anything, and he always played with a smile on his face, and he never lost that.”

Spector, a captain on the 1992 football team, finished with 98 receptions, 1 ,205 ya rds a nd five touchdowns, earning AllConnecticut Conference honors i n 1 99 1 a n d 1 992 . T h ose 9 8 receptions at the time put him second in school history.

“I can never say enough about him in the sport of football,” Jaskot said. “He was a young ma n that u nderstood the concept of the game and was a phenomenal football player.”

In track, he helped the team win the Class L indoor title as a member of a talented 4x400meter relay squad.

Shuck believes he found a kindred spirit with legendary Xavier track and field and cross country coach Bob Michalski.

“He handled coaching just like he handled playing – he loved every minute of it,” said Jaskot who hired Spector to replace the legend. “ He was excited to get out there with the kids. It was the best part of his day.”

As a coach, Spector quickly fou nd success in both cross countr y and track and field.

His cross countr y teams advanced to the New England Cha mpionsh ips t w ice a nd his track and field team went on to hav e t h ree i nd iv idua l state champions, two All-New E ngla nd cha mpions a nd a qualifier for the Millrose Games.

In 2007, the Falcons’ 4x1-mile relay team earned All-American honors by finishing sixth at the Nike Indoor Nationals. He later coached Adam Vess ’07, who won the 5,000-meters national championship.

“[Michalsk i] saw someone that fought his way up from lesser means and the work ethic and character,” Shuck said. “I think [Michalski] saw him as a scrapper and I think that is the way [Michalski] saw himself.”

After Xavier, he continued to excel on the football field and the track just a few miles down the road.

A t We s l e y a n , h e s e t f o u r school track and field records f r om 1 995 to 1 99 7, a nd w a s c ap t a i n o f t h e 1 9 9 7 i n d o o r and outdoor teams. In 1997, he won the 400 hurdles (58.48) and earned All-New England Division III Indoor honors in the 600 meters, where he finished fifth in 1:25.78.

However, Xavier was never far from his heart.

A fter graduating from Columbia University in 2000 a n d s pe n d i n g t h e n e x t f e w years teaching and coaching cross countr y and track and field in Wilton, Spector returned as a physical education/health teacher and a coach at Xavier in 2005, replacing Michalski.

“You couldn’t convince him he got a bum deal in life. To his last days, he was joyful and he was positive. It was how he chose to live his life that makes his story beyond inspirational” ~Dave Shuck ’00 “He saw a potential in me I never knew I had and taught me to love the sport,” former Xavier runner Jon Annelli ’11 said. “I hope Xavier remembers him as a man who cared greatly for his athletes, students and the school as a whole.”

Still, Huntington’s lingered off in the distance near the end of his coaching days.

Seth’s father had lived with Huntington’s Disease and the family knew it could be passed down genetically.

“I will always remember the day we got the resu lts back

bec au se I c a m e ba c k to my parents’ house and my mom was in tears,” Shuck said. “My m o m e x p l a i n e d t o m e t h at they had the results and the Huntington’s gene was present.”

Shuck was in his 20s and had recently graduated from the Coast Guard Academy. “ We a l l h a d t h at s a m e reaction that day – we were all brokenhearted,” Shuck said.

Not Spector.

As always, he took the news standing up.

“Seth was an upbeat, gentle and joyful spirit. That is how Seth lived his life,” Shuck said.

“He lived it simply with love and with joy.”

E v ent ua l ly, coach i ng a nd teaching was too much.

In 2009, Spector stopped working at Xavier.

“Make no mistake, Hu nting ton’s took that f rom him,” Shuck said.

For Shuck, it was difficult t o w at c h S p e c t o r l e av e t h e program, but over the final 11 years of his life, Spector found new ways to lead and inspire.

A nd he made sure to stay connected to the school.

After stepping down, Xavier won its first state title in cross country in a decade.

Of course, Spector was there to watch.

“Seth was over the moon and elated for those kids,” Shuck sa id . “ H e h ad no bit ter ness over that.”

As much as anyone, Spector loved X av ier. A nd se ven years after he stepped down that lo ya lt y a nd lo v e was celebrated when he entered the M idd leto w n Spor ts Ha l l of Fame.

Ja sk ot, who h a s bee n to every dinner, said it was the loudest ovation he has heard at the event.

“He never lost his love for life, he appreciated every moment,” Jaskot said.

After his death, the tributes to Spector were everywhere on social media.

Former coaches and athletes a n d o t h e r a lu m s w a nted to sh a r e t hei r stor ies. S pec tor was a beloved member of the Con nect icut t rack a nd f ield community.

“O u r h ea r ts b r ea k f o r t h e loss of Set h S pector,” w rote Con nect icut t rack a nd f ield journalist Marty Ogden. “He was an incredible athlete, coach and friend.”

Together, Ogden and Spector help found T he Running Academy cross country camp which was attended by some of the best distance runners in the state of Connecticut. By his peers, he was remembered as someone who never stopped bringing passion and intensity to whatever he was doing. And in end, he was still teaching even, if he wasn’t coaching.

“He taught us all how to be better,” Shuck said. “He is the definition of an inspiration.” X

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FRANK PACE ’92

BEYOND “

If there is anything I take away from my time at Xavier, it is the values and lessons learned from the staff and the teachers, and the environment that ultimately formed the foundation of what has always been my drive moving forward professionally.

S

ince Graduating From Xavier, Frank Pace ’92 Has Been Committed To Family And Service

When Frank Pace ’92 retired from the Phoenix Police Department in 2016, he went looking for his next challenge.

“I knew I had a lot left to give,” Pace said.

Instead of golf courses and beaches, Pace has decided to spend the next phase of his life navigating slightly trickier terrain.

Although, he’s still close to the water.

Over a year ago, the former policeman and international security consultant accepted the job of Homeland Security Administrator for the state of Hawaii. “ Fo r m e , i t h a s a l w a y s b e e n a b o u t challenges and public service,” Pace said.

At the Office of Homeland Security, Pace experiences both.

In his role, he oversees the homeland security strategy for the state, federal grant funding, the state fusion center, and interoperable communications. The office is one of six divisions within the Hawaii Department of Defense.

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XAVIER M ag a z i n e 20

“I feel as though it is almost a dream job,” Pace said. “It is a culmination of all that experience I had over the last two decades in both law enforcement and project management and working with multiple facets of government.”

Pace’s life has taken him all over the world – Arizona, Amsterdam, Malta, and now Honolulu. But the journey, which now has him driving along the coastal roads of O’ahu to and from work every day, first began 34 years ago when he settled on a high school.

“I knew I needed to do better and something that was bigger than me and that started at Xavier,” Pace said. “I just put both feet in, and I took a leap of faith.”

He has carried that mindset into some of the most daunting workspaces and used it to propel him forward in the Marine Corps., the Army National Guard, law enforcement, and as a Homeland Security Administrator.

“If there is anything I take away from my time at Xavier, it is the values and lessons learned from the staff and the teachers, and the environment that ultimately formed the foundation of what has always been my drive moving forward professionally,” Pace said.

Before Xavier, Pace knew he needed to shake things up.

“It is hard to say in the eighth grade you have this much foresight for the rest of your life but I felt as though I needed a change,” Pace said.

21 22 PURSUING YOUR PASSIONS

On Randolph Road, Pace found what he needed. He improved as a student, met friends he remains close with, played sports (football and intramural hockey), and developed a foundation for what would come next in life.

”

“I had high aspirations, but academics was never my strong suit, and knowing that I was going to be able to get the directed assistance with those challenges was a benefit that I tried my best to take advantage of,” Pace said.

After graduating from Xavier in the spring of 1992, Pace applied what he learned in the military.

Onl y three weeks af ter graduating, he shipped out to Paris Island, S.C., for boot camp with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves.

He still remembers the date he left.

“June 3, 1992,” Pace said. “Although I don’t regret my decision to join the Marine Corps., I have many second thoughts about the date I decided for boot camp.

I remember being in boot camp and getting letters from all my friends. It was probably one of the best summers of their lives and here I was living the dream on Paris Island.”

Pace jokes about the quick turnaround from high school life to military life. But the goal of serving in the military was always something he took incredibly seriously. His father, who had immigrated from Malta, had served in the Navy, and worked for the New Haven Police force, inspiring him to want to always give back when he was ready.

“I knew that I wanted to become a marine, I was going to go into the infantry, and I was going to be successful at it,” Pace said.

Once he completed boot camp, and later the School Infantry at Camp Geiger in North Carolina, Pace returned home to Connecticut and spent the next four years with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve at Charlie Company, First Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment out of Plainville. He would go on to serve additional reserve assignments in Arizona, California, and Hawaii prior to joining the Hawaii Army National Guard.

Still, he had his sights set on another dream: law enforcement.

BORDERS He wanted to follow his dad’s footsteps. However, to make it happen, he soon realized a move might have to take place. And suddenly the idea of traveling to Phoenix took hold.

However, Pace never got to settle in. At the same time as he was getting started, COVID hit, and he was called to go on military leave and support the National Guard as a liaison officer to the city and county of Honolulu during the pandemic.

“The Phoenix police department and the city itself was really growing in the 90s,” Pace said.

“Myself and a friend decided to take a chance and go out there and visit and see if we like it.”

They did.

Pace was hired in March of 1996 and sworn in that July. And for the next 20 years, he worked for the Phoenix Police Department.

“I served time as a patrol officer, as a detective, and detective sergeant working a variety of assignments including violent crimes, fugitive investigations, cybercrime, counterterrorism, and homeland security,” Pace said.

After working with researchers and officials from Interpol on an European Union project related to his last assignment on an FBI task force, Pace was offered a position managing EU-funded security research projects for the university.

“My wife and I decided this was a once-in-alifetime opportunity to really expand beyond what I had achieved and what I was doing in Arizona and a chance to give our daughters a global perspective living abroad,” Pace said.

With three teenage girls in tow, the Pace family made their way to Amsterdam.

“I would be lying if I said my kids were in the best of moods when I told them they were going to leave their neighborhood and move across the Atlantic to a strange place. However, once we got there and we were settled, they got wrapped into the culture and loved exploring culture,” Pace said.

For the next 2 ½ years, Pace and his family immersed themselves in the Dutch life. Their girls went to public school, learned the language, became friends with classmates from the across the globe and traveled as much as they could.

At the same time, Pace was getting a chance to experience things he never expected. He became a liaison to the international law enforcement community, working with Interpol and other national police forces.

After 9/11, Pace’s focus shifted dramatically.

Major cities in nearly every state were creating h om e l a n d d e f e n s e f o rc e s t h a t s u p p o r t e d counterterrorism efforts and Pace’s attention went to a broader focus on national security and homeland security defense.

The City of Phoenix was one of the first in the nation to combine all aspects of public safety.

Bringing together fire, police, and emergency management officials under one command.

This opportunity allowed Pace several unique assignments, including a chance to help FEMA’s urban search and rescue efforts during Hurricane Rita as a member of Arizona Task Force-1.

“From 2002 to 2005, it was an intense and rewarding period in my career,” Pace said. “I think that’s where I caught the bug to look beyond my borders and that stayed with me throughout the remainder of my career.”

In 2016, Pace retired from the force after a new opportunity arose in the Netherlands with the School of Law at the University of Groningen.

“I never would’ve imagined that I would be going from criminal investigations in the city of Phoenix to presenting at the European commission, the United Nations, and working with senior government officials across Europe,” Pace said. “I was leaving the security of a really solidified career that I didn’t have to leave but I took a leap of faith knowing this was an opportunity for not just me but my family.”

“When I started with the university, I was just kind of getting my feet wet when the National Guard began mobilizing across the state,” Pace said. “Coincidentally, being assigned as a liaison to the City and County working with their emergency management department was a prelude to the opportunity that I would have with the S tate of Hawaii Office of Homeland Security.”

As he has done his whole life, Pace took on the challenge and made the most of it and the experience led him to his current position: Homeland Security Administrator.

He started in February 2021.

“My team is responsible for implementing the homeland security strategy for the state of Hawaii,” Pace said. “What that encompasses and what the office is responsible for: is the protection, prevention, mitigation and response to emergent threats to the residents and critical infrastructure of Hawaii.”

It is intense – domestic violent extremism, cyber security, terrorism. But Pace is ready for the task.

“I can take everything I did specifically related to the homeland security over the course of many years in the police department and bring it to the state of Hawaii to truly effect change,” Pace said.

For Pace, it is all the culmination of a journey Xavier put him on many years ago.

“I just hope to continue to rise up to those occasions that come before me, to be a good father a good man, and to leave this world a better place,” Pace said. X

Pace and his family finished their European residency with a short stay in the homeland of his father, Malta.

“Life is short, it was another chance to give the kids another cultural experience and to actually live in the homeland of their grandfather,” Pace said. “We were there for about a year.”

Challenges and experiences.

During his life, Pace has seized both. And his family still had one big experience brewing when they returned to the United States in 2020 – Hawaii.

Shortly after the Paces returned home to Arizona, an opportunity arose for Pace at the University of Hawaii as a Title IX Investigator, where he led investigations dealing with allegations of misconduct or discrimination.

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BOOKED SOLID

Scott Thompson ’10

Since Committing Full-Time To A Small Publishing Company, Scott Thompson ’10 Has Found His Life’s Work

When

Scott Thompson ’10 and his best friend John Emmett Clarke started working for Cluny Media in 2015, there were no expectations.

Thompson was working at a bank in Providence and Clarke was spending his time in D.C. as a research editor for a think tank. In their spare time, Cluny Media, which Clarke’s father had started in 2015, was simply an opportunity to escape the 9-5 workday.

“The first month, we sold like five books and made 30 bucks,” Thompson said. “It would’ve been dumb to quit our jobs.”

Those days are long gone for Thompson and Clarke.

Sometime this summer, Cluny Publishing will reach a new milestone – 300 books.

Af ter weathering a pandemic, buying a new warehouse in Providence and committing fully to the business, Thompson and Clarke have made what was once a part-time dream into a full-time passion.

“I now believe in that old mantra about finding something to do that you love,” Thompson said. “I never thought about myself as an entrepreneur, but the fact that it is working is kind of mind-blowing to me.

At the same time, we’ve just got our heads down and we’re focused doing what we’re doing and knowing that down the road it will pay off.”

Over the last two years, Cluny Media has not only found success publishing three to five books a month, it has reached heights that neither Thompson nor Clarke could have imagined. Yet, maybe the most mind-blowing fact of all is the timing of the success.

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21 22 PURSUING YOUR PASSIONS

Five months after COVID first shut down the country, Thompson, who was working at a branch of Santander Bank in Providence as a portfolio officer, managing commercial loans, went all in and bet on Cluny and his friendship with Clarke.

“I wasn’t happy [at the bank] and I didn’t like who I was working with, and the [publishing] company was continuing to show promise,” Thompson said. “I had the taste for what [Cluny] could be full-time and me going fulltime allows the company to do more.”

It also helped that he had his best friend by his side.

Thompson and Clarke met at Providence College as freshmen and clicked right away.

“I wouldn’t have done this if it was a business plan pitched to me by a stranger or I was seeking an investor,” Thompson said. “I don’t think it would’ve happen.”

Still, those first few months with no safety net were scary. Thompson had a wife and two kids at the time (they now have three) to think about with every decision.

“It was nerve-wrecking,” Thompson said. “From July 2020 to December 2020, there was a lot of praying.”

I now believe in that A funny thing happened, though.

When they got through 2020 and old mantra about finding crunched the numbers, that year was the something to do that you love. company’s best, and 2021 was even better.

I never thought about myself as “2020 was the year that made an entrepreneur, but the fact everybody ask questions they weren’t that it is working is kind of asking before and a lot of people turned to books from our collection,” mind-blowing to me.

Thompson said.

In 2015, Cluny Media started as a publishing house dedicated to preserving and promoting the Catholic literary and intellectual tradition. After a few years finding its legs and producing 18 books, Clarke, the editor-in-chief, and Thompson, the chief financial officer, took over (part-time) and committed to developing their product line and finding what Thompson calls the “forgotten gems of the Catholic intellectual tradition.”

Soon enough, they discovered the type of books they wanted to provide.

“You’re not reading a theology textbook but it is a good novel about meaningful things,” Thompson said. “You’re going to read stories about death and what the sacraments mean in people’s lives or a story about a priest – things that you can connect with. It is fun because you’re reading a story and it is not a textbook but meanwhile it is really making you think.”

The audience is educators, as well individual buyers through the company website, other online sites, university bookstores and Catholic bookstores.

“A lot of schools like Xavier want to have the kind of texts we put out because you’re trying to create a solid foundation for the young men coming through here,” Thompson said. “What can you give them that is going to make a firm foundation? You can’t give them superficial literature. If it is too deep they are not to gravitate to it. If it is too weak they are going to want more. You have to find the middle ground.”

Together, Thompson and Clarke have found the middle ground by mostly restoring old books that have gone out of print.

“We’ve actually built something, which is hard for me to believe, but you can make something out of the little you’re given if you put your shoulder behind it,” Clarke said. “You just can’t do it alone.”

For Thompson, it was a dream that all started at Xavier.

“Xavier was the first step, and because I went to Xavier I went to Providence College and ended up meeting my wife and meeting John,” Thompson said. “Looking back, my life would be drastically different if I didn’t come to Xavier.” X

“

”

Eye On The Sky

JOE RUSSO ’67

The Founder Of A Company That Became A Global Leader Has Always Been Fascinated By Weather

Anyone who knew Joe Russo as a kid wouldn’t be surprised.

The 1967 Xavier graduate has three degrees in meteorology, taught agricultural meteorology and other courses at Penn State, and for 30 years owned a company that became a global leader in weather-based modeling for agricultural industries.

“Since I was born,” he said with a laugh when asked how long he has been interested in the weather. He then tells an old family joke. When he was an infant, the story goes, other kids would be crying to go inside during a thunderstorm. He’d be crying to go outside.

“It was an inexpensive hobby, you could say; it’s a laboratory by just looking at the sky,” Russo said. “It just needed your attention, to see the patterns. I remember getting my first weather book when I was very young, convincing my father to buy it. I actually wore it out looking at it so much that I had to buy another copy later in life. It was a little manual on weather, and I just read it from end to end … then I had a weather station when I was young on top of the house and kept records.”

Russo’s uncle had a small chicken farm and grew crops in Middlefield, giving him exposure to agriculture, another early interest. Russo obtained a B.S. in Meteorology from St. Louis University (1971), a M.Sc. in Meteorology from McGill (1974), and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Meteorology from Cornell in 1978, and that field became his specialty.

Weather. Agriculture. Data. All rolled into one.

He taught at Penn State from 1981-1986, and in 1987 founded ZedX Inc., an IT company specializing in custom weather databases, decision-support algorithms and models, and data visualization tools.

The company works with agricultural industries, universities and government agencies.

After 30 years, during which the company had grown from something he ran out of his house to at one time employing more than 40 people, he sold ZedX to BASF, a crop protection firm. By then ZedX was known around the world for developing agronomic, crop, and pest models that would input weather data and generate information that led to more efficient crop production. BASF and ZedX had been working together for a few years; BASF had the expertise in chemistry and ZedX was the leader in modeling. BASF is multinational company that employs more than 100,000 people worldwide and had more than 70 billion dollars of revenue in 2019.

“I think everyone in our field is very conscious that we are trying to grow more food for a growing population,” Russo said. “That is always in the back of your mind. One of the reasons I went in that area is I thought that I could do some good with my talents to make things better for growers, and I could identify with them because it’s a very complex problem. We had this course at Penn State, intro to horticulture, and we would tell students you could have gone into nuclear physics but you chose to go into something much harder, agriculture. It is difficult to raise crops. There are a lot of things you

cannot control so you have to understand you decision-making in the context of an environment of high uncertainty.”

Russo had lived in Pennsylvania for many years, and he helped in the transition of the merged company. He now lives in Old Saybrook, not far from his brother-in-law and fellow Xavier grad, Tom Tokarz ’69.

Russo didn’t have time to get a garden in last summer but is thinking of putting in a few fruit-producing trees such as apple and pear, like he had in Pennsylvania.

Given his specialty, agricultural meteorology, you have to figure everyone will expect those trees to yield mighty fine fruit. Just like it seems he should know how much snow we’ll get this winter. That’s because our perception of meteorology is different than reality.

“The perception among the public is that we’re all TV meteorologists because that is their only exposure to meteorology, so it’s not surprising,” Russo said. “But the field is quite complex, like other fields.

We have specialists in every conceivable combination with the rest of society. We have meteorologists in transportation, meteorologists in stock markets, agriculture, ecology, you name it. Anything “We had this course in your life that weather effects, there are specialists. There are at Penn State, intro to meteorologists that do marketing, that understand the timing and horticulture, and we placement of product delivery would tell students you is impor tant and depends on weather conditions.” could have gone into Don’t expect Russo to be moving nuclear physics but to Florida any time soon. He enjoys the changing seasons in you chose to go into New England, which really are something much harder, a meteorologist’s dream. There’s always something going on, and agriculture.”

Russo is quick to point out that many meteorologists have come from New England. If you’re going to get hooked at an early age, you need weather. And we have it all: hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, hot and cold and in between, and all that a spring, summer, fall and winter can unleash.

As he thinks back to Xavier he feels the school taught him selfdiscipline and prepared him well for college “because we almost had a college-level atmosphere.”

The school also helped teach him this valuable lesson: “The ability to see the consequences of your actions … what you say and do today impacts your life later. Impulsive decisions may be a short-term gain but not smart long-term.” X w w w.XavierHighSchool.org

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Tim Dumas ’72

im Dumas ’72 has come full circle.

His p a r e nt s , Thomas and C at h e r i n e D u m a s , bought farmland in Durham in 1952. Thomas Dumas worked full-time at Southern New England Telephone for more than 40 years and farmed on the side until he retired from SNET. Tim remembers pick-your-own strawberry fields and blueberry bushes, and dairy cows for milking. And then his father settled on Christmas trees.

To this day the place still Sunsets can be picturecomes to life in December. perfect. Yet growing trees Wreaths also are sold, out h a s it s c h a l l e n g e s . T h e of a former cow barn. The f a r m r o ut i n e ly s e l l s o ut backdrop of the farm to the its supply each Christmas west is Beseck Mountain season and every year and Powder Ridge ski area. plants a few thousand W it h h i s p a r e nt s n o w n e w o n e s , k n o w i n g t h at deceased, Tim is running between weather, insects the tree farm after a career a n d d i s e a s e it w i l l l o s e in both law enforcement and up to 25 percent of them. the insurance industry. He Then there is weeding and was a state police officer mowing grass around the for about 24 years, and you trees, so it doesn’t promote could hear the joy in his insect and disease issues. voice when he talked about There’s equipment repair those days. a nd maintena nce. A nd “I was like a little kid in a sandbox full of toys,” Tim said. “It aren’t we all after that tree that is perfectly shaped? was the most enjoyable experience in the world besides having “There’s shearing of the trees at least once a year, usually July/ my own children. It was interesting and challenging, and I led August, the hottest time of the year, but if you don’t do it to shape a lucky life there. I got involved in specialized units working it as a Christmas tree it will grow like a shrub,” Dumas said. some good cases, some with the FBI. It takes about six to eight years to grow a fir tree and about “That’s where I met a fellow who said, ‘You do some teaching 8-12 to grow a spruce, which are pricklier and help keep the at the academy, right?’ I said yes, auto theft, insurance fraud. deer away.

He said we’re putting together a program “It’s a long-term investment,” Dumas said.

“I was like a little kid in a with the State Department to travel to Central And a time-honored tradition for many sandbox full of toys” America and Eastern Europe to hold classes families, who make the outing to a tree for newly formed police departments. It was f a r m a ny t i m e f r o m t h e w e e k e n d a f t e r Tim Dumas said about his years about the time the Iron Curtain fell. So I taught Thanksgiving through much of the month as a state police officer in Lithuania, Hungary, the Czech Republic of December. It’s a magical time of year. The and Panama City. If you told me I would be doing that when I trimming of the tree. The birth of Jesus. The giving of gifts. graduated I would have looked at you oddly.”

He remembers using a tractor with a forklift to get a tree on Toward the end of his high school days, Dumas became top of a mini-van, the tree dragging a bit on the ground on the involved in the Police Explorers in Middletown, which is way out. Another happy customer. designed for those interested in a career in law enforcement.

But maybe not as happy as a man named John Rubsam of After a few years as a constable in Middlefield he became a State Branford. He lost his college ring chopping down a tree at Police Officer. Then he went into the insurance industry and Dumas Christmas Tree Farm. In 2018 as Tim was cleaning out finally back to the farm, so he’s basically on his third career. his parents’ attic, he found the ring. Dumas went through St. The word “retire” doesn’t appear to be in his vocabulary.

Louis University yearbooks and found the initials on the ring Dumas had always helped his father at the Christmas tree matched one student, and that was Rubsam. farm, even as he was busy in his own career and as a father of About 30 years later the ring found its way home. That was four children himself. But, as he says, circumstances change. some impressive police work by Dumas. X So here he is farming, “and it grows on you.”

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21 22 PURSUING YOUR PASSIONS

Robert Coleman III ’97

“

“When we go into cities, and we see all the families and kids are happy, that’s some of why we do what we do, and why it’s been in the family so long.”

FAMILYENTERTAINMENT

”

For Over 100 Years, The Coleman Family Has Helped Generations Escape Into A World Of Amusement With The Coleman Brothers Carnival There’s just something about it.

STEP RIGHT UP! Read all about the story of the Coleman Bros. Carnival, founded in 1916 in Middletown!

More than 100 years later, the city remains the first stop on the circuit and serves as the winter home for all the rides and equipment.

Robert Coleman III, a member of the Class of 1997 at Xavier High School, has worked in the business all his life. He’s the ride foreman now.

“I was born and raised in it,” Robert said shortly after the carnival had left Middletown and was in Shelton in mid-May. Robert’s great grandfather, Dick Coleman, was 27 when he started the business, buying a used, steam-driven merry-go-round.

Robert’s grandfather was in the business, his father was in it, and now Robert has made a home in the business. His aunt and uncle are still with the carnival, as are two of his cousins. His father now is the safety supervisor for the Tampa State Fair in Florida.

Heading to the carnival when it comes to town can be an escape.

“Some people might not have the luxury of traveling, so when the carnival comes to town it gives them something they would not experience if we did not bring it to them,” Robert said. “When we go into cities, and we see all the families and kids are happy, that’s some of why we do what we do, and why it’s been in the family so long.”

All we see when we get to the carnival is flashing neon lights, all we smell are fried dough and Italian sausages, all we hear are kids laughing and employees beckoning us to pop the balloons and win a prize. We miss out on the massive hours of setup and inspections … and before you know it there’s the breaking down, the taking it all apart and moving along to the next stop and the next inspection.

Hard work, long hours.

In full swing, between family members and others, Coleman Bros. Carnival will have 100 employees in a season that lasts about five months. Just as there are fewer Colemans in the business now, it gets more difficult to get help, and that was the case in 2021. There are the loyalists, though, those who have been with the show a long time.

Robert said he has a couple of guys on the rides that have been with him 25 years or more. “They watched me grow up,” Robert said. “They say, ‘I remember when you were a kid, and now you’re my boss.’ ” The show has more than 20 rides.

Robert’s favorite is the Tilt-AWhirl, which tips and spins.

“It’s an old ride, a family ride, it was my grandfather’s favorite and has always been my favorite,” Robert said. “You can see the joy in people’s faces. They don’t make rides like they used to; they last forever as long as you take care of them.”

Robert said the family has a 1950s merry-go-round, with the original horses and manes, in storage. A few museums called and wanted to refurbish it, but his grandfather did not want to let it go. They have some other equipment, old photos and signs at the winter home in Middletown, not far from what is called Coleman Pond off Newfield Street.

Over the years, Robert said, the biggest change in the business might be all the safety checks.

“We’re inspected every time we move to a new city,” Robert said, “and we have a good relationship with the State Fire Marshal’s office.”

COVID stopped the carnival in 2020, just as it did most everything else.

“We pushed it back because of COVID, but that got us to thinking maybe we should open a bit later,” Robert said.

It is a business that needs good weather, and despite some big storms last year, Robert said the weather largely cooperated as they were on the road for about 23 weeks. And, as far as April in Middletown goes and that nickname, Robert said, “It doesn’t matter if we’re here or not, it’s going to rain because of the time of year we’ve always opened.”

And now the season is closed.

“It was good to be out there working after last year,” Robert said in mid-October, a few days after the final stop in Maine.

The crowds were good, too. Who doesn’t want to win that big stuffed animal or view the world atop the Ferris Wheel?

Some years Coleman Bros.

Carnival might be the rain maker, but every year it’s the smile maker. X

“It was depressing at first,” Robert said. “When you are used to doing something your whole life and you can’t do it … luckily I had a trade [electrical] to fall back on, so I did a lot of handyman work in Florida.”

Last year the carnival opened a few weeks later than normal in Middletown, the crowds were big (“people were ready to get out of the house)” and the weather generally cooperated. Coleman Bros. Carnival has long been nicknamed the “rain maker,” but the opening in later April solved most of that.

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Torrie Vaught ’98

“

I love the pressure during a live show. I enjoy the pressure knowing millions of people could be watching.

”

The Right Direction ESPN … The Pope … A Super Bowl Parade …

Juneteenth Celebration … Voice Of America

T

orrie Vaught ’98 got his start working for ESPN Digital from 2007-2009, an experience he will not soon forget.

“I did a little bit of everything,” Vaught said. “The iPhone had just come out and our department budget skyrocketed with a bunch of fresh young minds with freedom to do what we wanted. It was a fun time. A lot of the people from that group are now spread out throughout the industry. Some are on television such as Molly Qerim Rose from ‘First Take’ or Brian Campbell, who hosted [Floyd] Mayweather’s latest fight.”

It’s hard to believe the iPhone, now so attached to everyone’s life, has been around for only 14 years. And during that time Vaught’s career has taken off, too.

He was laid off by ESPN in 2009 and ended up in Springfield, Mass., where he became a television director at the CBS affiliate in Springfield. Next he was off to N ew H ave n to b e c o m e a T V Director at WTNH before taking his game to Philly in 2012, where he was a TV Director at WPVI for eight years. “ WPVI is one of the biggest local news stations in the country,” Vaught said. “They consistently

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XAVIER M ag a z i n e 20

get over 50 percent of the fourth largest media market in America.

I directed multiple parades, debates, and events.” Vaught says the biggest event was the Pope coming to Philadelphia, but in this spor ts-crazed town, he thinks most Philadelphians would say it was the Super Bowl parade.

Yes, Eagles football is a religion of its own. And as big as the Pope’s visit and the victory parade were, what meant the most to Vaught was something else.

“The most important story I feel was being the lead director for the Juneteenth parade in Philly. At the time I believe it was the only Juneteenth parade in the country being aired on a major network,” he said of the 2016 event.

A TV director generally makes decisions on the editorial content and creative presentation. Vaught says what he enjoys about directing is what most people try to avoid.

“I love the pressure during a live show,” he said. “I enjoy the pre s sure k nowing millions of people could be watching.”

And that is his audience now. Since 2020 he has worked as a T V Director for Voice of America, which is the largest U.S . international broadcaster,

21 22 PURSUING YOUR PASSIONS

providing news and information in 40 languages to an estimated weekly audience of 280 million people. VOA produces content for digital, television, and radio platforms.

Being at VOA fulfills another part of Vaught. He has always enjoyed politics and Washington, D.C . , where he is based, and enjoys providing an impor tant service to many. VOA is funded by the Congress, yet it stays free of government interference through acts such as the National Defense Authorization Act that maintains the longstanding statutory “firewall” that ensures VOA can make final decisions on what and how stories are covered.

Vaught says he always had an interest in cameras and videography, even at Xavier, but most of his free time was spent on the basketball court during a time that Xavier went deep in the CIAC tournament, reaching the championship game in 1996 and the semifinals in 1997.

Current varsity coach Mike Kohs had him as a JV player. “I r e m e m b e r To r r i e being a really great k i d , a l way s wo r ke d

hard, got along with everyone, and always had a smile on his face. He was a pleasure to coach.”

When Vaught was asked about his memories of Xavier he rattles off a few things: “Being on really good basketball teams . We had a lot of good players . Def initely, remember going to Mercy after school,” he said. “Senior year retreat [XLI] sticks out. I never knew you could learn so much in so little time.

Most of all I remember my friends; most of them I keep in constant contact to this day.”

And with the memories come takeaways. “ I learne d life les sons such as re sp e c t , inte grit y and the importance of education,” Vaught said. “This reinforced my strong family values the created me to be the man, husband, son and father that exist today.”

Vaught is the father of two sons, and he is married to Dr. Patti Green, a pediatrician.

Af ter Xavier he at tended Northeastern University to become a print journalist, but the camera was never far from him, and he realized he enjoyed videography more: “Do what you love, someone said, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

Off he went to the Art Institute of Atlanta to finish his undergraduate work and get a degree in digital media before getting a Masters in interactive media at Quinnipiac University. He expects TV to become just that: more interactive. More buttons.

More options. More involvement by the viewer. A nd more challenges for Vaught. X

.

The Great ,

I D N U I R

There’s No Escaping His Love Of Football & Coaching

F

rank Rudini was at a recent Xavier home football game, sitting in a chair near the end zone, taking it all in. The sparkle in the eye, the sense of humor, it was all there, and took you back to the time he was roaming the sidelines as a Xavier assistant football coach, starting more than 50 years ago.

“Frank was an outstanding and dedicated coach and a real good man,” former Xavier head coach Larry McHugh said. “He was always ‘fired up,’ whether it was practice or a game, and he contributed to a lot of wins for the Falcons. Let’s just say he was very active on the sidelines during games!”

Rudini came here in the ’60s as a social studies teacher and assistant football coach.

“He was in it for the kids,” Tony Jaskot ’69 said. “It was all about the kids, and it was all about teaching the kids the game, especially the fundamentals.”

Jaskot played for him and coached and scouted alongside him.

“What amazed me about Frank is that he knew every position on the field,” Jaskot said. “How did he learn? By reading, talking to high school coaches, talking to college coaches, going to clinics. He wanted to put the kids in the best position to be successful.”

Rudini coached at Xavier until the ’80s, and on a late October day built for football he stopped by Xavier with Diane, his wife of 56 years, and his son David. Frank was a student of the game then, and to this day those lessons remain top of mind.

“Line play is everything in football, and the important concept is lowest shoulder wins ... if you don’t get under the guy you’re blocking you’re going backwards fast,” Rudini said just as he had told his players all those years ago many, many times.

He turns to his wife about another football axiom. She knows where he is going. “Don’t get beat deep,” she says.

Later, he turns to her again. “Blondie,” he says with affection, “if you’re a receiver, what do you catch the ball with?”

“Your eyes,” she says laughing. “Have to look the ball in.”

She knows much about the game.

“Some things were drummed into me,” Diane said. “I always tried to give him the support because it is a game he loves, and he is the greatest person I have ever known.”

“I

always tried to

Frank feels the same way. They have been give him the support on the same team for a long time. Spend five minutes with them and you sense a because it is a game he loves, and he is the special partnership.

Xavier was a big part of their lives greatest person I have for years. ever known.

“Larry McHugh took care of all of his Diane Rudini, Frank’s wife assistants,” Rudini said. “One of his strongest ~ of more than 50 years gifts was that he would have an open ear to his assistant coaches. I go to coaching clinic in Atlantic City and I come back, and he sits down with me.”

Frank’s voice lowers.

‘What did you learn, Fearless?’ Things I thought would be helpful to the program I’d try to sell him on, and he was always very open.”

Rudini saw the many sides of Jaskot over the years.

“He was a heck of a player,” Rudini said, “and as a coach and friend Numero Uno. A great guy.”

That friendship also came out of the two being scouting partners.

And, of course, Jaskot has stories there.

“I remember scouting with him at Northwest Catholic, which at the time had a great marching band. We’d be looking for Frank at halftime to see if he wanted something to eat and he’d be out there basically marching with the band on the field … I also remember when we got thrown out of an end zone when we were scouting a game in the Eastern part of the state. We walked off. All the coaches sat in the bleachers, and Frank is not around. You look in end zone and he is laying on his stomach and has a box or something over his head lifting it up so he could see and take notes … An amazing guy, funny. Friend for life. He kept the classroom the same way; you buckle down but you also have some crazy fun in there, too.”

Rudini was part of many great football moments in Xavier history, including winning 34 straight games starting with a 34-8 victory over Pulaski to New Britain in 1970. The streak would not end until deep into the 1973 season. By then Xavier had outscored the opposition 978-165 with 15 of the wins by shutout.

The legend of Frank Rudini also involves this story. Xavier was shut out 14-0 in 1967 by Lee High School out of New Haven, which ran the single wing. Jaskot, a junior, was playing in the defensive backfield. “We were tackling guys that didn’t even have the ball.”

Rudini had enough of that. “ There were r umors he called Bear Bryant at Alabama in the offseason to get information on how to defend the single wing,” Jaskot said.

“We played them the following year and we beat them 24-0.

That was the rumor.” d

”

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Chris Tripler ’86

BREWING Chris Tripler ’ 86 Has Always Tapped Into His

“I applied to all these schools and got into the University of Southern California and thought that would be cool to say I got into the University Heart And His Passions. A Few Years Ago, of Southern California, that’s my choice,” Tripler said. “My parents were doesn’t make any sense.’”

That Life Philosophy Led Him To Launch likeHe‘that flew out to Los Angeles and lasted a year. In the first couple of A Brewery At An Abandoned Railroad Depot weeks, he already knew he wasn’t going to stay out there. He missed home and everything that came with it.

In North Canaan “I’m a pretty deep-dyed in the wool East Coaster and Nutmegger at that,” Tripler said.

Stationed on the deck of Great Falls Brewing Company in North The following year, he was back in Connecticut, and soon enough an Canaan, Chris Tripler ’86 points to a mountain in the distance. opportunity arose at what is now called the Cary Institute, where he “That’s Canaan Mountain, and if you go down the range a little bit could study deer and the impact they had in the forests of Millbrook, that’s Great Mountain Forest,” Tripler said. “For a couple years, I was N.Y., as a research assistant. paid to go up there and measure trees, collect soil, and find out about “I loved research and finding out new things and answering questions the nutrients.” about the universe,” Tripler said.

These days, Tripler has traded the trees for a taproom only a few For Tripler, that experience would inspire the rest of his life. miles from those woods.

His desire to learn and find new things soon led him to a brief stop in As the owner and founder of Great Falls Brewing Company, Tripler Israel for an international course then back out west is living out his latest dream – housing a brewery in to Idaho State University for graduate work after a refurbished railroad depot in an area of the state “This is the promise of getting his degree from UConn in 1991. he fell in love with more than 30 years ago. And like a good education – it Tripler spent a couple years working before any trusted proprietor at your favorite watering hole, heading to Pocatello, Idaho, where he got his Tripler has stories – loads of them. opens so many doors. doctorate in ecology, and plenty of snowboarding.

Throughout his life, Tripler has lived all over, held I took advantage of the “It was just snowboarding, listening to music, countless jobs and chased whatever passion has been opportunities both my hanging out with friends and doing some cool on his mind. But no matter what he is doing, he has remained true to himself and the belief that life is life and the education research,” Tripler said.

Still, he returned every summer to continue his simple, do what interests you and be happy. that started with Xavier research with the Cary Institute.

“Someone told me early on that life is short and you “I loved the research part because that was the should enjoy it and experience all that it has to offer,” gave me. And I tried to collecting of the data and the time spent in the Tripler said. “Somehow that message got through to make the most of it.” woods,” Tripler said. “It was very cathartic and also my brain.” very revealing at the same time because you really Whether he is snowboarding, scuba diving, getting get to know how nature works spending so much time in it.” his pilot’s license, or perfecting the perfect lager, he doesn’t hold back.

Eventually, he would return. But first, he spent 13 years at Endicott, Wherever life takes him, he follows. teaching students and going on some amazing trips around the world.

Four years ago that meant starting a brewery at an abandoned train Among his assorted claims to fame – he swam in the Amazon. depot in North Canaan.

“I enjoy being in places that would be called the end of the world – I “In 2016, I started thinking [about the brewery]. I was teaching an really love those places,” Tripler said. environmental science program at Hotchkiss in the summertime and Tripler doesn’t know what his next act is (besides spending time with every time I came by this building I was like, ‘You really should do his family – he has two young boys, Max and Gus, and learning Spanish), something with this building,’” Tripler said. but he remains thankful for everything that Xavier helped set up so many Tripler didn’t need to start a brewery. He was a professor at Endicott, years ago when he made friends that he still talks with today. living in Beverly, Mass., and was a 5-minute walk from the beach and “This is the promise of a good education – it opens so many doors,” great restaurants. He was living a great life.

Tripler said. “I took advantage of the opportunities both my life and the “There was no reason I should have [started the brewery], I had a education that started with Xavier gave me. And I tried to make the great house and [my wife and I] just started having kids,” Tripler said. “I most of it.” X just latched onto this idea.”

Today, Tripler, who started brewing when he was a graduate student, oversees a successful business on the site of that old railroad yard, where you can still hear trains passing nearby. The draft list at Great Falls Brewing features of mix of IPAs, stouts, porters, lagers and sours. It is an eclectic mix of choices, just like Tripler’s life.

After graduating from Xavier in 1986, Tripler decided to travel to the other side of the country for college: the University of Southern California.

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XAVIER M ag a z i n e 20

21 22 PURSUING YOUR PASSIONS

Matthew Robbins ’12

AC ar e

“With a few different projects, I have been lucky enough to be one of the first people to

er

ever ride.”

W

i

th

Matthew Robbins ’12 Has Traveled The World Building Roller Coasters

R

ememb e r t h at fe e l i n g w hen t he roller coaster chugs to the top, slowly, tauntingly, as if it will never make it? And then it reaches the summit and starts barreling down and around. Do you keep your eyes open or shut?

Matthew Robbins, a 2012 Xavier graduate, is helping to create some of those thrills. He is an assistant project manager for Martin & Vleminck x, which serves an international clientele of ride manufacturers and amusement parks.

And, yes, Robbins keeps his eyes open.

One thing he did not see, though, was this career, at least at first.

“I have always been interested in design and building, but I never thought that one day I would be traveling the world building a musement r ides,” Robbins sa id. “ I a m there to provide any and all information that the client and contractor needs to build a ride. For instance, the engineered drawings, purchase orders and inventor y, as well as

A T wi

The project is ongoing and Robbins has been back and forth from the U.S. to Australia.

He says that Xavier left a mark on him. “ The maturit y I learned there and the respect for myself and the respect for others are things I still use today and pass onto others,” Robbins said. “When I arrived at Xavier my freshman year myself and fellow classmates learned the motto ‘Be a Man’ and over the four years there, the teachers and staff helped guide us on the way to maturing into men.”

Martin & Vleminckx has a warehouse in China. Normally the name of the city might be unfamiliar to many, but not this time. It’s in Wuhan, where COVID first surfaced.

“Once COVID first hit in Wuhan, MVR had a project ongoing in China which then had to be suspended until we were able to get back there to finish it. The project and warehouse were shut down for around four months,” Robbins said.

Ne x t t i me you’re on a rol ler coa ster, it m ight just be one bu i lt by Ma r t in & Vleminckx. Rest assured it has been checked and double-checked.

“There are a lot of safety checks that go into operating a ride, which include checking the structure, track, mechanicals (lift motor and trains), electrical (sensors), and the control system of the ride,” Robbins said. “Once all of those safety checks are completed and the ride is safe to operate, I will go on for a ride or two. With a few different projects, I have been lucky enough to be one of the first people to ever ride.”

No ticket required. X

! t s

teaching the workers how to build the ride per the drawings.”

Robbins started at Lake Compounce in Bristol as a lifeguard when he was 16.

“A fter a few years I moved my way up into management and became the Assistant Aquatics Manager at the park,” Robbins said. “After a few years I moved over into the maintenance department as a carpenter for their two wooden roller coasters.”

Robbins went to New England College for two years but he left to start learning carpentry. He met people from Martin & Vleminckx while he was at Lake Compounce, and they obviously were impressed. They eventually called him to see if he would be interested in a project manager position, which he accepted in 2019.

Robbins said his favorite style of roller coaster is a wooden one.

“A cool part of my job is that I get to travel around the world to build and ride roller coasters,” Robbins said. “I have been a part of a few projects so far, from dismantling a steel coaster in California to building a new wooden coaster in Jinan, China.”

Robbins said the length of the projects vary on the type of ride it is. “ Wooden roller coasters normally take between 8-12 months to compete and steel coasters are between 5-7 months,” Robbins said. “The most modern and largest project I’ve been a part of is my current project in Australia. The project is called the Leviathan.

It is a modern wood coaster that I am building at SeaWorld Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. It is the first wooden roller coaster to be built in Australia in over 40 years. The ride itself is roughly 3,000-feet long, 90-feet tall, and reaches speeds of 50-55 mph.”

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37

“I was never the type to just sit back and relax. I’m always doing something, and I think Xavier helped bring that about.”

Mitchell Wollen ’22

♥

A

For Service

During His Time At Xavier, Mitchell Wollen ’22 Has Seized Every Opportunity He Can, Including Two Inspiring Service Projects

M

itchell Wollen ’22 doesn’t just get his feet wet.

He dives right in.

Peer Ministry. National Honor Society. Student Activities Council.

Ryken Service Society. Xavier Leadership Institute. And, of course, swimming.

His name appears on the Xavier record board in the gym three times. He set the 100 backstroke record at the 2021 SCC championships. His time of 51.34 seconds broke the record of 52.52 that had stood for 30 years. He also has been a part of the 400 free relay (2019) and 200 medley relay (2021) teams that have school records.

“Walking into the gym, glancing up there and seeing it gives me a sense of joy,” Wollen said. “To think it could be up there 30 years, that’s incredible.”

He also finds joy in helping others. Service hours are a requirement at Xavier, yet Wollen has gone above and beyond.

Wollen, who lives in Wallingford, has helped initiate two projects.

When COVID shut down schools and everything else in March of 2020, Wollen, then a sophomore, kept hearing and seeing the stories of healthcare providers working tirelessly. Wollen and his family came up with the idea of making signs with a red heart and the words “Thank You” on them. The money raised provided snacks and meals for healthcare providers and others in the community. About $15,000 was raised through the sale of 1,500 signs at $10 each.

“The heart project opened my eyes to seeing the needs of others,” Wollen said. “We brought in drinks, snacks, meals, all kinds of things, to heath care workers, then we hit pretty much every organization in town. Police. Fire. Others.

“Bringing in the food to the health care workers after a long day of work, wearing the masks and everything, and being on the front line, they’re tired. They work hard. We all appreciate what they did and still do.”

This summer, Wollen came up with the idea to sell bundles of firewood, building a stand that is set out at the end of the family property. The sale of the firewood raises money for veterans struggling with physical or psychological issues. “Freedom Is Never Free. $5 Per Bundle” is carved into a sign.

“I had been building the wood stand all summer on and off, something to keep me busy, and I like to build things so it was fun,” Wollen said. “But when everything was happening in Afghanistan and the 13 service members were killed, that kind of hit me close to home. I had this wood stand and I said, ‘I have to do something,’ so it kind of turned into a service project.”

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21 22 STUDENT PROFILE

Wollen swims year-round. When it’s not for Xavier, it’s for his club team, the Cheshire Sea Dogs. He’s in the pool virtually every day from September through July.

“If you are not putting in the work all the time, you won’t get the results in the end,” Wollen said. “So swimming has taught me a lot about hard work, and what you put into it you will get out of it.”

Last season all of Xavier’s meets were virtual. The Falcons would be swimming in Middletown and their opponents elsewhere.

There was no opponent in the next lane. You had to supply your own motivation. That was not the only hurdle Xavier faced. It could not swim in its home pool, at Wesleyan, instead swimming at Woodrow Wilson, where there was no electronic timing system or diving board.

“Last year was crazy,” Wollen said, “like nothing I’ve ever done before, like nothing anyone’s done before … There were a lot of challenges, but we were able to overcome all the challenges and it definitely was a season to remember.”

Xavier saved its best performance for last, which is what a team always tries to do. The Falcons easily won the virtual SCC championship, setting three school records, two of them involving Wollen.

No fans, no parents, no opponents in the building. No problem.

Wollen is now a senior leader on the team.

“It’s kind of crazy,” he said. “I blink and I’m a senior.”

As we sat down in mid-September, Wollen’s week was a blur, too.

School, club meetings, swimming practice, homework, a SAC event at the school on the weekend, finishing up college essays.

His goal is to attend a service academy.

“I like to help others, and serve others, and make a difference in my community,” Wollen said. “Sitting around doesn’t help others, doesn’t help me … Xavier helped bring me out of my shell. I was never the type to just sit back and relax. I’m always doing something, and I think Xavier helped bring that about.” d

“I just found a way to give up the want for the spotlight and just be a teammate. I had my purpose even though I wasn’t really able to contribute a ton on the field.”

A

few weeks into his high school football career, Kevin Gilhuly ’22 came to a difficult realization.

Gilhuly, a quarterback, wasn’t going to play that much.

“I kind of saw that right away,” Gilhuly said.

Gilhuly wasn’t the biggest or the fastest at the quarterback position that freshmen year, but despite the likelihood of little playing time he refused to let it change his plans.

He was still going to play quarterback and he was still going to be part of Xavier football.

He was just going to have make an impact off the field.

“I just found a way to give up the want for the spotlight and just be a teammate,” Gilhuly said.

“I had my purpose even though I wasn’t really able to contribute a ton on the field.”

This season, Gilhuly’s loyalty to his team was recognized in the best way possible with an honor that caught him off guard. At the start of the season, the Falcons’ backup quarterback was named one of the team’s four captains, joining starting quarterback Drew Kron ’22, Max Wojtusik ’22, and Evan MacDonald ’22.

Out of the four, who are all close friends, Gilhuly is the only one that saw the f ield sparingly this past season when the Falcons went 6-4.

“I didn’t really expect to get it just because I’ve never heard of someone that gets captain that doesn’t start,” Gilhuly said.

However, his teammates and his coaches had seen how Gilhuly had contributed his first three years.

From the minute he realized he was not going to move above Kron on the depth chart, Gilhuly has worked hard to contribute in different ways.

Kevin Gilhuly ’22

True Leadership Kevin Gilhuly ’22 Never Won The Starting Quarterback Job For Xavier Football, But He’s Gotten Something Better – His Teammates’ Respect

“I’ve been speaking up since freshman year,” Gilhuly said. “We have meetings every Thursday night before the games, and I’ve never been afraid to get up there and speak. I kind of became that guy. I had my purpose.”

For Gilhuly, that purpose has always been what he has wanted at Xavier.

After looking at Notre Dame-West Haven in middle school, Gilhuly and his twin brother Shane made the decision to attend Xavier because they wanted more of a challenge.

Their father Mike went to Notre Dame-West Haven, but he wanted his sons to make their own choice.

“We were kind of bored in middle school,” Gilhuly said. “When I shadowed here, it felt like home. I could be myself here.”

It did not take him long to adapt.

O nce Gilhuly found his foot ing in t he classroom, where he is an honors student, he made sure to take advantage of everything that is offered.

“I know it is cliché and all the teachers say it, but it is not an 8:15 to 2:30 type of place,” Gilhuly said. “I feel like it is a lot more than just a school. That is how it is. They don’t lie to you when they tell you that.”

At the Xavier Leadership Institute this summer, Gilhuly brought that same mindset.

“I’m not really afraid to put myself out there or open myself up to criticism,” Gilhuly said.

“I knew it was a good opportunity because I trusted a lot of the people that told me it was.”

When the annual four- day retreat was over, Gilhuly’s peers and his teachers were highlighting him as a leader to watch.

“I feel like I learned a lot of things about myself as far as leadership goes that I didn’t really think I knew,” remarked Gilhuly. “I just feel like there were a lot of situations that I hadn’t put myself in up to that point that I was kind of like, ‘Let’s test the limits.’”

Gilhuly has made the most of his senior year.

On the football team, he was never shy to say the tough thing if it was better for the team.

“I will hold someone accountable, and I will tell them, ‘You can get mad at me all you want, I don’t care. This is my job,’” Gilhuly said. “We’re all working toward a common goal, and if I don’t push you to be better and let you make mistakes what does that say about me?”

As a younger player, he admits it was easy to be envious of Kron, the team’s star player. But instead of letting himself become jealous he got to know his teammate.

“I just noticed he was a good dude, and I wasn’t going to put him down at all because he’s good at something that I’m not as good at,” Gilhuly said.

Kron and Gilhuly are now close friends.

“It was weird,” Gilhuly said. “It is like ‘I’m not supposed to like you, but I do. I want to be in your position and I’m going to do everything I can do to take it, but at the end of the day you’re my friend.’”

That openness and honesty has helped Gilhuly become a leader that his teammates, his coaches and his school won’t soon forget.

“I just hope that people say I was a good kid,” Gilhuly said. “I hope that one day that [Dean of Students] Mr. Cerreta uses as me as an example when he’s talking about respect and honesty.” d w w w.XavierHighSchool.org

39

Sam Rector ’22

LO VE FOR THE

O f The GA M E S

From His Own Blog To A n nou nci ng Fo ot b a l l G a me s, S a m Re ctor ’s Interest In Sports Has P ushe d H i m To Ke ep Trying New Things

O

n e d a y i n fi r s t g r a d e Sam Rector ’22 pulled out a notebook and started w riting.

Before he knew it, his little Lego Ninjago notebook was filled up with all the football statistics he could find. You name it, whatever caught his eye, he threw it in there.

“It was kind of meaningless – I would just copy down stats and stuff I would see online,” Rector s a i d . “ T h e r e w a s n’t r e a l ly a point of doing it, but I just liked doing it.”

Soon enough, those “meaningless” notebooks became something much greater.

From a couple of articles in his middle school newspaper to a blog and podcast, and most recently a stint as a writer for The Kestrel,

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the student newspaper, Rector has used his love for sports to develop a passion for sports media and now sports business.

W hether it be his A merican Spor ts Blog and podcast, or his foray into announcing Xavier games, Rector has turned to sports to be himself and pursue countless opportunities, including a recent business internship with the Connecticut Sun. “Sport has just become my outlet,” Rector said.

“I just get a sense of enjoyment out of it.”

At Xavier, that passion has allowed him to crave an interesting niche.

T h roughout the last fou r yea rs, Rector ’s classmates and teachers have supported his work and encouraged him to keep exploring new opportunities.

“I don’t know if the student body would’ve been as receptive at another school, whereas at Xavier I had guys supporting me all of the time and saying they love the stuff,” Rector said.

“This place gives you certain motivation to do things like that.”

In the beginning, before the blog, and all the podcasts, he did get a helpful nudge to start writing from his father, Paul.

“My dad pretty much pushed me because he thought I could make something real out of it, and that’s happened for sure,” Rector said. “I would just write stuff and do it for fun because I loved sports and I wanted to express it in something.”

After taking the next step at his middle school by writing in the school newspaper, Rector started the American Sports blog, his first year at Xavier. The tagline: just the writings of an American Teenager who loves sports.

Fast for wa rd to sen ior y ea r a nd he has p u b l i s h e d 8 0 d i f f e r e nt a r t i c l e s a n d o v e r 40 podcasts.

“It is definitely not for the views, it is simply because I enjoy it and it is something I love doing,” Rector said.

His love of sports has also translated into other pu rsu its. R ector is a mem ber of the basketball team and math team; and part of the Kestrel, Ambassadors Club and Empower Leadership. And this year, Rector joined his friend Marko Vidackovic ’22 in the booth to call Xavier Football games.

“I didn’t get to go to a lot of Xavier games my sophomore year and obv iously there were no Xavier games my junior year [due to COVID], so just seeing them play [in the fall] was awesome and being able to share my thoughts has been great,” Rector said. “Again, it is just another outlet. It has been cool to emulate the guys I see on TV. I just like talking s p o r t s a n d I ’ m c o n fi d e nt talking.”

For Rector, the confidence comes from his parents. From a y o u n g a g e, h i s p a r e nt s have encouraged Sam and his brother Ben, a sophomore at Xavier, to always follow their passions.

“It has made us motivated a nd has spu r red us to be

21 22 STUDENT PROFILE

“I don’t know if the student body would’ve been as receptive at another school, whereas at Xavier I had guys supporting me all of the time and say ing they love the stuff. This place gives you certain motivation to do things like that.” motivated and have dreams moving forward,” Rector said. “As a young boy, it subliminally spurs you.”

His mom, Sarah Cody Rector, has been a member of the Connecticut news media for over 20 years, working for WTIC-TV in Hartford, where she hosted the popular Mommy Minute and DayTrippers, and now with WTNH News 8 in New Haven. As a kid, Sam and his brother would join their mom on different assignments as the DayTrippers segments took her around the region.

“It is funny, we never realized how cool it was,” Rector said. “We would actually be on TV. She would take us to DayTrippers and all these stories.”

M o r e t h a n a n y t h i n g, t h o u gh , h e g o t a firsthand look at how to chase his dreams.

“It gave me a sense that I could do it,” Rector said. “I don’t think I would’ve thought I could do it without my mom doing it.”

Those dreams continue to e v o lv e . R ec e nt ly, h e spent time interning with his dad, who is the Director of Cor porate Community Partnerships with the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA. “It has been pretty cool,” Rector said. “I’ve gotten to work in the front office of a professional sports team – who wouldn’t want to do that?”

In the fall of 2022, Rector hopes to take everything he has learned and apply it in a new environment at college.

“There will always be a place in my heart for sports media and maybe ideally down the road maybe I will be able to do something with it, but I’ve become more interested in sports business and just business in general,” Rector said. “The next four years I just wa nt to k eep bei ng i n v o l v e d . I ’ m d e fi n i t e l y someone that likes to stay busy.”

A s for those w r iti ngs, he does not plan to stop anytime soon.

His rule? If you love it, find a way to have it in your life.

“It has gone this far bec au s e I ’ v e j u s t e njo y ed doing it,” Rector said. “If I keep enjoy i ng it, I’l l keep going with it.” d

Vincent Salamone ’23

BEYOND THE HORIZON A Special Mentorship Helped Vincent Salamone ’23 Find A Purpose And An Impressive Internship

S

ince V incent Salamone ’23 met his confirmation sponsor Tony Cacace at St. Peter’s Church in Higganum, he can’t help but look up, both literally and figuratively.

“Tony has shown me the real meaning of why people do things,” Salamone said. “He has opened my eyes to ask questions like why and how, and to see the world in a different perspective that is still full of wonder.”

With Cacace’s push, and later his support, Salamone has turned his eyes to the clouds and started to envision his future as an aerospace engineer or chemical engineer, helping to build the machines that fill the sky.

“After meeting [Cacace], I looked more closely at planes and things around me to see how they worked, but up until then I was like everyone else – ignorant of everything,” Salamone said. “I started to question why does that happen. … It is ridiculous. You have a giant metal bird flying in the sky with hundreds of people.”

His new goal? Chase a dream, go to MIT, become an engineer and help people in the process.

And he got there by combining his faith and his ambition.

“I want to be able to help and design things to make the world better,” Salamone said. “That is the whole point of engineering – to fix problems and make things as good as they can be. With a strong faith background, you’re taught that you should make the world a better place.”

Salamone knows it is a big dream.

“MIT is my goal. It is a far-fetched dream, but if I do not try, I will not know. It is where I feel like I will do the best,” Salamone said. “I want to do this, and I want to put in the effort that is required to get there.”

A t t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e i r f r ie n d s h ip , Cacace, who is in the Knights of Columbus with Salamone’s father, was the family friend Salamone saw once every Sunday at Church. They would talk about his classes, specifically math and science, but over the last two years, Cacace has also taken on a new role for Salamone – mentor and confirmation sponsor.

After constantly encouraging to him to take a closer look at the world of engineering, Salamone finally visited the company where Cacace works, ACMT, a prominent Aerospace manufacturing company in Manchester.

“He’s always been saying that I need to go see it and I finally said ‘OK, I’ll go see,’” Salamone said. “Until then I wasn’t really sure about anything, but I met all these great people and I saw things I didn’t even know were possible. It sparked an interest.”

What started out as a visit turned into a sixweek internship this summer, which saw Salamone working with recent college graduates on different aerospace projects five days a week. Every morning and every evening, he would make the 30-mile commute from Higganum to Manchester with his dad, Glenn, a class of 1988 alum.

“I would be there early and normally finish late because my dad was still at work,” Salamone said.

For Salamone, the long days were not an issue.

They were a bonus. Throughout the week, he was constantly enthralled with the work.

“I get bored and antsy, but with engineering and chemistry it is all hands on,” Salamone said.

“There was never a dull moment.”

At ACMT, Salamone was getting a firsthand look at all the areas of aerospace engineering.

He was reading blueprints, checking out designs, consulting with the manufacturing floor and helping with the assembly line. And from timeto-time, he was making trips around the state with other interns to find parts.

“I was basically making sure everything was running as smooth as it could be,” Salamone said.

When Salamone started the internship, the company was working on what he called “the Blackhawk firewall project.” His job on the Sikorsky helicopter? He helped contribute to the firewall that helps block heat from the engine so it does not become overheated. Later on, he learned how to 3-D print and cut sheet metal with a laser, but more than anything, he loved the job because of the relationships he was creating.

“The people were beyond great,” Salamone said. “We got very close because when something goes wrong you rely on people to fix it. You work together and come up with solutions.”

The internship has changed not only Salamone’s outlook on what he wants to do after he leaves Xavier, but how he looks at everything.

“With someone like Tony, he is constantly emphasizing that engineers are supposed to make the world a better place,” Salamone said. “They’re supposed to look at the real world, take what they see and put it into something that helps everyone.”

Cacace has helped his protégé connect his dream of engineering with his faith. Together, they teach CCD and often talk about the importance of religion in their lives.

“My faith helps me to see the inspiration in things and why I like cer tain things, ” Salamone said.

It also serves as a reminder that he has been blessed by a special opportunity and friendship with Cacace.

“It is like the one in a million case – finding an aerospace engineer who has worked on countless projects and impacted the future of aerospace,” Salamone said. “It is ridiculous that he would be the person I meet at my church.” d

“I want to be able to help and design things to make the world better. That is the whole point of engineering – to fix problems and make things as good as they can be.”

w w w.XavierHighSchool.org

41

Damian Bianchi ’22

Smooth

Sailing

“The [environment] makes you want to do more, and get used to doing more.

Looking back now, I am happy that I was able to get involved in more – I couldn’t have imagined doing anything less”

At Xavier, Damian Bianchi ’22 Has Been Able To Find Every Opportunity Possible

B

y the time Damian Bianchi ’22 arrived at Xavier as a transfer student from Hamden Hall, he knew exactly what he wanted in a school.

“Opportunities,” Bianchi said.

At Xavier, he has gotten plenty.

Over the last three years, Bianchi has made the most out of his time. Despite missing his freshman year, he has gone on to become a two-time cocaptain for the sailing team, a two-time Southern Regional music festival participant with the French horn, and a peer minister.

“The [Xavier] environment makes you want to do more, and get used to doing more,” Bianchi said. “Looking back now, I am happy that I was able to get involved in more – I couldn’t have imagined doing anything less.”

As a sophomore transfer, Bianchi showed up on Day 1 with a plan.

In his first year, he tried multiple clubs, including model court and XOC, the Xavier outdoorsman club, but the big draw was the opportunity to compete for the sailing team.

Bianchi had caught the sailing bug heading into seventh grade, and about halfway through his first year at Hamden Hall he decided he wanted to commit to it more fully. At the same time, he was looking for an environment that would push him to be more connected to his classmates and his school.

“I felt like something was missing,” Bianchi said.

“I kind of missed the environment I had at Our Lady of Mercy [middle school].”

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A few months into his sophomore year, Bianchi knew he had made the right decision. Not only had he represented Xavier at a sailing competition on Cape Cod his second month at the school, but he was also developing the same type of relationships he had at his middle school and strengthening his faith.

“I wasn’t sure what I wanted when I went to Hamden Hall but coming here I realized what I really wanted,” Bianchi said. “I felt comfortable.”

For Bianchi, that peace of mind has been everything.

Already a good student, he saw his grades improve from sophomore to junior year (straight A’s); and in the boat he became increasingly more confident. So much so that this past year, he worked as an instructor at North Cove Yacht Club in Old Saybrook.

“I’ve noticed being an instructor, I just like teaching,” Bianchi said.

The transition from student to instructor was quick.

Although he grew up on the water powerboating with his family, he was never into sailing until his mom signed him up for a weeklong sailing camp at Pilots Point Marina in Westbrook the summer before seventh grade.

“That first week I just got hooked,” Bianchi said.

“It was something new but in an area [boating] I had already been in [my whole life].”

After camp instructors asked him back for a second week, Bianchi returned, full of questions and eager to learn more.

“I looked at it like I was learning a craft,” Bianchi said. “I wanted to keep learning … It just grew on me really quickly.”

Over time, Bianchi has moved from Pilots Point to Pettipaug Yacht Club in Essex, where he now sails with Xavier. However, he has never lost his hunger for the sport. “ The sailing community in general and Pettipaug Yacht Club have all kind of made me,” Bianchi said. “Sailing has kind of consumed most of my life and my school life.”

21 22 STUDENT PROFILE

It helps that he has had a supportive group of teammates at Xavier.

When talking about his favorite memories on the water, he is quick to point to the relationships he has made with fellow seniors Brendan Peary ’22 and Aidan Pesce ’22. During their time together, the trio has seen the sailing team grow in numbers and confidence.

“Without them it wouldn’t be the same and I probably wouldn’t have pursued it as much as I did,” Bianchi said. “What we have is kind of special. There are no rivalries. We are building the team together.”

Now as a senior, he is trying to give back to the new sailors on the team.

“No m at t e r w h o h e s a i l s w i t h o r h ow experienced they are, he always cares more about teaching his teammates than showing off his own skills,” Pesce said. “He and I were made captains our junior year so I had the privilege of working in and out of practice with him to improve the team, to organize demonstrations and to communicate with coaches and he never let the team down.”

For Bianchi, it is all about the environment.

If he feels comfortable with the setting and the relationships, he is going to dive into something.

That combination has also led him to success playing the French horn, an instrument he picked up in third grade after receiving encouragement from his grandmother.

Next year, he hopes to pursue both the French horn and sailing in college.

“The French horn and sailing, in my mind, complement each other,” Bianchi said. “I like to dive deep into them both. When I finish playing, or practicing, it just gives me a good feeling. I definitely want to keep that in my life. I have been with both for what feels like forever. I don’t want to let that go.”

At Xavier, opportunity has met desire.

“The environment here lets you know that whatever interests you most is valid and worth doing,” Bianchi said. d

The Perfect Recipe

Isaac Gonzalez ’22

Isaac Gonzalez ’22 Has Discovered The Power Of Community At His Family’s Restaurant And Xavier

W

hen Isaac Gonzalez ’22 is asked if he grew up at his family’s pizza restaurant, he laughs.

“Essentially, yes,” Gonzalez said. “I would be in the dining area waiting for my mom to get out of work. It was like my second home.”

At Broad Street Pizza in Meriden, Gonzalez has held many different roles.

He has been the young boy watching his parents behind the counter, he has been the kid celebrating his birthday with friends and he has been the teenager in the kitchen helping to run the family business.

That restaurant has given him everything, including four impactful years at Xavier.

“If it wasn’t for the restaurant, I don’t know where we would be today,” Gonzalez said. “I wouldn’t be in this school. … The restaurant has always kept us on our feet.”

With the help of Xavier and his family’s business, Gonzalez has not only grown up – he has started to figure out what he wants to do next.

“I definitely want to leave a mark with my community,” Gonzalez said. “I want people to know me – not my name, but what I did to help others.”

Although he has not fully decided on a vocation , his desire to work with others has pushed him to take a deeper look into the priesthood.

Over the last couple of years, he has spoken with the Director of Campus Ministry Peter Lyons and A ssist ant Direc tor of Campus Ministry John Guinan about the possibility. And earlier this school year, he took that interest one step further by attending a dinner with the Xaverian Brothers at Xavier High School.

“I think Xavier just really opened my eyes to my faith,” Gonzalez said. “Before coming to Xavier, I would go to church and take it for granted. I was never there mentally.”

Gonzalez was raised Catholic, but at Xavier he has explored his faith more openly.

During his freshman year, he attended a camp at the Novitiate and College of the Legionaries of Christ in Cheshire. For a few days, he stayed

at the seminary. After the camp ended, he knew he wanted to provide that same type of commitment to others that he witnessed there. “ I admire how priests put that much commitment into the people,” Gonzalez said.

Early on, Gonzalez said he wanted to go into law. But that quickly changed as he spent more time at the restaurant, and Xavier.

“It has brought my personality to something I didn’t think I would become when I was younger.

I was very self-centered and not the most sociable type,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez has also grown socially by founding a mariachi band, los Laureles del Monte, in which he plays with his sister. He plays the trumpet and is trying to learn guitar. The band plays at senior centers and recently played at Washington Middle School in Meriden.

“It really helps us get to know our culture; our mom really wanted us to get know our culture,” Gonzalez said.

His mother was born in Mexico and his father is Puerto Rican.

At the pizzeria, Gonzalez juggles his fair shares of tasks.

One minute he is the cashier, another he might be behind the counter taking calls or in the kitchen flipping dough.

“It is a little unique,” Gonzalez said. “I know some people have some strange looks when they see me back there making their pizza. They are like, ‘What is this kid doing in the kitchen?’’’

Then they try his pizza.

“Some customers, and my mom, say I make better pizzas than [my dad],” Gonzalez said with a smile.

His father Nolberto Gonzalez and his mother Guadalupe Gonzalez bought Broad Street Pizza in 1997 and have turned into a local staple. Now, their son is helping to leave his own mark on the family business. In the summer, he said he worked nearly every day, except for XLI, the annual week long Xavier leadership retreat.

When XLI was held in August, the family closed the pizzeria brief ly so their son could attend.

For Gonzalez, the hours might be long at the restaurant, but they have allowed him a rare opportunity that most sons do not get. He is working and learning from his parents about not only business, but about life.

“I would not be in this school if it wasn’t for that restaurant. The restaurant has always kept us on our feet.”

“I have gotten to see how they treat people and the way they manage and the thought process of how they do things,” Gonzalez said. “They are very good at solving issues we may encounter. They don’t think too far ahead of themselves.”

L a s t s u m m e r, t h a t desire to follow his parents and help others grew with XLI. After realizing how much he loves dealing with people at the restaurant, he tried to make the most of his time at the annual leadership retreat.

“It was a wake-up call,” Gonzalez said. “It was like ‘wow – I need to incorporate these things into my life.’”

The four days with classmates and faculty pushed him to apply to Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, where there is a priest discernment program.

“It is basically like Xavier but a lot further,” Gonzalez said. “The community is really strong there and the Catholic faith is very strong. I also have family there.”

Whether he heads to Franciscan to start the process of becoming priest or not, Gonzalez knows one thing. Whatever he does, he wants t hat s ame se nse of community he had at Xavier and the restaurant.

“Xavier is a lot like the piz zeria – it has helped raise me up to who I am today,” Gonzalez said. d w w w.XavierHighSchool.org

43

Justin Patenaude ’22

A MAN WITH A PLAN J

Justin Patenaude ’22 Is On Board With Any Challenge

ustin Patenaude ’22 became an Eagle Scout at the age of 14, And, of course, plans for the future. a rarity these days. He was only a freshman.

He wants to be an elementary school teacher, having worked “I wanted to make it a priority before I got too busy,” Patenaude as a junior counselor at local camps and participating in National said. “I didn’t want school to affect it … or it to affect school.”

Youth Leadership Training with the Boys Scouts.

This is a young man who always has a plan.

Patenaude’s been on quite a ride.

His Eagle Scout project involved the Mattabassett Trail near “He’s willing to try a lot of things,” his mother Carolyn said. “I his family’s home in Durham. He built a kiosk with a map, a think he has really embraced Xavier in that respect. He is very sign for parking directions, and a foot bridge in an area that disciplined and has to be because of the ADHD piece. He knows frequently washed out. Hiking has he has to work a little bit harder He’s willing to try a lot of things. I think he always been a big part of his life. than others to be successful, and Patenaude has hiked much of Acadia he does.” has really embraced Xavier in that respect.

National Park, one of his family’s Millions of children are — Carolyn Patenaude, Justin’s mother favorite vacation spots, all of the diagnosed each year w ith Connecticut section of the Appalachian Trail and is working Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Patenaude simply has on the New York section now with his father, Shaun. not let it define who he is.

He is a railroad enthusiast who has his own YouTube Channel, His mother remembers what was Central Connecticut Railfan, where he has shared videos since once said by a therapist when Justin November of 2019. He had model trains as a kid and his love was young, that someone with ADHD of the rails was rekindled when he joined the Railroad Club can be like a butterfly. Birds fly straight at Xavier. from one tree to another, getting there “ T here’s just somet h i ng a bout t ra i ns t hat is e x citi ng,” quickly. A butterfly zig-zags on its trip, Patenaude said. “There’s an adventure to it.” probably using more energy, but it too Patenaude is part of the Big Falcon-Little Falcon program gets from one place to the next. It just that pairs a senior with one or more freshmen. He’s also a Peer does it differently.

Minister. Those are just two ways for “There’s nothing wrong with what the butterfly is doing. … it’s him to give back. a butterfly and that’s how it does it,” Carolyn said. “I’ve always “ I had a rea lly good Big Fa lcon i n pushed back on that and said don’t let someone tell you that Mike Celantano,” Patenaude said. “He you can’t do something. You just do it differently. So I think his did a lot for me coming in, made me understanding is knowing he has to find his own way.” feel comfortable and that I belonged, Justin’s advice to others with ADHD? so I wanted to give someone else what I “It’s not something that will stop you unless you let it,” had as a freshman. As for being a Peer Patenaude said. “Develop techniques so you can perform your Minister, I think the spiritual life of best. It just means your mind works differently … make it your Xavier is important and I wanted to try to goal to find ways to overcome it.” make it better and put my own spin on it.”

He has certainly done that.

Pate n au d e is t h e Nat ion a l H on or “I am certain with Justin’s caring, compassionate personality Society chapter historian, a member and his dedication, discipline, and responsibility to his studies, of multiple clubs beyond the railroad he will be successful in whatever he does,” guidance counselor club, and he has maintained a 3.84 GPA Beth Pattavina wrote in a college recommendation. through his junior year. He also has a R est assu red, the tra i n is not leav i ng the station weekend job. without Patenaude. d

“

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21 22 STUDENT PROFILE

”

Nicholas Cusano ’22

Art the

of

Finding Yourself A ‘Mistake’ Opens Up A Whole New World

N

“That’s what I noticed

first … not the building, not the prestige of the school, but that they held the door open for me. That’s why I like peer ministry. You’re going to help others in their faith.

”

icholas Cusano ’22 has been awarded a $30,000 scholarship from the University of Hartford to attend its art school. This from someone who didn’t take an art class until his sophomore year when he landed in a full-year course by mistake.

“I always liked art, but I had never taken an art class,” Cusano said. “I accidentally took Foundations of Art because I thought it was an Art History class, and that was lucky. I think someone up above was guiding me.

I wanted to switch out, but my mom and Ms. [Jayne] Vitale told me to keep drawing and get through the school year. And it turns out I love it.”

And it turns out he is quite good at it, too.

“He was apprehensive at first, but he did the work, learned some skills, and he liked it so much that he jumped in head on,” Vitale, the longtime Xavier Art teacher, said. “He is very self-directed and motivated.”

Cusano has plenty of other interests. He has started a mountain biking club at Xavier, is a member of the art and photo clubs, multiple honor societies, and peer ministry. Oh, and he wants to be a police officer.

“I’ve always respected police officers … what they do for people kind of goes unnoticed, but day in and day out, it’s almost like being a soldier every day in your town or state,” Cusano said.

He plans a double major in art and criminal justice or a major in art and a minor in criminal justice. So someday he just might have the skills to be both the sketch artist and the arresting officer.

“I’m looking at art as a side career for now, so I have something after being a police officer or if I have a family and realize what I am doing is really dangerous or I get hurt,” Cusano said. “I’ll have something else I can rely on.”

Recently a Hartford School of Art recruiter visited Xavier and told the art students that what can make an art major attractive to an employer beyond their skills is that they are problem solvers and creative thinkers. That sounded a lot like Cusano. Certainly the spark was there, and it really got ignited at Xavier in a variety of ways.

Faith, for one. He was 45 minutes into his first religion class here and said he had learned more than he ever had in many years of other structured settings. “I think that helped me to think differently,” Cusano said.

So did his overall Xavier education.

“I always thought there had to be more,” Cusano said. “If you were going to draw something, like a

straight line, coming to Xavier I realized there are all different paths and a lot more information and ways to think about it. In terms of philosophy, art, history, all different kinds of things I never would have thought about, Xavier opened the doors for me.”

Those doors were opened in a literal sense, too. He’s a Peer Minister this school year, and remembers what stood out for him when he came to an Open House.

“Part of the reason I came here is [the peer ministers] held doors for us on our way in, and I noticed their jackets,” Cusano said of the blue blazers with the Xavier crest on them. “That’s what I noticed first … not the building, not the prestige of the school, but that they held the door open for me. That’s why I like peer ministry. You’re going to help others in their faith.”

He was one of the peer ministers helping in October during the Freshman Retreat, speaking on the Xaverian value of simplicity.

Drawing, painting and working with clay sculptures are his favorite art disciplines for now. Cusano has spent as much as 35 or more hours on some of his work.

“Art is fun, stress-relieving, something I can get better at, and someday hopefully I’ll be selling it, but I just like to make things,” Cusano said. “I’ve always wanted to build my own house and you have to start with drawings.”

He might have music on as he is working, getting lost in his creativity.

“I can paint through the night,” Cusano said. “Over the summer I painted until 1 or 2 in the morning a couple of times. You really don’t notice the time when you’re focused on what you’re doing.”

When COVID first shut down the world in the spring of 2020, Cusano was in his sophomore year.

Now, he is inching closer to graduation.

“It feels like a month went by; it’s weird,” Cusano said. “But I got to paint more, we spent a lot of time with our family, grandparents, cousins. I got to bike a lot. But these two years have been crazy.”

Cusano’s work, from paintings to photography, have been exhibited in Xavier winter and spring exhibits that accompany concerts. He also has multiple mini sketch books with hundreds of works in them.

Cusano said had he not gone to Xavier he would not have discovered art. Though he found it by accident, he takes us back to his comment that “someone up above” was involved.

“It’s a little more than a coincidence,” Cusano said d w w w.XavierHighSchool.org

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Academic Achievements & School Leaders ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS

Selorm Dogbey ’22 shakes the hand of Academic Dean Kyle St. George

These were awarded to those students who earned the highest grade point average (GPA) in their class for the 2020-2021 school year.

Class of 2022: Aidan Higgins and Dylan Levesque Class of 2023: Dominic Cusano Class of 2024: Alvin Nellik and Juan Pacheco-O’Donnell

Celestine Awards

Andrei Abarientos ’22 lights a candle at the 2021-2022 NHS Induction Ceremony

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SEMIFINALIST & COMMENDED STUDENTS

Each year about 1.5 million students enter the National Merit Scholarship program by taking their PSAT in their junior year. Of those students, about 16,000 are recognized nationally as semifinalists for their outstanding performance.

Last year, Aidan Higgins ’22 was named a semifinalist and became eligible to be a finalist.

Xavier also had seven Commended Students in the National Merit Program from the Class of 2022: Andrei Ab ar ientos, Adam C hass e, Stephen King, Matt O’Connor, Mario Pugliese, Will Schneider, and Liam Sheeley.

E ach yea r t he BROTH ER CELESTINE MEDAL is awarded to students who, upon the completion of the past academic year, have an overall final average of A with no final average grade less than an A- in their major subjects. This prestigious award, which a student can receive only once during his four years at Xavier, is the highest academic tribute that the school bestows. The award is named after Brother Celestine Killigrew who taught history and religion, coached the freshmen soccer team, and ran the bookstore at Xavier in the early 1960s. Brother Celestine died at the age of 25 as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

The Brother Celestine Award was c re ate d to honor t h i s belove d teacher’s memory.

The recipients of the 2020-2021 Brother Celestine Award are:

Class of 2022: Damian Bianchi, Simon Collins, Dylan Levesque, Guanshen “Jason” Li, John Roy, Spencer Thompson, Luke Traub, William Webb, and Mitchell Wollen Class of 2023: Zachary Bu l kov itch, Jia hao “Jeremy” Chen, Spencer Misenti, Tristan Schemmerling, Allen Vidallon and Alexander Wirtes

Class of 2024: Trey Barbieri, Gianni Brescio, Cormac Burke, Luke Carabetta, Brendan Clow, Chase Creedon, Francesco De Vivo, Duke Diamond, Tristan Donnelly, Kieran Driscoll, Tristan Ferguson, Je t h G ome z , R a mon G u z m a nToro, Kyle Hoynack, Trevor Jones, Joseph Kielb, John Larkin, Kyle Levesque, Andrew Myer, Nathan Nadol sk i, A lv i n Nel l i k, Br ia n Olmstead, Juan Pacheco-O’Donnell, Steven Passas, Joseph Pater no, Henry Peeler, Garrett Reed, Darren Seng phachanh, Sean Simonel li, Quintin Sotero, Lucas Tobon, John Wamester, Benjamin Ziomek

DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS, CLASS OF 2022

Students must have taken at least five AP courses in their time at Xavier while maintaining the highest academic standards. The distinguished scholars: Aidan Higgins, Chris Andrei A b a r i e n t o s , S e l o r m D o g b e y, Matthew O’Connor, Mario Pugliese, Grif f in Prushinsk i, Matt hew Reardon, Simon Collins, Matthew Fu f fo, A id a n Pesce, Sa muel Rector, Noah San Vicente, Spencer Thompson, Adam Chasse, James DeDonato, Vincent Gra ha m, Joseph Lallier, Colin Loria, Dillon Lu ke, Nichola s Ma r t i n, Wyat t McElroy, Alec Pawlowicz, Alexander Schumann, Liam Sheeley, Boy u Shen, Matthew Tracy, Lukas Simko, Christopher Beaudoin, Damian Bianchi, Andrew Cataldi, Shane Gilhuly, Brady Higgins, Stephen King, Dylan Levesque, Guanshen Li, Nathaniel Lowry, Owen Pestka, Marko Vidackovic, Nikita Zuev, Niko Anastasiades, Duane James, Sathvik Vakati, Austin Zwick

2021-2022 OFFICERS & PEER MINISTERS Students Activities Council

President: Sheel Vallam Vice President: Luke Solomon Secretary: Mitchell Wollen Treasurer: Jack Szeghy

Senior Class President: Drew Kron Vice President: Rory McCormack Junior Class President: P.J. Mackey Vice President: Brandon Gaer Sophomore Class President: Nico LaRosa Vice President: Chris Seymour Freshman Class President: Bruno Massaro Vice President: Lucien Delaney

National Honor Society

President: Selorm Dogbey First Vice President: Andrei Abarientos Second Vice President: Griffin Prushinski Secretary: Vincent Graham Treasurer: Mitchell Wollen Chapter Historians: Justin Patenaude, Noah San Vicente

Peer Ministry Team

Chris Beaudoin, Damian Bianchi, John Carrozzella, Adam Chasse, Nicholas Cusano, James DeDonato, Selorm Dogbey, Matt Fuffo, Isaac Gonzalez, Brady Higgins, Chris Jacy, Stephen King, Nick Kirejczyk, Tristan Kolb, Joe Lallier, Joey Lane, Colin Loria, Thomas Lunt, Rory McCormack, Joe O’Brien, Justin Patenaude, Alec Pawlowicz, Andrew Quintana, Jack Roy, Alex Schumann, Liam Sheeley, Sam Simko, Keegan Truscinski, Sheel Vallam, Marko Vi d a c k ov i c , Wi l l We b b, Is a a c Wolfgang, Mitchell Wollen

Vincent Graham ’22 speaks at the 2021-2022 NHS Induction Ceremony 46

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Peer Ministers

RETIREMENTS

Xavier Fit Mrs. T.

To a ‘T’

SCHOOL

A fter 24 years on the job, Mrs. Joan Tomasiello retired at the end of the 2020-2021 school year.

NEWS

X AV I E R CO V I D U P D AT E

A YEAR OF FIRSTS … AGAIN The 2020-2021 school year was the second one in a row affected by COVID. We had full in-person learning, hybrid learning, and virtual learning at various times during the school year, thankfully ending in person.

Many programs and events were virtual, from parent-teacher conferences to the spring art show and concert. The Student Activities Council (SAC) showed a movie on a big screen in the back parking lot in the fall. The junior prom was held in the back parking lot under a big tent, and the senior prom outside at the Farmington Club.

The Baccalaureate Mass was held inside in the gym but tickets were limited and COVID protocols in place. Graduation was held outside on Larry McHugh Field.

There was no regular football season, just some 7-on-7 passing games … Other fall sports had shortened seasons … There was no wrestling, and other winter sports had reduced seasons. Finally, spring brought seasons accompanied by state tournaments for the first time in more than a year.

Xavier did many of the things it has always done … we just had to do them differently.

It was not a job to her, though.

This was a passion.

She turned the lights on in the Guidance Department, and she turned the lights off. She lit the way for so many students. In her final year here the longtime counselor served as Director of Guidance in a period of time again challenged by COVID. When we posted a story on our Facebook page last June, there was an outpouring of love and gratitude. A few of the messages are listed below:

❁A

gem at Xavier. She helped my two boys so much.

Thank you!!!!!

❁ We ♥ Joan -- thank you for all your help with my boys! ❁ Joan

is the very best. At her job and as a person. She guided my three boys, of whom I’m very proud, through stressful and often confusing times, with wisdom and sincere concern.

❁ Simply

the best! Congratulations Mrs. T! You have touched so many lives and helped so many!

❁ Happy to have Mrs. Tomasiello as my guidance counselor … A great member of the Xavier community and helped me every step of the way.

❁ Congratulations, Joan, Xavier is the place it is because of people like you! You will be missed. ♥❃♥

❁ OMG! Huge loss! Mrs Tomasiello is an awesome individual with a great heart. ❁ My favorite counselor ♥. Helped me in more ways than I can even remember. d

w w w.XavierHighSchool.org

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Dan DeConti ’01

Carrying The Torch Twenty-Five Years After Arriving At Xavier, Athletic Director Dan DeConti ’01 Is Looking To Pass On The Same Experience He Had As A Student Dan DeConti ’01 didn’t pick Xavier.

His parents did. But nearly 25 years after he entered the school as a reluctant freshman, he can’t imagine what his life would have been like if they hadn’t.

Since his days as the school’s first hockey standout to his appointment as athletic director, DeConti has done just about everything on Randolph Road except leave.

The school, the mission, the stories – it’s in his bones. And now at the age of 38, he is getting a chance to make an even bigger impact on the community he loves as the school’s fourth athletic director in the last 59 years behind Artie Kohs, Tony Jaskot ’69 and Matt Martorelli.

“This opportunity means everything to me,” DeConti said. “Xavier has given me everything.”

T h is pa st su m mer, De C ont i, a for mer assistant athletic director, coach and teacher, took over for Martorelli, who left for the same position at Farmington High School.

“It is an honor to follow in the fo ot s te ps of t h re e g re at at h le t ic directors,” DeConti said. “I want to keep that tradition of Xavier going but also leave my own mark on the athletic program. My goal is to help our coaches and players continue to grow and to continue the mission of Xavier.”

For a guy who wears the black and white like it is the only thing in his 48

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wardrobe, DeConti wasn’t always sold on the Xavier way.

“For a while, Xavier was just school,” DeConti said. “I was the 8:15-2:30 kid. I went home at 2:30, and that was kind of it.”

However, that all changed his senior year.

After only offering hockey as club sport, Xavier finally made the move to varsity in the winter of 2000-2001. And with it, a whole new door opened for DeConti. Not only was he able to play the sport he loved for his school, but he got to meet a new group of friends and brothers.

“My love of Xavier was really solidified,” DeConti said. “It was the biggest connection I had with the school. That was my f irst experience with high school sports. And it was a phenomenal experience.”

Over the last 15 years, DeConti has tried to provide that same experience in whatever role he was in. Whether he was teaching math, which he did from 2007 to this school year, or as the head hockey coach from 2013-2018, he wanted every student to understand the opportunity he was getting. And in the process, it quickly won him the loyalty of his students and his athletes, not to mention his fair share of success.

As a coach, he helped lead Xavier hockey to the cusp of the Division I championship twice. In 2015 when the Falcons had arguably one of the best teams in the state and in 2018 when they lost a heartbreaker to Greenwich.

In t he classroom, he a lso found success, teaching mostly college preparatory classes.

As an athletic director, he is hoping to lead the same way.

“I’m an open and honest guy – I say what I feel, but I have a love for everybody,” DeConti said. “I want everyone to succeed and do well. I may come across as tough sometimes, but I am caring and I do love what I do.”

Before taking over this school year, DeConti got plenty of hands on lessons on how to navigate the role. For 11 years, he served as an assistant athletic director to both Jaskot and then Martorelli.

“From the time I started as an assistant to now, I’ve learned a ton,” DeConti said. “Tony was a great mentor and as the years went on he gave me more and more responsibilities to take on, especially when things started to move over more to the [technology] side of things. And because of it I felt very comfortable being AD. Then Matt came in a nd we worked really well together and developed a great relationship.”

W hen a sked how long he has wanted to be an athletic director, DeConti recalls a story.

“I remember [Xavier Principal Brendan Donohue] sending out an email the day the assistant

athletic director position became avai lable [in 2010].

I op e n e d it up an d within 15 minutes I had ever ything back t o h i m ,” D e C o n t i s aid. “[The at h letic director position] was ever ything I wanted to do.”

During his time as b ot h a s t ud ent a nd coach, De C ont i ha s seen t he power of Xavier athletics.

After leading the hockey team in goals his senior year (a record that still stands today), he was so taken by the program that he returned after graduation just a few years later at 21 to coach the junior varsity team. And since that return, he has not only seen the growth of the hockey program, which has advanced to three Division I semifinals, but the growth of the entire athletic department.

“There’s nothing better than being an athlete at Xavier High School.

You’re going to build a brotherhood, a family and relationships you’re going to have long after you leave these hallways.”

Since DeConti enrolled as a student, Xavier has won state titles in cross country, football, wrestling, golf, and track and field.

“There’s different ways to look at success,” DeConti said. “Success doesn’t always mean you’re hanging banners, but we have had a lot of success in that area. But success is also …

Are the kids becoming better people? Are the kids developing a better understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and how to work with their teammates? Are our coaches providing our kids with meaningful high school experiences?”

For a guy who knows how much that high school experience can mean, he is determined to get it right for every student.

“I want them to feel that strong family connection that I felt as a [hockey] player, and that strong connection to Xavier High School because of the athletic department,” DeConti said. “There’s nothing better than being an athlete at Xavier High School. You’re going to build a brotherhood, a family, and relationships you’re going to have long after you leave these hallways.” X

A Closer Look at

Eamon Burke ’22

W

hen COVID hit in the winter of 2020 and wiped Open. Both performances catapulted him to The out the entire spring sports season, Eamon Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Oreg., where he ran Burke ’22 was coming off his best race in nearly the 5,000 meters and finished fourth (14:39.88) to seven months. earn All-American status.

Burke, who arrived at Xavier with big goals, had Burke, wearing his always-present headband, finished ninth in the 3200 meters at the State Open went from training alone during the pandemic to that indoor season, and was ready to build off it. the biggest stage in his sport: Hayward Field on the But instead, like so many of his classmates and University of Oregon campus. teammates, he was forced to wait. And wait some “That time off away from the team and training more. There would be no state championships in a l o n e t a u g h t m e cross country or indoor track and field during the to ma k e t he most 2020-2021 school year, but when he got his chance o f e v e r y t h i n g I last spring during the outdoor track and field season g e t , ” B u r k e s a i d . he was ready.

“It just allowed me Last June, Burke ran 9:08.48 to take second at t o g e t b e t t e r a t the Class L Championship and 9:08.53 at the State everything.” d

TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS Fou r yea rs ago, the Class of 2022 helped the CROSS COUNTRY TEAM end a nine-year class championship drought.

T h is October, the y capped of f t hei r cross cou nt r y ca reers b y set t i ng another milestone.

Led by Ea mon Bu rke ’22 a nd Brody Sa ntagata ’22, the tea m won the Class L Championship this past October for the third straight time. It was the second time the team has won three or more consecutive class titles since 1981 (the Falcons won seven straight Class championships from 1975 to 1981). A year ago, the CIAC didn’t hold any championships.

Four days after the title, the team finished second in the State Open to Ridgefield by 28 points and beat third-place finisher Hall by two points to qualify for the New England Championships for the third time since 2017.

Burke finished third at L and sixth at Open. … Before this fall, it had been nearly eight years since the SOCCER TEAM had won a SCC Conference Championship. So what was another few minutes? Against Cheshire, the team needed 80 minutes of regulation and two overtimes, 99 minutes in total, but it finally brought a title back to Randolph Road again. With 16.3 seconds left, Finn Russell ’23 f i n ished of f a beauti f u l cross f rom Rya n Gerry ’22 to give the Falcons a 1-0 victory over Cheshire and the program’s first title since 2013. Dylan Misenti ’22 was the named the tournament’s most outstanding player and before the game, Brady Stevenson ’22 was honored as the player of the year in the league.

He was All-New England. The victory kept the Falcons’ unbeaten season going and gave them a 17-0-2 record headed into the Class LL tournament, where they lost in the semifinals. … After an INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD season, where the team competed just twice and had to wear masks, the OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD TEAM made up for lost time during the 2021 spring schedule. The group, highlighted by a diverse mix of athletes with wide-ranging sk i l ls, w on t he SCC West Sect ion a l w it h the most points in meet histor y (176) and surprised everyone in the league by winning the program’s first conference championship since 1998. The Falcons got points from the vault, throws jumps, sprints, mid-distance and distance to record a balanced victory. … In the 2021 winter season, the SWIMMING & DIVING team won its second consecutive SCC championship after having never won one. Andrew Mitchill ’21, Mitchell Wollen ’22 and Donny Frost ’22 helped lead the Falcons

The FALCONS’ Nest

Catching Up With T he X av ier Athletic Depar tment to the victory, which was held virtually before the results were merged.

COACHING HONORS It was a difficult 2021-2022 school year for Xavier coaches, who had to constantly adjust on the fly, but a handful of Xavier leaders were rewarded for their hard work. Chris Stonier was named SCC cross country and SCC outdoor track & field coach of the year. Hockey coach Karl Sundquist earned SCC coach of the year honors, and volleyball coach Stephanie Reay was chosen SCC coach of the year. During the 2020 fall season, Brian Fitzgerald was named the SCC Coach of the Year for Soccer for the third consecutive season.

SCHOLAR-ATHLETES The SCC Scholar-Athletes for fall 2020 were Hayden Tomlin ’21 (football), and Eduardo Serrano ’21 (soccer). Tomlin also was named a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete.

T he SCC Schola r-At h letes for t he w i nter season were Andrew Mitchill ’21 (swimming & diving), and Parker Hunter ’21 (basketball).

In the spring season, Logan Saks ’21 (lacrosse) and Jesse Frazer ’21 (baseball) were honored by the SCC. SHATTERING SWIMMING RECORDS The Falcons broke three school records at the SCC championships. Andrew Mitchill ’21 won the 100 freestyle in 46.88 seconds, beating the school record of 47.48 that had stood since 1985. Mitchell Wollen ’22, Mitchill ’21, Sam Enes ’23, and Donny Frost ’21 were part of the 200 medley relay team that broke the school record, finishing in 1:35.44. Wollen won the 100 backstroke in 51.34 seconds; that Xavier record of 52.52 had stood for 30 years.

STELLAR SEASONS Justin Menard ’23 was named the SCC East Player of the Year in boys basketball as a sophomore. … Mitchill and Wollen, mentioned in the swimming records, each were all-SCC in four events. … Drew Kron ’22, headed for UConn to play Division I baseball, was named to the CHSCA All-State baseball team. … Matt Fuffo ’22 reached the CI AC semifinals in boys tennis.

TEAM BRIEFS No state c h a mp io n s h ips w e r e d ec id ed in the winter of 2021 by the CIAC, but the

BASKETBALL and HOCKEY teams both had strong league seasons. Both teams fell in the SCC Division I Tournament semifinals to Notre Dame-West Haven. … The BASEBALL team had its best season in years, making the state tournament as the 12 seed. … The ULTIMATE team once again was one of the best teams in the state, but the team fell to rival Middletown in the state championship, which was played at Xavier. … The GOLF team finished fifth at the SCC Championship and 14th at the Division I championship, improving on its seeds in each competition. … The LACROSSE team advanced to the first round of the Class L Tournament out of the qualifying round, but lost a hear tbreaker to second-seeded Amity at the buzzer. … FOOTBALL returned to action after two years off this fall led by Max Wojtusik ’22, Drew Kron ’22 and DJ Wright ’22.

The team picked up bigs wins against NFA, Cheshire and Notre Dame-West Haven, and finished 6-4. The RIFLE team had a shortened season, but represent Xavier proudly.

COLLEGE SIGNINGS Xavier had 15 seniors commit to playing college sports after the 2020-2021 school year.

Division I: Luke Lappe, North Alabama, baseba l l; A nd re w M itch i l l: Vi l la no va , swimming; Mike Rapuano, George Mason, wrestling.

Div ision I I a nd Div ision I I I : Nic hola s B e au l i e u : M it c h e l l C o l l e g e , b a s k e t b a l l ; Jay Bruni: Endicott College, football; Josh Castano: Florida Southern, lacrosse; Chris DiBella: Salve Regina University, football; Ian Domeika: Hendrix College, lacrosse; Drew Errera: Western New England, baseball; Hunter Geisler: Clarkson University, baseball; Adam Goralski: Roger Williams University, track and field; William Heher: Hamilton College, l a c r os se; T i e r n a n P o w e r s: U C o n n Av e r y Point, baseball; Jason Salley: Roger Williams University, soccer; Malcolm Wilson-Toliver: Western New England, football. w w w.XavierHighSchool.org

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Graduation Weekend

A Fitting Sendoff

After a year filled with remote learning and hybrid days, the Class of 2021 came together for a proper celebration on Larry McHugh Field How do you top a school year unlike any other?

Try a graduation unique to the class and the moment.

After tackling hybrid days, canceled social events and every other obstacle thrown its way, the Class of 2021 finally got a chance to celebrate together in a way that will always be remembered.

On a hot Saturday in May, the class and their parents were seated spaced out and following COVID protocol on the football turf at Larry McHugh Field. In the stands were teachers and staff.

It was a beautiful sight. And completely distinct, just the way the last few years played out for a class that had endured so much, but never complained.

Congratulations to the Class of 2021.

We will never forget these last few years, and the character you showed through it all.

Baccalaureate Mass May 21, 2021

May 22, 2021

“The reality as you gathered together in August 2017 for the first time is that none of you knew what the next four years would be like,” The Rev. David Choquette, Class of 1990, told the Class of 2021 at the Baccalaureate Mass in Kohs Gymnasium. “And if Mr. Eustis or Mr. Donohue had told you that you would be wearing facemasks at the Baccalaureate Mass or started to talk to you about remote learning or social distancing, you’d have thought they needed to be institutionalized. But that has been what the experience has been like.”

In-person learning, virtual learning, hybrid learning, back to in-person learning.

Ups and downs. Goodness and sadness. Unpredictability and uncertainty. But what was certain, just like it was for any Xavier graduating class, is that God was there for the journey, too.

“You have gotten here because God has been with you,” Rev. Choquette said. He reminded t h e m t h at a s t h e y b e g i n journeys in their next phase of life, God will be there, too.

After the Mass, many students received awards, including Mark Kowalski who earned the Principal’s Academic Achievement Award & Scholarship. “Xavier prepared me for college, and taught me not only the insights into college but to life in general,” Kowalski said.

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Commencement Ceremonies

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What defined the Class of 2021 at Xavier? As usual, there were s u p e r i o r s t u d e nt s , m a r v e l o u s musicians, all-everything athletes.

But this also was a class that handled everything thrown its way, and in a year COVID still dominated the landscape, it wasn’t easy. Yet these graduates carried on.

“I think you would all agree that over the past 14 months we have m iss e d t he nor ma l day-to - day i nt e r a c t i o n s w it h c l a s s m at e s , extended family, loved ones and friends throughout this pandemic,” Headmaster Dave Eustis told the crowd gathered for the graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2021.

“However, we have endured. We have kept our relationships, we have utilized technology that we have never used before, we have been together, we have played sports, we have played music, we have done many of the things we have always done … we just learned to do them in different ways.”

The major awards and honors from the 55th graduation ceremonies: VALEDICTORIAN: RYAN FRIER The valedictorian for the Class of 2021 was Ryan Frier, whose many credentials included a perfect SAT score and being named a National

Merit Finalist. Less than one percent of seniors are finalists. His official transcript is dominated by A+, 28 of them as final class averages from a total of 32. He was a member of various clubs and played volleyball.

Frier is pursuing a career as a physician as part of UConn’s eightyear BS/MD Special Program in Medicine.

SALUTATORIAN: DAVID JERMAN David Jerman was ranked No. 2 academically in his graduating class. He was a National Merit Commended Student, a member of many honor societies, and had over 20 grades of A-plus on his transcript.

He also was involved in multiple clubs and played volleyball. He is attending Northeastern University and pursuing a career in the medical field.

XAVIER LOYALTY AND SERVICE AWARD: DOMINICK DELANEY This award is the most prestigious award that the school confers, and is presented to a member of the graduating class who is chosen upon the recommendation of the facu lty a nd staf f. L oya lty a nd service are qualities that Xavier High School strives to teach all its young men and they are crucial to the fulfillment of the school’s

LEGACY MEDALS: 17 FATHERS AND SONS There were 17 alumni fathers of graduating seniors in the Class of 2021.

Headmaster Dave Eustis presented to the younger graduate a ribbon on which hangs a medal of the Xavier seal. The graduate then placed the medal and ribbon on the shoulders of his father. Engraved on the back of the medal are the names of father and son, and their years of graduation.

Mr. Richard Anziano, Class of 1987, and his son Adam, Class of 2021.

Mr. Joseph Aresco, Class of 1989, and his son Joshua, Class of 2021 Mr. Brian Carroll, Class of 1991, and his son Adam, Class of 2021 Mr. Joseph Delaney, Class of 1986, and his son Dominic, Class of 2021 mission. The choice is based on the consistency and quality of the student’s service to the Xavier community and the passion and perseverance he has displayed in his commitment to all aspects that make up the experience of a Xavier High School student. Delaney was an accomplished student and a member of multiple honor societies.

“Outside the classroom, he seemingly was everywhere,” Principal Brendan Donohue said. “An XLI attendee and model Big Falcon, an Ambassador, P e e r M i n iste r, a nd me m b e r of the Senior Executive Board, he touched every facet of our school community with devotion, sincerity, and ingenuity.” He is attending Emerson College.

Mr. Thomas Dolan, Class of 1991, and his son Zachary, Class of 2021 Mr. Jesse Frazer, Sr., Class of 1992, and his son Jesse Jr., Class of 2021 Mr. Giovanni LoGuidice, Class of 1989, and his son Sebastian, Class of 2021 Mr. Gerald Malloy, Class of 1985, and his son Colton, Class of 2021 Mr. Robert Mazzotta, Class of 1984, and his son Brandon, Class of 2021 Mr. Neil Mitchill, Class of 1993, and his son Andrew, Class of 2021 Mr. Joseph Pepitone, Class of 1983 and the uncle of Joseph, Class of 2021, accepted the award for Joe’s father, Mr. Salvatore Pepitone, Class of 1984, who is deceased.

Mr. Richard Saks, Class of 1983, and his son Logan, Class of 2021 Mr. Kevin Sheehy, Class of 1982, and his son Tyler, Class of 2021 Mr. Drew Stevenson, Class of 1983, and his son Noah, Class of 2021 Mr. Stephen Voghell, Class of 1983, and his son Samuel, Class of 2021 Mr. Brian Wallace, Class of 1986, and his son Eoin, Class of 2021 Mr. James Zawisa, Jr., Class of 1981, and his son Brendan, Class of 2021

FALCON ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: LUKE LAPPE Lappe won the award that recognizes a senior who represents the very best that athletics stand for at Xavier. It is chosen by the faculty and staff. Lappe was much more than an athlete. He was a peer minister, attended XLI, and was a senior leader at Xavier’s junior retreat. Lappe is attending the University of North Alabama and will continue his baseball career at the Division I level. He was a twoyear captain at Xavier.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: MRS. JOAN TOMASIELLO Mrs. Tomasiello retired after 24 years in the Xavier Guidance Department, last year as its Director. “In addition to describing her unparalleled work ethic, her fellow guidance counselors have praised her as caring, tireless, devoted to the students and Catholic education, innovative, loyal, patient, a great teacher, leader, mentor, and role model; a true friend, a wonderful colleague,” Brother Thomas Ryan, C.F.X., said at the graduation ceremony. w w w.XavierHighSchool.org

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Walk

A

To Remember

Xavier In Step With Mercy As A Beloved Tradition Returns After 23 Years current Xavier students have Foronlyyears, heard stories.

faculty, people who just want to support Xavier and Mercy. We can’t wait for next year.”

A parent or a relative would mention something. Or maybe they would run into a graduate, who would start talking about all the old events. And ultimately, it would always return to one familiar question.

The latest edition of the Walk-A-Thon brought with it plenty of hours of work, especially from Associate Director of Advancement Greg Jaskot ’00 on the Xavier side, but on that fourth Friday in October, it all came together.

When is the Walk-A-Thon coming back?

From the support, to the feeling of solidarity, to the weather, it was as good as you could get.

If there was one question that has occupied the Xavier air space more than any other the last few years, this was it. And rightfully so.

Since the Walk-A-Thon was created in 1974, bringing in a combined $15,000, the event has been a favorite, sparking natural, unforced school spirit between Mercy and Xavier. And oh yeah, it raised a ton of money over the years. But after the two schools decided to part ways in the late 90s, the question always lingered. Why are we not doing this? And what would it be like if it returned?

Earlier this school year, everyone finally got their answer.

After years of waiting, the Walk-A-Thon returned on Oct. 22, bringing with it a fresh supply of nostalgia, excitement and generosity. “ It wa s j u st a wond e rf u l d ay,” Xav ie r Headmaster Dave Eustis said. “After 23 years it was great to be back with Mercy for this event. A huge thanks goes out to all the donors, whether they are alums, parents, students, staff,

Actually better.

Under blue skies, and with nearly perfect weather, a trad ition wa s reb orn for a new generation.

Of course, there was walking (this time around the Bob Michalski Track with each class separated) and familiar staples from years past, like costumes, lots of them, and the exchanging of apparel by the heads of school.

But there were new additions. Chick-fil-A was here (450 sandwiches sold), along with NoRA Cupcake Company, Ben & Jerry’s and our local favorite Lino’s, the Italian Deli in Durham.

And there were bounce houses, mini-golf and a dunk tank.

“It was great being outside and physically active, and I really enjoyed the inflatables out front,” Xavier’s top fundraiser Connor Purcell ’25 said. “I also met a lot of new friends.”

Friendships started and friendships renewed.

Sound familiar?

For 25 years, the Walk-A-Thon represented more than anything else, a bond.

“Mercy High School was thrilled to welcome Xavier High School back to the Walk-a-Thon this year,” Mercy President Alissa DeJonge ’95 said. “It is a wonderful event that showcases the collaboration and camaraderie between the two schools. We are blessed to have the support of both communities in making the fundraiser such a success.”

In the end, Walk-A-Thon 2021 paid tribute to the past but also created something new – a sense of camaraderie that had been missing.

And when the clock reached midnight after all the fundraising, both schools had raised a combined $240,733 with Mercy recording the

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21 22 XAVIER TODAY

slight victory by just $617. Still, how could we be upset at defeat when Xavier rallied in the final weeks after being down to raise $120,058.

And it wasn’t just a day-long celebration either.

Throughout the month of October, both schools reached out for support, and as they went a long they could also see their progress on a virtual scoreboard.

Using a new platform for giving, students, parents, faculty, and staff were able to see how much was raised, and who was in front,

creating a competitive but engaged audience.

And it all culminated on that Friday.

Walk-A-Thon 2021

“It was so nice to see both schools united again after a very hard year. We could not have asked for a better turnout and the weather was perfect,” said Madilyn Carbone ’22, the Mercy Student Council President. “The spirit and enthusiasm during the entire month was amazing.”

The day also got a great start.

After nearly two years with no typical schoolwide celebrations, Xavier was able to hold its first Pep Rally outdoors in years.

“I think we were all waiting for a day like this,” Xavier Athletic Director Dan DeConti said.

“To combine the Pep Rally with the Walk-AThon, a soccer game and followed by a night football game, it just made sense.”

The Pep Rally featured speeches from fall sports captains, a class-divided relay on the track and a karaoke session to AC/DC ’s Thunderstruck. After that concluded, Mercy was arriving by bus and ready to get things going. And about three hours after the WalkA-Thon ended, fans and students started arriving for the night football game. “ It wa s a good d ay for bot h sc hool s,” DeConti said.

For Jaskot, who spearheaded the effort to get Xavier back together with Mercy, it was the culmination of a lot of work. But for an alum, who attended one of the last Walk-A-Thons before this school year, it meant a lot to see the schools getting back to its roots and adding some new luster to an important tradition.

paid tribute to the past but also created something new – a sense of camaraderie th at h ad b ee n mi ssing.

And when the clock reached midnight after all the fundraising, both schools had raised a c o m b i n e d $240,733!

“At the end of the day, it was a way for the schools to connect and renew an old tradition,” Jaskot said. “It was a fun event and the day was a great way to celebrate everything we were able to do for the month. I think we have been building toward something like this for a while and I definitely think it was the right step in continuing to develop this relationship with Mercy.” $

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2020-21 Annual Report School Income

Thank You To All Our Donors

Honor Roll of Major Donors July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 Gifts of $25,000 and Up St. Francis Xavier Founders Society Mary and George Keithan ’81 Anonymous Donor Xavier Alumni Golf Classic Sandra A. Piontek Cristina and Kevin DiGenova ’03 Jenn and Samuel Foisie ’09 Jeanmarie and Michael Foisie David Annelli* & the David J. Annelli Trust Xavier Home & School Association Anonymous Donor Benevity Community Impact Fund Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund *-deceased

Gifts of $15,000 to $24,999 St. Francis Xavier Leaders Society Patricia and John Del Favero Del Favero Family Fund The Atlas Companies LLC Jody and Michael Picard ’83 The Ray H. and Pauline Sullivan Foundation Sign Pro Inc. Suzanne and Peter Rappoccio Rappoccio Family Charity Foundation Eileen and Kevin O’Brien Helping Hands Foundation Raquel Rivera and Thomas Hutton ’83 Independent Charitable Gift Fund Debbie and Jack Gastler ’74 Mary Ellen and Robert Guere ’81 Tricia and Neil Mitchill ’93 Raytheon Company Matching Gifts for Education Program United Way of Central and Northeastern CT

Gifts of $10,000 to $14,999 Saint Francis Xavier Associates Society Community Foundation of Middlesex County Inc. Consulting Engineering Services Inc. Gerri and J. Edward Brymer American Endowment Foundation Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc. Independent Charitable Giving Fund Dolan Family Charitable Fund Nicole and Thomas Dolan ’91 Morgan Stanley Gift Fund Laura A. Miller-Cozean DDS and Ronald Cozean ’81

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Gifts of $5,000 to $9,999 Saint Francis Stewards Society Linda Li Frier and Daniel Frier GFW Enterprises LLC Sarah Cody Rector and Paul Rector Mary and Joseph Smith Jr Mr. and Mrs. Richard Feitel Katherine M. Fagerburg and Vernon G. Baker Susanne and Garret Cook Patty and Lawrence McHugh Clementina St Pierre Patricia and William Rotatori Colter Abely Achievement Fund Chaleen and Brian Abely Jane and Edward Morris Patricia and John Buckley Jr. Linda and James McLaughlin Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Norwich Automated Mailing Services Joyce and Mark Zanelli ’74 Kohs Basketball Tournament Robert A. Arena Charitable Fund Bussmann Family Foundation George J. Bussmann Jr. John Custy Fund John P. Custy Jr. ’70 Rowland Technologies Rosemary and Stephen DiMugno ’69 Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program GoFast Solutions LLC Jamie and David Prinz Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. Heidi and William Wrang ’75 Donna and Peter Mondani Sr. ’75 Mark Ryan ’81 Robert A. Arena ’85 Todd Darling Erin and Christopher P. Smith ’99 Geoffrey and Monica Astle Ciampi Tax and Financial Services LLC Ellen and Donald Ciampi Jr. To see the complete list of donors to Xavier for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, go to www.xavierhighschool.org and click on Alumni & Giving, then Honor Roll of Donors.

21 22 XAVIER TODAY

Tuition & Fees.....................................................$10,040,754 Dividends & Interest .................................................$21,589 Diocesan Subsidy......................................................$60,000 Bookstore (net)........................................................... $22,008 Other Sources..............................................................$59,601 Advancement Activities.........................................$523,130 Total Income.................................................... $10,727,082

School Expenses

Instruction & Student Activities........................$6,716,646 General Administration......................................... $900,189 Plant Operations & Maintenance......................... $828,245 Faculty & Staff Benefits.......................................$1,330,515 Construction Debt Service......................................$510,001 Total Expenses................................................ $10,285,596 Minus Restricted Endowment Contributions..-$189,392 Transfer From Endowment For Scholarships...$135,024 Unrestricted Net Surplus.................................... $387,118

HELPING HANDS $1,235,765 Financial Aid Awarded In 2020-2021 $392,589 Scholarship Dollars Awarded in 2020-2021 $12,660,934 Endowment Value As Of June 30, 2021 $4,500 Average Financial Aid Award In 2020-2021

IMPACT ON STUDENTS Students write thank-you letters to those who fund scholarships and financial aid. Excerpts:

“

“This scholarship has greatly helped my family in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. When everything started to close down my father lost his job as a head chef. As you can imagine it has not been an easy year for my family, or anyone.”

“My dad says that we cannot control when opportunity comes, but we can control how we react to it. You have given me a great opportunity to have a great future. It is up to me to take advantage of it.”

“I am hoping to leave Xavier not only a well-rounded person but most importantly a leader at heart.” “… the second I [transferred] to Xavier I started to realize something. My education in part was being funded by others. It would be absurd of me to waste it. So I improved my performance. I gave it my best in and out of the classroom.”

WAYS TO GIVE

”

Your support helps change lives of the young men attending Xavier and builds leaders of today and tomorrow. To give, please go to our website (www. xavierhighschool.org) and click on the “Give” button under “Find It Fast” in the upper right-hand corner or the “Give Now” button.

The Xavier Alumni Golf Classic

J

ust look at the four-year progression of money raised by the Alumni Golf Classic: $58,655 in 2018, $75,168 in 2019, $83,747 in 2020 despite being in the thick of COVID, and about $120,000 in 2021. The proceeds support financial aid at the school.

There are multiple reasons for the increase, and it starts with former teacher/coach Rich Feitel and Associate Director of Advancement Greg Jaskot ’00. When they teamed up for that 2018 event, things really started happening. Throw in a generous alumni base and a supportive committee, and that’s a recipe for success. The event is played at Portland Golf Course, operated by an alum, John Kelley Jr. ’80, and his family.

The 2021 event was played in honor of our Xaverian Brothers and in memory of Joseph J. “Stick” Krywinski Jr. ’70, who died in December 2020, a victim of COVID. Feitel knew Stick for more than 50 years. He had him in class, he worked for him during the summer painting houses. He spoke at his funeral.

“Whether you called him Joe, Joey or Stick, he was one of a kind, a person you just liked being around,” Feitel said. “He was always concerned about other people much more than he was about himself … was always there when you needed a favor and expected nothing in return.”

By the way, that nickname, Feitel said, came years ago at Xavier. As Feitel said he always thought it was because he was tall and thin as a Xavier student. Come to find out, Artie Kohs, the former longtime Xavier basketball coach, gave him the nickname after seeing Krywinski block a shot during an intramural basketball game. “Way to stick him, Joe!” yelled Artie.

And the name Stick stuck.

ALUMNI Briefs BEN CHASE ’06 will have his first book of poetry, “Here To See It,” published this summer. Chase said it has been a goal of his for about 15 years. He has a Masters of Fine Art and is the English Department chair at Christian Heritage School in Trumbull.

C A LV I N P L AT T ’14 is a Senior Account Sales Executive w it h t h e 2 0 2 1 N B A champion Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks had not won the title in 50 years. “I was at all of the games, and h av e some l i felong memories from them.

We were in the parade, and I didn’t know it was possible for that many people to call out of work on a Thursday morning!”

P R E S T O N Z D R O J E S K I ’ 17 g radu ated from the Connecticut State Police Training Academy in late August in ceremonies at Dunkin Donuts Park and works out of Troop C in Tolland. His father Rob is a State Trooper.

CHR IS FOSDICK ’19 won the 2021 Connecticut State Amateur Championship for the second year in a row. And for the second year in a row he defeated 2013 champ Cody Paladino 1-up in the 36-hole final. It was the first time in 100 years that the same competitors met in backto-b a c k f i n a l s . Fosd i c k a l so w o n t h e Russell C. Palmer Cup, named after the former Connecticut State Golf Association executive director, and was eighth in the Connecticut Open. Fosdick transferred from Division II Florida Southern to Division I Virginia after the 2020 golf season.

TIM BOYLE ’13 signed with t he Det roit L ions i n t he of fsea son a f ter spend i ng three seasons in Green Bay. Boyle made his first NFL start Nov. 21 and started two other games this season.

WILL LEVIS ’18 transferred from Penn State to Kentuck y and l e d t h e W i l d c at s t o a 9 - 3 r e g u l a r- s e a s o n record and a win in the Citrus Bowl. He threw 24 touchdown passes and had nine rushing TDs. BRIAN HETHERINGTON ’81, Managing Director, Merrill Private Wealth Management, was featu red in Forbes Magazine in April. He talked a bout br ing ing a bit of pastoral care to the job during COVID. “If you didn’t bring that last year, you probably weren’t taking care of your relationships.”

NEIL MITCHILL ’93 was named Chief Financial Officer of Raytheon Technologies in April.

I n 2019, M itch i l l was named acting senior v ice p r esid e nt a n d C F O o f Un ited T ec h n o l og i es Corporation (UTC), a role in which he served until the merger with Raytheon, when he was appointed corporate vice president, financial planning & analysis and investor relations of Raytheon Technologies.

BERNIE HALLUMS ’81, a retired Ma nchester police officer, is a trainer for the Spector Criminal Justice Training Network. Bernie trains in the area of Fair and I mpa r t ia l Pol ici ng, Cultural Diversity, and Community Policing.

R YA N P R E EC E ’09 races a ny where anytime in anything. In addition to his regular schedule with J T G Daugher t y i n the NA SC A R Cup Ser ies, he competed i n seven Modified events, winning t h r e e , i n c lu d i n g o n e at S ta f f o r d S peedw ay in Connecticut last A u g u s t . A n d i n Ju n e he w on at Nashv i l le Superspeedway in his first career start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

The Berlin native was only the fifth driver to win in his debut in that division. He had four top 10 finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2021.

CONNOR DWYER ’19, who attends Fordham, spent the 2021 summer working in the first analytics and player development department in Independent Professional Baseball. He was with the Florence Y’alls in Florence, KY. CARL FORTUNA JR. ’81, MATT H O E Y ’ 74 , R O B E R T M CG A R R Y ’ 72, ANGUS MCDONALD ’75, RYAN C U R L E Y ’04, M AT T P U GL I ES E ’00, TOM LAFFIN ’98, MATT ZABROSKI ’93, ALAN R. SCHUMANN JR. ’78, SEBASTIAN GIULIANO ’70 and JOHN PULINO ’89 were each elected into office in their respective towns this past November.

RICHARD CIAMARRA ’17 developed into one of the most highly decorated players in Notre Dame tennis history. Ciamarra, an All-American in 2020, earned Top 10 national rank ings in both singles and doubles, reaching a career high No. 5 in the country in singles.

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Xavier High School’s First State Championship Xavier Has Won 95 New England And Connecticut Championships.

It All Started In The Fall Of 1970

PION E E RS

W

hen M i k e M a r i no ’ 7 2 a nd F ra n k often and sitting out Marsilli ’72 get together, they cannot b a c k h e s a i d ‘ y o u help but tell stories about the team and the guys are going to be 1970 State man that changed their lives. state champions this Mike MariChampions n Frank Ma o ’72 and “Coach was an amazing athlete,” Marsilli year,’” Marino said. rsilli ’72 s a i d a bo ut l eg e n d a r y X av i e r C o a c h B o b “ I r e m e m b e r l o o k i n g Michalski. “He used to play us one against around to the other guys sitting on the bank two in pick-up basketball. Bob Bergen ’72 with me and being like ‘Is he out of his mind?’ I and I would play him, and he would beat us, don’t know what he said, but he had conviction but one time, Bob and I were in his voice.”

“We were family in playing really well and coach The team was young and the got down like 20 baskets and the truest sense of season started with a threehe would not quit. That was loss to Valley Regional. the word. We fought point h i m. He never q u it, a nd he Still, as the season went on, hard in training and the team kept getting better, could never lose.”

There are thousands of played hard when we and closer as a unit. A nd it tales about Coach Michalski wou ld n’t lose a nother dua l fooled around with meet, setting up the school’s and what made his legendary each other, but I think first championship.

Xavier cross country teams so successful, but only a small “ We really felt a sense of it was always one group of runners can narrate a c c o mp l i s h m e nt ,” M a r i n o part athleticism and said. “I can’t imagine a team the first chapter.

Marino, one of the team’s one part team spirit” com i ng a long f u r ther tha n f irst g reat r u n ners; a nd what we did. “ ~ Mike Marino ’72 Marsilli are two that can.

Years later, the chemistry In the fall of 1970, they were part of not and camaraderie that helped spur on that only the first cross country championship, first championship season became a staple but the first state title in school history when of every Xavier team under Michalski and the Falcons defeated Norwich Free Academy later his predecessors like current head coach for the Class L championship.

Chris Stonier, who invokes Xavier history at “To be the first – what an honor,” Marsilli every turn. said. “Look what has come after us.”

Bonded by the miles and the sweat, the A week later, the team brought home title runners were not just teammates – they were No. 2 w ith a v ictor y over Ma loney at the brothers. And they cared deeply for each other.

State Open. “ We were fa m ily in the tr uest sense of Over a span of 38 years, Michalski coached the word,” Marino said. “We fought hard in thousands of athletes and won a mystifying training and played hard when we fooled 68 state and New England championships in around with each other, but I think it was cross country, and track and field. But before always one part athleticism and one part team all that history, and mystique, there was that spirit. … Everyone was respected equally.” first group. Their names – such as Bob “Rootie” More than 51 years later that love for the Brown ’72 and Brian Curtis ’72 – are familiar team was obvious when Marino and Marsilli to the legions of alumni who have been part traveled to Wickham Park in Manchester to of the program over the years. Back then? cheer on the current set of Falcons as they won Not really. The Falcons were a mix of mostly the program’s 21 st class championship and juniors and freshmen.

40 th overall title with a victory at the Class L “We started practice relatively late in August Championship in October. and Coach Michalski held team meetings At the Open a week later, they were joined by even more alumni, including J.T. Burke ’86.

For Marsilli and Marino, a chance to see a new generation follow their lead or add to it brings with it a reminder of those early days, and all those memories from that first title.

“We just had fun,” Marino said. “We took our practices serious and we were dead serious when the gun went off for a race, but in the down time we were so close and could have some fun together… It was just a great group of guys.”

21 56 XAVIER M ag a z i n e 20 XAVIER TODAY 22

Despite what appeared to be a rebuilding season, Xavier did have one thing on its side at the start of the season: Michalski.

“Coach was the ultimate motivator,” Marsilli said. “He could get you to run through a brick wall he was so passionate. … You didn’t want to disappoint him.”

After that loss to Valley Regional to start the season, the team went on to win the rest of its dual meets and sweep the conference, Class and State Open championships. The Falcons’ only other loss came at the Eastern sectionals, where it finished second.

At the Class L championship, which was held i n Ne w B r ita i n, t he Fa lcons’ m i x of determination, work ethic and developing talent, propelled the team to a 60-point victory over NFA. Led by Brown, who finished second; and Curtis, who was 12th; Xavier scored 129 points. The varsity seven was Brown, Curtis, Marino, Curt Brown ’71, Dan Coyle ’72, Jeff Jolie ’72 and Scott Langille ’71. The alternates were Dave Archer ’71, Jeff Doyle ’71, Frank Dunn ’72, Bergen and Marsilli. Four days later, the group won its first Open in Storrs.

When Marsilli and Marino think back to that fall, they do not remember all that much about the end of the year banquet, which was attended by then Middletown mayor Anthony “Buddy” Sbona, State Representative Peter Gillies, and UConn track and field coach Bob Kennedy. Instead, they remember something much simpler. All the miles together.

“It gets in your blood,” Marino said. X

Xavier History

FERTILE GROUND For 59 Years, Xavier Has Helped Produce Generations Of Leaders. But Before Xavier Grew Boys Into Men – There Was The Former Kutzner Farmland That Occupied The Same Land

G

ustave Kutzner’s dairy cows, about 50, once roamed the fields on which Xavier High School is built. The milk was sold to Daniels Farm, a larger dairy operation nearby.

Later, Gustave’s son William, a poultry farmer, had about 3,000 chickens on the family land. He delivered crates of eggs to local businesses and sold them at the farm. William’s daughter Judy Dawson remembers people from New York stopping to buy some.

And she recalls a lot more about growing up on the farm. Multiple barns. Cows grazing in the area on which the Xavier football field and track stand before heading back across Randolph Road to go from pasture to home. A huge silo for grain. Fields of alfalfa, nutritious for dairy cows. Deer roaming the land. Big plow horses working the fields in the days before tractors. A cat giving birth to a litter under the seat of a truck, putting the vehicle out of use temporarily because her father didn’t want to move the feline family. The dog hunting down some woodchucks and proudly bringing them back home. Playing in the hay barns. Skating on a nearby pond in a field. Grapevines way out back of Xavier used for wine-making.

“In the summer we had free range chickens before they were called free range chickens,” Judy remembers. “My parents … I can’t even describe it … they were just hard workers. It was a wonderful time. They did so much with the other farm families and knew everyone socially. I had a wonderful family, and my sister and I had all the freedom in the world when I think about it.”

The houses in which her grandparents lived and the one in which she grew up sat side by side across the road from what is now Xavier. They still do, but little else exists now as it did then. Behind those houses on what was farmland is a development of houses.

The land in this part of Middletown once was filled with farming families, among them the

Hubbards and Brocks and Daniels and Harveys. Farm land seemingly stretched forever.

Gustave Kutzner died in 1969 at the age of 92. Beyond owning the farm, he was a charter member and one of the organizers of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Middletown and also a charter member and one of the founders of the South District Fire Department.

An 1880 Agricultural Survey shows that Kutzner did not yet own the land on which the school would be built. The land may have been owned and farmed at the time by

and E. LeRoy Brock appeared in the Hartford Courant; they were in Maine and among those on a fourday, 1,400-mile tour for Middlesex County dairymen sponsored by the Extension Service.

In 1961 – 60 years ago – the Nor wich Dio ces e found and purchased the land that would be needed for Xavier from the Kutzner family.

“Deeds Filed for Land of Xavier High School” read the headline in the Hartford Courant on the morning of June 10, 1961, estimating the price at $67,000.

“My parents … I can’t even describe it … they were just hard workers.

It was a wonderful time.”

— Judy Dawson, granddaughter of Gustave Kutzner

one of the following families, which collectively owned more than 350 acres in the vicinity (Daniel Lee, 142 acres; William W. Coe, 124 acres; Frederick A. Coe, 103 acres).

Gustave Kutzner is first listed as a farmer living in the Hubbard District in the Middletown City Directory in 1911. In the 1940 U.S. Federal Census, William F. Kutzner, son of Gustave, is listed as co-owner of the farm.

William Kutzner, who died in 1990, was active in agricultural organizations, a corporator of Farmers and Mechanics Bank, a director of the Middlesex Country Agricultural Extension Service, and a two-term member of the Board of Tax Review. He was a lifelong resident of Middletown.

A 1962 photo of William Kutzner

The deed, which today sits in storage at City Hall in Middletown, reads in part, “Know Ye, that w e , G U S TAV K U T Z N E R a n d WILLIAM F. KUTZNER, both of the town of Middletown, County of Middlesex, State of Connecticut, do give, grant, bargain, sell and confirm unto the said NORWICH ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESAN CORPORATION, a certain piece or parcel of land, together with all improvements there on, situated on the Southerly side of Randolph Road, in the Town of Middletown, County of Middlesex, and State of Connecticut, shown and designated as ‘51.334 acres’ on a map entitled, ‘Prop e r t y of Nor w i c h R om a n Catholic Diocesan Corp.,’ Randolph Road, Middletown, Connecticut, June 1961.”

Plans for two Catholic high schools, Xavier and Mercy, had b e e n an n ou n c e d a fe w we e k s earlier. “Construction is expected to start soon on a school for 800,” The Courant story noted. “Another site will be bought for Mercy High School, a girls high school.”

On Oct. 12, 1961, the Most Rev. Vincent J. Hines, Bishop of Norwich, wrote a letter about the capital campaign to fund Xavier and Mercy high schools. The general chairman was Motor Vehicles Commissioner John J. Tynan of St. John Parish in Middletown. The associate general chairman was Circuit Judge Bernard A. Kosicki of St. Mary Parish in Middletown, and the associate general chairman was Joseph L. Aresco of St. Sebastian Parish in Middletown.

The groundbreaking was March 19, 1962, when Bishop Hines turned over the first piece of sod as the farmland would soon be transformed to a school that would see its students grow academically, s p i r i t u a l l y, p h y s i c a l l y, a n d emotionally in their four years here.

The f irst crop, so to speak, was ha r vested at t he 1967 graduation ceremonies.

Xavier is known for many things, its academic rigor being one. It takes hard work in a student’s four years here, fitting since that’s exactly what it took to be a farmer.

Judy and her husband Joe, who died in July, had split time between Moodus and Fort Naples, Fla. Times change. Farms have come and gone not only in this section of Middletown but all across the state and country. Route 9 has been around for more than 60 years, some of it built on former Kutzner land.

“I remember coming home from college … and they had put in Route 9, and I was trying to figure how I was going to get to Randolph Road,” Judy says with a laugh.

She found her way home, and still does to this day, often driving by the Kutzner homes when she is in Middletown. d w w w.XavierHighSchool.org

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Value Of The Year

LIVE Humbly, LOVE Generously “Loving God, look upon us with kindness and draw our hearts to you, that we may treasure your love and goodness above all else. In simplicity of heart and mind keep us in the way of your beloved Son who taught us to seek your Kingdom above all created things. Fill us with the generosity that sees the face of Jesus in all whom we meet. Give us a spirit of generosity to respond to the needs of the poor and afflicted and help us to live simply so that all people may share in the bounty of your creation. Amen.”

she would care for my brother and I, and made our lives better,” wrote one student.

Wr it ten i n t he Fu nda menta l Principles of the Xaverian Brothers years ago was the idea of allowing you rsel f to be for med by God through “the common, ordinary, unspectacular flow of everyday life.”

There were examples of that, such as the student’s grandparents who “love to love and love to live, and that’s enough for them. They have no interest in materialism or any

simplici y T he X ave r i a n v a lu e for t he 2021-2022 school year at Xavier is “simplicity.” Written by Brother Philip Revell, C.F.X., the above prayer is being used throughout the academic year.

During orientation, students listed their goals for the year and also ref lected on what simplicity meant to them and who in their lives models or modeled that.

Grandparents were among the groups most mentioned. As we get older, we get wiser, the saying goes. We seem to reflect more. We don’t want clutter in our world.

We want to lead a simpler life and impact lives, even in simple ways.

Everyday ways.

“My grandma lived the value of simplicity. She worked at a nursing home and cared for those who needed it. When she wasn’t at work

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sort of greed as long as they can make their grandchildren happy.”

T h e r e w a s t h e s t u d e n t ’s grandmother who “is constantly working out in the garden rather than doing materialistic things.

She goes on walks often, and she appreciates things that are spiritual rather than materialistic.”

And the student whose “grandfather values simplicity. When my grandmother died, he made sure to keep my family together and to have everything be the same as she left it.”

Parents, of course, were often mentioned, too.

Simplicity, as def ined by the Xaverian Brot hers, is a way of “thinking, feeling and acting to offset the temptation to excessive mater ia l ism a nd consu mer ism, which can minimize the spiritual

values of God’s Kingdom. Making choices that favor the common good of humanity and our common home, simplicity calls us to work for justice for all people and nations.”

To that end, one student wrote that his parents live the value of simplicity by going on mission trips to the Dominican Republic to help build homes.

Another said, “My mom lives the value of simplicity because she makes choices that favor the common good of humanity like donating to charities that help people in need.”

Or the student’s mother who does not ask for gifts at holidays because “she just likes being with her family.”

And the father who gives of his time outside the family and his regular job.

“My father has a side job where he works with disabled people,” wrote his son. “He also recently started teaching a self-defense class to little kids, and he gives up his time to do this.”

Often times it is not easy being a parent, but you’d never know it seeing what this student wrote: “My mom and my dad don’t need to try very hard to be a good parent or to take care of my eight siblings and I. It is just in their nature to do so.”

Simply in their nature.

And then there is the student who simply said when asked who models simplicity: “My parents.

They think of me more than they do themselves.” ▲

Not All Of Us Can Do Great Things.

But We Can Do Small Things With Great Love.

— Mother Teresa

In Closing

A Family of

FAITH What’s The Recipe For Success At Xavier?

In The Words Of Our Student Columnist, Aidan Higgins ’22, It Is The Supportive Community – Now And Forever

If

you conducted a poll throughout central Connecticut asking people what Xavier’s greatest strength is, you would likely receive a broad range of positive responses.

Several individuals would undoubtedly mention the 2021 conference championship-winning soccer team, the cross country program with enough titles now to occupy six banners in the gym, or the baseball program that has produced a Hall of Fame first baseman. Several others would surely mention the nationally recognized engineering team, the state championship-winning robotics team, or the notoriously rigorous academic curriculum, which offers unparalleled college preparation.

If you conducted the same poll throughout not just the academic mind. Because of this, Although there are several t h e X av i e r s t u d e nt b o d y a n d a lu m n i Xavier students develop morally, physically, other Catholic schools network, the answers probably would vary i nt e l l e c t u a l l y, a n d s p i r it u a l l y u n d e r t h e widely, but be densely clustered around a leadership of highly dedicated teachers unified throughout Connecticut, I single word: community. by a genuine passion for helping students see doubt any of them take their the world with understanding and clarity.

Since Xavier High School was founded in 1963, it has been defined by a passionate Catholic identity as seriously This faith-based emphasis on developing teaching staff and a brotherhood of curious, clear-thinking, sincere, well-rounded young as Xavier does. At Xavier, thoughtful scholars. men f rees X av ier students to pu rsue their Xavier students are backed by a supportive the term “Catholic school” is passions w ithout reser vation. Xav ier gives web of individuals, who genuinely care for students a supportive environment, passionate much more than just a label the students’ well-being and encourage and encouraging teachers, and diverse and – it is a mission statement. them to pursue their interests relentlessly. cu r ious peers. It is no wonder X av ier has In an age increasingly defined by virtual s e v e r a l s t u d e nt s c r e at e n e w c lu b s e v e r y communication and superficial interaction, the ability of Xavier year, dozens of alumni who own successful businesses, and to push students to discover and live out their passions seems to thousands of graduates who leave their homes fully armed stand out more and more every day. to go out into the world and live out their vocations. Xavier is This begs a crucial question: what exactly is it that is fueling like a reaction chamber of intellectual exploration, catalyzing the uniqueness of Xavier’s community and educational model? students’ discovery of the depth and limits of their minds with What is it about Xavier that seems to attract an eager freshmen a nurturing community, fervent educators, and intellectually class every year? What is it that allows Xavier to be so special? diverse peers.

The root of Xavier’s uniquely passionate and supportive So, this brings us back to the central question: what is it community is something that I have been thinking about that makes it so natural for Xavier students to discover and since I realized the incredible value of a Xavier education pursue their passions? Well, to summarize everything in a few during my own freshman year. I have come to believe that sentences: Xavier’s unparalleled emphasis on faith leads to an Xavier’s singularity is rooted in what it has that very few other instruction of students on a highly personal, intellectual level. schools possess: an educational and communal model with an The unity among Xavier teachers and students over intellectual unprecedented emphasis on faith. and moral formation and the pursuit of one’s passions cause Although there are several other Catholic schools throughout the creation of a richly curious, fraternal community. This, in Connecticut, I doubt any of them take their Catholic identity as turn, leads to the development of well-rounded, passionate seriously as Xavier does. At Xavier, the term “Catholic school” indiv iduals who help each other become the people they is much more than just a label — it is a mission statement. The should be. gravity with which Xavier treats its Catholic identity is evident X av ier g ives students the mora l compass, i ntellectua l from the carefully planned religious curriculum to the school’s capacity, and communal support to go out into the real world motto, “Be a man...a man like Christ.” and act like sincere, passionate, real men...real men like Christ.

The results of the weight Xavier places upon Catholicism are a faculty and curriculum intensely focused not only on the skills valuable for gaining material success but also on the

By Special Guest Columnist Aidan Higgins ’22, Editor-In-Chief knowledge necessary for the good of the soul. Xavier is a rarity Of The Kestrel, The Student Newspaper At Xavier High School for modern high schools: it focuses on forming the whole person, w w w.XavierHighSchool.org 59

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