Whatever Happened To

Sister Patricia Eeckhout DLS English Teacher 2000-2012 DLS Business Office 2012 - present

A decade of Pilots enjoyed English classes with Sr. Pat Eeckhout, CDP. The genial nun with a droll sense of humor taught a variety of grade levels, including Sophomore Honors and Senior English. She also served as the National Honor Society moderator. But when Sr. Pat stepped away from the classroom in 2012, after nearly 40 years of teaching high school English, she just walked down the hall to the DLS Business Office. Her duties in the Business Office include accounts payable, tuition, organizing volunteers, the Scrip Program for tuition credit, and various other tasks. The job has required Sr. Pat to learn a whole new skill, bookkeeping and accounting, and she utilizes “Quickbooks” to handle the processing of check requests, deposits, and department budgeting. “I love working with students and teachers on a different level in the Business Office. I also enjoy all the excitement of working with our great students at De La Salle Collegiate.” A Detroit-area native, Sr. Pat attended St. Isaac Jogues Grade School and St. Gertrude High School. She entered the novitiate of the Congregation of Divine Providence (CDP), in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1971. For six years, from 1974 - 1980, Sr. Pat taught at Bishop Canevan High School, in Pittsburgh, PA, before returning to the Detroit area. The CDP sisters taught at Our Lady Queen of Peace Grade School, in Harper Woods, as well as Bishop Gallagher High School, on the same campus. Christian Brothers from the Chicago province were also at Bishop Gallagher, which had 1,400 students in 1980. In 2000, Sr. Pat joined the De La Salle faculty, as the “Gallagher” student population had dwindled to 140. (Bishop Gallagher closed in 2005).

Mrs. Vicki Granger, then Chair of the English Department, said, “We were delighted to have Sr. Pat join us. Her years of experience and knowledge really added to the department.” Sr. Pat lives in the area, in a house in Roseville, with other members of her congregation who are associated with the Archdiocese of Detroit. She travels to PA a few times a year for CDP retreats and community gatherings. When not at DLS, Sr. Pat enjoys volunteering at St. Clement’s, in Center Line. She also enjoys golfing - she’s golfed in leagues - as well as biking, working out at the gym, gardening, and cooking. To contact Sr. Pat, email her at peeckhout@delasallehs.com

NOTE: Sr. Pat has not been the only religious sister on the DLS faculty. Her colleagues included the late Sr. Nancy Bartolo, IHM (see page 37), and Sr. Alice Kotwick, OSM. Sr. Nancy continued to substitute teach and accompany students on retreat following her retirement from the classroom in 2001. Sr. Alice is no longer teaching but helps in the DLS bookstore, the Pilot Hangar, several days a week. She also accompanies students on retreats.

Whatever Happened To...

The BRAC Five Years Later

Five years ago, De La Salle purchased the vacant YMCA Building on Common Rd., about two miles west of the main school campus. The real-estate market in the area was depressed, and the 22,000 sq. ft. building on 5.8 acres represented a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity.

In September 2010, the building was dedicated as the Brother Robert Activity Center - or “BRAC” - in honor of Brother Robert Carnaghi, FSC, President of De La Salle Collegiate at the time. Principal Patrick Adams said, “Acquiring the BRAC has allowed De La Salle to serve our students and faculty in a unique way. We are always looking to improve what we do, and become a leader in innovation. The BRAC reflects this pursuit. Instead of settling for certain extra-curriculars to have limited or no space because of the constraints of our main campus, we looked to serve the need in an unconventional manner. Athletics, Drama, Board Committees, Faculty members, and youth groups now have expanded opportunities to carry out their activities because of our willingness to look differently for solutions.”

Brother Bob stands with the new BRAC sign in 2010.

The BRAC has undergone a complete renovation, from interior paint to a new roof, a heating and cooling system upgrade, and landscaping, including over 200 trees.The Wrestling Room is fully padded and has a new floor.

A group of alumni and friends rent the BRAC on Thursday evenings for basketball.

The weight room has 19 weight machines, 3 treadmills, 3 ellipticals, a recumbent bike, and a variety of benches and weight racks. Alumni also make use of the facility’s weight room and walking track facilities, as well as renting the gymnasium for basketball games. The DLS Archery Club, moderated by Mrs. Jackie Van Thomme, one of the DLS Science teachers, stores its equipment at the BRAC as well. The Archery Club shoots indoors during the fall. Not all the student activity is inside the building, however. The Track Team’s discus and shot put participants practice throwing in a large outdoor space, while high jumpers are in the gym.

DLS Athletic Director Brian Kelly says, “The BRAC has allowed our athletic teams an opportunity to train and practice when they may not

Sophomore Joe Lietzow practicing the high jump.

The BRAC

otherwise be able to at De La Salle. The DLS athletic facilities are used constantly both by in-season and out-of-season teams. Space and time is limited on our main campus, so being able to utilize the BRAC has been a godsend. Our coaches and players are benefitting daily.” The gymnasium is not only used by athletic teams. Br. Patrick McNally, Drama Director, holds dance rehearsals every Sunday afternoon in January and February in preparation for the spring Coaches from St. Anne’s Grade School conducting a speed camp musical. He says, “The advantage of the in the BRAC Gymnasium. BRAC for us is that we are able to have our groups of 40 plus spread out. We set up portable mirrors (stored at the BRAC) so the dancers can see their dance technique.” The Wig and Mask Society (WAMS) also stores sets, furniture, and costumes at the BRAC.

The facility has also been used for team meetings, to review films, hold team parties and banquets, and even by the DLS Campus Ministry Department for retreat receptions.

Alumnus Roger Grimaldi (‘56) uses the walking track on the upper level several mornings each week. Senior Damon King, a long jumper on the DLS Track and Field team, conditioning on the squat rack. In addition to the various student athletes and teams who utilize the BRAC, several girls’ softball teams, as well as men’s baseball and basketball teams, cheerleading squads, and youth football teams are among the BRAC’s renters. The BRAC is the home of the Eastside All-Stars Wrestling youth club.

The DLS Freshman Baseball Team working out.

Vista Maria, a Catholic adoption agency, uses a meeting room at the BRAC to meet with prospective adoptive parents. DLS Alumnus Mike Skonieczny (‘85) is the local Vista Maria coordinator. Sandy Buchanan, who is one of the assistant coaches for the DLS crosscountry and track teams, manages the BRAC. She says, “It is very rewarding to interact with DLS students and coaches to provide a safe, wholesome athletic training environment not only for our own students, but for children and adults in our local community. The BRAC is truly a gem.” For more information about the BRAC, please visit the BRAC page on the DLS website, under the Athletics Tab, or contact Mr. Brad Cusumano, 586.541.6274, bcusumano@delasallehs.com