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Christian Brothers’ Dinner
The Thirty-Fifth Annual
Alumnus Dan Loepp Named 2016 CBD Honoree
De La Salle Collegiate is pleased to announce the selection of Dan Loepp, ‘75, as the Honoree for the 2016 Christian Brothers’ Dinner. He has been CEO of BlueCross/Blue Shield of Michigan since 2006, and has been a key supporter of De La Salle and the Lasallian Mission of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. DLS President John M. Knight said, “Dan Loepp exemplifies everything that is good and true about Lasallian secondary education. Dan is a person who lives his faith each day. On behalf of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, the Board of Trustees, and the entire De La Salle Collegiate community, we are delighted to bestow the honor of the Christian Brothers’ Award on Daniel Loepp.” In selecting Dan as the honoree for the 35th annual event, Dinner Chair Michael Brillati , ‘93, said, “Dan is a tremendous individual. We are all proud of his many accomplishments, but more importantly, he truly exemplifies the Lasallian spirit.” At the annual Christian Brothers’ Dinner Kickoff in early March, Dan reflected on his long association with De La Salle and the Christian Brothers before a group of his family and colleagues, classmates, the Christian Brothers’ Dinner Committee, and past Honorees.
Parental Commitment
Dan recounted how his father took a job promotion in 1964, and the family moved to Cleveland. But less than a year later, his parents decided to return to Detroit so that their sons could attend De La Salle and receive a Christian Brothers’ education. “It was a pivotal point in all our lives,” Dan says. “They thought this was an important thing to do. Like the parents of thousands of other DLS students, my parents made those tough, dedicated decisions when a thousand dollars in tuition was an unbelievable commitment.” The oldest Loepp son, Bob, graduated in 1968, Tom followed in 1970, and a sister Pat graduated from Dominican High School in 1977. Dan’s parents, Bob and Mary, have both passed in the last 14 months.
The De La Salle Connection
Dan recalled his connections with so many others from De La Salle, long before he walked in the doors at Conner and Glenfield as a freshman. The Loepp Family lived on Whitehill, near Whittier, in Guardian Angels Parish. “My parents and Br. Tom Lackey’s parents bowled together in the Guardian Angels Ushers’ League. My parents were practically joined at the hip with the Baumgarts, and of course, their son Dave (‘76) is now the President of the DLS Alumni Association. Ray Skowronski lived a few blocks away.” Dan remembers his first encounter with Br. Patrick McNally. Dan’s older brothers were in the DLS Glee Club, directed by Br. Patrick. “When I came to the Christmas concert in 1966, I thought meeting Br. Pat was the coolest thing in the world.” Today, Brother Patrick’s office, the hub of the Drama program, is named in memory of Bob and Mary Loepp. He also recalled how his parents made his brother Tom take him to Friday night home basketball games. “I was in sixth or seventh grade. We’d get out of the car, and my brother would point at me and say ‘You do one thing: get on that stage and don’t move!’ There were some great teams then. I saw John Bernard (now a member of the Board of
The 2016 Dinner is on Thursday, April 28, at Penna’s of Sterling Heights. Tickets are $200 ($250 at the door), and are available online at ThePilotHangar.com or contact John Monigold at jmonigold@delasallehs.com.
Christian Brothers’ Dinner
Trustees) who made All-State. And the team made the regionals.”
The High School Experience
Dan said he was “scared to death” the first two months of freshman year. “I rode the Hayes Express to get to school, and at DLS met all kinds of new friends. Many are great friends to this day. My brothers were good students, and Br. George Synan liked them, and when I got to high school, he liked me, too!” Dan praised the benefit of participating in the school musicals. “I learned to tap dance from Joan Mossner, and tap danced in the plays for three years. There were 110 in my graduating class, and everybody participated, including athletes. I didn’t realize it at the time, and it took 30 years to understand. Being in the play had the benefit of going outside of your skin, and being different, and becoming comfortable with being different.” Dan says John Hertel, then a Wayne County Commissioner, visited the DLS Student Council during Dan’s junior year, greatly impacting his life. “He was running for State Senate at the time. I ended up working for all three Hertel brothers. John was involved with State government, and his brother Dennis was a U.S. representative. I was ultimately Chief of Staff for Curtis Hertel when he was Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives (1993-94). That one incident - having John come to DLS - made a difference.” But most influential on Dan “was meeting other students” such as classmates John Moore, now Chair of the DLS Board of Trustees, and Jerry Zaccardelli, a past Board Chair and the 2008 Honoree.
Lessons Learned
“Most importantly, were the men and women who taught us and really cared about us. I think that dynamic of the Lasallian mission of caring for people, no matter who they are, is at the core of DLS.” Dan expanded on the intangible lessons of his high school education. “DLS instilled in me empathy
Class of 1975 classmates Mike Decker, Dan Loepp, Jerry Zaccardelli and John Moore at the Christian Brothers’ Dinner Kickoff.
and confidence, and context in responsibility. To be always thinking of the situation and how we should act. Our responsibility to make things better was instilled in us here in spades. It made a huge impact in my life. “The Builders of Boys, Makers of Men slogan is something you sort of understood at 16 or 17, but understand more as you grow up. Take someone like me who was scared, and now I’m CEO of the third largest health insurer in the United States. There are thousands of stories like mine over the years.” Dan praised the Academic Support program. “DLS is an elite school that has made the decision to help different learners, to give kids the tools so they can stay in the school. For DLS to embrace the idea that everybody can be made whole, if they’re willing to be, is a pretty great thing.”
Looking to the Future
“I had a great opportunity because of my parents, and was assisted by great men and women here at DLS. It’s up to our generation to take care of the next generation. The only way we do that is to make sure DLS is in a position to provide for the students who come through the door. “The dinner reminds us that we all need to give back.”
The Thirty-Fifth Annual
Members of the 2016 Dinner Committee gathered with Dan Loepp at the Kickoff Party in March.
2016 Dinner Committee
Michael A. Brillati ‘93 Chairman Stephen Brillati ‘93 Anthony Catullo ‘59 Christopher Czarnik Onorio D’Agostini Matt DeAngelis Chris Fett ‘90 Steve Graus ‘74 Jerry Grillo Ralph Koss ‘88
Tony Lamerato ‘02 Matt Loria ‘95 Greg Martinko ‘99 John C. Monigold, Sr. ‘66 Michael Ringler Amy Seiferlein Sam Serra Sal Simone ‘74 Ray Skowronski ‘74 Michael Wasik ‘91
Previous Dinner Honorees
Jim Addy ‘63 John Addy, Jr. ‘34 W Russ Agosta ‘64 Len Brillati W Brothers of the Christian Schools Tony Brune, Sr. ‘38 W Br. Robert Carnaghi, FSC ‘48 SJ Jerry Carnago ‘49 W Julius Cicchini, ‘55 SJ William Cromie ‘35 W Tony DeSantis ‘60 W Rich Dobrzynski ‘60 Bill Fox ‘50 Br. Kevin Gilhooly, FSC W Vincent Goeddeke ‘18 SJ W Jim Gunn ‘56 Br. Bernard Guzewicz, FSC W Rich Jungwirth, ‘52 Br. Tom Lackey, FSC ‘65 Robert J. LeFevre ‘48 W Thom Lipari Pete Maceroni ‘58 Tony Mattar ‘50 J.P. McCarthy ‘50 W Br. Pat McNally, FSC ‘55 SJ John C. Monigold ‘66 Anthony W. Muer, Jr ‘39 W Gino Paliaroli ‘55 SJ Br. Xavier Pankovits, FSC ‘60 John Potvin ‘54 Joe Quasarano ‘42 W Roger Rinke ‘47 W Roland Rinke ‘43 Al Schaller ‘55 Justin Schaller ‘53 W Roger Schaller ‘56 Dr. Raymond Skowronski ‘74 Br. George Synan, FSC W Walter Van Den Bossche ‘29 W Br. Lewis Weins, FSC W Mark Wisniewski ‘83 Jerry Zaccardelli ‘75 Paul Zimmer ‘66
W Indicates Deceased
Christian Brothers’ Dinner
For the past several years, Kevin Kuptz (‘79) has supplied audiovisual equipment and lighting, as well as the “stage” for the Annual Christian Brothers’ Dinner. In high school, Kevin played in the DLS Band, under Mr. Donovan Rostek. Kevin is a professional saxophone, trombone, and trumpet player as well as a 30-year member of Detroit Local 5 Musician’s Union. He earned his Bachelor’s degree at Wayne State and Master’s degrees in Music at Oakland University, and also taught Music for two years at Oakland. He toured with various bands and also represented equipment manufacturers. Over the past 20 years, Kevin has played with the Four Tops, the Temptations, the Contours and many other Motown acts. Kevin’s company, Ignited Light and Sound, provides equipment for various clients, including the Cities of Warren, Ferndale, and Birmingham. During the annual Woodward Dream Cruise each summer, Ignited handles the needs of dozens of clients, including the Ford Motor Company. Two of his biggest clients are the musicians Dave Mason and Alto Reed. Kevin is often on the road himself, setting up all the audio equipment on their tour. “All they have to do is walk up on stage,” says Kevin. Kevin started his business in 1999. “I was always the musician that owned all the gear.” He has
Place a Bid on an Auction Item
You do NOT have to be physically present at the Dinner to bid on golf and vacation packages, and more, in the Silent Auction. Please check the DLS website at www.delasallehs.com for details on how to register with QTEGO, our online auction site. On the QTEGO site, you will find details on each of attractive packages available in the auction. You can make bids online, via your computer or smartphone, and receive notifications via text every time there is a new bid on your items, and you can bid again. a warehouse in Roseville for all of the equipment. Ignited has six full-time employees, and 20 seasonal. The company’s services extend beyond the audio and lighting equipment, however. Ignited also has a fleet of vehicles to move events from one point to another, and provides on-site and carry-in repair In 2015, Ignited Light and Sound opened a new 3,000 square foot recording studio to further support their clients’ needs for quality music and video recording, editing and mixing. For more information on Ignited, visit the website at www.ignitedlightandsound.com or call
586.463.6124.
