Alumni News

Donald Miriani, SJ ‘52, lives in St. Clair Shores. He recently attended the St. Joe’s Class of 1952 60th reunion. He said it was very well done, and it was great to see so many of his classmates. Gary Rendz, SJ ‘55, notes he is happily retired. Joseph Orlando, SJ ‘56, competed in the Anchor Bay Triathlon. His team included his oldest son Ken who swam, and his oldest granddaughter Kathryn, who ran. Joe himself completed the biking portion. John Oman, SJ ‘57, lives in Canton, Michigan. Despite the distance, he planned to attend the Senior Alumni Luncheon on December 4, 2012. Mike Goeddeke, ‘60, and his wife Dorothy, celebrated their 45th Wedding Anniversary on November 10, 2012. Mike Jolet, ‘96, graduated from Wayne State University in 2001, and graduated Cum Laude from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 2004. Mike joined the firm of Hewson & Van Hellemont in May 2011. Over the past eight years,he has specialized in insurance fraud defense, and handled over a thousand cases.

Roger Laske,

‘58, is editor of the Polish Eaglet, a journal of the Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan (www.pgsm.org), published three times a year. While researching items for the publication, Roger saw this headstone of some Christian Brothers in the Mt. Elliott Cemetery in Detroit.

Alumni in Florida

Dave Zelmanski, ’74, (left), recently met with Bill Sheridan, ’77 (right) and other alumni in Florida. Bill is currently the Defensive Coordinator with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and provided the group with pre-game sideline passes, and then joined the group for dinner. Dave reports the Brother George stories were “flying all over the place.”

Granddads on Grandparents Day

Several DLS Alumni were part of the annual FreshmenGrandparents Day in September. (L. to R.) Freshman Andrew Comito with his grandfather (seated) Anthony Comito, SJ ‘55, Jonathan Brillati with his grandfather Len Brillati, Josh Wilk with his grandfathers (seated) Ray Jurczyk, ‘60, and (standing) Mike Wilk, ‘63, and Roger Schocker (seated), SJ ‘55, with his grandson Jack Schocker.

Wigs for Kids

Mario Izzi, ‘90 and Chris Goeddeke, ‘86 shared a few moments at the recent Evening of Delights.

Mario’s “long locks” will be donated to the “Wigs for Kids” charity in a few months. In 2011, Mario donated 14” of hair, which is then made into wigs for children who have lost their hair while going through cancer treatments.

Chris also donated hair in 2011 to “Wigs for Kids.”

Although Mario and Chris had never met, their chance encounter revealed they had even more in common than being DLS alumni and growing their hair out for charity. Both grew up in the same neighborhood, attended the same elementary school, and the same middle school.

Alumni News

Book author gives credit to De La Salle and his Catholic Education

Harry Veryser, ‘61, has authored a new book, which will be published in January 2013.

Entitled “It Didn’t Have to Be This Way,” the book tells the story of how our modern economic condition developed. The book is subtitled “Why Boom and Bust is Unnecessary - and How the Austrian School of Economics Breaks the Cycle.” Published by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, the book will be available in bookstores as well as online at the Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites.

In the book’s acknowledgements, Harry cites one of his De La Salle teachers, Mr. Ted Kopacki, who taught American History. Harry says that Mr. Kopacki planted some of the ideas that are in the book, and personally encouraged him to go to college. “Some of the doors he opened in American and World History were phenomenal.”

Harry also notes the Catholic educational experience he received in both grade school and at DLS. He said, “I had a superb education.” He fondly remembers various Christian Brothers, including Br. George Synan. “They gave me a basic education that I carried all the way through college and my career.”

Harry earned his undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Economics at UDM, and went on to earn Master’s degrees in Economics and Religious Studies from UDM as well.

Harry is the Director of the Graduate Program of Economics at the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM), and the former chair of the Department of Economics and Finance at Walsh College.

In addition to his faculty status at UDM and Walsh College, Harry has been associated with the Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, St. Mary’s College (Orchard Lake), Northwood University, and Hillsdale College.

His articles have appeared in The Detroit News, the Intercollegiate Review, and The University Bookman. He is the author of “Our Economic Crisis: Sources and Solutions.”

Harry has extensive service on various advisory boards, including De La Salle Collegiate, and is a past member of the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission. He is currently on the advisory board of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland.

Harry was also the Chairman of the Board and owner of an automotive supply company Stampings Inc., from 1978 - 2005. At one time, Stampings Inc. had 65 employees in two locations - Michigan and Texas - and approximately $10 million in annual sales. Stampings, Inc. merged with Spring Engineering in 2005, with no debt, and with all employees finding positions with the new firm.

In September 2012, Harry was knighted by the Patriarch of Jerusalem as a “Knight of the Holy Sepulchre” for his work in Catholic Education.

Harry is a member of the Brother George Synan Society.