Whatever Happened To

Bert Bondi, Class of ‘95

Alumni from the ‘90s who follow the a police officer in Florida. He is also in NBA may have heard Bert Bondi’s name contact with Steve Teodecki, who lives mentioned at the end of TNT and TBS in Texas. broadcasts. Bondi, a 20-year veteran of “The athletic achievements of the teams TNT productions, is now a lead producer I played on really stand out,” Bondi for NBA broadcasts, responsible for said. “Our football victory against Cass pre-and post-game content, as well as Tech in the ‘94 playoffs under Coach halftime and highlight shows. MacDonald. Our run to the Elite 8 in Bondi, who played football, basketball, basketball with Coach Esler in ‘95, and and baseball at De La Salle, attended of course winning the baseball state Columbia University, where he majored championship in ‘93 with Coach Kelly.” in history while playing Ivy League Bert Bondi ‘95 “Bert Bondi epitomized what a stu football for the Columbia Lions. dent athlete was while attending De La Shortly after college graduation, Bondi headed to Atlanta Salle,” Greg Esler said. “He was a leader who had an in and joined TNT. credible work ethic, great talent, and the respect and trust “During college, I knew I wanted to get into some sort of of his teammates and coaches. Plus, he got the job done in sports broadcasting,” Bondi said. “I did some radio work at the classroom.” Columbia.” Bondi is also in the Catholic League Hall of Fame, one of At TNT, Bondi has worked his way up to producer, spend only 28 De La Salle alumni enshrined in the group. ing time along the way as a production assistant, researchBondi met his wife Megan, an Ohio native who graduated ing stats, and as an assistant director. For several years, his from the University of Georgia, at TNT where she was job involved travel, but with family, Bondi has been able to working in the public relations department. They marstay close to home most of the time. ried in 2008, and now have three children. Bondi’s oldest As the producer, Bondi is the “boss.” He is responsible for child, Matt, recently attended the basketball camp at De content, figuring out storylines, deciding on graphics and La Salle while the family vacationed in Michigan. video clips, and having a “game plan” for the broadcast. During the camp, Scott Grimmer, a De La Salle physical Approximately 8-10 hours of prep go into a typical preeducation teacher, spent time with Bondi, and offered this game show, as well as approximately 25 production and praise. “I coached him in freshman football and varsity technical crew members for NBA TV games. baseball. I think he’s the epitome of the type of young Bondi has fond memories of De La Salle, citing Brother man you want representing De La Salle. He was a great Tom Lackey as his favorite teacher, along with Tony teammate, dedicated, personable. I never witnessed him DeSantis, Vicki Granger and Dave Kirck. Bondi says the getting down on a teammate for making a mistake. He history lectures from Bro. Tom and Mike Karas had a pro was always positive. I’ve kept in contact with him. It’s a found effect on his choice of history as his college major. blessing and treasure to know Bert as a person.” Bondi remains close friends with classmates Greg Bondi’s younger brother Chris (‘98), lives in Northern Peterson, who lives in metro Detroit, and Jeremy Krzysiak, Ireland where he works in human resources. He has two children.

Brother Jerome Stevens FSC, Class of 1949

During a summer walk outside at school, Brother Jerome Stevens, FSC, saw a student looking per plexed when asked by his friend if he had any idea who Frank Sinatra was. Chuckling to himself, Brother Jerome continued his walk, understanding this to be the generation of today. He accepts what has become of the world … quite different than what it was 70 years ago as a member of De La Salle Collegiate’s graduation class of ‘49. “Then, you had never heard of social network; and look at Dick Tracy with the radio on his wrist. He was ahead of his time,” Stevens said, and laughed. “People thought that was impossible!” At 87, he’s witnessed a lot as a De La Salle student, teacher, principal and now retired and living next door in the Christian Brothers house. Life has been good to Brother Jerome. As a high school se nior, a questionnaire was given to students asking whether there might be interest in pursuing life as a Christian Brother. “I marked ‘yes,’ and they took it as a commitment,” he said. “Then a recruiter came to our door. He asked if I had told my parents. I said no. “But my parents were very happy. It was a very respect able career, especially in those days. They supported me wholeheartedly.” Having been inspired by those who taught him, a young Stevens entered the novitiate after graduation, “and I learned to be a teacher”; he later served as De La Salle’s principal from 1972-77. In his seven decades of teaching, he said the biggest change he saw is the world going digital. “Schools are moving toward Smartboards; I’ve never done that,” he said thoughtfully. “The world has passed me by, but I still want blackboards.”

Brother Jerome ‘49 with Bob Anderson ‘78

He owns a cell phone, but uses it for emergency reasons only. When he wants to talk to someone, he chooses to use a landline instead. Though many among the younger crowd may not know who Ol’ Blue Eyes is, Brother Jerome admitted he, too, is unaware of today’s popular singers. But he makes it a point to read through popular magazines and periodicals to catch up on the goings-on in today’s society. However, most of his time is spent in prayer, or in read ing books. He reads at least two a week, many of which he finds throughout the various libraries in the area. Most recently, he read a biography on Noah Webster. His interests have also led him to a series of books by J.D. Robb. “I stumbled across these (Robb) books over the last few years when I was at the library,” Stevens said, “so I took one home and one thing led to another.” So far, he’s read about 20 of them. By educating himself in many areas -- Latin, chemistry,

English literature, and business to name a few -- he has been able to pass on that knowledge to his students. Some might say he helped to carve out the paths for their futures, as well. It was easy for Keith Jablonski, ’92, to reflect fondly on Brother Jerome. “My favorite Brother Jerome quote was, ‘What are you reading, and... so what?’ ” Jablonski said. “He challenged us to read, but also to retain what we read and to be able to have an intelligent conversation about it. That’s a life lesson on top of being useful to our education.” Part of Jablonski’s junior year Honors English class includ ed standing up and giving an oral report, perhaps a tip of the hat toward his future career as a lawyer. He is still im pressed by Brother Jerome and the impact he had on him. “His vocabulary was incredible, and he taught us all sorts of great words,” Jablonski said. “Two examples I recall are the definition, and proper use of the word myriad. Also, do you know what a prestidigitator is? I do, thanks to Brother Jerome. “What a great, dry sense of humor that man has. Class was always enjoyable because of him.” For Bob Anderson, ’78, it was solely because of Brother Jerome that he and his two brothers attended De La Salle. His mother was adamant that her seven children have a Catholic education (his sisters went to Regina), and she met with the De La Salle principal to discuss the possibility.

“This is where Brother Jerome would enter the picture,” Anderson recalled. “My mother spoke so highly of Brother Jerome the rest of her days as the reason we boys could at tend La Salle, and this is where her love and loyalty to the Christian Brothers would no doubt begin.” His mother met with Brother Jerome to discuss how to work off the cost of tuition. “He was most reassuring, confident and calm – and with a nice sense of humor – that it would all work out,” Anderson said. “Mind you, we were only talking about tuition at around $600 for a year by senior year, and my working for half of that around the school grounds and with the weekly bingo set up and take down. My, how times have changed.” Brother Jerome admits he enjoys hearing from his former students. “I don’t see many of them now, but when I was teaching, there were always a few who would keep in touch,” he said. “We would exchange letters, but I would always tell them that I will be the one to write the last letter. The next one is up to them.” De La Salle students today are well-disciplined, but Brother Jerome is firm when he says, “teachers can’t teach students everything.” As teachers, “we like to think we are doing something, but it comes from the parents. These are very, very good kids, in their studies and if they do what they’re told.” Brother Jerome is happy with his day-to-day life with his seven fellow Christian Brothers, leading “a life of peaceful security, and I thank the Lord I have that. I’m secure, peaceful and content. One of my favorite quotations is, ‘Is this the day my body betrays me?’ “I’ve had a very good career and a very happy life. I’m in really good shape. Each day is a blessing.” This article is adapted from an article by Michelle Samartino, a writer with the Detroit Catholic.