Odyssey
SUMMER 2019
THE MAGAZINE OF DE SMET JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL
Never Give Up Never Give Up. Spartans win state championship after thrilling playoff run
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Spartans win State Championship after thrilling playoff run
Never Give Up.
Spartans win state championship after thrilling playoff run
GRADUATION • THE YEAR IN SPORTS • SPARTANS FOR HEROES • MOCK TRIAL
Odyssey THE MAGAZINE OF DE SMET JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL
VOL.19 NO.1 SUMMER 2019
In this issue ON THE COVER Spartan baseball players celebrate winning the State Championship after defeating Marquette High School by a score of 6-4 on June 1. Shown in the foreground, catcher Tim Chiapel ’20 and pitcher Brad Rumping ’21. For more on the Spartans’ athletic success this year, see page 12. PHOTO BY DIRT AND TURF PHOTOGRAPHY
JAKE ANGUS ’19
A YEAR IN REVIEW
12
SPOTLIGHT
20
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Do Well. Live Well. Love Well.
A fitting send-off for the Class of 2019
KATHY LORIMIER
KEVIN BERNS ’87
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Mock Trial: A Teacher’s Dream
Students and alumni make a case for collaboration in the courtroom.
ODYSSEY MAGAZINE EDITOR
Debbie Higgins ASSISTANT EDITOR
Carrie Becher DESIGN
Toucan Design CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Jeff Cernicek ’92 Ken Luecke Patrick Morris ’06 Corey Quinn ’90 Bill Rebholz ’77 ODYSSEY MAGAZINE is published two times per year. Unless otherwise noted, articles may be reprinted without permission with appropriate credit to Odyssey Magazine, De Smet Jesuit High School. CORRESPONDENCE
De Smet Jesuit High School 233 North New Ballas Road St. Louis, MO 63141 314.567.3500 / Fax 314.567.1519 www.desmet.org
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DE SMET JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL PRESIDENT
Corey Quinn ’90 PRINCIPAL
DEPARTMENTS
6
2 A Message
From Corey Quinn
4 Headliners 6 Gratitude
SIGHTINGS
12 Spartan Country
24 Sparti Gras Gratitude
17 Showcase
26 Humbled and Honored
Highlights from the classroom
34 Class Notes
De Smet Jesuit inspires and prepares men for and with others to transform the world, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.
40 Milestones
LATEST NEWS FROM SPARTAN COUNTRY
41 Buzzer Beater
8 Magis
20 Academics
ALUMNI CONNECT
BRAGGIN’ RIGHTS
Advancement news and gifts at work
Noteworthy student achievements
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Debbie Higgins
MISSION
Births, marriages, and in memoriam listings
School-wide news and events, and reflections from the editors
Athletic news, season recaps, and school spirit
VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT
Bill Rebholz ’77
Latest news from alumni and event highlights
NEWS & NOTES
Student experiences that extend beyond the classroom
KEVIN BERNS ’87
8
Kevin Poelker ’98
Three-point shot lands De Smet Jesuit on ESPN SportsCenter Top 10.
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK De Smet Jesuit High School De Smet Jesuit Alumni FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @DeSmetJesuitHS FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @DeSmetJesuitHS
Photos and recaps of the 2019 Sparti Gras Gala and Auction
Photos and recaps of the 2018 Hall of Fame Dinner
VISIT THE NEWS HUB desmet.org/about/news-hub
WATCH US ON YOUTUBE
CORRECTION FROM FALL 2018 ODYSSEY MAGAZINE In our listing of De Smet Jesuit’s state champion athletic teams on page 45, the 2010 hockey team was inadvertently omitted. We regret the error.
@DeSmetJesuitHS CATCH EVENTS ON DSN (De Smet Student Network) Visit desmet.org/dsn
A Message From Corey Quinn
Dear Friends
The word “insignia” refers to a badge, distinguishing mark, or an official emblem. At De Smet Jesuit, a similar word — “Insignis” — is the name that we give to the capstone project that every senior must complete before graduation. Every spring, each senior has a personal audience with faculty and staff with whom he can reflect deeply upon — and evaluate — his “Odyssey” with us. One project I observed this year stood out for the depth of the student’s investment in finding his way to De Smet Jesuit. A young man whom I’ll call “Chris” had struggled with learning issues in grade school. Upon making the transition to high school, his parents didn’t think that Chris had the academic “chops” to make it as a Spartan and sent him to a public high school. Chris was devastated because he had pictured himself wearing the Spartan logo on his lacrosse helmet one day. He did not relent. He cut a deal with his parents that if he “aced” his classes, they would reconsider the De Smet option. Needless to say, Chris surprised everyone. By his sophomore year, he had more than lived up to his end of the bargain, and his parents began the transfer paperwork. I would love to tell you that Chris stepped onto the lacrosse field his junior year and scored the game-winning goal in a critical playoff victory. Instead, he got hurt. And he struggled with his grades off and on during the next two years. But, as Chris was preparing to graduate, his Insignis project revealed that he was awakening to his capacity for overcoming life’s obstacles. (What could be a more powerful and practical tool
STACY STOCKWELL
for living?) In addition to the lacrosse helmet that he displayed during Insignis, Chris was also
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… your gifts combine with God’s grace…
“wearing” the distinguishing mark of a De Smet Jesuit graduate: the trademark mix of gratitude, humility, compassion, and grit that makes a Spartan a Spartan. Every year, I find myself at the conclusion of Insignis wondering how we might afford people like you, our most loyal supporters, the opportunity to witness transformational stories like Chris’s so that you might gain a deeper appreciation for your role in our mission. For now, I hope that Chris’s story — along with the current issue of Odyssey — might serve to illustrate the remarkable ways that your gifts combine with God’s grace to inspire and prepare the next generation of men for and with others. AMDG, Corey Quinn ’90 PRESIDENT
2” tall Spartan Helmet for grey pant
News&Notes PHOTO BY CARRIE BECHER
Mission Week 2019 concluded with the nail-biter finale of the Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament led by the National Honor Society. Shown in competition: Alex Bentele ’20 (at left), referee Sebastian Martin ’20 and Joseph Hartrich ’21. The senior class ultimately prevailed and rushed the court to celebrate.
3 50 YEARS OF DE SMET JESUIT
Odyssey
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Headliners
From the Typewriter to #WhatisTwitter? THE EVOLUTION OF SHARING OUR SCHOOL’S STORY
BY CARRIE BECHER
At first, I’m annoyed. Sitting in the airport, I overhear the teenage boy next to me who is holding his smart phone in front of him talking to his mom on the other side of that screen. Loudly. It feels rude and invasive. And then it dawns on me. They’re talking. Face to face.
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It can be hard to keep up and easy to look away. But if we look closer, we see a new type of storytelling emerge.
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news hubs, and we are inspired. Over long distances, in forms beyond print, and with people we’ve never met, we can connect. And we were designed to As a professional communicator — and connect. as a mom to teenage boys — I recognize As a school, we now communicate the value of social interaction. Today’s with paper less and emails more. A typemodern options amaze me. Facebook writer would be hard to find, but you can Live. Instagram stories. Websites. Twitter. see current photos of our students on Emails — the never-ending emails. These flat screen televisions throughout the platforms barely skim the surface of school and in daily social media posts. modern communication, and already We meet our students and our commuI’m overwhelmed. nity where they are, persisting in sharing It can be hard to keep up and easy the life of this school. to look away. But if we look closer, we see a Whether you are the parent who new type of storytelling emerge. And the story of De Smet volunteers behind the scenes, the teacher who braves A SNAPSHOT OF OUR Jesuit becomes even more accessible. Even more vibrant. new ideas in the classroom, the student who wins titles VIBRANT STUDENT LIFE: Spring break travelers share same-day photos or more importantly our admiration, or the alumnus Instagram grid from from Belize and Italy. Parents comment about school who returns to campus to support its future, you give March 7–21, 2019 assemblies on Facebook. Coaches use Twitter to us something to write about. provide athletic updates in real time. Students tag In an ever-changing landscape, we tell the story one another with emojis on Instagram to celebrate successes. of De Smet Jesuit, and we thank you for being a part of it. The These channels bring the richness and diversity of our students story continues because you show up. And our best stories begin and our community to life on Instagram photo grids and online when we are face to face.
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DEBBIE HIGGINS
The Road to Cultural Competence
Troupe introduced performers and explained that in West African villages, there are drum rhythms for all occasions. The Troupe performed the “rhythm of the strong man” and chose student volunteers from the audience to try learning the steps. The program continued with a video created by Black Student Union leaders Marquis Govan ’21 and Deandra Smith ’21 that featured student testimony about the experience of African American students at De Smet Jesuit and in the world. Fr. Jeff Harrison, S.J., closed the assembly with prayer.
SEEKING UNDERSTANDING THROUGH CELEBRATIONS
At left: Harlan Hodge challenged the audience to see the humanity in others during his keynote speech. Below: Spartans join in the “rhythm of the strong man.”
CARRIE BECHER
CARRIE BECHER
Rhythmic drumbeats, expressive dance, and compelling reflections set the tone for De Smet Jesuit’s celebration of Black History Month. To begin, the school community gathered for an assembly on January 30. “Black History Month is a perfect time to focus on an identity that is different than your own in order to seek ways to understand it, embrace it, and celebrate it while helping others do the same, “ said Catalina Martinez, Director of Diversity and Inclusion. She challenged faculty and staff to reflect on their own pursuit of cultural competence, noting, “Cultural competence isn’t just about seeking other perspectives, it is about being conscious of the lens through which we view our world.” The keynote speaker was Harlan B. Hodge, Senior Manager of Diversity and Inclusion at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and co-facilitator of the FOCUS Youth Leadership St. Louis program. He emphasized the importance of service and discovering one’s own truth. “Your challenge is to see humanity in others, to be able to see the quality of the people around you — those who have more, and those who have less,” he said. “Use all that you are in service to others.” Next up, the director of the Spirit of Angela West African Dance and Drum
Above: The Spirit of Angela West African Dance and Drum Troupe captivated Spartan Country.
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Odyssey
Gratitude
Support The Spartan Fund WHY YOUR ANNUAL GIFTS MATTER
This spring, the De Smet Jesuit Advancement Team announced the rebranding of the Annual Fund as The Spartan Fund to illustrate better its impact as one of our school’s most significant philanthropic initiatives. Annual contributions to The Spartan Fund enable us to cover the full cost of a De Smet Jesuit education beyond what tuition revenues solely support. All gifts immediately impact the school’s most pressing needs and primarily benefit our current students in all aspects of their educational experience. In addition to supporting our academic, spiritual, technological, athletic, and extracurricular programs, gifts to The Spartan Fund also help ensure that the necessary funds are available to provide tuition assistance for our students from families with demonstrated need. We are all Spartans — students, alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends of De Smet Jesuit. Together, we cultivate our school’s mission to educate “Men for and With Others.” Your gifts demonstrate your belief in the value THE COST OF of a Jesuit, Catholic education, and A P.E. UNIFORM affirm the good work we do everyday in and out of the classroom to help young men develop not only their minds but also a personal relationship with God, an understanding of the world around them, and their responsibility to serve. Many of our programs would not be possible without the contributions of donors like you. Thank you for showing your Spartan pride and support through gifts to The Spartan Fund.
DAILY COST OF LUNCH FOR ONE STUDENT
STUDENT FEE TO PARTICIPATE IN A KAIROS RETREAT
PROM EXPENSES FOR ONE STUDENT
AVERAGE COST OF A FRESHMAN’S TEXTBOOKS
ANNUAL TABLET FEE PER STUDENT
SUMMER 2019
ANNUAL COST FOR ONE STUDENT TO RIDE THE DE SMET JESUIT BUS TO AND FROM SCHOOL*
THE SPARTAN FUND GIFTS AT WORK A SAMPLING OF FEES BEYOND TUITION THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCE.
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5 25 $ 150 $ 300 $ 500 $ 675 $ 1,339 $ 4,700 $ $
THE GAP BETWEEN THE COST OF A DE SMET JESUIT EDUCATION AND TUITION * Bus costs include fees for drivers, fuel, insurance and maintenance on the vehicles
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Your gifts demonstrate your belief in the value of a Jesuit, Catholic education, and affirm the good work we do everyday in and out of the classroom…
#IGiveBecause GIVING TUESDAY NETS MORE THAN $100,000 FOR THE SPARTAN FUND Alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends rallied to support De Smet Jesuit on Giving Tuesday for the second consecutive year. A total of 404 donors generously contributed $110,913 in just 24 hours to The Spartan Fund. Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the power of social media to generate philanthropic support. Schools and other nonprofit institutions across the nation launch Giving Tuesday campaigns.
Maroon Madness ALUMNI SHOW SPIRIT IN GIVING COMPETITION The 3rd Annual De Smet Jesuit Maroon Madness Tournament ran March 18 through April 9 to coincide with the NCAA Tournament. Each graduating class competed to determine which one was truly the best at “team” giving. The competition came down to the wire, but in the end, in true Cinderella story-like fashion, the Class of 1990 rose from 7% all to way up to more than 34% participation to claim this year’s title. They will receive a private tailgate party and will be recognized
This year, members of the De Smet Jesuit community shared their personal reasons for giving on our school’s social media channels, using #IGiveBecause. Following are just a few of the sentiments shared:
#IGiveBecause . . . “De Smet has given so much to me.” “I found a home there.” “I’m raising two ‘Men for Others’.” “The future is bright.” Thanks to all who contributed to another successful Giving Tuesday in support of our Spartans.
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at halftime during a varsity sporting event. Congratulations to all classes who increased their participation numbers during the three-week campaign.
BY THE NUMBERS Total of 295 donations overall (160 were new gifts this fiscal year) n 33 alumni made their first-ever contribution n $16,523 raised for the school n Increased overall alumni giving participation to 10.4% All alumni who made a $10 contribution were eligible to enter a Maroon Madness Individual Bracket Pool. Charlie Lauberth ‘12 won the grand prize, a 50-inch Samsung 4K Smart TV, by virtue of a tiebreaker. Congratulations to our top five finishers!
TOP 5 CLASSES BY PARTICIPATION Class of 1990 (34.9%) Class of 1977 (31%) Class of 2006 (21.8%) Class of 1971 (21.6%) Class of 1976 (21.2%)
INDIVIDUAL BRACKET POOL 1. Charlie Lauberth ’12 (130 points) 2. Matthew Barrett ’05 (130 points) 3. Michael Chrum ’02 (129 points) 4. Mike Hatke ’04 (128 points) 5. Kevin Klingler ’77 (127 points)
Alumni rose to the challenge in the spirit of friendly competition.
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7 SUMMER 2019
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Magis
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In just one week, they immersed themselves in Belizean culture and found surprises and life lessons along the way.
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Top photo: Spartans with their friends from St. Benedict. (From left) Blake Hilker, Sean Lane, Daniel Hennessey, Shayne Henderson, Jay Dolan, Sean Gerty, Connor Goodman, Max Conway, and Grant Stegman Top far right: Spartans meet a class at St. Benedict. Above: Sean Gerty helps students with a lesson. Above right: Jay Dolan gets a hand from students. Bottom left: Grant Stegman (left) and Connor Goodman work on the roof repair. Bottom right: Shayne Henderson is a hit at recess.
8 Odyssey
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Spring Break
With a Purpose SPARTANS PARTICIPATE IN SERVICE-LEARNING TRIP TO BELIZE
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Their experiences included: Repairing the roof of the school to improve cleanliness and health. Teaching St. Benedict students how to tell time, and how to make paper airplanes. Leading games at recess. Making Fry Jacks for breakfast. Snorkeling off Snake Cayes in the Caribbean Sea. Touring the Mayan ruins at Lubaantun.
Through these experiences, students were touched by the generosity and joyful outlook of the Belizean people. “Our presence at St. Benedict gave the kids a positive energy that kept them engaged in their work — that brought joy to all of us,” shared Daniel Hennessey. Blake Hilker added, “I learned that sometimes I just need to take a step back and enjoy the here and now like the Belizeans did.” “I was surprised by how happy the kids were,” said Jay Dolan. “Despite living in one or two-room homes and not always knowing where their next meal was coming from, they were so genuinely happy.” In their free time, our students explored Punta Gorda. They visited shops and restaurants, and even attended a party with local teenagers who taught them dance moves. Their guide for many of these activities was Miss Olive, retired principal of St. Benedict, who has cared for many Spartans making the journey to Belize over the years. The positive energy and generous spirit of the local people left a lasting impact. Spartans told stories of St. Benedict students offering them spare change to buy snacks at recess, and of adults sharing food without asking for anything in return. “These people have such a strong faith and are constantly willing to give even though they are struggling themselves in life,” said Daniel. “This was eye-opening for me. It made me realize even more how grateful I should be for everything that I have.” “We know we won’t change anyone’s life after one week of service,” said John Hawkey, who has made 12 trips to Belize. “But we do change our students’ view of the world. They return home with a new perspective and a profound sense of gratitude.”
PHOTOS BY KEVIN BERNS ’87 AND JOHN HAWKEY ’96
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This was eye-opening for me. It made me realize even more how grateful I should be for everything that I have.
Nine seniors spent their spring break continuing one of De Smet Jesuit’s longest-running traditions — service learning in Belize. The students, accompanied by faculty members Kevin Berns ’87 and John Hawkey ’96, traveled to Punta Gorda to work with the teachers and students at St. Benedict RC School. Spartans first began visiting St. Benedict in 2009 and regularly contribute funds raised from Mission Week toward repairs and supplies. For many of the students, the trip represented their first time traveling to a different country. In just one week, they immersed themselves in Belizean culture and found surprises and life lessons along the way.
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Spartans for Heroes
DEBBIE HIGGINS
“The worst things that happen to you make the best stories,” advised Army Specialist Tim Taylor, a self-described “combat zone Uber driver” who toured in Iraq before losing part of his left hand in an IED explosion. Speaking to students just days after Veterans Day 2018, Mr. Taylor was the keynote speaker at the inaugural event for a new club at De Smet Jesuit, Spartans for Heroes. Created by Michael Cutler ’21, Spartans for Heroes aims to raise awareness of veterans, active duty military personnel, first responders, and their families. “I’ve been surrounded by heroes my whole life,” said Michael. “I’ve grown up around injured veterans through my dad’s charity, the Joshua Chamberlain Society, and heard the amazing stories of first responders and active duty military personnel. These heroes constantly put their lives on the line for our safety and protection, and I knew that I needed to do something for them at De Smet Jesuit.” In its first year, Spartans for Heroes has hosted two military veterans as guest speakers, collected baked goods for first responders at Christmas, and coordinated a tribute to fallen Spartan Scott Wirtz ’95. Fellow club leader Sebastian Martin ’20 designed a commemorative wooden plaque for the Wirtz family, and joined by Braden O’Shea ’21 and Ben Mueller ’21, Michael and Sebastian invited students and faculty to the Innovation Center to reflect on the life and accomplishments of Scott Wirtz. For their second guest speaker this spring, Spartans for Heroes hosted a Q&A with Corporal Todd Nicely, USMC, who shared his powerful life experiences of overcoming devastating injuries from stepping on a pressure plate mine while leading his platoon in At Top: Spartans for Heroes club leaders Afghanistan. “Follow your dreams,” he said. “I’m proof with Corporal Todd Nicely (center). that anything is possible.” (From left) Braden O’Shea, Michael Cutler, Dreams and future plans for the club include continued Ben Mueller and Sebastian Martin. efforts to raise awareness as well as money for charities Above: Corporal Nicely shares his that support their cause. “Next year we plan to expand story with students. and have a bigger impact on the De Smet Jesuit and the St. Louis community,” said Michael. “We are already planning events, and one thing you can look for early next year are the Spartans for Heroes t-shirts that will be sold to support our heroes.” At the annual awards assembly in April, Spartans for Heroes received the Excelsior Award for their initiative and commitment to recognizing the sacrifices of service members and first responders. More than just a club, Spartans for Heroes exemplifies our mission by not only being men for and with others, but also by recognizing those around them who do the same. Connor Pohl (left) and Will Hanson at the ACA Kickoff Dinner.
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I’ve been surrounded by heroes my whole life … I knew that I needed to do something for them at De Smet Jesuit.
”I Believe!
STUDENT-PRODUCED VIDEO WINS ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL CONTEST A video produced by Will Hanson ’21 and Connor Pohl ’21 won the first-place award of a $5000 grant in the Annual Catholic Appeal video contest sponsored by the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Each year, students in Kevin Berns’ Digital Media class create videos to promote the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) for the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Members of the ACA Council choose three finalists and announce the winning entry at the ACA Kickoff Dinner. Their video illustrated the 2019 ACA theme “I Believe!” by showcasing testimonials about the impact of Catholic education from current De Smet students, pastors from archdiocesan parishes, and footage from area churches and De Smet Jesuit. The video is posted on De Smet Jesuit’s YouTube channel, DeSmetJesuitHS. JOHN HAWKEY ’96
NEW STUDENT CLUB HONORS MILITARY PERSONNEL AND FIRST RESPONDERS
DEBBIE HIGGINS
Magis
Cultural Engagement INTERNATIONAL TRIPS AND STUDENT EXCHANGES ENRICH SCHOOL LIFE Jerome Nadal, S.J., a contemporary of St. Ignatius of Loyola, often expressed, “for the Society the whole world is our home.” De Smet Jesuit shares the same vision and mission as the founders of the Society of Jesus. Each year the school offers opportunities to travel abroad and welcomes exchange students to campus. Students who visit for exchange programs live with Spartan families, attend classes, and take field trips to places of interest such as the Gateway Arch, the history museum, science center, Busch Stadium, and the art museum. They also enjoy sampling American foods and experiencing our culture. In January, De Smet Jesuit welcomed three students from Ta-hwa High School in Taoyuan City, Taiwan. Three students from Collaiste Ailigh in Donegal, Ireland, visited in March. During spring break, a contingent of 24 students and 14 adults traveled to Italy. They began their journey in Rome and visited Pompeii, Herculaneum, Assisi, and Florence as they made their way to Venice. Among the many highlights of the trip was attending Mass celebrated by Fr. Chris Seiler, S.J. ’06 at Chisea di Sant’ Ignacio di Loyola in Rome. “Touring Italy gave our group a chance to explore an incredible span of human history and its development and a way to connect to the Catholic faith,” said Roger Melton ’20. “I know it’s something I’ll never forget.” “Students hosting at home and those traveling abroad have the opportunity to enrich their education through day-to-day connection with different world views and a variety of cultural immersion experiences,” shared David Cabrera, De Smet Jesuit’s Director of Global Education.
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Spartan Country
Backbone of Defense Named Soccer All-American: Josh Lindell
The Year in
SPORTS
2018–2019 FALL Cross Country Head Coach – Bryan Traughber ’97, @DeSmetTrackXC Led by Alex Voelker ’19, Nick Einig ’19, Joseph Moffatt ’19, Owen Madigan ’20, and Chris Anderson ’22, cross country finished third at the Warrior Classic, second in the MCC conference meet, and fourth at the Border War meet.
PHOTOS BY DIRT AND TURF PHOTOGRAPHY
Get the latest updates for athletic teams with their Twitter handles provided below or on our website at https://www.desmet.org/athletics.
WINTER
Football
Basketball
Head Coach – Robert Steeples ’08, @DeSmetJesuitFB Football finished the season 9 – 3, advancing to the District Final with a final ranking of No. 4 in Class 6 and No. 7 overall in the state of Missouri (MaxPreps). Spartans were led by nine All-Conference performers.
Head Coach – Kent Williams, @KentWilliams33, @DeSmetBBall In a historic season, Spartan basketball set a school record for the largest turnaround with 23 wins as well as winning both the Centralia Thanksgiving Tournament and the Circle 7 Showdown. See our inside back cover for photos from a season highlight that was captured on ESPN SportsCenter Top 10.
Soccer Head Coach – Josh Klein ’97, @DeSmetSoccer De Smet Jesuit soccer advanced to their second state final in four years. Thanks to logistical support and efforts by the administration, faculty, and staff, the entire student body was invited to take the afternoon off school and attend the game. While the state run ended in a loss for the Spartans, they came in second place in the Metro Catholic Conference and in the Class 4 Missouri State Soccer Championship. Starting the season ranked No. 9, the Spartans finished No. 2 in the state with a record of 22-4-2, outscoring opponents 71 – 16 (71 goals scored by 18 different players).
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Bowling Head Coach – Melvin Kennedy Finishing second in final team standings, the Spartan bowling team saw strong results in the Pepsi Youth Championships. They anticipate a solid season next year with two of the best youth bowlers in Missouri returning: Jeremy Kinealy ’20 and Justin Kennedy ’21 (shown in photo). Justin placed eighth among all competitors in the state and also received all-star recognition at the Missouri State Handicap Bowling Tournament.
Racquetball Coach Kent Williams Enters Hall of Fame
KATHY LORIMIER
Swimming Head Coach – Autumn Cortivo At the MSHSAA Boys Swimming and Diving Championships, the 200 yard medley relay team (pictured on opposite page, from left): Philip Lasek ’19 (fly), Jay Dolan ’19 (backstroke), Aidan King ’21 (free), and Max Conway ’19 (breast) achieved a personal record. Aaron Lasek ’19 moved up an impressive 10 spots in the 500 yard freestyle. In JV championships Spartans placed second overall, with Aidan King ’21 capturing meet records in the 50 free and the 100 free.
Leading defender and a captain of De Smet Jesuit’s soccer team, Josh Lindell ’19 was named a United Soccer Coaches High School All-American in 2018, marking him as one of the top 100 high school soccer players in the country. “I think he earned this honor because he successfully shuts down every opponent’s top players,” said Josh Klein, varsity coach and psychology teacher at De Smet Jesuit. Considered one of the highest honors for a high school player to receive, High School All-American titles are awarded to players selected by a national committee of association members and coaches. Josh was one of three local students to receive the award. “It means so much to me that I achieved this great honor,” said Josh. “I could not have gotten this far if it wasn’t for the help from my teammates and coaches that have pushed me to be my best self on and off the field.” “I’ve had the privilege to coach many talented players in this program,” added Coach Klein, “and to see Josh join this elite club of De Smet Jesuit All-Americans is completely deserving. Josh wasn’t just the backbone of our defense, he was the backbone of this team. He’s incredibly coachable and just a tremendously gifted player.” Josh will attend Rockhurst University this fall.
Former Southern Illinois basketball player, Coach Williams returned for his second year with De Smet Jesuit and was inducted to the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame this spring. He credits family support, a strong work ethic, and a competitive approach to the game for his success on the courts. With his Spartans, he stresses accountability to teammates in practice, as demonstrated by their team performance in this attention-getting season.
Head Coach – Brendan Giljum With captains Jake Angus ’19 and Thomas Hubeli ’19 at the helm, Spartan racquetball was supported by a strong senior class and a team full of new and enthusiastic players, culminating in an 11th-place finish at nationals out of 34 teams, 13 spots higher than 2018. (Opposite page): pictured on the court is Tommy Robinson ’19.
Rugby Head Coach – Rick Tisell, @DesmetRugby With strong wins such as 34-10 over perennial high school rugby power house Eureka High, and 22-19 over Francis Howell, Spartan rugby turned things around this season and is headed back to a winning tradition.
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Odyssey
KEVIN BERNS ’87
WILL HANSON ’22
MELVIN KENNEDY
ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ ’22
CARRIE BECHER
KATHY LORIMIER
CARRIE BECHER
DEBBIE HIGGINS
Spartan Country
2018–2019 WINTER Hockey Head Coach – Chris Durso, @DeSmetHockeySTL Led by nine seniors, our varsity team (pictured top left) returned to the Enterprise Center for the State Championship game against St. Louis University High. A heartbreaking loss in double overtime ended our 21-9-3 season. The JV team (top right) won their State Championship title with an exciting finish in shoot outs. With two consecutive strong seasons for all three teams, 15 incoming freshman players, and a dedicated group of young men, the De Smet Jesuit hockey club will continue its commitment to excellence and developing men for and with others.
Wrestling Head Coach – Drae Cox, @DeSmetWrestling Led by four-year starters Cory Peterson and Mike Cross, the wrestling team had one of its best seasons in recent years, finishing top five in every team tournament, including a first-place finish at the Bobby Christman De Smet Holiday Tournament. The team finished second at the MSHSAA District Tournament, qualifying seven wrestlers for the state tournament, and placed fifth at the MSHSAA State Tournament. State placers included Jesse Hahs ’22, sixth; Colton King ’21, third; Jacobi Jackson ’21, second; and Cory Peterson ’19, first.
After breaking school records and wrestling PAUL KOPSKY, STLHIGHSCHOOLSPORTS.COM powerfully for De Smet Jesuit for four years, Cory Peterson won the Class 4 state championship in the 160-pound bracket on February 16. In the victorious moment, Cory touched his heart and pointed to the tribute tattoo in memory of his former teammate Ryland Kennedy, fulfilling a promise he had made almost two years prior. “It is a moment I will never forget,” said Molly Kennedy, Ryland’s mother. “It is one more example of what an amazing young man Cory is: living the De Smet Jesuit motto of men for others.” In January 2019, former Spartan wrestler Jon Ott ’01 graciously passed on the title of Career Wins Record Holder to Cory. Jon’s 18-year-old record of 148 career wins at De Smet Jesuit was broken with Cory’s win over St. Charles on January 8, 2019. Cory’s success includes four state medals, a first-place finish at Pre-Season Nationals in 2017, a fifth-place finish at 2018 NHSCA National Championship in the Junior division, and numerous in-state tournament titles. “He’s an exceptional wrestler,” said Coach Cox. “We are definitely going to miss what he brings to the team in the years to come.”
Head Coach – Dan Likos ’94, @DesmetGolf For the fourth time in school history, De Smet Jesuit had two all-state golfers, finishing in the top 15 in state, (pictured on opposite page from left): Thomas Bourke ’20 and Brennan Dolnick ’19, who made his second appearance.
SUMMER 2019
Track and Field Head Coaches – Michael Russo and Bryan Traughber ’97, @DeSmetTrackXC Building a culture of commitment and accountability, the track and field team placed second in the MCC Championships. Sectional qualifiers included Anthony Grant ’21 (hurdles) and Hutson Lillibridge ’21 (shot put) as well as state qualifiers (shown in photos) Brendan Harter ’21 (high jump) and Jacque Combs ’19 (shot put).
Inline Head Coach – Michael Donley, @DeSmetInline De Smet Inline Hockey Teams had great regular seasons, making it to the playoffs, with JV winning the 2019 MOIHA JV Champions for second year in a row.
Proud parents, coaches, and teammates celebrated student athletes when a total of 20 Spartans committed to play for college.
Odyssey
Head Coach – Dave Boland, @DeSmetTennis Led by Matthew Dubuque ’19 (shown in photo), Ryan Allgeier ’20, Dillon Trembath ’21, Bryce Pattison ’22, and Ethan Selkirk ’22, Spartans saw several top finishers in the MCC Tennis Tournament.
Golf
20 STUDENT ATHLETES SIGN LETTERS OF INTENT CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING SPARTANS: • Brennan Dolnick – Spring Hill College – Golf • Matthew Dubuque – Christopher Newport University – Tennis • Collin Goodwin – Greenville University – Basketball • Seth Harris – Lindenwood University – Football Varsity Soccer • Shayne Henderson – Missouri Baptist University – Volleyball Head Coach – Klein • Carson King – Rockhurst University – Soccer De Smet Jesuit soccer completed yet another memorable • Josh Lindell – Rockhurst University – Soccer season, advancing to their second state final in four years. • Nate Martens (not pictured) – Northern Iowa – Football Thanks to logistical support and efforts by the administra• Giuseppe Migliazzo – Adams State University – Lacrosse tion, faculty, and staff, the entire student body was invited to take the afternoon off school and attend the game, showing up in full force to cheer on the team. 14
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SPRING
• Brendan Miller – Lindenwood University – Soccer • Joseph Moffatt – Rockhurst University – Cross Country • Logan Payne – University of Missouri-Kansas City – Soccer • Lucas Payne – Truman State University – Soccer • Cory Peterson – McKendree University – Wrestling • Jordan Shifrin – Coe College – Baseball • Marquise Simmons – Missouri Western State University – Football • Grant Stegman – Butler University – Football • Teagan Thomas – Mercyhurst University – Water Polo • Avi Wesseh – Lindenwood University – Soccer • Grant Western – Butler University – Football
CARRIE BECHER
SPORTS
Rugby Head Coach – Jerome Butler, @ DesmetRugby With strong wins such as the 34-10 over perennial high school rugby power house Eureka High, De Smet Jesuit rugby went to state in May, ending their season with a 48-29 victory over Jeff City. The Spartan award went to Joe Pangelinan ’19, and Rookie of the Year went to Austin Neumann ’19.
DEBBIE HIGGINS
The Year in
Touching Hearts and Winning State: Wrestler Cory Peterson
DAN LIKOS ’94
KEVIN BERNS ’87
SUMMER 2019
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Odyssey
KEVIN BERNS ’87
CONNOR POHL ’21
KEVIN BERNS ’87
JOHN HAWKEY ’96
DAN WATKINS
DIRT AND TURF PHOTOGRAPHY
Spartan Country
The Year in
SPORTS
2018–2019 SPRING
KEVIN BERNS ’87
KEVIN BURNS ’87
Baseball Head Coach – Dave Stewart, @DeSmet_Baseball Spartans won their second baseball State Championship on June 1, for the first time since 2000. The semifinal victory against Staley High School from Kansas City saw an incredible left-handed pitching performance from senior Josh Abel, who threw a two-hit, complete game shutout. During the championship game, Spartans brought home the title with a true team effort and a come-from-behind win over Marquette High School.
CONNOR POHL ’21
ROB WETZEL
Lacrosse Head Coach – Joe Douglas, @DeSmetLacrosse As MCC champs, lacrosse finished second in state and brought the Marco Cup back to Spartan Country. The lacrosse team was led by seniors Tommy Barry, Tommy Emms, and Daniel Kinzel, as well as goalie Dylan Radke who was selected as an Academic All-American and Luke Wetzel (shown in photo), who was selected as an All-American by Missouri Lacrosse.
Ultimate Frisbee Head Coach – Peter Lenzini, @DeSmetUltimate Placing second in the St. Louis high school league, Spartans competed well in the state tournament, highlighted by an epic comeback victory against Ladue in the semifinals. In the air is Anthony DeBellis ’19.
BRIAN GRAZZI ’19
ROB MILLER
PATRICIA DOHERTY
Volleyball
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SUMMER 2019
Head Coach – Timothy Haffner, @DeSmetJesuitVB Volleyball finished second in the Parkway Central tournament, third in the Lafayette Invitational, and went on to compete in the State Quarterfinals. At the net are (from left) Jake Heuermann ’20 and Clay Kruse ’19.
Water Polo Head Coach – Taylor Swyers, @PoloDeSmet Defended by goalie Jay Dolan ’19 (who broke the school record with 602 career saves), the water polo team took first place in the Pattonville Invite. Also led by fellow captains and seniors Alex Pollmann and Teagan Thomas, the team finished fifth in the state tournament.
Odyssey
Showcase
On Exhibit SPARTAN ARTWORK ACCEPTED IN YOUNG ARTISTS’ SHOWCASE Artworks from Matt Hibbits ‘19 and Jack Lankford ‘19 were displayed at the 2019 Emerson Young Artists’ Showcase, a juried, all-media artwork exhibition for high school students. “Out of 350 submissions, 150 were accepted,” said Laurie Kohler, art teacher. “I am very proud of both of
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these artists.” She explained, “The art selected needed to have some something to express or say. Art that wove together content, personal expression, and competence is what is included in this exhibition. One additional factor was the ambition of the piece; work that went beyond an assignment or an exercise and could stand strongly on its own had the advantage.” Jack Lankford won a $50 Artmart gift card for his piece titled “Persona,” and shared, “I wanted to create a piece that showcased the basics of the human person and the complexities of the mind.” He plans to continue art as a hobby next year when he begins his studies at Missouri S&T. Matt Hibbits won the $500 Frani Weinstock scholarship for his piece titled “G-Man.” He chose to paint his brother “because I look up to him,” and enjoys art “because it is a fun way to express myself and the things I like.”
From left, Matt Hibbits and Jack Lankford receive recognition for their artworks, “G-Man” (top) and “Persona”(right). LAU
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Distinguished Site MIRROR.COM EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION For a third straight year, desmetmirror.com, led by web editor Nick Einig ‘19, was recognized as a Distinguished Site by School Newspapers Online (SNO). The award recognizes excellence in design, organization, writing, multimedia, and audience engagement. Out of more than 2,600 high school and college websites around the world that use SNO, The Mirror’s website is currently one of 25 websites to earn this distinction. The Mirror staff: (front row, from left) seniors Jay Dolan, Grant Stegman, Brennan Dolnick, Jonathan Carani, and Nick Einig; (middle, from left) seniors Camden Brazile, Gave Helm, and Spencer Caldwell; (back, from left) faculty adviser Kevin Berns ’87, seniors Cameron Range, Jack Windler and Chris Bateman. Not pictured: seniors Max Conway and Ethan Heady
17 SUMMER 2019
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Showcase
Three-peat!
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DEBBIE HIGGINS
Cast and crew members onstage with the District trophies (from left) Brady Burke ’21, Nick Hale ’21, Alex Spalding ’19, Jack Trusler ’19, Jack Laurie ’19, Henry Right ’21, Camden Brazile ’19, Ryan Hughes ’21, and Ethan Aronson ’19. Not pictured: Alex Bentele ’20 and Fred Behm ’20.
SUMMER 2019
DE SMET JESUIT THEATRE 2019-20 SEASON Leaving Iowa October 17, 19, 20, 7:00 p.m.
1940s Radio Hour
SPRING HONORS FOR SPARTAN MUSICIANS
CARRIE BECHER
Performing “Alligator Boogaloo” at the Jazz Festival are Jazz Combo members (from left) Nathaniel Denklau ’20, Zachary Schoessel ’20, Jack Ryan ’19, Joshua Adams ’20, Izak Robles ’20, Ryan Jones ’20, Will Ryan ’20, and (not pictured) Matt Licari ’21.
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February 20–22, 7:00 p.m.
Play it Again
Odyssey
The De Smet Dionysian Players captured their third straight District Championship in the MSHSAA OneAct competition on March 1 with their performance of The Complete History of Comedy, Abridged. The play, by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor, depicts comedy through the ages, from Aristophanes and Shakespeare to vaudeville and The Daily Show. “I chose The Complete History of Comedy, Abridged because this group of actors excels at broad, physical comedy,” said Kurt Knoedelseder, De Smet Jesuit Theatre Director. “They are a creative group of performers who were able to play a variety of comedic styles in this fast-paced one-act play.”
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I wanted to perform on stage, but it was also a chance to meet some really great people.
DIONYSIAN PLAYERS WIN THIRD STRAIGHT ONE-ACT DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP
In March, the Jazz Combo earned a high rating from the judges at the Archdiocesan Jazz Festival, which De Smet Jesuit hosted, and five musicians later participated in the District Solo and Ensemble at Parkway Central High School. Emmett Concannon ’22 earned a One Rating (Exemplary) for his violin solo. Ryan Jones ’20 earned a Two Rating (Outstanding) for his trumpet solo and his piano solo. The De Smet Jesuit Brass Quartet earned a Two Rating (Outstanding) for their quartet piece. Members of the quartet include Ryan Jones ’20, Liam Weishaar ’21, Justin Konieczny ’21, and Deandra Smith ’21. Congratulations to our talented musicians and their director, Mike Karpowicz.
Leaving a Mark SPARTANS CREATE GRAFFITI ART FOR CAMPUS Spray paint in hand, the graffiti artist outlined a Spartan helmet freehand while seniors Matt Hibbits, Jack Lankford, Aaron Lasek, and Justin Reynolds assisted. “The idea for this project actually came out of one of our first donut Wednesdays when a student asked STUGO for more artwork around campus,” explained Justin Reynolds ’19, Student Government president. Partnering with Art Club president Jack Lankford ’19 and art teachers Laurie Kohler and Emily Ledbetter, the group contracted local graffiti artists Pete Wollaeger from eyez and Michael Infield from abstreetwerx to execute their vision. “Together we came up with a graffiti design that everyone was in favor of,” said Mrs. Kohler. “STUGO paid $200 toward materials and the Advancement Team paid $500 to the graffiti artists.” Students in Studio Art III and Honors Studio Art IV helped paint the background and the transparent shield with stencils. “The process was hard but fun,” said Jack. “We learned about using stencils and freehanding, and we learned a lot from the artists. It turned out great.” “I hope it will be something that sticks around on campus for a long time,” added Justin. “I feel so lucky to be able to leave a literal mark on this wall.”
Bottom left: Students shake cans of spray paint in preparation. Bottom right: From left, Michael Brklyn Infield, Paul Bytnar ’21, and seniors Jack Lankford, Justin Reynolds, Matt Hibbits, and Aaron Lasek pose after putting finishing touches on wall.
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ABOUT THE WORK: The graffiti wall, currently on display in the Innovation Center, comprises three 4’ X 8’ panels, measuring 12’ wide when fully displayed.
19 SUMMER 2019
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Odyssey
JEFF CERNICEK ’92
Academics
Spartans on Wall Street
JEFF CERNICEK ’92
20 Odyssey
SUMMER 2019
In addition to informative conference room sessions and alumni receptions, the business-minded Spartans enjoyed the subway, the New York Stock Exchange, China Town, attending a Broadway show, and visiting the 9/11 Memorial. “This was about exposing our students to opportunities that don’t normally come their way or aren’t on the radar for folks in St. Louis,” said Mr. Lange. “It was a huge success!” Above: (from left) seniors Brent Roberson, Michael Patterson, Ethan Friley, Thomas Hubeli, Colin Doherty, Ryan Brickhaus, Nick Blattel, Huxley Waller, Jacob Angus, Joshua Abel, Mitchell Umbeck, Tyler Moleski.
CARRIE BECHER
“Before New York I never saw business as a career path or vocation,” said Mitch Umbeck ’19, “but now that’s what I want to do.” Mitch was one of 12 seniors in Andy Lange’s business classes who traveled to New York City in November 2018 to network with alumni and explore finance career opportunities firsthand in the economic hub of the world. “I wanted to show the guys that they can work in finance in New York,” said Lange ’02. “It’s actually an approachable idea.” Thanks to alumni connections and support from generous donors, the students spent three days meeting with successful Spartans and exploring the highlights offered by New York City. They received gracious hospitality from Leo House, Cookie Dough Confections, and Xavier High School, and they networked with Ryan Hormberg ’06, Moment Design; Dan Kramer ’80, Wealth Strategies Group; Pete Kraemer ’84, Chief Supply Officer, Anheuser-Busch InBev; Ken Moynihan ’84, LT Apparel; Matt Sawicki ’01, USGA; Bud Schreiber ’76, Brown Brothers Harriman; and Steve Valentino ’84, Deutsche Bank.
JEFF CERNICEK ’92
BUSINESS STUDENTS NETWORK IN NEW YORK
(From left) Steve Carani, Ann Ficken, Andy Lange ’02 and Bryan Cernicek ’89
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Networking EDWARD JONES PARTNERS WITH SPARTANS A year before Spartans even boarded the plane bound for the Big Apple, the Advancement Team at De Smet Jesuit began planning with alumni and key business partners including Steve Carani, Bryan Cernicek ’89, and Ann Ficken from Edward Jones. “They are all part of the brain trust behind this trip,” explained Jeff Cernicek ’92, Director of Development. One month after the successful New York adventure, students regrouped in the Innovation Center to discuss the trip and to hear more from the Edward Jones team. “Did they give out business cards?” asked Mrs. Ficken to the room of students who nodded in response. “Keep those business cards all the way through college. Not for a job, but for advice.” “Reach back to De Smet Jesuit and offer the same opportunity you’ve been given,” added Mr. Carani. “This school’s done a lot for you. You’re going to have the opportunity to give back to someone who’s in your seat today.” “There are moments of opportunities where you take and moments of opportunities where you give,” said Bryan Cernicek. “Don’t miss out on those opportunities to connect with other people.”
STACY STOCKWELL
This was about exposing our students to opportunities that don’t normally come their way.
AP RPG for the Win NEW APPROACH TO AP ENGLISH DEEPENS STUDENT ENGAGEMENT Senior AP English or a role-playing game (RPG)? Why not both? Faculty member Nick Dressler ‘02 implemented an innovative approach to AP curriculum this fall. His purpose was to deepen student engagement and gain insight into how his students learn. The class offered traditional coursework, project-based learning, student choice, and yes, role playing games. “In this class, students were characters in a story and each unit was a new story,” Mr. Dressler explained. RPGs require characters to navigate a process of structured decision making. “The autonomy was challenging, but I loved it because it made me care more about my work,” said Troy Schneider ’19. Students’ assignment choices gave Mr. If I teach students Dressler data to create learning profiles. “If it was apparent that a student had difficulty writing how to analyze a transitions in essays, then I worked with him writer’s style, then to improve this specific ability, all within the context of required AP skills,” he said. no matter what Course assignments reinforced why learning what to do with the content mattered. “If I teach they read, they have students how to analyze a writer’s style, then no the skills to work matter what they read, they have the skills to with it. work with it.” “The skills we teach in English are going to matter differently for each person — from the guy who becomes an English teacher, to the engineers, to the salesperson,” he continued. “The traditional view is that the teacher is the battery and the student is the light bulb. What happens when the battery goes away? My ultimate goal is for students to become the battery, to learn how to be their own source of light.”
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Above: Nick Dressler checks in with seniors working in small groups.
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Odyssey
PHOTO BY CARRIE BECHER
Academics
CARRIE BECHER
Latin in Real Life
At top: (from left) seniors Sean Lane, Daniel Hennessey, Zeeshan Ahmed, and Teddy Delker zoom in for a closer look. Above: Sarah Schmidt works with Daniel Hennessey ’19
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SUMMER 2019
STUDENTS TRANSLATE LETTER WRITTEN BY POPE PIUS XII An ancient language in a modern-day classroom could be just another day in Latin class. But on an October day in 2018, students were transcribing an actual letter written by Pope Pius XII in 1939. When Christopher Carrillo ’05 heard about a letter written in Latin to his friend’s relative who had been a priest in Davenport, Iowa, he reached out to Latin teacher, Sarah Schmidt. Realizing the opportunity for real-world application, Ms. Schmidt turned the inquiry into a projectbased lesson for her junior and senior Latin classes. Before translation could begin, Ms. Schmidt explained, students needed to produce a clean, readable copy of the letter. “The letters on the end of a word in Latin can change the way you translate. One letter can change the way the entire sentence is constructed.” Students used the Innovation Center to work as a group, viewing an enlarged photo of the letter on the wall-mounted monitor. They worked carefully through individual characters, words, and sentences, sharing their questions and their discoveries along the way.
Senior Ethan Aronson, who intends to minor in Latin in college, appreciated the authenticity of the assignment. “The opportunity for a Jesuit school to transcribe and then translate a document that was written by a Pope — it’s an opportunity that you don’t tend to find until you get to graduate studies.” Ms. Schmidt, whose emphasis is classical Latin, reached out to a colleague from Saint Louis University who specializes in Ecclesiastical Latin, the form used for liturgical purposes in the Catholic Church. As students uncovered sections of the letter mentioning clerical garments, Fr. Jim Burshek, S.J., De Smet Jesuit theology teacher, lent his expertise. Weeks of collaboration resulted in a translated message from Pope Pius sharing his gratitude for the service of J. W. Bulger. Ms. Schmidt reminded her class that the letter came from a time when such ceremonial communication was written by hand. “The kids were so excited about this project,” said Ms. Schmidt. “They connected with the genuine nature of the assignment and enjoyed translating a found message while also helping someone connect to their family’s history.” “We are about to translate Caesar, and authors, and what they actually wrote,” Ethan concluded. “This is a great transition from textbook sentences to real world, real Latin.”
Sightings Auctioneer Graham Crow announces the “Best of Live” portion of the evening in dramatic fashion, preparing to rain raffle tickets on Sean Gerty ’19. The “Best of Live” winners had their choice of a live auction item with a winning $100 ticket. See page 24 for more about the winners.
Sightings
ANNUAL AUCTION SETS NEW FUNDRAISING RECORD
Sparti Gras Gratitude OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: Melissa, Tyler ’19, and Andrew Dawson enjoy the photo booth. Lanterns in Mardi Gras colors added to the festive atmosphere.
PHOTOS BY GLENNON WILLIAMS Above: Hours of work by the incredible Sparti Gras volunteers transformed the gym for a spectacular night.
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SUMMER 2019
Best of Live Auction raffle winners Lexi Warner and Blake Abbenhaus ‘11 react when their winning ticket is announced. Their choice: a trip to Italy! (From left) Greg Pohlman ’78, Bill Rebholz ’77 and Larry Beermann
Auction chair Becky Lane receives an ovation from the crowd. De Smet Jesuit Board Chair John Morris ’83 shows his support for the Fund-A-Need effort to benefit scholarships. Parent volunteer Marva Pendleton assists with bids during the live auction. Sue Range happily accepts her new puppy.
The De Smet Jesuit community rallied to celebrate students with a spectacular Sparti Gras Gala and Auction on March 2. More than 500 parents, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends attended. The event raised $575,000 to support programs and financial assistance for students. Performances by the Jazz Combo and the Black Robe Choir created a festive atmosphere as guests arrived in Emerson Lobby. Colorful masks and beads, beautiful decorations, and a spirit of celebration permeated the evening. Students volunteered to check coats, serve dinner, bus tables, and spot bid paddles as the auction went live. Parent volunteers covered every station to ensure everything went smoothly, and guests enjoyed a delightful evening. “We extend our sincere appreciation, for our auction chair, Becky Lane: for her vision, energy and leadership in assembling an amazing team of volunteers,” said Bill Rebholz ’77, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. “Their love for our school was evident in the time and attention to detail they showered on this event. To each of our volunteers and donors; thank you for going the extra distance for your sons.”
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To each of our volunteers and donors; thank you for going the extra distance for your sons.
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Sightings
DE SMET JESUIT HALL OF FAME ADDS TWO MEMBERS
Humbled and Honored
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I hope I do you honor every day by being a man of De Smet.
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SUMMER 2019
The school community gathered September 13 for the annual De Smet Jesuit Hall of Fame Induction Dinner. The Hall of Fame recognizes personal achievements and contributions, including service to or support of De Smet Jesuit, and demonstration of the highest principles of integrity and honesty in keeping with the De Smet Jesuit mission to form men for and with others. The 2018 inductees were Brigadier General Calvert L. Worth Jr. ’84, USMC, and Coach Dale Burgman, former faculty member and varsity head basketball coach. Tim Thompson ’84 introduced his classmate and childhood friend, Cal Worth. “This is a fitting honor for Cal, whose example reminds us that character is about what you do when no one is looking.” He read messages from friends and family, concluding, “You are loved beyond measure.” “I hope I do you honor every day by being a man of De Smet,” General Worth said in his acceptance remarks. During his distinguished 27-year career as a Marine Corps officer, General Worth has led combat operations, trained and recruited officers, and assisted the Department of Defense Executive Secretary. Coach Dale Burgman, who spent 27 years as a teacher at De Smet, including 16 as head varsity basketball coach, was introduced by former faculty member Ken Luecke. “A gift that you shared with us, Dale, is how to live a balanced life of family and passion for coaching,” he said. Mr. Luecke shared the podium with three guest speakers: former Burgman players Tim Stack ’82 and Mike Fleming ’97, and Coach Burgman’s longtime friend and colleague, Greg Vitello. “I am humbled, honored, thankful, and proud,” Coach Burgman said, adding, “I hope I made the guys who played for me better men.” He led the Spartans to a state championship in 1982 and compiled a 367-111 record.
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This is a fitting honor... [and] reminds us that character is about what you do when no one is looking.
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PHOTOS BY GLENNON WILLIAMS Opposite page: Hall of Fame Inductees Dale Burgman and Calvert L. Worth Jr. ’84 THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: Dale and Lynda Burgman enjoy remarks from former players. (From left) Retired faculty member Ed Berns with 1979 alumni basketball players Ken Klump, Steve Stipanovich, Tim Stock, and Tom Hornoff. This year’s event drew alumni from four decades, retired faculty and staff, parents of alumni, and friends.
(From left) Jack Raymond ’82, Fred Rudolph ’82, Chris Doehring ’85 and Tim Weber ’82 Cal Worth reacts to introductory remarks from Tim Thompson ’84 De Smet Jesuit Hall of Fame members in attendance included (front row, from left) Tim Walsh ’72, Dick Donohue, Chris Mess, Dale Burgman, Frank Finnegan Jr., Cal Worth ’84, Fr. John Arnold, S.J., Greg Vitello; (middle row, from left) Rob Klingler ’80, Kevin Klingler ’77, Ed Berns, Greg Pohlman ’78, George Hasser, Henry Autrey ’71, Mike Sawicki ’71, Frank Cusumano ’80 and Mike Faddis ’71; (back row, from left)
(cont.) Bill Mueller ’89, Bob Frederic ’80, Steve Stipanovich ’79 and John Schaefer ’75 Class of 1997 alumni (from left) Brad Henderson, Mike Fleming, Adam Lohse, and Jim Bredenkoetter
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Spotlight
MOCK TRIAL: A TEACHER’S DREAM Students and alumni make a case for collaboration in the courtroom. “That’s the big love of your life sitting over there,” said Judge Autrey, pointing to an invisible jury. “Forget about anybody else in the courtroom.” Imagining a live jury and an actual courtroom, students took note of Judge Autrey’s advice during a pre-season practice for mock trial, the academic team initiated this year by seniors Connor Goodman (pictured here) and Sean Gerty with moderator Tom Sothers. Autrey continued, “And always remember to thank the jury for the greatest show on earth.”
CAMDEN BRAZILE ’19
BY CARRIE BECHER
CAMDEN BRAZILE ’19
JOHN HAWKEY ’96 TOM SOTHERS
“There’s a lot of critical thinking. They have to collaborate to create a strategy. They have to … create contingency plans, and in trial they have to think on their feet.”
convincing character witnesses. “That said, I think the attorneys have the much harder job. They have to be more plugged into the case.” Junior Jackson Daesch, who played an attorney most of the season, explained how teams must prepare to argue for the defense as well as the prosecution. “You play both sides. And both sides are expected to work their hardest. Through that work and evidence and the characters, the truth will come out.” Mr. Sothers and Jackson credited the team’s success to strong senior leadership, parent support, and professional coaching from Mr. Ahlheim and Judge Autrey. “Without their expertise it would be almost impossible to get a good gauge on what you need to do,” said Jackson. “I’m really confident about our future next year because we have great coaches.” “We have the potential to have an incredible program,” concurred Mr. Sothers. “It’s a wonderful alternative to the STEM focus because it provides a lot of great academic extracurricular balance. We have really bright kids and they have great enthusiasm.” Throughout the season, Judge Autrey stressed the importance of relaxing, being organized, and paying attention to the judge and jury in the courtroom. “The courtroom is your space,” declared Judge Autrey. “You own it. Let everybody know it’s your space.” No objections here, Your Honor.
“[Mock trial] is a wonderful alternative to the STEM focus because it provides a lot of great academic extracurricular balance. We have really bright kids and they have great enthusiasm.”
JOHN HAWKEY ’96
Expert advice and skilled coaching from Judge Henry Autrey ’71 (below at right) and attorney Stephen Ahlheim ’86 (below at left) bolstered the team’s efforts during months of practice. The team surprised everyone, including themselves, when they qualified for regionals in March, ultimately placing 11th, one spot shy of qualifying for state. “We far exceeded any expectations that I or the coaches had back in September for a brand new rookie team,” said Mr. Sothers. The Missouri High School Mock Trial Competition, founded in 1979 by the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, gives students first-hand exposure to the inner workings of the legal system and courtroom action. Students take on the roles of prosecutors, defense lawyers, witnesses, and defendants to try a case following actual trial rules and procedures. “Mock trial is a teacher’s dream, and it’s a really powerful experience for the boys,” explained Mr. Sothers. “There’s a lot of critical thinking. They have to collaborate to create a strategy. They have to anticipate and create contingency plans, and in trial they have to think on their feet.” Demanding a mastery of such diverse skills, mock trial requires dedicated students with a range of talents. De Smet Jesuit had 19 students this year representing Spartans in mock trial. “We have lots of talents in the room, and our witnesses were outstanding,” said Mr. Sothers, grateful for theatre students who played
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T Spotlight
KABANCE PHOTO SERVICES
he graduation celebrations for the Class of 2019 took place on May 19 in the De Smet Jesuit Gymnasium, the Cathedral Basilica, and Saint Louis University’s Simon Rec Center. Events were marked by prayer and reflection, laughter and hugs, and lots and lots of photographs. The day began with the Baccalaureate Brunch, held at De Smet Jesuit. Speakers included Valedictorian Jacob Kelly, who shared, “All of the friends we’ve made, all the lessons we’ve learned, all he experiences we’ve had… have been what has made our time here worth it.” Dr. Tim Weber ’82, Alumni Association President, shared a photo from his De Smet Jesuit graduation day 37 years ago with a message of gratitude for lifelong bonds of brotherhood, reflecting, “Life is better when it is shared with great friends.” At the Graduation Mass, the Gospel of John recounted the story of Jesus issuing his greatest commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you.” During his homily, Fr. James Burshek, S.J., challenged graduates to consider what it means to truly love one another in a world where we confront aggression, suffering, and division. “I want you to live out God’s dream of a world where we can see we belong to one another; where we can truly love one another; where you and your children’s children can live and grow,” he said. “You are men who have been called to be people of dreams, like Jesus,” Fr. Burshek concluded. “And we are with you always as you go out to do this holy and noble work.” Following Mass, De Smet Jesuit President Corey Quinn ’90 and Principal Kevin Poelker ’98 conferred the diplomas, “with the assumption — indeed, the expectation — that you will continue to collaborate with us and with the Lord in 2 the ongoing transformation of the world,” said Dr. Quinn. Congratulations, Class of 2019. We send you off with joy, pride, and gratitude for the ways we and our school are better because of your time with us.
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SPRING 2019
A FITTING SEND-OFF FOR THE CLASS OF 2019 BY DEBBIE HIGGINS
Do Well. Live Well. LoveWell.
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1 (Background photo) The Class of 2019 prepares to enter the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. 2 Graduation Mass begins. 3 Louis Hill (at left) and Clayton Kruse celebrate after the ceremony. 4 1982 alumni John Husmann (left) and Tim Weber share a photo from their graduation 37 years ago. 5 The graduates with family and friends at Mass.
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CLASS OF 2019 BY THE NUMBERS
6 Pre-ceremony photo opp: (from left) Nick Blattel, Joe Pangelinan, Austin Neumann, and Dan Walsh.
49th commencement ceremony
enrolled in 54 185 graduates colleges and universities
652 scholarships awarded totaling
$23,700,000
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Spotlight
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It is our distinct honor to commission you on behalf of all your teachers, counselors, and coaches...
DEBBIE HIGGINS
7 Graduates line up to receive their diplomas. 8 Brennan Dolnick, Michael Donlin, Jay Dolan, Dylan Doherty, and Joe Dickson 9 Class of 2019 Valedictorian Jacob Kelly (center) with salutatorians Colin Doherty (left) and Troy Schneider 10 Dr. Corey Quinn ’90 (at right) with President’s Medal recipients (from left) Dan Husmann, Alejandro Rico, and Jack Windler. Additional award recipients were Sean Feltz (Jerry McMahon, S.J. Award); Dylan Doherty, Huxley Waller, and Alvin Wesseh (Jesuit Secondary Network Award); faculty member Nick Dressler ’02 (Fr. Ron Windmueller, S.J. Ignatian Educator Award); and Greg Pohlman ’78 (Pierre-John De Smet, S.J. Outstanding Service Award)
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KABANCE PHOTO SERVICES
2019 MEN OF THE YEAR: 12 SENIORS HONORED Every year, 12 members of the senior class earn the distinction “Man of the Year” for their contributions as young men of intellectual competence, conscience, and compassion. Congratulations to the 2019 honorees. (Pictured front row, from left) Ryan Brickhaus, Sean Gerty, Joseph Jansen and Matthew Dunn; (back row, from left) Sean Feltz, Jacob Deighton, Jacques Combs, Justin Reynolds, Mitchell Umbeck, Joshua Abel, and Grant Stegman. Not pictured: Max Conway
Alumni Connect PHOTO BY DEBBIE HIGGINS
Alumni from the Class of 2018 were in the stands for the baseball teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s semifinal victory over Staley at Car Shield Field. (Front row, from left) Stephen Randazzo, Grant Jenkins, Drew King, Spencer Daesch, Will Martin, and Brendan Slater; (second row, from left) Justin Tuhro, Tyler Banocy, Fletcher Stovall, Jack Hummel, Sean Doherty, Josh Becher, and John Higgins
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Class Notes
19 70s
Bob Costello ’72 serves on the board of Wyoming Catholic College in Lander Wyoming. The college’s COR Expeditions led 10 De Smet students and two Jesuits on their Wyoming Wilderness trip in June 2018. The college’s chapel is named after Fr. De Smet. There are three pillars to Wyoming Catholic College: Catholic, Great Books of Western Civilization, and Outdoor Leadership.
JEFF CERNICEK ’92
On December 10 in Boian Chapel, Tom Eschen ’71 and Rocco Erker ’77 sponsored a remembrance of Thomas Merton on the 50th anniversary of his death, titled “Thomas Merton: Messages for Our Times.”
In February 2019, Tom Chulick ’72 was named permanent President and CEO of the St. Louis Regional Chamber, one of the oldest chambers of commerce in the United States. The organization represents the 15-county bi-state metropolitan St. Louis area and its members account for nearly 30% of the region’s employment base. The Chamber’s mission, as stated on its website, is “to inspire a greater St. Louis” through collaborative partnerships and problem solving. Chulick was the guest speaker at an Alumni Association meeting on April 9. He shared updates on the important work being done to attract jobs to the St. Louis region.
In December 2018, Bob Poe ’72 shared the following update, “My wife and I purchased a four-unit guest house on Vieques, Puerto Rico, in March 2017, moved in August 2017, and Hurricane Maria hit our home as a Category 5 hurricane in September 2017. Since that time, I have been working closely with the U.S. Senate Energy Committee and with a team on Vieques to bring modern sustainable power and a hardened smart grid to the island, and to use this model to guide the re-building of energy on all of Puerto Rico. On December 21, 2018, Governor Rossello of Puerto Rico appointed me as one of three outside directors, among the seven-member Board of Directors that run the Puerto Rico Electric Energy
Authority (PREPA). Depending on who you ask, PREPA is either the largest or second-largest electric utility in the U.S. I think it may be my Jesuit training, but every job I have ever taken on is an organization in peril — that’s where all of the fun is.” We are thankful that one of our graduates will have the opportunity to play a vital role in rebuilding Puerto Rico. Richard Kalbfleish ’74 has been retired for seven years and is enjoying family time with two children and two grandchildren. Mark Schnoebelen ’74 and his wife Judy have four children and three grandchildren. Mark works as vice president of Massman Construction Co. in St. Louis. In August 2018, Nick Lamb ’76 was named one of St. Louis’ Attorneys of the Year. According to Best Lawyers®, “Receiving this designation reflects the high level of
Annual Alumni Retreat, White House Retreat Center, October 25–28, 2018 (From left) Bill Hebron ’77, Patrick Hayes ’71, Bill Rebholz ’77, Fr. Kevin Spinale, S.J., Mark Schnoebelen ’74, Kevin O’Donnell ’79, Sean Marlock ’89, John Goessling ’71, and Chris McGraugh ’79
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respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice.” Just one lawyer in each practice area and designated metro area is honored as a Lawyer of the Year.
HOW IT’S MADE: STUDENTS TOUR LOWELL MANUFACTURING Students interested in business, entrepreneurship, and engineering received a behind-the-scenes tour of Lowell Manufacturing on April 10. Alumni John ’71, Wilhelm ’76, and Tom Lowell ’77 arranged for students to observe the entire production process for magazine shelving sold to Walmart. In addition to shelving, rack systems and accessories, Lowell’s products include professional A/V systems, audio products, and power solutions. Company executives shared their expertise in engineering, purchasing, and marketing, and students spoke with alumni about their journey as business owners. Spartans were especially interested in the automated processes Lowell uses
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MISSOURI SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Frank Cusumano ’80 was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on November 4, 2018. He was one of 16 honorees. Cusumano has worked at KSDK-TV (5 On Your Side) since 1993 and has won 17 Emmys, including best sports anchor for his storytelling and sports coverage. He also has an Edward R. Murrow Award and is among the top veteran sports journalists in St. Louis. In April 2017, Cusumano received the Jack Buck Award from the St. Louis Amateur
to manufacture some of its products and watched a laser-cutter and an automatic welding machine in action. “Throughout the day I could see our students’ brains spinning as they saw completely new things or saw real-world applications of topics they had covered in class or extracurricular programs,” said Bill Rebholz ’77, Vice President of Advancement, who led the trip with faculty members Andy Lange ’02 and Tony Strawhun ’05. “The students were extremely courteous, engaged, and asked some great questions, all elements that tell me that their futures are bright indeed,” said John Lowell, CEO.
Baseball Hall of Fame. He also has hosted the Pressbox radio program on KFNS: 590 The Fan for 25 years. A member of the De Smet Jesuit Hall of Fame, Cusumano was captain of the basketball team and went on to play for the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Mid-America Chapter on September 22 in Kansas City, Mo. Scott Hulsey ’89 works for the Metro West Fire Protection District in St. Louis as captain, rescue captain and training officer. He is currently the chief instructor for the St. Louis County Fire Academy. DEBBIE HIGGINS
KTVI-Fox 2 News meteorologist Chris Higgins ’88 won his sixth and seventh Emmy Awards in the categories of Best Weather Anchor and Best Weathercaster. The awards were presented by the
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Class Notes
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PALM SUNDAY MASS AND EASTER EGG HUNT Rain and chilly temperatures moved the annual Alumni Easter Egg Hunt indoors, but they did not dampen the spirits of participants. Following Palm Sunday Mass celebrated by Fr. Chris Schroeder, S.J. ’00, children of alumni raced down the second-floor hallway and explored the Innovation Center to find their treasures. The Easter Bunny made an appearance for photos at brunch following the hunt.
Robert Winkler ’99 and his family recently moved from Colorado Springs, Colo., to Ft. Meade, Md. Robert is a Company Commander for the U.S. Army.
20 00s Dr. Andrew Dorough ’05 is a chiropractic physician for Little Flower Family Medicine, LLP.
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PHOTOS BY DEBBIE HIGGINS
COURTESY OF MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE
In November 2018, Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced the appointment of State Treasurer Eric Schmitt ’93 as Attorney General for the State of Missouri. Schmitt, who succeeded U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, was sworn into office on January 3, 2019. “We will honor the law as it has honored us: with a deep level of professionalism guided by the idea to always do what is right and just,” he said at the ceremony. While Treasurer, he maintained Missouri’s AAA bond rating while overseeing the state’s $3.6 billion investment portfolio. He previously served two terms in the Missouri State Senate and as an Alderman for the City of Glendale.
Andrew Garcia ’05 lives in Kirkwood, Mo., and works as a manager for Grant Thornton LLP. Chris Luecke ’05 is living it up in San Francisco, Calif., where he is building a name for himself in the tech industry through his show, Manufacturing Happy Hour, while drinking great beer on his international travel podcast, Pubcast Worldwide.
Jimmy Powers ’05 lives in Berkeley, Calif., and works as a business growth strategist for Towny, a tech start-up based in Austin, Texas, with the mission of connecting locally-owned businesses with consumers to build thriving communities. Michael Coldiron ’07 is a manager in the Customer Supply Chain division of Nestle Purina PetCare.
ANNOUNCING
DE SMET JESUIT
HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2019
Congratulations to the following individuals who will be inducted in the De Smet Jesuit Hall of Fame on September 19, 2019. Denny Cerneka Ken Luecke Mike Nooney ’83 Members of the Hall of Fame Committee chose these individuals for “bringing recognition and prominence to De Smet Jesuit and themselves through their professions, through academic or athletic accomplishments, community service or achievements in the arts and sciences.” To reserve your tickets for the 2019 Hall of Fame dinner, visit desmet.org/alumni/hall-of-fame, or call 314-567-1276.
TRADITION GOLF TOURNAMENT Register online today! Alumni and parents are invited to join us for the annual Tradition Golf Tournament on Friday, September 6. Enjoy a day of golf and camaraderie as we raise money to support our students and our mission via scholarships and financial assistance. For registration and details, please call 314-567-3500 or visit www.desmet.org/TraditionTournament online.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 6 2019
FATHERS AND SONS CLASS OF 2019 INCLUDES 22 ALUMNI LEGACIES
(Front row, from left) Steven Hibbits ’76, Matt Hibbits ’19, Christopher Wichmann ’87, Jackson Wichmann ’19, Douglas DeBellis ’79, Anthony DeBellis ’19, Dozier Gardner ’87, Jack Gardner ’19, Jim Byrne ’86, Samuel Byrne ’19, John Husmann ’82, and Dan Husmann ’19; (middle row, from left) Jack Ryan ’19, Noah Evans ’19, Eric Evans ’92, Gregory Reckamp ’95, Joseph Reckamp ’19, Andrew Grisham ’19, Christopher Grisham ’93, Bryan Lucas ’89, Benjamin Lucas ’19, Michael Umbeck ’83, and Mitchell Umbeck ’19; (back row, from left) Michael Ryan ’84, Patrick Knott ’83, Jack Knott ’19, Matt Mansfield ’81, Tommy Mansfield ’19, Austin Huber ’19, Jeffrey Huber ’81, Connor Goodman ’19, Scott Goodman ’82, Jerry Bourbon ’82, Andrew Bourbon ’19, Matthew Russo ’19, Jack Russo ’80, Michael Cross ’19, and Bradley Cross ’84. (Not pictured) David Corwin ’81, John Corwin ’19, Robert Devine ’85, William Devine ’19, Louis Dubuque ’83, and Matthew Dubuque ’19.
KABANCE PHOTO SERVICES
We’ve added a new tradition to our graduation festivities — commemorating our alumni legacies with a group photo during the Baccalaureate Brunch. We are proud to have 22 alumni legacies in the Class of 2019.
Class Notes
Mitchell Brasher ’08 is in his second year working as equipment manager for Frisco Roughriders, the AA affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Kurt Ringkamp ’08 is Assistant General Manager for the Gateway Grizzlies. He and his wife, Katie, live in St. Louis.
CALLING ALL MOMS OF ALUMNI We invite all mothers of alumni to join the newly-formed Alumni Moms of De Smet Group (AMDG). Find our group page on Facebook (AMDG-Alumni Moms of De Smet Group) or send an email to Kelly Day, kday@desmet.org, to receive news and invitations to events. We will plan social outings, fundraisers, and service projects to help you stay connected to De Smet Jesuit.
20 10s Fr. Clark Philipp ’10 serves as Parochial Vicar for Queen of All Saints Catholic Church in St. Louis.
Andrew Heitmann ’12 is a police officer in Davidson, N.C. In February, the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) named Paul Narup ’15 Defensive Player of the Week. It was the second time Narup, a senior middle blocker for Loyola University of Chicago, has earned this honor.
STEVE WOLTMANN LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO ATHLETICS
After graduating magna cum laude from Notre Dame, Kurt Wemhoener ’11 recently left a successful four-year career in investment banking with Piper Jaffray in New York and Boston. He just completed a 12-week coding class to sharpen his tech knowledge and will be spending the summer on an internship in Rwanda working with the One Acre Fund, which helps people grow their own food and be self-sufficient. This fall he will start the MBA program at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.
FISH EYE FUN
WE NEED YOUR NEWS!
Surprise Sparty
The De Smet Jesuit mascot, Sparty, made a surprise appearance during the wedding reception of Evan Albert ’10, who took a few turns in the Sparty costume when he was a student. The surprise was arranged by James Beatty, Evan’s best man and De Smet Jesuit classmate. Pictured with Sparty are (from left) James Beatty ’10, Luke Normile ’10, Sparty, Evan Albert ’10, and Robby Herbst ’10.
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It’s easy to send an update for the next issue of Odyssey! Send an email to classnotes@desmet.org. Photos are welcome. Please send the highest quality digital file you have available, or mail a print that can be scanned and returned. Thank you!
In Tribute
Edward M. Nestor ’75 passed away on January 30, 2019, following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. At the time of his death, Ed was captain of the Chesterfield Police Department. He joined the Chesterfield Police Department when it was originally formed in 1989 and was the officer in charge of the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program for schools. During his service for the police department, he took a leadership role in developing the highly-successful “Backstoppalooza” concert that is a significant fundraiser for The BackStoppers Inc. organization. One of the Class of 1975’s Men of the Year, Ed continued to serve De Smet Jesuit as an alumnus. Among his contributions was organizing and emceeing the long-running Spartan Rock ‘N’ Roll Trivia Night, which raised thousands of dollars for the school over the years. He was inducted into the De Smet Jesuit Hall of Fame in 2004. Alumni, families, faculty, Jesuits, and staff representing more than 50 years of De Smet Jesuit history, along with the entire St. Louis law enforcement community, came together on February 2, 2019, to celebrate and honor Ed Nestor’s life. He is survived by his wife Cathy, and children, Tom ’04 and Anne. To honor Ed’s legacy, the Nestor Family and the Class of 1975 have established the Edward M. Nestor Memorial De Smet Jesuit Scholarship Fund for the Benefit of Children of First Responders and Military Members.
A former Navy SEAL, Scott A. Wirtz ’95 was working as an Operations Support Specialist for the Defense Intelligence Agency when he was killed in an ISIS-claimed bombing of a restaurant in Syria on January 16, 2019. As a member of SEAL Team V specializing as a sniper, Scott served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and deployed to locations in Africa, the Philippines, and South Korea. After eight years of service in the Navy, he worked with various contract agencies to support U.S. forces overseas. Scott was the recipient of four Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, one Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, one Joint Meritorious service medal, one Joint Service Commendation medal, A Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, as well as Expert Rifle and Expert Pistol Medals. He was buried with full military honors at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery on February 7. Many civilians, law enforcement officers, and first responders lined the route from his funeral Mass at the Cathedral Basilica to Jefferson Barracks, waving American flags in tribute to this fallen patriot.
David J. Doughty passed away at age 77 on March 15, 2019. He served De Smet Jesuit in many roles during his 31-year tenure, which began in 1978 and concluded in 2009 when he retired as associate principal. “Dave touched the hearts and minds of thousands of young men in what most of us think are their most formative years,” said his former De Smet Jesuit colleague, Ken Luecke. “We are grateful for Dave’s gift of himself to De Smet Jesuit and to each of us as his colleagues. Dave was a bright, talented administrator. He made things look easy. He was also a close friend to many of us and a remarkable husband and father.” Mr. Doughty is survived by his wife Alex, children Bridget, Susan, and David Jon, and grandchildren Aria and Jack.
JOHN HAWKEY ’96
Frank R. Finnegan Jr., a dedicated supporter of De Smet Jesuit from its founding, passed away on March 15, 2019. A former Trustee, generous benefactor, and member of the De Smet Jesuit Hall of Fame, Frank and his wife, Mary Cay, remained involved in the life of De Smet Jesuit. Their five sons are alumni: Frank III ’71, Michael ’72, Patrick ’72, Terry ’74, and Dennis ’78. After his service in the Navy during World War II, Frank was recruited by the New York Yankees and enjoyed a fiveyear career with the minor league. He later received a degree in finance from St. Louis University. He was the longest tenured Edward Jones Financial Adviser, working for 65 years until his retirement at age 90. In addition to his five sons, he is survived by two daughters, Colleen and Peggy, 19 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
COURTESY OF EDWARD JONES
Scott A. Wirtz ’95
CITY OF CHESTERFIELD
Edward M. Nestor ’75
The first faculty retiree of De Smet Jesuit, Robert Kelley died on March 2, 2019. The father of nine (Maureen, Kathy, Matt, Jeff, Kevin, Mike, Tom, Eileen, and Dan), Bob was married to his wife Lois for 65 years. Each of Bob’s sons were graduates of De Smet. Bob taught mathematics at SLUH from 1949 to 1968 and at De Smet Jesuit from 1968 to 1989. Bob was also the Assistant Principal for Student Welfare and the Bookstore Manager. An accomplished athlete in high school and college, Bob was the Spartan tennis coach for 11 years, leading his team to two state championships. An avid bridge player, Bob never strayed from his teacher’s roots in his desire to teach Bridge as a way for current Spartans to learn the intricacies of statistics! 39 SUMMER 2019
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MARRIAGES
LITTLE SPARTANS
> Patrick Morris ’06 and Kelly DeNoyer, October 26, 2018
>
Milestones
Andy Lange ’02 and Marie: James Andrew, March 29, 2019
Michael Coldiron ’07 and Lauren Elise Crutchfield, June 17, 2017
Justin Capar ’07 and Janna: Mackenzie, July 18, 2016, and Brooklyn, June 8, 2018
GETTING MARRIED? EXPECTING?
(From left): Danny Morris ’13, Rob Garwitz ’05 (holding his daughter, Eleanor), Emilie Garwitz, Kelly Morris, Patrick Morris ’06, Beth Morris, John Morris ’83, Jack Morris ’15, and Abby Morris.
We’d like to help you celebrate, but we can’t print news about future weddings or babies. When your plans become reality, please let the Alumni Office know and we’ll be happy to print your news. Please consider sending photos too!
IN MEMORIAM Notifications through May 1, 2019
This listing includes notifications of the passing of De Smet Jesuit alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students and immediate relatives during the time period of October 1, 2018, through May 1, 2019. If we have missed someone, please notify the Alumni Office at alumni@desmet.org or 314-567-3500. Karl E. Aselage ’81, brother of C.R. ’72 and Gregg Aselage ’79 John S. Beulick ’81 Matthew P. Busch ’97, cousin of David Indelicato ’01 Amanda K. Bridegroom, wife of John B. Bridegroom ’95 Robert L. Colombo Sr., father of Robert L. Colombo Jr. ’05 David J. Doughty (former faculty member) father of David J. Doughty II ’04 Frank R. Finnegan Jr., father of Frank III ’71, Michael ’72, Patrick ’72, Terry ’74, and Dennis Finnegan ’78 Gerard P. Fleischut, father of Gregory ’75 and Stephen Fleischut ’78 Dennis Fogarty, father of Colin Fogarty ’05 Joshua T. Goetz ’11 Edward H. Huels, father of Tim ’88, Tom ’89 and Terry Huels ’90 40 Odyssey
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Robert J. Kelley (former faculty member) father of Jeffrey ’78, Michael ’80, Dan ’85 and the late Matthew Kelley ’76 Thomas A. Kelly, father of Thomas A. Kelly Jr. ’77 Kay Kent, grandmother of Matthew ’16 and Kevin Wahle ’18 Ruth Killeen, mother of Thomas ’77, Kevin ’78, Edward ’83, James ’81, Daniel ’89, Michael ’85 and Brian Killeen ’91 Catherine Korobey, mother of Matthew J. Korobey ’97 and the late Timothy P. Korobey ’99 David Mansfield, father of Stephen ’80 and Matthew Mansfield ’81 Dorothea McGinnis, mother of Brian McGinnis ’77
Susan B. Meiners, mother of Paul ’79 and Matthew Meiners ’83
John M. Ryan, father of John ’75 and Thomas Ryan ’79
Edward M. Nestor ’75, father of Thomas Nestor ’04, uncle of Michael Blind ’01, Matthew Blind ’05, and James Frey ’04, and cousin of Robert Ricca ’74
Frank J. Schmitt, S.J. (former faculty member)
Thomas J. Niemann, grandfather of Alexander ’16, Jonathon ’18 and Thomas Weber ’21 Joan K. Palozola, mother of Greg ’76 and the late Tom Palozola ’79 Tom Palozola ’79 Leo P. Paradis, father of Matthew Paradis ’81 Francis L. Pfeiffer, father of Curtis Pfeiffer ’74 Michael P. Ratterman ’76, uncle of Andrew Shipp ’07
Paul J. McMahon ’88
Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon them. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Jo Schulenberg, grandmother of Jacob ’20 and Lukas Schulenberg ’20 Larry F. Shipley ’74, brother of Patrick ’71, Michael ’71, and Stephen Shipley ’77 Andrew J. Steinhubl, father of Andrew ’76, Steven ’77 and John Steinhbul ’80, and grandfather of Justin A. Konieczny ’21 Edward C. Vatterott, father of Nicholas ’96 and Benjamin Vatterott ’99 and cousin of Kevin Kennedy ’02 Bernadine Whelchel, grandmother of Eric ’96 and Marcus Whelchel Jr. ’97 Scott A. Wirtz ’95 Calvert L. Worth, father of Calvert L. Worth Jr. ’84 Lynda R. Wright, mother of John Wright ’86
BRAGGIN’ RIGHTS
Buzzer Beater
Three-point shot makes ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10
PHOTOS BY DIRT AND TURF PHOTOGRAPHY
It was a moment no one in Spartan Country will soon forget. On December 14, with one second left in a tie basketball game at Chaminade, senior Evan Asleson shot a mid-court three-pointer that clinched a 79 – 76 Spartan victory. The crowd went wild and so did De Smet Jesuit’s social media feeds. Fueled by video of the winning shot from John Hawkey ’96, Spartan Country launched a campaign to make ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10. A few hours later, De Smet Jesuit came in at number six.
233 North New Ballas Road St. Louis, MO 63141
Parents: If this issue of the Odyssey is addressed to your son who has established a permanent address, please notify the Alumni Office of the new address: call 314-567-3500 or email alumni@desmet.org
Sophomores host Special Olympics Bringing joy to visiting students and Spartans alike, the Special Olympics event carries on as a tradition of service, fun, and compassion. On May 8 the entire sophomore class volunteered as buddies, supervisors, and track workers for local schools and the Special School District. (Pictured) Proudly displaying their chalk art creation, Bryan Rumping â&#x20AC;&#x2122;21 sits with his buddy who sports his winning ribbons from track events.
CARRIE BECHER
Buddy System