the cover inside spread
Dear Members of the Elder Family,
Where would we be without gratitude? Reflecting on this past year, I feel immense gratitude for the alumni, donors, parents, and friends who supported our students. Through your gifts of time, service, and financial support, we are here today because of your support. We offer a new class of students our hallmark faith-based education that builds student confidence in the classroom, the field, the stage, and the community. Today, our students and families are extremely fortunate that Elder has a strong endowment and financial aid program, allowing young men the opportunity to attend this fine institution. Scholarships and funds have been created through the generosity of our alumni and friends enabling Elder to offer tuition assistance and financial aid to over 90% of our student body – THANK YOU!
However, many families believe the cost of a Catholic education is not feasible. Last year, the State of Ohio changed the parameters of available money from the EdChoice Scholarship program. With this change, every Ohio family regardless of income or school district, is now eligible for financial aid to pay private school tuition. This means that with the EdChoice Scholarship, the cost of a Catholic Elder education is viable for these families, and we encourage all families to take advantage of this Scholarship. Since the EdChoice Scholarship does not cover the full cost of tuition, a young man may be eligible for additional tuition assistance such as academic scholarships and/or financial aid, bringing the cost of the overall tuition down even further. Now more than ever, being a Panther and a part of the Elder Family is within reach.
Setting our children up for future success means giving them a solid foundation from which to begin. Since 1922, Elder has been the cornerstone of our community, preparing and equipping its graduates to be positive forces in our ever-changing world. Thanks for all you do for our students and Elder High School!
Kurt Ruffing ’81 Principal
From Where Does it Come to Where Does it Go?
Each year, Elder High School is profoundly blessed by the extraordinary support of our generous benefactors. Your kindness ensures that a transformative and comprehensive Catholic education remains accessible to young men, empowering them to attend Elder. We are deeply grateful to our alumni, parents, and friends for their unwavering commitment to making a lasting impact on the lives of our students. Your support lays the foundation for our young men to grow into respectful leaders and positive contributors in an ever-diverse world.
As part of our strategic vision, we strive to strengthen our Catholic identity and dedication to service by delivering an exceptional educational experience. This includes maintaining strong academic programs that challenge our students and equip them for the evolving demands of life beyond high school. To achieve this, we are committed to investing in our campus, learning tools, and the development of our faculty and staff. Thanks to your generosity, our student offerings – from vibrant campus life to robust academic and athletic programs – remain among the best.
We remain steadfast in nurturing the personal growth of the young men entrusted to our care, encouraging them to collaborate for the common good. Your gifts continue to shape their futures in meaningful ways. Because of your support, we look to the future with confidence and hope for the opportunities it holds for our students. For this and so much more, we extend our heartfelt gratitude.
Thank you for your loyalty and generosity to Elder High School!
INCOME by SOURCE
EXPENSES by CATEGORY
Elder welcomed the 250 students that make up the class of 2028 to the first day of freshman year!
Our school year kicked off with an All-School Mass! Special thanks to Father Andrew and Walt Kelsey ’00 for their inspiring words to kick off the new academic year.
Mrs. James’s Materials Science classes wrapped up the month of October with two field trips. They visited William Lang and Sons to learn about steel fabrication and welding. Jeff Tuttle Sr. ’87 and Joe Schutte ‘93 showed the students a small piece of their work from the bid process, design, assembly, and installation of materials to various job sites nationally.
On the second field trip, Todd Zureick ’94 hosted the classes at Hollaender International sharing insights into the aluminum manufacturing industry.
Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Pat Dinkelacker, ’72, spoke to Mr. Jansing’s Business Law class Judge Dinkelacker spoke about his vast experiences as a Hamilton County Prosecutor, and his many judicial positions held during his career. Judge Dinkelacker reviewed his decision-making process on difficult sentencing and rulings during his more than thirty years on the bench and his continuing busy court docket.
Elder’s HelpDesk, specifically Mr. Corey Amodio, was recently recognized by Lenovo, Inc. as one of the top ten percent of warranty service providers across the country. Corey’s expertise in solving PC problems and completing warranty work onsite at Elder means that students and faculty have shorter wait times and fewer computers are sent off-site for repair. This in turn saves on shipping costs, both financial and environmental. Congratulations, Corey, for this recognition.
Members from the Elder Student Ambassador Society participated in mock job interviews. Thank you to everyone who provided this opportunity to help our students learn valuable interviewing skills.
Elder welcomes some new, and some familiar faces, to the faculty and staff for the ’24-’25 school year:
Front row (l to r):
Todd Forman ’81 - Community Service Coordinator
In this year of Eucharistic renewal, Elder was blessed to be a part of one of the four national processions, as the Eucharist journeyed from Connecticut to the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis this past summer.
Marshall Kellenburger - Spanish teacher
Scott Heisel ’79 - Religion teacher
Gage Branson - Intervention Specialist
Back row (l to r):
Adam Duwel ’21 - Media Production & Technology Coordinator; Avin Whitaker - Asst. Strength & Conditioning Coach
Greg Weber ’93 - Annual Fund Director
Tommy Thamann ’20 - Math teacher
Welcome to the Elder Family!
Yummy afternoon of making crepes for the French Club
Since 1965, Elder has fondly remembered the deceased members of its family through a celebration known as The Memorial Mass Elder once again honored those who have gone before us this past year and invited their loved ones to attend the Mass held in our Memorial Fieldhouse. Rev. Chris Lack was our celebrant.
Congrats to the 226 students who received academic honors at the Fifty-Fifth Annual Honors Convocation. The Honors Convocation calls attention to those students in each grade level whose hard work and achievement inside the classroom have earned them high marks for each quarter.
The Thomas Aquinas chapter of the National Honor Society held its induction ceremony for newly selected juniors and seniors. Danny Meyer, ’10, shared his three “P’s“ for success in life: people, patience, and prayer. Elder’s chapter of the National Honor Society began in 1964 and recognizes students who excel in scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Congratulations to the new members and their families!
Congratulations to senior Brady Leininger who was named a Commended Student in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise.
Fifteen Elder students embarked on an incredible Spanish immersion trip to Costa Rica this past summer. The trip included a service project where the boys reconstructed a bus stop for the community. After spending several days with their host families, learning about local cooking and culture, they embarked on an exhilarating white-water rafting trip down the Pacuare River to the Pacuare Outdoor Center. The remainder of the trip was filled with adventure, including ziplining through the rainforest, swinging on the giant Tarzan swing, hiking to a waterfall, and more white-water rafting. They returned home with a new appreciation for the language, culture, and wonderful people of Costa Rica.
Senior JT Hoffman has earned the title of Semifinalist in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program About 1.5 million juniors take the PSAT/NMSQT each year. JT is one of 16,000 top scorers on the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. JT can continue in the competition to advance to the Finalist level and be eligible to win a college scholarship. Congratulations, JT and good luck in the scholarship competition.
President of Elder’s Pro-Life Club, Hayden Rankin, presented Naomi Langdon, office coordinator at Pregnancy Center West, a check from our Baby Bottle Campaign and October theme day.
Senior William Koch spent ten weeks of his summer break completing Army Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. The boot camp’s physical training, combat training, and field training exercises were very rigorous; however, William successfully transformed from a trainee to a soldier and graduated at the rank of Private
Stacie Hill from St. William stopped by Elder to thank the guys for the coats that were collected and dropped off (see inside cover about coat drive). She mentioned how the families were deeply grateful, and the coats were greatly needed. Pictured are some of the recipients wearing their new coats.
The faculty service day happened at A Child's Hope International where our team came together and packaged 33,664 meals for children in Eswatini! Through the collective efforts of everyone involved, each person contributed to feeding a child for a year and a half with the work done that day.
Leo Schmitz ‘27 was featured on “What’s Happening in Health” on LOCAL 12, WKRC-TV Sunday morning. Local 12 Health Anchor and Medical Reporter Liz Bonis interviewed him, his father, and Aubrey Rose Foundation Executive Director Nancy Hollenkamp to discuss Leo’s exceptional volunteerism after receiving an ARF scholarship last year. Way to go, Leo! Altiora!
Mrs. Lanter, Mr. Nugent, and Fr. Andrew took Elder students on a mission trip to Appalachia, Kentucky. These men completed a much-needed building project, worked at the food pantry, prayed, and played together. What a great experience!
The Elder News Network’s broadcast of Elder Football vs Bishop Chatard also aired on FOX 19.3! Congrats to our ENN students for this incredible opportunity to showcase their talents live on TV!
The crew in charge of entertainment for the Elder-Seton tailgate party for junior high students.
Kevin McLaughlin ’74, stopped by Elder to donate a monopod to ENN. It’s a piece of equipment designed for lightweight camera setups and keeping your camera stable. It will be put to good use by the ENN team. Kevin is pictured with Jeff Fuell, Gary Rogers, and Adam Duwel.
Elder’s Premier Rocket League team swept Avon Lake High School 3-0 in the state finals match in the Esports Ohio Fall Classic completing an all-perfect season! Way to go, Elder Premier Rocket League!
Pictured left to right: Aiden Rapien, Kaden Lively, Jeremiah Brown, and Max Noble.
Joe Rudemiller ’02, VP of Marketing and Communications for 3CDC, spoke with Mrs. Niemer’s Introduction to Marketing class about the various roles marketing plays within a company.
Thank you to the students and volunteers who participated in Prepare Affair by helping low-income, elderly, and disabled homeowners prepare their homes for winter.
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Christmas Together Toy Drive and Toy Shop this year! Nearly 150 families, including over 350 children, were gifted toys and books.
As part of a community effort in collaboration with KeepGoing25’s Illumni-Nite event, members of Elder’s Campus Ministry team delivered luminaries, a sign, and prayer cards with words of encouragement to five families. It was a way to bring light and messages of hope to people and families facing adversity this year. The sign outside of Elder is dedicated to members of the Elder community who may need our thoughts and prayers, even if we are not aware of their specific needs.
THE arts @ ELDER HIGH SCHOOL
The Elder Art Department held the 2nd Annual Grade School Invitational Art Exhibition. Thank you to the ten area schools who participated in the Art Show this year: St. Antoninus; St. Jude; Our Lady of Visitation; Our Lady of Victory; St. Catherine; St. John the Baptist, Harrison; St. Mary’s, Hyde Park; Our Lady of Grace; St. John Paul II; St. Margaret of York. Congratulations to all the participants. Thank you to Kim Knoppe ’69 for his generosity and sponsorship of this event, the grade school art teachers, and the students who participated. What a great afternoon of art!
1st Place Altiora Award
Congratulations to the cast and crew of “Medieval Nights.” Another fine performance from The Seton-Elder Performing Arts Series.
Benji Witsken (St. Jude)
2nd Place Panther Award
Micah Le (Our Lady of Grace)
3rd Place Purple Award
Woodrow Hinton (St. Antoninus)
Runners-Up/Awards of Excellence
Caleb Basil (St. Mary)
Jay Bruegge (St. Mary)
Andrew Strange (St. Antoninus)
Will Abell (St. Margaret of York)
Awards of Excellence
Declan Howell (St. John the Baptist)
Michael Moeller (St. John the Baptist)
Sebastian Zureick (Our Lady of Visitation)
Chase Faulk (Our Lady of Visitation)
Jake Held (Our Lady of Visitation)
Ethan Barker (St. Antoninus)
Alessandro Loeb (St. Antoninus)
Mason Reggin (Our Lady of Grace)
Luke Singleton (St. John Paul II)
Peter Holtman (St. Mary)
Samuel Patten (St. Catherine of Siena)
Bryce Docter (St. Jude)
Simon Yunker (Our Lady of Victory)
soccer football
This past season, our program took great strides in the right direction. After two good seasons of playing counter-attacking soccer, we set out to have a more possession-based attack. There were struggles at times, but also bright points such as the boys dominating a 4-1 win over Fairmont, #11 in the state. The Panther's leading scorer was junior Maxwell Martin, with six goals. Senior captains Connor Accurso and Hayden Rankin and junior captain Sam Bill led the midfield and helped set the tone for how we would play. Senior captain defender Austin Tettenhorst, junior captain Jack Banister, and Nicholas Luenenberger led our back line. Austin Tettenhosts whose season was cut short after his third devasting injury, was recognized as our Mr. Zip for his perseverance and resiliency. Our Mr. Panther award went to Hayden Rankin, also our GCL Academic All-Star, for his professional demeanor of being first in and last out.
Our JV A team notched their best record in 14 years and JV B earned their best record ever to date. The future is bright with 51 of 57 players in the program returning.
TEAM AWARDS:
Captains: Connor Accurso, Hayden Rankin, Austin Tettenhorst, Sam Bill, Jack Banister
Mr. ZIP: Austin Tettenhosts
Mr. Panther: Hayden Rankin
GCL & ALL-CITY AWARDS:
1st Team: Connor Accurso, Nicholas Luenenberger
2nd Team: Jack Banister, Maxwell Martin
The football team was led by a senior class that understood the importance of having a role and doing whatever was asked. When a team faces multiple season-ending injuries, senior leadership plays a crucial role in success; especially when younger guys with little experience are asked to contribute. Highlighted by a 3-0 start, our team battled adversity on many fronts. The one thing that will always stand out about the 2024 team is how hard they competed. The hard work and perseverance paid off with a playoff win against Mason in The Pit. By week 12, we had a great combination of upperclassmen leading the way, with a significant number of underclassmen learning what it takes to be a varsity football player. Our success in 2024 will always be attributed to a senior class that knew what it meant to be an Elder football player. Led by captains Maddox Arnold, Brayden Boeing, George Guidugli, Cameron James, and Cooper Sandhas, this year’s team will certainly be a team the Elder faithful can always be proud of.
GCL AWARDS:
1st Team Offense: Joey Thamann, Tyrell Scott
1st Team Defense: Joey Ditullio, Alex Dugan, Derek Uran
2nd Team Offense: JT Hoffman, Christopher Paff
2nd Team Defense: Matthew Golinar, Cooper Sandhas
Co-All-Purpose POY: Joey Thamann
Co-Linebacker of the Year: Derek Uran
ALL-SOUTHWEST:
1st Team Defense: Derrick Uran
golf
Both the A and B teams played very consistently. While the B Team didn’t win any tournaments this year, they were at the top in most of the tournaments they played. As a team, they averaged 40.9 strokes per nine holes.
Team A won the Bellbrook Invitational with Cayse Morgan (70) and Jack Voss (71) making the All-Tournament Team.
Team A averaged 38.5 strokes per nine holes. Cayse Morgan was a medalist or co-medalist six times this year. He reset Elder’s record books now holding 22 records. He is a three-time All GCL Player of the Year and three-time State qualifier.
TEAM AWARDS:
Captain: Cayse Morgan
Most Valuable: Cayse Morgan
Most Improved: Landon Meiners
Mr. ZIP: Shea Macke
GCL AWARDS:
1st Team: Cayse Morgan, Jack Voss, Jack Richardson, Landon Meiners
2nd Team: Mikey Moorman
cross country
The cross country season began with the Cougar Two-Mile Challenge, where the Panthers finished 2nd overall. The team continued fighting with a 3rd place finish in the highly competitive twenty team Little Miami Invitational. The varsity squad also finished 2nd in the Ross Invitational, led by senior captain John Merk. The team finished 3rd at GCL and 6th at the district meet.
TEAM AWARDS:
Captains: John Merk, Parker Smith, Toby Brubaker, Oliver Zureick
Most Valuable: John Merk
Most Improved: Colin Singer, Luke Vetter Mr. ZIP: Toby Brubaker
Congratulations to our seniors who have committed to using their talents at the next level!
CAYSE MORGAN
Xavier University (Golf)
Thank
You to everyone who supported Elderama 2024. Along with the online auction, Super Raffle, and Family Crisis Fund we had another successful year raising money to benefit the students of Elder High School!
2O24
A Friend of Elder
Mr. & Mrs. Mike Addis
Mr. & Mrs. Bernie Albers
Mr. & Mrs. John Albers
All Occasions Event Rental
Mr. & Mrs. Todd Allgeyer
Allison Landscaping –
Mr. Todd Allison
Mr. & Mrs. Dan Altenau
Dr. & Mrs. Rob Altenau
Aston Oaks Golf Course
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Aug, Sr.
Mr. & Mrs. Tim Aug
Thank You Sponsors
ALTIORA
Carrie & Rob Gould
Western Hills Window
PLATINUM
Bick’s Driving School of Western Hills Magda Dawson
HCM Wealth Advisors
Joel Handorf at Morgan Stanley
Johnson Investment Counsel, Inc.
GOLD
Schmidt Heating & Cooling
The Lucien Schoster Smith Team at Morgan Stanley
SILVER
Patricia & Albert ’58 Babey
Nancy & Mike Baker
Amy & Dennis ’74 Berning
Linda & Frank ’76 Panzeca
Michelle & Bob Stephens
CORPORATE
Hart Pharmacy
Hoeting Realtors
Hofmeyer Plumbing
Kneflin Dillhoff Hils & Kruse
Robert Jones Plumbing, Inc.
TJ Williams Electric Co.
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Aug
Mr. & Mrs. Albert Babey
Mr. & Mrs. Scott Bailey
Mr. & Mrs. Mike Baker
Mr. & Mrs. Tracy Ballard
Mr. & Mrs. Eric Bauer
Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Berning
Mr. Mike Berting
Mr. & Mrs. Tony Bezold
Bick’s Driving School, Western Hills –
Mr. & Mrs. Greg Hornsby
Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Biggs
Mr. & Mrs. Brian Bill
Mr. & Mrs. Steve Bill
Margaret Bollin
Bona Decorative Hardware
Mr. & Mrs. Jason Bovard
Mr. & Mrs. John Brandt
Mr. & Dr. Eric Braun
Mr. & Mrs. Jason Brewer
Bridgetown Finer Meats
Mr. & Mrs. Ray Broerman
Brogan/Hesketh Formal Wear –
Mr. Dave Brogan
Mr. & Mrs. Dave Brothers
Mr. Ralph Bruewer &
Ms. Dorie Pritchard
Mr. Tom Buening
Ms. Jenny Burbacher
Mr. & Mrs. Steve Burns
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Butler
By the Sea Salt Therapy
Dr. & Mrs. Marc Cassidy
Mr. & Mrs. Dan Cebula
CEI Sports
Mr. Selby Chidemo
Mr. & Mrs. Mike Chumbley
Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Ciambarella
Cincinnati Art Museum
Cincinnati Landmark Productions
Cincinnati Museum Center
Cincinnati Observatory
Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum
Cincinnati Shakespeare
Cincinnati Zoo
Cincy Reigns, Inc.
Mr. & Mrs. Bryan Clyde
Marilyn Coffaro
Mr. & Mrs. Ron Coffaro
Mr. & Mrs. Greg Conners
Mr. & Mrs. Nick Conte
Mr. & Mrs. Jim Conway
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Crowe
Mr. & Mrs. Ed Cummings
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Darnell
Mr. & Mrs. Scott Daubenmerkl
Mr. & Mrs. Gene Daut
Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Davis
Mrs. Magda Dawson
Denny McKeown’s Bloomin Garden Centre
Mr. Matt Deters
Mr. & Mrs. Dave Deuber
Mr. & Mrs. Dave Dickman
Mr. & Mrs. Terry Doherty
Mr. & Mrs. Mike Dreyer
Mr. & Mrs. Dan Dugan
Mr. & Mrs. Mike Dusold
Elder Band
Elder Glee Club
Elder High School
Elder High School
Athletic Department
Elder High School Spirit Store
Mr. & Mrs. Sean Ernst
Mr. Kevin Espelage
Mr. & Mrs. Greg Estep
Fabulous Furs
FC Cincinnati-Dr. Matt Busam
Dave Faigle & Son Jeweler
Mr. & Mrs. Chris Finke
Mr. & Mrs. Mike Finke
Mr. & Mrs. Frank Fiorino
Mr. & Mrs. Joe Fischer
Ms. Arlene Fischesser
Mr. & Mrs. Brian Flaherty
Mr. & Mrs. Todd Forman
Mr. & Mrs. Scott Fortkamp
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Foster
Frisch’s Big Boy
Gamble Nippert YMCA
Mr. & Mrs. Dave Gardner
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Gates
Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Geiger
Dr. & Mrs. Stephen Gerstner
Mr. & Mrs. Brian Gerth
Glassmeyer Family
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Goettke
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Golinar
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Gooderson
Mr. & Mrs. Rob Gould
Great Parks of Hamilton Co.
Mr. & Mrs. D.J. Gruen
Ms. Margreth Gwangwava
Mr. & Mrs. Joel Hafner
Mr. Rob Hahn
Hammann’s Butcher Shop and Deli Catering
Mr. Joel Handorf at Morgan Stanley
Hart Pharmacy –Dr. Sarah Priestle
Haverkos Family Orthodontics
HCM Wealth Advisors
Mr. Chris Hebenstreit
Dr. & Mrs. Mike Heile
Mr. & Mrs. Toby Heile
Mr. & Mrs. Tim Helmes
Mr. Steven Hemsath
Mr. & Mrs. Adam Herr
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Hirth
Hoeting Realtors
Hofmeyer Plumbing
Humbert Meats
Izzy’s
Mr. & Mrs. Jim Jackson
Elderama
Mr. & Mrs. Jim Janszen
Mr. Frank Jasper
Johnson Investment Counsel –Mr. Jay Wertz
Mr. & Mrs. Jim Jones
Jostens
Ms. Kate Kafel
Mr. & Mrs. Bill Kammer
Mr. & Mrs. Chad Kamstra
Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Kelly
Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Kelly
Kentucky Horse Park
Mr. & Mrs. Nick Keyes
Mr. & Mrs. Brian Kilby
Kings Island
Mr. & Mrs. John Klein
Dr. & Mrs. Rick Klopp
Kneflin Dillhoff Hils & Kruse –
Mr. Nick Levy
Mr. & Mrs. Greg Kotz
Mr. & Mrs. John Kraft
Mr. & Mrs. Nick Kremm
Mr. & Mrs. Steve Krsacok
Mr. & Mrs. Todd Lahey
Mr. & Mrs. John Lammers
LaRosa’s
Mr. & Mrs. Geoff Ledford
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Leibel
Mr. & Mrs. Mike Leininger
Mr. & Mrs. Brian Leisgang
Mr. & Mrs. Greg Leisgang
Dr. & Mrs. Jay Leisgang
Mr. & Mrs. Eric Leuenberger
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Linneman
Little Miami Brewing Co.
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Longano
Mrs. Ginger Louis
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Lucas
Mr. & Mrs. Bob Luebbe
Mr. & Mrs. Ken Luken
Lunken Flight Training Center
Mr. & Mrs. Brian Lutz
Mr. & Mrs. Steve Makin
Mr. & Mrs. David Mannix
Mr. & Mrs. Bill Maurer
Mr. Tony Mazza & Mrs. Nancy Hart
Mr. & Mrs. Shaun McComas
Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey
Mr. & Mrs. Bob McKenna
Mr. & Mrs. Tim McKenna
Mr. & Mrs. Scott McQuillan
Mr. & Mrs. Israel McVey
Mr. & Mrs. Jon Meiners
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Mendel
Mercy McAuley High School
Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Merk
Mr. & Mrs. Bill Metz
Mr. & Mrs. Rich Meyer
Mike’s Carwash
Chris & Donna Miliano
Chris & Lauren Miliano
Mr. Scott Miliano
Mr. & Mrs. Tony Miliano
Mr. Stephen Moeller
Mr. & Mrs. Brian Mullen
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Mullen
Ms. Joyce Murray
NCH Bakery
Newport Syndicate
Mr. & Mrs. Tao Nguyen
Mr. & Mrs. Brian Niemann
Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Niemer
Mr. & Mrs. James O’Connor
Mr. & Mrs. Jason Ott
Mr. Tom Otten
Mr. & Mrs. Garett Pace
Mr. & Mrs. Rob Paff
Mr. & Mrs. Frank Panzeca
Paragon Salons
Peppe Ramundo & Son
Custom Tailors
Perfect North Slopes
Mrs. Mary Pessler
Petals n Glass
Mr. Matthew Peterman
Ms. Stefanie Peterman
Mr. & Mrs. Steve Peterman
Mr. Tom Peterman
Mr. & Mrs. Jon Peters
Mr. & Mrs. William Phelan
Mr. & Mrs. Jason Phillips
Mr. & Mrs. Rodger Pille
Mr. & Mrs. Rob Poulos
Prestige Audio Visual
Mr. & Mrs. Joe Priestle
Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Priestle
Mr. & Dr. Scott Priestle
Mrs. Pam Pulskamp
Mr. & Mrs. Mike Ramstetter
Mr. & Mrs. Dave Rapien
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Reckers
Recreations Outlet
Mrs. Jenny Reder
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Reid
Mr. & Mrs. Todd Richardson
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Riestenberg
Rising Star Casino and Resort
Robert Jones Plumbing, Inc.–
Bob & Jim Jones
Mr. & Mrs. Doug Roden
Dr. & Mrs. Rick Roedersheimer
Dr. & Mrs. Mark Rudemiller
Dr. & Mrs. Michael Rudemiller
Bradley Rudinsky & Marci Simonson
Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Ruffing
Mr. & Mrs. Scott Ruth
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Scheid
Schmidt Heating and Cooling –
Mr. Steve Hutzel
Mr. Bob Schmidt
Mr. Jim Schmitt
Mr. & Mrs. Eric Schmitz
Schott Monument –
Mr. Bruce Hoffman
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Schroth
Mrs. Noelle Schwartz
Mr. & Mrs. John Seaton
State Representative Bill Seitz
Seton High School
Mr. & Mrs. Rick Shockey
Mr. & Mrs. Brandon Shondel
Mr. & Mrs. Christian Simon
Mr. Greg Simonson
Mr. & Mrs. Brant Smith
Mr. & Mrs. Terry Snider
Soccer City
Mr. & Mrs. Dan Souders
Mr. & Mrs. Jim Stagge
Stagnaro Distributing
Stanley’s Drivers Training
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Stecher
Mr. & Mrs. Dave Steinriede
Mr. & Mrs. Doug Steinriede
Dr. & Mrs. Bob Stephens
Mr. & Mrs. Larry Stock
Mr. & Mrs. Pete Stokes
Mr. & Mrs. Tim Sullivan
Sullivan’s Family Foods
T. J. Williams Electric Co. –
Mr. Andy Vogelsang
Mary Lou Tallarigo
Mr. Ian Teal
Mr. Tim Telger & Ms. Lisa Muhlenkamp
Mr. & Mrs. Ken Thamann
The BonBonerie
The Children’s Theatre
The Lucien Schoster Smith
Team at Morgan Stanley
Mr. & Mrs. Ed Thomas
Thunderdome Restaurant Group
Mr. & Mrs. Sean Tierney
Tri-State Running Company
Mr. & Mrs. John Trokan
Tropical Foliage Plants, Inc. –
Mr. Dale Lutz
Mr. & Mrs. Frank Trotta
Dr. & Mrs. Patrick Tucker
Mr. & Mrs. Todd Turner
Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Tuttle
Mr. & Mrs. Chris Ulmer
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Vale
Mr. & Mrs. Andy Vandiver
Mr. & Mrs. Joe Ventre
Mr. & Mrs. Kent Wahl
Mr. & Mrs. Jason Walter
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Ward
Mr. & Mrs. Greg Weber
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Weil
Mr. & Mrs. Bill Welch
Werkhaus Pizza & Pasta
West Side Brewing
Fr. Westerhoff
Western Athletic Club
Western Hills Window –
Mr. Jason Phillips
White Oak Gardens
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Wienkamp
Wild Birds Unlimited
Mr. & Mrs. Brian Williams
Mr. & Mrs. Chris Williams
Mr. & Mrs. Mike Williams
Mr. & Mrs. Scott Willig
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Willis
Dr. Matthew Witsken
Xavier University
Mr. & Mrs. Todd Zureick
Elderama
The 2024 Elderama Chair-Couples were (pictured l to rt): Dan & Jen Dugan, Carrie & Tim Sullivan, Scott ’97 & Jen Ruth, and Kurt Ruffing ’81.
Altiora Award
“PURSUIT OF THE HIGHER THINGS IN LIFE”
Congratulations to this year’s Altiora Award recipient, Dan Meyer ’74!
After graduating from Elder, Dan attended the University of Penn, Wharton Business School, graduating in 1978. Dan spent the next 16 years with P&G, Quaker Oats, and Drackett companies in various marketing, sales, and management positions.
In 1994, Dan co-founded Changing Paradigms, a premium private-label product company for air care, household cleaners, baby care, and other categories. Changing Paradigms expanded into an $85 million consumer packaged goods company and became a key partner with P&G to resurrect certain brands.
In 2009, Dan co-founded Nehemiah Manufacturing, where he is currently the CEO. Nehemiah’s most important achievement is employing second chance citizens who find employment difficult because of prior felony convictions, drug and alcohol addiction, and homelessness.
In 2015, Dan led a group of other businesses to follow Nehemiah’s mission to provide jobs for the second chance employee population. This has become known as the Beacon of Hope Business Alliance, intending to offer 2,500 new jobs each year for second-chance employees. To date, over 70 companies have joined this Alliance.
Dan and his wife Debbie have been married for 44 years and have three daughters and three grandchildren.
Charlie
Squeri
“ LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWAR
D ”
Congratulations to this year’s Charlie Squeri Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Marty Mullen ’73!
Our honored awardee has near-perfect attendance playing in the Classic and his family may hold the record for most family members playing in a single year. In addition to being a regular golfer in the Classic, he is also a longtime Panther sponsor of the event.
After graduating from Elder, his original plan of becoming a police officer didn’t pan out so he decided to try insurance. Upon graduation from the University of Cincinnati, he began working as a claims adjuster with Cincinnati Insurance. Shortly after starting his professional career in 1978, he married his wife Carol and raised four children together. He eventually became the Senior VP at Cincinnati Insurance and, in 2020, after 43 years, he retired.
Marty loves spending time with his grandkids, including attending all their sporting events and he’s constantly driving grandkids to wherever they need to go.
Marty and Carol have a long history of service and support for Elder High School and have been involved in many fundraising campaigns, supports PAC 100, and helps with various feasibility studies.
Marty’s hard work in his professional career, his dedication and devotion to family, and his service and support of others in the Elder community and beyond have earned Marty this award.
Thanks to all who supported the ELDER CLASSIC through corporate or personal sponsorships, hole and ra e sponsorships, participation, or volunteering of their time. Another great year for the CLASSIC raising funds for faculty enrichment and development.
Altiora Sponsor
NEHEMIAH MANUFACTURING
Dan Meyer ’74, Chris Lahni ’03, Dan Wall ’81, and Michael Kenning ’06
Dinner Sponsor
J.T.M
Tony Maas ’78, Joe Meyer ’81, Keith Wiesman ’89, and Jason Herrmann ’00
Cocktail Sponsors
STAGNARO DISTRIBUTING
Chad Kamstra ’96
KEN STECHER ’64
Panther Sponsors
THE BLEH & CUMMINGS FAMILIES
Tim Bleh ’82, and Ed Cummings ’82
CINCINNATI INSURANCE
Ken Stecher ’64
DINSMORE
Harry Cappel ’88
THE GOINS FAMILY
David ’82, Brian ’85, and Mark ’86
ROBERT JONES PLUMBING
Nick ’06, Trevor ’03, Jim ’73, and Bobby ’78
KRAFT ELECTRIC
John ’73, and Danny ’04 Kraft
THE MULLEN FAMILY
Marty ’73, Mike ’98, Nick ’01, and Scott ’07
OVERHEAD DOOR COMPANY OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY
Scott Siefke ’88, Dave Willmes ’83, Mike Duwel ’91, and Mike Faeth ’88
ROCKEFELLER CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
Ross Hambleton Jr. ’94, Matt Hambleton ’98, Mike Fieler ’88, and Andrew Sullivan ’05
JOHN J. & THOMAS R. SCHIFF INSURANCE
Ray Broerman ’71
SUNRISE TREATMENT CENTER
Dr. Jeff Bill ’96
THE WILLIG FAMILY
Gary ’68, Scott ’93, and Chris ’01
Any questions, contact GREG WEBER at 513.921.3424 or webergj@elderhs.net Your support of the Elder High School Annual Fund helps provide opportunities for our students to grow in faith, academics, and character. Thank you to everyone who has already donated—you’re making an incredible impact. If you haven’t had a chance yet, there’s still time to join in and show your Panther Pride! Every gift, big or small, matters.
You can donate online at www.elderhs.org/annualfund or Venmo (under Business – Elder High School)
Deacon Tom…Old Reliable Model for Support
WHEN THE PHRASE OLD RELIABLE IS USED, MOST THINK OF SOMEONE OR SOMETHING THAT CAN BE TRUSTED OR DEPENDED UPON. ONE MIGHT ALSO THINK THAT THE WORD “OLD” IN THE PHRASE REFERS TO AGE AND WITH ELDER CLASS OF 1944 ALUMNUS, TOM WESTERFIELD, THAT CERTAINLY RINGS TRUE AS TOM JUST TURNED 99 THIS PAST OCTOBER. But I feel the words trusted and dependable are more fitting for a man who’s devoted his life to the Catholic faith and has been a model of support for so many in helping to raise money at Elder, Our Lady of Lourdes, Bayley and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology, formerly known as the Athenaeum and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West.
Growing up with three brothers in St. Teresa of Avila parish in Price Hill, Tom was raised by his mother and grandparents. Tom described his mother as very saintly and a devout Catholic, two qualities that undoubtedly can be attributed to Tom today. Sadly, one of Tom’s brothers died of appendicitis at the age of 12 which resulted in a closer bond between the remaining brothers and their mother. Tom’s childhood memories include playing baseball and basketball with the neighborhood kids. He recalled proudly that he was instrumental in teaching a friend who would eventually go on to play in the majors for the Cardinals, how to play baseball.
helping around the house. He described himself as an average student and he truly enjoyed his time at Elder, gaining quite a few close friendships with guys during his four years.
After graduating from Elder in June of ’44, Tom, like most during that turbulent time in our history, went into the military. After serving as a communications/radio guy in US Navy for 2 years, he finished his service in ’46. He recalls being on the flotilla during WWII in the first wave dropping marines off at Okinawa while kamikaze aircraft headed straight towards their battle ships. Tom became close with several of the guys from their landing ship tank (LST) and through all they experienced, good friendships were formed that lasted long after they finished their service.
When Tom landed at Elder in the fall of 1940, he was too small to play sports and most days after school were spent
Tom returned from the war and got his BS in Business Administration from Xavier University and landed a job at DuBois Chemicals and then Chemed where he spent most of his professional career as Treasurer and CFO. As Tom was getting his career on track, he met a young woman named Dottie who was with her mother at Coney Island one sunny summer afternoon. Tom stepped aside from his Elder buddies he was with that day and rode the Ferris wheel with Dottie. While on that ride, she said to Tom, “If you’re ever in the neighborhood, maybe we can go out on a date.” Without hesitation, Tom replied, “How about tomorrow night?” Then on Nov. 25, 1948, Tom and Dottie married and would eventually raise 5 children (Linda, Carol, Tom, Mary
Ellen and Joey), 14 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Tom developed a special bond with their son Joey who had down syndrome. Tom lost Dottie in 2005 and Joey passed away just last year.
Involvement has always been part of Tom’s life and when not at home with Dottie raising his children and developing his inseparable bond with Joey, he got involved as chairman of the board of the Bankers Club and was charged with getting speakers to come and speak for membership gatherings. Among those on that list of speakers were Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford and Margaret Thatcher.
With his Catholic faith always being at the forefront of all Tom does, he decided to become a deacon and was ordained at the Athenaeum of Ohio – Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West in 1992. He’s always been close to the church and still is. Though he is considered retired, he still maintains his role in the church as a senior status deacon and does still, on occasion, get up on the altar to preach.
Tom’s benevolence is overwhelming through his support of the Athenaeum, Our Lady of Lourdes, Bayley and Elder High School. In addition to my connection with Tom through Elder and his generous support as a scholarship benefactor and a member of the Fr. Schmitt Planned Giving Society, I also work with Tom as a committee member on the Mother Margaret George Society (MMGS) at Bayley. The Society offers a unique way to honor any living or deceased loved one(s) through major gift contributions. Though Tom’s involvement in the MMGS has waned due to his age, he was
the one who originally invited me to get involved for which I am grateful.
Denny Eagan, Elder class of ’71 and former long-standing VP of finance and administration with the Athenaeum/Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, knows Tom well and simply refers to Tom as “a remarkable guy with a good heart and great love for the church and the Catholic faith.” Tom came to the Athenaeum as such a fine businessman and through his work serving on the seminary’s board of trustees, put the seminary on a more sound footing. “He himself got involved and had a gift of getting a lot of other people to also get involved in the seminary through various levels of support,” according to Denny. When the seminary was having financial troubles, Tom was instrumental in helping to raise close to $50 million through the establishment of the Bishop Fenwick Society. The Westerfield Room –a faculty lounge named for Dottie and Tom, is still in use today at the seminary. Denny describes Tom, and I’m quite certain that many would agree, as “one of the kindest – most generous and most faith filled person that you’d ever want to meet.”
As we parted, I asked Tom what advice he would give to a young man at Elder today. He said, “Every class you should take advantage of because in some way or another, it’s going to influence your future.” Regarding his support of Elder, he added, “In my day, a lot of the kids couldn’t go to Elder because their parents couldn’t afford it, which rings true today, and that’s the reason I give back and why Dottie and I created the Thomas E. and Dorothy M. Westerfield Scholarship and why Elder is included in my estate plan.”
Honoring the lives of Elder Alumni who have recently gone before us. A complete listing of deceased graduates can be viewed at www.elderhs.org/Alumni.
John H. “Jack” Hendy, Sr. ’49
Theodore M. “Ted” Penker III ’49
Robert J. Vesper ’50
William A. “Bill” Maxwell ’51
Francis A. “Frank” Boerger ’51
Charles J. Stein ’51
Emanuel D. “Pep” Palmisano ’51
Frank A. Goldschmidt ’51
Gerald J. “Jerry” Kroger ’52
Frank J. Mueller III ’52
Anthony F. “Tony” Krimmer ’53
George P. Dehler ’53
Thomas I. Hayden ’53
Elmer S. Lay ’54
William R. Vogt ’54
John M. “Jack” Reddington ’54
Raymond C. Weber ’55
Donald J. Olberding ’55
Richard C. Zahneis ’55
William T. Reilly ’55
Edward R. Reynolds ’56
Louis J. Arnold ’56
Paul H. Kohls ’56
Richard E. Dwenger ’57
William G. “Bill” Rohe ’57
Thomas J. Ciampone ’57
Thomas B. Eppinghoff ’57
David T. Jeanmougin, Sr. ’58
William J. “Tex” Ridder ’58
Robert W. Ring ’59
Frank C. Evans, Jr. ’59
Robert P. Doerflein ’59
Frank R. Kerley ’59
Robert O. Beckmeyer ’60
Russell F. Poland ’60
Jerome E. Heidemann ’60
Robert J. Kohake ’61
James F. Cummings, Sr. ’61
Frederick J. Wehby ’62
Alfred L. “Len” Perry, Jr. ’63
Daniel J. Gilday, Sr. ’63
John F. “Jack” Kramer ’63
Kenneth A. Frank ’63
Donald M. Massa ’63
Bernard J. “Jack” Stahl ’64
June 28
October 22
June 23
July 27
August 18
October 21
October 22
November 20
June 11
August 5
May 31
November 10
November 20
July 4
November 12
November 15
July 6
August 10
October 18
October 20
June 28
October 12
October 17
June 27
July 19
August 16
November 23
March 2
November 29
September 11
November 4
November 23
November 29
June 27
August 24
November 21
July 22
September 19
June 11
June 29
August 11
September 10
September 24
November 3
June 3
P. Timothy Carroll ’64
Ronald F. Trefzger ’65
Gary P. Bubenhofer ’65
Timothy H. Santel ’66
Paul E. Brunner ’67
Bernard C. Butscha, Jr. ’68
Gregory A. Sowders ’68
Thomas A. “Gator” Ledonne ’68
Mark W. McDevitt ’68
Kenneth L. Moorman ’68
Paul J. Lohbeck ’68
Thomas P. Coffaro ’69
Thomas P. Weikel ’69
William J. Nolan ’70
Philip J. DePaoli ’70
Robert W. Kessler ’71
Anthony F. “Toby” Stoller, Sr. ’71
William J. “Bill” Daley ’72
John A. Bain ’72
Gary D. Langenbrunner ’73
William A. Lynn ’73
William A. “Bill” Anderson ’73
Mark W. Renzenbrink ’74
Steven P. Morgan ’74
Jeffrey A. Kanoza ’74
Albert P. Holzmeister ’74
Michael R. Walters ’75
Michael A. Hicks, Sr. ’76
Joseph C. Somori ’76
Charles A “Chuck” Mastruserio ’76
Terrence E. Allgeyer ’77
Chris M. Habig ’79
Thomas J. Colley ’79
James R. Eckerle, Jr. ’80
Richard M. “Dick” Mancini ’81
Paul E. Tepe ’85
Scott A. Martini ’86
Keith A. Scherer ’87
Andrew S. Fortman ’89
Danny L. Simpson, Jr. ’91
James B. Ellis ’91
George W. Nieman ’92
Andrew R. Accurso ’98
July 16
June 10
June 15
September 10
November 13
August 17
August 29
September 19
October 9
October 12
October 19
August 17
September 23
June 26
November 9
August 19
November 15
July 16
October 24
June 3
September 19
November 23
June 21
August 29
October 9
November 24
July 11
September 24
October 17
October 29
November 19
August 5
September 30
November 7
November 22
August 23
June 14
July 20
September 4
August 13
September 1
July 9
June 22
Mark E. Bales ’98
Peter A. O’Shaughnessy ’00
November 10
August 9
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On June 20, St. Catharine of Sienna Church honored FR. ANTHONY DATILLO ’66 who retired as pastor following 23 years of faithful duty to the parish. Ordained 40 years ago, Fr. Tony presided over 300 weddings and 1,003 baptisms and laid to rest over 900 souls having counseled and comforted their mourning families. He will continue to serve
After 47 years of hospital service, KREIMER ’61 has resigned from Mercy West Hospital. During his time there, Dan worked every Monday evening and every other weekend and covered many other shifts over summer months. His teaching at Elder has inspired many students to enter the field of pharmacy, including five currently on staff at Mercy West. Pictured with Dan (center) are MARK MAYHAUS ’80, MARK JOHNSON ’78, DON BISHER ’79, and BRIAN BISHER ’07. Not pictured: TED DeMATTEO ’79.
SO MUCH CHANGES IN THE COURSE OF A YEAR. WE’D LIKE TO KEEP YOU UPDATED ON CURRENT EVENTS & HAPPENINGS AROUND ELDER. PLEASE SEND YOUR CURRENT EMAIL ADDRESS TO: alumnichanges@elderhs.net
Despite their celebration at The PAC being rained out, several members of the 1984 STATE CHAMPION ELDER BASEBALL TEAM gathered later in the day to reminisce about their feat 40 years ago. The Panthers were 13-8 before capping off the season with 11 straight wins to capture the title! Pictured are (front row, l to r) SEAN MASON ’85, DAN BLEY ’84, STEVE SOLORIA ’85, BILLY MEIER ’84, DAVE NEVILLE ’84, and (back row) TIM KELLER ’85, CHRIS NICHTING ’84, GREG SIEGMUNDT ’84, MARTY NOVAKOV ’84, DENNY BLEH ’84.
With vast experience in special effects, design engineering, and exhibit fabrication, founder and president SCOTT WOLFRAM ’94 (seated right) opened Working Studio, Inc. in 2006, a destination for anyone searching for a studio that loves to solve challenging problems in unique ways with a background in many different disciplines. The ever-growing studio and team of professionals celebrat ed its expansion into a new space on Muddy Creek Road by hosting an open house this past October.
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SELBY CHIDEMO
’10 and his mother, Margreth Gwangwava, visited with Principal Kurt Ruffing and donated to the Family Crisis Fund this fall. Both are appreciative for what Elder did for them when Selby was a student and now would like to “pay it forward” by helping other students in need. Margreth is the president of Constant Seniors Care LLC and Selby is the VP. s 1O
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In November, NATE SCHAERER ’22 was sworn in as a full-time firefighter with the Colerain Township Fire Department. Elder teacher and township trustee, Dr. Matt Wahlert, presided over the ceremony as Chief Allen Walls and Nate’s father SCOTT ’90 took part in the ceremony.
The 11th Annual T.J.’s “Race with the Wind” was yet another success. Proceeds from the event benefit the T.J. DOHERTY ’98 Scholarship at Elder. On July 22, 2012, T.J. was struck by a car while riding his bicycle in Boulder, Colorado. He died two days later. T.J. was a passionate athlete and philanthro pist, competing in races all around the world. In the years since this tragedy, family and friends have gathered to remember him in this joyous, competitive spirit.
Congratulations to DENNIS JANSON ’68 and the late JOHN FAY ’75 who were inducted into the Greater Cincinnati Journalism Hall of Fame as presented by the Greater Cincinnati Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists!
THE POWER OF CONNECTION
by DON BONAVITA ’84, 2025 Alumni Board President
There’s something undeniably special about being a part of the Elder High School community. Whether you’re an alumnus, a parent, a current student or simply a friend of Elder, the spirit that defines our school is unmistakable. For those of us who remain deeply involved, Elder isn’t just a place where we once spent our days; it’s a foundational part of who we are.
For decades, my father, Dominic Bonavita, was a cornerstone of the Elder community, leaving an unforgettable impact on everyone he encountered. Whether you were a student, parent, teacher, or guest, he had a way of making you feel like you truly belonged. His warm handshake, radiant smile, and sincere words transformed every interaction into something meaningful. His trademark phrase, “If no one has told you yet today, I love you,” was more than just words—it was the guiding principle of his life. My father’s selfless dedication to Elder was honored in numerous ways, including being named an Honorary Elder graduate and receiving both the Alumni Spirit Award and the esteemed Altiora Award. Following in his footsteps has been a natural and fulfilling path for me. The relationships I’ve built through Elder continue to enrich my life, and supporting new generations of Panthers brings me great joy.
What do I enjoy most? It’s the people; the energy in the Pit on a Friday night; the teachers and staff who give their all to help students succeed; the alumni who remain connected, no matter how many years have passed. Together, we are Elder—bound by a shared commitment to excellence and an unwavering belief in what this school stands for Altiora- “Strive for the Higher Things.”
I’m honored to serve on the Alumni Board and am especially proud to take on the role of Alumni Board President for 2025. As alumni, you also have the opportunity to stay connected with the Elder community by joining us for the many events we host throughout the year.
We sincerely thank outgoing board member ANDY SPINNEY ’91 for his dedicated service and commitment to Elder High School. Additionally, we are excited to welcome new members to the Board: PAUL DAVIS ’71, DAN ANDRIACCO ’95, DAVE RIGDON ’07, and JACOB STIENS ’21.
For those of you who are already part of the Elder family, Thank You for keeping the tradition alive. To those who are just discovering what Elder is all about, Welcomeyou’re in for something truly extraordinary. There’s no place quite like it.
Altiora!
Don Bonavita ’84
MARCH 1
ALUMNI GOLF OUTING SIGN-UPS
MARCH 1
SOFTBALL LEAGUE REGISTRATION DEADLINE
MARCH 11
ALUMNI AWARDS
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
• JUNE 6 ALUMNI GOLF OUTING
• AUGUST 8 ALUMNI FAMILY PICNIC
• OCTOBER 13 EBA GOLF OUTING
LIUZHOU, CHINA, & CINCINNATI connection
Since 1988, Cincinnati and Liuzhou, China, have been united as sister cities, fostering cultural and educational exchanges that have bridged continents and created lifelong connections. At the heart of this partnership are Joe ’79 and Lisa Hamrick, who have been involved with the organization for the past 21 years. For the last six years, Joe has served as Executive Chairman. The two of them have organized exchanges primarily for teachers but also for other professions. This past October, Joe wanted to add a new twist to the exchange: pickleball. On a trip that would redefine the word 'hospitality,' Joe and his teammates from his Class of 1979 pickleball league and their wives, introduced the sport to Liuzhou. While Joe frequently spoke about the warmth and kindness of the people in Liuzhou, the hospitality we were shown surpassed even his highest praises. “The welcome we received from the Foreign Affairs Office, teachers, and students was overwhelmingly positive,” said Jeff Stowe ’79. “Everywhere we visited we were treated like celebrities. The people we met could not have been more gracious. They really appreciated that we visited their city of Liuzhou.”
The mornings were immersed in Chinese culture and the afternoons were spent teaching pickleball with demonstrations at local high schools and colleges. Given their mastery of ping pong and badminton, it is no surprise how quickly the students picked up the new skill. Between practice sessions, we were treated to incredible meals, each one a feast displaying an abundance of local traditional dishes to sample and savor.
After leaving Liuzhou, we spent a week in Beijing and Shanghai, exploring the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and the futuristic skyline of Shanghai. As we laugh about some of the stories now, it became clear that the true highlight wasn’t the destination, but the company. Those friendships, rooted in the halls of Elder and strengthened over the years, turned this trip into something far greater than we ever imagined.
So, while China might not have been on our bucket lists, the memories we made there—and the reminder that you can take the guys out of the West Side but never the West Side out of the guys—will stay with us forever.
