Winter 2022 CURLEY Magazine

A Magazine for Alumni, Parents and Friends

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Winter 2022

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HOME COMING 2021

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ARCHBISHOP CURLEY HIGH SCHOOL

WINTER 2022

FEATURES

CURLEY is published through the Office of Advancement for Alumni, Parents and Friends of Archbishop Curley High School 3701 Sinclair Lane, Baltimore, MD 21213 410-485-5000 • Fax: 410-483-2545 www.archbishopcurley.org

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT Barry Stitz ’87

There was no Homecoming celebration in the 2020-2021 school year, an event not possible with the pandemic restrictions. All were happy to reinstate the tradition this year, and to truly “Welcome Home” alumni, to capture the students’ enthusiasm, and to invite families to join in celebrating. It seemed worthy of being a cover story for this edition of CURLEY.

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Joseph Gaeta

This issue also has an article on how the Class of 2025, the current freshmen, made their way to Curley.

Many of the normal events of recruiting a new class, such as Open House and 8th graders spending a day at Curley (“Friar for a Day”), could not take place last year. While individual families visited the school, and had a tour led by a member of the admissions staff, high school fairs went to virtual, and freshman interviews were done by Zoom. There is much relief that we are back to enough activities that the year is almost “normal.” The school’s Open House were busy days once again, even while maintaining appropriates distances.

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Homecoming

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI Gregory Loftus ’95

On a personal note, it was enjoyable to officially celebrate becoming a “Golden Friar,” as the Class of ’70 joined with the Class of ’71 for a 50th reunion celebration on October 30.This was the fourth date for the ’70 group, and proved to be the charm. As protocols vary from one jurisdiction to another, it was also decided to take the major Reunion Night off campus, giving the 22 classes (all those that end in 0, 1, 5 or 6) a chance to gather and celebrate on November 26. For the Classes of 1965 and 1966 it was the first time a 55th reunion was held.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Kathleen Wandishin OFFICE HOURS 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

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Class of 2025 How did they get here?

Endowment

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MISSION STATEMENT OF ARCHBISHOP CURLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Curley Currents

Archbishop Curley High School, a Roman Catholic college preparatory school rooted in the Franciscan tradition, develops great men. With the support of the entire Archbishop Curley Family, each Curley Man is challenged to reach his maximum academic and personal potential in a safe and nurturing environment leading him to be a man of faith, character, discipline and service to others.

The Walz Family

Please send comments to the address above or alumni@archbishopcurley.org

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CURLEY Magazine | Winter 2022

Dear Alumni and Friends of Curley: High schools and colleges host Homecoming celebrations to give alumni an opportunity to return to campus, to catch up with classmates, to see what has changed. Needless to say, students also come to enjoy special events leading up to Homecoming, and they will have memories of those special times while they were in school. Even high school students often spend more waking hours at school than they do at home; our schools become second homes.

PRESIDENT Fr. Donald Grzymski, OFM Conv. ’70

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Greg Malanowski ’70

FROM THE PRESIDENT

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Reunions

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Friar’s Focus

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As this issue of CURLEY is completed in early 2022 we are all facing these new COVID-19 worries and restrictions. First, as a school we are trying to keep everyone healthy and safe, making adjustments as are required. We also hope and pray that we can anticipate a more routine spring after two springs of adjusted or cancelled events. What has remained strong throughout is the spirit of the Curley Family. It is something for which I am so grateful at this midpoint of the school year, and one that I trust will grow in 2022.

Alumni News

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Sport Shorts

Fr. Donald Grzymski, OFM Conv. ’70 President

DEPARTMENTS archbishopcurley.org

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CURLEY | CURRENTS AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE FIELD TRIP

Mr. Travis Williams’ AP environmental science class went on a field trip to the Philip Merrill Center, the headquarters for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. While on the trip they paddled in canoes from Black Walnut Creek out into the Chesapeake Bay just south of the Bay Bridge. While paddling they observed the flora and fauna along the way. Water quality tests were performed to determine the health of the Bay. Many aquatic organisms were caught with seine nets and observed. This wonderful experience ended by gaining a better understanding of the importance of oysters in the Bay.

CURLEY | CURRENTS ALL SOULS AND VETERANS DAY The Curley Community celebrated both the month of All Souls and Veterans Day on November 11th. In a morning prayer service, students from each advisory group presented a candle and names of family members and friends to be remembered. In the afternoon, Mr. Steve King, a veteran of service in the Army, addressed the students about his experiences in the Army and about what Veterans Day means to him. Mr. King is a science instructor at Curley.

RING CEREMONY

GENE’S LAST LAP

On August 19th, legendary Curley running coach Gene Hoffman ’69 took his last lap around Curley’s track.

The evening started with the annual Varsity vs Alumni Cross Country Meet.

After the race, Gene led alums from across his years at Curley in a final lap around the track where he has dedicated so much of his time. Many came out to celebrate with Gene and get a commemorative T-shirt. We are all thankful to know Gene as a teacher, coach, mentor, and friend. After the lap, all shared in a cookout sponsored by the Alumni Association.

CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

On the first Sunday of December, the members of the Class of 2023 became upperclassmen with the reception of their school rings. Fr. Donald Grzymski OFM Conv. ’70, President of the School, presided and preached at the liturgy. After communion he blessed the rings and he and Mr. Jeremy Joseph ’96, Principal, distributed the rings to each junior. Mr. Demonya Womack ’11, Director of Admissions, gave the Ring Address after the singing of the Alma Mater. The Luminare Choir and the Schola shared their musical talents in leading the music.

The Curley Choir and the Curley Jazz Ensemble performed for the students and staff at an assembly on December 8th. The Curley Choirs, directed

by Mr. Michael Gaffney, held their Christmas Concert on December 3rd.

A variety of music was presented by the Curley Choir, the Schola, the Curley Ringers and the Luminare Choir. The Curley Bands were in concert the following Friday, December 10th. The Advanced Percussion Ensemble, followed by the Symphonic Band and the Jazz Ensemble made the Suehle Auditorium ring with the sounds of Christmas. The bands are directed

by Mr. Christopher Campbell. Seating was limited to parents of participating students.

Congratulations to senior Dezmon Lewis who won the Saint Francis Prayer Poster Contest, a contest that called for using an image of St. Francis as well as the words of the “Peace Prayer” attributed to him. These posters will be hung in each classroom.

BLACKFRIARS’ THEATRE

This fall Blackfriars’ Theatre returned to the stage after a hiatus of 18 months. An all-male cast performed an adaptation of William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies. The cast included Gregory Majerowicz as Ralph, Josh Aung as Jack and Jager Fugate as Piggy, as well as some students who were new to the stage. The production, directed by Mr. Ed Lawrence, was well received by grateful audiences.

The Jazz Ensemble presented a concert at Our Lady of Hope/St. Luke School and at other Catholic schools during the fall.

OPEN HOUSE

Open House is always a big event in the life of Curley. On October 23rd and 24th Curley opened its doors to welcome visitors and prospective families. Students and student-parent teams led tours of the school.

Along the way teachers, coaches, administrators and other parent-student teams were available to engage the visitors and answer questions.

For those who choose to become members of the Curley Class of 2026, “Brotherhood begins here.”

GRECCIO

A Curley Christmas tradition, part of Curley’s Franciscan heritage, was brought to life by members of the freshman class. “Greccio, the Live Nativity Service,” offered to the public on December 12th, narrates how St. Francis used a live nativity scene in 1223 to impress on peoples’ minds the magnanimous love of God. The Luminare Choir and Schola led the singing of carols and presented musical interludes.

Curley students who have attained the rank of Eagle in Scouting: Ryan Comegna ’24, Dillon Schissler ’23, Ethan Carr ’22, Vincent Ragone ’22.

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YOUR GIFT

ADVANCEMENT

NOTES

COMES TO LIFE GIVE TODAY…IMPACT TOMORROW 2021-22 ANNUAL FUND

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Three New Named Scholarships Established at Curley Thank you to Armando ’79 & Karen DiFerdinando, Robert Greco ’70 and the Class of 1970 for their generosity in establishing three new endowed scholarships. These scholarships will be awarded to Curley students based on financial need and satisfactory academic performance. There are now 59 named scholarships that are part of the school’s endowment.

These scholarships are invaluable in helping to provide tuition assistance for students who otherwise may be unable to receive a Curley education.

The minimum amount for establishing a named scholarship at Curley is $25,000. These scholarships are a great way to give another young man the same opportunity to receive a quality Franciscan education and to honor a loved one in perpetuity. To learn more information on establishing a named scholarship, contact Barry Stitz in the Advancement Office.

By Fr. Donald Grzymski OFM Conv. ’70

UTILITIES COST FOR EACH SCHOOL DAY

“ The reason I give to the Annual Fund is to give back to the place - and more specifically to the people - that gave so much to me. With my gift, I hope to be a small part of the community that allows Curley to keep the brotherhood growing stronger every year, and to ensure that Franciscan values continue to be taught to young men in Baltimore.”

- Matt, a graduate of 2017

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Touchstone Scholars Awarded Grants

AVERAGE COST TO UPDATE A CURLEY CLASSROOM WITH 21ST CENTURY LEARNING-TEACH AIDS

WEEKLY COST OF LANDSCAPING

“ What better investment can one make than in the education of our future leaders? This mission has not changed from when I attended Curley in the ’60s and when my three sons attended Curley in the ’80s and ’90s. It is a privilege to support Curley in accomplishing this mission.”

Seniors Joshua Aung, Dominic Biggs, Jacob Brown, Alex Krisher, and Joshua Smoot (pictured L to R) were awarded $1,000 grants for being recognized as leaders in the school community and outstanding members of the Class of 2022. The Touchstone Scholars program was established in 2019 through the generous support of Howard Meyers ’66.

Fall Student Raffle Update

Tickets sales of nearly $94,000 were returned for this year’s Fall Student Raffle making it a huge success. The winning ticket drawn was #05157.

The lucky winner chose the $10,000 cash prize rather than the free tuition.

Annual Report Correction Gifts to the Memorial Scholarship Fund from Ms. Victoria Coyne and Ms. Celeste Wysocki Gibson were made in memory of Mr. Alfred Wysocki, not Mr. Jerome Wysocki. Memorial gifts in memory of Mr. Alfred Wysocki have also been made by Mr. Jerome Wysocki ’75 and the Kowalczyk Family. We regret our error.

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CURLEY Magazine | Winter 2022

- Bruce, from the Class of 1967

250

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THE COST FOR A STUDENT TO ATTEND LOCAL COLLEGE TRIPS TO NY, NJ AND SURROUNDING AREAS

Endowment Continues to Grow

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THE COST PER STUDENT PER MONTH FOR SCHOOL TECHOLOGY

2500

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FOR ATHLETIC LEAGUE PARTICIPATION

When one hears of a capital campaign the thoughts of most people turn to new buildings and capital projects. Curley’s first capital campaign in the late 1990s was called “Endowing Our Tradition.” The brochure read: “At the threshold of the school’s 40th anniversary, the Curley Family reflects on its tradition with pride and gratitude to God. The Family and friends of Curley now are being asked to endow the tradition.” The brochure went on to explain how endowed funds would provide partial funding for four annual needs: scholarships and financial aid, faculty development, facility improvements, and information technology. The underlying goal was to have a source of funds which did not have to be raised by tuition or other means each year, and to help toward keeping Curley’s tuition as affordable as possible. That campaign brochure referenced the budget and tuition figures for the 1999-2000 school year, namely $3,152,000 and $5,300 respectively. Each of those figures has tripled in 20 years, and the enrollment number has held.

management of the fund. An Investment Policy Statement has also been adopted to assure standards are maintained. The trustees also monitor that investments follow norms for socially responsible investing. The portfolio is being managed as a perpetual endowment that would allow for a 4% annual withdraw rate. Each year’s draw can then fund scholarships and other school needs, a figure of approximately $320,000 a year. An $8 million endowment is significant for a school of Curley’s age, but still a modest amount among endowments.

There is a proverb that says, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” Curley is blessed that the donors of 20 years ago established the endowment, and that donors today continue to grow it in preparation for the future, for inevitably educational costs will continue to rise.

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.

The second best time is now.”

That campaign established an endowment of some $2.5 million. The endowment figure has also more than tripled in 20 years, through appreciated growth and earnings, and from new gifts to the endowment.

That campaign became the first organized effort to establish named scholarships, and today some 59 named scholarships form the bulk of the endowment. “The majority of these scholarships also have a financial need requirement as one of the criteria in awarding them,” notes Barry Stitz, Vice President for Advancement. He continued, “They have helped so many great students grow from the Curley experience in the past 20 years.

Curley would be in a much different place if the endowment had not been established, and we are blessed it continues to grow. The endowment helps assure Curley’s financial viability going into the future.”

The endowment is under the direction of the trustees, the majority of whom are appointed by the School Board. The trustees have selected a professional investment firm, and created an Investment Advisory Committee, composed of experts in the field, who advise the trustees in the archbishopcurley.org

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THE WALZ FAMILY

By Joe Gaeta

THROUGH ASTROPHYSICS

By Greg Malanowski ’70

“It’s a place where faith and education come together, and where relationships are cemented forever. Archbishop Curley High School has been, and will continue to be, a huge part of our family” says Liz Walz, the matriarch of the Walz Family. This family has already sent four sons to Curley, Francis ’15 who attends Towson University, John ’15 who graduated from Towson University, Abe ’21 who attends Christendom University, and Luke ’24. It is surely hoped Peter, now 7 years old, will follow in his brothers’ footsteps and make his way to Curley.

Liz and Andrew also have four daughters, and the oldest two are graduates of The Catholic High School of Baltimore, Teresa ’17 attended Towson University and Kate ’19 attends Christendom University.

Maggie is currently in the 8th grade, and Ellie is 3 years old.

As Liz and her husband Andrew were faced with the decision of where to send their boys to high school, their then pastor at St. Ursula Parish, Monsignor James Farmer, was a big influence. Monsignor is a member of Curley’s first graduating class, and a faithful supporter of his alma mater. As the older boys served Sunday Masses at St. Ursula, they also heard Fr. Farmer recommend Curley. He was adamant that each of the Walz boys would be a great fit for Curley, and that Curley would be a great fit for each of them. Liz comments, “Choosing Curley was the right decision, and continues to leave a lasting impression on all of our sons and on our family.”

Once Frank and Jack were in high school, the other boys began to share in Curley experiences, and to start building their own memories. Often family members would attend the monthly Holy Hours that were sponsored

by Franciscan Youth Ministry (FYM). Liz, who home schooled each of her children until 8th grade, says that the strong consistent values at Curley are an extension of what she was doing with her home schooling efforts, so the transition from home school to Curley was seamless. Small class sizes, solid academics, a strong sense of encouragement and faith, as well as the presence of the Friars on campus, were deciding factors for the Walz Family as each son in turn has entered high school and become 8

REACHING FOR THE STARS…

CURLEY Magazine | Winter 2022

involved in the many different co-curricular activities.

Having such a large family has its challenges, but Liz and her husband Andrew rely on their faith and a few simple family rules that attribute to their success. Forefront among these in the consistent encouragement that flows from their Catholic faith, and the Franciscan tradition of brotherhood and sisterhood that leads to a positive comradery among the children. As much as possible, the custom of eating nightly dinner together as a family provides a forum for sharing the day’s experiences.

The strength of family ties is often noticed as the older children help care for their younger siblings.

Even as some begin to move from home and start their own families, the Walz sons have also shared the Curley brotherhood, and keep that spirit alive. When they can’t be together, there are opportunities to watch Luke in a volleyball game via live stream, or talk on social media about what Curley teachers they have had or experiences they have shared. The Walz Family has had an impact on their parish and on their children’s schools, and there is no doubt the five Walz brothers remain “Curley Strong!”

As a young child, Delondrae Carter ’17 looked at the world with a sense of awe and wonder. An elementary school astronomy project reinforced his sense of the mystery of the universe and since then he knew that “studying the stars, galaxies and other celestial bodies was what I wanted to do.” His talent for mathematics and physics made his choice to pursue astrophysics a decision he does not regret.

During his last two years at Curley, Delondrae took as many AP courses as he could to prepare himself for college. Referencing specifically AP Physics (Mr. Breathnach) and AP Biology (Mr. DeMarco), he says that “Curley more than prepared me for my undergraduate career in astrophysics.”

That career has been unfolding at Arizona State University, where he was awarded the ASU New American University Scholarship for excellent academic achievement in high school. As a third-year undergraduate, he was awarded the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, the most prestigious undergrad award in the nation for STEM students pursuing research careers. These are but a few of the awards Delondrae received that recognize his accomplishments and enable his doctoral studies.

The projects in which Delondrae has been involved read like science fiction. For example, during his first internship at the Space Telescope Science Institute, he participated in a study of the formation history and dark (unseen) matter composition of the Milky Way Galaxy’s disk as seen through the lens of brown dwarfs (hot gas giants 15 to 75 times more massive than Jupiter.) The project of which he is currently a part is called SKYSURF, which seeks to measure the amount of light coming from different regions of space. He developed a program that can produce semi-realistic Hubble Space Telescope images as part of the process.

After he completes his studies at ASU, he looks forward to doing post-doctoral work at a national lab like NASA or the Space Telescope Science Institute. He also enjoys public outreach in which he might “spark the astrophysical curiosities of the next generation of budding scientists.”

Hopefully someday, Delondrae will visit Curley and challenge future Curley students to reach for the stars. He is grateful for the education he received and has many good memories of his time at Curley. He writes: “I enjoyed being a member of the Curley Choir and attending the choir camps that were held each year. I also

Delondrae Carter ’17

liked participating in mock trial competitions as a member of the Curley Mock Trial team and playing Super Smash Brothers after school with members of the Video Game Club. What I remember most about Curley, however, is the welcoming atmosphere that could be sensed as I passed through the doors each day, and the powerful bonds that naturally formed among Curley brothers.”

Delondrae has two brothers who are also part of the Curley Family: Davontae ’17 and Amaziah ’25.

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Homecoming

by Joe Gaeta

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Home is a place that’s welcoming. Home is a place where people care. Home is where one feels most wanted. For many, Home is a place called Curley and this year we saw the true meaning of Homecoming and what it means to Our community as we welcomed Our alumni back to campus.

It’s been a long two years in these unprecedented times, as Homecoming could not be celebrated in the fall of 2020. The Curley community certainly showed its school spirit, pride and unity in an energetic and fun way all week long with Spirit Week, the pep rally, a school dance and soccer and football games taking place.

Spirit Week kicked off the weeklong celebration on October 11th as the students, faculty and staff participated in themed dress down days including; “Monday Morning,” “Team Tuesday,” “Whatever Wednesday,” “Tropical Thursday,” and “Color Wars Friday” where each team wore their designated team color. The pep rally on Friday afternoon energized the school community with varsity team introductions and a variety of contests that pitted one class against another, concluding with a mammoth tug-of-war contest featuring the faculty versus the senior class (the faculty won!). Later that evening the volleyball team took on Friends School as the Curley student section was high energy all-game-long in a huge win for the Friars.

Curley alumni renewed their tradition of gathering at Della Rose’s Pub in Perry Hall on Friday for some long awaited fellowship and storytelling. Joe Della Rose ’73, owner, is always a gracious host.

Saturday morning began by welcoming graduates back home with the annual Alumni Soccer Game, a spirited but not overly strenuous competition. Varsity soccer then beat top ranked Gilman to keep Curley in the playoff race. After that the Curley men fell short versus Loyola in a closely contested football game. Halftime of the game featured the induction of the 2020 and 2021 Curley Athletic Hall of Fame classes. Friar C volunteers were in mid-season form serving delicious treats from the concession stand while relationships were rekindled under the alumni tent throughout the day.

The celebration concluded with the Student Homecoming Dance being back on campus and outside for the first time. From the drum line to the Curley student splash zone, the energy was electric the entire day, and a threatening weather forecast cooperated, so all activities could take place as planned.

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“More than any Homecoming as a student, alum, or teacher this Homecoming truly felt like we were coming home to Curley after being away from family and friends. The energy from the student section at volleyball on Friday carried through the entire day and evening on Saturday. Seeing the additions of the drum line and jazz ensemble just makes you realize how much talent and spirit our family has to offer”.

Steve Streckfus ’93, Curley Business Instructor

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“For many years, I have chaperoned the Homecoming Dance and it has always been fun.

This year, however, it was amazing! Our young men were so happy that we were able to have a dance and it showed! They came to the dance excited and left with only good things to say about the evening! It was a joy to see the happiness on their faces that night!

Cheryl Jose, Curley Language Instructor

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“I am a senior this year and my last two years have been affected by COVID, so it was great to have a Homecoming this year unlike the past year. The Curley brotherhood and spirit was certainly alive during the games and the dance. I loved seeing everyone in the Curley spirit, excited and participating in the events going on throughout the week.”

Joshua Smoot ’22, Student Government President

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“It was great to have our BROTHERS and their families back on campus for our amazing Homecoming celebration. It was truly a well-deserved gathering and great to be back Home!”

Clif Scruggs ’84, Alumni Association President

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CURLEY | FRIAR’S FOCUS

CLASS OF 2025

HOW DID THEY GET HERE?

by Caroline Kogler

By Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv.

For the past twelve years, as Minister Provincial of the Franciscan Friars, I have had the great privilege of an “ex officio” tenure on the governing board of Archbishop Curley High School. To say that I have been impressed

by ACHS would be an understatement. Its successful mixture of academic excellence, cultural distinction, exemplary sportsmanship, social outreach, Christian commitment, and fraternal solidarity marks ACHS as unique.

How blessed indeed has been my Franciscan family in leading, teaching, and accompanying generations of Curley students throughout the entire 61-year lifespan of the school!

Eight hundred years ago, St. Francis of Assisi commissioned St. Anthony to engage in the education apostolate. St. Francis wrote: “It pleases me that you should teach….” Ever since then, we friars have placed a priority emphasis upon teaching the truth – throughout all disciplines of the curriculum – in such a way that the light of Christ shines through the darkness of ignorance.

With a hidden intensity that undergirds our Franciscan commitment to education, the friars of my Province have not forgotten the clause which St. Francis added to his mandate for St. Anthony to teach: St. Francis stipulated: “… as long as you do not extinguish the spirit of prayer and devotion.” Thus, for all these sixty-one years, the Franciscans of Curley have first gathered at dawn for prayer and Mass in their friary chapel – their morning ritual before venturing across campus into the halls, classrooms, and offices.

St. Francis wanted his friars to be a community of brothers who depend totally upon God for the success of their labors to spread the ideals of Gospel truth and human brotherhood. God puts 12 CURLEY Magazine | Winter 2022

the fuel in the friars’ engines!

We friars like to think that our work at Archbishop Curley High School is “brotherhood in action.” Franciscan brotherhood bases itself upon three mottos used by St. Francis: “My God and My All”; “Repair my House”; “Peace and Good”.

“My God and My All”: When St. Francis was a young man, barely three years older than some of the students at Curley, he went off to war and was captured. During his two years of imprisonment, he nearly died. The Catholic faith of his upbringing suddenly took new hold of him.

As a prisoner of war, he rapidly matured with a spiritual perspective on his life – seeing himself from God’s vantage point, and measuring worldly “success” on a scale that gives God top weight. Imitating St. Francis, each Franciscan Friar serving at Curley High has a similarly close relationship with God. The three knots on each friar’s cord symbolize the vows by which a friar gives priority to the Lord. That divine priority is called “love” – It is the supernatural motive which expresses itself daily in the friars’ brotherhood and their mission of service to the Curley community.

“Repair my House”: After his release from jail, St. Francis dedicated himself to become a “man for others,” being especially concerned about the poor. He soon encountered Jesus Christ Himself in the disguise of a poor leper. One day in 1206, a miraculous moment left young Francis gobsmacked. In the derelict chapel of San Damiano, the figure of Jesus on a huge crucifix came alive and spoke to Francis with the command: “Go, repair my house which you see is falling into ruin.” Jesus’s “house,” of course is the whole “world” that God created. From that

moment onwards, Francis – and his followers for the next eight centuries – have worked to build a better world. This Franciscan impulse keeps reverberating through the campus of Curley High, as the Franciscan Friars strive to instill in everyone a renewed commitment to safeguard our troubled world amidst the challenges that confront all God’s children today.

“Peace and Good”: St. Francis offered the friars a blueprint for the kind of world that Curley men should be building – a world of peace and goodness! Everywhere that St. Francis went, he would proclaim, and even carve into stones and trees, the Latin words “Pax et Bonum” – which translate into English as “Peace and Good.”

He knew that Jesus Himself at the Last Supper bequeathed “peace” to his Apostles and to the world as his last will and testament: “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you” (Jn. 14:27).

Peace means much more than the absence of war. It means an inner wholeness, integrity, and strength grounded in goodness. Every year, as the Franciscan Friars watch a new class of Archbishop Curley High students graduate, we pray that these fine men will radiate the “Peace and Good” of St. Francis for the rest of their lives.

On behalf of all the friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province, I express the hope that every student and alumnus of Archbishop Curley High School will truly know that he remains an esteemed member of our unique Franciscan “brotherhood” – as these words keep pulsing through his veins: “My God and My All”; “Repair my House”; “Peace and Good”! Thus, dear brothers, while we have time, let us be good and let us do good!

It is easy to make the statement in metropolitan Baltimore that “all roads lead to Curley.” The school’s proximity to I-95 and 895 as well as the two tunnels, and a straight shot to the Key Bridge, brings Curley students from not only the City, but particularly the surrounding counties: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll and Harford.

The school is an easy drop off for many parents on the way to work, and carpooling serves numerous families from different neighborhoods.

And the Class of 2025 was certainly no exception in finding their roads to Curley. Of the 137 students, they collectively come from 52 feeder schools, four surrounding counties, and some 43 zip codes.

While this class is a typical representation of the geography of the Curley family, their “road to Curley” through last year’s admissions season was anything but typical.

To an 8th grade student in the Baltimore Catholic school market, Fall is full of high school shadow visits, tours and Open Houses. These students look forward to visiting area high schools, meeting high school students, and trying to determine which school is the right fit for them.

Introduce a worldwide pandemic, and visiting schools became quite a challenge and the road to Curley seemed a little less clear for these 8th grade families.

There were Class of 2025 families that took the “virtual” road. Never actually setting foot onto campus, these families learned of Curley through virtual high school fairs, virtual “meet & greets” with the Admissions Office, a virtual 360 degree Open House, and virtual visits via Zoom with engineering teachers, current Curley students and coaches.

Lisa Yaider, mom of Andrew Yaider ’25 shared “We had limited knowledge of Curley and all that it had to offer. Curley provided many virtual events to learn more about the school, programs, and the brotherhood.

Staff were readily available to answer any questions and were eager and quick to respond.

Andrew also received virtual goggles to attend a Curley virtual open house. It was so unique and creative!”

Owen ’25. “We were able to have a personalized tour with Mr. Brownlee, and get a feel for the school and the activities that would be available to him. Our tour happened to be on a hybrid day when students were actually on campus. We loved the interaction and enthusiasm that Mr. Brownlee brought, and we watched as he knew all the students we ran into by name. We were also very impressed with the list of colleges that recent Curley alumni attend.”

But there were Class of 2025 families who still visited campus in-person. Through a modified and structured visit, prospective families were able to set up a 1:1 campus tour with the Admissions Office. While typically greeted with smiling faces and handshakes of current Curley students, the Class of 2025 families were rather greeted with thermometers, hand sanitizers and fist bumps from the Admission Office staff.

Escorted around the building solely by the admissions staff, families were still able to see classes in session, that college acceptances abound through pictures and pennants on bulletin boards, and different areas of campus such as the Fr. Julian Gymnasium, Holthaus Fine Arts Center and the Under Armour Performance Center.

“Currently, Owen is enjoying his classes, especially the engineering program, he’s engaged in multiple sports and clubs, and very proud to be a Friar.”

While it certainly was unlike a typical admissions cycle and recruiting season, the Class of 2025, and students like Andrew and Owen, have already embraced the new school year, a fresh start, and are settling in nicely on Sinclair Lane.

We look forward to seeing the Class of 2025 grow as a class and the impact they will have on the Curley community. Their road to Curley will forever be a unique and memorable one!

“While it was certainly a different recruiting experience due to COVID protocols, when we visited Curley, we knew it was the right choice for our son, Owen,” shared Stacey Schantz, mom of

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2021

CURLEY | SPORT SHORTS VOLLEYBALL

Hall of Fame Inductees

To nominate an individual for the Curley Athletic Hall of Fame, download the information sheet at www.archbishopcurley.org/athletics/athletichalloffame or contact the Advancement Office.

To be considered for the Class of 2022, nominations must be submitted by April 30, 2022.

Congratulations to the seventh class of inductees into the Archbishop Curley Athletic Hall of Fame. The five new members were honored on October 16th at halftime of the Homecoming football game and later that evening at a dinner reception.

Dan Augustine ’67 • Football & Baseball Dan Augustine was a standout two-sport athlete who helped lead Curley to their first winning season on the football field in 1966.

From the quarterback position, he racked up a number of post season honors including being named 1st Team All-MSA “B” Conference and 2nd Team All-Catholic League. Augustine also got it done in the classroom as he was a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete and Curley’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year. In 1986, the gridiron leader was selected to Curley’s Silver Anniversary football team. It may not come as a surprise that the school’s strong-armed quarterback also served as a pitcher on the baseball team in the spring. Augustine was the Prep Player of the Week during his senior season after throwing a one-hit shutout against Patterson.

Barry Burkhardt ’78 • Lacrosse & Football Barry Burkhardt was a 4-year letterman, 3-time All-MSA B Conference selection, and 2-year captain in lacrosse for Curley. He held the school’s career points record at the time amassing 116 goals and 58 assists for 174 points. Burkhardt’s knack for scoring and creating goals was key in the team winning back to back league championships in 1976 and 1977. He was named to Curley’s Silver Anniversary Lacrosse Team in 1986. Burkhardt moved on to play at Salisbury State University where he shifted to defense.

The Seagulls made two Final Four tournament appearances and Burkhardt served as team captain his senior season. The multi-sport athlete also suited up for the Friars football team. A starter on defense, he was a part of the 1977

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Catholic League championship team that finished the season ranked #3 in the Metro rankings. He was selected as the team’s Unsung Hero recipient.

Ray Ford ’77 • Soccer Ray Ford’s name is synonymous with the term “goal scorer.”

He tallied 10 goals his junior season for the Friars and was even better as a senior. Ford was the leading scorer on the soccer team’s notable pre-season trip to Poland finding the net 11 times in just seven games.

His high level of play would continue throughout the regular season, earning him All-Metro 1st Team honors. The forward’s knack for scoring continued at UMBC where he would become the college’s all-time leading scorer with 124 points notching 51 goals and 22 assists. In the Fall of 1977 as a freshman, Ford helped the Retrievers to a 15-2 record and the school’s first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. He was an All-South 3rd team selection. His sophomore season was his most productive with 17 goals and 7 assists. This offensive output led to his being named a 1st team All-American. Ford was inducted into the UMBC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Maryland Soccer Hall of Fame in 2016. Sadly, he passed away in January, 2021.

Mike Libber ’94 • Soccer, Track, & Golf Mike Libber played three varsity sports for the Friars but it was on the soccer field where he left his athletic mark. Libber was a three-year

starter for legendary coach, Pep Perrella, earning multiple post-season accolades over his high school career. As a senior, he served as a team captain and anchored one of the school’s all-time best back lines. The squad won the 1993 MSA championship with Libber chipping in a goal and an assist in the final. In addition to being named an All-State, All-South, All-City/County and All-MSA selection, he was the Baltimore Sun’s AllMetro Player of the Year. Libber continued on at UMBC and was a 3-year starter for Pete Caringi.

He was a team captain in 1996 and scored 12 goals with 7 assists during his Retriever career.

Libber remains active in soccer as the owner of Elite Tournaments.

Jay Pasko ’89 • Lacrosse, Basketball, & Soccer Jay Pasko was certainly known as a leader in his days as a Curley athlete. After all, he served as a team captain for three different sports teams during his time as a Friar. Pasko was a 4-year letterman for the lacrosse squad and was a freshman starter on the 1986 “B” Conference championship team. He was an All-Conference/ All-Metro performer and was the leading scorer on the team as a senior. He received post-season accolades, including All-MSA and All-Metro. Pasko earned a lacrosse scholarship to the University of Maryland, one of the nation’s top lacrosse programs. He was a 3-year starter for the Terps and was a part of the 1991 squad that advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament. In 1993, Pasko was named the team MVP and was an AllACC tournament selection.

A core group of nine seniors helped Curley make a strong showing in this year’s MIAA competition. Beating Archbishop Spalding, Friends and Boys’ Latin twice each set the stage for an exciting final few matches. Gaining seven match wins, the most by a Curley team in regular season competition, came just short of earning a spot in the end of season tournament. One of the season highlights came on the eve of Homecoming when the Friars took down Friends in front of the largest crowd to ever attend a volleyball match at Curley.

FOOTBALL The 2021 Friars had the daunting task of replacing thirty-seven players from the 2019 playoff team. The team may have been young with only nine seniors and thirty-four underclassmen, but played competitively and continued to grow as the season progressed. The squad finished the season by winning their last two games and missed the playoff tiebreak by two points. The most memorable game of the season was a 10-7 win at John Carroll on a 47-yard field goal by sophomore Chris Pond as time expired.

SOCCER Led by top goal scorer Brady Geho and senior back Ricky Schissler (St. John’s Commit) the Friars finished with a 12-9-1 record on the season.

Curley went 6-1-1 in their last eight games to earn the fourth seed in the MIAA playoffs. A huge 2-1 overtime victory in the first round of the playoffs versus Loyola Blakefield set Curley up with a semi-final match against 3-time defending MIAA champion McDonogh. The Friars fought hard in a back and forth match only to come up short in the end, 3-2.

FRIARS’ NATION The Curley faithful were treated to LIVE broadcasting for most of Curley’s home fall sports contests. The Friars Nation broadcast team was able to cover football, soccer and even several volleyball games this past season. Now they are covering Winter Sports.

D1 COLLEGE BOUND ATHLETES Curley Seniors sign their Division 1 National Letters of Intent.

CROSS COUNTRY The cross country team completed the season at the year-end MIAA championships. Josh Smoot (17:07) and Zyad Yousof (17:17) placed 12th and 14th overall, while running their best times of the season and falling just short of medaling at the championship meet. The season highlights included a victory over conference rival McDonogh on Senior Day to cap off the dual meet portion of the year.

Pictured L to R Caleb Haire-Hampton University Lacrosse, Kanell WardHampton University, Lacrosse, Ricky Schissler-St. John’s University, Soccer, James Gladden-Virginia Commonwealth University, Baseball, Ryan Edmonds-George Mason University, Baseball.

MIAA ALL-CONFERENCE Soccer Alex Krisher, Midfield Ricky Schissler, Back Brady Geho, Forward

Football Chris Pond, Kicker Stevie Carter, Defensive Lineman McKenzie Hazzard, Defensive Lineman Jeremiah Lewis, Defensive Back

archbishopcurley.org 15

Rest in Peace Through December 2021

ALUMNI

NEWS Class of 1965

Gerry Dirscherl and his wife Anne celebrated their 50th Anniversary with a renewal of vows and a Mass on June 26 2021. Fr. Donald ’70 was a concelebrant.

Class of 1968 The ’68 lunch crew continues to meet every month to enjoy some lunch and catch up with one another.

Recently they met at McFaul’s IronHorse Tavern.

In attendance were Tom Snyder, Jim Kitko, Greg Andrews, Mike Etzel, Bob Biscoe, Stephen Sopel, Chuck Urban, Lou Karko, Steve Kaisler, Julius

Class of 1983 Recently, Councilman David Marks honored Tim Bonner as a Fifth District Citizen of the Year.

Councilman Marks stated that Tim and his business, Tim’s Automotive & Towing, are one of the district’s leading local businesses, and they have consistently supported many worthwhile community causes. Tim is also a longtime recreation leader, serving as President of the Perry Hall Rec Council.

Class of 1987 Congratulations to Dr. Randal Riesett who was again recognized as a Top Doctor by Baltimore Magazine in it’s November 2021 issue. He works out of Charter Internal Medicine in Marriottsville, MD.

Class of 1989

Silvestri, and Thom Placek.

Brian Meyer has been named the new Head Golf Professional at Sparrows Point Country Club. Brian served as Curley’s golf coach for a number of years.

Class of 1971

Class of 2003

On October 22nd Frank Sansosti and his wife Sharon celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. Jack Targarona ’70 was Frank’s best man.

Grover Murrell recently moved back to Baltimore to work at WJZ as one of two dayside Executive Producers. After Grover graduated from Curley he attended Alabama State University and finished his undergraduate degree at Salisbury University. It was here that Grover launched his career in television news for ABC affiliate WMDT. After a short stint at WBAL in Baltimore he moved to Tampa, FL in 2009 to work at Bay News 9. In 2014 he moved to Nashville, TN where he was the Assignment Manager for Fox 17 News, and then in 2020 moved to Jacksonville, FL to become the Managing Editor for the CBS/FOX affiliate.

Grover has two sons who are interested in joining the Curley Brotherhood.

Class of 1973 & 2005 Alumni father and son Mike ’73 and Brendan Kerrigan ’05 attended Curley’s Homecoming this year. Brendan’s son Reese joined them. Could Reese be the next Kerrigan Curley alumnus…

Class of 2038? We hope so.

Class of 1979 James Padden was recently awarded a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in Urban Educational Leadership from Morgan State University. Dr. Padden’s dissertation research and a substantial portion of his clinical work over the past several years have focused on trauma informed and trauma responsive practice in urban school districts. He is an administrator in the Office of Special Education for Baltimore City Public Schools.

Class of 2014 Anthony Puglisi recently received his doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania. He has accepted a position at The Drayer Physical Therapy Institute and will be living in Hershey, PA. If you watched any of the recent Tokyo Olympics, Korey Matthews most likely had something to do with it. Korey had the opportunity to work for NBC Sports and their coverage of the Olympic Games.

His work dealt with major sponsorship campaigns

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and ensuring that they were integrated into their most heavily watched digital streams during the games.

Class of 2015 Tyshawn Williams was also back on campus to catch a football game and ran into Fr. Vince. Tyshawn wrestled at Curley and is now fighting MMA. He won his first pro fight in September, a KO/TKO in the first round.

Class of 2015 & 2016 Congratulations to Sherwen ’15 and TJ Triguero ’16 as both won martial arts competitions in Kansas City recently.

In August, DeAndre Diggs ’16 was featured in an article by PGATOUR.COM. The article speaks of how DeAndre has overcome multiple challenges and how his journey through golf has helped him to arrive at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where he studies in the Professional Golf Management program. It is a great read and a great example of a Curley man.

Class of 2017 & 2021 Curley alumni and brothers Dylan ’17 and Brandon Holy ’21 faced each other on the collegiate soccer field this season. Brandon’s York College topped Dylan’s Stevenson University 2-1.

Class of 2019 On September 24th Nicholas Andrews returned to Curley to help the Friars Nation live stream team announce the Reif Cup. Nicholas plans on a career in broadcasting or as a business entrepreneur once he graduates from Loyola University in 2023.

Charles Wang is the cinematographer for a short film called Sheepskin which was written and directed by his friends. Sheepskin was accepted into the Boston Asian American Film Festival, and is the first time any of Charles’ work has been entered into a major film festival. Charles wrote in to thank Mr. Halcott ’97, “you were my first digital arts teacher ever and I learned so much from taking your classes for three years during my journey at Curley.”

Class of 2019 & 2020 Recently, Curley football alumni Paul Lewis ’19 of Cornell University and Josh Knapp ’20 of the Virginia Military Institute were reunited in competition. VMI took the victory 31-21.

Class of 2020 Alumnus Jacob Biggs entered the Army after his graduation in 2020. He has since, completed Boot Camp and Airborne School. And recently Jake completed Ranger assessment and selection, and Ranger school.

Class of 2021

Class of 2018 Isaiah McGirt ran into his old freshman Math teacher, Mr. Malanowski ’70 at a recent football game. He is currently attending Morgan State University.

In September Robbie Commodari completed his first Iron Man competition.

Chris Denholm finished up his first soccer season at Albright College.

Chris made appearances in 9 games and made 5 starts as a freshman. He finished the season with 26 saves.

Chris is majoring in Accounting, Economics, and Finance at Albright.

• Elizabeth Aumiller, mother of Jeffrey ’84 and Michael ’76, grandmother of Noah Kellner ’18

• Eugene P. Kornak, Sr., father of Gene ’86 and John ’89

• Ronald J. Balcer, father of Michael ’83 and grandfather of Nicholas ’18

• A lbert “Steve” Krecz ’67

• Louis Barbieri ’73

• Charles “Buddy” Mettee, Jr. ’73, brother of Bryan ’76 and Paul ’81 and uncle of Christopher ‘16

• C. Thomas Becker, father of Thomas ’81 and James ’88 • Victor Bongiorno, father of Vittorio, ’00 • Steven Bonnett ’87 • J ane Bowers, mother of John ’72, Daniel ’74 and Steven ’80

• William T. McKenna, Jr., former faculty

• Lawrence Muller ’70, father of Michael ’99, Daniel ’01 and Christopher ’04 • Alfred “Jerry” Oppel, father of Robert ’72, grandfather of Eric ’02, Christopher ’09 and Justin’10

• Michael Brady ’66

• P atrick Palazzo ’15, brother of Nicholas ’13

• John Broglie ’69

•C arole Petrelli, mother of Louis ’81, Jonathan ’87 and Anthony ’88

• Tim Brooks, brother of Tom ’65, Joe ’69 and Steve ’76

• B lake Petrik, son of Todd ’86

• David Buchanan ’87

• P aul E. Pfeiler, father of Matthew ’87 and Eric ’86, grandfather of Joseph ’21

• Patricia Burke, mother of Anthony ’81 • Thomas Burton, father of Joshua, ’20

• Greg Raynor, father-in-law of Stephanie of the Curley Staff, grandfather of Nathan ’24

• Anna D’Adamo, mother of Joseph ’70, grandmother of John ’98, Philip ’01 and Edward ‘04

• Sharon Rohrs, wife of Timothy ’68

• J. Richard Danaher ’66, brother of Jere ’66 and David ’70

• Jane Schroeder, wife of Henry “Hank” Schroeder ’65

• Dennis DeFlavis ’73, brother of Richard ’69

• F rancis “Frank” Sotaski ’69, brother of James ’68

• David J. Dorzey ’67

• J ohn Stachura, former faculty

• William Fornoff, husband of Romaine (former Curley Staff), father of Carl ’79 and Robert ’81, grandfather of Nicholas ’12.

• Fr. Conrad Salach, OFM Conv., former faculty

• G erald Stank ’65 • David Sturgill ’94 • Lawrence J. Supik ’66

• Fr. Jerome Gingras, former faculty

• Nicholas Sypniewski ’79

• Robert Ginski ’95

• Mario Teresi, Sr., father of Mario, Jr., ’90

• Giovanni Gizzi, father of Michael ’93, grandfather of Matteo ’23

• Frances Weber, mother of Frank ’76

• Kenneth R. Gower, Sr., father of Kenneth ’83, grandfather of Ryan Hahn ’10, father-in-law of Gerald ’69 • H enrietta Hergenroeder, mother of Charles, Jr., ’82, grandmother of Charles ’10

• E dward Wall, father of Robert ’75 • J ohn Warga, father of Scott ’84 and Bryan ’80 • Elmer Wetzelberger, father of William ’82 • Rita Wetzelberger, mother of William ’82

• Richard Horvath ’66, brother of Douglas ’69

• Allan Williams, husband of Celeste of the Curley Staff, father of Nicholas ’03 and Tyler ’14

• Kathryn Kelley Hoskins, former Board member

• Leonard J. Wolff ’68

• Carmela Kispert, mother of George ’72, mother-in-law of William Phillips ’74

• Stanley Zaranski ’65 • Lamberto Zazzetta, father of Guido ’81 •M ilton J. Zmijewski Jr., ’66

ALUMNI NEWS UPDATE Please send news about yourself, family and classmates to Alumni Office Archbishop Curley High School 3701 Sinclair Lane, Baltimore, MD 21213 or email: alumni@archbishopcurley.org archbishopcurley.org 17

CURLEY CORPORATE

2021 Reunions

SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM

WHY BECOME A SPONSOR?

AFFINITY

SUCCESS

As an Archbishop Curley Sponsor your business will receive positive exposure in a campus setting viewed by thousands of patrons, visiting schools, parents and others from zip codes around the Baltimore and surrounding area.

Archbishop Curley sports fans, parents, alumni and administration are extremely loyal and routinely patronize the businesses that support Archbishop Curley High School.

Marketing and promotion at Archbishop Curley High School works! We provide a unique opportunity to build a loyal customer base. More importantly your support as a sponsor will contribute to the continued growth of our Curley Men.

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Members of the Classes of 1970 and 1971 met on October 30th for their 50th Reunions. Due to the Covid restrictions of last year, the Class of 1970 finally celebrated, along with the Class of 1971, becoming “Golden Friars.” Class members were invited to Mass on Friday, October 29th. This event included a light reception and tours of the school. The Reunion Dinner was held off-campus in Baltimore County. As Fr. Donald Grzymski OFM Conv., Curley President and a member of the Class of 1970, said: “Although we did not use the term brotherhood in the 1960’s, you can feel it here tonight as classmates reunite after many years.” With each group photo, the class members sang the Alma Mater. Each class gave an endowed scholarship as a class gift. The Class of ’70 has reached their goal, and the Class of ’71 is on their way, following the classes before them by endowing a class scholarship at the school. The major reunion night was held on November 26th.

STANDARD

CAMPUS AWARENESS Stadium Scoreboard Signage u Baseball Field Signage u Gymnasium Signage u Website Business Directory u u u u u

Class of 1970

MARKETING/COLLATERAL Digital Scoreboard Messaging u u u Homecoming Program u u Gala Program u u Targarona Memorial Golf u u Alumni Newsletter u u u Parents Guild Bulletin u u u u Wi-Fi/Streaming u u u u Reunion Night u u u u u

Class of 1971

BUSINESS NETWORKING Curley networking events u u u u u CONTRIBUTION

$5,000

$2,500

$1,000

$500

$250

The Curley Gala is our premier fundraising event of the year. The Gala is a Dinner-Auction with both silent auction items and verbal auction items.

Class of 1965

Class of 1966

Class of 1995

Class of 1996

Class of 2016

Dads and sons

WHERE: The Boumi Temple-5050 King Avenue Rosedale, MD 21237 WHEN: Saturday April 9th TIME: 6:00 PM How You Can Help?

• Become a Sponsor • Host a Gift Gathering Party • Join a Committee • Join us at the Event

18 CURLEY Magazine | Winter 2022

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID

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Permit No. 6354 BALTIMORE, MD

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Dear Parents: We are sending one copy of the Curley Magazine per household. If your son has a new permanent address, please contact Greg Loftus at gloftus@archbishopcurley.org in the Advancement Office.

Join us for these planned upcoming events: Watch the Curley website for possible postponements and cancellations.

FEB 19

ALUMNI SHRIMP FEAST

APR 26

CORNERSTONE DAY

MAR 18-20

BLACKFRIARS’ THEATRE SPRING MUSICAL

MAY 27

CLASS OF 2022 COMMENCEMENT

APR 9

CURLEY GALA 2022

JUNE 4

25TH REUNION CLASS OF 1997

To learn more and to purchase tickets for Curley’s special events, please visit http://www.archbishopcurley.org/calendar/specialevents 20 CURLEY Magazine | Winter 2022