Curley Winter Alumni Magazine NEW

A Magazine for Alumni, Parents and Friends

Winter 2024

Heart of a Champion Determination, resilience, and the ability to overcome.

ARCHBISHOP CURLEY HIGH SCHOOL

WINTER 2024

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

FEATURES

PRESIDENT Fr. Donald Grzymski, OFM Conv. ’70 VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT Barry Stitz ’87 DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Joseph Gaeta DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS Caroline Palmisano DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI Gregory Loftus ’95

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HEART OF A CHAMPION

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FOR ADVANCEMENT Julie Maney OFFICE HOURS 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

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REDISCOVERING MAGIC

MISSION STATEMENT OF ARCHBISHOP CURLEY HIGH SCHOOL 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.

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

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CURLEY Magazine | Winter 2024

FORMER TEAMMATES REUNITE

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Curley Currents

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Advancement Notes

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Former Teammates Reunite

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Hall of Fame

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Sport Shorts

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Alumni News

DEPARTMENTS

FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Alumni and Friends of Curley: I hope that the winter delivery of the CURLEY magazine finds you ready to settle in a comfortable chair, and read through these pages. As the Advancement Office staff works on each issue there is a search for new and varied articles, as well as continuing to deliver updates on what is taking place at the school and beyond.

Long-time readers will also notice that the style has been enhanced with some larger photos, and we hope a more pleasing appearance.

Fr. Donald, State Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus in Maryland, at an award dinner on November 18th with Richard Przybylski ’85 and Steven Quigley ’85. Richard, a District Deputy, and Steven, a Grand Knight, were among those honored.

The first half of this school year has been filled with events and activities, enough so that even the rainy weather on Homecoming Day was not enough to dampen spirits. This issue also highlights some of the special events for the St. Bonaventure Scholars, as well as different types of student retreats being coordinated by the Franciscan Youth Ministry team. The new Leadership Academy for student-athletes promises to be another way to broaden the Curley educational experience.

There is also an effort to have a spiritual dimension to the magazine, with a Franciscan Perspective penned by a current or former staff member. This year’s Greccio Live Nativity was given a bit more attention, for it also commemorated the 800th anniversary of St. Francis creating the first live nativity in Greccio, Italy in 1223. Popularly seen as the origin of the nativity scenes and crèche displays in homes and churches, it reminds that St. Francis found wonder in reflecting on the humanity of Christ, and the poverty Jesus embraced in coming into our world. It is hoped each Curley man is developing his own personal relationship with God, an experienced faith.

Jeremy Joseph ’96 and Fr. Donald with Mrs. Betty Contino, chair of the Women’s Education Alliance at their annual luncheon.

Fr. Donald Grzymski, OFM Conv. ’70 President

Fr. Robert Twele, former principal, Ben Trently ’10 and Fr. Donald at an event for the Franciscan Center in Baltimore.

Ben is the Advancement Director for the Center.

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CURLEY | CURRENTS CONGRATULATIONS TO FR. DONALD,

who was presented the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal during a ceremony at the Cathedral on September 23rd. Papal Honors were conferred on 17 clergy, religious and laity of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

CONGRATULATIONS MR. PETER SNARSKI,

English Instructor and Anthony Pathway Coordinator at Curley, for being selected as Pi Kappa Phi’s National 30 Under 30 Award Winner. He was awarded this prestigious honor for his career achievements and past volunteer/charity work with the Ability Experience and the Selinsgrove Area High School special needs program.

RING CEREMONY

The Curley Class of 2025 received their Class rings in the traditional ceremony on Sunday, December 3rd. The class members and their families gathered for Mass, and the blessing and distribution of the rings, as well as a Ring Address presented by Mr. Rob Commodari ’85.

CURLEY RETREAT DAY

The entire Curley community gathered for a retreat day to celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Justin Fatica and Hard as Nails Ministries led the students in a day of reflection about one’s need to cooperate with God’s love and mercy, and to always encourage others in their life of faith. These speakers travel the country to remind audiences that they never need to walk alone in their lives.

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CURLEY Magazine | Winter 2024

CURLEY | CURRENTS EV CAR-AND THEY’RE OFF! HOMECOMING 2023

Themed dress down days set the stage for a great Spirit Week.

The 2022-23 school year saw the introduction of the Electric Vehicle (EV) Engineering Class, where a group of seniors moved from classroom work to assembling a functional electric vehicle using a build-it-yourself kit from the Switch Lab, a STEM-based learning curriculum. Running into some challenges along the way, expert advice came from Tim Bonner ’83, owner of Tim’s Automotive. Bonner sees a huge future for electric vehicles, and was excited to see his alma mater offering this unique course.

Ready to invest more fully in the EV program, Bonner desired to enhance the EV Lab space during the 202324 school year. He organized a plan, and donated all the materials and labor for the upgraded Lab with the work being completed over the Christmas break. In January, 2024 the students began using the renovated facility.

The weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the Curley faithful.

As last year, the students will be able to take their vehicle for a spin around the parking lot before graduation.

Homecoming started with a spirited match-up in the Curley Alumni Soccer game. Next up, the varsity soccer team continued its great season with a 3-0 win over out-of-state opponent, The Phelps School.

The day continued with the varsity football team taking down conference rival Mt. Carmel, 44-7. At halftime, the 9th Athletic Hall of Fame class was inducted. The day concluded with the student dance as well as the Hall of Fame dinner.

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CURLEY | CURRENTS KENNEDY KRIEGER TREE

Archbishop Curley participated in the 2023 Kennedy Krieger Festival of Trees by contributing a beautifully decorated Curley themed Christmas Tree which was valued at over $650 and included a well stocked Curley Swag Bag and 2 tickets to the Curley GALA XXlX.

FALL PLAY “A FEW GOOD MEN”

Blackfriars’ Theatre presented A Few Good Men on the weekend of November 17th-19th.

CHRISTMAS CONCERTS FYM (FRANCISCAN YOUTH MINISTRY) GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.

The Thanksgiving Food Drive collected and donated all to the Franciscan Center where students had the opportunity to stay and serve dinner.

The FYM Toy Drive collected toys for families in need in Baltimore and the school’s local neighborhoods.

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CURLEY Magazine | Winter 2024

The Christmas Season kicked off with a large audience enjoying the concert of The Curley Choirs, The Curley Schola, The Curley Ringers and The Luminare Choir. The choirs were directed and accompanied by Mr. Michael Gaffney. A week later, the Curley Bands performed and put everyone in the Christmas spirit. The Advanced Percussion Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble played selections from various artists under the direction of Mr. Chris Campbell

CURLEY | CURRENTS

The Franciscan Center of Baltimore

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Boston, M

The Battlefields at Gettysburg For an elite group of students, the St. Bonaventure Scholars Program offers an academic challenge beyond the honors curriculum. The St. Bonaventure Scholars program is a comprehensive experience that combines high-level academic coursework with opportunities and experiences that go beyond the classroom. A Capstone Project, the Days of Discovery program, and out-of-state college visits provide a rich and well-rounded experience for students who earn acceptance to this program.

Little Portion Farm

Eastern State Penitentiary

Shrine of St. Anthony

The UN in New York City archbishopcurley.org

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2023-24 ANNUAL FUND WE ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THE ARCHBISHOP CURLEY ANNUAL FUND. BE ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CURLEY FAMILY WHO HAS THE SATISFACTION OF KNOWING THAT YOUR GIFT IS TOUCHING THE LIVES OF 540 YOUNG MEN, AND THAT YOU ARE HELPING TO KEEP THE CURLEY TRADITION ALIVE AND WELL.

ADVANCEMENT

NOTES

Estate Planning Seminar Curley’s Advancement Office hosted an Estate and Legacy Planning Seminar for alumni, parents, and friends of the school. Thank you to Tom Sessa ’89, an estates and trusts attorney with Sessa & Dorsey, for being the presenter.

Fall Raffle Carrick Hopson was the lucky winner of this year’s Curley Fall Raffle. The winning ticket was sold by Allen Hopson. The raffle raised over $80,000 for the school.

Touchstone Scholars Five seniors were recognized as this year’s Touchstone Scholars (L to R Zico Agyapong, Mason Landreth, Bryce Schmitt, Diego Diaz, and Carson Giannelli) at a liturgy to open the 2023-24 school year.

SAVE THE DATE March 23, 2024

For Sponsorships, Gift Registry & Ticketing Please Scan Code 8

CURLEY Magazine | Winter 2024

Golden Friar Picnic Curley welcomed the Golden Friars classes of 1965-1973 back to campus on September 30th for a chance to enjoy a picnic lunch and catch up with their classmates.

“A man doesn’t plant a tree for himself. He plants it for posterity.”

-Alexander Alexander Smith

Atkinson Memorial Scholarship Thank you to Connie Atkinson and the members of their fundraising committee for stopping by Curley to present a check to officially establish the Charles W. Atkinson Jr. ’72 Memorial Scholarship.

Other New Scholarships Established: The Class of 1973 Scholarship The Knights of Columbus- Notre Dame Council #2901 Scholarship.

The Margaret & Leo Jubb Scholarship established by James Jubb ’72 The Nicola, Rose and Rocco Commodari Memorial Scholarship established by Nick Commodari ’68 For more information on establishing an endowed scholarship, please contact Barry Stitz, VP of Advancement at 410.485.5000 or bstitz@archbishopcurley.org

Annual Report Corrections We sincerely apologize for the following omissions from the 2022-23 Annual Report: Myrtle Merryman- gift to Merryman/Schultz Memorial Scholarship Louisa Nielsen- gift to Merryman/Schultz Memorial Scholarship We are grateful to all who generously support Curley!

Michael J. Curley Legacy Trust Members of the Michael J. Curley Legacy Trust have expressed their commitment to Archbishop Curley High School through a very special and important form of financial support.

These donors have named Curley as the ultimate beneficiary of a planned gift. Such gifts might include a bequest and/or charitable income gifts such as charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder unitrusts, charitable remainder annuity trusts. Donors can make a gift of life insurance by making Curley the irrevocable owner and beneficiary of a policy.

Your membership involves no dues, obligations, or solicitations, but it does allow us to thank you and recognize you for the plans you have made, and it may inspire generosity in others.

For More Information on Planned Giving Opportunites contact Barry Stitz, Vice President for Advancement 410.485.5000 EXT. 210 BStitz@archbishopcurley.org Archbishop Curley High School 3701 Sinclair Lane Baltimore, MD 21213

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REDISCOVERING MAGIC CHUCK JONES ’81

By Joe Gaeta

At the age of 12, Chuck fell in love with magic, performing at live shows in his hometown of Dundalk at the North Point Library.

While at Curley, Chuck was only involved in a few plays with the Blackfriars’ Theatre. Then, just before his senior year, his best friend who played both football and lacrosse, encouraged him to do something that would earn him a varsity letter. Chuck spoke with Coach Hoffman, who encouraged him to join the cross-country team. “I finished in the last two or three in every race, but I got my letter. As I reflect back, I’m glad I did it. Through it, I learned a very valuable life lesson that I have never forgotten. It’s important to be well-rounded.”

His inspiration for magic was rekindled in 2009 when he and his wife, Sue, were on a cruise ship watching a magician do some of the most amazing things he had seen.

At that time, he told his wife he wanted to return to magic one day.

In 2010, out of nowhere, something happened that would change his life forever.

He woke up in the ER to the sound of his wife’s voice telling the doctor she

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thought he had died. Chuck’s first thought was, “I think she’s talking about me and I better listen to this.” It turns out Chuck had a very severe seizure in his sleep. He was unconscious, not breathing, had blue lips, was bleeding from the mouth and had fallen out of bed.

The doctors could not tell him why this happened, even after nearly a week in the hospital, and tests for all kinds of things. He knew what didn’t cause it, but never knew what did. This seizure episode happened four more times over the next few years.

In 2015, Chuck and his wife moved from Memphis to Inwood, West Virginia. His neurologist in Memphis happened to have graduated from Hopkins, and he told him about their excellent brain center and made a referral for him. After conducting a full scan, they were able to identify the cause of the problem and tell him why this happened. In addition to medication, the doctor suggested that he should exercise the creative side of his brain and take up some type of artistic hobby. That was June 2, 2017. Taking the doctor’s advice, he left the appointment and looked up the old magic store he went to as a kid. It no longer existed, but he found one that did called Denny and Lee Magic Studio in Rosedale, and drove straight there.

Chuck has performed professionally at corporate events and theatre shows in a variety of venues, stages, and in parlors all around the U.S. He has even taught magic aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

He currently still works his full time day job as a corporate trainer and e-learning developer, where he finds some overlap between delivering training and performing magic.

“As a magician, I create moments of wonder. As a trainer, I create moments of enlightenment. But with both, I look for those ‘a-ha’ moments.”

“At 60 years old, I like to tell folks I’m living proof that just because you give up on your dreams doesn’t always mean they give up on you.

When I retire next year, I’ll finally become that full-time professional magician I aspired to be back in the 1970’s.”

“When I was a kid in the 70’s, I belonged to a magic club. There I discovered a 20-something year old who had just returned from Vietnam. I never forgot a trick he did. He tore a newspaper to shreds, then restored it to its original condition. It turns out - he was Denny - the owner of the magic store I went to in 2017. He inspired me as a kid, then sold me my first effect and magic book that helped me get back into magic.”

Chuck Jones ’81, Ray Stefanski ’73, Fran Stefanski ’69, and Joe Stefanski ’69 reunited at one of Chuck’s shows..

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Heart of a Champion

Determination, resilience, and the ability to overcome.

by Joe Gaeta The recent death of former Orioles’ third-baseman Brooks Robinson brought extensive coverage, evoking memories for many who had known this Golden Glove player for decades. Interestingly, much of the commentary went far beyond Robinson’s baseball accomplishments. People spoke of his humility, of his graciousness, of the interest in others that was so natural for Robinson. Surely, success in a sport requires basic talent that is honed through long hours of training, particularly for individual accomplishments. Bring a group of talented athletes together, and their cooperative efforts lead to team championships. Robinson continued to gain fans over the course of his long life by the way he lived, not just from his success on the diamond.

The term “heart of a champion” has become a phrase used to describe someone who possesses exceptional determination, resilience, and the ability to overcome adversity in the pursuit of their goals. It suggests that an individual has a strong and unwavering spirit, one that helps them excel in their field, but that is also exhibited in the balance of their life.

Curley typically places a strong emphasis on developing the skills, qualities, and mindset of champions in its students. In the field of athletics, that is apparent in the long list of athletes who have achieved success in their respective sports not only in high school, but also at the college and even professional levels. Perhaps reflections from a number of these past and present Curley Athletic champions show that the real champions are the ones who have taken those skills and that mindset, and have used them to help others achieve success.

Exceptional Determination…

“After success as a college athlete, I continued my athletic involvement in my future endeavors. As a faculty member, soccer coach and athletic director at Salisbury University, the qualities and experiences from my high school years at Curley continue to serve as my guide. During my years at Salisbury University, we have achieved various conference, regional and national championship experiences. The common qualities that our championship teams exhibited were a team-first approach, all members contributed to our success, actions on and off the field had consequences, and the never-ending desire to get better every day.”

Gerry DiBartolo ’72 12 CURLEY Magazine | Winter 2024

Lifting others…

“Coaching the Maryland Special Olympics to winning the Harford County Special Olympics Soccer team is a great honor and something that I am very grateful for. Working with these adults with special needs has shown me that not everyone is as fortunate as I am and how important it is to give back. Seeing the smiles on my players’ faces is something that I am unable to forget as I hope to continue to work with this group in the future. It is such a rewarding job and something that I will be unable to forget.”

Liam Girard ’25

Finding Inspiration…

“Curley has certainly had a deep impact on my life, and that trend continues as I begin seminary, discerning for diocesan priesthood. I was never encouraged to be dull, but instead to achieve my goals in a practical way. I can name many legends, but the truth is, the tradition of being a Curley man is seeded deeply in virtue, and it means pursuing it for the sake of one’s future family, job, and for the ways one ought to love. Curley has shown me how to sacrifice, which in turn, has helped me persevere as a Division 1 Track athlete and coach, Catholic Focus Missionary, and, God willing, a priest.”

Matt Selba ’16

The Curley Brotherhood…

“Being a part of the 2018 MIAA baseball championship team at Curley was such a memorable part of my life. But it was more than just winning. For me, it was more about spending time with my ‘brothers’ every day while playing the game I love. In college at Salisbury, my sophomore year, I played a pivotal role as a relief pitcher for a team that went on to win the Division lll National Championship. The teachers, administrators, coaches, and alumni at Curley were all instrumental in my success and I am grateful to that Curley Community that led me to where I am today.”

Corey Burton ’18

How Curley Shaped My Life….

“The championships I achieved during my time at Curley served as a testament to the dedication and training I received. These victories not only helped my confidence but also my skills as a soccer player. The experience of competing at a high level in a competitive environment helped me to thrive in the professional soccer arena. Playing all four years in the championship game with the Baltimore Blast, were instrumental in my ability to navigate the challenges of a demanding athletic career.”

Guiliano Celenza ’97

Resilience in Sports…

One of the most pivotal times in my life was high school where I developed my identity. From the wrestling mat and football field, to the track, and of course, the classrooms, I had the tools and staff I needed to excel during and after school. The bonds I built with school staff felt as if I had a building full of older brothers and sisters. My four years at Curley are something I’ll never forget because timeless memories were created. Coming from a losing football season in 2010 to beating every team in the conference in 2011 was one of my biggest highlights and a great example of the resilience we built in every aspect at Archbishop Curley!”

Anthony Williams ’11

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FORMER TEAMMATES REUNITE WITH EYES ON A DIFFERENT GOAL (L) Thunlwyn Garcia ’19, (R) Anthony Dragisics ’19

By Barry Stitz ’87 Thunlwyn Garcia ’19 and Anthony Dragisics ’19 first met in August of 2016 at soccer tryouts.

Garcia was the “new kid” transferring into Curley for 10th grade while Dragisics already had one year under his belt, suiting up for the varsity squad. The two ended up being the only sophomores on the roster that season and a strong bond quickly formed. “We became close friends and developed a great partnership on the field over the next three years,” says Garcia. The two would go on to attend different colleges but remained in close contact. Little did they know their days of being “teammates” was not over. They would eventually discover that same winning chemistry as business partners.

The origin of many great inventions is simply a person trying to find a solution to a problem they may have. In Garcia’s case, he found himself standing on the soccer field at Mount Saint Mary’s (Emmitsburg, MD) in a great deal of pain in frigid, mid-February weather. “I couldn’t feel my toes…they felt like they were frozen,” he recalls. Finding nothing on the market that could help to alleviate the discomfort caused by the low temperatures when he played, the wheels in his head began to turn. Not a huge surprise given his major at The Mount was entrepreneurship.

Garcia sought the help of one of his Mountaineer teammates, who happened to be a biochemistry major, to assist him. His plan was to create an insole for shoes that could regulate heating and cooling. As things progressed in a positive direction with the new invention, Garcia realized the need to assemble a team of people with knowledge in the various areas of business. This is when his former 14 CURLEY Magazine | Winter 2024

Friar soccer teammate would enter the picture.

“I went to Anthony and told him we were on to something, and that I needed someone to help define what that something could be,” Garcia explains. Dragisics, a finance major at Villanova University (Villanova, PA), was tasked with recruiting and managing a group of interns who would focus on understanding the market potential. This was a task he readily accepted.

“I looked forward to using my data mining ability, financial knowledge, and technical acumen to dive deeper into the different groups that the invention could serve,” says Dragisics.

The result of this work confirmed what they had thought. Their insole would not only serve athletes but those in the outdoor work force, medical field, and even the military.

The hard work of many would lead the newly formed company, Ascent Sporting Innovations, to file a patent for their invention. Garcia serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Ascent and Dragisics is the Chief Financial Officer.

In less than a year a patent was granted for the invention, a remarkable feat to have it approved that quickly according to the two.

Graduation from their respective colleges last spring has also allowed the friends to focus full-time on their endeavor. Specifically, the chance to concentrate on the different options to commercialize their product. They need to make the critical decision to partner with an established consumer brand or bring their product to market themselves. Once this decision is made, they believe that things will proceed quickly.

When asked what factors will impact this decision, the partners responded without hesitation. “We want to get the products

in the hands of the consumer in the fastest way possible,” shares Dragisics. “Without sacrificing the altruistic values that are important to us,” adds Garcia.

The pair are aware that they still have many things to learn in the industry. They are inspired by the success of former athletes with Baltimore ties who have become successful entrepreneurs. They reference former University of Maryland football player Kevin Plank of Under Armour fame and past Towson University soccer player Jim Cherneski who invented TruSox, a product that keeps an athlete’s foot from slipping in their shoe. More importantly, they realize that the experience they have gained during this venture has been priceless. “It has been incredible to interact and work with leaders in the retail sector,” Garcia notes. “Building relationships in the business world using the authentic values learned at Curley is something invaluable to us now and into the future,” Dragisics states.

FRANCISCAN PERSPECTIVE | CURLEY

By Stephen Streckfus ’93 My Catholic education began at St. Rita’s and later included diplomas from Curley and Mount Saint Mary’s College. When I graduated from Curley, I had no idea I would one day return to teach at my alma mater. This year, I began my 14th year of high school (four as a student and ten as a teacher). In that time, I’ve been blessed with life altering experiences by being at Curley and working with the friars.

When I reflect back on my first memories of Curley, I remember walking timidly through the athletic entrance doors with my parents, looking up the steps to see Fr. Mark Thomas’ imposing figure (picture The Hulk in a friar habit), and thinking “what have I gotten myself into?” But, that was just the beginning of the Franciscan influence in my life. What I got myself into was a place where the spirit of St. Francis was fully alive, lived daily and shared with the next generation of young men through the friars and faculty who staffed the school.

It was the friars and lay faculty I encountered at Curley as a student that led me to return as a faculty member. Besides getting to work with fellow alumni and teachers I had as a student, I have the chance to continue to grow in my faith, something that was missing in previous workplaces. It was early in my teaching career that I converted to Catholicism. It made sense and just felt right that, if I believed in Curley’s mission and the teachings of St. Francis, I should live out my faith as a Catholic, and converting gave me a renewed sense of belonging to the Curley Family.

Being at Curley, however, provides constant opportunities to continue to strengthen my faith, because the Franciscan charism is alive and well.

Teaching teenage boys encourages fervent prayer! In addition, celebrating Mass as a community, having opportunities to attend retreats, taking time out of the school day for the sacrament of reconciliation, monthly Holy Hours and, of course, BINGO are just some of the perks of the job. Fr. Chris and FYM continue to demonstrate Francis’ outreach to the poor through the toy drive and feeding the hungry, helping to keep the focus on giving and being there for others. It is easy to see God’s work being done at Curley.

While those activities would be enough for many, Curley takes living out one’s faith a step further by continuing traditions St. Francis established centuries ago. At the time of writing, I am looking forward to the 800th anniversary and reenactment of the live Nativity Francis began in Greccio, Italy. What Francis began to bring the birth of Jesus to life for many continues at Curley and serves as an annual gateway to Christmas celebrations at the school. While it is easy to get caught up in the commercialism of Christmas, Greccio brings the focus back to baby Jesus.

This is what sets Curley apart from other schools for me – celebrating both the humanity and divinity of Jesus, bringing Him to life for students and making Him relatable.

The friars maintain the sense of Francis Steve and wife, Michelle, at the Basilica of St. Francis. and his brotherhood within the school. They are a living example of walking in someone else’s shoes and they model the life of Francis for everyone at Curley. I had the honor of making a pilgrimage with other educators to Italy in 2018 to spend 10 days in Assisi and Rome, literally walking in the footsteps of St. Francis and St. Clare. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that changed the way I see others, teach and appreciate God’s gifts. Living in Assisi for a week brought Francis to life. One can feel his presence there.

Renewing one’s baptism at the same font as Francis was baptized, seeing his home, walking the cobblestone streets and attending Mass at the base of his tomb in Francis’ Basilica brought all those years at Curley to breathtaking life. After returning, I just wanted to share that feeling of peace with everyone back home. Thankfully, my family was able to take a similar trip with other Curley families this past summer and experience that same peace while touring Italy.

My hope is that I can be a lay Franciscan presence at Curley, like many teachers before me, and that future generations will continue to experience the humanity of Jesus that I witness in the halls of the school every day.

I’m glad I got myself into this because I can’t Current junior Mike Streckfus overlooks imagine a life without Franciscan values.

Florence, Italy with Il Duomo in the background.

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2023

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.

Congratulations to the ninth class of inductees into the Archbishop Curley Athletic Hall of Fame.

George Chambers ’10 • Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Described as Curley’s best all-time track & field athlete by longtime Curley coach Gene Hoffman, George Chambers was a standout runner not only locally but nationally. He set over 20 meet records during his time at the school and was the Curley record holder for five individual events. In all, Chambers was an 11-time MIAA individual champion and a member of Curley’s 2008 Conference and Meet championship team. Chambers was chosen to represent Team USA at the 2009 Caribbean Scholastic Games and placed 1st in the 400m event.

Joe D’Adamo ’70 • Lacrosse and Volleyball Coach Joe D’Adamo served as a member of the lacrosse coaching staff for 22 years over three stints. This included being a part of back-to-back MIAA B Conference championship teams in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, D’Adamo started Curley’s volleyball program from scratch and ran the program through 2022. This included serving as the head coach of both the JV and varsity squads for a majority of the years. In total, D’Adamo has “coached” for 40 seasons at the school.

Robert Williams ’74 • Football & Lacrosse Bob Williams was a three-year member of the varsity football and lacrosse teams and captained the two squads. On the gridiron he helped lead the Friars to the MSA B Conference championship game against Gilman in 1973. In the spring, Williams was a starting defenseman in lacrosse and usually was matched up against the opponent’s top scorer. Post-Curley, Williams went on to play both sports at Washington and Lee College. He was a member of two Generals lax teams that were nationally ranked and played in the NCAA tournament.

Ron Hartman Jr. ’92 • Baseball & Football Ron Hartman Jr. excelled in two sports at Curley. He was a three-year starting quarterback for the football team but is better known for his accomplishments on the baseball diamond. The third baseman led the Friars in hitting and was second in batting average in the MSA A Conference during the 1992 season. He was selected to play in the prestigious Crown All-Star game.

Hartman would go on to earn a scholarship to play at the University of Maryland. In 1996 he was selected in the 11th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Steve Quaranta ’82 • Soccer

Bob Dillon ’78 • Basketball

Steve Quaranta is known as one of Curley Soccer’s most prolific scorers of all-time. He still holds the school record for goals in a season with 32 during his senior season. The four-year varsity starter finished his high school career with 67 tallies and 35 assists. In 1981 the forward was named the Baltimore Sun’s Player of the Year and was also recognized as an All-American, All South, All State, and All MSA selection.

Bob Dillon was a standout point guard for the Friars basketball program. He was Curley’s all-time assist leader with 184 and was second in steals with 103. The squad competed in the Baltimore Catholic League at that time and Dillon was instrumental in the Friars run to the BCL championship game in 1978 (its only finals appearance).

He was named to the BCL All-Tournament Team for his outstanding play.

For a full bio on our 2023 Inductees, visit Curley’s website at: https://www.archbishopcurley.org/athletics/hall-of-fame 16 CURLEY Magazine | Winter 2024

CURLEY | SPORT SHORTS YOUTH BASKETBALL CAMP

COLLEGE COMMITMENTS

Archbishop Curley hosted Miami Heat player Haywood Highsmith ’14 and his youth basketball camp.

Congrats to the 17 seniors who took part in Curley’s first signing day of the year:

CURLEY MEDIA DAYS To kick off every sports season Curley Athletics has a media day. This features the athletes and coaches previewing their upcoming seasons with our FRIARS NATION staff and press photos being taken for social media and other outlets.

Anthony Cerone - Baseball - McDaniel College Hunter Layhew - Baseball - Frostburg State University Danell Mann - Baseball - College of Southern Maryland Ryan Parks - Baseball - Notre Dame of Maryland University Derek Poole - Baseball - Harford Community College Elijah Ritter - Baseball - Stevenson University Tony Scott - Baseball - Wilson College Austin Sealing - Baseball - McDaniel College Amari Gardner - Football - College of the Holy Cross Christian Akerboom - Lacrosse - University of Indianapolis Carter Baynes - Lacrosse - St. Mary’s College of Maryland Carson Giannelli - Lacrosse - St. Mary’s College of Maryland Nathan Raynor - Lacrosse - Neumann University James Zingo - Lacrosse - St. Joseph’s University Mason Landreth - Soccer - University of Mary Washington Lucas Schissler- Soccer – Lycoming College (Not Pictured) Andrew Throneburgh-Soccer-U of North Carolina-Wilmington

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CURLEY | SPORT SHORTS

LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, READY TO LAUNCH! The goal of this program is to create a generation of leaders who have a strong sense of leadership. The Curley Leadership Academy for Athletes provides leadership training through selective programs and unique discussions.

The Leadership Academy for Athletes is a selective, tiered approach

designed to provide leadership skills to student-athletes from the time they enter Curley. This program provides prospective leaders with the insights, strategies, and skills necessary to become effective leaders on their teams, on campus and in the community.

Through ongoing workshops, interactive exercises, readings and speaker presentations, the four-year program provides a strong foundation for student athletes to develop into effective leaders.

MIAA ALL-CONFERENCE Soccer Casey Price Nick Lentz Mason Landreth Andrew Throneburgh

Football Caron Madison Malakai Nichols Chris Pond Khalil Travers

Isaiah Yates Amari Gardner Bailen Boutz

Volleyball Luke Walz

MACS ALL-STATE SOCCER FIRST TEAM Casey Price MACS ALL-STATE SOCCER SECOND TEAM Nick Lentz

ICE HOCKEY GIVING BACK Current players and alumni came out to volunteer with the Baltimore Area Special Hockey, The Baltimore Saints, which offers ice hockey to both children and adults with a traumatic brain injury or developmental disability.

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CURLEY | SPORT SHORTS CURLEY CLASSIC MIDDLE SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY RACE This year several hundred middle and elementary school students participated in the Curley Classic Cross Country Race. The older runners competed on a 1.4 mile course, while the younger runners ran just under one mile. All of the races featured an exciting finish onto the track in the Curley Bowl. Each year, the race times continue to improve and Curley is always excited to host this event for the Catholic schools and many future friars!

NEW HEAD COACHES The fall athletic season featured two Curley grads as first year Head Coaches.

Demonya Womack ’11, head football coach, took the Friars football team to the semifinals. Randy Noppinger ’14 replaced Joe D’Adamo ’70 as head volleyball coach in his fourth year with the program.

Mr. Demonya Womack ’11

ALUMNI

NEWS Class of 1965

Larry O’Connor and his wife, Dorothy, recently celebrated their 55th Wedding anniversary. Dorothy is a graduate of Maryvale and retired owner of “The Word” Christian Bookstore in Shrewsbury, PA. Larry is a retired Master Electrician. They currently reside in Freeland, MD.

Class of 1966 Congratulations to Lester and Joan (Catholic High ’67) Brown who celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary.

Class of 1966 This past summer Ernie Crofoot, and his wife, Kay, celebrated their 47th anniversary.

Mr. Randy Noppinger ’14

Class of 1969

Class of 1971

Craig Macomber and his wife, Nancy, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

A large group from the class of 1971 got together for a Christmas lunch at Della Roses Perry Hall Pub (Joe Della Rose ’73).

Class of 1970 Congrats to Dave Danaher and his wife, Donna, who recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

After 15 years of working at his alma mater, Greg Malanowski ’70 has retired from teaching at Curley, but continues to teach Theology part time to the seniors at Catholic High.

A few members from the Class of 1970 were able to get together for a little birthday celebration. (L to R) Mel Skwirut, Frank Coonan, Fr. Donald Grzymski, Pat Richardson, Paul Addicks, and Ron Kellner.

Class of 1972 Congratulations to Gerry DiBartolo ’72 on having Salisbury University’s Soccer Stadium renamed in his honor. The soccer complex was renamed the “Gerry DiBartolo Sea Gull Soccer Stadium” during a dedication that took place in August. Gerry served on SU’s campus for 44 years, including 37 years on the soccer sidelines from 1979-2016.

Members of the Class of 1972 recently gathered for some crabs and to relive some memories and stories of their days at Curley.

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ALUMNI

NEWS

Class of 1983 Congrats to Rob Lepore and his wife, Lindsay, who welcomed their son Robert into the world on May 23, 2023. Robert is their third child.

Classes of 1983 & 2015

Class of 1975 Congrats to John Bourgeois who is now enjoying retirement after 42 years of working for Johns Hopkins University as a Senior Financial Manager. He spent 11 years with the School of Medicine before transferring to the School of Public Health for his final 31 years.

Congratulations to Brian Webb on his retirement from the Baltimore County Police Department after 28 years of service.

Class of 1994

Class of 1976 In June, Jim Clifford reached a milestone in his life, retiring as a Department of Defense Civilian with the US Air Force Reserve Command.

Class of 1978

Class of 1979 Congratulations to Phil Ravita who was recently chosen for placement on the Maryland State Art Council’s Presenting and Touring Roster. Phil also received a grant to present the show “Songs of Justice and Freedom” as part of the 2023 Freefall Baltimore Event. In addition to these new opportunities, Phil continues to perform at music festivals in the Baltimore/DC region.

Congratulations to John Ringrose, who recently retired from the U.S. Department of Defense after 39 years of service.

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Members of the Class recently gathered at Pauly’s NY Pizza & Ice Cream in Parkville, which is owned by Paul Rizas ’90. They ate spectacular pizza, had a few drinks, and reminisced about their times at Curley. A mini reunion that all enjoyed.

Class of 1992

This past summer, Ernie Paszkiewicz retired from Gross Mendelsohn & Associates. It turns out Ernie wasn’t ready to fully retire so he started his own solo practice, TCB Advisory LLC.

Bob Dillon was inducted into the Baltimore Catholic League Hall of Fame. Bob was a three year starting point guard on varsity for Coach Dan Popera.

Class of 1990

Sherwen Triguero (L) and Tony Walker (R) have worked together on the Cardiac Care Unit (Cardiac ICU) at The Johns Hopkins Hospital for the past 3 years.

Tony has been at Hopkins since 1996 and Sherwen began working there in 2018 while in nursing school at Towson University. Tony is currently a clinical technician and Sherwen is a nurse. This photo was from their last night shift working together as Sherwen is starting his graduate studies to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) in 2024 at York College of Pennsylvania.

Joe Cristy has been named the new public address announcer for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Winston-Salem, NC. He’ll call many sports for the Deacs, including all men’s and women’s home basketball games. While being the voice of his college alma mater at High Point University for 17 years, Joe started to ascend the ranks of collegiate athletics and has called several major college tournaments.

Class of 1989

Class of 1998

Anthony Murawski, his wife Barbara, and their two children recently vacationed in Poland and Italy. The Polish segment included visits to Rzeszow, Krosno, Krakow, and the infamous Auschwitz-Birkenau camps.

The Italian tour included Rome, the Vatican, Pompeii, and Sorrento. Barbara and Anthony also recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary.

John D’Adamo successfully defended his dissertation and completed his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Notre Dame of Maryland University. His dissertation was entitled “An Analysis of Technological Attitudes and Self-Efficacy of K-12 Teachers Following the Emergency Remote Teaching Used During COVID-19.” Dr. D’Adamo currently serves as Assistant Head of School / Head of Middle & Upper School at York Country Day School in York, PA.

Class of 2006

Class of 2010

Class of 2020

Congratulations to Steve Maex, an assistant professor of accounting at George Mason University - School of Business, for recently receiving the American Accounting Association Outstanding International Accounting Dissertation Award. Steve’s dissertation was titled, “Modern Privacy Regulation, International Information Quality, and Operational Efficiency: Evidence from the General Data Protection Regulation,” and examines the business impact of the European Union’s sweeping 2016 laws on data privacy.

Adam Rybczynski is now in his thrid year of the PhD program at Johns Hopkins University. He currently holds Undergraduate and Masters degrees in Biology from UMBC and will finish his doctoral degree in a cooperative Bio-Physics research program at Harvard University in Boston, MA.

Nick Ostrowski is an Athletic Training student at Duquesne University. He will be spending his senior year and the 23-24 NFL season with the Pittsburgh Steelers to complete his clinical requirements for graduation in May 2024. Nick was inspired in his junior year at Curley by Mr. McGinty to pursue a career in athletic training.

Class of 2007

Class of 2010 Dylan DeSoto and wife, Kyrston, are expecting their third child. Dylan recently relocated to Florida with his wife and two sons, Grayson & Raiden, and has accepted a postion as GM of Grip Boost LLC.

Class of 2011 Congratulations to Matthew Rosenthal and Julianne Johnson who tied the knot on April 29th, 2023. The happy couple resides in Philadelphia.

On August 10th, members of the Class of 2007 gathered at Red Brick Station in White Marsh.

In attendance were Ray Wodarski, Steve Kain, Kyle Ashe, Basile Nkere, Kenny Whittaker, Kevin Franklin, and Travis Davis.

Class of 2008 Joshua Wolf was recently named Director of MARC Train Service at the Maryland Transit Administration.

Classes of 2009, 2019 & 2022 More Curley reunions on the gridiron. Eric Franklin is in his third season as Cornerbacks Coach for U Penn.

He recently coached against Paul and Jeremiah Lewis. Paul is a senior cornerback for Cornell while his brother Jeremiah is a sophomore safety for the Big Red.

This past season, James Sandoval shared his musical talents and sang the National Anthem at an Orioles game at Camden Yards. James was a member of the choir while at Curley. He is now on the Track & Field Team at High Point University where he competes in the hammer and weight throws.

Classes of 2020 & 2023

Class of 2014

Alumni, Ian Hoffman and Zion Kwaw, recently crossed paths at a Goucher College Meet. Ian was competing in the discus and Zion the 400m.

Congrats to Colin May and his wife, Megan, who recently tied the knot. Curley alumni in attendance at the wedding included Cameron Wilson (Best Man), Tyler Ihle, CJ Hasslup, Brad Ebaugh, Joshua Graves, and Kyle Mizell (all were groomsmen). Colin and Megan are currently living in Halethorpe, MD anxious to begin their family.

Class of 2018 After earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Meteorology from Millersville University and his Master of Science Degree in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology from Texas Tech University, Robbie Commodari has joined KWWL in Waterloo, IA.

Class of 2022 Mateo Eral, a sophomore at Virginia Tech, and three of his classmates recently won a national championship in the highly competitive Deloitte Undergraduate Case Competition. Mateo and his team beat 15 other schools to clinch the title.

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ALUMNI

Rest in Peace Through December 2023

•

Joyce Auffarth, mother of +Gregory ’80 & Steven ’83

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Gordon Kirsch, Sr. father of Gordon Jr. ’75 & Jeffrey ’77

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James D. Baikauskas ’65

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William H. Barrett ’67

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Wilma Jean Bayne, mother of +Fr. Joseph ’75, George ’78, +Robert ’81 & Grandmother of Robert ’01

Loretta Knapp, mother of Rody ’85, and Jeffrey ’88, sister of Fred Koch ’70, grandmother of Colin ’15, Brandon ’18, Joshua ’20,.

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Dorothy T. Kocyan, mother of +Gregory ’83, Robert ’87, and Wayne ’89

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Fr. Joseph Bayne, OFM Conv. ’75

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Kenneth W. Koester ’68

Class of 2023

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Charles Bernard Beckman ’73

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Teresa Kress, wife of William ’70

Recent graduate Antonio Carter was awarded the Western Golf Association’s Chick Evans Scholarship for high-achieving caddies. Antonio caddies at Baltimore Country Club in Timonium and plans to major in marketing at the University of Maryland, where his scholarship will cover the full cost of tuition and housing.

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Vincent Bellistri, father of Steven ’71 & David ’75

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Richard Kulis, father of Mark ’74 & Michael ’82

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James Blackman, father of Scott ’79, Paul ’96 and great-grandfather of Evan ’24

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Anna “Pat” LaPaglia, mother of Peter ’79

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David McCullough ’80

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William McElfish, father of +Scott ’84

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Robert F. Miller, Sr. ’68

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Lee Miskimon III, father of Lee ’87 & Keith ’96

Faculty/Staff

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George Motter, Jr. , father of Josh ’07 and Jacob ’09

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Shirley Nohe, mother of Michael ’70 & Gary ’74

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Rosemarie Olszewski, wife of James ’77

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Lisa Parr, mother of Nicholas ’27 & sister of Michael Palmere ’97

NEWS

Coach Dan Popera was inducted posthumously into the Baltimore Catholic League Hall of Fame. Dan began his coaching career at Curley in 1974. During his coaching career he earned many honors and accolades. Coach Popera was Metro Coach of the Year in 1978, a 3-time recipient of the Sportsmanship Award, and C Conference Coach of the Year in 1989.

He retired from coaching after the 1998-99 season.

The respect and love shown by his colleagues and friends at the ceremony was incredible. A true Hall-ofFamer in every way.

•

Matthew Bogdan, father of Michael ’70 & Matthew ’74

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Donna Bossalina, mother of Christopher ’04

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Frances Borzymowski, mother of Ted ’75

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Dennis Buchar, father of Chris ’88

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Michael Carre ’70

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Karen Celano, mother of Dominick ’18

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Mildred Cimino, mother of Christopher ’90

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Michael Ciuchta, father of Ryan ’00

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Richard Pfaff, father of Richard ’86

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Christine Colomb, mother of Morrison “Mac” ’17

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Joseph L. Rotundo ’66

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Theresa Czerwinski, mother of James ’68

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Kenneth Sadofsky ’81

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Rita D’Adamo, mother of Louis ’75 and Michael ’71 •

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Christina Dakos, fiancé of Scott Maley ’99; mother of Jaime ’24, sister-in-law of David Maley ’96

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Francis “Ed” Sheeler ’65

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Robert Dillman, father of George ’77

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Br. Dennis Sokolowski, OFM Conv., former staff

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Dillon Flaherty, father of Dillon lV ’00

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Rita Garganon, mother of Douglas ’79; grandmother of Douglas, Jr. ’06

Myles Snyder, son of Myles ’72 & nephew of Tom ’68

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Joan Stitz, mother of Barry ’87; grandmother of Ben ’18. Sam ’21 & Matthew ’26

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Timothy Weglicki ’69, brother-in-law of Jack Targarona ’70

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William Wilson, Jr., father of Cameron ’14 & Garrett ’19

Nancy Serio, mother of Michael ’86 & grandmother of Jacob ’19

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Edwin Gibbons, father of Joseph ’74

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Walter Gittings, father of Neil ’70 and David ’78

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Eileen Grund, mother of John ’84

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John “Pat” Healy, father of Michael ’84

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Robert Hughes, father of Robert ’85

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Milton Wolinski, Jr. ’70

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Charles Jenkins, father of Jason ’96

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Fred Young, father of Matthew ’02

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Eileen Kapraun, mother of John ’88, grandmother • of Jacob ’26 & mother-in-law of Robert Brendel ’76 •

William Zablocki, father of Jeffrey ’81 Robert Zaczek ’69

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

22 CURLEY Magazine | Winter 2024

800 GRECCIO ANNIVERSARY th

An annual Curley tradition is the freshman class presentation of the Live Nativity shortly before Christmas. This program is also known as the “Greccio Live Nativity” for it recalls St. Francis of Assisi being credited with presenting the first live nativity in Greccio, Italy. This year’s celebration was special, for it was the 800th anniversary of that first Greccio service at Christmas, 1223.

The Class of 2027 members offered a fine program, with the Schola and Luminare Choir leading the singing of familiar carols with each tableau of the presentation. Parents of the Class of ’27 then offered refreshments to all who gathered.

Guests are always invited to take home a bit of blessed straw for their own manger scene, as well as taking home the real message of the Christmas Season.

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID

3701 Sinclair Lane Baltimore, MD 21213-2079

Permit No. 6354 BALTIMORE, MD

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.

www.archbishopcurley.org Join us for these planned upcoming events:

Watch the Curley website for possible postponements and cancellations.

FEB 24

SHRIMP FEAST AND BULL ROAST

MARCH 2 ALL THAT CURLEY JAZZ MARCH 23

CURLEY GALA XXIX

APRIL 17 CORNERSTONE DAY GOLDEN FRIARS MAY 17 1974 REUNION

MAY 24

CLASS OF ’24 COMMENCEMENT

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

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24 CURLEY Magazine | Winter 2024

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