GONZAGA
• THE JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL •
Gonzaga College High School
19 Eye Street, NW Washington, D.C., 20001
GONZAGA’S MISSION
A Catholic, Jesuit high school founded in the nation’s capital in 1821, Gonzaga prepares young men for college success and for lives marked by integrity, purpose, and an enduring commitment to service and justice. Gonzaga develops in our students a love of learning, strength of character, an awareness of their gifts and talents, and an understanding of how deeply and personally they are loved by God.
PRESIDENT
Rev. Joseph E. Lingan, S.J. ’75
CHAIR OF THE GONZAGA BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Scott M. McCaleb ’84
HEADMASTER
Thomas K. Every II
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Stephen M. Neill ’89
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF ALUMNI & ADVANCEMENT
David Dugan ’98
DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS
Byron Harper ’84
Gonzaga Magazine, the official magazine of Gonzaga College High School, is published by the Gonzaga Office of Marketing and Communications.
EDITOR
Mary Clare Glover
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Annie Rosello
DESIGNER
Renee Spencer
CONTRIBUTORS
Byron Harper ’84
Conrad Singh ’00
Patrick Welch
PHOTOGRAPHY
James Kegley
Conrad Singh ’00
Renee Spencer
Jessica Taglieri
Matt Taglieri ’04
Please send comments, suggestions, corrections, and changes of address to info@Gonzaga.org.
In June, nine rising seniors traveled to Ambos Nogales, on the Arizona/ Mexico border to learn about and immerse themselves in the issue of immigration. This journal of their trip offers powerful insights into what they saw and learned.
Sunday, June 1, Gonzaga
Dear Gonzaga Community,
Each fall brings with it the excitement of a new school year—fresh energy on campus, new faces to welcome, and familiar traditions that remind us of the strength of our community. The weeks since our students returned to Eye Street have been filled with joyful gatherings and traditions, including student orientations and the first day of classes, the New Families Welcome Picnic, and of course, the Mass of the Holy Spirit, a tradition at Jesuit schools marking the beginning of a new academic year. These moments remind us that Gonzaga’s strength lies not only in its traditions, but in the spirit of renewal that animates our mission year after year.
I’m pleased to share with you in this issue of Gonzaga Magazine a variety of stories from across our community. “Meeting at the Margins” on page 24 takes us to the U.S.–Mexico border, where a group of students and faculty traveled for a service immersion trip this past summer. Their observations and reflections speak to Gonzaga’s ongoing commitment of forming “men for and with others” through service and solidarity.
Basketball Coach; and several new members of our Board of Trustees. Each brings unique gifts and experiences, and I am confident they will enrich our shared mission.
You will also find the next installment of our faculty essay series, called “Why Study...” on page 22. Written by English teacher Mr. Patrick Welch, the essay offers a thoughtful perspective on why the study of literature remains essential in our fastpaced, technology-driven world. It is a reminder that, while our tools and methods may evolve, the heart of a Jesuit education—helping young men ask deeper questions and see beyond themselves—remains rooted in the humanities.
As always, this magazine also offers snapshots of life on Eye Street—photos and recaps that celebrate the countless ways our students, faculty, parents, and alumni continue to embody Gonzaga’s values.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Gonzaga and for the many ways you help bring our mission to life.
With every best wish,
We are also pleased to introduce several leaders— some new to Gonzaga, some Eye Street veterans— who will help guide our community in the years ahead: Mr. Brendan Hartnett ’97, our new Director of Mission and Identity; Coach Keith Urgo ’97, our new Varsity
Rev. Joseph E. Lingan, S.J. ’75 President
WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS
As we embark on the 2025-2026 school year, Gonzaga is grateful for the counsel and support of the following new members of the Board of Trustees.
RALPH ALLEN JR. ’84 is currently Chief Operating Officer at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, where he is responsible for all areas of business operations and overall profitability. Ralph focuses on unlocking human potential, ensuring financial and operational alignment, and inspiring the institutional agility needed to achieve firm and client objectives. He brings to Gonzaga’s Board over three decades of leadership in law firm operations, with previous senior positions at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan (NY), Allen Matkins (CA), Patton Boggs (DC), and Howrey Simon (DC). Ralph holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from George Washington University, and an MBA in Finance from Clark Atlanta University. A member of the Class of 1984, Ralph has been a generous champion and promoter of the Gonzaga endowed fund created in memory of his classmate Keith Sean Lindsey.
SEAN CREAMER ’82 (P ’09, ’10) has graciously accepted the invitation to serve another stint on Gonzaga’s Board, having served previously as a Trustee and Board Chair at Gonzaga. A retired executive, Sean brings decades of leadership in finance, media, and corporate governance, and has served in senior executive roles at companies such as Arbitron, Merkle, and The Madison Square Garden Company. A graduate of Saint Joseph’s University with a MS in Taxation from Georgetown, he and his wife Lisa are loyal and dedicated benefactors of Gonzaga, focused on supporting the Ignatian formation of students, faculty and staff. The parents of two Gonzaga alumni (Kevin ’09 and Ryan ’10) and an Academy of the Holy Cross graduate (Colleen ’14), Sean and Lisa were honored with the St. Aloysius Medal in the spring of 2025 in recognition of their commitment to Gonzaga.
TOM DUGAN ’83 is former Director of Fixed Income and long-time Board member at the investment firm Dodge & Cox, where he worked for over 30 years. During his time at Gonzaga, Tom was a varsity athlete and retreat team member, and was inducted into Gonzaga’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. Following Gonzaga, he earned his BA from Brown University, his MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, and began his finance career at J.P. Morgan Securities. Tom has served for several years on Gonzaga’s Investment Committee helping steward Gonzaga’s endowment resources. Recently retired, Tom splits his time between the San Francisco Bay Area in California (where he coaches high school football) and Ireland (where he’s developing an appreciation of the rigors of running a sheep farm).
ANN FOWLER (P ’24) is the Director of Real Estate at Sheehy Auto Stores – the business started by her late father Vincent Sheehy III of the Gonzaga Class of 1946 – where she manages all aspects of the company’s real estate portfolio including debt financing, acquisitions and construction management. In addition to her father, numerous family members have attended Gonzaga, including her grandfather, brother, brotherin-law, nephews, and her son Freddy of the Class of 2024. A graduate of the University of Vermont and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, Ann has prior service on the Gonzaga Finance Committee, as well as Board experience at her alma mater Georgetown Visitation, where she served as a Trustee and Campaign Chair, as well as the Christ Child Society, Mater Dei School, and other DC-area nonprofit institutions. She and her husband Brand have four children and live in Bethesda.
THOMAS LYNCH ’89 (P ’17, ’27) is Managing Partner at Iron Point Partners, a private equity firm investing in real estate and other real assets throughout North America and Europe. A 1989 graduate of Gonzaga, Tom was a retreat leader, involved in Student Government, and a multisport athlete on Eye Street. Following Gonzaga, Tom attended Dartmouth and UVA law school, and served as a Lieutenant in the US Navy JAG Corps, earning his MBA from ODU’s Strome College of Business while in Active Duty. A member of Gonzaga’s Investment Committee, Tom has served on the board of directors of the Yellow Ribbon Fund, the Mater Dei School, and the Washington Jesuit Academy, among others. He and his wife Andrea have fi ve children, including Gonzaga graduate Charlie ’17 and Jack, a member of the Class of ’27.
Performing Arts Hall of Fame
February 1, 2025
The Gonzaga Alumni Association celebrated the artistic accomplishments of our school and alumni by inducting several new members into its Performing Arts Hall of Fame in February. Congratulations to this year’s inductees: Andrew Broadaway ’96, Danny Costello ’72, Andrew Deerin ’95, Robert Egan ’68, Ash Hawken ’53, Matt Magielnicki ’02, and the 2008 production of West Side Story
1. From left to right: Andrew Broadaway ’96, Matt Magielnicki ’02, Gonzaga Social Studies Teacher and member of the West Side Story cast Nick Pugliese ’08, Father Lingan, Andrew Deerin ’95, Danny Costello ’72, Robert Egan ’68, and Ash Hawken ’53. 2. From left to right: Gonzaga Board Chair Tim Flynn ’72 (P ’09), Lisa Creamer (P ’09, ’10), Patti Flynn (P ’09), and Sean Creamer ’82 (P ’09, ’10). 3. From left to right: Gonzaga Dramatic Association Producer Meghan Goldsmith, Anthony “A.J.” Francis ’08, and Gonzaga faculty member Paul Buckley ’86. 4. John Gaughn ’65 (left) and John F. Costello ’69. 5. From left to right Colleen Conroy, Wendy Frankel, and Ash Hawken ’53. 6. The cast and crew from the 2008 production of West Side Story
Mother-Son Mass and Breakfast
March 9, 2025
Gonzaga celebrated the bond between mothers and sons during its annual Mother Son Mass and Breakfast. Held on a sunny, cold day in early March, the event included Mass in St. Aloysius Church followed by brunch and a program in the Carmody Center.
A highlight of this annual event is the portraits taken of mothers and sons before and after Mass. In each of these photos, the moms or their sons are showcasing their Gonzaga pride by wearing a splash of purple.
Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
April 5, 2025
1. Tripp O’Brien ’93, who was inducted to the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in both football and baseball, embraces his son after accepting his award. 2. During the ceremony in Sheehy Theater, a video and citations celebrated this year’s inductees. 3. From left to right: Ike Wilkins ’92, Tripp O’Brien ’93, Mike Rooths ’76, Ryan McCabe ’03, and Taurean Marshall ’03. 4. The 2009 Crew National Champion Boat was the first Gonzaga boat to compete at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta in London, among other accolades. Here, Peter Prominski ’09 speaks on behalf of his teammates; his fellow inductees were Johannes Schmidt ’09, Alex Casey ’11, Jack Devlin ’09, Richard Johnston ’09, Greg Beckwith ’09, Jake Brennan ’09, Denis Leahy ’10, and Joe Hanlon ’10. 5. From left to right: Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Training Penny Lynch, longtime former Gonzaga teacher and coach Joe Jackson, and Modern Languages Teacher and Global Education Coordinator Ariel Laguilles ’96. 6. Mike Rouths ’76 with his extended family and supporters. Mike played in the football program’s first game on Buchanan Field and caught the winning touchdown pass in a 21-14 victory over DeMatha on November 1, 1975.
The Joe Kozik Athletic Hall of Fame pays tribute to Gonzaga’s rich athletic legacy by recognizing outstanding contributions made by athletes, coaches, administrators, and teams. This year, the Gonzaga Alumni Association was excited to induct six new members: Taurean Marshall ’03, Ryan McCabe ’03, Tripp O’Brien ’93, Mike Rooths ’76, Ike Wilkins ’92, and the 2009 Crew National Champion Boat.
St. Aloysius Mass and Dinner
April 25, 2025
A special event held on Gonzaga’s campus in the spring, the Saint Aloysius Mass and Dinner is an opportunity for the school to thank our most generous benefactors. It’s also the occasion when Gonzaga presents its Saint Aloysius Medal, our highest honor, to several community members.
Sarah Scherer
25
’23, ’25),
and Laura
1. Father Lingan (second from left) with the 2025 Saint Aloysius Medal recipients (left to right): Danny Costello ’72, Phil Anderson (P ’96), Lisa Creamer (P’09, ’10), and Sean Creamer ’82 (P’09, ’10). 2., 3. The event began with a beautiful Mass in Saint Aloysius Church. 4.
(P ’21,
the 2024-
Gonzaga Mothers Club President (left)
Oradei-Bayz (P ’20). 5. From left to right: Kelly Formant (P ’13), Tree McKinnon (P ’17, ’18, ’23, ’26), and Michael Formant ’13. 6. From left to right: Walter Hill Jr. ’83, Scott McCaleb ’84 and Tim Royston ’82.
Father Son Communion Breakfast
May 4, 2025
Hundreds of Gonzaga dads and students – both current and incoming – attended the Father Son Communion Breakfast in May. This year marked the 77th annual event, which includes Mass in St. Aloysius Church followed by a brunch and program at the nearby Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill.
1. Father Lingan (center) with this year’s Father Novotny Service Award honoree, Robert Murray ’53 (left), and this year’s Alumni Man of the Year, Tim Flynn ’72, who were both recognized at the event. 2. The morning started with Mass in St. Aloysius Church. 3. Fathers and their sons walk from Gonzaga to the Hyatt. 4. Gonzaga Fathers Club president Randy Stone ’90 (P ’26) (left) and Gonzaga Headmaster Mr. Tom Every. 5. Braden J. Eggstaff ’26 started the reception with the National Anthem on electric guitar. 6. Guests enjoying breakfast before the program begins.
by the numbers
Educating for a Global Future
As part of the Jesuit Global Network of Schools, Gonzaga belongs to a community of 874 schools and over 870,000 students worldwide. Three years ago, we launched a new Global Education program that offers opportunities for students to engage more deeply with the world around them – including a popular and robust new exchange program. “Our hope is to inspire students to journey beyond what is familiar and comfortable,” says Mr. Ariel Laguilles ’96, who leads the program. “The goal is for them to become more aware of their place and responsibilities in our interconnected world.”
11
Number of students from the Class of 2026 who will earn an Ignatian Global Scholars Certificate, a special diploma from the Jesuit Schools Network that requires coursework, crosscultural experiences, reflection, and service.
32
Number of exchange students Gonzaga hosted during the 2024-2025 school year
6
2022
Number of pre-secondary and secondary schools in the Jesuit Schools Network
90
The year Gonzaga launched its Global Education program
Number of schools students came to Gonzaga from:
• Sant Ignasi (Barcelona, Spain)
• Colegio San José de Villafranca (Villafranca, Spain)
• Instituto Leone XIII (Milan, Italy)
• Gonzaga College SJ (Dublin, Ireland)
• Lycee Sant Marc (Lyon, France)
• Colegio del Salvador (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Number of Gonzaga students who participated in an exchange with another school last year 30
40
Number of Ignatian Global Scholars in the Classes of 2026, 2027, and 2028
5
Number of countries Gonzaga students travelled to for those exchanges:
• Spain
• Italy
• Ireland
• Argentina
• France
One of Gonzaga’s newest clubs is growing fast – literally. The Garden Club was established in the fall of 2024 with a small garden shed and four 4x8 foot raised beds along K Street behind Ruesch Hall.
“It all started with a Jesuit Schools Network Eco-Educators Summit during the summer of 2023,” explained Religion teacher and club moderator, Dr. Harry Rissetto ’89. He and three other Gonzaga teachers joined Jesuit educators from around the country for a three day meeting at a sustainable farm and conference center outside Cleveland, Ohio. “Many of the Jesuit high schools represented there were already hipdeep in recycling, sustainable energy use, and community gardening,” Rissetto said. “It got me thinking about how Gonzaga might be able to join the party.”
Students and staff built the garden beds and got busy planting a variety of peppers, basil, radishes and other vegetables, with the goal of providing fresh produce to the McKenna Center. The club gives students an opportunity to actively promote ecological justice and care for creation, which are central to the Jesuit mission.
Senior Graeme Stewart ’26 joined the club to try something new. “I didn’t know much about gardening at the time,” he said. “However, coming to the meetings once a week gave me a chance to relax and focus on something other than the stress of school. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to participate in a project that ultimately aims to make other people’s lives just a bit easier.”
A Strong Foundation
When Jafar-I Moore ’26 arrived on Eye Street as a freshman, he was looking for something to fill the time before golf season began. He asked an athletic trainer if he could help out—sparking an interest that has only grown over his time at Gonzaga. Three years later, Jafar-I is known as a dedicated student trainer, respected by athletes and adults alike.
His path is part of a growing trend. With more students interested in sports medicine, longtime Athletic Trainer and Assistant Athletic Director Ms. Penny Lynch began teaching Introduction to Athletic Training, an elective available to juniors and seniors, this fall. During the semester-long class, students learn the fundamentals of sports medicine and basic first aid, earn CPR certification, and master essential intervention techniques.
Mr. Terry Kernan ’08, Gonzaga’s Athletic Director, says student trainers are an integral part of the school’s athletic program. “The Athletic Department is made up of more than just the athletes and coaches,” he says. “Student trainers assess injuries, tape, ice, and provide knowledge and moral
support. Perhaps most importantly, they are also very much part of the team. Jafar-I is an outstanding example of how students can take part in the athletic experience at Gonzaga in a creative way.”
A serious student and talented tap dancer, Jafar-I took time out from his busy schedule to share more about his unique extracurricular activity.
What is your favorite part of working with Gonzaga athletes and teams?
“I enjoy being able to play a role in the performance of our athletes. Often, if an athlete I treated performs better in a game, I feel like I played a role in that strong performance.”
How do you see the hands-on training that you’re receiving as useful for your future career goals?
“I want to be an orthopedic surgeon, so my understanding of kinesiology, injury evaluation, and rehabilitation, which I have gained as a student trainer, serves as a good foundation.”
How many hours a week do you devote to athletic training at Gonzaga?
“It often depends on the number of games going on each week, but I would say anywhere from 15-24 hours.”
What is the most interesting thing you’ve learned that you didn’t know before?
“People’s first instinct whenever they are injured is to move or stretch, but in certain diagnoses like a muscle or ligament strain, it is actually better to not stretch initially because you don’t want to exacerbate the strain by giving more extension.”
What would you say to other students interested in following your footsteps?
“Do not be afraid to take the first step and ask the question, ‘Can I come in and help?’ You also have to be enthusiastic and intuitive – if you are eager to learn the things that the Athletic Training department has to teach you, you will gain a lot from the experience.”
Leading With Purpose
In May, Gonzaga announced that Mr. Brendan Hartnett ’97, a longtime member of the school community, will serve as our new Director of Mission and Ignatian Identity. A graduate of Gonzaga and a member of the faculty since 2002, Mr. Hartnett brings a deep personal connection to the school’s Jesuit values and a passion for spiritual formation and service.
In this new role, he will work closely with Gonzaga’s President, Headmaster, administrative team, faculty, and staff to ensure that the school’s mission of forming men for and with others remains at the heart of all that we do. Specifically, he will focus on maintaining, developing, and expanding the Ignatian formation programs that Gonzaga offers to the community and ensuring that our educational approach goes beyond mere academic instruction to focus on comprehensive personal transformation. Below, he shares reflections on his journey, his hopes for the community, and his vision for Ignatian education on Eye Street.
Coming full circle: “My time as a student at Gonzaga greatly contributed to my discovery of this vocation. I was blessed to have exceptional teachers and coaches who were passionate about their work and inspired me to seek a profession that would be both impactful and fulfilling. I also formed lifelong friendships with classmates who continue to support me today. Furthermore, I participated in dynamic and meaningful faith and service experiences that instilled in me a lasting commitment to service, justice, and the upholding of human dignity.”
The importance of faculty formation: “Faculty formation is not just a professional requirement but a transformative process that uses Ignatian Spirituality to align educators with the profound mission of Jesuit education. Every member of the Gonzaga community plays an integral role in animating and advancing the school’s mission. I look forward to working together to continue to deepen, cherish, and celebrate our Catholic mission through the Ignatian tradition — whether in the classroom, retreats, service and justice opportunities, in worship, through athletics, clubs, or anywhere our Eagles may be.”
The vital role of Campus Ministry at Gonzaga: “By integrating spiritual formation, social justice awareness, and personal reflection into the educational experience, Campus Ministry extends learning beyond the traditional classroom. Through thoughtfully designed retreat programs, service-learning opportunities, liturgical celebrations, and faith-based discussions, the office helps students develop a deeper understanding of their values, social responsibilities, and spiritual growth. The Campus Ministry team helps transform education from a purely intellectual pursuit into a journey of personal and communal transformation, aligned with the Jesuit tradition of educating the whole person—mind, body, and spirit.”
A vibrant community: “I am inspired by the genuine sense of fellowship within our community. People believe in our mission and actively contribute to bringing it to life every day through their work and service. It is an honor and a privilege to work alongside such remarkable people.”
Home Court Advantage
Stepping back onto the court in the Carmody Center this spring was a sweet homecoming for Coach Keith Urgo ’97. A three-sport athlete at Gonzaga, he went on to play basketball and lacrosse at Fairfield University. After college, he returned to DC to teach at the Washington Jesuit Academy and served as Freshman Head Basketball Coach and Varsity Assistant at Gonzaga for four years. Over the last 18 years, Urgo coached at the collegiate level with roles at Villanova, Penn State, and Fordham universities. When longtime Gonzaga Head Coach Steve Turner took a new position this year in Florida, the stars aligned for Urgo to succeed him, becoming the program’s third head coach in the last half century.
In addition to coaching, Urgo will serve as an Assistant Athletic Director and act as a liaison with Campus Ministry, ensuring all athletic programs engage in team-based service projects. He will also launch a new NIL and College Financial Literacy Education Program to prepare athletes and their families for the evolving college landscape.
“Coach Urgo’s philosophy is deeply rooted in Jesuit tradition and mission,” said Athletic Director Mr. Terry Kernan ’08, who was coached by Urgo as a freshman player during the 2004-05 season. “Having attended or served at four separate Jesuit institutions, he is committed to the individual growth of each player, both on and off the court.” We asked Coach Urgo about his homecoming.
On returning to Eye Street: “My time at Gonzaga shaped the type of human being that I am. It’s a really important place to me and my family, including my three brothers who are also alumni. We learned what being Men and Women for Others really means. There were so many incredible people at Gonzaga that I had the chance to watch and follow and learn from, and I met all of my closest friends here. This is not just a job to me, it’s a way of life. This is a brotherhood that’s special.”
An attitude of gratitude: “Teaching young men work ethic and empathy, that’s what the Jesuits are all about. One of the five pillars at Gonzaga Basketball is gratitude, and understanding that we should be thankful for all of the opportunities we have should lead to wanting to give back as much as we can.”
A piece of advice: “As long as you treat people with respect and have a great work ethic, then you have a chance to be successful at Gonzaga. It doesn’t mean you have to be an A student, but you have to try to be the best you can be each and every day.”
What he’s looking forward to: “Seeing the development and growth of the young men in our program. These young men are so mature for their age, it’s remarkable. They’re driven, self-motivated and they all want to be the best they can be. That’s fun to be around, because it makes me want to be the best that I can be for them.”
Follow @GonzagaEaglesHoops for all basketball updates!
Eagles Fly High!
Highlights from the winter 2024-2025 season Basketball
Ice Hockey
In his final season leading Gonzaga Basketball, longtime head coach Steve Turner guided the Eagles to one of their most decorated years yet. The Eagles captured their fourth straight DC Classic, added the prestigious Les Schwab Invitational trophy, and capped things off with the program’s first DCSAA Championship since 2020. A senior-led squad carried Gonzaga to a 29–5 record, a thrilling 67–65 win over three-time defending DC champion Sidwell Friends, and a No. 8 national ranking from MaxPreps.
It was a history-making winter on the ice. Varsity 1 claimed its firstever WCAC Championship, edging rival St. John’s 2–1 in the championship game. With first-year head coach Tony DiCarlo at the helm, the Eagles soared to a top-10 regional ranking. The depth of the program was on display as well: Varsity 2 captured its fourth straight MAPHL A title, with Coach Bryan King earning Coach of the Year honors.
Indoor Track
Eye Street’s sprinters and distance runners had a standout season. The Eagles won both the Private Schools Invite and Jesuit Invite, and placed second at the DCSAA Championship—their best finish in six years. Senior Kainoa Winston rewrote the record books in the 55m and 60m sprints, and the 4x200 relay squad also shattered the school mark. Several athletes advanced to compete at New Balance and Nike Nationals, where Winston earned All-American status.
six athletes status.
Scan the QR Code to see a list of the 20 Eagles who earned Winter All-Met honors from The Washington Post. Congratulations to all on an excellent season!
Squash
Now in its third year under Coach Joe Sampugnaro ’83, Gonzaga Squash continued to build momentum, opening the season with a hard-fought win over The Heights and gaining experience in competitive regional play.
Wrestling
Swim & Dive
Dominance in the pool continued as the Eagles extended their dynasty: a sixth straight WCAC crown, a 14th consecutive Metro Private Schools title, and yet another DCSAA Championship. Along the way, school records fell and multiple swimmers earned All-American recognition, with Gonzaga relays proving among the fastest in the nation.
Gonzaga Wrestling once again ruled the mat in 2025, claiming their fourth straight DC title and producing five individual state champions. Veteran standout Matt Van Sice ’25 earned Outstanding Wrestler honors and notched his fourth consecutive title, while teammate Bo Sulc ’26 joined him in celebrating a milestone 100th career win. With multiple Eagles advancing to National Preps and earning All-Met honors, Gonzaga Wrestling’s tradition of excellence remains as fierce as ever.
Hail Gonzaga!
Highlights from the spring 2025 season
Baseball
Gonzaga Baseball turned in another winning season on the diamond, highlighted by victories over Georgetown Prep and DeMatha, plus a WCAC Quarterfinal playoff win over Good Counsel. Strong road trips to Virginia Beach and Richmond gave the team valuable experience before closing the year in the conference semifinals.
Gonzaga’s First Varsity 8 continued its dominance, winning the state championship for the third year in a row and earning a top-five finish at the scholastic national championships. The boat was named an All-Met Best Boat, capping off another season that showcased the program’s speed and consistency on the water.
Fencing
In its second year under Head Coach Robert Horan ’12, Gonzaga Fencing notched key wins over Georgetown Prep and St. Anselm’s, finishing with a winning record. The squad showed steady growth, setting the stage for even stronger seasons ahead.
Golf
One of Eye Street’s most dominant programs, Gonzaga Golf extended its streaks this spring, capturing a ninth straight WCAC Championship and a second consecutive DCSAA title. The program has now amassed a remarkable 100-3-2 record in regularseason matches under Head Coach Michael Hanagan ’08, who was named All-Met Coach of the Year.
Rugby
Gonzaga Rugby enjoyed big victories over St. Joe’s Prep, Vienna, Ft. Hunt, and St. Edwards this season while also embarking on a memorable spring break tour in Northern Italy that blended elite competition with memorable cultural experiences. At Nationals, Gonzaga fought valiantly before falling just shy of the semifinals.
Track & Field
Gonzaga Track and Field tallied its highest WCAC Championship point total in more than a decade with Ethan Brown ’25 leading the way by winning gold in the Shot Put. Additionally, the team earned multiple event titles at the DCSAA Championships. Along the way, Kainoa Winston ’25 broke Gonzaga records in the 100m and 200m.
Lacrosse
Facing one of the toughest schedules in the country, Gonzaga Lacrosse battled to the WCAC Semifinals after a quarterfinal win over Paul VI. The Eagles also impressed on their spring break trip to San Diego with big wins over La Costa Canyon and Torrey Pines, reinforcing their status as a perennial national contender.
Tennis
Gonzaga Tennis fought hard all
again in 2026.
Celebrating Student Creativity
This spring, the Arrupe Commons was transformed into an art gallery during the third annual Fine Arts Night. The exhibit featured work students had been creating in their Fine Arts classes throughout the year – everything from photographs and drawings to ceramic sculptures and paintings. The evening also included the presentation of several awards and performances by the Symphonic and Concert Bands. “This new tradition has become a favorite of students, parents, and teachers alike,” said Mrs. Shelly Farace, chair of the Fine Arts Department. “We have so many talented artists here at Gonzaga – the Fine Arts Night is a wonderful way to celebrate their creativity and growth.”
WHY STUDY…ENGLISH
In every issue of Gonzaga Magazine, we invite a faculty member to reflect on the question: What do today’s students gain from studying your subject? In this installment of Why Study..., English teacher Mr. Patrick Welch makes the case for literature’s power to expand minds, sharpen expression, and foster compassion—all while referencing several classics that should be familiar to students on Eye Street.
If you really want to hear about it, twenty-five years ago at Brophy Prep in Phoenix, AZ, my sophomore English teacher, Mr. Walsh, had us make collages about happiness. I cut out magazine pictures of flashy cars, svelte suits, and island vacations; then, we read Fahrenheit 451, which had predicted fifty years beforehand the commercialized, TV-addicted society around me. It was a pleasure to read. It changed my life, offering a compelling alternative to endless screens, mass consumerism, and vacuous contentment: books.
Sophomore year at Notre Dame, after reflecting on what I most enjoyed studying weeknights at 2 a.m., I ditched Engineering for English and Philosophy. This was financially foolish, but existentially freeing. In Philosophy, I read thinkers like Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Kant, van Inwagen, and MacIntyre who tried to explain our world via theory, and in English, I read authors like Melville, Ellison, Woolfe, Hemingway, Shakespeare, and Austen who tried to recount our world in all its complexity and beauty, posing questions. After Saturday football games, I would read novels and write essays. On a Florida beach during spring break, I devoured three hundred pages of Moby Dick in a single day. Senior year, as I finished typing a term paper about Slaughterhouse Five in my dorm room at 3 a.m., I felt the cool air of the spring night seep in through my open window and suddenly heard a robin tweet: “Poo-tee-weet?” It was the best of times.
Your life on earth is a brief candle, but when you study English at Gonzaga, you get to live many alternate lives: as a king of ancient Thebes, a young lover in Verona, a New Yorker in the roaring 20s, an ambitious Scottish nobleman, a shipwrecked Greek warrior, a teenager in the postwar 40s, a Civil War medic, an escaped slave from Chesapeake Bay, a Creature formed from dead limbs, a prince who sees ghosts—by hallucinating while staring at millions of runic symbols printed onto wafer-thin slices of dead trees.
As a Gonzaga English student, you learn to write clearly–even beautifully–and by writing clearly, to think clearly. ” “
In other words, at Gonzaga, you read great books, both classics read by generations of Gonzaga men and the latest literature from today. You see the world through the eyes of young women, the old, the dead, other races, and people from the ancient past and the other side of the world. At graduation, you contain multitudes.
Additionally, as a Gonzaga English student, you learn to write clearly–even beautifully–and by writing clearly, to think clearly. Guided by teachers following titans such as Cannon,
Free, Sampugnaro, Ross, and L’Etoile, you reaffirm timeless wisdom while challenging outdated norms, all while omitting excess words. You develop a talent for self-expression that many can only yearn for and a pride in your writing such that you would rather lose a hand than present something ChatGPT™ spit out as your own work.
Studying English is studying what it means to be human, which is more important than ever right now. In the face of generative A.I., intractable societal problems, human suffering, and the constant specter of extinction, whether by cosmological anomaly, unstoppable atmospheric processes, or thermonuclear warheads–so it goes–we may wonder deep down whether being human is all that good. In Gonzaga English classes, however, you learn what makes you and other humans important, no matter what algorithms eclipse your creative abilities, no matter what wine-dark seas of tragedy might one day overwhelm you, and no matter what you choose to do with your life. Once armed with this knowledge, let others beware, for you will be fearless, and therefore powerful–yet also virtuous: seeing the world with new, wiser eyes, you live your life differently, and you can write its happy ending.
To read, or not to read? At my Jesuit high school, Mr. Walsh sparked in me what would become an insatiable appetite for stories. I read anything and everything, and I still do. I hope my students will, too.
Throughout this essay, Mr. Welch has hidden nine allusions to great literary works that Gonzaga students, alumni, and others might recognize. If you can find them all, please email info@gonzaga.org with a list of the references and the author/work to which they are alluding. Anyone who correctly spots all nine will be entered into a drawing for a Gonzaga Bookstore gift card
Meeting at the Margins
This year, during spring and summer breaks, nearly 150 students took part in 14 service immersion trips across the country and around the world. The trips are a chance for students to unplug from technology and distractions, live simply, connect with classmates, witness firsthand the issues facing those they encounter, and bring what they learned back to Gonzaga.
In June, nine members of the Class of 2026 and two staff members – Fine Arts Teacher Mr. Ciaran Freeman and Advancement Communications Manager Mrs. Annie Rosello – traveled to Ambos Nogales, on the Arizona/Mexico border to learn about and immerse themselves in the issue of immigration. The trip was coordinated through the Kino Border Initiative (KBI), a longtime host to Gonzaga immersion groups. Every evening, Mr. Freeman and Mrs. Rosello led reflections with the students about the day’s events, which the group discussed and wrote about in their journals. They also took turns writing an email home to all their parents each night, sharing facts they’d learned and experiences they’d shared. The following is a summary of the students’ journal entries, emails, and discussions, which include observations and reflections from each member of the group.
Saturday, June 7
Our group met at DCA before sunrise. After a flight to Phoenix and a three hour drive south, we found our home for the week in Nogales, on the Arizona side of the border. We met with staff from KBI, who served as our teachers and tour guides for the week. We learned that reasons for migration tend to fall into three main categories – family reunification (2%), economics (13%) and violence (83%) – with a range of subcategories in each. We also took a walking tour of the US side of the city, which has a population ten times smaller (30,000) than the Mexican side (300,000). “We were amazed by the amount of foot and vehicle traffic, with people crossing the border daily for everyday reasons like work and school,” said Erik Carey.
Sunday, June 8
We drove to the desert, and with our KBI guide, Iñigo, went for a hike under the blazing Arizona sun. We navigated through tough and prickly terrain as we climbed up and down hills at high altitude, seeing firsthand how easy it is to misjudge distances in the desert. We saw abandoned items, ruined buildings, common hazards like poisonous plants and fire ants, and memorial crosses that served to convey the migrants’ journeys. “Iñigo showed us many items that KBI has found in the desert, including photos, documents, carpet shoes used to cover footprints, and a baby’s bottle that had been filled with formula,” shared Alex Guarini. “Every item made us wonder about its owner and where they ended up.”
In Arivaca, we met with People Helping People, a humanitarian group that helps those in distress in the desert. Afterward, we attended Mass at the local church and a potluck lunch with the parishioners, most of whom were immigrants themselves, from all over the world. “We listened to presentations by a longtime law enforcement officer about legal issues and encounters with cartel criminals, and the owner of a 50,000 acre ranch with over five miles of land on the border, who shared their experiences, fears, and frustrations,” said Graeme Stewart. “Overall, the different opinions and stances on immigration complicated our understanding of the issue.”
Monday, June 9
Sister Eileen McKenzie, of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, was our guide today. Youthful and enthusiastic, she exudes compassion, has a deep knowledge of the issues on the border, and has a knack for making everyone she meets feel welcome, heard, and seen. Sister Eileen told us that she chose to serve at Kino so that she could be in close proximity to people who are generally excluded, and with people who live on the margins of our societies and are forced into mobility in order to survive. “The borderlands are a different reality,” she said. “I have found it important to experience it myself, particularly since so many talk about it without knowing it.”
We crossed the border on foot, and arrived at the KBI resource center in time to serve breakfast to the guests. We got our own plates of food and joined them, greeting one another and conversing with the aid of several of the Gonzaga students who speak fluent Spanish. “The migrants weren’t just from Latin America – we met people who had come to Nogales from Haiti, Afghanistan and other countries, as well,” shared Grant Cedoz. “Everyone was welcomed at KBI. Afterward, we boarded a bus, rode through the bustling city, then did a walking tour with Sr. Eileen who showed us memorials and artwork along the border wall.”
Tuesday, June 10
We started the day with a three-hour visit to the Nogales Customs and Border Protection station, the second largest in the US. “We toured the facility, including the horse stables, and met with numerous agents including the station chief, who described what it’s like to have a career in homeland security,” said Harper Pruitt. “They gave us an in-depth overview of their responsibilities, including stopping drug and human trafficking over 1,100 square miles of rough terrain and more than 30 miles along the border.”
“In the afternoon, we traveled to Tucson to meet with officials at the Mexican Consulate,” Pruitt continued. “The staff there help people in many ways, including applying for dual citizenship or getting a passport. They also take calls on a 24/7 helpline that takes 1,000 calls a day, including from people lost in the desert.”
Wednesday, June 11
We headed across the border again to Kino where we spent the day. We served breakfast, then sorted bags and piles of donated clothes. “We met a man from the Chiapas region of Mexico, who shared his story of how his family and neighbors fled for their lives from their homes and ranches when cartels came to their town and took over,” said Paul Schaubach. “Later, we did a visa simulation and learned that there is currently no
process for asylum in the US, and for those who were previously granted asylum, it can take up to 28 years to become citizens.”
Hearing the Chiapas man’s journey prompted a group reflection later that evening about some of our own families’ immigration stories. “It was really moving to connect his story to that of my own father, an immigrant from Ireland, and reflect on his experience and my own as the son of a migrant,” said Mr. Freeman. “To be able to meet real people and hear their stories is what the ‘culture of encounter’ that Pope Francis spoke of was all about. It’s an amazing opportunity that Gonzaga gives us, to be able to go out and learn firsthand from those on the margins.”
Thursday, June 12
We served breakfast again, then went across the street to Proyecto de Vida, a small workshop where women do crafts and embroidery with materials provided by KBI, then are able to sell them to help support themselves and their children. “The women took the time to tell us their stories while Sister Eileen translated,” said Michael Popil. “Through her tears, one woman shared that she and her young son had escaped violence in Ecuador, left their home, her job in sales, their family and friends. They traveled through seven countries and the Darién Gap, were robbed, and eventually arrived in Nogales without papers which would allow them to work or attend school in Mexico. She told us that Nogales is not where they want to be.”
In the afternoon, we served lunch, played basketball with some of the guests, then discussed how to share what we’ve learned when we get home. “We were all really moved by the people we met and all that we experienced on the border,” Rocco Williams shared.
“We heard stories from migrants escaping violent situations,” Paul Schaubach said. “Seeing the emotions and the look on their faces when they told their story made it much more personal and real.”
Friday, June 13
We spent our last day together packing up, driving to Phoenix and flying home. “It was a little jarring to be able to get on a plane without restriction and fly home to our families and the comfort of our own homes,” said Mrs. Rosello.
“At the beginning,” recalled Alex De La Cruz, “I was unsure of how this trip would turn out, venturing off into an area I had never been, with people I had never met. However, I quickly realized that this was much more than just a service trip. We made real bonds with immigrant families, and although we helped as much as we could, by the end, I still felt somewhat helpless.” To counteract that feeling of helplessness – and use the resources they learned for advocacy – the group has started a Kino Club at Gonzaga to raise awareness and support for the guests and work of KBI.
“I was delighted to accompany, and be accompanied by, this group of young men,” said Sister Eileen. “They were respectful, thoughtful, and as the week went on, were clearly being impacted by their experiences. They asked questions that reflected their growth in understanding the complexity of the issue, while at the same time shared meals and stories with migrants in a way that showed their humility and cultural sensitivity. They were truly a joy to be around.”
CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2025!
During his speech, Valedictorian Matthew Podratsky ’25 reflected on his four years at Gonzaga with joy and gratitude. Remembering the Class of 2025’s first days on Eye Street, he recalled Mr. Jim Kilroy telling him and his classmates to “say yes to Gonzaga and Gonzaga will reward you.” He talked fondly about the experiences he and his classmates shared in the classroom, on service and immersion trips, on sports teams, in clubs, and in the student section. “These entire four years have been a period of discernment and growth,” he said, adding: “As we walk into a new chapter of our lives, hold tight to the character Gonzaga has given you. Just as God called our names to Eye Street, he has called us to our respective colleges — some three miles away, some 3,000. No matter the distance, it is now up to us to carry the spirit of Gonzaga along our journey.”
Matthew was one of several speakers who addressed the Class of 2025 during their graduation ceremony on Sunday, June 1, in Saint Aloysius Church. Gonzaga alumnus and member of the Jubilarian class Mr. Tom Delaney ’75 delivered the Kohlmann Address. An accomplished attorney, Mr. Delaney spoke about living out the call to be a man for others beyond the confines of Eye Street. “Being a man for others, a true man for others, requires more than repeating a motto,” he said. “It is a call for each of us to be conscious of what is happening in the world around us and to be prepared to confront injustice when we see it.”
The ceremony also included the presentation of diplomas, musical performances, awards, and recognition of the Jubilarian Class of 1975 – of which Gonzaga President Father Joseph E. Lingan, S.J. ’75 is a proud member (turn to page 34 for more).
WELL DONE AND GOOD LUCK, CLASS OF 2025!
College Bound!
This fall, the Class of 2025 is headed off to 118 different colleges and universities. Here’s a list of college matriculations – we wish them well on their next step!
American University
Auburn University (6)
Bates College
Baylor University
Bocconi University
Boston College (13)
Bowling Green State University (Main Campus)
Brigham Young University (2)
Brown University
Bucknell University
Carnegie Mellon University (2)
Catholic University of America (4)
Claremont McKenna College
Clemson University (3)
Colby College
Colgate University
College of Charleston
College of the Holy Cross (4)
Columbia University
Cornell University (2)
Dartmouth College (2)
DePaul University
Dickinson College (2)
Drexel University
Duke University (3)
Elon University
Emory University
Fairfield University (6)
Fordham University (3)
George Mason University (2)
George Washington University (3)
Georgetown University (4)
Georgia Institute of Technology
Goucher College
Hampton University
Harvard University
Holy Cross College
Howard University (3)
Indiana University (Bloomington) (4)
James Madison University (3)
John Carroll University
Louisiana State University (4)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
McGill University (2)
Merrimack College
Miami University (Oxford)
Morehouse College
Morgan State University
Mount St Mary’s University
Muhlenberg College
New York University
North Carolina A & T State University
North Carolina State University
Northeastern University
Northwestern University (2)
Old Dominion University
Penn State University (Harrisburg)
Penn State University (University Park) (3)
Princeton University
Providence College (3)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rhodes College
Rochester Institute of Technology
Saint Joseph’s University (2)
Santa Clara University
Southern Methodist University
Stanford University
SUNY University at Buffalo
Swarthmore College
Syracuse University (2)
Texas A&M University (2)
Texas Christian University (2)
The University of Alabama (4)
The University of Tampa
The University of Tennessee (Knoxville) (2)
Towson University (3)
Tufts University
Tulane University of Louisiana
United States Air Force Academy
United States Naval Academy (2)
University of Arizona
University of California (Santa Barbara)
University of Chicago
University of Colorado Boulder (3)
University of Connecticut
University of Denver
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Glasgow
University of Maine
University of Mary Washington
University of Maryland (Baltimore County)
University of Maryland (College Park) (7)
University of Massachusetts (Amherst)
University of Miami (4)
University of Michigan (2)
University of Mississippi
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2)
University of Notre Dame (2)
University of Pennsylvania (2)
University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh)
University of Richmond
University of San Diego
University of South Carolina (4)
University of Vermont
University of Virginia (Main Campus) (5)
University of Wisconsin (Madison)
Ursinus College
Villanova University
Virginia Commonwealth University (2)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (9)
Wake Forest University (7)
Wesleyan University
West Virginia University
William & Mary (9)
Williams College
Xavier University (2)
Yale University
Reunion Weekend Events
Friday, Oct 24
Carmody Lynn Open
Every fall for more than 40 years, the Gonzaga community has come together for the Carmody Lynn Open, a golf tournament that raises funds for Gonzaga students who do not have a father in their lives. This year's tournament will once again take place at P.B. Dye and Worthington Manor Golf Clubs.
For more information, visit Gonzaga.org/CarmodyLynn
Saturday, Oct 25
Joe Reyda ’85 Stadium Dedication
During halftime of the Gonzaga vs. Good Counsel game on Buchanan Field, Gonzaga will unveil the newly named Joe Reyda ’85 Stadium in honor of our longtime former Athletic Director. A man of deep faith and devotion to his family, Joe was committed not only to success on the field but also to each student’s academic, spiritual, and personal growth. Everyone in the Gonzaga community is warmly invited to join us on this special day to commemorate the legacy of a true Gonzaga man and a quiet but forceful champion for our athletic program.
Fall Reunions
Reunion-goers are invited to join us for dinner and drinks on Eye Street after the football game versus Good Counsel. This year, we are celebrating the reunions of the Classes of ’80, ’85, ’90, ’95, ’00, ’05, ’10, ’15 and ’20. For more information, visit Gonzaga.org/Reunion
Scan the QR Code to register for these and other fall events.
Welcome Back!
Thank you to the many alumni who joined us on campus this spring to celebrate their 50th, 55th, 60th, 65th, and 70th reunions.
Alumni from the Classes of 1955, 1960, 1965, and 1970 joined us on Saturday, May 4 for their Golden Reunions. After Mass in Our Lady’s Chapel, alumni gathered for drinks in the Carmody Center lobby and a seated dinner in the Arrupe Commons.
First Row: David Hartman, Michael Maloney, John Stodola, Bob Hambleton, Michael Breen Second Row: John McCabe, Jr., Bernard Meehan, Jr., Howard Dent, Donald Dinsmore, Timothy Carmody Third Row: Bob Lazarus, Jerry Radford, Joseph Mencarini, Pat McCourt, John Gaughan, Thomas Sherman Fourth Row: Timothy Consroe, P. Joseph Walshe, John Metzler, Frank Rooney, Tom Ramsey
Mr. Edward H. Joyner, III ’55 and Lt. Col. Charles A. Thomas, USAF, Ret. ’60
First Row: George Harris, Thomas Lingan, Joseph Spriggs, James Gallagher Second Row: Anthony Dambriunas, Robert J. Pisani, Michael Atwood Third Row: Robert Kulesher and Timothy Dolan
As is Gonzaga’s tradition, the Class of 1975 joined us for a weekend of festivities to celebrate their 50th Reunion in June, including participating in the Class of 2025’s Commencement Exercises on Sunday, June 1st. To read more about Commencement, turn to page 28.
1. Father Lingan – a member of the Jubilarian Class and the only alumnus to ever serve as Gonzaga’s President – celebrated Mass in Our Lady’s Chapel before the graduation for his classmates. First Row Joe Gibbons, Val Deale, Carl Jackson, Christian Letelier, Fr. Joseph Lingan SJ, Tom Delaney, Brian Hannon, Tim Rogers, Jim O’Brien, Tim O’Keefe, Andy Lebet Second Row Doc Dougherty, Wilhelm Bonnette, Jim Galgano, Jeff Bell, Tim Tierney, Charles Meenehan, Greg Weaver, Mark Gilday, Dan DeLacey, Jim McCarthy, Courtney Malloy, Mark DeVol 2. Greg Weaver, Wilhelm Bonnette, and Michael “Doc” Dougherty 3. Fr. Lingan, Mark Gilday, and Thomas Delaney, who gave the Kohlmann Address during the ceremony. 4. The Class of 1975 led the graduation procession into Saint Aloysius Church. 5., 6. The Jubilarians stand to be recognized during the Commencement ceremony.
Alumni News & Notes
Alumni Come Together to Help Update St. Al’s
In May, alumnus Bob Murray ’53 received the Father Novotny Service Award for his longtime devotion to Gonzaga and St. Aloysius Church. During the church renovation in the early 1990s, Bob served as the Director of Aesthetics and contract manager for the project. Artist Armen Kankanian painted two alcoves in the rear of the church at that time, and this spring, thanks to Bob’s generosity, Kankanian returned to St. Al’s to enhance his original work and make it more congruent with the aesthetic of the rest of the church.
The mural on the left is a view of Washington, D.C., featuring the Key Bridge near the historic path of Tiber Creek and the familiar clock tower of St. Aloysius Church. In the mural on the right, a scene from Rome shows a bridge crossing the Tiber River with St. Peter’s Basilica in the background.
Above the murals, two Latin phrases serve as reminders of Gonzaga’s Jesuit educational objective (Homines Pro Aliis, which means People for Others) and Ignatian heritage ( Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, which means For the Greater Glory of God).
In addition to the mural work, alumnus Michael Bratti ’84, who owns stone supplier R. Bratti Associates, helped move two statues from the front of the church to the rear. A statue of St. Francis Xavier— untouched for over 100 years, according to Father Lingan, S.J.—now stands on the left. On the right is St. Ignatius Loyola, and in the center remains the statue of St. Aloysius Gonzaga. “Together, they create an encouraging, reflective space that honors the school’s location and Catholic, Jesuit roots,” says Father Lingan.
1950
In February, Ralph Cecchetti and his wife Dee celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with family and friends, including their great-grandchildren.
1961
Rich Cecchetti founded Morris (NJ) Rugby in 1977. A player himself, Rich recruited players and coaches and worked to find field space for the growing club at a time when it was very limited. Rich was a club leader for many years, and in 2022 was inducted into the Morris Rugby Hall of Fame.
1969
Michael J. Iadarola, Ph.D. is a senior research scientist in the Department of Perioperative Medicine, Clinical Center National Institutes of Health, where he investigates the neurobiology of pain and pain control. His group recently published a report on a new treatment for intractable pain in patients with advanced cancer.
1970
In late April, Monsignor Fred Dolan was traveling to Rome for a planned congress when he learned of the death of Pope Francis. “As Divine Providence would have it,” he shared, “we ended up witnessing incredible moments in the life of the Church.” He is pictured with the tailor for the Swiss Guards.
1985
Jim Neill announced his planned departure after a decade as Head of Landon School, following the 2025-26 school year. Jim previously held teaching and coaching positions at Georgetown Visitation, St. Albans, and the Convent of the Sacred Heart in San Francisco, and also spent 10 years as Head of School at National Presbyterian School in DC before leading Landon. During his time at Landon, he led a period of unprecedented growth at the Bethesda school, including a massive physical transformation of their campus. “It was always a little tough to see Jim on Eye Street wearing Landon brown when he’d come to Gonzaga for soccer or rugby games between the Eagles and the Bears,” says Stephen Neill ’89, Jim’s brother who serves as Gonzaga’s COO. “It always made those matches a little more competitive for us, and a little sweeter for me when we’d pull out a win! But in the end, we’re proud of his accomplishments at Landon and elsewhere – and that his experience at Gonzaga helped inform his committed approach to all-boys education.”
1990
In April, Joe Razzano returned to Eye Street with his son and a group of students and rugby players from the Father Duenas Memorial School in Guam, where they reside. Joe joined classmates Andrew Battaile and Josh Brady for a mini-reunion lunch at The Dubliner. “The approximate 8,000 miles could be the longest an alum has traveled for a reunion,” said Battaile. “It has to, at least, be in the top ten!”
1991
Classmates Richard Fenati and Trevor Stone took an 11-day voyage to Antarctica in February, which included a polar plunge south of the Antarctic Circle and boating through an active volcano. “We appreciated the remoteness, the untouched beauty, the wildlife, especially whales, and the challenge to get there,” said Fenati.
A Tailgate to Remember
1992
Chris Keup has been hard at work for the last few years on Anna K., a musical based on Tolstoy’s classic novel, Anna Karenina. In June, Keup and his talented collaborators, including Grammynominated and Tony-winning artists, held a concert performance of musical selections from the show in New York City at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater, where Hamilton was developed.
Members of the Class of ’91 and Lost Whiskey founder Nick Cioffi (P ’26) donated another Bourbon and Pig Party to the annual Christmas Gala. The winners held the party as a tailgate for a group of Gonzaga fathers and sons from the Class of ’24. It was a perfect afternoon of food and fellowship, capped off with a huge Commanders win over Philly. Share
1994
This spring, Will Bardenwerper released a new book, Homestand: Small Town Baseball and the Fight for the Soul of America, which is described as a “poignant memoir exploring small town baseball as a lens into what’s right and wrong with modern America.”
Just married? New job? Welcoming a baby? Gatherings with your Gonzaga mates? Share your news with the Gonzaga community.
To have your news included in the next Gonzaga Magazine please email it to info@Gonzaga.org. Don’t forget to include a photo!
Inside Scoop: Journalists Share Their Stories
In March, Gonzaga hosted a Media Day featuring a panel of alumni and parent journalists who shared professional advice and industry stories with students in WZAG, journalism and the Sports Broadcasting Club. A special thank you to Heather Dinich (P ’28) and Michael Wilbon (P ’26) of ESPN, John Ismay ’95 of The New York Times, John Ourand ’85 (P ’17) of digital media company Puck, and media marketing specialist Leo Donohoe ’73 (P ’25).
2007
Tyler Kehoe was proud to announce the birth of son Kellan John Kehoe on February 28 at Fairfax Hospital.
“We’re hoping he will follow a long line of Kehoes to Eye Street,” Tyler wrote, “including his great grandfather Edward Kehoe ’42, grandfather John Kehoe ’68” and, of course, his dear old dad.
2011
Kenny Abod and his wife Carolyn are happy to announce the birth of their second daughter, Melanie Rose Abod.
2012
Rev. Joseph Connor was ordained a priest on June 7 at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, VA, and said his first Mass the following day. Alumni Robert Horan ’12, Logan Leathers ’13 and Roman Carlitti ’13 attended the ordination of their friend. “His boldness to say ‘yes’ to the Lord’s call is inspiring,” said Horan. “I’m thankful to have received one of his first blessings as an ordained priest.”
Alumni Find Success and Adventure
2015
In March, Brian Claeys won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction and Composition on the hugely popular Disney+ television series Percy Jackson & The Olympians. At Gonzaga, Brian performed with the band and the GDA, and co-wrote a musical theater production his senior year. He graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2018 and moved to Los Angeles, where he has composed music for popular TV shows, movies and video games.
2019
In June, Patrick McAuliffe won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Newscast in a small market. A News Director at WTOC in Savannah, Georgia, Patrick and his team won the award for a piece about the city’s 200th Saint Patrick’s Day parade.
’19
Friends Anwar Gill ’19 and Carlos Hubb ’20 visited Eye Street in May. A member of the Howard University basketball team, Gill recently received a master’s degree from Howard. Hubb is currently traveling the world as a crewmember on a megayacht based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
2020
After completing a year of service with the Gonzaga Alumni Service Corps, Danny Diaz joined the Washington Nationals as a Video Production Associate through the regular season. After that, his hope is to continue working in sports video production.
2023
Thomas Batties was named Ivy League Player of the Week after the Harvard Crimson Men’s Basketball team beat Cornell and then Columbia in backto-back February games. On February 14th, Thomas scored a career-high 21 points, then had a new career high with 31 points against Columbia.
Coming Back to Give Back
We were thrilled to welcome back four members of the Class of 2021 this fall to serve as our Alumni Service Corps (ASC). A ten-month program for young Gonzaga graduates, ASC participants live together and receive a monthly living stipend, while they work to serve Gonzaga’s greatest need at any moment.
Pictured here from left to right: Will Thompson (Alexandria, VA, University of Mary Washington), Jack Wood (Alexandria, VA, Emory University), Jack Roncka (Silver Spring, MD, Fordham University) and Sean Carley (Springfield, VA, James Madison University). Best of luck for a great school year!
Record Setting International Meet
for McKenzie Brothers
In May, brothers Collin McKenzie ’22 and Malcolm McKenzie ’24 swam for Jamaica in the Pan Am Aquatics Championships in Medellín, Colombia. Collin, who swims for Indiana University and was named First Team All-Met while at Gonzaga, set a national record in the men’s 100-meter breaststroke final (1:02.23). He finished the meet with two silver and one bronze medal, and earned the coveted ‘A’ qualifying standard for the Junior Pan American Games, set for Paraguay this summer. Malcolm, who swims for Ohio State University and was a team captain and named Second Team All-Met at Gonzaga, made the finals in three of his four races.
“Collin was a record-breaking swimmer at Gonzaga, and he still holds multiple team and meet records,” says varsity head coach, Mr. Brian Kilner ’16. “It is extremely exciting, both for the Gonzaga Swim and Dive Team and community as a whole, that an alumnus has broken a national team record. To say I’m impressed by the McKenzie brothers is an understatement to the magnitude of their accomplishments.”
Your Generosity at Work on Eye Street
Before After
Summer at Gonzaga brings sports camps, summer learning, planning for the academic year to come – and a short window to tackle muchneeded campus improvements. This summer’s work touched on many areas of campus but perhaps most visible was overdue work on Kohlmann Hall, which received a full masonry restoration, as well as new roofs, sills, windows, and more.
“Kohlmann Hall became part of our campus around 1870, and so it’s one of the oldest buildings on Gonzaga’s campus. It was also very much in need of some attention,” says Stephen Neill ’89, Gonzaga’s Chief Operating Officer. “This is where the Gonzaga Annual Fund really comes into play to help us maintain and improve buildings like Kohlmann, which add to the unique character of our campus. None of this work would have been possible without the generosity of the Gonzaga community.”
Here are some photos of the work as it was nearing completion in mid-September. Your annual support makes it possible to preserve and strengthen our urban campus for generations of Eagles to come.
1. The metal gutters at the top of Kohlmann are unique and original to the building – integrated into the facia and soffit. Patches and makeshift coatings had addressed their deteriorated condition over the years, but a full copper relining restored them for decades to come. 2. Several roofs enclose different parts of Kohlmann Hall: a slate mansard roof, a slightly sloped roof adjacent to Forte and above the classrooms, a gabled roof over the hallways and side rooms, and a flat roof over the rowing room on the basement floor. Three of these were replaced over the summer, with the crew roof scheduled for this fall. 3. Restoration of the exterior was long overdue, and involved constructing full scaffolding in order to undertake the painstaking process of chipping and grinding failing mortar before a complete tuckpointing of the entire building.
In Memoriam: Dr. Edward P. “Chick” Magner ’43
Remembering a Gonzaga man whose life was rooted in family, faith, and service.
As World War II began in Europe in September of 1939, Edward “Chick” Magner and his classmates arrived on Eye Street as freshmen. Their time at Gonzaga was a bright period in a terrible time, and their 1943 yearbook implored them to “always relive those happy years of high school spent in the shadow of a dark and horrible war, but so far the brighter by contrast.”
Chick Magner took those words to heart and loved Gonzaga right up until his passing on July 8 at the age of 99. Born in Washington, DC, he attended Villanova University on the Navy V-12 program, and was a graduate of Georgetown University and the Georgetown School of Dentistry. He served in the Navy during World War II and as an Air Force forensic dentist in Asia during the 1950s.
For more than 35 years, Dr. Magner practiced dentistry in the same Northeast Washington office where his father had practiced dentistry before him. His patients included many nuns, priests and religious brothers from the Washington area Catholic community. Many of his patients never received a bill.
Chick and his wife, Mary, raised three children, Margaret, Patrick ’82, and Claire. As an attentive, supportive father and grandfather, he imparted wisdom, lessons, and advice learned throughout his long and faithful life.
Patrick Magner ’82 was frequently in awe of his father. “He learned, saw, and did so much. He taught us to be decisive
and always do the right thing. He lived his values, he served his country, his people, and his family,” he shared. “He served Gonzaga with time, effort, donations, and decisions. He coached each of his kids in different sports for years and instilled life-long lessons within us, not just as a parent, but also as a coach and a friend.”
“Over the decades, while caring for his family and the greater DC community, Chick Magner never stopped caring about Gonzaga,” said Mr. David Dugan, Gonzaga’s Senior Vice President of Alumni and Advancement. “When the school was facing enrollment and financial difficulties in the late 1960s and early 1970s, he banded together with fellow alumni and they worked tirelessly alongside Fr. Dooley to fundraise, create scholarships, off set tuition, and make positive changes that frankly saved the school and laid the groundwork for the incredible institution that it is today.” Chick was named Alumni Man of the Year in 1973 and later served on the Board of Trustees.
“Dr. Magner was special,” said Mr. Sean Creamer ’82, who looked up to his friend Patrick’s father in his youth and maintained their friendship as an adult. “He projected a rare combination of quiet confidence and unlimited empathy. Always quick with a smile, a laugh and a good story, he truly represented the best of the Greatest Generation. He loved his family, his country, his friends and his high school, and served them all with distinction. He was a coach and a mentor to me and someone I am fortunate to have called my friend. He will never be forgotten.”
Martha L. Allen, mother of Edward ’91
David J. Bates, father of Ian C. ’06 and Philip C. ’12
John L. Beerman ’47
Kathleen W. Bresette, mother of Thomas J. ’84
Michael J. Burch, father of Joshua T. ’95
Matthew A. Burke ’78
Robert T. Campenni ’91
James H. Carrington ’67
Brendan P. Coppinger ’98, brother of Matthew J. ’95
William J. Cronin, Jr. ’68, son of the late William J. ’39; brother of Timothy J. ’74, Joseph A. ’76 and the late Michael E. ’69
Joseph C. “Cullen” Crowley ’17
Barry W. Davis, father of Matt B. ’95
Bernard E. Day ’48
Susan Deerin, wife of James B. Jr. “Dick” ’61; mother of James B. III ’86, Sloan ’89 and Andrew B. ’95; and grandmother of John M. ’23, James B. ’25 and Ford M. ’27
Kevin G. DeVol, father of Dennis P. ’15, Brendan W. ’18 and Seamus T. ’21
Francis E. Dimond ’54, brother of the late Elliot T. (Tom) Jr. ’46, and the late Michael F. ’49; brother-in-law of the late Ralph A. Manogue ’54; uncle of Leo M. ’81 and Stephen M. ’84; greatuncle of Matthew G. ’17, Michael P. ’18, Robert J. ’21, Christian A. Muckerman ’15 and Joseph E. Muckerman III ’19
Margaret M. Dimond, wife of the late Francis E. Dimond ’54; sister of the late Ralph A. Manogue ’54; sister-in-law of the late Elliott T. Dimond Jr. ’46 and the late Michael F. Dimond ’49; aunt of Leo M. Dimond ’81 and Stephen M. Dimond ’84; great-aunt of Christian A. Muckerman’15, Matthew G. Dimond ’17, Michael Dimond ’18, Joseph E. Muckerman ’19 and Robert J. Dimond ’21
Margaret Donahoe, wife of the late Walter J. ’44
Sharon E. Donohoe, mother of Robert B. Jr. ’93, Michael ’99 and the late John ’98
Monica Fabi, mother of Giovanni A. ’25
Harry H. Farr, father of Michael K. ’80
Daniel J. Fehringer, father of William D. ’08; uncle of Michael O. Nolan, III ’06
Paul A. Fisher ’76
David Fred, father of David A. ’25
Timothy Garraty, son of Timothy C. ’75
Don Gay, father of Clive T. ’27 and Charles W. ’29
David Gergen, father of Christopher ’88
Michael J. Giller ’61, brother of James G. ’62 and the late William B. ’59
Kenneth E. Harris, father of Nicholas A. ’00
Ileana Herrell, mother of Robert ’89
Griffin B. Holland, father of G. Bryan ’77
Michael J. Holloran ’62, son of the late James F., Sr. ’34; brother of the late James F., Jr. ’60
Richard L. Hornberger ’61
Thomas W. Humen, father of Christian T. ’13
Anne M. Keder, wife of Anthony A. ’72; mother of David A. ’01 and Joseph B. ’06
Mary E. Kenney, wife of Michael C., Jr. ’51
Louis M. Larson, Sr., father of Louis M., Jr. ’90, Christian B. ’92 and Jeffrey R. ’95, grandfather of Thomas H. ’29
James H. Lee, Jr., father of Eric V. ’10
George H. Leftwich, father of George H. Jr. ’88
Will E. Leonard III ’75
John B. Lienhard ’62, father of Jonathan ’90
John R. Lindsay, father of Paul A. ’00
Leung F. Lo ’81, brother of Shing Lo ’92
Diane M. Lynch, mother of Brian I. Litkowski ’87 and Kevin A. Litkowski ’85; sister of the late William J. Kellinger Jr. ’44
Edward T. Magner ’43, father of Patrick ’82; brother of the late John B. ’53; grandfather of Conor K. Hannan ’15
Domenic A. Maio ’52
Matthew J. Marshall, Jr., father of Marcel J. ’05 and the late Manuel J. ’04
William Mauser ’60, brother of Fred L. ’62
Charles F. Maynard, father of Keith Morgan ’86 and Lamont G. Morgan ’90
Janet Dolan McAuliffe, mother of Gonzaga Trustee Kathleen M. McAuliffe; grandmother of Dolan Smith ’20, Henry Smith ’22 and Macklin Smith ’24
Mark E. McKevitt ’69, brother of John N. ’62, the late Thomas L. ’59 and the late Brian ’65; cousin of the late John R. Dugan ’61
Stephen M. Molesky ’67, brother of Michael F. ’63
Geneva H. Moore, mother of Leonard Jr. ’91
Inez Moore, wife of Thomas W. ’60
William M. Morrison ’02, brother of John R. Jr. ’00
Barbara S. Mulligan, daughter of the late Robert C. Sullivan ’44; mother of Mattthew J. ’16 and Daniel P. ’18
James J. O’Brien, Jr. ’13, brother of Dennis W. ’17; nephew of William “Bo” Williams ’74, Patrick H. Williams ’77 and John M. Williams ’80; cousin of Patrick H. Williams ’05, Timothy J. Williams ’06, Daniel F. Williams ’10, John J. Williams Jr ’12, Thomas B. Williams ’14, Sean G. Williams ’15, and Patrick C. Williams ’17
Paul M. O’Brien, father of the late Patrick M. ’90
David J. O’Keeffe, father of Timothy J. ’75; grandfather of David H. Knapp ’19
Walter T. Pumphrey Jr. ’57
Mark Raeder, son of Stephen J. ’66
William J. Rowan III ’57, son of the late William J. Jr. ’25; father of William J., IV ’81, John P. ’82, and Michael L. ’87; grandfather of Michael L., Jr. ’17 and Thomas J. ’22; brother-in-law of Edward L. Cotter, Jr. ’58
James B. Sarsfield, father of Daniel F. ’03
Walter W. Schwartz, Jr. ’54
Richard G. Shoemaker ’65
John A. Siciliano, father of John J. ’91 and Michael A. ’95
Thomas C. Smith ’85, brother of John F. IV ’83
William B. Spellbring Jr. ’60
Michael J. Stack, father of Michael P. ’05
Mary Kay Stiver, sister of Thomas M. Werner ’67 and W. Patrick Werner ’70
John K. Sullivan, son of the late Robert C. ’44; uncle of Conor R. Welch ’01, Matthew J. Mulligan ’16, and Daniel P. Mulligan ’18
James Thompson, father of Michael ’97
Susan V. Tracy, wife of the late Laurence J. Tracy ’61; mother of Laurence J. ’84 and Stephen F. ’85; sister-in-law of the late Thomas A., Jr. ’60
Thomas A. “Andy” Tracy ’60
Gary G. Van Winkle ’54
Susan Hoban Vita, wife of Francis N. ’55
George A. Wahl, Sr., father of George J. Wahl ’97
Stuart “Jeb” Walker ’57
Thomas F. Williams, father of Robert E. ’80, Michael T. ’83 and Christopher D. ’88; grandfather of Drew M. ’13
Robert M. Yahn, father of David J. ’88 and Gregory M. ’88
Mirta Zimmerman, mother of Christian ’99
GONZAGA
COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL
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