Jaynotes | Vol. 42 No. 1 | Fall/Winter 2015

The Magazine of Jesuit High School of New Orleans

VOL. 42 | FALL/WINTER 2015

Operation Upgrade 45 Years of Upping the Odds for Middle School Youth

INSIDE

Homecoming & 2015 Alumnus of the Year • Remembering Katrina • Morty: The Germ-Killing Robot

Jaynotes, the magazine about Jesuit High School of New Orleans, is published twice a year by the Office of Institutional Advancement. Opinions expressed in Jaynotes are those of the individual authors.

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President Anthony McGinn, S.J. ’66 mcginn@jesuitnola.org Director of Institutional Advancement Thomas V. Bagwill II bagwill@jesuitnola.org Director of Communications Pierre DeGruy ’69 degruy@jesuitnola.org Director of Alumni Mat Grau ’68 grau@jesuitnola.org

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Director of Special Projects William Dardis, S.J. ’58 dardis@jesuitnola.org Creative Director Meghan Weaver weaver@jesuitnola.org Executive Development/ PAG Coordinator Krista Roeling roeling@jesuitnola.org LEF/Events Coordinator Logan Diano diano@jesuitnola.org

WHAT’S INSIDE

38 IN THIS ISSUE Cover Story 18 New Faculty 2015 - 2016 1 A Man for Others 2 The Lessons of Katrina 7 Let the Blue Times Roll 8

Thanksgiving Drive 2015 10 A Papal Encounter 11 Band On the Run 12 All for One and One for All 14 Virtual Field Trips 17

IN EVERY ISSUE President’s Message 1 Giving Thanks for the Three P's Annus Mirabilis 5 Mining the depths of Jesuit’s archives Principal’s Corner 6 Observations of Peter Kernion '90 Where Y’at 24 Blue Jays here, there, & everywhere In Memoriam 31 Remembering our loved ones Bib List 34 Baby Jays Flying with the Jays 36 The latest achievements in athletics

Alumni Events & Social Media Coordinator Wendy Schneider schneider@jesuitnola.org Volunteer Coordinator Marilyn Beauford beauford@jesuitnola.org Alumni Chaplain Norman O'Neal, S.J. oneal@jesuitnola.org Articles, photographs, and Where Y'ats may be submitted online at jesuitnola.org/where-yat.

Contact info and address changes should be emailed to alumni@jesuitnola.org, or call Jesuit’s alumni office at (504) 483-3838.

ON THE COVER For 45 years, middle school children, identified by their teachers as having the potential for academic success but who have not yet realized that potential, have participated in a Jesuit program designed to enhance their chances for success. Jesuit teacher Jay Combe provides an overview of the service program Jesuit High School and the Society of Jesus proudly call their own.

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t the start of a new year when I reflect upon the previous twelve months, I recall the many examples of resilience in our school community. I am encouraged by the persistence and drive of the young graduate whose progress in education had been slowed by chronic health challenges. I am impressed by the parents who deal with significant health issues of their own and still manage to do what they can to raise their families. I am inspired by the students who steadfastly conquer obstacles despite living in challenging home situations.

We all know people who have heroically dealt with their difficulties in an exemplary manner. These models for us could not meet their challenges as they do if they allowed a sense of entitlement to dominate their thinking. I am grateful to the many people who give us witness to the kind of thinking that builds up families and communities.

Their example provides a challenge to us when we are tempted to give in to corrosive thinking and behavior.

Thank you for your persistence, patience, and positive outlook.

Sincerely,

Rev. Anthony McGinn, S.J. ’66 President

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Giving Thanks for the Three P’s

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Jesuit Welcomes 15 New Faculty Members Fifteen new faculty members are bringing a wealth of experience to teach, advise, and coach Blue Jays this year.

Among the new faces are three Jesuits: Fr. Francis “Billy” Huete, S.J. ’70, Fr. Kevin Dyer, S.J., and Mr. Stephen Kramer, S.J., a scholastic. In addition to teaching, Fr. Dyer is serving as the school chaplain.

Frs. Huete and Dyer teach theology. Mr. Kramer teaches Western civilization, comoderates the Sodality, and is an assistant wrestling coach.

Six other members of the group are Jesuit Blue Jays. Jonathan Hernandez ’00 (world geography, P.E., and basketball), Conner LeBon ’08 (chemistry and golf ), and Terry Ursin ’93 (American history, P.E., and football) join three alumni from the Class of 2011 who are teaching as members of the Alumni Service Corps (ASC): Ryan Migliore (Latin), Jay Napolitano (chemistry), and Alex Nay

Seated, from left: Conner LeBon ’08, Irma Noyola-Gonzalez, Mary Moseley, Kate Brauner, Sheridan Moran; Standing, from left: André LeBeau, Jonathan Hernandez ’00, Terry Ursin ’93, Fr. Kevin Dyer, S.J., Matthew Austin, Fr. Billy Huete, S.J. ’70, Jay Napolitano ’11, Mr. Stephen Kramer, S.J., Ryan Migliore ’11 and Alex Nay ’11

(physical science).

Other new members of the faculty include Matthew Austin (Spanish), Kate Brauner (geometry & algebra), André LeBeau (Spanish), Sheridan Moran (biology, environmental science, and wrestling),

Mary Moseley (English), and Irma NoyolaGonzalez (Spanish).

New faculty members are assigned veteran mentors and participate in a three-year formation program. More on Jesuit’s faculty is on the website: jesuitnola.org/faculty.

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Homecoming 2015

Features Recognition of John E. O’Shea, Jr. ’80 as Alumnus of the Year

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escorted by senior Will Hurley, as this year’s Homecoming Queen. Ms. WHEN I AM OPEN TO Haydel is SHARING MY TREASURES WITH a senior at OTHERS, I AM TRULY LIVING St. Mary’s Dominican.

GOD’S GREATER GLORY.” Saturday evening was dedicated to Fr. McGinn presents the F. Edward Hebert Award to the outstanding two events of alumnus of 2015, John E. O’Shea, Jr. of the Class of 1980. alumni engagement and celebration. First, Fr. a high school dedicated to in Houston, where O’Shea McGinn and his fellow providing opportunity for and his family have resided Jesuits celebrated Mass for Houston’s disadvantaged for the past 32 years. the alumni and their guests youth.

Because of John’s in the Chapel of the North O’Shea and his wife, commitment and exemplary American Martyrs. Then guidance, the school – Cristo Charlene, played a major the crowd moved to the role in getting the school Rey Houston – is one of Student Commons and up and running in time the most successful in the Traditions Courtyard for a for the 2009-10 school Homecoming gala featuring a national network of Cristo year. O’Shea is a founding culinary spread compliments Rey schools.” Indeed, John member of the school’s board E. O’Shea has forged the of Acme Oyster House and of trustees and also serves on formation afforded him by Drago’s, the cool jazz sounds the board of directors of the of the Gregory Agid ’05 Trio, his parents and teachers Cristo Rey Network of 30 into a life of service and and an abundance of Blue schools strategically located accomplishment.

Jay Spirit. throughout the United O’Shea is the CEO of States. The Cristo Rey A Man for Others Navigator Energy Services, a schools combine personal Before leaving the chapel, Texas-based energy company. responsibility, academic the guests joined Fr. McGinn A petroleum engineer who rigor, and a corporate workin recognizing one Blue has channeled the results of study program to empower Jay for representing the his successful entrepreneurial students of all faiths from best qualities of a Jesuit ventures into numerous economically challenged alumnus. In honoring philanthropic endeavors, families to reach their full John E. O’Shea, Jr. ’80 as O’Shea has made a difference potential.

Jesuit’s 2015 Alumnus of the for the better, especially in Putting his service with Year, Fr. McGinn told the education, and particularly Cristo Rey Jesuit in Houston audience, “John has exercised for the students and key leadership roles in the graduates of Cristo Rey Jesuit in the context of the Jesuit principles A.M.D.G., “For founding and operating of

– JOHN E. O’SHEA, JR. ’80

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omecoming is the annual rite of Blue Jays, well, coming home. Each fall men who shared life at Carrollton and Banks for four or five years return to the nest to celebrate all things Jesuit. This year the migration took place a bit earlier than most years as the Jays settled down on campus on the weekend of September 25-26.

Traditionally, the football Jays kick off the weekend celebration. After a week of student lunch-time activities to get today’s students in the Homecoming mood, the football team took on the Purple Knights of St. Augustine at Tad Gormley Stadium. At halftime, school president Fr. Anthony McGinn greeted the Homecoming Court and announced Amelia Haydel,

Left: Alumnus of the Year John E. O'Shea, Jr. '80.

Above: Banner bearers from the Class of 2005 form part of the processional at the Homecoming Mass.

Below: O'Shea and his family at the Homecoming Mass. Son-in-law Chris Weber, daughter Julie O’Shea Weber, Charlene and John O’Shea, and sons Chris O’Shea and Jim O’Shea. Chris and Jim, as well as Chris Weber, are graduates of Strake Jesuit in Houston.

the Greater of God,” and Men for Others, O’Shea told the assembled alumni, “As I have grown and matured, I have come to see a great correlation between the principle of Man for Others and the Catholic Church’s teachings of giving time, talent, and treasure.

Hoarding our treasure leads to selfishness and self-destructive behaviors. I know that when I am open

to sharing my treasures with others, I am truly living God’s greater glory.”

I delved into the education that our inner city youth were receiving,” O’Shea said. Noting that only eight percent of the youth in the bottom quartile in public education graduate from college, O’Shea exclaimed, “That is shocking to a Jesuit High School grad where every one of my classmates was expected to graduate from college. Those outside the bounty of this world have an inherent right to an education.”

O’Shea’s “treasure” came when his first two companies became very successful very quickly. After the sale of the companies in 2006, John and Charlene set up a foundation to focus on inner-city education and women’s issues. “This became a mission for me as

O’Shea’s “mission” became clearer in 2007 when he and Charlene learned through Strake Jesuit, where their two sons, Chris and Jim, were students, that the Jesuits were looking to open an inner city college prep high school in Houston. In August 2009, the new school opened. Six

years later O’Shea proudly exclaims, “Three Cristo Rey classes have graduated, and 100% of the grads have been accepted to college.” Mission accomplished.

O’Shea is Jesuit’s 58th recipient of the F. Edward Hebert Award, which is given to Jesuit’s Alumnus of the Year.

In addition to sons Chris and Jim, John and Charlene have a daughter, Julie, who is married to Chris Weber, an alumnus of Strake Jesuit.

Also, Charlene’s father is James Brandeau ’51.

Recognition & Revelry Also recognized at the Mass were Lyon “Snapper” Garrison ’81 for his year of service as the president of

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the Alumni Association and the anniversary classes of 1965 (50 years), 1990 (25 years), and 2005 (10 years). Michael Varisco ’83, chairman of the 2015 Living Endowment Fund, succeeds Garrison in leading the Alumni Association.

and Mike Rodrigue ’71. Several alumni classes were well represented, such as the Class of 2008 with 13 class members enjoying the festivities and the Class of 1980, there to celebrate with their honored classmate.

The gathering that followed the Mass and ceremony was a festive celebration of the school’s hallmark trait of brotherhood. Blue Jays from the 1940s to the 2010s filled Traditions Courtyard and the Student Commons, beautifully illuminated and decorated, of course, in blue and white, thanks to a generous donation from Kevin Tran, parent of a current Blue Jay. Several Jays and their dates avoided the dilemma of “oysters, grilled or raw?” by enjoying both, thanks to the presence of Drago’s and Acme Oyster House. Jesuit offers special thanks to current parent Tommy Cvitanovich

As the evening came to a close, alumni director Mat Grau ’68 observed, “Fr. McGinn often speaks of the life-long bonds that are cultivated through the shared experience of Jesuit High School. These bonds certainly are one of Jesuit’s distinguishing characteristics and worthy of such a great celebration.”

View full coverage of the 2015 Homecoming Weekend, past Homecoming photo galleries, and the list of all Alumnus of the Year honorees, from 1958 – present, at jesuitnola.org/ alumnus-of-the-year.

Pictured clockwise, from top left: John O’Shea with a few members of his class, from left, Jody Wirth, Christopher Mills, Steven Queyrouze, the honoree, Jack Truitt, Stephen Satterlee, Warren Cuntz, and Greg Merritt Tony Rodrigue ’10 and Mark Chapotel of Acme Oyster House and Tommy Cvitanovich of Drago’s provided boatloads of seafood for Blue Jays Members of the Class of 2008 with Br. Larry Huck, S.J. ’87 Billie and Steve Barbier ’80 with Kirk Redmann ’79 and Desiree Gaudet

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ANNUS MIRABILIS

Thank You, Fr. Schiro

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hrough his many years at Jesuit, Fr. Nick Schiro, S.J. ’44 often stood behind the altar in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs, the school’s student chapel, as a Mass celebrant. But when the chapel opened in 1953, Fr. Schiro was actually Mr. Schiro, a young scholastic in the Society of Jesus. As Archbishop Francis Rummel paused in front of the entrance to the chapel to bless the new wing that would almost double the size of the school, Mr. Schiro was one of the many Jesuits who participated in the historic event.

After graduating from Jesuit in 1944, Schiro headed to Grand Coteau as a new candidate for the Jesuit priesthood. As many scholastics do during their formation, Mr. Schiro spent three years in the classroom, honing his teaching skills. For him, that classroom happened to be at Carrollton and Banks.

Following his ordination in 1957 and several years at Jesuit Dallas, Fr. Schiro returned to his alma mater in 1978 to teach theology. His dedication to his students and the pure love he exhibited in the classroom quickly endeared Fr. Schiro to his students. He created and taught a popular prayer class to increase self-reflection, spirituality, and the awareness of Christ in the lives of his students.

Last July, after 39 years at Jesuit High School, Fr. Schiro returned to Grand Coteau, this time to enjoy his retirement. At his Jubilee celebration of 70 years as a Jesuit

last August, he reflected on his many years of teaching.

“I have spent all but seven of those years in the classroom. In that time I have touched the lives of more than 6,500 young men, trying to bring them to know, love, and follow the Lord. Only God knows how well I succeeded. But I know my desire to serve Him through the ministry of teaching has been fulfilled. One of the great rewards of growing old as a priest and teacher is seeing many of the boys I taught many years ago grow into fine, loving Catholic husbands and fathers. I feel I have received my ‘hundredfold’ in this life.”

Sorry to correct you, Father, but we, too, know how well you succeeded in your ministry of teaching. With much love, thank you.

EVENINGS OF LENTEN REFLECTION

Alumni

Parents of Alumni

Tuesday, March 1 7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 2 7 p.m.

Fr. Nick Schiro, S.J. ’44

Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J. ’66

Prayer in a Busy Life: A Jesuit’s Treatment for Spiritual Infirmity

Having the Mind of Christ

2005

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Memories and Gratitude

Principal Peter Kernion '90 Reflects on Katrina Milestone

F PRINCIPAL'S CORNER

rom time to time, it is a good idea to reflect on those people and experiences for which we are thankful. This past fall marked the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Understandably, some decided to let that anniversary pass without much emphasis. Jesuit, however, looked back on that experience and gave thanks to those who assisted our school in its time of need.

At morning assembly the day before the anniversary of the storm, Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J. ’66 provided our current Blue Jays, who were quite young at that time, with some information concerning the storm’s effect on our school. But he also took time to thank all of those who helped Jesuit during its recovery. William Stoudt ’07, the director of Youth Rebuilding New Orleans (YRNO), followed Fr. McGinn to provide another perspective regarding the impact the storm had on the metro area and to let them know about recovery efforts that continue to this day. [See next page.]

I had the privilege to work for Jesuit at that time and to be involved in the effort to continue to educate our Blue Jays during that trying period. This hallmark anniversary of Katrina caused me to stop and think about all those people for whom I am thankful.

The community of Strake Jesuit in Houston will always stand out, especially the school’s president, Fr. Dan Lahart, S.J. The way that the Strake Jesuit community accepted our families and went the extra mile to accommodate us was truly

amazing. Strake Jesuit’s faculty and parents sacrificed much to ensure that our students could return to one important source of comfort and normalcy in their lives — Jesuit High School.

The one person who seems to fly below the radar as he thanks others for their assistance is Fr. McGinn. In November, I had the honor of thanking him on behalf of the Jesuit community on the anniversary of our return to campus. His leadership during that time was inspirational as he continued to pay faculty, deal with FEMA and the repair of our campus, oversee two satellite schools, and still continue to emphasize Jesuit’s high expectations with appropriate support at a time when it would have been easy to lower expectations. Certainly the entire Jesuit community is thankful for Fr. McGinn’s outstanding leadership during that time.

I am thankful for all of the contributions made by so many to the Jesuit High School community as we all continue to work to fulfill the mission of our school.

Peter Kernion ’90 Principal

2015

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The Lessons of Katrina Avoid Self-Pity, Focus on Gratitude

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s the city commemorated the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, an August Morning Assembly helped today’s Blue Jays appreciate the work it took to bring Jesuit High School and the City of New Orleans back from one of the nation’s most devastating natural disasters.

On the morning of Friday, August 28, Jesuit’s current students, whose ages ranged from three to eight when the flood walls collapsed following Hurricane Katrina, heard from Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J. and alumnus William Stoudt ’07. Fr. McGinn was president in 2005 as he is now. Stoudt was a junior when water swallowed much of Jesuit’s first floor, forcing its students to official satellite schools at Strake Jesuit in Houston and St. Martin’s Episcopal in Metairie.

“We can take all our tragedies in New Orleans and bemoan them and feel bad about them and blame others and become very, very negative about ourselves and about others,” said Fr. McGinn. “Selfpity is a very, very destructive force. It leads to depression. It leads to anger.

“So I encourage you to develop your own self-pity detector – you can’t buy these at Home Depot. They come to you from selfawareness, from thinking about yourself and realizing when you’re falling into self-pity. With your awareness and self-reflection, you can avoid that and detect that in yourself and avoid it. Don’t focus on ‘what I lost’; that is the focus on self-pity. Focus on ‘whom I must thank, who is it that deserves my thanks,’ and extend that thanks…”

Among those Fr. McGinn thanked was Stoudt, who used the word “uncomfortable” to describe living in Houston and attending classes at night. However, Stoudt says he used that feeling to motivate him to become the person he is today.

“I knew that when I got back, I wanted to get involved. When

I heard an announcement at school about a volunteer day, I showed up. I wasn’t the organizer. I wasn’t the guy in charge. I just showed up, ready to help.

That one morning of gutting homes turned into every Saturday morning for about two years. It was those service days that gave me purpose. I could see the people I was helping. I knew that I was making a difference. Those Saturdays changed my life.”

Today, Stoudt leads Youth Rebuilding New Orleans, a non-profit organization which, over the last 10 years, has helped hundreds of homeowners return home, a path paved by the work of 10,000 volunteers.

“Ten years ago Jesuit looked very different – a flooded building in the heart of a flooded neighborhood, dark streets, lifeless sidewalks, plenty of parking. But the traditions, the values, and the instruction you receive here, that’s unchanged. The opportunity you’ve been given here to give back, to serve, and to be a Man for Others has remained.

“This anniversary does not mark a finish line or a summit. We have not yet reached our full potential. This anniversary is a reminder of how much work we still have in front of us. It’s an opportunity to think about… what’s been done and how many people still need help.”

Stoudt expressed gratitude for his family, friends, and teachers, who have encouraged and empowered him. He concluded with a challenge for his fellow Blue Jays: “Our city has been reborn as an incubator for start-ups, education, and innovation, and I am proud to have been a part of that. Now, young Blue Jays, it’s your turn.”

Listen to Fr. McGinn’s and William’s speeches at jesuitnola.org/when-remembering-katrina.

Celebration 2015 Lets the Blue Times Roll

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onsidering the obstacles, Celebration 2015 came off “swimmingly.”

A spirited group of Jesuit loyalists braved continuous rain and, eventually, a puddle-filled parking lot to support Jesuit’s annual gala and auction, which encouraged party-goers to “Let the Blue Times Roll” in the River City Ballroom at Mardi Gras World.

This year’s event was held on November 7 and was co-chaired by Shannon Daigle and Missy Duhon. Presenting sponsors were Entergy and The Azby Fund.

Two limo buses and helpful MCJROTC cadets with umbrellas made the trek from Parking Lot “J” (a fortuitous coincidence) to the main hall more palatable. Members of the National Honor Society joined the cadets in serving and assisting.

The party featured entertainment by the Jesuit Jazz Band, led

by Mr. Jason Giaccone, and Lena Prima and the Lena Prima Band. Before she began singing, Ms. Prima surprised Jesuit president Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J., with a $1,000 donation in honor of her father, jazz great Louis Prima, who attended Jesuit in 1928. Prima also welcomed onto the stage senior saxophonists Kyle Richoux and Tristan Killgore to perform several selections with her and her band.

Among the guests was Jesuit’s next president, Fr. Christopher Fronk, S.J., who enjoyed mingling and meeting many of the school’s benefactors.

The 2015 extravaganza featured a football pool for guests who followed the LSU-Alabama game on a 70-inch screen, a silent auction board for patrons, four auction boards at the main event, and a live auction hosted by local television personality and WVUE-TV Fox 8 meteorologist Bruce Katz, the father of alumnus Riley Katz ’13.

Lori Frischhertz led a superfloat-sized auction committee.

Gabrielle Champagne and Shannon Perkins did the decorating, while reservations were routed through Wendy LoCoco. Karen DeBlieux helped garner sponsorships.

The gala featured delicious delicacies from 23 of the city’s finest restaurants all organized by Beth Vargas and a beefed up food committee. Patricia Unsworth and Patti Mahoney coordinated libations.

Proceeds from Celebration and the Blue Jay Bazaar are used to offset operational expenses, allowing Jesuit to remain an affordable school of excellence.

Opposite page: first row, from left: Celebration co-chairs with their husbands: Shanon and Rocky Daigle ’85 (right) with Missy and Gerald Duhon ’85; Before she began singing, Lena Prima surprised Jesuit president Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J., with a $1,000 donation in honor of her father, jazz great Louis Prima, who attended Jesuit in 1928; Incoming president Fr. Christopher Fronk, S.J., and Jim Ryder ’62 Second row: (Standing, from left) Ashley, Roy, and Ross Cascio ’98.

Sitting, from left: Carol Cascio, Jeanne Dufour, and Jeannie Favret; Karen and Peter DeBlieux; Lisa and Jay Martinez ’87 with Charles Cerise and Janis van Meerveld Third row: Auction chair Lori Frischhertz and sophomore Donald Barrett; Alison and Mark James; Guests take a close look at all the items in the silent auction.

Fourth row: Arlea Keller, Rob and Cindy Wooderson, and Cindy Bowman; Seniors Kyle Richoux and Tristan Killgore were applauded for their performance with Lena Prima and the Lena Prima Band; Lisa and John Carbo ’90

Thanksgiving Drive 2015

Blue Jay Community Embraces the Ideal of Giving

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s they have done for at least 88 years, the students of Jesuit High School put the ideal of service into action by providing a Thanksgiving meal to 270 needy families in the New Orleans area. Add to that another 180 families that the alumni association provided for, and you have a true Jesuit High School community service project.

In keeping with tradition, a member of the Class of 1983 kicked off the drive at morning assembly. On November 9, Mark Alvarez, this year’s leader of 1983’s annual drive to provide a turkey for every family, encouraged today’s Blue Jays to do their best to give of themselves to brighten the lives of their less-fortunate brothers.

And as usual, the Jays came through as each homeroom adopted several families. Students brought in food items, donated funds to cover the cost of perishables, shopped for them at Robért Fresh Market on the morning of the drive, organized all the items for delivery, and then shared their bounty with their fellow New Orleanians. Just before delivery, the Jays came together in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs to reflect on the meaning of their actions, aided by the words of Mr. Stephen Kramer, S.J., and senior Victor Castellon.

Remembering the good feeling of this pure act of giving, the alumni supported the drive with their manpower and finances. Alumni and their families met at Jesuit to gather the food items, organize them into boxes, and assist with delivery.

Additionally, close to 100 alumni donated $11,500 to cover the expense of the 180 baskets with donations ranging from $10 to $1,000. Also, many individual classes, including 1997, 2001, and 2007, adopted families as class service projects.

At the end of the drive, Jesuit’s community service director, Kevin Murphy ’00, reflected: “This year’s Thanksgiving Drive drew on the efforts of the entire Jesuit community — Blue Jay students, alumni, faculty, and staff. As it is every year, the Thanksgiving Drive was an opportunity for our community to serve those in need and live out the school’s motto of being Men for Others. The Jesuit community responded to that opportunity in a big way.”

Alumni classes interested in participating in Jesuit's Thanksgiving Drive should contact Kevin Murphy ’00 at (504) 483-4234 or murphy@jesuitnola.org.

Top: Juniors Matt Nguyen and Eric Espinal bring baskets to their car. (Photo by junior Luke Navarro.)

Middle: Tim Harris ’10 and Woody Walk ’69 help Mike Varisco ’83 unload a pallet of onions for Jesuit’s 2015 Thanksgiving Drive.

Bottom: Jarred Bradley '94 and his son, Miles, assist a neighbor in need.

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Papal Visit a Once-in-a-Lifetime Trip for Blue Jays Six Jesuit students and two faculty members took the trip of a lifetime to Philadelphia in September to see Pope Francis during his historic visit to the United States. Seniors John Kemmerly, Justin Vlosich, Matthew Torres, Brady Stiller, Francesco Pineda, and Brandon Wolff, along with Jesuit chaplain Fr. Kevin Dyer, S.J., and director of campus ministry Jeremy Reuther ’01, joined a contingent of more than 40 Jesuit schools from the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada.

St. Joseph’s Prep, the Jesuit high school in Philadelphia, hosted the Blue Jays and graciously served as homebase throughout the pilgrimage.

The Pope’s visit to Philadelphia coincided with the concluding ceremonies for the World Meeting of Families, the world’s largest Catholic gathering of families.

“Hearing the stories of so many wonderful people and being inspired by their joy was the best part of the whole experience for me,” said senior Brady Stiller. “It was the most overwhelming expression of the universal Church that I have been able to participate in.”

The Festival of Families, part of the World Meeting, included a variety of musical performances interspersed with moving testimonies from families around the world, sharing with the Holy Father their stories of the challenges and joys of family life.

“By far, the best event was the Festival of Families,” said senior Francisco Pineda. “I don’t know exactly how to describe it, but I was just filled with so much hope hearing

Jesuit students wait along the barricade for the arrival of the Pope for Sunday's papal Mass. Joining the Blue Jays is a contingent from Jesuit High School of Tampa.

people talk about the future of the family and the Church.”

A Mass on the Ben Franklin Parkway concluded both Pope Francis’s and the Jesuit delegation’s journey to Philadelphia.

Years of Mardi Gras parade experience proved helpful when the Jays were able to secure a front-row spot behind a barricade — just five feet away from the Pope when he passed on his way to celebrate the final Mass of his U.S. visit.

Following this once-in-a-lifetime trip, each member holds with him the message of the Pope’s visit: to be motivated by the love of God in his everyday life.

For full coverage of the Jesuit delegation’s visit, including a photo gallery, visit jesuitnola.org/blue-jaypilgrims-return.

Young Alums, Coffey and Jones, Enter Novitiate Two young alumni, Jordan Jones ’01 and Alex Coffey ’11, entered the Jesuit novitiate of St. Charles College in Grand Coteau, Louisiana, this summer.

Coffey, the son of Richard ’82 and Janet Coffey and the brother of Ricky Coffey ’06, earned a psychology degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette before making his religious commitment to the Jesuits. At ULL Coffey was engaged in a variety of service and fellowship activities as an active member of Our Lady of Wisdom Church and the Ragin’ Cajun Catholic Ministry. He began thinking of a religious vocation while attending annual retreats at Manresa with his father. Coffey is from Meraux, Louisiana.

Jones is the son of Walker and Margot Jones. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2005 with a B.S. in ocean engineering, Jones served in the U.S. Marine Corps until 2014, a tour of duty that included deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. His final military service was as an infantry company commander.

Before entering formation, Jones completed a 6,800-mile motorcycle trip across the Western U.S. He attended Holy Name of Jesus School before his days at Jesuit.

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Four Blue Jay Bandsmen Earn All-State Honors

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our Jesuit bandsmen representing four separate grade levels have been recognized as all-state musicians. The honorees are senior Jae Kweon, junior William Fine, sophomore Leo John Arnett, and freshman Christopher Vuong. Arnett and Fine are percussionists, and Vuong is a trumpeter. Kweon, who plays alto sax, is a three-year member of this prestigious group. The quartet joined other talented musicians from across the state for a November concert in Baton Rouge.

The Blue Jay Marching Band – 90 members including two drum majors – lit up the crowd at the 2015 District VI Marching Festival, earning the rating of “superior” for drum majors, drum line, and 40 Jayettes.

Judges called the overall performance “excellent.” The program titled “The History of Rock,” featured music from The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Rush, and Foo Fighters. A pyrotechnics production proved to be a powerful exclamation point.

The Jesuit Band, whose supporters packed the auditorium for the annual Christmas Concert, is moderated by Joe Caluda ’79 and Jason Giaccone.

Top: The Blue Jay Band performs in the District VI Marching Festival.

Middle: From left, Jae Kweon, William Fine, Leo John Arnett, and Christopher Vuong are recognized as All-State musicians.

Bottom: The band performs in the “snow” at its annual Christmas Concert in the Jesuit auditorium on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015.

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MCJROTC Celebrates, Competes, and Serves Members of Jesuit’s MCJROTC, led

by LtCol. Tim Huete ’76 and Master Gunnery Sergeant J.R. Piseno, spent the first half of the academic year competing, celebrating, and serving.

This year’s battalion commander is Cadet LtCol. Austin Blanchard. Cadet Rodney Schaubhut is serving as sergeant major.

Both are seniors.

The MCJROTC competed in meets in Brenham, Texas; Destrehan; and Pontchatoula, where they finished third among 23 schools from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. In September, Jesuit’s cadets visited the Naval Air Station in Pensacola.

On November 11, the MCJROTC welcomed LtCol. Geary Mason ’79 back to campus to help celebrate the 240th birthday of the Marine Corps. Mason, who served 28 years with the U.S. Army Reserve/National Guard, retired in 2013. He is a financial advisor/senior vice-president for Stern

Agee and Leach, Inc. and a five-year member of his alma mater’s Parents’ Annual Giving drive leadership team.

His son, Henry Mason, is a member of Jesuit’s senior class.

The Cadet Battalion received outstanding grades in its annual inspection on December 1. Five of the 110 cadets inspected by

Marines from the Reserve Headquarters in Algiers earned perfect scores.

Finally, in December cadets collected nearly 1,000 new toys for Toys for Tots, a program the U.S. Marine Corps started in 1995. The student donations represent a 20 percent increase over the previous year.

Pictured above: Jesuit’s MCJROTC program received oustanding grades at its annual inspection.

Left: Senior commanding officer Austin Blanchard cuts a piece of birthday cake for honoree LtCol. Geary Mason ’79.

Right: Sophomores Matthew Richards and Giovanni Lorusso pack toys for the annual Toys for Tots program.

14 | FALL/WINTER 2015

En Garde!

Jesuit's Oldest Co-curricular Busy on the Boards

I

n its 99th year as Jesuit’s Philelectic Society, the school’s oldest co-curricular is busier than ever. The 2015-16 season opened in November with an action-packed and laugh-filled presentation of The Three Musketeers, a swashbuckling story of adventure and romance written by Alexandre Dumas and adapted for the stage by playwright Ken Ludwig. The show starred junior Jordan Kelley as D’Artagnan, senior Ben Gillen as Athos, junior Eddie Medina as Porthos, and junior Matt O’Neill as Aramis.

Featured performers included a trio of seniors: Thomas Hellmers as Cardinal Richelieu, Adam Ledet as King Louis XIII, and Henry Mason as Rochefort.

The January calendar included Cinderella Battistella, a New Orleans take on the classic fairy tale, which headlined the Senior-Directed One-Act Play (actually a handful of plays) and Improv Comedy Festival. Proceeds from the event benefitted Second Harvest Food Bank.

In April, the Phils, moderated by Kate Arthurs-Goldberg, proudly present Leonard Bernstein’s musical On the Town.

Learn more about Jesuit’s Philelectic Society at jesuitnola.org/phils.

Pictured above: From left, Jordan Kelley, Eddit Medina, Ben Gillen, and Matt O’Neal perform a scene from The Philelectic Society's production of The Three Musketeers.

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PAG Chairman Offers Thanks Dear Jesuit Parents: On behalf of this year’s PAG team, thank you for your support of Jesuit's Parents’ Annual Giving Drive. Jesuit would not have its diverse, dynamic student body if it were not for your commitment and support.

I am the parent of four wonderful boys: Thomas ’14; John, a senior; David, a freshman; and Andrew, hopefully, a future Blue Jay. I remember when my older sons received their "Dear Blue Jay" letters. I recall with great joy how excited we were on that special day. We remain just as excited today.

I did not attend Jesuit, but it didn’t take me long to appreciate the school’s many gifts. I would put the Jesuits themselves — the priests, brothers, and scholastics who quietly walk the halls — at the top of that list. They celebrate Mass, hear confessions, teach classes, lead clubs and organizations, and attend our sons’ events. They are a daily presence in the lives of our young men. These men have a purpose to share Christ with all whom they encounter, including our sons. How blessed we are to have them and their dedicated lay colleagues leading our sons.

During our years at Carrollton and Banks, my wife, Julie, and I have gained a deeper appreciation for Jesuit’s traditions and have enjoyed watching our sons embrace them as our Blue Jays grow into fine men.

There have been times when I have had disagreements, disappointments, and conflicts with Jesuit High School. Jesuit is not perfect, nor is it built to accommodate everybody's wants and desires. But Jesuit is instilling in our sons a sense of value for life, care for humankind, and the educational skills to achieve their dreams.

Philip Nimmo addresses parents at a Breakfast with the President.

Most of all, Jesuit is able to provide these opportunities to families all across the metro area and all across the economic spectrum. This diversification is the very fabric of Jesuit High School. I have personally witnessed Fr. Anthony McGinn and Fr. Raymond Fitzgerald before him work tirelessly to keep tuition as low as possible to allow more families to have access to a Jesuit education.

I will never be able to repay Jesuit, in money or time, for the education Jesuit is providing. It is a priceless, precious gift for those fortunate enough to receive it. And having received this gift, these men, many of whom might not be included without a successful PAG drive, go into the world to make their own impact, changing lives for the Greater Glory of God. Again, thank you.

Philip Nimmo Philip Nimmo 2015-16 PAG Chairman

Support the annual drives that keep Jesuit accessible, affordable, and thriving.

Donate online at jesuitnola.org/donate or call (504) 483-3841.

Photo by Jeff Strout

MEET MORTY Jesuit High School is the first and only prep school in the U.S. to routinely deploy a high-tech robot that wages environmental war on potentially deadly pathogens typically found lurking wherever there are athletes and sports equipment.

Jesuit’s Robotics Club came up with a clever name for the robot: “Morty,” a slightly twisted derivative of the Latin word mors, meaning annihilation or death — to germs, of course.

The robot, which bears a striking resemblance to R2-D2 of Star Wars fame, enhances environmental cleanliness by eradicating hard-tokill pathogens, such as multi-drug resistant organisms hiding in places that are especially difficult to clean with traditional chemicals, mops, and disinfectant wipes.

“We want to reduce the risk of Blue Jays contracting infections, in addition to providing a clean, safe environment for P.E. classes and our sports teams,” said

Alumnus Donates Germ-Killing Robot

Jesuit athletic director David Moreau.

“Morty is ideal for disinfecting our new weight room, wrestling mats, and training area.” It may also be used in other areas of the athletic complex.

Created and manufactured by Xenex Disinfection Services, the robot can be found in more than 300 hospitals.

Morty’s value exceeds $100,000 and represents a most generous gift by Blue Jay alumnus Joseph Authement ’97, who is senior vice-president of sales for the company.

“Jesuit taught me about being a man for others and serving my community,” said Authement, who lives in Mandeville and commutes two or three days a week to the company’s headquarters in San Antonio. “At Xenex, we want to eradicate pathogens that cause infections and pose a threat to patients and hospital workers. The technology is based on our desire to help others by destroying the microorganisms that might harm them. I am honored to donate one of our Germ-Zapping

Robots™ to my alma mater.”

Morty’s timely arrival to bust germs for Jays coincides with an increase of community-associated staph infections among high school athletic teams across the country, including a few in Louisiana, although Jesuit has not experienced any recent outbreaks.

Morty’s disinfection system works by pulsing the inert gas xenon at a high intensity in a xenon ultraviolet flashlamp. This produces intense ultraviolet light which penetrates the cell walls of microorganisms — bacteria, viruses, mold, and fungus — fusing their DNA and effectively killing them on surfaces without contact or chemicals.

For more information about Morty, visit jesuitnola.org and xenex.com.

Pictured above: Jesuit alumnus Joseph Authement ’97 (right) discusses the germkilling robot with Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J., and members of the Robotics Club, from left, juniors Todd Crabtree, Luke Navarro, and Andrew Stapp.

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Blue Jays Take Virtual Field Trips Around the World

M

ore than 200 Blue Jays in Spanish and social studies classes went on “field trips” across the world, travelling hundreds of thousands of miles in a single day — all without ever packing a bag, getting on a plane, or even leaving the auditorium.

The students took the international virtual trips courtesy of a new technology called Google Expeditions.

Above: David Hart looks through a Google Cardboard viewer to take a virtual field trip to Barcelona with his Spanish class.

Expeditions allows teachers to take virtual field trips using Google Cardboard, a virtual reality viewer made almost entirely of actual cardboard. The viewers have a smartphone placed inside them that displays a virtual reality panorama of various locations.

Spanish teacher Nilda Rivera learned about the Google Expeditions Pioneer Program through an online professional development seminar. She inquired about bringing it to Jesuit — and, in turn, helped Blue Jays be the first in the state, and among the first around the world, to experience the technology.

With the viewer, Blue Jays were able to explore virtual reality panoramas — 360° photo spheres, 3D images and video, and ambient sounds.

Using a handheld tablet, teachers selected a destination, and the Cardboard viewers allowed the entire classroom to jump there automatically. Teachers led the adventure by selecting points of interest.

Left: Teachers use a tablet computer to lead the Expedition. When the teachers want to point out a specific location, they point to a spot on the tablet. Each student’s viewer then displays an arrow in the direction the teacher is instructing the class to look, keeping everyone together on the virtual trip.

Machu Picchu, the stones looked like they were right there. It felt like you could reach out and touch them.”

Spanish teachers Rivera, Andrew Dykema, Deika Bustamante, and Matt Austin used the activity to incorporate the AP Spanish theme of “Beauty and Aesthetics” into their curricula.

“I’ve wanted to travel the world for a long time, and now getting a glimpse of it with Google Expeditions, it makes me want to go even more,” said junior Alex Welsh.

Students in Spanish classes were able to explore several Spanish-speaking locales, such as Machu Picchu, Barcelona, Mexico City, and the Galapagos Islands, among others.

Created with input from The Wildlife Conservation Society, PBS, the American Museum of Natural History, the Planetary Society, and the Palace of Versailles, the program offers more than 100 Expeditions locations across the globe.

“I’ve never been able to travel internationally, so being able to see the culture and the architecture of places outside of America was incredible,” said junior Ean Neyrey. “When we were in

Blue Jays in two social studies classes — Ron Rossi’s American history class and Wade Trosclair ’07’s Western civilization class — were also able to take virtual trips of their own.

“I could always show them a photo, but to be able to put yourself in the position and have a 360° view is great for the class,” said Trosclair.

The teachers were grateful to be able to lead the virtual journeys and show their students places they might not be able to visit otherwise.

“Some students are lucky enough to be able to travel with their families or have taken international service trips, but most Blue Jays haven’t been able to go to many of the Spanish-speaking countries,” said Dykema. “We’re grateful to be able to experience this technology. It is a really cool way to be able to visit these places, explore the terrain, and experience the culture with the entire class.”

Google plans to introduce more than two million Cardboard viewers in the near future.

Success P R O V I D I N G A PAT H TO

For 45 years Operation Upgrade

has been serving young men from all walks of life, teaching them academic skills and challenging them to reach new heights.

“Y

by Jay Combe ’83

ou are destined to be the greatest generation our community has ever seen.”

With those words, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite wrapped up his keynote address to the graduating class of Operation Upgrade this past summer. He also made a compelling case for its future.

Since 1971, Jesuit High School has brought together middle school students from all over the Greater New Orleans area to spend five weeks of their summer at Carrollton and Banks. The unifying thread? Disadvantaged backgrounds and academic potential.

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Pictured: The eighth graders of Operation Upgrade 2015 (clockwise, from back left): Payton Gibson, Daniel McCabe, Rejon Mosley, Brandon Lawrence, Desmond Keppard, JiCharon Alexander, Jeremiah Brown, Caden Swain, and Naadir Abdol.

Not pictured is Noah Seal.

objective must be to form persons for others; persons who will live not for themselves but for God and his Christ — for the God-man who lived and died for all the world; persons who cannot even conceive of love of God which does not include love for the least of their neighbors; persons completely convinced that love of God which does not issue in justice for persons is a farce.”

Today, Operation Upgrade’s mission is more narrowly defined.

The roster of Operation Upgrade graduates is impressive — former New Orleans Police Chief Eddie Compass and former NFL offensive lineman Corey Hilliard ’03 are two of the more recognizable names to pass through.

Lesser known but equally impressive are the legions of doctors, lawyers, and engineers among Upgrade alumni.

Valedictorians from Brother Martin, St. Augustine, De La Salle, and Jesuit completed the program before rising to the top of their high school classes.

Answering the Call to Service For all its success, many in the Jesuit community aren’t even aware of Operation Upgrade’s existence.

“That’s not intentional. It’s just had a low profile, at least until now,” says James Michalik, a theology teacher who has overseen the program for the past 19 years, co-directing it for many of those with Thomas Spitzfaden, Ph.D., who retired in 2009 after 37 years at Jesuit, 35 of which included some role in Operation Upgrade.

The program held its first session in 1971, according to an article written in 1974 for Jesuit’s alumni magazine

by Phil Babineaux, then a religion teacher and director of service projects.

Operation Upgrade was inspired by a mandate from Pedro Arrupe, S.J., who at the time was the Superior General of the Society of Jesus. The mandate read, in part, “Today our prime educational

“The first purpose is to serve economically disadvantaged, atrisk male youths,” explains Jesuit High School president Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J. “The second is to afford our Jesuit students the opportunity to learn and share the blessing of their education with others through service.

Finally, the program looks to identify students who have the potential to thrive at Jesuit High School.”

With its 45th session having wrapped up this summer, the program retains many of the cornerstones of its original foundation. Upgrade still keeps to an enrollment of approximately 60 students spread among six classrooms, although the program now includes rising sixth-graders as well as seventhand eighth-graders.

Each of the six classrooms is overseen by a teacher, who is assisted by four student teaching aides. The aides are predominantly rising seniors at Jesuit who are completing their service projects.

20 | FALL/WINTER 2015

“The student/teacher ratio is basically 3:1,” explains Michalik. “The students who come through the program, therefore, receive plenty of individual attention, which is critical to their success.”

Also unchanged is the program’s commitment to affordability. Fees for the program are nominal and are waived altogether in many cases. Operation Upgrade is financed primarily by Jesuit High School and the Central and Southern Province of the Society of Jesus. Additionally, the Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation, one of the area’s leading philanthropic organizations, has provided important grant support.

Providing a Foundation for Success As it has from the beginning, Upgrade stresses fundamentals. The day begins with a 50-minute reading period, during which students form a circle and take turns reading aloud from books selected from Upgrade’s library, which contains classroom sets of more than 50 titles.

During the in-class reading period, teachers make frequent stops to check for comprehension and to guide discussions. Over the course of the five weeks, with homework reading assignments factored in, each class typically completes three to four books.

In Jason Giaccone’s seventhgrade classroom this past summer, students knocked out four books: The Boy

in the Striped Pajamas, Deathwatch, The Giver, and Encyclopedia Brown.

“If I had my way, I’d incorporate mandatory daily reading into all schools,” says Giaccone, a 13-year Upgrade veteran who teaches fine arts at Jesuit and is assistant director of the Blue Jay Band.

“Of course, the class sizes are critical to the success of that part of the day. Having only 10 students in the room allows us to operate like a college seminar.”

This summer Giaccone was joined by two other Jesuit teachers, Scott Delatte ’06 and Daniel Fitzpatrick ’09, in shepherding seventhgrade classrooms. Sylvia Schild, head of Jesuit’s library department and the longesttenured of the Upgrade faculty with 18 years of service, oversaw a sixth-grade classroom, as did alumnus Brian Credo ’11. Another veteran New Orleans educator, Jodi Epp, served as a floating substitute teacher.

After the reading period, students break into four “pods” within their classrooms to complete exercises in English, mathematics, and problem solving. Each of those three daily sessions runs for 40 minutes.

“I always loved the problem solving period,” says Mike Foss ’02, a former Upgrader who now works as an electrical engineer in Phoenix. “It had a direct impact on parts of my studies in college, particularly in discrete mathematics. I loved that it was a formal part of the Upgrade curriculum.”

After the academic portion of

the day, it’s out to Will Clark Field on Mondays through Wednesdays for some physical activity.

On Thursdays and Fridays, student teachers conduct “electives” in a variety of subjects of their own choosing. This year’s Upgraders were able to select options ranging from drumming to chess, from table tennis to creative writing. Some off-the-wall topics ended up being among the most popular.

Seniors Ethan Michael Gilberti and Darren Ruiz taught a class on game character development. In the first session, Gilberti introduced Upgraders to the basic framework and guidelines used by animation designers when creating video game characters. In the second session, Ruiz

talked about the computer engineering and mathematics involved in the process.

Senior Noah Billeaud, meanwhile, taught a class on Nerf theory. “A lot of the kids who signed up thought we would be playing Nerf football,” says Billeaud.

“Instead, they learned basic components of physics.”

As a reward for their hard work, students take a field trip near the end of the five weeks. This year, Upgraders and their chaperones attended a private screening of Jurassic World at the Prytania Theatre.

“The kids were raving about that experience,” says Michalik. “I can’t say enough good things about the folks at the Prytania. They understood that our kids had limited resources and really went above and beyond to

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Far left: Upgrade director James Michalik chats with freshman RayVan Bellazer in the Traditions Courtyard.

Above: A group of Upgraders listen to activity directions.

Left: U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite addresses 2015 Operation Upgrade graduates.

make that work.”

Upgraders also voluntarily stick around for some afterschool activities (such as chess and three-on-three basketball tournaments), and complete pre- and post-assessments of skills to measure improvement.

“Typically, we see a significant rise in test scores,” says Michalik. “The goal is to raise math scores by a full grade level (thus the program’s name), while improving English and reading levels by a half year.

More than half of this year’s students met that goal, which is amazing for a five-week program.”

Obligations for Upgrade volunteers don’t end with the final bell of the summer session. Michalik coordinates several activities throughout the year to keep Upgraders

connected to the school.

Students are invited back for plays, basketball games, and the Blue Jay Band Christmas Concert. They may also participate in a high school test prep session.

It’s a lot of work for the unassuming Michalik, who is quick to deflect credit away from himself.

“We were really blessed with some extraordinary young men helping us this year,” says Michalik. “They certainly made my job easier.”

Changing Lives The culminating event of each Operation Upgrade session is its graduation ceremony. This past summer, Polite, the region’s top federal prosecutor, mesmerized Upgraders and their parents

with his inspirational message.

Polite himself was an Upgrader. The child of a single mother in the lower Ninth Ward, Polite had many opportunities to choose the wrong path. Instead, he became the first AfricanAmerican valedictorian at De La Salle and moved on to Harvard University and Georgetown Law School.

His 2013 appointment by President Obama as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana was confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate.

“Upgrade was a wonderful experience for me,” recalls Polite. “I learned so much that summer. Jesuit will always have a special place in my heart.”

While Polite atttended another high school, many

Upgrade alumni do end up wearing Jesuit khaki. More than 50 Upgraders have graduated from Jesuit since 2011, including a record 15 from the Class of 2014.

One of those students was Foss, who became one of Jesuit’s valedictorians. Foss experienced Operation Upgrade from three different perspectives — as a student in the program, as a Jesuit Blue Jay completing his service project, and as a volunteer classroom supervisor after graduating.

“I loved going every day as a student,” recalls Foss. “I remember one counselor in particular. His name was Paul Naquin [a 1996 Jesuit alumnus]. His love of being a student at Jesuit was infectious. It was very clear that he was going to miss the place after graduating.

22 | FALL/WINTER 2015

“I think what really helped me more than anything, though, was the opportunity to work alongside extraordinarily smart students, from all different walks of life, who happened to come from challenging backgrounds.

Seeing everybody work hard academically despite the obstacles they faced has pushed me to never settle.”

— BRANDON MYERS ’14

Whatever intimidation I had about jumping into high school was put to rest by his enthusiasm.”

Honduras to Kenner in 2001. He left Jesuit last spring bound for LSU not only with a diploma, but also with a state championship ring in football and a national title in ballroom dance. [Read more about Osman’s story at jesuitnola.org/ osman-torres.]

The Upgrade alumni who have graduated from Jesuit more recently are a testament to the program’s broad reach, both ethnically and geographically. A small cross section of the last two years includes Glenn Fraychineaud ’14, a resident of Boy’s Hope during his high school years, who is now carrying a 3.5 GPA at John Carroll University in Ohio, where he is majoring in economics and finance.

“Glenn was actually the first hearing person in his family in three generations,” says Chuck Roth, the executive director of Boys Hope Girls Hope in New Orleans.

“Everybody just assumed he was deaf. It wasn’t until his family attempted to enroll him at the Louisiana School for the Deaf that they realized he could hear.

He didn’t speak until he was almost five years old.”

Osman Torres ’15, meanwhile, emigrated along with his parents from

And then there is Brandon Myers ’14, who received one of the most prestigious honors bestowed upon graduating students, the Very Reverend Father Pedro Arrupe Award, which recognizes the senior who has exemplified the spirit of being a Man for Others by his participation and excellence in service.

Myers, a Central City resident whose father died when he was in the 8th grade, credits Operation Upgrade with preparing him for Jesuit High School. “It wasn’t easy getting to Jesuit early in the mornings during the summer when my friends were sleeping in. But I quickly saw the benefits when I came here.

“I think what really helped me more than

anything, though, was the opportunity to work alongside extraordinarily smart students, from all different walks of life, who happened to come from challenging backgrounds.

Seeing everybody work hard academically despite the obstacles they faced has pushed me to never settle.

“While I got a lot out of the program, I got so much more from giving back.

Returning as a counselor was an amazing experience. There is nothing more rewarding than helping the young boys achieve success on their assignments and, ultimately, putting a smile on their faces.

I challenged my students to never give less than their best.

In turn, they challenged me to find new ways to better help them.”

RayVan Bellazer, a freshman, is following in Myers’s footsteps. An Upgrader for two summers as a student, Bellazer stepped in last summer to volunteer.

Perhaps more than any Upgrader in history, Bellazer knows what it’s like to rise above difficult circumstances.

Two of his close family members were homicide victims in 2006. He now lives with his maternal grandparents in the Seventh Ward.

Bellazer, who aspires to become a civil rights attorney, says that Upgrade really got him thinking about enrolling at Jesuit. “It was always on the radar of people around me, but I didn’t really picture myself going to Jesuit until I spent time at Upgrade.”

Bellazer says that one person, in particular, steered him to Carrollton and Banks.

Yvette Endom, the founding director of the PLEASE Foundation and a mentor at his grammar school, the now shuttered Cathedral Academy, “pretty much told me I’d be going to Jesuit since the first grade,” says Bellazer.

The PLEASE Foundation covers all of Bellazer’s nontuition expenses at Jesuit, from books to uniforms. His tuition is covered by a Jesuit scholarship. He is clearly one of Endom’s favorites.

“I consider him one of our

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Opposite page: Brandon Myers '14 accepts the Very Reverend Father Pedro Arrupe Award from then-president Fr. Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. ’76 at the 2014 Commencement Ceremony.

Left: Upgraders seek refreshments before watching the movie Jurassic World at the Prytania Theatre, a welcome diversion after weeks of hard work.

success regardless. But I am flattered and humbled that he holds his time here, however brief, in such high regard.

biggest success stories,” says Endom. “And his journey is not over yet. He will go on to inspire many people one day.

I am sure of that.”

At Operation Upgrade, it was Brandon Myers, then a volunteer counselor, who took a special interest in Bellazer.

“He told me that if I came to Jesuit, it would be hard, but that nothing worth having is easy,” says Bellazer.

Sure enough, there were some tough times.

“I struggled my first year,”

says Bellazer. “But Mr. Michalik was on me all the time, making sure I had everything I needed. He insisted that I go to tutoring, and I was able to get it together.”

Achieving…

Inspiring Jesuit administrators are careful not to take too much credit for the success of the program.

“Let’s be honest,” says Michalik. “We don’t ‘save’ these young men. Kenneth Polite was going to be a

“I do sincerely believe, though, that there is real value to bringing a group together that are all facing similar struggles and challenging them to reach new heights.

“If we can get some of these young men to come to Jesuit in the process, we like to think it’s a win-win situation.”

Asked what he likes best about the program, Michalik doesn’t hesitate.

“I can’t begin to describe the joy I feel when I watch our Upgrade students walk across the stage at Jesuit’s graduation.

“These kids just inspire me,”

continues Michalik. “The obstacles they have had to overcome, the route they took to get to graduation.

Each and every one of them is extraordinary. I tear up every time. Whatever little I have given of myself to those young men, they return it tenfold when they accept their diploma.

“When RayVan walks that stage, and I sincerely believe he will, I’m going to be bawling.”

Jay Combe ’83 teaches social studies at Jesuit, assists with the tennis team, and contributes to the website.

He supervised Operation Upgrade's eighth-grade classroom in 2015. He also completed his service project with Operation Upgrade in the summer of 1982.

Online Donations & Major Gift Enhance Program Operation Upgrade was the beneficiary of a December 1 online giving campaign coordinated

by The Catholic Foundation. In just 24 hours, 48 donors contributed almost $4,000. Jesuit joined 111 other Catholic entities in the #iGiveCatholic campaign that raised a total of $1.3 million. The effort was spearheaded by Cory Howat ’93, who is the executive director for the Office of Stewardship and Development for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The Catholic Foundation’s interim director is Charlie Heim ’59.

Also, in late December, Jesuit received a donation of $70,000 from Andrew Caneza ’43, an alumnus living in Orlando, Florida, who heard about the program from a colleague and fellow Jesuit alumnus, Ryan Kruse ’01. Investment returns from the generous gift will allow the school to hire an additional Operation Upgrade teacher and, thus, accept additional students for years to come.

Anyone interested in supporting Jesuit’s Operation Upgrade should contact Tom Bagwill, director of institutional advancement, at (504) 483-3841 or bagwill@jesuitnola.org.

Andrew Caneza, an alumnus from the Class of 1943, says St. Ignatius Loyola remains an inspiration in his life.

WHERE Y’AT 1950s

of Christ and made God’s love visible in the world.”

1960s CLASS OF

1956 John Dardis ’59 and his wife Anne have received the 2015 Saint John Paul II Award from The Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Jack and Anne have individually served countless Catholic organizations and ministries.

Jack was honored as Jesuit’s Alumnus of the Year in 1986.

The award is given annually to a deserving person or couple who has significant volunteer service to Catholic institutions in the Archdiocese of New Orleans and has high moral character.

Jack and Anne have been married for 48 years and have ten children and 29 grandchildren. They are members of Holy Name of Jesus Parish, where they attend daily Mass together. In speaking of the couple’s long list of volunteer endeavors, the Archdiocese said, “With compassion, love, and laughter, they have shown others the face

SAVE THE DATE

APRIL 16-17

Stag & Couples’ Receptions

Dennis LeBlanc ’61 moved from Newark, DE, to Covington, LA last September.

He retired after 47 years as an Army civilian and Army Reserve lieutenant colonel.

René Percy Viosca ’61 really gets into Christmas. He “played” Santa Claus three times this Christmas, putting on the full Santa regalia including the white hair and beard. René writes, “People are very different in front of Santa, even the ones you know. The best is when you are around the children. I CLASS OF

1961 SAVE THE DATE

JULY 8

Stag Reception

promised to give them more than what their parents had in mind. Ha, ha, ha, ho, ho, ho!

Some of my ’61 classmates are on the naughty list. I ran out of coal to put in their stockings. ” Steven Lanoux ’65 has retired as assistant director for operations at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, TX. His third term as city councilman for Port Aransas ends in May. Steven and his wife, Deli, will permanently relocate to their home in Brownsville, TX, later this year.

Michael Miroue ’65 and his wife, Annelle, have created a foundation and included Jesuit “to perpetuate the excellence that Jesuit instills in its students.” Mike has been practicing orthodontics in San Diego since 1975. In addition to his practice, he gives lectures to orthodontic departments in southern California and to the San Diego Academy of Orthodontists. Mike and Annelle have been married for 44 years and enjoy travelling around the world.

Jerry Rubli ’65, after 40 years selling oilfield equipment and services, has joined Keller Williams in Houston as a realtor. Jerry and his wife, Donna, have six grandchildren with two more on the way.

ALUMNI: TELL US WHERE Y’AT! Email alumni director Mat Grau at grau@jesuitnola.org or submit online at jesuitnola.org/where-yat.

William Coleman ’66 was listed in Best Doctors in America for the 20th time. He also received presidential citations from two national medical organizations for his work as editor-in-chief of the journal Dermatologic Surgery. He was recently appointed treasurer of the mutual insurance company LAMMICO, where he has served on the board for ten years. Bill practices cosmetic dermatologic surgery in Metairie with his son Patrick ’95.

John Gillon ’66 is serving his third year as the designated ethicist in oversight of humansubject research with the institutional review board of the National Institutes of Health/ National Heart Lung Blood Institute. He has served pro bono on the review boards of Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, American Red Cross/ Holland Laboratory, and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He is an assistant professor of family medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center, where he has been an affiliated scholar and taught pro bono since 2007. The European Union awarded him an Erasmus Mundus Fellowship to earn a Master of Bioethics.

Donald Karcher ’66 received the 2015 Pathologist of the Year

New Book Captures Photojournalist Del Hall’s Memorable Career Former CBS cameraman Del Hall ’53 is the subject of a new book by New Orleans historical geographer Richard Campanella, The Photojournalism of Del Hall: New Orleans and Beyond, 1950s – 2000s. Del worked for CBS, where he quickly became the national network’s go-to cameraman, shooting for 60 Minutes, the CBS Evening News (with Walter Cronkite and, later, Dan Rather), and On the Road with Charles Kuralt. During his long

career, he witnessed and documented the iconic milestones of the 20th century: Civil Rights, Vatican II, the Beatles, Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, and the Vietnam War. In town to promote the book, Hall – accompanied by his wife, Ginger (behind the camera in photo at right) – spoke to the students at morning assembly and then with a more intimate crowd later in the week.

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Award from the College of American Pathologists. Donald is an academic pathologist serving at the George Washington University Medical Center for the past 31 years, 16 of which as chair of the pathology department. He is currently president of the Association of Pathology Chairs, the organization of academic pathology departments in the U.S. and Canada. Donald and his wife, Lois, live in rural Maryland near Washington, DC, near their three children and seven grandchildren.

CLASS OF

1966 SAVE THE DATE

JUNE 3-4

Stag & Couples’ Receptions

Gerald Meunier ’66 is a senior partner in the New Orleans law firm of Gainsburgh, Benjamin, David, Meunier & Warshauer, LLC and a trial attorney with over thirty-seven years of experience. Jerry received his bachelor of arts degree (magna cum laude) from Georgetown University and his J.D. from Georgetown Law Center, where he was a contributing editor of the Georgetown Law Journal. He is past president of the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, past president of the Louisiana Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Best Lawyers of America named him in 2013 as the New Orleans Lawyer of the Year in plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation and in 2011, 2014, and 2016 as the New Orleans CLASS OF

1971 SAVE THE DATE

JUNE 17-18

Stag & Couples’ Receptions

Lawyer of the Year for mass tort litigation and class actions.

1970s

Jesuit Church of St. Francis Xavier

Mike Waldo ’70 and his wife, Judy, took a trip of a lifetime last June. Never having crossed the Atlantic (nor the Pacific, for that matter), the couple ventured to Ireland for a two-week vacation. They arrived in Dublin on a Sunday morning and immediately looked for a church. The church they found turned out to be, of course, a Jesuit church – the Jesuit Church of St. Francis Xavier.

Mike writes, “Leave it to me to go to Ireland and the very first thing I manage to find is ‘Jesuit’!”

Warren Montgomery ’73 recently completed his first year as district attorney of St. Tammany Parish. Warren ran as an outsider, reform-minded candidate to defeat the longtime incumbent.

Robert Boh ’76 has been inducted into the National Academy of Construction. The 26 inductees of the 2015 class were chosen from a group of more than 250 industry professionals around the country. Robert has been at the helm of Boh Bros. for more than 20 years and has helped promote the legacy of the company started in 1909.

CLASS OF

1976 SAVE THE DATE

APRIL 15-16

Stag & Couples’ Receptions

Michael McGarry ’76 was elected a director of PPG Industries, Inc., in July and was appointed president and CEO in September. Michael has been with PPG, the world’s largest paint and coatings company for 34 years. He is also a director of Axiall Corporation. Michael and his wife, Wanda, live near Pittsburgh, PA. James Quinn ’77 is a database manager for Mary Kay Cosmetics in the Dallas area. He often travels to Europe, Russia, and China to assist in training corporate divisions there. Jim and his wife, Jennifer, have two high school daughters, one soon to be in college.

Terry Cassreino ’79 was named one of the nation’s top nine high school journalism teachers for 2015 by the Dow Jones News Fund. Terry teaches English and journalism at St. Joseph Catholic High School in Madison, MS, serving the metropolitan Jackson area. After working more than 25 years as an award-winning newspaper reporter, political columnist, and editor in Mississippi, he joined the St. Joseph faculty in 2011. There he has rebuilt the journalism program into an award-winning one. Terry was named Mississippi’s High School Newspaper Advisor of the Year in 2014 and Yearbook Advisor of the Year in 2015.

Terry, his wife, Pam, and their two children, Camryn, 10, and Matthew, 8, live in Madison.

Peter Collins ’79, a music professor at Missouri State University, presented a concert of classical music last June at the St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian

Church. Peter has won several prestigious awards, including the American Chopin Competition. He founded the Missouri Chamber Players and has toured Europe several times with the ensemble.

Alan Donnes ’79, president of National Lampoon, is about to make his directorial debut with the movie Dead Serious, a funeral home comedy starring the legendary Jerry Lewis. On the day he landed the mega-star for his movie, Alan said, “I am rarely giddy, but I am today.”

1980s

Brian Kavanagh ’80 is president-elect of The American Society for Radiation Oncology’s board of directors.

He is professor and interim chair of the department of radiation oncology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, and an attending physician at the University of Colorado Hospital. Brian has served and continues to serve on numerous boards, committees, and councils. He serves as an affiliate faculty member in the Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Science at the Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine and as a consulting physician for Denver Health Medical Center and the Denver VA Medical Center. Before joining the University of Colorado in 2001, Brian was associate professor at the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Joseph Quinn ’81 is a controller for a manufacturing company in Dallas. Joe writes, “My sister and brother, Jim, and their families live here in the Dallas area. I think my mother and father [former Jesuit disciplinarian Col. Jim Quinn]

WHERE Y’AT 1981 SAVE THE DATE

APRIL 30

Couples Reception

would have liked the fact that their kids have remained close.”

Michael Giambellucca ’82 is the new president at De La Salle High School. Mike was Jesuit’s principal from 2001 to 2013.

He leaves his job as principal at Christ the King Parish School in Terrytown at the end of the 2015-16 school year to take his new post on St. Charles Avenue.

William Clark ’85 is the general manager of Galatoire’s and Galatoire’s 33 Bar & Steak. Billy is responsible for the daily operations of the 108-year-old dining institution and its steakhouse counterpart. A veteran in the hospitality industry, Billy has prepared for his new role by spending more than 30 years at some of New Orleans’s most successful dining establishments.

Dean Berthelot ’86 has returned to Ray’s in the City as executive chef. Twelve years ago, Dean helped open this shining star in downtown Atlanta’s culinary scene and shaped the restaurant’s menu and fine dining experience. Dean began his culinary career in 1991 at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in New Orleans before moving on to his first executive chef position at NOLA’s House of Blues and opening other House of Blues locations. After his first stint at Ray’s, he served as executive chef at Atlanta’s four Google facilities.

CLASS OF

1986 SAVE THE DATE

JUNE 24-25

Stag & Couples’ Receptions

James McCormick ’86 has penned a new song included on the most recent album of Harry Connick, Jr. ’85. “(I Do) Like We Do” is the first single off Harry’s new album, That Would Be Me. Jim has composed many songs for country performers, including two No. 1 hits, “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do” and “Take a Little Ride.”

1990s

Brandon Gregoire ’91, Jesuit’s Rivalry Game military honoree in 2014, is completing a one-year graduate course at the Naval War College in Newport, RI. After that, Brandon is heading home to take command of an operation on the West Bank of New Orleans.

CLASS OF

1991 SAVE THE DATE

JUNE 10-11

Stag & Couples’ Receptions

Graham Ralston ’93 is the new city president of Regions Bank for the Greater New Orleans area. Graham joined Regions in 2013 and will continue to serve as commercial banking executive for south Louisiana. He has 18 years of banking experience.

Michael Yenni ’94 is the new president of Jefferson Parish.

After serving as the mayor of Kenner for the past five years, Mike was elected by the voters of Jefferson Parish to succeed John Young, father of five Blue Jays. Mike was sworn into office in early January.

Matt Estrade ’95 was recognized as a member of Gambit Weekly’s 40 Under 40 class of 2015.

Matt, a father of three, works full time as a research administrator in the Oschner Health System. He is

Photo by Gambit Weekly

CLASS OF

earning a master’s degree in gerontology and is devoted to lessening the burden of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia through support groups for patients and caregivers. Gambit’s 40 Under 40 Awards recognize some of the brightest and most innovative young people in a range of areas, including health care, crime, literature, education, art, law, and more.

Thomas Freel ’96 married Ashley Braud of Covington in November at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New Orleans.

Tommy is a CPA with LaPorte CPAs and Business Advisors.

The couple lives in Baton Rouge.

Michael Juhas ’96 is the superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Pensacola/Tallahassee. Mike took over the leadership role last July after serving two years as president of St. Joseph Catholic School in Madison, MS. CLASS OF

1996 SAVE THE DATE

JUNE 10-11

Stag & Couples’ Receptions

Joseph Authement ’97 is the senior vice-president of sales for Xenex Disinfection Services, manufacturer of Xenex Germ Zapping Robots. [See article on page 16.]

Damian DeFrancesch ’98 recently completed a five-year surgery residency and one-year critical care fellowship in Honolulu after graduating from LSU Medical School. He then received an additional medical

license in California and worked at several hospitals including UCSF. In 2014 Damian became a trauma surgeon at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge.

Kyle Berner ’99 is expanding his Feelgoodz market. In addition to selling its footwear in some 450 Whole Foods stores across the nation, Feelgoodz will next spring be found in 160 or so Sprouts Farmers Market stores and 350 independent retailers.

2000s

Stephen Reuther ’00 was named Man of the Year by the St. Bernard Business and Professional Women’s Club.

Stephen is the chief executive officer of the St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce.

Bret Evers ’00 was awarded the Carl B. and Florence E. King Endowed Fund in Alzheimer’s Disease Research Award. This $40,000 research award will be used in research of patients with neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s. Bret is currently a senior neuropathology fellow at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Carl Schaubhut ’00, executive chef at Café Adelaide, is co-owner of a new restaurant in Covington. Set to open in early 2016, Bacobar will be casual and family friendly and also offer outdoor seating. Carl was guest chef at the 2015 Blue Jay Fishing Rodeo, where he showed participants how to make South Louisiana Seafood Chowder.

Casey Creel ’01 just moved from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where he was a teacher for three years, to Zürich, Switzerland, where he will soon begin his next international teaching post. He teaches German and English as foreign languages in the secondary section of an International

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CLASS OF

2001 SAVE THE DATE

MAY 13-14

Stag & Couples’ Receptions

Ryan Mascarenhas ’01 is now working in private practice as a nephrologist at Uptown Nephrology in the Crescent City. He married Aarti Pais in 2011. Ryan finished a medical residency in internal medicine at Georgetown University Hospital/Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC. He then completed a fellowship in nephrology at Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans.

[Read about Ryan and Aarti’s new addition in the Bib List.]

Bradford Robertson ’01 is a research engineer at Georgia Institute of Technology in downtown Atlanta. He completed his Ph.D. in aerospace engineering in 2013.

Brad is a member of the research faculty with Georgia Tech’s School of Aerospace Engineering. For the record, he remains a Saints fan, not a Falcons follower.

Scuddy Fontenelle IV ’02 is a clinical faculty member at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, CT. Scuddy is a clinical psychologist specializing in the assessment and diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and the treatment of behavioral difficulties displayed by children with developmental disorders.

He works primarily within the Yale Child Study Center at the

Ray Verges ’02 was married last March to Jennifer Boudloche.

His 2002 classsmates Christian Bonin and Matthew Bolton served as groomsmen. Ray and Jennifer are expecting their first child.

Louis Bartels ’03 has been promoted to the position of vice-president and commercial relationship manager at IBERIABANK. He purchased and renovated his first home, which is located in Mid-City near Jesuit. “I love the neighborhood,” he added.

Saints game. In his seventh year as an educator, Evan currently teaches freshman grade algebra at Sci Academy for Teach for America. Upon winning the award, Evan said, “I’m grateful to be able to go back to school and share the experience with my kids. They’re the ones who truly deserve the recognition.”

Evan earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from Loyola University. Next year he will be the founding principal of a school in New Orleans East.

Photo by Jonny Marlow

Baccalaureate school. Casey writes, “Recent travels to Moldova, the Carpathian mountains, the Banat, Munich, and various Swiss cities have been a chance for me to pivot away from Asia and return to Europe for the first time since my university studies in Germany in 2008.” He was married in 2012.

Toddler Developmental Disabilities Clinic.

Gary “Buddy” Boe ’03 was elected to represent District 7 on the St. John the Baptist Parish Council.

Dustin Poché ’03 has joined the law firm of Chopin, Wagar, Richard & Kutcher, LLP, as an associate attorney.

Arthur Dupré ’04 helped launch a non-profit in Louisiana called ACE Scholarships Louisiana. The organization exists to help low-income families provide their children with a quality education, regardless of their household income.

Kyle Kruse ’05 is an emergency room nurse at Oschner Medical Center – West Bank Campus.

Ernesto Posadas ’05 was recently hired as the Copa Airlines sales executive for the New Orleans region. Copa Airlines has just begun international flights from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport to Panama City, four times a week. Ernesto writes, “I am very proud to be the link between the city in which I was born, New Orleans, and Latin America, which is my heritage.”

Evan Stoudt ’05 was recognized

by Chevron and the New Orleans Saints as the Teacher of the Week at an early-season

Castillo ’06

David Castillo ’06 is a singer, actor, and entrepreneur who performs with a vast repertoire of music ranging from the baroque period to world premieres composed for his voice. While a look at David’s schedule tells us he is mainly an opera singer, he does venture into other genres. In fact, David is a member of VOX, a vocal quartet recently featured on America’s Got Talent. He has received many honors including being the 2010 Grand Prize Winner of the Steward Brady Competition, a 2011 Metropolitan Opera National Council Regional Finalist, and a 2010 National Finalist in Classical Singer’s University Competition. He received his master of music from the University of Southern California Thornton School of CLASS OF

2006 SAVE THE DATE

JULY 15-16

Stag & Couples’ Receptions

Two Jesuit Families Featured in New Orleans Magazine The October issue of New Orleans Magazine featured a look at successful family businesses that are an important ingredient in the fabric of New Orleans’s commerce. Of the four family businesses highlighted, two are families with strong Jesuit ties: Mothe Funeral Homes and Pel Hughes.

Boyd Mothe, Sr. ’51 stands as a link between the current generation overseeing the business and their ancestors who established the West Bank funeral home business.

Pel Hughes is a multifaceted enterprise led

by Vic Hughes ’63. Pel Hughes Printing, Floor de Lis, Toulouse Gourmet Catering, and The Cannery reception hall are overseen

by Vic and his sons Johnny ’92, Brian ’93, and Mark ’95; his wife, Jackie; and her brother, Tim Levy ’78.

Music and his bachelor of music from Loyola University New Orleans.

Max Gruenig ’06 has opened another Koz’s Restaurant, this one in Metairie. The new restaurant is in the space occupied by the former Café Fresca on West Metairie. Max continues to serve as a member of the 2006 leadership team.

WHERE Y’AT and the lessons of Katrina.

[See article on page 7.]

Michael Modica ’06 has been named chief resident of the 2017-2018 LSUHSC Internal Medicine Residency Program.

Colin Hosli ’07 is co-chair of the Society of Petroleum Engineers DELTA Young Professionals.

Grant Hunter ’07 has been a foreign service officer (diplomat) since 2013 and is currently serving in his first assignment at the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. He graduated from New York University in 2011 with a degree in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies and acquired a master’s degree from Georgetown University in Arab studies in 2013. Grant writes, “The education that I received at Jesuit continues to serve me to this day. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity that Jesuit gave me, particularly as a scholarship student, to realize my full potential.”

William Stoudt ’07 was one of four local community “heroes” honored by the New Orleans

Patrick Vocke ’07 is now a lead pipeline integrity engineer at ExxonMobil.

Saints for their role in the rebuilding of New Orleans following Katrina. During an on-field presentation at the Saints vs. Tampa Bay game on September 20 with Saints legends Deuce McAllister and Steve Gleason, the honorees were presented with a plaque (Nice!) and then surprised with a brand-new Mercedes-Benz (Wow!). William is the executive director of Youth Rebuilding New Orleans, an organization that engages local youth in the betterment of the community primarily through providing affordable homes for deserving teachers. During Jesuit’s commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Katrina, William joined Fr. McGinn in speaking at morning assembly to today’s Blue Jays about the experience

Brett Beter ’08 is an associate in Jones Walker, LLP’s Corporate and Securities Practice Group. Brett is a 2015 graduate of Tulane University Law School. He was the senior notes and comments editor of the Sports Lawyers Journal, a Legal Research and Writing Senior Fellow, and the treasurer of the Sports Law Society. He received his bachelor of science degree in finance, magna cum laude, with a minor in political science from LSU in 2012. Also, he studied international politics at Imperial College in London.

Matthew Armond ’08 opened Armond Allstate Agency in Chalmette in July 2015.

William Wright ’08 joined the litigation practice group at Adams and Reese in New Orleans in October 2015. He graduated with honors from

LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center in May 2015. While at LSU Law, he was a member of the Student Bar Association and the LSU Journal of Energy Law & Resources. Billy also played for the three-time defending champion Gold Team in the annual Barrister’s Bowl, the nation’s only full-contact charity football game organized by law students.

John Alongia ’09 completed his Master of Science at the University of Innsbruck, School of Management in Innsbruck, Austria. While abroad he worked for Med-EL, a global leader in cochlear implant technology and interned at the American Corner, which is funded by the U.S. Embassy in Vienna and U.S. Department of State. John recently accepted a position with United Airlines.

Edward “Teddy” Ryan ’09 joined Intralox, the largest division of Laitram, in September of 2015 as an account representative.

15 Years & 30 Stadiums Another Blue Jay has completed the task of visiting every Major League ballpark. In the last Jaynotes, we highlighted this special achievement by Mike Cougevan ’74. Now Anthony Fortier-Bensen ’11 has achieved his lifetime goal as well. Tony tells his story: “I was seven years old when I visited my first MLB ballpark, the old St. Louis Cardinals’ Busch Stadium. Mesmerized by the sights and sounds, I asked my dad if we could travel across the country to see all the stadiums.

Miraculously, he said yes.

So 15 years later at age 22 at the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chase Field, our family achieved our goal of watching a game at every stadium. We used weekend trips to travel to out-of-the-way teams like the Minnesota Twins, the Toronto Blue Jays, and the Colorado Rockies. We visited multiple stadiums in one road trip driving from New Orleans all the to way to Boston and back knocking out nine stadiums along the way.

Our favorites include Fenway Park, Wrigley

Field, and AT&T Stadium at San Francisco.

The three worst were the old NY Mets’ Shea Stadium, Oakland A’s Coliseum, and Cleveland Indians’ Progressive Field. We watched a young David Ortiz face Pedro Martinez at Fenway, and we witnessed a bench-clearing brawl between the Cardinals and the Diamondbacks.

Looking back now, the trips and memories are something I will cherish with my parents forever for letting a seven-year-old baseballcrazed son’s fantasy come true.”

Tony was a stellar player on Jesuit’s 2012 Legion World Championship team. During his college baseball career (two years at Delgado and two years at High Point University), he played in every single game.

In his final year he finished in the top five in the nation in sacrifice flies.

In December he earned a degree in journalism from High Point and now is a sportswriter at The Smoky Mountain Times in Bryson City, NC.

Tony Fortier-Bensen celebrates with his parents, Laura and Anthony, at their final stop, Chase Field in Phoenix.

Read more of Tony’s articles on his blog: tonyfortierbensenwork.blogspot.com.

2010s

Randal Agee ’11 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing in May 2015. He is currently in his second semester of the MBA program at The University of Southern Mississippi with a planned graduation date of May 2016. Randal spent five years on the Southern Miss football team as a center. The Golden Eagles competed in the Heart of Dallas Bowl in December after finishing second in Conference USA. Luke Voiron ’11 wrapped up his college baseball career at North Carolina State and is an insurance producer at TWFGVoiron Insurance in Metairie.

Donald Ward III ’11 earned a bachelor of science degree in zoology from Auburn University last May. He is currently enrolled at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, working towards a Master of Science in Public Health degree in Tropical Medicine and Parasitology.

CLASS OF

2011 SAVE THE DATE

JUNE 18 Stag Reception

Emerson Gibbs ’12, a senior at Tulane University this year, was named the Most Outstanding Player of the League Championship Series in post-game competition in The Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League. Emerson went 3-0 in the late-summer tournament.

His pitching was instrumental in the Redbirds defeating Bethesda Big Train, 5-2, in the final game and bringing home a fourth consecutive league championship for the Baltimore team. He was named to the First Team All-Stars of the League after compiling a 7-1 record and an ERA of 0.86.

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Deion Jones ’12, linebacker on the LSU football team, was one of five finalists for the Dick Butkus Award, which goes to the nation’s top linebacker.

Deion led the Tigers in tackles this past season. His stellar play in the Texas A&M game earned him SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors. On hearing that he was a Butkus Award finalist, Deion offered, “All I wanted was to be a big part of LSU’s defense, which has always been my dream, and get after it — any way, form, or fashion.

I’m not a selfish person, so it’s more like if they need me to play special teams, then I will play special teams. Simple as that. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help this team win.”

Pictured with Deion (#45, far right) are, from left: Bennett Schiro ’13, Grant Leger ’11, Foster Moreau ’15, and Trey LaForge ’15. (Photo by Phillip Cancelleri) Michael Marquis ’12 graduated cum laude from Louisiana Tech University last May with a Bachelor of Science in professional aviation and a minor in aviation management.

He is currently employed as a certified flight instructor at U.S. Aviation Academy in Denton, TX. Upon completion of 1,000 flight hours, he will begin training with Envoy Airlines as a first officer.

Scot Pilié ’12 is studying professional broadcast meteorology at Mississippi State University and is a domestic and international weather intern at CNN Atlanta. He previously interned with meteorologist Margaret Orr at WDSU in New Orleans. Scot’s passion is in tropical meteorology, storm

chasing, and weather forecasting. He aspires to be an on-air meteorologist.

Paul Stanton ’12 certainly left his mark on Harvard football.

Led by Paul, the Crimson’s 6-1 record in the Ivy League earned the team a share of the Ivy League crown. The team finished 9-1 overall. Paul’s play at running back earned him First Team All-Conference honors for the second year in a row. “Paul is one of the best and most explosive running backs to ever play for Harvard,” says head coach Tim Murphy. “He also gets the tough yards and because of his character and humility is highly respected by everyone in the program.” Paul ended his career among the top backs in Harvard’s history — second in total touchdowns (38) and rushing touchdowns (36), third in points (228), and fourth in rushing yards (2,906).

Jacob Campos ’13, a forward on Spring Hill’s rugby team, was named the Aircraft Charter Solutions Player of the Week for October 11-17. During that week, Jacob scored three tries in his team’s defeat of South Alabama. His play and leadership are two reasons for Spring Hill’s rugby success this season. Spring Hill head coach Justin Goonan said, “Jacob has become a leader who brings energy to the team.” Jacob is a junior psychology major.

Quinn Stiller ’14 is a second year petroleum engineer student at LSU. Quinn, who was the drum major of the 2013-14 Blue Jay Marching Band, is an alto saxophonist with the LSU Tiger Marching Band.

BLUE JAY ALUMNI: TELL US WHERE Y’AT! Email alumni director Mat Grau at grau@jesuitnola.org or submit online at jesuitnola.org/where-yat.

Alumnus Returns to Speak to Newest Jays Investiture is Jesuit’s program to welcome its new students into the brotherhood of Blue Jays. The upperclassmen present the new Jays with a blue “J” pin, and a young alumnus gives his view of what it means to be a Blue Jay. This year Briggs Barrios ’10 spoke about his Jesuit experience and challenged the new Jays to get involved. “Try out for a team, play in the band, join the Phils, or get involved in campus ministry,” he urged them. “Don’t let these upcoming years pass you by.”

At Jesuit, Briggs excelled in baseball, receiving the Rusty Staub Award at graduation for his leadership, sportsmanship, and spirit. He earned a dual degree in finance and management from Tulane. As a member of the Green Wave baseball team, he led the team’s Versus Cancer drive which resulted in $20,000 for the Ochsner Pediatric Cancer Wing. His combination of play on the Green Wave baseball team, achievement in the classroom, and dedication to service merited him the Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2012 and 2013; the Dean’s Service Award; the Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal for 2010 through 2013; and the Tulane 34 Award for exemplary leadership, service, and academic excellence. He is an equities trader with Scotia Howard Weil.

30 | FALL/WINTER 2015

The Write Jays

A compilation of Blue Jay authors and the books they’ve written

Hémard ’67

Ronald Borne ’56 has written a biography of a Mississippian named Hugh Clegg. Troutmouth: The Two Careers of Hugh Clegg tells the story of Hugh's two careers, first as an FBI agent for 28 years chasing gangsters like John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson and then as executive assistant to the Ole Miss chancellor during the civil rights battles and the James Meredith riot.

Ned Hémard ’67 has published an article, “Two Cities of Light,” in the newsletter of the New Orleans Bar Association.

Published on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Katrina, Ned’s article focuses on the parallels between two “cities of light” – Paris and New Orleans. Both cities survived incredible disasters emerging stronger in the process. In his article Ned speaks of Frenchman Dominique Lapierre, son of

Hannan ’00

the French consul general in New Orleans in 1944, who spent two years as a student at Jesuit.

William Howell ’80 is the author of Alaska Beer: Liquid Gold in the Land of the Midnight Sun. Bill has been an avid craft beer drinker and home-brewer since 1988. He retired from the U.S. Navy in 2004 and moved to Alaska where he blogs about the Alaskan craft brewing scene at alaskanbeer.blogspot. com. In 2007 he created a beer appreciation course titled the Art and History of Brewing, which he teaches annually at the University of Alaska. He is the founder of the Kenai Peninsula Brewing & Tasting Society and serves as a media consultant to the Brewers Guild of Alaska.

Ray Ventura ’83, along with his brother Robert, has penned the sci-fi novel Octavian. It is the first

book of a space opera series in the popular fantasy genre.

The novel, written in a classic throwback style, has been nationally marketed in bundled ads with other iconic works that were previously adapted for both television and the big screen.

Ray is a University of New Orleans alumnus, having earned undergraduate and graduate degrees. He has published a number of news and cultural articles.

Vincent “Chip” LoCoco ’86 is the author of a second historical novel set in Italy.

Following the success of Chip’s first novel, Tempesta’s Dream, A Song for Bellafortuna is the story of a young man’s desire to free his Sicilian village from the domination of one family’s long reign. A quick look at the novel’s entry on Amazon.com reveals many five-star reviews along with Amazon’s own accolades such as a “2015 Best Reads” listing. Also, the

novel is a short list finalist in The William FaulknerWilliam Wisdom Writing Competition. In addition to being an author, Chip is a practicing attorney. Chip and his wife, Wendy, have two children, Matthew, a freshman at Jesuit, and Ellie.

Chris Hannan ’00 has published his first collection of poems, Alluvial Cities.

Chris’s poetry has appeared in numerous journals and collections. Alluvial Cities was chosen for the Texas Review Press 2015 Southern Breakthrough Prize. His poem “Epithalamion” was a 2010 Faulkner-Wisdom Poetry Prize finalist, and his cycle “The Nephilim” received the 2011 Tennessee Williams Festival Poetry Award. Chris lives in Mid-City with his wife, Emily; son, Jack William; and daughter, Lila Rose. He is a New Orleans attorney.

IN MEMORIAM

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The list of deceased members of the Jesuit High School Community represents information received from June 1 – November 30, 2015. For current announcements, check the In Memoriam page on Jesuit’s website at jesuitnola.org/ in-memoriam. The symbol † indicates the individual is deceased.

ALUMNI… (By Class Year)

J. Michael Early ’33 E. Harold Saer, Jr. ’37 J. Garic Schoen ’38 Francis X. Wegmann ’38 Leonard J. Rolfes ’39 C. Robert Caster, Jr. ’40 James E. Hassinger, Jr. ’41 Richard P. Erichson, Sr. ’42 Allard C. Villere ’42 Henry H. St. Paul, Jr. ’43 John C. Atchley, Jr. ’44 Lloyd J. Gaspar ’44 John E. Maderson ’44 Lawrence D. Nicholls, Jr. ’45 John K. Lacourrege ’46 George E. Mouledoux, Sr. ’46 M. James Porter ’46 Louis E. Scheppegrell ’46 George C. Calongne, Jr. ’47 Francis P. Bostick, Jr. ’48 Wilfred A. Grusich, Jr. ’48 Rev. Charles G. Coyle III ’49 Philip Beron, Jr. ’51 Anthony Cutrera, Jr. ’51 C. Ellis Henican, Jr. ’51 Ronald C. Levy ’51 Richard G. Pfister ’52 Harold L. Salaun, Jr. ’52 John S. Campesta, Jr. ’53 John G. King ’53 Albert J. Hickey ’54 Arthur F. Hickham ’54 Ernest J. LeBlanc, Jr. ’54 R. Anthony Stackpole ’54 Emmett A. Smith, Jr. ’55 Hunter C. France ’57 Charles I. Denechaud III ’59 James W. Dufour ’59 Gary T. Breedlove ’63 Robert C. Coleman, Jr. ’63 Romon V. Biggio ’64 Michael G. Crow ’64 Michael L. Helwick ’64 Guy M. Huard ’64 Raymond D. Speeg ’65 Ivan J. Miestchovich, Jr. ’66 Kenneth A. Ritter, Jr. ’66 Maurice J. Picheloup IV ’67 George A. Miller, Jr. ’69 John F. Steen ’71 James D. Grady ’75

Eugene J. Zimmermann ’76 David B. Wilson ’88 Christopher J. Vanderbrook ’89 Perrin P. Rittiner ’01

FACULTY / STAFF...

Patricia H. Vigil (faculty, 1970-72)

WIFE OF… (By Last Name)

Byron J. Berteau ’41† Thomas G. Cahill ’42† Robert T. Casey ’34† Clayton J. Charbonnet ’38† Harry N. Charbonnet ’36† Edward J. Charlet, Jr. ’37† James A. Cronvich ’31† Richard M. Dawes ’45† René L. deBoisblanc ’66 Charles J. Derbes, Jr. ’37† Harold S. Dey, Jr. ’40† Nelson P. Dicharry ’35† Sean T. Donelon ’92 Adam C. Gambel ’34† Gilbert F. Ganucheau ’47 Ronald J. Gravois ’56 James E. Gros ’41† Lawrence C. Grundmann, Sr. ’28† Douglas E. Johns ’77 Lawrence D. Kavanagh ’35† John J. Koch, Jr. ’47† Frederick W. Kraemer III ’57 James E. LaNasa, Jr. ’50† Edward J. Lilly ’67 Vernon C. Maurice ’48† Paul M. Melancon, Sr. ’50 Donald P. Miller ’44 Joseph A. Mock, Jr. ’48† Robert A. Nicaud ’57† Vincent A. Paciera ’39 C. Gregg Quinlan ’59† A. Louis Read ’32† Patrick D. Rooney, Sr. ’47 William C. Scheppegrell, Jr. ’42† Herman T. Schmitt ’31† John W. Schwab ’28† S. Gideon Steiner ’43† Peter J. Talluto ’48†

Theodore Tumminello ’51† James W. Vaudry ’31† Daniel O. Weilbaecher ’39†

FATHER OF… Mark E. Aguilar ’82 David M. Alphonso, Jr. ’99 Brett C. Bodin ’05 John E. Bombardier ’88 Roger W. Boneno ’87 Robert A. Brossette, Jr. ’69 Ryan P. Callegari ’08 Marshall M. Carll ’85 W. Coates Charbonnet ’09 Michael W. ’87 & Christopher W. Cola ’93 Keith A. Collins, Jr. ’14 G. Eugene ’82 & Albert A. Colon ’83 C. Michael ’69, Paul G. ’72, & David J. Comar ’76 Jeffrey A. De Mouy ’77 W. Keith deJong ’71 Daniel A. DeVun, Jr. ’77 Wesley J. Favaloro ’61 Michael F. Federico ’53 Maximien G. ’01 & Nicholas R. Ferran ’04† Scott T. ’85 & Kent H. Fowler ’87 Derek W. ’84, Curtis B. ’86, & Kevin S. Franklin ’88 Gary S. Gandolfi, Sr. ’73 Richard J., Jr. ’76 & Paul J. Garvey ’87 Wilfred A. Grusich III ’68 C. Ellis Henican III ’76 Keith G. ’79 & Brian P. Hickey ’81 Daniel M. Hoppes ’09 Malcolm A., Jr. ’91 & J. Nicholas Jurisich ’97 Kenneth A., Jr. ’03 & Charles C. Kleinschmidt ’09 Donald J. Landry II ’75 Daniel G. ’80 & David G. Lion ’82 Jefferson C. ’79, Bryant C. ’80, Stuart C. ’82, & Neil C. Magee ’86

Sean G. ’89 & Michael P. Mayfield ’93 Christopher M. Migliore ’07 Donald P. ’71, Michael D. ’79†, & Mark S. Mouledoux ’82 Joseph J. Nesser ’84 Kevin B. Nunemacher ’01 Timothy P. O’Brien ’03 Robert A. Pajares, Sr. ’58 Darren C. Perkins ’80 (stepfather) David R. Pfister ’78 Michael E. Pflueger ’83 O’Neill L. Pollingue III ’61 Leon P. Prestia, Jr. ’87 Jude N. Rost ’89 Edward H. Saer III ’68 William J. Scheffler IV ’88 (stepfather) Darrel C. Schexnayder, Jr. ’80 John G. Schoen ’63 Emmett A. Smith III ’90 Robert E. II ’92, M. Mitchell ’93, Kelly M. ’95, Cullen S. ’97, & Kyle S. Stackpole ’00 John F. Steen, Jr. ’93 Webster J. Veade, Jr. ’74 Francis X., Jr. ’77† & Mark J. Wegmann ’83 Michael J. Wegmann ’63 Aaron S. ’87 & Harris S. Zeringue ’97 Maximillian E. Zimmer III ’66

MOTHER OF… Nicholas J. Antee ’03 Kenneth G. Bernard ’75 Jason F. Berry, Jr. ’67 Daniel P. Boudreaux ’87 Edward W. Bush ’80 Joseph H. Cabeceiras ’93 Robert R. ’64 & Taylor J. Casey ’72 Bernard J. Cassidy ’72 Clayton J. Charbonnet, Jr. ’63 Don Paul ’67, John B. ’72, & Gary M. Charlet ’76 John S. Creevy ’85

James T. ’71, George V. ’76, & Stephen J. Cronvich ’77 Charles V. Cusimano II ’71 Joseph J. III ’91 & Jeffrey E. Darlak ’98 Charles J. III ’60 & Lewis J. Derbes ’67 Christopher C. Dey ’69 Paul O. ’65, Richard N. ’69, & Gregory L. Dicharry ’73 John L. II ’64, Gerard M. ’69, & Gregory P. DiLeo ’73 Willard A. Eastin, Jr. ’59 Robert Y. Felt ’61 Raymond J. Forrester III ’00 Victor W. Fulham ’65 Michael G. ’73, Stephen J. ’74, & David G. Gaffney ’77 Adam F. ’72, Eugene W. ’74, & Peter S. Gambel ’76 Gilbert F., Jr. ’77, Thomas E. ’81, & Richard J. Ganucheau ’82 Glenn C. Gremillion ’69 Lawrence C. Grundmann, Jr. ’57 Edgardo J. Hernandez ’82 William D. III ’76 & T.J. Semmes Hughs ’79 Lawrence D., Jr. ’60 & Brian D. Kavanagh ’80 Dan J. Laborde ’69 Thomas J. Lowenstein ’86 Emmett H. Maddry ’64 Earl J. Markey, Jr. ’68 Paul M., Jr. ’77 & David O. Melancon ’93 Mark T. ’94 & Brian M. Milici ’96 David J. Milla ’79 Jerome S. ’81 & Andrew T. Murray ’83 Vincent A. Paciera, Jr. ’68 David B. Papania ’74 Mario Peri ’79 Kevin M. Poche ’03 Michael O. Read ’61 Patrick D. Rooney, Jr. ’75 Jeffrey R. Schaub ’67 John W. Schwab, Jr. ’64 Stephen E. Slocovich ’65 Leonard E. Soniat ’59 (stepmother) Ashton C. Stevens ’19 Erik R. ’98, Jason L. ’00, & Craig J. Stopa ’02 Frank P. Talluto ’78

Darrell L. ’88 & Todd D. Tardiff ’93 Kyle K. ’10 & Jonathan T. Tran ’15 Theodore, Jr. ’81, Kevin J. ’82, & Paul J. Tumminello ’83 Noel E., Jr. ’70 & Eric S. Vargas ’81 Nicholas S. Varuso ’02 J. William Vaudry, Jr. ’58 Ronald W. West II ’91 R. Jefferson Wilson ’91†

Clark E. III ’66 & Gregory P. Steen ’70 John E. ’44 & Richard T. Tracy ’47 Richard C. Vanderbrook, Jr. ’87 Joseph A. ’30†, Edward F. ’34†, & William J. Wegmann ’40† Michael P. Wilson ’86 Matthew J. Zeringue ’16 Karl J. Zimmermann ’78

Lloyd P. Larrieu ’34† Maurice J. Picheloup III ’35 Michael I. Rodriguez, Sr. ’61 Ralph J. Romig ’35† Lawrence D. Roubion, Jr. ’41† James T. Ryan ’02 Robert H. Sarpy ’29† Stephen A. Schmedtje, Sr. ’21† Jack J. Scofield ’40† Henry H. St. Paul ’21† Kent J. Zimmermann ’40

BROTHER OF…

SISTER OF…

Donald B. ’81 & Mark E. Abadie ’85 Raymond P. Bassich, Jr. ’40† T. Hoy Booker ’60 John W. IV ’95 & Patrick S. Boyle ’98 William H. Brundige, Jr. ’69 Robert D. Coyle ’53 Sidney A., Jr. ’63 & Donald J. Crow ’65 J. Keith Dufour ’61 Joseph D. ’42† & Thomas A. Early, Jr. ’50 Joseph L. ’37† & Frederick M. Erichson ’39† Edward K. ’35† & Richard H. Goodell, Jr. ’35† William H. Grady ’70 Jacob G., Jr. ’33† & David M. Hecker ’37† Stephen A. Helwick ’65† Joseph P. Henican ’66 John H. Hickham ’54† Vishnu ’63 & Alan E. Huard ’71 George C. Kleinpeter, Jr. ’55 Drouet E. LeBlanc ’60 J. Charles LeBourgeois, Jr. ’41† Thomas F. McCarthy III ’59 Gabriel R., Jr. ’33† & Warren E. Mouledoux ’39† Vincent J. Peuler ’34 Christopher L. Ritter ’76 Jordan M. Rittiner ’09 Christopher M. ’88 & Michael I. Rodriguez, Jr. ’90 Albert C. ’38† & Donald M. Saer ’51† James P.C. Scalise ’54 William C. Scheppegrell, Jr. ’42† Richard R. Smith ’65

Edward H. Arnold, Jr. ’43† Robert B. Bass, Jr. ’69 William T. Blessey ’52 Harry F. Blust, Jr. ’38† Richard F., Jr. ’35†, Gerard H. ’36†, & Harold J. Burke ’36† Edward P. Comeaux ’57† James A. ’31†, Lester L. ’32†, & Alwynn J. Cronvich ’36† John J. Cummings III ’55 Nelson J. Daigle, Jr. ’59 Thomas E. ’55 & Joseph G. Fernon III ’66 Theodore J. Gallagher, Jr. ’57 Thomas J. Hanemann ’61 Kenneth B. Krobert ’70 Omer F. Kuebel, Jr. ’56 Philip P., Jr. ’25†, René E. ’29†, & Gerard R. LaBruyere ’36† Albert A., Jr. ’40† & Francis X. Levy ’41 David C. Loker, Jr. ’35† Edmund B., Jr. ’41† & David B. Martin ’42† Timothy M. McGuinness ’71 Clarence A. Paddock ’37† Wilfred O. Prados, Jr. ’48 James H. Queyrouze ’55† Msgr. Milton L. Reisch ’47† J. Sinclair Reynaud ’32† Kenneth A., Jr. ’66† & Christopher L. Ritter ’76 Edwin F. Stacy, Jr. ’49 John E. ’44, Richard T. ’47, & Robert K. Tracy ’52†

Robert M. Aguilera, Jr. ’29† Adrien Arnaud 1912† Harry T. Begg, Jr. ’42† John J. Cummings, Jr. ’26† James C. Decuers ’37† John R. DeSilva ’42† J. Hamilton Landry ’21† Edmund B. Martin, Sr. 1914†

SON OF… Charles I. Denechaud, Jr. ’31† Alfred E. Grady ’30† C. Ellis Henican, Sr. ’22†

DAUGHTER OF…

GRANDFATHER OF… Donald B. ’12 & Blake M. Abadie ’15 Raymond G. Areaux, Jr. ’00 Ryan J. ’08, Anthony P. ’11, & Joseph M. Barletta ’13 Kevin A. Bordelon ’98 Jarrod K. Bourgeois ’07 Patrick W., Jr. ’06 & Gerard J. Braud ’10 Goeffrey C. Brien ’97 Christopher P. Castanza ’04 (step-grandfather) Matthew J. ’05 & Richard H. Caverly ’09 Burk A. Chuter ’90 Charles P., Jr. ’01 & Jonathan C. Ciaccio ’11 Samuel B. Clutter ’15 Timothy C. Cotaya ’97 John F. Cullen ’96 Daniel D. Dehon ’03 Neal A. ’99 & William E. deJong ’03 James E. DeVaughn ’10 Daniel A. III ’08 & Patrick T. DeVun ’11 Kyle J. DiMarco ’16 Michael C. Dufour ’01 Brian S. ’00 & John-Michael Early ’05 Lucas H. Ehrensing, Jr. ’96 Bradford M. ’11 & Matthew F. Felger ’13 Jack R. ’15 & Kyle T. Fitzpatrick ’17

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Colin D. Foret ’15 Ralph C. Freibert IV ’12 (step-grandfather) Nicholas P. Fresneda ’16 Gary S. Gandolfi, Jr. ’99 Richard J. III ’09 & Theodore J. Garvey ’15 Frederick B. ’73 & John J. Gaupp ’76 Matthew M. ’11 & Phillip A. Gerarve ’16 Devin R. Golden ’06 Matthew J. Granier ’17 Cole D. Grieshaber ’16 Justin L. Guerin ’17 Luke C. Haefele ’20 James E. Henican ’20 Michael J. ’16 & Matthew G. Hickey ’19 John W. ’89, Michael S. ’93, Mark D. ’95, & Collin S. Holmes ’99 Alex E. Hotard ’11 Patrick J. ’03 & Joel M. Hron II ’05 Joshua H. Hubert ’13 Mark C., Jr. ’15, John R. ’16, Paul R. ’18, & Peter V. James ’19 Todd B. ’11 & William C. Johnson ’14 Bret J. Kreller ’94† Gerard J. LeBlanc ’13 Eric O. Leefe ’03 Walter J. III ’96, Rhett M. ’99, & Kevin R. Leger, Jr. ’08 Devin O. Manning ’13 Ian W.D. Mattix ’11 Joseph C. ’14 & Henry B. McAloon ’18 David J. Mitchell, Jr. ’91 Michael J. III ’98 & Timothy P. Moran ’00 William J. Moran III ’19 Donald P. II ’95 & Thomas J. Mouledoux ’97† August E. Neyrey IV ’17 Robert A. Pajares, Jr. ’83 Jeffrey D. Peuler ’98 Dray P. Richmond ’11 Harrison P. Robichaux ’18 Stephen E. ’94, Sean C. ’99, & Craig M. Robinson ’02 William E. Rouege III ’94 William C. ’11, Patrick B. ’14, & Andrew S. Ryan ’18

Jeremy W. ’16 & Alec M. Scheffler ’20 (step-grandfather) Stewart H. Scoggin ’11 Neil M. Sicarelli ’00 John D. III ’08 & Christian M. Sileo ’13 Ethan J. Slawson ’12 Keith G. Spindel ’02 Jared T. Strecker ’01 Thomas N. Veade ’01 John F. Wegmann ’19 David E. Weidner, Jr. ’11 Joshua P. Wells ’07 Christopher D. ’07, Matthew F. ’11, & Jonathan M. Whelan ’15 Michael C. Wible, Jr. ’12 John E. ’05, Andrew J. ’07, & Christian T. Worrel ’12 Kelly P. Zeringue ’18

GRANDMOTHER OF… Nathan B. Abercrombie ’92 Christopher J. Babin ’14 Blake A. Baudier ’02 Brandon J. Benion ’03 David C. Bernard ’03 Kenneth P. Boissiere, Jr. ’84 Geoffrey C. Brien ’97 Bryan A. Brown ’88 Robert T. II ’05 & Peter J. Casey ’11 Peter G. ’00 & Spiro G. Catsulis ’04 Donald G. ’96, Christopher L. ’99, & Chase C. Charbonnet ’02 William N., Jr. ’82 & Scott H. Clark ’95 Timothy C. Cotaya ’97 Weldon P. Cousins ’14 (step-grandmother) Peyton A. Cox ’17 Morell S. Crane ’10 James C. ’06, Joseph A. ’09, Robert P. ’12, John A. ’17, & William A. Cronvich ’19 James A. Crouch ’03 Charles V. III ’96, Joshua M. ’04, Gabriel M. ’06, Michael R. ’13, & Nathaniel R. Cusimano ’15 John J., Jr. ’88, William C. ’90, & Rev. Stephen P. Dardis ’97

Charles D. ’86 & Lewis J. Derbes, Jr. ’89 Paul H. ’02 & Douglas J. deVerges ’05 David P. Dey, Jr. ’10 Evan M. ’00 & Blaise L. DiLeo ’05 Jason P. Dussel ’00 S. Austin Estopinal ’05 Michael C. Farrugia ’18 Robert B. Fisher III ’15 Taylor M. Fogleman ’05 Scott M. ’99, Christopher L. ’04, & Lawrence E. Francioni ’13 William G. Freese ’19 (step-grandmother) Nicholas P. Fresneda ’16 Christopher M. Gaffney ’01 Robert B. Gambel ’11 Ryan L. ’02, Dante W. ’06, & Michael J.P. Gandolini ’08 Adam J. ’04, Jeffrey M. ’06, & Ross F. Ganucheau ’08 Clinton P. Gary ’87 Charles H. Gaudeau ’97 Michael V. Giardina ’02 Angelo J. ’00 & Mario J. Giorlando ’02 Douglas Harris, Jr. ’89 Evan C. Hart ’95 Mark A. Hill ’04 Adam D. Hodes ’02 Kevin T. Jacobs ’92 Jack D. Juge ’19 Cameron F. Kaupp ’16 Brian J. Kirn ’88 Adam M. Klock ’06 Collin M. Kulivan ’17 John R. ’01 & Daniel R. Lagarde ’03 Marc G. Laporte ’95 Mage Macchione ’02 Conan M. ’97 & Jonathan P. Magee ’00 Paul J. Marchand IV ’88 Joseph J. ’00 & Joshua L. Matranga ’02† Michael E. Matthew ’02 William T. Mentz, Jr. ’19 Thomas J. Meunier III ’91 Donald F. Meyn, Jr. ’93 James S. ’10 & Philip T. Murray ’12 John C. ’17 & William B. Musser ’19 Tyrus R. Norcise ’16

James J. ’93, Clayton H. ’95, & Andrew C. O’Connor ’99 Vincent A. Paciera III ’88 Jason G. Papale ’06 Thomas J. Peri ’95 Rhine J. Perrin ’09 Fernand G. ’02 & Bernard C. Prat ’04 Rudolph P. Ramelli ’00 John S. Ratte ’99 Kevin M. ’04 & Patrick T. Riley ’11 Sean M. Roberts ’88 Stephen E., Jr. ’94, Sean C. ’99, & Craig M. Robinson ’02 Nicholas T. ’97 & Alexander J. Scalco ’14 Rodney P., Jr. ’16 & Benjamin P. Schaubhut ’20 Marcus M. Simon ’13 Kyle D. Smith ’98 Robert J. ’04 & Sean E. Stephens ’14 Matthews F. ’15, Alexander S. ’16, & Noel E. Vargas II ’18 Nicholas R. Varisco ’11 James W. Vaudry III ’85 Michael C. Verderame ’95 Elliott R. Waits ’07 Joshua P. Wells ’07 Samuel M. Whitsell ’18 Thaddeus G. Wilson ’18

GRANDSON OF… Norman A. Meyer ’33† Perrin R. Rittiner ’44† Thomas B. Ryan ’68 Theodore Tumminello ’51†

GRANDDAUGHTER OF… John H. Wise ’69

Send information and corrections to Br. William J. Dardis, S.J. ’58 at (504) 483-3814 or dardis@jesuitnola.org.

Alumni who live outside the New Orleans metro region are especially encouraged to send information about deceased loved ones.

34 | FALL/WINTER 2015

BIB LIST Janet & Andrew Gates III ’65 on the birth of their grandson, Graham James Gates, August 24, 2015. Graham is the great-nephew of Hank Dart ’66, Mark Gates ’66, Jim Spadaro ’69, and Scott Gates ’76.

Marigny Claire Blanchard, December 9, 2015.

Rebecca & John Shea ’65, Diane & James Gatti, Sr. ’81, and Michele & Paul Robicheaux ’81 on the birth of their grandson, Colton Landry Robicheaux, June 3, 2015. Colton is the great-grandson of the late John Gatti, Sr. ’51. He is the greatnephew of John Gatti, Jr. ’76, Peter Bassil ’79, and Cliff Robicheaux ’85.

Colton is the nephew of John Shea ’90, Tim Shea ’94, and Brandon Boughrara ’03.

Alison & Paul Grossimon ’91 on the birth of their daughter, Eve Ramona Grossimon, December 2, 2014. Eve is the granddaughter of L.A. Grossimon ’56. She is the niece of Louis Grossimon II ’85 and Michael Grossimon ’87.

Stephanie & Thomas LeBlanc ’69 on the birth of their first grandchild, Allie Grace LeBlanc, October 23, 2015.

Christine & Jack Wise ’69 on the birth of their grandsons, Charles Joseph Wise, October 31, 2014 and Elijah Joseph Wise, November 9, 2014.

Rebecca & Bob Angelle ’71 on the birth of their daughter, Corinne Angelle, April 20, 2015. Corinne is the niece of Sidney Angelle ’74.

Lorelei & Ray Johnson, Jr. ’72 on the birth of their grandson, Garret Joseph Guerre Alario, December 16, 2014. Garret is the nephew of Ray Johnson III ’97.

Jenirose & James McCormick ’86 on the birth of their son, James Robert McCormick, June 5, 2015.

James is the nephew of the late Matthew McCormick ’90.

Meaghan & Roy Alexander ’92 on the birth of their daughter, Eleanor Katherine Alexander, June 22, 2015. Eleanor is the niece of Brian Alexander ’95.

Kaitlin & J. Bart Kelly III ’88 on the birth of their son, J. Bart Kelly IV, August 13, 2015. Bart is the grandson of the late Norman Maestri, Jr. ’55.

Mary & Steven Rossi ’93 on the birth of their son, Aiden Giovanni Rossi, August 23, 2015. Aiden is the great-grandson of the late Anthony Rossi ’31.

Shelley & Sean Tynan ’93 on the birth of their son, Charles Patrick Tynan, October 12, 2015. He is the grandson of Joseph Tynan ’66 and the nephew of Christopher Sullivan ’99.

Charlotte & John Alden Meade ’94 on the birth of their twin daughters, Allison Alden Cindy & David Hoerner ’74 on the Meade and Rogan Elizabeth birth of their grandson, Jameson A. Meade, October 18, 2013. Allison Verbich, November 27, 2013. and Rogan are the nieces of Jameson is the great-grandson Charles Meade ’91 and Daniel of the late David Hoerner ’48.

Meade ’96.

He is the great-great-nephew Kelly & Paul Stahls III ’94 on of the late Joseph Hoerner ’43, the birth of their son, Paul Foster the great-nephew of Ivan Stahls IV, May 6, 2015. Paul is the Hoerner ’76, Steven Hoerner ’79, nephew of Matthew Stahls ’96. and Daniel Hoerner ’82, and the nephew of Brian Hoerner ’04, Aimee & Kevin McGlone ’95 on Ian Hoerner ’07, and Bradley the birth of their daughter, Anna Hoerner ’10.

Elizabeth McGlone, October 27, 2015. Anna is the granddaughter Deidra & John Becker, Jr. ’79 of Mike McGlone ’68. on the birth of their son, John Nicholas Becker III, August 4, 2015. Sarah & Brandon Lee ’96 on the birth of their son, Connor McCoy Allison & James Blanchard ’83 Lee, February 10, 2015. on the birth of their daughter,

Megan & Nicholas Maier ’96 on the birth of their son, Axel Garrett Maier, January 21, 2015.

Heather & Timothy Genevay ’00 on the birth of their daughter, London Genevay, June 1, 2015.

Christie & Anthony Milazzo III ’96 on the birth of their son, Anthony Joseph Milazzo IV, May 18, 2015. Anthony is the grandson of Anthony Milazzo, Jr. ’67. He is the nephew of Geoff Brien ’97 and Eric Milazzo ’01.

Amy & Mark Haley ’00 on the birth of their son, Preston Ellis Haley, June 26, 2015. Preston is the nephew of John Paul Haley ’96 and Michael Giardina ’02.

Sarah & Nathan Junius ’97 on the birth of their son, Lucas Alexander Junius, December 22, 2014. Lucas is the grandson of Ralph Junius, Jr. ’66. He is the great-nephew of the late Tristan Junius ’71 and Cletus Junius ’81. He is the nephew of Sean Mayfield, Sr. ’89, R. William Junius III ’93, and Henry Guste ’95.

Kerry & Kevin Murphy ’00 on the birth of their daughter, Clare Fitzpatrick Murphy, August 8, 2015. Clare is the niece of Daniel Murphy ’05.

Maria & Eugene Landry ’97 on the birth of their daughter, Ava Maria Landry, June 1, 2015.

Amy & Kevin Lane ’97 on the birth of their daughter, Megan V. Lane, June 15, 2015. Megan is the niece of Ryan Lane ’04.

Sarah & Brandon Briscoe ’98 on the birth of their son, Charles McMahon Briscoe, September 29, 2015. Charles is the grandson of David McMahon ’62. He is the nephew of Scott Briscoe ’00, Jeffrey Briscoe ’04, and Kyle Briscoe ’06.

Stacie & Corey Fitzpatrick ’98 on the birth of their son, Connick Quinn Fitzpatrick, November 17, 2014. Connick is the nephew of Johnny Fitzpatrick III ’86.

Emily & James Oertling ’98 on the birth of their daughter, Corinne May Oertling, September 25, 2015. Corinne is the granddaughter of Lawrence Oertling ’70. She is the niece of Kyle Berner ’99 and Ben Oertling ’06.

Genevieve & Michael D’Aquila ’99 on the birth of their daughter, Mariana P. D’Aquila, August 23, 2015.

Katie & Ryan Malone ’99 on the birth of their son, Beau Patrick Malone, May 22, 2015.

Page & Meric Gambel ’00 on the birth of their son, Sellars Meric Gambel, July 31, 2015.

Sellers is the nephew of Gregory Gambel, Jr. ’95.

Candice & Bo Harris III ’00 on the birth of their daughter, Juniper Rose Harris, June 1, 2015.

Mary Beth & John Prieur, Jr. ’00 on the birth of their daughter, Claire Elizabeth Prieur, April 5, 2015. Claire is the granddaughter of John Prieur ’51. She is the niece of David Prieur ’05 and Greg Prieur ’08.

Jennifer & Greg Uddo ’00 on the birth of their daughter, Penelope Grace Uddo, August 24, 2015.

She is the niece of the late Joe Uddo ’92 and Paul Uddo ’97.

Caroline & Grant Alexander ’01 on the birth of their daughter, Emma Claire Alexander, January 26, 2015. Emma is the greatgranddaughter of the late Morel Elmer, Jr. ’35. She is the greatniece of Morel Elmer III ’69, John Elmer ’77, and Alan Elmer ’80.

Aarti & Ryan Mascarenhas ’01 on the birth of their daughter, Ardyn Celine Mascarenhas, October 30, 2014.

Abby & Christopher Smith ’01 on the birth of their son, Wesley J. Smith, May 9, 2014.

Wesley is the grandson of Gary Gandolfi, Sr. ’73. He is the nephew of Gil Smith, Jr. ’96 and Gary Gandolfi ’99.

Kelli & Conrad Williams ’01 on the birth of their son, Grant C. Williams, October 15, 2014.

Katherine & Arden Ballard II ’02 on the birth of their son, Kayden Arden Ballard, April 22, 2015.

Nichole & Matt Bonilla ’02 on the birth of their son, Grayson Matthew Bonilla, December 4, 2014. Grayson is the nephew of Kristoffer Bonilla ’93.

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Andee & Chris Bowes ’02 on the birth of their daughter, Alice Faye Bowes, November 30, 2015.

Emily & Patrick Martyn ’02 on the birth of their daughter, Stella Dianne Martyn, June 20, 2015.

Ashley & Trey Fury ’02 on the birth of their daughter, Colette Collins Fury, October 8, 2015.

Colette is the great-granddaughter of the late William Childress ’34.

Elizabeth & Kenneth Miller ’02 on the birth of their daughter, Hadley Audrey Miller, October 21, 2015.

Christine & Benjamin Harrington ’02 on the birth of their daughter, Eleanor Marget Harrington, May 12, 2015.

Eleanor is the niece of Evan Harrington ’06.

April 18, 2015. Elizabeth is the great-granddaughter of the late Al Moore ’44. She is the niece of Timothy Torres ’05.

Elizabeth & Christopher Capretto ’04 on the birth of their son, Jacob David Capretto, December 2, 2015. Elizabeth is the granddaughter of the John Capretto ’74.

Amanda & Dustin Poche ’03 on the birth of their daughter, Mia Rosalie Poche, October 5, 2014.

Mia is the niece of James Poche ’99.

Lauren & Philip Blancher ’05 on the birth of their son, Mark Nicholas Blancher, April 6, 2015.

Katherine & Patrick Torres ’03 on the birth of their daughter, Elizabeth Marie Torres,

Lindsey & David Prieur ’05 on the birth of their daughter, Eiley Grace Prieur, June 5, 2015. Eiley

is the granddaughter of John Prieur ’51. She is the niece of John Prieur, Jr. ’00 and Greg Prieur ’08.

Valerie & Shane Simoneaux ’05 on the birth of their son, Rex P. Simoneaux, August 19, 2014.

Rex is the nephew of Nicholas Simoneaux ’97 and Clint Simoneaux ’00.

Info for the Bib List may be sent to Krista Roeling via the website: jesuitnola.org/biblist, or email: roeling@jesuitnola.org.

Parents will receive a pink or blue Jayson bib for their new arrival(s).

When Duty Calls Fr. Christopher Fronk, S.J., Jesuit’s next president, spent Christmas in the Middle East. His one-month assignment included travelling to as many Iraqi locations as possible to offer Christmas Mass and Catholic pastoral support to U.S. and coalition forces.

Fr. Fronk’s assignment aboard the Naval aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush ends in October. He will become president of Jesuit High School near the end of 2016.

Before making his return trip to the desert, Fr. Fronk said he was excited about returning to a location where the need is greatest.

“Also, if I’m going to preach at Jesuit High School about the importance of being Men of Faith and Men for Others, I better practice what I preach.”

Learn more about Jesuit’s next president at jesuitnola.org/fr-fronk.

43 Jays Recognized as National Merit Semifinalists Among the Class of 2016 are 43 National Merit Semifinalists.

This represents the highest number of NMS scholars from any one school in Louisiana and represents 20% of the state’s 212 honorees from 52 different high schools. Also, this is the school’s largest number of semifinalists since the Class of 2004 produced 54. Additionally, the Class of 2016 has eight National Hispanic Scholars and 22 Commended Students.

Bottom row (from left): Cade M. Arbour, Maurice A. Carr*, Aubrey A. Champlin, Benjamin C. Creel, Anton J. Derbes, Reid A. Detillier, Andrew D. Dyer; Second row: Nicholas P. Fresneda*, Phillip A. Gerarve, Benjamin M. Gillen, Charles E. Glass, Alex M. Gomez*, Reginald T. Jackson II; Third row: John R. James, Cameron F. Kaupp, Tristan C. Killgore, Kenneth E. Krizan III, Joshua S. Lacoste*, Adam C. Ledet;

Sixth row: Felix M. Rabito, Zachary W. Robbins, Jeremy W. Scheffler, Steven L. Sellers*, Evan J. Slattery, Brady R. Stiller;

Fourth row: Spencer G. Lemoine, Connor J. Maheu, Mayank Mardia, Mason T. Mayfield, Cameron P. McCall*, Chance M. Melancon;

Back row: James A.J. Stoner, Arjun Verma, Edward T. Welsch, Joshua J.L. West, Brandon M. Wolff, and Logan K. Yokum.

Fifth row: Matthew J. Miceli, John A. Mieras, Harrison H. Millar, Brian M. Piglia, Jr., Kyler T. Pisciotta, Seth M. Pohlman;

An asterisk next to the name of the National Merit Semifinalist indicates that he is also a National Hispanic Scholar.

36 | FALL/WINTER 2015

SLOP

TO THE TOP Cross Country Sloshes to Second Consecutive State Title

by Jay Combe ’83

O

n a sloppy course at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Jesuit’s cross country team ran its best race of the year on Nov. 18 to claim the Class 5A State Championship trophy for the second consecutive year.

The Jays’ title defense had remarkable parallels to last year’s win. Then, Jesuit’s top runner finished 11th overall and two other Blue Jays placed in the Top 20 en route to a 13-point margin of victory.

This time around, Jesuit’s top runner finished 11th overall and two other runners placed in the Top 20, but it was a 12-point margin of victory.

The state championship was an unlikely finish to a season in which Jesuit more often than not found itself in the runnerup position. Twice in September, the Jays were beaten by heavy pre-season favorite St. Paul’s, first in the Episcopal Round Table Run in Baton Rouge and

Asked to compare the two titles, Horvath demurred. “This year’s group fought through more than its share of adversity.

We had two guys at the beginning of the year that I would have bet would have factored in at state in Eli and Johnny [senior Johnny LaForge]. But they had some bad luck on the injury front. I’m really proud that some other guys stepped up. Carlos and John [James] were proven commodities. But Reed wasn’t even on our state roster last year, and now he’s the 11th best runner in the state. And no one in the cross country community had really heard of John [Kling] or Tanner before this year. That’s one of the things I love about cross country. Kids can Photos courtesy Suzanne Kling

As was the case all season, the Jays were led by the dynamic duo of junior Reed Meric and senior Carlos Zervigon.

Running in his first state meet, Meric finished 11th overall in a field of 317 runners, crossing the finish line of the three-mile course with a time of 16:56. Zervigon was right on his heels, finishing in 12th place at 16:58, just two hundredths of a second ahead of the 13thplace finisher.

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While Meric and Zervigon were expected to flirt with Top Ten individual finishes, it was Jesuit’s third runner across the line who provided the meet’s biggest surprise.

Junior John Kling wasn’t even a sure bet to make the seven-man state roster at the beginning of the year. But he put an exclamation point on a season of steady improvement by finishing 14th overall.

“I certainly don’t want to downplay the accomplishments of Reed and Carlos, because we wouldn’t be where we are without them” said coach Rudy Horvath ’86. “But John ran the race of his life. If you’d have promised me before the race that Kling would finish in the Top 30, I’d have been happy with that.”

Indeed, after one mile, Kling was in 31st place. “If he’d have stayed there, we’d have come home with the runner-up trophy,” said Horvath.

But then Kling started passing people. By the two-mile mark, he had moved up to 20th. Kling would pass five more runners in the final mile to finish with a time of 17:04.

Junior Tanner Tresca and senior John James (who earned LHSAA Academic All State honors) rounded out the scoring for the Jays, finishing 31st (17:31) and 38th (17:38).

Also running for Jesuit at state were senior John Nimmo (67th, 18:15) and junior Eli Sisung (73rd, 18:21).

Jesuit finished with 106 points, twelve ahead of runner-up John Curtis.

again at the Gulf Coast XC Stampede in Pensacola, Florida. Then, less than two weeks before the state meet, Brother Martin ran its best race of the season to nip the Jays in the Allstate Sugar Bowl Metro meet, avenging a loss to the Jays at the district meet a week earlier.

“I don’t think a lot of people were betting on us heading into Natchitoches,” said Horvath. “This group, on paper, simply wasn’t as talented as last year’s.

But something happened when we won district. You could feel an extra spring in everybody’s step once we knew we were capable of beating Brother Martin head to head. Then, at Metro, we may have lost to Brother Martin, but we also finished ahead of John Curtis and St. Paul’s. It’s one thing to preach about being able to beat anyone on a given day, but now we had proof.”

blossom in one season. And when three different guys do it for you in one year, good things happen.”

“I’ve got to give a shout-out to my assistant coaches, too [Scott Thompson ’92 and Ron Brignac].

When you’ve got quality kids and quality assistants like I do, it’s hard to screw things up.”

Jay Combe ’83 teaches social studies, assists with the tennis team, and contributes to the website.

Pictured above: Runners who competed in the cross country state championship join their coaches and senior teammates who made the trip to Natchitoches to support their fellow Blue Jays.

Opposite page: Reed Meric, left, and Carlos Zervigon battle sloppy course conditions en route to a state championship finish.

38 | FALL/WINTER 2015

Unselfishness Rules as Jays Finish Second in State When it comes to Jesuit swimming, it’s all about the team. It’s been that way ever since the first Blue Jay swim team suited up some 64 years ago. The sum of the individual contributions of each Blue Jay swimmer has made Jesuit’s swimming program remarkably successful, as evidenced by 37 state championship trophies and 18 second place finishes.

Led by senior co-captains Cade Fuxan and Evan Dudenhefer, the 2015 squad went undefeated in dual meets before rolling to another District 9-5A championship. In fact, Jesuit has never lost a District 9-5A championship meet. The team also captured another Metro title, something the Blue Jays have accomplished each season since 1987.

One of the reasons for the high level of success of Jesuit’s swimming program can be attributed to the 40-plus team members who understand that there is no room in the pool for egos. Each Blue Jay swimmer selflessly strives to turn in a performance that mirrors his absolute best effort. Blue Jay swimmers work hard to win as a team; they also work hard

The 2015 season was highlighted by a selfless act between two competitive seniors. Jackson Scott and Evan Dudenhefer swim the 500-yard freestyle, a grueling 20-lap race.

Dudenhefer has been swimming this particular event for many years, but Scott is a newcomer to the exhausting race. One of the hardest working swimmers on the team, Dudenhefer had been struggling throughout the season, unable to get back to his times from last year. As a result, he did not qualify to swim at the state meet in what has been his best event.

Meanwhile, Scott was having a good season and

had already qualified for the lengthy race. At the Metro meet, Scott approached Bret Hanemann ’85, who is in his 20th year as head coach of Jesuit swimming.

“Jackson asked me if Evan was listed as an alternate in the 500 free,” recalled Hanemann, who confirmed that, indeed, Dudenhefer was listed as an alternate.

“Jackson then asked me if he could give up his spot in the race to Evan so that Evan could swim and achieve the state qualifying time.

“I was taken aback as this has never happened before,” Hanemann continued.

“When I asked Jackson why he was doing this, he said Evan was his teammate and he knew that given the chance, Evan will post the time he needs to qualify for

the event at the state meet.

Finally, Jackson said that Evan needs to go to state as a swimmer and not as a spectator.”

Coach Hanemann agreed to make the switch. Another Blue Jay swimmer, junior Seth Gunnels, swam in the lane adjacent to Dudenhefer.

“The boys paced off of one another during the race,” said Hanemann. “The entire team was behind one of their leaders and cheering him on behind the blocks.

Anyone who was there experienced Blue Jay Spirit in action. Stories like that make it all worthwhile.”

Review the Blue Jays’ 2015 swimming season at jesuitnola.org/swimming.

Photo by Rick Hickman

FLYING WITH THE JAYS

The Blue Jays were runnersup for the past three seasons, including the 2015 LHSAA state meet, which was held Nov. 20-21 at the SPAR Aquatic Center in Sulphur.

to lose with dignity and class. Everything is, for, and about the team.

Freshman Davis Edwards swims the 200 IM in the 2015 LHSAA state championship finals.

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Football: Stars Misaligned When Mark Songy returned to Jesuit as head coach of football in the summer of 2014, the stars were aligned, and the gridiron universe clicked.

That magical 2014 season will be fondly remembered as it culminated in Jesuit’s winning an eighth state championship in football, the school’s first since 1960.

There was nothing enchanting about Jesuit’s 2015 football season. It was unkind, perplexing, and sometimes even cruel.

The Jays dropped their season-opener to old Mid-City rival Warren Easton, 26-21, then rebounded to defeat St. Paul’s of Covington (17-14) and Escambia in Pensacola (2817).

Week 4 marked the start of district play. The Jays showed grit and determination and never gave up. But there was nothing aligned among the stars as the Jays sustained four consecutive district losses. The Homecoming game was spoiled by St. Augustine (32-20). In the annual Rivalry game against Holy Cross, the Jays suffered a heartbreaker in double overtime (28-21).

John Curtis (having joined the Catholic League by playing up in class) exacted a measure of revenge after losing to Jesuit (17-14) in

the 2014 state championship game; the Pats defeated the Jays (24-16). Rummel delivered the Jays’ fourth straight loss (28-14).

Jesuit’s solo win in district competition was in Week 8, a 42-14 thrashing of Shaw. The Jays followed up with a 19-14 victory over Franklinton in a nondistrict contest. In Week 10, the Jays closed out their regular season with a high-scoring loss to Brother Martin (49-46).

In the Division 1 playoffs, the eighth-seeded Blue Jays survived the first week by once again beating ninthseeded Shaw (35-21).

However, the following week Rummel bounced Jesuit (44-14) from the

playoffs, ending any hope among the Jays for a second consecutive state title.

The accomplishments by a trio of Jays earned inclusion in Jesuit’s football records. Senior Kalija Lipscomb’s 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Rummel in the playoffs has him tied — with Chris Markey ’04 and Gill Fenerty ’81 — at the top of that list. Senior kicker Crew Jacobs, by virtue of the 224 points he amassed over four seasons (20 field goals, 164 PATs), claimed the sixth position on the list of most career points scored and is sandwiched between Jesuit icons Eddie Toribio ’34 (229) and John Petitbon ’48 (218).

Finally, junior running back Connor Prouet made the list of most yards rushing in a game for the 260 yards he racked up against St. Paul’s in Week 2, tying him for eighth.

“We are all looking forward to the 2016 season,” Songy said.

View complete game stories and photo galleries of the 2015 football season on Jesuit’s website at jesuitnola.org/football.

Left: Senior wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb (17) finished the 2015 season with 56 catches for 1,036 yards.

He scored 11 touchdowns.

FLYING WITH THE JAYS

“Looking back, things happened where the breaks didn’t go our way in just about every ball game,” said Coach Songy. “I was most pleased with the way we fought week in and week out. But we missed some opportunities to make plays when it counted. We got

better as the year went on, but so did everybody else.

We had young players who became better and grew up, and that will pay dividends later on.”

40 | FALL/WINTER 2015

Jesuit vs. Holy Cross: Mardi Gras on Marconi In speaking to local sportswriter Rod Walker a week before the Great American Rivalry Game of Jesuit vs. Holy Cross, Coach Mark Songy said, “It’s like a Mardi Gras type thing. We have a festival.

Then there’s a parade. And then a football game breaks out.”

Good description, Coach.

The “Mardi Gras type thing” that preceded the 96th meeting of the two schools on October 2 drew thousands of students, alumni, parents, and parents of alumni to a massive celebration just outside Tad Gormley Stadium.

The Blue Jays and Tigers set up tailgate parties on both sides of Marconi Court, with fans from the schools co-mingling and celebrating the storied game. Class tents, music, food, a parade, and, of course, a healthy dose of school spirit were in full display. Throw in lots of blue and white and navy and gold and, yes, it was Mardi Gras on Marconi.

Under the blue and white striped tent, Jesuit’s Class of 1985, sporting “85” t-shirts, prepared and served hungry Blue Jay fans tailgate favorites. Jesuit’s advancement office served complimentary jambalaya, hamburgers, hot dogs, and refreshments.

Parents of new Jesuit students received free tickets to the game and enjoyed the festivities with their sons and family.

The tailgate party concluded with the Krewe of Rivalry parade featuring mascots, cheerleaders, marching bands, and honored guests from both schools.

The annual event is an occasion to recognize several individuals or groups. Jesuit’s 2015 honorees were Evan Slattery ’16 as the Scholar-Athlete, Austin Reed ’16 as the recipient of the inaugural Fellowship of Christian Athletes Community Service Scholarship, retired Army Reserves LTC William J. Furlong III ’52 as the school’s Distinguished Military Alumnus, and the 2005 Blue Jay varsity football team as the Legend(s) of the Game.

Jesuit and Holy Cross, who work throughout the year to coordinate the event, chose to honor their “Katrina” teams during this 10th anniversary year of the catastrophe for refusing to let the rivalry die. That the game was played stands as a testament to resilience, determination, and survival and marks the squads as two of the schools’ most memorable and important teams.

Clockwise, from top: The lead units in the Krewe of Rivalry parade enter Tad Gormley Stadium; Retired LTC William J. Furlong III ’52 of Jesuit and RDML Victor Guillory ’73 of Holy Cross were honored as each school’s 2015 Distinguished Military Alumnus; Honored at halftime was Jesuit’s Legend of the Game, the school’s 2005 “Katrina” football team; Members of the Class of 1985 assisted with tailgate cooking and serving.

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Wrestling & Soccer Host Reunions Connecting Alumni & Their Families To Today’s Jays Wrestling Reunion More than 50 wrestling alumni spanning eight decades returned to Carrollton & Banks to connect with today’s grapplers and to meet the program’s new head coach.

Sheridan Moran, who took over for Spencer Harris ’89, helped coordinate the Halloween day event, which included a luncheon reception in the Student Commons, a tour of the consolidated wrestling area in the Louis J. Roussel, Jr. Physical Education Building, and a Blue & White meet that gave every program participant an opportunity to compete in front of family and friends.

Lending special hands were wrestling alumni representative Arthur Dupré ’76, wrestling alumni parent reps Patti Mahoney and Betsy White, and current parent representative Phil de Gruy, who supplied delicious hamburger sliders from his restaurant, Phil’s Grill.

Coach Moran, Dupré, athletic director David Moreau, and alumni director Mat Grau ’68 thanked the alumni for helping to build one of the state’s top wrestling programs and for remaining connected to and supportive of their alma mater.

Soccer Reunion In mid-December, a smaller yet just as enthusiastic crowd turned out for the 7th Annual Soccer Alumni Reunion.

The event, which included lunch provided by the parents of current players and Jesuit’s office of institutional advancement, took place in the Wally Pontiff, Jr. Pavilion before the soccer team’s match against Ocean Springs.

The Jays defeated the Mississippi perennial power, 3-1.

At halftime, alumni and their children took the turf to try their hands (or should we say feet) on Alumni Field at John Ryan Stadium.

The planning committee included parents of alumni Anne Barnes, Charlie Freel, and Pete Lozowski; alumnus Carlos Calix ’92; current parent representative Vonda Rice; athletic director Dave Moreau; head coach Hubie Collins; and members of Jesuit’s office of institutional advancement.

Top: Wrestling alumni join today’s wrestlers and first-year head coach Sheridan Moran, in white shirt standing on right.

Middle: Rob Schutte ’77, Matt Morgan ’76, Arthur Dupré ’76, and Michael Graham ’77 enjoyed each other’s company at the wrestling reunion.

Bottom: Scott Aertker ’98 and his son, Melanie and Eric Aertker ’95 and their children, and parents of alumni Joan and Charlie Freel visit at the soccer reunion.

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Upcoming Events

Save the Date for the

saturday, March 19, 2016

jesuitnola.org/events

Evenings of Lenten Reflection

Jesuit Golf Classic

Alumni: March 1 Parents of Alumni: March 2

Friday, April 8

Commencement Luncheon

Blue Jay Fishing Rodeo

Friday, April 29

Saturday, June 25