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