THE
collegiate
MAGAZINE OF ST. JOE’S
FALL 2014
Kicking off the school year with a fresh new look and an outlook on the next generation READ ABOUT CLASS OF 2018 | FIRST® ROBOTICS PROGRAM | NASA’S MAVEN MISSION
FALL 2014
BUILDING A NEW FUTURE...
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MESSAGE from the PRESIDENT And so … we begin another school year. The freshman Class of 2018 has arrived and our upperclassmen have returned for another year of academic excellence, brotherhood and service. The beginning of a new school year – even if you have seen 44 such new years – is the best time to look back and reflect on all that we have accomplished and also establish a vision for where we still wish to go. As I think back on our extensive history, I can’t help but reminisce about the St. Joe’s of yesterday – the events, the wins and losses, the Christian Brothers and all the many staff members and especially the students who were here and the gentlemen they became. We’ve celebrated wonderful successes and we’ve struggled and met challenges set before us. Remaining faithful to our Founder and to our mission, we use our rich history to help us inspire all who are the St. Joe’s community to continue to learn, to grow and to build upon the wonderful past that has been created for us.
Today, St. Joe’s boasts 812 students who are uniquely different and gifted with a variety of talents. They come from local Catholic middle schools, charter schools, other private schools, City of Buffalo and many different suburban public school districts, and some have been home schooled. We are and will always be a Catholic School, but our students now represent a variety of different faith traditions. Historically, we were populated with German and Italian and Polish students, from the east or west side of the City of Buffalo. Today, they may come from Williamsville or Lewiston or any portion of Western New York, plus some from Rwanda, or Ghana or elsewhere in our global world community. We take pride in our variety of backgrounds and the different talents each of our students brings with him.
St. Joe’s challenges each of our students to excel academically while also encouraging participation in athletics, fine arts and other extracurricular clubs and activities. The variety of activities and programming represents the holistic nature of Lasallian education, meant to inspire our young men to find themselves and choose their own path. A young man can find himself within our St. Joe’s community, and grow together with others who – while unique in their own right – are coming to a similar realization. And, in addition, we also encourage our students to share themselves, their gifts and talents – their blessings – with others who may not be as fortunate. In closing, our facilities are much different and offer more opportunity, and our students represent a wider world view, but we remain true to who we are … to St. La Salle … to our Christian Brothers and to all who have come before us. We are … St. Joe’s! I invite any alumnus who has not been back recently to 845 Kenmore Avenue to come back for a visit. SJ
ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE
Live Jesus in Our Hearts … Forever!
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IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 15 ISSUE 1
4-5 Welcome, Class of 2018 6-7 New Year/New Faces 8 Weight Room Remodel 9 Athletic History & Tradition 10 In the Spotlight: David Mitchell ’80
11 FIRST® Robotic Program 12 Distinguished Lasallian Cirque de LaSalle
13-14 Alumni News & Notes 15 Your Legacy. Our Future. St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute
(716) 874-4024 www.sjci.com
President Robert T. Scott, AFSC Editor & Director of Marketing Communications Latrese Myers
Robert T. Scott, AFSC President
Photography Latrese Myers James McCoy Contributing Writers Br. Joseph Wilkowski, FSC Lindsey Dotson Alexander Eadie ’07
School Pride from Top to Bottom 845 Kenmore Avenue never looked so good...
Thanks to an anonymous gift from an alumnus, the school cafeteria now boasts a life-size Marauder logo that displays school pride during the ever important lunch hour.
The hallway outside of the Hogan Gymnasium also got a taste of the new look when the “SJ” logo was proudly added to the floor for students to see with every step of their journey at St. Joe’s.
“Making these additions to our school is important in our brand development. We have a rich history that we’re proud of and it’s important that we communicate our brand with every turn of a corner,” said St. Joseph’s Collegiate Intitute President Robert T. Scott, AFSC. “We’re eternally grateful to the alumnus who helped us make these updates and we’re already seeing a huge sense of pride from the current and prospective students, as well as the faculty and alumni who visit the school.” In addition to the physical updates
that were made throughout 845 Kenmore Avenue, the St. Joe’s website also underwent a remodel of sorts. Our new website includes larger-than-life imagery, a user-friendly toolbar for easy access to information, and tabs dedicated to student, parent and alumni information. The website also features a social media feed that integrates the St. Joe’s Twitter updates into the homepage. Visit www.sjci.com today to see our new look! SJ
FALL 2014
Over the summer, we did a considerable amount of work to bring the St. Joe’s spirit alive from the hallways to the online world.
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WELCOME Class of 2018! Isaiah Acosta
Thomas D’Amico
Angelo Catalano
Alexander D’Anniballe
Benjamin Bailey
Jackson Christiano
Charlie DeRose
Nico Catanzaro
Samuel Baker
Vincent Christiano III
Jacob Barberio
Charles Collins
Kevin Balkin
Zachary Chrzanowski
Gunnar Grenauer
Michael Genco
Noah Hausbeck
Brian Deyell
John Galvin
Benjamin DiStasio
Luca Giacobbe
Thomas Conway
Kevin Downing
Matthew Connolly
Benjamin Bigham Trey Boling
Evan Boone
Liam Gallagher
Joseph Gajewski
Thomas Colucci
John Bellia
John Blum
Mitchell Grantham
Tyler Depczynski
Ryan DiLeo
Dominic Grecco
Braiden Guinther Gregory Hazelet
Peter Gerace
Joshua Hennessy
Matthew Dobiesz
Michael Gianadda
Quinn Higgins
Garrett Coolidge
Zachariah Dumais
Robert Gilbert
Eric Corra
Kevin Durkin
Andrew Corra
David Cosentino
Joseph Dispenza
Benjamin Gramza
Connor Fusilier
Alexander Gennaro
Christopher Collins
Mason Benz
Spencer Frome
Calvin Dimmig
Vincent Barile Jacob Beals
Gavin Herlan
Patrick Gilbert
Matthew Hillery
Thomas Dunia
Bryce Giuseppetti
Cole Hudson
Derek Eddo
Adam Glica
Dominyc Glabien
Garrett House Jason Inzeo
Charles Ivancic
Joseph Burns
Joshua Costolnick
Andrew Erdman
Tyler Godesiabois
Andre Jackson Jr.
Matthew Cannon
Mark Craft
Nicholas Falbo
Christopher Goss
James Johnson
Yang Curry
Michael Floccare Jr.
Ryan Gracie
Patrick Johnson
Kellan Daley
David Fretz
Adam Graff
Collin Kemp
Jesse Canavan
Dante Cracchiola
Jack Capen
Andrew Crane
Tyler Carr
Patrick Curtin
Jaleel Carpenter Stevin Carroll
ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE
Jamel Cash
William Ainsworth Nathan Atkins
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225 freshmen from all over Western New York packed the halls of 845 Kenmore Avenue this fall.
Jae Falbo
Andrew Ferguson Trevor Folsom
Theodore Gogos James Grable
Andrew Gradolph
Justin Jenneve
Jeremy Johnson Nicolas Julian
Alejandro Miller-Gonzalez
Kyle Kirsch
Andrew Kirchgessner
Jacob Parish
Gregory Rodas
Nicholas Tabone
Noah Minton
Alexander Patkalitsky
Matthew Rottaris
Dakota Thompson
Spencer Mitchell
Grayson Pawlowski
Ciaran Russell
AndrĂŠ Torrico
Mark Morlock
Ethan Petz
William Minderler
Nathan Kohler
Garrett Mistretta
Jordan Krzywicki
Salvatore Mordino
John Kwarciak Jr.
Nathan Mrowinski
John Lomeo
Timothy Murphy
Jared Maloney
Steven Nguyen
Maxwell Krajacic Jonathan Kubiak
Larry Livingston Jr. Vincent LoTempio
Frank Sclafani
Lucas Vande Velde James Wagner
Gabe Rapini
John Seewagen
Jack Westner
Charles Noonan
Skyler Reczek-McKnight
Nathan Shanley
Jack Ohle
Benjamin Rinaldo
Alexander Orgek
William Ritchie
Timothy Paglione
Marquel Roberts
Thomas Stankowski
Mitchel Zelasko
Joseph Pappano
Robert Robinson
Edward Sullivan
John Zulewski
Michael Olsen
Daniel Mikolajczak
Lucas Palmer
Michael Miller
Frederic Vinal
Robert Raley
Massimo Ortolano
Andrew Miller
Shane Scheeler
Bryce Scheeler
Benjamin Weppner
Connor McArthur Joshua Metz
Alexander Valachos
Alexander Myers
Michael Pappano
Joshua Prygon
Vincent Tobia
Matthew Sciandra
Keith Norward
David Matthew
Adam Pohrte
Andrew Thein
Robert Russell
Thomas Schweiger
Joseph Marciniak Nolan Mathur
John Pesarchick
Brandon Rusin
Braden Pritchard
Charles Niesciur
Todd Marzec
Dominic Pavone
Sean Rooney
Bryce Murphy
Andrew Mankowski Nicholas Manning
Alessio Passalacqua
Declan Rapp
Christopher Werts
John Seibert
Christopher Wittmann
Jacob Riester
Anthony Shilen III
Joseph Wood
Alexander Rine
Ty Slaugenhoupt
Joseph Rizzo
Jacob Stablewski
William Roberts Taylor Robinson
ConnorWolbert
Vikram Singh
Preston Woods
Cameron Socha
Kurtis Wozniak
Jacob Stobnicki
Ryan Sutherland
Max Wopperer
Michael Zatkos
David Zulewski Alex Zulia
FALL 2014
Domenic Kershner
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New Year Latrese Myers
Director of Marketing Communications What brought you to St. Joe’s?
Myers: I had been working for one of the area’s top advertising agencies, but I was looking for an opportunity to combine my love of marketing with my passion for education.
Mollie Ross
Myers: The pep rally prior to the St. Joe’s vs. Canisius football game. There was so much school pride in that room.
Ross: I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher. I loved chalkboards, red pens and interacting with people from a very young age. I have worked in many schools, and being in one that carries a mission and also has a great community makes me very happy.
What has been your favorite St. Joe’s moment so far?
Foreign Language Teacher
What brought you to St. Joe’s?
What has been your favorite St. Joe’s moment so far?
Ross: My favorite moments at St. Joe’s have been the morning announcements. Every day starts with a new song. I like the fact that they play oldies and songs that make you wake up.
Alex Eadie
Alumni Relations Coordinator
What brought you back to St. Joe’s?
Eadie: I am a proud alumnus, so it was a chance for me to return “home” to my alma mater! What has been your favorite St. Joe’s moment so far?
Eadie: There are many, but being part of Alumni Weekend was a great experience. Seeing how many St. Joe’s alumni came from far and wide to celebrate their class reunions and re-connect with the school and with each other was awesome to be a part of.
Xingyun Wu Jessica Wright
Chinese Language & Culture Teacher
What brought you to St. Joe’s?
Wu: I was sent by the Confucius Institute of the State University of New York. However, I would like to say it was Confucius, the greatest educator in Chinese history, who brought me to St. Joe’s. It was him who let me know why, what and how to teach. I also would like to say that it is St. Joe’s, a wonderful school with a long history and rich teaching resources that led me here.
ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE
English Teacher
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Wright: My love for teaching, my familiarity with the St. Joe’s presence in the WNY community and a little bit of fate brought me to this wonderful school. What has been your favorite St. Joe’s moment so far? Wright: My favorite St. Joe’s moments are the daily interactions I have with my students, whether they are within the confines of my classroom or around campus.
What brought you to St. Joe’s?
What has been your favorite St. Joe’s moment so far?
Wu: Getting to know more about St. Joe’s, the teachers and students.
New Faces
Benjamin Daley Physics Teacher
What brought you to St. Joe’s?
Wick: A series of events led to me hearing of a job opening at St. Joe’s, a school whose reputation for success had been made clear to me on numerous occasions. That is what got me to the door, but learning about the Lasallian mission of the school, the idea of education for all students and educating the whole student, was what pushed me through and started me on the path that I am on. What has been your favorite St. Joe’s moment so far?
Wick: There is nothing more exciting than the first day of school. Getting to meet so many new people, learning new things about them and watching them grow as students as well as young men is amazing and is, I’m sure, what will keep me coming back.
Long-Term Substitute Academic Enrichment Center (AEC) What brought you to St. Joe’s?
Daley: I felt very strongly that my skills and experience made me a great fit for this job. Little did I know how right I was. St. Joe’s strong commitment to community and whole student education align perfectly with my own educational philosophy.
What has been your favorite St. Joe’s moment so far? Daley: The Freshman Overnight. It was a lot of fun to get to know my students on a casual level. Nothing brings people together like a night full of video games and junk food.
Brother Joseph Wilkowski, FSC Physics and Math Teacher
What brought you back to St. Joe’s?
Michelle Pulinski Science Teacher
What brought you back to St. Joe’s?
Pulinski: I’m a product of faith-based education. I always had very high standards for myself and I believe the gentlemen of St. Joe’s should too. What has been your favorite St. Joe’s moment so far? Pulinski: I don’t have one ... I have many! From the moments in the classroom with the students to running into former students around town, every day is a great St. Joe’s moment.
Wilkowski: There was an opening in the Physics Deptartment and answering the need from the brotherhood community. What has been your favorite St. Joe’s moment so far?
Wilkowski: It’s hard to pick out one moment. I’ve enjoyed every day that I’ve been back at St. Joe’s, especially the collaboration with Mr. Wick to start the FIRST® robotic program. FALL 2014
Patrick Wick
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ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE
Alumni Help Prepare Students for College... One Lift at a Time!
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Giving back to the community and service to others are important lessons that we teach our students from the moment they walk through the doors of 845 Kenmore Avenue. With that in mind, it’s only fitting that the newly remodeled weight room was made possible thanks to the leadership of St. Joe’s alumni Garrett H. Timms ’92, Nicholas A. Sinatra ’99 and Mark J. Campanella ’99. The effort to create a state-of-the-art fitness center started back in 2012 when Timms returned to St. Joe’s after a successful career as a professional athletic trainer in the NHL. During Timms’ visit, he stopped by the weight room and immediately knew that this was his opportunity to give back to the school. This was the chance to put those lessons of service to work. “To put it bluntly, the weight room was behind the times. It needed an upgrade that would offer the students a solid foundation for success,” said Timms. “St. Joe’s gives these students so much, and I wanted to offer them a platform that would help them to develop strength and conditioning techniques that could help them at the collegiate and potentially the professional level.” Unveiled at the start of the 2014-15 school year, the weight room is now comparable to fitness centers typically seen at colleges and universities. Equipment for the 1,704 square-foot weight room includes: • State-of-the art rubber floor mats featuring the St. Joe’s Marauder logo • Four (4) Powerlift Collegiate Combine Power Racks • Six (6) Precor Icarian Super Benches • One (1) Pre-Vitality Dual Lat Pulley and Rowing Machine • Eight (8) TRX Suspension Trainers • 20 Pairs of Dumbbells • Two (2) SPRI Qube Soft Plyometric Boxes • One (1) Precor Functional Training Glide Machine
Timms enlisted the help of current St. Joe’s coaches and staff, as well as representatives from Advantage Sports & Fitness, to design the initial weight room blueprint. Sinatra and Campanella also made significant financial contributions to the remodel and held fundraisers that ultimately made this dream a reality. “The new weight room was designed in a way that kept function in mind. We’re now able to train larger groups of students at one time. That’s something that we weren’t able to do before. We’re already seeing a significant uptick in the number of students using the space. We can’t thank Garrett, Nick and Mark enough for leading the effort to make this remodel possible,” said Pete Schneider, director of athletics at St. Joe’s. In addition to upgrading the equipment in the weight room, thanks to contributions from St. Joe’s alumni and parents, two part-time strength and conditioning consultants were hired to provide specialized training to students and staff who utilize the weight room. Timms also visits often as a consultant and resource for the students and part-time staff. “I sincerely want to thank Coach Gilbert, Pete Kennedy ’97, Pete Schneider and President Scott for supporting the effort to make the new weight room possible. Without them and the financial contributions that were made by parents and alumni, this wouldn’t have been possible,” added Timms. “We take great pride in building a brotherhood that begins from the moment our students first walk through our doors. Thanks to that brotherhood and our dedicated alumni and parents, we are now able to offer our students top-notch gym equipment that will benefit them for years to come,” said St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute President Robert T. Scott, AFSC. “This remodel was made possible by our people, for our people. We will never forget that fact and look forward to celebrating and sharing this story with future generations.” SJ
St. Joe’s Athletic History & Tradition during Football Season On Saturday, September 13, St. Joe’s honored five alumni by inducting them into the Sports Hall of Fame. The ceremony, now in its 21st year, honored Gerald D. Attea ’56, Paul M. Nasca ’86, Christopher J. Nickrenz ’79, Jeffrey C. Senulis ’98, and Michael J. Wyatt ’74. The ceremony was witnessed by over 200 family members, friends, staff and alumni, including 26 current Hall of Famers. At the conclusion of the ceremony, everyone was invited outside to enjoy lunch and watch the Varsity football home opener under a special VIP tent. At halftime, the inductees were again recognized in front of the St. Joe’s fans and students at the game. To cap off a great day, St. Joe's pulled out a 30-21 victory over Clarence High School.
daughters, son Patrick ’80, and widow, Donna, all joined us for the ceremony as well. Donna then received a bouquet of flowers from her grandson Tucker, a member of the current Varsity football team and the Class of 2016. In addition, the men from the 1964 team worked to establish an endowment in Coach Reddington’s name, so that future generations of students receive financial assistance to attend St. Joe’s. The Coach was certainly looking down on his beloved Marauders, as a fumble recovery turned into a touchdown that sealed a victory for the Maroon and White over St. Francis, 34-30.
The 1964 undefeated Championship SJ Marauder Football team. Bottom row L to R: Tim O’Mara, Pete McKee, Bob O’Connor, Mike Neumeister, Matt Paske, Ed Conboy, John Neff. Middle Row: Mike Ganey, Jim Cavanaugh, John Seel, Jim Gauthier, Bill Bartz, Dave Hunter. Back Row: Tom Cleary, Bob Stoll, Tom Kolber. SJ
FALL 2014 FALL 2014
Finally, school spirit was on full display on Saturday, October 4, as the region’s oldest high school football rivalry returned to St. Joe’s when the Canisius Crusaders paid their biennial visit. Close to 4,000 people packed the stands for the game, and not even a rainstorm could dampen the spirit of brotherhood among those in attendance. On Saturday, September 27, St. Joe’s honored for- The Alumni Association helped sponsor a special Alumni Tent with mer coach and Sports Hall of Famer Thomas “Tucker” concessions, St. Joe’s apparel flew out of the bookstore, and an overall J. Reddington at the Tucker Reddington Memorial sense of pride permeated the crisp fall air. Although the result on Game. Coach Reddington was a fixture at St. Joe’s for the field was not what many fans were hoping for, the St. Joe’s and 20 years from 1960-1980, and his accomplishments Canisius rivalry always seems to bring out the best of what St. Joe’s include two undefeated seasons, five league champion- has to offer in terms of pride and tradition. SJ ships, and Buffalo News Coach of the Year Honors in 1967, not to mention the countless young men whose lives he touched through coaching. This year marks 50 years since his first undefeated season in 1964, and 21 members of the 1964 team returned to St. Joe’s to honor him on this special occasion. In a pre-game ceremony before the Marauders took on St. Francis, each member of the 1964 team was introduced by name and position. Coach Reddington’s family, including his
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SPOTLIGHT
ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE
A birthday party and his dad set David Mitchell ’80 on a mission that would eventually send him to Mars.
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When St. Joe’s graduate David Mitchell ’80 began working with NASA on the Mars MAVEN mission, his daughter was in the second grade. Today, as that team celebrates a successful spacecraft insertion into Mars’ orbit, Mitchell’s daughter is now a junior in high school. It’s a dream that was nearly nine years in the making, but Mitchell will tell you that it’s all been worth it. The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (or MAVEN) spacecraft successfully entered Mars’ orbit on Sunday, September 21, 2014, after a 10-month journey. The spacecraft will spend the next several years studying the planet’s upper atmosphere and determining why the Red Planet’s climate changed so drastically over time. One certainly wouldn’t expect that such a mission would be easy, but Mitchell says that it was the unexpected hurdles that made the MAVEN mission such a rewarding challenge. Those hurdles included the 2013 government shutdown, which could have forced the NASA team to move the launch to 2016 due to a critical 20-day launch window. “[The government shutdown] threatened to delay years of work that would require us to wait another 26 months before we could attempt to launch the spacecraft again,” said Mitchell, who credits his team for making it possible to get MAVEN back on track just two days after the shutdown began. Another unforeseen moment happened in January 2013 when an Australian observatory discovered that a comet was projected to arrive in Mars’ vicinity on October 19, 2014, just weeks after MAVEN’s arrival. “The comet had the ability to derail our mission if the risk was too great to launch in 2013,” said Mitchell. “In the end, we did our research to make sure that the spacecraft would be safe from comet debris and the launch could proceed as planned. We now have a tremendous opportunity for MAVEN to observe the comet as it flies by Mars. This is unheard of, and an unexpected benefit to the mission.”
Long before Mitchell took his position as lead project manager of the MAVEN mission, he was one of seven children whose family was on the move through his father’s service in the Air Force. When Mitchell was five, his family settled in Williamsville thanks to his father accepting a job at Calspan. It was through his father that his love for aircraft, rockets and spacecraft began. On July 20, 1969, Mitchell was at his own birthday party and in the background a radio played announcing that Neil Armstrong had taken man’s first steps onto the moon. It was a day he’ll never forget. Seven years after Armstrong’s journey, Mitchell enrolled at St. Joe’s. He fondly remembers his time spent in Biology with Mr. Roland and the physics, chemistry and math courses that would come in handy when he studied engineering at the University at Buffalo. “Beyond what I learned in the classroom at St. Joe’s, what I remember most affectionately is the brotherhood. It was a place where I first learned about being part of something bigger than you. That’s a lesson that I’ve taken with me throughout all of my travels and live by today. It’s funny, even 34 years later I still have a piece of St. Joe’s with me. In fact, one of my colleagues here at NASA’s Goddard Space Center is a St. Joe’s graduate and was a member of my class. It’s nice to run into him occasionally at the Center and talk about the old days and our hometown.” On the day of the MAVEN launch on November 18, 2013, St. Joe’s couldn’t stay away from its successful alumnus during this important moment in history. With Mitchell in the launch control room, Daniel Fleming ’14 and current freshman Jake Barberio, along with Mitchell’s family and friends (including three other Mitchell SJCI alumni) were just a few miles away at the Kennedy Space Center watching MAVEN and the Atlas launch vehicle lift off into space. It was a proud moment for the Marauder, his wife, kids, the entire NASA team and Western New York. When asked if there’s anything else that he would like to add to this story, Mitchell only said this, “Go Bills! Go Sabres! WNY roots do run deep.” To learn more about MAVEN, visit www.nasa.gov/maven and http://lasp.colorado.edu/maven. SJ
ROBOTICS HITS SJCI R2-D2 has been spotted in the St. Joe’s Commons! Well, not really but St. Joe’s has joined the robotics revolution with its entry in the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC). FIRST® Robotics is an international organization that sponsors an annual competition each spring between robots built by high school students. With over 5,500 teams internationally, this competition develops engineering and cooperative skills among students in regional and national/international competition.
The St. Joe’s robotics team, named the Alumiboti, enters its rookie season under the leadership of Mr. Patrick Wick and Br. Joseph Wilkowski, FSC, two physics teachers who recently joined St. Joe’s. The team consists of over 30 students who are divided into development teams, responsible for electronics, drive train, navigation, fundraising, and public relations. The robot, driven remotely by a driver and his assistant, will cooperate with two other robots in a contest against another team to achieve a goal. Last year, the objective was to put a large ball into a goal while accumulating points by passing to other robots on the same team. This year’s competition is … Ah, well, we don’t know that yet. We will find out on January 3rd when FIRST®, through a NASA sponsored webcast, reveals the details of this year’s mission.
After January 3rd, the St. Joe’s Alumiboti team will have six weeks to produce a robot that can be driven remotely and that performs on the “playing field.” The robot, all 120 pounds of it, will then compete at the FIRST® Finger Lakes Regional at the Rochester Institute of Technology at the end of March. MENTORS NEEDED! COME AND SHARE YOUR ADVICE AND EXPERTISE.
If you have an engineering background, or if you are handy with building electronic or mechanical contraptions, and have the inclination and free time to help out in January or February, give an electronic shout-out to Patrick Wick at pwick@sjci.com. Make sure to come on down to see our version of R2-D2 roam the halls in the middle of February – it won’t do stairs but ramps should be easy! SJ
Congrats scholars!
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St. Joe’s senior Alexander Cambria is the recipient of the 33rd annual Phil Scaffidi Alumni Scholarship award. The scholarship is presented annually to an incoming senior who best illustrates the spirit and sportsmanship of St. Joe’s alumnus Phil Scaffidi ’74.
FALL 2014
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Senior Andrew Siaw-Asamoah was recently named a 201415 National Merit Scholarship semifinalist. He is among 16,000 U.S. semifinalists. Recipients will be announced next spring.
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2014 Distinguished Lasallian Educator St. Joe’s Campus Minister Deacon William Walkowiak Receives Prestigious Honor
The Brothers of the Christian Schools of the District of Eastern North America recently named St. Joe’s Campus Minister Deacon William Walkowiak as one of the Regional (national) recipients of the 2014 Distinguished Lasallian Educator Award. Deacon Bill is receiving this honor in recognition of his outstanding work and dedication to the spirit of St. John Baptist de La Salle. Prior to his arrival at St. Joe’s in September 2004, Deacon Bill was ordained to the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Buffalo. He has an M.A. in Pastoral Ministry. Deacon Bill was instrumental in bringing the Kairos retreat program to St. Joe’s and oversees the school’s Christian Ministry Project.
Hurry, Hurry ... Step right up!
ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE
Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 7th
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Ask any of our students or parents what they think about St. Joe’s … you’ll hear things like amazing, awesome, fantastic! Those words, and many more like them, are the inspiration for Lasallian 2015’s “Cirque de La Salle” theme as we celebrate the outstanding feats of the St. Joe’s community. Join us under the big top, right here at St. Joe’s, for an incredible evening to delight the senses with a magnificent meal by Oliver’s, extraordinary entertainment, brobdingnagian bids led by Cash Cunningham, wonderful student waiters and volunteers, and stupendous alumni, parent and community support. Our gala celebration and auction, the biggest fundraising event of the year, is dedicated to student tuition support through need-based financial aid and merit-based academic scholarships. But this circus comes to town for one night only and is usually an early sell out, so step right up and contact Cathy Greene at (716) 270-4117 or cgreene@sjci.com. Everything Lasallian can be found at www.sjci.com/LasallianGala, including online reservation and sponsorships forms. There are many ways to get involved: major sponsorships, table sponsors, gift donations, advertising, patrons, attendee or volunteer. Can’t wait for the fun? Join in the excitement at one of the upcoming gift-gathering celebrations that’s right for you ... Major Gift & Holiday Wine Tasting at Phillips Lytle LLP @ Canalside December 5th, 6:00 until 8:00pm. Saturday Morning Gift Drop-off & Breakfast to Go at St. Joe’s Main Office on January 10th, 9am until noon. SJ
ALUMNI NEWS & notes
1960s IN MEMORIAM John E. Allen Jr. Walter P. Duszynski Raymond P. Eberle ’59 James M. Giancarlo ’65 Thomas Gibbons ’48 JoAnn Hersey Suzanne M. Jacobi John W. Knavel ’48 Kelly A. Mirco Donald J. Morey ’35 John T. Murphy William J. Shults ’47 Jolene M. Tracey Thomas F. Tracey David M. Zak Sr.
1950s Frederick G. Attea ’57, a partner at Phillips Lytle LLP, was named to a three-year term on the board of Read to Succeed Buffalo. He was also named to the Board of Directors for the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute. Paul M. Hassett Jr. ’58 was a recipient of the LaSalle Medal, presented to Canisius College alumni who have made substantial contributions to advance the interests of Canisius. He serves Canisius as the chair of the pre-law advisory council and facilitates law-related internships. He also contributes to the Hassett Family Endowment which
Robert M. Greene ’62, a partner at Phillips Lytle LLP, was named a Notable Practitioner in Health Care Law by Chambers USA for the third consecutive year. Kevin W. Spitler ’67 was elected Vice President of the Bar Association of Erie County in June 2014. He will assume the presidency of the 3800-member professional association in June 2015. Peter R. Reczek PhD ’69 has been named an AAAS Science and Tehnology Policy Fellow at the National Institute of Health in Washington, D.C.
1970s William M. Collins ’72 was named Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Canisius College, effective August 19, 2014. Collins oversees all advancement functions at Canisius, including fundraising, alumni engagement, marketing, public relations, creative services and website services. Charles Esposito ’75 was ordained June 15, 2014, as a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Buffalo. He has been assigned as a deacon to SS. Peter & Paul Parish in Williamsville, NY, and also has a Ministry of Charity in the Pastoral Care Office of Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital in Amherst. Erik R. Grosof ’76 was promoted in May 2014 to Senior Advisor for Special Ops
& Interagency Coordination at the National Transportation Safety Board in Washington, D.C. Additionally, he oversees the NTSB’s Response Operations Center which is manned 24/7. He has been with the Board since 1997.
Dr. David P. Hughes ’86 has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Kaleida Health. Hughes was previously Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical Integration Officer for Kaleida Health.
Brian S. Meyer ’77 has been appointed News Director at WBFO 88.7FM, the NPR radio station in Buffalo. Meyer is an award-winning journalist whose 33-year career included stints at The Buffalo News and WBEN Radio. He was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcast Hall of Fame in 2010.
Daniel P. O’Neill ’89 was named Vice President of the Board of Directors for Summit Educational Resources. He was also named President of LeadingAge New York’s Nursing Facilities Cabinet, which plans programming and public policy agendas. Dan continues to serve as President and CEO of Beechwood Continuing Care.
Louis M. Augello ’79 was promoted to National Manager for Auto Business Operations Planning for American Honda Motor Co. in Torrance, CA. He has been with American Honda for over 21 years and resides in southern California.
1980s William J. Maggio ’80 was named to the Board of Trustees at the Burchfield Penny Art Center. Michael W. Kier ’81 was named Vice President – General Counsel of Global Compliance and Litigation for the ACCO Brands Company, in Lake Zurich, IL. Richard Spiller ’82 was named accounting manager of the Niagara Falls tourism and marketing group at Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation. Richard M. Argentieri ’86 was promoted to Vice President of Commercial Sales at Independent Health.
1990s Henry W.J. McWilliams ’90 has been permanently appointed as the Chief Financial Officer – Chief Operating Officer for both UBMD Family Medicine and UBMD Internal Medicine. Timothy S. Kuryak ’91 was nominated by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for a 2014 Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Structured Reality Series, for his work as Executive Producer on the hit TLC show, “Who Do You Think You Are?” Matthew J. Higgins ’92 published Bird Dream: Adventures at the Extremes of Human Flight in July. The nonfiction book from The Penguin Press has received starred reviews from Library Journal and Kirkus.
2000s Timothy J. Altieri ’00 opened his own law firm, Altieri Law Firm, PA in Cape Coral, FL. focusing
FALL 2014
funds the Contemporary Writers Series at the college.
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on Criminal Defense, Personal Injury and General Civil Litigation. Altieri was formerly an Assistant State Attorney (Assistant State Prosecutor) in the 20th Judicial Circuit of the State of Florida. He is admitted to practice law in Florida and New York. Philip D. Badaszewski, PhD ’01 completed his PhD in College Student Affairs Administration at the University of Georgia in May 2014. His dissertation focused on positive masculinity development in college men. In August 2014, he began a position as Assistant Director for Academic Initiatives at the University of Pittsburgh. Joseph P. McGovern ’02 recently completed eight years of service in the US Army. He is currently attending graduate school at The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in pursuit of an MBA. Derek D. LaClair ’03 recently graduated from the Johnson School of Business at Cornell University with an MBA and a minor in Real Estate. He accepted a position within M&T Bank’s Executive Associate Program in Buffalo.
ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE
Daniel P. Misko ’03 was promoted to Major Account Sales Director for Western New York and Erie, PA, at Com-Doc Inc.
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James J. Wright ’03 released an instrumental album entitled Inward Looking Outward on Ropeadope Records. Reviews of the album call it a “powerful”
weddings:
debut, while Wright himself is referred to as a “one of a kind musician.” Wright is the Music Director at the University of Notre Dame’s Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Stephen M. Elardo, PhD ’04 successfully defended his PhD in Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of New Mexico in July 2014. His dissertation focused on the thermal and magmatic evolution of the Moon. He currently works as a post-doctoral research associate at the Geophysical Laboratory, a branch of the Carnegie Institution for Science. Ryan J. Campagna, MD ’06 graduated from The Ohio State University Medical School in May 2014. Dr. Campagna started his general surgery residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL, and plans to become a cardiothoracic surgeon. Ian C. Leberer ’06 graduated from the Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry in May 2014 as a Doctor of Optometry. He will practice optometry at Visualeyes in Amherst, along with his father David J. Leberer ’73 and his uncle Daniel R. Leberer ’75, who own the business. Matthew J. Rung ’06 was named the First Assistant Coach of the University of Washington Huskies men’s crew team. He was most recently the First Assistant Coach for Cornell’s men’s lightweight crew. He also coaches the U.S. Women’s
Daniel J. Didas ’06 married Sarah L. Willet on June 28, 2014. Robert L. Emblidge ’07 married Kara Wyskiewicz on July 28, 2014. Michael P. Slon ’88 married Holly Vradenburgh in July 2014.
Under-23 National Team. Daniel R. Warner ’06 accepted a job in the Office of Institutional Advancement at Canisius College as a Leadership Gift Officer. He has moved back to Buffalo from Syracuse. Patrick Madia ’07 was named the Head Varsity Volleyball Coach at Mount Mercy Academy in Buffalo. Matthew P. Tracey ’07, a graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh, received a Technology Collaboration Award at the 18th Annual Merck Technology Symposium. Tracey and Dr. Kaz Koide have been collaborating with Merck Research Laboratories to expedite trace palladium analysis in the production of pharmaceuticals. Brendan J. R. Murphy ’08, who attended Canisius College and helped the Golden Griffins win a MAAC title in 2012, represented Belgium at the 2014 FIL World Championships of Lacrosse in Denver, CO, in July 2014.
2010s
in International Relations. He has entered the Dominican Friars as a novice in the Eastern Dominican Province, whose patron is St. Joseph, and he has taken the name Brother Barnabas Marie. Jacob B. Roberts ’10 was hired as a software developer at Google in California. Marc M. Montana ’11 set a Buffalo State College football record by kicking a 49-yard field goal to give the Bengals a 51-48 win in overtime over Cortland on September 6, 2014.
STAY CONNECTED. Share your professional, academic or personal updates and stay connected to alumni around the world! Contact Alumni Relations Coordinator Alex Eadie ’07 at aeadie@sjci.com to be included in the next issue of The Collegiate!
Joshua D. Jakson ’10 was promoted from digital technician to lead digital research developer at Evolution Dental Science in Cheektowaga. Joseph R. McHenry ’10 graduated from George Washington University in May 2014 with a bachelor’s degree
births:
Jeffrey T. Bagley ’01 and his wife, Jenny, welcomed daughter McCorrie Louise Bagley on August 21, 2013. Jeffrey, Jenny and McCorrie reside in the Town of Tonawanda. Jeffrey is currently a law clerk to U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. SJ
Your legacy. Our future. Planned gifts at St. Joe’s At the heart of St. Joe’s is our mission to provide a broad and balanced, human and Christian education, focusing on each of our students’ unique talents and fostering a commitment to academic excellence, service and leadership in the global community. Within this mission, we strive to carry out the vision of our founder, St. John Baptist de La Salle, who devoted his life to educating the poor and underserved. When you include a gift to St. Joe’s in your estate and financial plans, you are directly keeping our mission alive, ensuring that a St. Joe’s education remains affordable and accessible. One of the best ways to ensure that St. Joe’s continues its mission is by making a planned gift. Planned Gifts play an important role in maintaining St. Joe’s Community of Excellence and ensuring that future generations will continue to achieve excellence. Supporting a scholarship or creating an endowment leaves a lasting impact on students, the school and the entire St. Joe’s family. When you include a gift to St. Joe’s in your estate and financial plans, you demonstrate your faith in the importance of a Lasallian education. St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute established the John J. Barden Legacy Society to recognize alumni and friends who have included St. Joe’s in their estate planning. There are many ways to make a gift to St. Joe’s, which will not only benefit the school, but you and your loved ones. Planned gifts give you options for making your charitable gifts in ways that may allow you to reduce your income tax and/or avoid capital gains tax, diversify your investment portfolio and leave a charitable legacy for future generations. Remember, your planning helps with our planning. If you already have, or would like to include St. Joseph’s Collegiate in your estate plans, please let us know so you become a member of the John J. Barden Legacy Society and are recognized for supporting the mission of St. John Baptist de La Salle.
“St. Joe’s provided me the opportunity to receive a great Christian education and allowed me to compete successfully in all aspects of life. The school also imbued in me a responsibility to help others in our community. It has been my sincere pleasure to give back to St. Joe’s, as I recognize the impact it made in my life.” - Dick Jackson ’59
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If you would like to learn more about membership in the John J. Barden Legacy Society or would like information about an estate gift to St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute, please call the Institutional Advancement office at 716-873-3599. SJ
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ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE A Community
of
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
E x ce l l e n ce
BUFFALO, NY PERMIT NO. 83
845 Kenmore Avenue Buffalo, NY 14223-3195 Address Service Requested
PARENTS: If The Collegiate is addressed to a son who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please clip the address label and return it with the correct address to: St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute, Attn: The Collegiate, 845 Kenmore Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14223
OUR MISSION
ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE
St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute (SJCI) is a Catholic, independent college-preparatory high school educating young men of diverse backgrounds in the tradition of St. John Baptist de La Salle. Through a broad and balanced, human and Christian education, SJCI guides the development of each student's unique talents, fostering a commitment to academic excellence, service and leadership in the global community.
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SANTA TO VISIT ST. JOE’S Alumni Association brings St. Nick to 845 Kenmore Avenue - and you’re invited! Old St. Nick will be visiting St. Joe’s on Saturday, December 13 from 9-11 a.m.! Bring your children for snacks and activities with the elves, as well as a personal chat with Santa himself. Each child will be photographed with Santa and receive a small gift. Your kiddo will find his or her name in Santa’s Naughty or Nice book ... with your help. When you complete the pre-registration form (www.sjci.com/breakfastwithsanta), your answers will determine if they were good for goodness’ sake! That form will also provide Santa with a little informatio about your child.
Register today! Space is limited. Please, no walk-ins; we want to make sure your children are in the book! All we ask in return is a gift of canned goods for the St. Joe’s Food Basket drive. If you have questions or need additional information, contact Alexander Eadie ’07 at 716-270-4142 or aeadie@sjci.com. We hope to see you there!