Loyola Magazine Spring 2023

L YOLA

Loyola is committed to providing a rigorous, faith-based college prep academic experience for our students, instilling the Jesuit values that they will carry with them as women and men for others. Your support to The Loyola Fund makes our mission possible.

Annual gifts to The Loyola Fund provide nearly 5% of the school's operating budget, including funding almost one-third of Loyola's tuition assistance program.

Support the Loyola experience and give to The Loyola Fund at goramblers.org/loyolafund.

Scan above to give online and put your gift to work today!

SPRING 2023

Animating the Mission

President Rev Gregory J Ostdiek, SJ

Tim Devine '88

Principal

OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT

Martin G. Jennings '98

Development Chief of Staff and Alumni Relations

OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

Ashley K Sanks '10

Director of Alumni Relations

"Quo Vadis?"

Departing Loyola Academy Principal Charlie Heintz reflects on his 25 years of service at LA. 8

21

Latin for where are you going?, Quo Vadis Day in January offered Ramblers the opportunity to discover, explore, and evaluate their future aspirations with the help of alumni guides.

Thank you, Coach!

A look back at the milestones that defined the legendary career of Head Football Coach John Holecek

In Loving Memory: A Tribute to Frank Amato

26

For over half a century, Coach Amato was one of the rocks of Loyola and helped define the very tradition of the Academy.

30

Senior Showcase

Members of the Class of 2023 reflect on their four years at Loyola

37 bor of Love

Celebrating the service and commitment of Loyola's legacy educators honoring Ms. Joan Dowdle, O'Shaughnessy Program resource teacher.

Leaders in Service

46

Alumni making a difference in their communities featuring William B. McNulty III '95, Marine veteran, social entrepreneur, and head of mission at White Stork

From the Editor

Shelby Walchuk

"I hope you know our motto is not about making you feel good about yourself; it never was It’s about what you do for others. " In his remarks to the Class of 2023 at Loyola's 113th Commencement Exercises in May, Principal Charlie Heintz reminded graduates of the life and legacy of Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, superior general of the Jesuits from 1965 to 1983. "Arrupe was unflinching in his commitment to the promotion of a faith that does justice, the dignity of the human person, and the common good," said Heintz. Years later, this message lives on at Loyola Academy and unites Jesuit schools worldwide: we are called to a life of service for and with others.

COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

Katherine Connor '04

Digital Communications Specialist

Kathryn Cressy

Assistant Communications Manager

Lynn Egan

Director of Communications and Content Management

Shelby Walchuk '05

Associate Director of Communications and Public Relations

DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

Terri Bielinski

Special Events Associate

Kristin Ciarrachi

Data Specialist

Terri Guercio

Assistant Director of Prospect Research

Michael P. Kelley '94

Major Gifts Officer

Lesley J. Seitzinger '88

Director of Development & Major Gifts

Bridget Snyders

Director of Annual Giving

Clarice Swanson '14

Special Events Coordinator

Tammy Tsakalios

Gift Processing Coordinator

Maura Walsh

Annual Giving Coordinator

Mark Warner

Associate Director of Information Strategy

Briana Wells

Director of Special and Philanthropic Events

LOYOLA magazine is published by the Office of Advancement for Loyola Academy alumni, parents, and friends

It is available online at goramblersorg/loyolamagazine

Please send address and email updates, correspondence, and subscription requests to LOYOLA magazine editor Shelby Walchuk '05 at swalchuk@loy.org.

LoyolaAcademyadmitsstudentsofany race,color,andnationalorethnicorigin

'05

Animating the Mission

Principal Charlie Heintz’s impact on Loyola has been profound In his quarter century at the Academy, he has demonstrated a vibrant commitment to our Jesuit mission and a dedication to our students and their families. A gifted Ignatian educator, he has helped a generation of Ramblers find God in all things, care for others, build community, and seek excellence. We are all the beneficiaries of the graceful and generous response that he has made to God’s call.

In your 25 years at Loyola, you’ve held several leadership positions, includi English teacher, assistant dean, dir student activities, assistant princip for the last five years, principal. Du time, what have you learned about leadership in education?

Regardless of the role, I’ve learned people want to be seen, known, and This is true of students, faculty, par and staff. Everyone wants to be see who they are, and this is one of the of our Kairos retreats: I see you, yo matter. The way God loves us is the way we ought to love one another. That's the essence of Christ-centered leadership. It comes from within you to another person. If students are content, satisfied, and confident in who they are, they will be successful. This is true not only in academics, but also in the arts, athletics, and in one’s professional and personal spheres “Happy kids swim fast ” This is a favorite quote of mine from longtime swimming coach and former Executive Vice President Dennis R. Stonequist ’90

Over the course of your time at Loyola, many things have changed: bell schedules, dress codes, and academic requirements, just to name a few. While change is expected and necessary for any organization to thrive, what do you think has stayed the same about LA?

Loyola’s values are core to its mission, and over the years I’ve had different roles that were expected to amplify those values

Coining the acronym “RIPLOC” (religious, intellectually competent, physically fit, loving, open to growth, committed to doing justice) helped people have a dialogue about our school values and what they mean to them personally. We couldn’t talk about them before because no one could remember what they were! As principal, I’ve tried to take those graduation outcomes and turn them into our school values: we find God in all things; we care for others; we build community; we design for excellence. They are aspirational reminders of what we desire to be and how we want to be treated, treat others, and invite people into the experience

In addition to being a longtime Rambler educator, you and your wife, Erin, are also proud Rambler graduate parents of Margaret H. “Maggie” Heintz ’21 and Michaela M. Heintz ’23. What was it like to experience Loyola from the eyes of a parent?

Seeing the school from the other side of the desk, I never wanted to force the experience on my kids, but I wanted them to have an authentic experience of high school. I can’t speak for them, but it was a great privilege to be with them during their high school

years Without a doubt, high school is all about non linear progress Our kids excelled in the classroom, athletics, and formed positive social relationships. It’s a great testament to this community that people allowed Maggie and Michaela to be themselves during their high school years. They got to have a mostly normal experience, and for that I’m grateful…except for when it snowed, and then they were bombarded with requests to ask their dad to have a snow day. Maggie is studying nursing at Fairfield University in Connecticut and Michaela will begin her journey at the University of Notre Dame, where she’ll study business, in the fall I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my wife, Erin, here Erin has graciously and patiently dealt with a husband who lost a lot of sleep over the last five years It takes a significant commitment to live in the same community where you work and have a great amount of influence A special partnership made that happen We always wanted to be a part of vibrant communities. LA has accepted us and helped us fill our cups.

As you depart LA, what makes you most proud?

Building a community of trust; getting people to believe in the value set of a Jesuit school; and trying to animate the mission Certainly this is imperfect work, and work that’s never completed But, collectively, we’ve

been on a continuous improvement cycle for the school We’ve improved the quality of our facilities, the expectations for students, the caliber of our faculty and staff, and I’m most proud that we did it together. Even in the hardest of times, in the thick of the pandemic, those are the moments when we saw the power of this community. If we didn’t trust each other it never would have worked.

As a native of New York City, moving on from LA to become principal of Regis Jesuit High School in Manhattan will be a return home for you after many years in the midwest. What are you most looking forward to when you return to the East Coast?

Pizza, bagels, Chinese food, and the NY Mets In that order Both Erin and I grew up in New York, and we still have a lot of family and friends in the area We love what the city has to offer culturally, it’s the capital of the country (and world!) in some ways. We love the diversity and how New York forces you to be outdoors and amongst the people. Leaving Loyola is hard, but Regis is another Jesuit school that has a pulse. It's a special place that is different in many ways from Loyola, but it has the same core values. Like LA, the people are incredibly dedicated and generous, committed to the mission.

Celebrating the 65th Annual President's Dinner

In November, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends gathered to celebrate the 65th annual President's Dinner at Amazing Space @ 625 in Chicago's West Loop. The evening honored Ellen S. and Peter G. Leemputte '75 with the 2022 Rev. Daniel A. Lord, SJ, Award for Distinguished Service in the Cause of Youth. In their remarks, the Leemputtes celebrated the tireless work of Loyola's faculty and staff to advance Loyola’s Jesuit mission.

Loyola provides an important and caring environment where values are imparted in every class, with a focus on service to others. They help our children learn to form their own thoughts and positions not just follow the crowd...The Jesuits help teach our children how to think critically and how to lead.

Ellen S. Leemputte

Distinguished Service in the Cause of Youth: The Leemputtes accept the 2022 Lord Award from Loyola Academy President Rev. Gregory J. Ostdiek, SJ, at the President's Dinner on November 4, 2022.

Lord Award recipients all share an unwavering commitment to the formation of young people:

2022

Ellen S and Peter G Leemputte '75

In Good Company ‘‘

2021

The Dorothy M and Edward J Wehmer '72 Family

2019

Sr Paulanne Held, OSF

2018

The Barbara and Robert P Perkaus Jr '54 Family

2017

Boys Hope Girls Hope

2016

Mr. Joseph R. Taylor

For a complete list of Loyola's past Lord Award recipients, visit goramblers org/presidentsdinner

Ellen and I have always felt that giving to support education is not a one-time gift; it’s the gift that keeps on giving because you can help someone decide what they want to do for the rest of their life; you can open doors to collegiate education, and you can see this impact for generations.

Peter G

Leemputte '75

Did you know? In 1963, Loyola Academy established the Rev. Daniel A. Lord, SJ, Award to honor those who have provided distinguished service in the cause of youth. Fr. Lord (1888–1955) believed in young people and he worked tirelessly with the youth of his day, inspired by their energy and their idealism.

Scan here to watch Ellen and Peter Leemputte '75 accept the 2022 Lord Award.

"This piece is part of a larger body of work investigating sisterhood this one focusing on the more positive bond one has with a sister," says Helena Kavanagh '23. "I also focused on hyper realism to really bring out the emotion you find in the details of life." Helena is a student in Mrs. Colleen Aufderheide’s AP Studio Art and Design class.

Over 250 parents gathered for the Ramble Rouser on January 28, officially kicking off the 2023 Ramble season. Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed meeting fellow Rambler parents and sampling tailgate-themed appetizers, including pulled pork sandwiches, chicken wings, mini crab cakes, potato skins, fruit kabobs, and a special trail mix bar full of salty and sweet snacks.

Back by popular demand: the Rouser bags tournament! The tournament paired up players at random to encourage new friendships, and winners went home with their own exclusive LA-branded bags set. Congratulations to our 2023 champions: Brice Deer P '25 and Marty Murray P '21, '24

Thank you to our event chairs and committee members! (l-r) Wendy Reitz, Stacy Fitzgerald, Maureen Loftus, Amy Loch, Stacy Schicke, Linnea Sprang, and Samuel Abbassi.

Quo Vadis?

Latin for where are you going?, Quo Vadis Day on January 27 offered Ramblers the opportunity to discover, explore, and evaluate their future aspirations. "Quo Vadis taps into the power of the Loyola Academy parent and alumni networks to provide students with a road map of inspiration as they prepare for the next step in their journey," explains Assistant Principal Mrs. Terri S. Jackson, who collaborated with Development Chief of Staff & Alumni Relations Mr. Marty Jennings '98 to organize the program. The day included a blend of large forum-style keynote addresses interspersed with small "career conversation" workshops. In total, over sixty Rambler parents and alumni from industries as diverse as healthcare and law to business and journalism spent the day on campus engaging with students and sharing their educational and professional paths and helpful advice along the way

Together, Ms. Janet Hayes P ’23, ’23, CEO of Crate and Barrel Holdings, and Mrs. Mary Dillon P ’13, ’17, president and CEO of FootLocker, kicked off the day as keynote speakers, addressing the student body in the West Gym in a panel moderated by Bryant McCray '12, a reporter with CBS 58 in Milwaukee They emphasized the importance of hard work, taking risks, and welcoming unexpected twists and opportunities along one’s professional journey.

Following the morning’s keynote address, freshman students heard from Mrs. Julie Schaefer P ’20, ’22, owner and chief advisor of Winning Presence, which helps companies drive performance through leadership communications. Sophomores attended a presentation by Dr. Mark C. Reed, president of Loyola University Chicago.

"My favorite element of Quo Vadis was being able to witness first-hand the power of the Rambler alumni network and the diverse panel. Seeing these elements from people that looked like me motivated me and gave me hope to what my future could look like "

Thank You

to the parents and alumni who so generously shared their time with our students!

Kyle Alvares '16

Jamie Baisley '92

Diana Barr

Dan Bellino '96

Katina Burke '14

Chris Canning '81

Molly Cinnamon

Steve Conway '09

Joe Cook '97

Tom Craddock '92

Dick Devine '61

Anna Devine

Tim Duet '91

Evan Fray '10

Bill Forsyth

Kristy Gibbs

Ken Gillig '00

Chris Griesmeyer '92

David Haracz '79

Kathy Zebracki Jefson '96

Melinda Jordan

Cynthia King

Genevieve LeFevour Kosoko '99

Darren Kriston

Peter Lee '97

Mayode Oluwole '25

Gabriella Littleton '04

Mike Lowe '97

Jim Lyman '79

Jonathan Maks '89

Alex Maragos '09

Bryant McCray '12

Bill McIntosh '57

Erin Melley

Erika Mickelburgh

Jake Miller '12

Maureen Miller

Mark Momongan '89

Michael Monticello '85

Michael Murray '89

Michael Nelson

Drew Nieman '73

Emmy Ocwieja '13

Nancy Paridy

Chris Phenner '90

Chris Pickering '85

Joe Roddy '82

Maddy Ryder '15

Jimmy Samartzis '94

Valerie Schmidt

Stephen Schrantz

Logan Spurlin '12

Katie Tess '03

Christopher Waltman

Kevin Willer '92

At the same time, juniors and seniors attended “career conversations,” which were small group conversations hosted in classrooms around the school. In the weeks leading up to Quo Vadis Day, all students had the chance to indicate their top three career preferences from a list that included accounting, advertising, arts & entertainment, education, engineering, healthcare, information technology, law, real estate, and more. Based on their preferences, students were then assigned to career conversations, hosted by an alum or parent speaker. After lunch and a STEAM fair in the East Gym, where students learned about courses, clubs, colleges, and careers in STEAM fields, freshmen and sophomores attended career conversations of their own.

To wind down a day packed with learning and exploration, students returned to their home base classrooms for some reflection time. A turn & talk exercise gave students the opportunity to share what they learned with their neighbors. The day closed with a prayer of the daily Examen and gratitude for the parents and alumni that so generously shared their time with our students.

This photograph was taken by Sophie Wilhelm '24, a student in Mrs. Masooma Hussain's Photography 1 course.

Rambler Sampler

Gina Li '23

Hometown: Waukegan

Grade School: St. Anastasia School

College and Major: University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign Business

My Dreams for the Future...

To go to a college which I love and meet people/create new friendships, major in something that incorporates my interests in business and art/design, and travel to different parts of the world (especially Europe).

The Greatest Lesson I've Learned at Loyola...

Is not to be afraid to take risks and put yourself out there. Through friendships, clubs, cocurriculars, etc., my time at Loyola has taught me to not be afraid to do more.

My Most Influential Teacher...

Mrs Nugent, my sophomore year English teacher, who was loving, funny, and caring During hybrid learning, she made class entertaining and understood the needs of her students. Overall she taught me to be a better reader, writer, and learner.

Clubs and Leadership Roles Held: Loyola Academy Service Team (LAST), Ambassadors, Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society, Insignis Other Hobbies and Interests: Art and cooking/baking

"AP Language and Composition is one of my favorite classes this year From writing in-class essays to group discussions, I am challenged academically yet always entertained I especially love this class because of the people. Both my peers and my teacher, Mrs. Colleen Whelan, are the main reasons why I look forward to 6th period English The energy is always amazing, and I love how close-knit we all are "

"LAST (Loyola Academy Service Team) gives me the amazing opportunity to work with other students to plan and organize service projects. This spring, we organized a carnival that we hosted for students at Maternity BVM We held a bake sale to raise money for prizes for the children. During the carnival, I loved seeing the look on the kids' faces when they played a game and won a prize I am so glad that I get to be a part of this incredible club " Gina is pictured with Payton Lee '23 (center) and Malina Mandel '23 (right)

"I have been drawing ever since I was little This year I am taking AP Studio Art, and I love the freedom to explore a theme of my choice My inquiry is about the negative effects of social media on my life. I am exploring the impact social media has made on me, from subtopics such as daily habits and self-esteem " Gina (left) is pictured with Helena

"This is my second year doing LA Tank, and I absolutely love this program I have learned so much from my experience, from public speaking to teamwork I plan on entering the business field in the future, and LA Tank was the perfect opportunity for me to grow as a student and person." Gina is pictured with Helena Kavanagh '23

and

Kavanagh '23

"I always look forward to Honors Spanish 4 From group work to individual study to cortometrajes (short films), Profe Tommy Gordon '08 (center) always has something exciting planned."

(left)

Emmy Panagakis '23 (right)

Shortly after classes resumed from Christmas break in January, the Loyola Academy school community gathered for an assembly in the West Gym to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a presentation on The Loyola Project, a documentary film that highlights the 1963 Loyola University men’s basketball NCAA champion team.

Woven together with archival footage and modern day interviews, this documentary tells the inspiring story, often called the greatest untold story in college basketball, of the team’s journey to victory and honors their important legacy of breaking racial barriers and ushering in the beginning of modern basketball.

Joining our students for an exclusive presentation and Q&A session were the following panelists: Patrick Creadon, the film’s director; Dr. Nona Martin Storr, nationally renowned expert and professor at George Mason University; Dr. Gary Sailes, associate professor emeritus at Indiana University and a sports industry consultant; and Chuck Wood, member of the famed 1963 team. The panelists were introduced by Koffi Abini ’23, manager of Loyola’s varsity boys’ basketball team.

At the beginning of the presentation, Mr. Creadon asked students to think about the idea of being marginalized. “Examining why some people are marginalized compared to other people is at the heart of this story,” he explained.

Mr. Wood, a former national champion, recalled a time when the team, composed of both Black and White players, was refused dinner at a restaurant in Virginia “We didn’t talk about social issues back then. We accepted what was given to us,” he said and encouraged Ramblers to do the opposite. “Talk to your parents and your grandparents about what they experienced and what they remember.”

Inspiring Current Students: (l-r) Chuck Wood, Dr Gary Sailes, Koffi Abini '23, Dr Nona Martin Storr, Envi Madden '25, Patrick Creadon, and Fr. Greg Ostdiek, SJ

Dr. Sailes, who has published extensively on the topic of sports diversity, explained that marginalization affects us all: “The only way to eradicate it is to recognize that it hurts all of us. Is it ever going away? It will be a challenge I’m hoping you guys are racial leaders and gatekeepers to shape the culture and racial landscape of our country.”

Providing some additional context about the plight faced by the 1963 players, Dr. Martin Storr, whose masters thesis covers the 1963 basketball season and its role in changing the landscape of college basketball, asked students to consider the adversity the players faced: in addition to the pressures of being student-athletes, they faced the additional pressure of activism

After the presentation, a small group of students, which included the captains from the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams, had the opportunity to meet the presenters.

“As a Catholic, Jesuit community we are called to continue to work for racial and economic justice and to honor those who have been heroes in the civil rights movement,” says Sarah Bennett, director of diversity, equity & inclusion. “We were thrilled to have members of the team and the filmmakers present to share their story and to inspire each of us to create a more just and equitable society.”

Malina Mandel '23, Margot Burm '24, and Kate Sipchen '24 take center stage as Tanya, Donna, and Rosie in the production of Loyola's fall musical, Mamma Mia!

MAMMA MIA!

November 11–13, 2022

ABBA's timeless songs propelled this enchanting tale of love, laughter, and friendship, creating an unforgettable show.

The 2022–2023 school year marked the first theatrical season in the new McGrath Family Performing Arts Center, home to the Leemputte Family Theater. The state-of-the-art space enabled the Loyola Academy Department of Performing Arts and Thespian Troupe 4729 to create two spectacular shows to the delight of sold out crowds.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

March 24–26, 2023

Alice, a young and curious girl, follows a white rabbit into a world of wonders and encounters some of the strangest and most peculiar creatures while there.

Since the first Jesuit school opened nearly five centuries ago, the Jesuits have understood that the arts play an important role in the enrichment of the human spirit and the development of creative thinkers with the potential to transform society in positive ways. The arts matter for every student at Loyola.

Rambler Sampler Kwame Boateng '23

Hometown: Uptown Chicago

Grade School: St. Thomas Canterbury College and Major: Middlebury College Engineering

My Dreams for the Future...

My dreams for the future are to become an engineer and be able to travel the world whenever I can.

The Greatest Lesson I've Learned at Loyola...

The greatest lesson I've learned at Loyola is to always be open minded.

My Most Influential Person at LA...

Coach Lorenza Stephens (soccer) taught me to always be myself, to adapt, and most importantly to work hard. My Cocurriculars and Leadership Roles: Boys Youth Group (BYG), vice president; Soccer, and Track & Field

Other Hobbies and Interests: Reading and gaming

"For the past four years, I’ve been part of African American Youth Group (AAYG) As a freshman, it gave me a community in which I could fall back on In addition, it really allowed me to open up in so many ways. For example, we have discussions about ongoing problems in the world Since the beginning, our moderator, Ms. Beatrice Shoular, has always encouraged us to voice our opinion, and I’ve been progressively sharing my own ideas and values."

"AP Psychology with Mrs. Katherine Axelrad has been one of my favorite classes this year With the different things we learn each day and its fast pace, the class always has something to look forward to."

"What I like about Mediation Club is the break I get to relax without having to worry about school In the 25-30 minutes I get to meditate, time has no hold on me and it's just me and my inner thoughts And there’s no doubt that I've been victim to a good nap after falling asleep during my meditation "

"As the vice president of Boys Youth Group (BYG), I really value the community that I have been able to establish It’s a safe place where we relax and are able to share support for one another. In my mind it’s a brotherhood The moments we have had are, to me, timeless Very much like in this picture, where we performed at I-Night in February We did a hip hop dance, which we put together ourselves I couldn’t be more proud of the outcome "

"In Honors World Literature, Mr. Michael Gombac really pushes us to do our best writing and analysis He is a hard teacher, no doubt about that, but he also gives you strong and critical feedback that has really helped develop the way I think when I am writing and reading material "

"This piece is representative of the vastness encapsulated within the feeling of abandonment," says Sophia Close '23, a student in Mrs. Colleen

Aufderheide's AP Studio Art and Design course. "The trees tower over the barely visible figure, encompassing her in their largeness. The piece is silent, devoid of any life, save the tiny figure, whose feeble lantern is dwarfed by the darkness surrounding her."

2022IHSA8ASTATECHAMPIONS!

The varsity football team defeated the Lincoln-Way East Griffins

13–3 on Saturday, November 26, to become the 2022 IHSA 8A State Champions! This is the program's fourth state championship the third under Coach John Holecek (2015, 2018, 2022)

Congratulations to the entire team, Coach Holecek and his staff, and team captains, Jake Stearney '23 (Colgate University), Jack Fitzgerald '23 (Northwestern University), Johnny McGuire '23 (Northwestern University), and Brooks Bahr '23 (University of Michigan), on a perfect ending to an incredible 13–1 season.

Soon after the Ramblers won the 2022 IHSA 8A state championship, longtime Head Football Coach John Holecek announced his departure from Loyola Academy to focus on the next chapter of his career During his 17 years at Loyola, Holecek distinguished himself as one of the top high school football coaches in the United States, leading the Ramblers to seven IHSA 8A state final appearances (2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022) and securing three state championship titles (2015, 2018, 2022). Under his direction and leadership, Holecek’s teams have made it to the playoffs every year since arriving at LA in 2006. Holecek, who lives in Glenview with his wife, Patty, and their three sons, Jake ’20, Nick ’22, and Luke ’23, has not yet shared specifics of his future plans. Best wishes and go Ramblers!

"Coach Holecek has been a fiercely competitive coach, but also a uniquely humble leader who always models respect, gratitude, and appreciation for the opportunity to compete. His commitment to our Jesuit mission and his tireless dedication to form young men into leaders on and off the field has been just as significant as his success on the field. His leadership has impacted thousands of young men over the years. "

Genevieve Atwood Vice President for Athletics and Fitness

185 Total wins (The most in LA history!)

By the numbers 9 CCL titles 36 Total losses 84% Win % 3 State titles

17 Consecutive playoffs

7 State finals

2022–2023AthleticHighlights

Girls' Wrestling

Harlee Hiller '25 won the IHSA girls' wrestling individual championship Harlee is Loyola's first girls' wrestling champion and the second wrestling state champion in program history Her season record was 34-5 in which she was undefeated against girls competition.

Last year, as a freshman, Harlee took 3rd place in state.

Boys' Wrestling

Massey Odiotti '23 became the first wrestling state champion in LA history when he won the IHSA 3A 120 lbs title.

Kai Calcutt '26 took 2nd place in state at 220 lbs as a freshman, becoming the first freshman in program history to place at the state championship.

Go Ramblers!

2023IHSA STATECHAMPIONS!

2022–2023AthleticHighlights

Girls' Basketball

IHSA Regional Champions

Girls' Cross Country

IHSA Regional Champions

GCAC Champions

Football

IHSA 8A State Champions

Boys' Golf

CCL Champions

Girls' Golf

GCAC Champions

Boys' Lacrosse

Boys' Soccer

CCL Champions

Girls' Soccer

IHSA Regional Champions

Boys' Tennis

CCL Champions

Boys' Track & Field

Indoor CCL Champions

Outdoor CCL Championship

Girls' Track & Field

Indoor GCAC Champions

Outdoor GCAC Champions

IHSA Sectional Champions Boys' Volleyball

Girls' Lacrosse

IHSA State Champions

Rowing

IHSA Regional Champions

Girls' Volleyball

IHSA 4A Sectional Champions

Men's Varsity 8: 2nd in the Midwest regionals, 3rd in the nation

Women's Varsity 8: 2nd in Midwest regionals, 12th in the nation

Women's Junior Varsity: 2nd in the Midwest regionals

Women's Frosh 8: 3

signing on the DOTTED LINE

We are proud to celebrate the 63 Rambler student-athletes who signed letters of intent to compete at the collegiate level!

Baseball

George Haracz, University of Massachusets Boston

Connor Lasch, Concordia University Wisconsin

Michael Southard, Concordia University Wisconsin

Basketball

Alex Engro, Army West Point

Charlie Tierney, Fork Union Prep School

Cheer

Hannah Hughes, The University of Iowa

Haryu Wooten, Marquette University

Crew

Gus Berne, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Sophia Close, Georgetown University

Carissa Cochico, The University of Iowa

Anya Cominos, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Sophia D'Ascenzo, University of Kansas

Yanna Grammas, Georgetown University

Emmy Panagakis, Duke University

Katelyn Passino, University of Virginia

Olivia Rucker, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Oles Walo, Syracuse University

Cross Country/Track & Field

Emmy Christopher, Middlebury College

Makena Coltoff, Marquette University

Ellie Grammas, Southern Methodist University

Football

Brooks Bahr, University of Michigan

Will Emerson, Trinity College (Connecticut)

Jack Fitzgerald, Northwestern University

Declan Ford, Colorado School of Mines

Kyan Gibbs, University of Miami

Gabriel Gyorgy, Indiana Wesleyan University

Michael Kostantonov, University of Missouri

Thomas McCauley, St Norbert College

John McGuire, Northwestern University

Panayiotis Mihalopoulos, Eastern Illinois University

Brady Moffitt, Denison University

Jack Parker, Western Michigan University

Gabriel Petrozzi, Case Western Reserve University

Jake Stearney, Colgate University

Claude Strnad, Illinois State University

Jack Wetoska, DePauw University

Golf

Ryan Banas, Marquette University

Hockey

Maddie Quinn, St. Michael's College Vermont

Lacrosse

Easton Bello, Colby College

Dottie Ghislandi, Middlebury College

Nate Schwitzenberg, University of Notre Dame

Luke Bobby, Nazareth College

Derek Brier, Wabash College

Eileen Dooley, Marquette University

Charley Dore, Augustana College

Armario Hill, Thomas More College

Riley Jenkins, Marquette University

Jameson Kane, Ithaca College

Soccer

Jason Brunger, Carroll University

Emmy Christopher, Middlebury College

Liam Drehkoff, Skidmore College

Eva Pattison, The University of Iowa

Emily Pikarski, University of St. Thomas

Ellianna Seeley, Northern Michigan University

Emma Shaffer, Calvin University

Oliver Szorc, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Joey Vehovsky, DePauw University

Softball

Mercedes Delgado, Maryville University

Eileen Hein, Alfred University

Maureen Kinsella, University of New England

Swimming

Will Gardy, DePauw University

Volleyball

Ava Bogan, Cornell University

Catherine Burke, Penn State University

Maria Stevens, DePauw University

In Loving Memory

1966

Frank Amato is hired to teach physical education and coach football and track at Loyola Academy Shortly thereafter, he takes the reins of the track and field program in the winter of 1967

1985

After years of steadfast leadership, Coach Amato is inducted into both the Chicago Catholic League Hall of Fame and the Illinois Track and Field Coaches Hall of Fame

1996

Coach takes the lead of the girls’ program. Success quickly follows, with thirteen GCAC crowns, multiple GCAC champions and state qualifiers, and three All-State honors

2006

In recognition of decades of distinguished service to Loyola and its young women and men, Frank and his wife, Alice, are honored with the Rev. Daniel A. Lord, SJ, Award.

2009

Loyola's new track is renamed the Amato Track in honor of Coach and the program he built.

2011

In his 60th year as a coach, Amato caps a legendary career in dramatic fashion with the news of his selection by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association as National Coach of the Year for Boys' Track and Field.

2013

After 47 years of extraordinary leadership, Coach Amato retires He has led the Ramblers to 31 indoor and outdoor CCL championships over the years To honor their beloved coach, a group of alumni, spearheaded by Robert C. Shwarze '80, establish the Frank J. Amato Track and Field Award.

2018

Coach is named the recipient of the Sports Faith International All Star High School Lifetime Achievement Award

This winter, Loyola Academy mourned the loss of longtime educator, mentor, coach, and friend Francis J "Frank" Amato, who passed away on January 28, 2023, at age 96 In the fall of 1966, Coach Amato came to Loyola, hired to teach physical education and coach football and track What followed, in the nearly six decades since, was an extraordinary tenure as coach, teacher, and administrator. Coach built an unrivaled career marked by exceptional achievement to be sure, but, more importantly, by a generosity of spirit, a quiet dignity, and an authentic paternal presence. For over half a century, Coach Amato was one of the rocks of Loyola Academy, a constant that helped define the very tradition and the spirit of the Academy.

Mr. Daniel Seeberg ’75, who competed for Coach Amato in the 1970s, returned to Loyola to coach alongside Frank and teach English for fortyone years. “Frank Amato meant so much to so many of us and in no small way shaped and altered our young lives, and helped us become the men and women we have become. I know that is true for me,” Seeberg says. “It was my good fortune to spend many, many hours with him over the years riding buses, planning practices, coaching our kids, celebrating good days, enjoying dinners and drinks and laughter, listening to his old stories and creating some of our own I loved him like a father I’m absolutely certain that there are many others who feel the same way about him and his place in their lives "

Frank stepped onto the campus of Loyola Academy for the first time fiftyseven years ago It was the fall of 1966, and Frank was forty years old It was a good fit from the start, as Frank felt that Loyola’s emphasis on service to others and educating the whole person meshed well with his own values. He settled in for the long haul, despite a number of offers from other schools as the decades came and went.

When Frank took the reins of Loyola’s track and field program in the winter of 1967, there was much work to be done to lift the program to the next level. For indoor track, he had nothing more than a gym balcony, stairs, and hallways in which to train his troops.

Francis J. "Frank" Amato 1926–2023

Outdoors, he had a poorly maintained cinder track and not much else. And so he went to work. He and his assistants, Hall of Famers Fr. Bob Bueter, SJ, and Art Morelli '65, personally leveled, rolled, and lined the cinder track, and, when necessary, used coffee cans to rid the track of puddles after a hard rain Together, they did their business the Catholic League way they outworked everybody else

Along the way, Frank created a program that for 47 straight years has been a consistent, highly-respected competitor, a perennial contender vying for indoor and outdoor titles in CCL competition while producing a glittering array of top-notch track and field athletes It was Frank’s stewardship of Loyola’s track and field fortunes that became his signature accomplishment as a coach. In a sport with 18 different events and several very specialized disciplines, Frank built a reputation for fielding a well-prepared, balanced ensemble year in and year out. In one of the longest sustained careers in Illinois coaching history, Frank not only built Loyola into a Catholic League powerhouse, but also was instrumental in the development of the girls' track program with 13 GCAC crowns and multiple GCAC champions and state qualifiers and he started the GCAC indoor championship meet.

“Coach Amato influenced countless Rambler athletes, colleagues, parents, and even opposing coaches,” reflects Loyola Academy Director of Research & Technology Mr. David A. Behof ’92, who ran for Coach Amato in the late 1980s and early 1990s Today, Dave also serves as an assistant cross country and track coach “His belief in each athlete he coached led them to believe in themselves and excel on the field, on the track, and in life Pre-meet talks including the themes of ‘competing versus participating’ and ‘the standards and traditions of Loyola Academy’ unite decades of Loyola Academy track athletes "

As we celebrate the life and legacy of Frank Amato, we would be remiss to leave out Alice Amato, who worked in Loyola’s business office for 28 years, beginning in 1970. She and Frank raised five children: Frank Jr. ’69, Tony ’71, Mary Frances, John ’76, and Ann. In June 2021, they celebrated 70 years of marriage. Alice passed away just months before Frank in July 2022. Together, Alice and Frank Amato have left an indelible impression on the hearts and minds of those who are lucky enough to have known them.

On Saturday, May 6, members of the Loyola Academy community celebrated Ramble 2023: The Grace of Giving. Thanks to the generosity of Loyola parents, alumni, and friends supporting our Tuition Assistance Program, we were able to raise over $1M for our Ramblers! Your support makes a difference in the lives of many of our students, thank you.

We were honored to have Rambler alumna and textile artist Maria J. Varela '16 share her personal story of how the culture and mission of Loyola Academy shaped her creative journey Maria discussed the importance of tuition assistance and emphasized that her experience as a Rambler would not have been possible without the generosity of those who support LA

A special thank you to our Ramble 2023 Live Auction Committee members:

Diana Barr P '21, '23

Lori and Robert Benvenuto P '19, '22, '23, '25

Lori and George Chiampas '89 P '21, '23

Dody and Peter Hickey P '26

Monica and Nick Robertson P '24

Karen Stroble and Chris Irwin P '16, '23

Scan here to listen to Maria's inspirational remarks at Ramble

Before pulling raffle ticket winners, Loyola Academy Principal Charlie Heintz addresses guests at Ramble 2023 while incoming Principal Tim Devine '88 looks on

Maria J. Varela '16 shares the impact of tuition assistance and the transformative power of her Loyola Academy education

2023.

SHOWCASE

We asked members of the Class of 2023 to reflect on their four years at Loyola, which began in the Fall of 2019.

Despite the many challenges and uncertainties that would follow in the months and years to come, the Class of 2023 has emerged as leaders, well prepared for the next chapter of their lives and poised to make their mark on the world We welcome the following Ramblers, and the entire Class of 2023, as the newest members of the Loyola Academy alumni network!

Koffi Abini

Business & Political Science

University of Missouri

"The Loyola community has been a vital part of my growth, not just academically, but spiritually and as a person "

MadeleineAlshouse

Business

University of Notre Dame

"The girls I met during my time on the cross country team are lifelong friends, women who have and will continue to build each other up and push each other to be the best they can be."

EastonBello

Neuroscience

Colby College

"Mr. Devine and Mrs. Whelan had the biggest impact on me...because they are extremely good role models They have prepared me greatly for the rest of my life by expecting the best from me and allowing me to improve "

MaggieBraasch

Biology

Michigan State University

"Summer service, Kairos, and Arrupe were all spiritually awakening experiences for me and helped me grow as a person. I am so grateful that Campus Ministry offered so many opportunities that strengthened my faith and helped me grow "

BradenCarlin

Business

Indiana University

"I've had so many influences here at Loyola If I had to pick one I would have to pick Mr Gregg He helped me develop a spiritual side of me I would've never found without him and the entire Campus Ministry department as a whole "

SeanCronin

Business

SantaClaraUniversity

"Loyolaisacommunitylikeno other.I'velearnedtopounce oneveryopportunitythatI makeformyselforIcome across I'vecometoputmyself inuncomfortablesituations insteadofsettling.I'vegrown tobeanambitiousstudent ratherthanapassiveone"

BrendanDavoren

BiomedicalEngineering& Biomechanics

MarquetteUniversity

"OnethingIamconstantly gratefulforistheLoyola Academyfootballprogram. Thevaluesimplementedby coachesandstaffhave providedmewithlifelong lessonsthatcarrythemselves beyondthefield Ihavemet somanyoutstandingpeople, formedsomanyvaluable friendships,andmadeso manyunforgettable memories"

BerkleyDorsten

Biology,Bioethics,& ArtHistory

FordhamUniversity

"Oneofthecoursesthathad themostimpactonmewas myAPArtHistoryclass sophomoreyear Itreallyhas mademeappreciateartfor whatitisandhowitcanbe usedtosendmessages,make statements,orcelebrate importantevents"

EllieGrammas

Applied Physiology & Sports Management

Southern Methodist University

"I am grateful for the many experiences Loyola has provided me. One that stands out is the opportunity to give back Some of my greatest memories here at Loyola have been from participation in service My service has helped me shape my character into the person I am today. I think this makes Loyola an incredibly special place "

AllegraHamacher

Molecular Engineering & Economics

The University of Chicago

"My teachers and coaches motivated me in and outside of the classroom, while my teammates and peers supported and encouraged me The Loyola community has had a great influence and has allowed me to grow into who I am today "

Universityof SouthernCalifornia

"Iamsogratefulforthe warmandlovingcommunity thatLoyolahasprovidedme withthepastfouryears Asa freshman,Ididnotknow verymanypeople,butnowI havefriendshipsthatwilllast mealifetime"

University of Notre Dame

"I have been so blessed to have a unique lifelong experience at Loyola, and I will be forever indebted to all that this community has offered me and my family "

KateGinn Economics

MichaelaHeintz Business

Boston College

"I believe that my Justice Seminar teacher Mr Clark was most influential in my experience as a Rambler. Not only did he teach me about important issues of inequality in our society, but he also helped to engage me as a student and spark my ideas in the classroom "

LukeHughes

International Politics, Religion, Ethics, and World Affairs

Georgetown University

"Although a huge focus is on the community aspect, Loyola does a great job allowing each person to display their unique gift The school helps everyone find a way to shine."

"MycounselorMrs.Shapiro hasmadeahugeimpacton mylife Shehashelpedme withsomanyproblemsand remindedmewhoIreally was"

"APSpanishLiteratureand Culturehasopenedmyeyes tothewonderfulworldof literature,whichIhad previouslydismissed That courseintroducedmeto someofmyfavoriteauthors, anditencouragedmetokeep anopenmindwithrespectto literature Iwasneveranavid readerpriortoAPSpanish Lit,butthisyearIboughtand readseveralclassicbooks I'veenjoyedeachone"

MiamiUniversityOhio

"Fromclassestoclubsand sports,Iamalwaysinteracting withandgettingtoknownew classmatesandfaculty Iam gratefulformyteammates becausewithoutthem,we wouldnotbeabletoreachour goalsandwinstate championships Iam appreciativeofallthe opportunitiesLoyolahasgiven metoworkwithnewpeople"

"Iwasalwaysgreetedbyat leastone'goodmorning' everydaybyteachersor securityguardsandthismade mymornings Everyonewas alwayssmilingatyouwalking downthehallwaysmaking youfeellikeyoubelonged andwantedtobethere"

BenHowland Neuroscience

JoeLeVitus SecondaryEducation (Mathematics) CreightonUniversity

MaureenKinsella Nursing UniversityofNewEngland

MichaelMcNaughton Business

DianaMoreno Biology,pre-med UniversityofIllinois atChicago

"I am grateful for my teachers who have pushed me to output my best work and my friends for making these four years fun."

"I am grateful to all my teachers for the impact they have had on me They have taught me to think critically, to write with clarity, and to understand not only how the world works under a microscope but also to conceptualize the forces that make it work as a whole "

"I am most proud of my involvement in the Dumbach Scholars Honor Program I have been exposed to a new side of the arts that I would have never seen otherwise as most of my academic interest involved STEM and math or sciences "

"I am grateful for the whole LA community The friends I have made, their families, and the faculty and staff at Loyola have given me countless opportunities for my future and I cannot say thank you enough."

"In my four years at Loyola, I have been fortunate to have had so many caring teachers, counselors, coaches, moderators, and other positive influences Every teacher I've had has a true love for teaching and wants their students to succeed."

"Twoofthemanypeople whohaveshapedmyLoyola experienceareMs.Jackson andMs.Bennett.Ihavehad theprivilegeofknowing thembothprimarilythrough theBowmanScholars Programforfirst-generation students Theyhavebeen peoplewhoreallyshowed bothmeandmyparentsthat wehaveaplaceatLoyola Academydespitethemany barrierspresented"

RyanNieman Architecture Washington University in St Louis

EmmyPanagakis Economics (Finance) Duke University

OliviaRucker Business University of Wisconsin-Madison

GabrielPetrozzi Computer Science Case Western Reserve University

MargaretSullivan Marketing & Advertising University of Kansas

GuadalupeVazquez EnvironmentalEngineering HarvardUniversity

Celebrating our 113th Commencement Exercises

On Saturday, May 20, Loyola Academy celebrated its 113th Commencement Exercises at Northwestern University's Welsh-Ryan Arena With family and friends present, 476 members of the Class of 2023 gathered one last time as classmates and departed as Loyola alumni. Valedictorian John Patrick Mraz Fitzgerald '23 gave an uplifting address to his classmates: "We are all being sent out into the world, but we can always return to our community at Lake and Laramie. Because at the end of the day, Loyola is not a place; it is a people. It is the students, faculty, staff, and alumni that make Loyola what it is

You may be a Hoosier, Eagle, or a Hawkeye tomorrow, but you will always be a Rambler. So, I say to you, Class of 2023: Give the world all that you got. Now is the time to be women and men for others, lift others up with you, and give the world all that you have."

"This is a photo of my friend Omod Opiti '24. I was trying to show his upbeat personality and how that coordinates to the warm weather," says Emmanuel Asare '24, who used a photo filter to add a watercolor-like effect and a border to accentuate the colors Emmanuel is a student in Mrs Leslie Yatabe's Photography I class

Fast Facts

NUMBER OF YEARS AT LA

CURRENT ROLE

O'SHAUGHNESSY PROGRAM

RESOURCE TEACHER

PREVIOUS ROLES

DIRECTOR OF OSH

TENNIS COACH

(GIRLS’ JV + VARSITY)

PADDLE CLUB MODERATOR

SCUBA CLUB MODERATOR

HOMETOWN/

CURRENT TOWN

NORTHFIELD/ CHICAGO

EDUCATION

VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY

BA IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO

MEd IN SCHOOL COUNSELING

To read the full interview, visit goramblers.org/laboroflove

"Loyola is a community in every sense of the word. People care about each other here, and the relationships formed with colleagues, students, and parents continue to mean a great deal to me. "

JoinusinwishingMs.Joan Dowdleaveryhappyretirement after35remarkableyearsof servicetoLA!

Ms. Joan M. Dowdle

What makes Loyola Academy a special place? Without a doubt, the people are what make Loyola the place that it is. We have incredible, dedicated teachers and staff who believe in students and care about them beyond academics Loyola is a community in every sense of the word. People care about each other here, and the relationships formed with colleagues, students, and parents continue to mean a great deal to me

What book changed your life?

Learning How to Learn by Barbara Oakley changed my teaching and emphasis on learning skills as it is important and impactful for students to know how their brains work to make learning more efficient and lasting.

If not currently in your role, what do you think you'd be doing instead?

Teaching is the only career I ever considered, and I can't imagine having spent the majority of my career anywhere but Loyola

What advice do you have for students today?

Be curious about the world. Meet as many people as you can at Loyola. Understand that your interests and passions will change, so be open to the many opportunities which Loyola provides Talk to your teachers about your struggles as they care about you as people and not just students. Make time for reading, for reflection, for time spent outdoors. Give yourself a daily break from technology, and don't have phones in your room when you sleep Be kind to yourself and all you meet Remember to put God first and everything else will fall into place.

2012: Joan pictured at graduation with her niece, Alena A. Dowdle '12.

2019: With O'Shaughnessy Program colleagues L-R: Molly Harris RIP, Joan Dowdle, Sara Cagle, and Molly Ostergaard

Celebrating the service and commitment of Loyola's legacy educators

Coach Dowdle with Amy Babington '03 (left) and Grace Gordon '03 (right) at a tennis tournament in 2002

1989: Joan reviews a math assignment with Mr. Jim Camardella

2023: Receiving the Fausone Medal at the Sending Forth Mass in May. L-R: Principal Charlie Heintz, Joan Dowdle, President Rev Gregory J Ostdiek, SJ

Notes CLASS

Alumni write in from across the country and around the globe

1950s

David R. Bryant '57 was recently elected CEO of Go Green LaGrange, a NFP corp devoted to climate change, recycling, and environmental issues locally. David retired from Bryant Legal Group fully in 2020.

1960s

Martin J. "Marty" Lane '61 retired after 53 years of service to Loyola University Chicago He began his career in credit and collection at the new hospital at the Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood. Most recently, he was administrative assistant in the major gifts department.

Gerald E. “Jerry” Egan '62, L. Robert “Bob” Pasquesi '62, and Francis V. “Fran” Cook MD '62 (above) were among alumni from the 60s, 70s, and 80s that gathered in Palm Desert, California, in February to meet Loyola Academy President Rev Gregory J Ostdiek, SJ, who acknowledged the impact and legacy of some of Loyola's most generous benefactors. Special thanks to Mary and Bob Pasquesi '62 who hosted Mass and dinner at their home.

Sláinte! Lifelong friends from the Class of 1956 enjoyed a special St. Patrick's Day luncheon at Hackney's.

Front row (l-r): Chuck Cerniglia, Jim Sullivan, Tom Kloempken, Gerry Vandevelde, John Arndt, and Jim Ferrini

Back row (l-r): Bill Dooley, Ron Malik, Pat Mahoney, Marty Jennings '98, Bob Bielinski, and Bruce DeMaeyer

1970s

In March, Hubert J. Cioromski '78 had the distinct honor of celebrating the 550th anniversary of the birth of Nicholas Copernicus and speaking to the Polish Senate about the Copernicus Foundation in Chicago and its aid to Ukraine. Hubert was joined by his son, Steve

Michael P. "Mike" Kessler '78 and Patrick J. "Pat" Foley '72 (below) had the chance to exchange stories about their Loyola years at a Blackhawks game in February.

Hosted by Roger Hickey '79 and organized by Gary Michalek '79, members of the Class of 1979 gathered in December for a Saturday afternoon paddle outing at the Skokie Country Club. In addition to Hickey and Michalek, the roster included: F. Thomas Bertsche III '79, William K. Blanchard Jr '79, James L. “Jim” Brault '79, Michael A. Cascio '79, John T. Durkin Jr '79, Daniel G. McNulty '79, David P. Murawski '79, Edmund J. “EJ” Orr Jr '79, Michael J. Perkaus '79, Daniel C. Powers '79, and Joseph D. Shelly III '79.

1980s

William P. "Bill" O'Keefe III '80 See Fr. Robert F. Carlton '01.

Fred L. Brandstrader '83 is vice president of construction and capital expenditures for Hyatt Hotels.

White & Case LLP, an international law firm that helps companies, governments, and financial institutions achieve their global ambitions, appointed Matthew R. Devine '85 (below) as the office executive partner of its Chicago office.

Timothy P. "Tim" Devine '88 has been named Loyola Academy's next principal. Tim has nearly 25 years of classroom and administrative experience, most recently as social studies teacher here at Loyola Academy Before returning to Loyola in 2020, he served as principal of Walter Payton College Preparatory High School in Chicago for nine years.

1970s-era members of the Loyola Academy track & field and cross country teams reunited in December. The day began with Mass in the Loyola Academy Chapel, followed by a luncheon at Hackney's. Front row (l-r): Victor Conrad '77, Pat O'Connell '74, Jim Hughes '74, Jim Basile '72, Rev. Gregory J. Ostdiek, SJ, Pat Cotter '75, Mike Jaskoski '75, Marty Mullen '70, Tom Skelly '72. 2nd row (l-r): Bob Happ '71, Kevin Barr '73, Bob Kissell '71, David Reisner '72, John McMurray '73, Mike Kerns '76, Pete McGivern '75, Tom Needham '77, Carey Brunelli '72, Joe Lucas '76, Tim Schlax '72, Bob Snediker '72, Mike Faucher '73, Mark Bowman '77 3rd row (l-r) Mike Murnane '76, Tom Reap '72, Steve Osmanski '72, Tom McDermott '72, Fran Mastroianni '72, Mike Mullen '74. Back row (l-r): John Neafsey '75, Dan Cotter '75, Greg Servatius' 77, Dan Seeberg '75, Kevin Mullen '75, Hobie Murnane '75.

In March, Rev. Peter P. Nguyen, SJ '92 achieved his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The achievement comes after more than two decades in martial arts. Currently, Fr. Nguyen is associate professor of theology at Creighton University where he researches Christian martyrdom, the interaction of trinitarian and Christological teachings, and the history and philosophy of totalitarianism.

Robert M. "Beau" Desherow '93 has been named the next head football coach to lead the Ramblers. Beau and his wife, Danielle LdM '93, are parents of four LA graduates: James '13, B bb '16 L k '20, and JP '23

Eddy F. Borrayo '94 is president & CEO at Rincon Family Services, one of the largest providers of

high-quality and culturally competent services focusing on counseling, behavioral health services, substance use prevention and treatment, violence prevention, education, and family services across Chicagoland.

Dr. Jahaan R. Abdullah '95 is an assistant professor at Chicago State University, board certified and licensed counselor, social and restorative justice advocate, and a morally and ethically engaged researcher Last spring, she spoke to current students about her career and time at LA as part of Loyola's Lenten Lunch-and-Learn series. Notably, Dr. Abdullah is the first African American female to graduate from Loyola.

After more than 20 years of service to Loyola Academy, Dennis R. Stonequist '90 accepted the position of vice president of institutional advancement at Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio. Under his stewardship and leadership here at Loyola Academy as first swimming coach, then director of alumni relations, and finally as executive vice president, our campus and our community were made immeasurably better. Most recently, as executive vice president, Dennis oversaw much of the success of Loyola's Second Century Campaign. His tireless work and collaborative efforts brought vision to reality for the John D. Norcross '54 Aquatic Center, the Mary and L. Robert '62 Pasquesi Piazza, and the McGrath Family Performing Arts Center, home of the Leemputte Family Theater. Effective February 1, Dennis now serves our shared Jesuit mission by implementing Vision 30, the strategic campaign of Saint Ignatius High School.

Kathy Zebracki Jefson, PhD '96 was named a 2023 fellow of the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA). Zebracki is the chief of psychology at Shriners Hospitals for Children Chicago, where she specializes in pediatric spinal cord injury clinical care and research. She also serves as the clinical and research mentor for doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows at Shriners Children's. Zebracki was honored at the ASIA annual Scientific Meeting in Spring 2023.

Dr. Jahaan R. Abdullah '95, pictured standing fourth from the right, and Diana Phiri '16 (center) spoke to current students in spring 2022

Michael A. Lowe '97, a reporter at WGN, added four more Emmys to his ever-growing collection at the 64th Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards ceremony in December.

Continuing their long-standing tradition, Mike celebrated with Christopher M. Wolfe '97 (left) and Peter C. Lee '97 (right) Lowe's 2022 Emmys include: Outstanding Achievement for Hard News Report; Outstanding Achievement for Business/Consumer News; Outstanding Achievement for News Gathering Sports News; and Outstanding Crafts Achievement for Writing News.

Susan (Porada) Ubranski '98 is program manager at Mothers' Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes, an Elk Grove Villagebased non-profit that has served hospitals and families throughout Illinois and Wisconsin for the past seven years. She and her husband, Patrick E. Dillon '98, live in Chicago with their five combined children and two cats.

2000s

Ramblers connect for a cause in Maryland! Fr. Robert F. Carlton '01 (left), a global fellow with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), met with fellow Rambler William P. "Bill" O'Keefe III '80 (right), CRS executive vice president for mission, mobilization, and advocacy, at the end of October for the annual CRS Global Fellows meeting in Baltimore.

Loyola Academy Choirs presented their annual fall concert, "Better Together," on October 13 Notably, their first performance Loyola's new Leemput Theater. To mark the they debuted five orig songs co-written with "J" Godwin '01, an imm talented audiovisual a mentor based in Broo Beginning last spring, choir students through invaluable experience singing harmonies, bu lyrics, and recording m produce an EP of thei

Immigration attorney Cynthia Mazariegos '03 (below) spoke t M d Gl b l I

Andres Robledo Jr. '04 is the founder of Feeding People Through Plants, a Chicagobased organization that provides resources such as food, tents, heat, blankets, clothing, and hotel stays to those experiencing homelessness. In December, Andres and a group of volunteers conducted wellbeing checks and distributed blankets, hand warmers, and gloves to those in need The group also helps connect people with employment, mental health resources, addiction treatment, and housing programs.

Maureen O'Malley Kirschner '06 shared the story of her daughter's birth on the podcast RISK! that aired last spring Listen on Apple Podcasts

Katharine L. Friedrich '08 and Christian E. Harkna '08 were married in December at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Evanston.

Burtis J. "Jake" Dolan IV '09 and Elizabeth M. "Lizzie" Lyman '11 were married in November. Celebrating with the couple were Ramblers from the Classes of 1976 to 2023!

2010s

Jina M. Kim '11 created the original gourmet cheesecake bao (below) with her Blend Sweets business partner, Britney Wang, in Los Angeles. A cheesecake bao is a unique creation inspired by the East and West. Each bao is handmade, filled with a creamy cheesecake center of artisan flavors, like m cookies & cream, and to fluffy perfection L delicious cheesecake TE'AMO locations in Chinatown, Hyde Pa Schaumburg, and on Mile.

Jessica Ayala '13 helped manage the Daniel Murphy Scholarship (DMSF) mural project, themed "Uplifting Tomorrow's Leaders," which is seen by thousands of commuters every day while driving on the Kennedy Expressway DMSF supports scholars with tuition assistance and other programs and services, like their Caddy Program, which Jessica participated in. She now

Alex Margos '09 (above) started the new year in a new role at NBC Chicago, anchoring the the 11am and 4pm newscasts on weekdays with Marian Brooks.

In March, nutritionist Cecily R. Martinez '14 spoke with members of Loyola's Student-Athlete Success Club. A licensed and registered dietician with a bachelor's degree in nutrition and dietetics, Cecily shared great insight with current students

Joseph Pesmen '16 was selected to serve on the U.S. Department of State's Afghan Coordination task force, managing a team of Americans corresponding directly with evacuees in Kabul to arrange flights and predeparture procedures. After serving on the task force in Washington, he was seconded to an evacuee processing center in Virginia which relocated 45,000 Afghan evacuees in a matter of weeks Later, he was detailed to the U S Embassy in Abu Dhabi, where he served as a link between policy makers in Washington, Embassy leadership in UAE, and the site officers handling over 10,000 Afghan evacuees in Abu Dhabi. At the start of 2022, he began a new position in the Office of the Secretary of State, supporting communications and information management.

In March, Boys Hope Girls Hope announced Vernon T. Green '18 (above) as the recipient of its annual 2023 Legacy of Hope Award. The award is dedicated to an alum who exemplifies the spirit of being well-educated, career-ready, and communityminded Vernon Green, an alumnus of the Illinois affiliate and graduate of St. Olaf College, now works as the Illinois Scholar and Collegian Services Coordinator.

Juliana M. "Julia" Martinez '19 (below) competed in the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in March. A senior guard, Julia led the St. Louis Billikens to secure their first NCAA Tournament bid in program history with a 91-85 overtime victory over topseeded Massachusetts on March 5 in the Atlantic 10 Championship final In the famed March Madness tourney, SLU, a no 13 seed, lost 95-50 in the first round to no. 4 seed University of Tennessee.

During her days on the court as a Rambler, Julia was a four-year starter, set two school records (767 assists and 793 rebounds), finished second in LA history with 364 career steals and scored 970 career points. She led the Ramblers as team captain as a sophomore, junior, and s i d d t d l

In January, Maria J. Varela '16 (above) spoke to Art Club students about her experience as a fashion design student at Columbia College Chicago, where she earned her BFA in 2020, and as a textile design student at Bath Spa University in England, where she earned her MA in 2022. In the spring, Maria returned to collaborate with a group of Loyola students to create the famed Queen of Hearts costume for the school’s performance of Alice in Wonderland.

Arish Merchant '18 (above) became the youngest owner and operator in Culver's franchising history in November. After graduating college, Arish focused on his goals and achieved this milestone after countless hours, early mornings, late nights, the biggest smile, and a whole lot of hard work.

Web exclusive: Maria was featured in our Ramble 2023 video! Visit goramblers.org/ramble to watch Maria discuss the impact and influence of her Loyola Academy education.

2020s

Katia Chiampas '21 was part of Johns Hopkins' 2022 NCAA Division III women's soccer national championship team.

Updates from Alumni Relations Nota Bene

Martin G. "Marty" Jennings '98 has been named development chief of staff & alumni relations. For the past five years, Marty served as vice president of alumni and network engagement, forging relationships across our broad alumni base. He will continue to oversee alumni relations while creating more opportunities for alumni to participate in the development of Loyola.

Cooper Tamisiea '21 was named to Colby College's 2022 All-District Team (football). To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or

Editor's Note

Ashley K. Sanks ’10 has been named director of alumni relations For the past eight years, Ashley has served the mission of Loyola Academy in several capacities, including special events, alumni relations, LA Tank (our student entrepreneurship program), and, most recently, as executive assistant to the president. Ashley’s talents in building relationships, working across departments, and planning complex events will serve our 25,000+ alumni well!

Select notes are shared in LOYOLA magazine and may be edited for length or content For a full listing of class notes, visit goramblers.org/class-notes. Alumni may submit significant news regarding personal or professional milestones to asanks@loy.org.

"This photo was taken as an element and principle piece," explains Aiden Degnen '24, who was focusing on the natural elements of heat and light. "It was taken in the fireplace at my lake house in Indiana. I wanted to capture the symbolism of happiness and hope. Even when I am feeling in a cold mood, when I see this picture it brings light to my day " Aiden is a student in Mrs Leslie Yatabe's Photography I class

William B. McNulty '95

Leader in Serv

Current Town: Los Angeles, CA

Occupation: Head of Mission and Co-founder of White Stork

Previous Roles: Co-founder of Team Rubicon Sergeant, United States Marine Corps

Education: University of Kansas, BA in economics and commun Johns Hopkins University, MA in government

Student Life @ LA: Cross country, track & field, Habitat for Hum

Tell us about the work you do.

White Stork is a veteran-led evacuation and medical supply ope that takes its name from the national bird of Ukraine We bega operating in Ukraine with two programs: evacuations and indiv aid kits (IFAKs) Today, White Stork is a leading supplier of first aid kits to the Ukrainian military, Ukrposhta (Ukrainian national postal service), and Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian railways), supplying over 30,000 first aid kits to front-line units. In line with White Stork's commitment to locally-led humanitarian action, we work with a number of national partners White Stork only delivers to end users not aid depots ensuring 100% of donations reach those who need it most We respond to the demand signal of our Ukrainian partners to support the civilian population, and also provide non-lethal military aid to the front lines. The geographic footprint of our operations is primarily in the east and south, but changes with Russian military action. White Stork does not abide by the neutrality principle We only provide aid to Ukraine

Why were you drawn to this line of work?

When we crossed into Ukraine in February of last year, we didn't know what to expect. It was 11:00 p.m., and we found a line three miles long of women and children standing in the cold, waiting to process through the border into Poland. Then we spoke with Ukrainian military leaders and we were surprised to learn that they lacked the basic medical kit that we carried in the Marines to stop traumatic bleeding We decided we were going to treat everything else as a distraction and just focus on evacuations and IFAKs because the set of problems was enormous and we would be a mile wide and an inch deep if we decided to do more.

How did your time at Loyola prepare you for your current role?

I recall struggling to maintain a 'B' in Latin class with Mr Mathers and Mr Schulte (and failing at that objective with the former) Mr Mathers prepared me for the Marine Corps more than bootcamp I'm joking, but accountability was instilled in us at Loyola. And we were called out, especially by Coach Seeberg, when we were caught skipping practice runs. There was a lot of tough love at Loyola, and I appreciate that more in hindsight

To read the full interview and see additional photos from the front line, visit goramblers.org/leadersinservice.

William delivers generators to Ukrainian families living within Russian artillery range in Shyroka Balka, which is along the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast, a province in southern Ukraine

A Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces unit in Odessa receives field medic backpacks from White Stork William is pictured second from the right.

Delivering first aid kits and shovels to a Ukrainian Marine brigade on the front line

Loading field medic backpacks and boxes of Kevlar helmets onto Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian railways) trains in Lviv

White Stork utilizes the skills of military veterans and entrepreneurs to provide last mile logistics solutions during disasters Learn more about their mission and impact at WhiteStork us

This is the Studio Art I work of Nikita Stelmakov '24. Mr. Keith Brown asked his students to choose a personal autobiographical object from home to draw several times in order to learn about the elements and principles of art. A Catholic and Ukrainian student, Nikita's object is a necklace he has worn since birth.

"This is a photo of my backyard, and I was focusing on the light and color," explains John Conant '24. "The technique is called HDR (high dynamic range) in which you take five photos over and under exposing four of them. They are then merged in Photoshop while increasing the saturation and contrast. I wanted to capture the simplistic idea of a nice sunny day with flowers blooming. So many memories can be made in a backyard, and that’s how I wanted people to interpret my picture " John is a student in Mrs. Leslie Yatabe's Honors Photography 2 course.

REMEMBRANCE

The Loyola Academy community joins in prayerful of those

Class of 1942

Dr. Raymond A. McDermott Jr

Class of 1943

Mr. Wilbur A. Seeberg Jr

Class of 1946

Mr. Thomas C. Benbennick

Class of 1947

Mr John J Schornack

Dr John A Striebel

Class of 1948

Mr Jack C Krause

Class of 1949

Mr Thomas E Caestecker

Class of 1950

Mr Charles R Drucker

Mr Thomas A Shantz

Class of 1952

Mr Raymond S Prang

Class of 1953

Mr Edwin B McConville Jr

Mr Leo J Sheridan

Class of 1955

Mr David G Lynch

Class of 1956

Dr. Thomas S. Stevens

Mr James C Barggren

Class of 1958

Mr. David M. Hartigan

Mr William D San Hamel

Mr James E Staniforth

Class of 1959

Mr. John A. McAdams

Class of 1961

Mr. Vincent J. Graham Jr

Mr. Daniel G. Murphy

Class of 1962

Mr. Michael B. Necas

Class of 1963

Mr Gordon E Hannan

Mr. Joseph F. Schwaba

Class of 1964

Mr Michael D Groark

Mr. Brian M. Henehan

Mr. Howard T. McCarty Jr

Mr. Fred E. Owens Jr

Class of 1965

Mr. Carl L. Bordley

Class of 1967

Mr. Mark K. Lahey

Class of 1968

Mr Arthur J Hanson

Class of 1969

Mr Richard G Eby

Mr Peter E Popit

Mr. Gregory D. Reynolds

Class of 1971

Mr Michael J Moore

Class of 1972

Mr Joseph J Sullivan

Class of 1973

Mr Peter M Kelly

Mr Glenn H Kormann

Class of 1976

Mr. Michael B. Cerney

Class of 1977

Mr. Timothy K. Walsh

Class of 1978

Mr Roderick T Dunne

Mr. Stephen M. McPike

Mr. John M. Murray

Mr. Marc S. Niedzwiecki

Class of 1980

Mr. Jerome A. Maher

Class of 1994

Mr. F. A. Krause

Class of 1997

Mr Randell T Bogus

Mr. Joseph P. Kessel

Class of 1998

Mr. Michael R. Pampinella

Class of 2016

Mr. Christian G. Kebr

Class of 2021

Mr Jalen J Williams

Editor's Note

As of May 15, 2023

To include your departed loved one, please contact Michelle Denic at mdenic@loy.org.

A cherished faculty member and literacy specialist in the O'Shaughnessy Program, Mrs. Molly Harris passed away in April after a courageous battle with cancer Molly was a great teacher, and she cared deeply for all her students and worked hard for their success She is survived by her husband, Dan, and their three children, Will '27, Emmett, and Sam

Together in sorrow we mourn this beloved member of the Loyola Academy family.

who have passed away and offers condolences to their families.