Blakefield Magazine | Winter 2022

Winter 2022

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Alumni, Families, & Friends, As our 170th academic year continues, I’d like to pause and reflect upon a few notable achievements that the Loyola Blakefield community has recently celebrated.

We began the 2021–22 school year with the dedication and opening of St. Ignatius Hall, a brand-new academic building that has exceeded our expectations in every way. It is a joy to witness our middle school Dons engaging in experiments in the science labs, our musicians rehearsing in the music room, and Dons of all grade levels convening in the Connaughton Family Learning Commons. The building, which serves as an ideal setting for innovative academic and co-curricular programming, has received rave reviews from our students and faculty.

In December, we formally dedicated and blessed the newly constructed BolteBreschi Athletic Complex. The new fields are ready for the spring sports season and will be the perfect place to enjoy watching our Dons compete with pride. We hope to see you among the Blue & Gold faithful!

Also, in December, Loyola was once again honored by The Baltimore Sun as one of the region’s Top Workplaces—a testament to our commitment to promote Ignatian values in every aspect of our mission.

As we approach spring, I hope that we will have an opportunity to connect at Blakefield. There will be a variety of event and reunions taking place in the months ahead, so be on the lookout for your chance to connect with fellow members of the Loyola Blakefield family.

Thank you for your support. Roll Dons Roll!

Anthony Day President 2

CONTENTS Campus News

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Upcoming Alumni Events

6

Opening the Bolte-Breschi Athletic Complex

8

Lawrence Jackson ’86 Debuts New Book

10

Black, Blue, & Gold Exhibit

14

Class of 2022 Tribute to Mr. Donovan

16

Joseph McKee ’19 Studies Abroad in Nepal

18

Blue & Gold Community Partners

20

In Memoriam

21

Nicholas Bateman ’08 Finds Success in VFX

22

Introducing Ms. Misha Holmes

26

Class Notes

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CONTRIBUTORS Editor: Michael Nitti Design: Whitney Myers Photography provided by: Michael Nitti, Donovan Eaton ‘09, Nicholas Bateman ‘08, Joseph McKee ‘19, Misha Holmes, and Will Kirk (Photography Manager at Johns Hopkins University).

CAMPUS NEWS

Connor Family Commits to Transformational Gift The Connor Family has committed a $5 million gift to create two new endowed funds.

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Homecoming Bull Roast Welcomes 700 Dons Back to Campus

Lou Baird ‘65 Named 2022 Kelley Medal Recipient

Homecoming Bull Roast was back in action this year as we welcomed more than 700 alumni back to campus on Nov. 24.

Lou Baird ‘65 was officially honored as the 2022 recipient of the Rev. Joseph M. Kelley, S.J., Medal during our annual Kelley Medal Breakfast on March 10.

IFTJ 2021 In November, several students, faculty, and staff attended the annual Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice, the largest annual Catholic social justice conference in the U.S., which was held in Washington, D.C.

Dons Win Turkey Bowl 101 Loyola Football captured the 101st Turkey Bowl in a 41–35 thriller over Calvert Hall on Thanksgiving morning.

Loyola Cyber Celebrates 10 Years of Global Leadership & Excellence A special event was held in October to honor the program and its founder Mr. Steve Morrill.

Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Announced Ten Dons join our Athletics Hall of Fame as members of the Class of 2022.

Loyola Blakefield Named Top Workplace by The Baltimore Sun We were once again honored as a Top Workplace by The Baltimore Sun. In addition, we were ranked No. 3 in the midsized employer category, which is the highest ranking we have received during our decade of participation in this program.

Adopt-A-Family Drive Collects Gifts for Baltimore City Residents Our community collected gifts for more than 400 residents of Baltimore City during our annual Adopt-A-Family Drive in December.

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Alumni Reunion Night Friday, April 22 | 7:00 p.m.

Dons and their guests from the classes of 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2017 are invited back to Loyola Blakefield for a celebration of their monumental reunion year!

Upcoming Alumni Events

REGISTER NOW

Blakefest Saturday, April 23 | 11:00 a.m.

This year’s Blakefest, our annual spring celebration, will feature alumni lacrosse, soccer, and baseball games in the new Bolte-Breschi Athletic Complex.

Bring the whole family for carnival games and food provided by Kona Ice and Tasty Maryland Food Truck

Including: Alumni Lacrosse Game | 11:00 a.m.

We welcome back former Dons from different eras of our storied lacrosse program to participate in some friendly competition on the brand new Joseph C. Connor ‘42 Field.

Alumni Baseball Game | 11:00 a.m.

Sign up to play against some of your fellow Dons in the newly renovated Veterans Park.

REGISTER

Alumni Soccer Game | 1:00 p.m.

Dons, sign up to play against some of your fellow Dons in our brand new Bolte-Breschi Athletic Complex..

REGISTER

A Taste of Blakefield 2022 | 5:00 p.m.

Join the entire Loyola community on Saturday, April 23, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. to experience local food, wine, and beer tastings. Expect a wide array of food and drink selections from a multitude of top-rated regional vendors.

PURCHASE TICKETS 6

REGISTER

Loyola Tennis Open Friday, May 6 | 10:00 a.m.

More information to come!

Golden Dons Dinner Thursday, May 12 5:00 p.m.

Class of 1962 60th Reunion June 10 & June 11

Calling all Dons who graduated in 1971 and earlier! Loyola Blakefield cordially invites you to attend our annual Golden Dons Dinner on Thursday, May 12 in the Bunting Dining Hall! You and a date are welcome back for a night of food, drinks, and Dons fellowship.

Saturday, June 11 Campus Tour, 4:00 p.m.

Mass, 5:00 p.m.

Dinner with Significant Others, 6:00 p.m.

Friday, June 10 Stag Night, 6:00 p.m.

More information to come!

REGISTER NOW

Class of 1972 50th Reunion Weekend Friday, June 3 - Sunday, June 5 Friday, June 3

Saturday, June 4

Sunday, June 5

Campus Tour 5:00 p.m.

Dinner with Significant Others Creaghan Center 7:00 p.m.

Breakfast & Jubilarian Medal Presentation Bunting Dining Hall 8:30 a.m.

Stag Night Alumni Lounge 6:00 p.m.

Graduation 10:00 a.m.

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Openin

Bolte-Breschi At

First announced in January 2021, the Bolte completed in December and celebrated with on December 17th. Our entire school commun special project as we heard from President An before Fr. Bruce Steggert, SJ, pe

Michael T. Keeney ’65 Field serves as a practice field lined for soccer, football, lacrosse, and rugby.

Veterans Park features a fully turfed baseball field with upgrades to the scoreboard, the addition of stadium-style seating for up to 150 guests behind home plate, and a temperature-controlled press box.

There will also be a special garden installed dedicated to our military veterans.

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ng the

thletic Complex

e-Breschi Athletic Complex was officially h a special Blessing & Dedication Ceremony nity was joined by many benefactors of this nthony Day, student-athletes, and coaches erformed the special blessing.

Joseph C. Connor ’42 Field serves as the main performance field lined for soccer, football, lacrosse, and rugby. This field features lighting, a high-definition LED video scoreboard, a temperature-controlled press box, and grandstand seating for up to 800 guests.

This project also features upgraded parking to campus with the addition of two fully paved lots.

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Lawrence Jackson ’86 Details His Relationship with Baltimore in Latest Book Shelter: A Black Tale of Homeland, Baltimore In his latest novel, Shelter: A Black Tale of Homeland, Baltimore, which is set to debut this April, Lawrence Jackson details his complicated relationship with the city he grew up in and to where he returned in 2016 after living and working in Atlanta for more than a decade.

Jackson grew up in Baltimore’s Arlington neighborhood with his father directing the Druid Hill YMCA and his mother working for Baltimore County. He attended Loyola Blakefield between 1982 and 1986, which served as the foundation for his career as a writer and English professor.

“Bernard Justis ‘80 actually went on a date with my sister, and she invited him to family dinner one evening,” said Jackson. “He was the first guy I had ever met who attended Loyola, and I learned all about the school from him.” Jackson decided to apply and received 10

the Headmaster Academic Scholarship. He recalls Fr. Lloyd George, Dr. Vincent Fitzpatrick ‘68, and Murray Stephens ’63 as some of his most influential teachers.

“They were fantastic teachers, as they were all very impartial and there wasn’t a lot of favoritism in their classes— especially Vince. He was very much ‘you got what you got.’

The composition instruction I received is the foundation of my whole career—I use it daily. But more importantly, these men prepared me for life. It was a great education.”

Following Loyola, Jackson immersed himself in a liberal arts curriculum at Wesleyan University and went on to earn his master’s degree at Ohio State University and a doctorate in English and American literature at Stanford University. His first job was teaching at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He then moved to Atlanta where he worked as a professor at Emory University for 14 years. Jackson returned to Baltimore in 2016 when he was offered a new position at Johns Hopkins University as their Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of English and History. He was tasked with leading the interdisciplinary program that blends history and English to explore several topics.

of West Baltimore and to celebrate the incredible music that originated in that neighborhood.”

In partnership with Hopkins, Jackson also founded The Billie Holiday Center for the Liberation Arts (BHCLA), an initiative designed to foster organic links between Johns Hopkins University and the historic African American communities of Baltimore, celebrating the strengths and amazing potential of both.

“We have been providing venues for lectures outside of the university in the Old West Baltimore Historic District, and we have this annual concert, the Billie Holiday Music and Arts Festival, over Labor Day weekend in Lafayette Square near my home church, St. James’ Episcopal,” said Jackson. “The idea is to not only bring parishioners out for a free jazz concert, but to create an opportunity for people from Hopkins to partner with the residents

Jackson has also been working to promote urban renewal and revitalization projects of several historic buildings in that area, as well as working with archivists and photographers to create African American collections at the Sheridan Libraries at Johns Hopkins University and collections, archival preservations, curatorships, and exhibitions with local colleges and universities.

“We are just trying to make sure we participate in the custodianship of African American historical records in the region,” said Jackson.

Beyond his accomplishments in academia, Jackson has authored several works including a personal memoir tracing his ancestry in My Father’s Name: A Black Virginia Family after the Civil War (2012). He has written biographies about African American icons such as Billie Holiday, Frederick Douglass, Ralph Ellison, and Chester B. Himes. His 2015 essay, “The City That Bleeds: Freddie Gray and the Makings of an American Uprising,” which detailed the unrest in Baltimore and the unjust killing of Freddie 11

Gray, appeared in Harper’s Magazine. He also wrote The Indignant Generation: A Narrative History of African American Writers and Critics, 1934–1960 (2010), which charts consequential midcentury figures such as Richard Wright, Gwendolyn Brooks, Ralph Ellison, Lorraine Hansberry, James Baldwin, and many other influential black writers within the drama of the civil rights movement.

In his latest novel, Shelter, Jackson reflects on his homecoming in 2016 and

the wider history it inhabits, as well as on Baltimore’s complex past and present.

He focuses on topics such as what it means for a Black man to make a home for his family in a neighborhood that would have been inaccessible to him as a child, working at a university with a vexed relationship with its neighbors, what kind of inheritance has he been given, and what will he pass on to his boys. “I always found it fascinating that you can grow up in a place, and it all feels like familiar territory, but

then there are always new discoveries to be made,” said Jackson. “You have this desire to share the blessings you’ve received, especially with your

“ The composition in

[at Loyola] is the foun career — I use it daily. B these men prepared great educ children, and you want to try to prepare the way or pass

something onto them—a bequest, but the bequest is always a little different than what you had imagined.”

nstruction I received ndation of my whole But more importantly, me for life. It was a cation.”

Each chapter explores the convergence of Baltimore and Jackson’s life. A trip to the Eastern Shore offers a chance to consider Frederick Douglass’s complicated legacy, an encounter at a Hopkins shuttle-bus stop becomes a meditation on public transportation and policing, and Jackson’s beleaguered commitment to his church opens a pathway to reimagine an urban community through jazz. As stated in the book’s press release, Shelter is at once a nuanced biography

of an American city and a lyrical memoir-in-essays exploring the themes and subjects that animate Jackson’s life: the joys and responsibilities of caretaking and homeownership, the grounding structure of faith and religious tradition, Black fatherhood and the striving for upward mobility, a wrestling with injustice and the undertow of history.

Jackson’s sons, Mitchell and Nathaniel, are also featured prominently throughout the book.

Nathaniel is currently a junior at Loyola Blakefield.

“I just never imagined that Nathaniel would end up at Loyola,” said Jackson. “Do you know he scored a touchdown in the Turkey Bowl this past fall? I don’t think I had any success in sports during my high school years. And on top of that, he has a 4.0 GPA. He’s having a wonderful time, and he’s really coming into his own.”

Shelter is due out on April 19, 2022, and available for preorder online.

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New Campus Ex Legacy of African We are proud to present Black, Blue, & Gold, an exhibit designed to celebrate and preserve the impact and legacy of our many African American alumni. The exhibit, located in the lobby of Knott Hall was formally launched during the 2021 Frank P. Fischer Fund Benefit Luncheon on Sunday, Dec. 5.

attorney and musician; Clifford J. Pugh ’66, political campaigner and financier; and Carl F. Stokes ’68, elected official and school administrator. Portrait photography was provided by Donovan Eaton ’09. A portion is also devoted to Frank Fischer, who took bold steps toward recruiting and preparing students to attend Loyola via the Higher Achievement “The seeds of this concept Program. Frank was also were planted over a year ago instrumental in identifying with the goal to thoughtfully funding opportunities to and collaboratively showcase ensure that those who might the contributions of our Black not otherwise have access to alumni,” said Bernie Bowers a Loyola education were fully ’78, Director of Diversity, Equity, supported. & Inclusion. “Their experiences are inspiring, and we are proud to share their unique history.”

The exhibit commences with the first four Black students to attend Loyola: Kenneth C. Montague ’60, civil servant and attorney; Timothy L. Porter ’64, 14

Also featured in the exhibit is an artistic recreation of an iconic 1970 yearbook photo

by Trez Fowlkes '21. In 2008, the photo appeared in The

Baltimore Sun along with an article titled “4 Loyola Teens Found Identities,” which commemorated the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “The exhibit is a tremendous salute to the legacy of the African-American men who have matriculated at Loyola, “said Carl Stokes ’68. “From the

first student and throughout the decades that have followed, we have seen the strength and steadfastness of the men who have become

xhibit Honors n American Alumni a part of an ongoing legacy, both on campus and in the larger world community.

Current and future Dons will be inspired by those who have come before them and will indeed carry forward honoring

the embodiment of men for others.”

As a living history exhibit, Black, Blue, & Gold will continue to grow and develop in size and scope

over the years, showcasing the extraordinary and enduring contributions made

by Loyola’s Black alumni, thus enriching our school community through the lens of their shared experience and impact on the institution.

We would like to thank all who supported and shared in the collaborative effort to conceive and execute this exhibit. We would also like to formally recognize the members of the committee whose vision inspired this project: Bernie Bowers ’78, Brandon Floyd ’09, Brant Hall ’98, Bernard Justis ’80, Carl Stokes ’68, and Wesley Wood ’88.

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Class of 2022 Pays Tribute to

Mr. Charles Donovan with Scholarship in His Memory

In June 2021, several members of the Class of 2022 took part in a weeklong service trip to Camden, New Jersey, titled The Urban Challenge Program. Through the experience, participants grow closer to the lives and stories of Camden’s citizens, while performing various acts of service in partnership with local organizations.

As the trip progressed, the students reflected upon their experiences. They also challenged themselves to consider how they might act in the pursuit of justice going forward. A dominant theme that emerged from their discussions was an enhanced gratitude for their connection to the Loyola Blakefield community—a place each had come to call home and where they felt supported and nurtured by peers and adults.

“Our time in Camden showed us how blessed we are to attend Loyola,” said Ty Hepting ’22.

“Beyond the resources available to us and the beautiful campus, we came to fully understand what the community truly means to us. This sense of gratitude compelled us to work toward giving more kids the chance to have the opportunities we have had.”

Upon reflecting on their time together in Camden, Colin McElroy ’22 recalls the experiences that helped ignite this collaborative effort. “Our service trip was the spark we needed to begin a project like this. Seeing the poverty and struggle with my own eyes created 16

the motivation to work hard toward seeking justice, and the shared experience we had as a group helped us come together and put forth a community-wide effort to not only create a meaningful scholarship, but to pay tribute to Mr. Donovan’s spirit of perseverance and generosity.”

In addition to the economic disparities witnessed during their time in Camden, the group gained a clear sense of the lack of access to the type of educational experience they enjoyed at Loyola. If they couldn’t change that dynamic in Camden, they wanted to strive toward making an impact at home. “I saw harsh injustices and came to realize I had a bubble life a Loyola,” said Bennett DuVal ’22. “I understood that the daily struggles of some of the people we encountered in Camden were far from the reality we face. One of the primary struggles was the lack of access to adequate educational resources. This fueled our desire to create a scholarship at Loyola so that a future Don can share in the experiences we have. In many ways, it was about taking what we learned at Camden and bringing it back home.”

As the remainder of the summer unfolded, the group went their separate ways before reconnecting at the start of the 2021 school year. They had also kept in close touch with President Anthony Day, who was one of two

adult leaders on the trip. “Their excitement and desire had not waned since the trip,” said Day. “As the school year began, they were eager to get to work on the formation of the scholarship and be active participants in its growth.”

On September 11th, Mr. Charles Donovan, a beloved member of the Loyola Blakefield community, passed away after a five-year battle with cancer. His loss was felt by all those who had the opportunity to know him during his time at Loyola.

Recognized by his peers as a model Ignatian educator, Donovan joined the Loyola Blakefield community in 2005 and taught science and coached the Speech & Debate team. He was exceedingly kind, gentle, and never failed to greet colleagues or students with a smile.

Always hardworking and diligent in his teaching, Charles devoted countless nights and weekends to the Speech & Debate program and is one of the reasons it gained recognition as a national leader.

“Teachers like Mr. Donovan are why I love Loyola so much,” said David Veloso ’22. “They create an uplifting and positive community that motivates me to succeed and be excited for class. Honoring his legacy through this scholarship is our way of highlighting Mr. Donovan’s devotion to Loyola.” In the wake of his passing, it became clear to the students that the scholarship inspired by their time in Camden would be an ideal way to honor Mr. Donovan’s legacy.

changed that. I looked forward to his class each day, and it wasn’t just the content pulling me in, but the energy that he brought. It was clear that he wanted the best for us and did whatever he could to achieve that. It was an honor to have him as a teacher.”

The Class of 2022 Scholarship in Memory of Charles Donovan was formally launched on November 30, 2021, in conjunction with Giving Tuesday—a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. In addition to a goal to reach $100,000 by the end of the academic year, the student leaders also hope to gain one hundred percent participation from the Class of 2022. As of early January, they exceeded the $25,000 mark with plans to push toward their goal over the next few months. Ultimately, the scholarship will benefit a future Loyola student whose family would not otherwise be able to fund his Loyola education.

“Mr. Donovan embodied a true Ignatian educator,” said Matthew Cooper ’22. “Even though I never had him as a teacher, he would never fail to say hi to me and always kept a smile on his face wherever he went. We want to make sure that his legacy is remembered at Loyola forever.”

Click Here to learn more about the Class of 2022 Scholarship in Memory of Charles Donovan and provide your support.

In light of the impact he had on students, the scholarship effort quickly became a passionate endeavor. “As a freshman, I had Mr. Donovan as a biology teacher,” said Hepting. “I had spent my life dreading science class, but Mr. Donovan 17

Joseph McKee ’19 Stud Joseph McKee '19, a junior biology major at Susquehanna University, spent three and a half weeks studying abroad in Nepal over Christmas break. Read his reflection below.

Susquehanna University’s curriculum requires every student to study abroad, so I traveled to Nepal to learn about Sherpa culture and trek up to South Base Camp of Mt. Everest over Christmas break. I, along with a group of 13 students and three professors, departed for Nepal two days before Christmas.

When we arrived in Nepal, we spent the first three days exploring Kathmandu and other nearby cities. The culture was incredible and so different from American culture, but still shared similarities. The architecture, woodcarvings, and temples were unbelievable. So much was destroyed in the 2015 earthquakes but has been rebuilt over the past six years.

Next, we hiked

up to the South Base Camp.

The roundtrip trek took 14 days as we started around 8,000 feet

dies Abroad in Nepal above sea level and went all the way up to 17,600 feet. Overall, it was about 130 miles of hiking.

Khumbu Valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in the world and holds so many amazing mountains. Mt. Everest was a beautiful sight to see, however it hides behind several other mountains. The temperature was well below freezing the entire time and reached as low as 0 degrees multiple times, which meant we had to stay in lodges instead of tenting.

One place we visited on our hike was Namche Bazaar, which is built into the side of Khumbu Valley and holds magnificent views of the valley. Namche is the only city in Khumbu Valley and is the unofficial Sherpa capital. One of the smaller villages nearby is home to Phurba Sherpa, who has summited Mt. Everest 21 times.

The lodge we stayed at near the South Base Camp is a research station studying climate change and plate tectonics in the region. This station is called The Pyramid and was originally funded by Italy. Most of my classmates on the trip are science majors, so staying at a research station was extremely fascinating. Scientists have found that the average temperature for Khumbu Valley is going up by 1-degree Celsius every five years, and there is a decrease in snowfall every year.

We finally reached the base camp on January 5th after hiking up and on several glaciers. The hike from The Pyramid to South Base Camp was eight hours round trip and extremely challenging.

Going on this trip was one of the best experiences of my life. I am so happy that I was still able to attend after it was delayed last year due to COVID. Much like my years at Loyola, I will remember it for a lifetime.

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Thank You to Our Blue & Gold Community Partners AMDG & Presenting Partners

Jesuit Community

1852 Partners

Roll Dons Partners

Magis Partners

Loyola Blakefield Aquatics

BK Group of Northrop Realty

United Business Services

Karen & Victor ’78 DeSantis JMT Architecture Atlantic Caterers, Inc.

Ignatian Partners

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Alpha Landscape Contractors, Inc.

Wolf Professional Security

Diamondback Brewing Company

Jostens

City Wide Facility Solutions

Prodec Finishes, Inc.

In Memoriam

We pray for the repose of the following departed souls. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

And may the Lord grant comfort for those who grieve them.

ALUMNI

Richard A. Doyle Sr. ’47 Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. Donellan ’48 Richard P. Lalley ’48 Michael L. Kelly ’50 Robert J. Brown ’52 J. Francis Sokolis ’52 Joseph A. Warfield ’52 George A. Abendschoen ’53 Melvin E. Schaefer ’53 Jerome J. Egan Jr. ’54 Carl F. Steiner Jr. ’54 George L. Watts Jr. ’54 Edward F. Farrell III ’55 Richard H. Hirsch ’55 Howard H. Wernecke ’55 Rev. Joseph M. Doyle, S.S.J. ’56 Emil T. Mallek Jr. ’56 Edward A. Metzbower, Ph.D. ’56 Charles E. McCaffray Jr. ’57 Thomas J. Bollinger Sr. ’59 William T. Phelan ’59 John B. Galiszewski ’62 Tom Jefferson ’63 John C. Beers ’64 Gary P. Harper ’65 D. John Loden ’65 Stephen J. Hamp ’66 Donald S. Parker ’66 Thomas P. Stewart ’72 Richard R. Beauchemin Jr., M.D. ’74 James B. Russ ’81 Joseph P. Hennessy ’95 Bradley P. Koehler ’02 Matthew T. McKenna ’06

PAST PARENTS

F. Lewis Bender George L. Brown Charles E. Busse Sally German Robert E. Ludicke, M.D. Robert W. Novak Anthony J. Verdecchia Jr. Ellen M. Weetenkamp Sol Witriol, M.D.

FORMER FACULTY & STAFF Anna B. Clifford Charles L. Donovan Nancy F. Fincham-Castle

FRIENDS

Beth Ann Breit Caroline A. Day Paula Hart Anna M. Hergenroeder Daniel L. Knapp Anita A. Logue Betty A. Mahoney Joyce A. Mann Teryn McKewin Angela Mura Alan C. Williams Jack Wood

If you do not see the name of a departed loved one who had ties to the Loyola Blakefield community, please contact the editor, and we will be sure to include them in the next magazine.

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Nicholas Bateman ’08 Finds Success in

VFX

22

Nicholas Ashe Bateman ’08, owner of visual effects company Maere Studios and founder of Anmaere Pictures, has made quite the name for himself in the filmmaking and visual effects industries over the past few years. He has worked on projects such as David Lowery’s The Green Knight (2021) and National Geographic’s Free Solo (2018). He even made his directorial debut with The Wanting Mare in 2020.

His passion for filmmaking can be traced back to his roots in Loyola Blakefield’s Speech & Debate Program.

“Charles Donovan and Tom Durkin were huge forces during my formative years at Loyola,” said Bateman. “Mr. Durkin definitely saw me as someone who just would not shut up in class and was like, ‘Well, I guess we’ll find something productive to do with that.’ Being a part of Loyola’s Speech and Debate team became kind of the real foundation for me.”

Bateman was a freshman on the team when the program won its first National Championship in 2005 in Milwaukee. “I still have a picture with him rubbing my bald head after they shaved me,” said Durkin, who is now retired from education. “Nick is one of the most talented students with whom I had the pleasure of working in forensics.” Bateman would go on to serve as president of the program his junior and senior years. He was the only Loyola student to ever win the Harvard Tournament in his event, Dramatic Performance. He also still holds records for the most individual championships at National Invitational tournaments in Pennsylvania and Virginia After Loyola, Bateman attended George Mason University on a small speech scholarship, but quickly came to realize his passion for filmmaking outweighed the all-consuming lifestyle that collegiate speech demanded. He found himself getting home from classes in the evenings and renting movies or reading old film books that were

gifted to him by former Loyola art teacher Michael Iampieri. A year later, Bateman transferred to Towson University to study theatre, but only lasted for half of a year. He dropped out and moved to New York City to follow his dream.

“I didn’t know anyone in New York, and I especially didn’t know anyone who was making movies.

I just found myself there with a couple hundred dollars and was like, well, I have to figure out what to do now,” said Bateman.

“Through some amazing miracle, the person across the hall in my

his call were making movies of a similar scale in Los Angeles. “They were like, we can’t pay you, but they invited me to come out and join the circus, which was exactly what I was hoping for.”

Bateman spent the next several years bouncing around offices and on friends’ couches working on low-budget projects and trying to make a name for himself. This is when he noticed a lot of lowand mid-budget films were in need of affordable visual effects artists, so he taught himself the ropes with the hope to eventually make his own film.

The set of The Wanting Mare in Paterson, NJ.

apartment building was another such person who had found themselves in Brooklyn in 2010 and was trying to make movies.

We became buddies, and he is someone I still work with to this day.”

The two set out to make a short film, which Bateman sent out to any filmmaker or visual effects artist he could find. The only two individuals who responded to

Then, in 2016, he decided it was finally time to stop hoping and start doing. He began a crowdfunding campaign with his friend and got to work on his first feature-length film, The Wanting Mare, an epic sci-fi fantasy about a post-apocalyptic realm ripe with wild horses, fantastical cities, and denizens experiencing a cycle of eternal misery with the slight promise of a better

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future elsewhere. Over the course of the next four years, Bateman shot much of the film in a storage unit in northern New Jersey, while other shots were filmed along the coast of the northeastern United States and in Nova Scotia.

The film featured around 500 visual effects shots.

The response was not overwhelming on the film festival circuit, but it was praised by local directors for its visuals, and more specifically, how it was created. “I think other filmmakers saw someone making a movie with five hundred visual effects shots, and the fact that we did it in an office, not in some big production studio, it was just great news for all filmmakers—that the production process didn’t have to be as expensive or require so many people,” said Bateman.

put his faith in me to do the visual effects for his film.” Bateman spent nine months with Lowery and his assistant editor producing about a third of the visual effects in the film. “It was kind of surreal to be working on this movie that was budgeted for fifteen to twenty million dollars, but from all appearances it was no different than how I was making my movie.”

After working on The Green Knight, Bateman’s popularity exploded. Most recently, he directed and produced the visual effects for American musician Father John Misty’s newest music video, which released this January.

He is also helping Lowery on his next project, Disney’s Peter Pan and Wendy. “We essentially went right from The Green Knight into this movie.

Originally, I was just doing design, drawing out the film’s characters, but now my company is doing a bunch of the visual effects for it as well.”

Now living in New Orleans with his fiancée, Claire, Bateman is also hard at work on his next feature-length project, which Sailor Bear (David Lowery) and SpectreVision (Elijah Wood) are producing. He plans to shoot the film in either New Zealand or Ireland for seven months.

Bateman tries not to think about what lies ahead beyond that, but he does often find himself reflecting on where it all started.

Bateman working on costumes for The Wanting Mare.

The way in which the movie was created has been very much publicized in the past two years. Bateman has been interviewed by several media outlets including Indiewire, VFX Voice, and No Film School about his creative process.

His film caught the attention of director David Lowery, who at the time was in the process of finishing his critically acclaimed film, The Green Knight, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I remember him saying he was a big supporter of The Wanting Mare, and then he kind of just

“The core of what I’m interested in—all of the visual effects stuff—has really just been a structure to be able to tell my own little stories.

And I’m constantly reflecting on my time at Loyola, because I’m very aware, as I bounce around over the years, how extraordinary of an education I was lucky enough to receive, and the sense of philosophy, self-examination, and constant rigor in trying to be as good of a person you can be are all intrinsic ideas to the stories that I’m interested in telling.”

To view more of Bateman’s work, please visit MaereStudios.com.

Introducing

Ms. Misha Holmes

Misha Holmes joined the Loyola Blakefield community at the start of the 2021–22 school year and serves as Academic Support Coordinator. A graduate of Furman University and City College of New York, Misha holds a B.A. in Spanish and French as well as an M.S. in Education. Prior to joining Loyola, she served as a New York City Teaching Fellow. She has taught Spanish, French, and served as a bilingual parent services specialist for Childcare Aware of America. In addition to extensive internship and work study experience, Misha took part in study abroad programs in both France and Spain. Both of Misha’s parents served in the Air Force, and she was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, and lived in Italy before returning to the States. Her family moved annually until settling in Ridgely, Maryland, during her sophomore year of high school.

What do you enjoy about being a member of the Loyola community?

I really love how close-knit the faculty and staff are with each other! I feel such a sense of belonging, and I am grateful to constantly be surrounded by educators who are so dedicated to their craft and their students.

This work environment allows me to be more hands-on with students and continue working with them even beyond the classroom. There are a plethora of engaging extracurricular programs that support social, emotional, cognitive, and academic development. Loyola certainly tailors every facet of the educational experience and personal development; this unparalleled attribute is what most stands out to me and is the main reason why I love coming to work every single day.

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How would you describe a typical school day for you?

What originally inspired you toward a career in education?

I wear many hats throughout each day. I am continually challenged to dig deeper and work harder so that I may better understand how to be of service to the community. I work in tandem with Murray Learning Services to provide individualized support to enhance students’ skills in the areas of learning, studying, testtaking, problem-solving, self-advocacy, time management, organization, and task initiation.

I also serve as the main point of contact for students who need to overcome academic challenges and other barriers that interfere with their academic success.

My heart truly beats for our youth. It is my desire to be in a position where I can inspire others to become the best version of themselves.

Working as an educator both in the United States and overseas has allowed me to develop a greater understanding of how to encourage young scholars to rise to any challenge and be prosperous both academically and independently. My desire is to help our students become more aware of the core values and skills necessary to become inquisitive, open-minded, and compassionate citizens. As our society becomes more global and comprehensive, I believe that such qualities will be more indispensable, rather than superfluous.

What are some of your main interests and hobbies outside of your professional life?

What are your early observations of the gifts and mindset that Loyola students bring to their educational journeys?

I have noticed that many of our Dons are intrinsically motivated to succeed both in and out of school. They enroll in diverse courses, think more independently, and express themselves more clearly. They are trailblazers and innovators.

They are intellectual scholars and incredible athletes. Our Dons are men for others and strive to exemplify that in their endeavors. Between our Dons-for-Dons Peer Tutoring program, our Fall Food Drive, and our volunteer trips to First Fruits Farm in Freeland, MD (where our students harvest locally grown vegetables for those in need), our students regularly seek to serve and be a blessing unto others.

I love spending time outdoors and finding beauty in nature. I also love traveling and exploring new places, trying different foods, and meeting people from different walks of life. When I get home from work, I enjoy exercising, reading (or listening to an audiobook), and cooking. I’m very much still a kid at heart and spend more time than I probably should binge watching old Disney and Pixar movies! Above all, I love getting involved within the community and being of service to others. I’ve learned that we serve God by serving others, and at the end of the day, my heart’s desire is to serve God.

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Chuck Paterakis ’78, co-owner and Senior Vice President of Transportation for H&S Bakery, was featured by several local and national news outlets in January 2022 for assisting drivers stranded along the I-95 corridor in Virginia during a snowstorm. He was also awarded an official Governor’s Citation from Governor Larry Hogan.

Read more.

Class Notes

Lou Winston '84 was named the Chief of the Department of Fire and Rescue Services for Howard County, Maryland, effective September 7, 2021.

Winston served three decades in the department, rising to the rank of Deputy Chief prior to his retirement in January 2020. Read more.

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Dr. Greg Hobelman ’93, co-CEO/ President of Ashley Addiction Treatment, was featured by Today’s 101.9 FM in November 2021 in regards to how he has used his personal experience with addiction and recovery to ensure that Ashley creates the best possible care environment for recovering patients and their families. Founded in 1983, Ashley Addiction Treatment now has three locations including the main campus in Havre de Grace and outpatient centers in Bel Air and Elkton. Listen to the segment.

Michael Tich Jr. ‘10 was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 List for 2022.

He is the cofounder of HomeRoom, a home-sharing app that connects users to roommates, social opportunities, and a host of tech-enabled property management tools. As CMO, Tich has helped the early-stage company secure $500,000 in funding, while it’s grown from 20 to 100 rental properties. Read more.

John Minadakis ’01 received the Restaurant Association of Maryland’s (RAM) 2022 Phillips Lifetime Achievement Award in February 2022.

The RAM Gala will take place on March 27, 2022, at Maryland Live Casino.

Read more.

Matthew Thompson ’02 joined Brown & Barron, LLC, Law Firm in March 2022.

Matthew has been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers as a Top 40 Under 40 Trial Attorney in 2019 and 2020 and a Maryland Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2019 to 2022. Matthew currently resides in north Baltimore with his wife, two sons, and dog. Read more.

Raffi Wartanian ’04 and Anahid Yahjian welcomed their first child in August 2021, a son named Datev Rafi Wartanian.

Datev is named after the 9th century Armenian monastery in Syunik, Armenia, where the coupled married in 2019.

Maurice Wilson ‘96 married Candice Adkins (of St Louis, MO) on November 27, 2021, at the UMD Memorial Chapel in College Park, MD.

Tim Neil ’13 is set to have his debut collection of poetry, Self-Titled, by Alien, published

by Milk Carton Press on May 7, 2022. Read more.

Will Blake ’15 was hired as an Associate Producer for the Baltimore Ravens’ Gameday Network in 2021.

Antonio Barbera ’10 who currently serves as U.S. News & World Report's senior editor for Consumer Advice, joined CBS Mornings in January 2022 to exclusively reveal the publication's list of best jobs for 2022. Antonio studied journalism at the University of Maryland and received a master’s degree in writing from Johns Hopkins University. Watch the segment.

Colin White ’17 was selected as a recipient for Tampa Bay Business Journal’s & Tampa Bay Inno’s Top 25 innovators under 25 in September 2021. He most recently served as a Product Management Intern for Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. Read more.

Andrew Will ’14 joined Pessin Katz Law, P.A. (PK Law) as an Associate in the Firm’s Labor, Employment, and Education Group in January 2022. He previously served as a Summer Associate at the firm and graduated cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2021. Read more.

Bailey Brunner ’20 helped Wheeling University Men’s Rugby win the Champions Division Plate during the Collegiate Rugby Championships in New Orleans in June 2021.

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