The Explorer Magazine Winter 2011 Edition

winter 2011

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The Official Magazine of La Salle College High School

ONTHE

HILL

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The Official Magazine of La Salle College High School

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The Official Magazine of La Salle College High School

YEARS

ON THE WYNDMOOR CAMPUS

NOW…FOREVER!

THEN…

Grand Reunion Saturday, April 30, 2011 6:00 pm La Salle College High School $65 per person

If you would like to help in the planning of your reunion (locating lost classmates, organizing the evening as well as other potential activities, calling classmates to increase attendance, setting-up that day, etc.), please contact Mary Frances Kelly, Director of Alumni Relations at mfkelly@lschs.org or (215) 402-4814.

Class of 1966 45-Year Reunion Class of 1971 40-Year Reunion Class of 1976 35-Year Reunion Class of 1981 30-Year Reunion Class of 1986 25-Year Reunion Class of 1991 20-Year Reunion Class of 1996 15-Year Reunion Class of 2001 10-Year Reunion Class of 2006 5-Year Reunion

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inside

The Official Magazine of La Salle College High School

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Features

Highlights

On The Hill

Snap Shots

From The Hip

In Defense Of A Championship

Year In Review 2010

Letter From The President

Photo Gallery

Class Notes

Page 7

Page 11

The Visionary Page 12

The Runner Page 18

Pages 4-6

Pages 16-17 Pages 21-24

Departments

The Official Magazine of La Salle College High School

Page 2 Page 3

Pages 25-31

E X PLORE R Births, Deaths, Honorees Page 32

The Official Magazine of La Salle College High School

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From The Hip

winter 2011

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The Official Magazine of La Salle College High School

President Brother Richard Kestler, FSC ’60

The Big 5-0! Although I am not old enough to have personally reached this landmark age, the milestone came a few years early for me as the La Salle community recently celebrated two 50-year anniversaries.

Principal Joseph L. Marchese

In September, the Class of 2014 became the 50th freshman class to begin their studies at 8605 Cheltenham Avenue. In 1960, the Christian Brothers made a historic move in relocating the school from 20th and Olney to the rolling hills of Wyndmoor. The fifty years that followed have provided a myriad of events, highlights, and memories.

Vice President of Institutional Advancement Daniel L. McGowan

I have been fortunate to experience La Salle College High School in four of the five decades – 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s and 2000’s. The changes during that time period have been monumental – the expansion of the campus in terms of both land and buildings, an increase in faculty and academic offerings, the dominance of the athletic program, the growth of the music program, the implementation of technology, and a commitment to service.

Contributing Writers Gregory T. Bielecki ’99 The Official Magazine of La Salle College High School Christopher M. Carabello ’82 Brother Carl Clayton, FSC Daniel A. Spinelli, Jr. ’14 Robert T. Szostak, Esq. ’72

One constant has been academic excellence along with an education that is not only challenging, but grounded in the Gospel, Catholic faith, and the spirit of Saint John Baptist de La Salle. The boys are encouraged to think independently and the faculty continues to educate the whole man to his fullest potential. Learning remains a lifelong endeavor and mutual respect permeates the campus.

Editorial and Production Assistance Barbara Franks Cathleen P. Winning

Editor Christopher M. Carabello ’82

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Photography

Greg Bobowski John J. Burns Christopher M. Carabello ’82 The Official Magazine Brett T. Foley ’00of La Salle College High School Sam Fritch Herff Jones Photography Mike Maicher Brother James Rieck, FSC ’57

Regina Sacco

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A commitment on the part of the administration coupled with support from alumni, parents, and friends of the institution will ensure that this education is made available to all qualified students regardless of ethnicity, religious affiliation, or socioeconomic status. I am not exactly sure what the future holds for my Alma Mater, but I am certain that the La Salle of Tomorrow will be pioneering and progressive and the strategic plan for the school will continue to provide our students with outstanding facilities and programs of equal caliber.

In November, Brother Richard Kestler, FSC ’60 was honored at the Christian Brothers’ Service Award Dinner on the occasion of his 50th Anniversary as a Christian Brother. It is only fitting that Brother Richard’s 50-Year Jubilee coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the Wyndmoor campus. Brother is currently in his fourth stint at the school having previously served as a teacher, vice-principal, and Director of Alumni Relations. When Brother assumed the role of President in 2005, he became the third man in school history to serve in that capacity.

Brother Richard’s resume and “tour of duty” are impressive and indicative of his lifelong dedication to Lasallian education. He was Principal at both West Catholic Boys High School and Archbishop John Carroll High School and has served as President at West Catholic and La Salle College High School. He was the Administrator of Saint Gabriel’s Hall and served as Provincial of the Baltimore District of the Christian Brothers for six years. The La Salle community thanks him for his service and leadership.

Often individuals attempt to downplay the celebration of The Big 5-0. The La Salle community sees this as one of the finest hours in the long and storied history of the school and embraces the success of the institution along with the countless individuals, such as Brother Richard Kestler, FSC, who have made it possible.

Christopher M. Carabello ’82 Editor

Artwork and Design John Burns Graphic Design

Address Explorer La Salle College High School 8605 Cheltenham Avenue Wyndmoor, PA 19038 215 233 2350 phone 215 836 4502 fax alumni@lschs.org www.lschs.org

The Explorer is published quarterly by La Salle College High School. The Explorer welcomes letters to the Editor concerning alumni, school, and topics covered by and in the magazine. The Editor of the Explorer reserves the right to make all decisions regarding the content and information published in the magazine.

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Letter From The President Mission Statement adopted by the Middle States Evaluation Team March 2006 La Salle College High School, a Catholic independent, college preparatory school for young men of varied backgrounds, is conducted in the tradition of St. John Baptist de La Salle.

Through a broad and balanced, human and Christian education, La Salle College High School guides each student in the development of his unique God-given talents and fosters a commitment to academic excellence, service, and leadership.

Dear Fellow Alums and Friends, When the Christian Brothers were planning to move La Salle College High School from 20th and Olney to 8605 Cheltenham Avenue, they designed a new school to accommodate 850 students along with some “room for growth”. Fifty years later, and over 12,000 young men have not only graduated from its halls, but have had a profound effect upon the Delaware Valley and regions beyond. Today, it is impossible to visit any area of the country without finding an alum. In many cases, these graduates are making their homes around the globe. During these golden years, the campus has seen three major expansions with the additions of Saint Michael Hall (1993), the West Wing (1999), and most recently, the addition of 40,000 square feet of new academic space (2009).

At the same time the campus has grown to its present 85 acres.

In addition to its physical expansion, La Salle’s reputation for academic excellence and athletic prowess has grown equally. During this fifty year period, over 1,000 boys have been recognized as National Merit Scholars. The last fifty years has seen the school grow into an athletic powerhouse having been crowned with 177 Philadelphia Catholic League Championships, 28 City Titles, and seven State Championships. During that same time, 35 young men have given their lives to the service of the Church as priests or Christian Brothers.

Most amazing of all is the fact that during the past fifty years the school has remained true to its mission of offering a quality Catholic education to young men of all social classes. So much of this is possible because of the commitment of graduates who wish to make a similar experience available for today’s young Explorers. For this I am most appreciative and I thank you for providing the atmosphere and support for their academic, athletic, spiritual, and social growth.

I would like to congratulate this year’s Hall of Fame Inductees – Tom Donnelly ’65, a legendary running coach at Haverford College along with Tim Hughes’72, founder and President of Mover’s Specialty Service, Inc. In both of these men our students will find models of excellence in their lives and careers.

The William J. Whelan ’55 Alumni Service Award will be presented to Joe Donahue ’58 and Bill Loughery’70.

What terrific role models these men are of service to La Salle and our students. Congratulations to all four of these men. I hope you will be able to join me in congratulating them at the Communion Breakfast and Hall of Fame Induction on Sunday, March 6, 2011.

I am especially happy to report that our Capital Campaign is on track for completion this year. To date we have raised just shy of $22 million. If you haven’t been contacted about this major effort by the La Salle community, you should expect to hear shortly. Please know that your gift will continue a tradition that has been 153 years in the making and sees the future as its pearl.

Mark your calendar if you are a member of the graduating classes of 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, or 2006 as these classes will join in the Grand Reunion on Saturday, April 30, 2011. I offer these nine classes my congratulations and best wishes and a hope to see many of you on this special day. The Class of 1961 – the first graduating class from this campus – will join the Class of 2011 on June 4, 2011 to mark their Golden Anniversary and join the ranks of the Golden Explorers. The Class of 1961 is busy at work in making plans for their anniversary celebrations.

La Salle has much to celebrate, but none more than the quality of men who call themselves Explorers. I am proud to call myself one and take great pleasure in working with all of the men who have made La Salle such a special place.

Sincerely yours,

Brother Richard Kestler, FSC ’60 President

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Student Council Induction

National Merit Recognized Students

Last spring, student council elections were held and the student body elected Samuel Hyder as President, Frederick Mischler as Vice President, and Daniel Ezzo as Secretary. The three, all of whom are seniors, were formally inducted as officers during a ceremony held at the school on September 17, 2010.

The National Merit Scholarship Program announced that Ryan Abbott and William Marble are Semifinalists in the 2011 competition for Merit Scholarship Awards. The two boys are also graduates of St. Genevieve School in Flourtown, where they earned scholarships to La Salle College High School. In addition, fifteen seniors have been recognized as Commended Students in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program. About 16,000 students nationwide were named as Semifinalists, including 400 from the Delaware Valley.

College Interview Day On October 5, 2010, the Class of 2011 participated in the school’s College Interview Day. Held in the school gymnasium, 73 admissions representatives from 59 colleges and universities attended the event. Seniors were scheduled for over 1,050 individual appointments with the colleges of their choice. In the exchange, seniors presented their transcripts, had the opportunity to provide additional personal information, and asked questions about the colleges and universities.

Golf The Golf Team won the 2010 PIAA District 12 (City) Championship on October 12, 2010 at Island Green Country Club in Philadelphia. The Explorers collectively shot a 303 to claim the title by six strokes over Saint Joseph’s Prep. P.J. Acierno ’12 finished second by a stroke in individual scoring with a one-over-par 73 and was followed by teammate Jack Gregor ’14 who finished third with a 75.

Freshman Branch-Out Day On October 19, 2010, the freshman class participated in Freshman Branch-Out Day. The students, along with their fathers and teachers, performed a day of service at fifteen different sites in the Philadelphia Area. The day marked the ninth consecutive year that the freshman class at La Salle College High School has “branched out” in service to the community.

Career Day On October 19, 2010, over thirty-five alumni returned for Career Day. About half were first time presenters and several others had not returned to campus since their own graduation. The sophomore and junior classes attended small group presentations from the alumni. Career presentations included finance, accounting, engineering, medicine, law, education, and the arts. In each specific presentation, alumni shared stories of how their La Salle education helped shape their career path. Students also had the opportunity at the end of each presentation to ask questions of the presenters.

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Honors Convocation

Blithe Spirit

The annual Academic Honors Convocation was held on October 14, 2010. The faculty and administration honored 322 students (sophomores, juniors, and seniors) who distinguished themselves by earning the Scholastic “L” by virtue of attaining a final grade point average of 3.50 or above with no grade below a “C”. The school also honored its National Merit Semifinalists and National Merit Commended Students.

The Theater Program presented Noel Coward’s witty and whimsical Blithe Spirit October 22-24, 2010. The smash comedy hit of the London and Broadway stages offered up Matt Volpe ’12 as the fussy, cantankerous novelist Charles Condomine, re-married but haunted by the ghost of his late first wife, Elvira. Charles’ current wife, Ruth, is accidentally killed and joins Elvira as the two “blithe spirits” haunt Charles.

Trip to the Vietnam Veteran’s Wall

Battle for Breast Cancer Awareness

On October 24, 2010, twenty seniors traveled with Mr. Gerald Miller to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC. The trip marked the 57th time students from La Salle’s semester long Vietnam course have visited “The Wall” and other sites in Washington, DC. Students located names of local veterans they had researched after their visit to the Philadelphia Vietnam Memorial. The students also took an etching of MAJ Edwin J. MacNamara ’47, who was killed in a helicopter crash four days before he was to return home from duty. It was recently discovered that Major McNamara is the third La Salle alum listed on the Vietnam Wall.

Philadelphia Alumni Reception La Salle College graduates from every decade convened for the inaugural Philadelphia Alumni event at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia on November 11, 2010. Recognizing that local alumni cannot always make it back to La Salle’s campus, the event was specifically for graduates who live or work in Center City. The capacity crowd enjoyed cocktails and reconnected with their classmates and teachers. Given the resounding positive feedback, the inaugural event has definitely established itself as the first of many to come.

On October 29, 2010, the student body raised over $5,000 for Breast Cancer Awareness.

At halftime of the football game the following day between La Salle and St. Joseph s Prep, Brother Richard Kestler, FSC ’60 , presented two checks in memory of all of the women in the La Salle community whose lives have been affected by this disease. A check for $2,500 to the Kelly Rooney Foundation was presented to Charles O’Brien, a member of the Class of 1956, and the father of Kelly Rooney. A second check for $1,000 to the Breathing Room Foundation was presented to Bernie Fitzgerald ’77, a long-time member of the faculty at La Salle, who lost his wife to breast cancer and started this foundation to assist families whose lives have been affected by the disease.

Annual Fund Kick-Off The De La Salle Annual Fund began solicitations on November 16, 2010 with calls from members of the Class of 1958 to their classmates. The following week, students made calls to alumni in the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s. The students, all part of the Student Ambassador Program, were able to talk to alumni regarding all of the great things happening at the school as well as thank them for their generosity and support, which helps to make a La Salle education a reality for so many of their fellow students.

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snap shotscontinued

Father/Son Banquet

Thanksgiving Liturgy and Food Drive

The 61st Annual Father/Son Banquet was held on November 18, 2010 at Williamson’s Restaurant in Horsham. Over 670 students, fathers, grandfathers, guardians, faculty, staff, and administration enjoyed the event. The attendees heard Randy Logan, a former All-Pro Safety with the Philadelphia Eagles and the current Dean of Students at Saint Gabriel’s Hall, speak about the support of family and friends, teamwork, the importance of moral values, and how that equates to greatness in a person. He shared some inspiring stories of his upbringing and people that touched him. One memorable quote from his speech was, ’‘If you want to be great… Serve!” A message that is certainly applicable to La Salle and its mission.

The celebration of Thanksgiving was brought to life with the annual food drive.

The students collected over 10,000 non-perishable food items, which was 3,000 more items than last year. In addition, the students raised funds to purchase forty turkeys.

The food drive culminated on November 23, 2010 with a liturgy in the gym. At that time, all of the food was carried in to the gym as part of the processional and placed in front of the altar in a cornucopia made by the Art Department. The turkeys and food were donated to Saint Vincent’s Soup Kitchen in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, which is a regular beneficiary of service from the La Salle community as the football team serves meals there as do students and fathers on the last Sunday of every month.

Ring Liturgy

Advent Prayer Services

The fingers of La Salle juniors dazzled at the Junior Ring Liturgy on December 2, 2010. One by one, students were called to the stage to shake the hand of Principal Joseph Marchese and receive their class ring. Following the liturgy in the auditorium celebrated by Reverend Anthony Janton , AFSC ’69, students were given the opportunity to show off their new hardware at a reception in the cafeteria for classmates, family, and friends.

Students were selected to lead prayer services each Friday morning during Advent in the Marian Chapel. The prayer services helped the La Salle community prepare spiritually for the birth of our Savior and provided a wonderful opportunity to reflect for a few minutes each week on the real meaning of this holy season. The prayer services began at 7:35 am and featured readings, reflections, and songs from various members of the senior class.

Band and Choral Concerts

Secret Santa

The Music Department played to a packed auditorium at the Band Christmas Concert on December 13, 2010. The audience sang along to holiday favorite, “White Christmas”, and enjoyed performances by the Concert Band and six other ensembles. The voices of the Choral Groups performed seasonal songs on December 20, 2010 at the annual Choral Christmas Concert. Singing to a cheerful and heavily packed auditorium, Mr. Mark Norman conducted the performances by the Upperclassmen Chorus, the Freshmen Chorus, and the Belcrofters (La Salle’s Advanced Choral Group).

The La Salle community works in conjunction with Committee to Benefit the Children to assist patients at Saint Christopher’s Hospital for Children and fills the Christmas Wish Lists for the pediatric hematology and oncology patients along with their siblings. La Salle provided gifts for 175 children (60 families) and forty students were split into six caravans and delivered presents on Christmas Eve in a geographic area that stretched from Reading, PA to Camden, NJ. The La Salle community raised $8,000 and used the funds to provide 1,665 total gifts to the project. In addition to Secret Santa, over 100 other La Salle students delivered presents on Christmas Eve as part of Operation Santa Claus.

H

ONTHE 50

HILL

CELEBRATING

YEARS

ON THE WYNDMOOR CAMPUS

by Brother Carl Clayton, FSC and Christopher M. Carabello ’82

Post World War II enrollment had caused overcrowding at 20th and Olney and required a separation in the faculty that taught at the college and high school, so in September of 1960, after years of planning, La Salle College High School left the Belfield campus in Philadelphia and moved to the Belcroft campus at 8605 Cheltenham Avenue in Wyndmoor. La Salle College had purchased the 80-acre property through a straw party several years prior from the estate of the late Clarence M. Brown.

The three-story, 32-classroom facility cost $2.5 million and took two years to complete.

On September 7, 1960, twenty-six Christian Brothers, eleven lay teachers, and 769 students made history when they became the first to occupy the new building.

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ONTHE

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DEMOGRAPHICS

In 1992, ground broke on what was to be the first of three expansions. A new five-level, 44,000 square foot academic expansion opened two years later and featured a technology center, 20,000 volume library, nine classrooms, a lecture hall, and an art studio. The design allowed the second and third floors to look down on to the McShain Library.

The basement featured several computer labs along with WEXP – the school’s television station. The exterior of the building featured a sculpture by Joseph Wesner ’73 of Saint Michael the Archangel.

One of the original challenges of the new location was the process of getting to school.

Most students resided within the city limits of Philadelphia.

The campus at 20th and Olney was easily accessible by public transportation; unfortunately, the bus for the new school stopped at Willow Grove Avenue and left students to face “the hill” and the steep incline down from the bus stop and up to the school building. Those who traveled to school by a car faced a far more treacherous obstacle up until 1964 – the single lane driveway that served as both the entrance and exit and could not accommodate two cars. Transportation was also responsible for the sharp decline in attendance at after-school activities.

The expansion was made possible through Legacy, a $10 million capital campaign, which was the first capital campaign in school history.

District bussing began in the 1970’s and opened boundaries as well as new markets for students.

School districts located within a ten mile radius of La Salle’s campus were required by law to provide transportation to and from La Salle for students living in those school districts.

The number of students driving to school would increase over the years and require additional parking spaces.

Today, the parking lots can accommodate over 500 cars and La Salle College High School draws students not only from the city but from the five surrounding counties. Over 70% of La Salle’s student body comes from Eastern Montgomery County and the seventeen school districts that provide bussing. In addition, over 90% of students participate in after-school activities and sports.

ENROLLMENT

Brother Francis McLean, FSC purposely increased freshman enrollment for the Class of 1965 for fear that students would not make their way from the city out to the suburbs. The geography proved not to be an obstacle and the 769 students who opened the school in 1960 has grown to as many as 1,070.

For years, the school was predominantly, a “white” school with little or no diversity.

Through the years, the student body has changed with various minorities now representing 7% of the student population. In addition, new types of diversity began to develop – academic, geographic, and socio-economic.

The development of the David Center has allowed La Salle to accommodate students with mild learning indifferences, while the start of endowment funds has made it possible for the school to provide financial aid to almost 35% its current students.

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CURRICULUM

Originally, La Salle College High School had fewer offerings and very few electives. The school offered two tracks – a Classic Track that taught Latin and Greek as opposed to advanced math and science along with a Standard College Preparatory Track that provided broad offerings in all subject areas and focused on preparation for college. At the time, about 93% of the graduating class went on to a college as compared to 2010 when 100% of the graduating went on to attend a college or university.

Over the years, the school has expanded its curriculum in the areas of technology and fine arts in addition to honors and advanced placement courses.

Today, La Salle College High School now offers 135 academic courses including fifty electives, seventeen AP courses, and eleven Honors courses.

La Salle College High School was selected by the Siemens Foundation to receive the 2008-2009 Siemens Award for Advanced Placement. La Salle

was one of fifty high schools nationally to receive the distinction and the only high school in the state of Pennsylvania to be recognized for student participation and performance in Advanced Placement math, science, and technology.

KEYSTROKES

Typing was always part of the curriculum and 1976 through 1994 saw Brother Linus Finn, FSC leave a lasting impression on the freshman that he taught.

Every Smith Corona in his third floor classroom was numbered and each student corresponded to a number. “A quick movement of the enemy will jeopardize six gunboats” became the mantra for many a student.

In the early 1980’s, typewriters began to give way to primitive computers and terminals began to emerge throughout the campus. Today, La Salle College High School is the only Level One Microsoft IT Academy in the State of Pennsylvania and is considered to be the leader in secondary education technology as it was the first high school in the state to have a campus-

wide wireless network as well as the first high school in the country to deploy Windows XP, Window Vista, and Windows 7. A campus-wide wireless-N infrastructure is staffed by a Microsoft® Certified Systems Engineer and eleven Microsoft® Certified student managers (Lab Managers), who support, thirty-one servers and a network of 1,200 users, 300 desktop computers, and 135 laptops.

Last year, students earned seventeen individual Microsoft and Cisco certifications.

West Wing In 2002, the West Wing opened, providing 40,000 square feet of much needed space for athletics and music. The new space provided the Ciccimaro Music Room along with four instruction areas and a digital music lab (MIDI Lab). The upper floors house a two-level fitness center and multi-purpose gymnasium, which is used for wrestling and indoor practices.

The expansion was made possible through Forever La Salle, a $10 million capital campaign.

COMPOSITION OF THE FACULTY

Twenty-six Christian Brothers and eleven lay teachers started the school year in 1960.

Over the years the number of Christian Brothers has decreased significantly, beginning with an exodus of Christian Brothers from the order from 1968-1973 due to the fall-out from Vatican II. A difficulty in recruiting men into the Christian Brothers has seen the numbers decline even further.

Today, seven Christian Brothers and over one hundred lay faculty members continue the mission of Saint John Baptist de La Salle.

The student to faculty ration has actually decreased to 11:1 and the Teacher-Coach Model features twelve of the sixteen head coaches as members of the faculty. In 1960, there were no female members of the faculty apart from the Librarian and School Nurse. Today, over 20% of the faculty is comprised of women and dozens more serve in administrative roles.

Counseling Center The counseling days of Brother David Albert, FSC and Brother John D’Alfonso, FSC ’55 have progressed into The Hughes Family College Counseling Center and the Donahue-Fitzpatrick Counseling Center.

The college counseling center, which was developed as part of the new 40,000 square foot academic expansion, is staffed by three fulltime college counselors along with the two administrative assistants and contains various resources, desktops, and work areas for seniors to research colleges and universities. The counseling area, which was part of the same expansion, houses the offices of six additional grade-level counselors, who also work with students with mild learning differences. The two centers are connected by meeting room complete with a SMART Board and fully-integrated technology.

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ONTHE

HILL continued FACILITIES

SERVICE/MINISTRY

The school was always considered to be “state-of-theart”. The original building was featured on the cover of Architectural Digest as a unique school design that featured an “activities wing”, which was accessed by two corridors – one by the Main Office and the other by the Library. The library has been replaced by the Marian Chapel and the two corridors have been completely renovated. A four-story, 40,000 square foot academic expansion was erected on the site of the former library. Two additional academic expansions have more than doubled the size of the school and increased the instructional area to fifty-six SMART Classrooms, all with fully-integrated technology.

Apart from an occasional food or toy drive and those students who opted to help at local nursing homes, service was almost non-existent when the school opened. In the early 1970’s Brother Edward Conway, FSC required seniors in his religion class to perform a few hours of community service each week. The service experience evolved into the Christian Action Project/Seminar.

Additional service opportunities continued to emerge. Today, La Salle College High School offers twenty-one volunteer service projects, which service the Greater Philadelphia Area seven days a week. In addition, summer immersion programs allow students to perform service in seven different states as well as South America.

DRESS CODE

The jacket and tie worn in the 1960’s disappeared in 1971 – a dress code that began with Brother Hugh McNicholas, FSC and ended in 1989 with Brother Robert Shea, FSC. Since the return of the tie, students have experienced the same dress code and enjoyed their share of privileges including the ability to wear an earring and seniors being able to wear golf shirts upon return from the Easter Break.

The school chaplain was one of several rotating priests from local parishes or an alum who would offer his services. The Passionists provided a school chaplain for a brief period of time in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, until Reverend Anthony Janton, AFSC ’69 became a mainstay at the school.

There were always senior and underclass retreats. Early on, the senior class made trips to the Malvern Retreat House or the Passionist Retreat House in Riverdale, NY. Kairos arrived in 1998 when Marty Jackson and Nick Coggins brought the program to La Salle. Today, over 3,000 students have experienced Kairos and a tribute to those seventy-eight retreats is chronicled on the walls of the new Campus Ministry Center.

SOME THINGS REMAIN THE SAME

Despite some face-lifts and expansions along with changes in the times, some things haven’t changed. There continues to be a strong bond amongst students and students and their teachers. Students are tolerant and respectful of each other and they continue to form tight friendships and bonds that last a lifetime.

Academic Wing In 2008, in conjunction with the start of the 150th school year, a new four-level, 40,000 square foot academic wing opened, which featured twelve SMART classrooms, two state-of-the-art science laboratories, a second technology center, a chapel and campus ministry area, a study commons, a counseling center, and several meeting rooms. The expansion project increased the school’s instructional area to fiftyfour SMART classrooms and five science laboratories.

The expansion was made possible through Fulfilling The Promise, a $25 million capital campaign, which is the largest fundraising initiative in the school’s history.

The school has remained true to the mission of Saint John Baptist de La Salle and the basic values of the school have never changed. The students continue to successfully interact with good adults who act as role models and mentors. It is a recipe for success that has been passed down for over 150 years – fifty years at a campus whose students sit on top of a hill for all of the world to see.

Science Laboratories The three original science labs have evolved into eight labs, including two state-ofthe-art science laboratories, which were built as part of the new 40,000 square foot academic expansion. All of the labs contain safety equipment and five of the labs have separate prep rooms. SMART Boards, visual presenters, and full-integrated technology compliment the work stations, which support a science curriculum that consists of twenty courses, including four advanced placement courses and five honors courses.

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IN DEFENSE OF A The 2010 La Salle Explorer football team experienced a year in which they beat local powerhouse North Penn twice, lost a heartbreaker to Bergen Catholic (winner of sixteen New Jersey State Championships), and destroyed their rival Saint Joseph’s Prep. However, their season ended differently from last year when they lost to North Allegheny in the State Championship Game at Hersheypark Stadium. The Explorers once again rallied a community around their cause, winning twelve straight games en route to the finals. This time though, the golden football was replaced by one of silver and the nostalgic feeling of last year’s 24-7 victory over State College was missing. The team, the school, and the surrounding community had to regroup and wonder “what could be taken from this year?” Even though a traditionalist would deem an inability to close the deal a sign of failure, this team actually succeeded on more fronts than ever expected.

“Winning is not everything, but making the effort to win is.”

Vince Lombardi

By Daniel A. Spinelli, Jr. ’14

In terms of raw statistics, the 2010 La Salle Football Team actually exceeded the 2009 State Champions. Despite losing eight All-Catholics from last year’s squad, the Explorers averaged more points on offense (31.4 to 30.7) and gave up fewer points on defense (11.1 to 11.9) than last year’s team. A feat like this is a testament to the players and coaches, as the 2010 schedule was more difficult, with games against North Penn (twice) and Bergen Catholic. The accolades for individual players are mesmerizing with three players (Jamal Abdur-Rahman, Ryan Geiger, and Kevin Forster) being named to First Team All-State, and one named to the Second Team (Connor Daly). Seven players were named either First or Second Team All-City. A total of thirteen players (fourteen with Forster being named to both offense and defense teams) were named to an All-Catholic Team.

Head coach Drew Gordon was Coach-Of-The-Year and Abdur-Rahman was named Most Valuable Player.

Even though there were some exceptional individual performances; ultimately, the way this team handled themselves was what made them special. Watching AbdurRahman or Forster gracefully handle endless post-game interviews, or seeing a smiling Connor Daly speak at a pep rally is what sets a model for other athletes, and provides a good image for the school. The huge publicity these players deservedly

receive is an opportunity for them not only to get their time in the spotlight, but also to stand as role models for younger kids. Seeing the sheer number of young kids at most La Salle football games is evidence of the impact these players have outside of school. During a regular season game against Roman Catholic, I sat next to a young boy, probably under ten years of age. Sporting a nice La Salle football jersey, he rambled on about the team, how great they are, and how he was going to attend La Salle. This confirmed for me the true success of this football season – how these players have accepted the spotlight and used it to better their school and community.

There is reason to believe that like years past, La Salle will be reloaded and ready for battle in 2011. The 2010 team far surpassed expectations.

Hopefully, the 2011 team can do the same.

Explorer Winter 2011 12

The Visionary

by Robert T. Szostak, Esq. ’72

Tim Hughes ’72 is a wonderful friend. He is a rare and gifted individual who just makes life better for everyone around him. His life is built on relationships through acts of service.

A unanimous choice for Hall of Fame induction, Tim is an inspirational man of extraordinary vision.

He is an originator with remarkable passion and intellect. He continuously achieves through the power of positive energy, enthusiasm and commitment to new ideas and those who foster them. He creates with unbounded strength of mind and purpose to support his selfless dedication to family, community and country by acts of kindness and generosity. Tim believes in hard work and hard play grounded in a lifetime of sustained achievement in business and charitable endeavors. Because his good works will benefit others for decades to come, Tim is at the forefront of Lasallian duty to advance the demonstrated excellence of the institution while serving our community on all levels.

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F

irst and foremost, Tim Hughes is “a Hughes.”

As one of eight boys, by design and by choice between, 1962 (Kennedy) and 1980 (Carter), the Hughes’ all attended La Salle. Their parents, Dr. Eugene P. Hughes ’42 and Jane M. (Murphy) Hughes, are Hall of Fame caliber, both literally and figuratively. Dr. Hughes, one La Salle’s finest, was inducted into the Hall in 1990 for his service to Country (US Navy Surgeon), Community (General Surgeon and Chief of Surgery at Chestnut Hill Hospital for over thirty years) and to the Christian Brothers.

“There is no one more notable than our dad,” Tim will tell you, but “he would not have been as notable without our mom at his side. Dad merely accepted the award for her.”

As the magnificent spark of the entire family, Jane dedicated her life to Dr. Hughes and her boys, twins Ed and Gene, Jr., followed

by Bob, Tim, Tom, Chris, Brian

and Don. She endeared herself at La Salle, twice as Mothers’ Club President, and as La Salle’s most ardent supporter (second to Bob Moran, she would say). She was legendary for her fantastic sense of humor and her celebrated, standing-room-only speeches at Mother’s events. She would wax eloquently, offering hours of entertaining and poignant advice on sons, husbands and a Christian Brothers’ education.

Her charm, command of any situation and timeless wisdom will never be forgotten. She touched generations of Brothers and Brothers’ Boys with boundless love: “All of these guys are supposed to be Christian Brother boys,” she quipped, “but don’t buy that line – just try to get one Brother to take them back! I have tried that tack for years and the Brothers have refused to hear my pleas.” Jane must be talking up a storm in heaven about her boys – the first father and son combination in the La Salle Hall of Fame.

Certain fundamental life rules were learned from his Hall of Fame father: (1) Be content with who you are; (2) Don’t try to be someone else; (3) Never suffer fools; (4) Work hard; and (5) Be honest and loyal to those you support and who support you. From his mother he learned that “success is not measured by what you do in life, rather by what you do for others.”

These guiding principles blazed the trail toward the greatness in Tim.

Today, he exemplifies the ideals of personal character, keen intellect and professional commitment. His insight has set a new gold standard for collaborative leadership. His beliefs are predicated on eternal optimism and the lessons of courage, compassion, faith and determination. Believing that “people rise highest who lift as they go,” Tim maintains that “success in any area demands that we bring others with us as we achieve our goals in life.”

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im was born a visionary and trepreneur. A Chestnut Hill kid from a more affluent background, neither he, nor his brothers, gravitated toward the more affluent. After Our Mother of Consolation Grade School, La Salle was the “natural choice.” A graduate of the Class of 1972, Tim is one of the most liked among this tight knit, free thinking, baby-boomer funloving, successful group. He credits Brothers Carl Clayton, Ed Gallagher, and Ed Conway for making La Salle exceed his expectations. Through them, he learned not just the value

of innovative and original intellectual judgment; he also learned the absolute necessity of keeping your friends close and staying connected throughout life. Generosity would become the central hallmark of his being.

The Hughes’ are not strangers to hard work. A century ago, the family was in the piano moving business. This morphed into a moving company run by Uncle Joe in Camden, NJ. All eight of the Hughes sons worked for Uncle Joe. “I’m not afraid to work hard,” Tim remarks, as he recalls the 4:00 am wakeup calls to begin working with Uncle Joe’s crews. “Every summer while attending high school and college, we drove deep into Camden and worked with the roughest and toughest, greatest guys in the world.” Clearly, this experience left an indelible impression that would soon launch one of North America’s most successful privately-owned specialized moving service companies.

After obtaining his degree in Business Management from St. Francis University in 1976, Tim immediately secured a position as a local dispatcher for a national moving company.

From this experience, Tim became acutely aware of a major problem in the moving industry – the need to identify and coordinate the schedules and services of multiple tradesmen required to assist in a residential or commercial move. Soon he would solve the problem and forever change the moving industry.

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The Visionary continued

I

n May, 1977, Tim quit his job, and with best friends, Mike Dapkunis ’72 and Pete Hughes (no relation; grade school buddy), left for Alaska in a broken down Plymouth Satellite. It was an “epiphany on many levels.” At the end of this journey, “I got the idea to start my company. I was a handy, jackof-all trades-master-of-none guy, who could fix just about anything.

I decided to provide specialized moving services involving things an owner would be concerned about because movers are not proficient enough to do them. My services would include breaking down, packing and reinstallation of certain items such as washers, dryers, ice makers, pool tables, grandfather clocks, chandeliers, swing sets and water beds. I would dismantle and pack, the movers would move and I would meet them at the new location to unpack, reassemble and reinstall.”

In 1978, Tim founded Movers Specialty Service, Inc. (MSS) offering twelve services. Today, his company offers 320 services nationwide from the installation of wall mounted TV’s in hotel guestrooms, to assembling kiosks in malls around the country, to handling large-appliance hook-up for residential and commercial customers, to the transport and storage of fine art and antiques to wine transportation. Simply put, every job is special and every job treated as if their only job.

At this same time, “quiet elegance” entered Tim’s life. In the fall of 1977, Tim met Aurora at a Chestnut Hill College party.

Instantly, they became best friends, she graduated and, in October, 1978, they married just as MSS was getting off the ground. Tim, Jr. ’99 was born in 1981 and daughter, Rory, was born in 1983. During this phase of their very active lives, Tim was like the “Maytag Repairman” who would run from job to job in his van with blue uniform and tools in hand throughout the Delaware Valley. He worked for movers. However, in 1984, Tim had what he calls his “ah-hah moment” when he took MSS from a 1978 start-up company earning less than $1,000 in annual revenue from eighteen jobs, to one of the top Delaware Valley companies that it is today, completing 131,000 jobs in 2010, resulting in over $42 million in gross revenue.

Through entrepreneurial skill, unwavering perseverance, and serious risk, Tim Hughes fulfilled the American Dream. As an authentic intellectual with vision who sees beyond the immediate and obvious, Tim transformed his company (the “Aa-hah moment”) from a “mom-andpop” group to the world’s most successful specialized relocation enterprise. He assembled a nationwide network of 280 service providers with MSS as the nucleus of all specialized handling operations serving the relocation industry, fine arts, commercial crating markets,

and logistics needs of retailers and e-tailers. With a customer base ranging from Picasso to GE, Tim’s company now services twenty-one of the largest international corporations in the world.

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he Hughes’ business philosophy and policy emulate Tim’s robust and reliable character: “Never say no”; “Do whatever it takes”; “Never take a client’s trust for granted”; and “Always work to improve the quality of services delivered.” In a world of excuses and unproductive blame-casters, since day one, MSS has offered and delivered its “Guarantee of 100% Satisfaction”, which today covers about 650 assignments a day. Tim has advanced the state of the art to its highest level ever.

In recognition of outstanding performance in the industry, the American Moving and Storage Association presented its inaugural Summit Award to MSS in February of 2010.

Tim is particularly proud of this tribute because it is based on the vote of five hundred customers in recognition of MSS as a supplier who not only maintains consistently high standards, but is constantly setting the bar higher for itself and its competition in customer service, information technology, ingenuity, and integrity. Tim explains that success in business is listening and delivery: “Every effort you make needs to be focused towards synchronizing the many moving parts of the company.

I give our employees a vision of

service and support them as they do their jobs, acknowledging what the customer needs. I cannot conceive of running my business without listening to our customer and ensuring that we deliver on every promise.”

Although the specialized moving industry will never be the same since Tim Hughes transformed it, Tim will always remain the same. As an industry pioneer, Tim “sets the vision and allows others to do the same thing.” He presides over a finely tuned operation of 150 individuals from all backgrounds, demanding respect for the job, absolute focus on the client-specific relationships, and gratitude for their business – never taking anything for granted in the delivery of quality customer care. According to Tim, his mission is simple: “We are dedicated to restoring order and comfort to the lives of corporate transferees and their families as we meet the individual and diverse needs of each client one handshake at a time. I built MSS on personal relationships grounded in hightouch client contact. We have not strayed from this basic approach – I haven’t changed who I am. I am the luckiest guy in the world.” Clearly, Tim sees life through the prism of personal relationships.

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Tim is the one constant in the challenging and changing industry he leads. His hallmark, he says, is “generosity with employees and people. I don’t forget the people who got me there and from where I came. I am the turtle on the fencepost.” Tim believes in financial incentive to his employees and customers and the simple expression of positive praise for a job well done. Measured performance always prevails over popularity in an environment that demands demonstrable improvement with real consequences for compliance or noncompliance with MSS’s standards. Wellgrounded in Lasallian precepts of independent thinking and accountability, Tim knows the importance of comprehensive talent building which he considers an “important differentiator essential to continuous improved and invariable customer service.”

with genuine concern for the needy. Over the past decade, Tim has been an avid personal and corporate supporter of Variety – The Children’s Charity.

In 2008, with many of his La Salle Classmates in attendance, he received Variety’s highest honor, the Vince Marinella Award, for his participation in the Charity’s mission – “to enhance the lives of children with temporary or permanent

dear to the work and tradition of Saint La Salle. At the request of Brother Richard Kestler, FSC ’60, Tim is currently part of a leadership group seeking to develop a 6th-8th grade school with a class size of twenty to educate at-risk, highly intelligent boys and girls (over 90% will be Black, Latino, or Asian Americans) to prepare them for the opportunity and complexity of independent private

Tim is the main catalyst and compass of his company, driven by pride, fidelity and a respect dedicated to helping others.

He is also the champion of many causes. He often applies his business model to the less fortunate, as he turns negatives into positives by reconnecting the disconnected while facilitating solutions on demand.

Although the good works of Tim and his family have profoundly affected the halls and legacy of La Salle, Tim feels at his best when he is serving the down and disenfranchised of our society.

He is a quiet difference maker

disabilities.” In Tim’s words: “I’ve been blessed with success in family, business and community life beyond my wildest dreams, but it wasn’t until I met these courageous children, each with special challenges and gifts, that I really understood what perseverance, hard work and commitment were truly all about.”

education, be it at La Salle or other like schools.

“If we do not grab these boys before middle school, they will be lost. If we do help this exceptional group, they will be well prepared to go anywhere in life and be fulfilled.” The Mission, Tim observed, “runs parallel to that at La Salle, namely the education of young men of varied backgrounds with a commitment to academic excellence, service and leadership.”

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hen asked why he participates, Tim will tell you very simply: “Because I can and I must. It is our moral obligation.”

His next charitable endeavor has not yet been named, but it is

L

ike father, like son, indeed true, but Tim Hughes credits his terrific parents, his fabulous wife, and La Salle College High School for enabling him to think independently and to practice acts of thoughtfulness and benevolence. “From my parents, Aurora and La Salle, I also learned the importance of respect for other people from all walks of life no matter what their position in society may be.” As perhaps the most visionary member of the Class of 1972, Tim inspires awe as he engineers comfort.

Tim personified all aspects of the prototypical La Salle graduate long before La Salle formalized its ideal “Graduate Profile”. This rare and gifted entrepreneur fits the full profile, for he is truly a man of intellect, faith, compassion, service, justice, integrity and respect. His love of family, investment in business, education and humanity, and endless capacity to share his allegiance for the mutual respect of others, have sustained him as one of La Salle’s most prolific Alumni. Molded in the Hughes’ family tradition of La Salle’s loyal sons, his proud father of Hall of Fame status twenty years before him, Tim Hughes and his family are proof positive of La Salle’s steadfast influence across all generations. And, as the youngest inductee in the Hall of Fame to date, his best may be yet to come.

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Year In Review 2010 January

April

The current capital campaign, Fulfilling The Promise, surpassed the $20 million mark and bagan the public phase.

Competition Band received a First Place Award and five superior ratings at the Cavalcade Association of Bands Competition.

Forty-one 8th grade boys are awarded Presidential Scholarships based on their performance on the Scholarship and Entrance Exam.

Eleven members of the Engineering Club competed at the Engineering Olympics at Wilkes University and placed second overall.

February

La Salle community celebrated the “Year Of The Priest “and honored more than one hundred alumni who have entered the Priesthood.

Wrestling defeated North Catholic to repeat as Philadelphia Catholic League Champions and then defeated George Washington High School to win their second consecutive PIAA District XII (City) Championship.

Sixteen students qualified for the State Finals in Speech and Debate.

Students and faculty donated over one hundred units of blood to the American Red Cross.

March Ed Solvibile ’58, Brother Michael McGinniss, FSC ’65, and Jack Bauerle ’70 are inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Six students earned seventeen medals in the State Competition for the Academic Decathlon.

Basketball won the PIAA District XII (City) Championship, their first since 1950, and qualified for the State Playoff Tournament. Coach Joe Dempsey was named Coach-Of-The-Year.

Swimming continued its dominance by capturing its 22nd consecutive Philadelphia Catholic League Championship and second District XII (City) Championship.

Membership in the National Honor Society increased to 194, as 88 juniors are inducted with a grade point average of 3.50 or higher, in addition to having no grade lower than a “C”.

Smokey Joe’s Café was performed to four sell-out audiences.

Over 400 sophomores and their fathers participated in Sophomore Branch-Out Day, a day of service at twenty sites throughout the area.

May Lacrosse defeated St. Joseph’s Prep to win the Philadelphia Catholic League and PIAA District XII (City) Championships.

The 27th Annual Arts Festival, exhibited student artwork in every available space in the school, and was highlighted by performances from the band and chorus. The Band Concert featured over 300 musicians and the Choral Concert featured three performing groups.

Tennis won its fourth consecutive Philadelphia Catholic League Championship by defeating Roman Catholic and then defeated Central High School to win the District XII (City) Championship.

In Coach Pat Devine’s final meet as coach, the Track and Field Team won the Philadelphia Catholic League and District XII (City) Championships.

June The Class of 2010 graduated 248 seniors in route to 82 colleges and universities in 22 state – 81% of the Class of 2010 earned athletic and/or academic scholarships, which totaled $25.5 million.

In defense of their State Championship, Lacrosse reached the championship game for the third consecutive year, but was defeated by Conestoga High School in the PIAA State Championship.

Over 140 students traveled to five different states and South America for summer service immersion opportunities.

Student Lab Managers earned seventeen individual Microsoft and Cisco certifications.

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July

November

Advancement Placement Exams identified 102 AP Scholars – students with a score of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams taken in a single academic year – including thirteen National Scholars – students with a score of 4 or higher on eight or more AP exams taken in a single academic year.

Football defeated Roman Catholic to win their third consecutive Philadelphia Catholic League Championship and went on to defeat Northeast High School to repeat as PIAA District XII (City) Champions.

The Speech and Debate Program captured first place in Policy Debate at the National Catholic Forensic Championships.

August Technology advanced as the IT Department upgraded to the latest version of Windows Server 2008, increased internet bandwidth from 4.5 MB to 45 MB, and increased to twenty-six virtual servers and five physical machines.

September The 50th Anniversary of La Salle’s Wyndmoor campus commenced when the Class of 2014 entered with 263 freshmen.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation recognized seventeen students as Semifinalists or Commended Students.

Almost 500 alumni returned for Homecoming and the home opener for the Defending State Championship Football Team. The 1960 City Championship Football Team was honored during halftime of the game as twenty-six members of the team returned to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the championship.

October Golf won the PIAA District XII (City) Championship.

Fall drama production featured three performances of Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit.

La Salle bestowed Scholastic Letters for First Honors to 322 sophomores, juniors, and seniors for achieving a grade point average of 3.50 or higher and no grade lower than a “C”.

Over 400 freshmen and their fathers participated in Freshman Branch-Out Day – a day of service at twenty sites throughout the area.

Brother Richard Kestler, FSC ’60 is honored at the Christian Brothers’ Service Awards Dinner for fifty years as a Christian Brother.

The Mothers’ Club and Men of La Salle hosted over 500 guests at the La Salle Auction – “Bella Luna, An Evening In Tuscany” and raised over $200,000.

Students collected over 10,000 non-perishable food items for a Thanksgiving Food Drive that benefitted Saint Vincent’s Soup Kitchen.

December In defense of their State Championship, Football advanced to the state title game for the second straight year, but was defeated by North Allegheny High School in the PIAA State Championship.

The annual Band and Choral Christmas Concerts played to packed houses and featured the Sounds of Christmas from over 300 musicians and three choral groups.

Secret Santa and Operation Santa Claus, La Salle’s Christmas Service Projects, collected over 2,500 gifts for patients at St. Christopher’s Hospital along with children identified by Catholic Social Services. Over 10% of the student body spent Christmas Eve delivering presents to sick and needy children in the Philadelphia Area.

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The

Runner

by Gregory T. Bielecki ’99

It is a chilly, rainy afternoon, and the majority of the student body is squirreled away in the library or their dorm rooms hard at work. Yet some forty student-athletes at one of the nation’s most prestigious academic institutions glide around the outdoor track in near seamless precision. They are mostly silent, suffering in calm focus through each interval at hand. The coach doesn’t yell, in fact, unless you were standing right near him his voice is almost inaudible. Each lap, as his charges pass him, he simply leans toward them to utter a split time and a few brief words of encouragement, “great, just stay relaxed… stay in there.” While he only says a few words, his athletes trust the emotion in his eyes. He has this innate ability to communicate the depth of his compassion for his athletes simply by his presence. They feel connected to him and respond to his positive feedback. In these moments of connection the foundation is being laid for future successes – not just next week, next month, or next year, but for a lifetime.

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It is this special coach-athlete relationship which has helped to make Tom Donnelly ’65 one of the most successful and wellrespected coaches in the country.

He has combined the ability to know what each of his athletes need and when they need it, with a penchant for learning through his experiences to maximize his ability to impact the lives of those lucky enough to run for him. The story of his odyssey reveals both those natural traits and lessons learned that have left so many to marvel as this humble running coach who helps to mold young men.

Tom Donnelly’s path to coaching greatness began in the fall of 1961 when he entered La Salle College High School as a freshman from Holy Child parish in Logan.

Donnelly’s running experiences had consisted of neighborhood games which had given him a vague sense that he had decent endurance. Yet when he entered La Salle, he came armed with the plan to go out for the first team to call for tryouts. As fate would have it, that sport was cross country. Donnelly quickly found success as a member of cross country and track teams.

His running and coaching career are marked with both toughness and competitiveness, traits exemplified on the 3rd day of his very first season. As an inexperienced high school freshman, he finished 9th overall, 4th on the 50-man team, and had run so hard that he did not remember the last quarter of the race (afterwards he expressed

annoyance when he thought he had finished 3rd). Donnelly went on to graduate La Salle as the greatest runner in school history and certainly one of the best in the United States by his senior year. He won a record three consecutive Philadelphia Catholic League Cross Country Championships, not losing a race after freshman year, set the course record at historic Van Cortlandt Park in New York, and won the prestigious Eastern States Championship.

With all of his high school success Tom Donnelly is quick to credit the coach from his freshman year, Brother Fred DeGroot. Though Brother DeGroot only coached him during his freshman year, his influence continues to affect him today, and helped to set Coach Donnelly along his path.

Coach Donnelly maintains that Brother DeGroot was “The best coach I ever had. He really thought everything out, he knew how to motivate, and he knew how to train people even though he never ran himself.”

Following his illustrious career at La Salle College High School, Tom Donnelly accepted a scholarship to run for one of the most accomplished collegiate programs with one of the most renowned coaches in the country - Villanova University and Head Coach Jumbo Elliott.

At Villanova, Donnelly proved himself to be among the best distance runners in the country.

Starting in his sophomore year (at that time in the NCAA freshman were not eligible to compete), he led the Wildcats to three consecutive NCAA Cross

Country Championships from 1966-1968, himself finishing an amazing 7th, 23rd, and 8th in each of the three championship races. In total, he made AllAmerican teams eight times (twice in cross country, twice in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, three times for being on the fastest 4xMile relay team in the country, and once for running the three-quarter mile leg of the national championship distance medley relay). While at Villanova, and having the privilege of running for the famed Jumbo Elliott, Donnelly had a chance to build on the budding coaching philosophy he had begun to develop at La Salle. Unknown to many was that Jumbo’s full-time work schedule precluded him from being present at practice every day throughout the fall cross country season. Runners on the team, many of whom were the best in the country, looked to him for guidance in the daily monitoring of their training. The results spoke for themselves as Donnelly was honing coaching instincts that would serve him well throughout his career.

During track season, Coach Elliott guided a team loaded with some of the greatest talent in the world. Donnelly often remarks how much he learned from watching Jumbo coach, “He could impart confidence and inspire athletes because he deeply believed in you. When he told you that you would run well you knew it would come true, and so it did.” By the time he graduated from Villanova with a degree in history, it was clear to him that he wanted to teach and coach the sport that had come to mean so much to him.

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TheRunner continued

Coach Donnelly began his official teaching and coaching career in the fall of 1969 at Archbishop Wood High School.

The cross country team at Wood had finished near the bottom of the Philadelphia Catholic League the year before. In a feat that would begin his coaching legend, he managed to take that near last place team and turn them into Philadelphia Catholic League Champions. The following year, he returned to his Alma Mater to teach history and coach both cross country and track and field (he would be succeeded by his assistant coach Pat Devine in 1974). In 1971 and 1972, he led the cross country team at La Salle to their first Philadelphia Catholic League titles in the sport and found time to win the inaugural Penn Relays Olympic Development Six Mile race. This five year stint coaching in the high school ranks allowed Coach Donnelly the opportunity to see the success he could have trying to impart the life lessons that he had learned from the sport to the runners under his care. He learned from cross country and track and field, “If you work really hard things usually work out.

There are a lot of guys you can beat who should beat you if you work hard and do things right. And as a coach you can try to apply these lessons to the athletes you coach.”

In the fall of 1974, Coach Donnelly returned to Villanova to pursue a master’s degree in history. After spending the year at Villanova, he began to look for new teaching jobs. By chance he learned of a coaching position at a near-by school. A small, liberal arts college with high academic standards and a very poor cross country and track and field program was looking

for a coach. Haverford College was hardly offering a high profile job; yet, Coach Donnelly was drawn to the opportunity to coach and work with young men who wanted to learn about themselves, teamwork, and life through running and competition.

When he began work at Haverford in the fall of 1975, he found a program that had a long way to go. Coach Donnelly inherited a program that had lost seventy straight dual/tri meets, and often finished last place scoring zero points in their conference meet. With his trademark focus, passion, and patience Coach Donnelly’s teams steadily improved, and since 1991 they have won 52 of 57 conference titles in cross country, indoor, and outdoor track and field (since 1992 in the Centennial Conference), and since that time his cross

III athlete to break 4:00 for the mile, running 3:57). And the fastest six milers in Haverford history have an average best time of 4:01, an unbelievable statistic for a NCAA Division III school with no scholarships and just over 1,100 students.

With such success, observers have often wondered why such a talented and accomplished coach remains at a small, lowprofile, Division III college. His answer conveys why his program embodies all that is right in college athletes, he says, “Kids are great everywhere, but the guys at Haverford are different in a really good way. They have a sense of values that really makes sense to me. They are interested in those intangible things, the lessons you learn from a sport, not the tangible things you can get from a sport.”

With all of his success, Coach Donnelly does not get lost in it. He is remarkable for his

vastly different approaches to training (which led to World and American records, respectively).

Coach Donnelly carried that lesson forward and over time it has helped him help countless athletes achieve things they never believed possible.

By 2004, Coach Donnelly was entering his 30th year at Haverford and had coached over one hundred All-Americans and his cross country teams had finished as high as 7th place in NCAA Division III Championships – a legacy that would satisfy nearly any coach.

Yet at this time he showed his true genius for evolution. In the seven cross country season since 2004, his squads have finished on the podium (Top 4) on four separate occasions, culminating in 2010 when they won the first NCAA Division III National Championship in school history. And true to form,

“You must learn to personalize your coaching to each athlete. The same things do not necessarily work for every runner.” country teams have qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships every year.

Further evidence of Coach Donnelly’s remarkable coaching skill can be seen by glancing at the list of all-time best performances by NCAA Division III athletes. In addition to La Salle alum Seamus McElligott ’86 appearing on the list in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meter, Coach Donnelly has coached four of the top eight in the 1,500 meters (the fastest mile in school history is still the only NCAA Division

consistent reflection and desire to learn from each experience.

Even with accolades from some of the best coaches in the NCAA, he is quick to point out that he is constantly learning.

He says, Through the mid and late1980s, in addition to his coaching responsibilities at Haverford, Coach Donnelly was coaching two of the top 1,500 meter runners in the world: Marcus O’Sullivan and Sydney Maree. Despite the seemingly natural match between the two, he found that they thrived on

Coach Donnelly was quick to give all the credit to his athletes.

But make no mistake about it, that performance, like so many by his earlier athletes, is the result of his ability to connect with his athletes and learn from his experiences. Undoubtedly, Coach Donnelly will continue to distill the lessons he has learned through his experiences as an athlete and coach – at the same time providing them with their own lessons which will shape their lives.

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photogallery

Homecoming Friday, September 24, 2010

1960 City Championship Football Team Twenty-three members of the 1960 City Championship Football Team, along with two coaches, gathered to commemorate the 5oth Anniversary of their athletic milestone and were honored at halftime

by Brother Richard Kestler, FSC ’60 and Head Football Coach Drew Gordon. The Explorers finished the 1960 season undefeated with a record of 8-0-1 and shut-out Frankford High School to win the school’s third City Championship in football.

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Golden Explorers Luncheon Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Dave McGrath ’45 and Bill Foster ’38

Mass in the Marian Chapel

Joe Trinity ’45, Jack Gibbons ’45, and Joe Pickard ’45

Members of the Class of 1947 – Phil Drach, Paul Kolodchak, Jim Cunnion, Ed Whelan, and Bill Seiberlich

Jim Casey ’43, Bob Foster ’43, and Jim Reilly ’44

The Class of 1945 gathers for their 65-Year Reunion

Frank Donohoe ’51 and Dave Smith ’51

Brother Richard Kestler, FSC ’60 addresses his fellow Golden Explorers

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photogallerycontinued

Auction Saturday, November 6, 2010

Dorothy Marchese, Susan Ventresca, Ben Ventresca ’70, and Joe Marchese

Brother Richard Kestler, FSC ’60 and the Auction Committee

Tony Giaimo, Chris Giaimo, Brother Richard Kestler, FSC ’60, Roseanne Duzinski, and Steve Duzinski

Action on the Floor of the Silent Auction

Craig and Joanne Burdulis

Tim Gillespie ’78, Susan Gillespie, Coleen Metzler, and Mark Metzler

Tony Giaimo and the Fiat

Ray and Jeribeth Subers

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Grandparents’ Day

President’s Dinner

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Freshman Grandparents during the Prayer Service

Carole Foley, Gerry Foley ’74, Gerry Binder ’69, Karen Guerra, and Ron Guerra ’76

Jack Farris ‘50, Jack Farris ’14, and Patricia Farris

Pat Brabson, Francy Kent, Mike Whitaker ‘68, Elaine Whitaker, and Brother Richard Kestler, FSC ‘60

Mary Gregor and Jack Gregor ‘ 14

Tom Manion, Ed Carmody, Diane Carmody, and Cathy Cassidy

Jack Barrett ’53, Mick Barrett ’14, and Jo Claire Barrett

Brother Bill DiPasquale, FSC, Pat Gallagher ’70, and Al Salvitti ‘70

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classnotes

Golden Explorers (1930’s, 1940’s, and 1950’s) Reverend Robert Breen ’45 sends congratulations to Drew and Brett Gordon and the entire football coaching staff for an outstanding 2010 season.

Harry A. Reckner ’46 finally stopped working in June. Harry was a manufacturer of glass eyes for taxidermy and is now rebuilding his 1966 Austin Healy Sprite. Harry and his wife, Elsa, celebrated their 56th anniversary on October 3, 2010 and in September, they saw their 7th great-grandchild for the first time.

James W. Fallon ’47 has eight children, 33 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren.

Frank Grant ’47 thanks everyone for prayers during a recent surgery.

He is recovering well.

James P. Boland, MD ’48 is active as Professor, School of Medicine at the University of West Virginia, and Chief of Surgery at Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston, WV. Joseph Magre ’49 has a new granddaughter and a new great-granddaughter.

Charles Happ ’50 is pleased to report his grandson Colin is a member of the Class of 2014.

Edward J. Schmid ’50 was finally forced into retirement and is able to spend time with his wife, Diane, his grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who live close by in Raleigh, NC. He is sorry he missed the 60th Reunion, but happy to “enjoy the roses, some golf, and camping.”

Jack Cobb ’51 and John Lynch ’51 joined up to visit three old Ocean City haunts where they worked in the early fifties. Jack’s family had a big reunion and John lives in Ocean City.

Willliam dePasquale ’51 conducted the String Orchestra at the Lake Luzerne Music Festival this past August. He was also featured in a chamber concert at the festival along with this wife, Gloria.

Jack Lee ’52 retired in 1994 after a 34-year career and is working as an independent contractor providing training and consultancy to elements of the U.S. Military.

Patrick McMenamin ’52 writes that he will be returning to El Salvador for his eighth summer as a volunteer with the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The Class of 1954 recently honored Brother Thomas Caldwell, FSC on the occasion of his 65th Anniversary as a Christian Brother. At their monthly luncheon at the Blue Bell Inn, attended by over twenty-five members of the Class of 1954, Brother Tom was informed that the class had raised $2,000 and donated the amount in his name to the San Miguel School in Camden, NJ. Brother Tom, affectionately known as “Little Tom”, was presented with a framed thank you letter from the Sam Miguel School, a copy of the announcement of his 65th Anniversary, and two pictures of him as a Christian Brother – one from 1953 as well as a current photo. The two photos were placed aside a photo of Saint John Baptist de La Salle.

John Discher, USAF (Ret.) ’54 celebrated the 25th anniversary of his retirement from the United States Air Force on July 1, 2010 with family and friends.

Peter Frey, PhD ’56 and his wife celebrated their 40th anniversary with a Caribbean Cruise.

Samuel Herb, PE ’56 is the current Editor of Parish Ecumenical Representative Newsletter for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Jim McGill ’57 and his wife, Andrea, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in November 2010. They are retired and residing in Cape May Courthouse, NJ. Charles Palmer ’57 traveled across the country from Hatfield to Seattle and then to Southern California in a 34 year-old self-maintained/repaired automobile in early November. The car performed flawlessly allowing time to visit former Aerospace Engineering colleagues he had not seen in forty years.

Edward J. Miller, PhD ’58 addressed the Association of Catholic College and University Presidents in January 2011 on the topic of Cardinal Newman and Catholic higher education.

Harry B. Miller, Jr. ’58 is now retired and spends as much time as possible at his home in Marco Island, FL with his wife, Suzanne Gers Miller.

Explorer Winter 2011 26

1960’s

Capital Campaign Update

H. John Appleton ’60 is now President of Appleton and Company Agribusiness Consultants.

The Fulfilling the Promise capital campaign has raised an impressive $21,530,000 to date from only 710 donors!

Having attained 86% of its $25 million goal, the Alumni classes have now been actively raising funds to secure naming rights for financial aid and classrooms in the new addition. Currently these “class campaigns” are being spear headed by 162 volunteer Class Captains.

Albert Them III ’61’s one act play, “God and Tom”, is featured at Players Club in Swarthmore’s New Play Festival in April. Al appeared in Celebration Theater’s “The Ransom of Red Chief” as the scheming kidnapper.

Joseph P. McDonnell ’62 retired after 41 years of federal service as an economist with the CIA and HUD. He currently resides in Pentwater, MI. John M. Daly, MD ’65 was the recipient of the 2010 Diamond Award for the Temple University Health System.

John J. Kelly, Jr ’65 has been named to the Roane Company Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity. He is the Director of Construction.

Harry Dolaway ’68 had his 60th birthday party at a Phillies Game for thirty-five friends and family.

Stephen F. Andrilli, PhD ’69 published the 4th edition of his mathematics textbook, Elementary Linear Algebra, co-authored with Dr. David Hecker of St. Joseph’s University, in January 2010 by Elsevier/Academic Press.

They have secured over $650,000 for the school through their efforts. The first class to reach its goal was the Class of 1999, who then decided to double their target in order to further honor their classmate 1LT Travis L. Manion, USMC. The Class of 2003 was the next to finish and they will honor the memory of their teacher Fran Johnson and classmates Chris Tropio and Terrence McCann. Nearing the finish line are the Classes of 1930-48, who chose to honor all the Christian Brothers who have served the school. The Classes of 1969, 1972 and 1999 are also closely approaching their goals.

Please consider participating in this important initiative for the school and create a legacy for your class at La Salle College High School.

You earned it.

Don’t give it to the IRS.

Leave your IRA to La Salle College High School.

The Problem

Discover the benefits of giving wisely…

If you are single or a surviving spouse, any balance you leave in your traditional IRA, 401k, 403b, or other qualified retirement plan when you die is potentially subject to multiple taxes, including federal income tax, federal estate tax, and state inheritance tax. If you are in a taxable estate bracket, the combined taxes could be 85% or more of the balance of your plan, which will leave very little for your heirs.

For additional information, please contact: Robert F. McAnespey ’66 Director of Development and Major Gifts (215) 402-4808 mcanespey@lschs.org www.lschs.org/plannedgiving

The Solution Make La Salle College High School the beneficiary of your retirement plan and leave other, less tax-burdened assets to your heirs. How? It’s easy. Just fill out a Change of Beneficiary Form, available from your plan provider. La Salle College High School will receive any remaining assets tax-free.

Explorer Winter 2011 27

classnotescontinued

1970’s

EITC

COL Donald Armento, USMC ’74 retired from the Marine Corps Reserve in late 2009 and was appointed to the San Diego Superior Court as a judge in 2009. Two of his children have finished college and two are currently attending college in California. Don was back to visit the campus in June. “The campus is beautiful – Wow!”

Did you know that you can earn a substantial tax credit by helping a La Salle student reach his full potential?

John H. Brand ’75 is now working as a Senior Geologist in the Gulf of Mexico Appraisal Group at Nexen Petroleum in West Houston, TX. Patrick Foley ’76 and his wife, Maureen, are pleased to report that their twin sons, Dennis and Gerard, are members of the La Salle College High School Class of 2014.

Raymond Szmigiel ’79 received his Masters Degree of Education in Instructional Systems from Penn State University, Great Valley, PA in May 2010.

The Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) provides businesses the opportunity to invest in the education of La Salle students. Companies who donate through the EITC program can contribute to the academic success of students and earn a substantial tax credit in the process.

EITC donations for students at La Salle College High School are used to provide need-based tuition assistance subsidies. Last year, over forty La Salle students received such assistance. A one-time donation can earn your business a 75% tax credit; however, a two-year commitment results in a 90% tax credit. Your business, or any of its operating subsidiaries, can receive up to $200,000 in tax credits annually. Although several large companies participate, most EITC contributors are small businesses, donating smaller sums of money. The charitable contribution reduces the amount of a business’s taxable income as tax credits reduce tax bills dollar-for-dollar. If you are interested in participating in this program or receiving additional information, please contact Paul Colistra ’00, Major Gifts Officer, at (215) 402-4811 or colistrap@lschs.org

Art Studio One of the many hidden secrets on La Salle’s campus is located on the top floor of Saint Michael Hall. The Art Studio, which was designed to meet the growing interests of the students, is divided into two separate areas – drawing/painting and ceramics. The space uses skylights to incorporate natural lighting and provides space for the entire visual arts curriculum, whose thirteen courses include drawing, painting, ceramics, and sculpture.

Two full-time artists/instructors work with students to produce work that is showcased each spring during the Annual Arts Festival.

Slabinski Family Fitness Center In 2002, in response to recent athletic success and in conjunction with construction of the West Wing, a 2,500 square foot bi-level fitness center was opened to serve the needs of the school’s growing athletic programs. The fitness center is staffed by a full-time fitness instructor and features twenty-four circuit training machines along with free weights, treadmills, bicycles, and elliptical machines.

The fitness center was aptly named in honor of Joseph F. Slabinski III ’67, who was the first weight training instructor at the school.

Explorer Winter 2011 28

1980’s Al Solecki ’81 was recently recognized for the fifth consecutive year as a New York Super Lawyer in the labor and employment law field. From 2004 through the present, Al has been the Chairman of Goodwin Proctor, LLP’s New York Office.

David T. Espenshade, Jr. ’82 is Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, for EPharmaSolutions in Conshohocken, PA. Francis Harkins ’82 just celebrated his 20th anniversary with URS Corporation and is currently Engineering Manager on a major utility pollution control project in Michigan. He is proud of his three children and is hopeful that his eldest son will begin La Salle next year. Fran is also partnering with his wife, Mary, in her college consulting business, Avery Education Consultants.

Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes was donated and built by Joseph Guerinna in 1960 to show appreciation for La Salle and the Christian Brothers and as a memorial to his parents. His thoughtfulness and generosity created one of the most beautiful and peaceful places on the of La Salle College High School. The Shrine, with its unique altar, is the ideal setting for an outdoor Mass, and from 1962 until 2007, was the site of the Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Exercises for over forty graduating classes of La Salle College High School.

Hugh Panaro ’82 returned to Broadway on September 7, 2010 in the lead role of the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of The Opera.

Hugh becomes the first person to play the internationally renowned role on three different occasions. He has also played Raoul in the same production.

David Reinhardt ’84 became Forrest Gump in December of 2007. Dave now has five marathons under his belt. He ran the 2010 Boston Marathon in personal best time of 3:46:30.

Harry Slifer ’84 reports that he is now a current parent as his son Kyle is a member of the Class of 2014.

Rob Weikel, Jr. ’86 has been granted his third patent related to breast biopsy device technology. Since late 2008 he has shifted his efforts to the medical aesthetics industry as Director of Marketing for the new Pellevé Wrinkle Reduction System from Ellman International.

John Coscia, Jr. ’88 and his wife, Lisa, are proud of their oldest son Tyler, now a member of the La Salle College High School Class of 2014.

Carlos Sanchez ’89 is well and now assigned to Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Ethiopia, where he is the Head of Program for what is one of the U.S. Bishops’ biggest development and humanitarian country initiatives.

The program is responsible for carrying out basic services in hygiene and water provision, providing HIV/AIDS education and medicines, promoting small agriculture and livelihood projects, microfinance opportunities, and also coordinating emergency food distribution for over one million people every month. The Christian Brothers are also present and recently opened a school attached to an orphanage run by the Mother Teresa’s sisters that CRS is supporting for food rations.

Ward Field and Athletic Complex In 2006, the school acquired 34 acres of adjoining land along Route 309 and Paper Mill Road, which increased the size of the campus to 85 acres.

Development began in 2007 of a baseball stadium – Ward Field – which was made possible through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. George Ward ’58.

The athletic complex also includes two multi-purpose athletic fields for football, soccer, or lacrosse along with the McCarthy Walking Trail and Brother Gratian of Jesus Environmental Science Center. The expansion provides the school’s athletic program with nine fields.

Explorer Winter 2011 29

classnotescontinued

1990’s

Daniel Keenan ’91 recently opened a new Acorn Financial Services office in Haddonfield, NJ, where he resides with his wife, Jessica, and their four children.

Adam Karr ’92 is celebrating his tenth year in the business of designing and building custom cabinets and furniture. He also delivers and installs his work.The Springhouse Shop and Studio is located in Northeastern PA and primarily serves New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

LT Doug Gugger, USN, MD ’95 was recently featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer for an elusive mission to rebuild a province in Eastern Afghanistan, in one of the poorest and most battle-scarred nations on the planet, and win over Afghans before the Taliban reaches them. The Navy lieutenant is a senior medical officer and part of a U.S. force called Provincial Reconstruction Team, with members from the Navy, Air Force, Army, and federal government. Dr. Gugger and his wife, Amy, are new parents of two adopted children.

Philadelphia 100 for Fastest Growing Business The computer lab was filled with terminals and Apple II’s, when Chris Schalleur, ’90, was a swimmer and an AP computer science student.

Schalleur says his road to launching his own IT consulting business, Christo IT Services, started with the hours he spent in the computer lab with Mr. Russell.

“I loved everything about computers from the beginning,” says Schalleur who founded Christo IT in 1999 with the goal of providing the type of professional IT support larger companies enjoy to small businesses.

Christo IT’s distinctive business model – which focuses on proactive maintenance to avoid problems – has made Schalleur a premier IT service provider for small businesses in the Philadelphia region.

Schalleur, pursued a degree in chemical engineering at Villanova University, where he would meet his business partner, Chris Connolly, and his wife, Jen Schalleur, who also works on the Christo IT team.

Every day at Christo IT, Schalleur says he still relies on the scientific methods which he studied meticulously with Mr. Evans and Mrs. Ponisciak.

Christo IT Services of Harleysville, PA has been named one of the winners of the 2010 fastest-growing, privately-held businesses in the Philadelphia region by the Philadelphia 100. The prestigious Philadelphia 100 is an annual program conducted by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum of Greater Philadelphia, Philadelphia Business Journal, and Wharton Small Business Development Center.

Steffan W. Schulz, MD ’95 is opening a Lupus Center at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

LCDR Ryan Ventresca, USN, ’95 assumed command of USS Hurricane (PC3) on November 19, 2010.

Brian D. Kent, Esq. ’96 opened the law firm of Laffey, Bucci & Kent, LLP specializing in handling catastrophic injury cases on behalf of injury victims with a specialty in handling workplace accident cases, auto accident cases, sexual abuse cases, and product liability cases.

Alan Jalon ’99 recently organized and co-sponsored a lecture at the Academy of Natural Sciences with John Todd, PhD. Dr. Todd, a biologist and deemed one of the top inventors by MIT, invented a system called an Eco-Machine, which is able to clean and purify water using plants and aquatic life. Alan is currently using this technology in a proposal to the Philadelphia Water Department at their Water Works facility to clean and restore the Schuylkill River. It was also Alan’s graduate thesis for his M.S. in Sustainable Design.

1LT Brendan M. McCormick ’99 has been deployed to Sharana, Afghanistan.

Stay Connected!

Do you receive the Alumni eNewsletter? Do you want to make sure you receive news alerts and invitations to local and regional receptions and events? In supporting the school’s efforts to “Go Green”, invitations and other notices that are were formally sent via mail will be eliminated and communicated via email or through social and/or digital media.

Please send an email with your name, class year, and preferred email address to alumni@lschs.org to make certain that you are included.

Explorer Winter 2011 30

2000’s Kyle Elliott ’01 is a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Thomas I. Vanaskie, United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Scranton, PA. Kyle recently married Laura T. Bilstein.

Ryan Pollock ’02 recently opened a gourmet sandwich, coffee, and homemade treats café – RYEBREAD – located on Fairmount Avenue in Philadelphia. After being laid off from his architecture job in Alexandria, VA, Ryan decided to reinvent himself using skills in construction, design, and business to create RYEBREAD. Ryan encourages alumni to stop by if you are in the area.

Sean Seese ’02 was married in October at Huntingdon Valley Country Club.

New York Stage Of Mind Frank DiLella ’02 and Steve Lyon ’02 both reside in New York City and both are excelling in their careers – artistically – in two very different ways.

Frank made his Broadway debut in a walk-on cameo role in Mary Poppins in September. Frank is a producer and on-camera talent for NY1 News – the 24-hour CNN affiliate, owned and operated by Time Warner Cable in New York City. His weekly half-hour television show, On Stage, features Broadway and off-Broadway talent.

The President of Disney Theatrical Productions – Thomas Schumacher – personally asked Frank to make his Broadway debut in Mary Poppins. The whole process – from rehearsal to performance – was taped and aired on his television show. A few family and friends made the trip from Philadelphia to The Big Apple to catch Frank’s performance as a chimney sweep and a vicar.

classnotescontinued Andrew Ventresca ’06 is currently serving as an officer aboard the USS Bainbridge (DDG96) homeported in Norfolk, VA. Andrew will deploy in January.

Christopher Cahill ’07 just graduated OCS for the Marine Corps and is now planning to attend law school.

Michael Young ’07 spent the summer interning at Vantage4 LLC, a business development firm in Fort Washington, PA. He had the opportunity to help support the product launch of Coda Automotive, a brand new electric vehicle based out of Santa Monica, CA. John Harrison ’08 just finished his junior season at Franklin & Marshall College and is already the leading career passer in Centennial Conference history with 7,325 yards. He’s No. 1 in 400-yard games (three) and tied for the lead in 300-yard games (eight).

Daniel Lowry ’08 has been selected by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) as a 2010 Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship recipient. This appointment includes a summer 2011 internship at a NOAA facility for scientific research.

Frank Wallace ’08 has recently been to Montana, Singapore, and Kalgoorlie, Australia through Penn State University. Frank is preparing for a career in mining engineering.

Kevin Hughes ’09 had a cameo appearance in the movie Social Network.

The movie is about the founding of Facebook and was partially filmed on the campus of Johns Hopkins University.

Kevin Johnson ’09 is attending the University of Delaware, joined the Sigma Epsilon Fraternity, and is playing on the UDEL Club baseball team.

Steve Lyon ’02 is making his actual Broadway debut in the orchestra pit of West Side Story. A very talented musician, he recently graduated with a M.A. in music performance and plays practically every woodwind instrument.

He recently played with the Irish Tenors. After subbing in many shows on Broadway including A Chorus Line, The Addams Family, and West Side Story – just to name a few – he became a permanent replacement on Saturday, October 2, 2010.

Chris DiLella ’06, like his brother Frank, works in network news. Chris graduated from Fordham in June and now works for CBS in New York.

Justin Sen ’03 completed seven years of active duty in the US Navy – the past three of which were spent in the intelligence field in Washington, DC. Justin recently took a position as a contractor deploying to Afghanistan for one year beginning early October in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

John Trainer ’04 and Caitlyn Caniz were married at Saint Francis Xavier Church on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Monsignor Arthur Rodgers, Pastor of Saint Matthias Parish was the principle celebrant along with Reverend Anthony Janton, AFSC ’69 and Reverend Paul Convery, pastor of Saint Francis Xavier Parish.

Marian Chapel In 2008 and in conjunction with the start of the 150th school year, the Marian Chapel opened as part of the new academic expansion. In developing the new wing, one of the school’s priorities was to incorporate a chapel and, for the first time, locate a bona fide place of worship within the school. The stained glass windows were designed by a current parent, Patricia Schelkun, and highlight the school’s commitment to faith, service, and community. The Mothers’ Club generously contributed to the project and named the chapel in honor of the Blessed Mother and all La Salle mothers.

Explorer Winter 2011 31

Why Giving Matters …MAKES LA SALLE POSSIBLE. The generosity of our extended Lasallian family allows us to provide financial aid and scholarships to many of our young men. Without this assistance, many of them would simply not be able to attend. …CARRIES ON TRADITION. Gifts ensure our future generations of Explorers are able to experience the same exceptional education that our alums now treasure. Investing in La Salle’s tradition carries on a sense of pride and community to our next generation. …CHANGES THE WORLD AROUND US. Funding our service programs, gifts allow our young men to make a difference locally, nationally, and internationally. Whether it’s feeding the homeless in Camden, rebuilding the Gulf Coast, or rehabbing schools in Bolivia, our students are constantly living out their faith through action.

…CREATES AND EXPANDS POTENTIAL. Through our various programs, curriculums, and extra-curricular activities, our students have won State Championships, achieved advanced Microsoft certifications, excelled in national speech and debate tournaments, and performed in highly acclaimed musical and theatrical productions. Gifts from our alums create opportunity, which translate into success. …HONORS OUR MISSION. La Salle is committed to fostering an environment for young men of varied backgrounds, and we honor our commitment to academic excellence, service, and leadership. The gifts we receive allow us to carry on the educational vision of our founder – Saint John Baptist de La Salle.

Help continue to make all of these “effects of giving” a reality by making a gift to the 2010-2011 De La Salle Annual Fund! Simply return the attached envelope, or visit www.lschs.org/gift to expedite the process and make your gift online. It is giving that allows us to carry on our tradition of Teaching Minds and Touching Hearts.

Teaching Minds, Touching Hearts

Explorer Winter 2011 32

Births

Deaths

Jerome Lombard, Sr. ’58 and Terrence O’Hara announce the birth of their granddaughter, Paige Haylee O’Hara, on March 27, 2010.

Michael Brown ’74 joyfully announces his first grandson, Michael James Brown, born April 21, 2010.

Robert Gerngross ’74 and his wife, Bia, welcomed a boy, Jack, born August 19, 2009.

Paul Wynn ’88 and his wife, Julia, welcomed a daughter, Emily Grace, on September 27, 2010.

John Maher ’89 and his wife, Allison, welcomed a son, Jack, on September 9, 2010.

Sean O’Hara ’89 and his wife, Kate, welcomed a daughter, Paige Haylee, on March 27, 2010.

James Maher ’91 and his wife, Jennifer, welcomed a girl, Molly, on April 13, 2010.

David Wenhold ’94 and his wife, Nicole, welcomed a son, Evan Robert, on July 1, 2010.

P.J. Quinn ’95 and his wife, Megan, welcomed a boy, Braden Joseph on October 1, 2010.

Ryan Slizofski ’95 and his wife, Caroline, welcomed a boy, Gavin Joseph, on January 30, 2010.

Edward Leonard ’96 and his wife, Dana, welcomed a boy, Steven Vincent on August 26, 2010.

Alfred E. Abbey, Esq. ’47 M. William Albanese ’48 Raymond B. Bloemker III ’88

Anthony M. Alberico, MD, father of Anthony ’72, Thomas ’74, and Stephen ’76.

Elizabeth (Betsy) A. Cobb, wife of John ’51.

Matthew J. Carr ’06

Marguerite Coll, grandmother of Gavin Young ’01 and Matthew Young ’07.

Joseph S. Celia ’45

Bernadette Dunn, mother of Michael ’71.

Matthew D. Crozier ’08

Stephanie A. Favata, sister of Raymond ’05.

Thomas L. Ferguson ’49 Robert F. Gallagher, DDS ’42, father of Robin ’67 and Patrick ’70; grandfather of Kyle ’95, Patrick ’04, and Garrett ’07.

John R.F. Gillis 67

Henry G. Herling, father of Daniel ’71, Michael ’75, and Joseph ’77.

Richard Morrison ’47 John “Jack” Nickels ’64

Patricia M. Kenney, wife of Patrick ’79.

Eugene F. Quirk, Jr. ’61, brother of Kevin Quirk ’73

Kathryn McGowan, wife of William ’68.

James Houghton ’48 Samuel H. John, Jr. ’42 Terrence F. Monihan ’50

George P. Sernyak ’50 William Spillan ’45 Louis C. Woyce, Jr. ’45

E. Jane Robertson, grandmother of Kyle Gallagher ’95, George Walters’ 05, and Christopher Walters ’96; mother-in-law of Brian Belcher ’69 and Robin Gallagher ’67.

David J. Savaiano, father of Judy Paul (John) and Pat Mills (Bob); grandfather of Chris Paul ’94, Jeff Mills ’02, and Mike Mills ’05.

Patricia Tillger, mother of Michael ’75 Marilyn Wolfinger, wife of Vincent ’46 and mother of Vincent ’72.

Robert Hoehn, father of Robert ’73 and Michael ’74.

Jane M. Hughes, wife of Eugene, Sr., MD ’42; mother of Edward ’67, Eugene ’67, Robert ’70, Timothy ’72, Thomas ’73, Christopher ’76, Brian ’78, and Donald ’80; grandmother of Patrick ’97, Timothy ’99, Edward ’01, Robert ’03, and Kevin 08.

Brendan R. Gray ’94

Dennis F. Regan, father of Patrick ’06.

Kevin F. McLoughlin, Sr., father of Kevin ’03 and Eric ’07.

Salvatore Mele, grandfather of Christopher ’13.

Honorees The annual Academic Honors Convocation at La Salle College High School was held on Thursday, October 14, 2010. The faculty and administration were proud to honor 322 students (sophomores, juniors, and seniors) who distinguished themselves by earning the Scholastic L by virtue of attaining a final grade point average of 3.50 or above with no grade below a “C”, based on final grades for the 2009-2010 academic year. Also honored that evening were the National Merit Semifinalists and National Merit Commended Students. In addition, La Salle recognized two members of its faculty – Mr. Dennis Bloh and Mr. Geoff Nicoletti – who distinguished themselves with 25-years of completed service.

The speaker for the evening was Dr. John Gimpel ’80. In 1984, Dr. Gimpel was named the outstanding senior in the Department of Biology and graduated with honors from La Salle University, where he received a B.A. in Biology. After graduating from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) in 1988, Dr. Gimpel completed a rotating internship and residency training in Family Medicine at the Hospital of PCOM and Chestnut Hill Hospital in 1991. He also later received a Masters in Education from La Salle University.

Dr. Gimpel currently serves as President and CEO of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME), which is based in Philadelphia and Chicago. The NBOME creates and administers national assessments designed for medical licensure and other high-stakes physician competency evaluation.

Over his twenty year professional career, Dr. Gimpel has remained clinically active as a family physician, and was named to “America’s Top Family Physicians” by the Consumer’s Research Council of America.

He has held teaching and administrative positions at a number of prestigious academic health centers, including PCOM, the Georgetown University School of Medicine, and the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he served at Dean of the medical school and Vice President for Health Services. Known for his passion and commitment to the teaching, learning and assessment of doctor-patient communication, the doctor-patient relationship, humanism in medicine and medical professionalism, Dr. Gimpel is a regular lecturer and presenter at medical education meetings internationally. He has also published extensively, having authored over thirty published, peer-reviewed manuscripts and textbook chapters.

51

Explorer Winter Fall 2009 2011 33 33

st

Annual Alumni Scholarship Golf Outing

Tuesday, May 31, 2011 Philadelphia Cricket Club 6025 West Valley Green Road Flourtown, Pennsylvania

ALUMNI

GOLF For additional information, please contact Mary Frances Kelly at (215) 402-4814 or mfkelly@lschs.org

Play will take place on both courses Wissahickon (Old) and Militia Hill (New).

E X PLORE R

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Lansdale, PA Permit No. 93

The Official Magazine of La Salle College High School

La Salle College High School 8605 Cheltenham Avenue Wyndmoor, PA 19038 Change Service Requested

THE

BIG 50

IS COMING!

June 3-4, 2011 Go to our website: www.lschs.org/50th See who’s coming... See what’s happening...

See who’s missing (and help us find them).

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