CATHOLIC. MARIANIST. FORMING OUR STUDENTS INTO REMARKABLE MEN.
Spring 2024 Magazine
SPRING MAGAZINE 2024
04| New Leadership in the Front Office
04| Things I’ve Learned from Carl Kremer
06| Faculty Highlights
10| C40M: A Spiritual Workout
11| Marianist Values in Action
14| The Main Event
16| Progress with Innovation
18| 2024 Sports Stag
20| Hall of Fame
22| #BigMoeFlagPlant
On the cover: 2024 Marianist Cup winners Zaragoza House cheer on their team during House basketball.
The Moeller/MND Band Emphasizes Fundamentals 11 Founder’s Day Celebration Honors Those Who Live Out Marianist Values
12
Honoring Five Remarkable Members of the Moeller Family
Moeller Family,
As we end the 2023-2024 school year, there is lots to celebrate. We opened the new Paul E. Flaig Performing Arts Center, admitted 257 young men into the Class of 2028 (the fourth year in a row a waitlist was created) and graduated 199 stellar Men of Moeller who for the past year led our school with honor, integrity and spirit.
We celebrated success on the fields, in the classrooms, and amongst our faculty and staff. We reached new heights in our academic programming, finishing up a robust year of administering 769 AP exams, up from 494 just a few years ago.
While we will continue to grow our school and pursue excellence in everything we do, what we find most important is how we live out our core values of Build the Family, Hold the Door and Earn the Shield which have become our North Star in how we support a fellow classmate, respect a different viewpoint, or demonstrate tenacity and grit through a tough class or on the field. Both our Men of Moeller and our faculty and staff are true examples of these values day in and day out as we journeyed together through what was an awesome year filled with hope for the future.
As you read this magazine, those core values will be even more evident as we set our sights on next year’s journey, saying goodbye to some of our Moeller Family, and welcoming new family as well. I look forward to seeing where this year will take us as we collectively live out our Mission–Catholic. Marianist. Forming our Students into Remarkable Men.
Carl Kremer Interim President
CLASS OF 2028
• Students coming from 76 different grade schools
• Students coming from Catholic schools 54%; Public schools 39%; Private/Home school 7%
• Catholic 64%; Protestant/ Non-denominational 36%
• Honors students 28%
• Students on financial aid 66%
• Young men of color 21%
• Waitlist on Registration Night
New Leadership in the Front Office
As we continue to define Moeller as the leaders in educating young men, we recognize the need to grow the front office team. Beginning next year, our front office administration will be comprised of Principal Michael Shaffer, Provost Christine Brookbank, Ed.D., Curriculum and Innovation Director Erin Brandyberry, Dean of Student Formation Derek Williams ’91, and Dean of Student Life John Hough.
Mr. Shaffer, Moeller’s ninth principal, has extensive experience with the Men of Moeller that uniquely positions him to guide our school toward continued success. The combination of his time in the classroom, as a house dean, his time as dean of student life, and his commitment to Marianist values give him a well-rounded view of the whole school and how to relate with teachers, students, and parents. Michael joined Moeller in 2003 as a religion and psychology teacher and became dean of students in 2017.
Continuing in her role as provost, Dr. Brookbank joined Moeller in 2018 as the dean of academics. In her time at Moeller, she has defined the educational philosophy of REALearning – relational, experiential, authentic; spearheaded the Innovation Hub vision and design; increased AP and CCP offerings; and advanced professional networking for faculty. Dr. Brookbank was promoted to provost in 2023 and maintains time in
Things I’ve Learned from Carl Kremer
Mike Shaffer, Dean of Student Life
Seven years ago, I moved out of the classroom and into the main office. As a classroom teacher, I always respected Carl’s steady hand and unflappable attitude. He seemed to handle any curve ball that came his way with calmness and poise. These were attributes that I admired, but it was when I moved into the office next to his that understand just how good of a leader he truly is.
I have been fortunate in these last few years to take some valuable
lessons from Carl that I hope to carry forth throughout the rest of my career as an educator and throughout my life as well.
The first lesson I remember being consciously aware of learning was to never pretend that you know something that you do not know. Not once have I seen Carl pretend to know something that he wasn’t aware of. The impulse, when you’re in charge, is to pretend that you know everything about everything. However, when people realize that you’re bluffing, they are quick to assume that there are many other things that you do not know. Whenever someone discusses a topic that Carl is unfamiliar with, he asks questions, sometimes prefacing it with, “I should probably know this, but…” Rather than people deriding him for not knowing, time and again people respect humility, and more importantly, honesty, and then explain. Being honest always is a hallmark of Carl’s leadership.
the classroom, teaching English to sophomores.
Mrs. Brandyberry joined Moeller in September as the director of innovation and curriculum. She oversees the development of the Innovation Hub and collaborates with teachers to construct curriculum essential for dynamic high school opportunities, as well as postsecondary and career success. Mrs. Brandyberry joined us from Miami
University where she was associate director in their Department of Emerging Technology in Business + Design. She brings an outstanding record of accomplishment as an educator and leader in the innovation and experiential learning sector.
Two others joining the front office: Mr. John Hough has accepted the position of dean of student life, and Mr. Derek Williams ’91 is our new dean of student formation. Next
The second lesson is to always be patient and thorough when making a decision. Once again, the impulse is to be decisive and quick, to show that you have instant command of the facts and the situation. However, Carl’s approach is to always ask a lot of questions, not just about the facts, but also about our values as a school and as leaders. Is the decision we’re about to make consistent with what we believe? Is the decision we’re about to make the right one for the student, or the teacher, or the community? We never go with the easy decision because it is easy, but we go with the right decision because it is right. We do what’s right even though we might get critics second guessing our decision. Finally, I learned that it is the job of the leader to take too much blame and accept too little credit. Carl is quick to take the blame for a decision and to have the hard conversations that come with it. He has worked hard to empower everyone around him to make their own decisions for the areas they’re responsible for. But when things don’t turn out right, as will happen sometimes, he is quick to jump in and accept the blame or fault. What’s
year, these two dean positions will be redefined to meet the needs and activities of our young men.
As the dean of student life, Mr. Hough will oversee all areas of student life outside of the classroom and athletics, which includes: the house system, campus ministry, clubs, dances, and school spirit events. At Moeller, we are committed to ensuring every student finds his place here and that every student
Continued on page 25
more, there are many accolades that should come his way that he quickly pushes off onto someone else. His empowerment of others leads to many successes, and he makes sure that the person on the ground executing the success gets all of the credit. This dual approach of taking blame and giving credit has made him trusted by the people who work with him.
Carl Kremer has been a leader of the highest integrity. He does what’s right, not what’s easy, and he does so in a way that always puts our values and the students first. He has been a true mentor not only to me, but to the countless people who have worked with him over the past 30+ years as an administrator. He has big shoes to fill, but fortunately, he has shown everyone in the school what it means to be a leader of honesty, truth, and selflessness. For those of us who are coming after him, we are committed to continuing his standard.
Left to right: Derek Williams ‘91, Erin Brandyberry, John Hough, Christine Brookbank, and Mike Shaffer.
FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS
Moeller educators are continually seeking ways to enhance their teaching and their commitment to REALearning. These teachers have recently made remarkable professional accomplishments in their fields.
In March, Latin teacher Dr. Justin Chmiel successfully defended his dissertation on the history of economic thought at the University of Salamanca in the sixteenth century. He received his PhD in History from the University of Miami in Florida.
Intervention Specialist Katie Frider has been accepted into the Program for Inclusive Education (PIE) at the University of Notre Dame. PIE teaches that all students are made in the image and likeness of God, that teachers are called to educate all students inclusively regardless of need, and that inclusion is intentional.
Molecular Modeling Team in Austin
Social studies teacher Eric Schmitt received the UC CSTeach Scholarship to cover the Early IT Graduate certificate tuition through the University of Cincinnati.
The Moeller Molecular Modeling team (MO3) worked hard all year for the opportunity to present at a prestigious event in Texas this spring. The team is led by Mr. Dan Shannon and mentored by JaiJie Diao, Ph. D., Department of Cancer Biology at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. MO3 presented the story of SHP-2 at the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology convention in San Antonio, Texas, on March 23, 2024. The team was one of 20 high school teams presenting with more than 140 undergraduate researchers from colleges and universities around North America. While in Texas, Mr. Shannon was able to meet with Moeller alumnus Dr. Chris Heinen ’88, who has a lab at the University of Connecticut Medical School studying Lynch Syndrome.
Harmonious Triumph: Moeller/MND Band Strikes a Chord of Success
The Moeller/MND Band has changed direction this school year. An emphasis on musical fundamentals and a change in the selection of musical literature have sparked considerable growth in musical maturity with the Moeller/MND Band. The band began its year with the halftime show featuring Prince. While working on the halftime show, the band started working in class to hone its musicality. They had a minor fall concert to prepare for the rigor of a true festival season. Sweet Suites was
the biggest fundraising event all year, preparing small ensembles to entertain the crowd. The winter concert was a massive success as students performed more challenging music. The primary focus for the year was the Orlando Heritage Festival. From January until April, the band worked on sight reading, tone production, articulations, and advanced musicality. The hard work paid off as the band was awarded a Gold rating and a third place finish.
Mr. Shannon shared that SHP-2 is a signaling protein that has an on-and-off configuration. When on, SHP-2 signals the cells to divide. When off, a cell will not divide. When someone is hurt, a cell may toggle SHP-2 from the off to the on configuration to signal the need to repair damage. When the damage is repaired, SHP-2 will return to the off configuration, which signals cell division to stop. Remaining in the on configuration results in signaling for continuous cell division. Many cancers are the result of SHP-2 remaining in the on formation, typically due to a mutation in the SHP-2 gene. MO3’s presentation described the recent discovery of a third “in-between” configuration of SHP-2. In this configuration, SHP-2 is “slightly on/slightly off.” They described the structure of this newfound conformation and the possible
meanings of the signals coming from this “leaky” conformation. The team speculated about the possibility of a putative SHP-2 cancer drug therapy with this new conformation.
The Presentation Team Members
Seniors: Weston Gruber, Donald Kaplan
Juniors: Ben Gill, Emmet Pease
Sophomores: Jake Allen, Connor Connolly, Brandon McCloud
Freshman: Scott Kaplan
Contributors
Sophomore: Hudson Arnberg
Freshmen: Adam Falci, Noah Pitts
Congratulations to these talented and hard-working Men of Moeller!
The Paul E. Flaig Perfoming Arts Center opened on May 15. This beautiful space, which many might have known as the gym, will be home to chorus and band concerts, theater productions, and the winter improv festival. If you haven’t seen it, come by to get a tour of this amazing new performing arts center!
The Man Behind the Curtain
Hotze doesn’t want this article written. Because he’s the man behind the curtain. It’s not about him, he’ll say. “I’m not retiring, people. I’m just not doing theater anymore.” Okay, we got it.
But Bob Hotze’s been running Moeller’s theater program since 1981. And that’s, well, 43 years.
Jerry Faust only coached at Moeller for 18 years. And Coach “600+ wins” Kremer? Hotze had already directed five shows before CK picked up a whistle as a Moeller assistant.
So, yeah… you’re getting an article, Hotze. “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!” such a man yells in vain in The Wizard of Oz.
This Producer. Promoter. Director. Coach.Creator.
May 1, 1981. Opening night of Moeller’s production of Mr. Roberts. A play set on a U.S. Navy battleship in the South Pacific during World War II. Moeller didn’t have a theater program yet. They put on a play perhaps every few years at best. Very small shows. Or perhaps a talent show. Nothing official. Nothing ongoing. Nothing meant to last.
Bob Hotze was an English teacher then. He’d studied English literature, French, and theatre in college. He loved theatre, actually. He said “Hey, I can get a regular program going if you want.” And they said something like: “Great! Good luck, Bob!”
And then Mr. Roberts happened. Hotze asked a Math teacher (Luebbe) and a Spanish teacher (Keyser) to help out making sets and costumes. (Different time: the students smoked real cigars and cigarettes!) Next year was 1776. No cigarettes, but lots of powdered wigs. And singing… Yikes, and dancing! That one’s got a cast of thirty-plus. ON stage. Never mind all those students moving props and sets and keeping, literally, the lights on.
Continued on page 25
C40M: A SPIRITUAL WORKOUT
By: Steve Joebgen, Campus Minister
Religion teacher and Zehler House Dean Anthony Corder has participated in C40M in one way or another almost every year since the program began in 2011. Reflecting on the unique name of this ministry and students’ experiences with it, Corder said, “The significance of the title C40M, a spiritual P90X, is probably lost on people who don’t remember the workout DVDs from the early 2000s, but I like how people just talk about it like it’s a well-known established thing.”
In C40M, students are placed in a weekly small group led by a faculty member and given a journal with weekly and daily challenges based on the three traditional spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. “A lot of our guys are just super-busy,” Corder said. “And the thought of signing up for one more thing can be daunting, but I’m always impressed that we have so many who do. When so many people want to take the path of least resistance, many of our guys want to take the road less traveled.”
This year, 100 students signed up to participate in the ministry with the assistance of ten faculty members. Although these young men surely recognized that they will grow in faith this year, what they may not realize are the seeds of virtue they are sowing for their own future in their relationships with Jesus and their peers.
For several years after graduating, Thomas Gray ’16 would text me to ask for the year’s C40M journal. Always dependable, he texted me on Ash Wednesday this year. This time, he did not ask for the journal. He asked for a recommendation for a prayer guide for Lent. Ultimately, the goal of C40M and of all we do in ministry here at Moeller is not only to offer a good experience or have a great program, but to form our students as disciples of Jesus Christ in a community that will encourage and inspire them to continue to grow in their journey with the Lord long after they have left. Hopefully, students with C40M journals this year will become alumni seeking resources to foster their disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving throughout their lives.
Marianist Values in Action
Honoring Founder’s Day Award Recipients
Each year, we celebrate Founder’s Day and honor individuals who embody the spirit of Blessed Chaminade. This year’s recipients are longtime Moeller counselor Paul Ramstetter and Curt and Linda Curran, whose son Zachary, graduated from Moeller in 2010.
Paul Ramstetter has been the counselor for the students of Eveslage House for over eleven years. What makes Paul so remarkable is his infinite generosity and his modeling of Marianist hospitality. Paul has listened to Mary’s command – do whatever Jesus tells us; Paul has answered this call serving as a counselor, Mission Integration Team member, a principal of fellow Marianist school Purcell Marian, and a principal in Cincinnati Public Schools. He quietly contributes financially to ensure that people have access to education and basic human needs. He spends time volunteering and is often found in the chapel praying for the needs of others.
Many Moeller students don’t know Curt and Linda Curran, but they certainly benefit from their unwavering leadership and generous service. They embody the characteristics of Marianist education, working for the past few decades ensuring that students who desire a Moeller education can receive one. Mr. Curran served as member and president of Moeller’s Board of Trustees, overseeing all high-level decisions for the school’s success. The Currans were also instrumental in the creation and production of the mural that resides in the main hallway showing Moeller’s rich history and how it is rooted in the Marianist tradition.
Characteristics of a Marianist Education
• Educate for formation in faith
• Provide an integral, quality education
• Educate in family spirit
• Educate for service, justice, and peace and the integrity of creation
• Educate for adaptation and change
Paul Ramstetter
Curt and Linda Curran
Many Thanks for Years of Service and Dedication
By: Steve Joebgen, Campus Minister
The Moeller faculty and staff will bid adieu to a few of its members this year, and we would like to offer them a fitting farewell by recounting their careers and looking at what’s next.
Jim Balbach, always a paragon of fashion, sported a bright green Oxford with an emerald tie—perfect for St. Patrick’s Day — as he appraised his twenty-seven years at Moeller and the indelible impact he has left on the school.
“This [voice] program grew from two voices to 130,” he mused. “Come to think of it, last year was 140.”
A 1977 graduate of Moeller, Balbach recounted the humble origins of the vocal music program by reflecting on his own Crusader experience. “When I was here, I didn’t do too much. I wasn’t in a sport, there wasn’t that much music going on. I was not very active.”
The seeds of the music program at Moeller started at St. John the Evangelist parish. Jim worked at both St. John and St. Saviour parish for 50 years. “The exact day that I started,” he said, “was in seventh grade. The summer after seventh grade. I was paid $5 a Mass.”
From his parish music work, Jim attended CCM, majoring in music education with minors in piano and voice. From there, he came directly to Moeller, where the now-popular vocal music program began and flourished. “Word of mouth helped,” he said. “Each year, it grew.”
Besides beautiful mass music and choral concerts, Jim’s fond memories include a mission trip to Tijuana, Mexico, building stucco houses in 2005. “My son, John, was a chorus member — Class of 2006 — and went on the trip,” he said, leafing through pictures of the trip on cardboard pages. “We went to LA, we saw some things, it was a great experience. Even Eric Schmitt went on the trip!” he said, pointing out the high-school version of the current social studies teacher and baseball coach.
Travel will continue for Jim in retirement. He plans to go to Ft. Myers with his wife, hike in national parks as often as possible, garden, and remodel his house. He will also do
what he does best with students in a mentor group — just hang out. Coming as no surprise to anyone who has had him for a class or seen him with students, Jim has enjoyed his time with the Men of Moeller and hopes that the vocal music program continues to grow and thrive.
Mary Dees said, in an email to the Moeller faculty announcing her retirement, “It has taken me 21 years — from 2003-2024 — to graduate from Moeller with the Class of 2024.”
In what started as volunteering, Mary said “yes” to everything Moeller threw her way — not unlike another well-known Mary. “I didn’t know when we moved from Mississippi to Cincinnati 27 years ago that we would have choices for Catholic high schools,” she wrote, “that we would tour them like college visits, that my son would choose Moeller, that I would volunteer with the Moms’ Club and in the new library and start working here when my youngest son was a junior. And that I would be here for 21 wonderful, meaningful, fulfilling, rewarding years.”
Dees certainly made those years wonderful, meaningful, fulfilling, and rewarding for Moeller students and faculty alike — especially in her current role in Campus Ministry, where she handles the day-to-day logging of service hours, printing of materials for retreats, and clerical work with grace and kindness. “I never felt like I was going to work,” she wrote. “I was just going to school. It was not a job to me, but more of a vocation.”
After “graduation,” Mary wrote, “I will return full time to my first vocation of wife, mom, and Mimi.” She noted the special place Moeller will always have, writing, “I am truly honored and blessed to be a member of the Moeller faculty and staff.”
Lou Kohus started at Moeller in 2017, filling the position left vacant by his brother’s retirement. Prior to Moeller, Lou spent years at Kraft/Heinz in Mason, where he held a maintenance manager position and upgraded packaging machinery for other Kraft/Heinz locations in North and South America and England. He was named by Heinz Global 2015 Best Business Practice, particularly for leading a cross-functional team to address raw product loss at the Mason plant.
Lou’s journey as a Crusader started as a student. He recalls pep rallies, football games, and weekend dances always being full of energy. He mainly focused on maintenance related trade skills as a high schooler.
That work came full-circle at 9001 Montgomery Road, as Lou has enjoyed working with the faculty and staff, particularly in making his transition from “the demanding, high speed manufacturing environment to Moeller nearly seamless.” To boot, Lou calls Dave Beiersdorfer “one of the best managers that I have ever worked for.”
While he has no specific plans after Moeller, Lou and his wife do operate a small business, and he hopes to get involved in volunteer work.
Karen Matuszek feels like this year marks less of a retirement and more of a shift in her connection to Moeller. “If I ever retire,” she said, “I may not be in the Dean’s office, I may not be director of special education, but there are still a lot of ways I can contribute to Moeller.”
Based on her time at Moeller, it is not difficult to believe that she could find even more ways to contribute. Karen has served as director of the house system, department chair of special education, and dean of Eveslage House.
These roles have helped her change the culture at Moeller. “The House System has added an extra layer of wonderfulness to Moeller,” she said. “I have loved the ability to collaborate with the deans.”
Collaboration rests in Mrs. Matuszek’s roots. After moving 42 times in seven years to raise three kids while her husband Lenny played professional baseball, then teaching at two elementary schools in two years, she found the Marianists at Purcell. Karen cannot imagine being anywhere else but at a Marianist school. In her 31 years at schools sponsored by the Society of Mary (Purcell and Moeller), she has learned and lived the charism, welcoming students and teachers alike and feeling its positive impact. “I have lost both of my parents since coming to Moeller,” she said, “and the support has been amazing.” In addition, she has won awards at both Purcell and Moeller for her exhibition of Marianist values.
Supporting and being supported by students and faculty alike, Karen has left her impact on a multitude of young men, but one has left an impact on her. Of all the joys of being at Moeller, she named one as defining her time with the Crusaders: “Having Carson [Todd] as a grandson. All my kids went to Purcell when I was there. It’s one thing to watch freshmen grow into remarkable men…it’s another to watch a son, daughter, and in my case, my grandson. He talks about how introverted he was, but he has grown so much.”
Plus, as an extra bonus, Carson’s dad is a St. Xavier graduate.
Paul Ramstetter’s office is covered in pictures of family, books about teaching, containers of snacks, and sports
PROGRESS WITH INNOVATION
The topping off ceremony:
On December 15, the Moeller Community celebrated the Topping Off Ceremony for the new Innovation Hub – a tradition in which the last, highest beam is placed on a new structure. The entire student body and staff (including Sidon!) signed the beam before it was positioned – complete with a Christmas tree to symbolize growth and good luck to all who will be learning under its roof.
Photos courtesy of Allison Messer, Conger Construction
2024 SPORTS STAG
Featuring Marvin Lewis
The Marianist Society recognizes the commitment and support of Moeller’s most generous and mission-minded investors. Members take a leadership role by making a minimum annual donation of $1,000 or more during one fiscal year, July 1-June 30.
These generous gifts support the area of greatest need and helps to ensure the quality, security and effectiveness of our facilities and campus. For more information, contact Marla Hricovsky in the Advancement Office at (513) 791-1680 x1305.
Marianist Society Members
President’s Circle ..............................
Founder’s Circle
Principal’s Circle .................................
Crusader Circle
Marianist Circle ..................................
$25,000 +
$10,000 to $24,999
$5,000 to $9,999
$2,500 to $4,999
$1,000 to $2,499
Emerging Leader’s Circle ................... $250 to $999 Alumni age 30 and under
HALL FA E
Gus Ragland ’14 – Football, Basketball and Baseball
Gus played football, basketball and baseball as a Crusader. Following his senior football season, Gus was named GCL Player of the Year, Cincinnati Division 1 Player of the Year, SW Ohio District Offensive Player of the Year, and MVP of the Ohio state championship tournament. Gus was a leader and a key player on the 2012 and 2013 state championship teams. He was also a pitcher for the 2013 state baseball championship team. Gus was named the LaRosa’s male Most Valuable Player for the 2013-2014 prep season. Gus accepted a scholarship to Miami University where he played 4 years. Gus is currently the quarterback coach at Miami University. His dad, Dan, is a long-time coach and teacher at Moeller. Gus has two sisters, Marjorie and Cassie.
Joe Currin ’90 – Basketball & Football
Joe was a two-sport athlete at Moeller where he played basketball and football. He excelled in basketball where he was twice All-GCL. He is one of the career leaders in
points scored and rebounds. After a short stint at the Air Force Academy Prep School, Joe began his college basketball career at the University of Cincinnati. After one year at UC, Currin transferred to the University of Dayton where he played for three years and was a significant contributor on the court his junior and senior year.
Prior to his death in 2010, Joe and his wife Callie had four children: Anne, Michael, John, and Drew. All three sons are Moeller atheletes. Michael ’20 was honored with the Man of Moeller award at graduation and was in his first semester at UD at the time of his death. Anna is a student at OSU and John ’23 is completing his first year at UD. Drew is a member of Moeller’s Class of 2024.
John Rodenberg – Football Coach
John has been a high school football coach for over 30 years. He has won four state championships in his career. He won one in Kentucky at Covington Catholic, two in Ohio at Moeller, and one in Indiana at Roncalli.
John started his career as head coach at Cincinnati McNicholas High School and is now coaching at Indian Hill High School. He was 80- 41 at Moeller in 10 seasons, with four GCL titles and two state championships. John lives in Cincinnati with his wife, Sue. They have two children Maria and Jimmy, 13.
Riley Mahan ’14 - Baseball
Riley was a 3-year varsity baseball player. He is in the top 10 in many baseball records, including hits, runs scored, RBIs, and stolen bases. He played on two state
Service Awards
championship teams in 2012 and 2013. In 2013, he led the team in the state tournament games going 7-9. He was All Ohio, All City and All GCL his senior year. Mahan was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 2014 MLB draft but turned it down to attend the University of Kentucky on a baseball scholarship. After a successful three years in Lexington, Mahan was drafted in the third round in the 2017 MLB draft by the Miami Marlins. Mahan retired from professional baseball in 2023 and lives in Milford with his daughter, Scarlette.
The Brother Joseph Choquette Award was first awarded in 2017. This award goes to an assistant coach who has made a significant contribution to their sport. This year’s recipient of the Brother Choquette Award is assistant football coach, Tim Waechter.
The Habegger Student Service Award was first awarded in 2009 and is dedicated to those Moeller students who have given outstanding service to Moeller High School Athletics and their fellow classmates as a student manager in the spirit of 1989 graduate, Michael Habegger. This year’s recipient of the Habegger Student Service Award is Elliot Hidy, Moeller Class of 2013.
We have a new award this year – the Whitey Campbell Marianist Service Award. Whitey Campbell was a legendary figure at Moeller High School. Whitey gave his time, talents and treasures to Moeller High School for 40+ years from the early 80’s until he passed away in 2022. His long-time dedication and love for this school will be forever acknowledged through this award. This award will honor individuals who have dedicated their time and talent over an extended period of time to support Moeller’s Athletic Department and its student athletes. The inaugural recipient of the Whitey Campbell Marianist Service Award is Dom Iacovone.
Page Family
Diamond Head, Hawaii
Gilpin Family
The Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Italy, and Germany
Shane Wever ’14 Ft. Lauderdale, FL
The Munafo Family with a Beaver Creek, Colorado Flag Plant!
St. Louis alumni getting together
Matt Sylvester ‘01 and Moeller Mom Lisa Sylvester with a beautiful #FlagPlant Diamond Beach, Iceland.
John Boehner ‘68, Dan McDonald ‘68 and Glenn Hartman Naples, FL
Dan Shannon and his Molecular Modeling Team San Antonio. TX
#FLAGPLANT
Heading out of town? Going to a special event in town? Take a Moeller flag with you and show us your Moeller pride with a photo. Post it on Facebook or Instagram, tag @MoellerHS and #BigMoeFlagPlant.
Suite life at the Cyclones game
Moeller/MND Band Orlando, FL
The Brotherhood Spans the States
St. Louis, MO Regional Event The last stop in the Moeller Alumni caravan was St Louis, MO. This was the inaugural event in the St. Louis area, where the Alumni Association is looking to start a new chapter. Alumni gathered on Thursday, April 25 at Anheuser-Busch in St Louis. The event included a private tour of the historic brewhouse, the beechwood aging cellars as well as the stables for the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales. After the tour, everyone was able to catch up in the private lager room where the Moeller Advancement and Alumni teams hosted a State of Moeller presentation.
Florida Regional Event Moeller High School went on the road to the SE Florida coast to host its first regional event of the year on February 1 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Alumni from every decade (excluding the 2020s) were represented. The comradery between the classes spanning the life of the school was inspiring. Moeller transcended the ages! Special thanks to Jim Grau ’69 for hosting this event.
The alumni office is working on a Columbus, OH regional event to be held in the fall. Other places on the radar include: Atlanta, GA; San Franciso, CA; and Arizona. If you live out of town and would be interested in having a Moeller regional event in your city, please contact Andy Nagel ’88, manager of alumni affairs at anagel@moeller.org.
New Leadership in the Front Office / Continued from page 5
feels at home. Mr. Hough’s experience as our community service director, the dean of Quiroga House, the religion department chair, and a tennis coach puts him in the perfect position to take on this new role. We are excited to see our campus life reach the next level of success and engagement.
As the dean of student formation, Mr. Williams will ensure a safe environment for all students. Mr. Williams will be directly working to form our students into remarkable men by giving extra guidance as necessary. As an alumnus, he knows the importance of the Marianist roots
The Man Behind the Curtain / Continued from page 8
Guys & Dolls. The Music Man. Damn Yankees. West Side Story. Grease. Sweeny Todd. Kiss Me Kate. Fiddler on the Roof. Romeo and Juliet. Not going to list all fifty-plus shows that were ultimately performed under Hotze’s care and craft. But imagine producing and directing 50 some high schoolers into packed theater nights of Romeo and Juliet delivered largely in iambic pentameter. Imagine one show every year becoming two… then becoming three. Adding a Masters degree in Theatre Arts, well into middle age, just to keep your craft at the highest level. Building Moeller’s entire theatre program, really, from scratch.
Throughout, Hotze’s expectations of the students were always high. For years, you’d hear others say proudly: “He runs the program like it’s a college theatre program.” And many former Moeller players would continue acting in college, earning degrees in theatre. A few even took their chances in Hollywood and NYC.
In 2005, Hotze added Improv shows to the mix. Taking, usually, students that have never done unscripted performances before and quickly getting them up on stage – entertaining, successfully, on the fly. The only thing more impressive, perhaps, was getting an actual car onto the stage for Grease. And this wasn’t like pulling a car into the AC. This was like fitting a Chevrolet through the eye of a needle. There were special contraptions built to defy leverage and gravity – contrivances that would have marveled whoever actually built the pyramids.
and has created a class called Marianist Community Development. This class helps students who come from backgrounds that are non-traditional for a Moeller student to navigate the hallways of Moeller High School. Through his time as a coach and English teacher, he has developed a compassionate approach with empathy and a little tough love which will guide Moeller students to successful high school careers.
We are so excited about this dynamic team built to lead Moeller to continued success.
There were also shows with a goat, a cat, and several others involving children. Of these, the goat, apparently, proved the easiest to work with.
There’s an infamous nickname for tech week – when all the lights and sounds and costumes and blocking and.. and… all finally come together. (If you don’t know yourself, ask anyone whose ever been in a show.) Folk have been known to get home at way past turn-intopumpkin time. Folk have been known to openly sob. The man behind the curtain, by the way, is often doing this stuff for weeks, months.
And for 43 years, on performance nights, you might catch a glimpse of this guy sitting in the very back of the theater. In the shadows. Watching from afar. Everything that’s to be done now is in the hands of the students. Thousands of them over those years.
Now it’s another May. Another spring show. 2024. Hotze producing and directing again: a little show called Godspell. After this one, he says he’ll ”step back” from theater. Focus on teaching and travel and family and whatever else he wants to do. A choice certainly well earned.
Conger Construction might have made it. Paul Flaig ‘67 surely delivered it. But have no doubts: The next time you see a show at the new performing arts center, it’s on a stage and program that Bob Hotze built.
Moeller Retirees / Continued from page 13
memorabilia, where he has counseled the Men of Moeller for a decade. Like his office, Paul’s resume is loaded: six years in seminary with the Camboni Missionaries of the Sacred Heart; an undergraduate degree from Xavier; six years at McNicholas High School, followed by stints teaching at West High; coaching and being an administrator at Withrow; directing the career tech program for the Board of Education; a year of consulting; and a few years at Purcell Marian as principal.
“Every stop I made,” he said, “I hope that I was supposed to be there.” A sense of purpose has always guided him.
That, and a dream.
“I left the seminary after a dream. I went to my spiritual director, told him about this dream I had about not being a priest, and he told me it was a sign.”
This eventually led Paul to a long, happy marriage to Eileen: six children, two of whom went to Moeller (one graduated in 1999, another in 2000), and eighteen grandchildren.
Despite the many grandkids, Paul does not plan on babysitting in his retirement: “Once, I was watching some of my grandkids. I had one little guy watching TV with me, and another one cuts open something with Styrofoam everywhere. I get an F-minus in babysitting. Meanwhile, my granddaughter is in the Styrofoam. I will not be a full-time babysitter.”
Instead, Ramstetter plans on doing projects for his kids at their homes as well as traveling in Europe with Eileen and playing a bit of golf. “I’m lousy at golf,” he chuckled. “You have to play with someone of equal skill.”
Humility has characterized everything Paul has contributed to Moeller. In his regular interactions with students and colleagues, he has demonstrated kindness and Marianist hospitality, which is a chief reason he won the 2024 Founders Day Award and the respect of his fellow counselors and teachers.
Despite these honors, Ramstetter remains steadfast in his modesty when looking back at his career. “Hopefully, you leave a place better than you found it. Hopefully, people say that I did the best I could do with what we had.”
Interim President and Principal
Carl Kremer
Provost
Christine Brookbank, Ed. D.
Dean of Student Life
Mike Shaffer
Vice President of Advancement
Mary Fischer
Photography
Tammy Rosenfeldt, John Martin, John F. Martin
Photography
Catholic. Marianist. Forming our Students into Remarkable Men.
Archbishop Moeller is an all-male, college preparatory school known for being the leaders in educating young men. The nationally-recognized House System, campus ministry, retreats, exchange programs, cutting-edge technology, and athletic success all make Moeller the best high school in the country.
Left to right: PJ Morman ’26 and Jake Kallmyer ’27
Etch your name in Moeller’s history by purchasing a seat in our brand-new Paul E. Flaig Performing Arts Center
Take your part in the limelight by purchasing a theatre seat today! Scan the code to purchase yours today 9001
