MUHS Magazine Winter/Spring 2014

MUHS MAGAZINE Vol. 57 Winter/Spring 2014

Mark Gehring ’82 Developing software for a social purpose John Wetzel ’81, Michael Naleid ’05 and Kairos 100

For Alumni, Parents, Students and Friends of Marquette University High School

Being Holy

By Rev. Frank Majka, SJ

A bishop was asked by a reporter, “What is your goal in life?” The bishop answered, “My goal is to become a saint!” My guess is that the reporter and most of his readers didn’t quite understand that answer since many people think of saints as being removed from life, having a more delicate sensibility than most of us and doing a lot of praying, going to church and living a life of sacrifice. In fact, most might agree with the line from a Billy Joel song, “I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints. The sinners have much more fun.”

But don’t we believe that Jesus wants us to be holy, to be saints? Isn’t that why he came? Interestingly enough, the gospels don’t mention Jesus as ever saying he’d come so that we could be holy. He did say that he had come to announce good news to the poor, set people free and declare God’s kingdom of love and forgiveness. In John’s gospel he simply says he came so that we “could have life and have it in abundance.” Having “abundant life” is the way Jesus talked about being holy.

I think abundant life means being aware of what is inside of us and around us.

It also means being in right relationships with other people and with God. I think that’s what holiness is and that’s what being a saint means. Find someone who is becoming more fully alive, in all the dimensions that entails, and you will find a saint in the making, even if that person doesn’t seem to be very pious.

And there’s something deeply attractive about people who are fully alive. When we’ve been with them we normally don’t say, “I hope I never become like him or like her.” They may have their quirks and rough edges, but we can detect that they have something genuine and right about them that we can’t help admire.

They keep trying to be better at “doing” faith, hope and love. And, though they may not be perfect, they mirror God’s own goodness.

Holiness, being a saint, is not about kneeling in church all day. It’s about doing our best to live the abundant life and sharing it in our families, jobs, friendships and activities. That’s something all of us, not just bishops, might well aspire to.

Rev. Frank Majka, SJ, is alumni chaplain at Marquette University High School. He also has a spiritual blog, “The Bridge” at www.frankmajka.com.

STEM at MUHS

Dear MUHS Friends, Long before STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) became a common day acronym in today’s high schools, a long list of accomplished Jesuits had already made significant contributions to these fields.

A few of these talented priests include Rev. André Tacquet, SJ (1612–1660), a mathematician whose work was a precursor to the discovery of calculus; Rev. Roger Joseph Boscovich, SJ (1711–1787), a mathematician and scientist who is credited with creating the first geometric procedure for calculating the equator of a rotating planet and laying the groundwork for the atomic theory; and Rev. Angelo Secchi, SJ (1818–1878), an astronomer who declared the sun is a star. This strong tradition of distinguished mathematicians and scientists within the Society’s missions continues throughout the world in Jesuit educational institutions, MUHS included.

Here at Marquette High, we strive to provide our students with an excellent academic experience in these disciplines. Our talented, dedicated teachers – some of whom are featured in this issue – have coupled their love of science and math with the vocation of teaching.

They have developed relationships with professors from various universities to ensure the MUHS curriculum is relevant and our students are prepared for studies after high school. More important, they develop relationships with our students to foster an interest and curiosity in the subject matter.

In addition to our experienced faculty members, we offer our students a wide variety of STEM classes, including AP classes in biology, chemistry, AB calculus, BC calculus, statistics and computer science.

This year, we have approximately 200 students enrolled in 11 sections of AP math and science classes. And, while MUHS students only need three credits each of math and science to graduate, 95 percent of our young men graduate with four credits each of math and science. Sixteen percent of our students exceed this, graduating with nine or more credits of math and science combined.

Beyond the classroom, students can pursue their interest in STEM by participating in various clubs including FIRST Robotics Team 1732, which won the Wisconsin Regional title last year and earned

25th place at the FIRST Robotics international championship in St. Louis. The MUHS SMART (Students Modeling a Research Topic) Team is currently working with research scientist Dr. William Jackson at the Medical College of Wisconsin to study pleconaril, an experimental drug to prevent the common cold.

The MUHS CyberPatriot Team finished in 87th place out of more than 1,000 teams representing approximately 850 high schools in Round 1 of the Air Force Association’s CyberPatriot National High School Cyber Defense Competition. Students can also join the Engineering Club to meet engineering professionals and Math Club to participate in math competitions.

In addition to our strong STEM curriculum and co-curricular activities, MUHS works to ensure students build skills across multiple disciplines, which are essential for STEM careers and other professional pursuits. English classes help students develop their verbal and written communication skills. Theology classes help students develop their moral framework to ethically evaluate situations and inform their decision making. Our Fine Arts offerings help students explore and expand their creative abilities.

And, in all MUHS classes, students are challenged to develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Of course, all of our classes are delivered in the context of being a man for others. Our mission is to educate and form Christ-like men who will go out to serve. I invite you to read about the MUHS alumni featured in this issue. Mark Gehring ’82, Michael Naleid ’05 and John Wetzel ’81 all pursued STEM careers and are using their talents and gifts to make a difference in the world. AMDG Yours in Christ,

Rev. Warren Sazama, SJ ’64 President

Contents

8 MUHS NEWS

4

News briefs SPORTS

21

8 10

Volleyball takes state Kearney leads the pack FEATURES

33

14

Before they were teachers

21

Kairos 100

24

John Wetzel ’81 Making the world a safer place

28

Mark Gehring ’82 Developing software for a social purpose

33

Michael Naleid ’05 An engineer for others

36

Tom ’75 and Molly Duffey Answering the call ALUMNI UPDATE

38

Class notes

44

Milestones

47

The history of JUG THEN AND NOW

48

From rocks to turf

48

Editor

Contributing Writers

Joe Poirier ’08

Design

MUHS Magazine is pub-

Julie Felser

Chris Ackles

Warren Sazama, SJ ’64

Jena Sher

lished twice a year for and

Isaac Conlon ’17

Negassi Tesfamichael ’14

Editing Assistance

Jacob Heinen ’15

Kristen Scheuing

James Helf ’16

Photography

Richard Imp ’15

Peter Beck

you and welcome your com-

Max Loos ’07

Dan Erschen

ments and suggestions. Please

Frank Majka, SJ

John Fuller ’14

send your feedback to the

Tom Manahan, SJ

Ben Lampereur ’15

editor at felser@muhs.edu

Ben Megna ’16

Evan Tobin ’15

or MUHS, 3401 W. Wisconsin

cover: Mark Gehring ’82 opposite: Robotics team member Alex Nogalski ’14 helps manufacture parts for this year’s robot by cutting aluminum on a bank saw.

The team and its robot will participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition Aerial Assist later in the semester.

Ryan O¹Connell ’14

VIP Photography

Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53208.

Photo by Peter Beck.

about the Marquette High Printing

community. As always, we

The Fox Company

appreciate hearing from

MUHS NEWS

Holocaust survivor speaks to students Negassi Tesfamichael ’14

“I saw a dead man move!” said Holocaust survivor Howard Melton of the horrendous conditions in the various concentration camps he was held in during World War II. “The lice that covered the man sucked so much blood out of him that they moved his body. It still haunts me to this day.”

Melton, now 82, spoke to students at an assembly in November about his experiences as a survivor of one of the most horrific events of the 20th century. Students serving on the Jesuit Honor Society’s Open to Growth committee invited Melton to speak as a culmination to the JHS’s Fully Aware and Fully Alive event.

“The event had been in the works for quite some time,” said Patrick O’Grady ’14, who spearheaded the committee. “Christian Wimmer ’15 had a few connections and was able to get Howard Melton here.”

“I think his message at the assembly really fit well with the theme we were going for,” said Nick Visser ’14, who also worked to organize the events of the week. “The students were really receptive of his message and moved by his talk.”

The week focused on recognizing injustices on the local, national and international levels through the morning prayer and examen. For most, the real impact of the event came in the O’Rourke Performing Arts Hall, where Melton shared his horrific Holocaust experiences.

Holocaust survivor Howard Melton speaks to the MUHS student body. Photo by Ben Lampereur ’15

year later, Melton and the remaining members of his family were sent to Stutthof, a concentration camp near Danzig, Germany.

At Stutthof, guards separated the men and women. Melton parted ways with his older sister and mother for the last time. “When we moved from camp to camp, we were happy when water came out of the shower instead of gas,” Melton said.

To get out of Stutthof, 13-year-old Melton lied about his age so he could be transferred out with everyone else who was 15 or older. That was when he was sent to Dachau, Germany, where the first Nazi concentration camp was located. Living conditions at Dachau deteriorated as the war dragged on. “At first, we split a loaf of bread with three people. After a few months, 10 people were sharing the same loaf of moldy bread,” Melton said.

The Germans arrived into Melton’s hometown of Kaunas, Lithuania, on June 22, 1941. Shortly thereafter, they placed Jews into a ghetto located in the poorest suburb of the city, with no sewer system or running water.

When American forces liberated the camp in 1945, many died from overeating. “After starving for so long, the hamburgers and chocolates were too much for their bodies to handle,” Melton explained.

In February of the following year, authorities shipped Melton’s father off to neighboring Latvia, where he stayed in a camp in the capital, Riga. Melton did not see his father again until 1971, when he learned through a friend that his father had survived and was back in Kaunas.

Melton eventually moved to the United States. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, Melton joined the U.S. Air Force and spent four years in California. In 1951, he married a woman from Milwaukee.

He and his wife of 62 years live in the Milwaukee area and have four children, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

During the summer of 1943, SS soldiers took over the area where Melton and the rest of his family were living. His younger sister and about 500 other Jews were shipped to Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland, while he stayed and worked on a farm. About a

“I don’t blame God for this. It was human beings like you and me who did these things,” Melton said during a question and answer session. “People ask me if I hate the Germans and Lithuanians now.

I don’t! I just don’t like the people who perpetrated such acts.”

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Dr. Showalter elicits reactions from students

Changing of the dressing rooms

James Helf ’16

Jacob Heinen ’15

After 20 years of guest lecturing to MUHS chemistry students, Dr. Don Showalter delivered what may be his final interactive chemistry presentation at MUHS in November. The popular presenter gained notoriety with students because of his successful The World of Chemistry (1990) video series shown in MUHS chemistry classes.

Over the summer, MUHS renovated space below the O’Rourke Performing Arts Hall to address inefficiencies and environmental concerns with its theater dressing rooms. According to Fine Arts department chair Sue Sajdak, “Over 50 years of use and abuse, along with having the unfortunate luck of being built under boiler pipes and without ventilation, the rooms had become unusable.”

Showalter, a professor emeritus and Department of Chemistry chair at UW–Stevens Point, was always happy to make time in his schedule to present at MUHS. “He keeps coming back because he genuinely loves the Marquette University High School community,” chemistry teacher Mike Chaney ’63 says. “He loves the enthusiasm of the students and the warm reception he receives with each visit.”

Born in Louisville, Ky., Showalter excelled in high school chemistry and physics and went on to college and graduate school to study science. “To me chemistry is easy,” Showalter says. “I became a teacher because I love being able to explain it to students who may struggle with the concepts.”

Showalter received his bachelor’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University and his doctorate from the University of Kentucky before teaching at UW–Stevens Point. The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents honored Showalter in recognition of his career accomplishments with the Excellence in Teaching Award in 1994 and the Helen M. Free Award for Public Outreach in 2006.

Originally converted basement storage areas, the area lacked much of what would today be considered essential in a basic dressing room.

The space couldn’t accommodate all cast members or adequately store costumes and lacked adequate lighting, electrical, temperature control, ventilation and restrooms in the area.

The much-needed renovation included claiming adjacent space to create larger dressing rooms, allow access to both the O’Rourke Performing Arts Hall and to the Black Box Theater and add two bathrooms.

While some may say that the old rooms had character, no one will argue that the changing of the dressing rooms has been a welcome upgrade to the theater program. In the words of Sam Pickart ’15, the new rooms are “way more efficient.”

The theater renovation project was funded with a lead gift from Dan ’79 and Mary Druml and Jim and Meg (Druml) Boyle in memory of their parents, Oscar ’35 and Ann Druml, along with other private donations.

Showalter is somewhat of a celebrity in the world of science and said that his World of Chemistry videos were the highlight of his career and have given him unique and special opportunities such as traveling all over the world.

During his presentation, Showalter, accompanied by his wife, Char Showalter; Chaney; Jim Kostenko; and J.R. Collier, performed many demonstrations from his videos, including a demonstration on the effects of spreadable diseases and water lock. He concluded the presentation by setting a balloon filled with oxygen and hydrogen on fire, before literally going out with a bang.

Science teacher JR Collier (left) with Don Showalter. Photo by Evan Tobin ’15

www.MUHS.edu 5

MUHS NEWS

Hilltopper highlights news Jacob Heinen ’15

Faculty member Carl Kaiser completed his fourth Ironman competition (a triathlon consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike race and 26.2-mile marathon), the Ironman Wisconsin held in Madison, Wis., in September. He completed the race with a time of 10:52. His personal record is 10:05.

Social studies teacher Chris Lese ’92 presented at the annual International Society for Technology in Education convention in San Antonio in June. Lese presented “Dreams 2 Mars,” a project he developed with a Dutch middle-school teacher to discuss Mars exploration and potential settlement through cross-curricular lenses.

Director of College Counseling Annette Cleary was named Outstanding Key Club Faculty Advisor of the Wisconsin–Upper Michigan Key Club district. This award recognizes an individual’s personal involvement, counseling and leadership.

Rev. Mike Marco, SJ has returned to MUHS as special assistant to the president. Previously a regent at Marquette High, Marco served as campus minister at Creighton Prep, and was president at Walsh Jesuit High School in Cleveland and Georgetown Prep in Washington, D.C. Pat Foran ’78 has returned as director of campaign gifts. He previously worked the past nine years at Marquette University as a development officer and before that, director of alumni relations and faculty member at MUHS. Megan Doering joined MUHS as director of instruction and parttime English teacher. She previously taught English and chaired the English Department at Brookfield Central High School. Ryan Grusenski has started teaching German. He previously taught and coached at Sussex Hamilton High School and St. Peter’s Prep, a Jesuit high school in New Jersey. Chris Reis joined MUHS as a math and computer science teacher. Reis taught math and pre-engineering courses at Kettle Moraine High School and has worked as an electrical engineer. Teaching theology, Michael Lex, SJ ’00 is an MUHS regent for 2013–14. He served at Creighton Prep as a theology teacher. Assisting John St. Peter in his Biblical Literature classes, Max Bindernagel, SJ is a Jesuit novice for the spring 2014 semester.

In addition, Chris Ackels, English teacher; Sean Koscielak, Learning Services teacher; and Joe Poirier, English teacher, are the Alumni Service Corps members for 2013–14 school year.

6 MUHS Magazine

Twenty students traveled last summer to the Dominican Republic and Ecuador to participate in the Somos Amigos service trips.

Faculty members Javier Reyes, Dan Holahan, John Azpell and Alexis Cazco led the trips. Additionally, science teacher Mike Chaney ’63 and six students went to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, as part of Marquette High’s Introduction to Marine Biology summer class.

During the one-week trip, the group participated in eight ocean dives, two cenote dives and a whale and shark expedition.

The following seniors have been recognized as National Merit Semifinalists, Ernst Arnhold, Patrick Byrne, Eric Carlson, Christian Gummin, Ben Sanders, Jordan Sylvester, Redmond Tuttle and Nick Visser. Eleven students received the recognition of Commended Students: Nathan Anonuevo, AJ Bolles, Ethan Davison, Nolan Diffley, Quinn English, Joe Hushek, Brian Kodaski, Kyle Madigan, Patrick O’Grady, Daniel Riley and Steve Seward.

Daniel Ogunkunle received recognition as a National Achievement Program Outstanding Participant.

The MUHS CyberPatriot Team finished in 87th place out of more than 1,000 teams representing approximately 850 high schools in Round 1 of the Air Force Association’s CyberPatriot National High School Cyber Defense Competition. The team, comprising Evan Tobin ’15, Andrew Cayen ’15, Kevin Mikolajczak ’15, Christian Gummin ’14 and Ben Schwabe ’14, had six hours to secure multiple computer systems from outside attacks.

The Flambeau Newspaper received the highest category rating in the Kettle Moraine Press Association 2013 Publication Contest. An out-of-state journalism educator critiqued three issues and awarded the homeroom with its highest score of ALL-KEMPA. In November, Hilltopper Robotics Team 1732 invited fifththrough eighth-grade students to attend TEDxYouth@Marquette, held at Marquette University. The event featured six keynote speakers and was designed to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics among middle schoolers. The team also hosted a FIRST LEGO League Regional Tournament at MUHS in which 36 elementary and middle school robotics teams participated in the “Natures Fury” challenge.

and Mass, the group and other Teach-In participants took their voices to Capitol Hill to address Human Comprehensive Immigration Reform and the Fair Minimum Wage Act. Key Club completed its annual school-wide Christmas Basket Food Drive, providing 124 families in the Milwaukee area a complete Christmas meal and other non-perishable food items valued at approximately $75 per basket.

MUHS students collected more than $3,400 during the allschool Thanksgiving Mass to help support the Key Club Christmas Basket project, the Cheyenne River Indian Youth Project and Ocer Campion Jesuit Secondary School in Gulu, Uganda.

Joe Gabler (left) and Sam Pirkey disassemble a previous year’s robot to recycle parts for this year’s robot. Photo by Peter Beck

The MUHS Orgullo Latino homeroom sponsored the new Latino family lunch and social, a “tamales tailgate” at an MUHS soccer game, a bilingual “Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe” Mass and brunch, and multiple educational and fun activities for Hispanic Heritage Month and Day of the Dead. The group also participated in a visit to the campus of UW–Whitewater and designed t-shirts to commemorate Orgullo’s 20th year.

Conclave sponsored this year’s homecoming event, which was attended by more than 1,100 students. In addition to normal governmental duties, the group raised money for those affected by the typhoon in the Philippines.

More than 50 seniors participated in this year’s Senior Follies production Follies Fatale.

MUHS students, faculty and staff volunteered at and participated in the Soles for Education walk in November.

The MUHS College Counseling Center offered a variety of Brown Bag workshops for juniors and seniors in order to help with the college admissions process. Workshop topics included completing the college application, writing a strong essay and preparing for college interviews.

In November, Rev. Mike Marco, SJ and Mary Beth McBride-Doyle traveled to Washington, D.C., with juniors Evan Bloch, Cesar Gonzalez, Jeider Gonzalez and Saul Lopez to the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice, an annual gathering for members of Jesuit institutions and the larger Church to come together in the context of social justice and solidarity to learn, reflect, pray, network and advocate together. In addition to attending keynote addresses, small group workshops, networking sessions, advocacy training

Mr. Taylor (Ryan Sung) tries to revive Mrs. Powers (Adam Walker), who fainted after hearing the shocking allegations made against the MUHS administration. Onlookers include (left to right) Mr. Klestinski (Ethan Davison), Ms. Hardtke (Ryan Nelsen-Freund), Mrs. Mansfield (Corwin Weeks), Ms. Downey (Sam Obscherning), student body president (Bobby Rice) and Ms. Egan (Jack Pasternak). Photo by VIP Photography

www.MUHS.edu 7

SPORTS

Volleyball takes state Isaac Conlon ’17

In the final minutes of a five-game thriller, the volleyball team pulled off a 15-12 win over Germantown High School. Will Cotter ’14 continued to set up Joe Coplan ’14 and Mark Heinen ’15 for kill shots. As the final shot was blocked, the crowd went wild as Hilltopper fans jumped for joy and students flooded the floor to congratulate the team.

“The fan support is what really helped us out when we were down,” head coach Eric Sullivan said after the game. “They have always been there to support us and I would like to thank them for helping us succeed.”

Eyes were on team captains Coplan and Cotter during the tournament as everyone expected them to lead the team to a state championship. Coming off last year’s run to the semifinals, they knew what needed to get done.

The coaches and players headed into the state tournament on a winning streak. “Our confidence was high, having won our last couple of tournaments. We had hoped that we could continue making strides in getting better,” Sullivan said. “We had high expectations for this group. We turned the corner after winning a tournament in Canada weeks prior.”

above: The Hilltoppers pose with their hardware after beating Germantown High School for the state championship. Photo by John Fuller ’14 opposite: Outside hitter Quin Rowen ’14 gets a kill against Germantown High School in the state championship game. Photo by VIP Photography

tournaments it played in this year. Even more impressively, the team has now won seven state championships since 2002.

The hard-fought battles on the court paid dividends for a team that deserved to win, according to Sullivan. Now, the team looks to improve upon this year and come back just as strong in 2014.

Nathan Anonuevo ’14 described his thoughts after Germantown won the first match. “We knew that this was it. If we didn’t come back in the second game, all of our hard work would have been wasted.”

Dan Siy ’15 attributed the victory to the “never say die” mentality that coach Sullivan gave them. “After coming back from that first match, we just played our game, and we didn’t let negative thoughts into our heads. We kept our cool, we focused.” He also said that the team won because “we didn’t get shaken up by individual points.”

With an almost perfect season, the volleyball team secured a No. 1 seed in the state tournament. The Hilltoppers finished with a record of 25-2 and won all of their conference games, which led to a first-place state ranking. The squad won three out of five

www.MUHS.edu 9

SPORTS

Kearney leads the pack Chris Ackels

Jim Kearney isn’t a math teacher. The longest-tenured member of the Marquette High English Department admits he likely wouldn’t be able to complete some of his students’ calculus homework. And as the cross country coach, some of the things he tells his runners would make a math whiz cry foul. Like: “This sport is 100% physical and 100% percent mental.”

But his runners totally believe him.

Kearney finished his 43rd year coaching the sport, and his 31st as head cross country coach at Marquette High. Though he hasn’t run with the students in over a decade, team members say he is as involved as any head coach in any sport.

“To coach cross country, you have to start with the mental aspect,” Kearney says. “During the race there are no timeouts, no substitutions. When that gun goes off, it’s all in the kids’ hands. That’s one of the things that really attracts me to the sport.”

This year, Kearney led a cross-country program with 162 runners, making it the largest single-sex team in the state. The Hilltoppers recently won the Greater Metro Conference and placed 11th at the WIAA State Championships.

“Even though people think there is not a lot of strategy in cross country, there is so much strategy and teamwork that goes into it,” says Jeremy Steinhafel ’14, who placed in the state’s top 100 for the third consecutive year. “We have a wolf pack mentality, and we really pick each other up when we’re out there.”

Kearney fosters that mindset among his team. “Seeing your teammates running next to you gives you a strength and a mental boost that you just can’t get running as an individual,” Steinhafel says. Steinhafel has been on the squad for four years, and has watched the team come within a second of winning a state title. He says it’s his teammates that kept him coming back, and keep bringing new students into the fold.

Matt Gottsacker ’15 joined the team this year and felt the camaraderie right away. “Having somebody next to you, pushing you, encouraging you – it makes a huge difference when you’re fighting through the pain,” he says. “It’s kind of like life.”

10 MUHS Magazine

Kearney sees cross country as another avenue to mold young minds.

“Same job, different classroom,” he says of his four decades of teaching and coaching.

Steinhafel concurs. “Cross country has taught me discipline, toughness, work ethic, creativity – things that I will be able to apply in all walks of life,” says the senior. “I can use these same strategies attacking a test or a project or even a relationship.”

“Every year, kids come back and they talk about how they are in a tough situation – an interview, a meeting, a job, or for one young man, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro – and they talk about how they drew on the lessons learned in cross country,” Kearney says. “If you can master this sport, you have the confidence to do anything.”

The students insist it’s Kearney’s leadership that makes it all possible.

“He demands so much respect, and people think the world of him,” says Gottsacker. Kearney and his team of coaches – including teachers Dan Cleary ’83, Joe Meyer, Carl Kaiser and others – have instilled a philosophy that hundreds of students have bought into. “It’s his philosophy that gets guys to commit themselves,” Steinhafel says.

But don’t tell Jim Kearney. The legend will put on his insidious sneer, utter an Irish phrase and call you crazy.

“It’s the kids. We’ve just got some incredible kids. They keep me coming back,” he says. “Watching them overcome their fears, watching them become more confident in themselves, watching them grow up . . . you realize as a coach, it’s not just about running anymore.” left: Jim Kearney has just finished his 43rd year of coaching cross country.

Photo by Dan Erschen

opposite: (Left to right in yellow headbands) Jack Heinrich ’15, Ben Sprenger ’14 and Ryan Matzuk ’14 running at the WIAA Cross Country State Meet. Photo by VIP Photography

SPORTS

Athletic practice field gets turfed Ben Megna ’16

The Hilltopper athletic logo marks the 50-yard line. Photo by VIP Photography

The newly turfed athletic field as seen from the rooftop of MUHS. Photo by VIP Photography

This year, students returned to school in August to find a new facility on the west end of school. A renovated athletic field, complete with artificial turf, replaced the previous deteriorated, compact practice area.

concussions and catastrophic injuries on artificial surfaces than grass,” Mazurczak says. Kevin Crowley ’14 has played on both the new and old athletic practice field surface and believes that “the new field allows the team to prepare better with less of a chance to get injured.”

While receiving regular maintenance, the field had not had any major improvements since its debut 25 years ago. According to head football coach Jeff Mazurczak ’82 the field was only available for use four months of the year due to the muddy conditions in spring and early summer.

“The main reason for getting a new practice field is to improve our outdoor practice facility,” Mazurczak says. “What I like about having the artificial turf on that field is that it will always be a consistent surface. It can rain in the morning and we can be out on the field that afternoon for practice.”

In addition, the turfed practice field may help decrease the chances of player injuries. “Some studies have shown there are fewer

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Over the years, demand for field space has increased with the addition of athletic teams. The renovated field is versatile and serves as a practice field for football, lacrosse and other teams, as well as intramurals and other school activities.

The renovated field includes many new amenities: a goalpost, lights for night practice, a wrought-iron fence and net around the perimeter of the field and a new storage shed.

The construction did suffer some setbacks. A wet spring delayed work and impacted the construction of the retaining wall. Then work was halted when a 10,000-gallon oil tank, circa 1940s, was discovered underground, and then had to be removed and properly disposed of according to regulations.

Private donations funded the project. Mazurczak says, “There is a huge respect and sense of gratitude to the parents, alumni and families who donated money to fund the project.”

Hilltopper highlights sports The varsity football team finished its season as Greater Metro Conference champions and made a run at state, advancing deep to the third round of playoffs before losing to state runner-up Franklin High School. Coach Jeff “Maz” Mazurczak ’82 was named Greater Metro Conference Coach of the Year. Conor Sheehy ’14 was named 1st Team All-State by the Associated Press and was one of 300 high school football players in the nation nominated to play in the 2014 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Sheehy was also named to the 1st Team All-State team and Mike Thompson ’15 received Honorable Mention All-State honors.

Seniors Nathan Anonuevo, Gus DeMeulanaere, Quinn English, Eduardo Enriquez, Steve Gilpin, Mike Hilbert, Hayden Hussey, Joe Hushek, Danny Jarosz, Joe Kraker, Quin Rowen, Ben Sprenger and Stephen Seward were named by the Greater Metro Conference as scholar-athletes with a 3.5 or better cumulative GPA. Approximately 440 students participated in fall athletics (football, volleyball, cross country and soccer).

In collaboration with Easter Seals Southeastern Wisconsin, the Hilltopper football teams hosted the third annual Tackling Autism Football Camp in October for children and family members dealing with autism.

The varsity soccer team, coached by Steve Lawrence ’99, was Greater Metro Conference champions, however lost its first playoff game to eventual state champions Muskego High School.

Danny Jarosz ’14 and Quinn English ’14 were each named to the 1st Team All-State team and to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Boys High School All-Region V (Midwest) team, designating them among the top seven players in their positions.

Jarosz also received an invitation to play in the High School AllAmerican Game in Philadelphia. Gus DeMeulanaere ’14, Christian Elliehausen ’14 and Jackson Weiss ’14 received Best of the Rest All-State honors.

The MUHS cross-country team placed 11th out of 20 teams at the state meet last year. The team also received Academic All-State honors, which requires the team to run in the state meet and team members must have a cumulative GPA of more than 3.4. Ryan Carter ’15, Ben Sprenger ’14 and Jack Henrich ’15 received Individual Academic All-State Awards. Individuals must run in the state meet and have a GPA of at least 3.5. The team was Greater Metro Conference champions and Coach Jim Kearney was named Greater Metro Conference Boys’ Coach of the Year.

Coach Eric Sullivan led the varsity volleyball team to conference and state championships and finished the season 25-2. Joe Coplan ’14 and Will Cotter ’14 each received 1st Team All-State honors.

Charlie Greif ’15 connects with Jake Matkovich ’15 for the reception. Photo by VIP Photography

www.MUHS.edu 13

Before they were teachers Chris Ackels and Joe Poirier ’08

FEATURES

As careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) continue to gain momentum, Marquette High students will have a distinct advantage in college and beyond. Many MUHS faculty members have professional experience in the STEM fields and are applying that expertise in the classroom every day. Meet the MUHS STEM experts.

Jim Kostenko Jim Kostenko was sitting on top of an oil well overlooking the North Pole when the call came in from Larry Siewert ’59, then MUHS principal. Kostenko was working for the Exxon Corporation as a petroleum geologist, but had been thinking about his conviction to teach. For his part, Siewert was impressed by Kostenko’s vast science resume.

In 1980 Kostenko joined the U.S. Geological Survey in Nevada to work at the former nuclear testing site. His main project was to evaluate the Yucca Mountain as a potential repository for nuclear waste disposal. Kostenko later moved to Milwaukee to attend UWM’s Center for Great Lakes Studies and became the program’s first graduate.

While in grad school, his work as a teaching assistant confirmed for him his calling to teach. While he still does environmental consulting, his first love is teaching. Kostenko started the geology program at Marquette High and has patiently taught his students the wonders of chemistry over the years.

Kostenko remembers the call he got at the North Pole. “It was very primitive in those days, I was talking with him on a satellite phone,” says Kostenko. “Because of the delay between each other’s sentences, I wasn’t quite sure if I got the job or not.” But both Kostenko and Siewert got what they wanted and three decades later, MUHS is the better for it.

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FEATURES BEFORE THEY WERE TEACHERS

J.R. Collier Since high school, J. R. Collier knew he wanted to be a teacher, but he also didn’t want to spend his entire career in education. In 1994, Collier spent two years learning how to operate a nuclear reactor as part of the United States Navy Nuclear Propulsion Program.

He lived and worked for four years on two U.S. Navy ships, the USS Enterprise and USS Nimitz, and was responsible for maintaining the nuclear energy operations.

Collier believes the Navy’s demanding preparation is comparable to the curriculum that Marquette High students undergo. “The experience with technical operations really helped me become a better teacher because of the rigor of the program,” says Collier.

“The chemistry and the physics behind a nuclear reactor are the same concepts the students learn and help provide a practical framework to what I teach today.”

After his service, Collier graduated from UW-Stevens Point with a degree in natural science and joined the Marquette High community in 2003. His students enjoy his travel stories, which help paint a bigger picture of the world beyond Wisconsin.

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Carl Kaiser Carl Kaiser cultivated his love for the scientific process and research while he was a freshman at UW–Madison. Not many people would be interested in the time-consuming and monotonous work of studying the movements and rhythms of the antenna of paper wasps.

Kaiser was the exception.

“It was a very tedious process. I had to watch hours and hours of video,” says Kaiser. “But it was a great experience that provided me with a taste of the scientific process and what it’s like to be a researcher.”

Following his initial exposure to research, Kaiser moved from one insect-related project to the next. With each project, Kaiser’s expectations rose; he studied feeding habits of the Colorado potato beetle and the survival rates of bumblebees exposed to climate changes.

Kaiser eventually became a teacher, starting in the West Allis– West Milwaukee school district before joining MUHS. Whether he is watching a potato beetle climb on a pile of dirt or helping a freshman write a lab report, Kaiser is up to the task because of his enriching research experiences in the field of science.

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FEATURES BEFORE THEY WERE TEACHERS

Mike Chaney Mike Chaney ’63 is one of Marquette High’s most legendary faculty members, currently serving in his 45th year at the school. Chaney teaches chemistry, AP Chemistry and Introduction to Marine Biology, offered in the summers.

His outside-the-classroom resume dates back to 1968, when Chaney began working as a brewing chemist at Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company in Milwaukee. However, he eventually returned to his alma mater in 1969. “I thought I was going to be a research chemist,” Chaney says. But during his college years at Marquette University, Chaney says he realized his true calling to be a teacher.

Although he chose teaching as his full-time profession, he has maintained an active professional resume. Over the years during the summers, Chaney has worked as a lab consultant at Hydrite Chemical Company, an analytical chemist at Johnson Wax and an organic chemist at Cambridge Major Laboratories. He has also studied electron microscopy at the University of California–Berkeley and served as an AP Chemistry reader at Clemson University for seven years.

Today he takes joy in seeing his students show the same interests.

“Many of these guys have a natural aptitude in science and math,”

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Chaney says. “A good number of our students go on to major in natural science programs or engineering programs after high school.”

Chaney often keeps in touch with students who go on to pursue majors and careers in the field, and he often jokes about how things have changed since he was a student. But, he says, “We know just about everything there is to know about organic chemistry, so that hasn’t changed a whole lot.”

Chris Reis Before becoming a teacher, Chris Reis racked up an impressive professional resume. He worked for the Timken Company, a manufacturer of tapered roller bearings; at Proctor & Gamble as an IT project manager; and even had a stint stabilizing orbiting satellites. A new faculty member at Marquette High, Reis says he brings his work experience into the classroom every day.

“It’s important for any teacher to have non-teaching experience,” says Reis. “I learned how to carry myself as a professional, and I know what working as a professional engineer is like because of that experience.”

In addition to teaching Algebra I to freshmen and AP Computer Science to juniors and seniors, Reis recently advised the MUHS team competing in the Air Force Association’s CyberPatriot National High School Cyber Defense Competition, a nationwide competition in which students have six hours to secure multiple computer systems from outside attacks. He says the opportunities at Marquette High can really set up students for a successful future.

“We give students the opportunity to engage in the engineering design process,” says Reis. “The AP offerings in the sciences,

mathematics and computer science also really benefit those students who wish to go into the field.”

His experience is a huge asset to students as well. “If a student is looking to study engineering, it helps that I know what is going to be expected of him academically, and what is going to be expected of him on the job. That’s something my experience has allowed me to do.”

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FEATURES BEFORE THEY WERE TEACHERS

Sarah Koch Sarah Koch didn’t always know she wanted to be a teacher. In fact, her professional career included a stint at SRI International, a nonprofit research institute founded as Stanford Research Institute.

But now in her second year as an MUHS chemistry teacher, she says she has found her calling, and she brings the experience from her professional career to the classroom.

“My experience plays a huge part in how I teach chemistry,” says Koch. “For example, it gives me the ability to talk to students about lab techniques. When students are in the lab, I can give them real-life examples of what these tools are for, how we use them in research and why somebody would want to find this kind of information.

It can be really valuable to the kids.”

Koch teaches sophomores at MUHS, and though she does have a section of Accelerated Chemistry, she also recognizes that the science curriculum has huge benefits even to students who may be interested in other fields.

“Science classes and lab practice are important because this kind of work creates problem-solvers,” says Koch. “We have a very challenging program here which requires attention to detail and a

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strong work ethic. The point is not necessarily to create scientists, but to help create young men who can be problem-solvers in any situation or any career.”

Kairos 100 Rev. Tom Manahan, SJ www.MUHS.edu 21

FEATURES KAIROS 100

In March, approximately 50 young men will participate in a historical retreat – Kairos 100, the hundredth retreat of the Kairos program.

Sometimes MUHS students, teachers and families assume that Kairos has always been at Marquette High. Talk to Larry Siewert ’59, MUHS principal from 1981 to 1992, and one learns that the Kairos story at MUHS did not begin until 1988.

Siewert recalls, “At the time, no school-related retreat options were available for juniors and seniors after the one retreat that had been held was eliminated due to personnel changes.” He further explains that students were being encouraged to participate in newly revised parish-based Confirmation programs and retreats.

As a result, a gap in the MUHS retreat program had emerged.

While attending a Jesuit Secondary Education Association board meeting in 1988, Siewert heard about the Kairos retreat program and its success at other Jesuit high schools. “I was drawn to the program’s student leadership, off-site location, optional participation and positive feedback of other high schools,” he says. He thought it was worthy of further investigation as an optional retreat for MUHS seniors, while juniors would still be encouraged to participate in their own parish’s programs.

In the fall of 1988, John St. Peter was a first-year teacher at MUHS and looking forward to coaching football. Siewert had other ideas.

St. Peter was recruited by Siewert to go to Chicago as one of the team members to experience the Kairos retreat. Rev. Warren Sazama, SJ ’64 asked a group of six students and then-faculty member Greg Meuler ’64 to join him and St. Peter at a Kairos retreat at Loyola Academy High School in Wilmette, Ill. Sazama admits, “We had heard good things about Kairos but weren’t sure how it would be for us.”

Steve Sanders ’89, Chris Finn ’89, Ryan Goergen ’89, Eric Hall ’89, Jeff Phillips ’89, Chris Shaw ’89, Meuler, Sazama and St. Peter headed south. Finn vividly remembers driving down to Loyola Academy. “We all piled into the golden brown suburban from the school. It felt like we were off on a new adventure,” Finn says. “I felt honored to be asked to be part of the group.”

While team members had heard good things and were excited to participate in the retreat, they didn’t know any details beforehand.

“We joked about the air of secrecy about the retreat,” Finn says.

“The advice we were given was to keep an open mind and open heart and to be willing to express our thoughts and feelings. If we did that we were assured to have a good experience.”

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Finn describes his first Kairos retreat as more than a good experience.

“It was life-changing for me.”

The team shared its positive feedback with Siewert, which sealed the deal. The Kairos program was adopted at MUHS for the 1988–89 school year and the first retreat was held in January 1989. The original team that traveled to Loyola Academy served as Marquette High’s first Kairos retreat team with Sanders and Finn serving as rector and assistant rector, respectively.

Although they were optimistic about Marquette High’s inaugural Kairos retreat, the team members weren’t sure how the MUHS retreatants would receive this new faith experience.

“My hope, when we started the retreat, was that the experience for our students would be as powerful as it had been in other schools,” Meuler says. “I didn’t know what to expect, but I was in awe of the work of the Spirit during that first retreat.”

Today, the Kairos program continues to make an impact on students and the MUHS community. “It builds a spirit of brotherhood and caring for one another that is palpable. It has made MUHS into a more caring community,” Sazama says.

While at Loyola, St. Peter recalls being promised that, “Kairos will change the face of your school in four years.” Twenty-five years later, Kairos continues to change the face, heart and spirit of the MUHS community of students, teachers and families.

REFLECTIONS KAIROS 100

“Go and tell . . . what you have seen and heard . . . ” (Luke 7:22)

Taking the opportunity to experience Kairos in the fall of 1997, as well as lead a retreat in the winter of 1998 truly changed the course of my adolescent and adult life. As a teenager strug-

Kairos retreats, as experienced at MUHS and at Redemptorist

gling with the concepts of self identity, relationships, internal

Retreat Center, are but the latest versions of the great tradition

pressures and expectations, and this notion of “God” and my

of our Jewish and Christian predecessors. Throughout history

lack of connection at the time, Kairos provided a safe environ-

men and women return to places where God has clearly mani-

ment to explore those themes. Not only did Kairos provide the

fested Himself, places of theophanies and miracles: Mount Sinai,

time necessary for me to self reflect, but a true sense of

Bethel, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth and yes, Redemptorist

connection to my fellow “Kairosians.” The bonds formed among

Retreat Center. Thousands of young men have witnessed God’s

participants and leaders during those weeks, as well as a very

presence, love, forgiveness and power on the sacred grounds of

personal connection to God gave me a real outlook on what it

the Redemptorist. It is a place where God dwells; it is sacred

means to be a man for others.

ground to be cherished. It is a place where the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk and the dead are raised. Young men blind

—Nick Bridich ’98

to the love of God, parents, siblings and classmates regain their sight; those deaf to the voices of love, compassion, hope and forgiveness hear these words again; those too lame to act as men for others walk again in service of others; those dead spiritually and emotionally are raised up. I know this; I have witnessed this over and over.

—John St. Peter

I entered my Kairos retreat emotionally downtrodden for as long as I remembered. As if I lived behind a wall of opaque glass.

God’s voice and love were muffled in my heart. My Kairos experience shattered that glass and gave my heart and spirit the freedom to live and love more fully. The great experiences I had the rest of my days at Marquette High, onward in college and since have less to do with my academic success, and everything to do with my relationships with and love for others. Kairos

I went on Kairos 92 and it was the main reason my Marquette classmates went from best friends to brothers. I added more to my family on the fourth day. My teachers also became my

engaged me with God in the right way to make this possible.

—Steve Weissenburger ’99

mentors and people I could go to for advice. I encourage all to participate in the unforgettable experience we call Kairos.

—Kieran Farrell ’13

I strive to Live the Fourth by doing my best to incorporate love in action with everything I do. Also, I do my best to help other people find their own path through my coaching, speaking and volunteer work so they can experience a similar energy living

I can honestly say that Kairos was a life-changing retreat for me.

their life. Sometimes it’s hard and I forget by getting caught up

I believe the experience not only helped me better understand

in the everyday minutia of things. The 100th anniversary of

who I am and who I want to be as a spiritual person, but allowed

Kairos is a great reminder for me to continue on my path of service,

me and my friends to become closer than ever before. One of

love and leadership to make a difference in the lives of others

the biggest things I remember coming out of the retreat was

every day. I challenge myself each morning and ask ‘What will

how much meaning my friends and I began to derive from our

I do to Live the Fourth today?’ And, before I go to bed at

lives, our education, our intellect and our spirituality. It was

night, I reflect on how I Lived the Fourth. I challenge you to do

after Kairos my friends and I began hugging each other. And,

the same.

while I am still best friends with at least five of the members on the retreat, I know that all of us who went on Kairos will

—Chris Finn ’89

be forever connected.

—Elliot Smith ’91

www.MUHS.edu 23

John Wetzel ’81 Making the world a safer place Julie Felser

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FEATURE

John Wetzel wasn’t sure what to make of his freshman football coach. Bob Brezinski’s ’58 serious demeanor, gruff mannerisms and large physical presence were initially intimidating to him and his teammates.

But while Wetzel admits the practices were grueling and Brezinski could be tough on them, the coach had a talent for motivating his players and putting them in the right positions. “From this hodgepodge group of kids he created a [freshman] conference championship team,” Wetzel says.

Throughout that first season of football, as Brezinski was building a winning team, the players were coming together as a cohesive unit. That bond has lasted more than three decades. Now living in Vermont, Wetzel still stays in touch with his football friends. “To this day when I come back to Wisconsin, I still get together with my Marquette High buddies and go out for a few beers.”

Wetzel says Brezinski’s hard-driving practices and teamwork approach helped to bring the players together. “During conditioning drills, we all had to finish in a certain time,” Wetzel recalls.

“So we had to make sure even the slowest teammate worked hard to complete the drill. That helped us pull together and cheer each other on, and when it came to game time we were ready to play because of all our hard work.”

Wetzel has carried those early leadership lessons throughout his career. “Coach Brezinski made it fun, and when you’re having fun you get more out of people.”

Engineering as a career choice For more than 25 years, Wetzel has managed and developed robotic control systems for the United States government, with a focus on the International Space Station and, more recently, humanitarian demining applications. He has been published in more than 40 academic and trade journals and conference proceedings, and has traveled the U.S and abroad to share his knowledge regarding high-tech robotic applications.

Although he has established himself as a leading expert in the robotics field, Wetzel admits he wasn’t quite sure about his career

opposite: This landmine detection system uses a robotic platform, designed and developed

by John Wetzel ’81, with two types of sensors for finding landmines.

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FEATURES JOHN WETZEL ‘81

path until he arrived at college. “Both of my older brothers went to Marquette, and one was a trauma surgeon and the other is a dentist.

I knew I wanted to try something different,” he says with a chuckle.

It was Wetzel’s uncle, Don Strietzel, a civil engineer with the U.S. Army and a skilled storyteller, who influenced his career choice.

“When I was thinking about what I wanted to do, he was a real motivator and inspiration to me,” Wetzel says. “He did some real interesting, cutting-edge work.” Wetzel recalls that Strietzel would often accompany his missile-testing stories with reel-to-reel video footage, which only enhanced Wetzel’s interest in the subject matter.

“One funny story he shared was about the first heat-seeking missiles being developed. The initial tests were going really well, until the target passed in front of the sun and the missile abruptly changed course and started heading straight up toward the sun,” Wetzel says. “These are the kinds of tales he’d tell us, and he was a great storyteller, so his work always sounded even more interesting.”

This vegetation clearance system, on-site in Vieques, Puerto Rico, is clearing brush and small trees so detections systems can follow to find and remediate unexploded ordnances (UXO).

During this cleanup operation, the robotically controlled system, designed by John Wetzel ’81, detonated hazardous bombs and incurred damage, however no personnel were injured.

After graduating from MUHS, Wetzel went on to UW–Madison to study engineering. Wetzel says MUHS prepared him well for college.

“My chemistry class and Father Stang’s physics class, along with Mr. Lazowski’s calculus, gave me a fantastic base for engineering.”

As an undergrad, he met his wife, Kathy, at a Halloween celebration on Madison’s State Street. “It was love at first sight,” Wetzel says of his wife, who is now an elementary-school teacher. “She was dressed as a fire-woman and I was in a cowboy hat.”

Longtime friend and college roommate David Pribyl ’81, attributes Wetzel’s success to his natural abilities in math and science. “In college, we took the same vector calculus course,” Pribyl says.

The two married in 1986 and have two children, Erika, an elementary education major at the University of Vermont, and Ryan, an engineering student on hiatus to work for the American Conservation Experience, part of AmeriCorps, to remediate invasive species and maintain and establish trails in National Parks, National Forests and Wilderness areas.

“I recall one day discussing a concept I thought was difficult to grasp. In his mind, though, it was straightforward. He just had a way of relating difficult concepts to familiar everyday situations.”

Wetzel went on to earn his bachelor’s degree with highest honors in engineering mechanics. He continued with his studies at Madison, working as a teaching assistant for a dynamics course and eventually earned his master’s degree in engineering mechanics a year later.

After earning his master’s degree, Wetzel accepted a position as a systems engineer at BDM International in Albuquerque, N.M., where he conducted analysis and provided technical support for government programs.

He eventually had the opportunity to pursue his interest in space engineering and in 1991 moved to Virginia to accept a position with Grumman Space Station Integration Division to work on the International Space Station. There, he was responsible for analyzing space station dynamics and developing tools for evaluating dynamic microgravity performance.

“We have all heard the saying, ‘That guy is no rocket scientist.’ Well you can’t say that about my friend Wetz,” says John Ganzer ’81, who met Wetzel playing freshman football and “enjoyed many a late-night poker game.”

An UXO-Detection trailer, which is pulled by a robotically controlled vehicle, employs an electromagnetic induction sensor to detect landmines.

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Wetzel also participates on many technical committees, including the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Space Policy

Committee, Space Engineering and Construction Committee, Field Sensing and Robotics Committee and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Space Automation and Robotics Technical Committee. He served as a member of ASCE Aerospace Division Executive Committee from 2000 to 2004 and received the ASCE Aerospace Division 1990 Science and Technology Applications Award.

Humanitarian Demining In 1994, Wetzel joined Applied Research Associates as a robotics group leader at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla. There, he directed and managed personnel and robotic vehicle system programs to support the U.S. Air Force Research Lab and worked on mine countermeasure efforts for the U.S. Marine Corps to “in basic terms, clear a beachhead of landmines so marines could safely land to bring in equipment and troops,” Wetzel says.

In 1999, Wetzel began to concentrate on developing robotics applications for humanitarian endeavors.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense Humanitarian Demining R&D Program, landmines and explosive remnants of war contaminate approximately 5,000,000 acres of land in 90 countries and kill or maim 5,000 people annually. As a result, these weapons create perilous living conditions for individuals in these regions, preventing the use of land for agriculture, creating food and water scarcities, hindering economic development and inflicting long-term physical and psychological trauma on victims.

Wetzel has developed robotics systems and sensor technology to tackle this dangerous, global humanitarian issue.

In addition to these systems, Wetzel also led the development of the Nighthawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, a small two-pound surveillance airplane, and the NASA project, Construction and Resource Utilization eXplorer (CRUX), a suite of instruments developed for lunar and planetary surface operations.

The fact that Wetzel can boil down very complex projects into laymen’s terms is the result of his matter-of-fact manner. “John is one of the brightest people I know,” Rob Busse ’81 says.

“When you talk with John, he comes across as a regular guy. There is no bragging or trying to impress people with John,” Busse says.

Bob Gerlach ’81 concurs about Wetzel’s humility. “Talking with John you would never know all of his personal and professional accomplishments. He almost never talks about his own work. He is always more interested in what’s going on in your life.”

And, he is even known to be self-deprecating at times. “The last time he was in town, I wanted to enter his new phone number in my phone,” Gerlach says. “As he was looking it up, I joked that he didn’t have it memorized. He said, ‘I’m not very good with numbers.’”

“We all know John is a smart guy and academically gifted, but it’s his never-say-die spirit and can-do enthusiasm that we all admire.

John is always upbeat with a big grin, and ready for anything. He’s just fun to be around” Pribyl says. “If John hadn’t been successful in his career, you would still have a story of a guy who’s been successful as a person. That’s the real story.”

“We use robotics to take the operator out of the system so it’s more safe,” Wetzel explains.

“We use sensor technology to detect landmines and unexploded ordnances and we also developed the means to neutralize the landmine once discovered.”

He shares the challenges of the applications. “A lot of these areas have been overgrown with vegetation. We also developed robotic systems to help clear brush so we can take a tractor with a mulcher out to the affected land. That way if a bomb is detonated, you don’t have someone in the cab who gets injured.”

These systems have been used in Cambodia and Vietnam, countries littered with bombs left behind from the French Indochina War and Vietnam War, and Puerto Rico’s Vieques Island, once used as a firing range by the U.S. Navy.

The Wetzel family (left to right): Kathy, Ryan, Erika and John ’81 on the deck of their Vermont home.

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Mark Gehring ’82 Developing software for a social purpose Max Loos ’07 28 MUHS Magazine

FEATURES

Mark Gehring ’82 was sitting in the basement of a Madison hospital when he saw his first business come to life.

Like many engineers, inventors and entrepreneurs, he didn’t realize at the time that he was starting a business – he was simply trying to solve a problem. It was the early ’90s, and he was trying to develop software that could create a three-dimensional image out of data from a series of two-dimensional CT scans.

“It looked like it was pretty easy,” Gehring recalls. He had a pretty good idea of what he wanted to do and how he was going to do it. So he wrote up some code, ran the program and took a look at his result.

It wasn’t exactly a picture of success. In fact, it wasn’t even a picture. Gehring found himself looking at pure static.

He didn’t take it as failure in the traditional sense, though – he figured it was a puzzle, and that he had just ruled out one possible solution. So he went back into the program, changed some lines of code, and ran the software again.

More static. But this time, at least, he could see a shape, the periphery of what might have been the patient’s head.

Sensing progress, he once again decided to tweak a few details and see what would come out. This time, the image that emerged caught him completely off guard.

“I could recognize the patient,” Gehring recalls. “It was unbelievable. Professionally, it’s like I literally had made life with this amazing 3D image.”

Gehring quickly points out that the moment doesn’t actually compare to the experience of having kids, but the fact that he even has to clarify that speaks volumes about the profound sense of awe and accomplishment he felt at the time.

In 1992, Gehring and a few partners built a company around that program, and it became the first commercial 3D radiation treatment planning system in the world. The system was quickly adopted on a wide scale, and has been used to plan 25 percent of the radiation treatments in the world since the mid-90s. Today, the product, which is now owned by Philips Healthcare, holds a 40 percent share of the market.

And that was only the first of his ventures.

Startup Guy Gehring has made a career as a startup guy. Since 1992, he has started four different companies – three in the medical field, all software-based – and he shows no sign of stopping anytime soon.

Gehring’s current business endeavor, a company called Propeller Health, uses GPS data from sensors on emergency inhalers to help doctors and patients better control respiratory ailments like asthma. It’s an ambitious project, one that requires analyzing and responding to a large amount of complex data about patient behavior, but Gehring likes a good challenge, especially if it has the potential to make peoples’ lives better.

“What we’re trying to do is try to figure out how to best respond to the patient to get [their symptoms] under control,” he says.

“The goal is to predict when a patient is at high risk, and then know the best way to intervene and do something about it.”

That is, in essence, Gehring’s modus operandi: identify a problem, gather as much information about it as possible, design an effective solution, and build a company that can deliver that solution to the world.

The startup world has something of a reputation for being fast paced and tumultuous, full of lofty ambitions and ideas that are just crazy enough to work. It is, after all, the environment that produced companies like Twitter and products like Angry Birds. But 90 percent of new startups quickly fold, giving rise to a sense that failure is a valuable learning experience, and that the next crazy idea might hit the market at just the right time.

While Gehring does believe that failure, when dealt with correctly, is an essential aspect of a good startup ecosystem, his approach to building companies has been anything but fast and loose. His ideas tend toward the bold – Propeller Health’s data-based system, for example, certainly has the potential to change how conditions like asthma are understood and treated – but his execution is always straightforward and pragmatic.

“For me it’s always been about the product,” he says. Gehring’s formula for a successful startup is simple: build a team of “supersmart people,” develop a defined product that fulfills a specific need, and work harder than everyone else to ensure that your product is the best it can be.”

That last point is a big part of why he is comfortable competing with the big conglomerates in the medical technology field. In the early 2000s, when it was obvious that radiology departments were ready to move away from film and into digital imaging, Gehring was confident that his company would be able to develop

FEATURES MARK GEHRING ’82

a better program than giants like Philips Healthcare, Kodak or GE Medical Systems.

had actual potential, but once he did, he suddenly had a career on his hands.

If you dig into one of the large conglomerates’ medical groups, he says, “you know it’s going to be a group just the same size as you, just a lot less motivated. It’s not that they have a thousand geniuses.”

Listening to Gehring talk about his love of software development, it would be easy to assume that he has a degree in computer science, or that his success derives from some kind of extensive training.

He realized that the difference between his company at the time, Ultravisual, and the rest of his competitors was motivation – and with a good amount of hard work, his company managed to gain eight percent of the market share while competing directly with the giants of the industry.

In reality, though, Gehring’s software skills are mostly self-taught, cultivated because he found software development fun and because he loved the process. To him, taking classes isn’t the most important part of becoming a good software developer.

While that kind of success is certainly something that motivates Gehring, it seems that the whole process of building a company is what he really finds rewarding.

“You can imagine getting together a group of super-smart people, all focused on this goal, and then going out and actually building it up from scratch,” he says. “And then, eventually, you’re selling it from a booth at a conference, people are buying it and customers are using it. It is just totally cool to be creating something that has value.”

Software Guy That desire to build companies, however, stems from Gehring’s other passion, the one that he might even call his true passion: software.

“What I like to do is develop software that has some kind of social purpose,” he says. “It’s very cool to build a company around that, and build a team and all work together on this mission.”

At the core of each of his companies’ missions, there has always been some piece of software.

“I’m definitely a software guy,” he says. “I’m super excited about software.” What he loves about software is that it’s everywhere – and that working with it has seemingly infinite creative possibilities.

“You can do amazing things with software,” he says. “There’s a whole creativity to it. You take this abstract idea and turn it into reality.

It’s super cool.”

In fact, the most difficult thing for Gehring as a young software developer was limiting his enthusiasm and imagination. “Once I got into college, every piece of software that I ever worked on, I thought was going to be some sort of huge product,” he says. It took him a little while to get good at discerning which projects

30 MUHS Magazine

“I think it’s a little bit like writing or photography,” he says. “You might go to school to learn technique, but it’s not what gets you excited about what you do. I think that’s true with software as well.”

MUHS Of course, even with all the natural talent in the world, it’s impossible to develop a skill without some kind of initial exposure. And it was Marquette High that introduced Gehring to software.

“There was a math teacher, Jim Steckel ’72,” he says. “Mr. Steckel was great. He was super, super influential.”

Gehring spent many of his homerooms in the computer lab with Steckel and a few other students, learning the basics of coding and playing around with what he could create. In fact, one of the first pieces of software that Gehring wrote was a game that he built as part of an independent study course with Steckel.

It’s hard to imagine a more humble beginning for a software developer than a small game that ran on an Apple II computer in the early ’80s, but Gehring insists that MUHS gave him exactly what he needed to succeed in the way that he has.

“I came out of Marquette High so academically confident,” he says. “I went to college and just crushed it. It was significantly easier than my senior year of high school.”

“A lot of what I do is geometry and math,” he adds. “The roots of that are all from Marquette High.”

Gehring understandably points to the importance of his MUHS science and math courses, but he also feels that his Marquette High education was influential in some slightly unexpected ways.

“What was great here was the level of thinking. I remember taking English classes where we analyzed different poems and got into

In the fall, Mark Gehring ’81 presented to more than 50 students on the topics of biomedical imaging and computer software development. Photo by Peter Beck

the real meanings, which I loved,” he says. “Without that class, I never would have appreciated that you could take a piece of literature and dig in and look at this meaning on different levels.”

The parallel might not be obvious at first, but Gehring considers that experience with poetry to be absolutely essential to what he does today.

“That’s English,” he says, “but when you’re developing software and there’s some defect, there’s an element of interpretation and detective work to figure out what’s going on.”

If anything, that’s what Gehring appreciates about his Marquette High education: its focus on the cultivation of critical thinking and analytical reasoning. Those skills, he feels, are invaluable to anyone in any field of work.

“Developing software is taking some problem and breaking it down to its most atomic level,” he says. “Whether or not you’re writing software, I think there’s some value to being able to look at problems and analyze them that way, to get to the root of what’s going on.”

That’s exactly what Gehring feels he got out of his English classes with teachers like Rev. John Bernbrock, SJ. “Those classes where there

was analysis,” he says, “I would say I got more benefit from those courses, more direct benefit, than [from] the courses I took in college.”

It’s a bold statement, but one that Gehring stands by. After all, his companies have all relied on his ability to identify an opportunity, interpret his customers’ needs, and respond as rigorously as possible to feedback.

“I would absolutely say that’s a Marquette High thing,” he says about working with customers to develop effective products. “It’s listening, and really understanding, and asking questions when you don’t understand, so you really understand what the person wants and what they need.”

“If you’re developing something new, there’s really some analysis there,” he adds, “because if it’s brand new, they don’t know necessarily what they want, so you also need to know when to make your own decisions about what to do. I think a lot of that ties directly to MUHS.”

www.MUHS.edu 31

FEATURES MARK GEHRING ’82

It wasn’t just in the classroom that Gehring got to flex his analytical thinking muscles. He believes that his experience on the debate team, for example, helped him develop skills that are directly relevant to him in his career.

“I wasn’t a great debater,” he says, “but to go and debate somebody, you had to organize this set of facts, you had to really understand it in a great level of detail, and then be able to pull out that data when you needed it.”

That’s not all that different than the work that he would have to do with his clients while developing his companies’ products, he thinks.

“We would go and have to sit with people and fully understand their world and what we needed to do to produce a product that would fully meet their requirements, but also be sellable,” he says. “I think it relates back very closely.”

The Future of STEM Education It is Gehring’s strong belief that, in our current technological moment, all students should have the chance to be exposed to software and programming. Just as working with poetry had a profound effect on his analytical abilities, he feels that exposure to software development would be valuable to any student, no matter what they go on to do.

“I think it applies to all kinds of things,” Gehring says. “You could probably take some of the core tools that a programmer uses and apply those to a whole set of non-programming problems.”

He also believes that exposure to coding and software development would allow students to better understand the world around them and its possibilities.

“I think freshmen in high school should know that when they use Instagram on their phone, they could write that,” he says. “That’s not complicated software . . . anyone could write that.”

That conviction is a big part of why Gehring is working with MUHS math teacher Chris Reis to get as many students involved with software development as possible.

“Who knows what the future holds,” Gehring says. What matters is that students understand that, through software, they can have a major impact on the world.

The big question, though, is whether Marquette High is well enough equipped to prepare students for the demands of a world where code is everywhere, and technology is rapidly evolving. For his part, Gehring thinks it is.

“It’s done well even way back in ancient history when I was here,” Gehring says, “and it’s poised to do even better.”

The Gehring family (left to right): Audrey, Mark, Petra Kilian-Gehring, son Nicholas (in front) and Eileen. Photo by Laura Houlihan of Laurels and Stars Photography

32 MUHS Magazine

Michael Naleid ’05 An engineer for others Joe Poirier ’08

FEATURES MICHAEL NALEID ‘05

In a country like ours where indoor cooking and heating options range from grid connected natural gas burners to subfloor radiant heating systems, it’s hard to imagine that nearly half the world’s population still prepares food indoors and heats their homes with rudimentary stoves or open fires fueled by wood,

using technology and innovation to increase productivity through responsible resource management. Through a five-year partnership between Winrock and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Naleid is providing programmatic support to the EPA’s Cookstove Capacity Building and Technical Assistance Program to increase the exchange of technical information among organizations working in the sector and to facilitate the promotion of effective approaches to increase the use of clean, reliable, affordable, efficient and safe practices.

charcoal and other biomass including dung or agricultural waste. These outdated methods have resulted in household air pollution that causes approximately

“We’re trying to create a conversation about cooking practices with teams around the world,” he says.

3.5 million deaths per year, mostly in poor and developing countries.

Michael Naleid ’05 is working to change that.

“The way most of the world heats their home and cooks their food is very harmful,” says Naleid. “One particularly dangerous method is the use of a three-stove fire that burns biomass inefficiently in homes or huts.”

A program associate for the clean-energy team at Winrock International, Naleid has developed an expertise in household energy and clean cookstoves for the underprivileged around the world by

His experience includes participating in the United Nations Foundation’s Clean Cooking Forum 2013 in Cambodia and conducting field research on clean cookstoves in Ethiopia and Bolivia as part of his college immersion trips. He still stays in touch with colleagues in both countries. “Those people really exposed me to the reality of the situation and taught me the importance of being a man for others.”

Naleid also serves as a member of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group to ISO/TC 285 Clean Cookstoves and Clean Cooking Solutions, a global effort to standardize the performance of off-grid cooking devices through a tiered rating system.

Naleid says that his current professional pursuits were influenced by his experiences at Marquette High, particularly his junior-year trip to the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota and his Senior Shared Life experience at a public middle school in Milwaukee.

“Being on the reservation was an eye-opening experience for me . . .

I felt like I was in a developing country,” says Naleid, who was also moved by the unique troubles of the children he worked with in Milwaukee’s inner city.

“Today when I travel to different countries for my job, I often get the chills just like I did during those service learning opportunities at MUHS,” he says. “The chance to change even one kid’s life is something that continues to make me feel good.”

Naleid feels a great sense of responsibility toward the children he comes in contact with through work.

Attendees from Benin, Nigeria, Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Mozambique gather for a field test designed to measure household fuel use in real-world settings. Michael Naleid ’05 traveled to Benin in July for this four-day event with Winrock International and the U.S. EPA. Previous page: Michael Naleid ‘05 demonstrates the use of a household rocket stove while working at GIZ’s Energy Coordination office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

34 MUHS Magazine

Women and children are typically responsible for securing the fuel to cook the family meal. When they have to search for firewood and other sources outside of their own communities, they are at increased risk for violence, particularly in areas with political and

About 30 Clean Cooking Forum participants visit the Takeo Appropriate Technology Center at the Institute of Sustainable Agriculture and Community Development to learn about various technologies, including household parabolic solar cookers, solar food dryers, micro solar home systems and a Scheffler Reflector – a 10m2 solar dish used for institutional solar cooking and palm sugar production.

social conflicts. Clean cookstoves help reduce fuel consumption through improved efficiency, in turn reducing the number of trips needed for fuel collection.

Naleid’s interest in these global energy issues began to take form while he was studying industrial engineering technology and quality assurance at the University of Dayton. There, he became involved with a student organization called Engineers in Technical Humanitarian Opportunities of Service Learning (ETHOS). “ETHOS offers engineering students first-hand experience with alternative technologies in developing countries, which is how I became acquainted with the need for efficient cookstoves,” he says.

As part of an ETHOS requirement, Naleid read A Sacred Voice is Calling. In that novel, Naleid found his faith as an integral part of his work. “The book was a real wakeup call,” he says. “It helped me listen to myself and hear what my true calling in life is,” says Naleid. “I think the word ‘vocation’ can have so many meanings. After reading the book I realized that what I want to do as an engineer is help others.”

Today Naleid is preparing to pursue a master’s degree in a related field to help further his career. “It’s been a crazy but amazing road since I left high school,” he says. “On the way I’ve had lots of mentors that helped me get to where I am today. I owe a lot to the people of MUHS and the Jesuit values I learned at Marquette.”

Naleid observes an Ethiopian woman cooking injera, a local food consumed at almost every meal, in a test kitchen at GIZ’s Energy Coordination Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

www.MUHS.edu 35

FEATURE

Tom ’75 & Molly Duffey Answering the call Julie Felser

Tom Duffey ’75 and Rev. Warren Sazama, SJ share a common “Marquette High first day” together. Duffey’s first day at MUHS as a freshman was Sazama’s first day at MUHS as a novitiate. Duffey met Sazama during homeroom. “Saz was not only the first Jesuit priest I ever met, he was the first faculty member I met at Marquette High.”

About 35 years later, Sazama returned to Marquette High as president, and Duffey was chairman of the board. “One of the very special things about Marquette High is that the connections remained so strong. Our first meeting was at Saz’s State House for lunch; it was like we picked up immediately from where we had left off decades earlier.”

Last fall Sazama would call on Duffey to chair Marquette High’s fundraising campaign Companions on the Journey. However, it wasn’t Tom who immediately said “yes”– it was his wife, Molly.

“My first reaction was ‘Do it!’ I didn’t even hesitate,” Molly says when she learned of Sazama’s request of her husband.

Her instantaneous response might be attributed to their three sons,

The Duffey family (left to right): Matt Duffey ’05, wife Kristin; Tom Duffey ‘75, wife Molly (holding Topper, purchased at the 2001 Topper Auction); Ryan Duffey ’02 (holding dog Bailey), wife Heather holding baby Elly; Keenan Duffey ’08 and Carly Earp.

36 MUHS Magazine

Ryan ’02, Matt ’05 and Keenan ’08, having had a positive MUHS experience. Molly says, “They all loved their experience, but loved it differently.” Tom concurs, “Each had a uniquely different experience that uniquely matched their personality. They had the MUHS experience they wanted to have.”

Today, Ryan, a Santa Clara University graduate, is vice president at Plastic Components, Inc. in Germantown, Wis., and lives in Brookfield with his wife, Heather, and newborn daughter, Elly Quinn. Matt graduated from the United States Naval Academy, married his wife, Kristin, and is currently deployed as Navy lieutenant (junior grade) on a nuclear submarine. Keenan graduated from the University of Notre Dame and is currently enrolled at that Korbel School of International Relations at the University of Denver.

Tom, too, had a positive, MUHS experience, which included involvement in Senior Follies, Conclave, the Marquette Flambeau and Ski Club. However, he admits the school’s Jesuit teachers and Ignatian spirituality had the most lasting impact on him.

“I was not a particularly distinguished student, and certainly not an athlete. But I always felt like I belonged here. If I had to point to one defining thing about my MUHS education, it would be that it made me focus less on myself and more on what my role is in the bigger world,” Tom says. “The Jesuits taught me that we can affect the world around us if we choose to make that philosophical and theological commitment. I’ve always carried that with me.

I’m very conscious that what I do and what I think has an impact on everyone around me.”

Rev. Doug Leonhardt, SJ ’56 had a profound influence on Tom’s life during high school, which has evolved into a life long relationship. “Father Doug did something for me that profoundly changed the course of my life. I tell him the story all the time, but

he doesn’t remember it. I was just a part of his life as a Jesuit.

It’s what they do every day.” Leonhardt celebrated both of the wedding Masses for Ryan and Matt, baptized Elly and celebrated both funeral Masses of Molly’s parents.

came walking across the floor with a big smile on his face. I hadn’t seen Father Doug since graduation. We had a great conversation.

I ended with ‘Call me if I can ever be of help’. I now know that you never want to say that to a Jesuit priest!”

Even Molly reflects fondly on her time at Marquette High. Working side by side with Mary Ellen Buellesbach, wife of the late Richard Buellesbach ’44, Molly served as co-chair of the MUHS book sale for 10 years, starting when Ryan was a freshman.

In 2003, he was elected to the Board of Directors, where he served as chairman during the 2006-07 school year.

“It was a lot of work. It was a frantic three days with thousands of books and lots of boys,” she says with a laugh. “It was my favorite thing to do because I got to interact with the boys. Spending time with Mary Ellen was truly one of the joys of my time at Marquette High. She was like a guardian angel while she helped these discombobulated boys buy and sell these books year after year. What a treasure she is to Marquette High.”

A retired middle-school teacher, Molly met Tom while she was a student at St. Mary’s College and he was a student at the University of Notre Dame. The two married and moved back to Southeastern Wisconsin, where she taught at St. John Vianney Parish School.

She left the classroom to raise the couple’s three boys, although she eventually returned to teaching at St. Mary’s Elm Grove when her sons were in middle school. And, at one time or another, she taught all three of her boys.

While Molly was at home with their sons, Tom began his career as a manufacturer’s representative. In 1989, he started his own company, Plastic Components, Inc., a manufacturer of plastic injection molding parts, and continues to serve as president. At a time when more and more American manufacturers are shipping production and jobs overseas, Tom has received local and national media attention and accolades for his innovative and successful business practices to run a profitable manufacturing operation here in Wisconsin.

And, Tom’s response to Sazama’s campaign leadership request? “I haven’t learned how to say ‘no’ to the Jesuits,” he jokes. However, his voice quickly changes to a serious tone.

“The reality is I don’t want to say no. The Jesuits, the administrators and lay faculty in this building have given their life to Marquette High. These are enormously talented and dedicated men and women who form the nucleus that supplies the energy in support of the true mission of Marquette High. Anything I do seems relatively trivial in comparison.”

As chair of the campaign, Tom will make the case to alumni, parents and friends as to why they should financially support the school.

He believes what distinguishes a Marquette High education is the combination of rigorous academics along with Ignatian spirituality and the men for others mission – it’s why he and Molly keep supporting the school.

Tom says, “You may forget the calculus or Latin you learned, but that core of what you become at MUHS, a man for others, stays with you forever.”

Despite the time demands of running his company, Tom has found time to be actively involved at MUHS over the past 15 years. He joined the Development Committee in 1999. “I walked into the gym to register Ryan as an incoming freshman, and Father Doug Leonhardt

www.MUHS.edu 37

ALUMNI UPDATE

Class notes Jacob Heinen ’15 and Julie Felser

Bill Wambach ’43 won the

the central highlands

Paul Bauer ’63 has

Jim McCarville ’63

John Rink ’63 teaches

85- to 89-year-old high

of Guatemala.

appeared or participated

is the executive director

political science, advises

jump at the USA Track &

in more than 100 U.S.

of the Port of Pittsburgh

pre-law students and

Field Wisconsin Masters

Joe Karius ’56 retired

Marine Corps Living Mem-

Commission. In May,

coaches the intercolle-

meet in Waukesha, Wis.

from a 50-year career as

orial presentations since

he was honored at the

giate teams in mock trial

His leap of 1.05 meters

a newspaper reporter,

2004. He also participated

White House as a Trans-

and mediation competi-

beat the All-American

editor and publisher. He

in the “Made in America”

portation Champion

tions at UW–Platteville.

Standard for his age group,

was publisher of the

music video filmed during

of Change.

His teams won the 2006

.85 meters. He also won

Ironwood Daily Globe for

Toby Keith’s Milwaukee

the long and triple jumps.

10 years, and received

concert visit.

two awards from the Wisc-

National Intercollegiate Pat O’Mahar ’63 retired

Advocacy Championship

after 41 years as a staff

and the 2011 National

Joseph Seng ’48 and

onsin Newspaper Assoc-

Joe Klein ’63 owns a small

member for the Milwaukee

Mediation Championship.

his wife, Joyce, celebrated

iation for column and

law firm specializing in

Teachers’ Education

He is a board of directors

their 57th wedding

editorial writing. He and

real estate law. He and his

Association.

member of the Inter-

anniversary in July.

his wife, Diane Montz,

wife of 45 years, Lesley,

live in New London, Wis.

live in Madison, Wis.

Bill Taylor ’48 is author of

national Academy of Jim Pittelkow ’63 is

Dispute Resolution and

director of finance and

chair of the National

the book A Shooting Star

Thomas Kieren ’59 is

Jeff Klopatek ’63

administration at St.

Intercollegiate Mediation

Meets the Well of Death –

a trumpeter with the jazz

is an emeritus professor

Robert Newminster in

Tournament Committee.

Why and How Richard

sextet, Jefferson Jazz,

of ecology at Arizona

Shorewood, Wis., and

Halliburton Conquered

which performs swing

State University. He now

is working toward a cert-

William Wagner ’63 retired

the World, scheduled for

jazz at nightclubs and

works as a winery chef

ification in lay pastoral

after 42 years of working

release in 2014.

community events in

for Russian River Valley

ministry at Cardinal Stritch

in economic regulation

New Jersey and NYC.

Winegrowers in Sonoma

University. He previously

of airlines with the U.S.

Werner Dornacker ’50

He also practices arch-

County, Calif.

worked in the commercial

Department of Transporta-

retired after 51 years as

itectural and interior

property insurance in-

tion. He lives in Arlington,

a pharmacist.

photography.

Dennis Malloy ’63

dustry and as a financial

Va., and is president of

and his wife, Janey, live

manager at disaster

the Wisconsin State Society in Washington, D.C.

Paul Lehmkuhl ’51

Richard Little ’60 is

year round in Vermont,

sites with the U.S. Depart-

competed at the Masters

associate general counsel

spending April through

ment of Homeland Security

Track & Field Champion-

for Mitsubishi Electric

October on Lake

Federal Emergency

John Zimmerman ’63

ships, 80–84 age class,

US, Inc. in Cypress, Calif.

Champlain.

Management Agency.

is a plastic and reconstr-

in Olathe, Kan. He won three events – long jump, triple jump and 80-meter hurdles – and placed second in the high jump and the 200-meter hurdles.

He also was on the winning 4x100 meter relay team.

Phil Tallmadge ’53 and his wife completed a weeklong medical mission to

38 MUHS Magazine

uctive surgeon in Napa

Rev. James Bretzke,

Kingdom, where he works

in caring for OB/GYN

Rev. Thomas Lawler, SJ ’83

Valley, Calif. He is also a

SJ ’70 is a professor of

in the auto industry after

patients.

is provincial superior of

clinical faculty member

moral theology at Boston

a career of banking and

at Stanford University

College. He published the

investments in Southern

Dave Frederick ’81, Tom

of the Society of Jesus,

School of Medicine and

third edition of his best-

California. He has five

Horky ’81 and Bobby

directing Jesuits across

has participated in more

selling reference work,

children and three grand-

Neimon ’81, along with

the Midwest. He recently

than 40 teaching and

Consecrated Phrases:

children.

current parent Joel Baisden,

returned to MUHS for

surgical trips to Central

A Latin Dictionary of

and South America, Asia,

Theological Terms.

the Caribbean and South

the Wisconsin Province

celebrated their 50th

the annual Mass of the

Michael Braun ’78 is a

birthdays with a weeklong

Holy Spirit as the guest

radiologist and was named

golf trip to Ireland.

celebrant.

Pacific. He and his wife,

Scott Klug ’71 is managing

Best Interventional Radiol-

Bianca, live in Napa,

director of public affairs

ogist by Milwaukee

John Radanovich ’81 is

William Axt ’85 is the

Calif. and have two chil-

for Foley & Lardner and

Magazine. He was also

author of Taken: How

chief financial officer

dren, Jean Paul (21) and

is author of The Alliance,

made a Fellow of the

Friendship Saved a Man

for the Honolulu Police

his first novel with a Jesuit as

American College of

From Slavery, the full

Department, and was

the hero. He is an Emmy

Radiology, an honor given

story behind the movie

recently promoted to the

Bill Kuhnmuench ’65 is

award-winning journalist

to less than ten percent

12 Years a Slave.

rank of major after 23

retired and lives in Dallas,

and served as U.S. Con-

of radiologists. He, his

playing golf six days

gressman for Wisconsin

wife Theresa, and their

John DiLallo ’83 is

a graduate of the FBI

a week. He welcomes

from 1991 to 1999. He

two children live in Fox

assistant clinical professor

National Academy.

MUHS visitors.

and his wife, Tess, live in

Point, Wis.

of psychiatry at the New

Veronica (17).

Madison, Wis., and have Joseph McBride ’65 is a

three sons.

professor in the Cinema

years of service. He is

York University Langone

Michael Moynihan ’86

Christopher Coffey ’80

School of Medicine. He is

is the head coach for the

is the medical director

also the Administration

women’s soccer team at

Department at San Fran-

Paul Herr ’73 is author of

for minimally invasive

for Children’s Services site

Northwestern University

cisco State University. He

the book Primal Manage-

gynecological surgery

director for the Atlas

in Evanston, Ill.

has written 17 books, in-

ment: Unraveling the

at North Shore Medical

Project, a five-year

cluding his latest, Into the

Secrets of Human Nature

Center in Salem, Mass.

federally-funded initiative

Al Sumner ’86 is a

Nightmare: My Search

to Drive High Performance.

He received the 2013

to disseminate trauma-in-

member of the Dirt Track Selection Committee for

for the Killers of President

Physician of Excellence

formed practices through-

John F. Kennedy and

David Spurr ’75 lives in

Award in recognition of

out the child welfare

the American Motorcyclist

Officer J. D. Tippit.

Chipping Norton, United

his compassion and skill

system in New York City.

(continued on page 40)

opposite, left to right: Joyce and Joe ’48 Seng

this page, left to right: Classmates (left to right) John Moser ’74, Tom Magnus ’74, Mont Martin ’74 and Jim Malaney ’74 meet up at the Milwaukee pub, Pourman’s, owned by Ben Hebl ’02 (right).

Class of ’62 alumni gather for baseball game at Miller Park.

(Left to right) Don Roblee, Gary Glojek, John Mankowski, Jim McKenna, Jim Blask, James Rebholz, Jim Pelkey, Bill Bau, Jed Dean, Bob Zirbel, Chris Kobach, Don Treis, Tom Schulz and Denny Sheehan Joe McBride’s ’65 new book

(Left to right) Dan Clancy ’78, Rich Hohl ’79, Jim Lucke ’79, Bob Wissing ’79, George Salter ’79, Bob Wellenstein ’79, Dave VonRueden ’79 and F.X. Jacoby ’79 at their 30th annual Chickenfest golf outing in Green Lake, Wis.

www.MUHS.edu 39

ALUMNI UPDATE CLASS NOTES

Association Hall of Fame.

Golf Club in Davidson-

Jonah Czerwinski ’93

Eric Landon ’94 is an artist

have two daughters

He also assisted in the

ville, Md.

is senior advisor to the

and founder of Tortus

and live in Colorado Springs, Colo.

design and setup of the

Secretary of Veterans

Ceramics in Copenhagen.

new Dirt Track Heroes

Matt Chaney ’91 owns a

Affairs. He, his wife,

His work has been fea-

display at the National

wine shop in Kennebunk,

Annie, and their children,

tured in publications like

Patrick Meloy ’99

Motorcycle Museum in

Maine, with his wife,

three-year-old Joe, and

ELLE Decoration UK and

is assistant professor of

Anamosa, Iowa.

Libby. The two married

one-year-old Kiki live

the London Design Review,

emergency medicine at

in October.

in Washington, D.C.

and can be found in

Emory University School

Studio Copenhagen and

of Medicine. He and

Mark Radzin ’88 is the religious education instr-

David Siewert ’91 is

Jeff Galecke ’93 is director

galleries across Europe.

his wife, Heather, live in

uctor for the Upper School

director of philanthropy for

of sales for Covaris,

Landon graduated from

Atlanta.

at St. Aloysius School in

Make-A-Wish Foundation

a technology company

the Danish School of

New Canaan, Conn.

of America. He earned

based in Woburn, Mass.

Design in Copenhagen.

his MBA from UW–Mil-

Zach Pandl ’99 is a senior portfolio manager and

Joe Russel ’89 is a share-

waukee. He, his wife,

Beau Keckeisen ’93

Tom Parks ’94 is a retire-

strategist with Columbia

holder at von Briesen &

Felicia, and son, August,

is a claims adjuster for

ment plans specialist

Management Investment

Roper, S.C. in Milwaukee.

live in Brookfield, Wis.

Kemper Insurance. He,

with M4 Financial Partners

Advisers, LLC, based in

Previously, he was a

his wife, Heather, and

and a volunteer trainer

Minneapolis. He recently

partner in the Chicago

Michael Bark ’92 is

their children, five-year-

and classroom educator

appeared on Fox Business,

office of Kirkland & Ellis.

principal of Edge Advi-

old Hailey and newborn

with Make a Difference

speaking about the econ-

sors, a dental-practice

John, live in Milwaukee.

Wisconsin, a nonprofit

omic data that can ben-

teaching financial literacy

efit investors’ strategies.

Pat Tobiasz ’93 is a senior

to students. Make a

He earned his bachelor’s

portfolio manager for

Difference Wisconsin

degree in economics

Jon Packee ’90 is a

consulting firm in West

commercial real estate

Allis, Wis.

broker specializing in manufacturing and dis-

Frank Crivello ’93 is

GE Healthcare Financial

honored him in October

from the University of St.

tribution properties for

a sales representative

Services. He was inducted

with its 2013 Difference

Thomas and his master’s

NAI MLG Commercial

for Fredman Bag

into the UW–Whitewater

Maker Award.

degree in economics from

in Milwaukee.

Company in Milwaukee.

Athletics Hall of Fame

He and his wife, Lisa,

during Homecoming 2013

Jake Moreland ’95 is the

Steve Peterson ’90 is the

live in Milwaukee with

for his record-holding

tight ends coach at The

head pro and general

their one-year-old

baseball career. He lives

U.S. Air Force Academy.

assistant professor of

manager at Renditions

son, Anthony.

in New Berlin, Wis.

He and his wife, Anne,

(continued on page 41)

40 MUHS Magazine

New York University.

Marcus Mescher ’00 is

Religious and Theological

to Los Angeles to raise

Award for maximizing

MUHS JV lacrosse team.

Derek Thiel ’03 is a

Studies at Merrimack

money and awareness

home performance and

He and his wife, Kristin,

chiropractor and a mem-

College in North Andover,

for veterans’ issues and

energy efficiency.

live in Cedarburg, Wis.,

ber of the Wood County

Mass., where he teaches

Dryhootch.

with their two-year-old

Health Board. He and

daughter, Mia.

his wife, Rachel, live in

Catholic social ethics.

Stephen Whelpley ’01

He earned his doctorate

David Brady ’01 is a

is a professional rower,

from Boston College in

musician’s casting super-

living and training in

Kyle Swetzig ’03 works

July. He, his wife, Anne,

visor for Carnival Cruise

Vermont. In August, he

in the admissions office

Jim Stemper ’04 is a

and their two sons live

Lines. He and his wife,

competed in the World

at UW–Milwaukee and

professional cyclist for

in Newton, Mass.

Re-Anne, live in Miami

Championships in

bartends part time at

the U.S.-based 5-Hour

Lakes, Fla.

Chungju, South Korea,

Estabrook Beer Garden

Energy/Kenda racing

where he achieved a

in Milwaukee.

team. He has competed

Nate Grede ’00 is sales

Nekoosa, Wis.

director at AddThis in

Matt Feeney ’01 is

world ranking of 13th in

Chicago. He and his wife,

the global team lead for

the men’s heavyweight

Aaron Ehlinger ’03 is a

twice and has raced

Nicole, were honored

marketing automation

single scull. He gradu-

postdoctoral associate

in Spain.

as the youngest ever

at Perceptive Software.

ated from Colby College

in the Center for Structural

Season Ticket Holders of

He and his wife, Maria,

in Waterville, Maine.

Biology at Vanderbilt

Charlie Berens ’05 is

the Game by UW–Madi-

live in West Bend, Wis.,

University and lives in

host of the Dallas news

son for their contributions

with their two-year-old

CJ Papara ’02 is the man-

Nashville, Tenn. He

show Nightcap News

and involvement in the

son, Hugh, and newborn

ager and operator

earned his doctoral

and won an Emmy award

school’s alumni program.

daughter, Hannah.

of 4th Base Restaurant

degree in biochemistry,

for his reporting on The

and Sports Bar in

molecular biology and

Cost of Water. He earned

West Milwaukee.

biophysics from Univer-

his bachelor’s degree in

sity of Minnesota.

journalism and environ-

in the Tour of California

Anthony Anderson ’01

Juan Hurtado ’01 is vice

is an Iraqi veteran and

president of operations

director of operations

for Intec, a Milwaukee-

Alex Kreilein ’03 is a

for Dryhootch, a non-

based contractor with

guest researcher at the

Stephen Hansen ’03

profit formed by combat

Focus on Energy. Intec

National Institute of Stan-

works at Jacsten

veterans to help service-

was one of only five

dards and Technology.

Holdings, a small invest-

David Beverly ’05 is a

men and women returning

contractors in the country

ment firm in Milwaukee.

judicial clerk at Chief

home. He and fellow

to receive the U.S.

Tip Kress ’03 is a multi-

He earned his MBA

Judge Richard S. Brown

combat veteran, Tom Voss,

Department of Energy’s

media training developer

at Southern Methodist

of the Wisconsin Court

walked from Milwaukee

Housing Innovation

at FIS and coaches the

University in Dallas.

of Appeals.

opposite, left to right: (Left to right) Current MUHS parent Joel Baisden, Dave Frederick ’81, Bobby Neimon ’81 and Tom Horky ‘81 pose with a Hilltopper next to the 18th green at the golf course Old Head near Kinsale, Ireland.

Tom Parks ’94 receiving the 2013 Difference Maker Award from Make a Difference Wisconsin.

(Left to right) Class of 1984 alums Dave Schnittka, Joe Witzel and Brian Tobin on the Appalachian Trail in the Smokey Mountains.

Professional rower Stephen Whelpley ’01

mental sciences from UW–Madison in 2009.

this page, left to right: Nicole and Nate ’00 Grede being honored at the Wisconsin football game in September.

www.MUHS.edu 41

ALUMNI UPDATE CLASS NOTES

JJ Foley ’05 is a corp-

for Measure.” He lives

Westmont, Ill. He earned

orate audit manager

in Chicago and recently

bachelor’s degrees in

for GE’s Corporate Audit

married Erin Quist.

economics and commerce

Staff and works in Atlanta.

and foreign affairs from Luis Arias ’08 is a

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Hampden–Sydney College.

Please email your news and photos to

professional boxer with

felser@muhs.edu. We’ll publish the

John Kaminski ’05 is a

Mayweather Promotions

Brian Archibald ’10

information we receive in the next edition

machinist at Superior

in Las Vegas and is cur-

attends the University of

of this publication.

Crane Corp. He and his

rently undefeated.

Delaware. He was an en-

wife, Megen, live in

vironmental engineer at Valerian Peteson ’08

Freeport McMoRan Cop-

is a student at Creighton

per & Gold, Inc. in Silver

Michael Kozicz ’05 is

University School of

City, N.M., last summer.

an attorney with Snyder

Medicine. He graduated

& Ek Law Offices in

cum laude from Creighton

Oconomowoc, Wis.

Greenfield, Wis.

Tyler Roth ’05 is working

a research internship

a nonprofit that supports

with the Woodrow

international education

Julian Schuenke ’10

Wilson International

and leadership develop-

University in May 2012

attends Marquette Uni-

Center for Scholars

ment programs for

with a bachelor’s degree

versity and was admitted

in Washington, D.C.

emerging youth leaders

in biology.

into MU’s Physician

for the U.S. Senate

Assistant program.

in Uganda.

Will Conley ’11 attends UW–Madison and is

Patrick Hodan ’12 attends

Alexander Beck ’11

head coach for James

University of Notre Dame

attends UW–Madison,

Madison Memorial’s

and was named the

S.C. in Menomonee Falls,

interns as a research

varsity lacrosse team.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Wis. He earned both

assistant for the Scottish

Committee on Commerce,

Tony Revolinski ’08 is

Science and Technology

an auditor with Sattell

and is in his second

Johnson, Appell & Co.,

year at Georgetown Law School’s night program.

(ACC) Men’s Soccer

his bachelor’s degree in

Parliament in Edinburgh,

Eric Obscherning ’11

Eric Vigo ’07 is a lighting

accounting and his MBA

Scotland, and is a

attends UW–Madison

performance as midfielder

designer and technician at

from Creighton University.

contributing author at

and is an intern at the

in the Notre Dame men’s

Player of the Week for his

thekopend.com, a

Aspen Institute in Wash-

soccer game against

recently working as a

David Wozniak ’09 is

Liverpool Football Club

ington, D.C., in the Global

Syracuse. He was also

deck crew member for

president of R&M Brands,

website. He has had

Health & Development

named a 2013 Capital One

the Goodman Theatre’s

Inc., a beer, wine and

three academic articles

program. He is also

Academic All-American,

production of “Measure

liquor distributor in

published and completed

co-founder of Tawi, Inc.,

(continued on page 43

various Chicago theaters,

left to right: More than 40 alumni and friends joined Rev. Frank Majka, SJ and Rev. Mike Marco, SJ for the MUHS San Francisco Area Gathering in November.

Charlie Berens ’05

42 MUHS Magazine

left to right: Alumni parent Ann Pierson with son, Patrick ’12, who plays football for Lawrence University MUHS faculty member and coach Terry Kelly with Wyatt Veseth ’12, who plays football for St. Norbert College.

(Left to right) Alumni parent Karen Blommer, Mike Blommer ’09 and Will Blommer ’13 traveling in Italy.

one of 33 players across the country to receive

ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS

the award.

Troy Holland ’12 attends

The Alumni Office is looking for nominations for the next

Georgetown University.

Athletic Hall of Fame awards dinner, scheduled for early 2015.

He was named to the USA

Please view criteria and nominate a worthy Hilltopper at

Ultimate College Award

www.muhs.edu/alumni

Winner All-Freshman team for his skill, athleticism, integrity and leadership during his Ultimate Frisbee season.

Mark Kosobucki ’12

MUHS ALUMNI DIRECTORY COMING SOON

attends and plays soccer

MUHS has partnered with Harris Connect to produce the 2014 MUHS

for UW–Madison

Alumni Directory, a hardcover book including biographical and

after spending a year

professional information about fellow Hilltoppers. Harris Connect will

at Northern Illinois.

begin contacting MUHS alumni by email, mail or phone to collect and verify information. Please be a part of this special publication.

Joe Llaurado ’12

It’s a great way to stay connected with the MUHS alumni community.

has committed to play hockey at the United State Military Academy at West Point following his United States Hockey

tennis team Wisconsin

League career with the

Cheeseheads and, in Aug-

Dubuque Fighting Saints.

ust, won their first World Team Tennis Junior Nat-

Matt Lynch ’13 and

tionals Championship, an

Damon Niquet ’13 are

event hosted by Billie Jean

members of the youth

King in San Diego, Calif.

www.MUHS.edu 43

MILESTONES

Weddings Tim Steinle ’73 and Sheri Hetrick October 5, 2013 Matt Chaney ’91 and Libby Horta October 13, 2013 Patrick Meloy ’99 and Heather Tilis

2

1

August 18, 2012 Nate Grede ’00 and Nicole Knothe September 20, 2013 Tim Russell ’03

5

and Katie McGuire September 21, 2013 Vikram Gopal ’03 and Vrithi Pushkar March 25, 2012 John Kaminski ’05 and Megen Quinlan

3

4

6

October 14, 2012 Greg Papachristou ’05 and Diana Sarandos July 6, 2013 Derek Grady ’06 and Kristin Violante June 22, 2013 7

87

Eric Vigo ’07 and Erin Quist September 28, 2013 Mike Walczak ’07 and Katie Schumacher May 4, 2013

44 MUHS Magazine

1. MUHS alumni at Tim Steinle’s ’73 wedding (left to right): Jamie O’Donoughue ‘80, Tom Kelly ‘06, Dan Steinle ‘05, A.J. Brahm ’06, Mont Martin ‘74, John Shiely ‘70, Mike Steinle ‘77, Jim Smith ’73, Rev. Doug Leonhardt, SJ ‘56, Joe King ‘73, Jeff Hughes ‘77, Tim Steinle ‘73, Rev. Jim Flaherty, SJ ’74, Jake Steinle ‘04, Jacob Malewicki ‘08, Joe Steinle ‘09, Mike Ganzer ‘74, Phil Miller ‘80 2. (Left to right) Michael Meloy ‘65, Christopher Meloy, Daniel Meloy ‘07, Jack Fleming ‘68, William Keeler ‘99, Joseph Meloy ‘68, Benjamin Grunst ‘99, Patrick Meloy ‘99, Heather Tilis Meloy, Nicholas Mueller ‘99, Christopher Mueller ‘99, William Hand ‘99.

Not pictured John Ahlhauser ‘41. 3. Libby Horta and Matt Chaney ’91 4. Erin Quist and Eric Vigo ’07 5. Katie Schumacher and Mike Walczak ’07

6. Marquette High grads gather at the U.S. Naval Academy wedding of Ensign Derek Grady and Katarina Violante. (Left to right) Dan Saragnese ‘06, Andy Martin ‘06, Violante, Grady, Mont Martin ‘74 and Christopher Grady ‘07. 7. MUHS alumni at Greg Papachristou’s ’05 wedding (left to right): John Rice ’71, Leonard Hanson ’00, Patrick Gmach ’07, Jeffrey Mazurczak ’82, Nicholas Vukmir ’10 (cardboard), Robert Mueller ’05, Greg Papachristou ’05, Andy Rice ’05, Andrew Papachristou ’08, Patrick Carroll ’05, Peter Bukowski ’05, Paul Conradson ’95, Joe Luedke ’05, Brian Carroll ’76, Terry Kelly, Brian Belardi ’88, Mike Kozicz ’05, Dave Roloff ’95, Jake Josetti ’95, Keith Klestinski 8. Nicole Knothe and Nate Grede ‘00

Births Anna and Thomas

Alissa Light and

Fessler ’76

Christian Haberstroh ’99

Thomas John August

Perrin Willow Haberstroh

Fessler

October 28, 2013

September 25, 2013 Michelle and Mark Aysegul and Elliott

Minessale ’99

Smith ’91

Henry James Minessale

Arya Naz Smith

May 8, 2013

1

July 5, 2013 Anne and Marcus Heather and Beau

Mescher ’00

Keckeisen ’93

Benjamin Francis Mescher

John Caleb Keckeisen

April 1, 2013

4

2

3

February 4, 2013 Maria and Matt Amy and John

Feeney ’01

Sloane ’93

Hannah Jane Feeney

Grace Ella Sloane

May 27, 2013 5

November 29, 2013

6

7

8

Katie and Elliot Courtney Martin

Wolters ’02

and John Cary ‘95

Peter Rutherford Wolters

Maya Elizabeth Martin Cary

October 4, 2013

November 13, 2013 Gabrielle and Brian Gail and Robert

Blake ’02

Zwaska ’95

William Patrick Blake

Abigail Aileen Zwaska

October 14, 2013

9

10

11

13

14

September 17, 2013 Katie and Matthew Melissa and Joseph

Hoffmann ’02

Cavanaugh ’95

Annabelle Rose Hoffman

Finnegan Henry Cavanaugh

June 25, 2013

November 9, 2013 12

Jen and Dave Archibald ‘99 Teresa Mary Archibald October 28, 2013 Britt and David Frank ’99

1. Grace Sloane 2. Henry Minessale 3. Elliott Wolters ’02 holding his newborn son, Peter 4. Finnegan Cavanaugh 5. Addison Frank 6.Teresa Mary Archibald 7. Annabelle Hoffmann 8. Hannah Feeney 9. Patrick Blake 10. Benjamin Mescher 11. Courtney Martin holding Maya Martin Cary 12. Arya Smith 13. Thomas Fessler 14. Abigail Zwaska with her big brother Patrick

Addison June Frank September 22, 2013

www.MUHS.edu 45

ALUMNI UPDATE

May they rest in peace

We extend our sincerest sympathy to the families of the alumni listed here and to any alumni who have lost a loved one.

Richard J. Fridl ’44 August 5, 2013

John H. Nordloh ’50 Michael J. Ash ’58 November 2, 2013 August 24, 2013

Rev. Richard F. Sherburne, SJ ’44 September 28, 2013

John D. McInnes ’52 Joseph F. Cairnes ’59 November 21, 2013 September 4, 2013

Eugene J. Fons ’39 June 21, 2013

Joseph D. Starck ’45 November 26, 2013

F. E. Treis ’39 July 8, 2013

James G. Babler ’46 September 19, 2013

Kyran P. Conarchy ’40 October 22, 2013 John T. McCabe ’40 August 21, 2013 William J. Shaughnessy ’41 September 23, 2013

John M. Grogan, Sr. ’46 July 12, 2013 Rev. William F. O’Leary, SJ ’46 July 1, 2013

Nick S. Raich ’52 John R. Gerlach ’59 August 12, 2013 June 27, 2013 A. David Cook ’53 Michael O. Lauerman ’59 November 23, 2013 October 21, 2013 Richard E. Foley ’51 James F. Gregorski ’60 December 28, 2013 September 20, 2013 Lawrence J. Frederick ’53 February 23, 2013

Terry L. Baker ’62 November 11, 2013

John E. Bouchard ’54 Patrick S. Cotter ’65 November 19, 2013 August 25, 2013

Raymond M. Stobba ’46 July 31, 2013

Joel E. Jobst ’54 July 5, 2013

Ray J. Bilicki ’48 July 9, 2013

R. Neil Puariea ’54 Michael J. Zimmer ’71 December 11, 2013 August 4, 2013

Thomas R. Milliette ’48 July 17, 2012

Dennis J. McGuire ’55 Gary F. Rosenberger ’74 August 11, 2013 October 7, 2013

Joseph R. Weisenburger, Sr. ’42 December 16, 2013

William H. Tierney ’48 March 14, 2013

Rickard T. O’Neil ’55 Kieran J. Walsh ’83 January 3, 2014 July 25, 2013

Nicholas J. Kapsos, Jr. ’43 September 6, 2013

Joseph A. Zauner ’48 August 20, 2008

Terrance N. Touchett ’55 December 15, 2013

John W. Quick ’43 October 10, 2013

Peter A. Kot ’49 August 27, 2013

Charles A. Carsky ’56 Thomas G. Dellemann ’87 December 6, 2013 January 6, 2014

George M. Cohan ’44 December 8, 2013

Patrick J. Murphy ’50 November 6, 2013

John P. De Werth ’57 Theodore J. Tolentino ’87 May 9, 2013 September 17, 2013

John L. Dumbleton ’42 October 19, 2013 Rev. John E. Naus, SJ ’42 September 22, 2013

46 MUHS Magazine

Michael J. Gensler ’68 September 5, 2013

John D. Steinhafel ’83 September 13, 2013

Christopher J. Hoffmann ’09 July 1, 2013 Richard L. de la Cruz ’11 August 21, 2013

The History of JUG Richard Imp ’15

There are some things that have become ingrained in the culture of MUHS like Follies, pen spinning and the JUG. JUG, which stands for “Justice Under God,” is the Jesuit equivalent of detention. Since 1962, JUG has been served in nearly 10 rooms throughout the school, including rooms 118, 207 and 217 before finally settling in room 110 in 2000.

JUG has been enforced at Marquette High for more than 80 years.

The first mention of JUG in the Marquette High archives comes in the October issue of the 1928 Marquette Torch, precursor to the Flambeau. The brief reference reveals quite a bit. The staff member in charge of JUG went by the name of Mr. Foley. It also mentions that for every minute a student was late, he would have to memorize two lines of poetry.

JUG appears again in the 1962–63 student handbook, which provided a complete description of the punishment. The JUG would begin no later than five minutes after dismissal. Unlike today, students were not allowed to do homework during this time; instead, they had to memorize two pages of poetry or literature, such as Shakespeare. Students had 45 minutes from the time they arrived to memorize the poetry. Being late only increased the punishment, adding extra lines to memorize in the 45 minutes.

The concept of Saturday JUG was created in the late 1960s. A student received this high “honor” if he skipped a JUG or received 25 demerits in a trimester (students were given new cards on Sept. 1, Dec. 1 and March 1). Saturday JUGS began at 8 a.m. sharp and lasted until noon. It wasn’t until the 1992-93 school year when students began to pay for their ticket to Saturday JUG. That year, students had to pay $5. The fee eventually increased to $10 at the start of the 2006–07 school year.

2013 Alumni Award Winners At the All Alumni Gathering even in July, Marquette High School honored distinguished alumni Glynn Rossa ’55, David G. Hatch ’68, Mark E. Mitchell ’83, Robert M. Leonhardt ’58 and David J. Sinense, Sr. ’86. For full biographies of the alumni award winners, please visit www.muhs.edu/alumni.

Save the date for the 2014 Alumni Award Reception scheduled for Friday, July 18, at Marquette University High School.

1

2

3

4 1. Alumnus of the Year: Glynn Rossa ’55 2. Alumni Merit Award: David G. Hatch ’68 3. Alumni Merit Award: Mark E. Mitchell ’83 4. Alumni Service Award: David J. Sinense, Sr. ’86 5. Alumni Service Award: Robert M. Leonhardt ’58

Marquette High is not the only high school to issue JUGs; the JUG can be found at other Jesuit schools, including at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Ill., and St. Xavier in Cincinnati. JUG is not just an important part of Marquette’s culture; it’s a practice that is quintessentially Jesuit. If you ever run into a person from another Jesuit school, ask them about JUG. It’s sure to be a conversation starter.

5

www.MUHS.edu 47

THEN AND NOW

From Rocks to Turf Ryan O’Connell ’14

After the opening of Marquette High at the existing site on 35th Street and Wisconsin Avenue in 1925, students and coaches alike turned east rather than west whenever they headed out to exercise, practice or just play around. Rough-hewn and unsophisticated, the dirt patch was referred to as “The Rock Pile.”

Until 1960, The Rock Pile was the practice field for a variety of sports like football, baseball and even fencing. But as the school grew and expanded, the piece of ground became the perfect spot for an addition. In 1960, Marquette High began the construction of the present-day gymnasium and cafeteria.

With The Rock Pile gone, students had to find alternate places to practice the sports they cherished. Students were either bussed or walked to city-owned practice areas including Merrill Park, Wick Field at 50th and Vliet streets, and the field at Concordia College.

In December of 1986, Marquette High acquired the land immediately west of the school, the site of the former Humphrey Chevrolet Dealership. Just weeks after claiming ownership, the school began plans for demolition of the building on the lot. Demolition began during the winter of 1987 and by the beginning of the following school year, the first student-athletes were stepping out onto the brand new Humphrey Athletic Field.

Last summer, the school replaced the old natural grass with artificial turf to create a year-round practice field to accommodate the high percentage of the student body that participates in sports or on an intramural team. Now newly remodeled, the MUHS athletic practice field is yet another example of how Marquette High is an ever-evolving and growing community.

top: Rev. Richard Jones, SJ, then MUHS president in 1961, is cheered on by MUHS alumni, parents, employees and students as he sinks a shovel into The Rock Pile at the groundbreaking ceremony for the gym and cafeteria addition. middle: Humphrey Chevrolet on the corner of 35th Street and Wisconsin Avenue was razed to make way for the Humphrey Athletic Field. bottom: A parachutist christens the new Humphrey Athletic Field and opens the Family Reunion event held in September 1988. opposite: Students play kickball during lunch-time intramurals on the newly turfed athletic field located west of MUHS and east of 35th Street. Photo by VIP Photography

48 MUHS Magazine

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A NEW HILLTOPPER IN THE FAMILY?

Let us know about your newest family member and we will send you a complimentary Hilltopper onesie.

Please send birth announcements and other alumni updates to felser@muhs.edu.

Hilltopper onesies available for purchase at www.hilltoppershop.com.