Class Notes

Alma Matters

During the Pope Francis Preparatory School community’s celebration of Catholic Schools Week, alumni were encouraged to send in updates on happenings and accomplishments in their lives and those of fellow alum. The response was great and each morning during Catholic Schools Week prayer, a shout out on an alumnus was shared with the school community. A huge display wall was created with written narratives and pictures of these individuals. The Pope Francis Prep Community learned a great deal about the alumni from all generations and legacy schools. This was a wonderful tribute to Catholic education and ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things! Thank you for the contributions.

Pope Francis High School, Brian Campbell ’18 is a Freshman Finance Major in the Liberal Arts Honors Program at Providence College in Rhode Island. Most recently over winter break, Brian had the opportunity to shadow various Providence College alumni at Liberty Mutual in Boston, learning about the day to day obligations of various financial analysts in the company and their respective career paths. Brian shared that he cannot thank the Pope Francis High community enough for the ways in which they have prepared him for life in college.

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St. Jerome/ Holyoke Catholic High School, Daniel “Rudy” Lengieza ’59 Daniel “Rudy” Lengieza, is a 1959 St. Jerome/Holyoke Catholic High School graduate. Lengieza returned to his high school after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps to begin a coaching career in 1964; this would be a coaching career that lasted for over 50 years! Coach Rudy started the school’s girl’s cross-country program in 1979, coached Holyoke Catholic and Pope Francis High Schools’ boys’ and girls’ cross country and track and field teams. In addition to coaching multiple Western Massachusetts State and New England championship teams and individuals, Coach Lengieza has served as a positive influence in the lives of his former athletes. Coach Rudy was honored with a plaque dedication at Whiting Street Reservoir, June 30, 2018. The plaque dedication took place at the reservoir off Easthampton Road, the home cross-country course for Holyoke Catholic High School. Coach Rudy was inducted into the Holyoke Catholic Alumni Hall of Fame, June 2011. Holyoke Catholic High School, Thomas J. (T.J.) Jagodowski ’88 To many he is probably best known as the red headed half of the “two guys” in the Sonic Drive-In commercials. But those from Holyoke and Holyoke Catholic High School know him well as Thomas J. (T.J.) Jagodowski, class of 1988. Upon graduation from Holyoke Catholic High School, Jagodowski attended and graduated from Syracuse University. Today, T.J. Jagodowski is an improvisational comedian who now resides in Chicago. This March, Jagodowski will return to Holyoke as the 2019 recipient of the 62 nd annual John F. Kennedy National Award, given by the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade Committee, an honor bestowed upon an American of Irish descent who distinguished themselves in their field. Honored and humbled by the award, T.J. Jagodowski understands and remembers full well the pride of the parade and his own preparations as a child growing up on the parade route. He remembers waking up early to get chairs set up so that three generations of his family could bundle up and watch the parade pass by on Northampton Street.

Holyoke Catholic High School, Jennifer Sattler Murphy ’89

Detective, Criminal Investigation Bureau, Holyoke Police Department The First-Person Project Recipient –

courtesy of Keene State College Today,

A Magazine for Alumni and Friends

Jennifer Sattler Murphy, a 1989 graduate of Holyoke Catholic High School and a 1994 graduate of Keene State College, was one of 25 Keene State graduates, who were highlighted, in varying stages of their careers – from the class of ’69 to the class of ’11 – to tell the stories of their career paths in their own words and to show where a Keene State education can take its alumni.

“At Holyoke Catholic High School, I played soccer, skied, and ran track. When it came time to go to college, I wanted to play soccer and I landed at Keene State. I majored in business management, and also earned an associate degree in chemical dependency. But the more time went on, I realized that I needed a little bit of direction. My father signed up my brothers for a civil service test for Massachusetts police officers, I said, “Well, why didn’t you sign me up?” He said, “It’s not something for you.” I remember saying, “You said I could be anything I wanted to be.” I went with my brothers that day, and I scored high enough. The Holyoke Police called and offered me a position as a reserve officer while I was still in college – which meant I would make myself available for full-time work as an officer. Initially I was on patrol in uniform, about three years later, I got transferred to the detective bureau. That’s when I started the kind of work I do now, and I still love it. I’ve seen different bosses; different partners have come and gone. But really, it’s about personal satisfaction. I like to help people, I do.”

Jennifer has received many awards for her dedicated work, including One with Courage Award from the Massachusetts Children’s Alliance, the 2014 Excellence in Performance Award from the Massachusetts Association of Women in Law Enforcement and the Excellence in Performance Award from the International Association of Women Police in Cardiff, Wales.

Holyoke Catholic High School, Victoria Stuetzel ’13 and Cameron Stuetzel ’16 Victoria Stuetzel and her brother Cameron, graduates of Holyoke Catholic, understand and live what it means to serve. After graduating from Holyoke Catholic in 2013, Victoria attended college at UMASS Amherst where she received a dual degree in Environmental Science and Natural Resource Conservation. While a student at UMASS, Victoria was a member of the UMASS Marching Band for 4 years and traveled with the band to Pasadena, CA, to participate in the Rose Parade in January 2018. Victoria enlisted in the United States Coast Guard, and recently past her one-year mark of service. She is currently serving as crew member and engineer at a small boat station on Boston Harbor. She and the crew conduct search and rescues and enforce maritime law.

After graduating from HCHS in 2016, Cameron took a year off. This past December he enlisted in the United States Air Force and has recently completed his basic training. He will further his training in Security Forces and hopes to be stationed in the northeast.

Cathedral High School, Kathleen Keating ’ 48 President Emerita Kathleen Keating, SSJ, will receive the Christian Charity Award from the Ancient Order of Hibernians James A. Curran Division One and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians of Hampden/ Hampshire Counties.

Sr. Kathleen Keating is being honored for “truly improving the lives of the people” in the counties of Hampden and Hampshire.

Keating, former president of her community of women religious, will receive the award as part of the Hibernians’ Annual Communion Breakfast March 10.

She has said that the “thread” uniting what she has done is that “fundamentally” she is a teacher, and that she has devoted her life as a Sister of St. Joseph to being faithful to “discover what God wants of me.”

Cathedral High School, Sr. Maureen Kervick ’57 Congratulations to Sr. Maureen Kervick, honored at a dinner in Manderville, Jamaica, where she has lived and worked since 2010. She was recognized for her outstanding contributions to the Passionist Community in Jamaica and especially for what she has accomplished institutionally over the course of the last two years, guiding a process that involved major transitions.

Cathedral High School, Kathy Picard ’81 Kathy Picard, Cathedral High School graduate of the class of 1981, is an inspiring award-winning advocate whose work centers on increasing awareness of the harsh realities of sexual child abuse.

As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, Kathy learned that there was little information on the subject and found few resources to turn to in order to seek answers regarding what had happened to her. Over years, Kathy has educated herself on the topic and seeks opportunities to speak about the importance of awareness, to share resources, to educate people who want to know more and to offer information and encouragement to fellow survivors and their family and friends.

Kathy has worked for over 15 years as an advocate, which includes her persistent and determined work to get both criminal and civil Statute of Limitations for sexual abuse eliminated. Kathy Picard has been recognized for her efforts and has received many awards, honors, and citations. Kathy has also gathered an extensive list of resources and has earned certificates to teach, train, and present a variety of programs on this important topic.

Kathy has organized and hosted many child safety events and has spoken at many area colleges and universities. She regularly speaks to future police officers at the academy and has spoken in both men and women’s correctional facilities.

Kathy and her husband Gary have recently published her book, Life with my Idiot Family: A True Story of Courage, Survival and Justice over Childhood Sexual Abuse. Cathedral High School, Brigid Moran Roffe ’92 Brigid Moran Roffe, Cathedral High Class of 1992, has recently been appointed to Director of Admissions for Western Massachusetts Hospital. Western Massachusetts Hospital is a 100-bed long term medical and specialty care hospital owned and operated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Public Health. The Western Massachusetts Hospital is the only public hospital operating in the western region of Massachusetts with a mission to serve as a medical safety net for many uninsured and under-insured citizens residing in the region. Western Massachusetts Hospital provides both acute and chronic hospital care to patients with a variety of chronic diseases and complicated medical conditions, such as: cardiac and pulmonary disease, chronic neurological disorders, complications of strokes, dementia with major behavioral issues, and end stage terminal illnesses of various diagnoses. Prior to her new appointment, Brigid was Coordinator of Volunteer Services for the hospital.

Cathedral High School, Matt Weber ’02

Matt Weber is an Emmy winning writer, content strategist, multimedia producer, national speaker and digital journalist; podcast host, photographer, blogger, and digital/social marketing consultant for education organizations. Matt focuses on the intersection of compelling content generation and understanding data— without ignoring the humanity of digital audience consumption.

Matt was also a Preceptor on Education, shepherding the HGSE VOICE program and “Communication Fellows.” Additionally, Matt co-created and taught a January term seminar, (STS-15) at the Harvard Ed. School called, “Developing Your Media Presence.” Currently, Matt is with President Jim Ryan supporting him in the President’s Office at the University of Virginia. Matt is the author of the Christopher Award winning book ‘Operating on Faith.’ (Loyola Press 2016) and “Fearing the Stigmata” (Loyola Press 2012). Matt and his wife Tiffiny are proud parents of a daughter, Rose.

Cathedral High School, Timothy Lawler ’04

Cathedral High School Class of 2004 graduate, Tim Lawlor, graduated top of his class, and was known as a serious student, however, he did find time to involve himself in many of the drama productions while a student at Cathedral. Upon graduation from CHS, Tim received a full scholarship to Boston College. Tim went on to earn a finance degree a while at BC, and he made sure to balance academics with his passion for entertainment, becoming a leader of the improv troupe, Fleabag.

Tim then embarked on his fast-growing career at Goldman Sachs, was recognized by Bloomberg for his work at Uber and has recently newly accepted a position working with Opendoor-a transformative real-estate start up in the SFO Bay Area. Outside of work Tim devotes much of his

free time helping animals. Tim is a regular dog foster parent and recently spent his weekends delivering feed to animals impacted by the CA wildfires. He’s proud of his roots as a Cathedral alumni and hopes to inspire many students to achieve their very best.

Cathedral High School, Kristen Walsh ’04 Kristen Walsh was one of four members of the DUC Delites selected to paddle with Team USA at the Dragon Boat World Championship in September 2018! The race took place Sept 12-16th on Lake Lanier in Gainesville GA.

What is Dragon Boat Racing? The sport of dragon boat racing dates back more than 2,000 years. With ancient Chinese origins, the first participants were Chinese villagers who held races in the belief it would show worship to the dragon, a traditional symbol of water. Today, the sport is fast and exciting with crews of either 10 or 20 paddling to the beat of a drum over a set distance.

Congratulations to the DUC Delite’s paddling with TEAM USA! The women’s team brought home the GOLD from the World Championships! They also received a few bronze medals too to go along with the gold! Kristin Walsh has been paddling with Delites since discovering the sport in 2013. As a former collegiate cross-country and track runner, she understands about competing at a high level. This was the first year she tried out for the national team and was excited to represent the United States at the international level. Kristin enjoys being involved in the community. Not only is she a paddler on the dragon boat team, but she serves as a member of the Dallas United Crew Board as well.

Cathedral High School, Margaret (Meg) Hunter King ’04 Meg Hunter married Samuel King in a private ceremony on the Cook Islands, November 2018. The couple then hosted a reception for guests in Australia to celebrate the wedding. Sam King is originally from Australia and still has family there. Joining the festivities in Australia were Meg’s sister Joan, (’07) and Cathedral classmate Katelynn Shea, (’04). The guests traveled a week in Australia visiting the Queensland area and Sydney. On Saturday, February 23, 2019, Meg and Sam greet guests at Union Station in Northampton, MA, for another wedding reception. In attendance for that reception from the Cathedral High Class of 2004 were Jackie (Viviano) Chanin, Meg Hunter King, Joanne Kabaniuk, Katelynn Shea, Raemarie (Josefiak) Walker and Neil Walker. Meg and Sam reside in Watertown, MA. Meg is employed as a Physician’s Assistant.