marin catholic
Our Mission Marin Catholic is a Roman Catholic college preparatory school serving young men and women. Consistent with our Gospel values, we are committed to the education of the whole person. As a community that values faith, knowledge and service, we provide our students with a spiritual, academic, and extra-curricular environment. We expect our students, through their experiences in the classroom and as active members of the school community, to develop the attributes of an educated person: responsibility, both personal and social; critical thinking ability; and appreciation for the complexity of the world around us. In partnership with parents, we hope to instill in our students the confidence that will empower them, as informed and compassionate individuals, to effect change in our world. We are committed to learning as a lifelong process.
Board of Regents 2016-2017 Kevin Sharps, Chair Carolyn Biasotti, First Vice Chair Shannon Alten Robert S. Basso Michael Bentivoglio Eric Bentley Jack Boland ‘74
Gregory A. Bullian ‘76 Fred Craves, PhD * David Friend Duane M. Geck * Ross Guehring ‘98 Chris Hill Marcia R. Jervis ‘61
James Jordan Knopf ‘93 Hugo Kostelni George W. Pasha, IV ‘80 Irene Scully ‘62 * Laura Suski Don Tarantino
Production Notes
Writers/Editors Vanessa Alexander Roxanne Civarello ‘06 Genevieve Finn ‘17 Megan Gardner Tom Lippi ‘69 Tim Navone Linda Siler
Photo Contributors Jennifer Skinner Jim Gillespie Barbara Ries
This magazine is a gift to the Alumni, Current Families, Faculty, Staff and Friends of Marin Catholic.
MC Staff Tim Navone, President Chris Valdez, Principal Roxanne Civarello ’06, Director of Communications Vanessa Alexander Director of Advancement
Printing Bill Hurley ’77, H & H Printing Design Gilbert & Associates
*Emeritus
Contact Us: Marin Catholic 675 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Kentfield, CA 94904 Email: alumni@marincatholic.org Phone: 415-464-3800 School Website: www.marincatholic.org
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Marin Catholic —
1 MC: Helping You to Become Your Best Letter from Tim Navone and Chris Valdez
3 Distinguished 5 Degrees of Success 7 Big Data Benefits 9 Life 11 Music Man 13 Academic 1st 15 Talent and Choices
Monica Oliva-Jimenez ‘02
Jason LaRue ‘17
Mary Taverna ‘59
Ryan Chisholm ‘04
Daisy Gonzalez ‘16
Doyle McManus ‘70
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tents
— Fall 2016
Re c e nt – F uture Alum n i o f M a r i n C a t h o l i c
17 Port of Call 19 Filling in the Gaps 21 It’s the Laugh! 23 Family. Law. 25 Motivated to Make a Difference 27 How do we do it? 29 GPS 31 Living Liturgy 33 “Home” 35 High Note 37 The SpaceX Spark 39 Coming Up For Air 41 Man of Aloha Monique Moyer ‘82
Peter Jankowski ‘16
Sister Anna Marie Vanni, OCD ‘69 Amber Wipfler ‘97
Nick Gernhard ‘16 Maria King ‘81
James Spilker ‘51 Laura Bertone ‘85 Weston Kirby ‘16
Elena Sandell ‘16
Nick Molinski ‘12
Sara Soulier ‘05
43 My Reason to Write 45 The Common Touch 47 Keeping it Real 49 Wearable Hope 51 The Physician and the Poet 53 Attitude-Experience 55 State of Mind 57 Conviction Calling 59 From Skis to Scalpel 61 Room to Breathe 63 Dancing in the Dominican 65 Mentored to Success Katherine Arnaud ‘16
Father Paul Rossi ‘66 Steve VanDis ‘98 Kiana Petty ‘18
Fred ‘55 and Robert ‘58 Hass Robby Marshall ‘02
Gabby Doerschlag ‘16
Father Cameron Faller ‘06 Arman Serebrakian ‘05 Gary Giacomini ‘58 Pearl Lynch ‘16
Nicholas Kwok ‘12
Nick Rolovich ‘00
FORMING BETTER PEOPLE THROUGH COMMUNITY • MC FALL 2016
MC: Helping you to become your best
Good stories are the bedrock of any strong community and we have many inspiring stories to share with you about our students and alumni at Marin Catholic. The stories in this magazine showcase the success of alumni and students over 60 years. While their accomplishments are special, we believe the true gift is in the essence of each person; how they carry themselves, how they care for and contribute to their community, and how they continue to live out the virtues learned here. At MC we create the conditions where every student can achieve their absolute potential. We believe quality formation of the spiritual, intellectual, and physical sides of a teenager during these critical years results in developing the best person each can be. We hope you enjoy sharing in our community in this way and we invite you to share your stories too. Tim Navone, President 1—MARIN Catholic • FALL 2016
Chris Valdez, Principal
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Distinguished – Recent – Future Alumni of Marin Catholic
Fred Hass ‘55
The First Generation. They have set the bar. Ryan Chisholm ‘04
The Next Generation. They carry the tradition.
The Future. Young minds ready to lead.
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Pearl Lynch ‘16
Elena Sandell ‘16
Nicholas Kwok ‘12
Sister Anna Marie Vanni, OCD ‘66
Father Cameron Faller ‘06
Peter Jankowski ‘16
Sara Soulier ‘05
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Degrees SERVICE
of
Monica Oliva-Jimenez ’02 serves on the board of directors for the foundation 10,000 Degrees, promoting educational equity. She is currently a University Recruiter at Autodesk. My strong commitment to service is driven by immense gratitude for the various opportunities I’ve had and the people who’ve helped me along the way. This journey began during my academic career at Marin Catholic where community service was one of the central tenets of our educational experience. My community service choice was tutoring elementary school students in under-served communities through the Making Waves program. This was my first experience giving back to an organization from which I’d received help and I was hooked by how rewarding it felt.
Success
I then went on to graduate from Saint Mary’s College after which I joined 10,000 Degrees – a nonprofit organization seeking to achieve educational equity. As a first-generation college student, I was fortunate to have Marin Catholic’s college preparatory curriculum and resources as well as 10,000 Degrees’ guidance and financial support. Unfortunately, not all high school students are as fortunate as many do not have the course requirements needed to be eligible for a 4-year university. I know my life would have been drastically different had I not attended college; thus, I strongly believe that college preparatory curriculums and organizations like 10,000 Degrees are imperative to our community. This is why I continue to advocate for educational equity by serving on the board of directors for 10,000 Degrees. My overall personal experience, as well as working with first-generation students, ingrained my passion for access to higher education and career development. As such, I have worked in admissions at UC Berkeley and career development at Yale University. Today, I am a University Recruiter at Autodesk and enjoy guiding students through the internship recruiting process.
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Bi g Data Benefits Jason LaRue ’17 hospital efficiency.
spent his summer helping the Veterans’ Administration of Palo Alto utilize machine learning to maximize
Machine learning allows you to train a computer how to “think.” How cool is that? Imagine giving a computer a bunch of questions and telling it the correct answers. By using very complex math, the computer begins to recognize patterns between the questions and the answers you give it. Once you have trained it enough, the computer will begin to give you the answer to the question you’re asking it. The general concept is very simple, but it has enormous applications. Google was able to develop self-driving cars using machine learning. I was very excited this past summer when the Veterans’ Administration in Palo Alto approached me to ask if I would be interested in helping them implement machine learning at the hospital. The VA was interested in the potential that machine learning holds, but was intimidated by the complex nature of it. To prepare, I taught myself technologies such as Apache HDFS, Pig, and Hive in order to familiarize myself with the Big Data paradigm that the VA operated under. I also used the scikit-learn Python module and trained an algorithm using public CDC data. Once finished, I began working with the VA to explore potential applications of the algorithm. To date, my favorite use is identifying causes of infections that originate within hospitals nationwide and applying that knowledge to benefit the patient. This project was exciting to work on and it’s cool to know that I am helping implement real change within the VA. Through this internship I’ve gained valuable skills that will definitely benefit me later on in my career. I’m grateful to have had this opportunity and I look forward to doing more work in this field in the future.
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SERVICE
LIFE
Making the journey with love. Mary Taverna ‘59 is the founder of Hospice of Marin (now Hospice by the Bay), the second hospice service developed in the United States. In 1995, the National Hospice Organization named her the “individual who has done the most for hospice on the national and international level.” My education at Marin Catholic is among the most meaningful life experiences that I value. It was there that I learned how to serve and be sensitive to the needs of others. Role models, students and teachers gave me pieces of great wisdom about giving, respecting and serving. During my late teens, my passion for end of life care and care of the sick began, and then fully blossomed when I entered nursing school. My first job, as a nurse, was in a Catholic hospital in Santa Rosa. During the early days of my nursing career, I found myself drawn to those facing end of life. Those individuals with fear in their eyes, pain in their bodies and indescribable emotional distress. Whatever passion I had before I started working at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, grew tenfold while I was there. At that time, the terminally ill were receiving good care, but not care that was responsive to the unique needs of the dying and their family members. It was not uncommon to see inadequate pain medication being administered and isolation and loneliness occurring, because others did not know what to say or do. There were many nuns staffing the
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floors and supervising the care patients received. My passion matched their values and I began to visualize a more humane experience. In the mid-1970’s, there were many challenges along the way in creating an organization for hospice. Initially, physicians resisted this type of care because they could not grasp the concept, embrace the values, or believe that hospice offered anything more than what their patients were already receiving. It took perseverance and dedication, but over time, things started to change, acceptance grew stronger, support was becoming evident, and standards and reimbursement guidelines were developed. In 1982 we accomplished legislation within Congress around what we envisioned from the very beginning. The biggest reward is knowing I helped to make a difference, knowing I helped to profoundly change healthcare for the terminally ill for the better and forever. I was fortunate to have such an opportunity and to be associated with those of like minds, shared values, unlimited passion and tireless energy. The story I have to share is one - hospice patients taught me what is important in life is not the things we have, but the love we give and the love that surrounds us, as we make our journey through life. My memories are many and there are touching stories embodied in every hospice experience.
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Music Man Ryan Chisholm ‘04 (right) is a rising star in the Los Angeles music business. He was named to the elite Billboard Magazine’s Top 30 Under 30 list and is the manager of several artists including pop stars Mike Posner (left) and Christina Perri.
What was it like to be named in Billboard Magazine’s Top 30 under 30 in the music industry and why do you think you were selected? It was a huge honor. I was 25 years old and managing Christina Perri, had cofounded a music/technology event called Hollywood Hack Day, and was running Meeting of the Minds, an entertainment industry mixer for young professionals looking to network with like minded entrepreneurs. You always hear the music industry is a tough business, sometimes even cutthroat. How has your journey been and how have you navigated through the ugly stuff? I treat business like I do sports. It’s a heavily competitive environment and I feel like I’ve taken the life lessons learned on the court (or field) and applied them to my daily work habits. Most important is to take care of your body (rest, food, sleep); second would be to work harder (and/or smarter) than your competition. How does your daily life/priorities change when you have an artist with a top song in the country? I’ve found this out first hand with the recent success of my client Mike Posner’s song “I Took A Pill in Ibiza.” Going #1 on Top 40 radio is a huge accomplishment, but there have been many sleepless nights. I work hard to prioritize quality time with my wife and son, but it’s a challenge for sure. You are now a family man. What perspective have you gained from the single life in Los Angeles to having a child to come home to? Having a son has only motivated me more. The one thing I really became conscious about was evaluating what was worth my time and what wasn’t. I had to be selective and embrace a bit of tunnel vision in terms of my top priorities to maintain some sort of balance between work and home. As a music manager, I’m basically on call 24/7, so making the most of the quiet periods to enjoy time with the family is everything. How are you putting into practice the “giving back” that you learned at MC? The best thing I can offer someone is my time. I try and give back by responding to calls and emails from those looking to break into the industry and seeking advice on how to navigate that adventure. Like any business, the best way to learn is to jump right in and learn as you go (knowing you’ll make a ton of mistakes along the way!). If I can be sounding board for folks looking to grow within this industry, I try to be available to offer support and guidance. I was lucky enough to develop friendships with people I respected tremendously and without them giving me their time to answer questions or instill knowledge, I’d never be where I am today. FORMING BETTER PEOPLE THROUGH COMMUNITY • MC FALL 2016— 12
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Academic1
st
Daisy Gonzalez ’16 is the first person in her family to attend college. She is now attending Marymount California University where she studying Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice.
Where are you going to college and how does it feel to be the first person in your family to attend college?
I am attending Marymount California University. It is exciting and scary at the same time being the first in my family to attend college. I’m going through the process by myself and my parents don’t know what to expect. I have to just learn by experience. I am setting the path for my sisters and will do what I can to help guide them when their time comes to apply to college. I’m really proud that I am be the first to attend college because it’s a great achievement and an incredible opportunity I have been given.
My family didn’t want me to leave. How did your family feel about you leaving If it were up to them I would be at Dominican University, however they for college? understand that I’m going to the school that best suits me. It is an adjustment because I am not only their first to go to college, but I also have a huge role in my family. I help out a lot by filling out school paperwork for my parents and monitoring my sisters’ progress in school. It has been exciting to start college What are you most excited for in college? because it means a lot to me and my family. I am enjoying this new chapter Most nervous about? of working on my bachelor’s degree. I’m nervous about the social situation, as I am the only one from Marin Catholic attending Marymount, and the workload because I know it’s going to be tough. I am grateful to have received a scholarship to run track. I started training over the summer and I’ve worked hard every day to prepare. Aside from running track, I also hope to get involved with clubs like Marin Catholic’s Link Crew program to welcome students. Are you planning on doing any extracurricular activities in college?
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What is your plan for the future? Do you know what career you want to have?
My plan is to major in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. I am working towards being in the criminal profiling group in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I was also offered an internship at the Dolan Law Firm, so I intend to work there after I get my Bachelor’s degree while working on my Master’s degree. My ultimate goal is to obtain my Ph.D. Marin Catholic has greatly impacted the person I am. Over the course of four years I got to know who I was, what I wanted, what I believed in, and what I stood for. Marin Catholic helped form me into the best version of myself. MC not only prepared me with the academic tools to go to college, but truly gave me the confidence to know that I can do it.
In what ways has Marin Catholic helped you grow as a person? In what ways has it prepared you for college?
I loved it all. The community is truly united. The sports I participated in were encouraging and really supportive. I learned the value of teamwork with incredible teammates and coaches and will always have the greatest memories. I miss the faculty the most. These teachers made a huge impact on my life and many were like family to me. I loved my time and was sad to leave, but the impact the school left on me will forever be in my heart. Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat!
What was your favorite part of MC? What do you miss the most?
Daisy Gonzalez ‘16 attends Marymount College
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Talent and
Choices Doyle McManus ’70 is Washington Columnist for the Los Angeles Times. He earned an A.B. in history at Stanford University in 1974, and was a Fulbright scholar at the University of Brussels. McManus has been a foreign correspondent in the Middle East, a White House correspondent and a presidential campaign reporter, and he was the paper’s Washington bureau chief from 1996 to 2008.
The late 1960s were a complicated time to be a teenager, or a teenager’s parents, especially in Marin. San Francisco’s hippie invasion, the “Summer of Love,” was in 1967, at the end of my freshman year at Marin Catholic. The Haight-Ashbury had a magnetic attraction for many kids and drugs, including LSD were beginning to turn up in the suburbs. These are scary but familiar challenges for parents now; they were frightening new challenges back then. In the midst of that convulsive wave of change, Marin Catholic was a haven of conservative values, in the best non-political small -“c” sense of the word. The school and its teachers were determined to get us through four years in one piece, equipped with a solid education and a fearsome work ethic. They drilled the work ethic into us by warning that we might never get into college if we didn’t buckle down right now. It worked. We had plenty of memorable teachers, but three stand out in my high school memories. One taught me how to think critically: Rev. David M. Pettingill. One taught me how to write clearly: Jack Breen. And one taught me how to speak confidently, even when I didn’t know what I was talking about: Marna Maynard. All three skills have been essential in a 40-year career in journalism. (The last one, of course, is especially helpful on television.) Their lessons stuck – at least to some of us. This June, when I posted a picture on Facebook from a restaurant in Italy’s Valpolicella wine country, my classmate Ann Oliva Watters posted a comment: “Dave Pettingill would expect you to spend time at the Grotto of Catullus as well.” Okay, I had to Google the Grotto of Catullus, which turned out to be 30 miles away. But Ann remembered. More important, Father Pettingill and his colleagues held us to high expectations. They insisted that we do the best work we could. Nobody slid by, nobody fell between the cracks. Their message was that God had given us talents, and it was our duty – not only to ourselves, but also to our communities – to use them well. That went for kids of all varieties of talent, too. One of Father Pettingill’s favorite stories was of one of his students – an academic laggard, to put it kindly – who announced that he had decided to become a firefighter. “Why?” the teacher asked. “Because I can save lives that way,” the student answered. Father Pettingill said he never heard a better reason for a career choice. Now, 46 years later, after my wife and I have raised three fine daughters, I have far more appreciation for what those teachers and our parents did for us. I’m glad my parents chose Marin Catholic – and envious of those who can send their kids to MC today. Doyle McManus ‘70 in the LA CNN Studio
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As the San Francisco Port Director, Monique Moyer ’82 ran one of the busiest and most reputable ports in the world. Now she serves as senior managing director for CBRE where she uses her financial expertise to expand their Global Workplace Solutions. Like most skills, my style of leadership and my willingness to step forward as a leader has evolved. I have always been attentive, engaged, and able to “see around corners.” I have constantly honed my writing skills (beginning at Marin Catholic) and analytical skills, and eventually my speaking skills, to persuade others. But I haven’t always wanted to speak up, contradict others, or do the hard work of leading an unpopular change. For the first two chapters of my career, I successfully “stayed in my lane” executing leadership in my small sphere of expertise but always under my bosses’ aegis. That changed dramatically when I became San Francisco Port Director. The position did not come with instructions or training – there was no manual or even a pep talk. Despite the myriad of “governors,” there was no singular boss to provide cover. The position did come with significant financial challenges, political tensions, public distrust, and incessant media inquiries about everything from my age to my intentions. It also came with 250 employees and 500 tenants whose livelihoods depended in large part on the outcomes I could enact. Being a good leader for the Port took every ounce of skill and courage I had. It was a lonely position, besieged by vociferous opinions and accusations. There were as many unreasonable demands as there were perverse expectations. Yet among the quieter voices, there was hope. And among the employees there was, and is, talent, unique expertise, and dedication. My job was to lead the hopeful voices and the talent to greater outcomes. But doing so meant enacting change, often unpopular and often deviously fought. I employed my networking skills to find mentors and supporters, I used my analytical, writing, and speaking skills to define issues and solutions, and I worked very hard to remain humble and connected to the individuals who make up the Port. But most of all, I prayed. I prayed when I had to fire someone. I prayed when I was too afraid, too stressed, or too tired and wanted to quit. And I gave thanks for every small victory, in prayer, but also in person to those who helped me achieve it. Throughout my tenure, I continued to face opposition daily but momentum grew. Over time the Port embraced success realizing over $1 billion in capital investment and growing its annual visitors to 24+ million people, more than most airports. I am proud of the Port today; its reputation, its credibility, and its desirability. And I am humbled to have been called to lead the Port.
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Port
of Call
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Filling inthe Peter Jankowski ‘16 will attend Harvard University in the Fall of 2017. He is taking a gap year in Poland to do epidemiology research at the Nofer Institute while taking Polish and mathematics classes at one of the oldest universities in Europe.
When I was admitted to Harvard, Yale and Princeton, I was surrounded by much celebration. However, when college decision time came around, the fanfare was replaced by surprise when people learned that I was going to Harvard… after a gap year. My decision of taking a gap year was never defined by one moment, but rather as a final product of much consideration. I always entertained the thought of spending a prolonged time in Europe because of my love for travel, admiration for European culture and fascination with my Polish heritage, as I have always been greatly influenced, intellectually stimulated and culturally enriched by all three. Certainly this decision could be viewed as quite ‘against the mainstream’ but I thrive on exploring paths less trodden. This gap year will give me a chance to fully embody my own advice of ‘following and living our passions’ that I gave during my MC Class of 2016 Valedictorian speech. I will have almost a year dedicated solely to bettering myself and focusing on my passions - a gift that I couldn’t pass up. I will now be able to catch up on things that really matter to me without the constraint of a rigorous schedule — to travel extensively around Europe, improve my Polish and Spanish, work on my art and pursue a research internship. This will also be a time to reevaluate my goals and dreams as well as an opportunity to practice independence in a safe environment. Not to mention, being in Europe continuously for almost a year will be an amazing experience in itself. I am inspired by my Grandma and I know this wonderful world surrounds me . . . and all I have to do is go and see it. I dedicate this gap year to Her memory.
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gaps. “So much work and effort goes into the intricacies of an art installation, and all you have to do is go and see it.”
– Janina Piekarek (Peter’s Grandmother)
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It’s the
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FAITH
Y
ou don’t have to spend much time in conversation with Sister Anna Marie Vanni, OCD, before you experience her laugh. It’s a joyous, genuine, full-of-life laugh, a signature of this woman, a graduate of MC’s Class of ’69 and Prioress of the Carmelite Monastery of the Mother of God. She is eminently at home and engaged in the world she has chosen —to which, she would insist, she has been called — acutely aware of her responsibilities to that world and to the world outside the cloister doors, whom she and her sisters serve faithfully and joyfully, with prayer. The day revolves around prayer: Two hours in solitude, seven times a day in communal prayer. Even at work — the community, called the Carmel, supports itself through desktop publishing, the sale of homemade preserves, and the generosity of friends —“all is in prayer.” “We will never be out of business,” she says with a smile as she speaks of the scores of prayer requests the community receives from people in need. And, Sister adds, these people for whom they pray will know, “They are never alone.” Mid twenty-something Diane Vanni was active, happy, and considering several options. She earned a BA in Music at Dominican College and was tutoring students, was beginning dentistry studies, and even contemplating becoming a forest ranger. Plenty of choices. Yet it seemed there might be something else. With a colleague from the Dominican music department, she visited a house in Marinwood with an odd cupola over the front door. This was the Carmelite Monastery of the Mother of God. (A rich story in itself, in a mere nutshell: The cupola symbolizes the community’s dedication at its founding in 1965 to the struggle of Catholics in what was at the time the Soviet Union. Catholic parishes and schools are now flourishing in Russia, and the sisters of the Marinwood Carmel remain closely connected.)
Perhaps most importantly, Diane met Mother Dolores, a founder of the 1965 Carmel (and now, in her nineties and 70 years a nun still thriving…) who was and is an inspiration, “an embodiment of mercy and compassion.” Though Diane had felt called to the religious life even as a young girl, she was never sure: “Was this my religion, or my parents?” The “active” sisterhood did not appeal to her. But in meeting and experiencing the life at the monastery, discerning, she “fell into God’s plan: ‘I want you to pray.’”She was sure: “I can be one of these nuns.” Diane entered the convent —“God, I can’t say no”— and the community. This meant spending most of her days in the convent environs, largely separated from family and friends, not all of whom were convinced. There were “very, very homesick days.” But eventually a realization: “In the heart of Christ (a phrase she uses often), you are always with family.” Herein a most important point, a seeming paradox, that Sister happily addresses: How is withdrawal from the world in any way making it better? The answer is prayer, which, Sister Anna Marie affirms, is not withdrawal, does not reject, but rather embraces, all of the world. She’s never felt more connected. Some 40 years later, Sister Anna Marie is at home: in the community to which she has given her life as a sister and leader, and in the world she serves every waking, prayerful hour. The would-be forest ranger has made her mark: 400 hundred redwood trees have been planted on the property the Carmel occupies — “My own forest!” With a twinkle in her eye, Sister Anna Marie affirms that the work continues and that she’s not going anywhere. Indeed, when the time comes: “There’s a cemetery out back!” And then that laugh.
Sister Anna Marie Vanni, OCD ‘69 answered the call to religious life forty years ago and still has a lovely laugh
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SERVICE
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Family.
“No one is in court because they want to be—it means that something went terribly wrong. Luckily, I have wonderful family and friends who can lift me up when work gets me down.”
Law.
Amber Wipfler ’97 is deputy attorney general for the state of California, where she specializes in appellate habeas litigation. While a student at the University of San Francisco School of Law, she was a teacher and coordinator of the Street Law program, which teaches basic legal principles to high school students. I was an outspoken child (read: loud) and adults were fond of telling me that I’d grow up to be a lawyer. That must have stuck in my subconscious, because I always had it in the back of my head that I’d go to law school someday. I received an internship in the attorney general’s Criminal Law division during my last summer of law school. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but figured it would involve a good deal of busy work and the occasional Starbucks run. Instead, my new supervisor dropped four volumes of trial transcripts on my desk and told me to get to work drafting an appellate brief. I immediately loved the fast-paced nature of the work and the collegial atmosphere in the office, and couldn’t believe my good fortune when a job opened up not long after my graduation. Ten years later, I can’t imagine working anywhere else. Legal writing often involves distilling a half dozen statutes and a hundred years of case law into a clear, concise argument that can be understood by anyone. The English Department at MC taught me to express my ideas in so many different ways — through stories, through essays, through poetry — and that has served me very well in a career where 90% of what I say is on paper. At the risk of outing myself as a law nerd, I genuinely enjoy conducting legal research. It’s almost like a treasure hunt, sifting through case after case until you find the argument that’s going to win the day. On the other end of the spectrum, it’s tough reading story after story of other people’s personal tragedies. With few exceptions, no one is in court because they want to be — it means that something went terribly wrong somewhere along the way. Luckily, I have wonderful family and friends who can lift me up when work gets me down. My fondest memories of MC are the everyday experiences spent with friends — sitting in a circle during lunchtime and sharing mixtapes; laughing until we were sick to our stomachs; talking and singing 90’s alt rock while doing our warmup laps around the track. As the years went on, the wonderful people I met during my freshman year became roommates, then bridesmaids, and now godparents. I will always be grateful for the connections I made at MC, and that includes the teachers who put so much energy and passion into their work. I especially credit Mr. Thompson, Ms. Lawrence, and Mr. Lippi for encouraging my writing and helping me to express myself through the written word. Amber Wipfler ‘97 with son Otto, 14 months
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S ervice
Motivated to ma Nick Gernhard ’16 just entered the United States Air Force Academy, where he plays football and is pursuing a career in service to our nation.
What made you choose to serve our country?
I have always wanted to do something different with my life. I believe it’s the responsibility of those who have the means to protect the innocent from the evil in this world. For me joining the Air Force and becoming an officer upon graduation was the best way to perform that duty.
Where did your desire to serve stem from?
My uncle has been an officer in the Air Force and Air Force Reserves for the last 31 years. He is outstanding example of character, strength, and integrity. Lt. Col. Gernhard is a person who anyone can look up to. To say that he has enjoyed his job as a pilot would be an understatement.
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ke a difference. At Marin Catholic, “Gernhard” was synonymous with motivation. What motivates you? What do you ultimately want to do?
My motivation is to make a difference in the world. Officers in the armed forces are responsible for those under their command and are often forced to make life or death decisions. Those possible circumstances are a major part in my motivation to do the best I can in my everyday life as a cadet. It is preached at the Academy that excellence is a habit that must be forged over time in every activity no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.
Right now I do not know what I would like to do in the Air Force; and there are so many incredible and diverse pathways after the Academy. Over the next few years I plan on exploring those pathways to see which would be the best fit for me. At the moment a job I am leaning towards is becoming an ALO (Air Liaison Officer), which are officers in the Air Force attached to Army, Marine, or Special Operations units in combat zones.
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FAITH
How do we do it? Maria King ‘81 has built the foundation of her 13-member family on the faith she cultivated at Marin Catholic.
“How do you do it?” This is by far the most frequently asked question of my husband, Greg, and me, as we raise eleven beautiful children. I often hear, “I only have two, and I’m drowning!” I get that. Being a parent is an unbelievably daunting responsibility. The ramifications of doing it poorly are more than a bit frightening. We live in a world filled with immediacy and incredible pressure to succeed. Therein lies the very important question. What is success? Greg and I both came from large faith-based families. Success was measured by how well we treated others and honored God and country. Words were chosen carefully, and lessons were learned by a consistent standard set by the ultimate Authority. Being a student of Marin Catholic’s graduating Class of 1981 was an extension of my home teachings. Miss Maynard, then a literature teacher, required endless reading. Fr. Perry was intent on continuing our conversion of faith and our responsibility toward our relationship with our loving Creator. Mr. Ritchie brought the wonder of science and made us all ponder the expanse of the universe and our unique place in it. I thought I had dodged a bullet having not been placed in Mr. Breen’s English class, but to this day, my siblings who had him outrank speaking and writing properly over my feeble attempts. Mrs. Woodall challenged me physically and pushed the boundaries of my five-foot stature on the volleyball court. I speak of only a few of the many teachers who helped walk me through the often confusing and frustrating four years of high school. As I reflect on this time, I see clearly that one very important lesson was woven through my education at MC, a lesson that I carry with me as I homeschool my own children for elementary and middle school. The lesson is this… each one of us is unique and has special gifts to guide us toward our vocation. It is not enough to know this, but more importantly, that we engage in the desire to decipher, ponder, and seriously pray for these gifts to be made clear. This alone is where we can find true happiness. As I send my homeschooled children one by one to MC, I am grateful for their continued efforts to shed light on each student’s unique contribution. To teach that suffering is a necessary part of this process, and that great joy is in store for those who turn to Christ - who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. To those who ask, “How do we do it?” – we don’t, the Holy Spirit does. Maria King ‘81, her husband Greg, and their eleven children.
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Generosity-Perseverance-Spilker James Spilker ’51 was a pioneer developer of GPS technology and spent his career as a professor at Stanford University. He has also started three Silicon Valley companies.
After a very successful career at Stanford, what excites you today? What excites me is that this is an even more exciting time for the students of today. There is a new building in
Stanford’s Science and Engineering quad on bio-engineering where I work with Stanford Ph.D. students. And I am proud to say a large number of them have gone on to start their own companies. I am also excited that I have started my third Silicon Valley company.
As a key developer of GPS technology, did you have a sense of how much it would impact our world?
We planned for commercial use of GPS from the start and I designed the GPS signals that 2+ billion users now receive on their cell phones, cars, etc. However, there were none of those in 1973 when we were designing GPS. We are now upgrading GPS and also designing new technology to make use of complementary satellites from other countries to use in addition to GPS signals.
Who influenced you to pursue your dreams? I was a tiny kid when I started community college and I did not fit in with the other students. I did not even apply
to university. I just went to College of Marin and was fortunate to have a Chemistry and Physics professor who told me I was the smartest little kid he had ever seen. He helped me get a scholarship to Stanford where I started a fellowship, and in five years there I earned all three of my degrees. Where else on earth could I be so fortunate from such humble beginnings? I said this same thing on New York TV when I received the Thomas Edison Medal.
How would you like to be remembered? Everyone should try to leave this earth a little better than they found it. I started college as a tiny, sickly, little guy
from a poor family. I had a great mom, who, even though she had to rise at 5:00am each morning to catch her bus to San Francisco, was able to provide me with glassware in 6th grade for my own chemistry lab.
At Marin Catholic, we stress leadership and putting your gifts into service. How have you done that in both your work and personal life? We have donated half of all that we have to education. While people know of your work in science and engineering, we also know you were a successful and talented bodybuilder. Where did that passion come from and what did you get out of it from an emotional or mental level?
I was much too small in high school to do any sports. But 40 years later, I started weightlifting and bodybuilding. Happy to say, no steroids!
“Good jobs of the 21st century are going to require more education in math and science.” – James Spilker ‘51 29—MARIN Catholic • FALL 2016
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FAITH
As the Director of the Office of Worship for the Archdiocese of San Francisco, one of Laura Bertone’s responsibilities includes preparing and managing large liturgies for the Archdiocese with more than 2,000 people in attendance. Quite often, while juggling seating charts, directing clergy, and designing worship aids, I am asked where I got my start in liturgy. Immediately, I am transported back 30-plus years to Marin Catholic: decorating the old pit-style gym, singing in the “Gumby” Singers, and leading retreats at Marin Catholic. It was at MC that I learned a deep love for liturgy and for prayer, and celebrating the truest form of worship with a community. When I teach classes to liturgical ministers throughout the 90 parishes in our Archdiocese and in other dioceses, I can’t help but recall the Theology classes we took each year led by talented clergy, religious, and lay instructors. I even have my black New American Bible with the orange page edging - much the worse for wear. Other than the large school masses, it was the example of many of the faculty that stand out to me as models of faith. I remember Father (now Archbishop) Wester and Sr. Rosemary Everett, SNJM discussing Christian Service projects, Fr. Dave Ingalls and Al Marks leading the choir, and Fr. Dave Pettingill directing the annual musicals. All these adults demonstrated to me that faith is more than something you believe - it is something you live: in visible activities such as liturgy and prayer, but also in the subtle actions of living everyday life. I am very fortunate that something I experienced as a teenager led to a job I love and that I work in a field with which I am fascinated. It’s not such a long journey from hanging Christmas wreaths off basketball hoops and discussing life story boards cut from magazines in the old convent chapel to herding 45 bishops for an Installation Mass or teaching new Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Eucharistic Theology. I just no longer do those things in a uniform skirt. If you happen to be at St. Mary’s Cathedral for a service or confirmation and see a tall woman in a white alb assisting the bishop, please come by and say hello to a fellow Wildcat. Laura Bertone ‘85 assisting in Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral
31—MARIN Catholic • FALL 2016
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FAITH
Home
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Weston Kirby ‘16 just began his college career at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. where he will study Philosophy Pre-Law.
“What do you want from God? What do YOU want from God?” This is the first question Sister Maria Catherine asked me as my Confirmation spiritual advisor. When she asked, I wasn’t sure how to answer. The phrasing of the question was foreign to me. It seemed odd to think that God’s desire could also be our own desire. It wasn’t until my sophomore year at Marin Catholic that I began to recognize God in my life. The only other practicing Catholic in my family is my paternal grandmother who lives in Arizona, so I didn’t grow up attending Mass. I actually grew up in two homes. My parents divorced when I was five, so I had a schedule of switching homes a lot. It didn’t bother me, or my brother, because we didn’t know anything different. But God was calling me to another home all along — His Home. I often joke that my strong faith life is all an indirect result of not having a parking spot. If you wanted a good public parking spot close to campus, you need to get there early. And little did I know that God had another plan in mind with my early arrival. In the mornings, if I had finished all my homework, I would go to morning Mass. I ended up going to Mass a couple times per week, always receiving recognition and constant invitations from Sr. Miriam and Sr. Maria Catherine to keep coming . . . so I did. I began to love it. There was such a feeling of peace there. I could feel and see the love in the chapel — a glimmer into what truly is God’s home. What I had yet to grasp, though, was that the peace and love and happiness that I felt at the Mass was God, coming from the Father through the sacrifice of his Son on the cross. I began to notice that those who maintained strong relationships with Christ were some of the happiest and most joyful people that I had ever met. Our Sisters are such an incredible example of this happiness. I developed a genuine and intense yearning for that happiness, because I knew that there was something missing in my life. I decided I wanted to finish what I had started at Baptism. I wanted to become Confirmed and continue digging deeper in my faith life because I was more fully with God in the Sacraments. So now, in the midst of everything in life, I know that I have a home in Christ — as we all do. He is constantly inviting us into His home, but He cannot force us to come in; He can only open the door when we knock.
33—MARIN Catholic • FALL 2016
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K no w ledge Singer-songwriter Elena Sandell ’16 recorded her first single “Hello” (available on iTunes) in Stockholm with Adam Lambert‘s producer Max Martin. While pursuing her ambition of being a popstar, she is attending Belmont University in Nashville, TN as a songwriting major. I eagerly walked up to the MC Performing Arts Center on a warm Friday night, guitar case in one hand, nervously clenching the other. I remember looking at my dad. He was beaming at his daughter about to take her first big leap at her brand new school. When I walked in, I scanned the piece of paper taped to the wall to look for my name. My heart was thumping a thousand miles a minute. This was for real. Before I knew it, I was ushered in front of the audience...an old persian rug, a microphone, my guitar, and my brain screaming at me to turn around and run. The Music Department Talent Show during my sophomore year was the first time I had ever sung in front of people. I had just transferred schools. For the first time, I was performing in front of my peers. I chose to play an original song while playing guitar. To this day, it was the most nervous I can ever remember being getting on stage. Those nerves are long gone now. Growing up, I was always inspired by musicians, even before I discovered my own potential. The power artists have to use their voice and words to spread something positive resonated with me. Music is about emotion. The best part of singing for me is being able to spread joy, love and excitement. As a result, I gravitated heavily towards pop and R&B. Rhythmic, feel good music produces timeless songs, which elicite my favorite emotion instantaneously – happiness (think “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire). That talent show impacted my life in a huge way. The positive support I received allowed me to see that I could really do something with my talent. Not only did the MC community embrace me, but the school staff and administrators encouraged my craft and gave me opportunities right from the beginning. The talent show got bigger and better each year, and our music department grew along with it. I made it my mission to improve my performance every single year. To pursue a serious music career, one must improve every single day, deal with some unreasonable demands, and work like a professional long before one starts to gain any momentum. But I am going for it because Marin Catholic helped me gain the confidence to do this, without hesitation. The support I’ve been given has played an important role in choosing Belmont University in Nashville, TN where I will study songwriting. Elena Sandell ’16 performing at the Marin Catholic Fashion Show
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SpaceXSpark
Nick Molinski ‘12 is the Lead Electrical Engineer for New York University’s SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition team. His team was one of 30 out of 300 to advance to the finals this January. As Nick graduated, he moved from participant to advisor on the project. My team and I feel very humbled to be sent to the next round of the competition. As a team of six competing against people that are 10 to 50 years older, we felt like it was a David vs. Goliath situation. We pulled many all-nighters, completed some very technical and advanced engineering work, all with the goal of having our designs contribute to the creation of the Hyperloop. Perhaps the most gratifying part was having my design remarked as “most impressive and thought through” by one of the SpaceX judges. It was even more exciting that the judge recommended me to a SpaceX engineering position and brought me over to their talent acquisition group to share my resume. Moving forward to the final round at SpaceX headquarters, my team is working very hard to have our Hyperloop pod built to be tested on the track. We have had excellent support from the NYU community, but as I look back, I realize none of it could have been possible without the support of my teachers at Marin Catholic. Carri Polizzotti, my AP chemistry teacher, knew first hand that I was not the one to get the best grades; however, her constant motivation for my success inspired me to work hard. Also, Steve Thies was a great physics teacher that got me excited to learn about the physical world. I attribute my desire to be an electrical engineer from his class. While MC sparked my interests in the sciences, it also taught me on how to be a moral person. Ken Peralta, Ryan Mayer, and Margaret Puyat taught me lifelong lessons that I hold true and practice each day.
37—MARIN Catholic • FALL 2016
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SERVICE
Sara Soulier ’05 has dedicated her time working at the Green School in Indonesia, pioneering new methods of education and leading the field in environmental stewardship. Moving to Indonesia was not in the plan. Four years ago I boarded a plane to Bali with connections but no job, just a feeling that I would make it work. Within three weeks, I found myself eating lunch at Green School, an international school built completely out of bamboo in the middle of the jungle - no windows, no walls. The man I sat down to lunch with that day was the founder of the school. 45 minutes later, he invited me to Thanksgiving dinner at his house. That night, I was introduced to the chairman of the school’s board and before I knew it, they created a job for me. During my first year, I worked with a small team, focusing all my efforts on expansion. I wrote proposals for what Green School #2 would look like if it were built from the ground up. Before I could blink, I was consulting with potential partners in Malaysia. I was kicking off the first of five Educator Courses that I developed for teachers and administrators from around the world, and I hosted a visit from Dr. Jane Goodall and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. My job continued to grow as I developed an annual eco-event at the school as a platform to bring people together to share knowledge and skills, be inspired, network and collaborate. By the time I came up for air, I had already spent three years as an administrator. I decided I needed to spend more time with students, so I created a role for myself to facilitate real-world projects with students and to work with local partners to create meaningful impact in their community. In my time here, I have seen places that people only dream of visiting: white sand beaches, turquoise water, and wild horses galloping among coconut grooves. I have been diving among the most bio-diverse reefs in the world. I have climbed volcanoes that have shown me views of islands, mountains and rice paddies that can’t be captured through a lens. I have been immersed in a beautifully colorful culture full of smiles, simplicity, and happiness. When I boarded that plane on a whim, I didn’t imagine my wildest dreams could come true. But they did. Everything I had ever dreamed for my life, I experienced to some degree in less than four years. I am forever grateful for this experience. My work at Green School has been all-encompassing, by choice, and it has changed me forever. If I have learned one thing, it’s that we haven’t been taking care of our planet or each other for a long time. I feel strongly that we must change the way we live right now, if we wish to carry on in the future. This experience has given me a clearer purpose in life, more drive to make a difference, more motivation to change the world for the better, and more of a belief in humanity that anything is possible if we want it. Sara Soulier ‘05 atop Mt. Rinjani 39—MARIN Catholic • FALL 2016
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Man of Alo Nick Rolovich ‘00 is the head football coach at the University of Hawaii. Prior to joining the Rainbow Warriors, Rolovich was the Offensive Coordinator at the University of Nevada and played quarterback professionally for the Arena League’s Las Vegas Gladiators.
Your journey in football has been a long one, and you have seen it from all perspectives. How has this aided you in your new position as head coach of the University of Hawaii? I tend to be very observant and remember different teams I was on and how the coaches treated the players. I refer back to Maya Angelou’s quote about how people may not remember what you say or do, but they will remember how they make you feel. The most successful teams I have been part of had great people that had respect and love for one another, and that feeling was created by the coaching staff. Hawaii can be a very different experience from the mainland. What attracted you to attend college there and now spend your career there? At the time of my decision, I had what we like to call the “Magellan Mindset” – ready to experience something new and the excitement of being immersed in a completely different culture. The funny part was after settling in, I began to realize that the entire island community thrived on the same values my parents tried to raise me with and that were prevalent in my everyday life at Marin Catholic. Tell us about how you feel emotionally about being the captain of the ship. I have visualized this for a long time and am enjoying every minute. The game of football in college, or at any level really, truly mirrors life. There are plenty of emotional ups and downs, but you really prepare these young men for life after football by coaching them through the tough times and watching them attack adversity. What is the best and worst part of being a head coach? The worst part is the amount of time I have to spend away from my family. The best part is watching these young men mature and become “Men of Aloha,” knowing that someday they will become tomorrow’s fathers, husbands, and community leaders. You brought legend Lou Holtz this past summer to fire up your guys. What was that experience like? Coach Holtz was incredible. He was a very dynamic speaker and also a decent magician. The best part was he talked about the same values that our staff talks about daily: love, commitment, trust, attacking adversity, and understanding that little things matter. What are seven great memories of MC? 1. Mr. Breen’s English class and Ms. Costello’s Spanish class . . . Que Que!? 2. “Padres” in the cafeteria (Fritos, cheese and chili!) 3. “Wildcats in the front, let me hear you grunt…” 4. Father Daly’s Jeep 5. Realizing in ceramics class that I was a terrible artist 6. Being very proud to wear the Wildcat jersey in football, after growing up hearing about the great MC teams that played before us 41—MARIN Catholic • FALL 2016
oha
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My reason
to write...
At 18 years of age, Katherine Arnaud ‘16 is already an award-winning poet who is working on a series of novels called Guardians. She hopes to continue to impact the world with her written word as she attends UCLA.
“Writers don’t always have a reason to write. Sometimes they simply need to.” Most often when I sit down to write something, I don’t necessarily have a subject in mind. I just let the words lead me. I let the words speak for themselves. I first found my interest in words while reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I remember reading so slowly, trying to soak in every last word, to taste them, and feel them in my bones. I would reread pages over and over, determined not to miss a single detail. This style of reading actually made my understanding of the book choppy and incoherent. I was looking at the individual brushstrokes rather than the entire masterpiece. While each word had the capability to create within me a feeling or understanding, it was the way the words were strung together that ultimately had the power to make me feel what it was the author intended for me to understand. Marin Catholic helped me grow as a writer by helping me grow as a person. The self discoveries I made along the way - whether it was up on stage, or in Calculus class, or up at podium giving a personal talk to my fellow classmates - helped me formulate an identity full of my own thoughts and viewpoints. I began to understand what I needed to convey through my writing, and from there, I was able to blossom.
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FAITH
The
Father Paul Rossi ’66 has had a long pastoral career including 14 years at his hometown parish, St. Raphael. He acknowledges the challenges as well as celebrates the joys of being a priest of the Archdiocese today. When Father Paul Rossi discusses things like future plans with young parishioners he counsels, high school comes up, often accompanied by old saws youngsters have heard, like, “These will be the best years of your life…” They might be, Father Rossi, will offer. But they might not, too. There’s plenty of life after high school. This truth has been beautifully borne out by the life and service the graduate of MC’s Class of 1966. Father Rossi has been a priest of the Archdiocese of San Francisco for over 40 years. He has been a high school teacher, including a year at Marin Catholic in the mid70s and campus minister. His pastoral work is the hallmark of a long and distinguished career. Currently Father Rossi serves in Redwood City, as pastor of St. Pius Church and Administrator of St. Matthias Church. Father Rossi is respectful but frank in his recollections of his time at Marin Catholic. It was not always easy for an insecure young person struggling to understand himself, to find his way in the daunting place high school can be. Though he had always wanted to attend MC, he characterizes his high school successes as “modest.” He remembers good, demanding teachers and role models, among them legendary teacher Father David Pettingill, and the late Father Don Kohles. But there were hard days, personal and family difficulties, insensitive schoolmates, fear of failure. Paul made his way to the school chapel every morning often seeking solace and help. He had been drawn to the religious life from an early age, inspired by the diocesan priests and Dominican sisters who served his parish. He entered the seminary after graduation and was ordained in 1974.
Father Rossi considers his experiences — including surviving a grueling battle beginning in 2007 with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma — as essential to the man and the priest he has become. He learned to bear up to challenges, which made him stronger, better; led him through the years to come to terms with his authentic self, and “to see in the long run how God works in one’s life…God helps us to be what we are, uses us for others.” It is his service to others that has distinguished Father Rossi’s career and defined his vocation. He is especially devoted to the challenged and underprivileged members of his community. In the best sense, he has the “common touch.” Friend and St. Raphael’s parishioner Peggy Semling ‘84 recalls how Rossi “...walked humbly with his parishioners and showed true mercy centered in Christ’s love to all of us. He is a friend of the homeless, and worked with other local churches to try to remedy injustice in the community.” With characteristic honesty, Father Rossi acknowledges the challenges as well as celebrates the joys of being a priest of the Archdiocese today. He may have been naive when he entered the seminary, but soon found the issues and business of the real world follow one through the door. Why he became a priest seems less important now than why he remains one: His faith grows, along with his determination to “make it new.” He believes fervently in God, in the “Easter Mystery,” and in the Church, which can be, as institution — “buildings, lawyers,”etc. — challenging. He is determined to see that the Gospel “does not get lost” in the midst of all that. He knows the real work that lies at the heart of his vocation. Peggy Semling on her friend Paul Rossi: “A compassionate tender of souls, he is the first person many of us will call as life’s journey brings us hardship and loss. I have been blessed to call him “Father.” Not a bad legacy, that. Seems that young man found his way after all. Father Paul Rossi ‘66 at St. Pius Catholic Church
45—MARIN Catholic • FALL 2016
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Keeping
it
Steve VanDis ’98 has worked as a cameraman for many adventure TV shows including Survivor, The Apprentice and Dancing with the Stars. He is now the creative producer for Airbnb and is producing a new film with Ashton Kutcher. If you ever watched the greatest moments of the TV show Survivor, then you can never forget when contestant Richard Hatch went into the water to spear a shark. Perhaps expected, Hatch was bitten by the shark. But the unexpected moment came when Hatch decided to bite the shark back. This underwater footage was the talk of the 35 million weekly viewers of the show. The cameraman who captured this moment was Steve VanDis ‘98. VanDis’ career as cameraman turned television producer resulted in an unending catalog of once in a lifetime experiences. To date, he has worked on over 30 different shows since his connection with television producer/mogul Mark Burnett began in 2003. “Most of the shows were adventure-based, so I have been fortunate to travel all over the world – Panama, Guatemala, Palau, Vanuatu, Morocco, etc.,” says VanDis. “But I will never forget the day I landed in New York to film the first episode of The Apprentice. After going from travel show to travel show, I was such a fish out of water when I landed in New York.” Recently VanDis has become a creative producer for the Airbnb marketing team, a $30 billion company and one of the biggest sponsors of the Rio Olympic Games. “Television has changed so much over the past 10 years,” says VanDis. “With cable and the Internet, people are getting their content from a much wider range of sources. We were drawing over 30 million weekly viewers on Survivor, and now to make it you only need 6-7 million viewers.” VanDis’ latest projects are producing short films and television shows for an online travel business, and working on a film directed by Ashton Kutcher. “Ashton was one of the early investors of Airbnb, so that’s how we connected,” says VanDis. “He is a great guy and I’m excited about the project.” VanDis uses his extraordinary experiences to give back by speaking at schools and universities to help students who hope to get into the entertainment industry. So what is the question most asked? “Everyone wants to know if Survivor is real or staged,” says VanDis. “As someone who has filmed it 24/7, I can tell you it is very real. Mark Burnett is an absolute genius. You are not out there as just a cameraman or producer. You are in on the casting, the selection, the interviews, you live with the tribe and then you go edit. Outside of a medical bag and a little guidebook that tells you what to eat and what to avoid, you are on your own. I lost 16 pounds my first season and had my legs chewed up by bugs all day on the beach, so I can tell you it is all real.” Steve VanDis ’98 in Panama
47—MARIN Catholic • FALL 2016
REAL
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Wearable Hope S ervice
In her freshman year, Kiana Petty ‘18 started an importing business by selling “elephant pants” from Thailand. Her profits are used to pay for the education of a 4-year old Maasai girl named Nosim at the Osiligi Obaya Academy in Kenya, Africa.
Explain how you got started in your business. Last year in Global Studies, Ms. Maloney asked us to find a charity anywhere in the world and figure out how to help them. I found the Osiligi Obaya Academy located in a village in Southern Kenya. “Osiligi” is Maasai for “hope.” Most members of the Maasai tribe cannot afford to send their children to school, so Osiligi was opened in 2012 specifically to help educate their very poor children. The school is funded by a UK-based charity that donates 100% of monies received, and I am the first American donating to the charity. Describe the business of selling pants. My mom works for United Airlines, so we fly to Bangkok, Thailand to get the pants and import them into the U.S. to sell. We find wholesalers and buy from multiple different vendors. I call them “Elephant pants” because that was the print on all of them. Two years ago when I traveled to Thailand for the first time, I bought three pairs to bring home to my friends as gifts. Whenever we wore them, people would always ask where we got them, so I thought they would make a great business. What have you learned about school life in Africa compared to MC? There are lots of differences. Nosim, the girl I sponsor, walks 40 minutes everyday with other children through bush, along a dirt road to get to school. This is normal. For many children, the meal at school is the only food they will have all day. Are there any similarities to student life at MC? Kids at both schools wear uniforms. Nosim is always asking when there will be more food and when she gets to go home! Please explain a little more about Nosim. What is she like? Nosim is four years old and is in the “baby class” at the school. She is especially outgoing for her age and is one of the few kids who actually smiled for the class photo. She seems very confident. Her teacher describes her as “hard working, super tiny, and super smiley.” When I sent Nosim a letter with a couple of pictures of our family, it was the first letter her family had ever received. Looking ahead, do you want continue to help with Nosim and the school? Along with paying for Nosim’s education, I would like to help with the school’s next building project, an orphanage. The Maasai life expectancy is less than 50 years; each year, a few students lose a parent. The orphanage will also be a safe house for girls needing protection from early marriages and the difficulties they face in this country. This fall, my mom and I plan to visit Nosim at Osiligi and bring them some school supplies. Kiana Petty ‘18 displaying her Thai elephant pants
49—MARIN Catholic • FALL 2016
4 year Nosim at the Osiligi Obaya Academy in Kenya, Africa.
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SERVICE
The
Physician and the Poet 51—MARIN Catholic • FALL 2016
The Extraordinary Lives of Fred and Robert Hass Fred ’55 and Robert Hass ’58 seem to be polar opposites (one is a physician and one is a poet). But upon closer inspection one will find that these two brothers share a passion for their hometown and appreciation for their upbringing.
E
veryone who knew them growing up – family, friends, teachers, and schoolmates – expected great things to come from Fred and Robert Hass. And the brothers did not disappoint.
Fred has practiced family medicine in Marin County for some 45 years. Bob, three years younger than Fred, just happens to be a U.S. Poet Laureate. Fred and Bob attended Marin Catholic High School in the mid1950’s. Both look back upon these years as enormously impactful in terms of solid academics coupled with capable, encouraging nurture of early thoughts and vocational aspirations. Fred graduated from MC in 1955. Following college he married his high school sweetheart, Miriam Percy, and the two of them spent the next four years in Omaha, where Fred earned his medical degree at Creighton University. Returning home, Fred joined Rafael Dufficy’s medical practice in Marin County, and several years later he purchased it from the retiring physician. “I remember the house calls I made in those days, often throughout the Gerstle Park area in San Rafael where I grew up,” says Fred. “The neighborhood was populated largely by long-tenured Italian families, and I would often be lavished with home-made sausages and fruits and vegetables from their home gardens.” Along with author Ed Dolan, Fred has written two books: “What You Can Do About Your Headaches,” and “The Foot Book,” both published by the Henry Regnery Company. Over the years, as his medical practice grew, Fred became deeply involved in community affairs. In 1992, he founded the Marin Bocce Federation and spearheaded construction of the popular bocce ball courts at Albert Park. His letters on current affairs are regularly published in the Marin County Independent Journal. A current passion of his is to interest his alma mater, USF, in establishing a residential campus on the grounds of the St. Vincent’s property in Marinwood. As Fred headed off to medical school way back when, brother Bob stepped into Academe…and he has never looked back. The University of California and other educational institutions put him in touch with the world of poetry and literature. He soon discovered his gift and gave it voice. Awards and honors include The MacArthur Fellowship (“They called me up one morning and said they were sending me a check for $250,000. Made my day.”), the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, National Book Award, and jewel in the crown – Poet Laureate of the United States. If you would like to read some of Bob’s poetry try Time and Materials: Poems (Harper Collins, 2007).
Close as they are, the Hass brothers have come to occupy polar opposite positions along the political spectrum, which makes for lively dialogue between the two. Best brothers...and best friends.
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Robby Marshall ’02 is an American musician, composer, and arranger. Declared “innovative” and “highly inventive” by the LA Weekly, he has performed with Michael Bublé, Dr. John, Bobby McFerrin, Trombone Shorty, David Foster, and Tom Jones among others. He has played on over 50 recordings and soundtracks, tours frequently, and is an active bandleader. He is also featured on the upcoming album “Coming Forth by Day: A Tribute to Billie Holiday” by Grammy-winning vocalist Cassandra Wilson. I have found that attitude and experience are far more valuable than talent. They point the way to success and longevity. As a result, I play for thousands of people and stay in four-star hotels, but also play in noisy bars and sleep on strangers’ couches. Either way, I enjoy it and am grateful for the work that I have. Every job offers a window to be fully present in the moment. That’s attitude. And once finished — if you were paying attention — it will always teach you something. That’s experience. There is no doubt in my mind that my attitude was fertilized most prominently at Marin Catholic. The faculty at MC saw a spark in me that needed special cultivation. Their support and enthusiasm rang louder than my insecurities. During this time my passion and imagination grew in tandem with my technique, and a flame was lit inside of me that continues to burn today. Over the following years, most of my musician colleagues left to take a more “secure” path...but I was having way too much fun to stop. So I look back on my time at Marin Catholic with immense gratitude, as it was here that I built a personal foundation that holds strong when the inevitable pressures of early adulthood shake your world view. My advice: Never stop cultivating the work that is dear to you, and never let fear or anything from outside stain your relationship with it. Stay positive. It’s not easy, but the formula works and fruit is sweeter than you ever imagined. That’s why jazz musicians say, “Keep on keepin’ on!”
53—MARIN Catholic • FALL 2016
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Take every opportunity that comes your way. Gabby Doerschlag ’16 is renowned for her bright smile and upbeat attitude. Whether it be during cross country, Girls State, or in the MC Science Department, Gabby always keeps it positive, a trait that will help her as she enters her freshman year at UC Berkeley. I hadn’t run a day in my life and the prospect of joining the Cross County team made me want to cry, but I knew the coach was nice and I had just transferred to MC. The decision to join the team brought me lifelong friends, a coach that could easily be my second mother, a respect for the earth, and a passion for running. I also remember I had the option to take AP Biology in addition to Honors Chemistry, making me the only sophomore on the roster. Ouch! But through this decision, I discovered a love for science that led me to choose Environmental Science as my major at UC Berkeley. Without this philosophy of saying yes and challenging myself, I would have never had the chance to attend California Girls State at Claremont McKenna during the summer between my junior and senior year. When my counselor, Nancy Cook, first told me about Girls State, I was initially apprehensive and intimidated. Nonetheless, I completed the biography required for my application and prepared for my interview. It wasn’t until then that I understood that I was one of only three girls selected by teachers and counselors to be considered as one of the 500 Girls State Delegates. You can’t imagine the shock when Mrs. Cook called me into her office and notified me that I had officially been chosen as a Girls State delegate. Whatever fears I had surrounding Girls State–how competitive other girls would be while campaigning, if I would be forced into public speaking, if my little knowledge of American government would pale in comparison to the other girls’–disappeared when I arrived at my boarding gate in the airport and saw a group of girls sitting around introducing themselves … all with my same fears. Girls State ended up being a group of intelligent, incredibly kind, nonjudgmental, hard working young women working together to create innovative solutions to our country’s problems. When I learned that some girls had been dreaming about attending Girls State since middle school, I understood how fortunate I was to be given this opportunity. I am thankful Marin Catholic taught me to embrace challenges and seize opportunities. That is exactly what I did with my Girls State experience, and that is exactly how I plan on working through the next phase of my life while attending UC Berkeley.
Continue to challenge yourself. FORMING BETTER PEOPLE THROUGHFALL COMMUNITY • MC FALL 2016— 56 2016 • MARIN Catholic—64
FAITH
Convictio Father Cameron Faller ‘06 was ordained a priest in 2015 and serves as the associate pastor of the Church of the Epiphany in San Francisco. He also serves as chaplain to Archbishop Riordan High School.
I
never wanted to be a priest. In fact, it was probably the last thing I wanted to do while growing up. I wanted to have a more “enjoyable,” a more “successful,” and a more “prestigious” career, but God had other plans. After my first year of college, while I was on a religious pilgrimage in Lourdes, France with a group of MC graduates, I realized, through God’s grace, that I had never really considered what God wanted me to do with my life; I had always told Him what I was going to do. Therefore, in prayer, I sincerely asked God, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” All of a sudden, for the first time in my life, I had this deep conviction that I was being called to be a priest. The conviction scared me to death because I didn’t initially want to be a priest, I didn’t think I had the gifts necessary to be a good priest, and, quite frankly, I was somewhat terrified by the ministry of priests. However, when I went back for my second year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the conviction would not go away. Through much prayer and discernment, I finally decided to enter the seminary. I spent seven years in the seminary with many ups and downs; many times I didn’t think I could make it as a priest. However, every time I needed to make the decision to carry on, the Lord’s grace was there to support me and lead me to the next step. I can truly say I really didn’t know I would be a priest until I was ordained a transitional deacon by Bishop Thomas Daly in 2014. In 2015, I was ordained a priest by Archbishop Cordileone, and I have been serving this past year as the associate pastor of Church of the Epiphany in San Francisco as well as the chaplain of Archbishop Riordan High School. It has been a crazy first year as a priest. I like to tell people that the priesthood is both everything and nothing like what I expected it to be. Every day is different, and it is filled with many blessings but just as many challenges. The greatest blessing has been seeing the Lord’s grace at work within my ministry. I am truly surprised and grateful for what the Lord has been giving me the grace and courage to endure and do in my ministry. On the other hand, the greatest difficulty has been encountering great apathy and indifference to a truth and a faith that I care so deeply about. Despite all the challenges of my first year, I feel first and foremost blessed and grateful to God to have this vocation. As I continue my ministry for the Archdiocese, I’d ask the MC community to please pray for me and for an increase in priestly vocations to the Archdiocese of San Francisco. God Bless. Father Cameron Faller ‘06 celebrating Mass at Archbishop Riordan High School
57—MARIN Catholic • FALL 2016
on Calling
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skis From
After skiing in the Olympics, Arman Serebrakian ’05 got to carry the flag for the closing ceremonies. Now Arman attends Harvard Medical School where he is studying plastic surgery.
Not many people can put the word “Olympian” on their resume. What was one moment that crystallized your overall experience? Having the honor to represent a nation and its people on the world’s greatest stage is an experience very few people get. Add to that representing my heritage, family, and my ancestors was beyond humbling – an amazing experience. I met so many great individuals, traveled to every corner of the globe, and worked very hard doing something I truly love. But by far the greatest moment was being named flag bearer for the Republic of Armenia during the Closing Ceremony procession. That is something I can never forget because that decision was based on my performances during the Games and what the coaches and the fans thought. How did your Olympic experience impact your time at Temple University Medical School? When I returned to medical school after the Olympics for my final two years, I took all I had learned and applied it directly to my studies. I learned a lot during my Olympic experience – about myself, the world, making adjustments, what it truly means to persevere, and how to be a disciplined machine – and all of this helped me thrive and land a prestigious residency spot. Why did you choose Harvard for your residency? One person who inspired me to go into the field of plastic surgery was the late Dr. Joseph Murray. He was a spectacular wartime reconstructive plastic surgeon who contributed to every field of medicine throughout his career. I read his autobiography during medical school and was so inspired that I read it again, cover to cover. His work truly inspired me, and he established the plastic surgery residency program at Harvard. I couldn’t think of a better place to train.
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...to scalpel. At Marin Catholic, we emphasize leadership and service. What does this mean to you? My experiences in athletics have taught me how to be a great leader and I’ve been able to extend this to giving back. One major goal during the Olympic experience was to inspire young athletes in Armenia. After the Games I traveled to Armenia to participate in the first ever Pan-Armenian Winter Games. I spent time skiing and training with many young Armenian skiers and visited elementary schools in the capital city of Yerevan. I also speak at schools here in the U.S. Who influenced you during your time at Marin Catholic? Ms. Carri Polizzotti was a teacher who greatly inspired me and always pushed me to dream big. Chemistry certainly wasn’t my favorite subject during high school, but I ended up taking two years of her advanced chemistry courses and I remember how much I enjoyed her passion, enthusiasm, and knowledge. Like any great teacher or athletic coach, she challenged all her students to their limits and brought out the best in everyone. Arman Serebrekian ‘05 at the 2014 Olympics
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SERVICE
Room to Gary Giacomini ’58 has spent his career helping secure the Marin landscape for generations to come--you can celebrate his legacy by taking a hike in the glorious 1,500 acre Gary Giacomini Open Space Preserve near San Geronimo.
Marin looks the way it does today in large part due to the vision and perseverance of Gary Giacomini. When Gary learned about the plan to build an eight-lane freeway from San Rafael to Point Reyes and open up 1.1 million housing sites for development in West Marin, he decided the best way to preserve the majestic beauty of the county was to run for the Board of Supervisors from where he could enact zoning changes and promote a comprehensive land management strategy. As he tells it, he thought his tenure on the Board would be brief and he would promptly return to his law practice. However, achieving the fulfillment of his goals took far longer than anticipated due to many lawsuits brought by West Marin ranchers and would-be developers, including one which went all the way to the Supreme Court. The Marin Countywide Plan, which Gary helped create in 1973, divided the county into three corridors, preserving natural parklands along the coast and inland agricultural lands, while limiting housing development to the corridor along the 101. As Gary proclaims, Marin remains “the lungs of the Bay Area,” while the Peninsula has been taken over by subdivisions. Marin’s environmental stewardship has become a model for communities nationwide. Gary finally retired from the Board of Supervisors in 1996 after 24 years of service, the longest of any supervisor in California at the time. While he has been the recipient of countless awards and featured in the documentary Rebels with a Cause for his pioneering work in environmental stewardship, he is quick to assert that politicians never do things as individuals. “I worked with 26 different supervisors during my time on the Board,” says Giacomini. “Many of our votes were split 3-2. You have to collaborate and work well with others to achieve anything.” Gary is still in practice and takes on cases that are of interest to him, primarily involving land-use. His main passion these days however is his work as a trustee of MALT (Marin Agricultural Land Trust), of which he was a founding board member. “Political people come and go and zoning laws can change, the one permanent thing you can do is to buy the land to preserve it in perpetuity.”
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Pearl Lynch ‘16 looks to pursue a career in the sciences after attending Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. For four years she participated in Marin Catholic’s El Carmen Language and Leadership Immersion Program traveling to El Salvador, Panama, and the Dominican Republic where she got to form relationships with children all over the world. 63—MARIN Catholic • FALL 2016
One night in the Dominican Republic,
some local teenagers from the little town of La Mina joined us for dinner at the unforgettable Blue Moon Retreat Center where we were staying. The teenage girls were a part of the Mariposa Foundation (mariposa means butterfly), a nonprofit group helping teenage Dominican girls break the cycle of youth pregnancy, low education, and domestic violence. We spent a lot of time with them in our two week stay and were excited to share one final evening with them before heading home. Dinner was fun because we taught them how to play “Freeze!,”a traditional game for our program. The first person who moves has to clear all the dishes . . . and the Dominicans loved it. After dinner someone turned on some merengue music. The girls started dancing merengue, something very popular there. If you don’t know it, merengue is different than dancing in America because it involves a lot of swinging of the hips. We were all watching in awe when of the teenage boys grabbed one of the American girl’s hand and started showing her how to dance merengue. In the blink of an eye, you could see the thoughts in their heads. “Why don’t we just teach all the Americans?” So we got in two lines facing each other and learned the basic eight-count step. While most of us were rhythmically challenged, everybody still paired up and tried to dance. Merengue music is very upbeat and fast, making it difficult for a beginner to follow along. And I must add, none of our guys could quite figure out how to move their hips properly. But regardless of how bad we were, we were doing what we had set out to do: meet people, connect with them, and share our cultures.
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S ervice
Mentored to Success Nicholas Kwok ’12 graduated from MIT in 2016 as the class valedictorian. He will continue his education at Harvard Medical School, building on a family legacy and utilizing the values he learned at Marin Catholic to do good in the world.
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From MC to MIT to Harvard Medical School. Is this how you envisioned your journey? Not at all! When I was at MC, engineering and medicine were on my radar, but MIT was very much a dream school. Medical school was far enough into the future that I hadn’t thought about any specific place. However, at MC I aspired to be the best I could be, and to make a difference in the world. The support from my family and my teachers made my journey to Harvard Med possible. What lessons have you learned about life, school, etc.? Any nuggets of wisdom? Understand yourself, what you’re good at, and what you find meaningful in life. Then go after it. There will be obstacles, setbacks, and people who tell you it can’t be done, but no one knows your abilities and your goals better than you do. I remember taking AP Biology and AP Chemistry simultaneously my junior year and multivariable calculus at College of Marin my senior year at MC. Very few people had done it before, but I really enjoyed math and science, and wanted to maximize the opportunities I had at MC. Also, good mentors are essential to your success. These people believe in you, inspire you, and give you a sanity check when you go after your dreams. I was very lucky to have two excellent mentors in my parents. Both of my parents were science/engineering majors in college, and later became physicians. In high school, I was able to look at their career trajectory and day-to-day life and understand deeply the many obstacles in the path to medicine, and how my life might be as a physician. Through their support, I gained the confidence to try things I had never done before (like mechanical engineering), to fail, and to figure it out and keep going. The mentorship from my parents played a critical role in helping me become an MIT engineer and Harvard medical student. Let’s talk mascots: MC is the “Wildcat”, MIT is “Tim the Beaver,” and Harvard is “John the Pilgrim.” Who wins that fight in your opinion and why? Why would they fight? The wildcat lives outside of North America, the beaver lives along river banks, and the Pilgrims lived in towns and did not trap beavers for fur. Peaceful coexistence is more likely the status quo. For me, they coexist and will always be different parts of me. Your path is a high demand one. What do you do to relax and what do you do for fun? I recently learned to sail. MIT has sailboats you can use for free, so when the weather is good, I sail with friends on the Charles River. I took piano lessons for most of my pre-medical school years, so I sometimes sight-read classical pieces for fun. I also like to accompany friends on Disney songs; my favorite is “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” by Elton John. Going out to Asian restaurants with friends is also fun.
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As we empower our students, as informed and compassionate individuals, to effect change in our world, we thank our generous community for helping make these stories, and those of our future graduates, possible. Marin Catholic thrives due to your philanthropic commitment and support. Thank you! Please join us in recognizing the spirit of giving in our community. Our Annual Report is online marincatholic.org/mcgivesthanks Honor Roll of Donors Event highlights from the year College acceptances Baccalaureate Mass ...and more!
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