Progress: Fall 2021

Fall 2021

A Publication for Alumni and Parents

DEAR FRIENDS OF SAINT FRANCIS, As you read this, it will have been two years since we experienced a traditional, pre-pandemic start to the school year. While it is clear that there are still challenges to be faced, every day we see more signs of the return to the activities that mark the Saint Francis experience for our entire community.

This summer, it was a gift to hear the sounds of band practice and whistles on the fields and to see the classrooms being set up, youngsters wearing Lancer Sports Camp T-shirts, and the groups of students and educators brainstorming big plans for the start of what promises to be an exceptional school year.

This year, more than ever, we are grateful to be able to look forward to traditional fall activities. There is nothing like seeing our students gathering in the Quad, our alumni coming back for Friday night football games, future Lancers climbing the Bay tree. These are the moments that remind us of the blessing of gathering together as a community and inspire us by celebrating both a shared history and an exciting future for Saint Francis.

In encouraging his community, Blessed Basil Moreau wrote, “If your institution has already produced admirable results, it is destined to produce still happier ones.” It is this faith in providence, confidence in our call as Holy Cross educators and certain hope that strengthens and guides us as we are busily engaged in the next phases of planning for our school community.

SFHSLancers

sfhslancers

SFHSLancers

Saint Francis Lancers

Saint Francis High School

When you visit campus, you can’t miss the physical signs of that not-too-distant future for our school. This past July, we started preparation for the construction of the Innovation Center on the site of the former 300 Building. This incredible space is the first building of Saint Francis’ new $100 million comprehensive campaign on behalf of our students, educators and families: Light the Way. We are excited to share the progress of this transformational campaign, as it continues to offer opportunities for students and families to experience outstanding Holy Cross education.

In these pages, as we share the details of the Light the Way campaign, we showcase the novel and enduring ways our students and alumni are lighting the way for a better future for Saint Francis and the communities we nurture beyond our school. We hope that you are inspired by our stories and encouraged by our commitment in living out our mission and call.

Gratefully yours in Holy Cross,

Jason D. Curtis President

Our union with one another is a powerful lever with which we can move, direct and sanctify the whole world.

Blessed Basil Moreau, Founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross

Contents A COLORFUL SEND-OFF

Publisher

Jason D. Curtis Executive Editor

Paul Lanning, EdD, CFRE Jamie Ceccato Perkins ’97 Creative Director

Carol Patane

Editorial Staff

Michele Tjin Kalix Marketing/Sarah Achenbach Design

Kalix Marketing/Jason Quick Alumni Copy Editor

Michele Quinn ’83 Support Staff

Nikoa Johnson Bernard Nemis Diane Wilson Contributing Photographers

Now and Forever Photography Carla Duharte Razura E. Spencer Toy Progress is published by the Institutional Advancement Department for the alumni, parents and friends of Saint Francis High School.

Email us: progress@sfhs.com

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NEWS: Student highlights and profiles

ALUMNI

REFLECTIONS ON THE PANDEMIC

NEW LEADERSHIP AT SAINT FRANCIS

LIGHT THE WAY: The impact of a Holy Cross education and Saint Francis’ new campaign

PAUL LANNING:

23 FROM THE ARCHIVES

Stories that link our past and future

ALUMNI: Letter from Greg Calcagno ’83, upcoming events, class news, In Memory and Little Lancers

ALUMNI IMPACT: Chris Donohoe ’85, musician and philanthropist

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Lancers in the NEWS Arya Pratap ’21 Named U.S. Presidential Scholar Arya Pratap began her freshman year this fall at University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign with an extra spring in her step.

After being selected as a YoungArts finalist in November 2020, the dancer recently was named a U.S. Presidential Scholar, one of the country’s highest honors.

Created by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Presidential Scholars program recognizes seniors’ exceptional accomplishments in academics, the arts, career and technical fields. Honorees also possess a commitment to community service and leadership. Arya, who is one of 161 national scholars and one of nine Californians chosen in 2021, learned of the competition from her national YoungArts honor in Indian Classical Dance or Bharatanatyam, a 2,000-year-old divine art form she’s performed since age 4.

“Being a Presidential Scholar has been my dream,” says Arya, who is studying information sciences at college.” Years of hard work and dedication led me to this honor, along with my friends, family and Saint Francis teachers who shaped my understanding of the world.”

Saint Francis English teacher Meighan Wilson Friedsam ’97 was recognized as a Distinguished Teacher in the 2021 Presidential Scholars program.

Arya has performed at Saint Francis, with Fremont’s Nritanjali Dance Academy, and in dance competitions around the country. She’s used her artistic talents and leadership skills to raise funds for flood relief efforts in India and as a Young Wing member for Voice of a Child, a human rights nonprofit serving children in India.

As a Lancer, she was on Speech and Debate and tutored middleand elementary-aged students in debate. One of the leaders of the TEDxSaintFrancis program, Arya served on the Speaker Mentor Board and trained speakers. Her own TEDxSaintFrancis talk in 2018, titled (fittingly) “Dancing Through Life,” spoke of her passion for using dance as inspiration for social justice.

Football Player Joe Tongamoa ’21 Showcased on ABC’s ‘Lost Season’ Before the pandemic pushed Saint Francis online in spring 2020, Joe Tongamoa was generating buzz for pushing back on opposing teams. As a linebacker for the Saint Francis varsity football team, Joe was counting on his senior season to showcase his prowess and leadership on the gridiron to earn an athletic scholarship from bigtime football programs.

But one of the many ripples of the COVID-19 pandemic is the effect it’s had on high school athletes. For 11 months, ABC-owned TV station ABC7 (KGO-TV) followed Joe and two other Bay Area athletes on their journey to navigate their “lost season” while dealing with the challenges of the pandemic.

The docu-series focuses on Joe’s familycentered life off the field and how his coaches, teammates, teachers and family help keep his dream of playing college football alive. Spoiler alert: There’s a happy ending — Joe was recruited by Southern Utah University.

To watch the streaming series, download the ABC7 Bay Area streaming TV app or go to the ABC7 Bay Area YouTube Channel.

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PROGRESS Fall 2021

LANCER

profile Aidan Sanchez ’22 Officer Associated Student Body (ASB) Student Council Junior year Co-founder Filipino-American Student Union Core team leader Ignite (youth group) Discus Saint Francis Track and Field Member Lancer Rally Board Volunteer coordinator Camp Thrive

“Having opportunities to participate in different clubs has helped me discover who I am as a leader.”

How has your leadership style developed?

In middle school, I was on the seventh-grade student council and discovered that I like helping friends and classmates. It’s fulfilling and fun. I don’t like sitting in one place. Saint Francis has really helped me develop as a leader. My first leadership role was as a freshman when I helped lead Ignite’s Jesus Reframed retreat. I’ve been leading small group discussions for Ignite ever since. I am still learning about my leadership style, but I like to be hands on. I used to be a shy, quiet person. Having opportunities to participate in different clubs has helped me discover who I am as a leader. My journalism class in fall 2020 also helped build my desire for public service. I have a zeal to serve.

Why is leading as an advocate important to you?

I co-founded the Filipino-American Student Union two years ago as part of the school’s Social Justice, Equity and Inclusion program. I worked closely with Mrs. Moorhouse, who had the foundation from students who were trying [to get it started] before. This is one of my proudest accomplishments at Saint Francis. It’s so important to show our heritage. Last year, we invited Filipino-American author Randy

Top: Helping at Martha’s Kitchen (far right) Bottom: With fellow volunteers at Camp Thrive (far left)

Ribay, who wrote Patron Saints of Nothing, to do a virtual author’s talk. He was at my parents’ [Filipino] restaurant one day, and I introduced myself.

How do you lead outside of school?

I help lead Camp Thrive, which hosts day camps for first- through fifth-graders at a couple of churches each year, including at my parish, St. Lucy’s in Campbell. The camp was started by Fr. Steve Kim. I am the volunteer coordinator, and there’s not another 17-year-old on the leadership team. The camp is two weeks in July, but we plan for it all year. When schools shut down last year, we helped students with the new style of [virtual] learning. It’s been really helpful to have a chance to learn different ways to lead.

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Reflections on the

Pandemic The past year and a half has been quite the learning curve. From navigating technology to dealing with loss on many levels, the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic are profound. We asked several Lancers to share their most transformative lesson from the pandemic.

Aurea Densing DeFranco ’84 Parent Engagement Director

Jamie Ceccato Perkins ’97 Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications

After COVID-19 presented itself to the world and affected our communities close to home, I began to take stock of what was truly important and how I could do better. After 20 years working for ad agencies, in publishing, in aerospace and high-tech companies, I pondered what it all meant and how my work could be more significant. I embarked on re-evaluating my career path to focus on aligning with an organization that lived by its mission, one that had a commitment to serving its community and shaping future leaders. The more I gave it thought, the more I realized I had a greater calling. So, I shifted gears and started looking for a new opportunity—in the middle of a pandemic, no less.

I asked myself three questions: Where can I align my career passion with my faith? What organization best serves its community? Where can I make the most impact?

My questions brought me full circle and led me home. I am honored to return to Saint Francis in this new marketing and communications role and feel a great responsibility to serve our students, families, alumni and fellow educators.

We’re forging new paths, and I’m excited to see our community impact the future!

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PROGRESS Fall 2021

When we hunkered down, pulled our attention inward and physically separated from others for the greater good, many in our Lancer community turned their attention toward others who were more vulnerable or more impacted. From creatively welcoming our newest freshman families with personal phone calls, drive-through celebrations and social media shout-outs to funding grocery store gift cards and care packages for families in need, I was privileged to witness firsthand a level of generosity from Lancer parents that I did not expect to see. Seeing how families opened their hearts to embrace and take care of one another added another dimension to how I perceived community.

Much of my work at Saint Francis involves gathering parents together to make new connections and celebrate existing ones.

Virtual spaces kept us connected to share our stories, to make others feel comfortable and to pray for each other. I learned that, during an incredibly challenging time, Lancer families could embody Holy Cross hospitality in keeping with the welcome offered by St. Andre Bessette in Montreal many years ago. I also learned that though we needed to remain distant, we could be united in solidarity, in community and in care of one another.

Robert Copple ’02 Facilities Director

In all my years at Saint Francis, starting when I worked parttime beginning in 2003, I never could have imagined seeing our campus as desolate and quiet as it was in spring 2020 and during the early part of the 2020-21 school year. Wearing masks and not seeing the faces of our community members made it challenging. I knew as the Facilities Department we would have to adjust to it not being business as usual. Safety and cleanliness became our top concern as well as social distancing and accommodating to the individual needs of our community. It gave me a whole new appreciation for what a truly cleaned space is and for what six feet is.

When educators and students returned to campus last spring, it felt that much more significant.

A lesson that I have taken from this past year is that the strength and cohesion of our Lancer community can overcome anything in the face of adversity.

Katie Teekell ’00 Principal

Iminii Wilmer ’22

Remote and masked in-person learning have changed the way I view learning, community and goals. Remote learning seemed very unmanageable in the beginning, but the continuation of the block schedule and collaboration hours with teachers made my time management skills improve. However, completing hours of schoolwork alone in my room made it hard for me to stay motivated to learn every day.

Doing remote learning for my whole junior year made me realize how important it is to learn with your classmates and be taught by a teacher all in the same physical classroom.

Missing out on the usual in-person Saint Francis experience affected how I see our community. Faculty and student leaders hosted multiple online events to continue to build our community, yet, once again, I believe being in a class setting makes a big difference. For my upcoming senior year, I hope everyone appreciates being back in-person and has learned to no longer take these things for granted. Lastly, I hope that my fellow senior classmates and I go all out for everything like we did for our freshman year, which was the only normal full year of high school we have gone through.

When I am asked by prospective students or educators about what makes Saint Francis such a special place, I often speak of the ways in which our students and educators care for one another and to the relationships we are able to cultivate in a community that truly centers the values of hope, respect, integrity and family. There is no question that this past year has tested our resilience, but I truly believe that our school community is emerging stronger than ever, with a renewed and reinvigorated sense of purpose as we seek to educate and form this next generation of Lancers.

Throughout the past year, we have leaned on the example of the Brothers of Holy Cross, embracing hope and zeal to reimagine opportunities for engagement and connection. We have focused intentionally on what we can safely and effectively do for our students and educators instead of on restrictions and barriers. We have worked to foster a culture of hospitality and inclusivity, expanding programs and opportunities for student engagement and leadership.

Our students and educators have embraced creativity, positivity and ingenuity to generate positive and fulfilling experiences in the midst of so many obstacles. In many ways, the perspective wrought by the pandemic has brought into even clearer focus our mission as a Holy Cross high school. The strengths of our community have never been more apparent.

When I think back to all that has happened since March 2020, the memories I will carry with me are not ones of despair or anxiety but rather of joy and hope: • The elaborately decorated cars of the Class of 2020 as they pulled into campus for their diploma distribution and graduation photos.

• The laughter of our student leaders as they tried to “scare” visitors at our Halloween drive-through event.

• The simple joy of elbow bumps and smiles from behind masks as we walked through the Quad in February when our students were finally back on campus.

• The emotions at the starting line at our first-ever on campus cross country meet, which was also the first sporting event we hosted in more than a year.

Throughout the past year, we have leaned on the example of the Brothers of Holy Cross, embracing hope and zeal to reimagine opportunities for engagement and connection.

These seemingly small moments of joy, grace and gratitude carry more meaning and power than any of the large events or traditions we may have missed during the pandemic. We will not take them for granted again.

More than anything, this past year has shown us that we can create experiences of community and togetherness anywhere and under any circumstance — and that there is nothing our Lancer family cannot accomplish together.

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A View from Space:

NASA Astronaut Megan McArthur ’89

Top left: Tropical Storm Elsa from @Space_Station, July 4, 2021 Top right: Working with Mark T. Vande Hei, NASA astronaut, flight engineer for @Space_Station

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n April 23, 2021, Megan McArthur ’89 blasted into space as part of NASA’s historic SpaceX Crew-2 mission to the International Space Station. During her six months on the Space Station, she and the first-ever international crew of astronauts from Japan, Europe, Russia and the U.S. conducted research.

Throughout the mission, Megan shared her experiences on social media with captivating photos and context on the research and Space Station maintenance she and her crewmates accomplished. Her first mission to space was in 2009 on the final Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission.

Enjoy the view from her window and follow @astro_megan on Twitter.

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Center right: The view from her office on June 29, as she sends the depart command to the Cygnus cargo vehicle, SS Katherine Johnson, and monitors it until it’s out of the astronauts’ airspace Bottom right: Suited up Bottom left: Conducting an experiment on Real-Time Protein Crystal Growth-2 investigation on June 4

My Favorite Book

“I got interested in neuroscience after I had a serious concussion in eighth grade. For Independent Inquiry class, I studied neurodivergence and wrote a literature review paper from 136 publications on the co-morbidity of autism and pediatric epilepsy. Because of COVID-19, I couldn’t finalize my findings in a lab, so I created neuroscienceforsmiles.com for fifth- and sixth-grade teachers to inspire neuroscience curriculum. This past summer, I took a Yale virtual medical humanities class, which has been my favorite thing ever. I loved reading Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death, and Brain Surgery. My dream is to get my MD/PhD, become a neurosurgeon and run clinical trials based on my research on pediatric epilepsy.”

Dance Shoes

“My family jokes that I’ve been dancing since I came out of the womb. I started lessons at 18 months, and now I am in the studio six days a week. I mainly do contemporary jazz dancing. I teach all levels of dance and love teaching people.”

WHAT’S IN MY

Backpack?

Ava Goumas ’22 gracefully moves among neuroscience, dance and volunteering, often combining her passions. As the National Charity League’s Stanford Hills chapter senior class president, she fundraises and leads other teens in outreach, including building inclusive playgrounds for children with disabilities for the Magical Bridge Foundation and creating a more inclusive curriculum in Bay Area public schools.

This year, Ava is launching a mentoring program matching first-year Lancers with upperclassmen to explore their interests at school and in the world.

Memento from my Immersion Group

“In a normal year, we would’ve traveled out of the country, but this past June, I did a four-day virtual immersion trip at the Vallombrosa Center in Menlo Park with eight Saint Francis students. We learned about El Salvador’s climate change, migration, sexual assault and other issues through virtual guest speakers. We also spent a great day working at Martha’s Kitchen, a San Jose nonprofit that provides meals to Spanish-speaking families.” Pictured, first row, far left.

Ruler

“I am never without my 12-inch ruler.

I like my notes to be straight.”

Pom-Poms

“I’ve been on the Varsity Spirit Squad since freshman year and am co-captain this year. We’re focused on making an inclusive team where everyone can share ideas. This is a non-academic way to connect with the campus that is just pure fun.” Pictured, second row, far right; photo taken in fall 2019.

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Farewell, Friend In May 2021, the Lancer community bid a fond, colorful farewell to the 300 Building (Dujarié Hall), which was razed this summer to make way for the new Innovation Center and Dining Commons. The classes of 2020 and 2021 and Saint Francis educators were invited to make their personal marks on a building that has made an indelible mark on Saint Francis.

A bit of the 300 Building’s colorful history: • Built in 1963, it was the campus’ third academic building.

• It housed classrooms, most notably for foreign language and math, and was home to the Dean’s Office for decades.

• The Little Theater hosted hundreds of performances, presentations, improv shows and more.

• In addition to dining at Malcolm Center, Lancers enjoyed dances, award celebrations, in-services, fundraisers, meetings and more in this space.

Thank you, 300 Building!

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NEW LEADERSHIP AT SAINT FRANCIS Jamie Ceccato Perkins ’97

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

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harged with overseeing the marketing and communication of the school’s mission, vision and identity, Ms. Perkins brings an extensive expertise in media planning, creative development, brand strategy, messaging and events. She has worked in advertising, publishing, retail/e-commerce, hightech, aerospace and, most recently, at Western Digital, where she oversaw brand sentiment and thought-leadership programs. Ms. Perkins holds a BA in communication from Santa Clara University and an MA in communication and leadership studies from Gonzaga University. A Bay Area native, she also has lived in North Carolina and Southern California and studied in Madrid, Spain, and Cagli, Italy.

Hector Camacho

DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL CULTURE AND BELONGING

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Saint Francis educator and counselor since 2013, Mr. Camacho leads the school’s efforts to foster an inclusive environment in every aspect at Saint Francis and to ensure that the school maintains principles of social justice and dignity. He recently served as interim director for social justice, equity and inclusion (SJEI). Prior to leading the SJEI team in developing the program, he was director of guidance and college counseling, a sophomore counselor and social studies teacher. He holds a BA in history, theology and religious studies from Catholic University and an MA in education from Stanford. Since 2014, Mr. Camacho has served as president of the San Mateo County Board of Education.

Sr. Jodi Cecilia Min, O.P.

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DIRECTOR OF HOLY CROSS MISSION AND MINISTRY

or 15 years, Sr. Jodi was a well-loved educator at Saint Francis, chairing the Religious Studies department, serving as a mentor teacher, coordinating immersion programs and coaching girls basketball. A member of the Dominican Sisters of Oakford for nearly three decades, she left Saint Francis in 2009 to run her order’s formation house and program in San Leandro and then managed a Tucson-based U.S./Mexico border immersion program for Christian Brothers schools around the country. Returning to Saint Francis in her new role, she oversees and coordinates all religious and pastoral activities and is sharing, once again, her devotion to students’ spiritual growth and formation within the Holy Cross mission and values. Sr. Jodi holds a BA in human development from University of California, Davis, and an MA in theology from Providence College.

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THE LANCER

451 INVENTORY BACK TO SCHOOL CLASS OF 2025

1,000 Freshmen and parents attended the August 2021 Class of 2025 Welcome Mass and Barbecue

7 Counties represented

80

Students

100+ Grammar and middle schools represented

Clubs represented at Freshman-Sophomore Activity Fair

Upcoming Events Christmas at our House Dec. 3-4

Fall Play Nov. 4-6 & 11-13

Student-Run Musical Jan. 27-29 Lancer Gala and Auction March 19 Fall 2021 PROGRESS

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PROGRESS Fall 2021

LIGHT THE WAY Sixty-six years ago, the Brothers of Holy Cross journeyed to Mountain View to found a Catholic school for boys. Led by God and inspired by the work of the Blessed Basil Moreau, they created a campus and a community — and a path of possibilities.

In 1955, as the region was quickly changing from agriculture to industry, the small school flourished. With patience and care, the Brothers were lighting the way.

Our educators continue to model their example, lighting the way for students by teaching, coaching and encouraging personal growth. In turn, our students and alumni alike use the lessons they’ve learned at Saint Francis to solve challenges and benefit their communities.

And Saint Francis serves as a beacon of light in the Silicon Valley and across the Holy Cross network as we strive to exemplify the importance of a values-based education.

Light the Way: Advancing Saint Francis High School, our new comprehensive fundraising campaign, continues this enduring cycle. This fall, we launched our multi-year, $100 million campaign to ensure Saint Francis students and educators have the tools and resources they need to make a transformative impact. We are raising funds for modern facilities for learning, educational excellence and student support.

We spoke with several alumni about how they are lighting the way, continuing the tradition that began more than six decades ago.

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PRESIDENT’S CELEBRATION AND CEREMONIAL GROUNDBREAKING Saint Francis High School kicked off a $100 million comprehensive fundraising campaign called Light the Way on Sept. 17, 2021. This on-campus, outdoor evening event recognized supporters to the campaign and previewed an ambitious set of capital projects.

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School President Jason Curtis previewed the campaign at the President’s Celebration and Ceremonial Groundbreaking. “This campaign will provide essential resources to students and educators at Saint Francis, while ensuring our campus facilities continue to support innovation, creativity and collaboration,” he said to the nearly 300 attendees. “Light the Way references the inspiring legacy of the Brothers of Holy Cross and the school community they established here at Saint Francis, while pointing to a bright future for many generations of Lancer families.”

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1. Fr. Tony Mancuso blesses the construction site 2. The Saint Francis choir 3. Student speaker Haley Flahavan ’22 4. Terry Lee, Holy Cross Director of School Sponsorship; Br. Michael Winslow, C.S.C., member of the Board of Directors; Br. Tom Dziekan, C.S.C., Provincial Superior of the Moreau Province; Br. Donald Blauvelt, C.S.C., member of the Board of Directors and former principal of Saint Francis 5. Mark Adams, Board of Directors Chair, and Maureen Adams 6. The Saint Francis band 7. Shanahan Lim ’94 and Lisa Lim

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Anthony Schiller and Moira Lion ’07 commit $5 million leadership gift A highlight of the Light the Way launch event was the surprise announcement of a $5 million pledge from Anthony Schiller and Moira Lion ’07. Moira, one of three siblings to attend Saint Francis, is an intellectual property attorney with Fenwick & West, LLP in Mountain View. Anthony is co-founder and co-managing director of Green Bay Ventures, a venture capital firm based in San Francisco. Their gift will support prospective students and teachers at Saint Francis by establishing a permanent endowment to fund educational and professional development programs.

“One of the great pleasures of the work we do is getting to know people who care deeply about Saint Francis and about people, and who want to make a difference,” said Paul Lanning, the school’s chief advancement officer. “Moira and Anthony will no doubt serve as an inspiration for others both now and for years to come.”

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INTERSECTING ETHICS AND BIOTECH

Moira Gunn ’66 HC University of San Francisco, associate professor and director of bioentrepreneurship.

Host, “Tech Nation” and “BioTech Nation” on NPR, SiriusXM When you have a new tool application, you start an ethical cascade.

Just because it’s not hurting anybody, what happens if everybody adopts it? We want to give people a structure to make decisions in and appreciate the extent of what they’re doing. One of the questions I ask people as they’re learning how to make decisions is, “Do I know enough to make a good decision?”

You have to understand what your values are and how to apply them. Having values, no matter how good the intentions are, can still get you in trouble if you don’t know how to make a decision. We have to understand that things mean different things as you grow up.

The values of a 16-year-old are different than that of a 30-year-old and so on. If it’s not of interest to you, it’s not of value to you.

Light the Way: Advancing Saint Francis High School Goal: $100 Million

n PILLAR 1: BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS

Constructing the Innovation Center, Dining Commons and Welcome Center on the site of the original 100 and 300 buildings with exciting spaces, we aim to raise $60 million for new facilities that foster collaboration, improve learning experiences and enhance community, including: n A dedicated maker space, larger than what we currently have, for the robotics team to continue strengthening their STEM, creativity and problem-solving skills, while providing more students with building and engineering opportunities n A rooftop garden to grow the science curriculum n A flexible, intimate Black-box Theater for performances and presentations n Endless, yet unknown possibilities for creativity, collaboration and community to flourish

n PILLAR 2: EDUCATOR EXCELLENCE

Investing in our educators is essential to our future — and to the future of our region, country and world.

Our educators give selflessly to shaping the minds and hearts of their students. We aim to raise $15 million for professional development endowment to enable Saint Francis to recruit and retain the very best and brightest in teachers, coaches and staff and provide them with leading-edge tools and ongoing professional development to educate for the future.

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I put students in a debate format or on opposite sides of what they think. They have to find a real-life news example that represents the argument that they’re making, whether they agree with it or not. This is part of breaking out of [the cycle] of repeating things unconsciously.

The ability to have multiple sides of the argument enlightens you on what is possible. You may have the same conclusion, but you’re a different person then. You’re inclusive, you understand the issue, and you may have some nuances you did not expect.

When I was at Holy Cross, I took calculus, physics and chemistry.

I loved math, and then I discovered computer science in graduate school, and I went on to a PhD in mechanical engineering. The real departure came when we expanded the “Tech Nation” topic scope to include biology, as in “BioTech Nation.” I never took biology in high school or college, so I was in my 50s before I learned anything about biology.

It has been wonderful to speak with the “Tech Nation” and “BioTech Nation” guests. They are so enlightening, talking about what they are trying to do or have been able to do and where their work is going. It is a gift that I’ve been able to have all those conversations.

MINISTERING TO THE ELDERLY

Matt Burke ’91 Villa Siena Senior Living Community, social services director I like serving folks in their later years. We always talk about underserved populations, but I think there’s no more underserved population than our elderly folks. It’s a real blessing to be able to help people at this stage of life.

Everybody has a back story. It’s easy to see someone walking with a walker and think, “There’s an elderly person. Poor thing.” I’ve met incredible human beings over the years. A resident moved in the last couple months, and she was telling me about climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. It’s important to remember that everybody, whether they’re a senior or whatever their appearance looks like, has lived an incredible life.

It’s difficult to see a family struggle with the decline of a parent or a loved one. Supporting them is of equal importance. I’d like to think that I can be somebody that people can rely on when they’re facing uncertainty, regardless of the situation or the time of day. I’m always available to answer a question or guide somebody in the right way.

Guiding younger people and sharing what I’ve learned are important to me. Sometimes it’s with the ethics students from Santa Clara University but also with some of our younger staff. I’m not going to be doing this forever, and I’d like to see the people that follow me adopt good traits, habits and ways of serving and communicating with all people. I never thought about that 15 years ago, but I definitely do today.

With a former resident of Villa Siena

n PILLAR 3: STUDENT SUPPORT

Today, now more than ever, families want a Saint Francis education and experience for their children. As education costs continue to rise, though, it is increasingly difficult for families to reach this goal on their own. By raising an additional $25 million for tuition assistance endowment, we can continue to make a Saint Francis education accessible and affordable for today’s Lancers and for future generations.

Good communication is important especially for folks unable to articulate themselves. Every single person is different, and we can’t communicate with any two people in the same way. We have to remember that as we’re trying to serve somebody. We have to individualize it to that human being. Sometimes you feel like you’re onstage doing a little bit of acting. You’re sincere about it, but you need to be a different person for the individual you’re serving.

21% of student body receiving tuition assistance for 2021-22

I did my service projects at Agnews State Hospital. That was my first look into what a care-based facility is. I felt a lot when I was there, and it meant a lot to me. Seeing people who were struggling and had serious mental and physical disabilities was extremely difficult.

Sometimes I forget that here, as kids come [for service projects] and they look frightened, I think, “This is everyday life for me, but this isn’t everyday life for everyone.”

10.73 years average tenure of classroom

I can draw a parallel between Saint Francis and Villa Siena. They’re both faith-based communities, and there is such a real togetherness.

Outside of my own immediate family, this is home and makes me feel comfortable. If I’m away from here for too many days, I feel uneasy, and I have to get back to work.

$4.5 million distributed 2021-22 100% participation in professional development by classroom educators

educators and counselors

40 years longest serving classroom educator Learn more about the Light the Way campaign at sfhs.com/light.

Check back often for updates, live construction feeds, volunteer and donor opportunities and more.

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A LIFELINE FOR THE UNHOUSED

Deanna Villanueva ’03 San Diego Housing Commission, vice president, housing first programs The “housing first” approach guides our programming. We focus on getting [clients] into housing, first and foremost. It’s challenging to look for work, go to school or even find a shower to get ready for a job interview if you’re living out of your car or on the street. We work to help create opportunities for people to move into their next home quickly, making their experience of homelessness as short as possible.

Our pandemic approach in San Diego worked well. On April 1, 2020, Operation Shelter to Home launched at the San Diego Convention Center. It served as a shelter for people experiencing homelessness and was the city’s approach to mitigating the risk of spread of COVID-19 among this vulnerable population of people. It was an opportunity for the city and the Housing Commission to work with different agencies and sectors to bring in many services. During 11 months, COVID-19 positive rates at Operation Shelter to Home remained extremely low and we moved almost 1,500 people into permanent or longer-term housing.

We take the onus off of the client to determine how to get from homelessness to housing. The San Diego Housing Commission opened the Homelessness Response Center in May 2021, implementing the model we used with Operation Shelter to Home. We help people navigate the system of homeless services. One of my favorite things

Architect’s rendering of the new Innovation Center and Dining Commons

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about our approach with this program is we say, “Tell us what your challenges are,” and we’ll figure out how to help. We’re problem solvers.

The difference between someone sleeping outside tonight or not can be how quickly and creatively we work. We make sure we’re not thinking about homelessness as a broad population or idea. This is an individual person who is experiencing homelessness, and we keep that at the forefront to make sure our work is focused on that person’s needs.

I’ve wanted to do this kind of work since I was 16. My family and I took a trip where I saw a lot of poverty, and I thought it wasn’t right to have families and children living on the streets. From that moment forward, I wanted to dedicate myself to working in this sector. I feel an enormous sense of gratitude to have the opportunity to do what I do and be in a position to effect change.

I went on the immersion to downtown San Jose, and it was amazing.

During my time at Saint Francis, I participated in a summer immersion program. We worked with people who were experiencing homelessness and helped in soup kitchens and community centers. It was an invaluable experience because I got to see what was occurring in my own community, and it further solidified the work I wanted to do.

The focus on ethics and morality at Saint Francis has a huge impact on my work. I regularly talk with my team about how we operate with integrity. We’re going to do things that are right by the people we serve. If you’re doing things the right way, you’re going to see a lot of success in what you do. I was [also] taught how to think critically, and that is the crux of what I do every single day, trying to solve a problem and being creative.

CONFRONTING BIG CHALLENGES

Ricky Opaterny ’99 Hangar, partner Hangar is trying to tackle problems we think the government alone can’t solve. We invest in companies that are addressing everything from climate change and natural disasters, to the pandemic to inequality and access to education, to the rising cost of health care. We work with potential customers and stakeholders in the public sector to understand their challenges. Then we look for ways that technology can address those challenges through sustainable and profitable business models.

When I grew up in the 1990s, technology held great promise to solve societal problems and improve people’s lives. Increasingly, I feel the industry has moved from that promise. For me, it’s about creating tools for society and individuals to realize greater potential.

We’re bringing together a unique skill set from the worlds of technology, public policy, business and government to solve problems.

I like being around smart and talented people who push me and whom I push to achieve more than we think possible. Cornea, one of Hangar’s portfolio companies, provides information to firefighting teams and incident commanders about the spread of wildfires. Its tools tell you where a fire will stop burning if you let it burn on its own, which is useful to know so that you can optimize where you’re sending your resources. This capability came from research at a U.S. Forest Service lab, but their model took several days to run for a given fire.

Our business integrated that model into a product that can deliver the information for multiple fires in close to real time.

When I came to Saint Francis, I didn’t know anyone, and I was intimidated by the caliber of other students. The first two years gave me the confidence to operate in different types of situations where what I have to do or engage with might not be what comes

most naturally to me or what I have the most experience in. That’s something I encounter every day. Not being afraid of new situations has been important to me as an entrepreneur.

As a high school freshman, I thought reading was the most uncool thing, but then I became an English major. Literature is a love and an interest that I developed at Saint Francis and has remained with me. I started Google’s Talks at Google, a series of conversations with influential authors and cultural figures, and a nonprofit called Twenty Summers that fosters equity in the arts. And I’ve saved a couple local bookstores. I got married six years ago, and our party favors were our favorite books; a third of them were novels I first encountered at Saint Francis.

Café Mots was a lesson in taking something from an idea to actual execution. It started with a desire my friend Mariana Abdala ’00 had to host an evening of readings on campus. The process of taking something that exists in my or someone else’s imagination and then helping to make it real is such a thrill and something I’ve now done many times and hope to never stop doing. [Launched in 1999, Café Mots continues as a club that hosts student poetry readings and musical performances.]

Interior rendering of the Dining Commons Fall 2021 PROGRESS

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AMBASSADOR FOR CLEAN ENERGY

Shana Patadia ’06 ChargePoint, director of emerging technology, business development I wanted a career where my expertise matches to something good. There’s a need for clean energy sources and electrifying our transportation, and my capabilities align well in terms of understanding the business and the technology.

I focus on autonomous vehicles, rideshare and non-standard vehicles like electric boats. Say there’s a fleet of autonomous vehicles that need somewhere to charge. How do we make sure they can get that charge? Is there a special type of charging station they need? What business model will work for them? We’re truly in a space where no one’s been before and that’s exciting. We’re tackling novel problems and constantly having to evolve and learn.

I take a complex problem and work to make it relatable and understandable. When I talk to my fleet customers, a lot of times they’ve never thought or don’t know how to think about electric vehicles. If they can’t understand where the differences lie, I ask them if they can imagine a day where one of their drivers forgets to plug in a vehicle. It seems like such a tiny detail, and yet it’s so important. I see the light in their eyes as they realize that this is a complicated problem to solve.

There’s a huge acceleration in fleet electrification. Up until a few years ago, if a trucking company wanted an electric fleet, there might

Architect’s rendering of the new atrium

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have been one vehicle option. This year and next, everything is hitting the market and becoming available. This is an amazing opportunity to embrace this technology. It also creates a challenge for people like me who are in the electric vehicle ecosystem because we need to make sure customers have the best and most positive experience when they have their first vehicle so they’re motivated to buy another one.

In high school at Saint Francis, I loved all my English classes because of my passionate teachers and the invaluable skills I learned.

The ability to communicate concisely translates to building better PowerPoint decks or making a better pitch to a customer. Simple things like writing a thesis statement and explaining with supporting points — that’s what you do every day when you’re in a meeting.

Mr. Chavez helped me launch a nonprofit. When I visited my grandma in India, I saw the schools needed a lot of help. Mr. Chavez [retired longtime Saint Francis educator Sal Chavez] is an amazing person, and he took time out of his weekends and nights to attend meetings with me when I started the Hutatma Rajguru School Project with the San Jose Pune Sister City Organization to support a school for girls in Pune, India.

Saint Francis students wrote letters to students in Pune for years and even donated money. The program got so many girls through school, and the work is ongoing.

The exposure I got from doing service at Saint Francis was priceless.

We worked with the developmentally disabled during freshman year, which I was not ready for. But the experience helped me to grow and made me feel comfortable. I’ve kept doing service, and it has been an ongoing thread. When I was at Berkeley [for undergraduate], I volunteered at the animal shelter as a cat socializer. My husband and I now volunteer with Park Champions to clear trails and remove invasive species from state parks.

Stories that Link Our Past and Future One of the most exciting elements of our Light the Way campaign is the storytelling opportunity it presents. We’re embracing that opportunity wholeheartedly at Saint Francis as we not only imagine and dream about what our school can become in the coming years, but also what it has been since its founding more than 60 years ago.

This fall you will see this storytelling take shape on campus with the installation of large windscreen panels throughout the front and interior of campus, dressing up the temporary fencing surrounding our new construction with imagery that embodies the history of Saint Francis, from our earliest days to our most recent. These stories tell us where we’ve come from and allow us to create connections with one another and illustrate our values and culture.

A common thread runs through these images and the construction project alike: Saint Francis has always been about people. From our earliest days, when the Andre House was surrounded by orchards, to the new Innovation Center and Dining Commons now under construction, our buildings have been focused on creating a welcoming, engaging environment where people can collaborate, educate, innovate and thrive in a shared community steeped in faith and hope.

Indeed, Saint Francis has been lighting the way for students for generations, guided by the founding principles the Brothers of Holy Cross set forth so many years ago and continue to espouse to this day. Our educators live these principles, and our alumni embody them in their own communities, where so many are leaders serving others.

Light the Way. A campaign slogan, yes. But also a commitment that this school has embraced from its earliest days, and one that will guide our future as a school and as a school community.

We hope you’ll be inspired by what lies ahead!

Paul Lanning, EdD, CFRE Executive Director, Institutional Advancement

What’s in a Logo?

To find inspiration for the Light the Way logo, we went straight to the source: Blessed Basil Moreau. The font chosen for the campaign logo replicates his elegant handwriting from his numerous letters and “Our papers. This creative connection links our 21st-century endeavors to the Light the Way founding mission of the Congregation campaign honors our of Holy Cross, which he founded in legacy of innovative Holy Cross France more than 180 years ago. education, which focuses on student In his flowing script, he wrote that formation. This campaign supports “education is the art of helping ground-breaking programming and young people to completeness,” and defined education as “one in which the hands and heart are engaged as much as the mind.” creates campus educational spaces that

encourage visionary collaboration for our school community, Silicon Valley and beyond.”

Jason D. Curtis

The logo showcases the school colors, chosen by the Brothers when they established the school in 1955. In connecting the new with the old — Blessed Basil Moreau’s script — the logo links the innovative founding of the Holy Cross educational tradition with all that Saint Francis High School will accomplish through a successful Light the Way campaign.

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FROM THE ALUMNI DIRECTOR

Dear Alumni, Lancers for life! I’ve seen alumni use this phrase as a hashtag and show it in their actions. The three words perfectly encapsulate Lancer friendships and how, no matter the distance or years passed, alumni stay close to our hearts.

Class of 2020 alumni were reminded that they are Lancers for life when we hosted a Recognition Ceremony and Lancer Senior Picnic one year after their virtual graduation. The Alumni Association welcomed them back to campus to reunite with former classmates and commemorate their graduation. They posed for pictures where they first forged their friendships and shared stories and laughter, proving that their tight bonds transcend their abbreviated senior year.

The Lancers for life sentiment was on display when we honored our rich history and traditions during the inaugural Founders Day Celebration on May 4. Alumni shared throwback photos and fond memories while giving shout-outs to their favorite teachers, coaches and moderators. Thanks to alumni and community giving, we surpassed our goal and raised more than $276,000. The creative ways alumni paid tributes to Lancer legends and financially contributed to the event represent examples of Lancers for life in action.

Class of 1960 celebration

Three days of Reunion Weekend events in early September brought alumni back to campus with big smiles and warm hugs, showcasing how Lancers keep their connections to one another for life. Alumni enjoyed the school spirit and traditions on display at the Friday SF Kick-Off before the first home football game. Classes ending in “1” and “0” returned to their alma mater for the Saturday Grand Reunion in their honor. And, new this year, Holy Cross and Saint Francis alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago were honored during the Golden Grads Mass and Brunch. We toasted their imprint on our school and on their fellow classmates. Check out Grand Reunion and Golden Grads Mass & Brunch highlights sfhs.com/reunion.

Whether you return to visit campus, stay connected and updated about Lancer news, or contribute to student support programs for students facing economic hardship, you are a treasured part of the Saint Francis family and truly Lancers for life!

Our tradition continues … Go Lancers!

Class of 1980 celebration

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Greg Calcagno ’83 Alumni Director gregcalcagno@sfhs.com Twitter: @SFHSalumni Facebook: Saint Francis High School (Mountain View) Alumni Instagram: @sfhs_lancers_alumni LinkedIn: Saint Francis High School Alumni SFHS.com/alumni/giving

Class Notes Mark Schmitz ’78 and his wife, Wendy, welcomed their first grandchild, Landon Howard Thomas.

Anne Gavin ’83 married Gary Dempster at Drumtochty Castle in the Scottish Highlands. Anne and Gary live in Ayrshire, on the west coast of Scotland, with their dog, Erin, and horse, Topper.

Sgt. Frank Hagg ’03, a Santa Clara police detective, was undefeated at the 2021 United States Police and Fire Championships (previously known as the California Police Olympics) Brazilian Jujitsu competition. Frank won gold in the men’s 170 pound-and-under weight class for the 35-and-older division and the open division. No points were scored against Frank during the competition.

Brandon J. Rolle ’05 is a composer, conductor, teacher and the cofounder and artistic director of the Impulse New Music Festival.

His debut album, Glitch Portraiture, integrates technology with acoustic performances and features electroacoustic chamber works.

Stay Connected, Lancers!

Visit sfhs.com/alumniconnect to: • Update your contact info to learn about SFHS alumni activities and opportunities • Submit Class Notes and share your latest news

Holy Cross Impact: Joe Verceles ’90 “Looking back at what Saint Francis means to me goes beyond my four years of high school. My parents sacrificed to send me and my siblings to Saint Francis to allow us to get an education based on Catholic values. I started attending Saint Francis sporting events while I was in elementary school and by my freshman year, I felt like I was already part of the community. I developed great relationships with friends and teachers that prepared me for the rest of my life. I played basketball and baseball for four years and learned to be a team player. I honed leadership skills that I still use today in my career.

“For over 20 years, I have been an active member of the Saint Francis Alumni Council, and I enjoy giving

Brandon holds a PhD in music composition from UC Santa Barbara and a Master of Arts degree in music composition from Mills College.

David Calcagno ’08 married Alora Anderson in San Francisco in June 2021.

Emily ’24 and Joe ’90

back to the school and connecting with alumni.

Today, I get to experience Saint Francis again through my daughter Emily ’24. I enjoy seeing it through her eyes.”

Braden Bishop ’12 is an outfielder for the Sacramento River Cats, the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A affiliate. Braden founded the nonprofit 4Mom in honor of his mother’s battle against Alzheimer’s disease. The nonprofit raises money to combat Alzheimer’s disease by advancing awareness, supporting

caregivers and funding research.

Braden, his wife, Brianna, and their son, Boston, live in Lincoln, Calif.

Ryan Frizzell ’12 earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in legal studies from UC Santa Cruz and is pursuing a master’s degree at UC Irvine’s criminology, law, and society program.

Continued on next page

Anne Gavin ’83

Sgt. Frank Hagg ’03 (center)

David Calcagno ’08 Fall 2021 PROGRESS

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Class Notes

Holy Cross Impact: Cathy Ottobani Paulson ’94 “When I think about the impact Saint Francis has had on my life, the one word that comes to mind is family. This is the home where my mother and siblings spent their high school years. The Quad is where I met my husband. My Lancer family grew to include the teachers who encouraged my love of learning and the lifelong friends I made along the way.

Patrick Carroll ’13 and Adam Poltrack ’16

Patrick Carroll ’13 and Adam Poltrack ’16 graduated from the United States Marines Corps Officer Candidate School and were commissioned as second lieutenants.

The two Marines are training at the Basic School at Quantico, Va. Chad Lee ’15 was commissioned first lieutenant at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. He earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing and is a registered clinical nurse in the medical-surgical unit. Chad was deployed to Los Angeles County when his medical team was hand-selected to assist hospitals struggling to cope with a COVID-19 surge.

Raquel Mendoza ’16 received the Biological Sciences Academic Achievement Award, summa cum laude honors recognition, and was the student commencement speaker when she completed her Bachelor in Science from Notre Dame de Namur University. Raquel is pursuing a Doctorate of Audiology at San Jose State University and is the advancement project coordinator for the San Jose Evergreen Community College District.

“Like a good parent, the school community provided support and countless opportunities for growth and personal development. The education I received extended beyond algebraic equations and MLA format. I learned how to persevere and work hard, developed confidence in myself in student council and cheerleading, and explored my own relationship with God on yearly retreats. Now that my own children have

Maggie, Cathy ’94, Joey ’25, Olivia ’23, Kurt ’93

joined the Saint Francis family I cannot wait to see how they, too, will experience what it means to be a Lancer.”

Ryan Higgins ’18 was drafted in the ninth round by the Baltimore Orioles.

Ryan, a Fresno State infielder and elite Mountain West Conference slugger, led the Bulldogs in home runs, batting average and runs batted in.

In Memory Patrick Allen, husband of Charlene Torley Allen HC ’63, father of Katherine Allen Primas ’92

John Charles Rackers II, husband of Marlene, father of Megan Rackers Morris ’86, John III ’87 and Mark ’92

Lauren Lee ’18 is an in-flight customer service representative for Southwest Airlines. Lauren resides in Santa Clara but her work enables her to travel extensively throughout the United States.

Silvina Avila, mother of Maria Sousa (educator)

Marty Sinatra ’59

The USC Thornton School of Music Jazz Night performance included a piece composed by Eli Serepca ’19.

Eli’s original composition was performed by USC’s Edwin Livingston Combo.

Jean Doyle (former health room volunteer), mother of Christine ’80 Gretchen Gearhart, daughter of Joyce Corboline Gearhart HC ’62 Albino Genevro, father of Paul ’81 Charles Geschke, husband of Nan; father of Peter ’83, Kathy Orciuoli ’86 and John ’88 Fred Herkenhoff ’60 Venkataramana Kakitapalli, father of Akul ’21 Amy Landphere Meyer ’82, wife of Tim, daughter of Fern and Will Bailey, sister of Mike Landphere ’79, Ed Landphere ’84, Stephanie Hodges ’85, and Matt Bailey ’93 Bill Miller, husband of Nancy; father of Andy ’98 Terry Moore ’85, brother of Jennifer Creager ’84 and Cathleen ’88

Chad Lee ’15

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Lauren Lee ’18

Marylynn Louise Ackerman O’Neill, mother of Karen Quaglia; mother-inlaw of Tom Quaglia ’75; grandmother of Katherine Quaglia ’05, Nicholas Quaglia ’08 and Olivia Quaglia ’10

Kevil Smith, mother of Steve (educator); mother-in-law of Marybeth Haruff-Smith ’81; grandmother of Michael Haruff, Anthony ’19, Francesca ’21 Marge Smith (former educator), mother of Mark, Jennifer Smith Morton ’89 and Kathryn Smith Heilmann ’84 Chris Tesoriero ’00, son of Christian Stetz and Theresa Stetz; brother of John ’98 and Deanna Tesoriero Lorraine ’02 Stanton and Jeanne Tothero, parents of David ’76 and Nancie Tothero Roth ’78 Tormey Ward, husband of Carol, father of Mike ’81, Sheila Ward Asher ’82, Linda Ward Spingler ’83 and Brian ’85 Cambria Yauger, sister to Kelly Curtis; sister-in-law to Jason Curtis; aunt to Maggie Curtis ’21 and Erin Curtis ’24 Cleopha Zauner (former parent volunteer and school nurse), wife of John; mother of Mike ’85 and Jennifer ’89

Joseph Rus sell, Adrienne Bat son of Joseph and eson ’03 Ric cardi

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Little Lancers

If you are the proud parent of a Little Lancer, please email LittleLancer@sfhs.com to receive a Lancer gift for your baby. Please include your address and the names of all family members.

ol .5), sons of C ) and Luka (1 .5 (3 r no on C k ’03 Bagoje-Coo and Sandra

lin ’03

Karthik Morgan, son of Scott Tarbell and Natasha Iyer ’08

Caroline (5) and Anders (1), childre n of Kerry and Shanno n Cozzo ’00 Maho n

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ALUMNI IMPACT:

Chris Donohoe ’85

Musician and Philanthropist

D

uring his four years at Saint Francis, acclaimed indie singer/songwriter Chris Donohoe ’85 never played an instrument or sang. Yet he recalls in vivid detail the moment and place on campus when music became his calling.

“I was always moved by music but never performed,” recalls Chris, who describes himself in high school as a shy swimmer.

“One day when I was a senior, there was a band of juniors playing after school next to a bank of classrooms. Watching and listening to them had me wishing I had the courage to be up onstage singing.”

Chris was captivated. “To see them making music together – they were playing ‘Rio’ by Duran Duran, I remember – that moment stuck with me.”

Chris Donohoe ’85

While studying economics at the University of California, Davis, Chris picked up a guitar and taught himself to play a few tunes, even wrangling a lead singer spot for a fraternity band. Still, for the musician who released his first of now-nine albums in 2009, music was nothing more than a hobby.

For the next 12 years, Chris worked as an on-air TV weatherman and reporter.

“Weather was always interesting to me, and I took atmospheric science classes at college,” he explains. After a local weatherman visited one of his classes,

Chris sent out tapes and soon had a job as a production assistant at a Los Angeles TV station. In the evenings, he picked through the Beatles’ catalog on a used, cheap Ovation guitar. Next was learning guitar riffs on a Stratocaster and amp.

His guitars and growing passion for music were constant companions as his broadcasting career took him to stations across the country – and not-so-coincidentally close to music meccas. Nearby Chris’ first on-air weatherman job in Florence, Ala., was the late, legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Studio where Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones, Cat Stevens, Lynyrd Skynyrd and others recorded. At his next job at a station in Bakersfield, Calif. – the adopted hometown of Buck Owens and the birthplace of the “Bakersfield Sound” – Chris took his hobby to the next level with songwriting.

He joined the West Coast Songwriters Association to develop his craft. “I discovered that I had a knack for it,” says Chris, who also was trying to figure out how to turn his love for music from hobby to career. In 2000, he met renowned music publisher and Grammywinning songwriter Liz Rose at the West Coast Songwriters Conference.

The Donohoe siblings during their Lancer years, (left to right) Terrence ’89, Sarah ’83, Martin ’87 (in back), Matthew ’87, Chris ’85

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“I played her some of my songs, and she said you should come to Nashville and play for publishers,” he recalls. For seven years, Chris made monthly trips to Nashville from the Bay Area, plugging his songs and trying to break into country music – all while continuing to work in broadcasting

and raising four kids with his wife, Robin, a venture capitalist.

Calling this time period his “graduate school for songwriting,” he networked with musicians, songwriters and producers and worked with co-writers. “I had some close calls pitching songs for other artists, but what I discovered was my own voice,” Chris says. “I decided in 2007 to write, record and produce my own music.”

Since his 2009 debut album, What Drives You, Chris has released a project a year. He records his albums with top session players and close friends in Nashville. “I don’t write about cars and girls,” he quips. He defies labels and embraces different genres, writing indie, rock and folk’ish. Chris even recorded with a flamenco trio during his family’s yearlong move to Madrid in 2009.

His work seeks to find meaning in life’s big themes – love, joy, family, gratitude and loss.

His 2011 album, March, explores his grief following the death of younger brother Terrence Donohoe ’89 from progressive multiple sclerosis.

“My producer calls it ‘music for grown-ups,’” Chris says. “How do we walk through life with grace and what does this mean? It took me a long time to get my arms around the importance of music for me in my own life.”

This year, he completes his tenure as board chairman of Little Kids Rock, the largest music nonprofit in the country that advocates for public school music programs.

He’s been on the board since 2010 and is passionate about the transformative role of music, especially for children in underserved communities: “Music has a way of connecting people like nothing else.”

Chris is just as passionate about the Holy Cross tradition of service. “I remember going down to Agnews State Hospital to take the residents to Mass,” he says. Service was an important part of his Catholic upbringing and his high school experience. (His other siblings Sarah Donohoe Sands ’83 and twins Matthew and Martin Donohoe ’87 also attended Saint Francis.) “Saint Francis planted in me to find meaning in service to others. It’s one of the most meaningful messages a school can impart.”

During Chris’ Saint Francis summers, as part of his tuition assistance package, he painted

The Donohoe Family Band

classrooms, changed air filters and repaired sprinklers, often alongside the Brothers of Holy Cross. After school, he washed dishes at the Brothers’ house. “I was part of the community year-round and felt a certain pride in that,” he recalls.

In his songs and in person, Chris embraces all the notes that comprise his life.” I want to live a purposeful life,” he reflects. “I am grateful and want to earn the grace I’ve been given.”

Today, he and Robin also serve the medical research community through philanthropic work to find a cure for frontotemporal dementia (FTD), an often misdiagnosed group of disorders caused by progressive nerve cell loss in the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes. When his mother-in-law died of FTD in 2007, the Donohoes made a gift to FTD research at the University of California, San Francisco. “At the time, there was very little research being done, and our gift created a consortium of researchers,” he explains. That consortium became the Bluefield Project (bluefieldproject.org), a nonprofit founded and chaired by Robin, with Chris serving on the board.

Bluefield has funded over 26 investigators who’ve screened nearly 500,000 compounds, published more than 100 papers, and trained over 50 scientists in FTD research. “It’s the leading effort in the field and has pushed basic scientific research for this orphan disease,” Chris says with great pride. “There are 25,000 cases

of FTD annually, and it’s getting better and better understood due to the work the investigators have done.”

He laughs that his kids, who range in age from 14 to 20, have a decidedly different musical upbringing than their father. In addition to growing up seeing their father write in his in-home basement studio, Chris insisted that they have music lessons through eighth grade. On Memorial Day, the Donohoe family co-hosts an open-mic music festival at Robin’s sister’s Marin County home. All six Donohoes play in what he calls Family Band, and each year he teaches his wife a new instrument. “We play covers, not my songs, and I let the kids choose,” he adds.

During a recent performance as the lead singer of Yes Men, the wittily named cover band of Chris’ fellow fathers and husbands in his neighborhood, it came full circle: his first musical aha! moment in Mountain View, combined with living a life of service and seeking meaning in melodies and lyrics.

“We play ‘Rio’ as part of our set, and there I was singing the song I heard that day at Saint Francis,” Chris says proudly. No word yet if that performance sparked someone else’s musical journey.

Visit chrisdonohoe.com to hear his music and learn more.

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from the archives

Brotherly Love: Brothers of Holy Cross In 1955, four Brothers of Holy Cross founded Saint Francis High School, continuing the mission of the Blessed Basil Moreau, who created the Congregation of Holy Cross to educate and spread the word of God in France following the French Revolution.

Throughout our school’s six-plus decades, these “educators in the faith” have been integral and inspirational members of our campus and community.

Br. Francis Robinson, C.S.C., taught religion, math and science

Br. Donatus Schmitz, C.S.C., served as the first principal

In his latter years, Br. Charles Johnson, C.S.C., took care of school phones

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Br. Eagan Hunter, C.S.C., an artist and teacher, with Elise Higgins, who deeded 14 acres to the Brothers to establish Saint Francis High School

Br. Rene Lenhart, C.S.C. (center), and Br. Christian Stinnett, C.S.C., talk to Br. Eamon Schaffer, C.S.C., on his lawnmower

Br. Sam Robin, C.S.C., a mentor and counselor who held prayer services for athletic teams, celebrates his birthday with students

HOLY CROSS EDUCATOR Cinthya Miranda-McIntosh, teacher and HCA director, sets up students for success

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE HOLY CROSS ACHIEVERS (HCA) PROGRAM? Many of our students have found a home through this program.

The program was created to provide academic support, leadership development, mentorship and preparation for college to first-generation college-bound students.

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR HCA STUDENTS? We want students to be self-advocates for their education and their wellness at school. We teach them how to talk to teachers for the support they need. They have tutors and through the four years, we pair them up with an educator mentor. We want them to feel comfortable starting a conversation, whether it is with other students or professionals. The key to success is knowing how to ask for help and when to offer to help others.

Hopefully they carry these skills to college.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT TEACHING AT SAINT FRANCIS? I once saw a poster that said, “To teach is to touch the future.”

That’s what solidified my desire to be an educator. The impact and connection I have on my students, especially my HCA students, is one of the best parts of my work. I let them know that I’m there for them beyond their years at Saint Francis. They know my involvement with them comes from the heart. If I can affect them in a positive way, my hope is that they can impact and influence the younger generation.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? I think of the accomplishments of our students while they’re at Saint Francis and what they accomplish after college. I love being able to hear how they are being role models and helping all who cross paths with them years after Saint Francis.

YOU HAVE BUILT MANY CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THESE STUDENTS. HOW DO YOU WANT THEM TO SEE YOU? A few years ago a parent told me I was a role model for her daughters. They saw a Hispanic female, like themselves, making a difference in young people’s lives. Knowing this reminded me of the impact we all have and how much representation matters.

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PROGRESS

Saint Francis High School Institutional Advancement 1885 Miramonte Ave Mountain View CA 94040-4098

With your help, we will achieve our $100 million fundraising goal, remain leaders in education and continue to inspire our students. To support Light the Way, please visit our giving website: sfhs.com/light.

Watch real-time construction footage of the new Innovation Center and Dining Commons. Scan here: