SPX Foundation

Tony Pino ’75 President, SPX Foundation

I am very honored to have accepted the role of President of the St. Pius X Foundation in January. My wife Julie and I are 1975 and 1974 graduates and twelve of Julie’s and my siblings also attended SPX. Our son Lyle ’00, his wife Kimberly (Maxwell) ’00, and our son Curtis ’02 had great experiences at St. Pius X. All three excelled academically and athletically. Lyle coached SPX freshman basketball while attending UNM. We have six grandchildren attending Annunciation School, with the first three attending St. Pius X, Fall of 2024.

One of my most significant connections to SPX includes assistant coaching in multiple sports for five years beginning in 1976. My most honored and proud accomplishment was being an assistant coach for the 1978 State Champion baseball team. As Coach Lincoln Galassini said, “I bleed black and gold.”

We have many exceptional Foundation Board members on our team; Chris Skipp ’86, Vice-President; Shannon Kawanee, Secretary; Roberto Espat, John M. Garcia, Paul Gessing, Wayne Glass, Ph.D. ’63, Matthew Wildau ’79, and Emeritus Board members Lonny Hurley ’77 and Joe Menicucci ’98. We have received several new applications from individuals interested in joining the Board, and we hope to make additions very soon.

The role of the St. Pius X Foundation goes beyond raising money for financial assistance and stewardship. As champions and advocates, we wholeheartedly promote all the incredible offerings that SPX brings to our entire community. We are looking for three or four more individuals passionate about SPX to join us. Please email me at tgpino@comcast.net if you are interested. I look forward to the St. Pius X Foundation’s continued support for our school and serving its many needs.

Joselyn Hjorth, SPX Dance Director, her husband

Andrew Hjorth, and big brother Michael, welcomed Bash Victor Hjorth to the family. Baby Boy Hjorth arrived on May 31, 2022, at 6 pounds, 7 ounces, and 20 inches.

Daniel Wilson, Math Teacher, and his wife Jenny Wilson welcomed Santi Cedar Wilson in September of last year. They enjoy playing piano together and learning how to crawl after school.

Stephen Armijo ’07, English Teacher, and his wife Esther Armijo welcomed Margarita Sophia Armijo, Sartan Class of ’41 on January 31 at 7:14 PM, 6 pounds, 9 ounces, 18 inches, covered in cute little peach fuzz, beet red, and a good head of hair.

Please email spxalumninews@spxabq.org, if you would like us to honor an alumnus or Sartan celebration, or remember the passing of alumni or members of our Sartan family.

Continued from Around the X pages 10 & 11

Fine Arts • Setting the Stage

“A lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into this play; the cast and crew worked incredibly hard to bring this show to life. Featuring a wonderful trio of leads; Chidike Anozie, Liam Chavez, and Bethany Padilla, and a few acting debuts; Andres Ismond & Antonella Abriola, the show was a massive success. The size and energy of the show has sparked a renaissance in our theatre program. We had several students leave the show excited to try and audition for upcoming productions.” The future of theatre at SPX has never looked more magical and bright! But perhaps the most magic happened on three occasions this year on Stage 2 when teachers and students came together to showcase their talents at Coffee House, organized by Ms. Clarissa Clark. Performances included poetry readings and musical acts. This year, for the first time, an ASL presentation was exhibited and enjoyed by the audience.

Congratulations and Farewell! • Over Three Decades of Service Culminate in Retirement

Andres’ retirement plans include moving back to his hometown in Durango, Mexico, and building his retirement home. On behalf of the SPX family, we extend our heartfelt gratitude and warmest wishes to Andres as he embarks on this new chapter in life. May his retirement be filled with happiness, good health, and new adventures, “Every day was a blessing to work at St. Pius. My greatest joy was being around the teachers, staff, and students for the better half of my life. I will miss everyone greatly.” Andres Maldonado

Campus Ministry • Feeding the Bodies, Minds and Souls of Our Community

On April 20th, Campus Ministry completed the year with Senior Service Day. This day of volunteerism is an opportunity for our graduating class to give back to our community and unify through service one last time as a class. The seniors provided many helping hands doing yardwork, sorting donation items, and overall helping to beautify our feeder schools and partner organizations. Thank you to Annunciation Parish and Catholic School, Catholic Charities, Holy Ghost Catholic School, Santa Maria de La Vid Norbertine Abbey, and Village of Los Ranchos Agri-Nature Center for your partnerships.