UPDATE Magazine | Spring 2016

135 YEARS OF HISTORY & HERITAGE

VOL . 32 / NO. 2 / SPRING 201 6

FUN, PASSION, SERVICE:

SJND’S CLUB RUSH TRADITION

LOOKING BACK ON THE SAINT JOSEPH NOTRE DAME COMMUNITY IN ALAMEDA

WELCOMING NEW PRINCIPAL

KEN JENNINGS

BRINGING THE BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES ALIVE WITH PROJECT LEAD THE WAY

THE FUND

FOR SJND

HELP EACH STUDENT CHART THEIR FLIGHT PLAN TO SUCCESS.

When you support the Fund for SJND, you help our students receive the knowledge, opportunities and confidence they need to succeed in college and beyond.

Learn more and make your gift today at www.sjnd.org or call (510) 995-9455 2 Saint Joseph Notre Dame

Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School 1011 Chestnut Street Alameda, CA 94501 sjnd.org • (510) 523-1526

VOL . 32 / NO. 2 / SPRING 201 6

B OA R D OF T RU ST E E S Teasha Gable, Chair Richard Davis, Vice Chair Anne Washmera, Secretary Father George Alengadan, ex officio Evette Clark Teresa Courville, ex officio Richard Crevani Angela Ganci Abe Hitti

Have you seen our newly designed website?

Take a look around at the new SJND.org!

Features

Kevin Kelly ’79

SJND’s New Principal. ......................................................... 4 Welcome Ken Jennings

Kerry O’Hara ’70 Plain

Students Rush to Club Rush. ................................................. 6

Dan Prislin

Fun, Passion, Service

Kris Venturini

Bringing the Biomedical Sciences Alive.......................... 8 SJND and Project Lead the Way

Milt Werner, ex officio

Fall Sports Recap.................................................................. 12 State Champions, Tournament of Champions, Cooper Teare Day 135 Years of History and Heritage........................................ 14

A look back on the SJND Community in Alameda

Departments Saint Joseph Notre Dame, a Catholic parish high school, provides a dynamic and rigorous college preparatory education.

Our faith-filled, diverse, and welcoming community embraces the teachings of Jesus Christ. We develop confident, open-minded, and effective leaders who are ready to live joyful lives of faith, scholarship, and service.

Alumni Notes. ......................................................................... 20 Calendar of Events. ................................................................ 23 In Memoriam. ......................................................................... 27

Spring 2016 Update 3

PRINCIPAL’SMessage

“...the students, faculty, parents and parish community exceeded all of my expectations. SJND is an outstanding school and I know the new principal, Ken Jennings, will enjoy taking it to new heights.”

Milt Werner, Interim Principal Dear Alumni, Parents and Friends, This has been an extraordinary year at Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School. Being asked to step in for one year as an interim principal, I truly didn’t know what to expect; I’d been retired for several years and hadn’t taught or coached at SJND since 1975. However, I must say that the students, faculty, parents and parish community exceeded all of my expectations. SJND is an outstanding school and I know the new principal, Ken Jennings, will enjoy taking it to new heights.

This year when someone has asked me, “What is SJND like?” or “How do you like working at SJND?” I have consistently said that I am incredibly impressed with the personal attention I see students receive from teachers, counselors and administrators. The power of personal attention brings structure, adult influence and purpose to young lives; it reduces isolation and anonymity by showing students that adults know and care about them. Because SJND students are the beneficiaries of this personal attention, they thrive in this special environment.

The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and the Marianist Brothers who founded two schools, which are now

4 Saint Joseph Notre Dame

one in SJND, would be proud of this institution and the services we provide to a diverse variety of East Bay families. As we recognize our 135th anniversary in this issue, we also recognize how their Catholic values live on at SJND in all that we do. Personalized attention, on top of a foundation of faith, provides for an education that prepares students for an effective life.

I have truly enjoyed this school year and leave with new wonderful memories. I want to thank the faculty and staff for all they do for our students, and the Board of Trustees for their dedicated work. Finally, I sincerely thank our pastor, Father George Alengadan, for his leadership and tremendous support of SJND and St. Joseph Elementary School.

Sincerely,

Milt Werner, Ed.D. Interim Principal

“Milt’s proven success as an effective leader and educator, coupled with his humility, has supported SJND’s mission while guiding the continuous growth of all facets of the school. Milt’s service to SJND is a blessing.”

Julianne Guevara, Assistant Principal of Student Life Dear Friends, It is a unique privilege to serve as pastor of one of only two parishes in the Diocese of Oakland with a Catholic high school. As such, it gives me pleasure to announce the new principal for Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School and to express my gratitude for the service rendered over the past year by our outgoing interim principal, Milt Werner.

Milt has been a gift from God for our community, coming out of retirement to share his wisdom and experience. A gentle and soft-spoken man, he served with efficiency and dedication, accomplishing a great deal in his one year at the helm of SJND. His energy, communication skills, strong Catholic identity, and ability to relate well to students, faculty and parents were exactly what was needed, and enabled the search committee sufficient time to identify the best person to fill the position of principal. Thank you, Milt!

Literature from Fordham University, a Masters of Divinity from Seton Hall University, and a Masters in Educational Administration from Caldwell University. Ken is a charismatic and strategic leader who is passionate about seeing students succeed in the classroom and beyond. His enthusiasm for his calling as a Catholic school leader is infectious and was evident to all who met him during his visits to SJND. He is a faith-filled, family man and we look forward to welcoming him with his wife Kristin and two daughters to the Bay Area this summer.

Sincerely,

Father George Alengadan Pastor, Saint Joseph Basilica Parish

Ken Jennings will come on board as SJND’s principal effective July 1. He comes to us from De Paul Catholic High School in Wayne, New Jersey and brings with him nearly 15 years of leadership experience in Catholic secondary schools. He is a passionate, 21st century principal and educator, and holds a B.A. in English

Spring 2016 Update 5

CAMPUSNews

Students Rush to Club Rush Every September, students looking to meet new friends, join in on the fun, and invest in the SJND community come to Club Rush. A wide variety of clubs take over the quad, inviting prospective members in with brightly decorated posters, games, giveaways, food and opportunities. The Club Rush tradition is an event that truly embodies the Pilot spirit of service, collaboration and fun.

Service-Based Clubs • Habitat for Humanity • INTERACT • Red Cross • American Cancer Society • Musical Theatre “Cabaret for a Cause”

s SJND’s Interact Club, focused on international service, participated in their district’s fall leadership conference uniting under the motto “Service Above Self”

6 Saint Joseph Notre Dame

t Angel Munoz ’16, of the Habitat for Humanity club, expressed “I am able to connect with friends, teachers, and other volunteers under this idea of doing good. It just puts everyone in a good mood.”

New Clubs for 2015-2016 American Red Cross Students in this club learn, practice and exemplify humanitarian values through youth service projects and partnerships with other community groups.

eSports Members in the eSports club work toward a common goal as a team.

Fantasy Sports Members share knowledge on different sports while enjoying healthy competition.

Triple T: Tales to Tell “SJND’s most successful clubs are the ones that both the student and the adult adviser are passionate about. For example, this year our students started an American Red Cross club under the guidance of Ms. Johnson. Ms. Johnson used to coordinate blood drives in college; with her passion, the students are hosting three blood drives this year.

It’s these partnerships that make our club life so special, and help students build life skills.”

Jennifer Stein ’97, Director of Student Activities

Students express their inner voices and creativity through storytelling in this club’s safe environment.

YAE: Young Aspiring Entrepreneurs Students in this club have interest in pursuing an education or career in entrepreneurship; this club is a resource providing mentorship and activities such as TED talks and field trips.

ITS: International Thespian Society This honorary organization celebrates student achievement in the theatre arts.

Spring 2016 Update 7

CAMPUSNews

Bringing the Biomedical Sciences Alive with

Project Lead The Way

“The biomed program has given me opportunities to further discover my passion for science.

Through my classes I’ve had the chance to create a prosthetic arm and conduct a polymerase chain reaction experiment. This helped fuel my interest in epidemiology; a field of science that studies the spread and vaccination of diseases. ” — Ayesa Kearns ’16 8 Saint Joseph Notre Dame

“I think my favorite learning activity would have to be the experiment my partner and I did for the Alameda County science and engineering fair. Going into the lab at school everyday, although time consuming, was a great experience that made me think more about the science field. Up until then I had only done labs that teachers had prepared and set up all the equipment for. This was something that I could start and do all by myself. We researched, designed, created and modified our experiment which was fun to do.” ­­— Kiera Marshall ’17

It was a hot summer morning, 92°F. An emergency call came in at 9:45 a.m. A man contacted the police to report that he was worried about his next-door neighbor, a woman named Anna. He decided to call the police this morning because Anna’s dog had been barking excitedly for the last two hours. He tried to call Anna on the telephone, but no one answered. Both the police and an EMT arrived at the scene at 9:56 a.m. The EMT determined that Anna was dead. Has a crime been committed? What was the cause of death?

This is an excerpt from the case presented to SJND students in the first course of our biomedical sciences program. From the moment students walk into the classroom, they are immersed in working through real world cases to solve medical mysteries. Case-based scenarios span all Project Lead The Way Biomedical Science courses. Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is an organization whose mission is to prepare students for the global economy by offering problem-based curriculum combined with teacher professional development.

SJND’s four-year biomed program features courses such as Principles of the Biomedical Sciences, Human Body Systems, Medical Interventions, and Biomedical Innovation.

“The program is very hands-on,” says Science Department Chair Kristina Taylor. “It’s really about learning the content by design, and students lead their own learning more than they are taught by a teacher. Every day

there’s an activity.” Elena Chai ’16, who currently takes Human Body Systems and Medical Interventions, recalls her favorite learning activity, a “superbug lab” where her class grew different strains of bacteria against antibiotics to make bacteria that was super resistant. The purpose of the activity was to observe both the positive and negative side effects of antibiotics.

Our faculty who instruct the PLTW curriculum are required to commit to a rigorous teacher professional development model, empowering them to transform their classroom into a collaboration space where content comes to life. SJND instructors have passed a two-week training in the summer, over 80 hours, for their PLTW certification.

Students who complete the biomed program will be recognized with a special distinction on their diploma, and will come out of the program with more than six years of science behind them. In college, Elena hopes to major in microbiology, because she loves how almost everything can be brought back to cells. “SJND has always challenged me, but the biomed program let me choose how much I was willing to push the limits for my future science career,” she says.

The U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that jobs in science, technology, engineering, and math will grow 17% by 2018, and SJND is confident that our program graduates will be prepared to excel in any field, whether public health, biomedical engineering, clinical medicine, physiology or something else!

In the final capstone course of the biomedical science sequence, seniors design their own research project and have the opportunity to work with a mentor or advisor from a local university, hospital, physician’s office, or research institution. SJND is looking for partners for internships in the biomedical sciences! Please contact Kristina Taylor at 510-995-9540.

Spring 2016 Update 9

CAMPUSNews

FUNDING FUTURE PILOTS

SAVE THE DATE: OCTOBER 15, 2016 CLAREMONT COUNTRY CLUB

Hosted by Mike Pola ’82 Dancing and Entertainment by The Suggestions Change someone’s life. Create opportunity for academic and spiritual growth. Join us

SPONSORSHIP LEVELS

for an evening of dining, laughter and funding

BLUE & ORANGE ANGELS / $25,000

the dreams of current and future Pilots.

Dream Flight 2015 raised $54,000, allowing more students to say “yes” to an SJND education. We seek support from our Pilot community to help us meet the increased needs of our families. The benefit is being underwritten by one generous family, Host: Mike Pola ’82 so all sponsorships, donations and ticket sales directly assist young men and women in need of tuition assistance.

Table for 10. Logo/name recognition in event program & signage, website, Update Magazine

PILOTS / $10,000 Table for 10. Logo/name recognition in event program, website, Update Magazine

NAVIGATORS / $5000 Six tickets. Logo/name recognition in event program, website, and Update Magazine

AVIATORS / $2500 Four tickets. Logo/name recognition in event program, website, and Update Magazine

CO-PILOTS / $1000 Two tickets. Logo/name recognition in the event program, website, and Update Magazine

Why this benefit is more important than ever!

CREW MEMBERS / $500

• SJND tuition for 2016-17 is $17,760 and covers just 85% of what it costs to educate one child.

Ticket for a member of SJND’s faculty/staff, plus one. Name recognition as above.

• 99% of SJND graduates matriculate to college as confident and generous leaders.

• It is our Catholic mission to ensure an SJND education is accessible to everyone.

• More than 200 deserving SJND students receive scholarships and tuition assistance totaling more than $1.7 million annually.

10 Saint Joseph Notre Dame

For additional information about the Dream Flight benefit, to become a sponsor, make a gift or join the honorary committee, please contact Mollie McFarland, Assistant Principal, Institutional Advancement at (510) 995-9456, mmcfarland@sjnd.org.

A Day in the Life of a Student Lifer Rachel Hungerford ’17 is a junior at SJND. She serves as president of the junior class, manages the women’s volleyball team, participates in several clubs on campus and takes three AP classes.

Here is a glimpse into a typical Tuesday: 7:45 am. Greet my friends by the lockers and talk about Spirit Week. Do some last minute studying for AP U.S. History.

8:00 am. Orange Day, 5th Period, Pre-Calculus.

9:20 am. Mr. Rosso usually has a U.S. History meme to share before AP U.S. History. It’s always nice to have a laugh before such a tough class. The pace is very rapid. During this class we learned about the era of forgotten presidents, including Presidents Hayes through Harrison. We also compared manifest destiny to industrialization.

11:00 am. Homeroom with Mr. Rosso. I and two other CLT (Campus Life Team) members read that day’s announcements. Today in homeroom we encouraged our class to keep bringing in change for the Penny War so we can beat the seniors at Spirit Week and raise money for the Oakland Catholic Worker.

11:05 am. Lunch CLT meeting about Spirit Week. We finalized our skit and decorations. As of now, the juniors are in the lead with Spirit Week points!

11:50 am. AP Biology, the toughest class I am taking this year. Today we learned about overpopulation and maximum capacity of animal species. Our lab groups met to discuss upcoming labs, and I got some extra help from Mrs. Taylor after class.

1:20 pm. Collaboration is next! I have Speech and Debate practice today. My partner Rebecca and I prepped for our upcoming UC Berkley Policy Debate Tournament. Our coach Mr. Leahy debriefed us on the Northern California Finals which will be held at SJND this year.

2:30 pm. School’s out! If I don’t have CLT, debate or any other meetings, I will go talk to Mrs. Stein in her office or go get some homework done in Mr. Rosso’s room.

I feel very blessed when I think about all the opportunities I have been exposed to at SJND. My teachers and administrators have given me so much confidence here. I haven’t had to make many major decisions in my life besides which high school I want to go to, and choosing SJND was the best decision I could have made.

Spring 2016 Update 11

CAMPUSNews

State Champions, Tournament of Champions and Cooper Teare Day!

Fall 2016 Sports Recap 1 Men’s and Women’s Cross Country

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Congratulations to the Pilots’ first ever State Champion, Cooper Teare ’17! Cooper won the CIP Division 5 boys State Championship in a photo finish.

After the women’s cross country team ran their way to an NCS Division 5 Title, the Lady Pilots earned their first ever State podium: second place overall!

SJND State medalists were Kiera Marshall ’17 (2nd place), Emily Perez ’19 (5th place), and Cooper Teare ’17 (1st place).

For his accomplishments and success this season, Alameda Mayor Trish Herrera Spencer proclaimed January 15 as Cooper Teare Day in Alameda!

2 Women’s Tennis In tennis news, Azaria Hayes ’19 became the first SJND women’s player ever to win a TCAL League championship. Azaria went on to win the NCS Division 2 Singles Championship at Santa Rosa High (6-1, 6-0), finishing an extraordinary 22-0 undefeated season!

In doubles action, Aysha Hayes ’17 teamed with Nicole Bermudez ’17 to win the doubles title for the Pilots (7-5, 6-3). This is the first time in school history that SJND tennis has won both women’s doubles and singles championships.

12 Saint Joseph Notre Dame

3 Signing Ceremony Anekaila Crevani ’16 committed to play softball for Holy Names University next year. SJND honored her with a National Letter of Intent Signing Ceremony.

Congratulations Kaila!

3 2

4 Women’s Volleyball The women’s varsity volleyball team earned a fourth seed spot in North Coast Section Championship Tournament and made it to the quarterfinals, finishing strong with a 21-11 record.

5 5 Women’s Golf In women’s golf, Eileen Rhatigan ’17 and Allie Hauck ’18 both qualified for the NCS Golf Championships in Windsor, CA. Allie shot an 86 and qualified for the Tournament of Champions in Walnut Creek the following week, where she shot a 93!

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1880: Sister Mary Cornelia selects Chestnut Street to build a convent school because it is sufficiently distant from business centers and their worldliness

1881: Notre Dame Academy opens with 4 sisters and 37 girls 1885: St. Joseph’s becomes an independent parish

14 Saint Joseph Notre Dame

1922: St. Joseph’s parish opens an elementary school 1935: St. Joseph’s High School, a school for boys operated by the Marianist Brothers, is established

1958: Newly appointed pastor of St. Joseph parish, Rev. Alvin P. Wagner suggests constructing a new high school on the site of Notre Dame 1960: The new parochial high school, Notre Dame High School, opens

135 Years of

History and Heritage: A look back on the Saint Joseph Notre Dame Community in Alameda It is with grateful hearts that we look back upon the 135 years of the Saint Joseph Notre Dame Community educating the children of Alameda and beyond. Themes that emerge in our history include high academic standards, a religious and spiritual culture, the importance of leadership and communication, a commitment to community service, and the desire to develop the whole person, mind, body and spirit. All of these qualities are important, but it is the people that make SJND exceptional.

We have always been known for our high degree of personal interaction and relationships, which create a wonderful sense of family among parish members, students, parents and faculty. We count it an honor to highlight a couple multigenerational SJND alumni families in this feature. Each and every graduate carries with them more than a century of SJND history and heritage.

1970: Marianist Brothers leave after 35 years. Tony Aiello becomes first lay principal of St. Joseph’s High School

1979: School begins to go co-ed when the boys and girls start sharing classes and curriculum

1983: Congregation of the Sacred Heart is asked to staff the parish and consolidate Notre Dame High School and St. Joseph’s High School 1985: Administration joins together and Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School begins in September 2007: Simon Chiu becomes second lay principal. New Tony Aiello Science Center is built and Kelly Gymnasium is renovated

2013: Marianist Hall completes remodel, keeping all historical features of building in tact 2016: Ken Jennings becomes third lay principal in Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School’s history.

A new chapter begins

Spring 2016 Update 15

HISTORY AND HERITAGE, Cont.

8:25 am September 3, 1985: Summer vacation ended. St. Joseph and Notre Dame began a new chapter together as one: St. Joseph Notre Dame. – Yearbook Excerpt, 1985-1986

S

aint Joseph Notre Dame High School

high schools, Notre Dame High School

is a consolidation of Notre Dame,

and St. Joseph’s High School into a

founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame de

coeducational high school:

Namur, and St. Joseph’s, founded by the

Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School.

St. Joseph parish and conducted by the

------

Marianist Brothers.

The Sisters of Notre Dame arrived in Alameda in 1881, a time in which Alameda was a peninsula with a population of 6,000. Sister Mary Cornelia, Superior at College of Notre Dame, was charged with staffing schools of Christian Brothers and Sisters of Mercy. The Sisters purchased the present site in Alameda, erected a convent and opened a school. Two teachers taught 37 young women in first-floor rooms separated by a sliding door allowing for assemblies. Saint Joseph’s became a parish four years later.

Saint Joseph’s High School for boys was established in 1935. The first faculty consisted of two Marianists, and the first student body contained 35 freshmen and 24 sophomores.

Early in 1958, Rev. Alvin P. Wagner of St. Joseph parish suggested constructing a new high school on the site of Notre Dame.

The new parochial high school, Notre Dame High School, opened in 1960. In 1983, the Congregation of the Sacred Heart was asked to staff the parish and consolidate the two

16 Saint Joseph Notre Dame

Many changes have taken place over the last century within the school. Nuns are no longer found within the classrooms, and chemistry, physics, environmental and biomedical sciences are taught in state-of-the-art labs in the Tony Aiello Science Center. Students are given the opportunity to engage in multiple opportunities involving the arts, athletics, clubs, leadership and ministry. What has remained constant through the years is the welcoming, Christ-centered atmosphere.

2016 also makes a landmark anniversary for the St. Joseph Basilica: 130 years of ministry.

SJND is honored to be one of the few Catholic high schools in the world to include an on-campus Basilica.

Nestled in this two block residential Alameda neighborhood, SJND has fostered community and provided valuable education to thousands for 135 years. With respect for the past, gratitude for the present and hope for the future, let our community go forward together living joyful lives of faith, scholarship and service.

PASSING THE PILOT TORCH:

OBLIGACION FAMILY “Preparing for high school, there wasn’t anywhere else I could see myself going. SJND had always been a part of my life. There was some faculty on campus that knew and remembered my dad (Rod Obligacion ’89), my uncle, or my aunt which was always interesting to hear about. I’m glad SJND has been, and still is a huge part of my family.

Sean Obligacion ’15 is studying chemical engineering at University of California, Irvine

“Since my brother was already a freshman, I feel like I’ve been a part of this community since I was in seventh grade. The teachers are completely relatable and extremely helpful. I love being a part of the basketball program and being able to interact with my friends. My family has been at SJND for over 20 years.

This school will always be my family, even after I graduate.”

Samantha Obligacion ’17 is a junior at SJND

“We chose SJND for our children because of the community that it represents but we also wanted them to have a good foundation both academically and spiritually.

The campus is definitely a lot more “techie” than when I was going there.

The science building and department is one of the best in the area, and there are a lot more sports teams offered today.

“The sense of community and caring here is much more than I’ve felt before. Alameda has that small-town feeling, so the sense of community is strong.”

- Fr. George Alengadan The SJND legacy to me means continuing with tradition. This school has great traditions, in the front office, teachers and student body. I am amazed to see so many alumni still involved with the school and teachers still here from my time. I have nothing but good memories of attending SJND. It gave me the foundation to help me become the person I am today.”

Rod Obligacion ’89

CONNECTING PAST AND PRESENT:

QUINONES FAMILY

“We chose SJND for our children because of my experience with the school. It was known for academic excellence back when I was a student at SJND. That hasn’t changed. At the time I was there, the boys were separated from the girls, so it is nice to see that combining

Spring 2016 Update 17

HISTORY AND HERITAGE, Cont. to me SJND’s strong sense of community gave me all the tools to feel confident in myself to pursue new ambitions. For that reason, I am very grateful to have gone to SJND.” Nicholas ’11 Quinones graduated from Creighton University and currently works in the Bay Area as a broker for the nation’s largest currency brokerage.

“Going to SJND meant starting a new beginning for myself, one where I could start trying new things, making new friends, and really growing as a person overall.”

Marissa Quinones ’14 is attending the University of Portland where she is a freshman workshop leader and peer mentor, and a writing consultant at a local high school.

the two schools is a success. I was involved in the school newspaper, yearbook and the Spanish Club.

Today’s SJND’s publications are impressive and very different from when I was a student. We didn’t have a magazine and our newspaper was written on typing paper. Quite a difference!

My favorite SJND memory was having a one on one conversation with one of my teachers, Sister Catherine Theresa. She was my tough English teacher and seemed unapproachable, but when I talked to her, I remember how she listened and heard what I had to say. To this day, I think of that day as the starting point of becoming my own person. Her receptiveness to that conversation reassured and empowered me that my opinion counted.”

Terri Porcuna Quinones ’78

18 Saint Joseph Notre Dame

“SJND was a great opportunity to challenge myself in different ways. I was able to meet people with different backgrounds and viewpoints, and the faculty was always committed to giving the students as many opportunities as possible. It is clear

LEADERSHIP IS A FAMILY AFFAIR:

THE HARRIS FAMILY “It was an easy choice for my family to choose SJND for our children, mainly because it was a place I loved attending myself from 1976-1980.

The same principal I had, Mr. Aiello,

“ The SJND legacy is like passing on a part of my soul, something that has helped me to become the person that I am now. It is something that no one can ever take away from you, it is your unique experience to be remembered and re-lived for the rest of your life.”

- Shirley Tucker-Harris, ’80 and several of my old teachers were still there, and the small campus size was attractive to us. Additionally, we knew the sports programs here were excellent, and both of our children were interested in playing basketball and track.

The biggest changes to the campus since I attended are the facilities.

Also, when I attended the nuns were a major part of the staff. I was my class president for a period of time, and my children have participated in various class leadership roles. We did not have Kairos retreats, but my daughter became a student leader in this activity which seemed to greatly and positively impact her life.

My favorite SJND memories are related to the fun and free times I had here with a close group of friends in my class. We called ourselves the “rainbow club” because we were 5 girls of all different races and cultures who were close like sisters. We are mostly all still together and close, so the rainbow club lives on!

The SJND legacy is like passing on a part of my soul, something that has helped me to become the person

that I am now. It is something that no one can ever take away from you, it is your unique experience to be remembered and re-lived for the rest of your life.

Shirley Tucker-Harris, ’80

SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY:

THE DEGRANO FAMILY

“I was so excited to go to a school that had such a sense of community and tradition. My parents met at SJND, my mom’s siblings attended the school and so did my dad’s father. I was excited to carry on a tradition in my family. I had a few of the same teachers that my parents had, which was so much fun.

I was involved with campus life team as well as campus ministry.

One of my favorite events to be involved with and plan was Spirit Week. I also spent three of my years at SJND planning and leading retreats. I even went back and led two more Kairos retreats after I graduated! I think the retreats were most important to me because they reinforced the sense of community SJND has.”

Brianna DeGrano is finishing up a bachelor’s degree in psychology, emphasizing in military psychology.

She hopes to work with veterans and their families dealing with PTSD with reintegration into civilian life

“True education opens us to the fullness of life.”

- Pope Francis

Spring 2016 Update 19

WHERE OUR PILOTS ARE FLYING NOW 2010s

Crystal Linda Carrillo ’12, d Santa Cruz, CA met up with retired SJND AP English teacher Christine Micheli while in London.

Madeleine Doud ’14 (#5), Corpus Christi, TX and the Texas A&M University Corpus Christi volleyball team won their first-ever Southland Conference title.

Phoebe Grunt ’13, d Santa Barbara, CA earned her second career Honorable Mention All-Big West accolade after finishing third in the Big West with a .335 hitting percentage. She is majoring in Chemical Engineering at UCSB. Desiree Harris ’13, d Oakland, CA was seen snapping photos at Levi’s Stadium during the 49ers season.

Cerise Pecoraro ’12 is studying abroad this semester as an exchange student at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.

Lauren Pond ’10, Alameda, CA is currently the Concierge Supervisor at the Fairmont Heritage in San Francisco.

Emily Stott ’13, Chico, CA just finished studying a semester abroad in Germany, something she has wanted to do since her freshman year at SJND.

Jaime Guzman ’06, San Leandro, CA works in law enforcement in Contra Costa County. During his off time, Jaime plays Latin music with various groups throughout the Bay Area.

2000s

Chris Massoud ’02 lives and travels in several major cities throughout the country helping support the IT infrastructure of One Medical Group.

John Archer ’08, Little Rock, AR recently married Allyson Frymark.

SJND sweethearts Tina Crawford ’03 and Adam Uribe ’02, Casto Valley, CA are now married. Tina is a registered nurse at Washington Hospital in Fremont, and Adam is a Manager at Hoovestol, Inc. in Oakland.

20 Saint Joseph Notre Dame

Lt. Joshua Appezzato ’96, Newport, RI is a student at the U.S. Navy War College in Newport working on a Master’s Degree.

Tony Duncan ’96, San Leandro, CA recently got engaged to Jodie Cach.

Marielle Heller ’97, d Encino, CA won Best First Feature for Diary of a Teenage Girl at the 2016 Spirit Awards!

Marielle Heller ’97

Crystal Linda Carrillo ’12 Robert Jang ’99

Brandi Weiman ’07

Kevin Fabian ’05, Alameda, CA got engaged to Stephanie Chang.

Tim DeGrano ’83

Leigh Pond ’12, Santa Clara, CA was recently published in the Edible Silicon Valley Magazine. She will graduate in June 2016 from Santa Clara University and is researching the barriers and benefits of urban agriculture and the effects on food security.

Sean McDermott ’95

Brandi Weiman ’07, d Alameda, CA has been a Raiderette for the past four years and was selected as a 2016 Pro Bowl Cheerleader.

1990s

Akili Peyton ’02 works for Bayer Healthcare in Berkeley and spends his off time playing music in a few different bands, with various genres from reggae to heavy metal.

Brothers Danny Duncan ’00 and Andy Duncan, ’03, San Leandro, CA purchased Club 2101 in Oakland, the third oldest bar in Oakland.

David Dupart ’03 plays jazz fusion with Groove Dragon based out of Benicia, CA and travels around the country for blues and jazz festivals.

Adrianne Strehl ’04, Hayward, CA stopped by SJND to donate blood during the Red Cross Club’s blood drive in February. Adrianne is in her last semester of the registered nursing program at Chabot College and will be marrying Anthony Stuchlik on New Year’s Eve 2017.

Desiree Harris ’13

ALUMNINotes Robert Jang ’99, d Hayward, CA has worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco for 10 years. He and his wife, Ana recently celebrated their 7th wedding anniversary and welcomed their first child, Amelia Rose Jang.

Sean McDermott ’95, d Alameda, CA is the Digital Sales Manager for NBC’s Comcast SportsNet in San Francisco. He lives in Alameda with his wife, Ilona and dog, Bubba.

Allen Sangco ’90, Alameda, CA is currently employed at Harris Creative as the Vice President of Global Business Development and had a recent spotlight in the San Francisco Business Times.

Conrado Tapado ’93, Seattle, WA received his Masters of Communications in Digital Media from the University of Washington and is now working in Marketing Communications for UW.

1980s John Campbell ’88 d and his wife Vickey, Moraga, CA welcomed their fifth child, Josie, born on December 18. She joins siblings Erin, Abby, Leah and Nick.

20th wedding anniversary. The anniversary party was given by their children, Sean ‘15, Samantha ‘17 and Sydney.

Lynn O’Sullivan ’80 Guidi, Walnut Creek, CA keeps busy with her three children.

Felipe Castillo ’80, Oakland, CA has two daughters, 26 and 21. He recently became a grandfather and is enjoying every minute of it.

Sandy Ralph ’80, Placerville, CA has a Master’s Degree in Social Work and has worked for Child Protective Services for the past 13 years.

Rita Cerasi ’80, Stockton, CA has four children and two grandchildren.

Joanne Ratto ’80 Lippi, Alameda, CA is enjoying her career as a nurse in hematology at UCSF and says SJND is still home. Both her husband Don and daughter, Gabi ’08 work at SJND.

Tim DeGrano ’83, d San Leandro, CA, retired from the San Leandro Police Department after 27 years of service.

Martha Espinoza ’80, Oakland, CA organized her 35th class reunion and is mother to Natalie ‘10 and Gabriela ‘16.

Roderick Obligacion ’89, Alameda, CA and his beautiful bride, Bernadette celebrated their John Campbell ’88

1960s

Jim Kearney ’60, Castro Valley, CA is retired from Wells Fargo and is enjoying his retirement by traveling the continental United States by train with his wife, Jackie.

1940s

Ernest Avellar ’45, Hayward, CA is still teaching conversational French at the Hayward Senior Center. He shared some memories of his days at SJND: “So the girls and boys were not to fraternize, the Notre Dame Sisters insisted that the St. Joe’s boys had a different dismissal time so there would be no mingling at the bus stop.”

Become a CLASS AMBASSADOR Are you interested in helping SJND in a volunteer role but your time is limited?

Then serving as your Class Ambassador is the role for you. The job is simple— stay in touch with your classmates, rally the class and strengthen communication between SJND and the rest of your class as needed. There aren’t meetings or a big time commitment, just a willingness to help keep the Pilot spirit alive among your class. Does this sound like you? Or do you know someone who would like to represent your class? Please let us know!

To become a Class Ambassador, please contact Vicki Bargagliotti at (510) 995-9455 or vbargagliotti@sjnd.org.

“What’s your news?

Send your submission to vbargagliotti@sjnd.org.

Phoebe Grunt ’13

Spring Fall 2013 2016Update Update 21 33

ALUMNINotes

Reunions and Homecoming 2015

Class of 1960

55th Reunion | SJND & Pier 29, November 7

Alumni Basketball & BBQ Homecoming | Kelly Gymnasium, November 27

Class of 1980

35th Reunion | Kerry Plain ’70 Home, October 24

Class of 1985 30th Reunion | Capone’s, November 14

22 Saint Joseph Notre Dame

Alumni came alive with the Pilot Spirit at the Homecoming basketball games! The alumni teams were too powerful for our JV men’s and women’s varsity teams, but our men’s varsity team won against the seasoned alumni players.

Alumni Soccer Game Homecoming | College of Alameda, November 25

SJND Announces New Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving communications and public relations.

In her new role, Vicki hopes to bridge the gap between alumni and current students. She is excited to expand opportunities for alumni to serve as mentors, whether connecting through our SJND Alumni LinkedIn group or returning to campus as Spirit Week judges, Career Day speakers or members of our Alumni Council.

Having been a member of SJND’s Advancement Department for the past eight years as Development Associate, in September 2015 Vicki Bargagliotti took the helm as Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving. She is thrilled to use her experience within the Pilots community, passion for public relations, and enthusiasm for cultivating donor and alumni relations in a new way.

“I love being at SJND!” says Vicki. “I love meeting with students, talking with alumni and working with the SJND community. I have learned that faith and education can never be taken away from you and I’m proud to work at a school that instills these values.”

Vicki graduated from the University of the Pacific in Stockton with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in

Vicki says that many alumni share their reflections on the transformative years they spent at SJND, often reminiscing about the values, education and friendships they formed here. She recognizes the role of SJND’s generous donors and wants everyone to know that every dollar impacts a student’s life.

When Vicki is not at SJND, she is busy volunteering in her daughter Ava’s numerous activities at Our Lady of Grace School in Castro Valley. She is also excited for what the future holds with her fiancé Dean and his daughter Maddie.

“Once you enter SJND, we consider you part of the SJND alumni family- a family with strong roots and connections.”

- V I C K I BARG AG L I O T T I

CALENDAR of Events

JUNE 4 COMMENCEMENT JUNE 11 CLASS OF 1966 – 50TH REUNION Golden Anniversary Celebration For more information, please contact Vicki Bargagliotti at 510-995-9455 OCT 15 DREAM FLIGHT: Funding Future Pilots NOV 4,5,6 FALL PLAY NOV 5 BOOSTER CLUB PASTA DINNER NOV 23 HOMECOMING EVENT Alumni Soccer Games NOV 25 HOMECOMING EVENT Alumni Basketball Games DEC 7 WINTER FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

Spring 2016 Update 23

ALUMNINotes

Pilot Profile:

John and Orlando Pascoa ’61 From 1957-1961, twin brothers John ’61 and Orlando ’61 Pascoa took the 14 bus from West Oakland and switched to the 51 to get to Saint Joseph’s High School each day. They were raised by immigrant parents from Portugal; their mom was 19 and their dad 24 when the twins were born. With only four years of formal education, their father opened a grocery store off of Hollis Street, on what is now the Oakland/ Emeryville border. The brothers went to elementary school at the former St. Francis de Sales in downtown Oakland. Their parents worked night and day to provide for their family, in a rough neighborhood at the time.

“Growing up all under that, you get the good and the bad.

And coming to St. Joe’s was a lot more of the good,” John recalls. Their parents wanted their sons to go to St. Joseph’s High School because they saw how other young men from the school had turned out. As a first generation immigrant family, busy with running their own business, the Pascoas were counting on the school to give their boys guidance and a good solid education.

Orlando and John remember the bus rides to school being very social. A bunch of their other classmates took the 64 bus route off of International Boulevard down to St. Joseph’s.

John and Orlando felt it expanded their lives getting to meet kids from all over the East Bay, and that these friendships matured them. Orlando remembers the strong diversity of the school, and the culture that all people matter.

The Pascoa brothers feel proud of having been a part of the Pilots basketball team under coach Russ Bettencourt.

Because of the size of St. Joseph’s at the time, and having to practice on the naval air reserve’s concrete court on the other side of town, it seemed their team always fell short of O’Dowd, Riordan, St. Mary’s and St. Elizabeth’s. But they remember with excitement when the Pilots came in fourth in the league their senior year.

As with the Pilots of today, the Pascoa brothers played sports but were also given a chance to blossom in the theater and music departments. “We were asked to join the choir

by Brother Carl, and then our friend Phil Guzman was very musical and had a Latin band.” The Guzman and Pascoa families became close through their kids’ shared friendship and performances together.

After graduating from St. Joseph’s High, both John and Orlando took classes at Saint Mary’s and volunteered for the 24 Saint Joseph Notre Dame

Air National Guard in Hayward. John ended up with a job at Great Western in Oakland as a mail clerk and eventually started doing data processing while he took extension classes at IBM. Now retired, John found a rewarding career in data management at Glen Slaughter and Associates in Oakland an employee benefits and compensation firm.

“You really felt the Marianist brothers and your friends cared for you, like a family.

It was important that it was small, that we all knew each other and could check-in with one another. It was supportive.

You weren’t lost in the numbers.” – John Orlando received his A.A. in Electric Technology from Laney College. He enjoyed being around students, so he contemplated a teaching career. He went back to school and received his B.A. in Industrial Education at San Francisco State.

While student teaching at Roosevelt Junior High School, he crossed paths with Russ Bettencourt again, who taught math and coached basketball. That coincidental encounter led to 17 years as a teacher and counselor in the Oakland Unified School District. Having earned his master’s degree in Educational Psychology while working in Oakland, Orlando eventually accepted a position as a student faculty member at Chabot College, which led to 17 more years of service.

Orlando and John are grateful for all that the Marianist brothers did for them during a formative time in their lives, especially Brothers Melvin Silva, Robert Nunes, Elmer Dunsky, Charles Weiss, and Stanley Murakami as well as Fr. John McEnhill. John says the brothers expected the students to get A’s in their classes, and helped young men develop a mindset to work towards a goal. John and Orlando share stories of their sometimes meandering road through life, and the moments where they were able to find focus and a purpose, an ability they attribute to their St. Joseph’s education.

“The school was there for us. Having those brothers, we could regroup, clear our heads, and stop ourselves from negative behavior.�

- Orlando

Spring 2016 Update 25

ALUMNINotes

Farewell Mrs. Norris Elizabeth Peláez Norris, known to students as Mrs. Norris and to faculty as Betsy, is retiring after 34 years as a teacher at SJND. She is the last of the faculty that began tenure at the boys’ school, St. Joseph’s. Serving as SJND’s modern languages department chair, PRISMS advisor, and Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica moderator, she feels blessed for her career that has also been her hobby. She expresses more thoughts in the beautiful letter to the SJND community below.

The time has come, the Walrus said...

To celebrate Betsy, the Alumni Office will be hosting a celebration on Wednesday, May 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the SJND Study Center. If you are able to attend, please RSVP to Vicki Bargagliotti, Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving at vbargagliotti@sjnd.org.

The Walrus was right - it’s time. After 34 years at SJND, I’ve decided to retire. SJND has been my family, my home away from home. Boy, can I tell you stories! I figure that about 3000 students have crossed the thresholds of Rooms 105 and 10.

They are the reason I have loved teaching here. I treasure the memories, the notes and emails, the “Hello, Mrs. Norris” shouted in such unlikely places as Tahoe and the Manila Airport. I’ve made some lifelong friends, shared experiences, mentored and learned, all in this nurturing environment. While I have seen many changes, the heart of this school has always been the same.

This is a bittersweet farewell. I don’t know what will make me jump up from bed so energetically every morning. But I do know that I want to spend more time with my husband, children and grandchildren. I hope to continue my writing and be involved in poetry events in the community, find some volunteer opportunities, and take time to smell the roses.

We have been tasked with educating the whole student.

Sometimes I identify with Yoda – his size, obviously – but mostly his role as guide and mentor. One of his most recognized lines is “Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is.”

May the Force be with you.

Betsy

26 Saint Joseph Notre Dame

INMemoriam SJND EDUCATORS We honor and celebrate the following distinguished teachers, who collectively educated, inspired and mentored thousands of students in countless ways.

Jack Pyne Taught Social Studies, Religious Studies and computer courses at SJND

ALUMNI Richard L. Courtney ’44 Philip J. Erlwein ’43 Brother of Dr. John Erlwein ’41

In Great Company Beatrice “Bea” Rowney ’32 1914-2013 Bea Rowney is a shining example of a Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School graduate in her generosity and love for community.

Having graduated Notre Dame Academy in 1932, Bea stayed on to teach P.E. and organize a variety of activities for the girls of Notre Dame Academy. From 1935-1976 she worked for Alameda Recreation and Parks Department, was director at Lincoln Park and then Recreation Supervisor in charge of day camp, sports, tennis, dance and Christmas programs.

Bea retired in 1976 and in1995 was inducted into SJND’s Athletic Hall of Fame for her contributions to the physical education department.

Brother Paul Fennelly, SM ’59 Brother of Patricia Fennelly ’60 Cronin, Michael P. Fennelly ’75 and Kathleen Fennelly ’78 Ratto. Brother-in-law of Daniel J. Cronin ’60, Uncle of Teresa Cronin ’81 Garcia, Judith Cronin ’83 Jenkins, Anne Cronin ’87 Beireis, Thomas Cronin ’91, Rebecca Ratto ’07, Anthony Ratto ’10, and Dominic Ratto ’10

Ruth Iverson ’48 Gann Dolores Hickey ’52 Sister of Mary Hickey Druecker ’33, Irene Hickey Hales ’37, Kathleen Hickey Peterson ’40, Alice Hickey ’43, Gertrude Hickey Sanck ’44 and Jacqueline Hickey Williams ’48

Ann Kraus ’81 Hyer

Bea had a deep respect for her experience at Notre Dame Academy and saw the same values reflected in the mission of the Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School of today. She cared deeply about the mission and continued success of SJND and included a generous bequest to the school in her estate. In doing so she joined a great company of Pilot supporters who wish to see and this community carry on for decades to come.

Entire generations of young people benefit greatly from Bea’s lifetime of service and giving.

Gregory Jurich ’69

Join Bea in the Pilot tradition of leading by paying it forward.

Editor: Corinne Hayhurst, Director of Communications

To learn more about including SJND in your estate planning, please contact Kay Reed, Donor Relations Officer, at 510.775.5543 or kreed@sjnd.org.

Mollie McFarland, Assistant Principal of Institutional Advancement

Thomas Mollard ’44 Kerry Smith ’67 Husband of Victoria Savino ’70 Smith Father of Kerry Smith, Jr. ’03

Edmond Vadnais ’42

Contributors:

Vicki Bargagliotti, Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving Design: Marci Stewart Designs Production: St. Croix Press Spring 2016 Update 27

Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School 1011 Chestnut Street Alameda, CA 94501 www.sjnd.org • 510-523-1526

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