16 minute read
VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Tony Schad ’81
This past fall was my 16th year calling Bomber football play-by-play with my partner Ralph Nardini ’77. One of the great things we get to do each year are halftime interviews with alumni who have made an impact on St. Xavier High School. A question I like to ask an alumnus is “Who from your time at St. Xavier would make your St. Xavier High School Mt. Rushmore? ”
Sometimes the answer is surprising. The answers range from former teachers to coaches to staff members. Some are very consistently named among those mentioned. I say this because this past October we lost one of those people whose name always comes up during that discussion. At the age of 87, and having given 50 years of his life to the mission of St. Xavier High School, we said goodbye to a member of my “St. X Mt. Rushmore,” Mr. John Hussong.
Mr. Hussong (sorry, as a former student of his I never really could call him John), had such an impact on so very many St. Xavier students. I was one of those students. While I was never in contention to be on the St. X Quiz team, which he moderated, I did have him as a teacher in the classroom for both Creative Writing and Literature of War. He was a phenomenal teacher who could talk baseball as well as poetry. He could mesh anything going on during the time with something from the great classics. The entire time I had him in class, and then later as a co-worker, I never heard him raise his voice, but he always had my attention. I was always interested in what he had to say.
Not only was Mr. Hussong one of my favorite teachers, but he was also a favorite of my son, Andrew, as well. I remember my son playing a varsity baseball game for the Bombers on the road back in 2013 and there in the stands cheering the boys on was Mr. Hussong. He delighted in Bomber victories and always supported our students, inside and outside the classroom.
So, as you learn of all the wonderful things happening at St. X, and as we prepare to celebrate two hundred years of St. X educating young men here in southwest Ohio, there are those like Mr. John Hussong who have paved the way for the magic that happens here daily. With that in mind, thank you to our incredible team of educators, staff and administrators who have followed Mr. Hussong’s lead in working with our students. And thank you to you, our alumni, friends, and parents who financially support the mission of this school each year.
As we do with Mr. Hussong, we stand on your shoulders and move forward. After 50 years of educating young men in the tradition of the Jesuits, no one has been any better than John Hussong. It was mentioned in Mr. Hussong’s obituary that one of the last things he did was listen to our radio broadcast of a St. Xavier victory. I’d like to think that brought a smile to his face. I know Mr. Hussong has brought many smiles to thousands of faces… including mine.
AMDG
ST. XAVIER’S INAUGURAL Fine Arts Hall of Fame
Induction Ceremony
Among St. Xavier’s many traditions are the outstanding Fine Arts programs. On April 28, 2022 St. Xavier will celebrate is inaugural Fine Arts Hall of Fame class.
The following inductees were chosen because of their contributions and accomplishments in theatre, music, writing, and visual arts, and graduated or served at least 10 years before our induction event.
This year’s inaugural class includes:
Andy Blankenbuehler ’88 Theatre Phil DeGreg ’72 Music
Mary Ann Meyer Visual Arts Patrick Osborne ’99 Visual Arts
April 28, 2022 | 7 p.m.
Tickets available beginning March 1, 2022
www.stxavier.org/finearts/halloffame
Linda (Donahue) Mace Theatre
David Quammen ’66 Author Michele Mascari Theatre
Michael Sparough SJ Theatre
If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please contact Ed Franchi at efranchi@stxavier.org or Steve Specht at sspecht@stxavier.org
Harry and Linda Fath $50 Million Gift
Transforming the lives of future Men for Others
Turn Gratitude Into Generosity.
Harry Fath Sr. graduated from St. Xavier High School 100 years ago in 1922. Harry Fath Jr. followed in his footsteps by becoming a member of the St. Xavier Class of 1959. Harry Fath ’59 recounts his days at St. Xavier as critical to his formation.
“St. Xavier changed my life for the better,” reflects Fath. “The expectations and opportunities people made for me transformed me into the man I am today. Linda and I feel it is imperative to make that experience available to other young men who want to attend St. Xavier.
Our gifts to St. Xavier, in the past, have been focused on one concept -a family’s ability to pay for a St. Xavier education should not be the barrier that keeps a qualified young man from attending. As I learned in conversations over the years with different presidents, and most recently Tim Reilly, affordability is still a barrier for many. I don’t ever want it to be the case that tuition cost is what eliminated the opportunity for any young man. To that end, Linda and I are excited to make a lead Tuition Assistance Fund gift of $50 million toward the $200 million capital campaign leading up to St. Xavier’s 200th anniversary.
President Tim Reilly ’76 stated, “We are both humbled and grateful to receive this transformational and inspiring gift from the Faths. In the fall of 2019, Harry attended a St. Xavier football game with current president Tim Reilly. In their discussions, Harry asked Tim the same question he had asked other presidents regarding cash flow and if any qualified students are lost because of the cost at St. X. Tim conveyed that unfortunately there are still qualified students that choose not to come to St. Xavier because of the cost, even though 42% of our students receive more than $4.2 million in need-based assistance annually. The economic challenge is very real for many families. When Harry asked how many, Reilly answered that we believe an average of 25 students a year (100 students in four years) do not attend St. X because of the cost. This disturbed Harry and he mentally concluded that “we” had to think much bigger.
The Faths fully appreciate the fact that tuition assistance is just one piece of the financial puzzle at St. Xavier. The other pieces include the need to keep annual fund giving at a rate that covers the “gap” each year (difference between the cost of tuition and the actual cost to educate each student). Another large need is the one that mitigates future tuition increases so that tuition rates do not outpace family incomes. Finally, it is not lost on them that a 61-year-old building needs some modern renovations.
With these thoughts, and a $50 million lead gift, St. Xavier is now announcing a $200 million campaign as part of St. Xavier 200. This campaign will be part of a continuous improvement strategic plan that will lead the school into its 200-year anniversary, which will begin in October of 2031. This campaign will need the support of the entire St. Xavier community to be successful.
Harry has agreed to be the honorary chairman of the capital campaign and hopes that other members of the Long Blue Line will remember their experience at St. X and turn their gratitude into generosity by giving transformational gifts to St. Xavier as well.
The legacy of the Fath’s gifts will live on in perpetuity.
“I have no doubt that the future world, just like our current world, is a better place with more St. Xavier graduates in it,” said Reilly. “The Faths have secured that our mission is lived out in future generations of the Long Blue Line. We thank them. The city, church and world should thank them too!”
St. Xavier 200
Strategic Continuous Improvement Plan Objectives
Mission and Catholic, Jesuit Identity Focus Objectives:
• Expand participation in Catholic sacramental, liturgical, and devotional practice at St. Xavier High School.
• Extend the Ignatian formation program for faculty and staff beyond the first five years of employment by incorporating intentional Ignatian experiences throughout the careers of the employees.
• Create programs that provide parents opportunities to experience Ignatian Spirituality.
• Study and assess alumni faith development post-graduation and develop programs in partnership with Jesuit and other pastoral works in the metropolitan area that enhance the faith formation of alumni.
• Improve St. Xavier High School’s ability to meet the diverse
academic profiles of students, preparing them for college according to our mission.
Marketing and Communications Focus Objectives:
• Maximize the use of technology and data to develop, nurture and steward personal relationships with key audiences.
• Increase engagement with and from each key audience.
• Reach and maintain enrollment levels that maximize efficiency while maintaining an enrollment that reflects the diversity of our region. Facilities and Campus Master Plan Focus Objective:
• Create a campus master plan that, by 2031, will establish exceptional facilities adaptable for future generations while advocating the Society of Jesus’ Universal Apostolic
Preference, “Care of Our Common Home” directive, including classroom improvements, security, technology,
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
Zero initiatives and a comprehensive schedule of capital depreciation.
Human Resources and Programs Focus Objective:
• Develop programs and practices to attract and retain students, faculty, staff and Board of Trustee members whose demographics directly correlate to those within the
Greater Cincinnati Community, while providing consistent opportunities for professional and spiritual growth of faculty, staff and Board of Trustee members.
Fiscal Viability Focus Objectives:
• Achieve a tuition cap by 2031 through increased endowment, yearly fundraising and stewardship of all school resources.
• Establish organizational structures and accountability to leverage alignment with Advancement, Admissions and
Communications and Marketing.
Keating Natatorium Undergoes Major Restoration
Keating Natatorium has been an iconic fixture on the St. Xavier campus for more than 50 years. Home to the perennial state and national champion AquaBombers and swimmers for the Cincinnati Marlins, it has welcomed some of the best swimmers, divers, water polo players and triathletes ever to come out of Greater Cincinnati. After serving as such a beloved home to so many, Keating Natatorium needed some major renovations. St. Xavier launched a capital campaign to fund the needed upgrades, including the replacement of all underground plumbing and air systems along with the renovation of the locker rooms, pool decking and other enhancements. These necessary restorations position the St. Xavier Swimming and Diving Program, the St. Xavier Water Polo Program, the St. Xavier Triathlon Team and the Cincinnati Marlins for continued success for decades to come.
Mike Keating ’73 and the Keating Family lead gifts, along with some other major naming gifts, enabled the renovation to move forward. The pool reopened just in time to host a St. Xavier Water Polo match and for the beginning of the AquaBombers’ winter season. Some details of the project are still being completed.
On Sunday, December 26, prior to the annual Alumni Swim Meet, the pool and named areas were blessed and re-dedicated by Fr. Terrence Baum SJ. The well-attended event gave guests a preview of the newly renovated space. The Long Blue Lane is deeply grateful to all those who have supported the renovation so far.
There is still time for you to help with this wonderful project and have your name included on the Donor Recognition Wall. Click on the QR code and make your gift by the end of February to be included.
excerpts from the ARCHIVES Nicholas Kemper '06
Sometime in 1840, a Jesuit in Cincinnati sat down with a newly purchased register book and opened it to the first blank page. With a steady hand, he carefully began to write: A.M.D.G. Alumnorum Album Regulae Quibus Alumni Collegii Sti. Francisci Xaverii diriguntur
These few words, written in beautiful Latin script, roughly translate to: For the Greater Glory of God A List of Students and the Rules by Which the Students of St. Francis Xavier College are Being Directed
Original register cover First page of register
This seemingly innocuous statement is the beginning of what is arguably the most important historical document among the many documents and items contained within the St. Xavier High School Archives: the 1840-1869 St. Xavier Register.
After arriving from St. Louis in 1840 at the invitation of Bishop John Baptist Purcell, a handful of Jesuits took over a struggling diocesan school (the Athenaeum, founded 1831) and renamed it St. Xavier College. The opening pages of the Register were most likely penned shortly after the Jesuits’ arrival in early October of that year, making it one of the school’s earliest institutional documents.
The first portion of this seminal book contains the various regulations implemented by the Jesuits in the mid-19th century: required clothing (frock coat and pantaloons), expectations of cleanliness (no spitting on the floor or throwing quills), lavatory etiquette (strict silence in the privy), and prohibitions regarding student behavior (no Grogshop visits).
The second portion of the book details the registration information of every single student who enrolled at St. Xavier between 1840 and 1869. The data provided for each student includes: first name, surname, parent/guardian, place of residence, date of entrance, age, religion, and status as a boarder or day scholar. A cursory glance reveals that most of the students ranged in age from six to eighteen; a few came from as far away as Cuba and Mexico; some attended for a few years, while others stayed for only a few days; and a diverse array of Catholics, Protestants, and Jews comprised the student body.
Over one hundred and eighty years have passed since the Register’s first page was written, and in a reappraisal last winter it was discovered that time had not been kind. The book’s binding had disintegrated almost to the point of non-existence, leaving quite a few pages loose and no longer attached to one another. The pages themselves had become acidic, brittle, and prone to crumbling. And although the ink was still crisp and legible, the Register’s overall condition prevented it from being handled except in extraordinary situations. Something had to be done to preserve this invaluable piece of St. Xavier history.
If anyone could save the Register, it was Jim and Mike Fallon of the Ohio Book Store. These two expert craftsmen, who ply their bookbinding craft in the basement of this iconic Cincinnati establishment, work diligently to rescue and preserve centuries-old books, manuscripts, and family Bibles.
Unfortunately, since much of the Register’s binding no longer existed, nothing short of a complete conservation overhaul would do. But that came with a hefty price tag — almost $8,000.
However, thanks in part to a federal Institute of Museum and Library Services LSTA grant awarded by the State Library of Ohio, as well as generous contributions from alumni, the restoration was able to commence during the summer of 2021.
Up first was separating the various sections of pages, or “signatures.” Each signature is bound together with string, with 30-40 signatures comprising the entire Register. Using a sharp bookbinder’s knife, Jim carefully sliced through the old glue and tattered thread holding the sections together. Countless hours later, all the signatures were separated, and soon the individual pages themselves were removed one by one.
The next step was mending any lacerations in the pages. Jim painstakingly repaired all of the tears using a German-made, acid-free mending tissue that he applied gently with an iron. With the tissue firmly in place, the tears would be prevented from worsening further.
The individual pages were then sent to a local paper conservator with whom the Fallon brothers work closely. The conservator proceeded to apply a deacidification spray to each side of every page. The magnesium oxide contained within the spray creates an alkaline buffer and helps to neutralize any harmful acidic buildup within the paper’s cellulose fibers, thus helping to preserve the pages for many years to come. Each page was then encapsulated in archival-quality polyester sleeves for added protection.
Back at the Ohio Book Store, Jim rebound all of the encapsulated pages and created handsome leather covers. The final act in this marvelous and fascinating production was the stamping of the cover and spine with St. Xavier College Register 1840-1869 using silver foil.
The Register has since returned to its home in the St. Xavier High School Archives. Thanks to the Fallon brothers and the Ohio Book Store, the Register can now be handled and read without fear of further damage and deterioration. And better yet, this priceless historical document is now preserved and protected for future generations.
If you are interested in viewing this magnificent piece of Cincinnati and St. Xavier history, whether for genealogical research or out of plain curiosity, please contact archivist Nick Kemper at nkemper@stxavier.org to arrange for a visit.
Stamping of cover Newly conserved register
