St. Xavier Magazine - 2024 Winter

GREATER CINCINNATI’S JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL

From the President

Gratitude and joy are appropriate words for my president’s summer letter as we wrap up the 191st school year. I deeply admire and appreciate the collective talent, passion, and generosity in and outside the building that helps us achieve our mission. The 342 graduates of the Class of 2023 are strong evidence of success.

There is a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation in the air as we welcome the New Year. In the spirit of reflection and inspiration, we are inspired by the teachings of the founder of the Jesuits, St. Ignatius Loyola, whose wisdom continues to be our companion on our journey of faith and self-discovery.

of learners are cultivated in an environment suffused with compassion and care for the whole person, then that school is a joyous and exciting place to be.” In his speech at graduation, Sam Warren ’23, enthusiastically proclaimed, “wearing a St. X

St. Ignatius emphasized the importance of discernment: a thoughtful and prayerful decision-making process. In this issue of the magazine, you will read about Bob Reichert ’58 whose experience at St. Xavier dramatically changed the trajectory of his life. He credits the time, believe it or not, spent in JUG (Justice Under God) as giving him the chance to reflect and discern. He and his wife, Beth, have chosen to change the life of others by endowing the JUG Room at St. Xavier.

In her address to the Class of 2023 at graduation, Mrs. Therese Bower stated what a school should be, “a community of learners, a place where students and adults assemble to explore the richness of God’s creation within and beyond the school’s walls. When all the elements come together— intellectual curiosity, respect for diverse perspectives, independent thinking, reflection on the significance of things—when these dispositions and skills that characterize a community

St. Ignatius encouraged us to seek and find God in all aspects of our lives – not just in prayer or religious rituals but also in the ordinary moments. I am excited to continue the conversation about the new Grotto at St. Xavier High School. In a world that fills our calendars and to-do lists, the importance of a sanctuary for quiet reflection becomes important. The St. Xavier Grotto project is explained in greater detail later in the magazine. This new space will emphasize the importance of prioritizing time for reflection and devotion and provide a vital opportunity to nourish the soul and find balance amidst the hustle and bustle of the busy teenage life and invite all to accept Mary’s invitation of aid.

The New Year is also a time for reflection on the past and anticipation of the future. St. Ignatius invites us to express gratitude for the blessings and challenges of the past year while

In this edition, you will find example of the joyous and exciting

students out into the world to make a difference. You may never

Men and Women for and With Others and the generosity of the Long Blue Line. We celebrate many wonderful people- students,

introspection; they call us to action. As we embrace the New Year, let us embody the values of the St. Xavier Graduate at Graduation intellectually competent, and loving. We teach our young men to inspire us all. We continue to move forward with St. Xavier 200

full of hope, a mind attuned to discernment, and a commitment to finding God in all things throughout the year. Wishing you a

Tim Reilly ’76

ADMINISTRATION

Mr. Timothy J. Reilly ’76, President

Rev. Walter C. Deye SJ ’66, Rector

Mr. Daniel J. Lynch, Principal

Mr. Robert G. Bollman ’86, Vice President for Operations & CFO

Mr. Anthony E. Schad ’81, Vice President for Advancement

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Mr. Gregory G. Achten ’82 - Chair Elect

Mr. G. Jeffrey Berding ’85

Mrs. Stephanie Bruemmer

Mr. Robert E. Carroll ’76

Ms. Melanie Chavez

Mr. Michael E. Dahm

Rev. Walter C. Deye SJ ’66 - Vice Chair

Mr. Brian J. Fitzgerald ’91

Mr. Lee P. Geiger ’93

Dr. Colleen M. Hanycz

Rev. Paul A. Lickteig SJ

Dr. Patricia McAlpine

Mr. Adam T. Mueller ’96

Rev. Gregory J. Ostdiek SJ

Mr. Vivek Ramaswamy ’03 – On Sabbatical

Mr. Andrew N. Recker ’97

Mr. Timothy J. Reilly ’76

Mr. Mark M. Ryan ’91

Rev. Matthew C. Spotts SJ ’04

Mr. Timothy J. Steigerwald ’83

Mrs. Linnell R. Sullivan

Rev. Eric M. Sundrup SJ

Mr. Nicholas J. Vehr ’77 - Chair

Mr. Madhu Vrishabhendra

Rev. Nathan C. Wendt SJ

CONTRIBUTORS

Mary Beth Bruns

David V. Clapp

Kathryn S. Dierckes

Heidi B. Eveleigh

Eric M. Gammarino ’09

John J. Getgey

Julie A. Goshorn

Cara L. Hester

W. Matthew Keith ’93

Logan C. Kiser ’24

Nicholas B. Kemper ’06

Wayne Box Miller

Ralph A. Nardini ’77

Aleth B. Rhoades

Anthony E. Schad ’81

John A. Schrantz ’96

Britan A. Shriner

Stephen R. Specht ’86

Gavin A. Vargas ’19

James C. Wolf ’97

EDITOR

Becky Schulte

DESIGNER

Jon Enia ’97, makercreative.com

PRINTING

Joseph Berning Printing Company

St. Xavier Magazine is published three times a year by the alumni, advancement and communications offices.

St. Xavier High School

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e-mail: bschulte@stxavier.org

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Direct all Letters to the Editor, address changes, or other correspondence to the above address.

Postmaster: Send address corrections to: St. Xavier Magazine, 600 W. North Bend Road, Cincinnati, OH 45224-1499.

Cover Photo: Students participated in the 48th Walk4X supporting tuition assistance.

Above Photo: St. Xavier welcomed back former president Fr. William Verbryke SJ ’71 to to preside over the all-school Mass celebrating the Feast of St. Francis Xavier.

We are St. Xavier

News and notes around the St. Xavier campus

This year the 48th annual Walk4X was held on September 22, 2023. The students reached their goal for raising money going directly towards bridging the gap between the cost of tuition and the actual cost of education at St. X. A special thank you goes out to the Class of 1997 who designated their class gift to permanently endow the Walk! This endowment gift means all money raised for the Walk4X goes directly to support tuition assistance.

President’s Dinner

Benefactors and supporters gathered at St. Xavier High School for the annual President’s Dinner on October 26, 2023. Tim Reilly ’76 welcomed guests to thank them for their support at St. Xavier.

Faculty and staff members were recognized for their 25 years of dedicated service to the St. Xavier community. Thank you to Mr. Michael J. Daley and Mr. Daniel T. Zepf ’92 St. Xavier High School also recognized members of the Board of Trustees. Mrs. Mabe Rodriguez Steigerwald and Mrs. Toi C. Jones were honored and thanked for their service.

The evening ended with two incredibly special award presentations. Congratulations to Mr. Thomas W. Keefe ’68, Magis Award Recipient and Rev. Walter C. Deye SJ ’66, Insignis Award Recipient who were honored for sharing their gifts and talents with St. Xavier.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Painting Presented to School

Cameron Jones ’26 gifted a beautiful painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Xavier this fall. Cameron explains the process of his painting below:

“I first began researching about the original painting; reading articles, learning about objects in the painting and what they symbolize, and going to the Cincinnati Art Museum to find inspiration and paintings I could use for reference. After that, I tried to find other artist’s interpretations online of our Lady of Guadalupe paintings and other sources. I used a 36” by 48” canvas, and some pencil and charcoal to sketch out the grid and design of how the painting would look. When I began the painting process with acrylic paints, I focused on the head, trying to make it stand out from the other parts of the painting and to be the first part of the painting people would notice. Then I started working on the hands and robe, adjusting the lighting and colors along the way. To add content and color to the painting to make it stand out more, I added a base pattern over white, a sky, sun rays, a halo, creases in the robe, and flowers, preferably types of flowers that symbolize Mexican culture. I added the crescent moon and the cherub from the original painting, some clouds and gold leaf around the lady. To finish it all off, I varnished and framed the painting, ending the journey to what has been my most ambitious art project so far.”

This inspirational work now hangs in the stairwell at the front of St. Xavier for all to see.

Canned Food Drive

Feast of St. Francis Xavier Mass

On November 30, 2023, St. Xavier High School celebrated Mass in recognition of the Feast of St. Francis Xavier. The Feast Day was held on December 3, 2023, by the Catholic Church. Former St. Xavier President Fr. William Verbryke SJ ’71 officiated the Mass. St. X celebrated the message and commitment that St. Francis Xavier showed during his mission work throughout his life. He was the first Jesuit missionary and the prototype who inspired many men to enter the Society of Jesus and evangelize far off nations. Francis Xavier reminds our community of the importance of mission work and being Men For Others

It was another successful year for the Canned Food Drive! Freshman and sophomore homerooms brought in more than 50,000 pounds of canned food. Ten homerooms brought in more than 2,000 pounds and joined

the Xavier One Ton Club. This year, the St. X Canned Food Drive won the Great Ignatian Challenge, an annual holiday food drive competition intended to raise students’ awareness of hunger in their community, resulting in a $30K reward for tuition assistance. A special thank you goes out to the Class of 1991 who designated their class gift to permanently endow the Canned Food Drive!

St. Xavier Athletic Hall of Fame

St. Xavier High School is proud to announce the 2024 St. Xavier Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction will be held on Thursday, April 11, 2024. The 40th Annual event will also include the induction of six new members into the Athletic Hall of Fame. The keynote speaker for the night will be NBC Sports Analyst and St. Xavier alumnus Jordan Cornette ’01.

St. Xavier’s Fine Arts Hall of Fame Induction

SAVE THE DATE

St. Xavier’s Fine Arts Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Friday, May 3, 2024

Tickets available beginning March 1, 2024

Among St. Xavier’s many traditions are the outstanding fine arts programs. The following inductees were chosen because of their contributions and accomplishments in theater, music, writing, and visual arts, and graduated 10 years before our induction event.

Ensemble X

The Ensemble X Chorus has had a busy year! On Sunday, December 3, they were invited to perform alongside the chorus from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) as part of its annual “Feast of Carols!” Just one week later, they hosted the annual Ensemble X Christmas Dinner on December 9 and 10. The St. Xavier Choirs including, Ensemble X and St. Xavier Concert Band, have been invited to sing at Carnegie Hall this spring!

The 2024 inductees include:

James Barbiere ’08 – Swimming & Diving

Connor Buczek ’11 – Lacrosse

Walt Gibler ’08 – Basketball

Nick Larsen ’00 – Basketball & Football

Lou Miller ’06 – Wrestling & Football

Mike Odioso ’81 – Football

Sponsorship opportunities & tickets are now available! For more information, go to:  https://www.stxavier.org/athletics/halloffame

Honoring: Pete Egbers ’97 – Visual Arts

Kevin Kern ’92 – Theatre

Christopher Kiradjieff ’90 – Music

Theresa Rebeck – Literature

Dennis O’Brien – Special Honor

If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please contact Steve Specht at sspecht@stxavier.org

What’s New with Career ConneXions?

What is the “Secret Sauce”?

Thanks to the generosity of three dozen employers, there are nearly 200 openings for students to explore their career interests this Summer through paid internships, ½ day job shadows, and through mentors. These Summer experiences are unique opportunities that many high schools across the nation do not yet offer. Career ConneXions Director, Aleth Rhoades, shared that “…One of the best compliments St. Xavier can receive is other high schools calling to ask about the “secret sauce” of this program. They want to understand how to build their own Career ConneXions program. They want to know how St. Xavier can get so many 9th through 12th graders involved with Career ConneXions - to get Bombers to give-up their lunch, their study hall or free time after school - despite having homework and after school practice commitments already.”

The answer: The Long Blue Line IS the secret sauce. “Our parents, alumni, and friends of the Long Blue Line are the reason we have 100s of opportunities that attract our Bombers from the moment they tour the school as 8th graders. The story and experiences of the Long Blue Line are truly priceless and inspirational, and I believe our students and parents/guardians also realize this. I believe our Bombers know these real-world experiences truly are the key to gain

confidence in what they choose to do after graduation,” says Rhoades.

Applicant Tracking System for our Students

To simplify the student experience, enhance the recruiting process, and to minimize time spent on program administration, Career ConneXions installed and customized a new Applicant Tracking System, “Paycor Recruiting.” All Bombers access the system securely through the St X Student Portal to locate 100s of open positions to intern, job shadow and to find a mentor. The system not only offers a detailed description of what the student can expect, but also gives them the ability to apply for any open position in just a few keystrokes.  Students who tested the system before it was generally released shared this feedback about the system, “I loved how easily I can find opportunities, navigate through the system with no instructions or training, and how I can enter my information once to apply for multiple opportunities.” This same Applicant Tracking System is used by organizations like Madtree Brewing , the Cincinnati Bengals, Mike’s Car Wash and many businesses across the country to help post, recruit and fill open positions in their own teams. Bombers may not realize it now, but using the system for Career ConneXions is yet another way they are learning professional skills they will use for years to come in their days after St X.

National Signing Days Partnership with Xavier University

Congratulations to our student athletes who committed to continue their academic and athletic careers by signing to play athletics in college.

National Signing Day: November 8

Charlie Drapp - Ashland University - Golf

Brady Fitzpatrick - Ball State University - Baseball

Marty Geppert - George Mason University - Baseball

Robert Gerwin - University of Dayton - Golf

James Jackson - Calvin University - Soccer

Thackston McMullan - University of California

Berkeley - Swimming

Billy Porotsky - Hillsdale College - Baseball

Dylan Thompson - Thomas More University - Baseball

Max Ward - Xavier University - Swimming

National Signing Day: December 20

Noah Beck - United States Naval Academy - Football

Ted Hammond - University of Michigan - Football

Andrew Jennings - Amherst College - Football

Jay McCuen - Wittenberg University - Golf

Evan Trapp - University of Alabama - Track

St. Xavier High School is honored to announce a historic partnership with Xavier University. Beginning in the fall of 2024, Xavier University will automatically admit all St. X graduates as part of a new “direct admission” program. Each St. Xavier High School graduate will also be awarded an annual merit scholarship! This partnership celebrates the young men at St. X, their rigorous academic preparation for college, and the focus on the values of ‘Graduate at Graduation’.

Blue Blob, Benny the Bomber and D’Artagnan together to congratulate St. Xavier students.

Xavier President Colleen Hanycz, Ph.D. and St. Xavier President Tim Reilly ’76 celebrate the historic agreement.

Our Town Performance

Theatre Xavier (TX) held their fall performance of Our Town this semester. Guests were seated in the Black Box Theater for a truly immersive experience. Our Town presented the fictional American town of Grover’s Corners between 1901 and 1913 through the everyday lives of its citizens. Congratulations to the TX performers and all those who played roles in this incredible play!

Celebrating Diversity

The office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hopes everyone had a blessed and wonderful Christmas season celebrating the birth of Christ and enjoying time with family and loved ones. As a school that has a 20% diverse student population, we also recognize December was the time of year where other cultures celebrated the season.

We have shared some of the observances (below)and remember, no matter how you and your family celebrated, let us remember the diversity of the season and use three of our Graduate at Graduation principles (Intellectually Competent, Loving and Open to Growth) in respecting and valuing our differences.

Hanukkah Sundown December 7 – Nightfall December 15  Hanukkah, which lasts eight days, is a Jewish festival that reaffirms the ideals of Judaism.

Las Posadas December 16 - December 24

Las Posadas is a Christmas Mexican tradition. It began as a way for the Spaniards to teach native people about Christmas.

Kwanzaa December 26 – January 1

Kwanzaa is an African American and pan-African seven-day cultural holiday that celebrates family and community.

Three Kings Day (Dia de Los Reyes) December 25 - January 6

Dia de Los Reyes is one of the most important holidays on the Puerto Rican calendar. Epiphany, traditionally celebrated on January 6, commemorates the visit of the Three Magi, Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthasar, who followed the Star of Bethlehem to the birth of Jesus.

Philippine Christmas

People in the Philippines like to celebrate Christmas for as long as possible. The playing of Christmas carols in shops can start in September. The formal Christmas celebrations start on December 16th when many people go to the first of nine pre-dawn or early morning masses. The last Mass is on Christmas day.

The challenge for the new year is simple; next December make sure you share your celebration with others and learn more about theirs.

As we say, “Diversity is the energy that powers the world.”

Dennis M. and Lois A. Doyle Family Foundation Endowment Seedling Program

Denny and Lois Doyle believe that a strong education leads to many positive and wonderful things. They were products of a Catholic education and entrusted St. Xavier High School with the education of their three sons (Brian ’89, Mark ’91 and David ’98).

The Doyle Foundation has set up a matching seedling gift program that encourages endowment giving to St. Xavier High School. In fact, 118 of the endowments listed in this magazine have been encouraged with a matching gift from the Doyle Family Foundation.

Key Components to the Program

• An individual or group makes an initial gift of $10,000 or more plus agrees to make additional gifts of $10,000 or more for the following three years. A planned estate gift is also designated to St. Xavier High School for the Named Endowment.

• The Doyle Foundation contributes an addition $10,000 to the established fund!

To date the Doyle Family Foundation has contributed more than $1.8 Million to help establish endowed funds now valued at more than $17.3 Million!

For more information regarding the Doyle Foundation Matching Gift Program at St. Xavier High School please contact Vice President for Advancement Tony Schad at Tschad@stxavier.org or by phone at 513-618-3228.

Xavier Scholarship Granting Organization

The Xavier Scholarship Granting Organization (Xavier-SGO ) might be the most exciting tax news you’ve ever received!  If you pay Ohio income tax, you now have the opportunity to pay less while supporting our Jesuit mission. Xavier-SGO has been certified by the State of Ohio as a Scholarship Granting Organization. The Ohio income tax credit (yes, tax credit!) is limited to $750 per individual or $1,500 per joint Ohio tax return. Please join us in this exciting new opportunity. For more than 190 years, your gifts to St. Xavier have provided tuition assistance for academically eligible young men who might not otherwise be able to afford a St. Xavier High School education and go into the world as Men for Others. We now join with Xavier Jesuit Academy (opening in August 2024) to give grade school children the same opportunities for a Catholic, Jesuit education.

We hope you will take advantage of this new Ohio Income Tax Credit and help us. Thank you for your support!

Please join us in this exciting new opportunity! If you have any questions, please visit www.xaviersgo.org, scan the QR Code or contact Tony Schad at 513.618.3228 or  tschad@stxavier.org

JOIN US FOR X-Travaganza 2024!

X-Travaganza is an annual St. Xavier High School tradition which has brought together parents, alumni and friends of St. Xavier to enjoy fun events while supporting the students.

Our committees are busy planning X-Travaganza 2024 Wild Wild X! This evening is sure to be a boot-scootin’ good time! Proceeds from all X-Travaganza events benefit ALL St. Xavier students by funding educational programs and co-curriculars that contribute to the students’ development as Men for Others

Online Silent Auction opens Monday, March 4, 2024 and closes Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 9 p.m. This allows everyone an opportunity to bid on an array of items posted online. The main event, Wild Wild X, takes place on Saturday, March 9, 2024. Mass will be held in the chapel at 5 p.m. with the dinner auction in the Berning Gym – which will be transformed into an American old west gathering space, fit for all the cowboys and cowgirls, settlers and outlaws who will join us for the evening! The fun begins with a variety of raffles, open saloon and tasty appetizers to enjoy while browsing the evening’s exclusive Silent Auction items on display –only guests in attendance at X-Travaganza that evening will be able to bid on these items. The Grand Raffle drawing for cash prizes of $20,000, $10,000 and $5,000 brings an exciting start to the delectable sit-down meal, with the fast-moving Live Auction starting at 7:30 p.m. The X-ceptional items presented – including a nine-bedroom, ocean front home in the Outer Banks, a four-bedroom townhome at Deer Valley Ski Resort, a three-bedroom condo for ten days in Cape Town, South Africa, 4 tickets and a parking pass for the 2024 OSU vs. Michigan football game, among others – are sure to have you raise your paddle to bid! X-Travaganza 2024 Chairs - Krista and Jay Devine and Stephanie and Steve ’87 Kastner –promise a night you won’t forget!

Our appreciation goes out to the hundreds of volunteers, gift gathering party hosts, donors and sponsors whose countless hours make these unforgettable events possible. This collective generosity and enthusiasm creates a unique opportunity for fun AND purpose – with proceeds benefiting all the young men of St. Xavier. Your ongoing support of X-Travaganza – whether being a part of an event, purchasing Grand Raffle tickets, donating gifts for the auctions, volunteering or numerous other roles – fulfills the long-standing tradition of student support by the St. X community and The Long Blue Line.

Make your X-Travaganza reservations and purchase Grand Raffle Tickets online at www.stxavier.org/xtrav SAVE THE DATE

X-Travaganza Golf Outing

May 13, 2024 At Oasis Golf Club For more information: www.stxavier.org/ xtravgolfouting

Vice President’s Message

There is a scene in the Netflix series After Life that really sums up the meaning of philanthropy as well as being a “Man for Others.”

Actress Dame Penelope Wilton’s character provides the following insight to the character portrayed by Ricky Gervais when she tells him, “Happiness is amazing. It is so amazing it doesn’t matter if it is yours or not. There is that lovely thing. ‘A society grows great when old men plant trees, the shade of which they know they will never sit in.’  Good people…. do things for other people. That’s it… the end.”

It does not get any more simple than that. To me it is what “Men and Women for Others” means. Our faculty and staff do our absolute best to model that ideal with our students every day. Think about it from our alumni, friends and parents’ perspective, too. Each year you support our mission on behalf of our students, most whom you may never meet. You give without seeing a benefit to yourself other than knowing you are supporting the education of the young men of St. Xavier in formational and intellectual ways. Good people doing things for other people!

Philanthropy began for our community back in the 1830’s when the endeavor of St. Xavier High School originated. It was kickstarted again in the late 1950’s when vision, followed by financial support, was given to bring St. Xavier High School out to the current location on North Bend Road. There are many people that helped fund move, which at that time was considered quite bold. They planted the tree that is currently St. Xavier High School, and most did so without enjoying the shade that “tree” has given other than knowing that they were doing good things for other people.

Fast forward to 2024 and we are at another “planting point” to help the tree that is St. Xavier High School continue to branch out and provide shade for our community, city, country and world. The St. Xavier 200 campaign we are currently involved in is another tree planting opportunity for each one of us. We are looking to upgrade

and modernize the academic and meeting spaces on our campus for our students and faculty. We want to put our students in the best position possible to build on the educational process in which they have a highly active role.

The next set of trees we are planting will provide shade for current and future students in the form of financial assistance so that any young man, regardless of their ability to pay, can attend and benefit from St. Xavier High School. When that happens, every student benefits. It happens with annual giving, endowment giving and support for X-Travaganza.

The third row of trees we are planting comes in the form of endowing programs at St. Xavier. Every program has related costs that are covered in the operational budget of the school. It could be the History department, the robotics club, the band or the baseball program. Each time we can endow a program it lowers the cost to educate the young men of St. X and makes the reality of a St. Xavier education open to more and more young men.

Please know that how you support the St. Xavier 200 campaign will make as big a difference as those that helped to fund the move from downtown to Finneytown.

So yes, we are asking you to plant trees, the shade of which you may never sit in. That’s what our mission is all about. Good people, doing good things for other people. That’s it. The end!

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

Anthony E. Schad ’81 Vice President for Advancment

Tony Schad ’81

ONE JUG Can Change Your Life and Benefit Others

The term JUG comes from the Latin sub jugum, meaning “under a burden.” For as long as St. Xavier students can remember, JUG “Justice Under God” – or detention – is something they dread. A JUG can be given to a student for a variety of reasons, from not following dress code to more egregious offenses. Most students don’t look at JUG as a good thing, but Bob Reichert ’58 would disagree. Bob holds the record for the longest JUG in St. Xavier history and claims “it changed my life for the better!”

Bob states, “as a child I had a problem respecting authority, but by the time I finished St. Xavier I was a totally different person.”

In his sophomore year, September 1955, he and a group of friends attended a football game held at Xavier University’s stadium. They were sitting eight rows from the top having a good time. They noticed their Latin teacher, Mr. James Donnelly SJ a few rows below them. Although Mr. Donnelly was a nice man whom they all liked, none of them enjoyed the subject of Latin. During the game, one of his friends was eating a candy apple. Together they decided that it would be a good idea to throw the candy apple at Mr. Donnelly during the next big football play. His friend chucked the apple at their teacher, but his aim was not very good. The apple landed in the hair of a woman next to Mr. Donnelly, who just happened to be Mr. Donnelly’s mother. They thought they got away with the act, until they turned around and saw an entire line of Jesuits at the top row of the stadium watching every move the boys had made.

“My year-long JUG experience taught me respect for authority, that bad conduct has consequences, and that one mistake does not make a bad person, instead if offers the opportunity for growth. I am forever grateful for what St. Xavier did for me.”

Bob Reichert ’58

On Monday morning the group was called down to the principal’s office by Fr. William Fay SJ and were immediately expelled from St. Xavier High School for their antics at the game. Arriving home from school at 10 a.m. on a Monday with all your books naturally raises questions. Bob’s mom was not happy. But, being the great mom she was, after a couple of days of soul-searching, she went to Fr. Fay’s office and somehow, magically, got Bob reinstated. To this day, he is not sure what his mother said the next day to persuade Fr. Fay to get him back into St. Xavier, but the consequence of his actions was indefinite JUG. This sentence lasted the entire year. Bob attended JUG every day after school, until May 2, when prefect of Fr. Charles Brannen SJ released Bob from his servitude. That very next day Bob decided to throw punches in the lunch line and was once again caught by Fr. Fay. The result, he was back in JUG for the remainder of the year.

During his time in JUG Bob had a reserved seat each and every night and he was required to memorize poetry until he could recite each and every word perfectly. JUG, back then, lasted an hour or more, depending on the prefect. After JUG each night, he had to hitch hike from downtown Cincinnati back to his home in Amberly Village. This process caused him to reassess himself and, as he said, “I had an awakening!”

Continued on next page

Bob Reichert ’58

“I realized I was not the smartest person on earth and that I needed to change, so instead I decided to calm down and tried to be a good person,” said Bob.

Year-long JUG turned out to be a life-changing event. The result, now 68 years later, is that Bob and his wife Beth have chosen to endow the JUG room at St. Xavier High School. He said, “My year-long JUG experience taught me respect for authority, that bad conduct has consequences, and that one mistake does not make a bad person, instead if offers the opportunity for growth. I am forever grateful for what St. Xavier did for me.”

What does it mean to help to endow a program? Why and who does it help to endow a program?

Just as a gift to the St. Xavier Annual Fund supports every student, the St. Xavier 200 Campaign initiative to endow programs at St. X does the same.

To endow a program means that your support allows the school to offset the annual cost to run the school for our students. Program endowment income covers expenses in the budget thus reducing the need to increase tuition to cover the expense.

All the programs near and dear to our hearts come with a cost that needs a budget line item, hence an expense. This not only includes athletic co-curriculars such as swimming, baseball or tennis, but all cocurriculars such as Mock Trial, RobotX, the band and Theatre Xavier just to name a few. Program endowment can also come in the form of supporting academics such as mathematics, foreign language, science, religion and more. Just like in a personal budget at home, everything has a cost. With that cost comes the need to pay for each of these worthwhile programs.

To date St. Xavier High School has more than $14,000,000 in program endowments established by generous donors supporting a program at St. Xavier that carriers a special meaning to them. Just like in the story on the facing page about Bob Reichert and his desire to endow the JUG program at St. X, we have the Cindy Fazio Mock Trial Program, the Leo Gerbus ’53 Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Ada Lovelace Computer Science Department, and the Walter C. Deye SJ Mission Trip Endowment, just to name a few. We have partially endowed programs such as football, basketball, volleyball, fine arts, choir and foreign language. Currently the $14,000,000 in program endowments helps eliminate the need to

raise tuition for our current students by $658,000 per year! Our goal is to get program endowments to $60,000,000 by 2031. When we reach that number, it will cover $2,820,000 in the school’s budget which means a lower need for future tuition increases. We are 23% of the way there!

The goal for this initiative is making a St. Xavier education and its programs sustainable and more affordable so that any young man that is qualified and willing to do the work that a St. Xavier education requires, can be a member of the Long Blue Line.

For more information about endowing programs, please contact Tony Schad, Vice President for Advancement at tschad@stxavier. org or 513.618.3228.

Bob and Beth Reichert

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Revenue and Expenses

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Report of Operations Revenue and Expenses

Report of Operations Revenue and Expenses

Operations Revenue and

Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2023

Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2023

Report of Operations Revenue and Expenses

Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2023

2022-23 Alumni Giving

2022-23 Alumni Giving

2022-23 Alumni Giving

2022-23 Alumni Giving

Student Spotlight

Logan Kiser ’24

Logan Kiser ’24 lives each day as a Man for Others. He is actively involved in Youth Companion Scholars (Community Service), Varsity Rugby, serves as a Student Development Chairman, went on the Toppa Joppa Service Trip, and attended Kairos. His commute from Middletown, Ohio each and every day shows his dedication and commitment to his education, personal growth and the Long Blue Line.

Where did you go to grade school? Why did you decide to attend St. Xavier? I attended Mother Theresa Catholic Elementary School (MTCES) for my grade school education. Choosing to attend St. X was an easy choice for me. I did all of the usual shadowing around the GCL and each school I visited seemed to be lacking something. When I first arrived at St. X for my shadow day, I was rushed with happy greeters, excited students, and halls filled with joyful chatter. I could immediately tell this shadow day was going to be different. As I followed my sophomore ambassador around to each one of his classes, I noticed how excited and passionate each of the students and teachers were. Each student looked excited to learn and the teachers looked just as excited to teach. During flex, I was afraid I would be a alienated from my ambassador’s friend group because I was a stranger but, to my surprise, they immediately welcomed and included me in their conversations. It felt as if I had been friends with these guys for all my life even though I had just met them. The excitement, passion, and brotherhood I saw at St. X was all I needed to drink the “blue” Kool-Aid.

What advice would you give to a freshman? Come to class everyday with an open mind and embrace all the resources and opportunities St. X has to offer.

To expand upon this advice:

• Engage Actively in Class: Participate in discussions, ask questions, and be curious. The classroom is not just about learning from textbooks, but also engaging with ideas and perspectives.

• Utilize School Resources: Familiarize yourself with the resources available, be it the library, tutoring services, or counseling. These are in place to support your academic and personal growth.

• Explore Extracurricular Activities: St. Xavier offers a wealth of clubs, sports, and organizations. Getting involved is key to developing new skills, making friends, and finding your passions.

• Cultivate Relationships: Build connections with your teachers and peers. These relationships can provide support, mentorship, and opportunities throughout your high school years and beyond.

• Stay Organized: High school brings new challenges in time management. Keep track of your assignments, deadlines, and commitments to stay on top of your workload.

• Embrace Challenges: You’ll face new challenges, both academically and personally. View these as opportunities to grow rather than obstacles.

• Balance is Key: While academics are important, so is your well-being. Find a balance between work, activities, and time for relaxation and fun.

• Seek Help When Needed: Don’t hesitate to ask for help. Whether it’s academic support or personal advice, there are many around you who are ready and willing to assist.

• Reflect on Your Experiences: Take time to think about what you’re learning and how it applies to your life. This reflection will deepen your understanding and appreciation of your high school journey.

• Enjoy the Journey: These four years will go by quickly. Make the most of them and cherish the experiences and memories you create.

High school is as much about discovering who you are as it is about the education you receive. Embrace each day at St. Xavier with enthusiasm and an eagerness to learn, and you’ll set the foundation for a fulfilling and successful high school experience.

What is your favorite memory/experience at St. X?

My favorite experience at St. X was participating in Phonathon for the first time my junior year. At first, I was nervous because, at that time, making phone calls stressed me out and was awkward for me, but as soon as I walked through the Barrett Center doors into the calling room I was immediately engulfed with adrenaline and excitement. Guys everywhere throwing bomber bucks and shouting out pledge amounts, the atmosphere was electric. I built up confidence after each phone call and my anxiety melted away. It blew me away how much of an impact we were making for our future brothers. At the end of the night when the calling was over feelings of accomplishment and joy washed over the room as the total amount of tuition assistance money we raised was announced. I can say with confidence that every guy in that room that night discovered firsthand what it was like to be a man for others and how powerful and supportive the Long Blue Line is.

The Phonathon was not only a pivotal moment for my personal growth and confidence but also a testament to the collective power of St. Xavier students. It’s an experience that has left an indelible mark on me.

What is the St. Xavier Advantage?

The St. Xavier Advantage is a multifaceted ethos that each student embodies through a transformative journey at our school. It’s about developing a sense of grit—the resilience and fortitude to excel under any circumstance and to persistently pursue excellence. It’s about fostering integrity, instilling moral principles that guide our actions both within the academic environment and beyond its boundaries. At the heart of the St. Xavier experience is empathy, the foundational element of our ‘men for others’ philosophy. It compels us to prioritize the well-being of others, encouraging a spirit of service that extends into every facet of our lives. This empathetic outlook nurtures a commitment to not only improve our own lives but also to make a positive impact on the world around us. In essence, the St. Xavier Advantage is about shaping individuals who are prepared to lead, serve, and excel. It provides a compass for navigating life’s challenges and opportunities with courage, honor, and compassion. This advantage doesn’t just prepare us for success—it equips us to lead lives of significance and fulfillment, to be beacons of positive change in a world that continually needs it. It’s more than just an education; it’s a lifetime advantage.

Anything else we should share about you?

While my academics and activities at St. Xavier are a significant part of my life, there’s another aspect that speaks volumes about my dedication to this school. I live in Middletown, which means I spend about two hours commuting every day. This might seem daunting to some, but for me, it’s a testament to how much I value the exceptional education, inspiring people, and life-shaping lessons I encounter daily at St. X. This journey isn’t just a physical commute; it represents my dedication to being part of a community that constantly encourages personal growth and instills the values of brotherhood. The experiences and connections I’ve made at St. Xavier are irreplaceable and have profoundly impacted my perspective and aspirations. Being part of St. Xavier’s brotherhood has not only been transformative but has also set me on a path to embody the ethos of being a ‘Man For Others’ throughout my life. It’s a commitment that goes beyond the classroom walls, influencing every aspect of my life and shaping my future goals and ambitions. In a nutshell, the daily commute is a small price to pay for the wealth of opportunities and the nurturing environment St. Xavier provides. It’s a journey I cherish and for which I am genuinely grateful.

excerpts from the ARCHIVES

Nicholas Kemper ’06, Archivist

The old Xavier High School building on Sycamore Street sat empty and silent on demolition day in 1961. The students and teachers who once occupied its hallways and classrooms had long since relocated to the gleaming new facilities on North Bend Road. The plate glass windows had all been removed, as had the Francis Xavier statue that stood vigilant above the main entrance for decades. But as the enormous King Wrecking Company excavator tore into the antiquated 19th - century building, one glaring item had not been removed from its imposing fa ç ade: the St. Xavier High School sign.

The sign, measuring 11 feet long and constructed primarily out of wood, dates from 1919. The College Department ’ s relocation to its new Avondale campus that year left the High School Department as the sole occupant of the downtown building. According to the Jesuit House Diary from that era, the “ St. Xavier College ” signage was removed on August 28, and the new high school sign took its place on the same day, centered just below the Xavier statue. There it hung for the next 42 years.

Why and how it was determined not to save the sign in 1961 is anyone ’ s guess, but archival film and photographs clearly show the demolition occurring with the sign still attached to the building. It appeared the humble four - decade old sign was destined for the landfill.

But fate had other ideas. A gentleman driving by during the demolition (an Elder High grad, no less) spied the sign in the trash pile and immediately thought of his good friend, St. X alumnus Vincent Beckman ’ 34. Correctly assuming that Vince would enjoy the sign, this Panther Samaritan hoisted it into the

back of his station wagon and delivered it to the Beckman house in Clifton. The Beckmans a multigenerational St. X family were elated and proceeded to hang the sign in their basement as a point of pride.

More than three decades later in 1997, St. Xavier ’ s President, Fr. Bill Verbryke SJ ’ 71, learned of the sign ’ s existence and approached the Beckman family about the possibility of returning it to the school. The Beckmans graciously agreed to do so as long as the sign was displayed in a place of honor.

Now over 104 years old, the sign hangs prominently in the main stairwell of the school and is visible to anyone who enters. Thousands of students have filed past it on their way to and from class through the years, just as generations of St. Xavier students did long ago. Miraculously saved from the dustbin of history, it remains one of the few direct physical vestiges linking the St. X of today with the one of old.

Special thanks to Ed Beckman ’ 71, Fr. Bill Verbryke SJ ’ 71, and Dick Klus for their recollections. Additional thanks to Anne Ryckbost, Xavier University archivist.

To view a recently digitized film showing the demolition of the downtown school building, scan this QR code with your phone:

Gift of Bill Lindenschmidt

Faculty Focus

James Wolf ’97

Social Studies faculty member James Wolf ’97 started at St. Xavier in 2002. Prior to bringing his talents to the Long Blue Line, he worked at Corryville Catholic Elementary first as a teaching assistant through AmeriCorps and then as the PreKKindergarten Afterschool Care Provider. He also worked as a Social Studies Teacher at Mount Healthy High School from 2005-2022. James served on the Mount Healthy City Council from 2006-2015 and just recently was the Mayor of Mount Healthy from 2016-2023.

His father Stephen Wolf ‘70, brother Brian Wolf ’02, and three of his first cousins (Dan Glynn, Michael Wolf, and Peter Glynn) are all members of the Long Blue Line as well. His oldest son Cameron Wolf is a current sophomore.

After singing in choir as a student at St. X, he joined the University of Cincinnati Men’s and Women’s Chorus during his freshman year of college and met his wife, Pamela Newport. Pam is a Union-side labor attorney for HSGLaW and serves on the Board of Directors for the AFL-CIO Union Lawyers Alliance. Cameron ’26 runs Cross Country, plays the ukulele and is working towards his Eagle Scout Award in Boy Scouts. Their youngest son Holden is in 5th Grade at Our Lady of Grace, plays the mandolin, and is in his last year of Cub Scouts.

Why did you decide to bring your gifts to St. Xavier?

I was having a career crisis when my last school district decided to eliminate the AP Psychology course I developed and had taught for the previous five years. As I struggled with the decision to stay and teach a different course or find a job teaching AP Psychology somewhere else, I noticed St. Xavier had just decided to move AP Psychology from the Science department to the Social Studies department and had posted the position for this role. I was ecstatic at the opportunity to return to my Alma Mater and applied as soon as possible. Though I loved teaching at my last school, I am grateful to be back and couldn’t be happier with the way things ended up.

What is the most rewarding thing about being part of the St. Xavier community?

The most rewarding part of the St. Xavier community is the idea of cura personalis, or “care for the person.” I love being part of a community that focuses not only on quality education but also on developing these young men to be religious, loving, open to growth, and committed to justice. I’m also grateful for the community’s dedication in growing these aspects of life for the faculty and staff. From retreats and pilgrimages to staff parties and classroom autonomy, this community truly cares about us as humans and not just employees. It’s so refreshing to work in this environment.

In the classroom, what is different about a St. Xavier student?

There are many things that make a St. Xavier student different, but the biggest difference I’ve experienced is students thanking me at the end of class. I have had students thank me at the end of the year or after graduation, but I’ve never experienced the regular, genuine appreciation expressed to me each bell like I do here. That simple act from students walking out of class feeds my soul and gives me energy to strive to become a better educator each day.

How would you describe the St. Xavier Advantage?

I believe the true advantage of a St. Xavier education is the development of the soft skills necessary to be successful in life, which are found in the Graduate at Graduation. Many schools offer quality academic programs, but we are unmatched in teaching the interpersonal skills necessary to thrive in careers, relationships, and society.

X-tra Notes (anything else we should know about you?)

I am the third in my family to serve as Mayor of Mt. Healthy. My grandfather Albert A. Wolf served as the Republican Mayor and my father Stephen G. Wolf served as the Democratic Mayor previously. Before my grandfather passed away in 1985, we all lived together in the same house.

The St. Xavier Grotto Project

We invite you to join us in making a difference that lasts a lifetime. We are seeking your support for an initiative that will bolster our collective commitment to prayer, meditation and contemplation for the student body. This initiative, known as the Grotto Project, #STXGROTTO, will involve the construction of a grotto in the courtyard of the Chapel of Holy Companions.

This quiet place in the heart of our campus will give each of our more than 1,360 students a place to discern, reflect and pray as they transform into academically accomplished Men for Others who are prepared to successfully carry out God’s plans for their lives while also serving as leaders in our rapidly changing world.

If you have already made a gift in support of the Grotto Project thank you! If you have not yet done so, every contribution, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to creating a campus where every student has the opportunity to thrive academically, athletically and spiritually. Please make your donation at www.stxavier.org/grottoinitiative or by clicking the QR Code to the right.

If you have any questions about this project, please do not hesitate to reach out to President Tim Reilly, Principal Dan Lynch or Vice President for Advancement Tony Schad.

News

from the Long Blue Line

Alumni X-Cerpts

30’s

Edward A. Burke ’38, honored as a Reds “Hometown Hero” at the game on Sept. 20, 2023, for his service in WWII.

50’s

Robert G. Meyer Ph.D. ’58, has written the second edition of Law and Mental Health (Pearson, 2022) with his co-author, Chris Weaver.

60’s

Dennis E. Dinger ’62, achieved his Bachelor of Science from Loyola Chicago and his Master of Divinity (M.Div) from United Theological Seminary. After 30 years of Ministry in U.M. Church, Dinger retired in 2006 and is now enjoying the life as a cowboy in Utah.

80’s

Peter Wimberg ’80, recently won his 3rd and 4th National Senior Cycling Championships in the individual time trial in Pittsburgh. He’s also won over 100 state championships while competing in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Florida over the last 25 years. He and his wife Molly live in Mt. Lookout and have been married for 37 years.

Chip Chinery ’82, is a comedian and actor in Los Angeles. Chip has shot over 230 TV shows, films, and commercials. Before Hollywood, he was a touring comedian on the stand-up circuit for 10+ years. Earlier in Chip’s career, the worldrenowned comedian Dave Chappelle opened for Chip. This photo is taken when Dave Chapelle was 17 years old opening for eight shows. Chip on the right with Dave in the middle.

80’s cont’d

Barry Angeline ’83, is a federal whistleblower. He led a team of former corporate executives and military officers to realign the FEMA recovery efforts in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. His team identified $1-2 billion in waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement.

Mark Thumann ’89, recently released his travel memoir A Maze In Thailand: The Fortunes and Fiascoes Of A Free Spirit

90’s

Matthew Yeager ’98, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati. His second book of poetry, Rocket Surgery, will be released by the New York Quarterly (NYQ) Books in the spring ’24.

10’s

Mike Schroder, ’02, has recently launched a new brand (Future Fans) that re-imagines how young kids learn sports through stories and parallel games, inspired by wanting to share the Bengals run to the Super Bowl with his then 5 year-old daughter Ella. The first product, Future Fans Football, makes a great gift for kids 4 to 10 (or football-loving dads or grandfathers) and has already won two national toy awards.

Chip Chinery ’82

IN MEMORIAM

1944 Arnold CORSMEIER

1944 Donald BLANEY

1948 Joseph STEGMAN

1948 Donald NEYER

1948 Richard THIEM

1950 Donald EHRHART

1950 Thomas POWERS

1951 A. Eugene BERTKE

1953 Leo GERBUS

1953 Robert JUENKE

1953 John DACEY

1954 Kenneth LOHR

WEDDINGS

VAN SANT

Meghan Van Sant, Biology Teacher, Environmental Science Teacher, Cross Country Coach, and Environmental Action Club Moderator celebrated her wedding to her husband Patrick in South Bend on September 31, 2023.

JUDD

Michael Judd ’11 married Lauren Wong on July 29, 2023. He had some of his best friends from St. X as his groomsmen.

Left to right: Peter Ten Eyck ’11, Harrison Snyder ’11, Michael Judd (groom - ’11), Patrick Judd ’15 and Connor Judd ’13. The couple lives in San Francisco, CA!

1955 Glenn RICE

1955 Phillip SCHNEIDER

1956 Robert GODREY

1957 Gregory KORNER

1959 Richard HERSCHEDE

1959 Joseph KUHR

1961 Ronald ROHE

1962 Thomas MAHONEY

1962 John RUSSELL

1963 Kenneth MEISER

1963 David KESTERSON

1964 Timothy HOGAN

DUESING

Sean Duesing ’05 with his brother Bradley Duesing ’02 and cousin Nathaniel Duesing ’24 together at Sean’s wedding in Columbus.

YOSTEL

Nick Yostel ’15 was married September 2023! His 2015 St. X brothers are with him on this special day. Left to right: Alex Lutmer ’15, Nick Yostel ’15, Alex Besl ’15, and Conner Kasson ’15.

1966 John CLEMENT

1967 Leonard WATSON

1968 Thomas HEENEY

1969 John MCDONALD

1973 Joseph ABS

1973 Thomas SCHWARZ

1976 Vincent SCHLUETER

1977 Thomas MCCONAUGHY

1978 Kevin SHOEMAKER

1984 J. Bradley KAMMERER

1993 Gerald KRALLMAN

BIRTHS

BURWINKLE

Congratulations to Bill Burwinkle ’03 and his wife Abby on the birth of their son and future Bomber, Billy Burwinkle.

FLEMING

Carter Fleming ’42 was born on September 4, 2023! Congratulations to Ryan Fleming, Intervention Specialist and Varsity Basketball Head Coach and his wife, Lisa on the new baby!

WANSTRATH

Chris ’03 and Nina Wanstrath welcomed twin boys Axe and Blaise in September.

X-Peditions

On the globe, the Long Blue Line is the equator. In St. X parlance, the Long Blue Line of alumni and student body appears all over the globe. Bomber blue turns up all over the map and we want the evidence. Send us your pictures wearing St. Xavier High School gear or hoisting a copy of a St. Xavier magazine at an exotic locale or local landmark. Maybe a picture of Bombers at the Pyramids of Egypt or posing at the Pit. Either way, let us know where you’ve been displaying your X pride. Send your high-resolution digital images to Britan Shriner at bshriner@stxavier.org, fill out the online form at www. stxavier.org/xpedition, mail the form to St. Xavier High School (Magazine), 600 W. North Bend Road, Cincinnati, OH 45224, or scan the QR code on page 24.

1. Paul Franke ’80, Terry Rowekamp ’80, Mark Siegmundt ’80, Kirk Fischesser show their Bomber pride during their 25th annual golf outing in Orlando, Florida. 2. Kathryn Dierckes, Affinity Gift Officer, sporting St. X garb at the Biltmore Estate with her son. 3. The Class of 1953 luncheon at the Incline Public House. Pictured here – Don Gardner, Ray Mazza and Jack Bunker. 4. The St. Xavier Class of 1968 Golf Outing players assembled prior to Red Sox Yankees game in Boston after three days of golf. Pictured (l-r) Tom McCarthy, Jim Murphy, Ray Connaughton, Tim Corbett, Bob Trenkamp, Steve Beck and Steve Rabe. 5. Bombers of multiple classes celebrated the wedding of Mitchell McMurray ’12 on October 28, 2023 in downtown Cincinnati. From left to right: Adam Lehnig ’12, David Minich ’11, Mitchell McMurray ’12, Zak Fossett ’13. 6. Larry Sickman ’60 and David Franke ’10 atop Mount Tabor in Israel during the summer of 2023.

1. Frank Kerber ’65 and Tom Costello ’65 at Frank’s home in Ocean City, Maryland in October continuing their friendship from St. X. 2. This semester, Mr. Banker’s America in the 1960s class had the honor of listening to Colonel Richard Bevington ’63 speak about his experiences in the Vietnam War. His great grandson, Sam Bevington ’24, was in the class and he even got the opportunity to ask his great grandpa some questions. 3. Some members of the Class of 1975 met for their monthly luncheon held on Tuesday, December 12, at the Yard House restaurant. 4. Sean Schnautz ’20 and Kush Dalal ’20 are seniors at The Ohio State University. Schnautz and Kush are the co-founders of CorrSuite, a software company made for the corrugated box industry. They are making production scheduling software which will improve machine efficiency for the industry by taking into account machine-specific processes which other software doesn’t account for. They won two separate pitch competitions for the business idea. First, they won first place at the PGN pitch competition for $500. They then went on to win the Best of Student Startups (BOSS) competition that is run through The Ohio State’s Center for Entrepreneurship. During this competition they were able to beat out 33 other startups to win $2,000 towards their venture! By winning BOSS, the students also immediately were placed into the finale of the President’s Buckeye Accelerator (PBA) competition which takes place in the spring through Ohio State. There will be ten startups in the PBA finale and six teams will receive $50,000 towards their venture! 5. Gold-Cup Semi Final USA vs. Canada on July 9, 2023 at TQL Stadium Pictured (l to r) – Dennis Doherty, MD ’73, Matt Williams ’94, Shawn Rockey ’94 and Rick Roettker ’95. 6. The Class of 1975 celebrate their September lunch at Hofbrau Haus in Newport, KY. 7. Xavier Men Forever! At the Notre Dame vs. Pitt game this fall, 25 St. Xavier alums including Scott Boyle ’08 who works at the McGrath Institute at Notre Dame joined St. Xavier staff and faculty. 8. Gold-Cup Semi Final USA vs. Canada on July 9, 2023 at TQL Stadium Pictured (l to r) – Dennis Doherty, MD ’73, Matt Williams ’94, Shawn Rockey ’94 and Rick Roettker ’95 with Coach Noonan. 4 5

1. AND 2. Danny Howard ’18 is a pilot for Ameriflight! He attended Bowling Green State University studying Science in Aviation with a specialization in Flight Technology and Operations. He attended the UPS FlightPath Internship Program and moved to Louisville when he was an intern for UPS Airlines. Currently, he lives in Dallas with his recently married wife and flying the Saab 340B for Ameriflight. 3. David Wassler (pictured on right) graduated St. X in 2018 and attended Northern Kentucky University with a degree in Computer Information Technology. He played basketball at St. X and NKU and is now one of the commentators for NKU home games! 4. Conor Bohrer ’21, Jim Redden ’06, Andrew Gebhardt ’20 and Thomas Walters ’20 met at Duke vs. Notre Dame football game at Duke University on September 30, 2023. 5. Rocco Baldasare Jr. ’10 moved to Shanghai, China in October of 2022 for an expatriate assignment to start a manufacturing plant! The possibilities are endless in the Long Blue Line! 6. Eight St. Xavier Alumni attended the annual AXE Club Christmas dinner party at Western Hills Country Club on Sunday, December 10, 2023. Pictured above (left to right) are: Matt Rowekamp ’84, Jim McCullough ’75, Mike Bachman ’76, Dave Bartish ’76 , Hal Franke ’76, Pete Henkel ’75, Dick Roettker ’76, and Dave Roettker ’67. The AXE Club is a men’s social club founded in 1940 by high school friends who attended Automotive, Xavier, and Elder high schools, and most of those named above had fathers that were members as well. The Club has numerous other St. X alumni and has expanded its membership to include many GCL alumni, who play golf monthly at various courses on the west side and participate in many group social activities with their spouses and families.

1. Mathematics Faculty Road trip to the Notre Dame – Pitt Football game. Pictured (l to r) principal Dan Lynch, and faculty members Denny Perry ’02, Tom Broe ’04, Jim Brower, Chris Zimmerman, and George Beluan ’91. 2. Three generations of St. X share the holidays together. Alumni Steve Gay ’75, Steven Gay ’02, and Thomas Hurley ’05 are accompanied by their family. Current students: William Hester ’24 and Grant Hester ’26. Future Bombers: Conrad Gay ’36, Nolan Gay ’38, Patrick Hurley ’37, and Henry Hurley ’42. 3. George Rogers ’75 travelled with family to Oaxaca Mexico (where he arrived in time for dia de los muertos November 1-2, and visited the Church of the Compañía de Jesús) and then to Mexico City where he officiated at the wedding of the daughter of close friends. 4. Terry Deter’s 42nd Annual Fairview Farm trap shoot. Pictured (l to r): Mike Russell ’75 , Mark Schmerge ’75, Pete Henkel ’75, Terry Deters ’75. 5. Joe Moeller ’07 was heavily involved in TX at St. X and now has carried that on to perform on Broadway. He’s had the privilege of performing in theaters throughout the US, Canada, and even at sea. You may have caught him in the Broadway touring productions of Mary Poppins, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat which united him with fellow alums Andy Blankenbuehler ’88 and David Kreppel ’88. He also spent a year performing Mamma Mia onboard RCCL’s Allure of the Seas after performing the role of Pepper in the Las Vegas company. 6. Jay Schuermann ’68 visiting the Wailing Wall (West Wall) in Jerusalem on September 28, 2023. 7. Proud Grandfather, Lee Kohlman Class of 1960, enjoys the evening with Wentzel Grandsons/St. Xavier Alumni. Pictured left to right: Alex Wentzel ‘20, Aaron Wentzel ‘18, Lee Kohlman ‘60, Andy Wentzel ‘14, Austin Wentzel ‘16. It’s great to be a Bomber! AMDG. 8. Photo of Joe Brinker ’87 and Dan Okenfuss ’88 at a pub in Frankfurt, Germany, taken in August. 2023. 9. Tim “Coach Mac” McDonald and Greg Scruggs ’08 Wisconsin Assistant Football Coach before kickoff at the Wisconsin vs. LSU ReliaQuest Bowl on New Years Day in Tampa, FL!

Steve FL!

X-Peditions

What is up? You can let us know in a variety of ways–send a photo for our X-Peditions feature or tell fellow Bombers about your wedding, a recent move, your latest promotion, a family addition, your retirement or other news via the Alumni X-cerpts pages. Just fill out and send in the form below. We’re looking forward to hearing from you soon.

HOW TO SUBMIT PHOTOS

• Scan the QR code

• Email your submission to Britan Shriner at bshriner@stxavier.org

• Fill out the online form at www.stxavier.org/xpeditions

• Mail the form to St. Xavier High School (Magazine), 600 W. North Bend Road, Cincinnati, OH 45224

Name

St. Xavier Class Year

E-mail Address

Business Firm

Spouse’s Name Maiden

College(s) Attended/Degree(s) Earned

Year(s) Graduated

News About You

1. Joe Nurre ’09 and his wife Meg, vacationed to Antarctica for their honeymoon! They felt right at home surrounded by blue skies, blue water, and white snow. Here is a photo of them enjoying their beautiful hike together.

2  First Friday Mass and Luncheon at St. Xavier Church downtown with Mass beginning at 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch at noon.

9-10 Alumni Retreat at the Jesuit Spiritual Center in Milford. Register at: https://jesuit spiritualcenter.com/ awe-and-wonder/

1  First Friday Mass and Luncheon at St. Xavier Church downtown with Mass beginning at 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch at noon.

3 Sophomore Grandparents’ Mass and Breakfast at 10:00 a.m.

9 X-Travaganza

30 Alumni Baseball Game and Social at St. Xavier High School. More information to follow

June

21 Class of 1996 Golf Outing at California Golf Course. More information to follow

22 Alumni Soccer Reunion and Game at St. Xavier High School from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Registration information to follow

11 Young Alumni Golf Outing at Glenview Golf Course

26 Alumni Golf Outing at Four Bridges Country Club in Liberty Township. More information to follow

The 1973 Soccer team celebrated 50 years this fall with the current St. Xavier Bombers Soccer team. The Class of ’73 Soccer Team returned to St. X in support of the current players! A special thank you to this class for purchasing new bench coats for the program!

4 Freshmen Grandparents’ Mass and Breakfast at 10:00 a.m.

5 First Friday Mass and Luncheon at St. Xavier Church downtown with Mass beginning at 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch at noon

9 Golden and Then Some Reunion 11-1:30 pm

10 Class of 1956 luncheon at the Hobrauhaus in Newport at 11:30 a.m.

11 St. Xavier Athletic Hall of Fame

11, 16 & 24 Student/ Benefactor Scholarship Lunch at St. Xavier High School

28 Father Wieber Mass and Brunch at St. Xavier High School at 9 a.m.

3  St. Xavier Fine Arts Hall of Fame

3 First Friday Mass and Luncheon at St. Xavier Church downtown with Mass beginning at 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch at noon

10 Classes of 2009 and 2010 First Annual Ryder Cup at California Golf Course. Shotgun start at 8 a.m. More information to follow

13 X-Travaganza Golf Outing

17 Classes of 2005 and 2006 Golf Outing at Glenview Golf Course. Shotgun start at 8 a.m. More information to follow

30 - June 1 Class of 1974 50-Year Reunion Celebration

A huge St. Xavier THANK YOU to Don Brichler ’75 who served as the Safety/Security Director for 18 years. The “Silver Fox” will truly be missed by the Long Blue Line!

600 W. North Bend Road

Cincinnati, OH 45224-1499

www.StXavier.org

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Saturday, March 9, 2024

Proceeds from X-Travaganza benefit ALL St. Xavier students.

Live auction begins at 7:30 p.m.

Join us, along with our chairs, Krista and Jay Devine and Stephanie and Steve ’87 Kastner, for St. Xavier’s 51st X-Travaganzacome and X-perience this X-cellent event! Silent Auction, Live Auction, various raffles and the exciting Grand Raffle Drawing for cash prizes of $20,000, $10,000 and $5,000 await you at this celebration of The Long Blue Line!

You will not want to miss the Live Auction with 30 unique items and experiences, including:

• Nine-Bedroom, ocean front home in Outer Banks, North Carolina

• Four-Bedroom townhome at Deer Valley Ski Resort in Utah

• Three-Bedroom condo for 10 days in Cape Town, South Africa

• Four tickets plus parking pass to 2024 OSU vs. Michigan football game in Columbus

GRAND RAFFLE 2024

Directly benefiting St. Xavier Tuition Assistance. Sponsored by

TICKETS

Tickets available now through Friday, March 8, 2024

Purchase Grand Raffle tickets online at www.stxavier.org/grandraffle

Looking for more information? Contact X-Travaganza Director Julie Goshorn at jgoshorn@stxavier.org