From the President
We start this year of 2025 with hope and with a completed beautiful place to find hope: The Grotto of the Holy Companions. Many of you may already know about The Grotto here on campus. Thank you for your support in making it happen! Nestled quietly in a serene corner of the courtyard behind our Chapel of the Holy Companions of St. Ignatius, is a place where we can step away from the noise of the day, take a breath, and reconnect with God. The Grotto is a symbol of faith, hope, and the peacefulness that can only be found in full measure in the presence of the Divine. For me, it also serves as a reminder that no matter what burden, the best way to recharge hope is to make space in our lives and surroundings for prayer, devotions, and contemplation.
The Grotto, and the statue of Mary and young Jesus within it, remind those who visit of the power of faith and the devotion Mary exhibited in her own life. She trusted God completely, even when His plans were beyond her understanding. In a world filled with uncertainty, the example of Mary serves as a source of inspiration, reminding believers to trust in God’s plan and to remain faithful to their calling, just as Mary did.
This space also reminds us of the importance of holy companions in our lives. As we go through our high school years, we often find ourselves surrounded by friends, classmates, teachers, and mentors. Some of these relationships are fleeting, while others endure. But what makes a friendship truly significant, especially in the context of our faith, is when it becomes a companionship of holiness—a relationship that encourages us to grow closer to God, to lift each other up, and to walk together on our faith journeys.
Having holy companions means surrounding ourselves with individuals who share our values, who support us in our journey of faith, and who remind us of what is truly important. These companions might not always offer easy answers or constant reassurance, but they help guide us through life's uncertainties and struggles. Whether it's a friend who prays with us, a teacher who challenges us to be better, or a mentor who leads by example, holy companions are the ones who help us stay anchored in our faith and purpose. That’s why in The Grotto at St. Xavier we feature
St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits; his first college roommate St. Peter Faber; and the third roommate/companion, St. Francis Xavier. There is also a fourth companion, a St. Xavier student. Not subtle, but with the unmistakable representation that we can all be companions on the journey.
Reflecting the reliability of God’s forever love, we selected “forever” materials for the construction of The Grotto - bronze, natural boulders, Corten steel panels, concrete, and engineered lumber. In front of the Mary statue are seven panels etched with the Hail Mary in the seven World Languages we typically teach at St. X reflecting our diverse and widespread community.
We are never alone in our walk with God - whether in times of joy or sorrow, we have companions who journey with us. They help us see the world through a lens of grace and compassion, and together,
ADMINISTRATION
Mr. Timothy J. Reilly ’76, President
Rev. William L. Verbryke SJ ’71, 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
Mr. G. Jeffrey Berding ’85
Mr. Eric M. Breissinger ’85
Mrs. Stephanie Bruemmer
Mr. Robert E. Carroll ’76
Ms. Melanie M. Chavez
Mr. Michael E. Dahm
Mr. Brian J. Fitzgerald ’91
Mrs. Amy M. Garrett
Mr. Lee P. Geiger ’93
Dr. Colleen M. Hanycz
Rev. Paul A. Lickteig, S.J.
Dr. Patricia Y. McAlpine
Rev. Gregory J. Ostdiek S.J.
Mr. Andrew N. Recker ’97
Mr. Timothy J. Reilly ’76
Mr. Mark M. Ryan ’91
Rev. Matthew C. Spotts, S.J. ’04
Mr. Timothy J. Steigerwald ’83
Rev. Eric M. Sundrup, S.J.
Mr. Karl Thomsen
Mr. Nicholas J. Vehr ’77
Rev. William L. Verbryke, S.J. ’71, Vice Chair
Mr. Madhu Vrishabhendra
CONTRIBUTORS
Julie S. Ahrnsen
Joyce A. Bowman
Mary Beth Bruns
David V. Clapp
Kathryn S. Dierckes
Heidi B. Eveleigh
Ernest A. Florkowski ’25
Edmund L. Franchi
Julie A. Goshorn
Cara L. Hester
W. Matthew Keith ’93
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
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
600 W. North Bend Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45224-1499
Phone: (513) 761-7815 ext. 121 http://www.stxavier.org e-mail: bschulte@stxavier.org
ALUMNI HOT LINE
1-800-572-5340 ext. 116
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: The Canned
Photo:
We R St. Xavier
News and notes around the St. Xavier campus
St. Xavier President’s Dinner
St. Xavier High School benefactors and supporters gathered at St. Xavier High School for the annual President's Dinner on October 24, 2024. Tim Reilly ’76 welcomed guests to thank them for their support at St. Xavier.
Staff member Mr. Darnell L. Woods was recognized for 25 years of dedicated service to the St. Xavier community. St. Xavier High School also recognized members of the Board of Trustees. Rev. Walter C. Deye SJ ’66, Mr. Adam T. Mueller ’96, Mrs. Linnell R. Sullivan and Rev. Nathan C. Wendt SJ were honored and thanked for their service.
The evening ended with two incredibly special award presentations. Congratulations to Mrs. Rosemary Schuermann, Magis Award Recipient and William L. Barrett, MD ’78, Insignis Award Recipient who were honored for sharing their gifts and talents with St. Xavier.
Xavier Scholarship Granting Organization
It is not too late for the 2024 tax year! 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 have the opportunity to pay less while supporting our Jesuit mission. XAVIER-SGO, a Scholarship Granting Organization, is a charitable organization created by St. Xavier High School to allow our donors to receive an Ohio Income Tax Credit for their contributions to support our 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. The State of Ohio allows all donations to the Xavier-SGO made through April 15, 2025 to count for eligible tax credits on your 2024 State of Ohio taxes. We suggest your donation be made by April 1, 2025 to allow for acknowledgment. You will need to submit the acknowledgment letter with your State of Ohio taxes.
Please join us in this exciting opportunity. If you have any questions, please contact Tony Schad at 513.618.3228 or tschad@stxavier.org. If you have misplaced your tax letter and need a copy, please contact Libby Hodapp at ehodapp@stxavier.org.
SCAN ME!
All Saints’ Day Mass
November 1 was All Saints' Day. St. Xavier celebrated Mass and honored the saints who inspire the community through their faith, love, and dedication.
Ensemble X Christmas Dinner
Ensemble X hosted their annual Christmas Dinner on December 8 and 9. These magical nights kicked off the holiday season in a joyful celebration! Thank you to everyone who made this event possible.
You Can’t Take it With You
November 15 kicked off the opening night for Theatre Xavier’s “You Can’t Take it With You” performance. The play explored the themes of prioritizing happiness over material possessions, the importance of family, and the value of living life on one's own terms. Congratulations to the TX cast and crew, Director Dr. Elizabeth Harris, and everyone who played a role in this marvelous play!
Contemplatives in Action Day
This year's theme for the school year is Contemplatives in Action. On October 22 St. Xavier engaged in multiple experiences of prayer and reflection. Students were able to attend either a Mass of Healing and Wholeness, screenings of "The Chosen" and "The Letter: A Message For Our Earth", a praise and worship session, or a guest presentation from Matthew Zurcher, SJ. Following these sessions, the students had the opportunity to participate in a direct reflection of their day and/or a contemplative conversation with various small groups.
Canned Food Drive
Vice President’s Message
St. Xavier High School just finished up the 96th annual food drive this year. Going door-to-door, the freshman and sophomore homerooms collected 55,188 lbs of food! The students brought their food to X on Sundays where it was stored in a 53’ trailer. On the following Mondays and Tuesdays, local food banks came to pick up the food. Students filled and emptied the trailer three times!
Nine of those homerooms join this year’s St. X One Ton Club and received a banner to celebrate their feat of collecting more than 2,000 lbs.
Message from Vice President.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
The junior and senior homerooms also collected food and delivered it directly to their assigned ‘food bank partner’. Once there, they helped unload the food and talked with the food bank staff.
A special thanks to the Class of 1991 who have endowed our food drive!
Mock Trial Invite
On December 15, all three of the St. X mock trial teams competed in the Miami University Invite. The following students won personal awards for their performances: Oliver Kos, Patrick Cavanaugh, Eric Salem and Grayson Beckham. Mock Trial Team Gold won first place in the tournament! Congrats Bombers!
2025 National Merit Commended Students
Congratulations to the 2025 National Merit Commended students!
Students: Lowell Boord, Evan Brown, Wilson Bullions, Tyler Bush, Francis Chan, Brennan Connor, Samuel DeVylder, William Faircloth, Nathaniel Garay, Joshua Garza, Stephen George, Vincent Goedde, Matthew Gressel, Zachary Hertzman, Alex Jarczyk, Thomas Maney, James Oglethorpe, Harrison Rowe, Jacob Schlessman, Frank Stanard, Aaron Watson, and Charles Wiseman.
Anthony E. Schad ’81 Vice President for Advancment
Feast Day of St. Francis Xavier
Vice President’s Message
On December 3 St. Xavier celebrated Mass for the Feast of St. Francis Xavier. The community was extremely grateful to welcome students, faculty, staff and administration from Xavier Jesuit Academy to celebrate this day as a community.
St. X Quiz Team Invitational
The Quiz Team’s first annual St. X Invitational was held on Saturday, October 26. The event was a great success, attracting 16 of Ohio’s top Quiz Bowl teams for what would be a day of razor-thin margins of victory and lightning-fast buzzing. Junior Henry Joecken ranked 2nd among all players in total points, and sophomore John Paul Galles was 18th overall in total points. The Quiz Bombers finished 6th of 16 teams for the day.
St. X Community Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
As the Hispanic population continues to grow within the Tri-State area, we have also seen an increase in the number of Hispanic students and families who have become part of the St. X family and our Long Blue Line.
And as we continue to deepen our connection within the Hispanic Community, we held our first annual culmination celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month on October 15. With cuisine from Inkazteka restaurant in Deer Park, themed Hispanic decorations, message inspired rubber bracelets and Latin music, it was a festive and empowering event. Families from many different countries of origin were present to share in the festivities and to celebrate our Hispanic families.
Also having St. X employees Juan Pablo de Legarreta, Daniela Luzardo and Omar Velasquez welcoming the community in Spanish reaffirmed that St. X is a place that welcomes Hispanics and their culture. In addition, World Language Spanish Teachers Patty Luehrmann and Greg Lamping were also present to give a warm welcome to the families and share their perspectives.
Entrepreneurship Boot Camp
On October 25, eighth grade students were able to experience the Entrepreneurship Program at St. Xavier High School. The students learned about brainstorming, idea creation, and the development of business models. Afterward, they attended the St. Xavier vs. Life Christian Academy football game. The following day, students focused on how to develop a pitch and how to work in a dynamic group setting, under the guidance of professional mentors.
Tony Schad ‘81
Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice
Vice President’s Message
Message from Vice President.
In late October, St. X students participated in the 2024 Ignatian Family Teach-in for Justice in Washington D.C. The Teach-in is the largest annual gathering of Jesuit high school and university students. While at the Teach-in, students are empowered, inspired, and challenged by a community that sees faith and justice integrally linked. Attendees heard from an amazing group of speakers as they explored the complexities of immigration, racism, and environmental policy in our country. On the final day of the Teach-in, students headed to Capitol Hill to meet with Senator Sherrod Brown's office as well as their members of Congress to advocate for a more just society!
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
National Signing Days
National Signing Day November 13
Trent Yelton - Providence College - Lacrosse
DJ Wojciechowski - University of Detroit Mercy - Lacrosse
Jacob Wassler - Bellarmine University - Basketball
Michael Stagnaro - Miami University - Golf
Luke Sprong - LeMoyne College - Lacrosse
Antony Santagata - Wabash College - Soccer
Brian O’Connor - Bellarmine University - Lacrosse
Benjamin Manfroy - Princeton University - Soccer
Khalif Hocker - The Ohio State University - Lacrosse
Jimmy Brown - Lewis University - Lacrosse
National Signing Day December 8
Lucas Bishop - Carnegie Mellon University - Football
Alex Bruns - Indiana University - Cross Country
Tucker Kattus - Clemson University - Football
Gordy Sulfsted - University of Notre Dame – Football
Christmas Concert
St. Xavier’s Music Department hosted the annual Christmas Concert, marking a wonderful kickoff to the holiday season. A special thank you to all our talented students for sharing their gifts with the community!
Congratulations to our student athletes who committed to continue their academic and athletic careers by signing to play athletics in college.
Anthony E. Schad ’81 Vice President for Advancment
St. Xavier Athletic Hall of Fame
Vice President’s Message
St. Xavier High School held the 2025 St. Xavier Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction on Thursday, February 13, 2025. The event included the induction of five new members into the Athletic Hall of Fame. The 41st annual event highlighted keynote speaker Eric Davis, former Cincinnati Reds player.
The 2025 inductees include:
Message from Vice President.
Michael Hall '14 – Cross Country and Track & Field
Andy Kendrick '90 (Posthumously) – Swimming & Diving
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Pat Muldoon '09 – Football
Scott Murrer '79 (Posthumously)– Football and Track & Field
Scott Smith '00 – Soccer and Wrestling
Alumni Parents Club
The Alumni Parent’s Club (formerly the Women’s Club) has been re-organized, and we are excited to offer new programming! On October 10, we hosted our first event of the school year at the Cincinnati Woman’s Club. Dan Lynch, St. Xavier Principal, spoke about current happenings at St. X. This was followed by a lively Q & A discussion.
We are not a fund-raising organization, but we do collect donations for an X-Travaganza gift and fund an Endowed scholarship with our dues. Barb Meehan and Christine Neitzke are our co-presidents for 2024-2025. In the past, we have hosted programs at the Dragonfly Foundation, Peterloon and the Art Museum. We are always interested in new ideas!
By joining, you will receive an Alumni Parent Club newsletter once a year. This will give you updates about St. X and information on events held around the school. In addition, we have two social events a year to which you will receive an invitation. Our Fall Event is held in October and our Spring Event in April. It is easy to join via the link: http://www.stxavier.org/about/parent-involvement/alumni-parents-club. We look forward to having you as a member of the APC!
If you have any questions, please reach out to Kathryn Dierckes at kdierckes@stxavier.org.
First row (l to R) Cindy Piening, Aleth Rhoades, Christine Neitzke, Barb Meehan, Amy Thaman and Joyce McElroy
Second row (l to R) Cathy Doyle, Sally Myers, Julie Welage, Marisue Naber, Julie Goshorn, Jennifer Reilly, Susan Thomas, Kim Vogelgesang, Lisa Klare and Erin Timmerding
Tony Schad ‘81
Anthony E. Schad ’81 Vice President for Advancment
Celebrating a Legacy
Vice President’s Message
Paul Lammermeier attended St. Ignatius High School. Upon graduation in 1957, Paul entered the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). As a Jesuit scholastic, he returned to St. Ignatius from 1964-1967, teaching History and Latin, and serving as Assistant Athletic Director.
Message from Vice President.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
In the spring of 1974 St. Xavier hired Paul to teach and formally establish its Community Service Program (This is the 50th Year Anniversary for St. Xavier Community Service). Over the next 14 years, Paul instilled in his students the attitudes consistent with Jesuit philosophy and service to those in need in one’s community. This service included assistance to people who are terminally ill, tutoring disadvantaged youth, a Junior Big Brothers Program, and canned food drives.
In 1988 after several mission trips to Peru, Paul felt called to be a missionary. At the age of 49 he sold his house and belongings and moved permanently to Peru. Paul was hired to teach English and History and begin a small community service program at Colegio San Francisco Javier, a Jesuit high school in the Brena neighborhood of Lima. He came to know several Peruvian boys in his neighborhood who were homeless. Upon returning back to the United States, Paul told some of his former St. Xavier students and friends of a home he envisioned for boys who were homeless.
By 2012, Paul was operating three homes for boys and one for girls. Each home serves up to eight scholars; all from desperate circumstances in the provinces of Peru. All provide an opportunity to further their education in a family environment.
On August 17, 2022 in Lima, Peru, Paul “Chops” “Pablo” Lammermeier passed away.
To honor Paul and his legacy a group has created The Paul Lammermeier Memorial. The Paul Lammermeier Memorial’s Mission Statement and three Goals are as follows:
“We, as students, faculty members, and alumni at St. Xavier and St. Ignatius High Schools share the common Jesuit tradition of serving others who are in need within our respected communities.”
1. Preserving Paul’s Legacy
2. Transforming Lives through Acts of Service
3. A Collaborative Endeavor for a Common Good
The Memorial is celebrated each year at the St. Xavier versus St. Ignatius football game. The game’s traveling trophy was designed to convey Paul’s story and how both St. Ignatius and St. Xavier collaborate in this effort.
• Paul’s self-sacrificing Legacy
• A Community Service component rooted in “Transforming Lives Through Acts of Service”
• Collaboration between two Jesuit institutions committed “For The Greater Glory Of God.” and “Men For Others”
It is worthy to honor Paul’s self-sacrificing lifestyle and commitment to serving the less fortunate. The Paul Lammermeier Memorial (PLM) football game will be a means to perpetuate his legacy. We are honored to carry on his legacy to be Men For Others.
Tony Schad ’81
Paul Lammermeier
Vice President’s Message
Jabootie Cup: A Fantasy Football Tradition that Connects the Class of ’96
For more than two decades, twelve members of the St. Xavier High School Class of 1996 have stayed connected through their fantasy football league, competing for the coveted Jabootie Cup. Inspired by legendary St. X teacher Jim Jergens and a memorable reference from his economics class, the league has become a tangible part of the Long Blue Line.
Tony Schad ‘81
Message from Vice President.
In addition to Friday night football games, alumni golf outings, First Friday Masses, and class reunions, this fantasy league keeps these Bombers laughing and reminiscing as they maintain friendships forged on campus years ago. Many of them now have sons carrying on the St. X tradition, deepening their ties to the school.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
According to league Commissioner Andrew Curran, “It’s a great way to stay connected with each other and have some laughs, especially when autopick drafts the wrong guy or someone forgets to bench a player on a bye week. It’s like our old lunch room conversations are still happening, just now via text.”
Winning the league - and getting your name engraved on the trophy - is a source of immense pride. But the stakes got even higher this year, as the league introduced a new twist: the last-place finisher would be featured in the alumni magazine. That “honor” for the 2024 season goes to Aaron Molloy, who posted a 5-9 record and the league’s lowest point total. Another year, another missed post season.
Beyond the competition, Jabootie members also gather annually with their spouses for a Christmas party, where they celebrate the year and take their traditional “X” photo together.
Front (L to R): Adam Ratliff and Dan Hayes. Back (L to R): Rob Jones, Andy Holmes, Aaron Molloy, Matt Davis, Scott Farrel, and Andrew Curran.
Other league members include class valedictorian Adam Colvin, Paul Hayes, Mike Kleinfelder, and Evan Palazzolo.
Anthony E. Schad
’81
Vice President for Advancment
For these Bombers, the Jabootie Cup isn’t just a fantasy football league - it’s a meaningful connection back to their days on North Bend Rd. Have a St. X alumni fantasy sports league of your own? Let us hear about it and you could be featured in a future edition of St. X Magazine.
Vice President’s Message
Day in and day out I am amazed by what happens here at St. Xavier High School.
Let’s begin with our students. These young men never cease to amaze me with their energy and what they accomplish in the classroom, in athletics, with community service, in co-curriculars like Mock Trial, Career ConneXions and entrepreneurship opportunities, just to name a few. We celebrate our students each day and their accomplishments are shared through this magazine and social media.
To continue the amazement, each day I am grateful for our faculty and staff. These resolute people strive to put the best interest of our students first and live by the rule that it is not always the easy way of doing things that is best for our students. Many, many times it is taking on difficult challenges to do what is best. In each magazine we profile a faculty member to offer our supporters insight into them and their ideals. The end of a school day does not end the workday and fulfillment of the school’s mission for our teachers and staff. Many of those here during the day coach a sport or serve as a moderator for a co-curricular or are working with students in other ways through things like Campus Ministry. St. Xavier High School has an abundance of talented faculty and staff members that lead by example for our kids.
More amazement comes from our parents, who sacrifice for their sons to attend St. X. Parents and guardians are providing the opportunity for our students to be a part of the Long Blue Line of St. Xavier to become amazing men who will become leaders in our community.
And as I mention the Long Blue Line of St. Xavier, the amazement continues with the financial support provided by this group to maintain and improve on our facilities, endowment of programs to ensure their success and to keep tuition as low as possible. And of course, the Long Blue Line and other friendly donors help us provide needed tuition assistance, funds for Xcellence Scholarships and help maintain that the absolute best faculty and staff who are here everyday working with an incredibly talented student body. In short, we stand on the shoulders of the Long Blue Line, which includes parents and friends who this year are making a St. Xavier education possible for our 1,369 students.
So, thank you. Thank you for the support, trust and prayers you provide so that St. Xavier moves forward towards our 200th anniversary with incredible strength and confidence. It is utterly amazing!
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Anthony E. Schad ’81 Vice President for Advancment
Tony Schad ’81
JOIN US FOR X-Travaganza 2025!
X-Travaganza is a tradition with over 50 years of success, benefitting the young men of St. Xavier High School. This year-long series of events brings together parents, alumni, and friends to enjoy various activities while supporting the students at the same time.
Our committees are busy planning X-Travaganza 2025 Speakeasy. This evening is sure to be a roaring 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 Saturday, March 1, 2025 and closes Sunday, March 9, 2025 at 9 p.m. This allows everyone an opportunity to bid on an array of items posted online.
The main event, Speakeasy, takes place on Saturday, March 8. Mass will be held in the chapel at 5 p.m. with the dinner auction in the Berning Gym – transformed into an X-clusive, password-entry escape into a sophisticated art-deco inspired hot spot for all the glamorous ladies and gents in attendance!
A variety of raffles, classic cocktails, and an X-citing limited edition X item will be available for purchase while enjoying delicious appetizers and browsing the “in the room” Silent Auction items on display. Only guests in attendance at X-Travaganza that evening will be able to bid on these special items.
The Grand Raffle drawing for cash prizes of $20,000, $10,000 and $5000 brings an exciting start to the delicious sit-down meal, with the fast-moving Live Auction starting at 7:30 p.m. The X-ceptional items up for auction – including a 10 day stay in a two-bedroom condo in Southern Italy, a four-bedroom townhome at Deer Valley Ski Resort, a threebedroom condo for one week in Maui, 2 Suite tickets for the 2025 Bengals vs. Packers football game in Green Bay, and a one-of-a-kind Bourbon Trail Experience, among others – are sure to have you raise your paddle to bid! X-Travaganza 2025 Chairs – Ryan and Gina Kyte – promise an opulent night worthy of its name!
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 19, 2025 At Oasis Golf Club For more information: www.stxavier.org/ xtravgolfouting
Weldon and Cappel Help Strengthen Cross Country and Career ConneXions
Endowments
Creating an endowment fund at St. Xavier offers a personal connection for a donor while making an even greater impact on both current and future St. Xavier students. The endowments that support academic and cocurricular programs or departments sustain the level of impact St. Xavier has on its students. Endowments help ensure the excellence of existing programs while reducing the school’s dependence on tuition to support their level of excellence. This fall, two St. Xavier supporters spent time with students involved in the programs they have helped endow.
Walt and Eilene Weldon (parents of Steven ’99 and grandparents of Eli Evans ’25) are supporters of the new Cross Country Endowment Fund at St. X. On November 26, Walt met with cross country coaches Andy Wietmarschen ’01 and Mike Dehring ’88, along with current cross country runners Owen Paul ’25 and Dominic Ellis ’26. The students shared with Walt their experiences of the ways in which St. Xavier has impacted them generally, as well as reflections about their experiences of being part of this year’s state runner-up team. According to Walt, "Our grandson has run Cross Country for four years. We created the endowment so that St. X can continue to offer a great, disciplined running environment that is available to all students, present and future. We hope others who have benefited from St. X Cross Country will join us in this effort. Endowment helps programs like cross country become self-sustaining so that the school can concentrate on student academics and building needs."
On December 5, Mark Cappel ’86 visited with the Career ConneXions student leadership team during its end-of-semester
meeting. Mark and his wife, Janene, are among supporters of the endowment for this unique program at St. X, which provides experiences beyond the classroom that help students discern their college major and future career path. Mark, who is also the father of Nick Cappel ’17, was the first Career ConneXions speaker in 2012. Since that time, Career ConneXions has expanded significantly to include a summer internship and job shadowing program, a monthly speaker series, one-on-one mentoring by St. X alumni, parents and friends, and more. The Cappels feel that Career ConneXions is an important program for St. X to offer to its students. According to Mark, “As an alumnus it is great to come back to St. X and speak with the students. Discussing family and career with them truly reaffirms for me the impact a St. X education and its Jesuit values have had on my own life. Being able to support the endowment for a specific program such as Career ConneXions allows us to directly impact an area that is a passion of ours.”
Alumni, parents, and friends can establish an endowed fund to support any academic or cocurricular program or department at St. Xavier that is part of the school’s annual operating budget. Program endowments provide a terrific opportunity for donors to strengthen a program or department important to them, while creating an enduring legacy or honoring loved ones. Anyone wishing to help strengthen Career ConneXions, Cross Country, or any other programs at St. X can contact Tony Schad at tschad@stxavier.org or 513-618-3228.
Schick Ethics Club Endowment Reflects Donors’ Lives and Values
On November 11, St. X Ethics Club students held a very special celebration in honor of a new endowment that has been created by Dr. Ida C. and Thomas A. Schick ’58 in support of the Club’s activities. Dr. and Mr. Schick, who view their initial funding of the Ethics Club as a most significant moment in their support of St. X, joined Ethics Club moderator John Getgey and the Ethics Club students for the gathering where they were presented with a plaque. Following the presentation, the Schick’s helped facilitate a discussion with the students about a specific ethical dilemma. They encouraged the students to know their own values and principles, understand facts and to be inquisitive. They stated, “Our gift helps you, so you are prepared for the world you are facing as Men for Others.”
Ethics education was central to the careers of both of the Schicks. After earning graduate degrees in philosophy, Ida from Marquette University and Tom from Loyola University in Chicago, Ida had an influential career in hospital administration and Tom in public relations practice. The longest and most satisfying phase of their careers was at Xavier University, where Ida was professor and chair of the department of health services administration, and Tom coordinated the academic program in public relations. Among the many courses they taught, they each considered professional ethics in their respective fields as the most important.
Throughout their careers Ida and Tom each engaged in ethics activities. Both together and separately they gave presentations and wrote and published articles about ethics in their fields. Ida was an ethics consultant to many hospital ethics committees and health care organizations and is a Life Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Tom is an Accredited Member of the College of Fellows of the Public Relations Society of America and was a contributor in revising the Society’s Code of Ethics.
The St. Xavier Ethics Club competes in the “Ethics Bowl” each year. This year the Ethics Club students will compete in the regional tournament at the University of Cincinnati January 25-26. Last year St. Xavier placed first in the regional and divisional competitions.
The team then traveled to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for the national competition.
“St. Xavier is very fortunate to have such caring and generous benefactors,” said Getgey, who also teaches Religion at St. X.
Dr. Ida and Tom Schick’s endowment of the Ethics Club will impact St. Xavier and the world for years to come! Their gift will help each student be prepared to be leaders in the world and to be “Men for Others.”
Tom and Ida’s son, Michael, is a 1989 St. X alumnus who lives in Michigan. It is Ida and Tom’s hope that the Ethics Club at St. Xavier High School will continue to motivate students to form their own high ethical standards of both personal and professional morality and social justice, as they truly become Men for Others.
excerpts from the ARCHIVES
Nicholas Kemper ’06, Archivist
On October 8, 1852, twelve-year old Gustave Bouscaren enrolled as a boarder at St. Xavier College. The young man from Williamstown, Kentucky did not stay long though, as his entry in the student register notes he left the school after only a few months on December 25. Unusual by today’s standards, Gustave’s brief tenure at St. Xavier was unremarkable: most students during that era stayed only for a year or two, with many enrolled for merely a few months or weeks. What is remarkable about Gustave, however, is a short note added to his register entry: “Called to France by Napol. Emp. 1854.”
As it turns out, Gustave and his family were not originally from Williamstown, Kentucky. Gustave was ten in 1850 when his family left the Guadeloupe Islands—a French archipelago in the Caribbean—and relocated to Grant County, Kentucky. Gustave's parents had been part owners of a sugar cane plantation, but a volcanic eruption in 1843 destroyed their home and livelihood. After years of being unable to acquire new land, a generous Guadeloupe neighbor gave the family 400 acres in Kentucky. Gustave's father, Victor, went first to prepare the way in May 1850, and the rest of the family soon followed.
In 1852, the same year young Gustave enrolled at St. Xavier, his uncle on his father's side, General Henri Bouscaren, was killed while fighting in Algiers. General Henri, an 1825 graduate of the elite Ecole Polytechnique military academy in France, was the first of his rank to die in service of Napoleon III.
Enter Gustave's grandfather on his mother's side, William Segond. William did not have confidence in Victor’s ability to provide for the family in Kentucky, so he devised an ingenious plan: William sent an appeal to Napoleon III asking that General Bouscaren's sacrifice be honored by establishing a memorial scholarship to a technical school in Paris. And since General Henri had no children of his own, Grandpa William cleverly suggested the scholarship should go to the general’s oldest nephew, Gustave. The request was
granted by Napoleon III, and in 1854, Gustave traveled alone to Paris for his training.
But Gustave’s story does not end there. In 1862, after eight years of studies in Paris, twenty-two-year-old Gustave returned to Cincinnati as a trained civil engineer. He opened a consulting office on Vine Street, designed numerous bridges spanning the Ohio and Great Miami Rivers, and was chief engineer for the Cincinnati Southern Railway and later the Cincinnati Water Works. If that were not enough, Gustave was instrumental in the construction of Covington's St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in the 1890s.
Though Gustave's time at St. Xavier was admittedly brief, he maintained close ties to the institution after his return to the States in the 1860s. Gustave was a member of St. Xavier Church for much of his adult life, and he even sent his three sons to St. Xavier in the late 1800s, one of whom became a Jesuit. Gustave died in November 1904 at the age of 64 and is buried with his family at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Price Hill. The former St. Xavier student “Called to France by Napol. Emp. 1854” had returned to his adopted home and became one of the great engineers of America. Grandpa William would have been proud.
Career ConneXions: Exceptional Outside the Classroom
Imagine being a freshman at Ohio State University majoring in Engineering, and you decide to join the job fair on campus. You talk to a company’s recruiter, decide their co-op is a great opportunity and hand them your resume. They scan it and ask, “Are you sure you are a freshman? You have more experience than many students I’ve talked to today. How’d you get an internship for a great company like Siemens Industries as a high school student?” You tell them about Career ConneXions program and walk away with a scheduled interview.
And then think about this scenario: You just graduated from St. X last year and are now at the University of Dayton. You decide to apply for one of the 14 spots for freshman in the student investment club, the Davis Center for Portfolio Management. You locate the resume and mock interview feedback you received from a Career ConneXions volunteer, then submit your resume and application to the club. You get called to interview for the club. Days later, you walk out of that interview with an offer to take one of those 14 spots in the club because your “resume was polished and you presented yourself exceptionally well in the interview, especially for a freshman.”
These are real scenarios shared by two Bombers from the Class of 2024 who took advantage of every aspect of Career ConneXions. They are examples of how Career ConneXions helps students be exceptional outside the classroom and be the preferred candidate in the workforce. They did the Career ConneXions workshops multiple times to help them grow their workplace readiness skills, where volunteers who recruit and manage people for a living helped them. They walked away from those workshops with that polished resume and that constructive mock interview feedback. They graduated from high school with the skills to align their interview responses directly to the qualifications and experiences needed for any opportunity they pursue.
These Bombers also took time over their summer’s to go to multiple job shadows to visualize being in mechanical engineering and emergency medicine, and learned how being an accountant or a veterinarian weren’t the right career path for them. The hands-on experience to 3D model using top-tier engineering software like Mendix, NX, Blender, and more helped that freshman Buckeye outshine 3rd and 4th year students for co-op opportunities.
These Bombers are a true testament of the value gained because of the generosity of Career ConneXions partners and volunteers like the one’s pictured here. If you and your company would like to support Bombers, please scan the QR code below to schedule time with the Director of Career ConneXions, Aleth Rhoades.
Thank you to this semester’s volunteers pictured here: 1 Bill Hunt ’69 with student; 2 James Duffy ’96, Michael Policastro ’93, Mitchell McMurray ’12, and Adam Lehnig ’12; 3 Steve Bissmeyer ’81, Rob Russo ’08, Alex Green ’09, and Alvin Paul Cheney ’16; 4 Carl Gortemoeller, Andy Goshorn, Jeanne Schroer, Brandon Kramer ’94 and Lee Demis; 5 Tom Osborne and Patrick Early Phillips ’10; 6 Steve King, Chris Montgomery ’10, Doug Torline ’94, Will Brandt, Steve Kane ’96, and Brian Fitzgerald ’91.
Student Spotlight
Auggie Florkowski ’25
Senior Auggie Florkowski epitomizes the St. Xavier student. He not only participates in Cross Country and Track & Field but is extremely active with the Campus Ministry Team, Career ConneXions, National Honor Society, XACT Team for Admissions and as a Senior Chairman/Phonathon. He gives of his time and talents to influence others through the Emmaus Retreat and as a Bomber Pilot and volunteers with X-Travaganza. Finally, he shows his school spirit and is a leader with the Bomb Squad. We are excited to see where he takes his gifts and talents in the fall.
Are any other members of your family part of the Long Blue Line?
I am very lucky to be part of my own personal Long Blue Line. Members of my family include John Klare ’57 (He is the reason I am able to attend X in the first place.), Bill Butler ’61, John Klare ’82, Bob Klare ’83, Dan Klare ’85, Andy Klare ’87, Jake Klare ’13, Ben Klare ’14, John Klare ’15, Dan Klare ’16, Sam Klare ’17, Drew Klare ’18, Max Klare ’22, Will Klare ’23 and Luke Klare ’24.
Where did you go to grade school? Why did you decide to attend St. Xavier?
I went to St. Gertrude in Maderia. I chose St. Xavier because it offered opportunities for me to grow in all aspects of myself, in ways that I knew I wanted to pursue such as sports and academics, but also in other ways such as in my faith and in my relationships with others.
What advice would you give to the incoming Class of 2029?
Firstly, be open to trying new things. My best experiences at X have come from being open to new opportunities. My best example of this is when I decided to join cross country as a freshman. I had never run before, and I didn’t really know anybody else who was running. I ran all four years and it was by far the best decision I have made at X. Cross Country became a sport I loved and I met my closest friends through it who I am still friends with today.
Second, go to the football games, basketball games, or any of the other big events. Even if you are not a sports guy, go to the games. You are able to root for your brothers who are playing, make lasting friendships in the student sections, and maybe meet a girl (you never know). But these events bring the school together, they create an atmosphere indescribable to any I have experienced, and they deepen the brotherhood you get to share.
Lastly, enjoy every moment that you are in school. The days are long and the years are short. These next four years will fly by faster than you could ever imagine. Making the most of your time in these next four years will set you well ahead for when you graduate. And I don’t mean just in academics, but in your growth as a whole person. Bonus: Have fun! You have four more years as a kid, don’t waste
them stressing on what tomorrow holds. Instead, enjoy the gifts of God, Family, and Friendship in the now, and you will undoubtedly enjoy your time at St. X!
What is your favorite memory/experience at St. X?
There are two memories that really stick out to me from my time at St. Xavier. The first of my memories comes from cross country. The 3:05 bell would sound everyday and I would go change for practice. Then I went on my training runs with my teammates. Over the course of those runs my teammates became my brothers. We would run and talk and grow closer each and every run. And I woke up every Saturday excited because I knew that I got to compete with them in our races, toe to toe, working together to win each meet. It was an incredible feeling and a memory that will be with me forever. The second was this year. I got to be a member of the Bomb Squad, cheering the football team on the field and hyping up the student section. A few times this year, there were some moments on the field that time just paused. I looked around and smiled. Four years ago I was one of those freshman at the top of the student section cheering like crazy. Now I am a senior, with only one semester left, leading the whole student body in cheers and bringing them closer together as brothers. It seemed unreal, like I was living a dream. And what made those moments even better is that while my time is ending relatively soon at St. Xavier, it is only beginning for those underclassmen
What is the St. Xavier Advantage?
St. Xavier provides a unique experience. You are able to meet guys from all across the city and involve yourself in a multitude of opportunities that allow you to grow into the person you really want to become. St. Xavier doesn’t just prepare you for college, it prepares you for life, helping to shape you into the man God is calling you to be. Through the multitude of classes to take, clubs to join, sports to participate in, community service, and retreats, there is something for everyone to grow and be themselves fully.
Anything else we should know about you?
I have absolutely enjoyed my time at St. Xavier. I don’t think fourteen-year-old me, four years ago, would believe me if I told him that these next years are going to be some of your best. I truly am indebted to St. Xavier for helping me to grow into the man I am today. St. Xavier is truly a special place, filled with many people who truly want to see you succeed. Honestly, I am jealous of the underclassmen, they know only a fraction of the great things that are to come.
I am very grateful and proud to be a Bomber and soon to be part of the Long Blue Line!
Faculty Focus
Julie Ahrnsen
St. Xavier is excited to welcome new Science Department faculty member Julie Ahrnsen. Read more about her and her first year at St. X!
Born and raised in the west side of Cincinnati, Ohio I found myself going to St. X football games and musicals, among other events from an early age with my family. I have three sisters and one brother. We are a very tight knit family and were lucky enough to backpack through Europe together for three and a half months a few summers ago. Besides our travel adventures, my family loves to hike together, play card games, and eat delicious homemade meals with each other. My dad, brother, and uncle are all proud members of the Long Blue Lines and would talk fondly about their high school days. Throughout my childhood and into my years as a high schooler at Saint Ursula Academy, I had been deeply interested in science and the natural world around me. So much so, that I attended Ohio State University for my undergraduate degree in Biology and obtained my Master’s degree in Education there as well. I am a new bomber starting at St. Xavier High School this year in the fall of 2024. With the first semester under my belt, I have been exploring different extracurricular offerings at St. Xavier to discern which wonderful minicommunities I would like to be a part of.
Why did you decide to bring your gifts to St. Xavier?
If you have ever walked through the front doors of St. Xavier you will understand why I am overjoyed to share my gifts with this incredible community. This school challenges every person to cultivate their gifts and use them for the betterment of others. Each morning, I am eager to start the day with the incredible students and faculty around me. It is the people that comprise St. Xavier High School that led me here, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here
What is the most rewarding thing about being part of the St. Xavier community?
The most rewarding thing about being part of the St. Xavier community is the culture of kindness. Whether it's holding the door open for one another or showing up for each other on game days, I see kind acts happening around me every day. Although I have only been here for a semester, I have already noticed a deeper call to exhibit this kindness toward others and this pushes me to be better each day.
What type of teaching style do you bring to the science classroom?
I highly emphasize a hands-on learning experience for my students. I see my students’ faces light up when they see a lab set up in the classroom and want to encourage this excitement for science as much as possible. Science can sometimes feel abstract but using real world examples allows me to bring tangibility to the subject. Being a biology teacher gives me the unique opportunity to show students how science plays a huge role in their lives and the lives of those around them every day. In doing this, I hope to foster both curiosity and critical thinking in my students. I want my students to leave my class with a newfound way of looking at the world that will help them appreciate it and be successful within it.
How would you describe the St. Xavier Advantage?
I like to compare the St. Xavier Advantage to the proverb: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” (Lao Tzu). Here at St. Xavier, these young men are learning how to feed their spiritual lives, academic lives, and personal lives for a lifetime. They are given the tools, and also more importantly the skill sets to successfully navigate the world in a way that reflects their lives of faith. I see my students learning about themselves as they learn about content and witness them being men for others each day. Four years at St. Xavier High School extends to a lifetime of fulfillment for these men.
X-tra Notes (anything else we should know about you?)
I am really eager and excited for the future of science education and what that could look like. St. Xavier is exactly the place where I feel we can cultivate a new way of learning this subject. I love bringing the real world into my classroom, so if you are reading this and have any interest in coming in to speak or even virtually meeting with my students about your specialties in science, please reach out (jahrnsen@stxavier.org)!
Title Subtitle News from the Long Blue Line
Alumni X-Cerpts
60’s
Jim McGraw ’67 was featured in Cincy Magazine’s Power 100, Tri State’s most influential people!
70’s
Charles ‘Chuck’ Scheper ’70 has been selected as one of four Great Living Cincinnatians for 2024!
Dr. Bob Rust ’73 graduated with a BS Biology from the University of Cincinnati in 1977. He then went to the University of Louisville earning his DMD in 1981. Shortly after, he attended Indiana University/James W Riley Hospital with a Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry in 1983! Dr. Rust did not stop there and earned his Masters of Science in Dentistry (M.S.D) in Orthodontics from University of Kentucky in 1985. Dr. Rust has just recently retired from his private practice. He is teaching part time as Assistant Professor/Clinical Instructor Dept of Orthodontics at the University of Kentucky. Congrats on your success and retirement Dr. Rust!
Randy Freking ’75 released a book titled, The Big Red Machine's Last Hurrah. The book tells the real story of the infamous 1981 "split season" of the Reds.
Dan Spraul ’75 served for 30 years as a board member on the St Joseph Orphanage board here in Cincinnati. When the Orphanage reorganized and became the New Path Child and Family Solutions, Dan served as an emeritus board member for three years. Congrats to Dan on his tenure!
80’s
Michael Morand ’83 has been on the staff at Yale in a variety of administrative positions for many years. His current role is Director of Community Engagement at the Yale Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Recently he has appeared in the Yale and New Haven news because of his accomplishments!
David W. Burleigh ’86 wrote a book titled Take Ownership of What You Own: Build Your Confidence to Navigate the World of Trusts and Family Enterprise. This insightful guide empowers readers to confidently manage trusts and family enterprises, offering invaluable tools for personal and financial growth.
90’s
Michael Haverkamp Jr. ’95 and his father Mike Haverkamp recently published a book titled, From Last Days of Darkness Through the First Day of Light. This book attempts to put the reader in the shoes of Saint John the apostle while the events of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus were unfolding. Michael and his father hope to bring the reader into the confusion Saint John and the other apostles likely experienced during this time. growth.
Rob Lorenz ’96 a Jesuit Scholastic, joins the Vatican Observatory.
20’s
Max Klare ’22 is in the football transfer portal as the No. 1 Tight End. He is now at the Ohio State University!
BIRTHS
BAUMANN
John "Max"
Baumann ’08 and his wife, Chelsea, welcomed their second son, John Christopher, Jr. on July 3, 2024. Oliver (4) and Lilah (2) are so excited!
WEDDINGS
STACY
Ben Stacy ’19 got married on October 13, 2024 surrounded by a group of fellow Bomber alumni!
THOMAS
Larry Thomas ’08, married Caroline, on October 18, 2024 in Indianapolis! Alumni from the Class of 2008 celbrated at the Thomas’s wedding!
Pictured: Jim Minnelli, John Solomon, Jonathan Howard, Wendell Taylor, Eric Tricase and Larry Thomas.
IN MEMORIAM
1962 F. Gerard ALBERS
1956 Andrew BARTON
1953 John BOWMAN
1994 Marc BROOKS
1957 John DUGGAN
1961 David DURITSCH
1950 Paul EDELMANN
1967 John GARDNER
1949 Thomas GLATTHAAR
1948 Richard GREIWE
1966 Andrew HAGEDORN
1962 James HARTINGS
1975 Daniel HAWKINS
1949 James HOGAN
1959 Michael JOLIVETTE
1949 Bernard KOENIG
1950 Richard KROPF
1965 Frank LIENHART
1963 Robert MEYER
1955 Dennis NEAD
1980 Edward NELTNER
1958 Michael ORITE
1983 Paul OSER
1956 Alvin PILLER
1959 Gregg RECHTIN
1964 Mark SILBERSACK
1977 Steven STIENS
1956 Anthony STUHLREYER
1961 William THORNELL
1965 Michael TRAPP
1975 Gregory VOLLMAN
1946 George WOOD
1956 Robert WUEST
1995 Sean YOUNG
1952 Thomas ZUMBIEL
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 20.
1. John Luebbers ’84, Benjamin Luebbers ’24, and Matthew Luebbers ’27 in front of the Arenal. 2. Pete Kopf ’91 of Cincinnati was honored with the Ohio Realtors 2024 Vincent T. Aveni Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ohio Realtors Convention. The Vincent T. Aveni Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes Ohio Realtors Past Presidents who continue to provide exemplary service to the organization. 3. Tom Lemker ’66 and Steve Wolnitzek ’66 in Quebec City, Canada where they travelled with three other ND roommates on the Emerald Princess. Tom and Steve not only attended St. X and ND together, they grew up four houses apart in Ft. Wright, Ky! 4. Four of the five Lorenz brothers - Tim ’77, Paul ’73, David ’71, and John (Jack) ’68 - visited the Monmouth Battlefield State Park, where their ancestor - John Emmons - fought in Battle of Monmouth in 1778. 5. Three alumni with three future bombers! Pictured left to right: Alex Green ’09 with Noah Green ’40, Drew Grombala ’09 with Teddy Grombala ’40, and Ben Grombala ’11 with Clark Grombala ’40.
1. President Tim Reilly ’76 with St. X grads John Fritz ’19, Trevor Tiemeyer ’21 and Jackson Buda, all his former students from St. Ignatius, at an education panel at Xavier University! 2. On a cool Friday night in Columbus, Oct 4, 2024, these X graduates met to compete when Ohio State hosted Notre Dame in Rugby. It was a back and forth match, with ND topping 4039, but both sides were all smiles after the match. From Left to Right: *Patrick Mulligan ’21, Nicholas (NJ) Haussler ’23, *Patrick Jennings ’23, Oliver Widener ’24, *Brendan Lucey ’24, *Connor Mulligan ’23. *ND student athletes. The others are OSU student athletes. 3. John Niehaus ’64 visiting John Cassini ’64 at his home in Loire Valley, France. 4. Members of the Class of 1988, (left to right) Sean Weeks and Dan Klus, met up at Mainland Container Restaurant near Sullivan's Island in Charleston, SC. 5. In July, Quinn Posey ’25 competed at the North American Irish Dance Championships in Grapevine, Texas. He represented the Erickson Academy of Irish dance in the young men’s U18 division where he placed 9th in North America! 6. Members of the Class of 1975, Mike Russell, Pete Henkel, and Terry Deters all won trophies at the 43rd annual trap shoot in November at Deters’ Bennington, IN farm!
1. St. Xavier teachers Nora Denning and Braden Mechley attended the recent Jesuit Latin Colloquium (JLC.) St. Xavier hosted JLC V in 2019! 2. St. X Class of 2019 alums Adam Wilcox, Justin Freking, and Anish Sharma showcased their summer research at the UC College of Medicine’s 14th Annual Research and Service Symposium! 3. St. Xavier employees Nick Day, Tim Marston, Ted Mechley ’89 and Todd Mosely – on St. X Retreat this fall. 4. Zepf brother’s reunion at the Notre Dame v FSU game this fall. Pictured left to right: Mark Zepf (Class of ’00 St. X, ’04 ND), Steve Zepf (Class of ’81 St X, ’85 ND), Dan Zepf (Class of ’92 St. X, ’96 ND), Paul Zepf (Class of ’83 St. X, ’87 ND, and Chris Zepf (Class of ’89 St. X, ’93 ND). 5. Class of 1973 Luncheon on October 2, 2024 at the Wiedemann Brewery. Pictured left to right: Front Row - Owen Wrassman, Gary Gruber, Tom Compton, Kevin Graham, Pete Knecht, Mike Bunning, Tony Behler, Phil Muldoon; Second Row -Michael Brown, Mark Ahern, Tim Sansbury, Rich Bolte, Tom Lee, Jack Kortekamp, Bob Schmitz, Pat McMahon; Back Row - Tom Chastang, Stephen Young, Tom Fagedes, Bill Russo, Don Dresmann, Mike Schmerge, Mike Keating, Andy Kleiman, Kevin McSweeney, Nick Dietrick, Ty Scott 6. Bill Draznik ’99, Ronan and Otto Draznik at the X vs. Moeller football game! They were listening from the warmth of their car headed home from the tailgate and pre-game!
1. Jay Schuermann ’68 on a recent Adriatic cruise and a stop at St. Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy. 2. Bob McElroy, St. Xavier parent to Bobby McElroy ’06 and grandfather to Machlan Collins ’21 at The Blue Cave at Kotor, Montenegro while also visiting a cave where submarines were hidden from view. 3. Daniel McMackin ’02 has lived in Frankfurt, Germany since 2012. Daniel works with pediatric heart surgeons to provide needed medical devices and equipment for their pediatric surgeries. He is fluent in speaking German and enjoys traveling through Europe for pleasure and his job! 4. David Jones ’23 was a significant member of the St. X mock trial team throughout his four years. His dedication and hard work have continued to shine as he joined the highly competitive OSU mock trial team. Impressively, David secured a spot on the top "A" team this year as a sophomore. David and his team achieved an extraordinary feat by winning a prestigious national tournament, an accomplishment akin to winning the NCAA tournament. They went undefeated, setting a record for this tournament. 5. Michael Ricke ’11 and Phillip Ricke ’20 both graduated from Harvard University this past May! Phillip graduated from Harvard College with a degree in Economics and Michael graduated from Harvard Business School with his Master of Business Administration! 6. The Class of 1962 Christmas Lunch at the University Club.
1. Patrick Williams ’27 and Nicholas Krol ’27 at Glen Helen Woods. 2. David Buschmann ’68 received the Blue Ash, OH “2024 Veteran of the Year” Award. Mr. Buschmann served in the Army and had a 35 year career with the Cincinnati and Springdale Police Department. After retiring, he stayed active with the American Legion, coaching youth sports, and supporting veterans’ programs. He lives by the motto, “Excellence is not a quality that is simply attained, it must be earned.” David’s first wife, Pat, received this same award in 2019. It is the first time that a husband and wife have both received the award. Congratulations to the Buschmann’s. Pictured left to right: Class of 1968 alumni Lloyd Brinkman, Greg Nolan, David Buschmann, John Buschmann, and John Donahue. 3. Each year St. Xavier alumni and friends who are residents at Twin Lakes retirement community in Cincinnati gather for Mass and a Christmas lunch. This year’s festivities took place December 11 with Bill Verbryke, SJ ’71 celebrating the Mass. St. X President Tim Reilly ’76 was also on hand to provide a school update to attendees. 4. Gary Gerwe ’57 and his son Jim ’96 at St. Xavier School in Jaipur, India, where he taught in 1969. 5. Honorable Pat Fischer ’76, Doctor and Congressman Brad Wenstrup ’76, Vivek Ramaswamy ’03, and Justice Joe Deters ’75 celebrate the brotherhood of the Long Blue Line.
X-Peditions
What's 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 Becky Schulte at bschulte@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
The past few months the St. Xavier Community was saddened to learn about the passing of four members of the St. Xavier community, Fr. Terrance Baum SJ, Mr. Russ King ’63, Dr. James Laughlin and Mr. Bob Sherlock. Terrence A. Baum SJ, Alumni Chaplain and a beloved member of our community passed away on July 29, 2024. Terrence impacted so many at St. Xavier High School and his legacy will not be forgotten. Russ King ’63, a long tenured Science teacher and head of the St. Xavier tennis program, passed away December 28, 2024. Russ devoted more than 40 years to St. Xavier. His work has impacted many and his dedication to education will be remembered by all who knew him. Dr. James Laughlin, Chemistry Teacher, AP Environmental Science Teacher, Science Olympiad Moderator, and Environmental Action Club Moderator passed away on December 11, 2024. His devotion to the Canned Food Drive has impacted many and his passion for teaching made a lasting impact on all who knew him. Bob Sherlock was the former varsity head baseball coach. He passed away on August 1, 2024. He left a positive impact on his players and the St. X Baseball Program.
Please continue to keep Terry, Russ, Jamie and Bob and their family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.
600 W. North Bend Road
Cincinnati, OH 45224-1499
www.StXavier.org
Join us, along with our chairs, Ryan and Gina Kyte, for St. Xavier’s 52nd X-Travaganza. This X-cellent event is sure to sell out so don’t wait to grab your tickets to this X-clusive hot spot! Silent Auction, Live Auction, various raffles and the exciting Grand Raffle Drawing for cash prizes of $20,000, $10,000 and $5000 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:
• Four-Bedroom townhome at Deer Valley Ski Resort in Utah
• Three-Bedroom condo in Palmetto Dunes Resort in Hilton Head
• Two-Bedroom condo for 10 days in Southern Italy
• Two Suite tickets to the 2025 Bengals vs. Packers football game in Green Bay
TICKETS
Tickets