Saber Magazine - Fall 2022

SABER

FEATURE

SOMETHING IN THE WATER:

An Oral History of Saint Thomas Academy

Swimming and Diving

Iam pleased to report that the state of the school remains strong. Enrollment continues to grow, morale amongst our faculty, staff, students, and families is high, and there is an ever-increasing need for what we offer. After all, the work of transforming boys into men of character never graduates. We are blessed that John Buethe ’04 has joined us in that mission as our new Assistant Headmaster. He brings years of experience in schools, including most recently as an Asst. Dean of the Arrupe College at Loyola University Chicago. Most importantly, he brings a passion for the school which played such a vital role in forming his character.

I am also pleased that so many have supported the modernization of our facilities over the past two summers. The changes have created additional energy on campus and have highlighted the traditions that reinforce the values of our school. Our attention now moves to an aging pool. You will read about the fantastic history of our swim program in this issue of Saber . We have been working on plans to revitalize the pool for many years. Thanks largely to Chip Michel ’64, there is a renewed energy behind these efforts. We could not be more optimistic about making this new aquatic center a centerpiece of our campus. Thank you for your support.

MISSION

Our mission — to develop boys into men of character — is our promise to our students, our families, our community and the world.

We accomplish this through the transformative power of an educational and life experience deeply rooted in Catholic faith and traditions, academic excellence, military leadership, and an all-male environment.

ON THE COVER:

Creative Director Tyler Maddaus

showcases Saint Thomas Academy swimming.

A special thanks to the STA community for coming together to support the people of Ukraine who are suffering from the ravages of war. On a very personal level we have welcomed Matvii to STA as our newest cadet. He hails from the city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine and the tale of his journey to Saint Thomas is one of perseverance that should serve as a model for us all. He left his family and friends to pursue an STA education so that he can use the skills he learns here, when he returns home. His gratitude for being afforded this opportunity and his demonstration of perseverance in the face of adversity is truly inspiring.

We recently hosted Medal of Honor recipient Leroy Petry on campus. He encouraged the boys to lead lives that are worthy of the sacricfices so many have made for our country. The cadets of Saint Thomas Academy demonstrate that worthiness on a regular basis. Most recently they dedicated their time and talent in celebrating the unveiling of a memorial at the capitol honoring Medal of Honor recipients from Minnesota, including our very own Richard Fleming ’35. We are honored to have been a part of remembering his courage and patriotism in giving the ultimate sacrifice at the Battle of Midway in 1942. I think Captain Fleming would be proud of what his alma mater has become. We certainly are proud of him.

God Bless and Go Cadets!

Mr. Kelby Woodard

Headmaster

Kelby Woodard

Saber is published by Saint Thomas Academy

949 Mendota Heights Road Mendota Heights, MN 55120 651-454-4570

cadets.com

Your comments, story ideas, and suggestions are always welcome. Please contact Deborah Edwards, Director of Marketing & Communications at 651-683-1532 or via email at dedwards@cadets.com

Features/Article Writers: David Jacobson

Designer: Renee Dubs Ellena

Printing: Dolan Printing

Photo Credits:

Tyler Maddaus

Michael Murray Photography Saint Thomas Academy Alumni, Friends, and Family

CORRECTIONS:

In the Spring 2022 issue of Saber, on page 15, Jack Strobel was pictured with his aunt instead of his mother Lilah Wiatr and sister Greta. On page 17, Robbie Wollan’s name was misspelled. On page 22, Keegan Cashill ’22 was mistakenly omitted as a team captain for baseball. Also on page 22, Grady O’Neill’s name was misspelled. Our sincere apologies for these errors.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

LEADERSHIP

Chief Officer

The Most Reverend Bernard Hebda

Chairman

Mr. Daniel Kubes ’87

Past Chairman

Mr. Kelly Rowe ’79

Vice President

TBD

Secretary Mr. Kelby Woodard

Founding Partner

Mr. Michael Ciresi ’64

SOMETHING IN THE WATER: An Oral History of Saint Thomas

BY DAVID JACOBSON

Saint Thomas Academy’s 14-time State Champion swimming and diving Coach John Barnes has one rule for the scores of Cadets in his program: “Don’t drown. I don’t like doing paperwork.”

That trademark quotation displays the mix of pragmatism and wit that endears Barnes to hundreds of Academy families and has helped him galvanize a dynasty during his 23-year tenure.

The program has evolved quite a bit over its 55-year history. From the mouths of coaches and alumni, here follows the oral history of this storied program.

Academy Swimming and Diving

The Skip McMahon Era

The legendary football coach led the team from 1955-1969, the first to prowl the pool deck at the Academy’s then-new Mendota Heights campus. McMahon’s teams won meets at a 75-percent clip and captured consecutive conference titles from 1966-1969.

JOHN BISANZ ’67: “Bucky Jandric ’67 and Chip Michel ’67 and I grew up together. Bucky and I swam with the Academy as 8th graders at Nativity. Skip McMahon started coaching swimming in the late ‘50s. He knew absolutely nothing about swimming. I’m not even sure he knew how to swim. But he learned about swimming, and he had great appreciation for

swimmers. He was a tough-as-nails football coach and Hall of Fame player at Marquette.

John Bisanz ’67

“The first meet of freshman year, one of our butterfly swimmers was gone. Skip asked the next butterfly guy to step up, and the guy said he wasn’t sure. Skip did not like that answer, so he turned to me and said, ‘Can you swim the 100-yard butterfly?’ I’d never swam 100 yards of butterfly in my life, but I said ‘sure.’

— Continued on page 4

“Another time I remember, he caught me three hours after the state championship in the back seat of a friend’s car, smoking a cigar. He said, ‘I just want you to know you can kiss your varsity letter goodbye.’ But two months later they announced my name as a letterman at convocation. He was a wonderful guy.”

BUCKY JANDRIC ’67: “I was from a family of nine, all swimmers. I started in 2nd grade at Nativity and didn’t stop until halfway through my first year of college when my kidney shut down. Skip McMahon was a pivotal figure in my life. A lot that he taught me holds true to this day throughout my career in banking: push through and pay back down the road. McMahon ingrained in me the qualities of hard work, discipline, and respect.

“We shared tons of successes in individual performances and state championships. We all have a lot of pride in what we accomplished. From meets. I remember sitting around in warm-up suits. Usually everyone was quiet, thinking about the meet. After a race, walking back, regardless of how you did, you’d get a pat on the back and a ‘great work’ from your teammates, and every once in a while, Skip would give you a look of approval.”

CHIP MICHEL ’67: “We had a lunch (in summer of 2022) with a few of my swimming counterparts to reminisce. There were a few stories, but the majority of time was devoted to how we all felt swimming had impacted us in our development as young men and the impact it made in how we turned out to be what we are today.

“Swimming is an individual effort with a team result. The only personal gratification of participating was to improve your results. There was no glory in swimming. No one came to watch our meets. There was never any recognition for it, just the satisfaction of beating the guy from the other team. We all recalled the blurry eyes from the chlorine that we were expected to study with that night, and with the swimming season in the middle of winter, the frozen hair and eyebrows on our way home after practice.

Head Coach Skip McMahon and the 1966 Swim Team.

Head Coach Skip McMahon and the 1969 Swim Team.

Chip Michel ’67

“Yet every day we would head back to the pool and do it again so we would be better. And since the improvement was measurable you knew it would pay off for you. It was two hours of continuous exercise. You got to one end of the pool and turned around and went back to the other. As Brian Short ’68 so eloquently put it: ‘The Skip McMahon coaching method — swim ’til you puked.’ The Academy is a unique institution that guides a boy through what I call the awkward years of adolescence, and swimming is a sport where an average kid can win the right to wear an Academy letter jacket. All he has to do is be willing to work at it.”

BRIAN SHORT ’68: “I was close to Skip McMahon. He played a big role in my life. I thought I knew everything, that I could just show up and be successful. I learned from Skip the importance of hard work. If you didn’t work, you didn’t play.

“The statute of limitations has run out, so I can talk about winter vacation of my senior year. Skip left it to me and a co-captain to run practices. The other guy didn’t show up so often, if at all. Somehow, Skip knew the guy had taken two weeks off, and after the break, Skip put me and the other guy up for a time trial and I beat him.

“The swim team was how I interacted with guys. A lot of them came out for swimming and not all stuck. It’s hard, not-very-glamorous work. It was a great experience to be part of a team with a mission. I was one of the better point-earners, but it was more important for me to be a part of something bigger. It’s important for young people to be part of something bigger.”

The ’70s and ’80s

Buzz Marzolf ’51 took over for McMahon, starting in 1970, followed by Jim Hickey ’71 (just for 1974), Mike Rooney ’70, and Joe Reymann ’57. That trio kept the Academy winning at 65-percent throughout the decade, with conference championships in ’78 and ’79 under Reymann. Hickey returned to coach from 1981-1988, amassing a 77-percent win-loss record and claiming conference titles in 1982, 1984, 1986, and 1987.

JOHN MAGUIRE ’73: “Buzz started doing dryland exercises in pre-season, which was new to me then, but now it’s an assumed part of training. He was very conscientious and diligent, very thoughtful, reasoned and measured. I enjoyed him.

“Some of my memories were divers having to time their dives to avoid landing on top of swimmers. Chlorine was a problem. This was before goggles were common, and we would swim with our eyes closed until it was time for a flip turn.

“From among teammates, I remember Frank Boyle ’70 and Sparky Bement ’70, sprinters, used to sneak into the sauna without Buzz noticing. Mike Laughlin ’71 did a double-arm backstroke, and Tim Sullivan ’71 used a whip kick in lieu of the standard dolphin kick for the breaststroke.”

BILL COLEMAN ’78 : “I needed to coordinate the time of my dives to avoid swimmers. Being a diver on a swim team is like being an orphan child. But we built camaraderie. They were a good bunch of guys, and it was a really great environment. It was loud as all get-out, so it was hard for a diver to concentrate. It’s a smaller pool and no noise dampening, just tile and water. I was runner-up for the State Championship my senior year, the first to do a reverse two-and-a-half somersault, a 3.0 degree of difficulty. Then another guy did that dive, too, and beat me by a few points.”

(Coleman went on to compete in Big 10 and NCAA Championship events. He once even dove against Olympic legend, Greg Louganis. John Barnes has called Coleman “the best diver in STA history.”)

Bill Coleman ’78

JIM MCDONALD ’85: “We were in the St. Paul Conference, competing against other city schools. We did well in conference but were not a state power. We probably had 25-30 guys on the team. Jim Hickey was a swimmer’s coach, a younger guy, not so much of a disciplinarian, not a yeller.

“Swimming brought together kids from all different sports, a good mixture of kids. It’s one of the few sports where classes really mix, with middle-school students in the same pool as the seniors. As a freshman you’re in the locker room with seniors, and then you see those seniors in the hall, and they know who you are, and that’s rare and special and really helped the younger kids.

“Being a winter sport, with early-morning practice and after-school practice, you’re at school from dark to dark, and your hair freezes on the way to the car. That discipline helped me, and it’s helped my sons (Mitchell ’20 and Kenny ’18 ). My boys would run through a wall for John Barnes.”

The Steve Stewart and Tom Malchow Era

The program fell on harder times after Hickey’s undefeated seasons in 1986 and 1987. Coach Steve Stewart gradually turned it around in the early ’90s with help from Tom Malchow ’95, an eventual Olympic Gold Medalist.

STEVE STEWART: “Coaching was my passion, not my profession. When I started, the program was dying, maybe 18-20 swimmers. We became more competitive in 1991-92, and Tom Malchow came in and took the program to another level and the 1995 State Championship. If STA was not already on the map for swimming, we were then.

“I was not big on stats or win-loss record. My focus was on determination, leadership, work ethic, and values. Maybe a family is going through a divorce. A kid wants to talk. Giving him an alternate parent or just a sounding board is important. In the early ’90s, I remember an early-season workout where one of the swimmers was crying. He wasn’t sure he wanted to be there, but he knew his dad wanted him there. I gave him some time off, and he came back and said, ‘Coach, I want to be here. I want to swim.’ That means more to me than winning a meet.

“I had rules. You will look good all the time in school. Behave. The only four-letter words you are allowed to say are ‘work hard swim fast.’ If you say any others, you won’t be on the bus. Also, that bus leaves at 6:00. If you get there at 6:01, you missed the bus.

“We got good parental support, and some students and other kids. When Tom Malchow joined, his parents were hardcore swim fans, and they formed a

Tom Malchow ’95

Head Coach Steve Steward and the 1995 Swim Team – State Champs.

parents group, picked out t-shirts and warm-ups. We would fill the stands between ’92 and ’95, lots of people at those meets. The deck was so full of people and energy. We were already getting some guys to the state level, but when a kid like Tom comes in...he was a class act from the beginning, and he influenced the other swimmers, just watching Tom walk down the hallway.”

TOM MALCHOW ’95: “Steve Stewart was a great guy, who understood the mechanics of swimming and how to structure a team for dual meets, sections, and state. He did a good job with helping each athlete find his potential and his role on the team, and that translates to later life in jobs. My greatest memory is winning state, which STA had never done, and then an undefeated run of dual meets.”

open door and forums for connection to balance out his intensity. My time on the team was very formative.

(Malchow went on to win a silver medal in the 200-meter butterfly at the 1996 Olympics and gold in that event at the 2000 Olympics, the same year he set the world record, eventually broken by Michael Phelps. Injured in 2004, Malchow still served as captain of the U.S. Olympic team. The Academy in ’95 started a four-year run of being undefeated in dual meets under Stewart until he stepped down after the 1998 season.)

A New Millennium

Barnes extended the Academy’s dual-meet winning streak for his first decade as head coach. He also led the Cadets to 14 state championships: 1999-2003; 2005-2008; and 2012-2016. It’s not too soon to call Saint Thomas Academy Swimming and Diving the team of the millennium.

KERRY O’NEIL ’02: “Swimming was the only sport I did. It let me get really focused and taught me dedication, time management, and mental discipline. The swim team was the nucleus of my friend group. John brought a certain intensity to things that commanded respect. He catapulted our team to the next level. He built a culture of work hard, play hard, and he had an

“My freshman year, our meet against Woodbury was the catalyst. We were a scrappy freshman-dominated team. Woodbury was talking smack ahead of time, or at least John told us they were, and the whole two weeks before that meet was build-up. We couldn’t let the dual-meet win streak end, or we’d look like a bunch of schmucks. It was a transformative event and the most fun I ever had in a pool.”

ROBERT SHORT ’03 (son of swim team alumnus Brian Short ’68): “Andy Manning ’03, Steve Freier ’03, and I were in the same boat. Our team was so good, winning state every year, that it was easy for us three to get buried on the depth chart. That’s what brought us together.

“John was a player’s coach. He knew what was best for us. If you put in the time, you’d get a lot better. The three of us improved over four years. He made sure to squeeze as much value out of our practice time as possible. He did that at all levels of the depth chart. He took ownership of the whole team.

STEVE FREIER ’03: “I was one of the depth players on the team, I guess. At the state meet, John liked to bring cheerleaders along, and I was one of those. I had a blast my whole time in the program: team-building

Head Coach John Barnes and the 2003 Swim Team.

activities, sleepovers, dinners, and waking up for Saturday practice the next morning. For dryland exercises, John paired us up by body shape, so I was paired with Andy Manning. Dryland was grueling. We did Tae Bo, and John even got me into yoga.

“Home meets were the best: lots of traditions and support from friends. It was such an intimate venue, and it got loud when we would slam kickboards on the ground. That’s part of what made our pool special. It’s intimidating to other teams.

“A special moment that represents to me the whole journey, was meeting the standard to earn a letter, which was to meet state qualifying times. My junior year, I missed it by .2 seconds, but senior year, I made it by .5 seconds in the last heat of my last meet, my last possible swim, and John gave me a big hug. One of the lessons he provides is to keep pushing. Never give up. Put in a little bit more and you’ll get there, and I did.”

ANDY MANNING ’03 : “Coming into a very legit swim program, you felt the desire to work hard and train hard, but that had to do with becoming the best we could be, not necessarily winning state titles. Steve and I were two of the bigger guys on the team, the only two who could lift each other for dryland drills like knee-dips and squats. John found creative ways to do dryland. Some mornings it would be Tae Bo, and I felt like I knew Billy Banks inside-out.

“John is passionate, strong-willed, has high expectations for what you put in, and has a lot of heart for developing the people he’s working with. He takes care to get the most out of people. He has a deep talent for understanding the young men on the team. It’s a testament that we would do two-a-days for most of the season, getting up at 4:30 a.m., even coming in over Christmas.

“He put a lot into us feeling a bond with each other and that was the reason we were succeeding together. You’d get guys clapping kickboards so loudly, everybody on board and working toward a goal and everybody cheering, making jokes about strokes, jokes

about guys in a tiger-striped Speedo, and practical jokes about the uses of Tiger Balm.”

NICK VANDAM ’05: “I don’t know if anyone swam more yards in that pool than I have — from 7th grade on, and including club swimming. I learned how to wake up early, grind it out, work well with teammates and stay awake in class during two-a-days. My time in the pool and the grittiness I had to develop is the foundation of how I view the world.

“Once, for training, John had us do 10,000 yards for time. It was below zero outside and snowing and dark in the pool. It was so crowded in the lanes that we were swimming over people. I finished in 1:52 and negative split the 5000s. I can’t remember the specifics of wins at meets, but I remember that workout. I was the only one to finish it, and I was very proud of that.

“Growing up in the program from 7th grade to senior year, there was so much change, both physically and emotionally. Everything that happened in the pool guided me through those years. John sets the conditions and course corrects as needed, along with the occasional come-to-Jesus meeting. For example, I had some doubts about going to West Point. I thought maybe I wanted to go to a regular college, maybe go to a party school or somewhere to meet girls. John shook me up. He sat me down one day and said, ‘What are you thinking?! Are you an idiot?!’ He helped remove my doubts that West Point was the right path.”

MATT HOYLAND ’08: “Wins are huge, don’t get me wrong, but guys in 9th place and 11th place are still getting points. John was amazing at producing depth guys. He got guys to grind with his ability to motivate. I still talk to John. He’s a great dude. I was talented but not disciplined going into high school, either as a swimmer or academically. He put the fear of God in me, but fear was not his whole ecosystem.

“I remember a lot of his speeches. Never be a what-if guy. That hit home. He taught me how to set goals. He did not want walking, talking swim robots. He wanted guys to succeed at life. He emphasized, in order, ‘God, family, school, and swim…but swim is a close fourth.’

He had a program going. It was all about the banners and the guys who came before. It’s bigger than just you and that was part of his secret sauce to motivate us. I still hang out, go to practice to help out. He was like a second dad.

“Freshman year against Cretin, a rivalry meet, our dual-meet streak at 90-something wins, and Cretin was better on paper. John gave a motivational speech about them disrespecting our house and everyone who came before. We won every event and destroyed them. We won state all four years I was there, but that dual-meet was the most fun I ever had.”

HUNTER NIELSEN ’16 (a co-captain with his twin, Chase):

“Probably the thing I loved the most was that it was a brotherhood within a brotherhood. It was on a whole other level. About 50 or 60 guys eating together, training together for eight months. A big part was the coaching staff. John’s a heck of a coach. He pushed us to be state champions and pushed us to be closer as brothers.

“There were lots of shenanigans on the pool deck and in the locker room. John pushed us to the limit, but it was fun. We wanted to go to practice. I talk to John often, and he was at my wedding just a few weeks ago. John is the type of teacher/coach who stays in touch.

“That pool with five lanes and a lot of history got loud and rowdy for how small it was. Pretty intense. It was good pressure. Fun pressure. It was very positive for me, the accountability, waking up at 5 a.m., taking care of myself and others on the swim team, too. We set individual goals and team goals and made a lot of them. It affected us tremendously. John always talked about the ghosts of the program and how we were swimming for them, too. Looking up at the record board was huge for me, and John would say, ‘Someday you’ll be up there, and those guys will be proud of you.’ ”

The Book of Barnes

By now it’s clear that beyond, “Don’t drown,” John Barnes has much to say that resonates not just with his swimmers, but with all alumni. For example:

n “A fly on the wall can coach a stud. It’s more fun to coach kids who want to get better.”

n “Every coach has favorites. Mine are the ones who come in every day, keep their mouths shut, and work their asses off.”

n “Coaching is sales. It’s relationships. Someone told me to keep the moms happy.”

n “Would kids from ’02 call me soft for the way I coach now? Probably. We still train hard. We just have to adapt to the way kids are now.”

n “Kids in general enjoy structure. They have no problem with demands as long as you’re consistent and as long as there’s a caring aspect.”

n “Life is about choices. Make good ones and learn from the bad ones.”

Head Coach John Barnes and the 2016 Swim Team.

Architect renderings of the new Aquatic Center by Rudy Fabiano.

Plans for an Old-School New Pool

BY DAVID JACOBSON

One of the worst-kept secrets at Saint Thomas Academy is the need for a new swimming and diving facility. Now, Head Coach John Barnes and swim team alumnus Chip Michel ’67 are making sure it’s no secret, as they lead the fundraising needed to replace the Academy’s old pool.

“This is the most momentum toward a new pool that I’ve seen in my 23 years here,” Barnes said. “We’re at $3.9 million now and need about $6 million more. People are really excited about a new building and joining the 21st century. Everybody is behind this idea now. It will not just benefit the swim team but all of the Visitation and STA families.”

With his trademark intensity, Barnes is fanatical about sharing the visions, videos, and renderings of the planned facility (see www.cadets.com/giving/poolrevitalization). Beyond that webpage, Barnes speaks enthusiastically of the plans: “When you drive up into the Flynn Hall parking lot, the swim venue will be the first thing you see, with all those big windows and the cosmetic look of the building tied into the brickwork of Flynn Hall.

“Rudy Fabiano, the architect from Fabiano Designs in New Jersey, knocked it out of the park. I told him to find a way to maintain the old-school atmosphere with the stands on top of the pool. We want alums to feel like this is their house. We want to keep the history, the banners, keep the locker room path to the pool the same as it’s been the last 60 years, but expand the footprint.”

Replacing the antiquated five-lane pool, which lacks a diving board, will be an eight-lane, 25-yard pool with a diving board, seating for 300, and much more deck space, Barnes said. “The original banners are the only physical items to be moved from the old pool to the new pool. Visiting coaches say that if their teams think they have a chance to beat us when they first get to our campus, they don’t after their teams see those banners.”

Swim Team Alumni on the Pool Project

Many alumni who lent their voices to the “Oral History of Saint Thomas Academy Swimming and Diving” (see accompanying article ) have fond memories of the

“When you drive up into the Flynn Hall parking lot, the swim venue will be the first thing you see, with all those big windows and the cosmetic look of the building tied into the brickwork of Flynn Hall.”

JOHN BARNES, HEAD COACH, SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY SWIM TEAM

existing facility, but they also all recognize the need for a new one.

“It was a crappy pool, but it was our crappy pool,” said Kerry O’Neil ’02 . “They were talking about it when I was there, holding the pool together with duct tape and glue. It’s definitely past its useful life, and a new pool is needed.”

Bill Coleman ’78, who dove for the team, recalled a home pool advantage due to the shallowness of a diagonal slope in the diving area. “I got used to it, and other divers didn’t like coming there, but in 1977, I broke my nose on the bottom of that pool.”

Added Tom Malchow ’95 : “I’ve been involved in plans and discussions, and I will be involved financially. It’s been talked about for 15 years.”

Expanding the timeline even beyond Malchow’s recollections, Robert Short ’03 recalled, “We’ve been trying to do this for 20 years and finally got it going. The renderings look great. I’m so happy for John and the program and the school. John’s done nothing but win since he’s been here, and every sport has gotten theirs with the exception of swimming. It’s due.”

Matt Hoyland ’08 doubled down on Malchow’s timeline: “It’s about 30 years overdue. One time, we

had the power go out, and when it turned back on it created a chlorine bubble and some kids passed out. In our kick sessions, chlorine would rise to the surface, and you’d start coughing and not be able to stop.”

Steve Freier ’03 praised the project for its connection to Academy traditions. “Home meets were the best. It was such an intimate venue, and it got so loud. That’s part of what made our pool special. It was intimidating to other teams, and looking at the renderings of the new place, they’re trying to keep some of that. For sure the need is there. Sometimes the boiler went out so the pool couldn’t be heated, and we would have to swim somewhere else.”

Freier’s teammate and close friend, Andy Manning ’03, said, “I have a fond spot in my heart for the five-lane pool, but it’s nice to grow the infrastructure to accommodate all the kids who want to swim for STA. This is a great opportunity to make another piece of the Academy shine the way it should.”

Jim McDonald ’85 observed, “The pool was old and starting to break down when I was on the team. The new facility would finally match the type of program we have. What’s proposed would be a crown jewel of

— Continued on page 12

the school, beautiful inside and out when you first drive up, leaving a lasting impression on anyone who comes to the school. I think people would want to be a part of that.”

Deeper Thoughts on the Need for a Deeper Pool

Nick Vandam ’05 shared the nostalgic-but-realistic views of his fellow swim team alums: “A dual-meet packed into that small pool was rowdy and exciting. But the pool is crap, not a fast pool at all. I hope the kids at STA have an even greater opportunity, an even better experience than I had, a better facility, better workout equipment, and the opportunity for STA kids and swim club kids to meet each other.”

Vandam — a West Point grad with a decorated military career, who credits the swim program as a whole and Barnes specifically for pushing him down that path — explained the importance of top-notch sports experiences and facilities: “General Douglas MacArthur said, ‘Upon the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that upon other fields on other days will bear the fruits of victory.’ That’s why athletics are important.”

Brian Short ’68 shared similar reflections. “Swimming was the most important part of the great experience I had at the Academy. This project for the new pool is critical. If it does not happen, the swim program won’t be what it has been. Even with a substandard facility they’re winning because they have the best coach in swimming. They won’t always have him. Then they won’t get the best swimmers. Swimmers are driven people, often from driven families, and those are the kids you want at STA, and we have a fourth-rate facility. It’s an embarrassment.”

The Bottom Line

Alumni and coaches alike understand that no matter how much sense a new facility makes, getting it built takes dollars and cents.

Steve Stewart, who preceded Barnes as coach, said, “I’m old-school enough to think you can get college swimmers even with a five-lane pool, but a new pool is well overdue with a program like they’ve had and what John has done. They need to get the recognition, and part of the way you

“The original banners are the only physical items to be moved from the old pool to the new pool. Visiting coaches say that if their teams think they have a chance to beat us when they first get to our campus, they don’t after their teams see those banners.”

JOHN BARNES, HEAD COACH, SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY SWIM TEAM

do that is with a facility. Swimming needs to get its just rewards. They deserve a competitive facility to attract the best swimmers and the best students. It will pay off in terms of getting more people wanting to go to the Academy.”

Two teammates and 1967 classmates of fundraising marvel Chip Michel hailed the financial campaign. “This is a wonderful idea, long overdue,” said John Bisanz. “Chip is a very successful, very dynamic individual. If you want something done, you give it to him. The goal is admirable. Everyone associated with the program thinks it’s needed.”

Added Bucky Jandric ’67: “This is a worthwhile cause, a noble cause for Chip to take on. It has to be done if we’re going to continue the success of the last 55 years. I will be participating financially. The more I think about the ‘why,’ the more it makes sense to me.”

The “why” is couched within the everyman ethos of the swimming and diving program, reflecting the Academy as a whole. “Swimming is one of the sports where one does not need to be an athlete,” Michel said. “One doesn’t need to be particularly agile, coordinated, or quick. One just needs to be willing to work at it. The improvement and success follow. Swimming is also a sport where an average kid can win the right to wear an Academy letter Jacket. All he has to do is be willing to work at it.”

Barnes concluded in recognizing a parallel between his swim program and the fundraising campaign. While his state championship squads had some top-notch talent, team depth helped raise those banners. “People need to realize that every gift matters. We want to honor the grassroots. Great teams are made up of all the people.”

JAMES S. GARBERG ’41:

A Giant of A Man

BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL MICHAEL P. DEPUGLIO

For 20 years, I had the honor of enjoying monthly lunches with Mr. James Garberg, STMA Class of 1941, who passed away in May of 2022. At those lunches, and at various events I attended with him and his family, he shared with me many of his experiences, good, bad, and inspiring, and I will share some of those here.

Sometimes, we meet people who seem larger than life, whose journey is so interesting and captivating, it reads as if it came directly from the pages of a historical novel or a Hollywood script. Turbulent childhood. War hero. World traveler. Peacemaker. James Garberg struck me as larger than life.

Born in 1922 to a Norwegian father and a French and Native American mother, Jim quickly became immersed in Ojibwe culture and traditions. From a young age, he especially identified with the discipline and strong warrior ethos of the American Native culture, embodied by the leaders he admired, such as Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, and Geronimo.

Sadly, as a young boy, he witnessed firsthand the bigotry and discrimination directed toward his mother and grandmother. He remembered while traveling to visit family members in Northern Minnesota his mother being called “redskin” and others teasing him by calling him “half-breed.” He recalled how it hurt his mother and said, “I was so mad at these men who hurt my mother, I wanted to hit them, but I was only a little boy.”

As a result, he spent much of his life volunteering for organizations that worked to improve relations between the native peoples, the state of Minnesota, and the general population. Later in life, he often participated in traditional pow-wows and became a revered tribal elder. His given Ojibwe name was “Dog-Face Soldier," in honor of his service in the United States Army. In the foyer of his home, he displayed with pride his ceremonial headdress and dance shawl.

In 1937, his mother was stricken with tuberculosis, and saving her life required her long-term rehabilitation in a state institution. In the 1930s, it was unheard of for a man to raise a son on his own, so young James was sent to live with his aunt and other family members for several years while his mother recuperated. As Jim stated, “I was passed around a lot.”

Under those circumstances, it was determined that Saint Thomas Military Academy was the best school for him, offering stability, discipline, and strong academics. Jim excelled at the Academy. He often walked, hitchhiked, or took the bus from South Minneapolis to campus. He reveled in the many friendships made, especially with those “crazy” boarders. He fondly recalled watching an older Cadet riding his motorcycle up the stairs of Ireland Hall.

Jim remembered the football game of 1937 between the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. The day before the game, the Irish practiced on the St. Thomas football field, but the Notre Dame coaches worried that the local press

would observe the practice and inform the Gophers on how the Irish were preparing for the game. To solve this problem of “spying," the entire Corps of Cadets, in their Class A uniforms, circled the football field shoulder to shoulder to block the view of any potential Gopher spy. Jim said, “We must have stood out there for two or more hours. My feet were killing me!”

Major Burton Hood ’37 was the Commandant of Cadets during the late 1930s. During one of my lunches with Jim, he said, “I’m an old man now, and I still remember Major Hood’s thundering voice and his intense stare. When I saw him, I walked the other way. He still makes me a bit nervous!”

Nonetheless, Jim achieved high academic marks, was a member of the Crack Squad, and was a cadet officer. His passion was the military. Graduating in 1941, Jim and his classmates knew that future military service was inevitable. The Army was in a period of rapid expansion preparing for an upcoming war and determined that Saint Thomas Military Academy provided Jim — Continued on page 16

Kaydet photo of Cadet First Lieutenant Garberg, Golf Company at STMA in 1941.

JAMES S. GARBERG ’41:

with intellect, leadership abilities, and foundational military knowledge prerequisite for becoming an officer.

At age 19, he was commissioned as the youngest Army officer in Minnesota. After initial infantry training, he was assigned to the 32nd Infantry Regiment of the 7th Infantry Division. He later recalled, “We thought we were going to North Africa, but we really had no idea where we would fight. When we departed Fort Benning, Georgia, the porter on the troop train told us we were heading for California, so we knew it was the Japanese.”

occupied American territory during World War II. Strategically, it was not that important of an island, but President Roosevelt and public perception would not allow the Japanese to occupy American soil, so the 7th Infantry Division was tasked to recapture Attu.

Official Army photo after the Battle of Attu. Garberg is First Lieutenant, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Approximately 1943.

He soon found himself and his unit on troop ships headed to the Aleutian Island of Attu to dislodge several Japanese regiments, which had captured the island some 11 months before. This island was the only time the enemy captured and

On the 23rd of May 1943, Attu was covered in snow, mud, and dense morning fog — a desolate place with rugged mountains and little vegetation. After landing and moving inland, Lieutenant Garberg’s platoon cautiously moved forward. After initial skirmishes between breaks in the fog, he led an infantry bayonet assault against dug-in, experienced Japanese Infantry.

With rifles, bayonets, and hand grenades, Lieutenant Garberg and his men cleared three Japanese machine gun nests. However, additional Japanese fire from higher ground began to inflict heavy causalities on his men, forcing his platoon to withdraw to a safer area. Then, under a hail of fire, Lieutenant Garberg returned three times to bring back the bodies of several of his men.

Later, he led a second bayonet charge against the same position, and the fighting was hand-to-hand. His platoon was repulsed by heavy enemy fire, and his unit was ordered to retreat. However, he refused to withdraw. He remained and called in artillery and mortar fire on the enemy that resulted in the entire destruction of the Japanese position.

After the engagement and as the fog cleared again, he sat on a rock to collect his thoughts and looked out into the bay, swarming with U.S. Navy ships. He watched as Japanese aircraft bombed and strafed those ships. He recently told me, “I felt

the youngest man in the platoon, yet the platoon leader. When asked what gave him such courage, he responded, “I had an overwhelming desire to take care of my men — we were all so damn scared.” Fast forward to 2018, when Jim called me, very distraught and emotional after cleaning out his storage room and coming across his old Army duffle bag, where he found the dog tags of Private First Class Ernest Childers.

PFC Childers was the pointman in Lieutenant Garberg’s platoon when they first came under heavy fire and was killed immediately. Lieutenant Garberg crawled, under-fire, to pull PFC Childers’ body back to a safe position and then threw the private’s dog tags into his own duffle bag.

On our phone call, insisting that he let PFC Childers’ family down by not returning the dog tags to them, Jim told me that he thought PFC Childers was from Kansas. With luck, the Kansas Historical Society and I located PFC Childers’

surviving nephew from Salina, Kansas. Jim was adamant that the dog tags must be returned. Given he was not in good health, Jim asked if my wife, Deb, and I could go to Kansas and give the dog tags to PFC Childers’ nephew.

Of course, absolutely. A mission of honor. In the Army, an acronym is drilled into the head of every young officer: TCOYS — (Take Care of Your Soldiers). Even 75 years after the fact, Lieutenant Garberg did not forget, and he accomplished just that.

On Attu, Jim was eventually severely wounded and spent the rest of the war in Army and VA hospitals. He kept copious notes of his time on Attu, and as soldiers often did after an engagement, kept some of the personal effects of the Japanese soldiers whom he and his platoon had killed. In the 1970s, he hired a Japanese private investigator, gave him these personal items, and asked the investigator to find the relatives of these soldiers.

Then, Jim traveled to Japan and visited each family member to return the items, to

— Continued on page 17

LEFT: Newspaper article of Garberg receiving the Distinguished Service Cross for his bravery.

RIGHT: Newspaper article of Garberg being commissioned as the youngest Army officer in Minnesota.

offer his condolences, and to share how bravely those soldiers died on the battlefield. He told me that it was incredibly emotional during each visit, but “it was something I needed to do.”

For his bravery on Attu, Jim received the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism — the second highest award for heroism the military can give. Additionally, he received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Combat Infantryman’s Badge. Other than Captain Richard Fleming, STMA ’35, he is the Academy’s highest decorated alum. Jim was not raised Roman Catholic but was drawn to the faith during his time at STMA. I asked him when he decided to convert. His response was priceless, with a subdued chuckle, as he explained, “I became Catholic on the landing craft getting ready to hit Red Beach on Attu Island. I prayed, ‘Lord if you get me out of this mess, I will get serious.” From that moment, he said Jesus Christ was integral to his life.

In the post-war years, like many of the greatest generation, he graduated from college — the University of Minnesota with a degree in Civil Engineering. He started from scratch and ran a successful business and became an integral member of Our Lady of Grace, then Saint Patrick’s Church in Edina. With Peggy, his wife of 62 years they raised a family of seven children.

In 1975, Peggy and Jim took in a young teenage Vietnamese girl named Tao Tran. Tao came to the United States in 1974 to receive surgery at the Mayo Clinic to repair a defective heart valve. The Garbergs were acquainted with Tao as their own daughter, Mary, received the exact same surgery. Shortly after her surgery, Tao’s family were trapped in South Vietnam after the

communists overran the country and would not let Tao return to Vietnam.

Tao was stuck in a foreign country, with a limited ability to speak English and a serious medical condition. So, Jim and Peggy Garberg immediately brought Tao home and cared for her as one of their own. She attended Edina High School with Mary and Ann Garberg and graduated in 1976.

Courageously, in 1978, Jim, on his own, traveled to Vietnam and began his search for Tao’s family, but to no avail. However, he did deliver letters from Tao to family friends, hoping they would reach her parents. Thankfully, in the early 1980s, Tao’s parents were alive and finally allowed to leave Vietnam. Tao reunited with them in Portland.

Jim became deeply involved in veterans’ issues after the war and was elected as the 1990 National President for the 100 Anniversary year of the Legion of Valor society — a veterans group solely composed of Medal of Honor and Distinguished Service Cross recipients. Major General George Patton IV served as his vice president. Jim was a hero elected for this position by other heroes.

In 2005, Monsignor Hessian, a retired Army general officer, former Chief of Army Chaplains, and a Roman Catholic Priest joined me in undertaking the long political process to upgrade Jim’s Distinguished Service Cross to the Medal of Honor. Many believed that Jim’s Native American heritage may have exposed him to Army institutional discrimination during the war that could have prevented him from receiving the Medal of Honor. Jim respectfully asked us to stop the process.

JAMES S. GARBERG ’41: A Giant of A Man, continued

Distinguished Service Cross

Bronze Star

Purple Heart

Combat Infantryman’s Badge

Partly because of his humility and partly because of his desire not to relive the horrors of war.

Throughout his life, Jim’s hobbies were history and travel…serious travel. Before it was trendy, he traveled off the beaten path in the Himalayas, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Israel, Africa, the Soviet Union, Mongolia, South America, Vietnam, and throughout Europe. He returned to Attu and for several weeks hiked and camped on the island to “reflect and remember.” He even rode the famous Orient Express. He gained and maintained long-lasting friendships during his travels, including a future President of Brazil, the Syrian Director of National Antiquities, a Norwegian University President, and an Italian soldier captured by the British who spent four years in a POW camp in Africa.

Jim was a proud alumnus of the Academy. He was always available to donate time and resources to ensure the Academy remained strong. His many gifts included several large donations to establish scholarships for STA Honor Guard Cadets. The Commandant’s Award and the 32nd Infantry Scholarship are due to his generosity, which has aided more than 70 cadets in obtaining an Academy education.

In my 16 years as the Commandant, Jim never missed a military awards ceremony. In addition, every year, he provided annual monetary gifts to the military program to enhance and fund cadet military extracurricular activities. He provided the funding for the flagpole outside of Flynn Hall and helped conduct many special events to include the 2014 visit by Mr. Louis Zamperini of

the Unbroken movie and book fame. Lastly, he provided counsel and monetary assistance to me during STA’s transition from Army JROTC back to an independent military academy.

For his long record of support to the Academy and his heroic service to our nation, he received the very first Fleming Alumni Veterans Award in 2008. In 2012, the military wing was renamed “The Garberg Wing” in a ceremony presided over by the Archbishop. Jim received the Hames Award in 2013, and he is the only STMA graduate to receive both the Fleming and Hames Awards.

He personally told me that other than his family and his Roman Catholic faith, “my greatest source of pride is being a graduate of Saint Thomas Military Academy.” On 21 May 2022 we lost a lifelong Cadet and a true American Hero. My life and the lives of many are better for having known him. I am very proud that he was my friend. James S. Garberg was a giant of a man and will be deeply missed. May he rest in peace.

Lieutenant Colonel Michael P. DePuglio pictured with James Garberg, with Jim's ceremonial headdress and dance shawl proudly displayed in his home.

Lieutenant Colonel Michael P. DePuglio Aviation, U.S. Army (Retired), Saint Thomas (Military) Academy, Commandant 2002 – 2018

On the Passing of Frank Blankley

BY DAVID JACOBSON

Any Cadet who fretted or sweated over his senior speech has the late Frank Blankley to thank. After all, Blankley — who served at Saint Thomas Academy from 1974 to 2009 and passed away in April 2022 — led the implementation of the critical ritual of the senior speech, according to Solfrid Ladstein, his long-time colleague.

“He had a very clear understanding of what was needed,” said Ladstein of the 1992 introduction of the senior speech as a graduation requirement, “both as an English teacher and as Director of Academics at the time. That’s why the award for the senior speech that the whole faculty votes on is named for him, along with James Keane.”

The senior speech is a tradition that distinguishes the Academy, challenges students academically, and uniquely contributes to the depth and roundedness of a Saint Thomas Academy alum. All those elements of the senior speech reflect Blankley’s character, his academic acumen, his depth of caring for Cadets, and the Academy’s highest values, according to family members and colleagues.

As the Academy exited the era of the “Old Guard,” led by teachers who came of age during World War II and shaped Academy culture for decades, Blankley “felt committed to carrying their mantle forward,” said John Greving, the Academy’s Headmaster from 1989 to 2001. “He and a few others wanted to carry forward the

Old Guard’s ethos and commitment. The four pillars of the Academy were part of who Frank was as a teacher, coach, administrator, and moderator, turning boys into men and mentoring his younger colleagues.

“Also, he was something of a Renaissance man, very well read. Past students of his not only recalled what they read in his class, but also they could talk about those books as literature and explain how the lessons Frank taught through those books were ingrained in their lives.”

During a career interrupted by three bouts with Non-Hodgkins lymphoma during the 1990s, in addition to Blankley’s role as English teacher, department chair, and director of academics, Ladstein recalled that he coached B-Squad basketball and football along with the late Mike Rongitsch, and at various times headed the college counseling department and served as guidance director and director of admissions.

"The four pillars of the Academy were part of who Frank was as a teacher, coach, administrator, and moderator, turning boys into men and mentoring his younger colleagues.”

— JOHN GREVING, SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY HEADMASTER, 1989–2001

“He had strong bonds with colleagues and students,” Ladstein said. “He listened to other people. He was very good with students’ parents. One mom objected to Frank teaching Madame Bovary. Frank invited her to sit in on the class, and she did and became persuaded that the book was being taught responsibly. He handled things like that very well, not defensively. Faith was important to him, and he constantly questioned the meaning of life. He was interested in ideas about

Frank Blankley, 1983

philosophy and literature. His conversations about books with students and colleagues were never-ending.”

Ladstein credited Blankley with bringing Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms and Ivan Turgenev’s Fathers and Sons into the Academy’s English curriculum and that Robert Frost was among his favorite poets. “My last conversation with him before he died,” she said, “I found a Hemingway biography that Frank had lent me, and it had a dedication to him in it from his mother and father on the occasion of his college graduation. I meant to return it to him, but I never got to make that visit, so I just had to bring it to his memorial.”

Bill Culbertson, a close colleague of Blankley’s, recalled, “We became good friends right away and had a lot in common: both raised as only children in our families, both the first in our families to go to college, and both at St. Thomas University. We had the same mentality toward students. On more than one occasion when kids were goofing off, we would have to correct them would say the exact same thing to them at the same time. We just clicked. We’d see each other in the hallway and say, ‘How you doing?’ ‘Fine.’ Then one of us would stop by the other’s office and say, “How are you really doing?’ And if one of us needed to, we could talk openly about a problem with a student or whatever.

“He was a really good English teacher. A lot of alums have told me he was the best teacher they ever had. He was very well respected by the students, not because of the English he knew, but because of who he was as a person.”

— BILL CULBERTSON, STA FACUTLY,

1968–2008

“He was a really good English teacher. A lot of alums have told me he was the best teacher they ever had. He was very well respected by the students, not because of the English he knew, but because of who he was as a person. As a coach, he was held in high esteem by those guys, too. He made some really good relationships with those kids.”

By the time Culbertson retired, the two were so close that Culbertson asked Blankley to deliver the customary retirement speech to faculty. During Blankley’s bouts with cancer, Culbertson said he was one of Blankley’s “chauffeurs,” driving him to doctor’s visits or the Mayo Clinic. “When he was feeling OK, we’d go to this burger joint, Snuffy’s, in St. Paul to catch up and find out how each other’s kids were doing. When I heard he died, I just sat and cried.”

Blankley is survived by his daughters, Jessie and Laura, his son Adam ’02 , and grandchildren Owen, Theo, and Roger.

— Continued on page 22

Left, Bill Culbertson pictured with Frank Blankley (right) in the press box at Gerry Brown Stadium.

Frank Blankley teaching an English class.

Reflections

The following was shared by Solfrid Ladstein at Frank Blankley's retirement party in 2009.

I’m afraid I can’t give you a humorous, entertaining speech. (After all, I’m Norwegian, and my best laugh lines are usually unintentional or accidental.) However, I do want to pay tribute to Frank and try to express my gratitude for all he has given us throughout these many years.

Among the many quotable quotes of Henry David Thoreau is this: “Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.” I can think of no one who better exemplifies this quote than Frank, my friend and colleague of 31 years.

Many among the legions of students that Frank taught in his long career at the Academy write eloquent letters of gratitude for all that they learned from him; I will not attempt to speak for them. Instead, I want to talk about Frank as a colleague and a friend.

One of my earliest memories of Frank is when, as a newly hired middle school teacher, I was invited to meet with the department for dinner at Frank and Mary’s house before school started in the fall. This, in itself was new to me: In the schools where I had taught before, there was not such personal hospitality. Not only did I discover that I had been included in a very special group of people, but I felt welcomed and supported as I began working at a very unique school, which, to me, at that time, was a strange and rather intimidating new world. This was in the days when there were only four other female teachers, and the all-boys environment was completely foreign to me. Not long after the school year began, we had another department meeting and the topic of discussion was changing the English curriculum. Everyone in the group spoke up and had thoughtful, impressive ideas to offer; I hadn’t said anything until Frank said, “What do you think, Solfrid?” I rather timidly replied, “I’m brand new here, so I don’t know that I can contribute anything of value.” I’ll never forget Frank’s answer: “We want to know what you think. It doesn’t matter if you’re new; in fact, you can provide a different perspective, precisely because you’re new.” That spirit of inclusiveness and open discussion was the culture of the English Department, and as English Department chair, Frank was not only a leader but a mentor. I can’t begin to list all the things I learned from Frank about teaching English at STA. Most of all, I learned from his example in the classroom, where he demonstrated an unswerving commitment

to his students, always searching for new ways to help them learn, not only about literature and composition, but also about themselves and their relationship to the larger community, about how to grow into manhood as responsible human beings.

Of course, as you all know, Frank went on to wear many hats here at the Academy: While he continued to teach AP English, he also worked as admissions director, college counselor, football coach, and academic dean, to name just a few of his roles. As academic dean, he continued to work tirelessly to improve the educational experience of our students. To that end, he worked closely with teachers, meeting regularly with each and every one of us, and at the end of each school year, asking us about what had worked well for us and what had not. His door was always open for people to stop in to talk about whatever was his/her heart or mind. He brought the same collegiality to the administrative offices that he inspired as English Department chair, and, when he returned to the classroom full time, he remained true to his calling, putting his whole self into his teaching.

Working with someone over many years does not automatically lead to a close friendship, but I can say that not only has Frank been my colleague and mentor, but he has been a true and faithful friend. Throughout the ups and downs in our lives, Frank has always been there to celebrate and console. I am glad that, even as I lose Frank as a colleague, I know I will not lose him as a friend.

We are truly blessed to have had Frank with us for as long as we did. Three times, we came close to losing him to cancer, but now we are here to celebrate him as he embarks on new adventures. While he will continue his passion for teaching at the University of St. Thomas, he will now have time to complete his book, travel to new and to familiar places, and spend more time with his beloved family. We in the English Department thought, with the reduction in his paper load, Frank will have more leisure time; so, we are giving him a gift certificate to the Guthrie Theatre.

Thank you, Frank, for all you have given to us, and remember these words of Pericles when you think of us here:

“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.”

New Endowment for Financial Aid

BY DAVID JACOBSON

Saint Thomas Academy recently created the Justin M. and Inez J. McCarthy Endowment to support financial aid for deserving families. The $123,617 fund, applicable to students entering the Academy from a St. Paul Parochial School, comes from the estate of the late Justin McCarthy ’41 and his late wife, Inez.

The estate also gave $129,069 for capital projects that are part of the Honoring Our History, Building Our Future campaign, said David Hottinger ’85, the Academy’s Director of Institutional Advancement. “We’re grateful every year for the estate gifts we get. For the planning that goes into those gifts, it’s interesting to talk to people about how they want to allocate funds in ways that make the gift really resonate.”

Justin McCarthy, the 2010 recipient of The Hames Alumni Honors Award, passed away in September of 2019 at age 95, pre-deceased by Inez in 2015. The funding of their endowment at the Academy took nearly three years due to delays caused by the pandemic, Hottinger said.

The couple were married for 66 years until Inez’s passing.

Justin McCarthy served his entire 45-year career with Wyeth Laboratories, retiring as Director of Professional & Public Relations. The career accomplishment for which he is most known was directing polio vaccine programs in 65 U.S. cities, which immunized 129,000,000 Americans en route to largely eliminating the disease in our nation Additionally, Hottinger said, McCarthy “was the ultimate salesperson and ultimate motivator.”

Pictured left to right: Patricia M. Graham, Danile V. McCarthy, Anne M. Brosko, John D. McCarthy, and David Hottinger.

Caps off to the Class of 2022!

THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY WAS HELD AT THE CATHEDRAL OF SAINT PAUL ON JUNE 2, 2022.

The traditional toss of the garrison caps after graduation on the stairs of the Cathedral.

2022 Valedictorian

Jack MapelLentz

WCCO Channel 4 anchor and Saint Thomas Academy Alumni

Parent Frank Vascellaro gave the commencement speech.

ABOVE

BELOW

Pictured left to right: Jack Schumacher, Matthew Nelson, Thomas Wagner, Alex Remick, Henry Murray, Andrew Schrier, Finn Chalmers.

Pictured left to right: Tate Peterson, Matthew Korf, Sam Petschel.

COLLEGE DESTINATIONS FOR 2022 CADETS

Arizona State University—Tempe

Boston College

Carleton College

Case Western Reserve University

Colgate University

College of the Holy Cross

Creighton University

Drake University

Grand Canyon University—

Traditional Campus

Indiana University—Bloomington

Iowa State University

Johns Hopkins University

Marquette University

Montana State University

Northwestern University

Pennsylvania State University— Penn State Main Campus

Providence College

Regis University

Saint John's University (with College of Saint Benedict)

Southern Methodist University

Texas Christian University

The Catholic University of America

The University of Texas at Austin

United States Naval Academy

Universidad de Navarra

University of Connecticut

University of Denver

University of Florida

University of Iowa

University of Kansas

University of Minnesota—Duluth

University of Minnesota—Twin Cities

University of Missouri—Columbia

University of Nebraska—Lincoln

University of North Dakota

University of Notre Dame

University of Oklahoma—

Norman Campus

University of St. Thomas (MN)

University of Wisconsin—Madison

Vanderbilt University

Villanova University

Wake Forest University

Yale University

Seniors pictured in apparel for their college destination.

STAFF NOTES

Social Studies teacher

BRIAN TRAXLER and his wife Katie, welcomed the newest addition to their family, Allison Rose Traxler. She was born September 21 and weighed 6 lbs., 8 oz. Allison joins big sister, Emily.

Media Specialist

MELISSA JUDY was recently married to Bradley Berry on September 17.

Health & P.E. teacher

BILL MCCARTHY and his wife Susan were able to visit Stonehenge this past summer.

STAFF UPDATES

WELCOME TO NEW STAFF

Christine Bergeron, Nurse

Michael Brost, Facilities John Buethe ’05, Administration Brittney Cohn, Business Office

Robyn Dunagan, French Dan Hickel, Physics

Capt. Nicholas Honan, Military Leadership

Duane Jourdeans, English

Anna Kaminski, Fine Arts

Thomas Madden, Social Studies

Martha Parish, Cadet Maker

Trina Johnsen, Events

Jacob Sand, Athletics

Justin Sawyer, Math MSgt Matt Silsley, Military Leadership

RETIREMENTS

COACHING UPDATES

MIKE RANDOLPH was named Varsity Head Coach for Hockey in June. Randolph is the third-most winningest high school hockey coach in Minnesota history. Randolph has coached at the high school and collegiate levels for more than 45 years, amassing 658 career wins and earning a place in the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

TOM WEBER will shift from Assistant Coach to Head Coach of the Nordic Ski Team. Erick Westerback ’82 will remain with the program and will now serve as Assistant Coach.

Myser Award

The Myser Family Foundation Teaching Excellence Award, a financial award generously established by the Myser family (the late Buzz ’52 , Pat, John ’77, and Michael ’79), recognizes teaching excellence at the Academy. A committee comprised of parents, students, and faculty vote for two deserving members of the faculty who have been on staff for at least five years.

• Erick Westerback, Math

• Julia Fahey, Fine Arts – Choir

WHITE HOUSE VISIT

Walker Barbosa ’27 was in attendance at the White House on August 10 for the signing of the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) legislation by President Biden. Walker made sure to wear his Saint Thomas Academy tie to the event.

HISTORY DAY RESULTS

Congratulations to the team of Anthony Lalta ’23, Charlie Youtt ’23, and Vincent Mueller ’23 on earning 9th place in Nationals with their group documentary on the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This is the highest level of recognition for a Saint Thomas Academy entry at Nationals since 2001.

Mike Randolph Tom Weber

Julie Schwietz, Business Office

Mary Waldvogel, Cadet Maker

Lucy Poole, Nurse

Pictured left to right: Erick Westerback ‘82, Pat Myser, and Julia Fahey.

Erick Westerback ’82

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

VISTA PRODUCTIONS

VISTA Productions fall show, Peter and the Starcatcher, has been cast and is in rehearsal. This 14-person company is being put through their creative paces by directing team Wendy Short-Hays and guest artist Ben McGovern, whose credits include The Guthrie Theatre, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, and Artistry.

Peter and the Starcatcher

Written by Rick Elice, with music by Wayne Barker

PERFORMANCES:

November 11-12, 18-19 at 7:30 p.m.

November 13, 20 at 2 p.m.

Visitation’s DeSales Auditorium

2455 Visitation Drive Mendota Heights

National Merit Scholarship Program

Seniors Liam Harvey, Ben McKinley, and Alex Miller have been named semi finalists in the 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program, which represents less than one percent of the nation’s high school graduating seniors.

Six cadets received Letters of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Program. Commended students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2023 competition. The Commended students pool, which represents the top five percent of U.S. high school seniors, is also made up of the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

HEADMASTER HONORED WITH MINNDEPENDENT AWARD

Kelby Woodard was recently honored as the 2022 recipient of the MINNDEPENDENT Leadership Award in the 9-12 category. Woodard was chosen for his swift actions to build trust, demonstrate transparency and listen to the needs of faculty, students and parents.

The MINNDEPENDENT

Leadership Awards recognize the hard work and dedication of school leaders who instill passion in people they work with, bring innovative ideas forward and advocate for the importance of private and independent education in Minnesota.

MINNDEPENDENT President Tim Benz presents award to Kelby Woodard.

DISNEY MAGIC MAKER

Mark Westlake, Innovation Center Director and moderator of the Experimental Vehicle Team, was named one of Disney’s 50 Magic Makers for making protective face shields early in the Covid-19 pandemic and marshaling a network of fabricators across the country to supply health care workers and first responders with the personal protective equipment they lacked. As a Magic Maker, Westlake also won an all-expenses-paid trip to Walt Disney World Resort for himself and his family Sept. 8-12.

According to the contest website, in honor of its 50th anniversary, “Disney wants to shine a light on all the countless acts of goodwill taking place in communities across the country and celebrate the individuals who make every day magic a reality. Magic moments come in all shapes and sizes, from simple, sincere acts between neighbors to massive acts of charity, kindness and generosity. What binds these special moments together is the way they raise spirits, inspire communities and connect people to one another.”

Pictured left to right: Aidan Ryan ’22, Matthew Korf ’22, and Max Feist ’22.

GRANDPARENTS DAY

On September 20, we welcomed grandparents to campus. Grandsons posed for pictures and gave tours of campus before celebrating Mass. Afterwards, the upper school held a Cadet Pass in Review. Alumnus Terry Carroll ’52 was the Chief Reviewing Officer. Terry is the great grandfather of Jackson Carroll ’29, grandfather to Ryan ’01, and father to Tim ’74.

Pictured left to right: Tim Carroll ’74, Jackson Carroll ’29, Ryan Carroll ’01, and Terry Carroll ’52.

Cadets Celebrate Eagle Scout Achievement

Recently graduated cadets Matthew Korf ’22 , Max Feist ’22 and Aidan Ryan ’22 , celebrated their Scouting journey with an Eagle Court of Honor ceremony at Saint Ambrose Catholic Community in Woodbury this past May. All three cadets were members of Troop 5 in Woodbury.

Eagle Projects:

Max Feist: building wooden carts for Mendota Elementary School

Matthew Korf: building a raised vegetable garden for Saint Ambrose Catholic School

Aidan Ryan: renovating a landscape bed at Saint Thomas Academy

MOTHERS’ & FATHERS’ CLUB LEADERSHIP FOR 2022-23

JODI ANDERSON

(Max ’24) will lead the Mothers’ Club and ROBERT

WOLLAN ’86

(Robbie ’24) will lead the Fathers’ Club for the upcoming school year.

Coach Gerry Brown Receives Award

Gerry Brown has been named this year’s recipient of the John Gagliardi Legacy Award by the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation. Brown was honored during the Minnesota Football Honors show.

“Gerry Brown not only was one of the most successful high school coaches in our state, but he made an even larger impact on the lives of student-athletes,” said Todd Fultz, President of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation. “Many former students have pursued their dreams because of the support and encouragement that they have received from Gerry on and off the field. Coach Brown was one of the most successful coaches in Minnesota high school football and we’re thrilled to recognize him during our Minnesota Football Honors broadcast.”

During his 21-year career as Saint Thomas Academy’s head coach, Brown posted a 173-34-1 and an 83.4 winning percentage. He also led Saint Thomas Academy to nine state playoff appearances, 13 conference championships, three inter-conference championships, three section championships, one state playoff championship and two final No. 1 rankings. Brown retired as head coach following the 1989 season, but continued serving Saint Thomas Academy in other roles. Additionally, Saint Thomas Academy’s on-campus football stadium was named Gerry Brown Stadium in 1994.

The John Gagliardi Legacy Award honors the late John Gagliardi, one of the greatest college football coaches of all time. The former St. John’s head coach made a difference in the lives of many former players, coaches and fans. This annual award carries on his legacy by honoring the top coaches in Minnesota football history.

WHITEWATER RAFTING FUN

This past summer, cadets Henry Audette ’25 and Liam Ryan ’24, experienced the wild and wonderful rapids of the New River in West Virginia. As members of Troop 5 in Woodbury, Henry and Liam were part of a crew that paddled through rapids as large as a category 4 while also camping along the river for five days as part of the BSA Summit Bechtel New River Experience.

Pictured left to right: Henry Audette ’25 and Liam Ryan ’24.

Gerry Brown

WINTER BREAK CAMPS

Finish your holiday shopping and keep your sons busy during our Winter Break Camps. Saint Thomas Academy will offer a Skate with the Cadets event the morning of December 23 and a Games Camp the afternoon of December 23 for boys in grades 3-8.

Find more information at cadets.com/winter.

Upcoming Admissions Events

ACE VISIT: AUTHENTIC CADET EXPERIENCE

TUESDAY

TOURS

Led by the Admissions Office and Parent Ambassador Team, these campus tours provide prospective families with an exploration of our exceptional 88-acre campus and its preeminent learning facilities, such as our Innovation Center and advanced learning tools. Tours include classroom visits, meeting with faculty and conclude with taking in Formation, a unique daily gathering for the students. Tuesday Tours are typically 90 minutes and cover much of our amazing educational experience. Select your Tuesday Tour at cadets.com/tuesday

Scheduling an Authentic Cadet Experience (ACE) shadow visit is the best opportunity for your son to experience a day in the life of a Cadet. He will be paired with a Saint Thomas Academy student that shares similar interests. ACE visits offer prospective students an understanding of the school day, class content and our community environment. (Lunch is included!) Select your in-person or virtual visit at cadets.com/ace

The best way to get to know Saint Thomas Academy is to spend time on our campus. We offer various opportunities to tour the school, see our beautiful facilities, and meet faculty, students and parents. Please share the below events with those who may be a good fit for the Academy.

s The Cadets Cross Country Team were conference champions for the fifth time in the past six years. Luke Audette ’23, Vincent Audette ’25, Henry Landsem ’23, Owen Schlehuber ’24, Philly Solomon ’24, and Emmett Wolf ’23 were named All-Conference and Noah Schultz ’23 received an Honorable Mention. The team placed 3rd at the section 3AA meet, nearly qualifying for State as a team for the first time since 2009. A first in Saint Thomas Academy Cross Country history, there were qualifiers for the State Tournament Meet.

s The Cadets Soccer team went 7-8-2 but the numbers hide the amazing success the team had at the end of the season. The team found their hot streak in the post season and defeated #3 ranked Two Rivers in a shoot-out for the section quarter finals. The Cadets then faced Simley in the section semi-finals and won in overtime. The section finals ended the season for the Cadets who lost to Richfield (who finished 4th in the State Tournament).

Senior Love Adebayo

NEW LEADER IN:

• Career Rushing Touchdowns — passed Brendan McFadden ’19 (43), as of printing has 51 touchdowns.

• Career Rushing Yards — passed Zavier Smith ’98 (3,077 yards), as of printing has 3,322 yards. (Pictured with Love Adebayo)

• Career Individual Scoring — passed Mark Montgomery ’90 (312), as of printing has 336 points.

WINTER SPORTS UPDATE

COMPILED BY ISAAC FREMICHAEL ’25

SWIMMING

Saint Thomas Academy’s swimming program coaches are John Barnes, Rick Stevson, Michael Connors ’14, and Dave Dow, and captains are Luke Audette ’23, Hung Nguyen ’23, Austin Aldridge ’23, Joseph Matschina ’23, William Barth ’24, and Patrick Koegel ’24. The theme for this season is to just race. Looking forward to meets against Blake and Breck, the team will strive to improve and finish top 3 in the state this season.

BASKETBALL

Coming off of a 16-12 season for the varsity last year, this season’s coaches are Khalid El-Amin (varsity head coach), Jacob Sand (varsity assistant coach), and AJ Barker (junior varsity head coach). Captains are Michael Kirchner ’23, Michael Thompson ’23, Andrew Fahning ’23, and Luke Dobbs ’24. The teams plan to build off of last season’s foundation and improve throughout each game and practice. Key games include the Tip Off Classic against Princeton High School on December 10, Cretin-Derham Hall on December 20, and Capitol City Classic tournament match-ups against Mound Westonka and Minneapolis South on December 29-30. The varsity has a strong senior class and will look to improve even after the departure of last season’s team leader, Nathan Johnson.

NORDIC SKIING

Coaches Thomas Weber, Anne Mcquillan, and Erick Westerback hope to compete at a high level in the conference and have individuals compete at a high level in sections, despite a preponderance of new skiers. Team Captain Emmett Wolf ’23 will lead the Cadets into a key meet against Mahtomedi.

WRESTLING

With a lot of young talent coming up, coaches Cole Konrad, Graydon Anderson, and assistant Nick McCarthy aim to win sections this season. The captains are Jackson Cercioglu ’23, Vincent Mueller ’23, and Jake Borman ’23

HOCKEY

After a 13-13-1 season, Minnesota State High School Coaches Association Hall of Famer Mike Randolph takes over as head coach. Third all-time in victories among Minnesota high school hockey coaches, Randolph will have Tom Klein as the assistant varsity coach and Nick Heiberg as the junior varsity coach. The captains for the upcoming season are Tommy Cronin ’23 and Zach Howard ’23. The theme for their season is to “Trust the Process!”

“

WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY AROSE FOR ME TO BECOME A PART OF THIS AMAZING LEARNING INSTITUTION, I COULDN’T IMAGINE A BETTER PLACE TO CONTINUE MY CAREER IN EDUCATION.

”

Katie Schultz

YEAR STARTED AT SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY | 2016

SUBJECTS/CO-CURRICULARS/ CLUBS | Upper School Learning Specialist, Counseling Department Chairperson, ISACS Representative, NAIS Representative, Ministry of Morale co-coordinator.

FIRST TEACHING JOB | Fourth grade teacher at St. Joseph’s School in West St. Paul.

HOBBIES | I love reading, traveling, baking, shopping, and sharing a meal with my family and friends.

A FAVORITE TEACHING MOMENT |

A Saint Thomas Academy graduate recently sent me a letter from Army boot camp. It meant so much to me that a graduate who had selflessly chosen to serve his country, would take the time to write me a letter thanking me for my support and guidance while he was a student at the Academy.

BRUSH WITH FAME | I was at the Jason Show, a local Fox9 show, and was asked to compete in a segment of Wheel of Fortune. I am embarrassed to say I got so competitive that I jumped up and down when I won! Unfortunately, the prize wasn’t thousands of dollars. It was a Jason Show coffee mug!

FAVORITE EXPERIENCE | My favorite experience was jet skiing on the ocean on Christmas Eve with my husband and two sons. It was terrifying and amazing all at the same time.

WHY I TEACH AT SAINT THOMAS

ACADEMY | My sons are graduates of Saint Thomas Academy. As a parent, I have always been grateful for the positive impact the Academy has had on my sons. When the opportunity arose for me to become a part of this amazing learning institution, I couldn’t imagine a better place to continue my career in education.

FAVORITE MUSIC | I like a variety of music, so I cannot narrow it down to one genre. However, a few of my favorite songs are “November Rain” by Guns N’ Roses, “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong, and “100 Years” by Five for Fighting.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT | I love Casa Marina in Key West, Florida. The sunsets are stunning.

FAMILY | I have been married to my wonderful husband, Alan, for 28 years and we have two amazing sons, Joe ’14, and Jack ’16. Joe lives in Edina and works in Commercial Real Estate. Joe is also the Vice President of the STA Alumni Association. Jack lives in Manhattan and loves city life along with his thriving career in luxury interiors at Holly Hunt in New York.

David Krieger ’04

YEAR STARTED AT SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY | 2021

SUBJECTS/CO-CURRICULARS/ CLUBS | Literature and Composition (Grade 10) and Rhetorical Skills (Grade 9). B-Squad Baseball (Head Coach); B-Squad Assistant Football Coach (Defensive Backs); Citation co-moderator.

FIRST TEACHING JOB | St. Paul American School (Beijing, China).

HOBBIES | I am a diehard, long-suffering Minnesota sports fan, so I love watching games with family and friends. I also enjoy spending time at our family cabin, biking, reading, studying Mandarin, and going on long walks with my family.

A FAVORITE TEACHING MOMENT |

While teaching Speech class at an international school in Beijing, China, I would have students work together on a ‘Shark Tank’ style business project and present it to the class. Students would take on various business roles and pitch their product to their peers after developing their campaign. The creativity and enthusiasm displayed was incredible, and I was always extremely impressed with their efforts.

BRUSH WITH FAME | I was spotlighted in a Yantai, China, news story that talked about my work as an administrator and educator in the community while serving as the Head of Secondary School at a bilingual school, Yew Wah International Education School of Yantai. I always laughed because my Chinese colleagues referred to the school’s city of Yantai as a ‘small town’, yet it boasted more than 7 million people!

FAVORITE EXPERIENCE | There are so many great memories during my 10 years abroad in China, but getting married in my wife’s hometown in a very traditional Chinese wedding and running a marathon on the Great

Wall are two that I will never forget. Another special moment I had back in 2009 at STA was serving as assistant coach on the Varsity Baseball team that my brother Patrick played on.

WHY I TEACH AT SAINT THOMAS

ACADEMY | Like all alumni, this place is a part of me, and in many ways, the teachers at STA — many of whom are still here — inspired me to become an educator, so it has always been a dream of mine to return to the Academy. The students also make it an incredible experience; we work really hard and demand a lot from the Cadets, but we also have a lot of fun throughout the learning process. Lastly, the mission of developing boys into men of character is something that I keep in mind every day and will always be at the center of everything I do in the classroom.

FAVORITE MUSIC | My musical taste is definitely eclectic: I love music from the ’60s and ’70s, so Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones are a few favorites, but I also enjoy more mellow singers like Van Morrison and James Taylor, and even some jazz artists like Dave Brubeck and John Coltrane. When I am working out, I love alternative rock, so bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine and Linkin Park keep me motivated.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT | Shanghai, China and Seoul, South Korea are two very vibrant cities that I frequented a lot when I was in Asia, but for trips stateside I have really grown to enjoy the beauty and serenity of scenic places like Big Sky, Montana or even just a drive a few hours north to Duluth, Minnesota.

FAMILY | I have been married to my beautiful wife Sunnie (Meishu) He for eight years, and we have one son, Theodore (Theo) Krieger who just turned four years old.

“

THE MISSION OF DEVELOPING BOYS INTO MEN OF CHARACTER IS SOMETHING THAT I KEEP IN MIND EVERY DAY AND WILL ALWAYS BE AT THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING I DO IN THE CLASSROOM.

”

The Brigade is Formed Because of You

BY DAVID HOTTINGER ’85 DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

At Saint Thomas Academy, daily formation is unique, and such an integral part of the daily schedule. It is the time to come together as a school for the pledge of allegiance, for prayer, for announcements, and of course, for senior speeches. Our students and graduates who experience formation understand the value of this special time together. The same can be said about our faculty, staff, and the many visitors who have seen it firsthand, including many of you that are reading right now. Imagine a daily formation with half the students that are currently enrolled at STA. What would that feel and look like? Sparce, less vibrant, empty, strange. What is the significance of half? Half a formation is the visual that is etched in my mind when I consider our school without the generosity of our benefactors. Half of our students may not be here without the support of our generous donors and the image of a half-empty formation without that support is an impactful one. The importance of our benefactors’ ongoing commitment to STA cannot be understated, whether it’s through the support of Financial Aid; through giving to the Aquinas Annual Fund; through Restricted Gifts; or through support of our Endowment. Your support is significant and important.

Because of the size of our enrollment, currently at 625 students, I have had the great opportunity to interact with students and families that are grateful to be at STA. I’ve really gotten to know them, their circumstances, and their gratitude for being here. I’ve seen the hugs, tears, and pride that comes with having a cadet or being a Cadet. On the flip side, I have worked with families that give and are committed to financial assistance because of their belief in our institution, our mission, and giving the gift of an STA education. I have interacted with numerous cadets and STA families on both sides of the giving equation, and both sides of this equation keep me and the Advancement team motivated. Countless cadets, including myself when I was a student here, are given the gift to attend this great Academy.

I see your gifts in action every day. In some capacity we are all a piece of the Saint Thomas Academy experience and our daily Formation. Thank you for the part you play in assembling the Saint Thomas Academy Brigade! Go Cadets!

Another note to our amazing donors. The Annual Report is evolving, and being converted to an online, digital publication. We are grateful to the over 4,000 benefactors that believe in Saint Thomas Academy and our mission. Look for a communication when it is complete and ready to view.

David Hottinger ’85

CadetWorks Growth Continues for Popular Resource

CadetWorks engages the Saint Thomas Academy network to offer internships in various industries for college-age alumni. The goal of CadetWorks is for young alumni to build their resume, develop their professional experience and select the right career path.

CadetWorks offers professional experience for soon-to-be graduated seniors and college-age young alumni from ’19–’22.

NEED MORE INFORMATION?

Are you interested in hosting a CadetWorks intern (remotely or in-person)? Do you have other questions? Email John Barnes at jbarnes@cadets.com.

CADETWORKS AT A GLANCE…

>> Began in 2013

>> 155 interns hired by over 50 companies in 11 different industries including:

Having taken part in CadetWorks as both a candidate and an employer, I can honestly say this program is incredibly unique in how it benefits not only the student but the partnering company. There are not many programs where students can be exposed to so many respected companies, and on the other hand where employers have such great access to so many qualified candidates.”

— JOE SCHULTZ ’15, PARAMOUNT REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

I just wanted to reach out and thank you for putting on the CadetWorks program again this year. I am very excited about the internship I received and am looking forward to this summer for that reason. Thank you for being so helpful throughout the whole process and presenting me with these opportunities. I will be working with Mount Yale Capital this summer. Chris Kettler ’15 made the process super convenient and easy. I’m looking forward to it. Go Cadets!”

— GAVIN GAGNIER ’19, BUTLER UNIVERSITY — LACY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, FINANCE AND ECONOMICS DOUBLE MAJOR

LOOKING FOR AN INTERNSHIP?

Contact John Barnes at jbarnes@cadets.com

Finance

Accounting

Sales

Marketing

Real Estate

Engineering

Medicine

IT Systems

Law

Criminal Justice

Business Administration

>> Students attending over 40 different colleges and universities across the country including:

Notre Dame

Boston College

Harvard

Yale

University of St. Thomas

University of Minnesota

Duke University

Georgetown University

Southern Methodist University

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Villanova University

1930s

LT. WILLIAM J. McGOWAN ’37 was laid to rest at Normandy American Cemetery, alongside 9,386 brothers and sisters who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Saint Thomas Academy had the honor of attending the ceremony and was able to document it for you all to see. You can read more about McGowan ’37 and other Cadet Alumni that died in WWII in our Spring 2020 edition of the Saber

1950s

4 generations of Cadets (l–r): TIM CARROLL ’74, JACKSON CARROLL ’29, RYAN CARROLL ’01, and TERRANCE CARROLL ’52. CHRIS ROBERTS ’58 opened The Samuel Slater Experience three months ago. Using Disney-like technology, it tells the story of the beginning of American Industrial Revolution with the textile business.

1960s

PAT COONAN ’61, the District 1 Assistant District Commissioner of the Boys Scouts of America wrote to thank STA for its hosting of the annual Scout and Leaders Swim Night. Said Pat, “We had over 115 youth and adult leaders do their annual swim check prior to going to Summer Camp. Many youth required their parents to transport them to Saint Thomas Academy and this was their first exposure to the amazing facilities of STA for these folks from all over the St. Paul area.”

Some 1964 ALUMNI enjoying some lake time together. Front: DON BACHMEIER, TOM LINSTROTH, Back: MIKE CIRESI, DAVID CARROLL, MIKE BARCELOW

MIKE CIRESI ’64 and past parent, Earl Gray, are featured in the Minnesota Super Lawyers 2022 magazine.

GREGORY BABLER ’68 retired from Thomson Reuters this past June after celebrating 45 years of service!

1960s

We had a great STA/Denver alumni event with 20 STA alumni attending! RAY KENNEDY ’12, GREG CULLIGAN ’88, TOM DIEVENEY ’60, FRANK DIEVENEY ’66, PATRICK O’DONNELL ’10, LUKE SIEGLER ’11, RICHARD HUNNEWELL ’16, GUS HORNER ’12, CHARLIE FAFINSKI ’19, ETHAN RASMUSSEN ’12, MARK BASTIAENS ’16, PETER CORNIEA ’19, ANDREW JOHNSTON ’07, COLIN FERRIAN ’07, FRED KLAAS ’07, CONNOR FARLEY ’11, DANIEL SIEGLER ’08, and CHRIS STROUT ’16.

1970s

CLASS OF 1972 at their class dinner held at the Lexington. Kneeling (l-r): BILL DREXLER, CHRIS BALDWIN, TOM MAUN, BOB JANETTE, HOWARD QUINLAN, VINCE BRADFORD, and DAN SHERAN. 1st Row Standing (l-r): TOM JOHNSON, GREG ROEDLER, MATT FINLEY, PAUL McHUGH, PAUL BARD, PAT SCALLEN, NEAL RAUENHORST, JOHN MILEY, PAUL CLEMMONS, and GREG VANELLI. 2nd Row Standing (l-r): JOE HORAN, JAKE SCHROEPFER, ROGER ANDERSON, JIM KRONSCHNABLE, DAN KOZLAK, JOHN CULLIGAN, PHIL BOYLE, BILL FOUSSARD, DAN KINGSTON, JOHN HICKEY, BILL KLEINMAN, BOB McNAMARA, CHAD LEMMONS, and TERRY FENLON. Back Row (l-r): JIM KELLNER, GREG RIBOTTO, and BILL MARZOLF Missing but attended JOHN MACH, DENNIS STEVENS, JOHN SKOWRONSKi, ANDY O’CONNEL, GREG HYNAN, DAVE COWLEY, RORY ROWE, JOHN MORK, PETER HINSCH, DALE DUTHOY, BILL KREBSBACH, and GARY MAGRUM.

1970s

Last fall members of the 1971 STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM gathered at Saint Thomas Academy for a 50 year reunion to commemorate the team’s undefeated championship season. The team was introduced at halftime of the football game as the PA Announcer regaled STA fans with an account of the team’s historic season.

Peter McGough CLASS OF 1973 Memorial Lunch

Front (l-r): JOE BOLAND, MIKE BRECKMAN, JOHN McQUILLAN

Back (l-r): TIM PLUNKETT, JIM MILEY, PAT MURPHY, JOHN ROONEY, LARRY FRYKLUND, EDDIE O’PHELAN

The CLASS OF 1973 gathered for breakfast. Left from top; JOHN ROONEY, TOM COSGROVE, TIM PLUNKETT, MIKE SIREK

Right from top; JIM MURLOWSKI, KEVIN DALY, JOHN MAGUIRE, PETE GILLEN

A number of Saint Thomas Academy alumni gathered in Beaver Creek to celebrate the wedding of Kevin Battis. Kevin is the son of RICK BATTIS ’79. From left to right: SEAN GALVIN ’79, MARK GLODEK ’79, JOHN BATTIS ’82, RICK BATTS ’79, MITCH BERG ’77, TONY BERG ’79, and MIKE MYSER ’79.

1980s

The CLASS OF 1982 had great turnout for their 40th Reunion held at STA. We missed all of you who could not attend. The highlight was beating CDH 34-0. Big special shout out to Professor Westerback. He has taught at STA for 22 years and is making our class proud. The class of ’82 wants to remind classmates that STA still needs our help and in particular to assist with students who cannot afford this great education. Please consider donating more this year since it is our 40th Reunion year. Finally, there is a five school reunion planned during Thanksgiving Weekend — Saturday November 26, 2022 — 6 p.m. at the Rathskellar Room at the old Schmidt Brewery now run by Mancinis. More details will follow STA/VIS/Derham/Cretin/Regina.

Check out this amazing story on BILL BEAUDETTE ’85! Thank you for your service Bill!

cadets.com/sabernotes

1980s

2022 MDRT Executive Committee

Nominee JOHN NICHOLS ’80, MSM, CLU, is the 2022 Nominee to the MDRT Executive Committee. Nichols assumed the position of Secretary on September 1, 2022. He is a 22-year MDRT member with two Court of the Table and 15 Top of the Table qualifications. He is also an Excalibur Knight and Legion of Honor member of the MDRT Foundation and is currently serving as President of its Board of Trustees. Nichols entered the financial services profession in 1984. He is a disability benefits consultant, a creator of disability products and administrative systems, and serves as an expert witness in disability proceedings. Nichols is president of Disability Resource Group, a national insurance agency that he founded in 1999. Additionally, he is a partner with Acrisure, a global fintech services provider.

kids with his energy and passion to love the outdoors and reading.

’87 — CULT Artisan Beverage launched the first ever Plant-Based Botanical Infusion Beverage in 14oz bottles. CULT Botanical Infusions offers healthy hydration: Zero sugar, zero caffeine and made with all natural ingredients with zero to low calories. Sprouts Farmers Market is first National Retailer to partner and launch CULT Botanical Infusions.

Colliers Minneapolis-St. Paul for being named to the CoStar Power Broker Quarterly Deals for their work on the Cold Spring Brewing lease in St. Cloud.

1990s

DANNY SULLIVAN ’90 and TOM SULLIVAN ’99, have launched the wine brand, “Makasi — Wines of Gratitude.” Go to www.makasiwine.com to see their first releases and purchase.

DAVID DIETZ ’85 just accepted a Supply Chain Director role at the Savannah River Site in Aiken, SC! “Reach out classmates if any of you are here for the Masters!”

On August 19, 2022 author KEVIN LOVEGREEN ’87 released his latest book, Catching Big Bubba. This is the 17th children’s book of the Lucky Luke’s Adventure series. As a motivational speaker for schools focusing on grades K through 6th, Kevin inspires

EM composer and modular synthesist, BART HAWKINS ’87, is a sound artist who creates visionary musical landscapes and sonic textures. On 8/24 Bart released another album named Dream Porch.

Congratulations to DEVON GILCHRIST ’95 who was named a 2022 Bush Fellow.

Rev. NATE WILLS ’95, (pictured second from the right) helped prepare and welcomed Notre Dame Head Football coach, Marcus Freeman (center), into the Catholic faith!

ADAM STRYKER ’98 and his wife Dr. Brittany Stryker, owners of Orthopedic Motion Inc. and OMI Kiddos, provide custom orthotics, prosthetics and cranial remolding orthoses in Las Vegas, Reno and Omaha, Nebraska. Orthopedic Motion was recognized in 2019 by Inc. magazine as one of the 5,000 fastest growing company’s in America. Said Stryker, “Our company was featured on TLC’s Doubling Down with the Derrico’s multiple times as we provided treatments for two of their 14 children. Just last spring our company opened an office in Omaha, Nebraska where the governor honored us by proclaiming it OMI-Kiddos day in the state of Nebraska. Our specialty is utilizing the StarBand laser data acquisition system to treat congenital plagiocephaly, torticollis, brachycephaly and craniosynostosis in addition to providing custom prosthetics to the VA hospital and amputees in Las Vegas.”

2000s

Congratulate ROBERT SHORT ’03 for being promoted to Financial Consultant— Respiratory Interventions at Medtronic.

CHRIS NICHOLS

Congratulations to STEVE NILSSON ’89, CCIM, SIOR, Andrew Odney, and MATTHEW NEWELL ’16 of

Congratulations to TIMMY McMANUS ’07 and Elizabeth McManus (Abbott) Vis ’07 on the birth of their baby son Timmy McManus born March 20.

PETER CURRAN ’07 started a new position Director Product Marketing Management at AT&T. Congrats!

FOLEY SCHMIDT ’08 was recently married to Hayle Stern in Malibu in May. Foley is the Head of Portfolio Operations at FBA Capital Management.

STEVE MORRIS ’08 and Naomi Morris are excited to let everyone know the birth of their beautiful baby girl, Nöelle Laverne Morris.

Congratulations to MATTHEW ROBERTS ’09 on his promotion to Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor at the LAX Line Maintenance Base for Southwest Airlines.

MICHAEL FITZGERALD ’09 spent 8 years in active duty serving in financial management and as an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Science at Miami University’s Air Force ROTC detachment. In March, he joined the reserves serving part time in finance at the 934th Airlift Wing in MinneapolisSt. Paul.

2010s

2000s

Lieutenant Colonel THOMAS P. O’KEEFE ’00 assumed command of the 1st Training Support Battalion, 338th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army Reserve at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin.

Congratulations to LUKE MARKS ’11 and Samantha Marks on the arrival of Magdalen Margaret Marks, born, April 6.

Congratulations to ANTHONY HAYES ’11 for starting a new position as Chief of Staff at ServiceCore.

The CLASS OF ’02 had a great turnout for their 20-year reunion! They had an on-campus tour, graciously given by NICK McCARTHY , STA teacher & coach (and class of 2002 alumnus)! Classmates really enjoyed seeing what has changed, what has stayed the same and re-visiting the scene of many memories. In the hallway where former class senior pictures are hung up, JORDAN BEISSEL saw not only his dad and uncle’s senior photo, but even saw his grandpa’s photo on display from the class of 1938.

Check out some STA alumni JEREMY HARRIS ’03 and JACKSON FINN ’15 enjoying the Masters.

2000s

MIKE FARLEY ’09 married Kara Greiner on a beautiful July 17, 2021 in Kansas City.

STA alums pictured in the photo (l–r): GREG FARLEY ’79, BRIAN FARLEY ’87, MICHAEL FARLEY ’84, ALEX FARLEY ’18, PATRICK FARLEY ’56, TIM FARLEY ’81, MIKE FARLEY ’09, (Kara Farley), PETER FARLEY ’12, STEVE PLUNKETT ’81, CONNOR PLUNKETT ’14, TRAVIS UECKER ’09, ROB LITWIN ’09, DAN FARLEY ’93, KEVIN FARLEY ’83, and JOHN TEEPLES ’56

Mike graduated from Creighton University in 2013, University of Iowa Law School in 2017 and University of Iowa School of Urban Planning in 2018. Mike is currently a City Planner for Kansas City, Kansas where he and Kara live with their two dogs.

2010s

Aryeo’s co-founders pictured are (l–r): BRENDAN QUINLAN ’16, MATT MICHALSKI ’15 and BRANICK WEIX ’15.

Aryeo Inc., a property technology startup, recently raised nearly $4 million in equity, according to a securities filing. The company’s software centralizes visual content for property listings, such as images, videos and 3D tours, and offers marketing and scheduling tools. Aryeo’s website says its software helps more than 100,000 real estate agents and creators.

Congratulate MICHAEL LOKOWICHKOHLER ’11 for starting a new position as Sales Representative at HaydenMurphy Equipment Company.

Congratulate DAVID C. SHEAFFER ’11 for starting a new position as Director of Trading at Curran Financial Partners.

Congratulations to THOMAS INGEBRIGTSEN ’11 he started his first position as a physician assistant working for Essentia Health emergency services, primarily in the St. Mary’s Medical Center ED in Duluth, MN.

MICHAEL HERMANN ’11 and wife Erin recently welcomed their daughter Ella Lennon on June 23.

Proud parents CONNOR FARLEY ’11 and Briana Farley welcome Carson Gregory Farley born August 31, 10 lbs 3 oz and 22.25 inches of the

most perfect rolls and chubby perfection! Mama and baby are healthy and our little family is taking in all of the snuggles!

Congratulate ALEX ANGEN ’12 for starting a new position as Sr. Partner Success Manager at Shipt.

Congrats to NICK BONFE ’12 and his wife Lesley, on the birth of their daughter Clara Mary Bonfe on 6/23/22 at 1:41 am. Nick and Lesley are overjoyed with our sweet girl.

Congratulate JOE HOVANEC ’12 for starting a new position as Senior Investment Analyst at United Properties.

MIKE DEASEY ’12 will be joining the MBA Class of 2024 at the University of Minnesota –Carlson School of Management, starting this fall.

Congratulate GUS HORNER ’12 for starting a new position as Systems Engineer at Raytheon Intelligence & Space.

TJ SAMEC ’13 is happy to share that he is starting a new position as Project Engineer at Jack Link’s Protein Snacks!

Congratulations to PAT REAGAN ’13 on his engagement to Sydney Bramer.

STU WHITNEY ’13 will be attending Washington University in St. Louis School of Law in the fall.

Congratulations to ANTHONY PALUMBO ’13 for starting a new position as Data Engineer at CHS Inc.

Congratulate AUSTIN PETERSON ’13 for starting a new position as Director of Finance and Development at MAVEN Development Group.

Congratulations to AUSTIN SATTLER ’13 on his engagement to Delaney Mary Burke.

Congratulations to Maddie Martini and JOHN HANTEN ’13 on their recent marriage.

MALAWI UPDATE:

KELTON ANDERSON ’13 is an attorney in litigation maintaining a global practice out of the law firm of Winston and Strawn’s in Washington D.C. focusing on Antitrust, Regulatory, Maritime and Labor law. Prior to joining he served as law clerk for the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights. Last month he was admitted to the New York State Bar.

Congratulate COLTON KRUGER ’13 for starting a new position as External Wholesaler at Allianz.

Not to be outdone by brother JAY ’15, JOEY ENGESWICK ’13 had a hole-in-one at Theodore Wirth GC 128 yard par 3 with a pitching wedge.

BRENDAN ZIMMEL ’14 happy to share that he is starting a new position as a Process Engineer at Amazon.

Congratulate MARIO BOGNANNO ’14 for starting a new position as Business Supervisor at Kiewit.

Congratulations to MURPHY GALLIGAN ’14 on receiving his masters in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the University of Minnesota –Twin Cities.

On June 18th, AARON HOVE ’14 graduated from Mitchell Hamline School of Law and in the fall will begin as an associate attorney at Lockridge, Grindal, and Nauen in Minneapolis.

MICHAEL SMILANICH ’14 has started a new role as a Cybersecurity Consultant at RiskLens.

To date, we’ve raised $85K! Remember, we’ve challenged our STA alumni and friends to reach $250K to unlock the matching $250K. PETER MARK ’14 and Bishop Richard Pates just returned from the groundbreaking ceremony in Malawi. Over 3,000 people from the surrounding villages came to celebrate groundbreaking Mass — this school means the world to them. Come be a part of real change in the lives of thousands of our brothers and sisters in Africa. Thanks so much for your generosity! To donate, please contact PETER MARK ’14 at peterjdmark@gmail.com or make a tax-deductible donation directly TTEMalawi.org

RYAN BARNES ’15 is happy to announce he is now with Total Quality Logistics in Dallas as an Account Executive trainee. So happy with the move. He is thankful for his time coaching at Clarke. He is now learning a new business and loving it!

Congratulations to JORDAN CASTLE ’15 on his promotion to Project Manager Scrum Master at Capgemini.

Congratulations to JACK LEE ’15 on his engagement to Annelise Orthey.

After successfully defending his master’s thesis titled “Effects of injectable vitamin E on transit stress and receiving performance and investigating the relationship between acidosis risk and feeding behavior during finishing in beef steers”, COLTEN DORNBACH ’15 was awarded a Distinguished Graduate Student Assistantship by Texas Tech University to conduct his PhD research investigating the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in finishing feedlot cattle and its implications for food safety, animal health, and antimicrobial resistance.

1LT WILL DIETZ ’16 (left) graduated from the U.S. Army Sapper Leader course.

Congratulate ANDREW MILLER ’17 for starting a new position as Acquisition Analyst at NETSTREIT Corp.

Congratulate THOMAS STEVEKEN ’17 for starting a new position as Commercial Insurance Underwriting Associate at Chubb Limited.

Congratulations to VINNY MOTZEL ’18 on winning the National Collegiate Boxing Association Championship last weekend!

2020s

Last week BAKER REDING ’21 participated in the Fullbridge Professional Edge at the College of the Holy Cross.

ANDERS KILEN ’18 is extremely excited to announce that he has accepted a role as a Wealth Management Client Associate at Merrill Lynch. A special thank you to everyone who helped me throughout this process. I am excited to get started in September and see what the future has in store!

Check out this monster BENNETT KOTOK ’23 caught on Lake Superior last week! What have the rest of you been up to this summer?

Congratulations BRADY HAPPE ’16 on starting a new position as Senior Analyst, Commercial Excellence & Strategy at Coloplast Wound & Skin Care North America.

Congratulate RYAN MEITZ ’17 for starting a new position as Rotational Associate at Oakwood Homes.

This summer, JOSEPH BOYLE ’17 completed his Master of Arts in English from the University of Dallas, and starting this fall, he will be teaching high school history at the Montfort Academy, a Catholic classical school in Mount Vernon, New York.

SAM GOALEY ’18 and his family were on Family Fued on October 10!

Congratulate GEORGE BUDZIUS ’19 for starting a new position as Clinic Assistant at Children’s Minnesota.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Please send your contributions to Class Notes by one of three ways:

alumni@cadets.com

cadets.com/update (Alumni Online Community)

949 Mendota Heights Rd., Mendota Heights, MN 55120 ATTN: Alumni Office

CONGRATULATIONS COLLEGE GRADUATES!

NICHOLAS LUNSFORD ’16 recently graduated from the Khoury College of Computer Science at Northeastern University with a Master of Science in Cybersecurity. He is looking forward to the next chapter of his Army career.

SAM RUHLAND ’17 on his graduation from the University of Saint Thomas.

QUINN DOLAN ’18 on his graduation from Boston College.

JOEY GEREND ’18 on his graduation from Notre Dame.

JACK KILLIAN ’18 graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College on

May 21. He heads to the -U.S. Army on July 4th.

JACK KOTOK ’18 on his graduation from West Point.

LOVEGREEN ’18 on his graduation from Creighton.

In Memoriam

Please remember in your prayers these classmates and friends of the Academy who recently passed away or of whose death we were recently notified. We have made every effort to present an accurate list.

Gene Masica ’40

December 2021

Jim Garberg ’41

May 2022

Charles R. McCarthy ’44

October 2022

John E. LaFond ’47

October 2022

Robert LaFond ’47

April 2022

Richard Stroncek ’47

July 2022

Bill Sipe ’48

June 2022

Thomas Spaniol ’48

October 2022

Howard Kelly ’49

August 2022

Jerry Seifert ’49

May 2022

Thomas Zwickel ’50

August 2022

Peter Koch ’51

September 2022

Emmet Root ’51

September 2022

Jim Daly ’52

March 2022

Richard Costello ’53

August 2022

John J. Knip ’53

October 2022

Dennis O’Grady ’53

September 2022

Oliver Ossanna ’53

June 2022

Robert Peters ’53

June 2022

Mac Beckett ’55

April 2022

Jim Jiovanazzo ’55

August 2022

James Gallagher ’57

February 2022

George J. Hansen ’58

October 2022

Bob Magee ’58

December 2021

Stu Weyforth ’58

August 2022

Walter Broich ’59

April 2022

Jim Lester ’60

September 2022

Nicholas J. Thies ’60

October 2022

Francis X. Hermann ’61

October 2022

Mark Henley ’64

March 2022

Chester Hovelson ’64

August 2022

Christopher J. Klein ’66

October 2022

Vince Lauer ’68

June 2022

Peter McGough ’73

August 2022

Kevin Mullarky ’75

May 2022

Kevin Donlan ’76

May 2022

Mark Madison ’81

July 2022

Todd Wescott ’81

July 2022

Mike B. Ferraro ’82

October 2022

William L. Valentine ’85

October 2022

Eric Gudz ’05

May 2022

Sean Maguire ’09

May 2022

Sean Murphy ’09

April 2022

FORMER FACULTY/STAFF

Leo T. Collins

February 2022

David Kensy

July 2022

FORMER MOTHERS’ CLUB

PRESIDENT

Connie Mueller

August 2022

VERNON

ALEX MOELLER ’18 on his graduation from the U of M.

NATHEN PUCEL ’18 on his graduation from Creighton.