Boys’ middle and high school years are a time of great exploration — of discovering themselves and their interests. We often see passions ignite in our classrooms that boys carry with them throughout their lives, sometimes as a career and other times as an avocation. Coursework or class discussion may spark curiosity for space exploration, ancient literature or American history that boys find deeply satisfying to pursue. Our faculty masterfully encourage cadets to invest themselves into discovered individual interests.
Frequently, we are stirred by hearing an individual’s memories or stories first-hand or when we as a nation mark anniversaries, such as this year’s 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. I saw it during the 50th anniversary when Coast Guard veterans told their stories of rescues in the surf off Omaha Beach and our young sailors recalled being anchored off Normandy.
Economics teacher Dean Simmons knows firsthand how interests discovered in high school can bring meaning throughout one’s life. He was first drawn to World War II history in high school, when he interviewed the last surviving priest imprisoned at the Nazi concentration camp in Dachau, Germany. Dean’s father, who had served in the occupying forces following the end of the war, provided personal context for his son’s research. Dean went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in German and economics and continued to research World War II history and Minnesota’s connection to the war following college. Through the years, he has interviewed former military personnel, civilians, former prisoners and concentration camp survivors, both in the United States and abroad. Following two years of study in Europe, he authored Swords into Plowshares, a chronical of a largely unknown and unusual World War II story: the history of German and Italian prisoners of war who were interned in Minnesota between 1943-1945. He has been a featured speaker at several schools and organizations, including the World War II Roundtable at the Minnesota History Center.
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:
Dean’s interest in World War II history has been particularly helpful to our community as the world solemnly marks the 75th anniversary of the war’s end in 2020. As you’ll read in the feature story he penned for this issue of Saber, Dean has helped capture and solidify the important role of Saint Thomas Academy cadets in the war, clarifying the historical account for the Academy’s archives. We are deeply grateful to Dean for his work to preserve the record of the commitment and sacrifice of our cadets who served, nearly 50 of whom also died, in the war. These accounts will inform future efforts of our cadets as they learn the personal stories of men with common threads. I know I speak on behalf of our entire community when I say we are forever indebted to these young men.
While Dean’s work has been extensive, he’s the first to acknowledge there are likely stories, artifacts and personal accounts from alumni who served, or their families, yet to be unearthed. He welcomes your comments or feedback, email him at dsimmons@cadets.com.
Rear Admiral John E. Crowley Jr. ’71 Interim Headmaster
Rear Admiral John E. Crowley Jr. ’71
Alumnus John McErlane ’39 (top row, far left) pictured with his entire crew and B17 Bomber. Read about his story on page 10.
SABER
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Feature Writer:
Dean Simmons
Article Writers: David Jacobson
Amy Nugent
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Photo Credits: Andy King Photography
Dean Simmons
Tyler Maddaus
Michael Murray Photography
Saint Thomas Academy Alumni Saint Thomas Academy Family & Friends
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
LEADERSHIP
Chief Officer
The Most Reverend Bernard Hebda
Chairman
Mr. Daniel Kubes ’87
Past Chairman
Mr. Kelly Rowe ’79
Vice President
The Most Reverend Andrew Cozzens
Secretary
Rear Admiral John Crowley ’71
Founding Partner
Mr. Michael Ciresi ’64
75 YEARS LATE R
Remembering Cadet
BY DEAN SIMMONS
This spring edition of the Saber marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe; the United States and its Allies had reversed the last major German counteroffensive — the Battle of the Bulge — and were advancing through Western Europe on the final approach to end the war with Nazi Germany. Since the Normandy Invasion in June 1944, America suffered the greatest number of fatalities than any other time during the war — and twenty-two Saint Thomas Academy alumni were among those killed. By the time the war ended in 1945, the total number of Academy graduates who died while serving their country reached forty-eight. They participated in many of the theatres of war, major battles, and campaigns. We take time in this issue of the Saber to reflect on their stories of courage, leadership, and action — and honor them for their service to America and their ultimate sacrifice which made the world a better place for everyone.
Alumni
Who Died in World War II
James Garberg from the class of 1941 — a combat veteran in the war’s South Pacific Theatre and interviewed for this article — emphasizes that despite being “young and inexperienced,” the military training at the Academy was invaluable as wartime arrived in the 1940s. All the small, incremental parts of the military education proved quite valuable to the U.S. military since they were in serious need of Academy graduates who could quickly become “lieutenants and leaders.” He recalls that rifle marksmanship, machine-gun training, squad maneuvers, and the ability to work with navigation cards and execute orders were ingrained into them and contributed to their success as combat soldiers during the war.
Military teacher notebooks from that time show the serious and hands-on training that took place at the Academy. Outside of the classroom, the south end of Saint Paul’s Highland Park running from Ford Parkway south to present-day West 7th — still heavily wooded and undeveloped until after the war — offered the ideal location for simulated military maneuvers. There, the school’s military instructors, using the Mississippi River as a dividing line between “two hostile states,” set up command posts, defensive positions, communication lines, first-aid stations, and scouting groups. Classroom skills were field tested; students were scored and graded accordingly. Cadets learned how to pursue, protect flanks, assess the movements of neighboring units, advance attacks, and repel counterattacks. Nobody could have possibly foreseen how useful these skills were soon going to be for these young men.
This photo shows Academy military exercises in Highland Park. Each spring, cadets practiced the passing of lines, map reading, military sketching, guard duties and the calculations of angles and degrees. These skills were valuable as the war arrived.
The Academy was fortunate to have a strong military leadership and instruction staff throughout the 1930s. Commandant Arthur S. Champeny was a World War I combat veteran with numerous awards, including five Purple Hearts, and still to this day the only American to earn the Distinguished Service Cross in three wars. Major Burton F. Hood arrived in 1936 and there was no one better than he to oversee the military instruction. Hood, who was
elevated to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel during his time at the Academy, served until 1941 when he was dispatched to Washington, D.C. He understood secondary military education well; he was a graduate of the Pillsbury Military Academy in his native Owatonna, which led to a long career in the U.S Army. Hood understood battle tactics too: he fought on the Mexican border against Pancho Villa and was in France during World War I where at the conclusion he led the protecting guard for President Wilson during the Paris Peace Conference.
The core military preparation benefitted the cadets, as did the entire Academy experience, but the strain of war began to impact the school. War mobilization brought about unforeseen stresses and the Academy wasn’t immune to these hardships; the economic downturn affected the school in a dramatic way since it was difficult to find teachers. According to former Principal George Langeland, there was basically a “personnel breakdown.” They were having a hard time finding students, but mostly teachers too, particularly when the instructors began leaving for military service themselves — in one instance, several in just one week. It was a “tough time for the Academy” but the proximity to the College brought about clever improvising as its professors doubled up and taught at the Academy too. There was a lot of goodwill done when, at times, teachers did not even request compensation for the extra work. As Langeland explained, “it didn’t matter what faculty one was on, they were all on one campus, one corporation, one family. The Academy was part of the college and vice versa.”
As a result, those professors offered high-quality instruction, sometimes quite timely, as was the case with Charles Schnoeppner, a German professor who emigrated to the United States in the 1930s to learn English. He completed studies at the College but was soon teaching at the Academy. His understanding of the complexities in Europe was extensive and he held lectures and public meetings on the rise of Adolf Hitler, the economic and geopolitical difficulties in Europe, and the widespread discrimination against German Jews.
In an address to the corps of cadets following Pearl Harbor, Academy President Father James H. Moynahan made it clear that “one and only one thought is uppermost in every mind — the defense of our beloved country,” and for the Cadets this was to be accomplished with a focus on academics and school activities. Moynahan emphasized that the best way to contribute to the war effort “consists in pursuing your studies with your wonted vigor . . . only in this way can you prepare yourselves for intelligent participation in national defense and for playing your part in the days that are to come.”
Their days did come and news about the war came in heavy and often, including the first reports on campus the following June of former cadets who were killed — followed by Masses for those alumni on a frequent basis in the chapel. Yearbook photo comments with their student nicknames and career ambitions now included preferences for military service.
Burton F. Hood, Commandant of Cadets from 1936 to 1941. He saw active combat in the World War I and was best remembered as the commanding officer of the guard detail for President Wilson at the Peace Treaty talks in Paris, with the New York Times reporting, “one of the snappiest officers is in command.” His son, Burton F. Hood Jr., graduated from the Academy in 1937 and was the Commandant of the Cadets at the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina.
Commandants during the war, Joseph L. Connolly (left) and Raymond W. Briggs shown here reviewing the cadets on campus. Briggs once worked directly under General MacArthur in the Philippines. He closely followed the progress of the war since he had a son who was serving in the Marines.
shows boarder students from Chicago ready to board a train for Saint Paul. Recruitment efforts brought in many students from Chicago, some of whom later died in the
Most of the alumni who died in the war were students at the Academy during and around the years of the Great Depression — another period where the stresses of the time made their impact on Saint Thomas Academy. With the steady stream of tuition slowing due to the economic hardship most families were experiencing, the school needed to get creative with its student recruitment methods and determined that finding more boarders would be the best way to boost enrollment numbers. Many large cities were targeted, but it was Chicago from which most boarding students hailed and made their indelible mark on Saint Thomas Academy history, including William James Tooley, Class of 1935.
Tooley came with vigor and enthusiasm, quickly becoming one of the best-known students on campus. He became commander of ‘A’ Company and was the track team captain. He earned numerous awards and distinctions and was a true academic standout; only three other students in the history of the school to that time reached his grade point level. He graduated at the top of his class, received an appointment to West Point but turned it down and accepted instead a gracious scholarship at the College of Saint Thomas, after which he taught at the House of the Lord Divine in Michigan, but he soon returned to the Academy to join the military staff.
He entered active military duty in October 1940, requesting overseas service. As a result, he was sent to the Philippines in 1941 and stationed
— Continued on page 6
during the war securing bribes for the Japanese captors to smuggle food and provisions to Tooley.
This photo
war.
William Tooley while on staff at the school in 1940. He was the only former faculty member who died in the war. Details about his experience as a prisoner of war emerged years after the war when it was learned that, while in the Philippines, Tooley became engaged to Betty Wright, a daughter of a U.S. Serviceman who died in the camp where Tooley was being held. Wright spent nearly $3,000
with the 31st Infantry. When the war began, Tooley found himself in heavy combat and when Corregidor fell on May 6, 1942, Tooley was captured and became a prisoner of war. He was in several POW camps but calmed his parents in one letter by simply stating that he was “doing very well.”
He endured two and a half years in those camps. On December 15, 1944, the Japanese — on the retreat — were moving a large group of POWs on a ship near Olongapo just north of Manilla when the ship, just 200 yards offshore, was bombed and destroyed by American aircraft; Tooley was on the boat and killed.
News of his death wasn’t confirmed until the following year in July 1945. His father, president of a large Chicago business, still believed in January 1945 that he was still alive but never learned of his son’s ultimate fate since he himself died before William’s death was verified.
Five other alumni boarders from the Chicago area died in the war. Among them were two of Tooley’s classmates, Robert Schorsch ’35 and Francis Farrell ’35. Following graduation, Schorsch left for Notre Dame where he earned his doctorate degree; he was killed parachuting into Holland in September 1944. Francis “Frankie” Farrell also graduated from Notre Dame where his father was a history professor. With the plan of becoming a college professor himself, Farrell finished one year of graduate studies at Syracuse University before he was called to duty in June of 1941. He said goodbye stateside to his young wife and 21-month-old son for the last time in August 1944 and ended up in England as a pilot in the First Army’s 3rd Armored Division where he was soon elevated to the rank of captain because of his Academy education. He was wounded by machine-gun fire on one mission over Europe in the fall of 1944 and awarded the Purple Heart — but after recuperating he continued his service in the fall. On a
Remains of William J. McGowan ’37 Identified
In the process of putting together information for this issue’s feature story, an interesting final chapter emerged about Second Lieutenant William (Bill) J. McGowan from the class of 1937.
Bill was a boarder student from Benson, Minnesota whose father wished he would go on to the Naval Academy. Instead, he went on to graduate from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism in 1942, working later for the United Press in Madison, Wisconsin.
He arrived in England in early 1944 and joined the 366th Fighter Group of the 391st Fighter Squadron as a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot. Prior to the invasion in June, he made a number of combat missions over France.
At 5:45 a.m. on D-Day, McGowan flew over the invasion force as he headed towards France in order to bomb train stations and truck convoys. He returned to England to refuel and flew back over Omaha Beach on the return to France and attacked German lines of defense. He returned once again to refuel and came back on this third time leading a group of six planes. McGowan’s plane was struck by German anti-aircraft fire and it crashed into a field; the wreckage burned for more than a day. His dog tags were located and delivered by local French civilians to American forces in Moon-Sur-Elle ten days later. His body was not recovered. In 1947, the crash site was analyzed but no remains of McGowan were located. In 2018, the crash site was thoroughly excavated by a team of researchers from Saint Mary’s University in Nova Scotia. In an official press release on January 8th of this year, the Department of Defense indicated that his remains from the crash site had been positively identified. McGowan will be buried on July 26, 2020 at the Normandy American Cemetery in France.
Crash site of McGowan’s plane shown here in 1953. His parents and sister are standing at the location where a propeller from the plane was placed in the ground by local residents to indicate where the plane crashed.
TOP
One of the last photos taken of McGowan, shown here during advanced training exercises in 1944.
ABOVE
William J. McGowan, Saint Thomas Academy graduation photo, 1937.
Leroy J. McFaul, ’22 was a popular boarder student from Chicago who was a standout football player his senior year. As a fast-rising officer during the War, he was temporarily stationed at an army base in Wyoming where he developed an acute appendicitis. They rushed him to the base hospital for surgery and the procedure went smoothly; however, he was given too much anesthesia and he never regained consciousness. The family investigated the death later and it was determined that moreexperienced medical personnel had already been sent overseas and a recently and poorly trained army private had given McFaul a fatal dose of the anesthesia. He left behind a wife and kids.
Charles Hanousek ’24, looks at a picture in the 1931 Kaydet yearbook of his great-grandfather Eugene Hanousek who died in the Battle of the Bulge in 1945. Eugene was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in 1949. Eugene’s son, Richard — only five years old when his father was killed — graduated from the Academy in 1957. Seven of Eugene’s grandchildren also attended the Academy.
subsequent flight he was killed piloting an unarmed Piper Cub observation plane on December 10, 1944. His family received a letter from him two days prior to his death in which he expressed his pleasure that American forces were showing signs of progress.
Chicago wasn’t the only city from which boarding students came; our boarders came from regions extending from Pennsylvania in the east to Montana in the west. One was Staff Sergeant James Carney ’42 from Sioux Falls, SD — the son of two medical doctors — who was on his 25th mission as a flight engineer on a B-24 Liberator with the 15th Air Force when he was shot down and killed near Vienna. He had been informed before that fatal flight that he was going to be heading home after that mission. In a daring raid further south, Captain Lawrence Johnson ’37 from Great Falls, Montana parachuted into Sicily and successfully blew up an enemy ammunition dump but was sprayed by machine gun fire and died as he moved to a nearby position.
Two students from neighboring Wisconsin died in the war: Second Lieutenant Eugene Hanousek ’31 and Captain Charles Barkley ’32 . Almost three years had lapsed before Barkley’s family was notified in May 1945 that he had been killed in the battle of Corregidor years earlier. It was unclear why that messaging was so delayed, but the military acknowledged later that “unavoidable circumstances made necessary the unusual lapse . . . in reporting his death.”
No recruitment was necessary to draw in members of the Hanousek family from Antigo, Wisconsin; all three sons in the family attended the Academy. Their father John — an immigrant from Czechoslovakia — made a fortune in Michigan’s iron ore industry and was an ardent financial supporter of Wisconsin’s military troops in World War I. He wanted to ensure that his three sons would get a good military education and the Academy fit the bill. Eugene was the middle son and after graduation he started a family and entered officer candidate school in 1941. He volunteered for combat duty as part of the 3rd Infantry Division that made the final push to repel German forces near Colmar, France and establish an effective crossing of the Rhine; he was killed near the end of that maneuver on February 5, 1945.
The Second World War was the first American war in which battle deaths exceeded other types of soldier fatalities. Regardless, about a third of those that died in the war were not directly a result of battle; twelve Cadets were amongst this group. Four were pilots that crashed during separate training incidents, including classmates from the class of 1941, Second Lieutenant James Jago and Lieutenant Richard L. Savoie
Five died as the result of sickness, including First Lieutenant Kenneth Healy ’32 who died of typhoid fever while stationed in New Guinea. James McNamee ’26 graduated from
More has been written about 1935 graduate Richard E. Fleming than any other Cadet. He was the first Cadet to be killed in the war when, as a Marine Captain, he led an attack on Japanese forces during the Battle of Midway on June 5th, 1942. For his actions that day, President Roosevelt awarded him the Medal of Honor in November, 1943. Fleming was born and raised in Saint Paul, the middle son in a family of three boys. His brothers, Ward and James, graduated from the Academy in 1934 and 1941 respectively; they both served in the war as well. Their father, Michael Fleming, an immigrant from England, died in February, 1941, but in the years during and after the war, their mother, Octavia, was active in the many events that commemorated Richard. She died in 1956.
This never-before published photo of Fleming (in the rear, facing the camera) and his instructor filling out a pre-flight log book, likely taken on the day he completed his first solo flight in early 1940. The class of 1943 dedicated their yearbook to Fleming, stating that he “occupies a pinnacle on the mount of honor.” Since the end of the war, Fleming and his story have come to symbolize many of the virtues that the Academy upholds as an institution.
Leo J. Farrell ’15 on the left with his wife and son. He was the oldest alumnus to die in the war. He was an accomplished football player during his time at the Academy and was an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota in the early 1920s. Farrell was one of twelve cadets who died of non-battle related circumstances while in the service such as accidents and sickness.
Although these men are often not as well remembered in the historical account of the war, their duty and service are just as important and equal to those who died in battle. Leo’s son, pictured here, went on to serve in the war as well.
Georgetown University after attending the Academy, and he later contracted pneumonia while in Texas which, combined with his diabetes, meant that even the best efforts couldn’t save him when he slipped into a coma and died. Lieutenant Colonel Leo Farrell ’15 and the oldest Cadet who did not survive the war, suffered a fatal heart attack when he was on the general staff of the Alaskan defense forces.
Private First Class Henry Klein, Jr. ’42 didn’t even get out of basic training. He was killed on October 2, 1944 on the division practice field at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri when he was accidentally shot by a 30 cal. M-1 rifle; the bullet pierced his kidney and spleen and he bled to death despite efforts to save his life. A most unusual series of events led to the death of to Lieutenant Edward Hanold ’32 . He was a successful military instructor in high demand but on his way to an army base in Texas, he stayed overnight in a Dallas hotel room when cyanide gas from a rat exterminator seeped into his room; Hanold suffered a heart attack and died immediately.
With their own on-campus community of sport clubs, dorm activities, and even their own Boarder Bugle newspaper, Academy boarders were a distinct group, but most students were from families that lived close by, most from the nearby Saint Paul neighborhoods. As the war progressed, funeral services
for cadets at nearby Saint Marks Catholic Church were almost a monthly occurrence. These men — many fresh out of the classes of 1942-1944 — fought and died in many of the war’s major conflicts. Five alone were from the class of 1942, including second ranking cadet James Grant , who landed with the invasion forces in France and was severely wounded a short time later; he died of his injuries in August. Phillip Keefe ’42 made it into Germany but was killed in action near Cologne in March 1945 shortly before the war’s end.
In Europe, many were lost as Allied forces moved steadily forward through France and Western Europe and into Germany; ten local families lost their sons at this time. Lieutenant John T. McCarthy ’38 — requesting to leave his clerical position in England in favor of active combat — came in with the invasion forces in June in the 115th Infantry but was killed four weeks later on July 11th. Richard W. Hankinson, Jr. ’43 was killed nearby the next day. Lieutenant Robert T. Hackett ’40 broke his hand on D-Day, fought in several key battles and was hospitalized. Later, in November, he crossed over into Germany farther north with the 9th Army near Aachen but was killed during heavy fighting there as American forces battled in the Huertgen Forest — the eventual staging area for German Panzer divisions in the Battle of the Bulge that was yet to come.
David Sopornick ’36 came ashore with the invasion as well and was soon fighting to liberate French soil. On June 11th, he established a post within 150 yards of German forces and laid a wire line under heavy fire in order to help the mortar platoon he was commanding locate and destroy German positions. On the next day, his unit disabled multiple German bunkers; on the retreat from one of those enemy positions, Supornick returned to locate a missing member of the platoon. Supornick was killed by artillery fire in the process.
Supornick would not have enrolled at the Academy if it had not been for the low enrollment during the Depression and the loss of accreditation that plagued the Academy since a coach was teaching English without the proper credentials; these issues brought on additional pressure to make ends meet. This crisis was alleviated in part by local Jewish families who at that time were not allowed to enroll at other local private schools, so they approached the Academy and pledged their support by matriculating their sons and providing financial assistance. David’s father was one of the original parents actively involved in this initiative.
Robert E. Lee ’43 was one of six brothers to attend the Academy. He arrived in France in January 1945 and encountered his first active combat in late February, during which time his unit captured hundreds of German POWs and took control of several towns in the process. Just a week later, Lee and members of the platoon under his command experienced fierce resistance and heavy German mortar fire. Lee ran with ammunition to one of his group’s machine guns which was not engaged and as he directed its firing in order to advance his group, he was shot and killed.
Four of the locals killed in Europe were from the class of 1939. First Lieutenant Richard Daly was in an infantry unit in Holland when he was killed on October 22, 1944. Captain Walter Rowan, an Infantry company
— Continued on page 10
Marshall Smith ’39 (top left) shown here at the Saint Paul train depot with his wife, younger brother Ron and cousins from the I.A. O’Shaughnessy family. Smith was an outstanding musician who played in the Academy band and later wanted to become a writer. Most of the cadets that left for the service said their goodbyes to close family members at this location.
In
The grave of First Lieutenant Robert E. Lee, ’43 in France. After the war, the government gave families the option to have their sons reburied back home; many Academy families accepted the offer, but many decided to leave their sons where they were originally buried. This site, close to where Robert was killed in March 1945, has been visited many times by the Lee family.
David Supornick’s grave at Temple of Aaron Cemetery in Roseville, Minnesota. As a young girl, his niece still remembers the military ceremony at the grave when he was reburied.
the 1950s a newly formed housing development was built on Saint Paul’s east side and a new road was named in his honor: Supornick Lane.
James Birder in Nice, France in November 1944. Birder led his company in a parade honoring the French soldiers who were killed in the war. The picture ran in newspapers throughout France stating that Captain Birder’s boys “stole the show.” Birder was killed the following February when he landed on a “Schu-mine,” a small, woodenencased landmine that was hard to detect which the Germans had buried by the tens of thousands in the hillsides and fields in Europe.
commander died in France in June 1944. When his very good friend and classmate Marshall Smith learned of the news, he lamented in a letter home from the front lines in Europe that “I don’t know how some of us will get on without old Walter,” and in another stated: “I shall never be able to face his parents — ashamed almost of being alive.” Smith, who had started school at the University of Minnesota after the Academy and served in the 10th Infantry, 5th Division of Patton’s Third Army never made it home either as he was killed two weeks later on January 18th when his transport truck was struck by German mortar fire.
In the air, class of ’39 classmate Captain John McErlane served with the 548th bomb squadron in the 8th Air Force. He was on his 27th mission on a snowy and cloudy day on January 21, 1945, flying out of Calais, France; their target was railroad yards near Mannheim, Germany. On the return flight, anti-aircraft fire hit both engines on the left side of his plane. He flew to the southwest near Strasbourg, France when one of the engines caught on fire from the initial flak hit and spread into the bomb bay. McErlane decided to drop altitude and circle at a low altitude near the small German town of Shutterwald to the south and east of Strasbourg. He gave the command to bail out to safety.
The crew jumped out in two groups and as the co-pilot was ready to exit the plane, McErlane said to him, “I’m right behind you.” Just then the plane lost control and it appears that a crash landing was the only chance McErlane had at that point to survive. German civilians reported later that they witnessed the plane break through the low cloud cover, but it was headed directly towards the town itself where a group of children was playing nearby in the snow. He added engine power to the plane to avoid the young kids, but it stalled, and he crashed nearby. McErlane’s remains were found and he was buried by locals in the nearby cemetery in Shutterwald. All of his crew survived the jump out of the plane; they were captured by German soldiers, imprisoned and survived until the end of the war. McErlane, standing in the back row far left, and the entire crew of eight he dropped to safety are pictured along with their B-17 Bomber on the front cover of this issue.
There was likely no cadet more popular on the Saint Thomas campus at the time than Captain James Birder, senior class president and star athlete from 1940. His father was a revered professor at the College. James studied medicine for a year at Notre Dame where his father had accepted a faculty position. After his freshman year, James entered the service and started infantry training but ended up as a paratrooper. While leading a company of soldiers through the western edge of Germany on February 7, 1945, Birder’s lead scout stepped on a landmine that threw Birder backwards
where he landed on another mine, which thrust him 20 feet down a ravine. Mine deactivators quickly moved to the front of the column, removing eleven more mines before reaching Birder. He was severely injured but was conscious and concerned about his company; he was rushed to a nearby hospital but died on the way. In a report from a member of his 517th Regiment released a month later, it stated that there was no “officer or enlisted man more highly praised and actually deeply loved than Captain Birder . . . a wonderful officer and remarkably intelligent leader.”
Although most of those alumni war deaths were in Europe, a total of ten cadets were killed in the South Pacific, where battle conditions and the war tactics involved resulted in situations as fierce and dangerous as anywhere. James Garberg recalls fighting along with classmate and close friend First Lieutenant Glenn Fadden ’41 on the Island of Attu. Fadden saw action on Kiska, the Marshalls and Leyte before he was killed on Okinawa on April 30, 1945. Private Donald G. Stewart ’44 — 19 years old — was killed there the next day. In a week, a total of three were lost on the island when Robert Burns ’43 was killed in action on May 7th. Vince O’Connor ’41, another classmate of Garberg and Fadden, was killed on Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands while serving in the 7th Infantry Division.
It is without question that Academy graduates were equipped with a unique set of skills that helped the war effort in ways that other institutions did not. We take time on this anniversary to also honor all the former cadets who so gallantly served their country during the war. Records indicate that more than a thousand cadets had served in the military by war’s end; nearly all graduates from the mid-thirties through 1945 served in some capacity. Although this article focused on those alumni who died, it is important to note that several former students who attended the Academy but did not graduate also died in the war. Wallace Elliot, for example, spent three-and-a-half years as a cadet and earned numerous medals and commendations for his heroic actions while in the service; he was killed in action in the South Pacific in 1944.
We cannot and will never be able to fully measure the value of what our former cadets gave, and nor do we need to. We can take solace and pride in the fact that they served in selfless and ardent support of our country and in the end helped create a better world. They gave up their dreams; their families; and their earthly existence for the greater good.
We will never forget these cadets and what they sacrificed.
ALUMNI WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II
1915
Farrell, Leo J.
1922
McFaul, LeRoy J.
1926
McNamee, James
1931
Hanousek, Eugene M. 1932
Barkley, Charles Hanold, Edward F. Healey, Kenneth T.
1934
Felt, Robert S.
1935
Farrell, Francis T. Fleming, Richard E. Schorsch, Robert S. Sullivan, Robert Tooley, William James
1936
Jordan, Hilary R. Lathrop, Richard H. Savage, John E. Supornick, David
1937
Johnson, Lawrence P. McGowan, William J.
1938
McCarthy, John T. Ryan, Jeremiah T.
1939
Daly, Richard McErlane, John Rowan, Walter J. Smith, Marshall D. Welsh, Patrick L.
1940
Birder, James Bray, George M. Gemperle, Paul A. Hackett, Robert T.
1941
Fadden, Glenn Jago, James A. H. McGarry, Phillip O’Connor, Vincent Savoie, Richard
1942
Carney, James Grant, James P. Keefe, Phillip E. Klein Jr., Henry N. Loth, Loren H. Ryan, Paul F. Sebastian, Donald
1943
Burns, Robert Emmet Fahey, John F. Hankinson Jr., Richard Lee, Robert E.
1944
Hafner, John F. Stewart, Donald G.
Graduation photo of Corporal John F. Fahey ’43 from Saint Paul’s Highland Park neighborhood who was killed in France on September 2, 1944. His father married a Red Cross nurse he met during World War I; John was their only child. His services were at the Church of Nativity in Saint Paul. He is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Boy Scouts Blaze Trails to Becoming Men of Character
BY DAVID JACOBSON
Saint Thomas Academy is home to several accomplished Boy Scouts. In celebration of National Boy Scouts Day, February 8, here are profiles of four Cadets blazing trails on their way to becoming men of character.
CYRUS ANDERSON ’23
How I Got Into Scouting: “I started in kindergarten. My dad was a scout as a kid, and it’s always been an important part of our lives.”
Scouting Highlights: Cyrus is the Senior Patrol Leader in Troop 1 from Saint Mark’s Saint Paul, significant as the first Catholic Boy Scout Troop in the U.S., chartered in 1910. Cyrus is a member of the Order of the Arrow Lodge and currently ranks as a Life Scout.
As a step toward reaching Eagle Scout rank, Cyrus served three weeks last summer as a Counselor in Training at Tomahawk Scout Reservation in Rice Lake, WI. In Summer 2021 Cyrus and his troop will travel to the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM.
“At Tomahawk, I realized becoming an Eagle Scout is not easy. We’re not earning a participation medal. We have to work hard and be committed. Last summer I worked my butt off.”
How Scouting Relates to Saint Thomas Academy: “Scouting is hard, but I feel like a much better leader than before. I get to build really strong relationships that I wouldn’t have made without scouting. That’s similar to the brotherhood at Saint Thomas Academy.”
Pictured are many of the current Boy Scouts at Saint Thomas Academy.
Cyrus Anderson ’23
For his Eagle Scout project Andrew Kasella ’20 constructed a lost-and-found cabinet for Saint Thomas Academy.
LOUIE PELLETIER ’24
How I Got Into Scouting: “It was in third grade. I joined Cub Scouts because of my friends, and I liked it a lot because I got to spend more time with my friends. Plus, my uncle is involved, and three of my cousins are Eagle Scouts.”
Scouting Highlights: “I enjoyed sailing. Once, we sailed across a lake to get ice cream. Two years ago, I went to Lake Michigan to tour a World War II museum and a submarine. I’ve liked helping other people with their Eagle Scout projects. We built bat boxes and sheds for a scout camp.”
Louie was the youngest in his troop to reach the rank of Star, at the age of 12. He is working toward reaching Life Scout rank and eventually will pursue Eagle Scout.
How Scouting Relates to Saint Thomas Academy: While working on an environmental science project for scouting, Louie learned about Rachel Carson, the famed author and environmental activist, and focused on her work for History Day at the Academy.
“Scouting has helped me become more mature. It’s teaching me life skills that you never know when you’re going to need. It’s helped me become more outgoing and get comfortable with speaking in front of groups. I’ve learned how to teach skills to other people, and I’ve learned time management and organization.”
ANDREW KASELLA ’20
How I Got Into Scouting: “I joined Cub Scouts in elementary school. My dad got me into it.”
Scouting Highlights: Andrew expects to become an Eagle in March, pending completion of paperwork. His Eagle Scout Project was to build a new lost-and-found cabinet for Saint Thomas Academy. That involved 50 hours of his own labor, including recruitment of about 120 hours from friends and
community members who provided materials, storage, transportation, and labor to help finish and deliver the cabinet.
Other highlights have included a stay at Seabase in Florida for eight days of snorkeling and deep sea fishing, during which he landed a shark. Andrew also enjoyed work in radio, cooking, and “learning lots of life skills” as part of his scouting experience.
How Scouting Relates to Saint Thomas Academy: “At school, we have the brotherhood, and scouting has that too. We get to share those experiences with our friends. Also, in both scouting and at the Academy, we get into real-life situations that we have to fix for ourselves, as opposed to just learning from videos or photos or reading books.”
RYAN FARRINGTON ’23
How I Got Into Scouting: “My brother joined, so I joined Cub Scouts in first grade. I enjoyed the activities like shooting rifles and bows-and-arrows. I also liked getting badges, including cooking.”
Scouting Highlights: Ryan is considering what to do for his Eagle Project and expects it may involve dog parks. He has especially enjoyed free-climbing as an activity at Fred C. Anderson Scout Camp.
How Scouting Relates to Saint Thomas Academy: Ryan noted that scouting and Cadet life are complementary. “The biggest thing is the way the military aspect of the Academy translates into leadership in scouting. Also, the integrity you learn in scouting goes a long way to reinforce the lessons of the Academy. And it’s nice that both are boy-led. At Saint Thomas Academy they let kids run certain things, and both scouting and the Academy help you grasp leadership roles.”
Congratulations to all these Cadets for their scouting success!
The Saint Thomas Academy Alumni Association has funds available (up to $250) to assist with cadet Eagle Scout projects. Applications may be made to the Alumni Association Board, find out more at cadets.com/scouts.
Louie Pelletier ‘24
Faculty Mentoring Program Provides Best Path
BY AMY NUGENT
Saint Thomas Academy has the best-in-class faculty — true experts at educating boys and helping our students pursue their fullest potential. They set Saint Thomas Academy apart from other elite private schools in the Twin Cities.
Because our employees are critical to the success of the Academy and our students, we have set out to become the employer of choice in education. We are intentionally shaping our culture to be one in which our employees feel supported, heard, valued and fulfilled. Here, they can contribute in meaningful ways, enriching our community, advancing our academic excellence and helping develop boys into men of character.
New faculty and staff have quickly found the support they needed to acclimate to Saint Thomas Academy through our faculty mentoring program, which was developed in August 2019. Veteran faculty members, as well as Director of the Upper School Brian Edel and Director of Academic Life Michelle Mechtel, created the program to invest in the experienced, credentialed teachers and staff and help them succeed — and remain — long term.
“We wanted to create an environment for the best path to success,” said Joe Seidel, co-moderator of the mentoring program. “Saint Thomas Academy is a unique environment. This program provides a support system for them and a means to understand the culture and nuances of Saint Thomas Academy.”
Each new teacher, counselor and coach was paired with both a mentor and a “guide.” Faculty members who have been at the Academy 1 to 3 years serve as guides to help the new hires understand the idiosyncrasies of Saint Thomas Academy. Having recently been in the shoes of a new hire, guides have a fresh recollection of their own questions about the daily happenings on campus. Mentors, faculty who have been at the Academy longer than 5 years, provide an historical perspective and help the new faculty anticipate milestones that shape the year or may take planning, such as Cadet promotions, parent-teacher conferences and finals. Both mentors and guides have helped the cohort of new faculty understand the four pillars and how they influence everything in the school and what they mean in the day-to-day life at the Academy.
“With advice from both veterans and people who recently went through a similar experience, the group feels super supported,” Co-moderator Karen Flanagan said.
The mentors and guides touch base with their individual mentee once a week. The administrative team and the co-moderators each meet with the cohort monthly. The cohort themselves are also meeting and bonding. They carpooled to US Bank Stadium to watch Cadet Football together.
“The faculty mentoring program has been invaluable in my transition to Saint Thomas Academy,” said English teacher Claire Prescott. “Joe and Karen are a constant source of support, and many of the intimidations of working in a new environment have been lifted. With help from the faculty mentoring program,
New faculty member Dr. Alexis Howe teaching her Spanish students.
to Success for New Teachers, Staff
I have been able to hit the ground running with confidence and vigor.”
Mentors and guides were recruited through an open call that drew more people than needed. Those not paired with a new hire now serve on the faculty committee that serves as a sounding board for the administration on academic and cultural matters.
Along with the mentoring program and the faculty committee, the Ministry of Morale comprise a three-legged stool built by and for faculty to support and appreciate one another. The Ministry of Morale hosts frequent social activities, provides monthly birthday treats, and recognizes faculty members’ important life events — adoptions, births, work anniversaries, deaths in the family, etc. They write notes of encouragement to faculty members on a rotating, random
BELOW:
“We wanted to create an environment for the best path to success. This program provides a support system for them [new faculty and staff] and a means to understand the culture and nuances of Saint Thomas Academy.”
— JOE SEIDEL, CO-MODERATOR OF THE MENTORING PROGRAM
basis. In November, the notes simply said, “Have a great day” and included a snack pack of M&Ms. In December, they hosted a cookie exchange and Secret Santa gifts. These little activities are adding quality to the year and bring positivity and greater camaraderie to the school. Paired with the Mothers’ Club generosity and kindness, the faculty feel more supported than ever.
“We’re treated like royalty,” one teacher commented.
This year’s cohort of new faculty will continue to be mentored at least into their second year and, if needed, into their third. The strong bonds they form with their mentors and guides will continue well beyond participation in official mentoring. After they “graduate” from the program, they will be perfectly suited to serve as guides for new cohorts of faculty in the years ahead.
LEFT: Long time faculty members Joe Seidel and Karen Flanagan meeting with new teachers Claire Prescott and Mary Rowe.
New faculty member Justin Hager teaching his english students.
FAR RIGHT: Fr. Mark Pavlak, Jose Melendez, Jr. ’20, and Rear Admiral John Crowley, Jr. '71 (Ret.).
VETERANS’ DAY ASSEMBLY HIGHLIGHTED WWII AND HONORED THOSE WHO SERVED
On November 11, Saint Thomas Academy welcomed the public to our annual Veterans Day assembly highlighting World War II and honoring two Academy alumni who served in WWII with the Fleming Alumni Veterans Award. Keynote speaker Gen. Joseph Votel, U.S. Army (ret.), a four-star general who most recently served as commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), shared an inspirational message for Academy cadets and honored guests.
The Fleming Medal recipients who were honored:
GEN. ALFRED MAXIMILIAN (MAX) GRUENTHER , ST(M)A Class of 1916. At age 53, Gruenther became the youngest four-star general in the history of the U.S. Army. Gruenther was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and became Deputy Chief of Staff and then Chief of Staff of the Third Army. His immediate commanding officer was Dwight D. Eisenhower. He continued to be promoted, ultimately serving as
Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) from 1953 to 1956. Gruenther was the recipient of many national medals, including the Distinguished Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters. Following retiring from the military in 1956, Gruenther became president of the American Red Cross.
MAJ. GEN. PATRICK RYAN , ST(M)A Class of 1919. Ryan was ordained a priest in 1927 and joined the U.S. Army in 1928. Ryan was stationed at Ft. Leavenworth, Ft. Riley and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and in Morocco and Italy during WWII. He rose through the ranks to become Deputy Chief, and from 1954 to 1958, chief of Army chaplains. He retired from the military in 1958. Awards he received include the Legion of Merit, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the Navy Presidential Unit Citation with award star.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: GEN. JOSEPH VOTEL, U.S. ARMY (RET.)
Prior to retiring from the U.S. Army in 2018, Gen. Votel served as the 13th Commander of U.S. Central Command. Before assuming command of CENTCOM in March of 2016, he served as the Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command. His previous assignments include Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command; Deputy Commanding General, 82nd Airborne Division and CJTF-82 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan; Director of the Army and Joint Defeat Task Force and subsequently Deputy Director of the Joint IED Defeat Organization; and Commander of 75th Ranger Regiment. Gen. Votel is a graduate of the United States Military Academy, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College.
Featured keynote speaker, Gen. Joe Votel (Ret.), pictured with Col. Neil Hetherington (Ret.) and Interim Headmaster Rear Admiral John Crowley, Jr. ’71 (Ret.)
Pictured are Gen. Joe Votel (Ret.), Paul Gruenther, Lucy Gruenther, MAJ Alex Gruenther, USAF, and Rear Admiral John Crowley, Jr. ’71 (Ret.).
FACULTY/STAFF UPDATES
Theology teacher KEVIN ZENNER was recently inducted into the Little Falls High School Hall of Fame for his outstanding basketball, football and tennis talents. Mr. Zenner helped develop “Flyer Pride” for his school and will be recognized with a plaque near the gym at the Little Falls Community High School.
Art teacher BRANDON LUTTERMAN received the First Place Award in the Ceramics Category of the 25th Arts North International 2020 competition. His piece, Rhino, was on display at the Hopkins Center for the Arts this past winter.
Spanish teacher NICK MCCARTHY ’02 and his wife Mary welcomed their third child, Elizabeth Virginia on December 6 at 11:02 a.m. Elizabeth weighed 8 pounds 12 oz. and was 22 inches long! Elizabeth joins big sisters Anna (4) and Abby (2).
NEW WINTER UNIFORMS
The Honor Guard received new winter uniforms, courtesy of a generous donation from COL John Sturner ’59 (Ret.), Tim Krey ’88 and the Alumni Association. The cadets are very appreciative of this warmer version when holding doors in sub-zero temperatures. Pictured in the new uniform is Eric Zauha ’23
Officer of the Quarter
Each quarter, one cadet officer is honored as the Officer of the Quarter through an objective process, consisting of a thorough inspection, basic cadet knowledge test, and interview. This past Second Quarter, that cadet was John Bachul ’20. John was recognized for his hard work and outstanding effort. Furthermore, he elaborated on how “incredible” it felt to hear his name called. According to John, this award was “extremely rewarding and provides motivation to continue to excel.” Overall, he made it clear it “one of the best moments of his STA career.”
cadets Nicholas Tucci, Joseph D’Agostino, Max Fulton, and Dr. Carpenter at the Ordway Center Center in Saint Paul representing the Lincoln Society to hear a talk by author and member of the Wall Street Journal editorial board Kimberley Strassel hosted by the Center of the American Experiment.
Senior
SENIOR OFFICER PROMOTIONS
Named
MITCHELL MACDONALD ’20 of Mendota Heights was named the 2019-2020 Cadet Colonel and Brigade Commander. As Cadet Colonel, MacDonald is the highest-ranking officer in the Corps of Cadets and will work closely with the Academy’s administrators and military leaders to implement a wide variety of events at the Academy, including Brigade Formal Inspection and the Archbishop’s Review in the spring. The Cadet Colonel also acts as liaison between cadets and the faculty and administration, often influencing or handling disciplinary matters.
“Cadet Colonel MacDonald has demonstrated outstanding leadership capacity in his every endeavor,” said Commandant of Cadets Col. Neil Hetherington (ret.), U.S. Army. “He has dedicated himself to excellence in academics, co-curricular activities and athletics, and community service, while also investing in other cadets in his class and junior cadets.”
MacDonald has attended Saint Thomas Academy since 7th grade, coming to the Academy from St. Joseph Catholic School in West St. Paul. He is a 6-year member of Cadet football, a 5-year member and captain of the swim and dive team, and a 5-year member and captain of the tennis team. He is a 4-year member and senior leader of CHOOSE, which promotes a substance-free lifestyle among cadets; editor-inchief of the Kaydet yearbook; and opinion page editor of the Citation student newspaper. MacDonald is also a 5-year Eagle Award recipient for maintaining a GPA of 3.9 or greater. He has served as a peer mentor, campus minister, and volunteer for the Sanneh Foundation. MacDonald hopes to attend the Mendoza School of Business at the University of Notre Dame after graduation.
MacDonald was chosen from among 16 senior class officers by a board including the Interim Headmaster, Commandant of Cadets, Deputy Commandant of Cadets, Upper School Director, Director of Academic Life, a faculty representative and a student representative. The board considers academic performance, co-curricular involvement, merits and demerits, military performance and leadership abilities.
MacDonald
Cadet Colonel
Pictured with his parents: James ’85 and Erica
Six additional seniors were promoted from cadet captain to cadet lieutenant colonel. They are:
Tucci hopes to continue his education at the University of Notre Dame, where he plans to pursue his passion for biology and work towards a degree in medicine.
Pictured with his parents: Tom and Megan
After graduation, Kelly hopes to follow his parents’ path and one day become a plastic surgeon with a focus on birth defects and veteran care. Pictured with his parents: Edward and Amy
Goldade hopes to attend Purdue University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison or the University of Minnesota. Pictured with his parents: Kristine and Steven
Betts hopes to pursue business and pre-law at the University of Notre Dame. He is also being recruited by Ivy League schools to play college football.
Pictured with his parents: Annie and Jeffrey
Klein hopes to play football for the University of Chicago, but is also applying to several other excellent schools. Following his undergraduate education, he wants to enroll in medical school. Pictured with his father: Thomas ’89
JOSEPH D'AGOSTINO OF WOODBURY
D’Agostino, the youngest of four boys to graduate from Saint Thomas Academy, hopes to continue his Catholic education at Georgetown University and pursue a degree in political science and prelaw. Pictured with his parents: Mike and Sharon
STEPHEN BETTS OF MINNEAPOLIS (FULTON)
DEVIN KLEIN OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
NICK TUCCI OF SAINT PAUL (MAC-GROVELAND)
JACK KELLY OF SAINT PAUL (MAC-GROVELAND)
JACOB GOLDADE OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
MIDDLE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS SHOWCASE
Tuesday, April 21, 2020 6:00 – 8:00 p.m
Come and experience the uniqueness of Saint Thomas Academy.
Register at cadets.com/showcase
Honor Guard Activities
HONOR GUARD VETS DAY
Members of the Honor Guard were on hand on Veteran’s Day at the Minnesota Veterans Home this past November. Pictured left to right are James Ollom-Klein ’23, Daniel Creamer ’23, Gabe Michalski ’23, Adam Groh ’22 , James McDonald ’21 and Nick Becker ’21.
Members of the Honor Guard taught flag etiquette to second grade Cub Scouts at Our Lady of Grace this past January. The Cadets taught the cubs how to put up a new flag (flag raising and lowering) and retire the old flag, along with proper folding instructions. From Troop Leader Peter Raih ’93, “The cadets all did a great job and we really appreciated their help — they did a much better job than we could have and I know the cubs will remember their lessons and the all their shiny hardware for a long time!”
The Honor Guard was also asked to support the ribbon-cutting ceremony to re-open the bridge at the Minnesota Veterans Home in January. Cadets assisted with greetings and holding the ribbon. Governor Walz and the Director of Veteran’s Affairs were in attendance.
CADET COMMUNITY SERVICE
Five cadets volunteered their time at the Women’s Option Pro-Life Gala this past October. The gala drew over 500 people and the Cadets helped with many tasks, including greeting people, helping at the Silent Auction, running winning bids to tables, checkout and delivering items to the winning bidders. Colleen Davis shared, “I watched them help carry items to cars, opening doors for people too. Each cadet was so professional and I heard so many compliments about the young men!” Pictured left to right are Shaun Davis ’23, Lucas Dvorak ’21, Jordan Young ’21, Joseph D’Agostino ’20 and John Grismer ’21
Middle School Geography Bee
For the 23rd consecutive time that Saint Thomas Academy has run the National Geography Bee, all 112 Middle Schoolers participated. On Monday, January 13, 8th grader Tristan Leidig was crowned as our new champion. Runnerup was 7th grader Finn Benz and Third place went to 6th grader Brody Cashill.
The school competition is the first round in the annual National Geographic GeoBee, a geography competition designed to inspire and reward students’ curiosity about the world. Questions cover not only geography, but also ancient and world civilizations, cultures, and physical features. The NGS developed the GeoBee in 1989 in response to concern about the lack of geographic knowledge among young people in the United States. Over more than three decades, more than 120 million students have learned about the world through participation in the GeoBee.
Tristan will take an online test in an attempt to qualify for the State GeoBee held March 27, 2020 at Metropolitan State University. Winners of the State GeoBee receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington DC to participate in the GeoBee national championship in Spring 2020. Students will compete for cash prizes, scholarships, and an all-expenses-paid expedition to the Galapagos Islands.
Cadet Charles Crutchfield IV ‘22 met Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Kirk Cousins at a recent Timberwolves game.
Seniors Abe Yosef and Jack Kelly scored a perfect score of 36 on the ACT this past fall. Six other cadets scored a 35 on the college entrance exam.
VISTA Choir
The Metro East Conference recently honored choir students from Saint Thomas Academy. Robert Cunningham ’22 , Cason Willman ’20, Brennan Crow ’22 and Timothy Revnew ’21 worked with Dr. Lee Nelson in the Honors Choir. They performed in concert on January 13 at Saint Andrews Church in Mahtomedi.
MOTHERS’ CLUB
The annual Mother/Son Brunch this past December was a success, along with the beautiful holiday decor led by Cadet parent Kari Mawn (Hunter Mawn ’23).
Model United Nations Conference
On November 21-22, the Saint Thomas Academy Model UN team traveled to New York to compete in the Empire Model UN Conference. The group, moderated by David O'Connell and Brian Edel, included cadets Andrew Schreier ’20, Joe D’Agostino ’20, Alex Casale ’20, Jake Miller ’20, Nick Tucci ’20, Jordan Young ’21, Oliver Balfour ’21, Nathan Russom ’21, Thomas Hedman ’21, Jack Mapellentz ’22 , Samuel Trammell ’22 , and Mattias Gebresilassie ’22 . The delegates participated in committee sessions and sightseeing nearly every moment of their time in the Big Apple. The team visited the United Nations and saw the chambers in which countless world leaders have given speeches. They then returned to New York University for the opening ceremony and first committee session. The next day, between sessions, they boarded the Staten Island Ferry for a panoramic view of Battery Park and Manhattan, plus views of the Statue of Liberty. In the coming days, they argued on behalf of their countries on issues spanning from the misuse of artificial intelligence to the Kashmir conflict to curbing the burgeoning resurgence of anti-vaccination movements — and, though most delegates caucused in the standard General Assemblies, some found themselves in special historical or fictional general- and joint-crisis committees; those ranged from the Troubles in Ireland to King Aurthur to, most intriguing, the world of Avatar.
MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH TEAM
Members of the middle school math team recently competed in a meet at South St. Paul. The meet included math teams from Friendly Hills, Heritage, South St. Paul and Saint Paul Academy. The Middle School Math Team is led by Anne Phillips and there are five meets per year, from September to January. This season, 12 boys participated.
HISTORY DAY
On Wednesday, February 19, 2020, Saint Thomas Academy eighth and eleventh grade students participated in the 27th annual STA History Day competition. This year’s theme was “Breaking Barriers in History.” Students competed as groups and individuals to complete 110 total entries in the exhibit, performance, documentary, and website categories. Of these, 13 eighth grade entries and 25 eleventh grade entries have been selected to advance to regional competition. The Metro Senior competition for eleventh graders is on March 9, at the University of Minnesota-West Bank, and the Metro Junior Central for 8th graders is March 19 at Augsburg University. More information about these events is available at http://education.mnhs.org/historyday/regional-events
Michael Driscoll ’21 recently participated in the American Legion Junior Shooting Sports National Postal Tournament. A Postal Match is a match in which competitors fire on their home ranges using targets which have been marked for identification. The fired targets are then sent to the American Legion for scoring and ranking for awards. Michael received the highest score and is considered the Minnesota State Champion.
Academy News
WINTER SPORTS UPDATE
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BY ABRAHAM YOSEF ’20
ALPINE SKIING
The Saint Thomas Academy Alpine Skiing Team recently completed its season. The team saw senior captains Mason Thorpe and Jack Folkman win numerous races throughout the season, often placing first and second. Furthermore, Mason and Jack qualified for State as individuals — an incredible feat to say the least. Overall, the team looks to have a very bright future due to the abundance of young talented skiers who will be here for years to come.
BASKETBALL
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Gold Battalion Commander and Senior Captain Stephen Betts. Stephen went at great length to discuss how much he enjoys spending time with teammates and putting in work and to improve every single day. Furthermore, he stated how he enjoys practice every day because he gets to work hard with the people that he has established great relationships with. Additionally, I asked Stephen about what it’s like being the only senior on the team. His reply was surprising as he explained he “doesn’t really feel like the only senior on the team because of the strong team chemistry.” Overall, the next few seasons look very bright for the cadets because of all the young talent that currently is getting valuable varsity experience.
HOCKEY
First year Head Coach, Trent Eigner, led the Cadet Varsity team to the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament (at the time of print). Thanks to our talented seniors for their help in guiding the younger players who will take on leadership roles next year and in the years to come. Looking to next year; our program is blessed with many skilled players so even with the graduation of our seniors, we're already looking forward to a strong 2020-21 season.
NORDIC SKIING
The Saint Thomas Academy Nordic Ski season is officially over, with the Cadets placing 6th overall in their conference. Standout Padon Kinsley ’22 was awarded all-conference honorable mention. Coach Erick Westerback ’82 was especially proud of the season, highlighting how despite three of the seven section athletes never before skiing in a varsity race, the team nonetheless put forth a valiant effort. Overall, with the entire section roster returning next year, the next few seasons look to be bright as the young cadets continue to develop.
SWIMMING
As the Saint Thomas Academy swim season draws to a close, the cadets have already clenched the Metro East Conference Title and are eying the section championship. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with our very own cadet colonel and swim captain — Mitch MacDonald ’20. During our conversation, Mitch explained that he thinks STA Swimming is special because of a unique team chemistry and an exceptional coach — John Barnes — who would do anything for the team. Furthermore, Mitchell also feels that this season is unlike those of years past because the talent is spread out across all grade levels. Overall, the STA swim team hopes to finish the season strong and make a run at the state title.
WRESTLING
The Saint Thomas Academy wrestling team is currently preparing for both team and individual sections. Senior captain Devin Klein is especially proud of the effort and heart that his team has displayed throughout this season. One moment in particular that stands out to Devin is when his fellow senior captain Sullivan Bluhm — who unfortunately has been out with an ACL injury — walked out and received recognition from both the team and audience. Ultimately, Devin believes that this moment highlights the brotherhood and camaraderie of the STA wrestling program as a whole.
SPRING SPORTS PREVIEWS
BASEBALL
Coming off the school’s first ever state championship in 2019, Head Coach Matt Kelly and his staff look to stay atop the class 3A rankings in 2020. With a good blend of senior leadership and exciting young talent, the Cadets are set to debut a new and improved turf field on April 6th against Hastings in the season opener. Senior Captains Alex Casale, Raleigh Droel, and Jack Fenlon are tasked with leading a young group through this season’s schedule, which includes perennial powerhouses Mahtomedi, Hill Murray, and Tartan, as well as a rematch of the 2019 State Championship against Benilde-St. Margaret on April 24th at 7:00 p.m. at CHS field in St. Paul. Be sure to follow @STAbaseballMN on Twitter for updates on Cadet baseball throughout the spring!
GOLF
The golf team is looking forward to the challenge of extending our team State Tournament appearances to 7 years in a row. Coach Greg Vanelli ’72 says, “It won’t be easy as we lost 4 of the 6 starters from last season to graduation. But we have a number of new players excited for the opportunity to continue the legacy created by the graduates before them.”
LACROSSE
Head Coach Luke Marks ’11 shares, “As a coaching staff, we are incredibly excited to build off of our successes of last spring. Although we graduated many key seniors we are excited to build off of the culture they left behind. The thing we are most excited about as a coaching staff is our schedule. We cannot wait to compete against some of the best teams in the state, and to challenge ourselves against the best Minnesota has to offer.”
TENNIS
The 2020 team is led by captains Danny Eldridge ’21 and Mitch MacDonald ’20 and will be looking to improve on the 4th place finish in the Metro East Conference last year. The number one singles player, Elridge and the number one doubles team of MacDonald and Alex Bursey ’21, will guide the team along with 9 returning varsity players in winning close matches. Other returning varsity players are Nick Bettenburg ’20, Tommy Hedman ’21, Rory O’Meara ’21, Matthew Card ’22 , Chase Konezny ’22 and Matthew Zander ’22 . The team is coached by Erick Westerback ’82.
TRACK & FIELD
2020 looks to be a banner year for the Cadet Track & Field team. Led by Senior Captains Gabe Sirek, Ben Reppenhagen, Sully Bluhm and Jacob Miller and Junior Captain Kevin Murphy the Cadets will enter the season with big expectations. Head Coach Dan Conners states that with the talent returning this year the team will be in contention to win the JV and Varsity Catholic Schools Invite, Conference Relays, Conference and True Team Sections. With 93 athletes on the team last year and even more expected this season, the competition will be fierce. Top performers from last year’s team that are returning this season are: Gabe Sirek ’20 — sprints and hurdles; Ben Reppenhagen ’20, Trajan Kaeppe ’20 and Sully Bluhm ’20 — shot and discus; Padon Kinzley ’22, Kevin Murphy ’21 — distance; Steven Betts ’20, Grady O’Neil ’22, Patrick O’Keefe ’20, Jack Griffin ’20, Jose Melendez ’20, Caleb Smit ’21 and Abe Yosef ’20 — sprints and jumps.
“
ANYTIME I EXPERIENCED THE MOMENT WHEN A KID FELT PRIDE IN HIS EFFORTS AND REALIZED HE WAS CAPABLE OF MUCH MORE THAN HE PREVIOUSLY REALIZED.
Erick Rome
YEAR STARTED AT SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY | I started in 1997 and left in 2004 to be a stay-at-home-dad. I returned in 2011.
SUBJECTS/CO-CURRICULARS/CLUBS:
Student Council Moderator (current)
Upper School Learning Specialist (current)
Dean of Students (2016–2019)
Spanish (1997–2004 / 2011–2016)
Physical Education (1997–2000)
Citation Moderator (1999–2004)
Middle School Basketball coach 1997–2003
MIddle School Track coach 1999–2003
Football Coach (1997–2004 / 2012–2017)
FIRST TEACHING JOB | Here at STA teaching Spanish and Phy. Ed.
HOBBIES | Fat tire mountain biking, downhill skiing, cooking, long road trips in the car, playing guitar.
A FAVORITE TEACHING MOMENT | Anytime I experienced the moment when a kid felt pride in his efforts and realized he was capable of much more than he previously realized.
BRUSH WITH FAME | I met Hank Aaron when I was 10. I helped Ahmad Rashad and Terry LeCount move into their dorm rooms during Vikings Training Camp.
FAVORITE EXPERIENCE | Serving as a long-term volunteer at a Catholic mission in Guatemala which eventually led me to STA.
WHY I TEACH AT SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY | Supportive families, amazing kids, and colleagues who understand what is important in life.
FAVORITE MUSIC | I guess I’d call it alternative country. My favorite bands are Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, Jason Isbell, Son Volt, The Jayhawks.
FAVORITE VACATION SPOT | Skiing trips to Summit County, CO or San Francisco, CA.
FAMILY | Wife — Martha (married 18 years); Eli — STA class of 2022; Maya — Visitation class of 2023.
Julie Tell
YEAR STARTED AT SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY | 2017
JOB TITLE | Administrative and Office Manager
FIRST JOB | I printed the weekend bulletins at my church, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran.
HOBBIES | Swimming, hiking, biking, camping, photography, traveling, writing reviews for places I go and things I do.
A FAVORITE STA MOMENT | This year my favorite moment was watching my 5th grade son, Haakon, run onto the football field with the STA Varsity team before the homecoming game.
BRUSH WITH FAME | I was in a Crest commercial when I was 3 and then there was that time that I met Bill Murray at the airport and the time I saw Jon Lovitz at McDonald’s in Times Square at 3 AM. He was meeting with his lawyer — NYC is amazing that way!
FAVORITE EXPERIENCE | Swimming with dolphins at Xel Ha, Mexico and any time I get to explore new places — especially with my kids.
WHY I WORK AT SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY | A friend actually recommended I apply for this position so while I wasn’t exactly looking for a change, it was a great move for me. My favorite thing about being here is that I get to work with everyone in the building. My days are rarely boring because there’s always something to do or figure out!
FAVORITE MUSIC | So. Many. Kinds. I have many friends who are musicians. I tend to listen to a lot of “as yet un-famous” artists.
FAVORITE VACATION SPOT | Negril, Jamaica — I’ll go anywhere tropical and enjoy it.
FAMILY | Jeremy, Siri, Haakon, River (cat-like dog) and Joe (cat who thinks he’s a dog).
“ MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT BEING HERE IS THAT I GET TO WORK WITH EVERYONE IN THE BUILDING.
”
One Day of Giving Shows Incredible Support From Our Community
BY MIKE MAXWELL ’84, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
The generosity of this community never ceases to amaze me. From families current and past; from faculty and staff who work here today and those who retired long ago; from alumni old and young — the support we feel from all of you is profound.
Give Day in general is an exciting time of year for those of us here in the building. Every autumn feels full of promise as we start a new school year and celebrate another reunion. We spend our evenings cheering on our fall sports teams and our weekends taking in the first VISTA production of the season. Our days are spent getting to know new students and families and sharing the history of which we’re so proud with the various new faces to our storied community. Give Day feels like the capstone to all this fall excitement, and a successful Give Day — like the one we had this past November — feels like a fulfillment of all that promise autumn holds for a great school year.
On November 13, 2019, we raised over $590,000 total with $508,527 of that going directly to the Aquinas Annual Fund. Money raised to the Aquinas Fund directly supports all of our programming. From classroom needs to co-curriculars to professional development to emergency funding — the Aquinas Fund supports virtually every facet of the school. Nearly 1,000 individual gifts were given to Saint Thomas Academy on Give Day 2019 and 13% of those gifts were from first-time donors. The support was outstanding.
Every faction of our community participated in Give Day with overwhelming generosity, but our alumni always get particularly excited at the prospect of coming together as a class and outperforming their rival class years. We’ve included statistics on the following page, but it’s worth noting that the Class of 1984 was dethroned as reigning champs by the Class of 1985, which had a very impressive showing in both class participation and dollars raised. The younger alumni also showed us that their surge last year wasn’t a fluke and once again came out in full force to show their support for STA.
“Money raised to the Aquinas Fund directly supports all of our programming. From classroom needs to co-curriculars to professional development to emergency funding — the Aquinas Fund supports virtually every facet of the school. ”
— MIKE MAXWELL ’84
Reflecting on the day, I’m left with feelings of admiration and gratitude for the all the different parts of this special community that came together to show their support for what we are doing here. Advancing our mission without your support is not possible, and we are humbled by your generosity. Thank you for a fantastic Give Day 2019.
$508,527
$82,192 All Other Giving
$597,719 OVERALL DOLLARS RAISED
1,162 TOTAL DONORS
Humble Loyal Patriots
BY DAVID HOTTINGER ’85 DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
There is no more fitting subject for this issue of Saber than the recognition of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War ll. We are grateful for the sacrifice and service of all. Thank you, Dean Simmons, for continuing to compile the stories of our graduates who did not come back and creating a historical record by reaching out to family members. Although 75 years have passed, the Academy has a rich and storied history with the war that should never be forgotten.
I have had the privilege of working with two very distinguished STMA graduates who served in World War ll. Dean highlights both in this issue: Jim Garberg ’41 and the recently deceased Carl Baumgaertner ’42 . It has been a true blessing and one of the best parts of my job getting to know both men. In our past conversations, they always touched upon how much they appreciated the education, rigor, training, mentorship and self-discipline that was instilled upon them as students. I could feel such a strong sense of loyalty and gratitude to Saint Thomas Academy. It is incredible they both stayed connected to, and supported, the Academy for almost 80 years!
My grandfather George Hottinger passed away when I was four years old. I do not have many memories of him but I do know he was one of the millions who answered the call to serve. He was proud of his service in the Eighth Army Air Force. For me, talking with Mr. Garberg and Mr. Baumagertner was like having a conversation with my grandfather. Many of the same curiosities I had when discussing the war and the life they both built upon returning home are questions I would have asked my grandfather if given the chance. Humble loyal patriots with whom I got to know and work. These men and so many others from the greatest generation are my heroes.
Fight cadets fight!
“We are all products of this greatest generation.”
— GEORGE HOTTINGER, MY GRANDFATHER
David Hottinger ’85
George Hottinger served in the Eighth Army Air Force.
BY DAVID JACOBSON
AFanning the Flames of Our Community Auction
s the kids are saying these days, this year’s Saint Thomas Academy Community Auction “will be FIRE.” For those in need of translation, that means the May 1-2 auction will be a “hot” event.
Also, “FIRE” is the event theme — established by auction co-chairs John Schreier ’82, Marty Schreier ’88, and their sister, Jen Schreier Stanley — in response to an acronym coined by Interim Headmaster Admiral John Crowley ’71 for the Academy’s core values of Faith, Integrity, Respect and Excellence.
“We started playing with ‘FIRE’,” quipped Marty Schreier, “and decided to tie a flame image into the auction logo and base our sponsorship levels on the words in the acronym. We’ll have a bonfire, and we’ll serve fire-red or flaming desserts.”
The auction catalog itself features a few hot items:
n A 2020 Buick Encore All-Wheel Drive vehicle or $20,000 cash
n Saint Thomas Academy tuition or $10,000 cash
n A suite for 20-24 people at the Elton John concert at Xcel Energy Center
n A stay at a Steamboat, CO vacation home
n A catered cruise on the St. Croix River
n A sports-ticket package, with VIP seating at Twins, Wild, Wolves, United, and Vikings games
n A stay at a luxury Wisconsin lake home
n An Oregon wine tour with lodging
n Graduation seating
n A Notre Dame University football game experience.
On this 55th anniversary of the auction, there is no shortage of warmth in the story of the Schreiers. “I was thrilled to be asked to co-chair,” said Jennifer Schreier Stanley. “The Academy has been part of our lives for as long as I can remember. My mom passed away the year after I graduated from Visitation, and a lot of my memories of her were tied to Saint Thomas Academy. She chaired the auction in 1982, and she was president of the Mothers’ Club, and my dad was president of the Fathers’ Club. They were givers, and they helped us realize that giving to the community ultimately gives back to ourselves.”
Her brother, John, currently a member of the Board of Regents, added to those sentiments. “It’s truly an honor for us to be asked to chair the auction. I still remember how much my parents enjoyed doing it. That was before the internet and email, so my mom was on the phone for hours.
“They instilled in us the joy of giving back and getting to know our community, and we have really enjoyed this process. I like that the auction primarily raises money for tuition. We were blessed to be able to go to Saint Thomas Academy, and I like the opportunity to help expand that to people who need financial aid.”
“[Our parents] instilled in us the joy of giving back and getting to know our community, and we have really enjoyed this process. I like that the auction primarily raises money for tuition. We were blessed to be able to go to Saint Thomas Academy, and I like the opportunity to help expand that to people who need financial aid.”
— JOHN SCHREIER ’82 CO-CHAIR
FOR MORE DETAILS AND TICKET INFORMATION, VISIT: cadets.com/auction
Pictured from left to right are the 2020 Auction Chairs, Ellen Schreier, Marty Schreier ’88, Jen Schreier Stanley, Ellen Schreier and John Schreier ’82. Not pictured is Jim Stanley.
CadetWorks Internship Program Continues to Grow!
As our young cadet alumni continue to pursue degrees and educational opportunities from some of our country’s best institutions, the CadetWorks Internship Program continues to serve them in providing career opportunities that fit their pursuits. This year’s CadetWorks Internship Program was excited to bring this growing initiative to new heights.
Program Highlights
n 47 candidates interviewed
n 11 candidates placed thus far
n 200+ interviews
n 27 partnering companies with over 40 positions available
A Special Thank You to the Following Individuals and Organizations
Interview Skills Workshop Presenter — Mary Kaul-Hottinger, Chief Human Resources Officer at CHS CadetWorks Committee: Jeff Tolke (father of Jackson ’13), George Turner ’79, Greg Walsh ’86 Partnering Companies and Organizations: Accelare All Inc.
AppyHour Aris Clinic
Assured Partners of MN Bachmans
Capital Partners
Compaction Technologies Dominium Geronimo Energy
Global Overview Minnesota Medical Specialists
Interested in getting involved with the program?
Mount Yale Capital Group
Northwestern Mutual the Bohannon Group
Pergola Management
Proveniere Capital Scanlan International
The MOSCOE Group
The Office of Tom Emmer
Travel Labs
Walsh & Gaertner
To learn more contact Director of Alumni Relations Luke Marks ’11 at lmarks@cadets.com .
JOIN OUR PRIVATE ONLINE NETWORK!
CadetCommunity.com is our new online network designed to keep all members of our community connected to one-another and the Academy. This exclusive digital platform will give all Saint Thomas Academy community members the ability to connect directly in an environment that is 100% Academy exclusive.
This new online tool will allow you to stay up to date with what is happening at the school, give you the tools to plan your own event, as well as engage in one-on-one conversations with other community members.
Sign up today by linking your Gmail, LinkedIn, Facebook or general email account to your new Cadet Community profile.
If you have any questions on how to get involved, contact the Director of Community Relations and Special Projects John Barnes at jbarnes@cadets.com.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS!
56th ANNUAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ALUMNI OPEN
Monday, June 8, 2020
Southview Country Club
239 Mendota Road East West St. Paul, MN 55118
ALUMNI REUNION WEEKEND!
September 17-18, 2020
Don’t miss our annual get-together of Academy alumni. Whether it is your reunion year, or you are looking to connect with other former cadets, there is no shortage of opportunity for you!
All proceeds from this event go to the Saint Thomas Academy Alumni Association and their mission to invite, involve, and inform all cadet alumni. One initiative that this event supports is the Alumni Sons Endowed Scholarship Fund. This scholarship fund gives financial support to alumni families to help make an Academy education more affordable.
Contact Director of Alumni Relations
Luke Marks ’11 at lmarks@cadets.com with any questions.
PATRONIZE THESE BUSINESSES ON BEHALF OF SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY
Saint Thomas Academy is the beneficiary of charitable gambling proceeds from the Buffalo Wild Wings in Eagan and Mallards in Inver Grove Heights.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
n The Class of 1970 welcomed back to campus for formation, campus tours, and special presentations
n Alumni Memorial Mass
n Taste of STA
n Special Dinner Honoring the Class of 1970
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
n Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
n Homecoming Party on the Plaza and Reunion Party!
Looking to get involved with planning or have any questions? Contact Director of Alumni Relations
Luke Marks ’11 at lmarks@cadets.com.
1950s
FR. ROBERT SIPE ’50 is enjoying retirement and is still able to serve on the weekends. He is working to establish a better ministry to Native Americans in northern Minnesota.
1990s
ADAM JOHNSON ’92 currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona and in April will be celebrating 28 years as a licensed realtor.
Former world record holding swimmer and Olympic Gold Medalist TOM MALCHOW ’95 recently visited the Academy to address the students at formation and tour campus. Tom met with the swim team as well as talked with students about the business side of the Olympics.
CALVIN-ALLEN MICKEL
MILLER ’99 is currently working with Campbell’s Soup Pepperidge Farm as a Market Sales Manager for
the Gulf Coast Region/ New Orleans Zone. He is a certified Food Safety Specialist and Consultant for Miller’s Implementation Group Services, LLC. Mr. Miller and his wife, Dr. Monica Lewis Miller reside in Madison, Mississippi. They were named the ‘2018 Family of the Year’ for Scholars of Minnesota-COPE Project, a non-profit organization assisting underrepresented community youth with their career goals and college. In addition, Miller served as one of the Life Honorary Members where he was instrumental in raising funds for COPE to support Jackson State University, and he was the head writer for the COPE Courier Newsletter
2000s
JOE LINDSAY ’05 stopped by Dean Simmons’ Marketing Class to present his company’s marketing strategy and field questions on building an effective marketing plan.
TYLER HUNTER ’06 stopped by Mr. Dean Simmons' Investment Class to give our cadets some advice on the subject.
2010s
MIKE DEPAUW ’10 took part in a 4 ship T-6 flyover at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas in honor of Veterans Day.
RAYMOND KENNEDY ’12 is recently engaged to Kennedy Walker with the wedding date set for August 2020. Raymond was also recently hired as the Marketing Director at David’s World Cycle, a chain of bike shops in Florida, in March of 2019.
MACK MARRIN ’13 is currently attending the University of St. Thomas School of Law and is set to graduate in Summer 2022.
Brothers LEWIE KLOSTER ’13 and NOAH KLOSTER ’16, along with Tall Glass with Ice Productions recently directed, animated, and produced the new Fall Out Boy Music Video “Bob Dylan.”
DON KIM ’14 served in the South Korean Army, and was deployed active duty from November 2016 through August 2018, as a Platoon Drill Sergeant at the Korean Army Training Center. Don concluded his service in the rank of Sergeant, awarded for contributions in education and training. Don is now back in the United States and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing at the University of St. Thomas as a junior in the Class of 2021.
Congratulations to PETER TUFTO ’15 on being included in the Hobey Baker list of nominees. Peter currently plays college hockey at Quinnipiac University.
CHRIS GITTER ’16 was here at the Academy to talk to students about his research in cardiology at the Unviersity of Wisconsin, and beyond. Chris met with interested students in the Wright Lecture Hall, and fielded questions about his research and the research process.
1980s
Members of the CLASS OF 1985 met up for an annual holiday get together at the Red Rabbit on Grand Ave in St. Paul. Altogether, 22 members of the class were in attendance for this annual tradition.
1950s
Members of the CLASS OF 1958 spent three days in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. Pictured from right to left JERRY JANICKE, BOB SCHWEIZER, TOM GLEASON, Terry Miller, ROSCOE BLACK, Juan Rivara, DAVE FRUEN, Ed Wenzel, John Carbollay, DAN ELDREDGE and TOM MCMAHON
OIe Miss punter
MAC BROWN ’16 was named to SEC Football Community Service Team. Mac was also named to the Kare11 All-Decade football team.
JOE MARKERT ’16 recently accepted a position in the Peace Corps. He will be moving to Africa in June after graduating from Minnesota State University Mankato.
PATRICK O’MEARA ’18 and MAX SCHUMAN ’17 faced off in a weekend series at the U.S. Naval Academy.
JACK ROWE ’18 has been accepted into Hillsdale College’s George Washington Fellowship, which is the chief component of the WashingtonHillsdale Internship Program. It is considered the college’s most prestigious internship. Only top students can apply and out of dozens of applications for the Fellowship, Jack was one of only five who received it. He will be studying at Hillsdale’s Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship in Washington DC, taking courses, meeting visiting scholars, and doing research for constitutional, economic, political, and cultural think tanks in the DC area.
ARMY NAVY UPDATE
’19 and MATTHEW GOLDADE ’18 are currently playing college football together at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
Congratulations to AXEL RAARUP ’18 for being named to the dean’s list at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business for outstanding scholarship during the Fall 2019 semester. Students who achieve dean’s honors at Notre Dame represent the top 30 percent of students in their college.
— Continued on next page
Some of our former Cadets were present at the Army/Navy game to cheer on their respective teams!
2000s
A huge group of Cadet Alumni came together at the wedding of TIM FITZPATRICK ’09 in Long Island. 1st row from left to right: BRENNAN EARLEY ’09, MATT JOHNSON ’09, JAKE
SZYMANSKI ’09, THOMAS MEALEY ’09, Tim Fitzpatrick, REILLY LEE ’11, JEFF JUUL ’09, BRENNAN LEE ’09 and DAN FITZPATRICK ’10. 2nd row from left to right: ADAM
ROHDE ’09, WOODY STENSLAND ’09, JOE
FITZPATRICK ’12, KEVIN MURPHY ’71, DENNIS FITZPATRICK ’69, BRIAN FITZPATRICK ’66, PAT FITZPATRICK ’77, CONOR MURPHY ’99, CHRIS LEE ’73, TOM MAGUIRE ’74, and PADDY MURPHY ’02
Junior Gold Hockey alums
SEAN CREAMER
Current senior at Annapolis JACK CORDERO ’16.
Current junior at Annapolis MAX SHUMAN ’17.
Current sophomore at West Point, JACK KOTOK ’18.
ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
The 3rd annual Cadet Basketball Alumni Tournament saw over 70 former Cadets compete for the title of champion.
The 2019 Alumni Basketball Champions!
JOHN HENRY
NEUBERGER ’14, JOE HARVEY ’16, JACK FLYNN ’14, ANDREW
MAYLEBEN ’15, RYAN JACOBSEN ’15, WOODY HUBBELL ’16, and BRADY HAPPE ’16
ALUMNI HOCKEY TOURNAMENT
The Annual Alumni Hockey games saw two groups, an older generation group and a younger generation group, come together for some fun just prior to Christmas.
WE APOLOGIZE FOR OUR ERROR
Please note that the following donors were missing from our 2018-19 Annual Report. We deeply regret the omission:
Joe Commers ’62 Evans “Chip” Connelly Angela Haugh
In Memoriam
Patrick and Karin Mascia Todd and Eva May Jim and Kathleen Zavoral
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.
